A RECKONER AND HIS MULE
The morning after the feast Drimbold made his way to his Lord's chambers. On entering the chambers he was greeted by the Thane's daughter , the formidable and fearsome Brunvilda.
"Are there you are. My father has authorised me to act in his stead as he is deep in meditation and cannot be disturbed"
Drimbold tried hard to keep a straight face because he could clearly hear a loud snoring eminating from an open door to the bedroom which told him that his Thane was well and truly "meditating".
Not only was Brunvilda heir to the Thane, but she was also a High Priestess of the Blessed Luna which mean't that she effectively ran the Clan on behalf of her father. Indeed she had done so for a number of years. Brunvilda was indeed the power behind the Thane of Moedagh.
"I'll come straight to the point Master Reckoner for we do not have much time" she said " There are two missions for you two fulfil without delay. Firstly you are to travel to Capital of Clan Bealagh at Glinntre. They have a family heirloom in their posession. A four poster bed which my grandfather loaned to old Thane Baelon. Since Baelon is no longer with us and his son Creggar is now Thane we want to retreive the bed. If Clan Baelagh huff and puff over this then we shall settle for the bedposts and leave them the bed. So that shouldn't prove a problem. Here is the warrant for the bed duly signed and sealed by my father"
" Yes Mistress" replied Drimbold with some relief as he had been expecting something far more serious than the retrieval of a couple of bed posts. However knowing his Thane and daughter the way he did he decided to make sure that he would be prepared for all eventualities
"I shall need my mule, Delores" he continued" and an issue of `Lucky Chuff' from the Thane's strores , Mistress"
"Very well, You will leave immediately Master Reckoner"
Drimbold coughed and rubbed his chin " Uhm...you did mention two missions mistress?"
"You will be instructed on the next mission when you have completed this simple task. This meeting is over" and with that Brunvilda tromped out of the chamber. Being left alone Drimbold gathered up the warrant and placed it in the scroll pouch on his belt and left for the stables.
As soon as the Reckoner had left the Thane of Moedagh came into the chamber and moved towards his daughter's side room. Popping his around the door he said
"Well that went well. Hopefully the Reckoner will retrieve the bedposts without young Creggar realising it's true significance"
"Let us pray that he does" replied Brunvilda her brow creased with concern.
---------- * * * ----------
Drimbold picked up his supplies from the store, including a large amount of lucky chuff tightly wrapped in greaseproof paper. `Chuff' is a strong cheese preferred by dwarfen miners who generally carry it under their helmets as rations or for other emergency purposes. It is a very strong and pungent cheese and definitely an acquired taste.
Having gathered all his gear and victuals Drimbold tromped off to the paddock near the gate to the hold where he met the head stablehand Forgil Buckfast who was nursing bruise marks the size of a mule's hoof on his rump.
"Been playing up has she Forgil?" asked Drimbold who was chuckling away.
"If you have come to take that she-devil off my hands and out of stables then you are a welcome sight Master Reckoner" replied Forgil an angry froth appearing at the sides of his mouth and running down his beard. " She's been nothing but trouble".
The two glanced over to the corner of the paddock where Delores had cornered 2 new stables lads in the corner and had them trapped. No one had been able to put neither rein nor harness on the mule since Drimbold had stabled her 4 days ago. In fact everyone feared the mule except two dwarfs, Drimbold and more importantly the Thane's daughter who had once proclaimed to the entire hold that any dwarf who was mistreating Delores would be ....
"....for the trouser leg ritual and no messing"
The entire hold new that once Brunvilda had made the proclamation that she mean't it. Needless to say, since that day, Delores' antics and temprement were tolerated by all.
Drimbold walked across the paddock with harness and gear. He dismissed the two terrified beardlings who had been trying groom Delores and they retired to a safe distance where to their astonishment they saw Drimbold remove his helm hold it under the nose of the Mule and slip a harness and pack upon the mule without any trouble at all.
As he led Delores out of the paddock, though the gates of the hold and onto the road to Glinntre he looked at the stable lads and shouted
"You young beardlings still have much to learn" and gave them both a wink.
Edited by Ossian - 14 Mar 2013 at 10:41