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Old 08-04-2010, 12:57 PM   #1
Firefoot
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Léof

“I do not think you need fear Erbrand. If I thought this would come to a fight, I probably would not have come for I would be near useless in a real attack,” replied Léof. “Erbrand may be argumentative at times, and act without thinking, but beneath that he really is a decent sort. He cared well for his horse, and even made me this saddle that I’m using as a gift, though he said it was thanks for my care of his horse.

“I might ask you a similar question,” he continued. “What sort of man is your lord? What sort of punishment do you think he would judge fit for Erbrand, were he to be found and brought back?” Léof abruptly recalled Nydfara’s odd and annoying questions back in the stables. “And how might he deal with anyone who helped him?”
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Old 08-04-2010, 01:10 PM   #2
Folwren
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Folwren is battling Black Riders on Weathertop.Folwren is battling Black Riders on Weathertop.
Léof’s answer of Erbrand did not sound bad. Quin began to think that perhaps the tanner was not quite so evil after all. He wanted to think good of these people here, and he certainly believed that Scyrr could have easily provoked Erbrand to fight, if his temper was known to flair easily.

But the questions concerning lord Athanar caused Quin to think soberly for a moment. “Lord Athanar is a fair man, but he does not have a great deal of tolerance for reckless or undisciplined behavior. I do not know for a certainty, but I think my lord believes that Erbrand attempted to kill Scyrr and then ran because he knew his act to be wrong. By the law, Erbrand is subject to death if he had killed Scyrr. Since he did not kill him, quite, Athanar may be lenient on him and not execute him. He may order him to be branded, or one hand cut off.” He paused. “I am not sure, quite honestly. For as long as I’ve been in his household, no one has ever done anything like this.

“As for someone helping him…I don’t know if I quite understand what you mean. I guess Athanar would see it as a sort of disobedience or disrespect for his command. If it were one, say, like you or I, he might be flogged, or perhaps forced to leave in disgrace. But what do you mean by help? How would anyone help him?”
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Old 08-04-2010, 01:40 PM   #3
Firefoot
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“As in, help him escape, I guess,” said Léof. How could he explain his question? “Like – like Lithor, the other man that has gone missing. If he left with Erbrand, Erbrand probably would have told him why he had to leave so quickly, and yet Lithor still went with him instead of reporting him.”

Now that Léof thought of it, Lithor couldn’t have been the only one to know. Erbrand would have wanted some supplies for his trip, right? At least what he could gather in haste. Which meant… the women in the kitchen? Kara! Surely Erbrand wouldn’t have left without saying anything to Kara. The ongoing romance between them had been plain for anyone in the hall to see. He hoped she was coping alright.

So were the original inhabitants of Scarburg all being dreadfully uncooperative, or had Athanar simply not thought to ask any of them (as Léof himself had not been asked)? All Léof could think was that this whole situation was being handled exceptionally badly, and that there was a lot more going on than he knew of.
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Old 08-05-2010, 01:04 AM   #4
Legate of Amon Lanc
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Legate of Amon Lanc is spying on the Black Gate.Legate of Amon Lanc is spying on the Black Gate.Legate of Amon Lanc is spying on the Black Gate.Legate of Amon Lanc is spying on the Black Gate.Legate of Amon Lanc is spying on the Black Gate.Legate of Amon Lanc is spying on the Black Gate.
Hilderinc

As they rode out with Thornden, Hilderinc felt somewhat unusually tense and attentive - partially probably because of Áforglaed, who rode just on the other side of Thornden and who still seemed on edge. Even Thornden had noticed that. Hilderinc wondered what could possibly happen had they found Erbrand and Áforglaed's anger went off in an uncontrolled way. Hilderinc had seen a fair share of such events among less disciplined men he used to serve with under various masters; he could well imagine one soldier's nerves breaking, others trying to stop him, somebody getting hurt and the tracked men using the confusion to escape, only to be shot in the back a few moments later, effectively negating any chance for being brought to justice...

To prevent his mind from conjuring dramatic scenarios, Hilderinc tried instead to focus on his surroundings. The road in front of them was empty and no signs of anybody else's presence in the vicinity could be seen. Thornden was quiet, but the soldiers in the back, Quin and the young "stablemaster", as he jestingly called him in his mind since their arrival - was it only the day before? - were talking to each other. With his keen senses focused on the surroundings, Hilderinc overheard bits of their conversation. His interest was abruptly raised by realising that the "stablemaster" seemed to talk about Erbrand in rather positive tone, too. Hilderinc casually slowed down his horse's pace just to be a few steps closer to the discussing two.

What the boy was saying was just the same all the others have been saying. "He may act a bit rashly sometimes, but inside he is a kind person" - it was said so many times that it was becoming sort of persistent. Hilderinc tried to remember his encounter with Erbrand in the morning. Well, it was true, Erbrand seemed kind. And as for attacking Scyrr... now that he thought about it, Hilderinc really knew Scyrr well enough not to think that he was completely innocent in starting the fight.

But that only raised the importance of bringing Erbrand back. Similar questions like those the "stablemaster" raised were going through Hilderinc's mind. How will Athanar act? Hilderinc knew Athanar to be a fair man, on the other hand, almost killing a soldier of one's own army was one of the worst things a man could do. The best masters Hilderinc had were those who could maintain order among their men, and one of the best ways to do this was to make an example of those who disturbed the order. In his initial years of service, during the War, Hilderinc had also heard and a few times even seen on his own eyes how such doctrine was taken into the extreme by the Uruk-hai of Isengard. He preferred not to recall the memories of it, however, and he doubted than anybody would like to. Civilisation was, after all, one of Men's advantage against the Orcs. Still, even though Erbrand's - and Lithor's, if he had indeed helped the tanner escape - destiny would not be as grim, still it probably would not be anything enviable.
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Old 08-06-2010, 05:56 PM   #5
Folwren
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Folwren is battling Black Riders on Weathertop.Folwren is battling Black Riders on Weathertop.
“If Lithor left with Erbrand, he will be in more trouble than just aiding the man,” Quin replied to Léof’s question. “Do you not see it? If Lithor is gone with him, as you suppose, he will be counted a deserter. He left his partners in arms without permission and with the apparent intention of not coming back. There’s really no better definition for deserting.

“But I see what you mean,” he said, glancing at Léof again. “Others may have helped him go. Or at least, helped him some by not saying anything immediately. He cannot have left without anyone noticing him, you mean. Well, I don’t know if anything can be done in that case. It might be different if they knew where he was going and refused to tell. That indeed might call for something or other. But I cannot imagine anyone withholding that sort of information from Lord Athanar. Why should they?”
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Old 08-08-2010, 02:57 PM   #6
Durelin
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Durelin is battling Black Riders on Weathertop.Durelin is battling Black Riders on Weathertop.
How will that help us? By getting rid of you pests! he thought. And it would hardly hurt them very much. This was a hopeless chase anyway. Various other scenarios went through his mind of what should have happened, should have been done...but he pushed them all aside. He was not to argue.

Coen raised his eyebrows at the boy. Of course he had respect: enough respect to talk back to his elders. But it had been glaringly clear that this boy did not have anyone to control him at home, much less once he had taken off into the woods.

"It will help us by keeping you three out of our way. The Lord Athanar's orders were not only to seek the fugitives but to see to the safety of the Hall and its inhabitants -- and you will find yourself safest at home."

It was not a suggestion. Coen lead his horse back to the road and mounted up. He was done here. He looked apologetically at Fearghall, making it clear that if nothing went as hoped, the soldier would be completely excused... "See to it that these boys make their way home."

He turned back to Javan and the boys. "If I see you again out here, you will be thrown over the back of a horse and taken back to the Hall."

Coen called for the others to follow him and took off at a quick trot down the road. Perhaps they would not come back empty handed at least, he thought, grinding his teeth. This was ridiculous. How could someone as accomplished and noble as Athanar get landed this backwater bunch of ruffians who did not even know how to keep their women and children in line?

Fearghall stood holding the reins of his horse, frowning at the boys and looking tired. "I have no more desire to deal with you than you do to deal with me, boys. I assume you're gonna persist kickin' and screamin' about all this?"
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