A hurt, a sleen, A new friend

[Lady Kessa]

Lady Kessa: The cold hours of darkness lay like a comforting blanket over the Hall. It would be simple to think that like the bondmaids who slumbered, save for Tempest who was doing laundry, that everything would be still as the snow outside. How wrong. There was a steady sound of soft footsteps quickly pacing out the circumferance of the Hall.

Elise Haraldr: ::faintly heard outside the hall is the sound of yelling and sleen snarling:: get him Bojee .. get ... wait wait, don't hurt him ::there is the sound of loud thumping at the door accompanied by the snarl of a sleen::

Lady Kessa: Ruddy faced, Kessa patted the post beside the guard and then she stopped, panting lightly. The sound of the sleen snarl made both guards stand at alert. She was curious, but knew better than to risk the trouble she'd get into with her companion if she went to peek, so she stepped back dutifully as they moved out with torch in hand to see what was going on

Elise Haraldr: ::a young hurt bounces through the door, followed quickly by a tracking sleen following hot on his tail, the hurt bounds away frantically until he finds refuge under a table, the sleen crouching and snarling at him, Elise dashes through the door, also red faced and panting, her woolen cloak covered in the snow falling outside, she pauses, panting at the guard:: Tal Sir .. Ho ...::seeing Bojee she dashes to him and grabs his collar:: wait .. wait

Lady Kessa: Kessa bit back a scream and didn't run, but stood stock still, hands clasped against her stomach beneath her navel, watching the sleen with great worry. Only when it was in hand did she move, though it was to stalk quick behind the High Table and put it between her and the beast. Only then did her mind seem to register the bounding hurt moving through the hall helter-skelter. "Do you have it?" Her worry evident in her tone. "Or should I call for one of the thralls?" She wouldn't risk the possible injury to one of the useful men of Fehu Isa, but if the sleen killed a thrall, it wasn't that big a loss.

Elise Haraldr: ::she frantically nods her head at Kessa, panting:: Tal Lady ::she pulls back on the sleen, struggling to pull it away from the young hurt, the sleen turns its head and snaps at her:: oh no, Lady, that's .... ::she slaps the sleen across the nose:: stop that! ::Bojee glares up at her as she pulls him away and points to the door with a stomp of her small foot:: out! ::Bojee, still glaring crouches away, his six legs scrabbling on the dirt as it reluctantly slinks away from the hurt and out the door, Elise crouches down to peer under the table, from her awkward position she looks back at the Lady:: it's alright Lady, Bojee is just a little stubborn

Lady Kessa: Blinking at the scene, she cleared her throat, visiably shaken and glad the sleen was out of the Hall. "Merely stubborn is a good trait I would imagine, since the other traits of sleens are even less tolerable." She sighed and sat down, lifting a brass bell which she shook and set down, the wet bondmaid Tempest slinking out from the laundry quickly. "Wake the others and have them prepare to wash the floor. And bring me some tea." She shooed the girl off as the mottled green-blues fixed to Elise, watching her pursuit of the hurt. "Do you require anything, Lady? A rope or the like?"

Elise Haraldr: ::her arm stretched out under the table as she tries to coax the hurt to her:: Thank you Lady, but I think I can get him ::looking up at the Lady:: I'm sorry about your floor, Lady ::she nods at the hurt:: this little one got away and ran through a pile of ::she gulps:: manure on his way here ::she glances around the floor, a flush growing in her already red cheeks, looking up at Kessa with her clear green eyes oh so apologetic:: I'm really sorry Lady

Lady Kessa: "If it is not him, it is the men. I am just... very used to keeping things tidy. "She had been a slave for longer than she could remember really, and even in the time before, she'd been a neatnik. "It does them good anyway." She could hear the sound of the water being poured into the large cauldron in the kitchen to heat. "Would it be tempted by food, Lady?" She took the tray of tea from Tempest and then caught her arm before she could depart to resume her laundering until the question of food was answered.

Elise Haraldr: ::shaking her head as she studies the little hurt trembling under the table:: I think he's just tired and quite traumatized ::she reaches up to unclasp her cloak and pull it from her shoulders:: I think I'll just make him a nice comfy bed ::lightly throwing the cloak over the hurt, she pulls him to her, wrapping her arms around the cloak against its struggles, the hurt quiets down after only a few ihns of being secured in a make shift pouch, Elise sits back on her heels, gently rocking the small creature in a mimic of his mother, she smiles up at Kessa:: there he goes, like I said, I think he was just tired

Lady Kessa: "They are marsupial, are they not? Pouches would then be very soothing." She hadn't really been around hurt very much, but still, she could imagine that they were like opossums and kangaroos back home in that regard. Letting Tempest go back to her chores, she rose from her seat with the cup of tea she'd sweetened and moved toward Elise slowly and quietly, so not to disturb the now calmed animal. Crouching down, she set the cup in Elise's easy reach. "I am sure you've been run ragged. Rest here if you like. Or if you must take your animal home, know you may return whenever you like. Openly invited guest as it were." Standing straight and smoothing her kirtle of deep blue over the underdress of cream with red and green embroidery.

Elise Haraldr: "marsupial"? ::she looks up at Kessa in confusion:: I don't know about how good they are in soup, but their mothers have pouches so ::she nods:: they find it very comfortable in one ::she reaches gratefully for the tea:: oh thank you Lady ::taking a sip from her cup she sets it again on the table:: you're right Lady, I've been chasing this little fellow for a couple of pasangs ::she eyes the luxurious and beautiful fabric of Kessa's kirtle and smiles before looking up at her once more, her cheeks still red and rosy from the cold:: if you don't mind, I'd like to rest here for a bit?

Lady Kessa: "Marsuipial merely means an animal whose mother have a pouch and are warm blooded." She chuckled and folded her hands over her waist, stepping round to the nearest bench to sit as the parade of naked bondmaids stepped from the kitchen Sweetness and Comfort carrying one wooden bucket and Fire and Delight carrying the other. They dropped to their knees before the High Table and then dunked their hands into the water, pulling out the brushes and then the scrubbing started, working in ever-widening lines. "Of course." Ignoring the girls as she smiled at Elise. "As I said, you may rest as long as you like. No doubt he.. or is it a she? Whichever, the animal is likely as weary as you are. When both of you are rested, you may do as you please. Until then, I expect you to remain here." A look of soft apology touched her features. "I beg your forgiveness if I have forgotten, for your face is quite familiar.. but have we met formally, Lady?"

Elise Haraldr: ::she nods:: aye, then hurts are marslipial ::ok, now she's in the way of the bondsmaids, she scooches on her rump away from them still cradling the young hurt::aye, he's fair weary to be sure ::another broad smile up at Kessa:: he's just a young thing ::she cants her head as she looks up at the Lady:: I don't know if we have met or not, ::a sheepish grin:: I've met so many people since moving here, I am Elise Haraldr, daughter of Bjorn Haraldr and Kyrsten Brackensdatter

Lady Kessa: "It is my pleasure to put name to face, Lady Elise. I am Lady Kessa, the companion of Jarl Franz and mistress of Tyr'Odal." She moved her hand in a motion to encompass the large stone and wood hall. "But that is merely fortuntate fate on my part, and I would not hold any airs over it." She lifted her feet and set them on Comfort's back lightly as she scrubbed the way before her on the bench. "You're welcome to come sit up on the bench if you need to, Lady Elise." Once Comfort had passed she lowered her feet to the floor again. It was more torment than she dare let show to not be on the floor with them, working to clean her Jarl's hall. Free she was, but in the fine clothes she wore a polished brass cylinder which contained her manumission papers at all times.

Elise Haraldr: ::green eyes wide at the introduction:: oh, very well met indeed Lady ::she looks around the grand hall of actual stone and wood rather than the sod house, very comfortable to be sure, than her family lives in, looking down in her lap, her legs crossed over each other creating a perfect space to cradle the young creature:: I'm doing well sitting here, Lady, if that's alright with you ::she scooches out of the bondsmaids way again, only to return to her previous place, now scrubbed clean by the industrious girls and also near her cup of tea from which she takes another sip:: have you lived here long?

Lady Kessa: "So long as you are comfortable, that is all which matters. I would still be able to get up, though.. that will not last long." Patting her belly as she chuckled. It was now possibly noticeable she was pregnant, but not horridly obvious. "I have lived here as long as Franz has." She canted her head. "Did you live here before he came?" She knew the history of the outpost, or most of it. That the man who had been the warden before Franz had run it like 'Port Kar North', taking no care of the land or people. Franz had, frankly, stolen it by intimidation, but he was a thousand times more interested in what he now saw as his people.

Elise Haraldr: ::her eyes widen as a grin spreads across her lips, virginal she may be, but she's lived on a farm long enough to recognize the significance of the slight rounding of the Lady's belly, she says nothing about it, trying to be discreet as she assumes fine Ladies are supposed to be, but shoot, she'll never be a fine Lady so she can't help her reaction at Kessa's news, babies always made her excited, trying to focus her attention she comes back to the Lady's question:: oh no, Lady, my family just moved here a couple of hands ago, your fine companion sent some men to help us here ::her eyes sparkle at the handsomeness of the man:: he was very generous::young, yes, and a virgin, she would never consider trying to take another woman's man, but she is still a woman of the North and one who appreciates the beauty of men::

Lady Kessa: "He is indeed." She smiled to herself. It was obvious that she loved him. "He came and found it terribly run down. He made the first duty to tear down what was halfway falling upon itslef and re-build. From the dirt, he oversaw the growing of an outpost which is striving now for the status of village." Standing, now that the floor between herself and the table was clean, she poured herself a mug of tea. She made it differently than they did in the south, more akin to the way black wine was made. As much tea as she drank, it was just less of a hassle. "Are you coming to Tyr'Odal for the Festival or will you celebrate at home with your family?"

Elise Haraldr: ::again her eyes sparkle at the mention of the festival:: my family is planning to attend here, we've never been to one before since they didn't celebrate it in Hammersgaard ::she takes another sip of her tea and sets down the mug, pulling the corner of the her cloak back to check on the sleeping hurt, it's thin hind legs almost alien looking as they curl relaxed over the wooly body, she looks up again at Kessa:: will you need some help during the festival?

Lady Kessa: "It is only the first here. I think Franz enjoys the idea of having something that is uniquely a Fehu Isa tradition." Mug in hand, she strolled back, sinking down to perch on the edge of the bench and sip from the horn cup before continuing. "Oh, always. There are a thousand small details that must be hammered out and handled." She leaned back a bit and sipped again. It was very sweet and warm, and the steam alone was soothing as she inhaled it deeply. Lowering the mug to set on the table behind her, she folded her hands in her lap again. "I would be very grateful if you would be willing, and perhaps your mother as well, to come to the Hall in the days before the guests arrive to help weave garlands and wreathes to decorate the guests houses. And you do fine work with woolen things, I believe? If I am thinking of the same Lady Elise. Their houses will need nice woolen blankets to keep the chill away. If you've inclination to make them, I would, of course, see you well paid for them. Time being short I wouldn't flinch at double your usual asking price."

Elise Haraldr: ::again her eyes widen at the thought of *double* the usual asking price, of course, her mother handles all the finances:: oh, Ma would be delighted to come and help out, as would I, and blankets, they're easy to make even in such a short time ::eyes twinkle with mischief:: Ma is one of those people who can't keep still, she is always doing something ::so is she but she won't admit to that:: even when she's resting her hands are busy with something, she and I would love to come and help decorate the hall and the houses ::her ADD mind going off in different directions as usual:: did you find the shawl Ma made for you?

Lady Kessa: She smiled. "I did. It is beautiful and were I allowed outside.." her tone taking a playful sort of annoyed tone typical of one who is pretending that their companion's over-protective streak was more troublesome than adorable. "I'd wear it more often. As for the blankets, I would like to have ... oh... ten of each of the caste colors excepting white, which I would like twenty five of. They blend with every color more easily and Odin knows we'll have no Initiates coming to a Torvaldsland festival." She laughed again. "But we've got represetitives of Cos coming." They had a trade agreement anyway, and they'd be bringing wingfish and wine and that would add to the stores and feasting no doubt.

Elise Haraldr: ::she smiles at the obvious love shared between the Master and Mistress of Tyr'Odal, her parents being the same way, she nods at the number of blankets requested:: we've just recently sheared the hurts, so there is plenty of wool right now, we also have verr wool, which is a little coarser, but very warm, we don't have quite as much of that, but some of it comes from the white verr, so it won't even need to be dyed ::nods again:: I would imagine Da would be willing to help as well, but I won't speak for him ::she looks up at her again, this time with her business brain cranking:: we have recently made an agreement with a man regarding fur, if you'd like some of the blankets lined with it.

Lady Kessa: "If there is not, or should you need anything at all... I will be sending a wagon to Kassau tomorrow and so they will pick up what you might need." She nodded to the verr wool being coarser. She knew, her kirtle when she was a bondmaid had been verr wool. "Fur? Hmm." Her own mind moved and she smiled to herself. "No. But these are Southern people from a tropic island. They might enjoy some fur lined mittens to keep their hands warm." She doubted they'd ever really feel warm here, but she would likely be just as uncomfortable in Cos, wearing ninety layers of robes and veils in the midst of a ninety degree day ... made her sweat just to think about it.

Elise Haraldr: I don't think we'll need any more wool, and I think we have enough fur for mittens :;she grins:: they don't take very much ::again she nods:: I've never been south, but I'm told that some of the women wear these garments that aren't much more than long thin sheets that wrap around themselves ::wide eyes gaze up at her in silent quest for confirmation::

Lady Kessa: She nodded. "Some do. But most women of the south believe that seeing their faces makes it too easy for strangers to know their thoughts. I wore them for a while when I was traveling with Franz, but I prefer to breathe without the layers between my mouth and the good air." She twisted round to take up her tea and sip again, her green-blue eyes watched the naked bondmaids slip away to the kitchen again, the floor damp but clean. When a few ehn passed, Comfort and Fire returned with baskets of rushes and tossed them across the floor to freshen and absorb the last bits of water. When they'd gone, she returned her full attention to Elise. Studying her carefully, she smiled slowly. "No doubt the men who come to visit will be happy to see such a pretty girl at the feast. Do you have any... " she didn't know the right word here. ".. interested parties?"

Elise Haraldr: ::she cants her head again in confusion:: "interested parties"?

Lady Kessa: "Men who are interested in making you their companion. Some young soldier who is working hard to earn the bride price and prove himself to your father." She could imagine it, though she'd not experienced such a thing herself.

Elise Haraldr: ::a wide grin seems to split her face even as a blush creeps across her cheeks, tendrils of hair loosened from her thick braid fall haphazardly around her face, her hands dirty from struggling with the hurt, she is not the picture of feminine beauty:: oh no, Lady, I have not met anyone interested in courting me ::she lowers her head and chuckles at what she sees as an absurdity::

Lady Kessa: "It will happen. There is benefit to having a companion who has such skill as you do. And there are more folk here by the day it seems. Perhaps the next arrival shall be the one who will sweep you off your feet." Elise was likely in no rush, and her parents would benefit as well from having her about, but still, the girl looked to be of that age where thoughts of who their companion might be became something turned over more often than in younger years.

Elise Haraldr: ::again she gazes at Kessa, of course she has romantic thoughts, between thoughts of shearing verr and hurt, the gianies that roam freely about the house, not to mention the frevets, a man taking her on would be taking on a small zoo, but she is a woman of the North, with a Northern woman's passions, Bojee gives a small feline/canine type yip from outside the hall walls following by a masculine voice telling him to quiet down, within a few ihns, the sound ofa firm knock is heard at the door::

Lady Kessa: The knock brought her to stand again, hoping that whoever it was had no plans to traipse anything nasty all over the floor. The guards opened the door and let the man in, aware he was likely not a horrible assassin come to do mischief.

Elise Haraldr: ::she turns at the sound of the knock and sees her brother standing at the door, she stands and comes to Kessa's side:: this is my brother (oh, we'll call him) Tibor, Tibor, this is the Mistress of TyrO'dal

Lady Kessa: "Sir." She bowed her head politely. "Your sister has been good enough to keep me company during the quiet hours of the night. I am sorry if I kept her too long." She'd not want the girl to get into trouble.

Tibor HaraldrNPC: ::Tibor nods his head uncomfortably at Kessa:: well met Lady ::he looks at Elise:: Ma says you're to come home right now whether you found the hurt or not ::he knows Elise won't get into trouble, she *never* gets into trouble regardless of what she seems to do, of course, he and his brothers get into trouble, all the time, but Elise, being the youngest and only girl is quite spoiled by the love of her family, Tibor doesn't mind though, he loves her too, Tibor nods again at Lady Kessa:: thank you for letting her bore ye to death ::he grins at his sister in his teasing way::

Lady Kessa: "Take my offer to your parents, Lady Elise, and remember about the wagon." She'd divert the lady's attention no longer, letting her tend to accompanying her brother home and getting the hurt, she assumed, back in its pen safe and sound. "She was a great help, Sir, in truth." She guessed the truth of his jesting and smiled. "I wish you both well and hope to see you soon."

Elise Haraldr: ::holding the wrapped hurt snuggly against her she smiles warmly at Lady Kessa:: I will tell my parents of course, and thank you for the tea and the company, I wish you well :;she turns toward her brother who sighs but takes off his cloak to wrap it around her, she grins up at him and turns back to wave at Lady Kessa, ::

Tibor HaraldrNPC: ::Tibor turns to her as well. :: be well Lady ::the two of them wander down the path toward home::