Bonus Spin Offs, Mir’s Summer Part C
Mir woke beside Gweth. She was confused as to where she was but that passed quickly enough as she heard the activity within the keep. Early morning light came in through the rooftop entrance. Someone was taking the horses out of the stable and from further away a few voices sang the dawn. She lay quietly for a while, enjoying the warm comfort of being snuggled close to her new companion.
All too soon her thoughts drifted to the plight of Aramy, the danger her family was in and what was happening here in Lekas. Restlessness forced her from bed as she did not want to wake Gweth. She pulled on her dress and went down to the stable, she found the twins and a youth a few years younger, he could only be one of Grange’s children. They directed her to one of the stable stalls that was the privy, a simple bucket under a stone seat, wooden sideboard and a couple of basins of water. After she saw to her own needs she helped the others clean out the stables then took the refuse to a not too distant compost pile.
A while later she and the twins were called in for breakfast, they ate on the rooftop which was both a lookout point, the kitchen and a small sheltered area that seemed to serve a number of functions. The breakfast was simple but filling. While everyone was well aware of the troubles that faced them there was a sense of contentment and companionship that reassured Mir.
Mir realised that Del and Andisal were a couple. She was surprised, Andisal seemed thirty years older than Del. She had initially felt a brief surge of jealousy, though as she watched the two of them she could plainly see how much they cherished and respected each other. Oddly, by the time breakfast was done she found Andisal to be less intimidating.
She said to Andisal, “My uncle spoke of you, of how you and others fought a mind-mage during the Winter War. Can you do it again? Can you kill the sorceress?”
The haunted look that crossed the older woman’s face made Mir regret asking the question, but Andisal answered anyway, “Anyone can be killed and I certainly intend to help you and Aramy… It is not a simple matter. Your people suffered greatly the last time this happened, I would not wish the same thing to come about again, so we will have to be cautious and cunning. As well, the threat from Lord Sharlok cannot be ignored.”
Mir was dissatisfied with Andisal’s answer, she wanted to save her kin now, “What if we were able to sneak in? A good shot with a bow might kill the witch outright. I’d be willing to try.”
Andisal shook her head, “No, it might work, if you were really lucky. But if you failed, then such a ploy would be less likely to work afterwards. And, meaning no disrespect, you lack the skill and training to be able to do such. Maybe the twins could do it, but I’d not risk their lives on a maybe. Our best course of action right now is to gather allies, supplies and information. With such we will be able to better resolve the situations we are dealing with.”
Del spoke up, “There is much to be done if we are to succeed, the Goddess of Mercy will aid us. No one in these parts wish to bend the knee to Sharlok and no one wants a mind-mage ruling the area either. Grange and his people will most likely send aid, even if they are otherwise occupied, many of his kin are mages. You and he should talk, he has to bypass Aramy if he’s going to get to his people. You have more recent information on the lay of the land than he does now.”
The Omdin brother spoke up, “We will be heading out in a few days to take news to the closest of our southern neighbours. If you and your friend are interested, you could come with us. We can train you and teach you what we know of the lands around our area. Then, before swinging back this way, we can do a reconnaissance of Aramy and gain a better understanding of the situation.”
Andisal gave a nod, “I think that is a good idea. In the meantime, there is plenty to do here.”
There was in fact a great amount of work to do. Aside from the usual chores, gardening and property maintenance, the community was heavily invested in improving their defences. The community’s walls were being repaired and improved, these were mostly piled stone meant to dissuade unwanted wildlife from getting into gardens and killing livestock, though they would also slow an enemy’s ingress to the community. A number of deep ditches had been started along the western side of the village. These were intended to be three paces wide and two paces deep with the earth piled on the eastern side of the trench, creating an embankment over five paces in height. The stones that were dug up from the earth-works were carted into the village and added to the inner walls or used as part of the foundations for new buildings that were being constructed to provide shelter for the people and supplies coming from the surrounding countryside.
While Lekas lacked reliable sources of wood and metal, steps were being taken to rectify this shortage. Bricks of clay and compressed earth were being made to help with the various building projects that were underway. For weapons, the locals were reusing or re-purposing what they had on hand and gathering what was available from some of the outlying homesteads, though both arrow production and plans for a pair of siege weapons were on hold.
Animal hides and bones were being used to craft leather armour and shields. Where bone could be substituted for wood it was done, mostly for the handles of tools and weapons but some was used for building materials as well.
There was also talk of doing a raid on Aramy for wood and to rescue their people. However, Andisal had put a stop to such plans until better information about the Aramy situation had been obtained.
Mir and Gweth pitched in where they could and with the help of Thern and Alfi, the twins, they made the gear they would need while out in the wilds. The Omdins delayed their planned departure for over an eight-day to make sure they were properly outfitted. During this time Mir showed them how to craft the composite bows from scraps of wood and bone. By the time they returned from their southern sweep they should have a couple more good bows available.
Before Grange left, Mir and he had a long conversation about the land around Aramy and trails he might be able to use to bypass the village. She also asked him to check in on her uncle, if he was able, to pass a message that Mir was well and help would soon be coming.
Nearly two eight-days after arriving in Lekas, she and Gweth, with the Omdin twins, were heading out to find more help and resources. Mir’s new armour was unfamiliar and uncomfortable, yet Alfi had assured her that not only would the leathers adjust to the shape of her body, but she would soon find it more comfortable than her normal clothing.
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