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Without the other young lasses around to push her through the window, Kara couldn't jump high enough, even with Ruthven giving her a bit of the old heave-ho, or as much as her aged bones could allow.
"ummph, a bit more," Kara advised.
"ppffftt," exhaled Ruthven. "I'm trying lass, but girls these days are fatted with the feasts of peace. You're a bit heavy for me."
Kara pulled harder on the window ledge, but lacked the strength of arm to pull herself up fully. With a wiggle and a turn, her foot accidentally kicked the old woman in the stomach.
"Yowww!" exclaimed Ruthven, dropping Kara as she fell over. Her old bones shook as they met the ground and her stomach hurt. Bruises at her age hurt.
For her part, Kara grabbed tight to the window's ledge and was left hanging there, yelling 'hey" and 'help' as her legs swung back and forth a bit.
A moan from Frodides brought their attention back to the real problem here, a cook with a terrible gash, still bleeding. Ruthven rolled over, rose to her feet, and went to check on the cook. She was shaking. Ruthven ripped some of her undergarment and tied it tightly around the younger woman's knee.
"We'd best not wait for Linduial to find Aedel--p'raps there's been trouble there too. I'm off to fetch the men folk. They can just as well carry Frodides as make all that confounded noise we hears." Limping a bit and rubbing her side, Ruthven made off in the direction Saeryn had taken.
* * *
Wouldn't you know, she thought, as she rounded the Hall and saw the rock piles and mess and dust and new arrivals. No wonder no helps comin' for Frodides.
"Saeryn, lass, have ye forgotten our cook? " Ruthven eyed the tall, dark stranger with the glittering eyes and sought out Eodwine.
"Loord of the Tumblin' Mead Hall," she announced to Eodwine, who still looked none too pleased with himself and events, "We be needing help out back. We wimmin have found our cook, but she's bleeding and we canna carry her. Be there any young able bodied men with strong backs and stronger characters who'd care to help?" She was out of breathe and couldn't say more, her side still aching from the kick from Kara.
Wincing, she then continued. "There's a lass hanging too, in somewhat undelicate circumstances, lest she's dropped now too, that needs picking up and putting down."
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