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31_days2007-04-17 04:01 pm
seta-suzume.livejournal.com) wrote in 31_days2007-04-17 04:01 pm
[April 17, 2007][Original] Hans Smythe Tells All
Title: Hans Smythe Tells All
Day/Theme: April 17, 2007 as one wishes
Series: Original- continuation of "The Red Kite" and "Facets of Identity"
Character/Pairing: Cara, Hans
Rating: G
In the spring and summer only the kitchen used wood up at a very quick rate. Cara's goal, as she patrolled the forest, hacking at dry undergrowth and breaking up fallen branches, was to build up as big of a supply for the next coming of the cold as she could manage. Her solitary work gave her plenty of time for thought.
Who would be the best person to speak to about Lord Thomas? His mother had died before Cara had arrived at Lanimir. If he had any personal servants, Cara had never met them. Perhaps he was like the duke, who had only his chamberlain to attend to him. Duke Valdir was not very personally frivolous. His wealth and attention were usually lavished more on outfitting his guardsmen and the troops he commanded collected from the dukedom's towns and villages than on fine clothes or banquets. For all their talk, it sounded as though few guards other than Rey Lestari, the captain, actually had any personal contact with Lord Thomas.
A woodpecker's furious tapping on an old oak tree distracted her momentarily. Cara craned her neck to see around the nearby bushes and alders, but she could not pinpoint the sound or bring the bird into view. She snapped a small twig over her knee and tossed it into her basket. There was a fluttering of wings and the pecking resumed. Birds were just too quick for her eyes. It wasn't a big deal, their songs were pretty enough.
"Rey Lestari," Cara reminded herself where she had left off. He was away now, fighting in the south with Duke Valdir, but he was a man who definitely knew everyone in the castle. To keep the peace, he made it his business to know. He was important enough to not have to exaggerate his tales for attention as the other guards might and he seemed straightforward enough to speak to her plainly. ...If Cara had the patience to await his return, he would be a good source.
She turned around and looked through the leaves of the forest, not yet too thick. There was a part of the wall, and, yes, she could catch a glimpse of the top of the castle. If the kite was flying or not, she could not tell. The pale blue sky was eaten up by swatches of fresh leaves reaching toward the sun.
Heavily loaded, Cara began to clomp along the winding path back toward the bridge. A creeping crunching of leaves caused her brown eyes to dart to the left. A tattered minstrel was fumbling his way through the brush, sliding across the slick build up of the last season's dead leaves and stumbling over exposed tree roots.
"Need a hand, stranger?" she offered.
The fair-haired man raised his dirt-smudged face with a smile. "Thanks, friend. Correct me if I'm wrong, but am I not close to Lanimir Castle and bridge?"
"Yes, you're very close," Cara answered, "But your journey would be much quicker and easier if you came over here onto the main path."
The minstrel let slip a small chuckle and he edged over onto the thin trail of packed dirt. Cara looked him over from limp, blond mop to his leather shoes. now that she thought about it, he looked more like a jester than a minstrel. Under his plain, gray cloak, he wore a patchwork, knee-length tunic and green hose. It was the small harp tucked carefully under his arm that gave her the idea he was a musician. "I'm headed back to Lanimir myself," she told him.
"Good, good!" he cheered, "Lead on and I will gladly follow!"
Cara could not help but smile at the scrawny man. His voice was far larger than his little frame would suggest. She nodded affirmatively and continued on her way, allowing him to follow.
It was not long before the funny-looking man began babbling. Cara was used to being alone and not speaking for hours, but now that he had found a companion, the traveler seemed to be unable to keep his mouth shut.
"My name is Hans Smythe," he introduced himself. He did not pause long enough for Cara to respond with her name.
"I was in the Qeymyre for a while back with the king," he continued, "It was some rough territory there! We were mogged along in the muck up to my knees! (That was halfway up His Highness' boots.) I was singing my old heart out to keep His Highness' spirits high and he, usually he's a quiet chap, he even began to sing along!"
Cara looked at him curiously over her shoulder. She had not known that the king was involved in any fighting. She opened her mouth to ask who the king could be squabbling with in the Qeymyre, but Hans' flood of words swept her thoughts away.
"There are huge lizards there in the Qeymyre, but they're not dragons. They have long, nasty tongues and leave behind creepy shapes of shed skin. Ugh, nasty beasts they are! I have some words to give Captain Lestari at the castle. He's the king's brother-in-law, you know? The king and I have this wonderful partnership going on. I go all over the country on jobs for him and he had me declared court musician. Yes, that's me, Hans Smythe!"
Cara had to wonder how skilled a musician Hans was if he was being sent out on so many jobs that kept him away from court all the time. She didn't attempt to point it out. She doubted she'd have a chance. Hans could do as he wished.
Day/Theme: April 17, 2007 as one wishes
Series: Original- continuation of "The Red Kite" and "Facets of Identity"
Character/Pairing: Cara, Hans
Rating: G
In the spring and summer only the kitchen used wood up at a very quick rate. Cara's goal, as she patrolled the forest, hacking at dry undergrowth and breaking up fallen branches, was to build up as big of a supply for the next coming of the cold as she could manage. Her solitary work gave her plenty of time for thought.
Who would be the best person to speak to about Lord Thomas? His mother had died before Cara had arrived at Lanimir. If he had any personal servants, Cara had never met them. Perhaps he was like the duke, who had only his chamberlain to attend to him. Duke Valdir was not very personally frivolous. His wealth and attention were usually lavished more on outfitting his guardsmen and the troops he commanded collected from the dukedom's towns and villages than on fine clothes or banquets. For all their talk, it sounded as though few guards other than Rey Lestari, the captain, actually had any personal contact with Lord Thomas.
A woodpecker's furious tapping on an old oak tree distracted her momentarily. Cara craned her neck to see around the nearby bushes and alders, but she could not pinpoint the sound or bring the bird into view. She snapped a small twig over her knee and tossed it into her basket. There was a fluttering of wings and the pecking resumed. Birds were just too quick for her eyes. It wasn't a big deal, their songs were pretty enough.
"Rey Lestari," Cara reminded herself where she had left off. He was away now, fighting in the south with Duke Valdir, but he was a man who definitely knew everyone in the castle. To keep the peace, he made it his business to know. He was important enough to not have to exaggerate his tales for attention as the other guards might and he seemed straightforward enough to speak to her plainly. ...If Cara had the patience to await his return, he would be a good source.
She turned around and looked through the leaves of the forest, not yet too thick. There was a part of the wall, and, yes, she could catch a glimpse of the top of the castle. If the kite was flying or not, she could not tell. The pale blue sky was eaten up by swatches of fresh leaves reaching toward the sun.
Heavily loaded, Cara began to clomp along the winding path back toward the bridge. A creeping crunching of leaves caused her brown eyes to dart to the left. A tattered minstrel was fumbling his way through the brush, sliding across the slick build up of the last season's dead leaves and stumbling over exposed tree roots.
"Need a hand, stranger?" she offered.
The fair-haired man raised his dirt-smudged face with a smile. "Thanks, friend. Correct me if I'm wrong, but am I not close to Lanimir Castle and bridge?"
"Yes, you're very close," Cara answered, "But your journey would be much quicker and easier if you came over here onto the main path."
The minstrel let slip a small chuckle and he edged over onto the thin trail of packed dirt. Cara looked him over from limp, blond mop to his leather shoes. now that she thought about it, he looked more like a jester than a minstrel. Under his plain, gray cloak, he wore a patchwork, knee-length tunic and green hose. It was the small harp tucked carefully under his arm that gave her the idea he was a musician. "I'm headed back to Lanimir myself," she told him.
"Good, good!" he cheered, "Lead on and I will gladly follow!"
Cara could not help but smile at the scrawny man. His voice was far larger than his little frame would suggest. She nodded affirmatively and continued on her way, allowing him to follow.
It was not long before the funny-looking man began babbling. Cara was used to being alone and not speaking for hours, but now that he had found a companion, the traveler seemed to be unable to keep his mouth shut.
"My name is Hans Smythe," he introduced himself. He did not pause long enough for Cara to respond with her name.
"I was in the Qeymyre for a while back with the king," he continued, "It was some rough territory there! We were mogged along in the muck up to my knees! (That was halfway up His Highness' boots.) I was singing my old heart out to keep His Highness' spirits high and he, usually he's a quiet chap, he even began to sing along!"
Cara looked at him curiously over her shoulder. She had not known that the king was involved in any fighting. She opened her mouth to ask who the king could be squabbling with in the Qeymyre, but Hans' flood of words swept her thoughts away.
"There are huge lizards there in the Qeymyre, but they're not dragons. They have long, nasty tongues and leave behind creepy shapes of shed skin. Ugh, nasty beasts they are! I have some words to give Captain Lestari at the castle. He's the king's brother-in-law, you know? The king and I have this wonderful partnership going on. I go all over the country on jobs for him and he had me declared court musician. Yes, that's me, Hans Smythe!"
Cara had to wonder how skilled a musician Hans was if he was being sent out on so many jobs that kept him away from court all the time. She didn't attempt to point it out. She doubted she'd have a chance. Hans could do as he wished.