Post by Horas on Nov 26, 2008 2:28:29 GMT -5
Torches lit the palisade around the Pine Motte to keep the darkness at bay. In the shadows outside, the assembled men of the Burley and Knott clans were watching in silence. There were few defenders, most had been scattered by the fight at south bend, but they would return eventually. And so the men of the white knife knew they needs take the fastness quickly.
Ondrew stood with his cousin Robb on the eastern flank. They were waiting for the signal to begin.
It was not long.
A signal flaming arrow, aloft in the air, told the bowmen to begin to loose. Ondrew’s took his own hunting bow off his shoulder, and notched an arrow. The men around him did the same. They loosed the flight together, using the torch as their target. The fletching whistled as it sailed through the air. Ondrew notched again.
“Loose!” Still more arrows flew, as the defenders of Pine Motte began to reply in kind. But it was dark without, while the Liddles’ torches illuminated them perfectly. Soon men were howling, dragged away from the palisade by their brethren.
After a few more flights of arrows, another flaming arrow arose over the sky.
“That’s for us!” Ondrew said as he shouldered his bow, and unslinging his axe. The men around him howled, as he led them forward.
Ondrew was the first across the spiked ditch, carefully placing his footsteps in the path he’d discovered nights before.
He climbed the Palisade, and vaulted with both feet onto the other side, meeting the first Liddle with a downward slash which splintered the man’s pine shield. The man fell backwards as Ondrew’s axe blade came down upon his forearm, which caused the man to howl horribly.
They cut their way towards the gate and threw it open. Soon a tide of men rushed into the fastness, Liddles began throwing down blades, and backing away.
The war was over.
……………………….
They sat around a bonfire, with mead flowing. Liddle and Knott and Burley men were close together, recounting who had done for whom. When he had surrendered, the Grey Dog had promised to pay The Burley five sheep and the Knotts three sheep, every year for five years in recompense for the raiding and breaking the Moot peace.
When the booty was piled up, each man got a pick as to the remains, according to his station. Robb took a nice long knife with a carved bone handle. Halgar took a yew long bow, saying he’d best master archery if he was going to have an arrow stuck in his hand. Robett took a drinking horn. Others took blades, or spears, oak shields, or necklaces of bronze or silver. Ondrew selected the brown leather brigandine, which had only a slight tear along the back strap, which he thought easily mended.
The Liddles thus properly chastised, the Burleys headed back south, to their Lonely Hills.
…………….
Ondrew ducked his head through the flap into the Long House of his father, only to be tackled by the grasp of his brothers Jordayne and Jarrad. “How was it Ondrew?” they cried in breathless unison. “It was fine,” He said ruffling the younger one’s hair. “You’ll learn soon enough.”
“I was old enough. I don’t know why father didn’t let me go!” Jordayne complained. In truth he was just a year younger than Ondrew, but Hamish had still named him too inexperienced. Finally separating himself from his brothers, Ondrew searched the house but did not see what he was looking for.
“Where’s Nara?” He asked.
“She’s out by the sheep fold. She’s been helping old Ryswell with the injured as they came in.” Jordayne said. Ondrew nodded, gave Jarrad a playful punch in the arm, and ducked back out of the long house.
He found her sitting on a boulder, binding Halgar’s arrow wound.
“Back from playing at war?” She asked him, raised her eyebrow coyly as she spoke.
“We weren’t playing.”
“Aye and well I know it. Men have been wondering back here with every kind of cut and gash and scrape and bruise. Potions for some, poultice for the others. For two nothing could be done by mead and time.”
“You should see the other guys.” Ondrew japed, but Nara did not take the bait.
”I have too, in my prayers. Cutting open your belly, or dashing your head in with a maul.”
“I’m not going to die like that,” Ondrew retorted, “I’ll go in my sleep old and wizened, with you old and wizened besides me.”
“No,” Nara said, “You won’t.”
“Why, have you seen something?” Ondrew asked. Nara shooed Halgar away, who shook his head in wonderment at the recently married couple, before heading off.
Nara nodded glumly, and crossed the short distance to rest herself against her husband.
“What did you see?”
“I can’t be sure. It was very hazy. But it scared me. I thought perhaps you would not be returning.”
“But I am back, so your dreams aren’t always true.” He hugged her fiercely.
“Always true, The Old Gods always send true dreams.” She replied, “Just some times we misunderstand them.”
Ondrew smiled and whispered something in her ear which made her smile.
“Did you see that, in your dreams?” He asked grinning.
“Ooooh many times.” She replied with a wink, tugging on his hand.
Results:
Ondrew Improves to Master Ambush
Ondrew Improves to Apprentice Archery
Nara Improves to Expert Herbal Lore
Nara Improves to Apprentice Religion- Old Gods