Missing My Shadow (Open)

[Lady Smara]

Denkin was shrugging his leather vest back over his shoulders, ignoring the sweat that dripped down his scarred back. The sweat would make the leather stick to his skin and stink, but it was not something he cared about. Leaving the vest open, he also picked up the wide leather belt and wrapped it around his waist. From it hung a small pouch, a dagger sheath and a long, heavy sword. Pulling it tight and buckling it, he looked back at the opponent he had been practicing his hand to hand combat with that morning. It had been a good exercise and both were covered in sweat.

Making sure his opponent was equally satisfied, the giant of a man turned his attention to the woods around them. There was something nagging him at the back of his mind and it seemed he was finally able to lay a finger on it. The tag-along had not been around. In fact, now that he bothered to recall his so called brother’s face, he realized he had not been around for some time. The exact length escaped the large man, but it was unusual for the young boy who had been following him for over a turn now.

A frown pulling down on the large man’s lips, he was unsure if he should count the boy missing as a blessing or as a sign of trouble. He knew the boy had been working on assignments very different from his own, but they usually brought him back to the camp often enough that he would still shadow Denkin. Bloody Threadfall, I should at least ask about him… he thought to himself as he considered who would be in charge of the boy and his particular job around the camp.

[Ise]

Arvid had watched some of Denkin’s sparring after she had finished getting a tally of the camp’s supplies. She was happy to see that they were slowly improving their stash of medical herbs and salves. They were still short on a few vital things but soon she’d be able to tell Riverton that they were ready for another raid. A smaller raid on some of the cotholds and they might even have enough to launch an attack on Refuge. Or maybe go back to Haven and finish them off.

She was sure that such news would please some of their warriors, many of them were growing bored just sitting around waiting. She knew that Denkin was one of those warriors. The man was too much of a fighter to be of any use to the plans that she had been making. She needed spies and thieves, not someone who was happiest rushing head first into a battle. One eyebrow curled up slightly as she watched Denkin look around before frowning.
“Is everything alright there Denkin? I hope you weren’t injured in that little match. I’d hate for us to lose one of our best fighters when we’re so close to finally being able to move out again.”
She also wasn’t in the mood to try and play healer. Her job was important to the Holdless but it was often so boring it brought her to tears. Until someone decided not to listen to her. Then she at least had the chance to try and break some bones herself.

[Lady Smara]

Hearing a voice call out to him, Denkin turned in that direction and found himself looking at the strange woman known as Arvid. Not only had Denkin heard the stories of Arvid in her madness, speaking to plants, trees and animals, but the warrior had heard her himself a time or two. He often wondered what she meant behind such nonsense muttering. Surely she did not truly believe that the trees spoke back to her. Then again…

“I am fine, it was a good match.” He said, a soft snort escaping his nostrils as he gave the woman a good look up and down. She was thin, almost slight, but that often times translated into speed. For a moment Denkin fancied offering a sparring match to her, but her mention of injuries reminded him that she was considered a healer in their camp, not a fighter.

Studying a few of her talismans for a moment, Denkin turned and looked around the area again, half expecting to find Geoff in one of the trees watching. When no such boy turned up, Denkin frowned again. “I have lost my shadow. I cannot say that I am disappointed, in fact I have been hoping to lose the boy. I just feel like I have missed something important.”

[Ise]

Arvid gave Denkin a nod. Good, she wasn't going to have to try and pretend that she could be sympathetic with others. She ignored the look over she got, more then use to such things by now. Though she did give the man an odd look when he spoke of not being able to find his shadow. She looked down at the ground where his real shadow was before looking back at him.
"...your shadow is on the ground. Where else would it be."

She frowned a little, wondering if this was some sort of a joke. Expect the comment about the boy... she thought for a moment before remembering that Denkin had a younger brother. He was another one of those useless Holdless who just wanted to prove himself, especially since his brother was one of those ledges among the Holdless.
"Oh. You mean what'shisname. Jav? Jov? Something like that."
She waved it off as he tried to give her the correct name.

"Hm what did we do with him... oh yes. Him and some others were sent to check out Refuge Weyr. Some of them have returned, your brother and his partner have not."
The woman was clearly unconcerned about it. If the kid was dead, oh well he should have been smarter. If he had been captured, well then he'd be wishing he was dead.
"Maybe he's just lost in the forest, he wouldn't be the first one to lose his way and never make it back."

[Lady Smara]

Denkin rose an eyebrow at her mention that his shadow was on the ground. When she began stumbling over the name, however, he felt a little better – perhaps she would be able to answer his questions rather than stumbling off topic. Keep her focused and he might get somewhere. “Ge… Geoff I believe it was.” He added at her attempts only to find her waving off the name. Hearing that she partook in the plans for the boy, Denkin gave her a little more attention.

Sent to check out Refuge Weyr. Squinting his eyes, he lifted his head and looked easily over her own in the direction he knew the Weyr to be. “So it has begun.” He said, though not necessarily directly to her. His thoughts had already moved on. He had been there for the attack on Haven Weyr, and he had personally taken part in the death of a few different dragons there. Their greatest victory had been the death of that queen.

Refuge Weyr, was rumored to be helping Haven back onto its feet after the blow, and while the defenses around Haven were being strengthened, it only mean they would be needing to pull from Refuge in order to do it. It would leave Refuge a little riper for the taking.

“Does Refuge not have two queens?” he asked, putting the information of Geoff in the back of his mind. He might use the boy as an excuse to get himself a little closer. Some blood and fun could be had nearby without completely warning the whole Weyr of an oncoming attack.

[Ise]

A little grin touched Arvid’s lips. Denkin would be one of the Holdless most happy to hear that Riverton was almost ready for the next raid. The man was always a seasoned warrior, and smarter then some of the others. He would understand the need for waiting.
“Riverton is almost ready for the next raid. We just need a little more patience. But the more Refuge helps Haven recover, the weaker it becomes. I hear that even some of those cursed Dragon Shield have gone to Haven to help guard the Weyr.”

She spat on the ground after mention the Dragon Shield, a habit of hers born by superstitions. Arvid could only hope that some of those Dragon Shield people had an accident while going between the Weyrs and died a slow and painful death. She could understand a dragon rider wanting to give his life to save a dragon but she couldn’t understand why someone who would never even have the chance to Impress would want to do that.

At Denkin’s question, Arvid smirked at the man and held up a single finger.
“One. They have their older queen. They sent the other one to Haven to help them. If the raid on Refuge goes well, we probably have a turn to hit Haven again and finish off all the golds for good. And once they’re dead, who cares about the rest of the dragons. They’ll all die out on their own over time if we don’t go after them.”

[Lady Smara]

A wicked grin crossed a wicked man’s face as Denkin heard the news that the Weyr’s two queens had been separated along with Refuge’s notorious Dragonshield. While there were times he regretted that they did not let him do some of the ‘scouting’ as his own version would bring back several heads and little information, Denkin could not help but look forward to running into a few of the Dragonshield members. He had heard stories of them and their fighting prowess and he wished to match his own strength to theirs.

He had been one of the group that had brought down Haven’s Gold, and he prided himself greatly in that. It had not been the only dragon’s or rider’s blood that had tasted his blade that day. Whether out of insanity or sheer confidence, he was one of the few who had not baulked in the face of a dragon’s challenging roar. He looked forward to another such fight and he had been working with his own hand-picked warriors to grow a closer knit team for the attack. After all, while he would be crazy enough to try, it took more than one man to slay a dragon.

“I look forward to the bloodshed.” He said, with an approving look at the strange woman. “Rest assured that even with the queens gone and their death imminent, I would still hunt them – if for nothing more than the sport of it.” Giving her that wicked grin again, he offered her one of his huge, strong hands.

“Keep me updated. To the death of a Queen!”

[Ise]

Denkin was one of the people that Arvid liked slightly more then most. Yes he was sometime stubborn and more physical means had to be used to keep him down when he was injured. But the man wasn't an idiot like most. He was fearless as well, which many translated into being brave. Most of the time Arvid thought he was an idiot for some of the risks he took, but his skill with a blade had kept him alive so far. She would almost pity those he ran into during a sack of Refuge Weyr. Almost.

"Riverton is making his plans and I'm making sure we have the supplies we need. Soon we'll be able to make our move. Maybe you'll even find your shadow still alive at the Weyr."