Post by Fionnula mab Bevin on Jan 23, 2011 20:40:00 GMT -5
After two years, two long years at that horrible steading, I had fled. I had filched enough money from Eirik and put it away where no one would be able to find it, and under the cover of night I quietly led my favorite shaggy Skaldic pony, Ora, out of his stall and mounted up, steering him quietly away from the steading as the thane standing guard snored away. He would get punished later; I didn't care. I was free. I had put my heels to Ora's sides and flew over the bumpy, knotty terrain.
I reached Alba and booked passage to Terre d'Ange, selling Ora to a family with a little girl whose eyes shone at the sight of him. I knew Ora would be well-loved with that young lady. By the time I left them after the transaction, he was following her around without a lead line. Theirs would be a long and happy relationship, I hoped. Ora deserved that little girl to love him like that. He had been a stalwart friend; my only one in Skaldia. I boarded the ship bound for Terre d'Ange, my sword hanging at my hip and my dagger in it's sheath, another in my boot. I was trained from a young age to be a warrior; after my Da had died, I found others in my village to train me and, even after I became a slave, I watched the Skaldi. Theirs is a brutish culture, but they fight hard and with every part of themselves. I learned to fight with my heart and soul, not just my weapons. Whoever I had to fight next would be sorry I had that training.
The journey was long but not lonely. I sparred with the sailors when the seas were calm and there wasn't much work aboard ship to do. Once I had proven myself, I knew I didn't have to worry about being taken advantage of. Still, I always slept with my sword close by and my blanket over my head. That, I had done all my life. The sailors were good-natured enough, Eirans like me and some D'Angelines. I'd forgotten how pretty they all were. I was looking forward to seeing Joie again. As I travelled through the beautiful lands of Terre d'Ange, the white walls of the City of Elua overcame the crest of the hill and I wept, knowing safety was just a few short miles away. I kicked my pony's sides and ran up to the gates, speaking to the soldiers standing near the entrance. I was nervous; I'd never actually lived here and I was extremely young-- Ten? Not even, possibly-- the last time I was here. Gods be thanked I remembered the D'Angeline I was taught. I wished then that I had a pup once more; at least something to be loyal and love me as I loved it. I would have to look for one once I got myself settled in the City.
I stopped a passerby to ask if they happened to know where the de Mornay home was and, when I was directed to it and knocked the knocker to ask for Joie, I was told she was elsewhere. So began my search for the only family I had left.
I reached Alba and booked passage to Terre d'Ange, selling Ora to a family with a little girl whose eyes shone at the sight of him. I knew Ora would be well-loved with that young lady. By the time I left them after the transaction, he was following her around without a lead line. Theirs would be a long and happy relationship, I hoped. Ora deserved that little girl to love him like that. He had been a stalwart friend; my only one in Skaldia. I boarded the ship bound for Terre d'Ange, my sword hanging at my hip and my dagger in it's sheath, another in my boot. I was trained from a young age to be a warrior; after my Da had died, I found others in my village to train me and, even after I became a slave, I watched the Skaldi. Theirs is a brutish culture, but they fight hard and with every part of themselves. I learned to fight with my heart and soul, not just my weapons. Whoever I had to fight next would be sorry I had that training.
The journey was long but not lonely. I sparred with the sailors when the seas were calm and there wasn't much work aboard ship to do. Once I had proven myself, I knew I didn't have to worry about being taken advantage of. Still, I always slept with my sword close by and my blanket over my head. That, I had done all my life. The sailors were good-natured enough, Eirans like me and some D'Angelines. I'd forgotten how pretty they all were. I was looking forward to seeing Joie again. As I travelled through the beautiful lands of Terre d'Ange, the white walls of the City of Elua overcame the crest of the hill and I wept, knowing safety was just a few short miles away. I kicked my pony's sides and ran up to the gates, speaking to the soldiers standing near the entrance. I was nervous; I'd never actually lived here and I was extremely young-- Ten? Not even, possibly-- the last time I was here. Gods be thanked I remembered the D'Angeline I was taught. I wished then that I had a pup once more; at least something to be loyal and love me as I loved it. I would have to look for one once I got myself settled in the City.
I stopped a passerby to ask if they happened to know where the de Mornay home was and, when I was directed to it and knocked the knocker to ask for Joie, I was told she was elsewhere. So began my search for the only family I had left.