[Memory] New In Town

[Jasper]

Vhalar 32nd Arc 713

Jasper Lynond Rel Ardeichy hadn’t ever left Alivilda and its valleys in his whole 15 arcs. Now he had come traveled across the whole length of Melrath and come to the capital of Raelia. Jasper stood next to father, but all he could see was the hug city before him. The young man felt small as he gazed upon the massive city before him. It rose like a small dark mountain range out of the plains by the river. He knew that beyond the city lay the ocean but he didn’t have a good view of it yet.

Lynond allowed his son to just stand there gapping at the city. He had done something similar when he had first seen the seat of power. Eventually Jasper shook himself and came back to his surrondings. He glanced over at his father and grinned sheepishly. His father, despite now being shorter then his son, put his hand on Jasper’s head and mushed the young mans hair.

“Well son, Berengar’s boy is waiting for us.” Jasper’s father said and leaned closer, “Besides Gerick will fall asleep if we stay here to long.”

“I don’t remember him being awake.” Jasper replied with a grin back at his father.

“Well his humor has certianly been asleep.” Lynond said laughting, which caused a scowl from Gerick. He was the villager who took the valley’s cask of beer and ale from Alivilda to Raelia, and that ment he also got stuck with transporting visitors. The stock had come by boat, but was now loaded on wagons. Gerick didn’t particular care to transport people, they talked, and these two laughted, a lot.

Jasper chuckled and then check that the led he was holding as still in place. The sleipnir foal, Laquin with his pristine white coat was happilly looking around waiting for his bond mate to move. Jasper gave a gentle tug and the creature started and then came forward to nudge his leg. Jasper smiled down at the creature and moved forward.

The two walkers soon fell behind the wagon as the came upon the city gate. Jasper was nervous as he looked to his new life. He had come to joing the Aesir something no one in the valley had done in a couple generations. As the came closer Jasper felt uncomfortable as he saw how fine the city people’s cloths were.

“It’s a good thing your mothers not here.” Lynond said also feeling uncomfortable, but resorting to humor.

“I agree. I can already see her walking up to that woman and calling her a trollup.” Jasper said with a chuckly. Lynond laughted.

“I was actually worried about the presents she would insist on buying for you lot.” Lynond said still laughting. Jasper joined with his father and felt a smidgen better.

The two came to the gates, and were gauked at as much as they gaped at the locals. Both were dressed simply, Jasper wearing a vest so that the new Emea on his arm were mirrored images to the scares from the Grendal on his other arm. The biggest was the sleipnir colt that pranced along besides Jasper.

The two were looking around trying to see if they could find Jasper cousin Alaric.

[Alaric Ardeichy]

T

he gray hours of morning had come and gone, but the crooked street leading up to the servant entrance of the Imair estate was still bathed in shadow. By Alaric’s side, his fellow guardsman shifted his weight from one leg to the other; undisturbed by the distant murmur of the rousing city. It was a talent you picked up after a while on the watch, to ignore the mundane breathing of civilization and concentrate on what was out of place. Tonight, their shift had been quiet. Alaric lifted his gaze to the stretch of sky visible between high houses. The narrow expanse was bright with the first blush of dawn.

“They are late,” Alaric observed.

“It’s Æthelred’s turn,” the old watchman to his left said laconically. He tugged at the rim of his helmet, his sagging skin red where the leather had rubbed it raw. “Boy better hopes no one tells them he is late again. Late on an assignment he only got for being late no less.”

“No one is going to tell,” Alaric said, without turning to Fen. “You not, and me neither.”

“No. No, you won’t,” the aging guard said slowly, studying him with pale eyes the color of the winter sky. “Might want to reconsider that though, eh? Your sister makes for a better example than Æthelred, less likely to get you into trouble, either. She knows how to tread the snake’s pit.”

It took Alaric a trill to process the words. “Halla isn’t my sister.”

“No? She is Æthelred’s sister though and I thought…”

Alaric never found out what Fen thought as in the next moment the sounds of footsteps echoed over to where they stood. Æthelred, his helmet under one arm and a recruit in his wake, halted before them. The bastard was grinning from one ear to the other, his red mane tussled as if he had just woken.

“You are late,” Alaric scoffed.

“A little.”

“More than—”

“A little,” Æthelred said with a grunt and wrapped an arm around Alaric’s, crushed him against his chest. “Doesn’t look like you, to be so antsy. Are you going to see someone? Who is she? I want to hear everything.”

“You know who I am going to see—I told you,” Alaric said as wound out of the other man’s grip. He gave him a shove with the elbow for good measure. “My uncle and a cousin of mine. I am to meet them at the gates when they open.”

“Right,” Æthelred said, expression sober but not exactly rueful. “Still time, then.”

Just not as much as I would have liked, Alaric thought as he drifted from his post. He clapped Æthelred’s shoulder but didn’t turn, even when the other man called out after him.

“Will I see you at the barrack later?”

“If there’s time.”

It took Alaric a break to change out of his armor and cross the busy city. Raelia’s streets were abuzz with vendors and messengers, with men and women opening their shops and businesses; locals and foreigners. By the time he reached the outer fortifications, the gates had been cast wide open. He passed a wagon, creaking under its heavy load of caskets, and Gerick. The merchant was the one person from Alivilda he saw with some regularity when the man delivered his hometown’s produce to local buyers. They exchanged a brief greeting. The cart never stopped and neither did Alaric, pressing on towards the gates.

After how much he had grown, Alaric wasn’t sure he would have recognized Jasper, had it not been for the familiar figure of his father lingering beside him.

“Uncle!”, Alaric hollered down the street, already closing the distance between them. “I hope you traveled save,” he said with a laugh as he took Lynond’s hand and then his cousin’s.

[Jasper]

The young man heard his cousin call to his from farther down the main road. Jasper was finding it hard to really spot him amide the moving crowd. The only time he had ever seen this large of a crowd was when the whole town went into the fields for the harvest, and even then it was different as they all came in and out together. These people were rushing about each to their own destination. It was only a moment before he emerged out of the crowd.

Jasper smiled at the his older cousin. Alaric was older then Jasper by eleven years so by the time Jasper was allowed to wandering on his own Alaric was approached adulthood, so the two hadn’t ever been really close but Jasper remembered him. He was his parents pride and frustration as a child. Stories of his anticts were still shared around the Ardiechy Hold Hall fire. Jasper and his friends had actually been inspired by a number of these stories.

“Its good to see you as well.” Lynond took the young man’s hand and then pulled him forward and into a hug. “From your parents.” Which was true, Jasper remembered the hugs being passed around as they left. Jasper just shook his cousin’s hand but grinned broadly at him.

“Hello Cousin.” The youngest of the group said.

“Have you ever sailed with Gerick?” Lynond said with a snort and a laugh. “I think we were in more dangers from his dogs then pirates.” Jasper saw him glance at him. “Though I swore this one was trying to take a dive into the water.”

“I have never sensed a Induk that large.” Jasper said. “He was and wasn’t there, but you could feel the influence down ever stretch of the river.” The young man said with a shrug and turned to his cousin. “Thank you for meeting us here. I hadn’t imagined that the capital was so big.” His brown eyes looked around and a bit of the previous awe touched his face.

“So how have you been Alaric? You father says you are doing well, but he not much on the details.” Lynond said and paused to see what his nephew said. As they were talking someone bumbed into Lynond.

“Move it you ox.” The small man said as he moved around the crowd. Lynond and Jasper looked at the man in surprise. The general bulk of the Alivilda farmers generally kept things civil so both of them found the small man’s rudeness surprising, and funny.

“Well I am sorry my little man.” Lynond said with a jovial laugh while stressing little.

“I wanted to thank you for meeting us.” Jasper said quietly while his father grinned at the rude man. “I am sure you are busy, but if we let my dad try to find places….” He just let it hange there as Lynond turned around. “So were shall we go first.”

[Alaric Ardeichy]

“I

hope they are well,” Alaric laughed as his uncle pulled him close. “It’s hard to tell with father sometimes—whether the harvest is good or bad, he will always only say that he and mother manage. You know how he can be.”

His father was no man of many words. Stoic. Honest. Devoted to the land and the spirits, but not someone to talk much about himself, or the thoughts that troubled him.

One last time Alaric clasped Lynond’s shoulder, then turned to take his cousin’s hand. He cast the young man a measuring glance and grinned.

“Jasper. You have grown since the last time I saw you. And quite a bit, too.”

It was true. There had been a time, not three arcs ago when he hadn't needed to lift his face to meet the would-be Aesir’s eyes. “I heard of your adventure on Hesterfor. Some night, when we have more time, you have to give me the details. I will find a cask of your mother’s mead just for the occasion.”

He was about to say more when the sound of another wagon rolling up from the gates cut him short. Alaric shifted to the side without a second look. Raelia’s crowd, bustling with early morning commotion, left him unfazed.

It, too, was a talent he had picked up over the arcs.

“I sailed a few times with Gerick,” Alaric said, once more turning to his uncle. “But as of late, I only see him when he carries news from home. Does he still have that vicious old merle? A beautiful beast, but a mood more surely than Gerick’s own at times. A good guard dog though.

“The man whose family I stayed with, Amund, his wife is working with hunting dogs. Was a rare cycle she didn’t have a sick or wounded dog over, or a bitch about to whelp. Fierce on the chase, but docile as lambs at home. Taught me a thing or two about dogs, too.”

Ahead, another cart rolled down the street, baskets and crates filled with the early fruits of harvest. Alaric watched it absently. He had fallen quiet as Jasper’s face lit up in recollection of his encounter with the Induk. Now, he laughed. “I can’t serve with an Induk… but over in Alfar Hold, we have shrines for Vynmur and Svariella the Aesir will surely show you—a sight to behold.”

Again, Alaric turned to his uncle.

“I have been well,” he offered and straightened. “Still part of the guard, still serving House Imair. If I have spared father the details, then only because there was nothing worthwhile to talk about.” The last part he had said with a grin, but his expression had a sober edge to it. It was the arrival (and quick departure) of a rotund little man, that saved him from further inquiries.

“You will find, that few people in Raelia know their neighbors quite as well as we do at home, nor that they care for them nearly as much,” he said with a grin at Lynond’s and Jasper’s surprised looks. “But you will grow used to it.”

There was no denying that Raelia was a different place than their hometown and that the people were different, too. For a moment, Alaric watched as his uncle took in the buildings lining the streets.

“Don’t worry—for family I have always time,” he said to Jasper as his cousin leaned close. “My shift ended a break ago and it’s a while before I am expected anywhere else,” he assured him just as his uncle turned to ask where they should go.

“I don’t know what arrangements you made for the night,” Alaric said as he started to lead them away from the gates, “…but if you feel your foal won’t be overwhelmed with the ruckus, we could look at the outer markets or the shrines. It won’t hurt to get your companion used to the local noises early. That said… we can head for the Aesir compound first too.”

[Jasper]

Lynond shrugged his shoulders at Alaric’s question about his parents. “The harvest has been going well this year, but beyond that I get basically the same answers. My brother never was one to talk about himself, but based on how well I know my brother, they are happy and content. Though his indigestion is occurring more often than it used to.” Lynond had his own issues with indigestion and so freely talked about others people issue with it. Jasper was fairly sure that it was brought on by Ardeichy ale. A spiced ale that they only served in the village unless you wanted to spend a lot of coin.

Jasper felt himself blush a little as his cousin as his cousin commented on his height. "My mother hasn't been too happy with my sudden growth. She no sooner gets a new pair of pants made then I gained a couple inches." Jasper felt a bit blush more as Alaric mentioned the events of Ymiden. His father doesn’t say anything about himself but Jasper’s adventure he shares around. “I would be glad to tell you about it later.” Jasper said glancing down at the living gift of that event.

Lynond and Jasper nodded their heads when asked about the Gerick’s dog. “She is getting older, but I still wouldn’t want to be the thief caught by her.” The older man said with a grin. Dogs in Alivilda weren’t house pets, but guard dogs, who were loyal and protective to their masters, but would have been confused if someone tried to cuddle them. In truth the cats were the same, excellent mousers, but not a house guest.

“I would love to see some of the city for a while. Dad will be staying with Gerick for the evening.” Jasper grinned at his father. “I suspect he would like to keep that time to a minimal.” Lynond grunted his agreement even as they began to go farther into the city. “Maybe we could see you were residence you work for.” Jasper hadn’t ever seen one of the great clans of Melrath.

Jasper paused and looked down at his colt who was looking every which way. The young man gentle but firmly nudged that he follow him as they began to move through the city. The groups pace was slowed a bit by the colt, and Jasper found himself pausing occasionally to comfort the creature as it was started by various sounds. Jasper was amused at what did and didn’t bother the animals.

Jasper asked at one point. “What is it like having so many choices?” He said as they passed yet another tavern.

[Pig Boy]

Jasper

Experience: 15 no magic xp

Knowledge:

Knowledge:

Mount x2
Meditation x2
Strength x2
Detection x2

Renown: none

Skill Usage: Appropriate to level

Loot/Losses: none

Injuries/Conditions: none

Consequences: none

Alaric

Experience: 15 no magic xp

Knowledge: None requested. Contact me if you return Alaric, and I'll fill in your knowledges.

Renown: none

Skill Usage: Appropriate to level.

Loot/Losses: none

Injuries/Conditions: none

Consequences: none

Comments: This had the makings of an interesting family reunion. I enjoy the dynamic between them, with Alaric looking upon a growing Jasper in the way you'd expect of a older cousin, remarking on how he's grown and so on. It's a shame this couldn't be taken any further and was abandoned, but such things happen. Good job and enjoy the rewards!

If you have any concerns about this review, please PM me about them.