A Warm Belly Keeps the Cold Away (Mirage, Private)

[Wren]

OOC: Continued from here.

The blond blinked in surprise at the simple answer to his question. Free coffee for just conversing with the old vendor? He had somehow managed to miss that part of the deal when he had heard of Jaedaxia's most delicious coffee and cookies.

Any misgivings the young man may have had about the offer were driven away before they could even enter his thoughts. The nutty, warm scent that wafted up from the poured liquid effectively captured Wren's attention. And as if that was not enough, the wind chose that moment to give a quick freezing gust, causing one hand to tighten around the wooden mug, the other over the heavy fabric of the coat. The warmth of the drink suddenly seemed even more tempting.

He was sold before the cookie was even placed in his hand.

Wren tipped the wooden mug against his lips, fully enjoying the burst of warmth and flavors that hit his pallet. The cold of the winter day suddenly seemed less sharp.

A smile quirked on his lips as he lowered the mug, easily answering the old vendor's question. "Actually, I was looking for you." He raised the mug in one hand, almost as if in a salute. "Word of your coffee and cookies have been getting around. Though I had been expecting a more conventional price to come with it."

Wren took a small bite out of the cookie in his hand, eyes lighting up as the flavor seemed to go perfectly alongside the aftertaste of the coffee. "These are really good," he said, nibbling on the cookie some more. "Really, really good."

[Mirage]

The man poured himself a cup of coffee too keep the chill at bay. Holding it his hands he watched Wren eat and drink. "Thank you lad." The merchant drank some of his own coffe.

"Well since your here, ye be up to making a little delivery for me?" He winked down at Wren. "Just a simple delivery, ye see. My coffee bean supplier is a little late today so I need you to run outside the city and too the north. You'll find a small cottage where me supplier lives. He'll give you a sack and all ye need to do is bring it back here." He smiled down at Wren waiting to see if he would do it for him. If he would the man would hand him another cookie and refill his cup of coffee.

[Wren]

Wren was not one to mind running errands, especially if they could be of real help to someone. In fact, he enjoyed having something to do to help him pass the time when he was not working. The young man did not really have any friends to visit, so he had to find some way to occupy himself when he found himself with some free time.

"Well, that sounds simple enough," he said, nodding his head in answer to the old man's request. "I'd be glad to help. Wouldn't want these people to miss out on any more of this coffee." The young man gladly accepted the refill, eager to chase away as much of the winter cold as he could before heading right back out in to it.

He stood there for a minute, draining the wooden mug, before handing it back to the old man. "The cottage is north of Jaedaxia?" he asked, seeking confirmation. "I'll be back as soon as I can." And with a grin and a wave, the young man set off on the coffee vendor's errand.

Even as he started walking towards the western gates of the city, Wren was not sure exactly where he had to go, but he was confident he would find the cottage the old man had spoken of. North of the city was a good enough start for him. He munched on the cookie as he walked along, finishing it long before he reached the city gates. Once he was through he turned northwards, following the path along the city wall.

He pulled his coat tighter around him, fighting off the chill. His blue eyes took in the winter landscape, trying to spot the cottage somewhere ahead of him. Wren sneezed once and then twice. "Hope it's not too far outside," he said softly, rubbing his nose.

[Mirage]

The people walked quickly around Wren trying to get to the safe haven of there home as soon as possible. The unlucky ones were those who were selling wares outside the warmth of a shop. Every so often a partuclarly cold gust snuck it's way over the wall to blast the inhabitants. When Wren finished the cookie he would find the coffee continued to warm him sitting in his stomach like a warm rock.

Passing through the gates he found that the guards were freezing. They waved him onward and Wren could distinctly here "Goddss, Wwhhen, is aarrre ssshhhifft dddooneee."

Passing along the northern road he found it wound it's sleepy way occasionally passing around a tree. It had been about five minutes since he had left the city. The landscape had changed to a sparse forest of evergreen's when he heard a sound. It was more of a creak than anything. A small sound under the wind. It was followed by another small sound like ice being broken. A branch creaked and a voice shouted out "Halt! State your buisness and you might live!" A man stepped out from behind a tree.

The man was tall, probably topping 5' 11". He had a long beard which was useful in this wheather and fur on. His fingers were on a bow which was nocked and aimed at Wren. He blended almost seemlessly with the tree beside him, and if he wasn't moving Wren might have mistaken him for an oddly shaped tree. A cold wind blew through the forest but the man didn't shiver.

[Wren]

The day was a cold one, but Wren still found peace and comfort in the quiet landscape. The warm feeling in his stomach, left over from the coffee, no doubt, helped those feelings along.

The peace and quiet, however, could do nothing to hide the creaking and snapping sounds that rose up from the silent land. Wren paused on the path, looking around in confusion. Was there somebody else outside braving the cold? Another creak, and his question was answered.

Whatever Wren had been expecting, it certainly was not an arrow aimed at his face. He jumped back in surprise, nearly tripping over his own feet, as he was suddenly faced with the man at the other end of the arrow.

What was this? A bandit on the road? Wren tossed that thought aside. They were far too close to the city for any intelligent bandits. Plus, Wren had not yet been ordered to hand over all of his valuables. Besides, would a bandit really care to know his business?

"I'm just passing by," he said honestly, lifting his empty hands up in front of him. "I'm just picking up something." It was as if he was speaking to the arrow, unable to move his eyes from the weapon to the fur-clad man. "Coffee beans," he clarified, not wishing to leave the man with any confusion over just why Wren was out here.

Wren shivered as another sharp gust of cold air flew past them, tugging at their hair and clothing. The blond noticed the man's apparent lack of discomfort even in the extreme weather.

"Y'know, you can put away that bow now. I didn't really want to get myself shot today."

[Mirage]

The man's face stayeed the same for a second then it split into a smile. He slowly unnocked the bow and walked over too Wren. "So sorry monsiour. You can't be too careful on the road these days." He slipped the bow over his shoulder and said "So you're here too pick up the beans?" He walked along the road evidently expecting Wren to follow.

"My house is just up ahead." He walked along the path. Now that Wren was closer he could see that the man was wearing a sort of fur clothing that was stitched together. It must be very warm becuase the man didn't seem cold.

They would travel for perhaps eight more minutes when they would come to a fork in the road. The man took the left path and they soon wound up at a small cottage. There were dead plants growing on the side of the house and in a garden. The bean man went into his house and came back with a bag of beans. "Sorry for nearly shooting you with an arrow Monsiour. I wish you speed on you way back." He waited a second then walked back into the house.

[Wren]

Wren let out the air he had not realized he had been holding, a large grin appearing on his face as the tense atmosphere lifted. It was a weight lifted to know that he would not be stuck full with arrows just yet. He nodded as the man in the fur clothing asked him about the coffee beans, quickly moving to follow behind the man.

As they walked along the path Wren considered the man in front of him. He had not expected to find the bean seller so quickly, or even in such a manner. Bandit had been his first thought when the arrow had so suddenly been aimed at his head. The blond had not even stopped to consider that maybe he had been the very man he had been asked to find.

"Is there usually trouble on the road?" he asked after a few minutes of silence. Wren had rarely left the city, and had never ran in to any trouble the few times he had. "It was quite shocking to meet you like that." He paused a moment before continuing with an after thought. "I suppose I'm lucky that it was you and not somebody a bit more mean," he said with a chuckle.

Wren took in the small, uncared for appearance of the cottage. Then again, who could expect anything to grow well in a garden in the dead of winter? He gladly took the bag of beans, cradling it in the crook of his arm as he waved to the bean seller. "It's ok, easy mistake." He shifted the bag from one arm to the other. "Well, thank you for the coffee beans. The old man who ordered these will be happy."

Wren turned from the cottage as the man disappeared in to it, and started walking back down the path that had taken him there. He hoped it would not take him too long to reach the city and the warmth he was sure to find there.

Well, that had been easy, he thought, a small smile on his face as he walked back through the quiet countryside.

[Mirage]

"My parents were killed by bandits." He said quitely.

As Wren walked back to the town he noticed strange footprints running towards the cabin he had just come from. The were really pushed into the dirt, and some of them seemed slightly larger than the others.

Upon further inspection he would find a shallow groove on the side of one of the footprints. It looked quite a bit like a sword had dragged through the dirt. The tracks were relatively fresh. But he hadn't passed anyone on the road. So who's tracks were they?

OOC: Sorry for the short post.

[Wren]

Wren's eyes were focused on the ground, thinking over that single sentence the man had said before disappearing back in to his cottage. He sighed, running a hand through his hair in agitation. Even if he had been given a chance to speak, Wren would have never known what to say besides the customary, "I'm sorry." But then again, was there anything else he could have said?

The pain of loss was something that could never be fully healed. Slowly or swiftly, old or young... It was almost a relief that Wren stumbled upon the obvious footprints. If his gaze had not been downward, following his spiraling thoughts he might never have even noticed them.

Has he got visitors? he wondered, looking in the direction the footprints were heading. It was obvious they were fresh and heading back towards the cottage. Wren did not recall seeing them when he had been following the bean supplier to his home. A closer look and Wren was able to spot the shallow groove running alongside one set. Something was being dragged along, though Wren would have never been able to conclude just what it was.

Who had come this way? Why hadn't Wren passed them on the small path? He paused midstep, looking back towards the cottage. "Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to go back and say a proper hello," he murmured, turning on his heel and making his way back.

Though he told himself it was nothing, he made sure to walk along as quietly as he could, his body tense and alert, as he followed the footsteps back towards the cabin.

[Mirage]

Creeping through the undergrowththe blonde woud notice the footprints fading slightly. As if his quarry was trying to hide. A clod passed over the suns and when it cleared Wren saw a horrible scene.

The bean man was up against his house surrounded by three bandits. Each one was dressed in a thick leather and one was holding the bean guy against the wall. "Where's the stash!" The man whimpered slightly under the crushing grip of the bandit. Without hesitation the bandit threw him aside and said to the bandit on his left "Search the house. I want everything of value." He looked down at the man who was now pleading for his life. He looked at the bandit on his right, "And you can have the pleasure of killing this simpering fool." The bandit on the right smiled and drew a knife.

He advanced on the bean man slowly who threw his hand up in a pitiful defense.