SaD: Apparently Not
May. 2nd, 2011 12:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
avevale_intelligencerThe sun was setting over the marshes as the lead rider reined in her steed. A little way off, a raven called hoarsely from a single alder tree.
A low murmur from behind her. The men were discontented, the horses probably even more so. They had been riding for several hours, and the grazing in this rank, boggy land was poor. It had been time to turn back long ago.
"A problem, captain?" Gove's manner was all obsequiousness, but his voice held an edge she knew only too well. Her appointment, so recent, so unprecedented, had disappointed him. Surely he must know, she thought, that he was not officer material; too stolid, too slow and above all too cruel. But then, was she?
"I--" The raven croaked again, cutting off her thought. She started again. "It seems the trail is cold. We will return to the city and mount a better-equipped pursuit in the morning."
More murmuring. She caught the words "...over the border by then..." and turned sharply in the saddle to fix the man who had spoken with a cold stare.
"In that case," she said, "I am sure the Proarch will be communicating with his royal brother in the West, who will doubtless be inclined to assist us in the apprehension of this thief...or be suspected of complicity. Now, let us by all means go home. I will see to it that you are rewarded for your efforts."
"Our reward is service," Gove pointed out sanctimoniously, "to the Proarch and to your good self, captain."
"Of course," she agreed, managing a thin smile, "but an extra barrel or two of old ale does no harm." This raised a ragged cheer from the men, and Gove looked disgusted. You may pout, she thought, but you'll take your turn at the bung with the rest, that I'm sure of. "Five minutes to empty your bladders."
With some eagerness, the men dismounted, their worn boots sinking into the soft ground, hands already fumbling at groins. Nobody watched as she made her way towards the tree; she had taken pains to establish her need for privacy at these times, to the satisfaction even of Gove. The raven eyed her beadily as she circled round behind the trunk.
She reached into her jerkin and pulled out a cloth-wrapped bundle tied with string, holding it up at shoulder height, casting a glance back at the men, now surrounded in a cloud of steam. "Take it," she hissed. "Quickly."
The raven stretched down and took the string in its beak.
"And next time tell him I want definite arrangements made for pickup," she snapped. "This was a complete shambles. I do have professional standards, you know."
The raven wisely chose not to reply. It took to the air and flapped off, heading into the sun, which was now almost on the horizon and red as an apple.
With a sigh of regret for her own bursting bladder, she refastened her jerkin and strolled casually back to the men. The ride home would be torture, but the payment would be worth it.
Now it was just a question of finding a safe way to quit her job.
A low murmur from behind her. The men were discontented, the horses probably even more so. They had been riding for several hours, and the grazing in this rank, boggy land was poor. It had been time to turn back long ago.
"A problem, captain?" Gove's manner was all obsequiousness, but his voice held an edge she knew only too well. Her appointment, so recent, so unprecedented, had disappointed him. Surely he must know, she thought, that he was not officer material; too stolid, too slow and above all too cruel. But then, was she?
"I--" The raven croaked again, cutting off her thought. She started again. "It seems the trail is cold. We will return to the city and mount a better-equipped pursuit in the morning."
More murmuring. She caught the words "...over the border by then..." and turned sharply in the saddle to fix the man who had spoken with a cold stare.
"In that case," she said, "I am sure the Proarch will be communicating with his royal brother in the West, who will doubtless be inclined to assist us in the apprehension of this thief...or be suspected of complicity. Now, let us by all means go home. I will see to it that you are rewarded for your efforts."
"Our reward is service," Gove pointed out sanctimoniously, "to the Proarch and to your good self, captain."
"Of course," she agreed, managing a thin smile, "but an extra barrel or two of old ale does no harm." This raised a ragged cheer from the men, and Gove looked disgusted. You may pout, she thought, but you'll take your turn at the bung with the rest, that I'm sure of. "Five minutes to empty your bladders."
With some eagerness, the men dismounted, their worn boots sinking into the soft ground, hands already fumbling at groins. Nobody watched as she made her way towards the tree; she had taken pains to establish her need for privacy at these times, to the satisfaction even of Gove. The raven eyed her beadily as she circled round behind the trunk.
She reached into her jerkin and pulled out a cloth-wrapped bundle tied with string, holding it up at shoulder height, casting a glance back at the men, now surrounded in a cloud of steam. "Take it," she hissed. "Quickly."
The raven stretched down and took the string in its beak.
"And next time tell him I want definite arrangements made for pickup," she snapped. "This was a complete shambles. I do have professional standards, you know."
The raven wisely chose not to reply. It took to the air and flapped off, heading into the sun, which was now almost on the horizon and red as an apple.
With a sigh of regret for her own bursting bladder, she refastened her jerkin and strolled casually back to the men. The ride home would be torture, but the payment would be worth it.
Now it was just a question of finding a safe way to quit her job.
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no subject
Date: 2011-05-02 02:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-05-02 08:04 pm (UTC)I'll add it to the list... :)
no subject
Date: 2011-05-04 01:50 pm (UTC)Though I don't she why she didn't pee herself. The exchange with the raven only takes about 10 seconds, and her discomfort on the way home might tip somebody off that she didn't go when she had the chance (and therefore was possibly doing something else).
Or is the raven someone within who's sight she wouldn't be caught dead peeing (as it were)?