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Home » Great Library at Hoeth » Book of Tales » Tales of Si'anelle » A Further Telling of the Tale: Sebekneru Prince of Battle, Chapter Eight: The Sweated Brow that is the Price
| A Further Telling of the Tale: Sebekneru Prince of Battle, Chapter Eight: The Sweated Brow that is the Price |
| - by Lady Si'anelle |
Kneeling by the bed Jean-marie raised her head as Bronwyn quietly returned to the small bedchamber and softly closed the door behind her. "They do go in search for Ae'thenal; - do I make an accurate guess?" she now did ask.
"They do Jean-marie," was Bronwyn's reply. "Peledym is setting himself to rouse his riders and even now Nimine and Cedwyn are hastening across the courtyard to give out their commands."
"And the Swordmaster does remain Bronwyn," asked Jean-marie. Judging by what she had recently overheard echoing down the stairs from the room above she did not need to ask this question, - but there was small harm in seeking Bronwyn's confirmation. Though when the half-Elf did make her reply Jean-marie did think it certain that she was on the brink of laughter before she spoke.
"My Lady, shall I ask you for my fortune," was her irreverent answer to her enquiry and now Bronwyn did chuckle aloud as if all these events had been commanded solely for her amusement. "Yes Jean-marie, the Swordmaster does stalk the length of the chamber above with nought but his severe countenance for company. When I did look in on him he gifted me a glare that may well have shortened my life had I remained."
"He does not trust us," Jean-marie now did sigh as she reached to smooth the coverlet a little more tidily over the Lady Si'anelle's sleeping form. "Before the Lady he does serve to amaze me with his zealot's nature. At the least the Wood Elf scorceress is the more reasonable being."
"Though she is a formidable enough enemy to us Jean-marie," Bronwyn now did comment as she approached the bed. "Does our Lady still exhaust herself in her struggle as she sleeps?"
"She does," Jean-marie did give in reply. Now she turned her head to meet Bronwyn's eye. "I do not like it when you speak of Sindinath Swordmaster and Talieth Mistborn as being our enemies Bronwyn."
"A warrior's simple view Lady," Bronwyn did tell her with a grin and then that grin did fade. "If the Banepearl's servants were alone Jean-marie, and not in company with friends sworn to their cause that pair would now have them bound with wards and walled alive inside a deep cave within the forest of Athel Loren."
Her jaw did drop at that. "Then you do know of that plan of theirs Bronwyn!"
Bronwyn's grin now made its return, "This warrior is perhaps not so simple as that pair do think Jean-marie. I do have eyes and ears even if I have not suffered from the rigours of a mage's training." Silent, for all that she still wore her stout leather boots upon her feet, the half-Elf did now pace the bedchamber, flexing her hands and arms as if in preparation for the act of drawing Ironfang in their defense. "Before Isha and Sigmar both I have given of my oath. For good or ill the thing is done and I shall hold true."
"As shall I Bronwyn," Jean-marie did quietly say. "Except that I cannot believe that our separate gifts of a true vision, wherein we did see the course that would result in the giving of our oaths, shall end here this night."
Bronwyn did now turn to face her, "The Dwarves do have a saying Jean-marie, - the gods may give of their gifts, save that they do like to see the sweat of their earning upon their favoured ones' brows."
Aye, the Dwarves would say that, Jean-marie did silently tell herself. Then it was truth enough that Bronwyn did possess a better knowledge of the Dwavish mind than herself. For was it not also truth that Bronwyn had often enough fought as a mercenary in their wars against Goblin kind in the recent past; - earning herself sufficient glory and respect among that stubbon race for all the fact of her Elven blood that the Dwarf Queen had made the gift of the greatsword Ironfang to her. Though she did not think it was Bronwyn's irreverent wit and unquenchable amusement at the world that had endeared her to the Dwarves, more it was the half-Elf's ability to doggedly stand and fight without breaking to flee, and this done even when she did find herself greatly outnumbered by the foe.
"Save that I have already beaded my brow in the working of my craft Bronwyn," Jean-marie did sigh at last. "And my Lady does still lie unwell within this bed." Lightly now her hands touched her packeted herbs and the silver bowl she had earlier set out upon the floor. She was weary and would be wise to sleep, - for what use would she be to Si'anelle should the she-Elf have urgent need of her and she be mazed with fatigue.
"The aid you did give our Lady would have been of use Jean-marie," Bronwyn did tell her then. "This shall be a long campaign and not a one that is decided by a single skirmish."
Shifting her gaze towards the half-Elf she did say, "I do wish I did own your optimistic frame of mind Bronwyn of Nuln. Ae'thenal has often enough spoken to us of how their trial shall last until the World's end; - and yet here our Lady does lie gravely ill and endangered after but a bare year of suffering her enthrallment."
Bronwyn came to join her then, standing with her arms folded as she did look down upon the bed. "The first time I did take up arms for a mercenary's pay Jean-marie, my sergeant did have to drag me bodily from the battlefield in the aftermath with many a fulsome curse upon his lips directed at my inept ability to defend myself. At the second I did break my sword and near lose my life, save that my sergeant was good enough to slay the Orc with his halberd before he did slay me. The third occasion was no better and again my fellows had to rescue me from my poor craft with weapons. It was then they set me to watch their baggage for shorter pay and would not have me with them in the shieldwall."
"And what did happen then Bronwyn," Jean-marie did quietly ask.
"I did set myself to diligently learn the mercenary's craft Jean-marie," was the half-Elf's soft spoken reply. "For the reason my sergeant did not cast up his hands and send me away was that he did recognise that I did own a fighter's spirit well enough. By setting me to watch their gear I was given a pause in which I could either rise to that responsibility or else go home to Nuln." Bronwyn did laugh then, "If their gear and gold had been taken by the foe Jean-marie it would have indeed wise for me to be safely dead. So I did learn my craft at last and along with that did earn my sergeant's respect."
"So you do tell me that the Banepearl's keepers have yet to fully learn their craft," Jean-marie did say with a further sigh as now she rose to her feet.
"I do think it so Jean-marie," was Bronwyn's reply as she did resume her pacing.
Jean-marie considered that. It was true enough that the Banepearl did ever seek to wear down its servant's spirit. And true enough that Si'anelle did fight constantly of late against the Banepearl and its lust for blood, seeking to protect them all; - for had she not sensed the fury of that battle in this chamber this night, if not at other times since she had given of her oath. Surely if the wicked thing was fed and not denied its wants her Lady would not suffer as she did. This line of thought did frighten her more than a small amount; - for had she not in that furious fight against the Skaven before the wardstones of Athel Loren come close to a sudden and untimely death. Should her Lady carry war the more often to the foul races of the Old World, then the more often she herself would also be facing danger.
That is no less than you did promise in the Lady's name, she did tell herself reminding herself of her oath. Then aloud she did say to Bronwyn, "Si'anelle and Ae'thenal are peerless warriors when they fight, and they do not despair their enslavement. Perhaps it is ill for them to so long have taken rest in Athel Loren when it would have been the better for them to have sought out Orcs and Skaven."
And a familiar voice did answer her soft then from the bed, - which did take her by suprise in her inattention to her patient. "Lady, I do agree."
Might well the Lady Si'anelle be in full armour, except there was small enough weight in her. With an arm about her waist and with a hand locked in her Lady's grip Bronwyn made her lift to set Si'anelle upon Finaith. An untidy enough way to mount a horse when a Lady was of noble birth, then who was here save Jean-marie and herself to see it.
"My thanks Bronwyn of Nuln," soft Si'anelle did say to her as now she gripped the saddle as if fearful that she might fall. And in truth it was likely that may occur, for her Lady did own a laboured breath and there were beads of sweat upon her brow beneath her helm. How both herself and Jean-marie had managed the act of girding on the Lady Si'anelle's armour she did not know, for her Lady's tall and slender frame was so wasted of its flesh that the straps and fastenings could bare be drawn in tight enough to keep her wargear in its place.
Now Bronwyn did exchange a glance with Jean-marie where she sat upon her horse Cloud, and then seeing that the scorceress was of the same mind as herself she did quietly ask, "My Lady is this wise?"
The Lady Si'anelle did give a sharp laugh at that, her violet eyes fever bright and deep set in the thinness of her face. "No it is not wise Bronwyn of Nuln," she did say at last as she looked upon the lightening edges of the sky beyond the wooden wall of Sebekneru's holdfast. "Except I do no longer have the mood to play at death beds while my Ae'thenal does have need of me."
With an urgency to her voice Jean-marie did immediately ask, "And how is the Lady Ae'thenal endangered my Lady Si'anelle; - does an enemy seek to steal the Banepearl from her?"
"Not while I do live Lady," was the Lady Si'anelle's reply and bitter she did laugh again for a second time. Drawing in a laboured breath before she did speak again she said, "There is more that my Ae'thenal does own than the Banepearl that may be stolen before the dawn." Now her hand moved in shadow of command, "Mount your horse Bronwyn of Nuln for there is a distance to be travelled and time does slip away from us."
Laying her hand to Rascal's reins Bronwyn did make move to obey her Lady for all her misgivings that the Lady Si'anelle would bare make the holdfast's gate before she fainted in the saddle. Save that a sound as if several who were armed and armoured and attempting to approach with stealth from the shadows of the keep did cause her to pause. Crying aloud, "Sigmar and Isha," as her battlecry she now did spring away from Rascal and drew Ironfang from its scabbard on her back. And in the awakening dawn she did see her adversaries more than well as they did show themselves. With long bright swords in their grip the six Swordmasters of Horeth did now incline their heads towards her in elegant mockery; - and having made mock of her and her Dwarven greatsword they made their charge.
Swinging up Ironfang in both her hands Bronwyn did full intend to demonstrate to these Elven that she was not so unskilled as they thought before she died, save that behind her Jean-marie spoke a name. A name that rolled like thunder on the new dawn and did cause the ground to shake and split but a pace from her booted feet. And out of that rent in the earth did step an armoured shape that bore a great broadsword in its grip. A massive manshaped thing nobly arrayed in bright steel, and upon its shield a device that took the form of a slim pale arm that lifted up a bright and golden cup above the still waters of a lake.
Before this Bronwyn had fought beside all manner of allies, but none so miraculous as this martial creature Jean-marie had called forth. At the sight of the magical knight and the method of his arrival the swordmasters had paused to stand their ground. Now Bronwyn did decide to carry the fight to them before they entirely lost their amazement. Swinging up Ironfang she again called upon Isha and Holy Sigma and leapt the hole in the courtyard's earth, the Knight of the Cup at her side as she charged. Except that soft now the Lady Si'anelle spoke a word of command in her turn, her voice carrying for all its quietness. "Hold."
Bronwyn did not know how the Lady Si'anelle could be both ill and also be of a regal bearing as she guided Finaith towards where they all now stood with their weapons held in their fists. For even the swordmasters of Hoeth and Sindinath Swordmaster with them had obeyed that single given word of command. In the same quiet tone their Lady did now say, "Jean-marie, bid your magic familiar leave for there is no task here for him to do."
Seated upon Cloud and with her own sword gripped in her hand the young Bretonnian scorceress did betray her unwillingness to obey by the tightness about her mouth, then after drawing in a sharp breath she spoke a single word which did smoulder on the chill dawn air. At her command the Knight of the Cup did turn at once and stride towards the place from whence he had emerged, whereupon he plunged at once into that opening, drawing the earth down over him so that no sign did remain of him.
Having obeyed her Lady and her oath Jean-marie now did make her protest. "My Lady Si'anelle, I do trust that you do possess a better appraisal of our situation than my own, for the warrior familiar will only come if the task I command is just and then he will come but the once." She drew in a breath, the cost of having worked such a magic shadowing her face. "My Lady, if you are unconvinced, then look upon Ironfang in Bronwyn's grip. The Dwarf runes upon the blade still do smoulder at red heat as they do spell out the promise, 'At your need'."
Even as Bronwyn hefted Ironfang in her hands, her cautious eye first upon her sword's long iron blade and then upon the six of Hoeth, the Lady Si'anelle did say quiet voiced in response. "Neither I nor any of my retinue shall reave among Elvenkind; - this is my promise that I did make in Isha's name Jean-marie d'Quenelles." And then in the aftermath of speaking Isha's name her face became more the pale and beads of sweat did stand out on her brow. Save that her suffering of her punishment was done in silence and she did not cry out in her agony.
Now Sindinath Swordmaster did take a step and make a courtly bow, though Bronwyn could see well enough there was mockery in the act. "My Lady Si'anelle, how good that you do not claim my life and that of my fellows also."
"Enough," the Lady Si'anelle did say at once, her hand dismissive of him as now she did bare her teeth. "I did know that you did skulk within the shadows Sindinath Swordmaster; - and also I did taste of your intent. So do not make a mummer's play with me this dawn. If you do still desire to take me prisioner while I am without the Banepearl then commit your hand; - or else march with me and prove your skill against the Orcish raiders who even now do flow like a foul stain across the black giantess Sebekneru's lands."
"So you do seek after blood even though the Banepearl is not in your hand," Sindinath Swordmaster did now accuse, his handsome face twisting in his disgust of her. Three steps more he took his broad made Elven sword rising in his hands, except that Bronwyn did also step to block his path, Ironfang meeting his blade in a ringing clash of steel.
Standing close her eye hard upon his face she did say to him. "You shall not my Lord." Before they broke apart and again their swords did ring out as they met for a second time and a third. Though when the Lady Si'anelle did call her off in a tone that did not hide in any measure its chiding qualities Bronwyn was glad of it, for the Swordmaster had pressed her skills most hard and she would have more than like lost her head had she continued with the contest.
If Sindinath Swordmaster might have then persisted in his arrest Bronwyn could not say, for now at a run the remainder of Sebekneru's warrior women did arrive from their barracks. The sound of combat having made them come in haste as soon as they had their wargear upon their backs and their weapons in their hands. It was the slight made woman of Araby who first did speak as these women stood in the increasing light of the new day; - the woman whom Jean-marie had told her had made an insult at their Lady's love for her dear friend.
"What is this now?" the quick eyed woman did ask with her sword held in readiness and her shield upon her arm. Might well she have a unicorn's head upon her shield as her device, but Bronwyn did not think she had chosen it because Elvenkind did have a regard for her. "Those who are guest-holy in Sebekneru's house do come to blows and argue as if they are traders in a market. I do think you Elves are unworthy of our hospitality and are like in kind to this half-Elven bitch whom we do already know of more than well. Perhaps I shall have you put outside the gates where you may dispute at your leisure and not offend the Goddess with your contempt towards the guestright we did make a gift to you."
At her back the twenty women with her called out their assent, and Bronwyn did know well that if these warrior women of Norsca and Araby did take it into their heads to throw them out the resulting fight would be hard and furious. Except that no words that she might now speak would serve to sooth their mood in light of her previous offense on the last occasion she was here.
This situation was not good, to Jean-marie that was plain enough. These women would not listen to any of Elvenkind in their present mood; - and even if they did have a care to hear out any word that might be said, there was none here to whom they would give an ear. Bronwyn was marked with the stain of her earlier and as yet unsaid offense when last she did guest within these walls; - and the Swordmaster was plain enough too much a member of his race in his haughty contempt of these wild seeming women. Her eyes sought out the Lady Si'anelle, except that any hope was of an instant dashed when she did see that she could bare keep her seat upon Finaith in her state of illness and fatigue. The disputing with the Swordmaster having worn to the nub that small reserve of strength she had formerly possessed.
It was her training and her discipline that did aid her then when her Lady did bespeak her within her mind. Might well she be aware that such was a commonplace between the Lady Ae'thenal and her friend, save that before this she had not suffered such a circumstance as a bespeaking from another. Glad that she had not cried out and shamed herself she did listen carefully to the silent words that soft did whisper inside her head, and when she was certain that she understood she did wheel Cloud about and sheath her sword. Calling out to the woman of Araby and saying.
"T'amsine, it is not seemly that we do dispute and make light of our gift of guest-holiness; - save that a circumstance has arisen where we must all forget these arguements that do lie between us."
"Ah the Bretonnian witch with the pretty sword," the woman of Norsca who did stand close with T'amsine now did say. Laughing she did slap her great mace upon her palm, save that T'amsine was quick to demand quiet of her in her own tongue before she did step forward.
"What circumstance is this witch?" she did ask without preamble.
"Orcs do even now make an invasion of Sebekneru's lands," Jean-marie did answer stating this fact plain and without embellishments. "They are but the precursors of a greater host however, for an army of Undead do follow after them and shall be within the borders of these lands even as the sun does draw to setting at this day's end." For all the calmness of her speech she was inwardly afraid and trembling. Orcs she had seen and fought before this, but not the legions of the Undead who were a blasphemy before the most holy Lady's name.
Though where Jean-marie did see the High Elven with her stand struck into silence by the words she had been given to speak, those of Sebekneru's women did but laugh and clash their weapons upon their shields. "Tomb Kings," T'amsine did say when the laughter had lessened and the clash of maces and swords had fallen into silence. Grinning fiercely the Araby woman did now raise up her sword and cry aloud in her own tongue, "Tomb King, you shall die twice." And clash her sword upon her shield, her cry taken up by all the company of women with her. As Jean-marie did now look to where Bronwyn did stand with Ironfang resting upon her shoulder she did see the half-Elf grin and gift to her a wink. Given to be amazed by her fellow oath-bearer's light hearted attitude and casual seeming behaviour it did barely register upon her mind that Sebekneru's warrior woman had ignored the fact of the Orcish raiders that even now were within the giantess's lands.
Amused Bronwyn did stand and watch while T'amsine and her sisters gave vent to their wild and feral joy. She did hold no suprise that Jean-marie had looked upon them all as if addled in their heads before she had guided Cloud towards the Lady Si'anelle so that she might care for her. Long would the Tomb Kings of Kemeni remember Sebekneru and her women as they hunched forever within their mighty tombs in their corrupted splendor. For Sebekneru had journeyed to that land in company with her Norsca shieldmaidens in search of glory and gold; and many women who were outcasts among their kind had joined with her as she had crossed the land of Araby. Bronwyn did not know the full tale of it, save for the word of travellers she had met, but against all odds it seemed Sebekneru had survived her audacity and won, claiming a portion of the Tomb Kings' hoarded gold which she had brought with her to the Borderlands to build her holdfast in this fertile valley.
Now shaking her head and with her grin upon her face Bronwyn did also seek to go to the Lady Si'anelle, except that Sindinath Swordmaster's hand did fall upon her arm.
"Three times you did block my stroke with your Dwarven sword half-Elven," he did say his expression measuring of her. "I shall the more closely watch you from this day forth."
"I did earn Ironfang Swordmaster; it is not spoils found nor stolen," she did tell him then. "And the Dwarf Queen does not make gift to those of Elven blood as an amusement to pass the time."
"Then I shall doubly watch you Dwarf-friend," he did now say to her as he did remove his hand his face a mask of cold contempt. "Once the threat is dealt with here we shall talk again you and I."
Her grin now fixed upon her face she did watch him go to rejoin the others of Hoeth who had taken ship from Ulthuan. Then she did shrug her shoulders and ignore them; if they did want a proving of the Lady Si'anelle and her friend then soon enough they would have of it. And if not casting out Undead from the World would serve to convince, then before Sigmar and Isha both she could not hazard what proof Sindinath Swordmaster would have of her Lady Si'anelle and her dear friend to set his mistrust at rest.
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