Magan catches up to the carriage about two miles outside of Lannstevan. The rest of the group have otherwise had a fairly peaceful onward journey. Brother Branok is teaching Isolde the names of the trees along the roadside. It's around an hour past midday by now, if they make good time they should be able to reach Ocmundtune before sun-down.
Magan rides up alongside the carriage, to talk to Gawen, Felix and Kara.
"I managed to get 2 more horses to share between the 3 of you. It should make scouting easier, and we only need to find 2 more now before Branok turns back.I'm going to see if there is any good food to be found in the woods now, try to save some rations."
He secures the reigns of the new horses to the carriage and heads back out to see if there is any good hunting or foraging to be had just off the path.
"Mind if I come with you?" asks Gawen, swinging down from his perch on the wagon. "Could do to stretch my legs a bit, and Felix isn't that talktative at the moment."
He gestures to Felix, who is somehow snoozing in the back of the wagon despite the bumpy road.
Magan nods.
"Always glad of some company. Let's see if we can't get something good to go with that cheese."
As they head into the woods together, Magan makes harmless polite conversation about hunting methods, and preferred roots and berries before turning the conversation onto something a little more meaningful.
" So what got you sent so far from home? We are headed somewhere far from your homeland and from Tintagel, and we aren't the only ones. What is afoot here?"
Gawen raises his eyebrows slightly at this statement. "Not the only ones? There's others heading to Kent from here as well?"
"something I heard in the last village. What do you know about what we're looking for there?"
As Gawen and Magan trot ahead through the woods, talking as they go, they both get the feeling that they are not alone. Magan catches an unnatural motion in the bushes on their flanks and Gawen hears the soft breath of a beast.
Meanwhile, back at the carriage, the rumbling of the wheels on the road disturbs a murder of crows roosting in the treetops. They take flight abruptly, cawing loudly and making their way north-east in a clamour of wing-strokes.
Up in the driver's seat, Branok clicks soothingly to the horses driving them on and forcing them to ignore the distraction. Isolde on the other hand jumps about happily in her seat and points up at the birds, laughing gleefully.
Prasutagus recognises the crows as an omen of change, but of what? Omens must be interpreted.
Crows are the keepers of the Sacred Law. They live in the void and has no sense of time, seeing past, present and future simultaneously. The crow merges both light and dark, both inner and outer. They are symbols of creation and spiritual strength. Messengers, calling to us about the creation and magic that is alive in the world today and available to us.
Magan slips his shield down onto his arm casually, careful not to alter his steps. He glances at Gawen, nodding in the direction of the bushes.
As he keeps his eyes carefully trained on the bushes, he thinks about whether he has heard any rumours of attacks or unusual sightings in these parts recently.
Magan knows that the road is leading them closer and closer the The Great Swamp, which is known for the larger predatory beasts that stalk the wild region.
Gawen raises his eyebrows slightly to acknowledge Magan's nod. He shifts the sling he'd been holding ready in his hand (a rabbit would make a tasty addition to the evening's meal) and glances in the direction of the sound out of the corner of his eye, focusing as he does so.
Sensing her comrades unease, Kara mutters a prayer and marks the young girl as her ward, in hopes it will give her strength and valor. She adjust her spear and shield as she does not detect anything, but it could be masked as the unease of a lone woman upon a bunch of men.
Gawen doesn't note any otherworldly presence and the reason quickly becomes clear as a pair of wolves leap from the undergrowth!
However, having noticed their presence, the two men are ready and quickly react.
Magan flings his axe as the wolf appears.
Reacting quickly, Gawen reaches out with his free hand and speaks a few curt words which sound Welsh, but which Magan doesn't recognize.
The air between Gawen and the wolves shimmers slightly as a strand of reality from the otherworld is tweaked into intersection with the mortal plane for an instant. The plants in the area seeth and grow as they feel the essence and vitality of Annwn, twisting themselves into knots and binds beneath the wolves' paws.
Seeing the crows Prasutagus' brows furrow. Change... Hardly a useful omen in its own right...
Determined to get a more learned opinion, Prasutagus drops back from the point position and rides beside Branok.
"Branok, I am in need to a man wiser than I. What do you make of this?" Prasutagus says and describes the crows to Branok if he did not see them.
The wolf deftly avoids the grasping vines, but Magan's axe causes it to twist awkwardly, costing it momentum. Both beasts savage at the legs of Magan and Gawen's mounts.
Well trained Ealing is quicker to avoid the wolf, but Gawen's young rouncey struggles to fend off the ferocious predator.
Back at the wagon, Branok too eyes the crows making their way off towards the horizon. He sighs tiredly with a soft smile when he hears Prasutagus's question.
"The gods do indeed sometimes send signs our way my boy, but honestly I try not to worry myself too much over them. When you are meant to know something, you surely will. No good comes of worrying over that which we cannot change."
Isolde has settled down by now and smiles contently as the birds go on their way. She rests her head against Branok's arm and begins to dose off.
Magan calls at Gawen to get the horse out of harms way before stepping Ealing into any gap they leave, a handaxe appears in his hand with practised precision, his eyes never leaving the wolf he attacked. He and Ealing then lash out at the wolves with everything they have.
Mostly in the flurry, all that gets contacted is air, but Magan feels his shield make what seems like solid contact.
As the wolves nip at the heels of Gawen's horse, it makes a bolt for freedom.
Gripping with his knees, Gawen is able to stay mounted as the horse dashes away. Despite the violent motion of the running mount, he attempts to concentrate enough to perform a summon.
The horse veers at a critical moment, and the spell is lost. Gritting his teeth in frustration, he puts his hand to his mouth and whistles loudly in the hope it might be heard by the rest of the group.
Next to Felix on the roof of the carriage, Pen sits up abruptly and begins to bark loudly besides his companion's ear. The dog looks down at Kara and Prasutagus and whines at them, nodding southwards with his nose towards the trees.
Meanwhile, Magan manages to beat the one wolf back a little with his shield. This time it is unable to avoid the blow completely and the spike draws blood as it digs into the beast's flank.
The pair of wolves flank Ealing and although Magan is able to avoid the first's bite with some capable riding, the second sinks its teeth into the mare's leg, but fails to drag her to the ground.
Swinging a leg over, Gawen jumps from his frightened horse. Seeing Magan still in combat with the wolves, he starts running back towards them, whistling again as he does so.
Grits her teeth, having no idea what would sent Pen off. She didnt think he was that much of a guard dog, but he could know something they dont. Kara swings her shield and spear into position, and moves so she is covering Branok and Isolde. She makes no other movement after that, but remains wary for whatever Pen had caught sight off
Magan grimaces as he sees the wolf rip into Ealing a growls at the wolf.
"Get off my horse you little ****"
One again he and Ealing lash out several times at the wolf in front of them.
This time it is his axe that cuts deep into the wolf.
The wolves continue to viciously savage at Ealing's legs until the poor mare is dragged bleeding to the ground. Magan tumbles gracefully from her back with a quick roll and lands ready with his weapons drawn.
Seeing Pen's concerned behaviour, Branok glances back up at him and draws the carriage to a halt.
"Where did Gawen and Magan go again... ? Since I met Pen he's been as friendly and happy a hound as I've ever known, but that looks like concern to me."
Felix bolts up, awoken from his peaceful little nap by Pen's loud barking right next to his ear, hands darting for his daggers instinctively.
"What! What's going on? Arthek came for us already?"
Magan stands over Ealing, cursing and yelling at the wolf, making himself as threatening as possible in the hopes of taking its attention. His language becomes increasingly colourful as he swings yet again with both axe and shield, whilst himself avoiding the horse kicking out from the ground beneath him.
The axe once again hits the wolf, but it is the weight of the blow, more than the sharpness of the steel that seems to hurt the beast.
I need a new job, I won't survive long in this profession if I can't even out-fight a brainless animal.
Gawen continues running towards Magan and the wolves, drawing his quarterstaff as he does so.
Fool probably knocked himself out on a branch while riding...
"Byddaf yn mynd yn edrych amdano" Prasutagus says while turning Aurelius in the direction Gawen and Magan wandered off in and moving at a trot.
Prasutagus heads a-ways into the trees, but does not yet hear anything yet.
Meanwhile, the wolves turn to concentrate on Magan, who has caused significant damage to one of them.
However, neither is able to pass the man's strong shield arm.
Felix turns to Prasutagus, still confused from waking up so suddenly.
"Chwilio am bwy? Ble mae Magan a Gawen? Ydyn ni dan ymosodiad? Pam mae Pen yn ceisio deafen? A all rhywun ddweud wrthyf beth sy'n digwydd ?! ... os gwelwch yn dda ..."
Magan temporarily ceases his cursing as he gives up a prayer to Odin, and allows his faith to guide his arms as he swings again with both axe and shield at the injured wolf.
With a loud yell, Gawen ploughs into the nearest wolf, swinging with his quarterstaff.
The hit on the wolf is solid, though it doesn't strike anywhere particularly vital. However the wolf now has to contend with attacks from both directions.
Unsure what her companions were saying, Kara would stay with the wagon and the defenseless part of her party. She curses Loki for playing mischief, saying in Norse, " Loki, you shall not trick us today. We shall be ever watchful. May Freya guide my hand today." She then squares herself between the last location her other three companions went, and raised her shield up in a defensive manner, hoping she wasn't condemning her other party members to death by staying with Branok and Isolde.
"Magan wrth gwrs. Mae Pen yn anfodlon felly byddaf yn ymchwilio." Prasutagus replies to Felix before trotting off.
***
Guiding Aurelius through the trees, Prasutagus keeps looking for Magan.
He better not have gotten himself killed...
Gawen thumps the wolf solidly in the back and Magan's prayers are answered as he slices deep into the beast's paw before delivering a powerful blow to its chest. Besides them, Ealing still flails helplessly on the ground.
The injured wolf is bleeding profusely and carefully backs away from Magan and Gawen, trying to limp off into the woods. Its companion also slowly draws back after it, watching the pair of men with bared teeth, ready to defend its pack mate.
Ok then...I forgot he's not the talkative type, guess I better go with him incase they ran into trouble.
"Kara, you stay here and guard them, make a loud noise if you encounter trouble, Prasutagus and I will go check on Magan and Gawen to make sure they are still alive. Be right back."
With that, Felix hops on the remaining horse and chases after Prasutagus.
Gawen readies his staff until it's obvious the beasts are definitely retreating, then goes to check on Magan and Ealing. Seeing that Magan is relatively unscathed, he focuses his attention on the horse, attempting to calm the mount as he assesses its wounds.
Ealing is only superficially wounded and is not in any real danger. Gawen will need a healer's kit or one of his tonics to properly treat the wound.
Magan quickly draws his bow and looses an arrow that strikes the wounded wolf in the leg. It continues to limp away from him as fast as it can along with its pack mate.
Having neither a healer's kit nor any tonics to hand, Gawen simply continues to soothe Ealing. As he does so, he peers into the trees, looking to see if there's any sign of where his mount might have gone after fleeing from the wolves.
Gawen can tell the general direction in which the horse ran from the disturbed foliage. However, if he wants to follow its trail he'll need to track it properly.
Meanwhile, Magan sinks a final arrow into the wounded wolf, leaving it dead on the ground as the other flees. As it vanishes into the forest, Prasutagus and Felix come trotting through the trees towards Magan and Gawen.
Magan goes over to collect the dead wolf, and straps it over the back of Ealing.
"We'd best go and get my horse back Gawen. She can't have gone far."
He looks confused as Felix and Prasutagus appear.
"Rydych chi'n ddiogel nawr, Llandinam bereffi "
Gawen laughs shakily, as the adrenaline rush of combat slowly fades.
"Er pe bai un o'r anifeiliaid hyn wedi bod yn fwy, gallai fod wedi bod yn fan fawr o drafferth! Nid wyf yn tybio bod un ohonoch chi wedi gweld pasio ceffylau heb feidr?"
"Fel arfer, mae man bach o drafferth oll yr ydych chi erioed yn ei dderbyn." Prasutagus says to Magan. To Gawen, "Ac nid oeddwn i ddim yn gweld a cheffylau."
Felix breathed a sigh of relief, his head still pounding.
"Glad to see you guys are ok, I will head back and inform Kara then."
Magan laughs.
"po nid oes ddiogel drafferth oeyedd. Nid ddim, oefydd gaffyl ac di nid ac drafferth."
Magan easily follows the tracks a few hundred yards west and finds the horse grazing peacefully in a clearing. A few minutes later everybody has made if back to the carriage on the road.
Pen barks twice when he sees Gawen and jumps down from his perch, running over to his master to lick happily at his hand.
"Magan! Gawen!" Branok calls gladly as he sees them. "How was your hunt? We were worried about you."
Glares as the men come back, joking and laughing. She resettles her spear and shield back into place, a bit upset over all the fuss. She mutters darkly to herself, as she had hoped for a bit more action than what had happened. Hopefully the men remembered to bring something back, otherwise she is going to let them have it.