A Place to Go

[Brev(#30997)] Dawn has come, and the jagged edges of the distant Misty Mountains stand out black against a paler sky. There is a closeness to the air, and a patchy drizzle falls, weighing down the boughs of the trees. Here at the eaves of the forest, Caerdh woods meet the Redvyrne plains at the edge of the unclaimed land surrounding ruined Kierkgard. A bird calls. All is silent.

Then from the blackness of the trees two figures emerge. The taller has the look of a man, for there silhouetted against the sky is the outline of a bow against his back. The other is fourfooted - a dog? Then, unmistakeably, it bleats. The man gives a muffled curse and hisses, \"Haud yer noise,\" as he bends to fumble with the rope halter by which he leads the scrawny sheep.

There is another traveling this cart path. Finnian moves along slowly, following the path at a dragging pace, with one hand pressed to his side. He travels as one who has lost everything and doesn\'t understand why he\'s bothering anymore, shoulders drooped and gaze only looking around out of habit.. not because he carries anything worth protecting.

Finnian\'s face is splotched with bruises that are a few days old, his tanned skin further darkened by the discoloration of his injuries. When he hears the bleat he freezes, looking around sharply until his gaze settles on the man stepping out of the trees. \"Who\'s there?\" He asks in a wary voice, his hand moving to rest on the knife sheathed at his side.

[Brev(#30997)] A few quick jerks, and the end of the halter is looped round the sheep\'s mouth to curtail further bleats. Satisfied, the man reaches into the small bag at his belt and brings out something - a scrap of cloth, it looks to be, the colour unclear in this poor light. This he snags on a nearby bramble, with a grunt of satisfaction.

Satisfaction changes to scowl in an instant. \"Sheep was strayin\', had far ta go ta catch her.\" Unlike the other traveller, his hand does not rest on his weapon-hilt - already his woodsman\'s axe has been drawn.

Finnian licks his lips, his eyes straying to the sheep. \"Lucky to have food.. isn\'t none down south. I traveled with a group down to Creatrach, tried to get inside for a scrap to eat and that new Ceann\'s guards had me beat and thrown out..\" He moves his hand away from the knife now, obviously not looking to try his luck with a dagger against an axe. \"I managed to catch a rabbit, couple days ago..blind luck, that was.\" Finn presses his hand to his ribs again. \"The thing practically fell into my lap, never would have been able to chase it.\"

[Brev(#30997)] The hoarse sound of laughter sounds from the \'shepherd\' at Finnian\'s sorry tale the axe remains in his hand, but is not raised to menace. \"You ain\'t the first wi\' such a story,\" he manages to gasp out when the laughter has stopped. \"Same ol\' tale - Fianni hole up in their Keeps, fergettin\' as who\'s made the food they gorge on. Pity is, they ain\'t the only ones ta forget. There\'s some,\" he says carefully, the thick accent slipping a fraction, \"as think it\'s time things was changed.\"

[Brev(#30997)] The sheep chooses that moment to tug at the rope, and the man hisses, \"I said shut it!\" as he tugs savagely back. He\'s not gentle with the frightened animal.

Finnian gives the man a humoring smile as he laughs at his misfortune, his gaze straying to the unminding animal hungrily again. \"Yeah? Who\'s that? Don\'t matter what people think if the guards be fightin\' them out. And where they got off with that anyway? How am I to be workin for a Fian if I\'m suffering cracked ribs and starving?\"

[Brev(#30997)] \"She\'s mine,\" the \'shepherd\' warns as Finnian\'s gaze strays, and he raises the axe just a little to reinforce that reminder. A moment or two\'s pause, then he states, \"Question\'s not how, but why. Why d\'ye want ta work for a Fian, lad? Isn\' it time ye worked for yersel\'?\" The accent falls back into place.

\"What other choice do I have? I don\'t have a thing to my name now.. Fian\'s took all I got and I\'ve no way to be startin over for myself. Someone\'ll just come and take it from me..\" Finnian is eying the beast, but makes no move to approach the stranger. That axe is warning enough. \"You got a farm nearby? Need a helpin\' hand? I\'ll be feeling better in a few days, I can work hard.\"

[Brev(#30997)] \"Farm?\" The axe-wielder laughs again. \"Now, didn\' say that, did I.\" He eyes the battered looking man again, and hesitates. \"Might be there\'s a Keep near, less\'n day\'s journey thattaway.\" He jerks his head, both hands being occupied. \"Could be it\'d interest you. \'Course, can\'t say as to the welcome. Depends what you bring. Hearts and hands, that\'s what they need.\" For a moment the thick country accent fades away completely and the words are clear-spoken. \"Now, you\'d best be moving on, an\' I .. an\' mind as ye saw me headin\' off home to Redvyrne.\"

Finnian hesitates, obviously hungry with the way he keeps looking at the docile sheep, and he lifts his hand to scratch his chin, small bits of dust drifting down from his beard. \"Another keep? With a Ceann to starve me there too? You just were talkin of workin.. \" He trails off as the stranger insists that he\'s heading home to Redvyrne, a sudden expression of enlightenment on his face. \"I\'ve heard talk..\" He says in a softer voice. \"Ahh... Thank you. I think I will head that way and try my luck. And good luck to you.\"

[Brev(#30997)] \"Talk of a free Dunland where power\'s with common folk, an\' not the Fianni? Where men are beholden to none? Dangerous talk, that.\" The supposed \'shepherd\' tucks his axe under his arm for a moment and lifts back of his hand to rub at his face. Almost it might seem he winks. \"Good day ta ye, lad, an\' Kiern\'s blessin\' on yer road. Think ye\'ve some choices ta be makin\'\" With that, he jerks at his rope and begins tugging the unwilling sheep away ... right now, her hoofprints in the mud do indeed seem to be leading to the Redvyrne plains. When the ground becomes firm again, who can say where sheep and \'shepherd\' will go?

\"Aye.. blessings to you as well.. \" There\'s a new light in Finnian\'s dark eyes. Is it hope? Almost immediately he changes course to walk towards the keep that the stranger mentioned. He still moves as if in pain, but no longer with shoulders sagging and eyes unfocused.