WOLVES A PLENTY
PART ONE
Today started out like any other we met at the Badger and had a few ales before the talk turned to adventure once again.
I then brought up the subject of the wolves that seem to be massing in the Dale. We have had to ask Captain Bracken brook to help secure the farm because of that.
Aedlhild and Foxwald both commented on the growing number. The Mad Badger Crew had recently picked up a fourth member named Scrumsax.
It was at this time Aedlhild told us about her attempts at sword training, she had gone to Aldred Cartwright but he had not taken her seriously, damn trainers only like teaching those big oaf types with no brains.
After a few more ales the spirits were high so we all decided to go down to the training grounds and see just what skill we had with a weapon. I was amazed at the skill Aedlhild showed with her sword and dagger in hand, she says she can’t do it but she sure gave a good showing of herself. Next up was Foxwald he to showed some skill with his mace and shield. Aedlhild's eye lite up when she saw him knock a bit of straw out the dummies (I did not like that too much). Scramsax was by far the best when it came to smashing that dummy, his fishing spear and shield working in unison together. Fox watched closely to the shield skill Scarmsax was using as he wanted to learn so he could try using his more effectively.
Well as for me, I think we can just jump ahead here as my plank and nail missed more times than I care to remember.
I waited till the training ground had quietened down a little before I took my lute out and showed them something Tolman had taught me, by playing certain tunes on the lute I am able to inflict pain and damage in something or someone. At first, they did not notice it as it's very subtle, I had to point out for them to watch the dummies head each time I played it would whip back and forth. Aedlhild was first to see it then she looked at me in a way she had not till then, the fear was subtle. She wanted to know if it was witchcraft that I was using, to be honest. I am not sure what it is that I am using as I am still learning but I feel it has more to do with the notes that are played and how they are played as each different way produces something different.
Scramsax had to then leave us as he had somewhere else he had to be, we said I farewell and he was off.
I then asked the other two to follow me to a more secluded part of the town as I had one final thing to show them. I put my friendship with Fox on the line, I asked him to cut himself. Both he and Aedlhild looked at me as if I was mad but I assured Fox nothing bad was going to happen, Well I wish I could have sounded more convincing as I had only tried this on myself and was not sure if it was something I could do on others (but I did not mention that to Fox).
Fox, dagger in hand drew it across the palm of his hand soon a crimson line appeared and slowly it became a gentle stream of crimson running down his hand and cascading to the ground. I put my fingers in the correct places and strummed my lute, both he and I then shrouded in a glowing green light. It was brief but I could feel the power. Fox said he started to tingle then we all looked at his hand the blood had stopped and the two sides of the cut were slowly knitting back together.
The looks of amazement made my chest puff out just a little, my this was my way of fighting.
We then decided we would go to the hunting lodge a day's walk from Archet and speak to Jon Brackenbrook. Maybe the hunters knew a reason the wolves were so plentiful all of a sudden.
If we left now we would make it just before sunset, I did not want to get caught out in the open with these wolves around. I sprang for the travel food and we all met and the town gate.
It was not long down the road when we were attacked by a wolf. Aedlhild was amazing, swinging her weapons each finding its mark. We did stop to have lunch a nice picnic, even though we had to fight a wolf everyone still seemed determined to move forward. It was late afternoon and the lodge was almost in sight when we got attacked again this time by one of those big sickle flies that hang around the lake area. Something about that did not feel right; they were not aggressive creatures at all they would normally fly away from contact, not this time it came in trying to sting up with that pointy thing on its tail. Again Aedlhild's quick action saved us as she swirled her blades around. I did manage to try out my (what I refer to as lute fighting) lute attacks but was not sure how effective they were.
Arriving at the lodge we were looked up and down by the local hunters, some laughed and even teased us as we were wearing our now adopted uniform, a hauberk, boots and cloak dyed with the now infamous colour of the Mad Badger sign, violet.
As we entered the lodge it was clear to see that the hunters had been busy. The smell of death hung in the air as we saw plenty of bear, boar and wolf carcasses, maybe we were at the right place for answers.
Jon Brackenbrook was a few years older than Foxwald and me but we knew him well as my brother had hung around with him often learning the ways of the hunter (even though my brother is useless as it).
Foxwald wasted no time at all asking Jon what they had been doing as the Dale was being overrun by wolves. Well, let’s just say Jon did not take too kindly to that line of questioning so I thought it best to play a few tunes to lighten the mood.
Aedlhild her eyes darting all over the place taking in everything stood silent.
While we stood at the fire listening to the wind picking up outside we overheard one of the hunters talking to another about the growing number of creatures entering the Archet Dale itself. From the way, he said it gave me the impression this was not a natural occurrence.
We spoke a little more to Jon about the wolves and how they attack people in broad daylight and even walking around very close to the gates of Archet. He was able to point us in a direction but I am uneasy about it as I don't feel I am personally prepared to go there but they rest think it will be okay, we can just run if things get bad.
While standing by the fireplace, Foxwald comes up with a very sobering thought, we sit in the Mad Badger drinking night after night talking about adventure but now it is upon us it has become all too real.
Are we really prepared for what is to come?
