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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rastfar" data-source="post: 784619" data-attributes="member: 9596">Session 2session #2Afterwards, the small group gathered under the star-flecked sky, discussed a few tentative plans and then went their separate ways.  Wrenchard had a short walk home, skulking inside, careful as not to wake his wife and children.  Adair slipped in through his own bedroom window, unnoticed.   Tyrus quietly picked his way through town, noting that the faint unmistakable light of candles flickered on the inside of the shuttered windows of Motie’s house.  Not bothering to slow, he quickly found himself on the northern rim of the pyre grounds and headed up into the hills he called home.  Jonas also crossed town.  In the distance he could see the faint glow of John Fisher’s smoldering funeral pyre, it radiated stubbornly, continuing to burn defiantly into the dark of night.  It threw firefly-like lights into the starry sky, and Jonas' gaze lingered there for a while as he almost mindlessly trekked home.  Somewhere in the imagery, he found inspiration for a song.  Jebediah found his walk home to be the quickest.  After sharing a few paces with Mr. Valinson, he bade the map-maker good night, patted Albert the donkey on the head, and entered the still cold old Stilwell home.  Constance had waited up, and he could see that she was visibly concerned.  Picking up her cherished black-lacquered wood and ivory comb from the sideboard, she pushed back the hair from the right side of her head.  She turned and looked at him.  Her perusal continued down to his chest and his open wounds there.“What happened?” she asked, maternally.“The undead,” Jebediah’s responses always seemed short.“No, after dinner,” Constance was doing her best to clean and dress her brother's wound, but not to hide her annoyance.  "I was rudely dismissed.  You've been gone awhile."He nodded in silence, as she forcefully pressed hard on a particularly deep gash.  He felt that he at least owed her an explanation.  He tried to elaborate on the woman’s place in society in Kendrick, or at least the Valinson home, and how she might have to at least appear to willfully take that role.   He then explained to her the seed of the conspirators’ plan.“You have no opinion?”  Jebediah encouraged her to express herself, hoping it’d curb her mood. “I always have opinions,” Constance disparaged.  “I don’t like it.”Jebediah knew Constance’s capacity for unrelenting umbrage all too well.  She was a strong-willed young woman.  He tried to change the subject knowing her feelings would not be easily assuaged.“Perhaps we should get ready to sleep.”“There are no beds here,” she groused.Doing his best to avoid the argument that she seemed to want to start, Jebediah proceeded to their packs.  He unfurled their bedrolls and did his best to make the area comfortable.  She laid down to sleep with heavy silence, her attitude doing more to annoy her brother than her harsh words could. Ralem, 22nd of Syet– 564 H.E.Morning came as morning does, and Tyrus was on the move with Matet, (1) early as usual.  The sturdy woodsman tended his camp and still, before proceeding towards town.  Arriving at Gus’, he used the back entrance to the kitchen.  Gus was hard at work as he was every morning.  Huge sides of beef hung from his hooks, and bundles of various cuts were strewn about any flat surface that could hold them.“Mornin’ Tyrus,” the sleepy-eyed barkeep smiled at the sturdy young man.  “Want some beef?”Tyrus, wary of the sudden abundance of such a rare commodity for Kendrick refused, “No thanks, Gus.”“Well, as you can see, I’m not gonna be needin’ much fer a little while.  Sorry.”  Gus’ perpetual smile seemed to fade a little, but quickly his spirits livened.  “I could still use that tonic though,” he exclaimed noting the jugs in the hunter’s hands.Tyrus left the jugs and bid Gus a good day.  He took his leave and proceeded down the bank of the river on the westward edge of town.  He knew that hunting to the south of Kendrick was still somewhat more prosperous.  He also knew that Adair led his family’s sheep to Wrenchard’s land out this way, too.  Not much for company, Tyrus did occasionally tolerate the black-haired boy’s company.  With Tyrus, Adair was for the most part quiet, attentive, and not too inquisitive.  For these reasons, the woodsman was frequently able to find time to bring the shepherd boy with him on hunting trips.  Adair also proved to be a natural with the bow.  Finding Adair down in the fields that still grew grass in the vales nestled among the hills, Tyrus invited him along.  As usual, the shepherd had risen early and having now led the sheep to pasture, found himself with nothing to do for the day.  With the increasing absence of any large predators in the area, his presence was rarely missed.  Enjoying the skills and knowledge that Tyrus was willing to impart, he eagerly accepted.  Together they continued south, occupied with the hunt for the rest of the morning.---------------------------------------------------------------------Jebediah sat up slowly.  For the past two years or more he hadn’t been afforded a good night’s rest.  His back was starting to bother him, and had long since developed an irremovable crick.  Habitually, he tried to crack it.  The popping vertebrae woke his sister close by.  Jebediah could see that she too was annoyed with her fitful sleep.  He wished he could offer her more.  He knew that she was looking forward to finding some comfort in this small hamlet.  Constance collected herself, and Jebediah offered her privacy, leaving to collect water from one of the communal wells.  He returned shortly to find that Constance was dressed, her long raven hair pushed back with her comb.  The Groomers did their best to wash up, and they proceeded out into the crisp morning air.Jebediah picked up where he left off and continued to reshingle the house.  He handed his sister a broom, which had obviously been long forgotten inside, and asked her to sweep.  She accepted it with a look of astonishment, but wordlessly began to half-heartedly clean up.  Satisfied with the structural integrity of the outer walls, it wasn’t too long before Jebediah got the notion to check the roof for any serious damage.  If only he’d had a ladder.  Remembering that he’d seen one prominently displayed on the side of a house closer to the commons (2), he set down the hammer and set off to ask a favor of his new neighbor.Within minutes he arrived at the cooper’s house and rapped on the door.  An imperceptible smell permeated the area.  A loud holler came from inside, and was followed immediately by bumping sounds.  The shouting continued, the door was flung wide, and a man’s stubbly face was thrust violently into the air before Jebediah’s chest.“Damn kids, I’ll getcha!  Rats, I’ll catch ya!” The cooper continued to scream unprovoked.He suddenly realized that he’d been hollering into the chest of an adult, and a stranger at that.  “Oh,” he uttered, taken aback. “You must be the new guy.” The cooper seemed mildly suspicious, but happy to have someone to rant to.Jebediah introduced himself.  “Jebediah Groomer, I was wondering if I might borrow your ladder?  My sister and I are fixing up…”“…the old Stilwell home.”  The ornery man finished.  “Yeah, I know.  Got any kids?”“Hunh?” Jebediah was confused.  “Uh, no.”“Good, I hate kids.  They’re rats, all of ‘em.  Here to curse me, I tell ya.  Especially that blasted Fawkes kid.  Oooh, he’s the worst.  Caught him once though, I did.”  A sickeningly twisted smile seemed to creep over the balding man’s face. “Broke his wrist and everything.  Ha!”“The ladder…?” Jebediah hesitantly interjected.“Oh.  Yeah, yeah, sure,” he said, and then introuduced himself  “Pollack Zigler.” The cooper shook Jebediah’s hand.  “C’mon.”Pollack quickly shut the door behind him and looked up at the eaves of his roof.  Finding this odd, Jebediah did so as well, but saw nothing.  Pleased with what he seemed to not see, Pollack left the threshold and stalked off to the left side of his house.  Again, Jebediah thought this odd, as he knew the ladder to be lashed to the opposite side.  Pollack thrust his head abruptly around the corner, his body tense with anticipation.  Jebediah waited by the door and watched as the man’s knuckles turned white, gripping the wall joices.  Again, pleased with what he seemed to not find, Pollack returned to his neighbor and led him around the opposite side of his home.  As if expecting to surprise someone, the cooper suddenly dashed around the corner, but once there quickly drew up short.  Glancing around, the wide-muscled cooper removed his worn ladder from the side of the house.  Jebediah attempted to help, but Pollack intentionally moved to disallow him to do so.  Ladder in hand, Pollack followed as Jebediah turned to lead the way back to the Stilwell home.Pollack quickly bent the pilgrim’s ear, taking the opportunity to rant about the malevolent nature of Kendrit children and their constant malicious behavior.  Jebediah quickly tuned him out, adding only the polite nod and cursory “uh-huh” every now again, when conversation prompted him to do so.---------------------------------------------   In his family barn’s hayloft, Jonas awoke with a start.  Casually, he climbed down and headed in for some mid-morning fare.  He quickly found the oat muffins that his father often made, as a few were still left out.  Resolving to be more prepared in the future, the shaggy mullet-haired boy went to dig around the storage area that was his room.  Quickly he found his militia-issued studded leather armor and dusted it off.  Flicking off some patches of mold, he strapped it on.  It fit.  Grabbing the remaining muffins, his balls, lute, and military fork, (3) he headed out.The walk took a few minutes and the trouble-maker was sure to scoop up a fresh sheep patty along the way.  As he drew nearer the cooper’s house he slowed his pace.  Oddly, it seemed that Pollack was not around and his ladder was gone.  This was almost too easy.  Not to be denied his pleasure; Jonas went ahead and threw the patty up into the eaves of the cooper’s roof. (4) Before too long he approached the new Groomer home.  Promptly spotting the cooper’s back, he could see that Jebediah was up on the roof taking his time to inspect its durability.  Mr. Zigler seemed to be rambling upward to the man out of his view.  Stifling a chuckle, Jonas moved wide to circumvent the elder man’s view.  Rounding the opposite side of the house, Jonas found Constance quick to cease her sweeping as he approached.“Good morning,” Jonas beamed and threw out a wink.  He still had an ear bent for the likelihood that he may have been spotted by the cooper.“Good morning,” Constance leaned on the frail broom.“Have you had breakfast?”  Jonas asked, moving toward her and inside to relative safety, away from Pollack who still droned on in the background.“No,” the girl replied as anxious to indulge him as quit her menial chores.They entered the still dusty home that was naught more than a three room shack.  The smell of must and age still pervaded the home.  Jonas noted the two sleeping bundles close on the floor and the lack of any other amenities.  He set down his pack, rifled through it, and produced a fistful of somewhat squashed oat muffins.  Taking one for himself he tossed one in her direction.“Here ya go.”Constance deftly caught it, and took a bite remaining more focused on the strange mannered boy than the less threatening muffin.  Awkward moments passed in silence, before Jonas offered, “Ma faszher makesh zheeshe,” through a mouthful.  Jonas noted a nefarious patch of green flecks not dissimilar to the color of the fresh sheep patty on Constance’s muffin.  Dexterously, he snatched the spot away, as Constance recoiled from the sudden attack towards her mouth.  She put aside the muffin.“It was, I saw, it may have been a bad nut,” Jonas apologized.Constance, put off, let the muffin lay, “I’m not that hungry.”Jebediah thanked the cooper who left for home in a hurry, and came into the house.  He could read Constance well, she felt uncomfortable.  Not taking too kindly to Jonas’ unannounced arrival he turned to his guest.  “Good morning, Jonas.”  Jebediah moved intentionally between the two.“Mornin’ Jebediah, want a muffin?”  Jonas offered up another, innocently to Jebediah who accepted.“Careful, they may have bad nuts,” Constance quickly warned.Pausing to inspect the confectionary, he asked, “Are you ready to go see the boats then?”“Yup.” Jonas continued to munch away.Jebediah satisfied with the freshness of the muffin, coolly took a bite.“They’re much better with goat butter,” Jonas continued.Jebediah put the muffin down and gestured the crumb-faced visitor toward the door.  “I’m sure they are.”Intentionally, he waited for Jonas to leave first.  Turning to Constance, “Please, behave yourself.  I don’t want any more trouble here.”Wordlessly, she followed as her brother caught up with Jonas.    ---------------------------------------------Wrenchard rose to the sounds of his children playing in the crisp morning air outside below his window.  He looked down and saw his wife, and little Dian (her mother’s spitting image) clinging to Kelize’s skirt.  Annabelle, the five year old, had already become soiled by grass and mud.  She ran in circles about the yard with a stick, dragging it in the dirt as two blue-grey cats chased it.  He sighed heavily.  After cleaning up, he made his way downstairs with several matters on his mind.  The most heavy of which was perhaps the one he least looked forward to.  He had not yet conceived of how to address this concern with his wife.  Letting the heaviest fall to the bottom with gravity, he ate a hearty breakfast of steak and eggs, before setting off to his tasks of the day.Wrenchard, deep in thought, found himself standing before the deputy’s door without even realizing he’d walked there.  Returning to the here and now, he briefly reflected on the startling quality of the body to be able to pilot itself when necessary.  He rapped lightly on the door.  The soft sound of movement emanated from inside and the door was opened.  Wrenchard realized that he had disturbed the young man’s peace, but he considered his reason worth breaking Harden’s routine.  Harden invited him in to his snug home.  The two men sat, enjoyed steeped herbs, and discussed at length the credibility of Voldish Mezger.  Wrenchard sought to glean what he could of the well-traveled limner.  He thought more of his questions might be answered by the venerable educator.----------------------------------------------  Tyrus and Adair ended up spending not just the rest of the morning, but also early afternoon on the hunt.  Successfully, the woodsman was able to lure and snare a large turkey.  Together they field stripped the bird and cleaned it, while Adair practiced mimicking the expert hunter’s turkey calls.  They split the meat and before heading home.After parting ways Adair decided to visit the eldest of his namesake in hopes of obtaining a healer’s bag.  They bartered awhile; ultimately ‘Black’ Adair traded the turkey (once smoked) for a small kit of healing supplies.  The shepherd boy left and proceeded to the butcher, Edwin Kerswill, to negotiate smoking the meet.  Invited into the man’s proud smoking house, Adair noticed the vast amount of food supplies already hung there, ‘in progress’ (5).  It was agreed that the butcher would smoke some game for the young man.  In exchange he expected Adair would enlist the aid of his woodsman friend to secure a good quantity of mushrooms with which Edwin could experiment.----------------------------------------------  Meanwhile, Jonas and the Groomers found their way to the steep sides of the river.  Climbing down the drastic two-foot drop to where the boats were lashed to protruding roots, the young men climbed in one.  Jonas took the other oar from the older of the two vessels.  Neither of the men had any particular experience with boating, it was obvious to Constance who suppressed a laugh, observing them begin to circle and drift down stream with the slow current of the waters.Taking charge from the back, Jonas instructed Jebediah.  “Keep your rowing in time with me.”“I can’t see you.  How do I do that?” Jebediah stated the obvious.“Oh, we’ll sing a little song.”  And Jonas let out a tune.  “Row, row, row yer boat…”They carefully and doggedly picked their way across the 100’ wide river, only ending up about 150 yards or so downstream from their starting position.  They worked their way back.  Upon doing so, they’d decided that they’d practiced enough for one day.  As the prow came to touch the river’s edge, Jebediah reached out for an extended root.  Jonas noticed Constance watching with interest from above.  He deftly leapt up onto his feet, held his oar aloft above his head and attempted to twirl it circularly in an impressive display.  The boat rocked violently.  Jebediah sat back low loosing the root.  The boat slowly began to drift back and Jonas barely maintained his balance and his grip on the oar.  Constance looked unimpressed and Jebediah glared at the clownish boy.“I just wanted to test the boat out under dangerous conditions,” he excused.They came ashore and spilt up.  The Groomers returned home and ran into Wrenchard who invited them to share his home for the duration of their stay.  They filled the rest of the afternoon and early evening with packing their belongings, Albert, and making preparations to leave.  Jebediah asked Constance to pack a lunch for them to eat on the following day.------------------------Jonas walked to the widow Fisher’s home.  He found the woman distraught and melancholy though hospitable.  As hurriedly as possible he steered the conversation towards the topic of her deceased husband’s boats.  Knowing that the Valinson’s coffers were open to him, he unabashedly began generous negotiation.“You name a price and I’m sure that Mr. Valinson will pay it.”“Oh, I don’t know,” she sobbed.“Well why don’t we say uh…thir…fif…seh…uh…”In a moment of clarity, “Are you okay?”“Uh, yeah.  I was just saying that Mr. Valinson would be glad to pay you 60 pieces of silver for both.”Deflated the widow collapsed into Jonas’ arms sobbing, “Just take them.  I can’t use them.”  She bawled.Doing his best to console her, “No, he’ll give you 60…maybe even more…”The young militiaman spent a few more minutes with the widow in his embrace before excusing himself.-----------------------------------------------After finishing his chores in town, Adair headed to the Valinson lands south of town in order to bring in the sheep.  Though still early, it was getting dark sooner due to the weather and he wasn’t taking any chances.  As he crested the nearest hill, he happened to peer further southward as movement there drew his eye.  Shielding his eyes from the glare of Matet’s fading glow, he noticed erratic movements atop the hills; about a day or so away was his best guess.  A small, barely perceptible wisp of smoke rose skyward from the center of the action.Not bothering to count the heads, the shepherd boy herded the flock home in time for dinner.  He arrived just in time for the fray.  As his parents and four siblings aggressively maneuvered to fill their plates, he narrowly avoided flying elbows and deftly ducked reckless fists.  Soon the meal was over, and Adair was thankful for it.  He excused himself.  Slipping out the front door, shirking his cleaning chores, the second son Bannon dashed out of earshot before slowing in town.A slight spring in his step, the observant young man halved his pace as was habit when nearing Motie’s house.  Keeping both eyes on the nefarious dwelling, Adair witnessed even more peculiar behavior.  Suddenly, violently, the door to Motie’s house opened inward and wide.  Light poured out into the rapidly darkening path.  Yet Adair could see no cause for this.  He stopped.  Not wishing to be seen and curious as to how the diminutive man perhaps knew how he was nearing the house, though still well over 100 paces away, Adair shuddered.  There door stood open, invitingly so, Adair dared not move, or even flinch.  For what seemed like hours, he waited.  Then as suddenly and forcefully as the door had been pulled in, Motie’s distinguishable face was thrust out into the night.  Adair froze.  The small recluse gazed about in every direction, as if searching for would-be offenders.  Finally, as if satisfied, Motie disappeared back into the threshold and the door fell softly shut, silently.His curiosity got the best of him, Adair resumed silently approached the building.  The low flicker of candlelight danced on the inside panels of the shuttered windows.  Nearing the front door, Adair noted a few crimson strands of thread trodden into the ground.  He was only three paces away when he heard more shuffling inside.  Without hesitation Adair sprinted (the long way around) to his teacher’s house.  He didn’t know if he’d been spotted or not, but he did know that he didn’t want to stick around to find out.--------------------------------------It was mid-afternoon when Tyrus noted the overcast skies.  Following the western edge of town via the riverbank, he noted the Fishers’ boats lashed to the embankment; neither Jebediah nor Jonas were to be seen.  Sometime later as evening drew nigh, Tyrus crept back through town, stopping briefly to converse with the carpenter.  He knocked at the Fairbourns’ door.  A basso bark bellowed from within.  Tyrus could hear Gerald approaching as he told his hound to calm himself.  The broad-shouldered man opened the door still wielding a large fork spitted with a brussel sprout.  Motar heeled just behind his master, a low growl issuing his warning.  With an extended hand palm out, Tyrus squatted slightly in an effort to empathize with the Kennan-hound.  The hound backed up as Gerald moved forward.  The large man’s silhouette filled the door frame allowing little light to escape into the night air.  Sensing the disturbance that he’d caused, Tyrus was quick to get to the point.  He facilitated the exchange of labor for root tonic and supplies.  Handing the much smaller woodsman an over-sized jug, the bearded craftsmen slammed the door.Tyrus took the jug and moved on.  Promptly he arrived at Wrenchard’s.-----------------------------------------------Once outside of the widow Fisher’s gloomy home, Jonas crossed town to the Valinson’s.  Arriving there in high spirits, he proceeded to rap at the door in a fast rhythmic series.  Gravis answered.“Stop,” the butler said, he was noticeably annoyed. The manservant led Jonas to Wrenchard’s study.  Wrenchard spotted Jonas following closely behind  as they drew near, performing a remarkably accurate impression of his stodgy elder’s walk and mannerisms behind the man’s back.  Wrenchard concealed a grin.“Hello, Jonas,” Wrenchard greeted.“Hello, Mr….Wrenchard.  I’m hungry, can’t you have your butler fetch us something to eat?”  Jonas called after Gravis who had just left the room.Immediately outside, out of view of his employer, Gravis leaned backward to scowl at Jonas.  The malcontent glowered right back.  “Gravis has been very busy as of late,” Wrenchard claimed.  “I can get something myself.”He returned before too long to find the inquisitive boy nosing about he over-sized mahogany desk.  Distracting the ever-curious Jonas to the chaise with apples and fresh salted beef, he resumed conversation asking about the scribner.“I learned to read from the limner, Mr. Mezger.”  Jonas proudly capitulated.“Really?  What’s he like?” asked Wrenchard.  Voldish Mezger was one of the few individuals in town who the middle-aged father had never really had cause to come in contact with.Sensing the importance of this conversation, Jonas puffed up.  “Oh, he’s a great man.  Very kind.  Very patient.  He often told me, ‘Jonas, I have to use all my patience with you’.”They continued to talk for a while, Wrenchard having to use a little patience of his own, before Adair arrived.Gravis and Jonas again exchanged contemptuous looks.  Adair engaged in pleasantries only long enough to tell of the ‘things’ he noted approaching from the south.  As the three speculated, Tyrus arrived.Again Gravis had to explain to the woodsman why proper decorum dictated that he part with his weapons.  Comfortable with knowing where they were in the event of danger, Tyrus too was shown to the study.Jonas mocked Gravis’ grave grimace as the older servant left.Shortly thereafter the Groomers arrived.  An excited Kelize accompanied Constance who took her leave upstairs to get settled in.  Jebediah joined the other men in the study.The five conspirators talked awhile of their respective endeavors of the day before the discussions to more important matters, Jonas – always one to speak his mind, began.“I don’t think Constance should come.”Jebediah was quick to reply, “After what I saw last night, I don’t want to leave her here.”“Where we are going will be more dangerous…or likely will be,” claimed Jonas.“I don’t want to leave her.”  Jebediah stressed.“I think winter is coming early.”  Tyrus changed the subject.  “There was hard frost on the ground out of town this morning.”With this proclamation on their minds, they again looked at Wrenchard’s unmarked map and discussed travel plans.  The idea of relying on an unlabeled map, which was only decipherable by its creator did not sit well with all of them.“We’ll stop five or ten miles south of Black River Bridge,” confirmed Jebediah.Jonas interjected.  “How will we know when we are five miles south of there?”  Before Jebediah could answer, “…oh yeah, you are from there.  You’ll recognize the terrain around there.”  Jonas did little to hide his cynicism.“Uh, yeah,” Jebediah stumbled.“And I’ve been there before,” Wrenchard added with a look to Jebediah.After more discussion, Wrenchard agreed to mark the map, labeling far away Scales in Menovia,  Black River Bridge, it’s namesake river, Kendrick and the capital city, Black Top.  A lonely point of interest still remained.  It too was labeled, last, the Temple of the Black Serpent.Jonas suggested that Jebediah have Constance dress as a boy.Jebediah looked at Jonas, “While we are on the subject.  While we are on this journey you should all keep your hands to yourselves.”“What does that mean?” Jonas feigned innocence. “Don’t try to get romantically involved with my sister,” the thin veils hiding threat were soon parted.Jonas was almost too accommodating, “Of course not, someone would have to be a fool to do such a thing.”  He paused, “However, in all the epic tales it is during stressful and traumatic times that people are drawn together.”Close to Jonas, Adair could see Jebediah’s ire beginning to rise.  “Shut up, shut up, shut up…” the shepherd muttered under his breath, hoping that Jonas would hear.Jonas got the hint and allowed Tyrus to redirect the conversation to their short supply of arrows and more importantly provisions.  It was agreed that they would have to concentrate their efforts on securing these items and that they would do so as quickly as possible, wanting to leave at the end of a week’s time.  Adair recapitulated the odd occurrences that he’d been witness to at Motie’s house and while bringing in the sheep.  Jonas told Wrenchard that the boats would cost 70 pieces of silver.  The conspirators gave Wrenchard the go ahead to confide in Voldish if necessary and then made their way out into the night to find their ways home.  ---------------------------------------------          All the while Constance was happy to find an excuse to let her hair down.  She was brushing out the long straw-colored locks as Jebediah came in.  She could still smell the brandy that he and Mr. Valinson had been drinking after the other guests left.  He did not relish what he now had to do.  He crossed the room to where she stood before a mirror-backed bureau, her prize ebony and ivory comb lay on its surface.  It was hard not to admire her beauty.“What would you think about dressing as a boy?”“What?”  Just the reaction Jebediah expected.  “Why?”“It may be safer if we were to encounter anyone, easier for us to stick to our cover story.”She held the ends of her hairs length, she surveyed them through the brush.  Jebediah could see that they were badly frayed, mismanaged.  He knew that something would have to be done to disguise her endowments, loose fitting shirts and pants.“And you’d have to cut your hair…” he added.“No.” Her reply was short, curt, and full of derision.Jebediah knew to leave it alone, “What if you were to say that you were my wife.  This would be more plausible, it’d be easier for me to protect you.”She balked slightly, “…er.”“We could pull that off, nothing romantic would ever really come up, and we could always just peck if necessary.”Constance didn’t seem to take too kindly to this idea either.  She pulled her hair back into a loose knot and moved to sit on the bed.  Jebediah could see that she was much more comfortable here in the Valinson estate, color had begun to return to her face, and she enjoyed more of the amenities.“I think I like being your sister,” she pulled back the bedspread, caressing its downy softness.Jebediah changed tact, “Well, so be it then.  Can you please try to keep your distance from the others?  You know how you have an effect on men.”Entirely unaffected, “Yeah,” Jebediah could hear the conceit in her tone, happy and cocky all the same.  He was reminded of his mother.“I’m serious.  We don’t need such complications on such a dangerous journey.”Noelle entered with a basin of fresh washing water and a bedpan.  Jebediah knew that he’d get no reply and took his cue to exit the room.  As he did so he heard from within, “Oh, Noelle, would you be a dear and pack us all four lunches tomorrow?”  It was as much of a command as it was a request.  Jebediah winced and entered his room, “Pa, always said she learned quick.” ----------------------------------------Jonas returned home, the elder Fawkes was still awake.“Evenin’ Pop.”“Good evening, Jonas.”Jonas moved into the room and took his usual seat across the hearth.  He stretched anxiously, knowing what he was about to do, but not wanting to do so.  Isaiah pulled a poke from his pipe.  The smell was one Jonas always associated with comfort, stability, home.  It didn’t make this any easier.“Would you be able to use a donkey, Pop?  On the fields?  To help with the plow?”“Well, sure, I reckon I could.  But son, you know we can’t afford to buy no donkey let alone feed it.”“Yeah, I know…” Jonas hated this moment.“Well, you know Mr. Valinson is putting together an expedition, and those new folk are going along, and they have a donkey but can’t bring it, ‘cuz it’s gonna be in John Fisher’s boats, well, they’re Mr. Valinson’s boats now, and…” Jonas knew he was rambling.  He felt awkward and sorry.  The last thing he wanted to do was let his father down.  “…I’m goin’?”His father was noted in town for two things, diligence and patience.  Jonas never fully understood or appreciated why.“Hmmm,” Isaiah exhaled the sweet smelling smoke.  “I imagine donkeys eat oats then?”“Yeah,” Jonas waited.“I guess we could take him in.  Not much use now though with winter on the way.”“Mr. Valinson invited me.  He wants me to go.  He said a militiaman should go.  That’s me.”  Jonas was desperate.“This isn’t about the Jingle Jangle thing again is it?” (6)“No, Pop.”“When are you coming back?”  Isaiah measured the young man sitting across from him.  “I’ll be needin’ ya come plantin’ time.  You’ll be back by the season?”“Of course, Pop.”  Jonas was mitigated.Encouraged he changed the focus, “But you know Pop, Mr. Valinson has this idea about leaving…?”“I know, I heard it,” his father interrupted.  Jonas could tell that the 44-year old man didn’t think too highly of the idea.“I’m just trying to say that if we should come across something…”“Come now!”  Jonas knew the idea of starting over vexed his father.  “You know we should not talk of such things in the house.”  The air of relaxation was thinning.“Come on, Pop!  How long are you going to avoid the truth of our surroundings?  The land is drying up. The water is foul.  You see this welt?  LouAnne Crowley crawled out of the breach and did this to me.  This season we took in half the crop of last season which was half the crop from the year before.  We’re losing everything we have.”“Yeah, but it’s ours.  We have something.  I can’t afford to leave it all and have nothing.  I don’t have time to be beginning, again.”  Isaiah was frustrated with his boy, his land, his life.Jonas saw it in his father’s eyes, for the first time he detected a flaw in the pillar of strength that had always been his dad.  He got up and gave the man a hug, “I know, dad. I know.”  Isaiah remained resolute and Jonas mindlessly juggled some cups, his thoughts elsewhere, as he left to the barn.While Jonas practiced his Gravis impression, pacing the length of the worn barn floor, not far across town Adair was having a much similar conversation with his father.  The difference was however, that Adair’s father thought it to be a fine idea.  His son would be learning new skills, not eating from an already crowded table, and back in time to tend the sheep come springtime.  He could think of nothing finer.  The conversation was short and Adair vowed to spend more time with the preoccupied man before leaving on his journey.   Isilem, 23rd of Syet– 564 H.E.A sheet of mist-like rain permeated the air, serving to slowly saturate all who walked beneath it.  Tyrus rose with the sun as he did most days.  He checked in with the jovial pub owner who still needed no meats, having mounds of beef, and left the oversized jug full of root-tonic outside of the carpenter’s door.  He snatched a handful of brussels sprouts from the laborer’s small, struggling garden and headed out of the sleepy town.  That morning he intentionally sought more avian prey.  Before beginning his hunt, he tapped a tree for pine pitch setting it to flow into a jug.  The woodsman killed a pair of doves by midday.--------------------------------------------------    The Valinson’s enjoyed a healthy breakfast of steak and eggs, with some oatbread.  Kelize was thankful for the company that afforded her the practice of etiquette, which some from higher courts would say she needed.  The host and hostess entertained their guests for the duration of the early morn while they awaited Jonas’ arrival.  Adair showed sometime after breakfast.  Gravis answered the door, allowing the young man to enter the foyer area.  Behind he could see Constance descending the staircase, he hardly recognized the beautiful girl in the flax-woolen dress that stood there, leaning on the banister for support.  Not entirely sure that they’d been formally introduced; he waved off Gravis and took the opportunity to do so.  Still three steps up, Constance stopped, noticing the boy’s approach, her look of glamour reflected in his eyes.  She folded her hands atop each other on the large ball at the rail’s end.  Adair bowed deeply, and gave his name, making excuses as to why they had yet not spoken.  She extended her hand, which he gladly accepted, kissed the back of, and held to escort her down the last three steps.  No stranger to courtship or chivalry, she followed his lead, tucking the same arm through his as they made their way to the sitting room.  Wrenchard, Kelize and Jebediah rose as the two entered to take seats.  Only Jebediah noticed the slightest of gestures, her arm at his side, but it was enough for him to remember.  They all sat down, Adair next to Constance on the couch.Mid-morning, Jonas arrived tousle haired and his clothes wrinkled.  While Constance went upstairs to change, the men waited downstairs.  Wrenchard excused himself briefly returning with a large sack of coinage, giving it to Jonas who carefully judged its weight.  Wrenchard, uncertain as to the wisdom of his decision, reminded Jonas how much the widow needed the money.  Not needing to delay any longer, Wrenchard escorted the three young men outside.  They began to pack Albert the donkey, bidding farewell to Wrenchard who headed off to visit with Voldish Mezger.It was a short walk through town to the limner’s, as most walks in Kendrick are.  Voldish opened his door to Wrenchard and invited him into his humble abode.  They enjoyed steeped herbs and spoke of the elder man’s traveling days, Derome-Delem in particular.  Wrenchard was utterly shocked to find that Voldish, after coming from Verdun, in Herman Land – the capital of the world –was escorted to the little Kingdoms by dwarves.  This small tidbit of information shattered everything that he thought he knew either about dwarves or the old man sitting before him.  Assuming that the scribner was still lucid, he found this curious.  As the morning passed and they talked some more, Mr. Mezger, who stroked the loudly purring cat on his lap, could see that Wrenchard was troubled.  As the family man stood to leave, Voldish offered some meager words of encouragement.“Don’t strain yourself.” It sounded simple enough.Reaching the door, Wrenchard turned, “Oh, by the way, Jonas Fawkes says hello.”“Oh yes, he’s about three weeks late for his next reading lesson.”Wrenchard felt that he should explain what might amount to an exceptional tardiness, “He’s coming with me.”Voldish, not noticeably surprised, answered in turn, “Oh, well, good luck to you then.”  He picked up his porcelain cup and drained its contents.  Wrenchard admired the craftsmanship of the foreign drinking ware.“Oh he’s a good kid and we needed a member of the militia, since it’ll be dangerous.”  Wrenchard believed that he’d created the perfect opening to begin spreading his cover story.Voldish was surprised, “He’s in the militia?!” The cat, Aslan, leapt to the floor.“Yes,” Wrenchard thought it a bit odd that Voldish was unaware of this fact.  The long-haired feline padded towards Wrenchards legs. It leaned into the man, weaving between his ankles.“He’s no Harden Speck.”  Voldish apparently held the deputy in high esteem just like his contemporaries the sheriff and the priest of Ra.Always the politician, Wrenchard knew just what to say.  “Well, few are.”And he left, crossing town to the old smithy and the smelts where it was agreed that he’d meet Tyrus later that afternoon.---------------------------------------------------------Constance closed the door behind her after bidding their hostess a fond ‘Good day.’  The four of them, Albert in tow, walked to the Fawkes stead.  By the time they arrived they were all already wet.  Jebediah could see his sister’s spirits beginning to sour.  They walked Albert into the barn, where Jonas pointed out his favorite loft.  The Groomers patted the reliable companion’s head and they left.Adair shouldered the bundle that Noelle had provided, Jonas led and the Groomers trailed behind speaking to each other in low tones.  At the riverbank, Jonas and Jebediah took their time descending the now slippery slope.  Adair and Constance watched from shore, huddled in the slight rain, as the two men again practiced rowing back and forth between the two river banks in the up till now untested boat.Jonas struck up a tune to keep time and rhythm, “Turkey in the straw, haw, haw, haw! Turkey in the sea, Hee! Hee! Hee…”Already churlish Constance murmured to herself, “How rural.”After two such runs they felt it to be sufficiently stable.  They moored and helped Adair and Constance down.Jonas helped Constance into the center of the boat, “Here, Constance, you can represent the load of equipment.”She didn’t like the analogy, “So, I am baggage?”  Adair sat down beside her, “No.”Jonas couldn’t resist.  Leaning forward to Adair’s ear, he whispered, “Do you need a crowbar to pry your lips off her ass?”  A hint of jealousy tinged his voice.Adair turned about and smacked Jonas fraternally across the head.An only child, Jonas took exception to the attack, “Do that again and I’ll be smacking you with an oar.”  He brandished the clumsy implement as menacingly as possible while sitting in the rear of the boat.All conversation ceased, the four of them went up the river about a mile and a half and rowed back.  They gauged the river to be navigable and not too hard to negotiate.  They’d made decent time.  Jebediah exchanged places with Constance, much to her protest, and the two surly boys sat in the middle.  She let out an exaggerated whining grunt with each stroke of the paddle.  Jebediah ignored her complaints.  Again, Jonas could not resist, “Oh yeah, she should come along.”She said nothing under the strain, but Jebediah stuck up for her, “I have faith in you, Constance.”Jonas’ mood soured as much as that of the girl, “I’m glad someone does.”   After making Constance practice for the better part of an hour, they again returned to shore for lunch.  They enjoyed sandwiches of roast beef and oatbread, apples, and water.  After eating, the men were able to bring the older of the two boats up to dry land.  Holding it aloft, they looked for any obvious leaks.  Unable to see any, they agreed that the boat must take on water due to minor seepage via the weakened integrity.  Tyrus arrived with the pine pitch just in time as Jebediah did his best to dry the inside bottom of the craft.  He layered the mucilaginous liquid on thick, spreading it evenly across the entirety of the base.  Turning the boat over, the same procedure was repeated.  This used all of the pine pitch, and they decided that it’d be a good idea to get more for the sake of resealing the other boat as well.Tyrus took his leave to continue south to the better hunting grounds there and Adair preferring the woodsman’s company joined with him.  They two, hunted for mushrooms, tapped more trees for pitch, and located wood sufficient to be crafted into oars and arrow shafts.The Groomers returned to Mr. Valinson’s taking refuge from the Kendrits and the rain.Jonas returned to the widow Fisher’s.  He found her to be much the same as when he’d last left, forlorn and melancholy.  She echoed the mood that permeated the day.  He gave her the sack of coin, sure to tell her that 60 pieces of silver was a lot of money; she should be well taken care of.  He didn’t tell her that it actually contained 70.  After leaving Jonas hoped to find a reprieve from this sourness that was welling inside him.  He headed to the pub.He spent the rest of the afternoon playing what could only be considered mediocre pieces at best on his lute.  Several patrons actually left.  Disheartened by the cold reception as well as his lackluster performance, Jonas decided to grace the militiamen with his presence that night.Adair gathered the meager handful of mushrooms and brought Tyrus to reign in the sheep.  While crested on a nearby hillock he showed the woodsman of what he spoke of the eve prior.  They had arrived to see the end of what looked to be a column dipping into a gulley below; six mounted riders trailed behind the speculated advancement of who knew how many.  The riders flew no standard and bore no crest.  They did not move fast, but were not moving slowly.  At the woodsman’s best guess they were only a half-day away.As evening drew nearer Tyrus turned for home, carrying arm loads of wood atop which his pitch filled jug balanced.  He passed though town to deposit the raw materials with Gerald, and check on Wrenchard at the smelts.  A belabored Wrenchard was hard at work attempting to figure out a way to create makeshift molds for arrowheads.  He had already stoked fires in the tall circular cones of packed earth, using his hearths bellows to keep them hot.  Sweat, rain, and soot all served to make him an ominous site in the fading minutes of daylight.In the waning light Wrenchard spotted Tyrus’ approach.  He hoped the woodsman knew how to locate raw ore.  As it turned out, he didn’t.  Wrenchard was exhausted and welcomed the break.  They realized that without the proper tools, supplies, and equipment, despite lack of know how, they weren’t going to forge any arrowheads.Tyrus gave up,”This is not gonna work.”Wrenchrad frustrated with the young man, who’d not even worked at it, for lying down so easily, lashed back, “It was your idea.”Tyrus either didn’t care or didn’t agree.  “Let’s make arrow heads from shale,“ he flatly suggested.The hill dweller walked away wordlessly to the pub where he sought to find tendons useful for tying tip to shaft.  Wrenchard stood in the wet night air, following the silhouette, wondering what the ranger’s capacity for cooperation was going to be; and if perhaps, he’d made a mistake accepting the enigmatic man’s aid.He was tired.  The map-maker threw down his stoking rod and headed for home.  He knew he was late for dinner.  He assumed Kelize would be upset.  He guessed they’d have waited to begin eating.  He entered the dining room and found he was right on all three counts.  Kelize scowled at him, the children were rammy.  Annabelle jumped up and crossed the room to embrace her father’s leg.  Not to be deterred by grime, she wrapped her arms around and squeezed tight.Jebediah cut through the social graces and looked over his shoulder to his host, “How goes the project?”Wrenchard looked up from the smiling face that beamed at him like a beacon through a cloudy night.  To be young and innocent, so full of life, he reflected.  With a heavy sigh he explained, “It’s a wash and so should I.  I shall return.”He scooped up his daughter, kissed her forehead and set her at the table.  He bade them begin their meal lest it get any colder.  The tension was only slightly relieved as he left to clean up.Later that evening, after the kids went to bed, Jebediah tried not to overhear a heated conversation down the hall.  It was brief and ended with Wrenchard storming past Jebediah’s room; a slam echoed in the corridor.  The guest was not as quick as Kelize in his closing his door.  Wrenchard drew up in front of it, placing his hand out and slowly pushing it in.  Jebediah and Constance looked at him, expectantly.“I’m out of practice.  I was wondering perhaps if you’d like to spar.” He directed towards Jebediah.Wordlessly Jebediah rose, brushed past his host, and headed toward the room where his equipment was secured.Wrenchard glanced at Constance in her housedress, her hair brushed out, the right half pushed back from her head with her precious comb.  It served to half veil her face as the long locks draped down over her left eye and the corner of her lips.  Innocently, she crossed her legs, briefly revealing her perfectly soft thighs.Unaware of what he’d been doing, but sure he’d lingered too long, he quietly turned, closing the door behind him.  Had he not averted his eyes, he might not have missed Constance’s knowing smirk.The two men met outside, in the shadow of the house.  The ambient light from the hearth poured through the windows.  It was sufficient.  Jebediah approached in his full regale.  An ornate breastplate of unusual design was fitted atop his studded leather body wear.  A nose guarding cap helm covered most of his face.  Wrenchard feigned and danced, avoiding the man’s precise thrusts.  The bastard sword was large, much larger than the war-hero’s own short sword, making it much harder to parry.  Folding his left hand into the hem of his cloak, Wrenchard weaved using the cloth as an appendage, making his body movements less predictable.  For minutes the only sound was that of exerted grunts.As they drew up, nodding to each other, sweat began to bead on their brows.  Constance joined them, unexpectedly.  She laid down the bundle beneath her arm, twisting to let the lithe blade hanging at her side remain unobtrusive.  Wrenchard noticed the similarity between Jebediah’s leather armor and that which Constance now donned with expert precision and speed.  Tying her hair back into a loose knot, comb pushed back tight from her forehead, she drew the fragile flexible foil and advanced on Wrenchard.  Jebediah tucked the helm beneath his arm and looked on amused.  Left hand counterbalanced behind her head, she stepped towards her host.  He was initially caught unawares as the two Groomers’ styles were so drastically different.  But as they two exchanged play, thrust, parry, stroke, swing, weave, a dance ensued, both competitors evenly matched.Wrenchard bowed low, respecting the heretofore unknown skill of Constance, and watched as Jebediah came at her, mace held high.  It was a clumsy display, but good practice nonetheless.  Jebediah instructed more than sparred with his sister, as he blocked blows that fell on his shield and encouraged her to dodge his heavy blunt implement, rather than parry it as she was naturally inclined to do.The exercise did them all good; though Jebediah’s wounds tore open slightly causing them to cease their activities sooner than expected.  Constance helped her brother up the stairs to redress his injuries, leaving Wrenchard alone in the house below.He sat by the low amber glow of the hearth in his favorite comfortable chair and propped his legs up on a stack of firewood.  He routinely stroked the cat nestled on his thighs, lost in thought as he enjoyed his brandy and the warmth of his home.  He’d be leaving it all soon. He didn’t know if he wanted to, but he knew he was ready.  As he watched the flames of the hearth mingle, spitting greeting s to one another, his mind turned over the past few days events.  He now understood why Jonas had earlier mentioned that he had ‘a sinking feeling’ about the Groomer’s.  The Fawkes boy was much more observant than the Kendrits gave him credit.  They seemed to be full of surprises.      ---------------------------------------------Notes:(1) – Matet is Ra’s chariot, the blazing ball of fire that arcs across the sky daily.(2) – Typical of any small community there is a clearing close to the center of it.  Here at the heart of the hamlet lies the commons, an area where most residents gather to trade their wears, barter, and haggle for what they and their family need.  There are no set trading days since the commons are close enough at hand, that if someone stands out there with their goods in no time everyone in town knows that there is something up for trade.  The exchange of coin is rarely, if ever, necessary.  As outside trade has become less and less common, the commons have become less frequently used (though individuals do still set up there) as one can go to another’s house and trade just as easily.  In the center of the area remains a rough hewn stump of what must have once been a ‘ginormous’ (to the kids) tree whose roots were obviously too big to dig up.  This 4’ high natural podium has served many purposes in the past, including crier’s stand, religious pulpit, and political stage among others.  At times the commons is also used for festivities, celebrations and funerals, the Festival of Isis being the most notable of them. (3) – That military fork was something Jonas had been fond of ever since he had found it at the site of Battle of the Mill. Luckily, he had been sleeping somewhere close by and was awoken by the remaining officer and soldiers who fled the encounter.  After he crept away, Jonas led Mr. Valinson and the Rhondrian regulars to their location where they were promptly dealt with.  Among the remains, the boy found the military fork.(4) – Most of the older kids (a tradition for younger ones to inherit) throw dung up onto the ornery middle-aged bachelor’s roof.  This is a continual effort to pile it high, to bake in the sun, causing an awful stink.  As a result Pollack has taken to leaving his ladder lashed to the side of his house, ever vigilant to clear his eaves of the invading refuse.(5) - One of Edwin’s favorite things in the world is to smoke meats.  The smells from his smokehouse often change as he tries new woods, leaves, nuts, and herbs with which to infuse flavors.  He often begins his day by walking to the smokehouse and spending a few minutes inside ‘breathing in the progress.’(6) – Jonas was a foundling, abandoned by the traveling troupe the Jingle Jangle Players. He was adopted by Isaiah and raised as his own.  Jonas has always been curious to find out more about his real parents.</blockquote>

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