The White Horse Inn, Act II - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Writer of The Mark · 11-28-2003, 05:02 PM

“Map for Berry,” Madi had grunted. Shortly after, they sneaked off and left the assistant Innkeeper, still looking for the old crooked lady named Ruthven. Linnea stopped for a while and gave thought to what Madi had just said.

"It wasn't a map, you know," she said.

They hid behind something which looked very much like a brush, only it wasn't. Linnea knew that much. Madi hadn't answered; he was just staring into the air, probably trying to spot Ruthven anywhere near. The little girl beside him went quiet as well, and was more concerned whether her father knew she wasn't in her room like she was supposed to be.

"I know that," Madi said. Linnea looked at him, examining the reaction in his face before drawing the conclusion that he was probably lying. She grinned, but said nothing. "I read the note," he said, turning his head towards the girl, who had been watching him for a while now. He told Linnea about the woman named Idona, and how she had expressed that she was willing to help construct a new possible stable. The drawing was of course only a draft.

"A new stable?" Linnea wondered.

"Yeah, we probably need a new one after this," Madi said and pointed towards the stable, which was now only ashes. The Stable had burnt to the ground.

Linnea nodded. She wondered if her horse was safe, but didn't dare express her concerns now. The only thing Madi and Linnea would have to worry about now, was to find Ruthven and that quickly! Soon, Linnea urged Madi to come forwards; they couldn't sit behind this brush all day. "Come on, we must take the risk," she repeated, taking Madi's arm, trying to drag him up. Madi did as told, even though it was a request from a seven years old determined girl.

She hushed at him, as they approaced the crowd, the commotion and the stable which was no more. Linnea gazed around, not only looking for Ruthven but also her father. After all, she had been very unlucky with this choice; 'picking' a father, her father...

The crowd had thinned out by the time Linnea got tired. Already she had pointed out a number of old ladies, which apparently hadn't been Ruthven. Every time Linnea had pointed at different women, Madi had answered silently: "Ruthven has greyer hair. Ruthven is slimmer. Ruthven is taller," and so on. This is hopeless, Linnea thought, shrugging as Madi asked her something about her father. "No, I haven't seen him either," she muttered.

"Now, let's go back into the Inn again through the backdoor," Linnea said with determination. "Ruthven is obviously not outside," she added, springing away. She stopped only to stare into one of the dark windows, eyeing Madi, springing after. He had caught up with her by the time they rounded the inn.

"Come on," Madi urged the young girl. She ran as fast as she could, looking down into the ground.

"Ouch!!"

Linnea stopped, but couldn't help to run into a woman who stood talking with two middle-aged men.

"Sorry," she stammered and tried to get away from the woman's grim face. "I am really sorry," she added, now staring into the ground.

"Ruthven!" Madi cried suddenly. Linnea didn't say anything, just looked up and examined the woman's face, it was indeed Ruthven, whom they had been looking for.

[ 10:36 AM December 02, 2003: Message edited by: Writer of The Mark ]

11-28-2003, 05:02 PM	#11
Writer of The Mark Pile O'Bones Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 10	“Map for Berry,” Madi had grunted. Shortly after, they sneaked off and left the assistant Innkeeper, still looking for the old crooked lady named Ruthven. Linnea stopped for a while and gave thought to what Madi had just said. "It wasn't a map, you know," she said. They hid behind something which looked very much like a brush, only it wasn't. Linnea knew that much. Madi hadn't answered; he was just staring into the air, probably trying to spot Ruthven anywhere near. The little girl beside him went quiet as well, and was more concerned whether her father knew she wasn't in her room like she was supposed to be. "I know that," Madi said. Linnea looked at him, examining the reaction in his face before drawing the conclusion that he was probably lying. She grinned, but said nothing. "I read the note," he said, turning his head towards the girl, who had been watching him for a while now. He told Linnea about the woman named Idona, and how she had expressed that she was willing to help construct a new possible stable. The drawing was of course only a draft. "A new stable?" Linnea wondered. "Yeah, we probably need a new one after this," Madi said and pointed towards the stable, which was now only ashes. The Stable had burnt to the ground. Linnea nodded. She wondered if her horse was safe, but didn't dare express her concerns now. The only thing Madi and Linnea would have to worry about now, was to find Ruthven and that quickly! Soon, Linnea urged Madi to come forwards; they couldn't sit behind this brush all day. "Come on, we must take the risk," she repeated, taking Madi's arm, trying to drag him up. Madi did as told, even though it was a request from a seven years old determined girl. She hushed at him, as they approaced the crowd, the commotion and the stable which was no more. Linnea gazed around, not only looking for Ruthven but also her father. After all, she had been very unlucky with this choice; 'picking' a father, her father... The crowd had thinned out by the time Linnea got tired. Already she had pointed out a number of old ladies, which apparently hadn't been Ruthven. Every time Linnea had pointed at different women, Madi had answered silently: "Ruthven has greyer hair. Ruthven is slimmer. Ruthven is taller," and so on. This is hopeless, Linnea thought, shrugging as Madi asked her something about her father. "No, I haven't seen him either," she muttered. "Now, let's go back into the Inn again through the backdoor," Linnea said with determination. "Ruthven is obviously not outside," she added, springing away. She stopped only to stare into one of the dark windows, eyeing Madi, springing after. He had caught up with her by the time they rounded the inn. "Come on," Madi urged the young girl. She ran as fast as she could, looking down into the ground. "Ouch!!" Linnea stopped, but couldn't help to run into a woman who stood talking with two middle-aged men. "Sorry," she stammered and tried to get away from the woman's grim face. "I am really sorry," she added, now staring into the ground. "Ruthven!" Madi cried suddenly. Linnea didn't say anything, just looked up and examined the woman's face, it was indeed Ruthven, whom they had been looking for. [ 10:36 AM December 02, 2003: Message edited by: Writer of The Mark ]