Glade 5, 4508¤
“Yes, I’m Adela’s medicine woman.”
Grulna confessed.
“I don’t usually go out of my way to introduce myself as one, but now that you have done such a huge service to me and the community by opening the trade route to Aud it’s time you get to know who I truly am. Consider my services today on the house. You would have ended up severely infected had I not patched you up. In a few days time you’ll be no worse for wear than when we met at the bath house.”
She suddenly became self conscious adding,
“I’m not a necrodoctor but this is the best I can do. I’ve helped everyone in the town at some point or another…”
Grulna bit her lip, lost then in thought as she tended again to his wound. She began dabbing a sore spot and Podvrak groaned, but began sitting up and batting her hand away.
“What’s wrong?”
She asked.
“I don’t understand what happened, I must have had a killer hangover.”
Podvrak replied. He wasn’t sure what went wrong on the way to the village and felt like something was out of place. Grulna’s eyes were darker then, but the shadow quickly passed and the bright twinkle in her eye returned. She said,
“Yes Esquire Mirth is well known for his ambrosia wine, he brews it himself.”
Time went on with the two chatting about everything and anything, their childhoods, their homelife, their fears even. It felt bitter sweet to Podvrak to be able to be in her company like they promised, but under such unsavory circumstances as her tending to a gash in his ribs. Still, it was everything he could do to not let his mind wander to more intimate places as it would be nearly impossible to hide the tell tale sign in his trousers that would show her what he really thought about her. Instead he poured himself into deeply listening to her, watching her facial expressions and the way her teeth were so large and white when she smiled. Evidently she was not only the medicine woman but ran a farm that was one of the main providers of dairy and herbs in the small county area that Mirth controlled. It was really very impressive to him. He told her about the Men of Majesty and spoke to her about what Mugrock had told him before he came into town.
“I’m not sure what to say. As a Rathor I never imagined putting down roots. That said, I can’t help but think it’s not for very many years and my life is long. It might be nice to start a life here and branch out in Radenor.”
Grulna got quiet then and he wondered if he spoke out of turn. Finally she lifted her eyes to him and said,
“If what you seek is truly home, you can find that anywhere. But, I guess,”
She touched his shoulder gently and looked into his eyes, he searched there for what she would say next as his heart soared,
“It would be nice to see more of you. I enjoyed our talk. I need to go tend to other matters but you should be okay here, your things are in a chest at the door. If you feel well enough to leave I won’t deny you that.”
He stayed for a while catching his breath, thinking about everything that was said, and basking in the healing perfume she had created for him. Eventually he left, forgetting at first he was not headed to the tavern, but instead the castle on the hill. Once he arrived there Podvrak found Mugrock and gave him his decision. Podvrak told him,
“I will stay here and build this with you. But I want a higher ranking than others when it’s said and done. We are best friends, I wish to be respected if not as your equal than of highest regard, a right hand man or advisor if you will.”
Mugrock was silent for not long, before replying,
"I would want nothing more from you, Brother! We are equals and always have been, but if you seek stature I will talk to Mirth and give that to you.”
Podvrak was very pleased and smiled, showing his rows of bovine teeth. It was a good day, even despite being so sick earlier. He thought maybe it would be a nice time to wind down and headed back to his bunk quarters.
He got lost but eventually found his way to the kitchen, where he took an apple and began slicing it up to eat. That was until he heard voices, sending him jumping out of his skin and hiding in the pantry closet praying to Muid they didn’t need anything from the store area. It was the perfect unwitting time to eavesdrop, where he heard a strange snippet of a conversation.
“Boys sure do like their wine!”
They were gathering casks and adding them to a cart, he seemed to be in the clear for now.
“I’m sure they do. I hear his secret ingredient is what gets everyone hooked.”
The other snickered,
“I’m sure it is, Brother.”
Podvrak’s ear twitched at this word, thinking for a second they were Men of Majesty and almost left the pantry, but hesitated, and they were done and getting ready to leave. Once they had left he came out, gathered his apples, and made haste to make it back to his bed.
When he made it back to his bunk he only had time bare enough to eat the apples before Mugrock came and gathered him again.
“Esquire Mirth would like to see us to coronate our absorption into his ranks. He’s given us all this to wear.”
He handed a huge red robe with a silk tie to Podvrak, who put it on, and found it fit him perfectly.
“Hood up, let’s go.”
He followed Mugrock to the chamber which was lit with many fires, candles, and torches. Despite it now being late at night the room was missing its ceiling and the light from the chamber illuminated the trees above, making dark shapes play above them in the smoke and firelight. The room was completely made of stone, floors and walls, with windows and door frames made of stone as well open to the outside, he could see a row of Mirth’s men standing guard the whole way around, blocking them from leaving and blocking the view of the window.
Every Man was in here waiting in a robe for Mirth to speak, who was perched at the top of a large stone throne looking down on them all. That was when the men surrounding them started chanting and bashing their shields, getting louder and louder, until Mirth cut them off.
“Welcome, Men of Majesty, to my ranks. It was an honorable decision you made to protect this town and surrounding villages. Tonight and for the next seven days we will celebrate here in my halls. I want to get to know you and see what you’re worth as Men! Although you have already proven much to me, I want to get to know you all on a more intimate level and gauge you as individuals. For the next seven days you may have free run of my wine and castle itself, any damages will be paid for by me and taken care of without a worry. Should anyone leave the castle for the next seven days I will have you shot on sight and taken to the prison below, considering you a defector. This is your first task as my Men. Have fun, will you?”
