Scene Seven - A secret meeting...

A full day had passed since the meeting with the stranger in the shadows. A busy day packing and storing the goods and stock that was held over from the meeting of the Warhost, most of whom had drifted off in various directions, back to homelands or to other adventures. Vollsanger had counted up the takings and dictated the figures to Agnes who wrote them into the Book with practised hand. It was now a few years since Vollsanger had learned his letters by the fireside working into the early hours with the patient owner of the Crimson Moon, but keeping the ledgers was still out of his reach. "Generating income is no problem " he would reflect, "recording it is a pain and leads to ink on the fingers"

Out back he could hear the Bynts busy with the daily tasks, and the occasional laugh and giggle showed all was well. It was getting dark and he expected a visit any time ...

Sure enough, about an hour after sunset, a tall lanky figure in a heavy cloak and hooded features slipped in through the curtain at the rear of the tent. Vollsanger sat by the low firepit in his fur covered chair, sipping on some hot mulled wine, the kettle hissing gently on the coals. He gestured with his mug to a seat by his side and the stranger looked around at the entrances into the main tavern.

"It is quite safe here - we will not be disturbed" Vollsanger assured him. "you may tell M'lady De Sade that she may come at any time.."

It was clear that the stranger had not expected to hear the name spoken aloud! He jumped to his feet, legs balanced for fight or flight, arms poised and only the relaxed stance of the old Bard stopped him from reaching for the dagger at his side.

"Sit down Mr Everhard, it took me a while but I recognised you from our brief meeting. I presumed the Lady was Mistress Wren,  and your reaction tells me that my guess was right. "

Indeed, Vollsanger had spent a fruitful day. At first it was a difficult task to remember where he had seen the stranger before, but the rapidly departing Warhost had cut down the options considerably. The Ship in the harbour called the "Atrocity" had been very quiet, little happening, but enquiry had shown that most of the Crew and passengers were aboard their shorebased "Knot Yacht", a sprawling tented camp of Yurts and Belltents. He had not needed to enter to make more enquiries. The Mongols had been friends of the Tavern for years, and the strange defection of Binabik Tai-ishi from their numbers had been a subject of speculation over many an ale and mead. But when Bin had joined the Caravanshi and suddenly appeared as the Lord General of the Steppe, no barkeep worth his salt could have failed to recognise such an influential character.

He may call himself Everhard De Sade now, he may claim to only be the "housekeeper", he may state his only position was as messenger - but the figure standing before him was still Binabik Tai-ishi, also known as Bin Caravanshi the juggler and fool, the swordmaster, ex Lord General of the Steppe Alliance.  

The fire glowed and poured out heat into the cool evening. Vollsanger slowly reached out and poured a mug of Mulled wine and placed it in front of Everhard. 

"I think we have business to attend to... I shall call the "Widow" if Mistress Wren de Sade wishes to  join us"

Two hours later, the two ladies had conducted their business...

Yarp the cellarman and barrel roller had stood on guard just outside the tent, a threatening sight and any unexpected visitor rapidly changed their mind about how important their visit to the back room was going to be. There was no doubt that various members of the steppe were patrolling the outside, it was the quietest two hours ever experienced in the back room of the Crimson Moon.

And so it came to be that the Widow and Vollsanger would leave for the Norscan Homelands - secretly, and with a large quantity of Gold - the same strange gold that Vollsanger had seen the day before.

And the Crimson Moon, in its entirety, with Yarp, and the Bynts would head to the next meeting of the Factions with the Steppe Alliance, under the ownership of Mistress Wren de Sade, sailing in the Atrocity to new adventures, with the De Sades and the Carvanshi and perhaps even some of the mongol horde..

A new day was to dawn for the Crimson Moon ... a time to move on to bigger and better times. 

The Land may have a Renewal of Magic - now the Crimson Moon had its own Renewal...

We wish them every success for the future...

[from the hand of Vollsanger the Skald - here all week]

Scene Six : a Meeting is arranged..

It had not been an easy meeting to set up, too many eyes and ears surrounded the old Tavern since rumours had started  that the "widow" Agnes intended to return to her homelands. And Vollsanger, the ageing  Bard, seemed to have a restrained spring in his step with the prospect of return. But the talks with Radgast and his hidden supporters had not been going well. Oh, they liked the concept of the tavern and knew that it was a thriving business, how thriving Vollsanger did not let on.. that was a much more a personal matter...

But it seemed that Radgast was answering to other masters, and was not the free agent that he had purported to be. Talk was cheap - but the sale of the Tavern involved hard gold - and when it came to the crunch - Radgast was not able to bring the support needed. Radgast's backers  would take the Tavern to lands other than the Warhost in search of more gold - that was not the way of the Crimson Moon ....

And then the stranger had accosted Vollsanger in the shadows by the storehouse... Not in a threatening manner, Vollsanger had a history of furtive meetings in the shadows and recognised the purpose here was for secrecy and discretion.  No harm was intended. But he carefully slipped the dagger from his left sleeve into his hand - just to be careful...  Hidden in the shadows.. the tall, angular frame seemed slight in the tattered cloak that hugged his shoulders... the hood pulled down over a weatherbeaten face, wispy beard and tight lips, which whispered "We have a proposition.."

Vollsanger was sure that he recognised this man, the voice was heavily disguised  but years as a skald had taught the bard how to listen to the resonance of the voice, the tones, the intonations, to wade through the lies and hear the voice behind...  "I know that voice" he thought to himself..... but steeled his face into open questioning... They sat on two store boxes in the shadows by a small table normally used for measuring grain.

"My lady would like to meet with you - to discuss some plans of mutual advantage" The eyes were bright and piercing under the hood, questing into the face of the old bard for some hint of how the offer was being taken...
A stranger sitting at the table would have been hard pressed to see what happened next. A Gold piece appeared between the fingers of the hooded figure... and strayed across the knuckles before disappearing into the clenched fist ... only a second for the whole movement. Not a word was spoken. Two fists laid out on the rustic wooden surface.. one holding he gold piece that had just rolled across his hand..  the other, back to the surface - fingers clenched....

Vollsanger continued to look into the hooded eyes - and without hesitation covered the clearly empty fist with his right hand  - which opened slowly to reveal a large gold piece. Vollsanger took the Gold - his eyes never straying from those of the stranger...

"The Widow is the only one who can make any final decision, but it is well that you spoke with me first, for I speak for the "widow" in all such matters.."  No mention was made of what 'matters' - it was clear that both men knew the subject of discussion and both disdained to elaborate.  Vollsanger recognised a hint of command and stature despite the ragged clothing and the, probably false, stoop of the shoulders. Here was a man who had commanded men, warriors, perhaps more !!   Vollsanger knew it would come to him if he did not press the memory.  But who was the Lady ???

"Perhaps later in the Crimson Moon - we have a private room at the back - and there is separate entrance for those who wish to be circumspect..  Bring your lady - she will be safe and we can talk and enjoy a hot mulled wine or a jug of mead... "

A breath of wind and the place next to him was empty - only the still shadows.
Vollsanger looked at the Gold piece in his hand. A bite told him it was true gold, but there were strange marking on the coin - not of these lands he thought, and he knew most coin of the lands..   Was there a hint of the image of a dragon upon the back of the coin....
"Stranger and stranger " he thought - I may have to do some enquiries of my own." The stranger had smelled of salt and fish, and the sea!!!  "Maybe I should start with the yacht that is moored in the harbour.. It had a strange name... Ah Yes - the Atrocity !!!!"

 







 

Scene Five - Leaving the warhost

A chill on the air brought a wisp of moisture on the breath, the moon was bright and shone on the water, the creak of ropes tightening as the moored dragon boats rose on the tide...  Tonight was special. Tonight was the passing from one life to another. Tonight a door closed and the future was unknown.

The quiet harbour was hidden from most eyes - and the passage over the water back to Norscan Lands had been planned with the greatest secrecy. Too many people knew that the "Widow" Agnes was returning to her homelands - not sure what she would find after so many years. After accusations of evil deeds, poisonings, attempted murder of  Norscan Nobles, all distant deeds. Years of separation from her people, indifference of her Lord General, lack of support as she struggled to carry the Tavern from land to land to support the Warhost....

For a brief period, she had allowed herself  to find a new family with her adopted children - the Ua Déaghaidh, but one by one they had succumbed, departed and died... the last throwing his life away upon the whim of  Cole... another sadness to carry with her to the new lands..

Yes - too many knew of that they were travelling, but Vollsanger had planned carefully and he was confident that no-one knew of the travel plans that would take them back to Norsca.

Behind them - the entire contents of the Crimson Moon Tavern was packed and secured and was being led away from the bay. Neither knew where it was to be stored - it was not their problem now. There was no doubt that the Crimson Moon would be in place when the Warhost met for Beltane. But the "Widow" and Vollsanger would not be there - only the new owners....

"That was a lot of gold ... everything we asked for" Agnes said quietly to the Bard. "I never thought that they had that sort of money.."
"There are rumours of a Dragon Hoard ... I have never seen such runes as appear on the gold - but you have tested and it is good gold.... I do not think we have cause to fear"
"Still, I shall miss the Warhost - it has been my family for so long..."

"Should we tell everyone who has bought the Tavern?" she asked...
"They will find out soon enough" he replied.

"We shall find a new life back in the Homeland...  It is time to get aboard..."

Their hands clasped for a second and gave a tender squeeze. The wedding may have been at Beltane, may have been only a year and a day ... but, possibly there would be more for the "Widow" Agnes and Vollsanger....