Llewylyn

Llewylyn

"You missed." She said by way of introduction. "Was it that bad?"

A gust of wind inspired her to pull the furs around her a bit more. The wind always gusted on the craig tops where they stood. She in her woolen dress and furs, him stripped down to breeks and leggings. They stood on the rocky outcrop where they often had this very same conversation. No matter the weather, it was always cold here. Cold, windy, and lonely.

Eurwyn had climed up here when she knew Llewylyn had returned from seeing the count. Harlad, his hippogriff mount, had returned to the camp seeking food, as always. As usual, she had been right, he was here with an old bow, a few arrows, and everything else laid aside. Laid in a semi-neat pile, of course, he took care of things even if he didn't care much for depending on them. Much of his gear was magical, and a few things helped him with his archery.

If he used them.

"Who did they want you to marry this time?" She said, as he carefully picked up another arrow and looked at it.

"Some lovely lady from Count Aggasy's realm, I believe." He thought for a few moments. "Rather nice blonde hair, a gentle face, and I must confess that she cooks a meat pie that is interesting. I should have asked her for the recipe. Your cooking could use a little woman's touch."

"Hmm...that would be Lady Helga Snowraven. And if you want a woman's touch around the campfire you'd best say yes to one or the other ladies Count Silland tries to hook you up with. He is a good man, and your influence at his court could be much better if you let it. And you could sample Helga's meat pies whenever you wanted."

When he looked at the target again, she whispered "They are dead, Llewyln, let them go. You killed them years ago and yet you come back here and haunt yourself for her. Can't you let them go?"

His shoulders slumped as he sighed. "I try. I really do. Then every time I start to think we can settle down like normal people I start to worry they will find us again. I'm not sure I could stand to lose Bronwyn and Calead like I lost their mother."

"You can't live in fear for the rest of your life. That bow. Those hill giants. Remember? You put an arrow through his eye socket at two hundred paces. He died. His clan died. The vultures that fed on them for days have died and so have half a dozen vulture generations that came after them."

He took her hand and kissed it gently. "You are right, of course. Make some room in that fur and catch me up on the news."

They snuggled close after he put on his boots and tunic. "Well, there's a raging debate on beer. Lughen threatened killed the brownies when they slipped some faerie dust into one of his barrels. Of course, given the hint of crafty challenge that all gnomes love he reconsidered when that barrell's mugs took three times the cost for his already vintage draughts. The debate is still raging between him and his brothers but they are still managing to clean out the old stonework on the keep and shore up some of the fallen walls. Some of our people have been training with Lord Vandimion's light horse. Both sides seem to appreciate the abilities of the other and it let's us share what we know. No one seems to volunteer for the heavy infantry training being offered though. We just hope he has enough."

"I saw a little smoke as we flew over the halfling's village. Did I miss any fun?"

"No, the Beerbuckle boys were visiting when a few nasties thought to take easy pickings. Bad timing on their part, I guess. We're giving their militia some training and adding their village to the regular patrols. The Beerbuckles won't mind the extra work either; at least they have the sense to start looking for beautiful wives who cook well."

"The count's hunting preserve? That worries me a little; he's a good man, as you say. but there are too many ambush points in there. Yet we still need a ranger to patrol the ducal highway as well. Maybe I should look at that myself."

Eurwyn made a face he didn't recognize. "Well, that problem may be solved. A couple weeks ago a young half-elf ranger showed up and said she had studied your career and wanted to be just like you. Can't say what she sees in that, honestly. She didn't take the suggestion to go live in a flea infested mud pit for a few years too well. Seems as if she has other ideas about you. She is rather, um, busty, too. That may be why she uses a crossbow."

Llewylyn chuckled. "Jealous, are we? Don't you know you're the only real woman in my life?"

"Don't get gross." She pushed him away slightly. "If you must know little miss tight shirt hasn't shirked in any of the grunt work we've given her. I think she enjoys the other guys oogling her so she keeps at it. Mael says she's ranger qualified, rightly so, but no too experienced. Lots of time at the feet of bards, not so much on her own feet, if the rumors are true."

"Hmph..." he hmphed. After a couple minutes he added. "What is it you're not telling me."

"Well..." she took a breath. "Thoamros sent a note, he'd like a meeting. You and some of the old gang, it seems. No details, obviously; the old fox doesn't want any secrets escaping."

"And..."

She sighed. "And I want to go with you. There's this gentlemen I have been talking to on occasion, and unlike you I happen to enjoy the idea of a warm evening at home with another person."

"What's his name? What does he do?"

"That would be none of your business. You've probably met him once or twice but I'm not about to have you hunting him down and tracking him all over the country. We'll make proper introductions when it's time. Until then, just assume one of us is thinking about the future."

"What of the truth? Have you told him that?"

SHe blushed and turned away. "Not yet. Not ever, unless..."

"Unless he asks for your hand?"

"I...did you? Did she know?"

He shook is head slightly. "Every day I wonder what would be different had she known. I agonize over telling the kids someday, and they will ask me that same question."

"Not today, Llewylyn. No one knows about us. If someone attacked us your friends would be here in a triple heartbeat because of who you are, not who you were. They know they have but to ask and our entire misbegotten crew would be at their beck and call to defend them against any threat. That is the truth I carry."

He chuckled and smiled weakly. "This new girl, can she cook?"

---

Lord Llewylyn Emyr Male, Human, NG Ranger, Level 10

STR 16, INT 13 WIS 14, DEX 12, CON 18, CHA 10 HP: 87

Followers:

1. Eurwyn, Level 4 Human Fighter
2. Mael, Level 3 Human Ranger
3. The Beerbuckle Boys: 3 Level 3 Halfling Fighters
4. Bronwyn (f) and Calead (m), children ages 8 and 6.
5. Lughen, Drughen, Rughen, three Level 1 gnome fighters, beer brewers, and stone craftsmen.
6. Riff and Raff, Brownies of ill repute as no one can say their real names.
7. Harlad the hippogriff
8. Little Miss Tightshirt, Level 1 Half-elf Cleric/Ranger
9. Level 4 Human Cleric
10. Level 3 Human Cleric
11. Brown Bear
12. Level 3 Human Fighter
13. Level 3 Human Druid