Warchildren Scene 11

   

Magnus woke early, dawn barely peeking out from behind the Pillar of the Mother. The town was quietly waking and laborers roused and headed off to farms and the riverside. Magnus rubbed his eyes and stood upon the cool flagstone floor. He moved over to the armor stand that until last night had only held his practice armor. The chain mail hauberk glistened and swayed in the cold, drafty room. He pulled on his linen trousers
and then his linen tunic. He grabbed the quilted gambeson that hung next to the chain on the stand. The gambeson was thick and padded to protect him from the chaffing of the mail hauberk. It was also warm, which on a cold morning such as this was a blessing. He pulled on thick woolen socks. His leather boots
were well worn in but polished and well cared for. They slid onto his feet and he tugged the laces tight, tying them so they wouldn't come undone even in the hardest combat. He pulled the chain mail hauberk over his head and the rough chain slid down his body. He could feel the weight of it settle heavily on his shoulders. He was strapping his leather bracers on his forearms when a knock came at his door.
     “Magnus? It's time to go.” The door creaked open and a smiling face peered around the open door.
     “Mialee.” Magnus smiled back and beckoned her into the room. He moved toward her and cupped her cheek in his left hand. She looked up at him smiled softly, her eyes glowed with a soft light like the morning sun. He gazed at her and leaned in, softly touching her lips with his.
     “Magnus, I wish we had time for more but the others are gathering in the courtyard.” she pulled away from him but gently.
     He left his hand against her cheek as she turned to leave, savoring the touch of her skin. They had grown up together but at some point had grown closer than the others. They loved each other more than simply familial bonds would allow. Magnus would steal out into the wilderness to train and meet with Mialee beneath the Pillars. They would find no time for sweet trysts now.
     “Mialee...I...” he began.
     “Magnus, with our share of the reward we could build our house and perhaps start a family of our own.” she smiled and moved toward the door. “Keep your mind on the task then or..."
     “We may not live to spend it,” he finished.
     “Come on,” she smiled. “Dark thoughts don't suit you. We will be calling you Wyndreth if you keep it up.”
     She left him alone in the cold morning air of his cell. His mind filled with thoughts of her. He could hear Arn pounding down the hall, his chain hauberk clinking and jingling down the hall, boot stomping on the flagstones.
     “Let's go Magnus! We've got us a big lizard to kill.” Arn laughed as he stomped by his door.
     “I'm coming. Are you in a hurry to get eaten!” he shouted through the crack in the door.
     Magnus reached for the coif and leather cap to wear underneath it. Placed both on his head and picked up his helmet. It was a good steel helmet with a nasal bar shaped like a dragons neck and head which attached to a golden dragon's body splayed across the brow of the helmet, wings swept back and gripping
the sides as if perched on Magnus' helmet.
     Magnus strapped on his belt and his trusty hammer. His shield stood in the corner. A kite shield made from stout oak. Magnus had had a fire breathing version of the Dragon Ascendant painted on his shield when he was old enough to carry one. Except for the times when he held Mialee in the forest, he only felt complete when he held hammer and shield in hand. He picked up his traveling pack, slung it over is right shoulder and headed for the door. He stopped at the threshold and gazed back at his room.
     So many years spent here, so many hours spent in prayer to the Dragon Ascendant for guidance and strength. Yet he had never heard the Dragon respond. Not with his ears at any rate. Now he must slay one of the Dragon's wayward children. Magnus turned and shut the door. He walked down the hallway
toward the open door. Light spilled through the doorway and it wasn't until he stepped out into the morning light that he realized he was the last to arrive.
     They were all wearing the armor that Father Matthias had given them the night before. They also carried traveling packs and wore good boots. Cogwyn looked strange decked out in leather and traveling gear. Her hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail. Even in her traveling clothes she still looked gorgeous. Magnus shook his head and walked toward them.
     Arn caught sight of Magnus walking toward them and said loudly, “Finally, we can get on the road. Let's get going.” He then turned and strode off with purpose towards the upper bridge which led west towards the old king's road.
     The rest filed out and said their goodbyes to Father Matthias at the courtyard gate. He hugged each of them as they filed past and said a few words. When Magnus stepped up Father Matthias hugged him with the strong arms Magnus remembered from his youth. “Dragon be with you son. You've made me proud and grown into a fine young man.”
     “Thank you father,” Magnus said, voice choking with emotion.
     “Bring them all back Magnus.”
     “I will try father.” Magnus said as he turned and walked through the courtyard gate. Rainwater stood in pools on the street as he walked down towards the bridge. Not many townsfolk paid them much attention as they left. A few stopped to stare in confusion at the Warchildren as they walked by weighted down with armor and heavy traveling packs. Armed and armored warriors, no matter how well they knew them, made
the peaceful townsfolk nervous. They looked at them as a sheep would a sheepdog, unable to tell the difference between a protector and a wolf.
     Magnus caught up with Arn and laid his hand on his shoulder. “Oi! Are ye ready Magnus? I can't wait to kill this beastie.”
     “Well once it eats you and gets indigestion from your sorry carcass, I will be happy to kill the dragon for you. If indeed that is what it is.” Magnus said smiling. “Just don't die too quickly, OK? I would appreciate it if you tired it out a bit first.”
     “Ye be the one feedin' the beastie Magnus. I'll be bringin' home the head and rolling in the glory.” Arn slapped Magnus on the back. “ When I'm a famous beastie slayer, you can polish my armor for me. It's the least I could do once the thing bites yer skinny pale legs off.
     “Nah, Arn I'm sure this dragon like a bit more fat on his meals.” Magnus said as he patted Arn's belly.
     “Oi! That's all muscle! Hard as a foundation stone.” Arn said pounding his gut. “Go ahead punch me ye little girl, ye will probably break yer soft girly hands”
     “OK,” Magnus said and punched him right in the face. Arn stopped short and shook his bearded head and then stared right at Magnus. “Oi! What was that for?”
     “You said punch you. I was just aiming for the fattest part of your body.” Magnus smiled laughing uproariously.
     “Ye'll pay for that.” Arn said and moved toward Magnus, who took off running. Arn chased him past everyone else, knocking his friends and random people out of his way.
     “I thought dwarves were natural sprinters?” Magnus yelled back to Arn as he dodged his way through the morning crowds.
He was having trouble running as he laughed ever harder. They passed Mialee, Cogwyn and Ugadda who were walking and chatting among themselves. “Boys!” Cogwyn said and they giggling among themselves. Ugadda tried to giggle but came out as a rumble of gravelly stone instead. Her large jet black form and her smoldering red eyes cleared a path for the ladies as they strolled along the street. Cogwyn stopped to look
at a piece of red cloth at the dyer's stall along the side of the road through town.
     “How much for three paces of this cloth?” she asked the merchant.
     “Six pieces of silver, Mi'lady.” the merchant said businesslike.
    “Three,” Cogwyn countered absentmindedly, eyes cast down at the cloth with appreciation.
     “For you Mi'lady, I can go as low as five silver pieces.” the merchant responded. “Any lower and I will go hungry.”
     She smiled at him and turned the full force of her eyes on him. “I'm sorry all I have is three to spend, please sir, it is so beautiful. I have never seen it's equal. You must be a master of your craft.” she said sweetly.
     “Th-thank you Mi'lady, you are to kind. It is some of my best work and it will not fade like other more inferior work.”
     “It is so soft,” she said as she held some of the material to her cheek and closed her eyes . She moaned softly as she caressed her skin with the red cloth. “I would just love to make a dress from this cloth. It is so beautiful and feels so good against my skin. Doesn't this color look good on me?” she asked the merchant, holding his eyes in her smoldering gaze.
     “Mi'lady, my wife would kill me if I sold that cloth for so small a price.” He pleaded with her.
     “Does she take tea?” Cogwyn asked sliding her pack off her shoulder and reaching into a pocket.
     “Every night before bed. Why do you ask?”
     “Here are three silver pieces and give her this in her tea.”
     Cogwyn said as she placed a small stoppered vial in the merchant's hand. “The Goddess will turn her mind to other things and yours as well, honey.”
     The merchant nodded his head vigorously and took the coins and vial from Cogwyn's hand. He looked around and slid the small vial into the sash of soft cotton at his waist. He took up his measuring tool and measured out three paces of cloth. He then cut the cloth at three paces and rolled it before tying a small
loop of string around the cloth. He handed the red cloth over to Cogwyn who smiled her best heart-melting smile at him. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek when she took the cloth.
      “You won't be sorry honey, the Goddess will make sure of that.”
     Ugadda and Mialee stood and stared open mouthed at the short exchange. Cogwyn took the cloth and bundled it into her pack. She then shouldered her pack and began to walk after the boys.
     “How did you haggle that man down so fast?” Mialee asked confused.
     “She used the magic of her Goddess.” Ugadda said with derision in her voice.
     “I only used the magic the Goddess has blessed every woman with, Ugadda.” Cogwyn said cheerfully. “I have tried to teach you both how to use that womanly magic often enough.”
     “I have no idea what you are referring to Wynnie,” Mialee said with a forced frown.
     “Sure you do Mia,” Cogwyn said with a slight smile, “you use it on Magnus quite often of late.”
     “I do not!” Mialee said almost giggling.
     “I have noticed that he goes off to practice in the woods on occasion around the time you go for your nightly walks.”
Ugadda turned and said sternly, “we all know about you and Magnus.
     “What?!?” Mialee stopped and stared at her two “sisters” with apprehension and a little fear. Her and Magnus had been unsure how the others would take their deeper relationship. It almost seemed incestuous even though they were of no blood kinship. They had know each other their entire lives and something had formed over time that neither had expected but both had welcomed gladly.
     “And we approve,” Ugadda added, “so don't get your underclothes in a bunch.”
     “We know Mia and its alright. We are happy to see you two together and look forward to nieces and nephews in a few years.” Cogwyn said mischievously.
     “Well don't go putting the cart before the horse, girls. We still have a dragon to slay before you can start knitting baby clothes.”
     “I don't know how to knit,” Cogwyn said laughing, “and I pretty sure Bone Crusher here hasn't been apprenticed to a midwife recently.”
     Ugadda looked at the two smaller human women and actually smiled. “Motherhood doesn't really suit me, methinks.”
     “No, but you might make someone a good husband someday.” Mialee said laughing.
     “Perhaps,” Ugadda said in all seriousness before breaking out in a huge canine filled grin.