Dragon's Egg - Act IV

The Woods

Branwen is more than happy to sit on Cadell's lap in exhange for dried meat. She curls her feet underneath her, talons out of sight as she eats. Shes looks back and forth between party members and the dwarves as conversations get underway. Branwen seems less affected by the cold than one her size should be. Though her skin feels cool to the touch, she does not shiver and shows no sign of discomfort.

Burnbright, on the other hand, is red-faced and cold. She stays close to the fire, talking to Masama, until talk of the day's plans draw the attention of both of them.

Masama purses hip lips when Baldhart mentions she and Liadan going to the orcs. "Splitting up the group...this has not worked out well for us in the past. I am for staying together. If to the orcs, then to the orcs. After, to the dwarves. Our enemies benefit from our separation."

Burnbright shoots a questioning look at Baldhart.

Brok seems less than enthusiastic about making the trip to Ballara, but he nevertheless supports the idea. "Yer word was given," he says. "Those of you who went to the orcs, it was your word that freed me kin. I'll not have it said that a dwarf came between someone and the keepin' of their word.

"And aye," he says, looking over to Nissa. "Clothes would be appreciated. Same fer shoes. If the human in Ballara have anything what'll fit a dwarf, we've got coin ta spend."

Brok's kin defer to his judgment. They move carefully, as though still sore from their ordeal, and are ready to set out in very short order. Brok confers with them before the party sets out, then says to Baldhart "Might be a dwarf can get a proper breakfast in this Ballara, eh?"

The party makes good time coming down the mountain, and soon veers toward the river, retracing their steps from the previous day. Callan travels near the front of the group. Masama tends to linger near the back. When the party reaches the riverbank, it takes traveling downriver a short piece before the rope crossing is once again visible.

Callan frowns. "Remind me to never use this kind of 'orc bridge' again."

 

Rik's Place

Rik sets off immediately to prepare Cali a breakfast, leaving his helper boy to watch the common room alone for a few minutes.

Ranolf gives Cali a surreptitious grin when she launches into his heroics from the night before, and Cali's comments seem to settle the woman down a bit. "Always was a brave one, Ranolf," she allows. "That's one o' the things that caught my eye about 'im." She still gives Cali the occasional sideways glance, but seems mollified.

Ranolf, for his part, avoids that line of conversation altogether and focuses on Cali's question. "Hasn't been any word from the guards, yet. And ain't me or none of me lads left this place since last night. Won't be long now before some of the guards on duty last night are done workin' their shifts. At least one or two of 'em will stop in here for a quick bite before headin' off to bed. We'll get some word then."

Rik returns to the table with a fresh loaf of dense bread, butter, eggs boiled in the shell, and some sort of fish that has been pressed together into little cakes, then cooked. He also has a large mug of fresh buttermilk. "Is there anything else I can for you," he asks Cali. "We don't have a lot of variety this time of year, but there's plenty of what we've got."

Whether to fetch more food or continue getting ready for morning business, Rik leaves the table and Ranolf is able to get questions of his own in between bites of his breakfast. "What brings you up to these parts, Miss?" he asks Cali. "Don't get many traveling through here, particularly not this time of..."

Ranolf trails off as Dalla and the children comes down the stairs and into the common room. Abbi and Gunnar linger a pace behind Dalla, surveying the common room as though looking for danger. Dalla approaches the table and nods at Cali and Ranolf. The woman beside Ranolf looks Dalla up and down and gives Ranolf another look, but the big man ignores it and invites the kids to have a seat. "Ol' Rik'll fix up something ye'll like, don't you worry."

The children look up at Dalla as though for permission, and when she nods they move shyly to the table. The sight of them seems to soften up Ranolf's woman, and she favors both children with a smile.

 

Masama

The big man considers Baldhart's words, nodding along as she speaks. "Yes. You speak good sense, Baldhart. I do not wish to see us split up again, but perhaps there is greater danger in putting some of our company at the mercy of the orcs. I will go with you to the orc camp this time, if you wish it. Or else I will stay to guard Catli and Branwen. You have prove wise in your decisions - I will leave it to you."

With that, Masama lapses back into silence.

 

Masama

Masama chuckles, a deep, baritone sound emanating from within his chest. He holds up an arm alongside Baldhart's, his jet black skin a dark contrast to hers. "Your mother would think nothing of this?" He twists his arm back and forth, catching the dim sunlight. "Even among my people there are those who would frown upon such a union." He shrugs. "I believe we are all Asra's children."