Post by Ser Baine Cinderwood 🔥🌼 on May 5, 2021 22:12:25 GMT
The compound is dark and quiet when they return, only a faint light spilling out from the mess into the yard. Baine creaks the door open to find Zunus at one of the tables with a cup of tea in one hand and a worn book in the other.
“Ser.”
Baine asks him the same question he’s been asking every day for the past two weeks.
“Any post?”
The minotaur shakes his head, giving him the same answer. “No, nothing. Sorry, Ser.”
Baine nods resignedly. “Fuck. Ok.”
Frankie’s voice filters into his mind from out in the yard.
“So we’re going?”
Baine answers both his hound and his captain's questioning gaze with a sigh.
“We’re going,” and then - trying for casual and probably failing; “Has Lytton been around?”
Zunus shakes his head again. “Haven’t seen him, Ser.”
Baine nods his thanks and closes the door again, already making for the barracks.
“Tonight?”
“Tonight.”
“Better start packing then. And write him a note.”
The half-orc opens the door to the barracks as quietly as he can but the damned thing was always a little squeaky. Baine scowls, both at the door and in the general direction of where he thinks Frankie is, whispering angrily as he begins rooting around in a chest for his travel cloak.
“I’m not writing him a fucking note, what good would that even do? I’m only gonna be gone for a few days, I’m not gonna bother him with this.”
“Idiot. You clearly didn’t listen to a word he said. Pack your shit and write him a note.”
The frustration and worry overwhelms Baine for a second, clenching his gut and closing up his throat, and he kicks the chest shut with gritted teeth. The silence in the barracks goes instantly from sleeping to tense as trained soldiers are roused suddenly from sleep. The Master at Arms sighs again, before giving up and lighting a small candle by his bedside.
He does indeed pack his shit; attempting to plan for every eventuality he brings potions, magic items and a sizable stack of spell scrolls. He writes out careful instructions for Zunus, knowing full well the minotaur doesn’t need them. They went over drills and training days ago, the Squeaks all know he’s going and that there’ll be hell to pay if he comes back to find they’ve been slacking off.
He double checks his gear and meticulously makes his bed. On his pillow he leaves a small, folded up note.
“See, that wasn’t so hard was it?”
“Shut up. See you in the Plaza in 10.”
He stands up, shoulders his pack and grabs his maul, and addresses the room.
“I expect some fuckin’ improvement to your footwork by the time I’m back.”
There is a hushed chorus of “Yes, Ser,” from the recruits, wide awake in their bunks. Baine nods once, blows out the candle and walks out the door.
“Lyt,
Still nothing from Thea, so we’re going. Shouldn’t be more than a few days unless something’s gone really fucking wrong over there.
I’m bringing a couple of scrolls of Sending and I’ll be in touch with the boss once I know more.
Wish I could have seen you before leaving but the sooner I go, the sooner I can come back.
And I am planning on coming back. Not just because they need me to and because He’s counting on me, but because you want me to. And because I deserve to.
I’m shit with numbers and not that much better with words. But please know, when I look at the sunrise every day, I see hope and I see your face.
May the Morninglord be with us both.
All my love,
B.”
“Ser.”
Baine asks him the same question he’s been asking every day for the past two weeks.
“Any post?”
The minotaur shakes his head, giving him the same answer. “No, nothing. Sorry, Ser.”
Baine nods resignedly. “Fuck. Ok.”
Frankie’s voice filters into his mind from out in the yard.
“So we’re going?”
Baine answers both his hound and his captain's questioning gaze with a sigh.
“We’re going,” and then - trying for casual and probably failing; “Has Lytton been around?”
Zunus shakes his head again. “Haven’t seen him, Ser.”
Baine nods his thanks and closes the door again, already making for the barracks.
“Tonight?”
“Tonight.”
“Better start packing then. And write him a note.”
The half-orc opens the door to the barracks as quietly as he can but the damned thing was always a little squeaky. Baine scowls, both at the door and in the general direction of where he thinks Frankie is, whispering angrily as he begins rooting around in a chest for his travel cloak.
“I’m not writing him a fucking note, what good would that even do? I’m only gonna be gone for a few days, I’m not gonna bother him with this.”
“Idiot. You clearly didn’t listen to a word he said. Pack your shit and write him a note.”
The frustration and worry overwhelms Baine for a second, clenching his gut and closing up his throat, and he kicks the chest shut with gritted teeth. The silence in the barracks goes instantly from sleeping to tense as trained soldiers are roused suddenly from sleep. The Master at Arms sighs again, before giving up and lighting a small candle by his bedside.
He does indeed pack his shit; attempting to plan for every eventuality he brings potions, magic items and a sizable stack of spell scrolls. He writes out careful instructions for Zunus, knowing full well the minotaur doesn’t need them. They went over drills and training days ago, the Squeaks all know he’s going and that there’ll be hell to pay if he comes back to find they’ve been slacking off.
He double checks his gear and meticulously makes his bed. On his pillow he leaves a small, folded up note.
“See, that wasn’t so hard was it?”
“Shut up. See you in the Plaza in 10.”
He stands up, shoulders his pack and grabs his maul, and addresses the room.
“I expect some fuckin’ improvement to your footwork by the time I’m back.”
There is a hushed chorus of “Yes, Ser,” from the recruits, wide awake in their bunks. Baine nods once, blows out the candle and walks out the door.
“Lyt,
Still nothing from Thea, so we’re going. Shouldn’t be more than a few days unless something’s gone really fucking wrong over there.
I’m bringing a couple of scrolls of Sending and I’ll be in touch with the boss once I know more.
Wish I could have seen you before leaving but the sooner I go, the sooner I can come back.
And I am planning on coming back. Not just because they need me to and because He’s counting on me, but because you want me to. And because I deserve to.
I’m shit with numbers and not that much better with words. But please know, when I look at the sunrise every day, I see hope and I see your face.
May the Morninglord be with us both.
All my love,
B.”