I never desired to please the rabble.
What pleased them, I did not learn;
and what I knew was far removed from their understanding.
-Epicurus
Rondald was breathless as he followed Terri into the stables with only the light of a single lantern to see by. It was not even dawn yet and his wife was already a tizzy of energy, chatting so non-stop that it was beginning to make Rondald's mind hurt.
In truth, she had been excited for weeks. She had been the one pressing the hardest for everyone to come to Craine when word had been passed of the promised reward. It wasn't greed or expectation of anything grand, and indeed Terri's expectation of the reward was very modest. It was the
how that seemed the most important to her.
"But we are going to be personally recognized, Rondald! By a Duke!" The memory replays itself in Rondald's head, reminding him how he was swindled into agreeing to go.
Though Rondald was in no way looking forward to the event, he had to admit that it seemed a small price to pay for his wife's good tempers. Indeed, she had been as happy as Rondald could remember over the last few weeks. There had been spots of anger here and there in the prison of
Perdition, but by the time the mission was through she had been as thankful and as doting as she had ever been. She had made herself invaluable on several occasions during the trip back by keeping the peace with Finn, distracting him when he reminisced (as he often did) about all the mistakes they had made and the treasures they had missed. Here in Craine, she had been productive and engaging, offset only by the few brief stints of nausea from some passing sickness.
So if a little social discomfort was the cost for keeping his wife in such good spirits, Rondald was willing to pay it.
"Hey girl!" Terri steps into the stall which holds one of their two mules, the chestnut colored female with a softer temper than their wide-shouldered gelding.
Nodding towards the stable-hand mucking out the stall across, Rondald pauses for a moment, thinking he recognizes the man, though after a moment he throws the thought aside. After all, they had spent a few weeks now in Craine waiting on the pleasure of the Duke, and there was no doubt he had seen the man here in the stables or else walking about the town. Rondald turns to his wife who is wearing a new, pale green dress with ivory lace about the hem and sleeves. Hung by a silver chain about her neck is the large ruby that was the most of her cut from the last job. Still, there she stands, in all her finery, rubbing the mule's soft fur just between the eyes. Rondald can't help but smirk at the sight, knowing that she is far more at home here with the animals than she would be in a hall full of nobles.
"Don't worry girl, we'll be back soon! And we'll give you oats, because you deserve it. Not to worry, we won't be here much longer, right Rondald?" She turns her head to her husband, though she does not wait for an answer before she turns back to the mule and continues.
"Just a day more and then it's back for home."
OOC: It is 0400 on the 13th of June, 2005. Note that this is before you have gone to the gathering with the duke, and you do not yet know that you have been knighted, nor that Terri has not been recognized at all. Feel free to respond as you see fit, though I do need a bit of admin from you before we progress. What do you plan on taking with you to the Duke's palace? If I don't get any answer, I'll assume that you take only your weapons and armor. Also, if you wish to have sold anything prior to this point, give your character sheet a look over and let me know what and I'll give you a quote on all the items you want sold.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:56, Mon 20 Apr 2020.