Régnwald peered through the red dusk. Heavy-shod hooves left great marks in the ground as the armoured beast carried it's burden toward the foot of the cliffs; albeit 'twas not the renowned horse of the warrior, but a destrier that belonged to one of his fallen kin. His eyes wandered soundlessly whilst the horse pawed at the ground impatiently. Soon his eyes landed upon the elderly man, Inrweald, bowing at a slight.
Inrweald coughed heavily as his gaze wandered over to Régnwald. He bowed his head deep out of respect before clenching his chest with his free hand as he started coughing again.
Régnwald's lips pursed behind the thick, straw coloured beard. ''Westhu hãl, Inrweald, master healer. I trust there was no issue leaving Limlight?'' A voice, laced with the fatigue of recent days, green eyes of the warrior glowing in somewhat akin to concern.
Inrweald hit his chest several times to force his cough to stop for a few moments as he raised his head. "Hail Régnwald. Not more than normal, but I did loose my self on a small hunt for herbs..."
Régnwald nodded once, quickly removed the plumed-helm over his head, a sharp intake of breath heralded either surprise or resignation on the warrior's part. ''Yeah?'' a light brow was lifted, he traveled his gaze around the faces, struggling to ready themselves for the next ride.
Inrweald said, ''Aye, I have found a few herbs I can use to ease pain in open wounds. I also found some that I can make into a brew to strengthen the body." he coughed.
Régnwald now looked from face to face, a small smile flickering brief as a falling star before it was gone. He nodded once more with what sounded like a grunt. ''Aye, that's good enough, thancie.'' it was spoken in a soft tone this time, before his gaze swung over towards the shieldmaiden, straightening astride his horse as he did so.
Inrweald said, ''I take it we have enough wounded that I need to care for?''
Cynebur stood leaned on the small fence, taking the watch toward north. She hailed Régnwald briefly, bearing tired squint in her eyes. She shifted her weight.
Régnwald dismounted, his feet finally finding the ground and once hoisted into bridles, he headed for the place where the horses were kept, sparing the bow of his head to Cynebur before he turned to Inrweald ''I wouldn't say enough,'' he paused, ''I just hope that the hearts of those who travel with us may be on the mend, soon enough.'' head cocked to the side, sniffing the air keenly.
Inrweald spoke, ''The pains of the body I can deal with but the heart is beyond my reach...''
Cynebur gave a tired look to peculiar man, but said nothing.
Régnwald would let a rueful, ghostly smile cross his lips, gaze casted to the ground ''Though your skills will be much needed anyhow, Inrweald.'' the warrior held the elderly man's gaze ''Well, we're yet to find what awaits us further on our path.'' he breathed, glancing over towards Cynebur once again, he pursed his lips before saying: ''At first, I had it in mind to continue probing into the Eorlsmead, harassing the Easterlings and dissidents that we find; but nay, 'tis no éored...''
Inrweald said, ''Well I will need some aid in the boiling of water, I have to see to our most greviously injured."'
Cynebur looked at her side as crossing her arms on her chest. A loafty bow was on her back and quiver, peculiar for her, but dire times have no means on picky weaponry. She looked down at first then up again, giving a thought. "Ja, that is what we all wish, but we should listen reason."
''Worry not, old man, the wounded were already attended and healed before we left the cave.'' a stout voice answered.
Inrweald said, '"That may be so but moving a wounded might end up with more harm then good."'
''Deorc is still in in great pain, barely can walk, and other one also.'' spoke Cynebur.
Régnwald stared a beat at Inrweald, speaking naught this time either because he saw his reason or turned his focus on Cynebur ''Deorcred?'' he repeated the Eorling's full name, eyes slightly widened.
Cynebur said, 'You... didn't know?'
''I didn't see him in all this crowd, nay. But 'tis good to know he's alive.''
Cynebur slowly blinked barely keeping her eyes opened after two days without sleep. "He was wounded as he rode back to Stangard, he was the one that warned Tower and us. But he was mind gone for few days in cave, nearly lost his arm."
The Horselord gazed at Cynebur, eyes narrowed with the fatigue of recent days, he took a step back. ''I only can hope for Foldewyn to see him ...yeah.'' he drew in a deep, bitter sigh, adding no more the words of his own to the conversation going between the pair.
Inrweald said, '"Good, now I need to look at them. I shall need a good bit of boiled water.''
Régnwald nodded several times before resting an arm on his sword's hilt, straightening some more. ''Alright.'' he merely said.
Inrweald with the aid of his staff walked towards the sheltered area where the wounded would lay, coughing.
Cynebur said, ''He asked me that same questions already three times... today.''
Régnwald made a faint smirk before it faded, staring into forest ''Your age? Well, he isn't the only one, is he?'' he mumbled lowly.
Cynebur tried to smirk, but it appeared as tired grimace. "I am not that - old."
Régnwald sucked in a breath, turned to check the horses out of their saddles, briefly counting them with the edge of his gaze before he returned his focus to shield-maiden ''I know,'' he gave a thin smile, now changing the subject ''I lost Gramlic, you might have noted... And I suppose 'tis not just my fate, eh?'' hazel-green eyes glowed faintly, warrior firmed his jaw at the question.
Cynebur would slide her shoulder off the fence, and leaned her back on it, turning now toward Régnwald with compassion in her eyes "I did notice, he was a true hearted companion and friend of yours. A biter of things."
She said, ''I know not of the fate of Thunor the Wild. Both fates i could imagine are .. painful.''
The Horselord looked firm, bowed his head with a solemn air about him ''I performed my final service to Gramlic, the releasing.'' an ancient tradition of a bond releasing for the Eorlingas, he eyed her for the briefest of the moments, taking she already knew it well.
Cynebur said, ''Then he will ride with Béma's herd on ever green plains.''
Regnwald would give no long reaction, swayed his head to the side with a twisted mouth ''Yeah.'' he agreed, watching and listening the sounds of the dark night.
''Albeit you can still cut the bond, have your last service for him.''
He motioned his head to maiden's arm, now gazing more to find the rider's armwrist he guessed she was bearing.
''Did you?''
Cynebur felt the armband with horse hair of all her steeds she had bonded. "I.. cant make myself to do it, Torsne, Ubbe, Rend, Symbel the pale white and my first Wyot, named a sword by his name." She shook head and pulled glove up again.
Régnwald watched her for a beat, in silence and eyed Cynebur, mayhap his eyes were telling things that the Horselord would prefer not to bespake. ''I'm counting days. For the day of our vengeance.'' now his eyes served to harden features ''Best it shall be soon.'' his last words were no more than a quiet growl.
Régnwald cleared his throat then, leaving the former grim air he had embraced ''Well then, now 'tis settled. We'll leave with first light.''
Cynebur looked toward south as he spoke words "My home is open of all, but i dont know how openhanded host will be Thane. We both know that in Reeve we cant put trust. She then returned the knowing glance to Régnwald.
''Beyond that, I fear of the winter for these people.''
The captain brooded at this for a few moments as her words sunk in, he finally mused lowly ''He will understand...'' under his gold coloured beard and eyed her briefly ''We'll have reached the open fields of Eastemnet before the beginning of winter.''
Cynebur said, ''Where will we...find place for them?'
Cynebur took air loudly breathing in and out the cold air of High knolls, so she would wake up and shake off the sleep.
Régnwald stole a glance in half-concern, casting his eyes down as he seemed to gather his thoughts ''I don't know..'' he answered with a weary air ''In truth, I wish them to find the place that is nearest to their hearts. My thoughts have been lingering far from Stangard of late, Cynebur.''
''So, when we take refugee in burghs on our way, if our name offers standing, some would decide to remain there.'' - ''What say you?''
Cynebur stared at his profile, thoughtfully. Scieldmagden bore weatherworn freckles and wrinkles around her eyes that grew only deeper as hardships came. She licks her dry lips, burning from the air. It was clear she was in deep thought as softly she scratched her chin "We may be called cowards for not letting all die without fleeing as many would. You may be named coward or what not now knowing a little of what was brewing in the minds of Aldor and others. Who will welcome almost fourty hungry mouths? Most of them cant offer a boy to be a rider, many of them are wee children, mothers or elders. But we will do anything to offer them a leverage."
Randric emerged from his tent with a stretch. He spotted two fellow warriors and walked over. "My lord. My lady."
Cynebur smiled tiredly to Randric. "It's Cynebur."
Wind now stirred the straw coloured hair that fell to his shoulders, brushed free of tangles for the first time in many days. The dogged fatigue that clung to his eyes, now served to harden features. ''We fought until last breath Cynebur, as we learnt from Eorl, from Helm.'' He looked between the pair, voice dripping with the challenge, spared a bow of his head to Eorling.
Randric smiles his customary smile, though it bore a certain weariness to it. "Lady Cynebur."
Régnwald continued, ''And we're not so fool, nor so disrespectful as to expect help in these troubled times with nothing in return.'' he took pause, turning towards Randric ''G'night, Randric, eh? How goes it?'' he stood tall, swinging his gaze between the pair slowly.
Cynebur shook head "Eorl's spear, it's Cynebur."
Randric blinked as if not quite getting that she did not wish to be called lady. A simple farm boy's ignorance. "My lord. I will be better when at last I sit once more in a saddle and swing a sword of vengeance."
Régnwald smiled faintly, heavy-eyed ''It isn't King's hall, friend. We're all brothers and sisters here, so speak free.'' he straightened, taking that moment to remove his gauntlets of plate with leather patches on it.
Cynebur smirked toward rider then retracted her gaze back to Régnwald "Régnwald, should be wise I ride out forward to make a word with Thane? it is..three days of ride, and five-six on foot.
Cynebur smiled teasingly to Randric, giving him a tired without any flare wink. "He is a well mannered lad."
Randric blushed a little and mumbled a thank you.
Régnwald seemed busy, holding both his gauntlets at his side, listening Randric and soon a crook smirk cracked in his visage, which has been hardened of late. ''Then it will be soon, worry not.'' He would let a thin, almost ghost of a smile cross his lips before he returned his attention to Cynebur, regaining the solemn air as he answered ''I'm thinking it's better if we all go. We scouted the half of the path, but there're still miles to Thane's burgh, so nay.'' head cocked to the side now, uttering a sigh.
''We can't risk anyone. We've lost so much already.''
Cynebur firmly smiled "Of course."
Randric stole a glance at Cynebur before nodding to Régnwald's order.
Regnwald gave a light tilt of his head, saying naught. After a moment, his gaze swung to Randric, eyeing him a beat ''Tell the others that we'll leave at first light.'' it was spoken lowly; albeit clear enough to be taken as an order. From nowhere it seemed, a waterskin was in his hand, raised to his lips. Drinking deeply, he extended his arm, offering it if any of them would take.
Cynebur would shrug and take the waterskin, though her belly was already too full of watery meals made to sooth hungry without firmness "More water."
Randric defered to Cynebur. Waiting for her to go first.
Cynebur would offer to Rand "Still better then that fish soup from cave."
Regnwald gave a faint, crooked-smirk ''I take what comes'' he paused ''Well, you should try it someday, ye might get a taste for it.''
Randric smiled and took a sip himself.
Régnwald narrowed his eyes, silently casted his eyes toward Randric's feet without knowing, yet from his face, it could be read he wouldn't argue with the shieldmaiden's statement.
Randric smiled and stared off wistfully at the stars.
Cynebur said, 'Randric, keep the north side secure, i need to rest if we go at dawn.'' rubbing her eyes, now weary all of sudden again. "Pleaase." she added with tired smile.
A sharp intake of breath heralded the resignation on Régnwald's part, advancing a step, he turned to look between the pair, his eyes growing heavy ''Friends, I'll try to rest for a few hours before we depart. Have a good night.'' as his words sunk in, he edged himself from the pair, striding to his tent with his usual long steps.
Randric's gaze shifted to her, losing none of its spellbound nature. "Of course. My L-" He stopped himself. "Cynebur.''
Cynebur smirked and shook head. "Almost!"
Randric smiled at her. "Get some rest. I will take the watch."
Cynebur pushed herself off the fence and walked with long heavy steps toward the corner behind stables, she unrolls the heavy dirty blanket and pulls it tightly around herself and lies down on grassy patch with her simple bag under her head. She didn't take off the belt with her sword and shield was leaned behind on stable with bow and quiver.
