|
Post by Evangeline Delacroix on Apr 17, 2014 4:38:33 GMT
Dodend smiled, "Good to know he's at home to take the job. He's the tracker we're here to see.", he signalled to Drath to stay with the horses, "Retirement sounds like it's going well for the old fellow, hopefully he won't have a heart attack when he hears the task.", he joked, placing a kiss on Sandine's forehead before starting down the hill to the cabin.
Drath stretched out, reclining against the stump of a fallen tree, smoke puffing out his mask in a steady stream.
|
|
|
Post by Flamina Sujianla Uilyevr on Apr 17, 2014 4:55:05 GMT
"Perhaps not, but his dog might," Sandine responded. "It's a round little thing." She of course stayed by his side. She hoped her peering hadn't caught the old man's attention. Even an aged tracker was sure to have wit. She'd met men who could sense presence just by a misplaced leaf. "I know we're here to see him but is he going to want to?" she asked, unsure of any history or connection with this man.
|
|
|
Post by Evangeline Delacroix on Apr 17, 2014 18:21:17 GMT
"I've never met a tracker who can resist a bag of coin.", Dodend smirked, "Not one that's lived very long anyways.", with a quick peek through the window to check the old man was still in his chair, he stepped around to the front of the cabin. With one booted foot on the wooden step he gently knocked. Barking erupted on the other side as the podgy dog jumped up and scratched at the door, an effective alert system.
The aged man creaked out of his chair and shuffled to the door, dismissing the dog with a click, "Good boy Simms, go sit now, let me greet our guests.", he opened the wooden door slowly. His weepy green eyes looked Dodend up and down, "Hello young man. Business call or are you just here to visit with an old man.", his gaze caught Sandine, "Maybe seeking shelter for the night with your wife?"
|
|
|
Post by Flamina Sujianla Uilyevr on Apr 18, 2014 5:59:52 GMT
"Nearly right," Sandine corrected. She held up her hand to show there was no ring. Surely if she had one from him she would never take it off. The smallest of smiles played on the corners of her lips. One day... but not today. She absently stroked her hand over Dodend's bicep. She also could not help but be amused by the 'young man' comment. Dodend did not show his years but he certainly did not qualify for the title of young. Nor did she.
"Business."
|
|
|
Post by Evangeline Delacroix on Apr 18, 2014 6:07:57 GMT
"What's wrong with you young fella, a fine lass like this and no ring on her finger.", the old fellow laughed lightly and opened the door fully, granting them entry. He shuffled back to his chair, easing himself back in to it gently, "Have a seat, and tell me your business.", he sipped the wine from his little table, "And please, help yourself to wine and food. I'm in no state to rush around doting on guests."
Dodend let Sandine enter first and closed the door behind them. He cast a glance at the small couch by the fire then poured himself a little wine, "Well I would understand if you didn't want to take a job, you seem comfortable in retirement."
|
|
|
Post by Flamina Sujianla Uilyevr on Apr 18, 2014 19:50:07 GMT
"I'm sure he'll make it up to me," Sandine teased. She settled onto the couch with one leg crossed over the other. She cleared her throat. "Get me one while you are up, Dear?" She asked with a coy smile. When he handed it to her she patted the spot beside herself to get him to sit down. She shifted her crossed legs to rest her foot on Dodend's lap.
|
|
|
Post by Evangeline Delacroix on Apr 18, 2014 20:06:35 GMT
Dodend lightly stroked Sandine's leg, "Lovely wine old fellow. Werewolf bottled if I'm not mistaken?"
The old man bent slightly to stroke the furry head of his podgy dog, "From an old adventure. One which I would not be keen to repeat in my current state, so I hope you don't want a case of it.", he gave a chuckling wheeze.
"Oh no, nothing that drastic. We're looking for the scroll of Icarus.", at this the old man placed his wine on his table. He looked at Dodend carefully for a moment. "You can pay?"
|
|
|
Post by Flamina Sujianla Uilyevr on Apr 18, 2014 20:47:01 GMT
Sandine hummed in amusement. She rested one hand along the back of the couch and sipped her wine with the other. "If he can afford to keep up with my finery I doubt payment will be trouble."
|
|
|
Post by Evangeline Delacroix on Apr 18, 2014 21:10:25 GMT
Dodend smiled, "As my dear lady said, there will be no shortfall in my payment for your services.", he rested his wine glass on the couch's armrest to stick his hand into his pack. With a heavy thud, he placed the cloth sack on the floor by his feet, "Dragon's teeth should cover it."
The old man looked at the bag with glee, "More than enough. Simms, get Rigby.", the podgy dog wagged ecstatically and plodded from the room, taking a slightly tight dog-door through to the cabin's other room. A moment later the podgy dog squeezed back into the room, followed by an intimidating black dog with a scratched up muzzle and wolven yellow eyes. "Rigby, this gentleman wants the scroll of Icarus.", the large black beast glanced at Dodend with a quiet growl and padded over to sniff at him. Dodend watched it patiently, "Old man, this is your tracker?", he got a nod, "And you're aware of what he is?", another nod, "Is he?"
Rigby padded to the other end of the room where there was some empty floor space. The faint crackle of magic flowed from him into the air as he began to take a different form, muzzle shortening, legs lengthening, paws becoming hands and feet until a reasonably tall, dark haired boy stood in the place of the black dog. "I'm aware.", his voice was gravelly, unpractised, "And I have the scroll.", he turned to the old man, "Gpop, it's in the locked chest so I need the key."
|
|
|
Post by Flamina Sujianla Uilyevr on Apr 18, 2014 22:53:26 GMT
Sandine's back visibly stiffened at the transformation. She tugged at Dodend's mind ever so slightly, letting her emotion be known. She smirked. "So much for needing to track," She joked. Her fingertips drummed across the top of the couch as if she were distracted. She was mostly nervous. She offered a charming smile to the old man. "I do hope you've not misplaced the key."
|
|
|
Post by Evangeline Delacroix on Apr 19, 2014 0:08:14 GMT
Dodend mentally soothed Sandine, Rigby was not a threat at such a young age. Still going through adolescence, his strength would not have fully manifested yet. The old man pulled a worn looking silver key from a chain around his neck, letting Rigby take it to the other room. A click, some rummaging and the dull thud of a chest closing and being locked again before Rigby stepped back in to the room, scroll in hand and handed the key back. "I may be old but a tracker who can't keep track of his own property is worth nothing.", he wheezed with delight as Rigby handed Dodend the scroll, carrying the bag of dragon teeth to the small kitchen. "So, do you get much of a problem with fleas in the family, or is Rigby just gifted?"
"Mr Kind, it's been a pleasure to do business with you. Now if you're satisfied with your goods and require nothing else, it would be pleasant if you could keep the questions to a minimum.", the old man sat back in his chair, sipping at his wine, "If you need some reassurance however, we are not wolves." "We're an offshoot. Wolfhounds.", Rigby cut in. "I see, well I think that's it for business, unless you've got a family of dragons back there.", the unamused stares were all the answers he needed, so he patted Sandine's legs lightly letting her move before he stood, finished the last of his wine and moved to the door.
"Well that was fun.", Dodend chimed as they climbed back up towards the horses, "A night's rest and then I can send Drath off to be good company to the dragon my friend in the North Lands wants seen to, and we can go deliver this scroll.", he stretched a little at the top, "I hope you have something warm my dear."
Drath as usual was imitating a chimney.
|
|
|
Post by Flamina Sujianla Uilyevr on Apr 19, 2014 7:23:36 GMT
"Warm enough I suppose," Sandine said. She sighed, content, as the wine's warmth buzzed through her. She'd forgotten most wines were not the mild, fruity type she was used to. She stretched comfortably. "I packed a coat at least. Never know where you will end up."
She looked over to Drath. "Uneventful up here I hope?"
|
|
|
Post by Evangeline Delacroix on Apr 19, 2014 7:36:42 GMT
"About as exciting as my mother's cooking.", Drath drolled, "What happened with the tracker?"
"Got the scroll, you're heading off to get the target dragon at first light.", Dodend slipped the scroll into his pack carefully before getting to work setting up the tent. "Well I'll be sure to keep you nice and warm my dear.", he smirked at Sandine, "In more ways than one."
With the tent set up and the fire started, Dodend sat back against a stump. "So, tomorrow we're off to the North Lands to talk to Dorsin the dragon. I'm expecting him to be his usual friendly self.", he poked the fire so it blared out more heat, "But at least if he's trying to cook us it'll be nice and warm.", he joked. Drath gave a soft snort of laughter. "If he gets on your nerves, just let me know and I'll break his neck for you love."
|
|
|
Post by Flamina Sujianla Uilyevr on Apr 20, 2014 20:07:19 GMT
"Your mother never made Elven food then," Sandine said with a laugh. It either cooked right or you mixed the wrong amount of spice and magic and it exploded. She was never good at it herself. She much preferred to just put meat over a fire and call it a night.
She excused herself off to the tent with a small wave over a shoulder. "No neck-breaking unless necessary!"
|
|
|
Post by Evangeline Delacroix on Apr 20, 2014 20:15:39 GMT
(time skipping a bit)
Drath set off at first light, pressing the sickly mare to her limit in a bid to shorten his journey. He'd never been too keen on travelling.
Dodend woke calmly, trying not to wake Sandine as she cuddled onto his chest. Her cheek rested against a well-earned scar, from the time when he'd leapt in the way of a flying blade to save the very woman who's breath tickled the soft hairs on his chest. With a sleepy smile he stroked her hair and planted a kiss on the back of her head, breathing deep and slow to enjoy her scent. When he felt her beginning to stir, Dodend ran a caress down her back, "Morning love, sweet dreams?"
|
|