Choke offers, “I have rope with the animals; I should fetch them anyhow.” He heads off into the darkness. A minute or two later Brute comes galloping into the valley. He seems to be suffering from sensory overload- he goes back and forth between barking at the two prisoners and sniffing at the corpses. Choke follows shortly after, the train of animals in tow. He offers Sohanux some rope and is prepared to help her once the rest of the party is done with the Lady Ironhall.
*Cutter sheathes his weapon and takes up a torch in his right hand, grabbing the prisoner by his hair with his left. He drags the man off into the night, followed by Cyrus. When Brute sees Cyrus leaving he gives a bark and comes trotting along.
Once at the crest of the valley’s far side Cutter releases the prisoner and lets him collapse into a painful heap on the floor and Cyrus says his piece.
The prisoner coughs, clutching at his side with one arm and shielding his eyes from the torchlight with his other as he peers up at the Faramond looming over him.*
“W-what do you want to know?” He says, his voice pained.
He grimaces. “We were attacked by wolves… they were crazed… rabid maybe… and strong… too strong…” Cutter exchanges a dark look with Cyrus. “We had to abandon three in the Greatwood… another was injured and died in the night. We buried him at the edge of the forest.” He takes gulps of air, holding both of his hands over his wound now.
He doesn’t respond immediately, his face fearful. Eventually he speaks, his voice a whisper. “I’m a yeoman[sup]1[/sup] in Little Shedlund… one night this noble, the knight you killed, Sir Howard Calgrin, comes to me and some of the others in the barracks and says he needs us for a job. Says we can’t tell nobody about it. Says we gotta escort a noblewoman from Ironhall. I ain’t one to question orders, m’lord.”
1 - A yeoman is a bailiff’s deputy who assists in policing a peasant population.
Cyrus is satisfied with the peasant’s response. Cyrus has Cutter bring the prisoner back to the group.
To Baldur: “This one’s employed in Little Shedlund, to the north. I told him I’d let him face justice in Ironhall, but ultimately the decision is yours. If Lord Ironhall gets his hands on this maggot, there’s likely to be a war.”
Then, almost as an afterthought, “Also, he’ll die if we don’t treat him soon.”
The prisoner looks at Sohanux oddly as she leans in so closely to him. He yelps a bit as she dabs at his wounds, but beyond that doesn’t show any pain at all. His response is very quiet; he’s obviously desperate to keep the Lady Ironhall from hearing him talk.“W-what do you mean? Needed her?”* Whispering,* “The others were yeomen, too… I don’t think they knew anymore than I do. The only talking the knight did was with Lady Ironhall.”
Lady Ironhall glares at Naimar, practically spitting out her words. “You pretentious little weasel! You dare question my fidelity?”
“Careful, m’lady,” Cutter is crouched beside Sohanux and the prisoner. He glances over at Mildred as he continues, “Naimar here’s liable to turn you into a newt.”
The noblewoman is left to ponder the meaning of that in silence.
:Sohan leans in to Mildred’s ear, very close and speaks quite slowly and deliberately:
"Tell me the whole truth or there will be terrible consequences, worse than what you claim will happen if we return you. Yes, worse than the ‘death’ you claim awaits you. Much worse.
Now, tell me. Whisper it to me. Why do you not want to return? Tell the entire truth."
Methinks the lady doth protest too much. And you are in no situation to rebuke a peasant in the service of the Faramonds. That’s our job.
Sigh
Why do you insist on trying my already thin patience, Mildred. Are you ready to tell us the whole story and make and a bargain, or do we return you and what remains of your pathetic little band back to your husband? It’s your call. Be glad we are even giving you options here. We are certainly under no obligation to…
Or…wait…even better…
Maybe we should just let the survivors you traveled with deal with you. They no doubt know at this point that to take them back to your husband is a death sentence for them. At this point they’ve got nothing to lose. I only need one head to collect my payment, and that’s Howard’s. I’m more than capable of concocting a believable story even if I don’t bring you back.
How’s that grip you? I told you none of my band would hurt you while you are under our protection, but province trash such as myself clearly is in no position to command peasants pledged to another noble. 'Tis a shame really, a pretty head such of yours left to the whims of such savages.
Naimar holds out his hands, palms directed at one another. He chants for a brief moment and suddenly there’s a bright flash of fire between his hands. Mildred screams and scurries back out of the camp, eventually running into Hrothgar, against whom she collapses to the ground. “You travel with a sorcerer?! Your entire damned family- you’re nothing but a pack of honorless rats!”
She whimpers. “There were rumors that Ironhall had acquired a wondrous artifact… a bracer…” She breaks down into tears. “My sister thought we could take the bride price and the bracer both…” Her face is buried in her hands. “I searched every damned inch of that castle.” She stops talking. An occasional sob is the only sound she makes.