Silent as a breath of wind, barely there, the Norskmann wove his way through the dark night to the Law Offices of Dewey, Cheetham and Howe with the empty sack of a man's spent life thrown over his shoulder. It was quiet then. Night-peaceful as his townfolk slumbered in beds. Hazy and smoke-coloured over grey cobbles, the air was still. No night-birds chirping in the treelinings. Yet in Guthorm's ears, Voices mumbled, tossed about in reckless remembrances, each picked free of the tangle of that night's fate.
And Stew Burger said in one of those Voices, "I need directions, I'm afraid. I'm lost." The Redbird said, "Help me." And from the other side of his mouth, he sang: "The Seer's shoes are in Howe's hands."
Sing, Redbird. Sing.
"He's gotten them through an unknown delivery."
The Last Song of the Redbird was sung.
And the Norskmann had responded, "Where are you going, Redbird" Hmmm' Perhaps I can take you there." It was not a question.
"I—I—ah' No. I don't need you to take me anywhere."
"Be....well on ye travels." Sid's Voice was neutral and composed in her bidding the man goodbye.
"Please, you don't understand. I was just looking for a drink and some directions. Please, let me go!" The calloused hand of the Norskmann held firm that Redbird's elbow.
"Oh, but I am not busy. I can take you there. I know the way."
Elessaria, Lydia Loran and Icer were all drawn by then by distraction. So Observant.
With a desperation born of totally and absolute fear, the StewPigeon began to hollar louder. "LET ME GO! I DON'T want to GO WITH YOU!"
"Hey, Why don't you put him down already?" Daniel DeAuster's Voice. Guthorm heard it well enough. And Jewell Ravenlock's as well. "Why is Guthorm manhandling that...man?"
"LET ME GO! LET ME GO!" ...Let me go!...Let me go...let me go...let me.... "NOOOOOOO!"
Erinalle Dunbridge had covered her ears. "Someone should thwap that man."
As Guthorm escorted Burger to the doorway to the alley, Daniel stepped out in front of them to play at being hero. "Hey. Put him down."
As Guthorm was a rather large man, some of the humor faded from Cieara DeAuster's pale lit features then.
"PLEASE" I Beg YOU" You don't understand!" They aren't what they appear, you've gotta listen to me!"
"I have a safe place! You fear them, ja?" A smooth change...like the shifting of the northern lights, deep in a cold winter.
Corlanthis Wystansayr picked a stool near the door to the alley. Lydia looked confused. Gwyr Mowbray stepped into the Inn through the front door. Daniel was in front of the door. Icer was behind the Viking. All this Guthorm saw out of the corner of his eye. None of it made any difference. Sid was falling away, away...
"Yes, yes, you have to help me, you can't kill me!" It came as a refrain.
Daniel DeAuster reached out to grab at the wrist of the hand holding the little guy. "Hey' Are you deaf, or just stupid! let him go!"
"Thank you, but I think I was overreacting there. I think he's here to help."
But Daniel pushed full weight into the Norskmann...and paid for his mistake with his face against a Norskmann's elbow. Poor, poor man...never had a chance to fulfil his dream of hero-ing....
And Guthorm steered a placated Redbird out into the alley. For helping. For showing Stew the way...to give him directions when he was lost. Only the Dragon, sister of Tass, followed.
Neck bones snap with a sound like chalk, a peculiar grinding and a soft pop between the hands. Sudden. Final. No words. No time....
Guthorm hefted the deadweight over his shoulder and let it flop there as he regarded Icer in a squint. "Do not put yourself in their way, Dragon, I warn you." "Did you not know I am Tass's sister?" Tass's sister" He did not know...."I already have. I want my brother back."
"As do many...as do many...." He turned his back on her then, Stew Burger an empty sack over his shoulder, bouncing along for the ride. He rounded the alley into shadow and was gone, and Icer's jaws parted then, sending a blast of coldfire at the departing Norskman.
____________ Early morning light came hazy and pale rose-coloured above the roofs of town, not the less over the office building of Dewey, Cheetham and Howe. Beautiful sky. Slow to wake, the folk of the town, walking sleepy in the dust of the street, slow to filter out of doors and into yet another day.
The first of wagon wheels ground metal rims over hard cobbles and that alone seemed to draw others from the side streets. People came out into the morning. Too quickly, they were gathered in mass confusion, mouths open, voices echoing curiosity and fear.
In the middle of the street, there was a body. Face down on the cobbles, its ribs had been parted from its spine and splayed to the sides. A redbird with wings made of pulled-out lungs that now would not fly the bird away. The Blood Eagle spoke its message loud and clear.
The question echoed through the crowd...But who was the warning meant for"
"Mighty men of no mean race, From divers mansions of the earth; But for that they do not know, These, until they lay me low, Which of us the eagle's claws Shall bow beneath ere all be o"er." ~Orkneyinga Saga
And Stew Burger said in one of those Voices, "I need directions, I'm afraid. I'm lost." The Redbird said, "Help me." And from the other side of his mouth, he sang: "The Seer's shoes are in Howe's hands."
Sing, Redbird. Sing.
"He's gotten them through an unknown delivery."
The Last Song of the Redbird was sung.
And the Norskmann had responded, "Where are you going, Redbird" Hmmm' Perhaps I can take you there." It was not a question.
"I—I—ah' No. I don't need you to take me anywhere."
"Be....well on ye travels." Sid's Voice was neutral and composed in her bidding the man goodbye.
"Please, you don't understand. I was just looking for a drink and some directions. Please, let me go!" The calloused hand of the Norskmann held firm that Redbird's elbow.
"Oh, but I am not busy. I can take you there. I know the way."
Elessaria, Lydia Loran and Icer were all drawn by then by distraction. So Observant.
With a desperation born of totally and absolute fear, the StewPigeon began to hollar louder. "LET ME GO! I DON'T want to GO WITH YOU!"
"Hey, Why don't you put him down already?" Daniel DeAuster's Voice. Guthorm heard it well enough. And Jewell Ravenlock's as well. "Why is Guthorm manhandling that...man?"
"LET ME GO! LET ME GO!" ...Let me go!...Let me go...let me go...let me.... "NOOOOOOO!"
Erinalle Dunbridge had covered her ears. "Someone should thwap that man."
As Guthorm escorted Burger to the doorway to the alley, Daniel stepped out in front of them to play at being hero. "Hey. Put him down."
As Guthorm was a rather large man, some of the humor faded from Cieara DeAuster's pale lit features then.
"PLEASE" I Beg YOU" You don't understand!" They aren't what they appear, you've gotta listen to me!"
"I have a safe place! You fear them, ja?" A smooth change...like the shifting of the northern lights, deep in a cold winter.
Corlanthis Wystansayr picked a stool near the door to the alley. Lydia looked confused. Gwyr Mowbray stepped into the Inn through the front door. Daniel was in front of the door. Icer was behind the Viking. All this Guthorm saw out of the corner of his eye. None of it made any difference. Sid was falling away, away...
"Yes, yes, you have to help me, you can't kill me!" It came as a refrain.
Daniel DeAuster reached out to grab at the wrist of the hand holding the little guy. "Hey' Are you deaf, or just stupid! let him go!"
"Thank you, but I think I was overreacting there. I think he's here to help."
But Daniel pushed full weight into the Norskmann...and paid for his mistake with his face against a Norskmann's elbow. Poor, poor man...never had a chance to fulfil his dream of hero-ing....
And Guthorm steered a placated Redbird out into the alley. For helping. For showing Stew the way...to give him directions when he was lost. Only the Dragon, sister of Tass, followed.
Neck bones snap with a sound like chalk, a peculiar grinding and a soft pop between the hands. Sudden. Final. No words. No time....
Guthorm hefted the deadweight over his shoulder and let it flop there as he regarded Icer in a squint. "Do not put yourself in their way, Dragon, I warn you." "Did you not know I am Tass's sister?" Tass's sister" He did not know...."I already have. I want my brother back."
"As do many...as do many...." He turned his back on her then, Stew Burger an empty sack over his shoulder, bouncing along for the ride. He rounded the alley into shadow and was gone, and Icer's jaws parted then, sending a blast of coldfire at the departing Norskman.
____________ Early morning light came hazy and pale rose-coloured above the roofs of town, not the less over the office building of Dewey, Cheetham and Howe. Beautiful sky. Slow to wake, the folk of the town, walking sleepy in the dust of the street, slow to filter out of doors and into yet another day.
The first of wagon wheels ground metal rims over hard cobbles and that alone seemed to draw others from the side streets. People came out into the morning. Too quickly, they were gathered in mass confusion, mouths open, voices echoing curiosity and fear.
In the middle of the street, there was a body. Face down on the cobbles, its ribs had been parted from its spine and splayed to the sides. A redbird with wings made of pulled-out lungs that now would not fly the bird away. The Blood Eagle spoke its message loud and clear.
The question echoed through the crowd...But who was the warning meant for"
"Mighty men of no mean race, From divers mansions of the earth; But for that they do not know, These, until they lay me low, Which of us the eagle's claws Shall bow beneath ere all be o"er." ~Orkneyinga Saga