 
       
|
The BloodVaine EpicChapter 11: Captive Of The Forestmen
Sir Dractor had been weak and hungry when he had reached land after quite a few days at sea. He had not had an idea of where he had landed, so upon beaching his craft on shore, he had simply struck out south, in hopes of finding a town or a road, and thus making his way to a city or port, and eventually making his way back to the Old Man.
He had had the misfortune to land in Forestmen territory, however. Their’s was a society closed to the casual stranger, forbidden to menacing inspector, and a refuge to the welcomed friend.
Sir Dractor hadn’t been intending to fight when a patrol of Forestmen had come across him, but he had been feasting on an elk, poached from the Forestmen’s Preserve, an un-settled hunting ground reserved for the leader of the Forestmen and those he granted permission to
Interrupted as he was in the middle of his first meal in over a week, he had notchesapeake bank virginia had any intention of leaving immediately for their stronghold (blindfolded at that), nor of giving up his prize to the Forestmen soldiers who found him.
Hungry, angry, and thoroughly riled up, he made the uncharacteristic choice of jumping into an unthought-out fight.
Had he thought it out, he would have remembered that every Forestman patrol has at least one archer. Most patrols are nothing but archers. Forestmen are best known by their bows.
So it was that he arrived some hours later in the Forestmen infirmary, wounded, but no longer angry; seeing how he was being fed quite substantial amounts of soup, bread, cheese, and venison roasts.
The duty of interrogating Sir Dractor came to Kellenwyn, the highest ranking officer available with Gladwheel incapacitated and Bjarn in the cells. When Kellenwyn asked the standard questions of Name, Age, Faction and Rank, he got prompt and truthful replies.
Kellenwyn eyed Sir Dractor keenly when he asked his next question.
“Now, Sir Dractor...why were you wandering about Forestmen lands in threadbare clothes killing our wildlife and attacking our men?"
Kellenwyn was a stern man, Sir Dractor could tell that. In recent times, his people had seen a great deal of trouble and disturbances, and indeed, many deaths. But he was a fair man, and was willing to give Sir Dractor the benefit of the doubt. Unlike many officials in many kingdoms, he was willing to consider men innocent until proven guilty.
“As for why I was wandering in Forestmen lands in threadbare clothes,” said Sir Dractor, choosing his words carefully, “that is easy to explain: I was on a boat setting out from the Crusader colonies to the northeast. A great storm drove me south, past the island. I was lost and at sea for over a week, with no food, and little water. I landed on the first shore I saw. I had no idea it was Forestman land.
“I searched for people, but I was unable to find any, and as I was starving, I trapped, and butchered one of your elk. Your men found me as I was eating my first meal in many days, and according to your laws, tried to separate me from my poached meal.
“Now let me explain something: I am not a good person to separate from a meal, especially after ten days or more of fasting. I therefore attacked. My apologies to the men involved, I should have tried to rationalize better. Fortunately, I think, none of them wererussian teen girls2 harmed, as their arrows were too fast and deadly for me to escape.
“I mean no harm to the Forestmen or their lands, and I hope you'll let me go on my way without trouble, but I warn you: if you still consider me an enemy and attempt to harm me, you will regret that you brought me here and fed me.”
Kellenwyn listened patiently.
“Well, Sir Dractor,” he said at the end, “I believe all that you have said, though I think you might have said more about why you were at sea, and I trust you when you say that you mean us no harm, but you have attacked Forestmen on Forestmen soil, and the Lord Bjarn will have to pronounce a judgment. But I think you can expect a pardon. You seem an honorable man.”
Kellenwyn turned to leave.
“But a warning for you also, good knight: don’t try to escape before a judgment has been pronounced. If you are caught trying to leave before then, you will be shot. Fatally.”
“I have no intention of leaving as of yet,” said Sir Dractor, calmly. Kellenwyn nodded, and left the infirmary.
| Previous Chapter | Next Chapter |
|
|
