Ceren nodded at Esme's response, not pressing when she didn't elaborate further, and continued to pluck away at the bird. She chuckled lightly when Esme retreated into the wagon, away from the work Ceren was doing. [color=#008e02]"City girl."[/color] she teased softly as she set aside the longer and more colorful tail feathers. No good for fletching, but maybe Esme would like them once they were properly separated from the memory of the carcass they came from. Genthus arriving with his stew pulled Ceren's attention away long enough to take her own turn at scooping a few bites from the pan after Esme had. The last of those bites remained on the spoon, however, as the Kossith giant made his way toward some new arrivals at the edge of the camps. Ceren lowered the spoon back into the pan, wiping her mouth on her arm as her eyes followed him.
Caro too neared where these riders had arrived, standing in the orbit of the caravan leader who approached the riders. Ceren glanced up at Esme in time to catch the concern on her friend's face before she turned and busied herself with items in the wagon. A click of her tongue sent Andor up into a tall nearby tree. The pheasant forgotten, Ceren moved toward where her bow and quiver had been left leaning against one of the wagon wheels. She used the shadow of the wagon to conceal her movements as she slung her quiver over her shoulder and took hold of the bow. From the riders, she could hear a raised voice say something about Kirkwall followed by the caravan leader's voice. She could not make out his words, but the tone was obviously upset. Were they being ordered back? They'd only just left that morning, why let them go at all?
She moved quick to join Caro when he signaled, but further explanation was not forthcoming. Only the confirmation that things were off. What was that signal in the fire for? Ceren took a step at the order to update their counterparts, but Esme spoke first and set off. She might have protested, but she saw Esme grab the short sword and had to remind herself that Esme would have to be permitted to help where she could. Pivoting, Ceren moved to where her horse was tethered to a tree. She had hardly untied Rabbit and hopped up into the saddle when more pounding hooves caught her ear.
"TO ARMS!" she shouted, heels digging into Rabbit's sides and using her knees to steer as she pulled and knocked an arrow. She moved around the edge of the camp until she saw the column from the side. She drew and loosed the arrow in one smooth motion, watching as it struck a the second from last rider in the nearest column. An explosion on the road illuminated him in a brief flash as he was knocked sideways with the blow, but kept his seat. A moment later, however, Andor swooped down, clawing at the rider's exposed neck. In confusion, the rider tried to swat the eagle away and lost his balance. He fell from his horse and rolled, but Ceren turned her attention, toward where the columns were now splitting to surround the caravan. Giving Rabbit another squeeze, she moved to intercept the leftmost column. Knocking three arrows at once, she stood in her stirrups and loosed them all at the lead rider. They sank through the leather armor over his chest, but their momentum toward each other did not give her time to steer away and she had to abandon drawing another arrow in favor of leaning wildly to the side to avoid the slash of his sword as they passed one another. Rabbit, grunting in agitation, pulled away just before the second rider could reach them with their own blade. It would take a moment for Ceren to regain her seat and circle back around.
Caro too neared where these riders had arrived, standing in the orbit of the caravan leader who approached the riders. Ceren glanced up at Esme in time to catch the concern on her friend's face before she turned and busied herself with items in the wagon. A click of her tongue sent Andor up into a tall nearby tree. The pheasant forgotten, Ceren moved toward where her bow and quiver had been left leaning against one of the wagon wheels. She used the shadow of the wagon to conceal her movements as she slung her quiver over her shoulder and took hold of the bow. From the riders, she could hear a raised voice say something about Kirkwall followed by the caravan leader's voice. She could not make out his words, but the tone was obviously upset. Were they being ordered back? They'd only just left that morning, why let them go at all?
She moved quick to join Caro when he signaled, but further explanation was not forthcoming. Only the confirmation that things were off. What was that signal in the fire for? Ceren took a step at the order to update their counterparts, but Esme spoke first and set off. She might have protested, but she saw Esme grab the short sword and had to remind herself that Esme would have to be permitted to help where she could. Pivoting, Ceren moved to where her horse was tethered to a tree. She had hardly untied Rabbit and hopped up into the saddle when more pounding hooves caught her ear.
"TO ARMS!" she shouted, heels digging into Rabbit's sides and using her knees to steer as she pulled and knocked an arrow. She moved around the edge of the camp until she saw the column from the side. She drew and loosed the arrow in one smooth motion, watching as it struck a the second from last rider in the nearest column. An explosion on the road illuminated him in a brief flash as he was knocked sideways with the blow, but kept his seat. A moment later, however, Andor swooped down, clawing at the rider's exposed neck. In confusion, the rider tried to swat the eagle away and lost his balance. He fell from his horse and rolled, but Ceren turned her attention, toward where the columns were now splitting to surround the caravan. Giving Rabbit another squeeze, she moved to intercept the leftmost column. Knocking three arrows at once, she stood in her stirrups and loosed them all at the lead rider. They sank through the leather armor over his chest, but their momentum toward each other did not give her time to steer away and she had to abandon drawing another arrow in favor of leaning wildly to the side to avoid the slash of his sword as they passed one another. Rabbit, grunting in agitation, pulled away just before the second rider could reach them with their own blade. It would take a moment for Ceren to regain her seat and circle back around.
04-19-2024, 01:42 PM
