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Post by Elanorîn on Jul 16, 2005 16:34:13 GMT -5
Taur's hideaway (in and out of battle)!
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Post by Elanorîn on Jul 16, 2005 18:16:00 GMT -5
The horses threw their heads a little as the blew air out harshly. They were obviously tired still though they had been still for a couple of hours now. The still high afternoon sun was beating down from the cloudless sky above and though it was by anyone’s definition a beautiful day, it was very hot for this time of year. At this rate the High Summer would be quite hard to bear for those sensitive to heat and with heavy labour. The man currently sitting under the shelter of the roof on the balcony of the building across the road could not be described as anyone with such worries however. He seemed quite content there with a drink in one hand and an endlessly giggling young blonde girl by him. She couldn’t be more than 16 but from the way she was dressed, moved and neverendingly laughed at the man’s witless comments she knew her trade well already. The man was fat, in his early 40’s, dark sweaty hair that clung to his head and with clothes that once was quite fine. His grubby hands were never far from the girl when they weren’t busy with his quickly emptying pint. The balcony was small and would normally be considered somewhat private as the road it looked over was rarely used save for the stables that were opposite. The balcony was one of several, each belonging to a room of the inn that the building housed but each remained sheltered from the other, for obvious reasons.
Taur found himself still by the horses by the stable where he had been now for nearly two hours. Where Artanis had got to was anyone’s guess but it wasn’t rare for him to let the boys fend for themselves when they made these stops on their way south. The horses were still clammy from the long road and where they stood in the middle of he sun still bound to the carriages they weren’t cooling very fast. Behind him was a large red barn with the big double doors wide open to a slightly cooler inside with some more horses, lots of hay and straw as well as the odd other horse in their boxes.
A loudish thunk could be heard from inside and a moment later a short and very gruff looking man came out from the stables. Taur knew him as Grig. The man blatantly ignored him and just walked passed and towards the main road of the little village where they had stopped.
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Post by taur on Jul 16, 2005 18:35:57 GMT -5
Taur observed the man and his woman calmly, slightly detached as he thought. He was slightly sickened by it, but he understood the reasons. That someone would lock enough of their pride away and give freely of themselves seemed strange to him, but then these people had little pride. Even the ones who considered themselves proud.
This was their civilization. All of this, including the buildings, and the mockery of a life where many simply sit and depend on others. It seemed a waste to have so many who do nothing. Or even have little skill in any field that was actually useful. These people shut themselves out from the stars far too much, and didn't listen to their hearts.
The heat didn't really bother him. He was used to fighting, no matter the weather. He thought of it more as the fire to forge yourself under, much like the cold and snow was something to hone your skills in, since it begins to drag you down into itself, to smother you in its cold embrace.
He glanced up from where he sat, his back against the wall, when Grig walked by. He made no attempt to catch his attention. He kept to his own devices, more than not.
He took a deep breath, and stared into the skies.
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Post by Elanorîn on Jul 16, 2005 18:47:51 GMT -5
The horses shuffled their feet, obviously more uncumfortable in the hot sun than Taur. The movement caused the carriage to move a little and a low sleepy protesting sound could be heard from it where Kynak was lying.
Around them were open fields and it was completely quiet save for the sounds of he birds and insects around them and the continuous fake giggles from the girl on the balcony. There seemed to be no wind at all to leviate from the heat.
A foot could be made out from one of the large piles of hay inside the stables, it lie completely still and was recogniseable as that of Jared. There was another thump coming from inside but it was probably just one of the horses growing impatient with the wall again.
The blond girl's giggles were gradually growing less continuous and if Taur looked up the man's unashamed and open advances would explain it. He didn't seem inclined to move inside.
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Post by taur on Jul 16, 2005 18:59:44 GMT -5
Taur's eyes followed each sight, and each sound, taking in as much as he could of everything. He immediatly regretted his usual practices when his eyes returned to the balcony. He didn't care to have those mental images scarring his mind and spirit for the rest of his life. Of course, no matter where he moved, he would likely still hear them. What a nuisance.
He pulls himself to his feet and looks around, partially hoping that Kynak would remain asleep. Though an interesting man, he was also... very strange. Taur was often uncomfortable around the man. His spirit smelled sick, like that of a wolf who would attack and eat its own. Which, when he thought about it, probably wasn't too far from the truth.
He walked into the barn and sat in the hay, not interested in watching an overweight man seduce a young girl. He did wonder if the man would crush her, but that was just morbid curiousity. Of course, if she was a thief as well, then he would quickly hear of one more body deprived of money.
He watched Jared for a time from his new position. He understood this man more than some, since he had a thirst for battle. That was one trait they shared. Hm.
He had never been to the capital. He wondered what it was like.
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Post by Elanorîn on Jul 16, 2005 19:09:22 GMT -5
The barn is very large with a very high roof. The shade in there offers a cooler air than that outside. There are six horse boxes at the other end, two of which were occupied at the moment.
Around the stables are various tools, gear and junk among bales of hay and piles of straw. One pile holds a stretched out and rather content looking Jared lying completely still and would appear to be asleep were it not for the very slight movement of the straw in his mouth.
The large black horse in its box seemed impatient again and thumped one of his back hooves in the wall again making an identical thud to the one before. The other only made grinding munching sounds from the mouthful of hay that still hung from his lips.
"Restless, are ye?" Jared didn't move a muscle save to speak.
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Post by taur on Jul 16, 2005 19:19:37 GMT -5
Taur quickly noticed the straw and smiled, if only very slightly. He did not smile much, at least, not fully. The most one could get out of him was a sort of half smile, with one corner of the mouth moving upwards. His eyes strayed to the large black horse for a moment before they return to Jared when he speaks. He pauses, thinking over the words before speaking them, taking his time to call the still unfamiliar tongue to his mind and translating his thoughts into it.
"A little. I not been to capital before. Imagine it is big, much different from where we come from. I not used to..." He gestures with his hand, trying to pull the words out of the air. "...large city."
He frowned slightly, fully aware that it did not sound the same. He just couldn't seem to structure the sentences correctly, no matter how hard he tried. Their language was strange to him. Nevermind this was the language he grew up with.
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Post by Elanorîn on Jul 16, 2005 19:32:51 GMT -5
Jared still didn't move where he lay with his yes closed in the hay though he gave off a slight chuckle as he heard Taur speak.
"It's not much like Tregamber, that's for sure. Bigger for one, more... well... civilised..." He chuckled again slightly as he thought Taur's words over. "We'll reach 'Large City' soon enough. It's not far now."
He sat up with a slightly bothered sigh at the effort and took the straw from his mouth and looked at it before throwing it on the floor. Whatever taste once liked seemed to have faded by the look on his face.
"In fact, if Artanis got his ass in gear we could be there by tonight." He added.
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Post by taur on Jul 17, 2005 0:07:10 GMT -5
Taur frowned at the use of the word civilized. To him, civilized meant a kind of stagnation of chaos, an ever changing machine that stagnated the spirit of the people who lived in it. Many thought themselves free of the machine's influence, but it constantly effected their lives and changed their descisions. Civilization was not his way, and he was not eager to see more of it. Then again, at the same time, he was curious to see what the heart of civilization was. After all, he could have the wrong impression. He was sure he didn't, but he knew that one had to keep an open mind to truly make a descision and choose one's fate.
He smiled slightly again when Jared mentioned Artanis.
"Artanis run on own time. World stop for him." He thinks a moment, and then continues, gesturing to the sky and then to the South. "Large City not wait, but he try make it wait anyways. We not be there until tomorrow, I think."
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Post by Elanorîn on Jul 17, 2005 2:30:52 GMT -5
With an exasperated sigh Jared laid back down in to the hay, each muscle visibly relaxing as he found his position again and his hand searched on it's own as he stared up at the roof for another straw.
"Yep, that's Artanis, alrigh'."
He gave off another sigh and his fingers brought him another straw that he looked over carefully before putting in his mouth much like the last one. His eyes returned to Taur and watched him with mild curiosity.
"Fardinn can be the best of places, it can be the worst of places. It depends on alot. But you never know, you might like it." He chuckled to himself as he seemed to remember something. "But even if you don't... you'll never forget it." He grinned to himself and closed his eyes as he brought both hands up and under his head.
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Post by taur on Jul 17, 2005 2:43:05 GMT -5
Taur simply nods, not replying with anything more than that gesture.
He wondered what would happen if he tried to run now. He could take the cart and ride until the morning star passed under the world, to be replaced by the night star. Then he could rest, and ride again, until he was free from these people and their strange civilization.
No, now was not the best time. He would wait until after he saw what the spirits led into, then strike out on his own. Besides, if he did well enough, he might recieve a prize that would help him.
He reached into the hay and pulled some up, bringing it level with his eyes. Then he lets it drift into the air, watching it fall to the ground. It would have taken longer had there been a good wind, but there was not. He leaned into the hay, and thought. This city would be strange, but it would be worth seeing at least once. If they were just as bad, then he would at least know his enemy. If they were not, maybe things would change.
Or maybe what he really wanted was to be part of the great battles to come. To prove himself, to himself. Then he would have the pride to walk away.
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Post by Elanorîn on Jul 17, 2005 3:02:03 GMT -5
Jared fell silent and soon his breath slowed down and he seemed to have dozed off, even the straw in his mouth was still and he looked quite content and almost peaceful there for the moment.
An even louder THUNK was heard from the restless black horse in his box and he threw his head around as he moved around restlessly. If it wasn't for the fact that the other horse and the horses outside were calm one might think he was sensing something. He was growing increasingly restless and any more power behind one of those hooves and the rickety structure might give way. In fact, it should have already.
Outside there was the faint sound of the horses feet on the beaten dirt path moving slightly, walking away a bit and dragging the carriage and the sleeping Kynak with them.
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Post by taur on Jul 17, 2005 3:14:48 GMT -5
Kynak would wake in time, and he was sure Grig was outside to stop it if he had to.
Also, he didn't really care.
What he did care about was this black horse. It seemed strange to him that this one horse would be react so violently while all the others were so calm. He had been anxious the whole time.
Taur stood and made his way to the horse, to see what was going on. He whispered encouragingly to the horse in his native tongue, trying to calm the beast as he looked around, trying to figure out what set the horse so on edge.
[Handle Animal: 12 (roll) + 2 (Modifier)= 14 >.>]
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Post by Elanorîn on Jul 17, 2005 3:45:25 GMT -5
The horse is just slightly larger than average and slenderly built, for those who have seen many horses it would be clear it was of good breeding and well trained with strong muscles under the smooth black coat. The dark eyes were widened and the horse restlessly moved around and even rose a little on its hind legs a few times, though never more than a foot off the ground. It was entirely black without any white markers on either the face or legs. As Taur spoke softly the horse backed away a little at first and shuffled around nervously but soon calmed a little. After a couple of minutes the horse slowly came up to him, much calmer but visibly tense. It didn't seem vicious, not frightened just very impatient.
On the side of the box hang a black saddle with bags and a blanket with a bridle next to it. Taur notices a small symbol or emblem on the side of the bridle, at a second glance he sees it on the saddle as well though it is very small. It is the outline of a dagger with a ribbon losely wrapped around it. It is stamped in to the leather and the lines filled with silver which has faded to black in places and at other places been worn away leaving just the relief. The gear seems to have been in use for quite some time. The saddle is very well made and of the professional kind of one who rides alot. The way the blanket folds there seems to be some items under it.
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Post by taur on Jul 17, 2005 4:03:28 GMT -5
Taur smiled, silently thanking the spirits for their blessing. He was not very good with animals, to be honest. A little more than some, far less than those who are skilled in such things. He ran a hand through the horse's mane, his eyes falling to the symbol and the blanket.
While curious, he was no thief. Only when it was needed. Plus, he had the respect to challenge a man for what he thought was his. Though, no man could own anything. Not truly. They could only use what was at their disposal. They could, however, defend what they had gathered.
He frowned when he realized what the symbol represented. That was the sign of those who hunted. No wonder he and Kynak were given such freedom of movement. Artanis had no reason to worry, with one of them nearby.
He patted the horse on the neck once more, and then walked back to the hay. Perhaps he should stop the horses from carrying Kynak very far. It would take them much longer to get to the capital if the horses were lost.
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