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Post by Niamh mac Igrainne on Jun 18, 2011 16:33:47 GMT -5
It was set, we were going to war. I'd had no one to say goodbyes to, but I did have one errand that needed running.
Oisin and I were in the market, where people were used to seeing us, and I was looking for someone of Alban descent whose name had come to me through some odd channels. Still, it was said he could provide what I needed, and for that I was willing to take a risk and pay for it.
I'd asked around after the man for several days, but hadn't had any luck. One contact had advised that I simply wait for the man to contact me. Not the type for waiting, I was stalking the marketplace once more, so far to no avail.
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Post by Necthan Seith-Nun (R) on Jun 18, 2011 17:25:39 GMT -5
I had heard that someone was looking for me, in request of my skills. Surprisingly I didn’t receive too many such requests but I took a certain pleasure out of those I did. I was told who I was to look for by a contact. She was to be in the marketplace. It was convenient as I had to make some purchases. I saw a woman matching the description, clearly foreign with an innocent look about her. I approached and offered a smile. “Niamh?” I asked, Erian accent flawless. We were not all that different of course. “Someone said that you were searching for me,” I said to her, my voice silky smooth. “Walk with me and tell me what you need.” I loved the little sense of ecrecy I was creating. It added so much to the mood.
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Post by Niamh mac Igrainne on Jun 19, 2011 16:49:18 GMT -5
Oisin knew the man was there before he spoke, and his low growl let me know that someone approached. I had gotten so accustomed to that then when I was on my own it was an exercise in patience to let my own senses do the work, but doing otherwise could mean the difference between life or death, as I will knew.
I turned smoothly to regard the man who spoke, and that he had Alban heritage was quite evident, and not only in the way my language rolled from his tongue. It was nice to speak it again, because with Caelum we always spoke D'angeline for him to practice.
I fell into step with him, sizing him up as we walked. Could this man truly help me?
"You must be Necthan?" I queried, though who else would he be?
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Post by Random Event on Jun 21, 2011 12:42:32 GMT -5
Random Event: A passing hawker offers a ticket for a free bottle of wine from a nearby wine shoppe.
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Post by Necthan Seith-Nun (R) on Jun 23, 2011 2:54:26 GMT -5
"That would be me, yes," I replied with a little nod of the head.
I snapped my head, momentarily distracted by the passer by, snatching the ticket out of his hand with a smile. "Ah yes perfect!" I exclaimed. "This is just what we needed to make this visit more casual ... oh and who'se your friend?" I asked of Oisin while my eyes darted about for the shop that the ticket indicated.
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Post by Niamh mac Igrainne on Jun 25, 2011 18:14:47 GMT -5
I was pleased that he was the right person, then nonplussed as we were interrupted by a man offering tickets for something. Necthan took them with a quiet ease that I envied. These D'angelines often made me feel ungainly and awkward, too often tying my tongue before I could even attempt their language. I'd gotten better at it, but I still preferred to spend my time with Decimus and Caelum, where I could at least speak Cruithne.
I liked that he wasn't afraid of Oisin and I smiled, my hand going down to stroke the wolf's head.
"This is Oisin, my companion." I had raised him from a pup, and we were constant companions whenever possible. I wasn't sure how to broach the subject of what I was looking for, so instead I tried to make conversation. "You are Alban, yes?" And something else, pretty as he was, but I did not make that observation aloud.
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Post by Necthan Seith-Nun (R) on Jun 25, 2011 19:07:20 GMT -5
I grinned at the dog and held out my hand, palm out, allowing him to smell it should he wish to be friends. “Well hello Oisin,” I said to the wolf first before answering the young lady’s question. “That I am, well half Alban … but I try to ignore the part of me that is of this land.” My eyes located the shop from the ticket and I gestured to it. “Shall we?”
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Post by Niamh mac Igrainne on Jun 26, 2011 22:16:17 GMT -5
I should have known the other half was D'angeline, he was too pretty by far. I thought of Decimus then, but pushed it away. We were friends only, and while we sometimes took it further, I could sense that he did not want anything more than that, and I cared too much for him not to respect that.
I nodded and followed him, though I knew that Oisin wouldn't be welcome. "Stay," I ordered him, and he sat on his haunches a bit away from the door, hopefully far enough not to scare off customers.
Inside the store, I looked around, though I was not at all interested in the wares here. Instead I lowered my voice and spoke softly.
"They say that you can make ... things... helpful things, for protection."
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Post by Necthan Seith-Nun (R) on Jun 26, 2011 22:51:23 GMT -5
I leaned in as she whispered to me and it caused me to smile. “So they say I’m a smithy? Do these look like the arms of a smithy to you?” I teased and then smiled, placing a hand on her shoulder. “I take it though that you mean charms? Yes I do that,” I explained. I stopped at the counter and handed the man a ticket and after a moment he returned with the bottle of wine. “For here or to go?” I asked the young woman “Eventually we will have to get to my place, should you want … protection.”
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Post by Niamh mac Igrainne on Jun 27, 2011 16:53:46 GMT -5
It took me a moment to realize that he was jesting, I suppose because I was skittish about what I was asking for, and when I did, I think I laughed a bit too loudly. My cheeks heated and I was glad for the distraction as Necthan was given a bottle of wine.
"We can go now, if you like," I said, brushing my hair back from my face and glancing toward the door, hoping that Oisin wasn't causing any trouble outside. Seeing a wolf in the City was not quite usual, and though the places that I had come to frequent had gotten used to him, at other times he caused quite a stir.
"Is Oisin all right to come along, or should I drop him at home?" I asked, starting toward the door, itching to get out of this shop and down to business.
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Post by Necthan Seith-Nun (R) on Jun 27, 2011 18:34:32 GMT -5
“Alright,” I said, walking to wards the door. “And I think that’ll be alright. We seems well trained so I don’t mind him coming along.” I stopped at the door and offered the young lady my arm. “Shall we?”
I was enjoy her company, the simple fact that she was off the islands made her feel closer, more akin to me, even though she was Erian and I was half-Alban.
We walked back out and I looked down and Oisin and felt a thrill. I was seeing a wolf, right here in the city. That right there was why the islands were my home no matter what my father said.
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Post by Niamh mac Igrainne on Jun 28, 2011 21:53:31 GMT -5
I took his arm, covertly studying his features again. Handsome, the Alban look to him more so in my eyes. People always spoke of the beauty of the D'angeline people, but once you spent a lot of time amonst them, it ceased to be impressive. I preferred a face with some character to it. Still, you could see the 'prettiness' to Necthan's face, and it was an interesting mix, though not the first such combination that I had seen.
"He is," I said of Oisin, who fell in beside me as we walked past him. "I found him in the snow, near dead, and raised him with my father's dogs. He is smarter than all of them, faster and more deadly as well." Warmer on a cold night and the best at comforting my tears, too, but I left those things out.
"Is it far?" I asked him, not that I minded walking, but rather it was my feeble attempt at conversation.
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Post by Necthan Seith-Nun (R) on Jun 28, 2011 23:23:43 GMT -5
“He sounds like a fine beast. I look forward to having his friendship, as he has my respect. And no, it’s not terribly far, right on the edge of South Burrough,” I said to her as we began walking. I started to find myself curious about her life, and I didn’t want to just glean the information from her. I wanted to hear it in her own words.
“It’s nice having someone from the Islands to talk with. I don’t really know how many of us there are here.”
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Post by Niamh mac Igrainne on Jun 29, 2011 18:00:52 GMT -5
"He is," I said, looking down at him fondly and scratching him behind his ears.
His house wasn't far, if it was in the South Borough, and that was as well because I was not up for a long, possibly awkward walk. His question made me smile though, because I did love speaking of home.
"Only a few, that I know of. There was a time when there were a lot of us here, but most have gone home. Besides myself, I know of two others, old friends of my brothers'." And my friends now, in truth, and the reasons I was seeking this meeting.
"What about you, do you know any other Albans or Eirans in the City?"
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Post by Necthan Seith-Nun (R) on Jun 29, 2011 18:52:22 GMT -5
I smiled while she spoke but shook my head at her question. “No, I know only you and I. You will have to introduce me … and I think too that I should spend more time around the Black Boar.”
We entered South Burrough and I pointed to my place. It wasn’t large but it had a sign with my last name only and my occupation, playwright. Of course that’s not the reason she was here. I walked to the door and opened it for her. Inside was filled with chimes and plants and a large blue sheet hung from the ceiling. It was my attempt to recreate the outdoors inside.
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Post by Niamh mac Igrainne on Jun 30, 2011 21:32:54 GMT -5
I stopped for a moment ... why hadn't I thought of that? Sheepishly, I laughed and shook my head.
"I cannot believe I never thought of that," I said, my cheeks heating in embarrassment. I followed him to his place, and was surprised to see that he was a playwright. That had nothing to do with my needs, but it was interesting nonetheless.
I paused to tap one of the chimes, smiling at the pleasant sound it made. "What a lovely idea, having all of this here," I said, reaching out to run my fingers over the waxy green leaves of a plant.
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Post by Necthan Seith-Nun (R) on Jun 30, 2011 22:12:11 GMT -5
I smiled at the little sound of the chimes and even wider when she complimented the idea. “You like it? I like having some sense of life, movement, the outdoors around me.” I offered her a seat at the table, pulling out the chair and then moving around to seat myself. “So what exactly would you like for me to do for you, Niamh?”
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Post by Niamh mac Igrainne on Jul 1, 2011 20:05:28 GMT -5
I was already determining to add some greenery to my small room at the boarding house when I was invited to sit. I did so, waiting while he took his own seat, before the moment of truth arrived. Like most Eirans, I knew of magic, of the Maghuin Dhonn and the things they were said to be able to do, but again like most, I had never experienced it, and that led me to be doubtful that such things could truly work. Still, we were going to war, and surely, it could not hurt?
"I have heard tell that you can make ... things. Things that could perhaps protect someone. In battle for instance."
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Post by Necthan Seith-Nun (R) on Jul 1, 2011 20:58:30 GMT -5
“I can do that,” I explained to her. “I take it that you are going to fight in the war then?” I rose from my seat and went into my cupboards, the most logical place to keep implements of magic and took out a small bag, ink made of berries and red as blood, various herbs and a bottle of uishge. I returned to the chair and uncorked the bottle. “For the spell … or for later should we desire.” I also had with me my mortar and pestle and began to grind the herbs. There was nothing mystical about it really and wouldn’t be for a while. “I don’t have the heart of a soldier I’m afrait. I am a bard really.”
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Post by Niamh mac Igrainne on Jul 3, 2011 1:04:29 GMT -5
"I am, but I don't need it for me..." I thought a moment. "Well, maybe one for me, but I also need two others." One for me, one for Caelum, and one for Decimus. An extra layer of protection for my boys and I.
I grinned when he brought out the uisghe, it was my drink of choice. "I wouldn't say no to some uisghe," I said, my nerves a bit frayed as I watched the ingredients that he chose. Was it truly magic, or just some herbs? Would it really do anything? It didn't matter, I knew Cael and Deci could take care of themselves, but it would make me feel better to do this one thing for them.
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Post by Necthan Seith-Nun (R) on Jul 3, 2011 1:45:25 GMT -5
I nodded at the mention that two more charms would have to be created and got up to get two more bags. I sat back down and went to grinding the herbs again. "That can be done and I shall also pray for your protection in battle as well. The people of the islands have noble hearts."
I finished creating the greeny-brown powder and set it aside. I then dipped my quill into the ink and drew a symbol of protection on each of the bags, mumbling a brief incantation over each one. Then in went the powder and then the uisghe into the newly created charms. The room now smelled lightly of a garden and of a tavern, not an unpleasant mix by any means. One last word was offered up for the three warriors and I lifted my eyes to NIamh and handed her the charms. "Keep them about your necks."
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Post by Niamh mac Igrainne on Jul 3, 2011 10:46:11 GMT -5
I watched him avidly, fascinated though I could not hear the words he spoke under his breath. Could words really keep us safe? The room began to smell like home and for one moment I ached for it so badly it took my breath away. What would my brothers say if they knew I rode to war?
"Thank you," I said, accepting the bags and turning one of them over in my palm to survey it. I smiled and looked back to him. "For this, and for the prayers. Perhaps..." I didn't know why I was asking him, but he seemed trustworthy, and it was possible that I might not return. "If I do not make it back, you would be willing to see Oisin back to Eire?"
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Post by Necthan Seith-Nun (R) on Jul 3, 2011 12:38:43 GMT -5
She thanked me and I gave her a smile in return. She then had another request and it was one that was sweet and I nodded. "Of course I will Niamh. But know that I had every confidence that you will return safe and sound and after the war," I got up to get each of us two wooden cups. "We shall come back here and share another drink."
With that I poured us each a cup and I passed one across the table to her. "To the Islanders!"
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Post by Niamh mac Igrainne on Jul 4, 2011 22:41:49 GMT -5
"I hope so," I said, smiling and accepting the cup. I raised it and echoed his words, "To the Islanders."
I took a long drink and savored the burn, the watering in my eyes, the warmth that travelled down my throat to the pit of my belly. There was really nothing like uisghe to me.
"Thank you for this, truly," I said again, relaxing now that it was done, and the uisghe was doing it's job. "Hopefully it will bring all three of us back safe and sound."
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Post by Necthan Seith-Nun (R) on Jul 4, 2011 23:12:23 GMT -5
I tipped the cup back and let the scalding tepid drink course down my throat and licked my lips. It was a good feeling, the feeling of home. “You are welcome, and I am certain that it will.” I then took a slightly smaller drink from the cup.
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Post by Niamh mac Igrainne on Jul 5, 2011 20:58:21 GMT -5
It was a bit of an awkward topic, but I was never the sort who would take something for nothing, and not only had Necthan provided me with what I wanted, but he was sharing his uisghe as well.
"What do I owe you for the service?" I asked, taking another sip of my drink and reveling in it. I would have paid him for that alone.
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Post by Necthan Seith-Nun (R) on Jul 5, 2011 21:29:35 GMT -5
I named the price, a discount from normal since her company and possible friendship was payment enough. However money was nice too. I took another sip of the uisghe and asked her. “Is the drink to your liking, Niamh?”
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Post by Niamh mac Igrainne on Jul 5, 2011 22:43:48 GMT -5
I counted out the coin and paid him, glad it was affordable. Once our business was concluded, I felt I could relax. I smiled and leaned back in my seat, taking another drink and savoring the taste of it.
"Very much so," I answered. "It is hard to find good uisghe in the City," I said, letting my tongue peek out to lick the sweet liquid from my lips. "Some places purport to sell it, but that swill is not worth the name."
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Post by Necthan Seith-Nun (R) on Jul 5, 2011 23:51:11 GMT -5
I accepted the money from her hand and slipped it into the purse at my side. It was a simple transaction if ever there was one. I leaned back as well and took another sip, totally relaxed with her.
My eyes followed her tongue idly and I replied, “It’s one of the things that I am picky about. For one, it needs to be right for charms, and it simply is better.”
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Post by Niamh mac Igrainne on Jul 6, 2011 22:30:17 GMT -5
I was a bit curious about charms, but I had been taught not to pry into such matters. My father was rather superstitious and if he knew I was here buying protection he probably would have had a fit. Still, I thought that in the least, it couldn't hurt.
"Do you have a usual place you get it?" I asked, already feeling the familiar warmth spreading through my limbs as I neared the bottom of the cup. I didn't want it to be gone too fast, nor to diminish his stores by asking for more. "I have yet to find a reliable source besides asking my brothers to send some, but they are just as like to drink it themselves."
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