When brother and sister meet [private]

[Eyvind Redbeard]

Third Cycle of the Month of Melora in the season of Winter; Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XV Post Fractum.

It would be two Eras in Imperos since the current head of Clan Avornmagor had left the town of Gonehameau. The Brightening of his departure had been one of grief, the ashes and the smoke and the smell of burnt wood and chaff, the crying and mourning of the families of the ones lost the Brightening before. A wild dog trotting nearby looking at him while he walked past the gates of the wooden wall that surrounded Gonehameau. The pale face of his mother, the strong jaw of his brother holding, the wide open eyes of his younger sister, perhaps still too young to understand why he left. Aside of the rude words of Dag Danbysson that said he would be punished with death if he ever tried to return and that leaving once meant being forever forsaken, the whole town and the woods nearby were silent as a graveyard. With a last look over his shoulder before stepping outside the gates Eyvind had bid serale to his family, perhaps for all time.

A journey south to Aelyria Prime and enlisting in the Imperial Legions to find where his father lived or had died were is next steps. Finally after some adventures and journey through the entire Empire, from the capital city of Lauryl to Prime, came a promotion and the Sherian almost War against the Orcish Horde. He didn't have the chance of participating in a true battle, except maybe for that Ratta Rebellion, but it didn't count as a true battle did it? They were attacked by what? Less than two hundred Ratta could not be considered an army and their action had only help the training of the soldiers of the Provincial Army, not that their training would be of much use.

Now he was back on the northern shores, it was winter and the cold bite his flesh deep into his bones but he did not care for he was back and within him an eternal flame grew warming him. After so many time away from his homeland it was the cold, the snow and the ice he wanted, instead of the soft grass or the gentle breeze. He was a Vagaran and Vagarans were born to endure the harshness of these almost forgotten lands. Air became fog when he expelled it from his lungs and the tips of his long red mane were covered with small white dots of both snow and ice, a smile appeared on his face as the man bent a knee and letting go of his spear placed both hands on the frozen ground. Home.

A lonely bird started singing nearby waking the hardened traveller from his meditation, opening his eyes he slowly stood up holding his weapon. His face was still young but already started to show some signs of old age, life hadn't been gentle to him and he in turn hadn't been gentle to life, walking straight into more troubles than most mortals ever dared. His beard wasn't shaved, but it wasn't long enough to be considered a beard, it resembled more a bush of small red spikes popping out of his face, around his left eye were tattoed the thorns the the vines of a warrior, all in black according to his Tribes' colors. His clothes were simple, army boots, brown pants and a light sleeveless shirt. A backpack pending from his shoulders and nothing else to protect him from the frosty wind. He wanted to feel it all, he wanted his senses to drown in both memories and present feelings. For yet another moment the warrior closed his eyes and felt the silent of the woods, it was dawn, the twin Suns had barely rose above Telath and only he was here, his companions left behind in a camp around a bonfire.

The bird sang again, breaking the silence yet another time and making Eyvind open his blue eyes once again. There it was, in the branch immediatly above him. With a smile on his face he slowly walked forward, being careful not to step on stones or branches to avoid making any noise, he was a hunter and a scout and he was approaching his home, Gonehameau. The spot he had chosen was perfect, a hill covered with trees immediatly south of the town, from there he could see the longhouses still covered with the Darkening's humidity and the smoke rising from the holes in the roofs that served as chimneys. There were the Great Hall and the Tower as well, where his enemy slept without concerns for the suffering of his people, Eyvind's people.

The colossal Vagaran knelt again and leant against a tree. He was here to see how the situation in the town was before acting, he was a hunter and he would be patient.

[Neasa]

Winter was a bad season, especially for those who lived on the earth, like the Gonehameau's people. Fish were hard to get, unless one was ready to face the storms of the sea at this time of the era and meat was scared; but the residence of Gonehameau had survived, like they did for so many eras. Food was stored from the warm brightening of the summer and spring and guards were stationed to lookup for bands of hungry thieves.

Neasa was one of those guards. It was an important job, at least, that was what she kept telling herself, shivering a bit. Her fur cloak was supposed to keep her warm but she had to take it off because it was getting in the way of her short bow. The young Vagaran woman wasn't so happy. She enjoy going out of the village and breathing the fresh air of freedom, of opportunities. So what was bugging her?

A sound.

Stopping, Neasa's eyes moved around her, trying to locate the direction of the sound. She almost signed in relief when she realized it was a bird, a bird singing...

Then she sow a movement.

Narrowing her piercing blue eyes, she moved a few steps toward the sound and the movement. Her leather boots hardly made a sound, or so she thought, while her short bow firmly held in her one hand and an arrow in the second hand.

She sow a man. He was dressed simply and, to her opinion, not suitable to the cold outside. His sleeveless shirt and pants were hardly protecting him from the wind. Was he armed? It was hard to see from the distance, but one thing was clear - he was kneeling near a tree, watching the village...

Taking a step closer, the woman turned the bow to the right and clip the back of the arrow onto the string. After that, her eyes still on the stranger, she turned the bow upright again. Arrow notched, Neasa pulled the string back and aimed it, with her right eye open and the left one closed.

"Don't move, stranger!" she called, her usually soft voice raised "Identify yourself or I'll shot!"

[Eyvind Redbeard]

And the stranger did move, voluntarily at least. His shoulder started moving up and down as he tried to contain a laughter. The sound that echoed from his throat and out of his mouth. The bird who had been singing nearby jumped in the branch and looked surprised to the pair of humans nearby. After some moments of almost uncontrolable laughter the massive man paused, his head bowed forward hiding his face.

"I didn't know the daughter of Hilde of Clan Avornmagor was allowed to leave the safety of the town's palisade without the company of one of her brothers. And last I heard the two Avornmagor boys left Gonehameau seeking glory in distant lands. One is even rumored to have joined the Imperial Legions and lead an army in a war against Orcs in the distant Sheria. So...what is Neasa Hildesdotter doing outside the protection of her longhouse's walls?"

The stranger slowly rose up and turned to the young woman with precise movements, yet careful ones not to scare her.

"And since when does member of Clan Avornmagor tries threaten the life of another, even more with a weapon that would barelly hurt said individual. And what about the laws of hospitality we're always considered sacred?"

The colossal man that had stood up in front of Neasa raised his head and with a hand pulled his long red flaming hair to the sides, the very same hair color the young woman had, afterall they were brother and sister. The smiling face of Eyvind and his shining eyes almost exploded in another laughter.

[Neasa]

"I didn't know the daughter of Hilde of Clan Avornmagor was allowed to leave the safety of the town's palisade without the company of one of her brothers."

How did he know who I was?!

"And last I heard the two Avornmagor boys left Gonehameau seeking glory in distant lands. One is even rumored to have joined the Imperial Legions and lead an army in a war against Orcs in the distant Sheria."

He has too much knowledge about my family. Probably a spy...

"So...what is Neasa Hildesdotter doing outside the protection of her longhouse's walls?"

He knows my name!

Neasa pull back the string with her fingers until her hand was near her ear without even thinking about it.

"And since when does member of Clan Avornmagor tries threaten the life of another, even more with a weapon that would barely hurt said individual. And what about the laws of hospitality we're always considered sacred?"

"Barely hurt said individual?! You'll see in a second what is barely hurt... The laws of hospitality aren't sacred when thieves are concerned. The same goes about spys, stranger!" She called and was about to release the arrow when the man stood up and raised his head. Neasa hardly had the time to move the bow's aiming to a point above his head when the arrow was released.

"Eyvind!"




OOC: Never mess with an Avornmagor...

[Eyvind Redbeard]

The arrow left Neasa's bow directed to the flaming head of her brother, had her not aimed slightly above it perhaps Eyvind hadn't had the time to crouch and move to the side, still who was he to try and elude a flying death and escape unharmed? The sharp tip of the arrow passed by the left side of his head slicing his ear open just before prenetrating a solid tree. Still the Vagaran man could not countain his laughter and chuckled as he looked to the feathers in the end of the arrow's shaft, a hand touching his ear to avaluate the damages. It was still there, with a huge slice but still there.

"If I had a thousand archers like you I would have taken Ire before Pracenda, little sister!"

He joked as he turned to her, a gigantic arm reaching out and pulling her close to a strong hug that raised her from the frosty ground. The man couldn't avoid kissing her in the cheek before placing her back on the ground and the temptation to place a hand over her head and ruin her haircut almost overcame him.

"It is good to see you have grown to protect the land of our ancestors with the same passion of the great Avornmagor himself! And before you ask, yes, I am coming back to right a wrong and reclaim what is rightfully ours!"

His hand touched his sister's left cheek in a clumsy cuddle.

"So many things to say and so little time..."

[Neasa]

Neasa's blue eyes looked at her brother. Except from her earlier call of his name, she couldn't say a word. She sow how her arrow missed his head, scratching his ear. His big strong arm embraced her. She held his head with her free hand, while trying to keep her bow from hitting him. It wasn't easy while he raised her up in the air, just like he used to do when they were little kids.

Come on, Eyv... I'm not a small child anymore." Her embarrassed words became almost a scream when he tried to kiss her cheek. "Stop!..." She called, hitting him with her fist, hurting the top of his ear in the prosses...

Finally, when she was safe on the cold hard ground, Neasa tried to calm herself. She almost succeeded in hiding the one tear that broke free. Almost...

His proud words made her blush a bit and she moved her feet uncomfortably, answering "Well, I'm sure you could have used me in that Ire place, Eyv, but, oh well, Gonehameau needed me." she smiled a bit, in a sarcastic way "You know, with you and Erik going to look for something that you think can't find at home, it's up to those who left to keep Gonehameau safe and sound. You know, in case one of you will ever come back..."

The young woman moved her free hand on her shirt and trousers, a bit embarrassed but still honest. She did miss her brothers... It's been too long, but not long enough for her feel comfortable when he touched her cheek.

She moved a step back, avoiding his hand, her blue eyes shining with an inherent fire that her family knew so well. "If you think that you can come back like that and everything will be fine again, you're wrong!" Neasa straightened her back and moved her feet a bit apart. She put one hand on her hip, the fire in her eyes became stronger and her voice became harder then before "You've got some explaining to do, young man!" she said, coping her mother's voice so well that Eyv could almost see her standing there "Why did you left me behind and went to have fun?!"

[Eyvind Redbeard]

Neasa's fist hit him hard on his wounded ear, pain flooding his skull. The wound made the punch hurt more but still there was much pain coming from the strength of the impact. The girl hadn't been weaving and playing while he was out fighting wars. Scratching the place of the hit he stared at his sister in surprise and then smiled at her, she still kept her initiative, the very thing that he liked so much about her.

Yes, he could have used her there but she wouldn't have liked what she had seen and although she had been born to become like most of her family, a fighter, perhaps if not in body, in spirit like their mother. No, Neasa was a fighter in both spirit and body already, he could see it in her. Anyway, he wanted to keep her innocence and the sight of rivers of blood away from her as long as possible. It seemed that this time with his return some blood would be spilled and his sister would see it, Dag's blood.

Then came that voice, the perfect imitation of Hilde's voice. Eyvind still couldn't understand how his sister could do it.

"Things will be fine once I've finished my deals with Dag, little sister. And I wasn't having fun." He lied a bit, he had had some fun but the overall and been grief and torment. "I found the whereabouts of our father..." He didn't dare to say more, Eyvind didn't know if Hilde had ever told Neasa why Björn had disappeared, a reason she herself had only imagined without solid proof. "...no, don't expect me to tell you right now. Our mother has the right to know it first. And you were too young when I left, I remember you still had bad dreams during the Darkenings after that pirate raid. It costed me greatly to leave and I am sure it costed Erik as well when he went after me." Eyvind wondered where their brother could be, after that meeting in Aelyria Prime's market they had never met again.

"What matters is that I am back and this time Dag will pay. My men will be arriving near the water stream shortly and we will then march directly to Gonehameau. Luck reunited us here, little sister and if you want to have some fun I have the ideal mission for you. Follow me."

Grabbing his things Eyvind waved for Neasa to follow him in the opposite direction of the town. They walked down the hill and into a land clearance near a water stream. The cold water flowed freely.

"Be like the river that flows freely, be like the wind that freely touches what our mortal minds dare not to touch. Absolute and pure, freedom."

Words of a philosopher. The Vagaran dropped his belonging nearby and sat on a stones while inviting his sister to sit as well. The ground between the two stones was cleared of leafs by Eyvind's boot and with a stick he made a small map on the humid earth. Neasa would recognize it as a map of Gonehameau. There was the front gate and the pallisade and the docks and the hill with the Great Hall and the Tower.

"We're here." He pointed a location slightly south of the town and made a small circle. "And our objective is to take the Great Hall and Dag himself. Our main obstacle is the pallisade but thanks to you we can now bypass it without much difficulties. Can you keep the gate open until we enter Gonehameau? Because if the guards close it we will have a hard time climbing the pallisade or going around to the dockside and swimming around the fence there. There is one more thing, I need you to put our mother in a safe place and don't tell her I'm here, not yet. Surprise is our weapon and we must be swift as a lightening, hitting quick and hard without giving them a chance to strike back or put up a defense. I'm taking you under my wing now, little sister and I will teach you everything you will need to the times that approach in great strides. I will explain you later, now I need you to focus on your mission. Can you do it?"

[Neasa]

Neasa frown a bit while she listen to her brother talk. So he had found where father was but why wouldn't he tell her more? Why DID father left? No one told her. All she know was that one brightening he disappeared. They always told her that she was too young to know. Well, she wasn't too young now, right?

"I'm not little, Eyv!" she remarked angrily and followed her brother without a real desire to do so. Yes, she didn't like Dag. Who liked that stupid man anyway? Not her, that was for sure!

Neasa sat next to Eyvind, the look of the water stream nearby relaxing her a bit. She could feel the wind touching her chick, the smell of the trees from afar and the soft ramble of the water. Looking at the small map Eyvind had painted and listening to his explanations, she felt her interest rising.

"Helgi has always been nice to me." she remarked "I'm sure he would have helped you back then if it wasn't for Oddvar and Heimdal supporting Dag. Do you think we should tell him what you're planing, Eyv? He is quit good with his spear. Tried to teach me once, but it was too long for me so I broke it into two pieces. He got really upset about it. Not sure why..." Neasa frown a bit. Her thoughts always wandered in more then one direction and it made people get angry at her from time to time.

"Sorry, I'll try to concentrate, Eyv..." she murmured before Eyvind would loss his patient with her. "When I went out this morning, it was only Gorik at the gate. You remember Gorik, Eyv? He was born the same pattern I was. Blond curly hair, always had a thing for fish." she glanced at Eyv and hurried to get to the point "Well, anyway. He said that he'll be there till evening but that Dag might send another guard later on. If it's only Gorik then there will be no problem for me to convince him to leave the gate unguarded."

Neasa smiled a soft smile "I think he likes me, Eyv. Even tried to..." a red blush appeared on the young woman's face and she hurried to add "Well, anyway, he wouldn't be a problem..."

[Eyvind Redbeard]

Of course Nease wasn't little, she was a grown up woman already that was for sure. She still needed to learn some things about life but who was the old man who knew them all? Eyvind was sure that even the Ancients in their immortality didn't know everything and that would be a edge to mortality when the time came, a chance of victory. When the time came he would have united all the Vagaran under his banner and then there would be no victory to the Kingdom.

Every word that came out of her sister's lips were a blessing to the veteran of the Sherian conflict. He missed his family and he missed his home and when Neasa spoke about some of the inhabitants of Gonehameau, even those who supported the current Jarl, he felt back, fully back. He was a Vagaran again, he was Björnsson, the Son of the Bear and like his father before him he would pursue his goals and be successful or die trying. What was that old Vagaran saying? "Don't try to outran the Bear because it will catch you and don't try climbing a tree to escape him because the Bear will make it fall before eating you"? Yes, that was the saying and like the Bear, Eyvind would not let his enemies escape, not Dag and his scum and not the Ancients and their Kingdom. Usurpers all, and the only forgiveness they could ever have would be in death. Should Jalat rip their souls and their wrecked bodies float near the other bank of the Umblat!

Helgi, the Lagmann. A good soul but would he help out? Eyvind decided he would find it out later. There was one person who Eyvind needed to consider very well...so it seemed after what Neasa had told him. Gorik the young boy who seemed to have joined the Hird and who Eyvind remembered to see in Gonehameau. Being too busy hunting and working the red-haired man, boy at that time, didn't have the time to pay much attention to this Gorik and now it seemed he had a keen interest in his sister. But was Neasa interested in him? She had blushed while talking about him. His Alpha male senses were all awake now, he wasn't only Neasa's older brother but he was also the head of the family since their father had passed away. And if Neasa was in truth interested in this boy and he had, like she said, tried to...the gods knew what, Eyvind needed to have a little chat with him.

The Vagaran nodded and as he was about to speak his ears caught a noise in the wind. Marching feet coming from south. The occasional clinging of armor and weapons and the coordination of the marching indicated these weren't regular Hirdmen, these were Imperial Legionnaire, the Black Shields to be accurate. A moment later the first figure appeared from the middle of the trees. He used a heavy infantry scalemail dyed in black and on his back pended a black cloak. A Corynthian style helmet with a black crest was removed from the man's head and another Vagaran stared at the duo. This was almost an old man with some forty Winter on his shoulders, the same shoulder that were covered with his long blonde greying hair. The grey and cold eyes of the man who, by the symbol on his armor seemed to be a Shield Daekin never blinking until the rest of the men appeared from the trees forming two columns as they marched. All dressed in the same way the man who seemed to be their leader and all armed with swords and spears and carrying black tower shields. The band, that seemed to number a dozen soldiers, formed a semi-circle around the duo and the old man stepped forward and patted his chest.

"The Black Shields have come, may the path of truth be followed."

Eyvind, who had stood up and placed a hand over his sister to calm her down if she grew restless with the approaching group nodded formally for a moment and then stepped forward to hug the man who, surprised, almost fell back.

"It is good to have you here, all of you."

The red-haired man greeted them with a smile as he stepped back and invited Neasa to stand up.

"This is my sister, Neasa, and she will help us entering Gonehameau. We will move in a candlemark, for now take some rest from your march."

Sitting back on the stone once more Eyvind smiled broadly to his sister. Seconds later the clearing where they had been changed completely as men dropped their backpacks and weapons and sat down drinking and eating. Quite conversations started to appear. Two men carrying a huge bag approached Redbeard and handed it to him. Inside the sound of clinging metal clearly indicated an armor.

"These are my men, the Black Shields. The hardest lot you will ever find, the most disciplined and fierce warband one could ever ask for. The man you saw on the lead is Coates, my strategy expert. That Dorin over there is Dogg and the Dwarf next to him is Drok. The Nimâlni unfolding the banner is Galdoran while the Ragrhnd and the Elf discussing about that drum are Ulgar and Algyrdin. The young man who is blushing over there is Eirik, a good lad and a very sensitive one at times. He is a Warrior-Poet you know?

Well now that I explained the plan to you and that they are all here I think it's time for us to get ready. Time is of essence, the Suns are rising and the darkest Candlemark before the Dawn has passed." Leaning forward Eyvind kissed his sister in the cheek "May Materna and Aslan bless your steps, I will be right behind you. I won't wish you luck because I know you won't need any!"

A joke, a simple joke that could make the difference between a routing soldier and a motivated one.

[Snake Eye]

The Black Shields readied themselves. The plan of attack was simple. The Great Hall and them Dag. The palisade however stood as the major obstacle in their path to victory. It was evident that Neasa, sister to Eyvind, needed to distract the only guard at the gate. It appeared that the guard, Gorik, had an attraction the the sister. Getting passed the gate may just be the easiest part of the attack.

Coates ordered the men to find anything they could use to dampen the sound of their armor. Nothing would be worse than to slip pass the gates in clanking armor loud enough to wake the dead. No reason to sound an alarm early. Let it sound once the Great Hall was breached. The men took to his orders. If a weapon was sheathed it was no longer. Scabbards were tied close to the bodies, loose metal was tightened, and voices were silenced.

"Sir, we await any final instructions," Coates commented as the men behind him stood at attention.

OOCSoory for the shortness, getting back in the swing of things.

[Neasa]

Restless? Neasa? No way! The moment the first man appeared from behind the trees, the female was already on her feet. The bow, carelessly on the ground, was useless at that moment. Neasa wasn't about to let this small detail get in the way of her Avornmagor's spirit. Her right hand moved to her dagger, a simple weapon but deadly in the right hand. Unfortunately, the young Vagaran female wasn't experienced in the use of it, but why a little thing like that get in the way?

Eyvind's hand on her shoulder relaxed her. She stood quietly and watched the men coming out, one by one, and forming a semi-circle around her and her brother. Piercing blue eyes stared at the men when Eyvind introduced them and she nodded her head, acknowledging their presence.

Dropping beside her older brother, Neasa listened to his explanations while scanning the soldiers and their activities. When he finished, she got on her feet and held her bow with one hand. Glancing at the men, apparently ready to go, she smirked and turned to Eyvind "Gorik doesn't stand a chance, Eyv. I'm not sure how to convince mother to stay in a safe place, thou... She would never agree to be left behind the longhouse's walls, safe and sound." struggling hers shoulders, she added "Are you ready?"

[Eyvind Redbeard]

One man approached the seated brother and sister, he was young and blonde and as his eyes met Neasa's he blushed becoming as red as a rose in middle Spring. On his waist hanging from a leather string was a Harp of the most beautiful design. As he got closer to the assembled family he turned to Eyvind and tried to look like a tough Legionnaire who didn't look at women. The older Vagaran couldn't avoid a smile and to break the little tension stood up and picked the bag with his armor inside. Immediately Eirik bent and started taking the armor from the bag while Eyvind removed his belt, upper jacket and bow's quiver. With the Warrior-Poet's assistance he started putting his armor and weapons on.

Over his muscled body he dressed a gambeson to protect his body from the sharp touch of the armor's metal. The linen quilted exterior of the gambeson and the interior stuffing of cloth scraps also consisted in the perfect protection against impacts and to keep the user warm. In the Sherian Autumn it had been a tiresome thing to use because of the higher temperatures but here in the cold Carmelyn Winter it was just perfect. While Eyvind tied the frontal part to close it, Eirik tied the desposable arms to his shoulders with cross knots making for a stronger conection between the gambeson parts. A thin belt was placed around Eyvind's waist to reduce the space between his clothes folds.

The armor dressing ritual was something Elebsson had insisted on, something Eyvind should do in front of his men reminding them that he was one of them and if not for one of them to help him putting his armor on he would be defenseless, it was something to keep the relation between commander and soldier something close. Comradry was very important. It also served as a warning for the commander to remember that he was nothing without his men. Therefore Eyvind was but an extent of them whole, he was their representative at all times but they were his power.

Then came his battle armor, a beauty among beauties. A heavy scalemail armor that went down below the warrior's knee and had some peculiar sleeves. The right one was nonexistant being the shoulder and part of the arm protected by a pauldron with neckguard and the left one going down to the elbow. Leather strips and two strong belts destributed the weight of such mighty piece of armor through all the body. The black dyed scales gave a terrifying look to the owner, back in the Sherian such armors had been easily recognized and admired because the owners were indeed powerful. It had been the Black Shields the ones saving Taralon during the Ratta Rebellion, if not for their quick response maybe the city would have followed Narim and become a pile of smoking rubble and ruins.

To protect his arms and legs Eyvind was given bracers and greaves made out of hard steel. These were intended to deflect attacks made my sharp objects. To finish Eirik opened a small box that had been left inside the bag. Inside he found two gauntlets specially designed for the wearer. Along the plated fingers followed tiny blades and became like claws at the end. Such gauntlet had been designed to be both weapon and armor and whoever was to face this Vagaran without his sword would still feel the cold steel in the bowls.

To finish Redbeard placed his Corynthian Style helmet with a black crest, his face hidden from sight except for his shining icy blue eyes. After that he was given his sword's scabbard that he held on his belt, his tower shield that he held on his left arm and his spear that he held on his right hand. What had been a hunter or a peasant before was now the mightiest of the Imperial Legionnaires to walk to realm.

"I am ready, sister."

No words were needed for the assembled Black Shields to stand up, pack their things and form behind Shield Daekin Coates, no words were needed to explain them what they were about to do, no words were needed to give them motivation. They were the Black Shields, the very best among all Legions and they blindlessly followed their leader.

"We march."

And the group set off marching slowly and silently up the hill and among the trees. The morning breeze and the sweet kiss of the Suns light licking their armored skins the moment they reached the top and then they marched down the hill to halt where the treeline ended.

"We will wait here until you give us the signal. Be quick as the wind, sister, and may the gods be with you."