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#Post#: 90--------------------------------------------------
The Questioning of Brenna
DIR By: High Captain Song
Date: July 8, 2023, 11:10 pm
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The Players
High Captain Song, Frode of Kassau
Brenna - Property of Hrolf Heimdahlr, High Jarl of Vegvisir
The Setting
-- Within the Market Square, a crossroads for all the main
avenues of the Caravanserai --
Frode
I hadn't intended to come this far inland, but that's the
damnable thing about being a guest on someone else's boat.
You're at their mercy when it comes to where to go and when to
leave if you want to keep your ride. So I am traveling... not
quite incognito, but with far more subtlety than is typical for
me. There is no drum or cittern to mark my status as a Singer or
Skald. I am not wearing my Captain's Coat or Hat, procured for
me by my Mate when I was first inducted to the rank of High
Captain. I'm clad in the simple travel garb I favored as a
skald, but with a dark green cloak of oilskin obscuring my
features. I might pass for any common sailor on shore leave or a
forester fresh from the Northern forests. I'm seeking
information and hoping maybe some rumor of the one I'm hunting
might have made it this far. After all, if one trader from the
Vegvisir had tales of a strange fire to tell, surely someone
else might have the same story?
I'm making my way to another rumormonger I know when I spy a
familiar dark-haired slave. I grin, thinking this could be a
much more promising avenue for my particular talents. Let Martin
Longbow scour the woods for signs of his mythic panther tribe.
And let the Skald of Kassau pour on the charm when it comes to
getting information from a slave.
My hood is up as I approach the girl, teeth glinting as I
approach her from the side so as not to spook her when my hand
comes down her shoulder with a deft touch. "A moment, slave. I
believe you are of the Vegvisir?" I say in a lower register than
I usually speak. I step close enough that she might see under my
hood and flash her a wink.
Brenna
Several things happened in quick succession as the hand found
the silk of her shoulder.... first, a startled cry escaped
parted lips before it was bitten down, turning head swiftly and
a small fist balled up. Second, a spit of curses in English at
having not noted the closeness of the Man approaching,
"Motherfucking socksucking beach!" A breath caught then as she
recognized the face within the shadow of the hood and relaxed...
slightly... breaths still rapid and a high staining of crimson
on her cheeks. She'd spent a lot of time being taught about
having her senses aware always of her surroundings and
apparently the knowledge wore off. Attempting composure and
speaking with as much calmness as she could manage, "Aye Jarl, I
am property of the Hold Jarl..."
Frode
I am quick to react as well, to the scream and the balled fists.
If I recognize the curse, I show no sign of it nor does my smile
fade. On the one hand, I am gratified my gift for stealth has
not left me, it having been so long since I stalked the Northern
forests as a hunter or the towers of Ar and Cos during my
misspent youth. On the other, I had no intention of startling
the slave that badly and her cry prompted a few stares I'd
rather not attract. Thankfully, the eyes that turn to see the
source of the scream turn away when they see it is just a
startled slave.
I nod to your reply as you play along, not showing any sign of
recognition as you speak. "Excellent. I heard a rumor of
interest to me and thought perhaps you might know the truth of
things. Tale came to me about a strange fire in the Vegvisir
recently. I don't suppose you know anything of the animal pens
in the main village catching fire?"
Brenna
She hadn't been entirely sure why He'd pretended not to know
her, but there had to be a reason one way or another, and she
simply rolled with the inquiry and gave the generic response.
Taking a cue from the low tone, even though a curiosity stained
expression in spite of herself. A subtle nod given, though
unsure how much of the events of the Village should be shared
about Gor was a concern in the back of her mind.. Measuring the
response with a little toying of fingers to palms, weighing the
necessity of truth spoken to a Free Man against the instinct to
not shout affairs of the home to all and sundry. "Aye there was
indeed a fire there, sadly there was a loss of livestock but
none of the Village were harmed." Simply spoken. Nothing of the
potential cause, or of the other incidents that had been
happening here and there about the Vegvisir.
Frode
I nod. Even ignoring that it is second nature for a slave to be
truthful to a Free Man and I have no reason to doubt your word,
that would be all the proof I need. Yet I sense there is more
you aren't telling me, perhaps for fear of what it is proper for
one not of the hold to know. Of course Hrolf had offered me a
place on the Council once and I turned it down only because of
my loyalties to Kassau - a reason he could respect. But I'll not
try and argue such points with a slave. If there is a reason not
to speak of such things freely, I can respect that.
"It is good no one was harmed. I ask because I have just come
from the South and there have been several similar fires there.
I am hunting the one who might have set them, but since I have
no idea who they might be and what their goals are..... best I
keep myself and my questions hidden. You may, of course, tell
you Master that I asked about the fire and tell him my purpose."
I say, hoping to relieve the girl somewhat. Of course she would
tell her Master all, but she might feel distress at betraying me
and I would not have her distressed needlessly.
Brenna
There was another tiny nod then... after all, her Jarl had
entrusted Him with something rather precious, who now stood at
the Man's side. Not entirely sure at her own reticence, likely a
combination of her own unease at the goings-on that even the
Free Men of the Village seemed unable to get a handle on, and
some lingering little resentments of her own about things that
really were only tangentially related to the fires. The
expression hardened slightly after the reassurances were given,
not at His words, but at the ones she said next. "My jarl did
pick Himself up a little kitty cat last eve." Fighting the urge
to spit.
Frode
Oh-ho. Now there is some news, albeit not perhaps the news I
think it is. Hrolf picking up a new pet is hardly noteworthy.
Unless.....
"A wild kitty cat that roamed the forest?" I ask innocently. My
friend Martin was sure the fires were the work of a Panther band
- one who marked their territory with a certain sign. I knew
Hrolf was friendly with several Panthers, same as Jarl Hunter
back in the day, but he wouldn't hesitate to collar any woman
who earned his ire. Or wandered into the Vegvisir unescorted. Or
who he really wanted to see wearing nothing but a collar and a
smile. Still, I leave the suspicion unspoken and await the
slave's answer.
Brenna
A little smirk stained features in spite of herself. "Aye,
though not sure just how wild it was, as it used to wear green."
She'd heard the woman speaking to Him in the Hall, as much as
Brenna had attempted to ignore the interaction. A little flutter
of nostrils in scarce contained mirth... and annoyance.
Frode
I nod. Of course there are many castes that wear green, but only
one known as The Green. Of course even those high ladies might
find themselves as slaves or Panthers. I had a slave myself who
was one of the Green. But I am fairly certain she is not behind
these attacks.
"I think I will need to speak to your Master then. It may be a
coincidence, but one whose word I count highly thinks a wild cat
might be the one starting these fires. And given they twice
burned down a dock I helped to rebuild once and endangered the
trade to a goodly portion of the forest.... well.... " I shrug,
leaving the fate of that one unspoken. Of course if she's
responsible for the fire in the Vegvisir and in Hrolf's
clutches, what the villagers had planned for their arsonist
might pale in comparison.
Brenna
A tilt of head given hearing about the destruction of the
docks... it was beginning to sound like there was quite a bit of
havoc going on. Might be time for the Men to take some decisive
action should the incidents be connected together. "Aye I think
He would value any insight into this pest problem Jarl, before
it spreads any further." Brenna didn't thrive on a lot of
disruption in routine, nor had she been enthused by the
impromptu verr barbecue that happened the other night.
Frode
I nod. "Aye. I had hoped my friend was being paranoid and
jumping at shadows that were not there. Sometimes it is comfort
to think there is a grand plan rather than random chaos. I've
seen too much to think that's the case... but now I wonder." I
shake my head and smile before reaching out to stroke your chin.
"As always, Brenna, you have been most helpful and an honor to
your Master and home. If I thought there was any chance Hrolf
would part with you, I'd gladly make him an offer."
Brenna
Exhaling then as He spoke of perhaps a plan coming together,
taken slightly by surprise at the gentle tracery of touch
against her chin, the smirk fading to a slightly shy smile to
that simple gesture, a hint of pink on aristocratic cheekbones.
Lifting the gaze through a haze of sooty lashes as she spoke.
"Thank you Jarl."
Frode
"Thank you, oh beautiful Brenna."
Another flash of a smile before I release the chin and step
back, offering a nod before I fade back into the crowd.. I am
satisfied that I am making progress in coming closer to my
quarry. More, if Brenna's reaction is anything to go by, I also
haven't lost my knack for charming a beautiful woman any more
than I've lost my knack for sneaking up on people in a crowded
market. Something to celebrate with a drink at a tavern, I
think, albeit not one of the ones famously frequented by the
Skald of Kassau.
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