Started the day with a call to the blacksmith, who took one look at the damaged hauberk and flung it across to his apprentice shouting out a quick guttural command, the few links that were missing were swiftly replaced and I can be thankful now that it only cost me sixty-three pieces of copper rather than the kings ransom in docked wages had my misfortune been spotted.
The morning passed with me sauntering in the cold air outside the town having been given orders to move along a group of drunken dwarfs that had reportedly been spotted, there was neither hide nor hair of them to be seen and I suspect that it was the reporter of the incident who may have had a touch of the strong stuff.
The sun was finally dragged behind the quilting of black clouds as I finished my patrol and consigned a satisfyingly empty report to the distracted duty officer who was engrossed in having a heated argument with a family of travellers, On requesting further orders he dismissed me with a wave of his hand and turned back to his negotiations with the disgruntled citizenry, well now Hunor, far be it for me to dispute the commands of officers so I took it to mean that I had an early end to the day.
The portentous clouds split apart as I meandered towards home, and the rain started dropping heavily from the heavens slicing on my helmet and running off the lip to coldly caress the back of my neck, I ran full tilt along the streets keeping my face low to avoid being blinded by the bucketing downpour and dragging my boots through the foul puddles that had swiftly formed.
Guiding my feet with haste towards the lodgings I found myself cruelly deceived when my foot plunging farther beneath the surface of one of these rippling pools than I had expected, nature swiftly took over and my arms swung out in reflex at the vain hope of avoiding the humiliation of a face first plunge into the rank puddle. My hand struck an object and I closed my fingers tight but stability was to prove elusive and I continued my tumble into the effluence dragging the heavy object on top of me.
The oddly familiar boy that I had hauled down over me could not have seen more than eleven summers, covered in filth and stinking of the tannery he looked like his appearance may have even been improved by his brief dunking into the rain soaked street.
As we both regained our footing his eyes kept on darting across to the entrance of my lodgings but before my brain could form a question he rushed towards the door and hammered on it loudly. Scowling at the child for his strange actions I bent my bruised back to retrieve my shield from where it had imbedded itself in the sludge raising my head up again in time to observe a tanned gentleman of delicate proportions stepping off the doormat. Tipping his hat and offering a tight smile he took his leave from the lady of the household who gave a quick nod at him in return from the security and warmth of the hall.
Selia obviously has her motives for this clandestine meeting with a fair stranger and I do not wish to speculate on what those might be though I fear the worst. She blustered about less self contained than usual and tinted her scolding comments about mud trodden into the hall carpet with the information the gentleman had only, “come to quote for some plasterin’ what the kitchen needs”.
I shall sleep now Deorling min with a smile on my lips, and shall try not to distract myself with dreams of the plastering that we two managed in our few short years together.
Kiss the children for me and watch my dreams
Kiss the children for me and watch my dreams
