Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #75: A Private Wager (12/8/98)
Wise Snake leads Freelance out of the stable, saddled and bridled. It's 3am and nobody else is around.
Wise Snake is planning on riding into town to do a bit of "home visiting".
Wise Snake pauses in the yard in front of the stables, looking up at the stars.
Wise Snake toys with the idea of waking up Nick and getting out of Naros tonight...
Nick catches up with Snake, still tying the scarf around his neck.
Wise Snake: Oh, Nick.
Wise Snake: ~surprised~
Wise Snake looks sheepish.
Nick: You know, you really ought to give me a little warning next time.
Wise Snake: I was just, er,
Nick: I know.
Nick: I don't suppose you saddled Pumpkin while you were at it?
Wise Snake: No, I thought you were asleep.
Nick: Well, I was.
Wise Snake picked this time precisely because Nick was asleep, actually, as she had done many other nights.
Nick: Never mind; at least he's in the stable, not running around outside.
Wise Snake debates telling Nick to go back to bed.
Nick: Hold on a few minutes, while I get him ready.
Wise Snake sighs, sending steam spinning into the night air.
Wise Snake: Oh, all right.
Nick grins at Snake, then goes to fetch his horse.
Wise Snake pets Freelance's nose, then pulls his head down and whispers in his ear, "Nick doesn't know it's tonight. You don't either!"
Wise Snake didn't either, until just now.
Freelance snorts and stamps, wishing he were in the warm stable with the rest of his friends.
Nick leads Pumpkin from the stable.
Wise Snake: You say that now, but once we're... [silences as Nick returns]
Nick checks to see that Snake brought the medicine satchel.
Nick blows on his gloved fingers.
Nick: Hmm, it's chilly tonight.
Wise Snake sees that Nick is ready and starts walking toward the gate.
Wise Snake: Ummh.
Nick leads Pumpkin after Freelance.
Wise Snake waits while the gate is opened for them.
Wise Snake idly examines Nick to make sure he's wearing warm enough clothing for a long ride.
Wise Snake: Do you have mittens with you?
Nick pats his coat pockets.
Nick: Yes.
Wise Snake: Good.
Wise Snake mounts up once outside the gates.
Wise Snake waves to the fellow who opened it, thinking there'll be a good bit of gossip for him to spread tomorrow sometime.
Nick pulls himself up on Pumpkin.
Nick looks up.
Nick: At least there's a bit of moon. That will help the horses.
Wise Snake starts riding at sedate pace, rather than the wild gallop she prefers when simply going the short distance to town.
Nick naively assumes this is because of the ice on the roads.
Wise Snake grunts absently, trying to calculate how worthwhile it would be to actually swing through town for a bit and pick up any stray work before leaving.
Wise Snake has a sudden thought.
Wise Snake: Do you have any food on you?
Nick settles into the saddle, thinking that this isn't too different than the nights back in Bender Cove when he and Snake went prowling for work.
Nick: I put an apple in my pocket, and grabbed and handful of those oatmeal cookies Linn made.
Wise Snake: Umm.
Nick would have packed something more substantial, but he was afraid Snake would leave without him.
Wise Snake decides that won't be sufficient and they should definitely hit the bar near the edge of town.
Nick: Oh, and there's a canister or two of tea in the medicine satchel.
Wise Snake: I have to pick up something at the Quaking Signpost first.
Nick: Won't they be closed this late?
Wise Snake: Maybe. ~dubiously~
Wise Snake is dubious because she doubts their being closed, or open for that matter, will impact her own activities.
Wise Snake has grown accustomed to having her way with the town after dark.
Nick grabs for the mane as Pumpkin slips, then recovers.
see note 1
Wise Snake dismounts outside of the Signpost and hands her reins to Nick.
Wise Snake: I'll be right back.
Nick nods and accepts the reins.
Wise Snake disappears around the back of the darkened structure.
Pumpkin turns to Freelance.
Pumpkin: I'll make you a bet.
Freelance waggles an inquiring ear.
Pumpkin: Something's up tonight. I can smell it on the air.
Pumpkin: I'll bet you two carrots we leave tonight.
Pumpkin of course is deluding himself in thinking there'll be any carrots for anybody if they are on the road again.
Freelance: I wasn't foaled yesterday, you know.
Pumpkin snorts.
Pumpkin: What do you think is going on then?
Freelance: If you want to bet carrots, it'll have to be on something that isn't as obvious as that snowstorm moving in.
Nick stamps his feet to encourage circulation.
Pumpkin: OK... I'll bet you that after we leave, and the snowstorm hits, brown-hair gray-eye Gen will say he wants to go back and crazy-mane-Sime will say no.
Pumpkin and the other horses have their own names for the humans... and each other too.
Freelance: I don't know why he'd bother wasting his breath. Crazy-mane doesn't consider anyone but herself. It's gallop here, gallop there....
Pumpkin looks at Freelance in amazement.
Smagus snores in his office chair.
Pumpkin: I thought you liked galloping.
Pumpkin thinks, at least he's always straining at the bit and prancing about with his tail in the air and such.
Pumpkin thinks maybe Freelance likes both galloping and whining.
Freelance: Oh, it's fun at times, but at night, when you can't see the road?
Wise Snake slips through the supposedly-locked back door and closes it gently.
Wise Snake zlins for the locations of anybody inside, then eases down the hallway toward the kitchen, moving lightly.
Pumpkin looks doubtfully at the road.
Smagus mutters in his sleep as he twists for a less uncomfortable position.
Pumpkin: My human is much more sensible, so I wouldn't know.
Pumpkin: But I really think you bring it upon yourself, with all that prancing about and chafing at the bit.
Smell is of spicy fried potatoes.
Wise Snake thinks Nick will like those.
Smell drifts over the cooling stove.
Wise Snake enters the kitchen and investigates.
Freelance snorts and poses, showing off his muscular neck.
Freelance: One must keep up appearances, you know.
Pumpkin tries not to look too impressed.
Pumpkin: Um well,
Pumpkin: ~impressed~
Freelance realizes that he's been somewhat tactless.
Pumpkin: Yeah but what I'm saying is, if you didn't look so racy and buff, she wouldn't ride like such a maniac all the time.
Smell tickles wisesnake's nose in a strangely familiar fashion.
Freelance: It wasn't your fault. You were only a foal at the time.
Pumpkin: What wasn't my fault? [defensively]
Freelance: We can't all be stallions, after all.
Smagus snores louder with his chin down on his chest.
Wise Snake pauses, trying to place the smell of the cooking, then grabs a basket and starts filching food, being as quiet as possible.
Nick begins to wonder if Snake found some work inside, and that's why she's taking so long.
Pumpkin thinks, Oog.
Pumpkin: Oh well, um, yeah I guess, ah,
Nick wouldn't have expected a pickup for illegal drugs to take this long.
Pumpkin blushes, or the equine equivalent.
Freelance sidles up next to Pumpkin to share warmth.
Freelance: Never mind.
Pumpkin sighs.
Pumpkin says, after a moment, "So, do we have a bet?"
Freelance considers.
Freelance: Sure. Although I don't expect we'll see many carrots for a while.
Wise Snake steals back out of the kitchen, with the bundle under her arm.
Wise Snake is humming softly to herself.
Smell trails after Wise Snake, promising onions, grease, calories.
Pumpkin sticks his nose in Nick's pocket to see if he's got any carrots now, speaking of carrots.
Nick pats Pumpkin absently, but doesn't surrender the apple.
Nick turns as Snake reappears out of the darkness.
Nick: Errand completed?
Wise Snake: Yeah.
Wise Snake hands the bundle to Nick.
Wise Snake: Store this somewhere.
Wise Snake takes her reins and mounts up.
Nick sniffs.
Nick: Fried potatoes?
Wise Snake makes a noncommittal sound.
Nick shrugs, then puts it in the saddle bags with the apple and cookies, the extra Farris medkit, and a few other items he thought might be handy on a cold night.
Wise Snake waits.
Wise Snake pats Freelance's neck.
Smell tugs at Nick, promising tastiness again.
Nick mounts Pumpkin.
Nick: Where to, now?
Wise Snake reins Freelance back onto the road, in the direction they'd come from and away from town.
Nick is a bit ~~ surprised ~~ at the direction.
Wise Snake gently turns Freelance away from the familiar road to Naros and onto the other fork.
Nick starts to get an inkling that this isn't just a routine trip to town.
Wise Snake tugs her cloak more firmly around her and settles in for a long ride.
Nick: I didn't think there was much out this way.
Wise Snake: Yeah, not much.
Nick: Where are we going, then?
Wise Snake: That sort of depends.
Nick: On what?
Wise Snake doesn't actually realize she's being inscrutable again.
Wise Snake: On what we come across.
Nick: Oh.
Nick has a bad feeling about this.
Nick: ~~ bad feeling ~~
Nick is at least glad that he made sure the horses were in good condition, freshly reshod, with tack in good repair.
Wise Snake: Lighten up, Nick, you're spoiling the mood.
Wise Snake gestures at the clear, cold black sky and bright stars.
Nick exchanges his gloves for the mittens, to make sure his fingers don't freeze.
Nick: It is beautiful.
Nick concentrates on aesthetic appreciation.
Wise Snake: I suppose Kenmore will be relieved.
Wise Snake: And Riyyh as well, although I can't admit to caring much in his case. [idly]
Freelance concentrates on not slipping while looking properly stallion-like.
Nick: What about the rest of our group?
Pumpkin concentrates on not slipping and not dwelling upon the nice warm barn they are leaving behind forever.
Pumpkin's tummy rumbles.
Wise Snake: What about them?
Nick would gladly leave Kenmore and Aunt Prunida behind, but he feels more of an obligation to their own people.
Nick: We didn't even say goodbye.
Smagus wakes up. "Gnrph."
Wise Snake: Ummh.
Wise Snake: They'll catch up to us if they really want to.
Wise Snake's tone makes it clear she's pretty sure most of them would rather be "left behind".
Nick turns his head as a dog starts barking.
Nick: Is that a farm?
Pumpkin snorts.
Smagus stands up, scratching himself.
Pumpkin knows it's a dog, not a farm, making all that racket.
Smagus decides to go have some of those fried potatoes he thinks were left over.
Wise Snake zlins in that direction.
Riyyh is blissfully asleep.
Prunida twitches in the throes of a nightmare.
Riyyh has been having a full four hours of sleep a night ever since Prunida had her turnover.
Wise Snake zlins a Gen coming toward them.
Riyyh rolls over, as Prunida's nightmare affects him despite his best efforts to remain unconscious.
Riyyh's abilities of denial are well-honed, however, so he is still more or less asleep and blissfully ignorant.
Wise Snake: Hello?
Jelax walks quickly but quietly over familiar ground.
Jelax stops. ~~ startled ~~
Freelance snorts at the stranger.
Wise Snake paints an imposing picture with her wild black hair, black cloak, and huge black stallion.
Wise Snake's white eyes shine eerily in the moonlight.
Nick is a bit less impressive on his docile gelding, despite his greater bulk.
Jelax stands still hoping to be missed. [silhouetted against the skyline]
Pumpkin hopes the Gen has some carrots or maybe an apple with him and sniffs hopefully.
Prunida is past turnover, and thus her needmares focus on Gens--and one in particular.
Prunida starts awake.
Prunida: ~~ fear/alarm ~~
Riyyh is startled awake.
Jelax clutches at his knapsack full of apples.
Wise Snake of course can zlin Jelax perfectly clearly.
Nick can't see much, but is well used to relying on Snake to do the navigation and identification after dark.
Wise Snake studies him and his apples speculatively.
Prunida: Riyyh, he's gone!
Jelax worries because he doesn't hear whoever it is moving on.
Riyyh: ~confusion as her fear/alarm battles his denial~
Prunida clutches at the hapless Sectuib with a hand and all four tentacles.
Riyyh: It's all right, Prunida.
Riyyh attempts to ~calm~ her while prying weakly at her amazing grip.
Prunida: It's not all right! He's up and left!
Riyyh: It was just a nightmare... wasn't it?
Wise Snake: Come here. We don't bite. [into the darkness]
Prunida: Of course it's a nightmare for a grandmother to be deserted by her feckless grandson.
Jelax's heart sinks as he realizes he's been caught.
Prunida: And after all I did to breed him!
Wise Snake of course is perfectly capable of biting under the right circumstances, but sees no profit in elaborating on that subject now.
Nick hopes that Snake wasn't including Pumpkin and Freelance in that promise.
Jelax comes walking across rough ground towards them.
Riyyh: Yes, yes, of course it is. ~soothing~
Jelax seems to know just where to put his feet.
Riyyh props himself up on an elbow, looking endearingly mussed and none too awake.
Riyyh: But he's his own man, now, he's an adult.
Riyyh: It feels like he's deserted you, but....
Prunida: He's just a boy, and he's run off with that slut of a channel.
Jelax resolves that he won't let them take him back there, no matter what.
Wise Snake: You zlin like you've been caught with your hand in the cookie jar.
Wise Snake: Have you?
Wise Snake: ~academic curiosity~
Jelax: No! ~~ defiant ~~
Jelax: I grew them! They're mine!
Freelance thinks that the stranger smells like he's had his hand in the apple barrel, which is considerably more interesting.
Jelax clutches the knapsack in front of himself.
Wise Snake zlins Jelax.
Prunida: Maybe it's not too late to stop them.
Riyyh: You don't mean that, dear. [wheedling, earnest]
Jelax is a thin but sturdy young Gen, maybe 4 years past Establishment.
Riyyh: Come back to sleep, you're having a bad night.
Prunida looks at Riyyh, ~~ annoyed ~~
Prunida: Riyyh, I am not just a crazy old woman.
Riyyh of course thinks Prunida is speaking of a less literal form of "running away" and "abandonment".
Jelax: ~~ aftereffects of adrenalin rush a few hours ago ~~
Riyyh: Of course not. ~soothing~
Prunida: My grandson's flown the coop; I can smell it.
Jelax: ~~ determination over fear ~~
Riyyh's tentacles crawl at the annoyance.
Wise Snake: Why do you zlin like that?
Nick wonders if this stranger is injured, and that's why Snake is stopping to chat.
Jelax heart sinks as he realizes that this is a Sime who can carry him home despite all his struggles.
Jelax: Zlin like what?
Wise Snake: Like you've been running scared.
Nick offers ~~ slightly chilled support ~~ at the mention of being scared.
Jelax: I'm not scared!
Jelax acknowledges, at least to himself, that he is running, however.
Riyyh: It's the middle of the night, Pru.
Riyyh reaches up and tries to tug Prunida back down to the bed.
Prunida resists.
Prunida: He's gone!
Prunida: I know it!
Riyyh: Gone? Left Naros?
Riyyh: ~hope~
Prunida: Riyyh, you've got to stop him.
Riyyh quickly smothers the hope with ~concern for Prunida~
Prunida: It's no night for a Gen to be out.
Riyyh: Well, I, that is,
Riyyh's tentacles flutter appeasingly.
Riyyh wonders if Nick and Snake are truly gone.
Riyyh thinks it would be a miracle if they are.
Prunida: You've got to go down to the stable--maybe they haven't left yet.
Wise Snake: Give me some of those, and I won't turn you in.
Wise Snake: [reasonably]
Riyyh: Me? The stable?
Riyyh: Let's not be hasty....
Prunida: Oh, whatever is the world coming to, when a man could do such a thing to his own grandmother.
Prunida: ~~ rising distress ~~
Jelax doesn't like the idea, but acknowledges the semi-reasonableness of such a deal amongst fellow fugitives.
Riyyh's idea of a good time doesn't involve going out in subzero conditions in his nightshirt and mounting a search mission for a fleeing grandson.
Jelax: Well, all right.
Riyyh tries to ~~soothe~~ Prunida's distress.
Prunida: Not be hasty! What if it's already too late?
Jelax fumbles at the flap of his knapsack.
Riyyh: But Prunida,
Riyyh tries to appear warm, lovable, and caring, but definitely not the type to jump on a horse at 3:30 AM.
Freelance perks his ears and dances as the stranger opens the apple sack.
Prunida: Oh, Riyyh, I'm sure you could talk some sense into them.
Jelax takes out two apples and holds them out.
Wise Snake rides through the dance easily, then controls him.
Wise Snake gestures to Nick to take them.
Freelance stretches out his head in an attempt to grab one for a snack.
Riyyh: Them? ~alarm~
Riyyh can't imagine attempting to talk sense into Wise Snake.
Riyyh: Oh dear.
Wise Snake turns Freelance away.
Wise Snake pats his neck consolingly, but firmly.
Nick nudges Pumpkin closer and takes the apples.
Jelax pulls back the apples from Freelance, and then lets Nick take them.
Freelance puts his ears back in annoyance, just on principle.
Nick: Thank you.Prunida: You don't think he'd have come up with the idea of running away in the middle of the night on his own, do you?
Riyyh: They've probably just gone down to the town.
Prunida would think that would be obvious.
Prunida: At 3 in the morning?
Jelax: ~~ nervously ~~ Is that enough?
Jelax is lacking the finer points of negotiation.
Riyyh: She's done it before, not with Nick that I know of, granted, but....
Wise Snake: Shouldn't it be?
Wise Snake studies Jelax.
Jelax makes a mental note that two apples is a standard hush payoff on the road.
Riyyh: Let me give you a shoulder rub, wouldn't that be nice?
Riyyh: ~~soothing/pleading~~
Prunida: If she took Nick tonight, and she doesn't usually when she goes to town, then you can count on it that they plan to flee.
Prunida: ~~ distress ~~
Jelax starts thinking about which way he is going to go on the road, nager darting in both directions.
Riyyh: Don't dwell on that, it's only upsetting you, dear, please.
Prunida: Oh, when I think of him on the road, freezing....
Riyyh pushes himself up and starts kneading her shoulders.
Riyyh: I know, it's hard. But he has to live his own life.
Riyyh means, actually, Wise Snake being out of Naros is really good news, if it's true.
Riyyh: ~concern/compassion~
Prunida: He can live his own life after he's repaid my efforts in breeding him.
Prunida: ~~ firm ~~
Prunida scoots towards the edge of the bed, dragging Riyyh after her.
Riyyh: But...
Prunida: Come on, they can't have gotten that far.
Riyyh: Ouch... wait a minute. ~alarm~
Prunida: ~~ feet hitting cold floor ~~
Jelax ties up his knapsack and slings it over his back.
Wise Snake: Good night, then. [to Jelax]
Wise Snake: We are headed East.
Jelax: Oh. Good night.
Wise Snake turns Freelance in that direction and nods to Nick.
Jelax: East? What's that way?
Nick tries to think of what is East as he nudges Pumpkin after Freelance.
Wise Snake: We don't know. That's why we're going there.
Jelax has never been anywhere but what he considers the teeming metropolis near Naros.
Jelax: Oh.
Riyyh winces as his feet find the cold floor as well.
Jelax: Ok Then. Bye.
Riyyh tries to pry Prunida's vise-like grip off his wrist.
Prunida pushes Riyyh toward his closet.
Prunida: Go throw on something warm, and we'll check out the stable.
Riyyh: But Prunida, ~sad/worried/soothing~
Jelax watches them ride away, glad he got off so easy.
Riyyh looks forlornly at the warm bed, then goes into the closet.
Riyyh's stress level increases as he tries to decide what to wear in under an hour.
Riyyh: ~~worry~~
Prunida slips on wool pants, heavy socks, a flannel shirt, and a sweater, then turns her attention to Riyyh.
Riyyh's tentacles wave nervously.
Prunida: Come on, there's no time for dithering.
Riyyh grabs some clothes and puts them on, unhappily.
Riyyh takes a plain cloak as well, in the hopes nobody will recognize him.
Riyyh would hate to have it said that he was running across the countryside at all hours of the night and unfashionably clothed as well.
Prunida nods approval, despite the less-than optimal combination of colors.
Kadi looks up in distress as the heaters abandon the bed too early, then moves over to lie down on the warm spot left behind.
Riyyh slips into the bathroom in the hopes he will get a chance to at least run a comb through his hair before embarking on the wild Donor chase.
Prunida grabs her own cloak and leeches on to Riyyh's arm again, dragging him towards the door.
Ansen watches out the window of the dorm.
Riyyh: Ahh...
Riyyh: ~dismay~
Anmyn pokes her head out of her room.
Anmyn: Sectuib! Is something wrong?
Riyyh: ~humiliation/worry~
Anmyn: ~~ apprehension ~~
Ansen saw Wise Snake leave earlier, almost certainly to go guide in some gang of toughs she's going to use to take over Naros.
Riyyh: No, not exactly... I'll be gone for a couple of hours, but never you fear -
Riyyh says over his shoulder as he is yanked out of the house.
Riyyh: Do you have to hold on quite so hard? [to Prunida]
Anmyn prudently retreats to her room.
Ansen is determined to stay up to raise the alarm when they show up.
Prunida loosens her grip just a bit--though not enough to allow escape.
Prunida: I'm just so worried.
Prunida: ~~ worried ~~
Riyyh: Please, calm down.
Riyyh: ~nervous~
Riyyh: Nick can take care of himself.
Riyyh thinks Nick is indestructible; it's himself that Prunida should be concerned about at the moment.
Prunida: No Gen is indestructible, and that Snake woman won't care for him properly, you know that.
Riyyh isn't exactly cut out for wild adventure in the wee hours, at least not of the horseback riding variety.
Riyyh: But Prunida, [pleading]
Prunida: Oh, my boy, how could you have gotten yourself into such a bind?
Riyyh: Oh dear.
Riyyh despairs of Prunida listening to reason.
Prunida: Don't worry, Grandma's coming...
Riyyh realizes if she hadn't listened to reason in the last 40 years, why would she start now?
Riyyh thinks when Prunida has to let go of him to saddle the horses, he might be able to slip away and alert somebody.
Prunida drags Riyyh into the stable.
Riyyh can't help but notice two of Wise Snake's groups' horses are missing, one of them Snake's big black.
Prunida checks the stalls assigned to Pumpkin and Freelance.
Prunida: ~~ stab of grief ~~
Prunida: You zlin, they are gone!
Riyyh's tentacles wilt.
Ansen sees Riyyh and that strange old lady go to the stables.
Riyyh: Surely they just went into town... Wise Snake is always going into town.
Prunida: She never takes Nick when she goes to town--you said that yourself.
Ansen realizes that the Sectuib must already know what Wise Snake is up to.
Ansen thinks that the old lady must be a leader of another group of toughs who Riyyh has called in to defeat Wise Snake's toughs.
Riyyh: Please... try to remain calm.
Prunida shoves Riyyh towards a stall.
Prunida: You saddle that one--it looks fast.
Riyyh is now seriously worried that Prunida is going to kidnap him and drag him to the end of the earth trying to apprehend her earnestly (and understandably) fleeing grandson.
Prunida: I'll get this one.
Riyyh's tentacles flutter helplessly.
Riyyh goes into the tack room and selects a suitable saddle and bridle, which is straining the limits of his knowledge of horses.
Prunida finds her own equipment, never letting Riyyh out of her sight.
Riyyh decides he'd better alert somebody, perhaps the gate watch, on the way out, or he might really be lost forever to Prunida's madness.
Riyyh notices Prunida is keeping an eagle eye on him and sighs, going back to saddle the "fast looking" horse.
Prunida has travelled enough to be competent in getting the equipment on her chosen mount.
Riyyh feels ~sympathy~ for the poor beast which is to be wrest from its nice warm stall in the middle of the night.
Riyyh notices it is actually more like early morning at this point, and sighs.
Prunida leads her horse from the stall.
Prunida waits with growing ~~ impatience ~~ for Riyyh to finish tacking his own mount.
Riyyh nervously checks and rechecks his work, since he hasn't done it for himself since he was a child.
Riyyh: I'm not sure this is such a good idea. I mean, Nick already said no, and....
Prunida: He's out there being dragged across country by a half-sane rogue channel in subzero weather, and you don't think it's a good idea to interfere?
Riyyh cringes.
Riyyh gives a strap a final tug, unable to pretend the tack isn't securely and properly on.
Prunida leads her horse out of the stable, making it ~~ very clear ~~ that she expects Riyyh to follow.
Riyyh follows with great trepidation.
Riyyh tugs the horse after him.
Prunida closes the barn door and mounts.
Riyyh follows suit.
Riyyh arranges his cloak to make sure it will look right.
Prunida kicks her horse into a trot, heading for the gate.
Ansen is ~~ proud ~~ of his clever Sectuib who has clearly been one step ahead of Wise Snake's schemes all along. He has only been pretending to be oblivious to it all as a ploy.
Ansen watches them ready to go get Prunida's gang and lay a devastating ambush.
Sethan pours out some tea from the thermos.
Sethan sips at it before returning to zlinning outside the gate.
Riyyh follows.
Riyyh: ~unhappy~
Prunida approaches the gate at speed and hails the gatekeeper.
Sethan hears the horses and turns to zlin down into the yard.
Sethan: Who goes there?
Prunida: Us. Come down and let us out.
Riyyh: Hello, Sethan.
Riyyh: I'm terribly sorry for the imposition, [attempting to cover for Prunida's rudeness]
Sethan: Sectuib? Now?
Prunida: How long ago did Wise Snake and my grandson Nick leave?
Sethan glances down at his log.
Sethan: Two hours, Forty-seven minutes.
Prunida: Oh, dear, we'll have a terrible time catching up to them.
Prunida: Which road did they take?
Sethan: Toward town, I think.
Sethan points.
Riyyh looks significantly at Prunida.
Riyyh: You see, they only went into town... I really think we should stay here and wait for them to return.
Prunida: Don't be silly, Riyyh, the road forks not two miles away from here.
Riyyh: [pleading]
Riyyh: But...
Prunida: We'll ride as far as the turnoff--if the tracks go towards town, well enough.
Prunida: ~~ determination ~~
Riyyh: Sethan... I do plan to return within the hour.
Sethan wonders what sort of emergency they require Wise Snake for that Riyyh can't handle.
Sethan: Yes, Sectuib.
Sethan notes it in his log.
Riyyh thinks that way if he never returns, they'll send out a search party to free him from Prunida's clutches... probably quite literally, unfortunately.
Prunida ignores this attempt to limit her quest.
Prunida: Now, open the gate for us.
Sethan knows the other gatekeepers snicker at his recordkeeping, but feels vindicated by its usefulness now.
Riyyh shivers and wraps his cloak around himself more thoroughly.
Riyyh: ~unhappy/worried~
Sethan gestures assent and goes into the gate house.
Riyyh: Really, Prunida, [low voice] I do think you've become just a bit obsessive about all this.
Prunida: Obsessive? When my only grandson may be freezing to death by the side of the road?
Sethan knocks the bolt lock loose with a THOCK.
Riyyh jumps.
Riyyh's horse jumps too, since Riyyh has been making the poor animal as nervous as anything.
Riyyh smoothes back his hair self-consciously.
Prunida snorts and grabs the reins of Riyyh's jumpy animal to calm it.
Prunida: Really, Riyyh.
Sethan swings down the stairs and comes out to the inside of the gate.
Sethan grabs the bolt and pulls it back with a tooth-grating Screech.
Sethan pushes out one leaf of the gate, puffing a bit.
Riyyh: Prunida, [one last attempt]
Riyyh: Perhaps you and I could go back to the house.
Riyyh: I could give you a nice back rub.
Riyyh: Wouldn't that feel nice?
Prunida: When we've found Nick.
Sethan stands back from the edge of the road, out of the way.
Riyyh: ~despair~
Riyyh: All right, Prunida.
Riyyh follows her out of Naros' gate.
Prunida kicks her horse through the gate at a rapid trot.
Sethan realizes that Riyyh is being bullied into something he doesn't want by Prunida.
Sethan smirks at the idea of that Lothario getting some of his own back for once.
Prunida would no doubt be galloping if she weren't too experienced a rider to risk it on the icy road--and if she weren't prepared for a longer ride than two miles.
Riyyh wisely lets his horse figure out its own path as it follows Prunida's.
Prunida points to some scuff marks on the road.
Prunida: You see, they went this way.
Sethan pulls the gate closed.
Riyyh notes with some distress that the wind is doing unkind things to his hair.
Prunida's tracking skills would be more impressive if there were more than one way to go.
Ansen comes sneaking out of the dorm in his winter clothes.
Ansen sees Sethan closing the gate. He is disappointed because he wanted to sneak out and see the battle, but he can't make it now.
Prunida is starting to feel the cold in her aging (but determined) bones when they reach the turnoff.
Prunida halts her horse well back and observes the road carefully.
Riyyh sits there shivering and trying to discover some scrap of dignity within his person.
Prunida: See, there are tracks going East.
Riyyh: How do you know it's them?
Riyyh: Come on, let's go back. It's warm at home.
Prunida: That big stallion of Snake's can't walk straight to save its miserable black hide.
Prunida: See?
Prunida points to the road.
Prunida: One horse walking sensibly, one dancing around all over the road.
Prunida: It has to be them.
Riyyh has to admit Prunida has a point.
Prunida: And the weather is getting colder.
Riyyh: Perhaps we should go back.
Riyyh: [plaintive]
Prunida: Back?
Prunida: We've just confirmed that my grandson is in danger, and you want to go back?
Riyyh: Yes, I mean, Snake has finally decided to leave, and Naros can't have her staying, and I don't know if we should rock the boat...
Riyyh's voice trails off as he zlins she is not swayed.
Prunida: Come on, they'll have to rest soon.
Prunida kicks her horse down the road.
Riyyh follows, reluctantly, trailing behind.
Riyyh: I don't think this is such a good idea. [to himself, since Prunida won't listen]
Riyyh: ~worry~
Prunida: Come on, we have to find them while the trail is fresh.
Jelax is walking more jauntily down the road, having successfully made it past the Sime woman with the Medusa hair.
Jelax thinks that things are going to be better for him from now on.
Prunida doesn't have Medusa hair, but her face makes up for it.
Jelax thinks he should work way down to the coast and get a job as a sailor.
Prunida zlins an early morning pedestrian ahead.
Riyyh has gorgeous hair and face, if anybody is keeping score.
Riyyh is also blue with cold and absolutely certain he is being kidnapped by a madwoman.
Jelax is busy imagining the sea and doesn't notice the oncoming hoofbeats.
Prunida pulls up just before trampling Jelax.
Prunida: You!
Jelax: [The heavy wool cap pulled down over his ears doesn't help, of course.]
Prunida: ~~ imperious ~~
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Jelax jumps. ~~ startled ~~
Prunida: Have you seen a Sime woman on a black horse travelling with a Gen man?
Riyyh draws his horse to a halt some distance away from them, feeling ~~sympathy~~ for the man.
Jelax is flustered and nods.
Prunida: How long ago?
Jelax: A couple of hours.
Jelax wonders if he's going to have to fork over more apples.
Prunida: Did they say where they were headed?
Jelax realizes that by the Code of the Open Road, he probably shouldn't snitch on those people.
Riyyh zlins Jelax's nervousness and naturally assumes it's 100% because of Prunida's appearance and manner.
Jelax decides he'll throw them off the scent with a clever lie.
Jelax: They, uh, said they were going, uh, South.
Jelax: It's warmer that way.
Jelax: ~~ feigned honesty ~~
Prunida frowns ominously.
Prunida: Don't bother to lie to a Sime.
Jelax: ~~ fear ~~
Prunida: Which direction were they going?
Jelax: No, really!
Jelax: They said they'd turn south at the next town!
Riyyh rides a little bit closer, hoping that his presence will reassure the guy, who surely must be terrified of Prunida.
Prunida: If you don't believe that, don't expect me to.
Prunida: Now, for what had better be the last time, which direction are they headed?
Jelax looks from side to side, trying to think of a way out.
Jelax: Uh, you want some apples?
Prunida is reasonably certain that they named a direction, or the boy would have said that in the beginning.
Prunida: No, I want to know where my grandson is headed.
Jelax thinks 'Shen!'
Riyyh: Prunida... perhaps.... [cautiously]
Prunida: I have no intention of harming the boy, Riyyh--if he stops stalling and tells me which way Nick went.
Riyyh had only meant to suggest that she let him ask, since Jelax might respond better to gentleness.
Riyyh sighs.
Riyyh: Of course, Prunida.
Jelax realizes he has to spill his guts or they'll carry him off to somewhere nasty.
Jelax blurts out 'East!'
Prunida zlins the truth of this answer.
Prunida: We'll go that way, then.
Riyyh: I'm terribly sorry, [to Jelax]
Prunida has lost interest in Jelax, now that he's spilled the beans.
Riyyh thinks it must be quite a shock to be accosted in such a way while walking innocently down the road.
Jelax looks over, ~~ hopeful ~~ at a possible rescuer.
Riyyh: You see, she is quite worried about her grandson, and....
Prunida's mount has also lost interest in Jelax, since it appears he has no intention of spilling the apples.
Riyyh: Thank you for your time.
Riyyh: [kindly]
Jelax seizes the excuse to go.
Jelax: Don't mention iiitt....
Jelax runs off down the road westward.
Riyyh turns to Prunida.
Riyyh: Now that you know where they went, perhaps it would be best if we returned home.
Riyyh: ~sincere~
Prunida: Home? When my grandson is wandering the roads?
Riyyh: I mean, to catch them in under a day would be nearly impossible, and if you wanted to chase them, surely you would want to be properly equipped, and to not have me along....
Riyyh: Surely I must be a hindrance to you.
Riyyh: [pleading]
Prunida: You can do what you like, you spineless rabbit, but I'm going after them.
Riyyh: And wouldn't you want to have medical supplies and food and blankets, and a tent....
Riyyh sighs.
Riyyh: I don't mean to be a rabbit, Prunida, I really don't, but one can't help what one is.
Riyyh: And I do have responsibilities to Naros, not to endanger myself unnecessarily.
Riyyh: Surely you understand?
Prunida: Riyyh, he's your grandson, too.
Prunida: And your son.
Riyyh: Well, yes, but, ~embarrassed~
Prunida: Surely you are not such an unnatural father as to let your child go into danger and do nothing?
Riyyh: Of course not.
Riyyh: ~worry~
Riyyh: But Prunida,
Prunida: Naros will survive without you for a day or two, until we catch up and talk some sense into them.
Riyyh: I'm cold, and tired, and nobody knows where I am, and I'm not sure that catching up to Snake and Nick is such a good idea.
Riyyh: ~pathetic~
Prunida: The sooner we find them, the sooner we can all be warm again.
Prunida: Come, now, the horses shouldn't be standing in such cold weather.
Prunida: ~~ ironclad determination ~~
Riyyh's shoulders droop..
Riyyh: Do you even have any money?
Riyyh of course wasn't given a chance to grab anything whatsoever on the way out the door.
Prunida: I've got enough for a few basic supplies. If we catch up to them quickly, we won't have to spend it.
Riyyh: Well, I suppose that is better than nothing at all.
Prunida nudges her horse forward.
Riyyh pets his horse's neck unhappily.
Prunida: Come on, there's enough light to canter, now.
Riyyh's horse starts to follow automatically and Riyyh can't quite bear to interfere.
Notes:
1) Some time passes... they rode about 2 miles away from Naros. [return]