Aldburg

The road to the Wold was supposed to be safe, it was said. At least as safe as a road could be in these dire times of looming war, of roaming orcs and wargs, wicked and corrupted men from the east, and other horrors. And there was a mission to uphold, one that could not have come at a worse time for us. 

An oath is not something to be lightly made. Not if you have any honour, any integrity. Not if you have any doubt you can keep it. And oaths once made are held most highly among our people. Aye, oaths and promises alike can rule your life, can cost your life...can take your freedom from you.

I was never one for oath making. 

 

How could I not have known? How could I have failed him? I had kept watch from a distance most evenings since he left, but the last few days I had been so tired, I had not called upon Isa. 

“I saw Duncadda earlier,” said Ethel, as she lunged forward with the loaned practice sword. “He is making some large holes in the Hall's roof!”

I twirled my ashen staff defensively in front of me, focusing on my footing and knowing well there was more fight in my legs than in the weapon. 

It was early evening. I had prepared myself to go down to the Hall and maybe have something from the kitchens. Not that I was hungry really, but I wanted to see if anyone was around. I wanted to know if there was word of the hunt Ethel had ridden on. 

I had been dreaming. It was one of those dreams where I felt warm and safe, where I had been smiling rather a lot. It was a dream about a blanket and laying as close to the edge as I could, looking outwards. It ended with me being wrapped up in the middle and unable..unwilling to escape because I was laughing so much.  

Y by Zdzisław Beksiński

A SCOP'S UNWORTHINESS

The big chestnut horse snorted a greeting Bada approached, running his hand along the arched neck of the stallion. Murmuring to it, he began to brush the steed, the repetitive motion both relaxing and gave him time to think.

What is he possibly be doing in Aldburg?  Him.  Him in Aldburg.