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Vale of the White Horse
Topic Started: 5 Jan 2010, 13:03 (19,320 Views)
Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
He put his hand to his brow and took a deep breath. He was going to answer Briallen, but then Eiluned came in and announced Lentulus's presence. With narrowed eyes, Tudwrig got up. 'If he desires a meeting, he shall get what he wants,' he said. He felt well enough to cope with a Roman - especially if that man had had the nerve to bring chieftains of other territories to his doorstep without informing him of that fact.
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
She said nothing but walked in the direction of the hall. His presence was notable at once. Something in the air he gathered around him. She imagined that she could even smell him from here. Glancing over at Tudwrig, she put on a more disarming smile. ‘Lord Lentulus!’
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
Rufus got to his feet and made a bow. 'My lady, my lord,' he greeted the pair with a polite smile plastered on his face. Both of them looked wan and tired, he noted. All the better. He'd have to play his cards just right, and if they hadn't had a good night's rest, they wouldn't be paying much attention. 'I am delighted to find you both in good health.'

Tudwrig didn't smile at all and just nodded to the man. 'I believe you requested a meeting, how may we help you?'
'I have promised your wife to lead the both of you around the settlement when it was finished. Since it has been finished a couple of days ago and the weather has cleared up, I thought that today would be eminently suited for a little tour.'
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
She opened her mouth. This wasn’t what she had expected. ‘That’d be…I’d be delighted. Wouldn’t you, Tudwrig?’ she added, looking back to her husband.
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
Being outside for a long period of time? Well, his head didn't hurt right now, so he supposed that he had enough time to make it back to the caer before anything bad happened. And he certainly wasn't going to leave Briallen alone with that slick bastard. 'Yes,' he answered. 'I could do with the fresh air.'

'Capital,' Rufus smiled broadly. 'Then let's not waste any time. Who knows what the heavens might decide to pour out on us later.'
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
‘That’s right,’ Briallen said as they made their way out of the courtyard, ‘for a man who loves a land where it never rains, the prospect must be somewhat appalling.’
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
'I don't care for rain at all, no,' Rufus said. He'd heard the undertone in her voice, but was too much of a politician to let it show.
'One would think that a man such as yourself would have gone back to Rome to wait out the winter there,' Tudwrig mentioned. The man really looked as though he thought smiling would crack his face.
'Ah, duty before pleasure, my lord. This way.' He led them to the gates of the settlement, nodding at the two guards that were posed on either side. 'As you can see, we've paved the roads to make it easier for the carts with supplies to travel through the place.'
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
‘Yes,’ Briallen agreed. ‘I do see that.’ She wanted to take Tudwrig’s hand, but the memory of what had happened last night seemed to place itself between them like a brick wall. Was it really the curse doing this on purpose? He’d admitted that he nearly thought of it as a living creature sometimes. She quickly glanced the other way. ‘I haven’t seen such houses before. Villa’s?’
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
'Towards the centre there are villa's, these are just plebeian houses,' Rufus explained. 'Though in Rome, there are whole city-quarters with houses one even more extravagant than the other.'
Tudwrig wasn't really listening to his explanation. Instead he threw covert glances at Briallen every once in a while, feeling as if they were drifting apart every second he didn't catch her hand. But he didn't dare to, fearing the curse might spiral out of his control if he did.
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
‘Very impressive,’ she agreed with a forced smile. ‘Though I seem to recall you mention something about the authenticity of our Dobunni culture. That is why you allowed our own architecture over there, is it not?’ She pointed at the edge of the settlement, much closer to the wooden wall. Low houses with long roofs spread out against the circling shape of the village fence. A few were clearly inhabited. Most were not.
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
Rufus nodded. 'It's one of the reasons I came to supervize the building,' he said. 'Despite orders, Marcus Iulius had the tendency to be a little taciturn and he would've made this an all-Roman settlement.'

'Then I am grateful for your presence here,' Tudwrig said, though he was simply voicing hollow words and if Lentulus heard the sharp edge behind them, all the better. He hadn't wanted the settlement when Iulius was still in control, and that view hadn't changed yet.
'I'm doing the best I can, and - excuse me,' the man said as a Roman soldier approached them, clearly looking ill at ease.
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
‘Of course.’ She edged away, closer to Tudwrig.
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
'He's far too cheerful today,' Tudwrig muttered in a low voice as the man walked a little way off with the soldier and spoke with him. He couldn't hear what they were saying, but when Lentulus returned, the smile and twinkle in his eye had been replaced by a solemn and even slightly worried expression. Tudwrig frowned.

'I'm afraid there is some bad news,' Rufus said quietly to the pair, 'and it's better not discussed out in the open. May I invite you to my tent?'
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
There you had it then. Briallen his her hands underneath her cloak, hiding the sudden tremble. ‘If you insist. What is wrong?’
They had had no time to discuss it between themselves. Tudwrig was barely informed of the events at all. She moistened her lips.
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
Rufus pushed the tentflap aside without speaking, allowing the couple to enter first. 'Please, sit,' he said and gestured to the soldier who had accompanied them to bring them some refreshments. He placed himself behind his desk and leaned his elbows on the wooden top. 'A group of soldiers on patrol have just found a smoldering fire on the hill. Upon inspection, there seemed to be human remains scattered across the wood. I'm afraid another murder has taken place, here.' He paused for the dramatic effect.

Tudwrig just could not figure out whether the man was pulling their leg, or if he really hadn't known about this. 'A murder?' he asked. 'Could it not have been an accident?'
'You mean that the victim lit the fire and then fell into it?'
'Something like that,' Tudwrig said with a tight expression on his face.
'If I may believe my soldiers, the remains of a skull were found on one edge while an armbone was found near the other. I don't believe that happens in an accident.'
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
Her breathing had become irregular. She could only hope that he would take it for distress, just as her waning face. ‘That does not seem like an accident,’ she agreed quietly. ‘We have no one missing in our household, lord Lentulus. I do hope it is not someone from your camp, of course, but wasn’t Marcus Iulius also brutally killed?’
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
'Yes, and that's what's bothering me,' Rufus answered as he folded his arms. 'I'm ashamed to admit that I've hit a dead end where Marcus Iulius's death is concerned, and now it seems the killer has struck again. I have given orders for a headcount, which I hope will yield a little more information. I suppose you haven't seen or heard anything that would account for this?'
'I haven't been outside in a long time,' Tudwrig said in a level voice. 'And if the body was discovered on the hill, I doubt anyone has seen anything. There are many places to remain unseen, there.'
Rufus shook his head mournfully. 'I really regret this. I shall double the security and see if there is any clue that may help me track down the brute who did this.'
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
‘I’m really sorry, my lord,’ Briallen managed. She made her voice more level again. ‘There isn’t much I can do to comfort your people. It must be shocking. I’m quite – quite upset.’
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
He bowed his head to her. 'I merely hope that I may be able to prevent something from happening to you and yours, my lady. It's in both our best interests that the murderer be caught soon.'

Tudwrig did not like the idea of doubled security. His chieftaincy was already infested with Romans, and this only reinforced Lentulus's hold over his people and his responsibilities. It was a bitter pill, and he started to develop a headache. 'I am starting to feel unwell,' he said then, 'I will retire to my chambers now.' It wasn't a request - Tudwrig rather die than do anything by the Roman's leave.
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
Briallen shot up, feeling as though pricked with a needle. Such a time for the curse to capture Tudwrig in its ugly arms. ‘Then I must take my leave as well. Forgive us, my lord.’
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
'Allow me to accompany you to the caer,' Rufus said as he got up. 'I know it will probably not help any, but I have to make a full inquiry again if only to satisfy my superiors in Rome.'

Tudwrig grunted. 'I sincerely hope you will not overstep yourself,' he said quietly. 'Even a man of your indomitable spirit needs his rest every once in a while.'
'As I said; duty goes before pleasure,' came Rufus's answer.
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
It was in awkward silence that the thee of them moved from the settlement back to the caer. She could see Tudwrig’s every step become heavier. The pain must be spreading fast. What would she do if the beast took over before he could reach his room. In the great hall, she took his hand, but it was a brief gesture. ‘Rest well. I will check on you within a few hours.’
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
'I'll be fine,' he said and sent a somewhat pained smile her way. 'You be careful, all right?' He was glad Lentulus kept to the background somewhat. 'If he gets on your nerves, just put him in front of my door and unbolt it,' he added in a whisper, only half-serious. Tudwrig reached up and briefly stroked her cheek. He was so far into it that a small touch wouldn't matter, anyway.
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
She laughed weakly. ‘I will. I love you, Tudwrig.’ Despite all of their saddening trials. He deserved to know that.
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
'I love you too,' he croaked before the pain made him ground his teeth together. Tudwrig quickly turned around bolted to his room.

Rufus waited a few moments before he walked towards Briallen. 'I am sorry that your husband suffers so. It seems a terrible burden,' he expressed his sympathy, which was not entirely faked. After all, Briallen did deserve a man who could show her the pleasures of marriage instead of only the duties. And Rufus thought he was just the man to do so.
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
'Yes,' she whispered, not quite able to turn around yet. His poor voice had sounded like a breaking tree. 'It is. It's cruel.'
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
'Forgive me being forward, but perhaps you should take a seat, my lady.' He turned around and asked one of the maids to bring a strengthening drink for the lady. The girl hurried away immediately.
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
'Oh, I'm fine,' she said at once, facing him directly. 'Your concern is appreciated, however.'
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
He smiled. 'I try. Oh, I've been meaning to ask, is the lady Gwenllian unwell? I sent her a message yesterday, but she hasn't answered it.'
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
Her face fell into shadows. Briallen could feel it happen. ‘Oh, quite unwell I am afraid. I’ve been meaning to ask you some questions about this.’ She searched his face. It was nothing remarkable except for the dark mirror in his eyes. ‘As I’ve understood it, my lord, she was well on her way to heed your summon.’ Her mouth drew down even more at this word, ‘when it seems she was attacked. Let’s be plain. She’s been beaten up severely on your territory, so to speak. There has been…quite a lot of scheming since you have arrived. Don’t you think so?’
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