Nyermersys - {MV} Zocharras' Gate

[Morcaanan]

Kyrridhil Culná mo, your story will continue at the hospital.

[Laell]

"I want to bring the cart," Laell tried to explain plaintively, brushing stray hair from her face. "He won't come... unless someone's willing to pull the cart for him - I can't. It's too heavy for me to pull. The 'beast'" repeating the word with a little distaste "is stubborn. I don't know why he won't come in."

She sighed and led the guards, one with a drawn weapon, assigned to her over to her cart, and let them rummage around in her things; they found nothing aside from the equipment and means for making bread, along with a few personal effects, such as her bedroll, money, and clothing. When they were done, she attempted to pull the donkey again, and again he refused to move. With pleading in her eyes, she handed the lead rope to one of the guards, and he also attempted, with identical results. With both her and the guard on the lead rope, the poor animal was dragged a little ways until it was forced to take a step, then locked its knees and put all its weight into defying them.

Deftly, Laell took the rope from the guard and flung it up over the donkey's neck, moving to the harness and putting a hand on the straps. With a playful smile crossing her face, she turned to the guard and asked, "Think you could carry it?"

[Morcaanan]

"I said search the cart!" bellowed Birm, when he had finally brought the corporal back. "Not play with the donkey!" His nerves and courage somewhat restored, he began to be huffy.

"Settle, settle" said Tom, following Birm. "We'll get to the bottom of this." He turned to the newcomer. "You go inside the gate here with Birm - we'll be wanting your name and get you registered at the hall. In the meantime, your cart will be searched; Birm is right, wounded people don't just waltz up to the gate, so we need to check everything. If you're innocent, you'll have nothing to hide, mm?" Tom's tone was kind, but there was a hard edge to his words.

"Also, someone start a fire!" he shouted.

The command brought some questioning looks. "Bit warm, isn't it sir?"

"Don't argue!" snapped the corporal. "I want a burning brand out here, 5 blinks ago!"

There was a general scramble to comply with the newest set of orders, while Birm began forcefully and non-too-gently escorting the newcomer towards the gate, for the moment sans the donkey and cart.

[Laell]

Quietly, Laell followed the man toward the gate, curious at the sudden change of pace. Still, it was progress, and all progress was good - although the request for a brand was a bit strange. She let her mind wander onto that question, when suddenly the most obvious options hit her, and she spun around, her body going tense. "He-he's not going to-?! Not my...!" Her voice faded with a suppressed squeak.

Laell knew she'd spoken out of turn; the city guard leading her would likely be confused, impatient, or both. The thought of her poor donkey with a burn on his backside made a vivid image in her mind, and she wanted to bolt to the animal's defense, but stopped herself, reaching a poor compromise by simply going stiff, almost too stiff to walk. Laell turned to the man she was supposed to be following, and while making an attempt at that, tried to ask, "What does he need a brand for? Is he going to brand my donkey? He's never been marked; he's usually very obedient, I don't know why he didn't want to come into the city. If-if he's trying to use the brand to get it to move, it might just kick, and..." Her voice was soft as she finished, completely  dismayed, "That would ruin my cart."

[Morcaanan]

Birm was rather impatient at this point. "Now miss, the corporal knows what he's doin'" he said, taking the lady by the elbow and steering her toward the gate. "You just let him worry about it, hmm? We need your information so you can get inside the city proper and all."

Inside the gate, a soldier had finally lit a proper torch, and passed Laell and her guard on his way to the waiting corporal, while two more soldiers began rummaging through the small cart.

[Laell]

With a sigh, she reluctantly followed him. In all honesty, she knew that even if it was to get the animal inside, it probably wouldn't hurt it much; the donkey was much tougher than she, as was proven by the fact that it carried her cart every day on the road. It was also considerably more tolerant to pain than many people, and with this in mind, she let it be for the moment. She would be reunited with her traveling companion soon enough, that was certain.

It took an effort, but as they walked she managed to get her mind ready to tell them whatever they might need to know.

Advanced search

[Members]

Members Total Members: 2849 Latest: abigailjordan Stats Total Posts: 214569 Total Topics: 8052 Online Today: 51 Online Ever: 216 (November 30, 2006, 09:08:03 AM) Users Online Users: 0 Guests: 26 Total: 26

[Artimidor]

	Powered by SMF 1.1.21 | SMF © 2005, Simple Machines TinyPortal v0.9.8 © Bloc
Theme based on Cerberus with Risen adjustments by Bloc and Krelia Modified By Artimidor for The Santharian Dream