Prelude: A Guest of the Woods

Post by **TetNak** » Fri Aug 14, 2015 3:28 pm

"I trust," Bearnoch says, waving to her men. She says something in her native tongue as well, and after a quick retort by the man, they pull out a sack filled with Berwyn's gear. "No run?" she asks, "Would make me sad." She points to the others, "Make them mad."

Wbweather · Post by **Wbweather** » Fri Aug 14, 2015 3:59 pm

"I will not run. We will speak to my father. Will your men be peaceful?"
He is encouraged by getting back his gear. He is still vastly outnumbered should things turn to fighting, but perhaps this princess is exactly who and what she claims to be. Still though he would like to get more information about her people.

"Thank you Bearnoch. I trust you too. When we speak to my father, who do I say your king, your father is?"

Post by **TetNak** » Fri Aug 14, 2015 7:58 pm

Bearnoch slings her own pack onto her back and nods as they start walking. As they do, she says, "Yes, peace, my men no harm. Harm not my men." She takes a deep breath, "Father Aerthel. Aerthel of Angles. Of Seafyrr."

Berwyn knows of Seafyrr, or Caer Seafyrr, on the borders of Elmet and Lloegyrr. It was a well defended fort, but the Celts there eventually evacuated to the north. Berwyn wasn't sure what happened to those people, and not exactly what happened to Seafryrr afterward. He assumed Saxons had taken it, but perhaps it was the Angles. Either way, that was ten years ago, or so Berwyn remembered.

Wbweather · Post by **Wbweather** » Fri Aug 14, 2015 8:32 pm

"Today my father holds a feast. He is celebrating the day of his birth. I was expected back before now. He may have sent out men to look for me. When we meet my people, I will talk with them. I will tell them you want peace. It would be best if your men stay back."

Having no idea what to expect at the meeting of his clansmen and the Angles, Berwyn tries to think of a way to orchestrate a diplomatic exchange. His greatest fear is that seeing him with a group of "Saxons" it will be assumed that he is their captive and that their intentions are hostile. The fact that he has his armor and weapons and is walking freely should be enough to show that his is not acting under duress. At least he hopes so. He hopes to find a scout out looking for him rather than having to escort a group of armed men to his father's feast. Well, if indeed he is bringing allies against the Saxons as well as a daughter-in-law, then he will be giving his father quite an impressive gift. If he has misjudged the girl, then...well he would not have long to wait and see how things turned out.

"Let us go, we have a ways to travel. We must make haste if we are to arrive before nightfall."

Post by **TetNak** » Sat Aug 15, 2015 10:10 pm

"You talk," Bearnoch agrees, moving alongside Berwyn. They keep going for the rest of the day, and eventually dusk comes and goes. Berwyn is certainly late, but they are almost there.

Unlike his father's old home, Hyllr is not built on a hill, but instead on flat ground. It is no where near as easy to defend as the forts of old, mostly run over and occupied by Saxons in the south. Here is the outskirts of the village, where the land is full of farms and pastures with sheep that graze. It is dark, and there's no one out here, more than likely. His father's patrols would eventually pass this area, but they do not do so regularly. Perhaps two or three times a night do they circle the village looking for any signs of trouble.

Wbweather · Post by **Wbweather** » Sat Aug 15, 2015 10:34 pm

"Bearnoch, will your men wait here? You come with me to my fathers house. We will talk with him."
Berwyn hopes that he can convince the girl to come alone. It would be much more acceptable, he thinks to show up at his father's feast with a single foreign girl than a group of armed men who for all practical purposed appear to be a group of Saxon warriors.

It is a relief to be home at last after the last 4 days. He is certain that his father must be very concerned. He is somewhat surprised that he did not see a group out looking for him, but perhaps he missed them in the dark. It concerns him too that he was able to walk up to the village with a small army of men and not be spotted. He would have to talk with his father about putting better security measures in place. How easy would it be for an enemy to attack while the king and his people were preoccupied with celebration. He could just imagine old Trahaeran with a tankard in his hand drinking his way through a keg of mead. The old warrior was intimidating even when inebriated, but how well would the teulu fight this late into one of their feasts. The men had often chided him about being too serious and not knowing how to enjoy life. Still though here he was, leading an army into his village. He believed they were friendly, but what if this was a set up? Well, it was a little late to change course now. He awaited Bearnoch's response before entering the village.

Post by **TetNak** » Mon Aug 17, 2015 4:37 pm

"Stay on edge of town, no attack, no be attacked?"

With an agreement from Berwyn, Bearnoch accompanies him into Hyllr. The small dirt streets are mostly unoccupied, as dusk has fallen and many of the people are undoubtedly meeting in his father's longhall for his celebration. As they get closer, Berwyn spots a few of his father's warrior drinking and only a few that look like they are patrolling the village. Bearnoch is nervous, that's clear, but no one seems to notice the seaxe on her side, only seeing an attractive woman walking with Berwyn.

The crowd seems to be around the longhall as Berwyn thought. There were villagers milling about outside, drinking from the mead barrels offerred to everyone. The 'important' folk would be inside, obviously.

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