<< // // // >>
The rest of the afternoon and evening pass quickly as the knights finish setting up their camp, take their evening meal and work out the kinks of a day's worth of riding. Gunthar takes up the first watch after sunset, and has an uneventful time of time.
He wakes Lo around midnight to take his watch. The southern youth waits through the first two hours of his vigil with little activity. Then he hears something. Just a brief sound carried by the wind across the nearby moor. At first he thinks it was nothing, but then he hears a sound again. It sounds like a distant shout. Looking about, he sees the twinkling light of a fire off on the moor away from the direction of the road. It must be a rather large blaze for him to see it at such a distance. As he looks at the flickering point, further snatches of sound reach his ears every few seconds. Clearly something is happening out on the moor.
Nervously Lo loosens his sword in its scabbard, and swiftly checks that the buckles on his armour are tight and secure. He looks out towards the moor and the distant blaze, cupping his hands to his ears to mimic those of one of the flighty hinds he has oft hunted, trying to catch something intelligible on the wind.
Lo then hurries across to his companions and shakes them awake. "Something's afoot," he explains quietly "Fire and cries. I doubt it bodes well. Should we investigate?"
Gunthar awakes with a start and slowly relaxes as it becomes apparent that they are not under attack. He stands up and finds an elevated position to look at the fire off in the distance. He stares and listens concentrating on the minute details to determine anything of who, what, or where of the situation. He also assesses if it would be possible to lead the horses through the moor in the dark, or would they be risking a broken leg or three?
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Gunthar can't make out any details at this distance. He can hear the sounds of voices like Lo, and clearly see the light of the fire. It's very dark, so it would be very slow going with the horses and no torches. But torches would surely ruin any hopes at stealthy approach.
How far is it? Meaning, how long would it take them to get there in dark with and without the horses? Should they wait until morning?
It's hard to say exactly, anywhere between two and five hundred meters? It would take several minutes of walking.
"What do you want to do about that?" Gunthar asks the other two. "We could get there in several minutes of walking, but we could easily be outnumbered and not know friend from foe. Plus, the darkness puts the horses at great risk of breaking a leg with a misstep. In total, there is tremendous risk, and it's not clear who we could be helping. Maybe no one."
"If we do anything, we should leave the horses here. We dare not risk them on these treacherous moorlands in the dark." Lo glances at his companions, trying to assess how brave they're feeling. "We could sneak closer, under cover of darkness, and try and make out what's going on."
OOC text is broken, please put any OOC at the bottom of your posts and separate it with a line of underscores until OOC gets fixed.
"And if it's a large camp of brigands or pagans? Being brave and zealous in our calling doesn't mean being fool-hardy. Let's keep our own fire down to coals, and observe for awhile before committing ourselves to sneak over."
Without enough interest, Gunthar continues to watch and listen. After 10 minutes, if they don't go over there, he lays down and sleeps.
There is no discernible change over ten minutes. The light remains constant, and so do the fitful sounds of raised voices on the wind.
Seeing that it is likely a fire built at a camp site, and not an army marching with torches, Reolus is content to let them in peace, and investigate more in the light of day.
<< // // // >>
In the hours before morning, a misty fog covers the lands, leaving everything slick with dew and damp. The sun rises, its first rays are weak through the fog. As the knights go about their morning prayers (or not) and eat their morning meal, the sun rises enough that it begins to burn away the mist, as soon as it rises fully, it's likely the mist will depart to leave everything damp. It is impossible not to shiver in the cold, it's easy to long for a much larger fire than what might be prudent.
After breakfast for him and Sigi, Gunthar suits up. When ready, he suggests, "I suppose we should check out the entertainment from last night."
Reolus is fine with investigating the fire. He has to admit he's curious.
Well, first task will be to make their way to the first clump of trees, and Reolus will carefully climb up one of the sturdy ones for a bird's-eye view of the distant fire site, unless they can hear the sounds of voices still, in which case, a more stealthy approach would be wise.
Gunthar will not leave Sigi alone in broad daylight. He will lead the knights on horseback there. He readies his shortbow in his hand with his lance in its cup and saddle holster.
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They no longer hear any voices. In the light of day it's clear no one is out on the moor unless they are laying in the damp grass and not moving. They can't quite see the spot where the fire was because the ground is fairly flat, however it should be easy to find if they were to ride over there.
Climbing the trees is no simple task, as they are mostly eight or more meters tall with few low hanging branches. It could be done but it would be difficult for the scholarly Reolus.
If the tree isn't easy to climb, then he doesn't bother, though he suggests somebody else could try it.
Gunthar has no interest climbing trees. He doubts the tree would support his weight at a height higher than he can get by standing in his stirrups.
Gunthar rides Sigi cautiously in the direction that they saw the fire in last night. Reolus and Lo follow him . After a couple of minutes (much farther than they would have thought) Gunthar sees a black mound of what is probably ash up ahead on the moor. It must be the remains of last night's fire. Riding closer, they can see that the grass all around the pile of ash is trampled flat. The remains of the fire itself stand testament to its size. The blaze must have been the size of a small cottage at its height. In amongst the ashes is the skeleton of a sheep. There are pottery shards from a broken wine jug laying in the grass as well.
"Looks like we missed a party," Gunthar says pointing out the wine jug and sheep skeleton. "Let's get going." He turns Sigi around and returns to the mission.
Reolus shudders and crosses himself. "We should move on. Demons were worshipped here last night."
Lo looks forlornly at the broken wine jug. His rear hurt from riding all day the day before and a little drink would go a long way to easing the pain. He didn't say anything though, fearing Reolus's disapproval.
The group rides back to the road and continues on their way.
<< // // // >>
The day is a relatively pleasant one despite the cold. There is little wind (a rarity in these lands) and the sun in shining. The knights ride on through the forested moors of Sachsenland asking directions along their way at a farm they come across around lunch time. The farmers are Christians and are pleased to see the knights. They have men with spears guarding their three small wheat fields, the barn, their hog pen, and the house. The farmer is a plain looking, sachsen man named Ulger. His wife is named Leeta. They happily invite the knights into their modest home to share their midday meal of black bread, butter and boiled carrots. In fact, they are thrilled to have a warrior priest there to bless the meal. As everyone sits at the table, Ulger looks to Reolus to bless the food and begin the meal. They are joined at the table by Ulger's eldest son Jettwulf. Leeta and her eldest daughter, Wiebke, will serve the men, but currently stand waiting for the prayer.
Reolus happily obliges the farmers in blessing, not only their meal, but their family, men, and fields and crops. After lunch he blesses done water and tokenly anoints a small section of the nearby field.
After the prayer for the meal, while they are eating Ulger asks, "So what brings the king's knights out this way? Not something we see often."
"We seek a missing acolyte from the chapel at Graf Theodric's camp."
Reolus describes the boy and where he was heading.
"Ah, yes. He passed by here several days ago. We have not seen him since. The Berghaller Hof is pretty close. If you follow the road to the standing stone, then turn down the path to the north and follow it for a few hours into the forest, you should arrive. I would be careful though. There are wolves, bears, even an occasional cougar in the forest, and the Barghallers are an insular clan. They are half the reason I've got half my boys and men standing around outside holdin' spears instead of workin'."
"We saw evidence of a demonic pagan celebration on the moor last night. Could they have been the same group?"
Ulger blanches, and does the sign of the cross on himself. "I don't rightly know, sir. My family and I are amongst the few to have truly converted to Christ's faith in our words as well as in our deeds. Unfortunately many of our Sachsen tribesmen continue to follow the devil in the guise Wotan and his kin. They have not yet learned that following Satan and his prophet Widukind will only bring down the wrath of God's righteous king, Charlemagne. Was Verden not enough?" The farmer looks thoroughly disgusted and frightened by his prospects.
Reolus smiles faintly and lays a hand on the man's shoulder. "Fear not, my brother. Take courage. Remember, all they can do is kill your body, which is temporary and will eventually die anyway."
Reolus grins hollowly. "That is the response Christ would have me give, but you and I know it isn't that easy for us mere mortals. Still, we can but try."
"It is not myself I fear for, sir. It is my daughters. I know they will join me someday in God's kingdom, but I don't want them to have to experience hell on earth at the hands of a pagan brute before they meet me there. Although I suppose we suffer little next to what Christ endured for us. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. The priest taught us about Jesus taught me that."
Gunthar pleasantly accepts hospitality and keeps silent not to provide any reason for the family to question his youth. Besides, Reolus talks enough for the three of them.
Wiebka keeps eying Gunthar and smiling during the meal. She pretends like she wasn't whenever he or anyone else looks at her though.
"Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me," Reolus continues the quotation. "The rod of rulership and the shepherd's staff, both strong symbols of protection, neither completely pleasant to be under. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. No matter how bleak things look on earth, goodness and mercy follow soon after. Hold fast to that, and you shall indeed dwell in the Lord's house, as shall your daughters. We are here for but a fleeting moment, like the morning fog, here one minute, burned up the next. This life is the briefest flicker in the expanse of eternity. Solomon tells us that life itself is meaningless, everything is meaningless."
Reolus stops himself and smiles weakly. "Forgive me for rambling. These are the brave words of a foolish man who has never known the blessing of daughters. I cannot truly comprehend the fear you must feel for their safety, and, ummm...virtue." He trails off as he notices Wiebka's clandestine interest in Sir Gunthar.
"No, you are right, Sir. To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Even a time for suffering and death. It is my faith which is weak. Do we not pray every day for His will to be done here on Earth as it is in heaven? The Lord is great and all knowing. The seeds planted through our pain he will surely harvest into wonders, according to his holy plan. Thank you for reminding me. It's so easy to forget out here with no Mass to attend, and no pastor to guide us in our faith," Ulger seems geuinely thankful. He reaches across the table and grasps Reolus's hand tightly, smiling as tears well in his eyes. The gruff farmer is far too manly to actually cry though, and blinks back the emotions. "Is there anything else we can do for you, good Sirs?"
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." Reolus squeezes the man's hand with his other. "I think you have done more than enough with your directions. We will hopefully return this way on our way back and check in on you and your family."
"God go with you then," Ulger says, standing from the table. His son waits for the knights to stand before he does so. Both Leeta and Wiebke smile and bow to the men. Wiebke blushes furiously when she bows to Gunthar. As they make their way outside, they find their horses have been fed and watered. The small group of women, children and thralls who live on the farm group together for a moment as they watch the armored knights mount up. The smaller kids point and wave, shouting happily as the knights prepare to leave.
<< // // // >>
The trio of mounted warriors ride away from the farm, and even deeper into the wilderness. The way, which was barely a dirt road outside Minden, had dwindled to an overgrown dirt path about as wide as a man's footsteps. The horses manage it with little enough difficultly, but it serves to reinforce the fact that this is untamed land. As time passes the terrain becomes more hilly and rolling, and the trees more omnipresent and thick. The path slowly curves northward as they ride east, until after a few hours they come to a large clearing. The path splits off three ways at an intersection next to a huge menhir. The stone rises easily two and a half meters tall, and is roughly cylindrical. Its base is perhaps one and a half meters in diameter. Carved into the surface of the stone is the crude representative figure of an extremely thick and voluptuous nude woman. Above her head in an arch are five futhark runes. Reolus recognizes them as spelling out the name of the pagan goddess Frije. The stone is so old and weathered that the carving is very hard to distinguish clearly.
The knights turn north, following the path as Ulger instructed them. It leads them further into the forest, to the point where the trees approach right up to either side of the path, and the canopy of leafless branches overhead dapples the path with shadow. As they ride on into the forest the sun sinks slowly towards the western horizon. By the time they see a clearing up ahead, they estimate that they have less than an hour of light left.
Despite some mild disquiet of the increasing signs that they pass through enemy, pagan territory, Lo continues to enjoy being in the wilderness. As the trees surround and loom above them, he keeps one hand near his bow and the other near his lance, considering Ulger’s warning concerning wolves and bears.
A single wolf won’t bother us, and likely a black bear’s no threat. But a pack of wolves, or a hungry brown out here in this hard land, and we might have a fight on our hands.
Lo pays careful attention to his horse and the mule that trails behind on its guide rope, aware that their senses might detect the presence of any predatory beasts before he does. Occasionally his mind wanders back to Ulger’s pretty daughter.
Of course, she was more interested in Gunthar. There’s always someone more dashing . . .
Gunthar's enjoys the trip free of training. He's actually playing at being a knight and thought lifts him. His eyes attempt to catch everything: potential ambush, signs of wildlife or civilization, or interesting flora.