History of Mardon Castle - 10A
Thursday, November 26, 2009 (12:32:32)

Posted by TerishD

History of Mardon Castle
Chapter Ten
Part 1

...
She moved near a sentry. He did not respond except to look at her. Terniff did not say anything, but drew her sword. It was enough to get the man to speak.

“We picked a good spot to camp, Lady Terniff. Any further, and we would have had to fight swamp serpents.”

“They are good to eat.”

The sentry chuckled, then said, “Yes, but a lot of trouble to kill. Also, a lot of meat, and we do not number that many.”

“Then I will pick a small one.”


Probably not an installment that you expected.


History of Mardon Castle
Chapter Ten
Part 1

Terniff really did not feel her best. She did not believe it to be the onset of pregnancy. While her body did feel different, she did not feel the nausea or other signs she heard other ladies mention. What she believed to be her problem was simply the change in her life now that she was married. While Terniff had no doubt that Renwyn would get her pregnant, at present the fact that he simply had her made her uncomfortable.

She could not really fault the man. He had not been the one that opened up a certain act to be a part of their relationship. Renwyn had actually been a little resistant. Terniff had the man in her tent, and while tending his tortured naked body saw a part of him that he considered ruined to react to her presence. She considered a certain act to actually be a part of his restoration. The fact that she found herself enjoying the time with the man caused her to want it more, and want him to be a constant part of her life.

A lot of things had changed with the restoration of Renwyn. What irritated her was that now he expected her to concede to a certain act. It did still bring her enjoyment, but the time and manner of the act were not longer at her control. Renwyn was not only bigger and stronger than she, but he had control in that she had accepted him as her husband. Terniff had always been able to face her brothers as an equal. Her father had included her on every lesson that he gave Zuzolt. To now simply be the wife of another irritated the lady.

She looked at her armor while remembering when it had been made for her. Her body had blossomed into that of a lady, and Zuzolt’s had finally begun to show that he was a man. Their father had wanted to take them on a slightly dangerous mission, and while their mother protested the pair had been taken to the smith to have a suit of metal prepared for them. While it took a few sessions for the armorer to test how certain pieces fit, she and Zuzolt had been so pleased when they finally were able to put on the entire outfits.

Once they had spent some time getting used to the metal skin covering their bodies, Terniff and Zuzolt were taken by their father out on a hunting expedition. It was basically the last memory he and she had of him. While the hunting trip had been successful, the next week their father had gone out on a simple patrol and died at the hand of trolls.

Their mother died barely a week later when some horrible flying monsters attacked her as she patrolled the farm plots. Wearing their armor, Zuzolt gained control over the barony of Sekurd while Terniff stood nearby feeling more important than a debutant of worth. She remembered her mother’s maid fussing at her for preferring to wear the armor instead of an elaborate dress. Making the decision to go with Tasbirn was not supported by those advising Zuzolt, but he had ruled in favor of his sister knowing that she would be happier fighting with Tasbirn than sitting around the castle and waiting for his return.

Having been present when Nalisha was married to the viscount, Terniff felt very happy she had not waited for him. She also took it upon herself to make her own decision concerning who would be the man in her life. Terniff looked at her luggage that did include dresses understanding that a time was quickly approaching when she would no longer wear her armor. It was those thoughts she clearly felt responsible for her poor feelings.

Hearing the voice of Renwyn caused Terniff to not want to be present within the tent. After a successful session of watching a squad handle and throw the net of troll hair, Tasbirn had decided to head out to attempt to capture the ghost. It was not simply his desire to get something accomplished, but the knowledge that all known sources of information claimed that Telelum should be in a nearby area at this time. The viscount had wanted Terniff with him, as she had recently seen the ghost and worked to gain some of the information claiming where and when to find the wandering spirit. Even out in the wilderness her husband expected certain pleasures, but Terniff fled the presence of their bed not at the moment wanting to provide.

She moved near a sentry. He did not respond except to look at her. Terniff did not say anything, but drew her sword. It was enough to get the man to speak.

“We picked a good spot to camp, Lady Terniff. Any further, and we would have had to fight swamp serpents.”

“They are good to eat.”

The sentry chuckled, then said, “Yes, but a lot of trouble to kill. Also, a lot of meat, and we do not number that many.”

“Then I will pick a small one.”

“What?”

Terniff did not want the man to sound any alarm, so gave him an explanation. “It was a swamp serpent that my father took Zuzolt and me out to fight just a week before he died. Fighting such a monster will bring back good memories.”

“It is dark, Lady Terniff. It is hard to tell the proper places to walk, much less see the monsters.”

She looked up, then said, “Lithian should be rising. That moon will provide enough light.”

The sentry raised his eyes to study the heavens before grumbling out his acknowledgement. “It is a clear sky. Even dark Spectros helps illuminate the land around us. It is a tough night for a sentry, as we can see all sorts of movement.” His eyes focused on the lady as he added, “I really wish that you would not.”

“Give me your crossbow.”

The man handed over the weapon. Terniff worked her mind to ignore the stare of the sentry while she studied the land around her. Swamp serpents were not snakes. They were a strange type of animal that buried their large bodies beneath the mud, then attacked those that wandered close with their head that was attached to a long neck. The flexibility of the neck made it almost impossible to harm, and the quickness of the head worked to make one feel its bite before it could be attacked in turn. The only way to truly harm the creature was to attack the body, but getting to the buried form was a risky enterprise. Terniff did not plan to excavate the body, only release some of the energy that seethed within her. She thus would not hurt the creature, so looked down the stock of the weapon for a sign of a monster that would not overly threaten her in return.

Swamp serpents did work to remain still, but their long flexible necks did not hold their positions easily. The heads also had to stay above the surface of the marsh in order to breathe and see. Ripples in the liquid ground enabled Terniff to locate the presence of bumpy skin breaking the surface. As one of the bright moons that rushed through the sky came over the horizon, Terniff released the metal bar that provided the spring action to launch the missile. She then roughly handed the weapon to the sentry as she rushed away from the camp.

Not just one head rose from the swampy ground. Terniff had chosen her path well, so only the beast she had marked as her target could actually attack. She considered that she had judged properly as the one she advanced upon did not have a head large enough to swallow her. The mouth could indeed harm her, but she had her own method of inflicting damage. She thus considered the head would provide a fair fight.

Terniff felt a need to cry as the fought the monster. More than bottled energy came from her as she fought the swamp serpent. Memories of that fight years ago with Zuzolt came with the presence of her father who yelled out instruction and encouragement. Other fights during the war where she had to face illusions of things precious to her, and kill them, came to the forefront of her mind. She fought the monster with no intention to kill it, but as her mind sorted through a number of emotions she simply fought not to allow it to kill her.

When making a turn, Terniff saw Renwyn standing nearby. She almost allowed the mouth of the monster to surround her upon seeing a swarm of men in the distance. Feeling most of the ire she had been blaming on her husband no longer present, her words to him came without any venom.

“I did not come out intending to eat swamp serpent.”

Yes, his weapon was out, but he stayed at a distance while saying, “You’re a very lovely lady, Terniff. You did not just turn the heads of the living when you rushed out, but the dead as well.”

Most of her mind stayed focused on the fight, but she did manage to translate his words. “Telelum was spotted?”

She kept her eyes on the fast moving head of the swamp serpent, but the response from Renwyn said that he looked elsewhere. “And I believe that he has been captured.”

Her body shivered and her feet slid as her sword managed a direct blow to the head of the monster. Not only did it stop the momentum of the monster’s attack, but caused it to no longer want to spar with what it had hoped to be its meal. As the head descended into the marshy ground where it hoped to recuperate, Terniff sheathed her sword and walked to her husband.

“I did not rush out to gain the attention of men, especially dead ones.”

“Might as well claim the honor, as it will probably be forced upon you.”

She moved to hug the man as she said, “I just needed to release some energy. You were wise not to join me.”

“I want it known that I did come out to you instead of racing after the ghost. Still, you did not look like you needed my help.”

“Our children will not grow up thinking that I am simply some pretty thing. Even in your land, I will go out and do things like this.”

Her rump was presently protected by metal, but she could still feel his hands there as he said, “We will have children, Terniff. You are my wife. If you think that I want you to act like Nalisha, well, you are so very wrong.”

“I just… I just am feeling different things from being around you, Renwyn. I don’t really appreciate all of it.”

“I hope that you are feeling different, Terniff.” She really did not like those words, but strangely no anger surged upon hearing them or the words that followed. “I am not going to leave you however, so you will have no choice but to get used to those feelings.”

Not knowing what else to say, her thoughts turned to what she had just finished doing. “I believe that I took the fight out of the monster. Do you want me to cook you some swamp serpent?”

He looked around, then replied, “Camp will be pretty active with everyone trying to work with the ghost. Things will be more peaceful out here. What do we need to do to get to the monster?”

“Go, get some shovels.” Seeing him break from the embrace to obey, she had to smile as she said, “Oh, and expect to get dirty.”

He turned to smile in return as he replied, “With you, I always expect to get dirty. Be back soon.”

“I will be waiting, my lord.”


Next, we check on Kaervel who is also having success.