The Adels-Part 2
The second installment of The Adels is posted.
Tales of the TawsheThe Adels-Part 2
As Adel prepared food for the stranger she was able to watch him from her window. She found him pleasant to look upon. He was at least a head taller than her. The sleeveless leather jerkin he wore was stretched tight across a broad chest, and his arms were well muscled. Adel had noticed scares on them earlier. His face was what drew her attention. In her limited experience she would consider him to be handsome; in fact he looked exactly like the hero of her fantasies, longish blond hair, beardless, square jawed, deep blue eyes, and a smile that made her knees go weak. She took a deep breath that shuddered a little bit when she inhaled. He also seemed nicer than the other three visitors from a few days ago. They had made her shudder in a different way although their leader had also been handsome, but his eyes and his smile had been cold.*** Bray saw the young girl reappear from the doorway she had entered, and make her way carefully to where he was sitting. She carried a loaf of bread tucked under one arm. In her hands she held a wooden platter containing dried fish and two mugs. Bray helped her unload the items to his stone table. She pulled her eating blade from its sheath at her waist. As she cut pieces of fish and bread Bray gathered both cups and obtained water from the well. "My name is Bray," he offered. "And my name is Adel," she responded as she handed him a pieces of fish and bread. "Adel seems to be a popular name here. Didn’t you say the missing woman was named Adel also?” "We are both named Adel because we both have the gift of —" she bit off her words. “Yes”, she finished abruptly before proceeding to eat. Bray followed her example. The food was tasty. The fish was spiced and the bread was fresh. They ate in silence until the portions she had cut were gone. Bray declined her offer for more. Food had been shared; the village had met its obligation to a visitor, custom dictated that he only eat a little no matter how hungry he was. "What gift do you and Grandmother Adel possess?" he asked when their food was finished. The expression on her face changed. Her brow wrinkled slightly. Her eye lids dropped minutely. A normal observer might not have noticed the change. *** Adel was torn. She wanted to answer him. He seemed very nice, and she trusted him, but she had been warned about telling strangers about this. Still, she told herself, she had to be sociable to a guest. Custom told her so, and anyway, she knew this young man was trustworthy. She could feel it. "We are both known to the little people," she admitted a little reluctantly as if expecting him to draw away, or meet her statement with laughter. "The little people you say. How interesting. What types of little people exist around here?" Looking relieved, Adel, instead of answering his question asked one of her own. "How many different kinds are there?" "There are quite a few actually. I was taught that they are all different types of faeries. We have Hobs and Brownies where I grew up. I once saw Nymphs on Maidensland Island, and I have been told that there are Water Sprites in the delta of the Lazy River around Marshtown, but I've never seen them. I have also never seen Far Darrig, Clurichauns or Leprechauns, but I am sure they all exist, and probably many more that I have never heard of. So, what kind do you have around here?" "I believe they are Leprechauns, or at least I heard someone call them that once. Our villagers refer to them as little people. I have only seen them thrice." "What did they look like?" "Helooked like an old man with a long beard. At first that is what I thought he was, but then I realized he was much closer than I thought, and therefore was much smaller also. He was about the size of my brother who was eight cycles old at the time. He was dressed in green pants and shirt, a red coat, and a red cap. Does that sound like a Leprechaun to you?" "It sounds like either a Leprechaun or a Far Darrig, but it is hard to tell because of the colour of the clothing. Leprechauns usually dress in green while Far Darrigs always wear red coats and caps. You will have to ask the next time you meet one." "I don't want to —" Adel started to say before she was interrupted by the arrival of two men. "Hello, is there something we can do for you, stranger?" Bray had been watching the men approach. The man leading was large with a barrel chest, thick neck, and substantial arms. He sported a large bristly beard on a weathered face. The second man was smaller and older, but he also looked well acquainted with hard work and sunshine. Bray stood when the larger man spoke. "I certainly hope so, sir. My boat's rudder snapped on me two days ago during a storm. I was hoping I could find a replacement here." "I thought it might be something like that, so I brought our wood smith with me." He indicated the second, older, smaller man. This is Tad. My name is Burton. I am the village leader." Bray introduced himself and shook hands. Both men's hands were strong with sure grips although Tad's were bent slightly when he relaxed them. Bray wondered if it was the results of shaping the wood or age. 'Why don't we take a look at your boat, and see if we can help." When Bray made to pick up his packs, Adel spoke up. "I can watch that for you," she offered. Bray handed her his backpack, but kept his other package with him. This action wasn't missed by Burton or Tad. "Thank you, Adel. I appreciate it," Bray said and then followed the two men towards the wharf. As they walked Burton nodded at Bray's weapons in their sealskin wrapping, "Fighting man I take it." "I have fought, but I’m not a soldier if that is what you mean. I'm just a wanderer." "How do you make a living?" Tad asked. "Doing any work I can find. I’m happy to trade labour for food, lodgings, or whatever else I need." They arrived at Bray's boat. Tad stepped down into it warily. Bray didn't blame him. The boat was old and worn. There was water in the bottom. He had traded five days of wood chopping for it because he had been tired of walking. It had started leaking the second day out, not enough to make him worry, or at least not worry a lot. It didn't take Tad long to make an evaluation. "This boat will need re-chalking as well," he stated. "I can fix you a new rudder. I have the necessary wood. How will you be paying?" "I was hoping there was some work you might need help with," Bray answered. Burton took over the bartering as they walked back towards the well. "If you are any good with those weapons there is something you might be able to do for us. An old woman who is very important to our village has disappeared. There were three men here for the last two days, but they were also gone this morning. We think they have taken her." "Why do you think they took her, as opposed to her having wandered off?" "Grandmother Adel would not wander off. She is old, but she has all her faculties. There was also a suggestion of something not right in her home; nothing was broken, there wasn't a mess or anything, but her walking stick was still in the house, and she wouldn't go anywhere without it. Also, the only exit from the village is through the cave that leads to the top of the cliff. It is too difficult a climb for her these days." "Why would three men take an old woman away from her home? That is what I’m having trouble understanding." When Burton didn't answer Bray tried a different question. "Young Adel told me that she and Grandmother Adel shared a gift. Does that have something to do with your theory?" "Negotiating with the little people is the gift that the Adels share, Burton admitted reluctantly. Young Adel has been warned about idle talk on this subject, but she cannot seem to understand that all people are not to be trusted. She mentioned it to a stranger who stopped here a few moons ago, and then these latest visitors seemed to already know it. They were asking questions about Leprechaun gold almost right from the start. I am surprised Adel mentioned it to you. I scolded her last time, and some other people have already blamed her vehemently for Grandmother's disappearance. "We need someone to go after the men and get Grandmother back. We can send two men with you, but this is a fishing village. Those men were armed while we have only a few men who can handle a sword and a few bows for hunting when —"
Burton was interrupted by what sounded like a vicious animal fight coming from the top of the cliffs above the village. Brays mind catalogued the sound as canine, dog maybe, or wolf, but whatever it was, it was angry.
Tales of the TawsheThe Adels-Part 2
As Adel prepared food for the stranger she was able to watch him from her window. She found him pleasant to look upon. He was at least a head taller than her. The sleeveless leather jerkin he wore was stretched tight across a broad chest, and his arms were well muscled. Adel had noticed scares on them earlier. His face was what drew her attention. In her limited experience she would consider him to be handsome; in fact he looked exactly like the hero of her fantasies, longish blond hair, beardless, square jawed, deep blue eyes, and a smile that made her knees go weak. She took a deep breath that shuddered a little bit when she inhaled. He also seemed nicer than the other three visitors from a few days ago. They had made her shudder in a different way although their leader had also been handsome, but his eyes and his smile had been cold.*** Bray saw the young girl reappear from the doorway she had entered, and make her way carefully to where he was sitting. She carried a loaf of bread tucked under one arm. In her hands she held a wooden platter containing dried fish and two mugs. Bray helped her unload the items to his stone table. She pulled her eating blade from its sheath at her waist. As she cut pieces of fish and bread Bray gathered both cups and obtained water from the well. "My name is Bray," he offered. "And my name is Adel," she responded as she handed him a pieces of fish and bread. "Adel seems to be a popular name here. Didn’t you say the missing woman was named Adel also?” "We are both named Adel because we both have the gift of —" she bit off her words. “Yes”, she finished abruptly before proceeding to eat. Bray followed her example. The food was tasty. The fish was spiced and the bread was fresh. They ate in silence until the portions she had cut were gone. Bray declined her offer for more. Food had been shared; the village had met its obligation to a visitor, custom dictated that he only eat a little no matter how hungry he was. "What gift do you and Grandmother Adel possess?" he asked when their food was finished. The expression on her face changed. Her brow wrinkled slightly. Her eye lids dropped minutely. A normal observer might not have noticed the change. *** Adel was torn. She wanted to answer him. He seemed very nice, and she trusted him, but she had been warned about telling strangers about this. Still, she told herself, she had to be sociable to a guest. Custom told her so, and anyway, she knew this young man was trustworthy. She could feel it. "We are both known to the little people," she admitted a little reluctantly as if expecting him to draw away, or meet her statement with laughter. "The little people you say. How interesting. What types of little people exist around here?" Looking relieved, Adel, instead of answering his question asked one of her own. "How many different kinds are there?" "There are quite a few actually. I was taught that they are all different types of faeries. We have Hobs and Brownies where I grew up. I once saw Nymphs on Maidensland Island, and I have been told that there are Water Sprites in the delta of the Lazy River around Marshtown, but I've never seen them. I have also never seen Far Darrig, Clurichauns or Leprechauns, but I am sure they all exist, and probably many more that I have never heard of. So, what kind do you have around here?" "I believe they are Leprechauns, or at least I heard someone call them that once. Our villagers refer to them as little people. I have only seen them thrice." "What did they look like?" "Helooked like an old man with a long beard. At first that is what I thought he was, but then I realized he was much closer than I thought, and therefore was much smaller also. He was about the size of my brother who was eight cycles old at the time. He was dressed in green pants and shirt, a red coat, and a red cap. Does that sound like a Leprechaun to you?" "It sounds like either a Leprechaun or a Far Darrig, but it is hard to tell because of the colour of the clothing. Leprechauns usually dress in green while Far Darrigs always wear red coats and caps. You will have to ask the next time you meet one." "I don't want to —" Adel started to say before she was interrupted by the arrival of two men. "Hello, is there something we can do for you, stranger?" Bray had been watching the men approach. The man leading was large with a barrel chest, thick neck, and substantial arms. He sported a large bristly beard on a weathered face. The second man was smaller and older, but he also looked well acquainted with hard work and sunshine. Bray stood when the larger man spoke. "I certainly hope so, sir. My boat's rudder snapped on me two days ago during a storm. I was hoping I could find a replacement here." "I thought it might be something like that, so I brought our wood smith with me." He indicated the second, older, smaller man. This is Tad. My name is Burton. I am the village leader." Bray introduced himself and shook hands. Both men's hands were strong with sure grips although Tad's were bent slightly when he relaxed them. Bray wondered if it was the results of shaping the wood or age. 'Why don't we take a look at your boat, and see if we can help." When Bray made to pick up his packs, Adel spoke up. "I can watch that for you," she offered. Bray handed her his backpack, but kept his other package with him. This action wasn't missed by Burton or Tad. "Thank you, Adel. I appreciate it," Bray said and then followed the two men towards the wharf. As they walked Burton nodded at Bray's weapons in their sealskin wrapping, "Fighting man I take it." "I have fought, but I’m not a soldier if that is what you mean. I'm just a wanderer." "How do you make a living?" Tad asked. "Doing any work I can find. I’m happy to trade labour for food, lodgings, or whatever else I need." They arrived at Bray's boat. Tad stepped down into it warily. Bray didn't blame him. The boat was old and worn. There was water in the bottom. He had traded five days of wood chopping for it because he had been tired of walking. It had started leaking the second day out, not enough to make him worry, or at least not worry a lot. It didn't take Tad long to make an evaluation. "This boat will need re-chalking as well," he stated. "I can fix you a new rudder. I have the necessary wood. How will you be paying?" "I was hoping there was some work you might need help with," Bray answered. Burton took over the bartering as they walked back towards the well. "If you are any good with those weapons there is something you might be able to do for us. An old woman who is very important to our village has disappeared. There were three men here for the last two days, but they were also gone this morning. We think they have taken her." "Why do you think they took her, as opposed to her having wandered off?" "Grandmother Adel would not wander off. She is old, but she has all her faculties. There was also a suggestion of something not right in her home; nothing was broken, there wasn't a mess or anything, but her walking stick was still in the house, and she wouldn't go anywhere without it. Also, the only exit from the village is through the cave that leads to the top of the cliff. It is too difficult a climb for her these days." "Why would three men take an old woman away from her home? That is what I’m having trouble understanding." When Burton didn't answer Bray tried a different question. "Young Adel told me that she and Grandmother Adel shared a gift. Does that have something to do with your theory?" "Negotiating with the little people is the gift that the Adels share, Burton admitted reluctantly. Young Adel has been warned about idle talk on this subject, but she cannot seem to understand that all people are not to be trusted. She mentioned it to a stranger who stopped here a few moons ago, and then these latest visitors seemed to already know it. They were asking questions about Leprechaun gold almost right from the start. I am surprised Adel mentioned it to you. I scolded her last time, and some other people have already blamed her vehemently for Grandmother's disappearance. "We need someone to go after the men and get Grandmother back. We can send two men with you, but this is a fishing village. Those men were armed while we have only a few men who can handle a sword and a few bows for hunting when —"
Burton was interrupted by what sounded like a vicious animal fight coming from the top of the cliffs above the village. Brays mind catalogued the sound as canine, dog maybe, or wolf, but whatever it was, it was angry.
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