It?s morning, just before the rise of the sun. We find some of the CoS, having an early breakfast inside the commissary, while going over the scheduled events for the day.
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?This nae be ?alf bad y?know? Meat on a stick f?breakfast! Who?d a thunk o? some-such, yeah?? *Munch, Scarf, Nom, Munch, BURP!* ? ?Scuse me there? lasses an lads! Jes m?way o? sayin? this is some good stuff, yeah??
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?Ursi, really??
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?Aye Ahnika-lass really, I mean look at this! Meat on a stick, an some eggs an even a pair o? waffles drenched in syrup! All on a stick, no less! It?s like someone went into m?head, an jus? pulled all o? this out! This is way better than what I usually get, when I get up.?
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?Ursilda that would be because you normally wake, long after breakfast has ended. Hence the dried meats and cold cheeses you seem have repeatedly.?
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*Crunch, Slurp, Nom, Burp!* ?Aye, guilty I am, Henri. But it?s hard work bein? up all night, watchin? the lot o? ya, not to mention the forges! I got tae get m?beauty sleep, an what not. Can? very well keep this oh-so-wondrous shape o? mine with no sleep, can I??
The half-dwarf's statement caused both Henrietta and Ahnika to simply shake their heads, as they fought so damned hard not to just stare at Ursilda as she literally tore through her breakfast like some kind of ravenous bear fresh out of hibernation.
Fortunately Rafe had arrived and was approaching Henrietta with a packet of paperwork in arm, ?Morning Henrietta, Ahnika and... Ursi?? Oh the expression that formed on the face of the young man, as those eyes of his widened in quite the bit of shock. ?Is she--?
Seeing a small window of opportunity in which to derail this spectacle, Henrietta cleared her throat loudly and motioned to Rafe, ?You have something for me, Rafe??
?Hmm, oh yes! I'm sorry Henrietta, this is from Jenai & Storm, it's the new patrol schedules, and also the shipping schedules for the week. There's also something for you in regards to a new group of farmers that have settled on the southern border of the valley, we're to keep an extra watch on them, till they get settled properly.?
Accepting the paperwork, Henrietta went over each entry carefully, nodding to what Rafe had imparted upon her, ?Yes, the Farrens, right? From Bont, if I'm not mistaken.?
Ahnika's attention was snagged nearly immediately, ?Bont? The river village near Darkenwood??
?That's the one, you've been there Ahni?? Henrietta glanced to the young woman, as she asked.
Seeing the elder's eyes upon her, Ahnika shied a bit and simply nodded.
This caused Henrietta to offer the younger a smile of reassurance, ?It's okay, Ahnika... I know we were both there at one time, or another. It's okay, alright? I mean that, it's okay.?
?I know, Henri. It's just---? Ahnika paused a bit, ?I'm glad people from there are going to other places. Especially with Queen Imogena away from the lands and what's happened during all of that.?
Rafe then chimed in, ?That makes two of us, Ahni, I'm glad, Brian went back to check on things and arrange the passage.?
Slowly Henrietta stood from her chair, as some initiates had arrived to clear the table, all the while giving Ursilda a wide berth. A bow of thanks was given to the initiates who worked hard in their tasks, ?I am grateful.?
Turning to Rafe and Ahnika, Henri addressed the pair. ?You two have come along so far, I mean that. We are all proud of y--??
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?Lady Henrietta! Lady Henrietta!?
The voice had been heard from just outside the commissary, and was made that much more the louder as the doors burst open, revealing a pair of excited novices that were scrambling around the chairs, ?Lady Henrietta! Lady--?
?Hey! She heard ya th'first few times an so did 'alf the valley proper! Och! Y'made me miss m'waffle too! Son of a who--?
Ursilda was quickly on her feet, a finger waggling at the pair of novices who sure as hell didn't expect her reaction at all. In fact it surprised them so much, that they just stood there dumb stricken.
Henrietta however was quick on the draw, and waved off the upset half-dwarf, ?Ursilda!?
?Ugh, fine then! Y'two got lucky!?
Rafe and Ahnika just watched on, as Henrietta addressed the pair. ?Now calm down a moment, and tell me what's going on. You're Jessett, right? What is it, Jessett??
?My Lady, on the Northwestern Ridge, near the reservoir up top. There's a man there, he was just walking back and forth along the right over looking the valley. We approached him, he said he wanted to watch the sun rise over the valley, that he hadn't seen it in years. He said he lived here before, too. He says, he's come a long way and he's asked for you by name!?
?By name? My name??
?Yes, Milady. Your name, he asked for Henrietta Cordelia. He also asked for Henrietta Silverlock, too. Given your hair, we assumed it had to be yo--?
The paperwork in hand, had been set upon the table as Henrietta looked to Ahnika a moment, and then to Rafe. Her eyes settled back on the Jessett and his companion. ?Describe the man.?
?He said he'd wait there, and he was a big man. I'd say 6 and a half, about 260? Real dark hair, black. Short cut and a beard too. Big arms too, yeah an he's wearing old jeans and a long sleeved plaid shirt red. Looked like one of those lumber workers we see a lot, but he's got no axe and no one's working in that area, we checked.?
?The other novice interjected, ?He did apologize for startling us, and he was polite, Milady. He even said he's walk us part way to make sure we were alright, but he could only go so far when it comes to the valley.?
Henrietta asked, ?Who else saw him??
?Two scouts were keeping a distanced eye on him, when we left. I don't think he's going anywhere, all he was doing was pacing back and forth, while watching the sun rise over the valley. Asked if anyone saw spirits, anymore.?
Nodding to the pair, Henrietta smiled. ?Stay here and get a bit, and no more yelling all over the place, got it? We don't need to scare everyone for one man, do we? We are the CoS, after all.?
The pair were guided away by a nearby initiate, as Henrietta leveled a gaze to Ahni and Rafe. ?I am going to have a look for myself, Rafe continue your rounds, and Ahnika return to the forge, I'll find you both when I get back.?
Rafe was quick to reply, ?But we can hel--?
?Rafe...?
That all there was to it, right there. That tone of Henrietta's might as well have smacked the young man, square upside the head, cause it shut him up right there. Her eyes then shifted to Ahnika, ?I'll find you both soon, please.?
Ahnika just nodded, reaching over and catching Rafe by the sleeve. ?Come on, Rafe. We got work to do.?
As the two walked away, Ursilda finally spoke once more. ?Y'look like a cat walkin' round a room full o' rockin' chairs, lass. I'm backin' y'up, yeah??
Henrietta's nod was the only reply, as she strode for the doors.
?
?
?This nae be ?alf bad y?know? Meat on a stick f?breakfast! Who?d a thunk o? some-such, yeah?? *Munch, Scarf, Nom, Munch, BURP!* ? ?Scuse me there? lasses an lads! Jes m?way o? sayin? this is some good stuff, yeah??
?
?Ursi, really??
?
?Aye Ahnika-lass really, I mean look at this! Meat on a stick, an some eggs an even a pair o? waffles drenched in syrup! All on a stick, no less! It?s like someone went into m?head, an jus? pulled all o? this out! This is way better than what I usually get, when I get up.?
?
?Ursilda that would be because you normally wake, long after breakfast has ended. Hence the dried meats and cold cheeses you seem have repeatedly.?
?
*Crunch, Slurp, Nom, Burp!* ?Aye, guilty I am, Henri. But it?s hard work bein? up all night, watchin? the lot o? ya, not to mention the forges! I got tae get m?beauty sleep, an what not. Can? very well keep this oh-so-wondrous shape o? mine with no sleep, can I??
The half-dwarf's statement caused both Henrietta and Ahnika to simply shake their heads, as they fought so damned hard not to just stare at Ursilda as she literally tore through her breakfast like some kind of ravenous bear fresh out of hibernation.
Fortunately Rafe had arrived and was approaching Henrietta with a packet of paperwork in arm, ?Morning Henrietta, Ahnika and... Ursi?? Oh the expression that formed on the face of the young man, as those eyes of his widened in quite the bit of shock. ?Is she--?
Seeing a small window of opportunity in which to derail this spectacle, Henrietta cleared her throat loudly and motioned to Rafe, ?You have something for me, Rafe??
?Hmm, oh yes! I'm sorry Henrietta, this is from Jenai & Storm, it's the new patrol schedules, and also the shipping schedules for the week. There's also something for you in regards to a new group of farmers that have settled on the southern border of the valley, we're to keep an extra watch on them, till they get settled properly.?
Accepting the paperwork, Henrietta went over each entry carefully, nodding to what Rafe had imparted upon her, ?Yes, the Farrens, right? From Bont, if I'm not mistaken.?
Ahnika's attention was snagged nearly immediately, ?Bont? The river village near Darkenwood??
?That's the one, you've been there Ahni?? Henrietta glanced to the young woman, as she asked.
Seeing the elder's eyes upon her, Ahnika shied a bit and simply nodded.
This caused Henrietta to offer the younger a smile of reassurance, ?It's okay, Ahnika... I know we were both there at one time, or another. It's okay, alright? I mean that, it's okay.?
?I know, Henri. It's just---? Ahnika paused a bit, ?I'm glad people from there are going to other places. Especially with Queen Imogena away from the lands and what's happened during all of that.?
Rafe then chimed in, ?That makes two of us, Ahni, I'm glad, Brian went back to check on things and arrange the passage.?
Slowly Henrietta stood from her chair, as some initiates had arrived to clear the table, all the while giving Ursilda a wide berth. A bow of thanks was given to the initiates who worked hard in their tasks, ?I am grateful.?
Turning to Rafe and Ahnika, Henri addressed the pair. ?You two have come along so far, I mean that. We are all proud of y--??
?
?Lady Henrietta! Lady Henrietta!?
The voice had been heard from just outside the commissary, and was made that much more the louder as the doors burst open, revealing a pair of excited novices that were scrambling around the chairs, ?Lady Henrietta! Lady--?
?Hey! She heard ya th'first few times an so did 'alf the valley proper! Och! Y'made me miss m'waffle too! Son of a who--?
Ursilda was quickly on her feet, a finger waggling at the pair of novices who sure as hell didn't expect her reaction at all. In fact it surprised them so much, that they just stood there dumb stricken.
Henrietta however was quick on the draw, and waved off the upset half-dwarf, ?Ursilda!?
?Ugh, fine then! Y'two got lucky!?
Rafe and Ahnika just watched on, as Henrietta addressed the pair. ?Now calm down a moment, and tell me what's going on. You're Jessett, right? What is it, Jessett??
?My Lady, on the Northwestern Ridge, near the reservoir up top. There's a man there, he was just walking back and forth along the right over looking the valley. We approached him, he said he wanted to watch the sun rise over the valley, that he hadn't seen it in years. He said he lived here before, too. He says, he's come a long way and he's asked for you by name!?
?By name? My name??
?Yes, Milady. Your name, he asked for Henrietta Cordelia. He also asked for Henrietta Silverlock, too. Given your hair, we assumed it had to be yo--?
The paperwork in hand, had been set upon the table as Henrietta looked to Ahnika a moment, and then to Rafe. Her eyes settled back on the Jessett and his companion. ?Describe the man.?
?He said he'd wait there, and he was a big man. I'd say 6 and a half, about 260? Real dark hair, black. Short cut and a beard too. Big arms too, yeah an he's wearing old jeans and a long sleeved plaid shirt red. Looked like one of those lumber workers we see a lot, but he's got no axe and no one's working in that area, we checked.?
?The other novice interjected, ?He did apologize for startling us, and he was polite, Milady. He even said he's walk us part way to make sure we were alright, but he could only go so far when it comes to the valley.?
Henrietta asked, ?Who else saw him??
?Two scouts were keeping a distanced eye on him, when we left. I don't think he's going anywhere, all he was doing was pacing back and forth, while watching the sun rise over the valley. Asked if anyone saw spirits, anymore.?
Nodding to the pair, Henrietta smiled. ?Stay here and get a bit, and no more yelling all over the place, got it? We don't need to scare everyone for one man, do we? We are the CoS, after all.?
The pair were guided away by a nearby initiate, as Henrietta leveled a gaze to Ahni and Rafe. ?I am going to have a look for myself, Rafe continue your rounds, and Ahnika return to the forge, I'll find you both when I get back.?
Rafe was quick to reply, ?But we can hel--?
?Rafe...?
That all there was to it, right there. That tone of Henrietta's might as well have smacked the young man, square upside the head, cause it shut him up right there. Her eyes then shifted to Ahnika, ?I'll find you both soon, please.?
Ahnika just nodded, reaching over and catching Rafe by the sleeve. ?Come on, Rafe. We got work to do.?
As the two walked away, Ursilda finally spoke once more. ?Y'look like a cat walkin' round a room full o' rockin' chairs, lass. I'm backin' y'up, yeah??
Henrietta's nod was the only reply, as she strode for the doors.