Post by Fehu Isa on Feb 20, 2009 4:24:09 GMT -6
Franz Castellan: The wagons had been driven hard from the northern territory of Fehu, perhaps twenty in all had left, they were headed southward to Koroba, not seeing the sights but they needed to stock up on fresh kailla or bosk to supplement the herds. The wagons had kicked up a dust trail that could easily be seen from above, but either side of the train would be guards on kailla
Lady Kessa: She panted as she walked, too stubborn to stay in the wagon. "At least... this time.. I don't have to carry your...pack for you." Her grin flashed, bare faced and ruddy, her clothing and hair telling plain she was a woman of the North. The chink-chink of her keys clinking as she walked was near lost in the grumble of wheels. She kept near the wagon, but she had always heard that walking helped the baby drop, and at this point she was anxious for it to drop right the heck out of her, to be honest. Coppery hair smoothed off her sweat-shiny forehead, she grinned up at Franz. "You know.. if there's a tarn ... you're going to wind up with a broken back." She knew if he'd complained of her weight the last time, he'd snap in two this time.
Franz Castellan: He rode his kailla by her side and his wagon, careful not to edge close to her but he kept a watchful eye out, the men on horseback that protected the wagons were dressed in the full armor of the northern warriors. In his own arm would nestle his bow. "Stubborn woman! get in the wagon" He shouted down to her but grinned at her comment.
Lady Kessa: Bracing her hands on her back, arching as she walked. "Oh, my days of mounting moving wagons are behind me... at least for another hand or two." She laughed brightly. "May we ... go rest and have some water?" She tried to look coy, but was sure the desperation showed more than the allure at the moment.
Franz Castellan: He looked down at her then and the beasts were indeed tired, and the riders and men on the wagons needed to rest for the coming night, here was a good a place as any and he motioned a hand signal for the group to stop. The order was passed down the rider line and the snort of the kaillas and clatter of men and equipment was slowly drawn into a circle::
Lady Kessa: Coughing lightly as the dust settled, she gave a nod his direction and toddled toward the water barrel, which now at least she had hope of catching. Pulling off the top, she dunked the ladle down and lifted it up, drinking deeply from the cool if slightly woody tasting water. Two dipper fulls went down her parched throat before she handed it off and wiped at the wetness that had snuck out, padding back in search of her companion. She joked about his pack, but honestly, she did think fondly of their times here, and laying out his blanket space with Ivan watching over her. Hazels scanned around, looking to see if there was anyone about, her nature being all warm and open. Never had learned to be cold and aloof even if she had learned to stop calling all men Jarl and wear shoes.
Franz Castellan: He moved off his kailla, his body armor practically chinked when he alighted, his hand gripped his sword and he moved over to his men to form a perimiter guard. He shouted at them "Come on you idle shower ! this is southern territory now ! Tarn attacks, larls wild beasts, watch out for them!". He urged them on
Lady Kessa: The blue of her kirtle, a bit more muted at the hem, switched around her feet as she moved. "You're such a Torvaldslander." Her tone was playfully chiding, but also dipped deeply in honest admiration. He was a stubborn bosk's arse, but she would not have him any other way. Filling up a bota with water, she slung it across her shoulder and made her way over toward him, lifting it up and off so he could drink. "It's very open here, yes, but that also means, we will see anyone coming." She patted his side, that tiny place where the armor did not cover, and looked around, her freckles all the more plain when she'd had sun.
Franz Castellan: His hand curled round the hilt of his sword, his bow was slung on his back and he reached for a bota of water before gulping it down to quench his thirst.He handed it to her she looked thisty. "Drink" He spotted one slovenly warrior without his helmet on and he marched on up to him and walloped him on the head with his fist. "What have I told you ?, go ..get one from the wagon...moooveee !!"
Aquelle of Treve: ::There came a low moan from behind a fallen tem tree, then another before a dark headed figure appeared as if out of nowhere, a streak of blood over one temple, the gash deep and seeping ::
Lady Kessa: "Ooh, you know I like it when you're all ... Jarl-y." Her voice low, but the guards were busy and if they overheard, it wasn't as if it were a great secret. Drinking from the bota, and looking like one herself,she figured, she drank enough she knew he'd be satisfied. Lowering it when he yelled she stepped away from the noise with a wrinkle of her brow, looking around as she spotted the hurt woman. The bota stoppered as she moved, fast as her waddling could take her, one arm holding the bota to her keys, to keep both from bouncing, the other arm draped under her belly for support. "Franz!" She called back, in case he didn't see. "She's hurt!" Could it be a panther girl trick, or some lure from some nefarious person? Didn't even think. Only acted.
Aquelle of Treve: ::A small hand was laid over the rough bark, more to support as she struggled up, features still hidden behind an arrangement of askew veils, but tumbles of dark hair scattered over slim shoulders She stumbled along, like a newborn, on wobbly steps towards the lumbering outline of their wagon, deathly pale, and oddly silent ::
Lady Kessa: wound as best she could without peeling off the veils in front of the men. "Put here in our wagon." She looked up at the men, in this moment, not even at all demure about commanding men. She grabbed hold of one of their tunic's hem and pulled herself up, dusting off her hands as she walked after. "This.. Franz.. is why we need to get a real physician!" Sasha was .. but where the hell WAS she? Off hiding with Marius. "This baby comes and you have to catch it you're going to be looking for every green robe in Gor."
Aquelle of Treve: ::she attempted one more step then all went black, and she fell into a heap on the wagon floor, oblivious ::
Lady Kessa: She fought her way into the wagon, her legs naked as she hiked up her skirt and knelt down, pulling off the walls at least water and clean clothes. "Be glad you're out of it, Lady. " Peeking under the veils enough to see where the blood was coming from. "I'm not really an expert here."
Franz Castellan: He watched the two enter the wagon. He was a tad concerned. there were questions that needed to be answered. He was well aware he had made one or two enemies along the way to Fehu and this could be a trap. But he sincerely hoped not He ordered the guard to double up around the perimeter and keep watchful eye out.
Lady Kessa: She sighed and set her hands to peeling off the veils, as it was needed. She tossed them aside and made sure that there was nobody of the masculine gender who could see inside. Not that it would matter as much. These were North men and they did not get all hard just because they saw a woman's nose and lips. Washing the wound, she made a face, and pressed a clean cloth to stop the bleeding as she inspected the rest of the woman for signs of injury. Just out of habit,she talked to the lady as she worked. "You are lucky we were here, Lady. We're not going to hurt you. We're just on our way to do some shopping and see my companion's brother." She babbled on about nothing in particular, lifting the cloth to see if the wound would need stitches or not. Head wounds tended to bleed over their injury level sometimes.
She swore in English, under her breath, and rolled a bit out of the wagon to drop with a thud and head to the next, hauling her very pregnant self up into it, she'd come out with a box of carved black tem wood and scamper back to her own wagon. She tested again the woman's pulse, making sure it was still strong before she opened the chest and removed the capture scent, which she would only use if the woman began to wake up during this. She dug with a flat bone spoon in a thick paste that smelled strongly of bitter herb and laid it at either side of the gash, letting its properties soak in. She'd done this, okay, seen it done once. "Oh...you're going to be so glad you wear veils, Lady.. if I mess this up." Her lip bit as the waxed thread was poked through the needle, and she swallowed hard, trying to imagine this was just a slit bota or a pair of Franz's stockings needing to be darned, not a human scalp. It was doubtful the woman knew the words to 'I'm a little Teapot" but the melody was soothing, or it was to Kessa anyway. Dragging up the thread, she twisted it round and tied it to the other side snuggly, then snipped, and went a tiny bit up, doing it again and fighting the urge to purge all the water she'd just drank. "When I get all steamed up, I cry out..." her voice quavering as she began on the next row. It was deep, but not long, and though her hands were shaking, she had not done too bad a job. Still, a physician would have done better. She might not have even gotten a scar in proper hands. But at least she wouldn't bleed to death now. Cold water compress put on the wound to aid in taking the swelling down. Washing her hands, she'd sit back and sigh, letting her stomach go back to non-addled calm before she'd start looking over the lady for sign of who she belonged to. City ring or necklace or something.
Dropping down out of the wagon, she motioned over Ulf and Hednir, who kept near to her on a personal level, as the rest of the men, some hundred or so, were spaced out in watchfullness around the small wagon caravan. "Watch the wagon, but don't bother the lady. If she wakes, I will not be far." She was taking the box back, and going to send word to Franz on the patrol line of the woman's status, as she knew it. If they could send a man ahead to Ko-Ro-Ba, it was possible they could meet the physician halfway. Taking a dipper of water from the barrel, she drank it slowly, relaxing as best she could, trying to get the images of the wound from her memory. Tender-hearted women had no business doing things like that. One of the men might have been quicker to do it, but she'd not embarrass the free woman of the south who lay unconscious by letting her be seen sans veils. Sliding down, though she knew she'd regret it later, she folded her hands over her round belly and sighed, laying her head back into the wagon's shade.
Pushing her hair back, she rolled to find her feet again, grunting lightly and using the wagon's wheel like a ladder's rungs to ascend. Swishing her skirts around to get the dust off , she stuck her head into the wagon's door as she asked if there had been any sound from within. None. Well, damn. She turned and walked back toward the line of men, stepping between, just looking over toward where the woman had appeared. She wondered if there might be a clue to who she was there. A bag or something. She knew Franz would have her hide if she went, and doubly so if she took a man off guard, not that she could. Watching the tree line though, in case there were motion. Perhaps who had hurt the woman was still there, lurking and waiting for the wagons to move on.
Aquelle of Treve: ::A grunt of pain was heard, it echoed from the woman's lips, low and barely audible, alerting the rescurers she was returning to consciousness and by the blink over those grey eyes, not much more:: where am I ?::muttered then ::
Lady Kessa: She turned when Ulf barked out, gathering up her woolen kirtle and the thin under dress, walking hastily back toward the wagon and, with help, she hopped up inside, crouching down and turning up the lamp slowly to illuminate the interior of the wagon, hung with the needs of comfort, the pile of furs on which the lady rested sleek black sea sleen. "Tal, Lady." She kept back, not to spook her. "You hit your head. I had to sew it closed, but we are bound for Ko-Ro-Ba. They will have better physicians there."
Aquelle of Treve:::She had no bearings, no sense of balance, so straightening up was out of the question, but she was alert enough to hear the woman climb into the wagon, followed by the soft lilt of her voice as she attempted to soothe away any fears :: Where am I ? :;asked again :: Who are you ??
.
Lady Kessa: "You are in a wagon. Specifically a wagon near the Cliffs. I am Kessa. Companion to Jarl Franz Castellan, Administrator of Fehu Isa and all around adorable bosk." She grinned as she'd added the last to not sound pretentious. "Can you drink?" She had let the bota be forgotten on the floor, but now moved to pick it up. "Your veils are on the floor, they got rather bloody,and I needed to get to your scalp. I haven't let any of the men in, so you haven't reason to worry." She was bare-faced too, but that was a cultural thing. Now that they'd come to the South proper, she'd have to start wearing hers again, which she hated.
Aquelle of Treve: ::She wiggled up, trying to not let the swirling surroundings upset her belly futher, glad for the woman's kindness, and the offer of a drink, anything, for there was a foul tasting dryness that had little to do with her injury , so a small hand settled around the bota and guided it oher parched mouth, where a generous sluce slid down her gullett ::
Lady Kessa: "Well, you're alive, which is a blessing. "Tell Franz she's up and drinking, but to knock because she's naked." She called out to the men still, she assumed, outside watching the door. Whether they heard, or moved to go tell him, she didn't hear
Franz Castellan: He strode around the group of men guarding the perimiter of the wagons some sixty in number were extremely alert. Bows were carried in arms, as well as hands wrapped around the hilts of swords or axes. Inside the wagon circle itself they travelled with ten black caste members that Papo had assigned them to travel with.
Zandar Bloodbane: ::The Tarn shrieked a cry of defiance to the chilled winds of winter as the Rider astride its back looked both high and low thru the Y design in the Iron helmet he wore. Wings beat then extended again to soar upon the winds near the clouds in the chilled air::
Lady Kessa: The men watched the tarn, each Torvaldslandic eye giving heed, then falling to scan the ground as well. The wagons drawn into a boxy sort of circle at the side of the road. The bows were not lifted, but every one wore a nocked arrow.
MariIena: ::She made way to the cliffs, minus her kaiila after last night, she did not favor a fight of the damned animals whom could and likely would tear each other to pieces along with whatever people got in their way::
Zandar Bloodbane: ::The Tarn, a War breed by its girth and wingspan for anyone that knew such matter, assumed a circle pattern well out of bowshot of anything less the a siege engine.The Tarnsman took the measure of what appeared to be a small caravan thru a Glass of the Builders he had placed to his right eye.It might be worthy of a Raid in force perhaps::
MariIena: ::She took notice of the tarn, it was hard to miss the shadow the massive body created though she knew nothing about the animals but that she did not like them in the least. Moving to park her rear end on one of those logs over by the fire pit::
Lady Kessa: From somewhere, the call came to move, and the kailla were nudged into motion, unraveling the circle though the men watched the skies still. It would be a journey of keen nerves now. Word had already been sent ahead, probably, to Ko-Ro-Ba, to have the physician come meet them.
Zandar Bloodbane: ::A head count of guards,types of weapons,any intellignce that could be gathered from his lofty perch was made note of by the warrior.Such was how Treve gathered information on potential targets for raids::
Lady Kessa: Jostled, in the wagon, she cradled her massive stomach and groaned, a little sick already. Little Jarl was not going to be in there much longer, she hoped. The flowing caravan resumed with a hard bump, the road to Ko-Ro-Ba.
Zandar Bloodbane: ::What could be learned for the time being was learned by the Tarnsman, With a manipulation of a combination of strap,the tarn banked away and went into a gentle dive well away from any nervous archer in the caravan towards the edge of the cliffs for a fly over before he moved on::