Bluelake Family/NinaRP/Home
Arrival
The moon was high in the sky when Nina approached the town's gates. She had been slaying monsters all day long, and the last had been specially hard to defeat. Stopping outside for a moment, the wench checked her appearance. The sack with her possessions was decently tied to her shoulder, the shield was carefully dirtied, covered with linen cloth and filled with all sorts of small goods: letters, parchment, wrapped food, small packages, a piece of iron here or there. The woman had spent a couple of hours looking for deliveries to make to the town.
Upon the gates, the guards stopped her, as usual at that hour. Nina showed her face, told them she was from the Crown and Grapes Inn, on the northern part of the town. They checked quickly, pleased to be of favour, and Nina was allowed entrance, leaving the nice comments about Lucy's food behind her.
Inside the house, there was a thunderstorm. The staff left the kitchen in a hurry when Nina arrived, and she now understood why. Lucy was yelling, her cheeks red with anger.
- You bloody little tavern lass! Where were you?! You thought you could just disappear, leave me with all the work, because you felt like it?! What were you thinking!? I spent all these days... - as she went on and on about the many bad things that had happened while Nina was away, the young woman herself was unpacking and nodding. When the first glimpse of silver reached the inn keeper's eyes, the scolding stopped. Lucy stared from Nina to the money, and back.
- Yes, Mo'Lucy, I am terribly sorry I did spend a few extra weeks away, but... I was only trying to bring more of it back home. - approaching, Nina put her 62 silver pieces into Lucy's hands. - The rest doesn't hold much value, but might be of help during my journey... Except this huge ugly shield. - She winked - Perhaps you should keep it and see that it helps yourself and Dad someday. I'll certainly be put into jail if a guard sees me walking around with it.
Lucy finally blinked. In an impulse, she hugged Nina, and a moment later, wordless, she started warming her a meal. The lass smiled, and started telling her adventure, and what else she'd expect to see. Ceorl arrived in the middle of it, and joined them. They were both excited to hear she visited one of the largest cities in these lands, if not the largest, and the many other things that happened. Upon eating, the three noticed a newly built wall between them. Nina knew she couldn't stay. It was a huge world outside...
After the frugal meal, the trio went to give the shield a look.
The shield
Ceorl picked the shield up, weighted it, and left it to Nina's and Lucy's eyes while he went looking for some clean cloth, to take the dirt out of the reflective surface. The women rapidly concluded it was no regular shield, and only someone of great importance would be destined to wear it. Well, if you know Lucy, you'll figure out it was actually her thought, not Nina's.
Ceorl came back and polished the shield's surface. The silver was a bit rusty, and the handler was awfully broken, but the material was of high quality and well crafted. After a moment staring at it, Nina spoke, with a wink:
- It'll buy you a hundred pairs of boots, dad. - Lucy jumped. - What?! Are you crazy? We're not selling it, no miss. - she picked the shield and evaluated the damage - No miss, no selling. This can be fixed by an expert, and then... then you'll bring this family some recognition, yes you will. - What are you thinking of, Lucy...? - Lass... - Mo'Lucy, what is your bright mind thinking of? - Lucy couldn't help laughing at Nina's flattering voice. - I am thinking, my dear, of the realm's Council. Not a simple noble, no, this shield is grand, and should be in important hands... - But, Lucy, what if... - You won't ask for gold, lass, but protection. Actually, you won't ask at all, but will take my letter. What you have to do is to search for a wise man to repair this shield and polish it properly...
Whatever Nina tried to say was in vain. Lucy was now immersed in her own ideals of grandness, and the wench took the time to go walk with her father. Yes, though the middle aged woman was a nice step mother, Nina considered Ceorl her father by heart. They walked and talked, and he understood her need to leave. The inn was too little for her. Yet, she'd do Lucy that last favour, even thinking it would fall on water.
Dawn saw the wench moving out, with the shield carefully wrapped and tied to her back, concealed by the bag. She was happy: finding a wise man shouldn't take all that long... and if the crazy plan worked... The Tai inside of her grinned. They hit the road together.
