Lotar parted the trees and sauntered into camp. Casting his glance about he spotted his son sitting with the girl by the fire.
‘Hah! So youre back boy! What did you get out of your ventures then?’
‘A lot less than you by the looks of it old man’ he said with a nod towards the boy behind him.
‘Ah’ said Lotar with a snort ‘He’s just a chicken thief fancying some adventure, so I thought Id consider granting him some. But come now, I need that mapping’
Lotar took a seat by the fire, and Soran joined them, nodding politely to Kirima. Lotar noticed Rudgar buzzing about and rumbled ‘Well, come on then. Take a seat. You would appreciate to know what our business is about I suppose. And what is that grin all about hm?’ The boy bowed his head quickly and took a seat.
~*~
Kandel stirred a stick about in the flames if the fire and said ‘We seem to be expected. The Rangers know we are here. They have told that village, and they seem to think that we are a good enough threat to worry’ Lotar’s brow furrowed at this, and Kandel knew his mood was about to take a turn.
‘Indeed those Rangers have gotten those villagers excited. They seem to think we are servants of a Dark Lord even. They anticipate an all out war! Though with their organisation, little may be done about it. Those Big and Little Folk don’t seem to get things done too quickly combined, they are too busy debating!’ Kandel said with a laugh.
‘Well, they expect a war. We shall have to give them one!’
‘I harldy think that wise father...’ Kandel said, but a flash in the corner of his eye caught his attention.
The thief was fiddling with something in his palm, after having lost interest in the conversation. Kandel did not take long to figure out what it was. In an icy tone he said ‘I think you should watch that that chicken thief keep to chickens before I get to him’ Kandel slipped his hand to his dagger belt, and that was all his father needed.
Lotar saw the hairpin and the boys’ sheepish but sly grin and roared ‘What on this Earth! You think to rob me of all I have!’ he lunged at the boy and took him by the shirt collar, quickly taking the pin away from him. ‘I suggest you watch yourself very carefully boy, your welcome is over’ Lotar threw off his grip and stormed out of the clearing.
Kandel was not one to keep his anger too long. But this boy had unwittingly chosen the worst thing to pilfer from his father. That hairpin had belonged to his mother, and was one of the only thing either had to remember her by. Kandel only had sweet memories of his mother and sister to comfort him. Standing up, he said ‘Boy, you did not choose wisely if you were planning to prove your skill to us. I am not one to hold such choices against a person for so long, but my father is. You will have to do a great deed to make that up to him, but your chance will come. Patience is my advice to you.’ Walking out of the clearing and letting out deep breaths, Kandel went in search of his father.
‘Hmph. It’ll make me a good while to get him out of this rage. What a day…’
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