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| Vale of the White Horse | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: 5 Jan 2010, 13:03 (19,364 Views) | |
| Marieke | 20 Apr 2010, 17:25 Post #1201 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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She nodded once, falling silent. Cuhelyn had said that the clothes had been Morcant's way of saying sorry, and he had tried an apology for spiriting her away so suddenly. But Essylt wondered if he really was sorry, or that she just put up such a pitiful display that he tried to placate her just for the sake of getting rid of her gloomy face. |
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| Sonja | 20 Apr 2010, 17:31 Post #1202 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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Or perhaps that hadn't been the best way to make her feel better. Again, Morcant's tendency to talk first, think later came back to bite him in the arse. He was used to it by now and shrugged it off, prodding into the fire with a stick. |
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| Marieke | 20 Apr 2010, 17:38 Post #1203 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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'My lady, the Romans request that their supply of corn will be delivered, as usual.' Briallen turned aroud, facing the servant. 'I have told them a thousand times that we must ration our supplies for our own household as it is.' 'That's what I said, my lady.' The man made a helpless gesture. 'They did not expect the settlement to exceed the fifty souls.' 'No, neither did we,' she said sourly. The damned community was hardly finished - still, houses stood straight like half-finished creatures in the evening gloom - and already the Romans had brought in more people than they had agreed upon. 'Have you spoken directly to Marcus Iulius?' 'No, lady. But I've heard that he is no longer in charge.' 'Well, whoever is in charge now will have to come see me personally if he has a problem with the supplies,' she snapped. 'That's all I will say on the matter.' |
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| Sonja | 20 Apr 2010, 17:43 Post #1204 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'Trouble with the Romans again?' Gwenllian asked after the servant had scurried off with a hasty 'yes, my lady' and a bow. For the past days, she'd been doing her best to help out Briallen as much as she could, mostly out of sheer gratitude that she had been allowed to stay anyway, and partly because she really didn't like sitting idly by. |
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| Marieke | 20 Apr 2010, 17:47 Post #1205 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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'They stretch my patience like a bowstring,' Briallen said tersely. Tudwrig couldn't help her on this matter. He had suffered from the curse severily after their shared kiss in her bedroom. She hadn't seen him in three days. 'The harvest season is over. We provide for ourselves, I can't give them most of our stock.' With angry gestures she piled up a stack of sacks filled with grain. 'Even if we could, I don't want to. How's it with the kitchen?' Because as much as she'd like to, they could not refuse the distribution of rations to the soldiers and builders camped outside the caer. |
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| Sonja | 20 Apr 2010, 17:51 Post #1206 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'Stretched just as tautly as your patience,' Gwenllian remarked. 'As long as we stick to our rationing everything it should be fine, but if the settlement keeps expanding...' She spread her hands suggestively. |
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| Marieke | 20 Apr 2010, 17:53 Post #1207 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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‘Impossible,’ she said, straightening up. ‘We’ll put a stop to it.’ But she imagined the face of Marcus Iulius, looking down past that hawk’s nose of his with cold sneer. ‘If we can.’ |
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| Sonja | 20 Apr 2010, 18:01 Post #1208 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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Perhaps she should ask Rhywallon to constructively threaten a few Romans. A faint smile touched her lips and she was just about to voice the thought when the doors of the storage room banged open. Gwenllian blinked as a tall Roman swaggered in, confident smile plastered on his face. His hair was as red as hers, but apart from his bearing that was the only remarkable thing about him. He was really rather average-looking. |
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| Marieke | 20 Apr 2010, 18:03 Post #1209 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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Briallen spurred around, staring aghast at the sudden intruder. 'Excuse me,' she uttered, 'What are you doing? This is a private part of the household!' |
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| Sonja | 20 Apr 2010, 18:22 Post #1210 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'Oh, I'm terribly sorry,' Rufus said easily and made a flourishing bow. He eyed the two ladies in front of him. One of them had chestnut hair and a rather set look in her eyes, which were really rather pretty. The other had curls of his own colour and a stubborn chin, though she looked a little more mellow. 'I was told that I should come to see you concerning the grain, my lady,' he told the girl with brown hair, whom had been described to him as Briallen by Iulius, the old scoundrel. Gwenllian blinked a couple of times as the man's eyes glided over the two of them. It was almost as if he was taxing them with that single glance, and she didn't quite like it. |
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| Marieke | 20 Apr 2010, 18:26 Post #1211 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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She kept staring at the man's face. He looked about thirty-something. Had he been listening to the conversation she'd had with Gwenllian? Briallen frowned. There was something about the air he gathered around him that she disliked. 'Who are you?' |
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| Sonja | 20 Apr 2010, 18:30 Post #1212 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'Marcus Lentulus, Tribune of the People in Rome, not that it amounts to anything here, of course,' he said and smiled charmingly. 'But please, call me Rufus. Everyone does, for obvious reasons.' He laughed and tugged at his hair. Gwenllian relaxed a little bit. This man had a shrewd look in his eye, but it wasn't half as bad as the incessant sneer on the face of the other Roman, Marcus Iulius. |
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| Marieke | 20 Apr 2010, 18:32 Post #1213 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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'Oh yes, Marcus Iulius spoke about you.' So this superior of his had arrived then. She taxated him, knowing that she could not afford to be impolite. 'I had rather thought that we'd get some sort of announcement. If you are looking for my husband lord Tudwrig, he's not so well today.' |
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| Sonja | 20 Apr 2010, 18:39 Post #1214 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'Ah, it takes someone like Marcus Iulius to enjoy all the attempts to impress others and the empty ceremony in official announcements. I prefer to treat everyone on equal footing,' Rufus said, seemingly oblivious to the cool stare Briallen was giving him. 'I do hope your husband will not be indisposed for very long, I've heard he suffers from some dreadful headaches.' |
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| Marieke | 20 Apr 2010, 18:43 Post #1215 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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'Yes, that is true.' Briallen couldn't make up her mind about this man. At least he did not look at her as if she were a bunny caught between his talons, like Iulius did. 'This doesn't seem like the right environment to discuss anything, my lord. Let me invite you inside the caer.' To bring another Roman inside felt like trespassing her own privacy. Briallen grimaced as she turned her back to him, leading the way to the great hall. |
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| Sonja | 20 Apr 2010, 18:51 Post #1216 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'I shall be guided by you, my lady,' he said with a warm smile and followed her, falling in step next to the other girl. 'I don't believe I know your name,' Rufus inquired. 'Gwenllian,' she answered in an adorably soft voice. Both of them didn't sound as if they were very comfortable around him yet, but he'd soon attend to that oversight. They entered the caer itself, with Briallen leading them to the hearth. Rufus took a seat on the furcovered bench that was qute obviously meant for visitors. |
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| Marieke | 20 Apr 2010, 18:56 Post #1217 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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'Braegna, bring us some mead,' Briallen told her maid, who was present in the hall. She was relieved to see that this Marcus Lentulus did not seat himself on Tudwrig's chair. Taking a place opposite him, she folded her hands in her lap, though she kept her shoulders straight. 'Since my husband is often ill, I have taken it upon myself to attend to most matters of the household,' she told him, making her tone somewhat warmer than before. He had not offended her, and being Roman was not reason enough to chill him out of the caer. 'Whatever you have to discuss, I can probably settle with you.' |
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| Sonja | 20 Apr 2010, 19:02 Post #1218 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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Gwenllian seated herself a little behind Briallen, quite comfortable to let her do all the talking, but feeling that she should at least be present for the off-chance that Briallen needed help. Rufus nodded, his smile making way for a more serious expression. 'I really regret having to bother you like this,' he said. 'It's about the supplies. I know that we're already stretching your provisions as far as they can be stretched and believe me if I say that I regret it. I was hoping that I might discuss with you a solution to our mutual problem.' |
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| Marieke | 20 Apr 2010, 19:08 Post #1219 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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So he had been overhearing her words to Gwenllian, she thought. Or was he simply this sensitive to her mood? Briallen crossed her arms now. 'I have a proposition about that. The nearest settlement is half a day from here, that is not that far. Why don't your people go there to obtain what supplies they are missing?' |
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| Sonja | 20 Apr 2010, 19:21 Post #1220 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'Ah, that's exactly what I wanted to suggest,' Rufus said, his face brightening. 'We make a fine team, my lady. It is truly refreshing to discuss these matters with you.' Enthusiastically, he got to his feet and made another sweeping bow. |
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| Marieke | 20 Apr 2010, 19:26 Post #1221 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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She blinked up at him. The man must be older than Tudwrig, yet he behaved almost like a boy. Only a gleam in his eyes, almost like a hint of darkness beneath the surface of the water, remained unchanged. Braegne walked in with the cups of mead. 'Here you go, Briallen.' 'Thanks,' she muttered, taking her own cup. She felt uneasy. There had been chores to do before the day was over, and the sun was already setting. Yet she could not walk out on this high ranked Roman, nor could she ask him to leave. She turned to Gwenllian. 'Would you mind finishing up while I receive our guest?' |
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| Sonja | 20 Apr 2010, 19:32 Post #1222 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'Of course not,' Gwenllian said and came hastily to her feet, bowing to Rufus who was still standing. To her surprise, he caught her hand in his and brushed his lips against the skin. 'It was a pleasure to meet you, my lady.' 'Likewise, my lord,' she said after a small hesitation and made her way from the room as quick as she could without giving offence. Rufus smiled and sat down again. 'If my presence is a bother to you, my lady, you must tell me. I wouldn't think of imposing myself upon your hospitality for longer than you can be spared from your duties as lady of the household.' |
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| Marieke | 20 Apr 2010, 19:34 Post #1223 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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And insulting the highest Roman walking around on two feet. Briallen thought not. Besides, she needed to get the right idea of this man. 'I understand you have replaced Marcus Iulius,' she said, ignoring his words. 'Has he been reassigned?' |
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| Sonja | 20 Apr 2010, 19:40 Post #1224 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'Replacement is such a big word,' Rufus said with a wave of his hand. 'I'm merely here to check up on the buildingprogress of the settlement, and because I outrank that old boy of a Marcus in Rome he's on an extended leave until I go back.' Briallen was a feisty lass, he'd already seen that. It'd be a challenge to charm her defenses away, but then, Rufus liked a challenge. The other girl, Gwenllian, she was as good as his. Piece of cake. |
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| Marieke | 20 Apr 2010, 19:47 Post #1225 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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'Back to Rome?' she asked, sipping her mead and looking at him from under her lashes. He seemed an easy talker. Smooth, really. And she really wanted him to talk. |
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| Sonja | 20 Apr 2010, 19:53 Post #1226 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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The mead was spicy and cool, just as he liked it. 'I would hate to be away from my responsibilities for too long a time, I'm sure you understand as a lady in your position.' Rufus idly turned the cup around in his hands. 'However, I have only just arrived. I hope I may have the pleasure of enjoying your company a lot more.' |
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| Marieke | 20 Apr 2010, 19:57 Post #1227 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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'It is a long journey, I imagine,' she said. 'To be honest, I can't imagine myself travelling such a way and remain far from my own people and customs. On that, I congratulate the Romans.' She smiled faintly at him, it was all she could manage. 'Marcus Iulius arranged that he and his men could lodge in the caer if they wished. I assume you wish to take his rooms then.' |
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| Sonja | 20 Apr 2010, 19:59 Post #1228 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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Rufus raised an eyebrow. 'I would hardly dare to impose myself upon you in such a way,' he said quietly, seriously. 'No, my lady, I shall be more than happy to stay in my tent.' He flashed a grin at her. 'I've spent so many months there, I would have trouble adapting to a normal bed!' |
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| Marieke | 20 Apr 2010, 20:01 Post #1229 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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She leaned back, surprised. 'Very well. |
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| Sonja | 20 Apr 2010, 20:07 Post #1230 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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This was actually going rather well. With a chieftain who was indisposed more often than not it could prove even easier to get a grip on the local politics than it had been at Two Lakes. Rufus rubbed his chin with his hand, looking at Briallen. 'If it's all right with you, I will retreat to the settlement now. I hope I can meet your husband soon, but I understand if he's too ill to recieve me.' |
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