Dane surveyed the tools available, then the men waiting. Jeph was examining a sword, Morrys was throwing a knife lazily into the air, drawing the eye of the blonde Wrenne child lurking by the house. Joseph was chatting with Alistair, who seemed smaller in the company of the other men. Tobias was not present, a blessing to Dane. He was even worse than Alistair. Frederick was with his father trying to solve some issue with water. The merchant boy did not show.
Jeph hefted the sword and leveled it at a tree, testing the weight. "Still feels right," he commentated. Dane nodded at the remark, having seen the sword in Jeph's baggage.
"It's a fine sword, maybe a touch battered." Dane held out his hands and accepted Jeph's sword. Nodding at the make, he handed it back. "I see that it has been in a number of battles."
"Aye." Jeph sheathed it. "From my guarding days." Dane nodded. Beneath the lard put on by the heavy drinking, Jeph had a core of muscle beneath. Jeph kept his mind from wandering, "The hunt. Who do you think should come?"
"Morrys seems ready," Dane murmured.
Jeph called over the man, who tucked away the knife. Jeph had barely blinked before calling the next name. "Joseph as well. You'd do well with an axe, I'd say."
"It's a fine sword, maybe a touch battered." Dane held out his hands and accepted Jeph's sword. Nodding at the make, he handed it back. "I see that it has been in a number of battles."
"Aye." Jeph sheathed it. "From my guarding days." Dane nodded. Beneath the lard put on by the heavy drinking, Jeph had a core of muscle beneath. Jeph kept his mind from wandering, "The hunt. Who do you think should come?"
"Morrys seems ready," Dane murmured.
Jeph called over the man, who tucked away the knife. Jeph had barely blinked before calling the next name. "Joseph as well. You'd do well with an axe, I'd say."
Joseph looked up from his tussle with Alistair. "Yes sir." He examined the weapons available. "I was thinking a sword might suit me more, sir." He picked up a battered, but polished long sword. "My father's sword-"
Dane could see the terrible hold on the grip, the lanky way the boy held the sword, and the poor weighting for him. It was a relief when Jeph spoke.
"No, my boy. That sword isn't right for you. Stick to the axe, and maybe you'll be able to handle that beast another day."Joseph frowned, but slid the sword into its sheath. He found an axe suitable to Jeph's standards and stood next to Morrys.
Dane could see the terrible hold on the grip, the lanky way the boy held the sword, and the poor weighting for him. It was a relief when Jeph spoke.
"No, my boy. That sword isn't right for you. Stick to the axe, and maybe you'll be able to handle that beast another day."Joseph frowned, but slid the sword into its sheath. He found an axe suitable to Jeph's standards and stood next to Morrys.
Jeph handed a pack to the other men and nodded to Alistair. "We should be back before tomorrow's nightfall, but if not, then the next day before the noon hour. Tell the women." He shouldered his pack and directed the men to the path.
Alistair blinked as the men double checked their supplies. "But, father?" Jeph looked up at his son. "What should I be... taking along?" He cleared his throat. "I was thinking the crossbow...?"
Jeph frowned. "Alistair, you are to stay behind."The other men suddenly looked away. Joseph had the barest flinch when he saw the situation unfold.
"But, I- I can do it," Alistair said weakly. He licked his suddenly dry lips. The bow suddenly felt very much like the twig and string bow he used to make when he was a young child. He felt very much like that young child again when Jeph looked him over.
"No, Alistair. You will stay behind with the women." Jeph's tone was final.Alistair felt himself flinch and hated himself for it. It was a weak, childish tic he had thought was gone. However, under the gaze of his father, it had made itself anew.
Alistair blinked as the men double checked their supplies. "But, father?" Jeph looked up at his son. "What should I be... taking along?" He cleared his throat. "I was thinking the crossbow...?"
Jeph frowned. "Alistair, you are to stay behind."The other men suddenly looked away. Joseph had the barest flinch when he saw the situation unfold.
"But, I- I can do it," Alistair said weakly. He licked his suddenly dry lips. The bow suddenly felt very much like the twig and string bow he used to make when he was a young child. He felt very much like that young child again when Jeph looked him over.
"No, Alistair. You will stay behind with the women." Jeph's tone was final.Alistair felt himself flinch and hated himself for it. It was a weak, childish tic he had thought was gone. However, under the gaze of his father, it had made itself anew.
Jeph turned on Alistair, and clapped Joseph on the back. "Let's go. We should not waste more time." Joseph glanced back at the hunched form of Alistair and paused. Alistair turned away from Joseph's sorry gaze.
"Come on, son." Alistair perked up. "If there's time tonight, I'll show you a few passes with your old man's sword."
Jeph was talking to Joseph. Alistair turned and walked back to the houses.
"Come on, son." Alistair perked up. "If there's time tonight, I'll show you a few passes with your old man's sword."
Jeph was talking to Joseph. Alistair turned and walked back to the houses.