Weave as it Will

It had been a long day for both Dura and his new Ogier companion. They had left early in the morning and had pushed hard to leave Andor's borders before midday, which they had done quite handily. The drawback of taking this pace, however, was that Dura had nearly exhausted all of their resources by the time evening arrived. Wosin seemed to be taking the exertion quite a bit better, however, probably that Ogier endurance all the tales tell of, Dura though to himself. "How are you holding up, Wosin?" he asked, suddenly curious.

Wosin was apparently too focused on maintaining his pace to answer, and he kept on his course without flinching. Dura grinned at this, it looks like I didn't pick up a layabout, at least.

Suddenly looking about to get his bearings, Dura noticed an important landmark: a large tree which had been struck by lightning decades ago, and had continued growing, despite it being split nearly in half. The small Obliter-owned farm to which Dura and Wosin were heading was less than a mile distant, and Dura was very glad of it. He would be glad to lie down and sleep in a bed, rather than the ground, which was the alternative had they not made this pace.

Though of course the horses would probably be much more glad than Dura would. Whisper, the packhorse Dura had found for Wosin back in the village, was breathing heavily, and probably wouldn't last more than an hour at this pace, had they been forced to keep it; Miera, Dura's mare, seemed to be holding up much better, though Dura knew that she too would require rest soon if he didn't want to cripple her.

"We should come up to the farm any time now," he announced loudly, shocking Wosin out of his daze. The Ogier turned to Dura and grinned toothily, obviously glad of the comfort and rest in the near future.

The day grew long, and the shadows of Wosin and his horse riding companion began to stretch across the grasslands. Fortunately though, the road behind Wosin and Dura also grew long. Setting out early that morning, they had made the northern border before mid-day and now, hours later, they still hadn’t stopped for a break. Wosin was unconcerned for himself for he could keep this pace for miles yet but he was concerned however, for the horses that carried Dura and Wosins large chest. The animals had performed quite admirable thus far but Wosin could hear the breathing of his pack horse and it was fast becoming ragged. Even Dura’s mare, a horse bred specifically for travel over distances seemed to be growing weary.

“How are you holding up Wosin?” came a sudden question from Dura. The Ogier thought of responding but decided not to, choosing instead to play it safe by not disrupting his breathing pattern jut to utter a few syllables since he did not know just how much longer they would travel that day.

A few moments later, Dura sat up a little straighter in his saddle, looking at what appeared to be a tree that had been cloven nearly in two some decades ago, possibly by lightning. Good that the tree has flourished even after such a mighty blow Wosin thought to himself as he noticed it. “We should come up to the farm any time now.” Said Dura in a loud voice. “That is good. I feared that the horses might not last much longer.” Said a grinning Wosin. “And besides, my feet will welcome the chance at rest.”

Just a few minutes later, coming over a low rise in the landscape, Wosin spotted a group of barns and several small farmhouses. “I take it that that is the farm we’re headed for” rumbled Wosin as they headed forward on a path that seemed to lead directly to the small settlement.

OOC: I apologize for taking so long.

It seemed an eternity had passed between the Ogier's remarks, but time always seemed to slow down during the twilight hours for Dura. "Yes, that's the farm, though it is much larger than it was when I last visited it," he added, smiling at the apparent prosperity the owners had experienced over the last two years. "I'm sure that Master Venn and his wife will be happy to extend their hospitality towards us, my friend, and you're in for quite a treat. Sylvea, Master Venn's wife, bakes some of the best bread in all of the Caralain Grass-" He paused momentarily as Miera stepped carefully over a fallen branch, "-and we've also jested in the past that she cooks enough for a city's worth of Ogier, so I am sure that you'll be quite pleased with the portions."

After this Dura waited momentarily for a response from Wosin, and felt a tad disappointed when it only elicited a grunt of approval from the Ogier. But after the huffing and puffing that followed Dura understood the Ogier's position, he had been running all day and despite the tales, the Ogier was only mortal, and could only take so much punishment.

"Ho there, Dura!" came a shout from a silhouetted figure standing in front of the largest of the two barns.

Dura swiveled his neck a few degrees and squinted at the bright light, trying to determine who the figure was. After only a cursory inspection Dura burst out with, "Drey?"

"Well it sure isn't your dear old grandmother, you daft fool!" quipped the figure.

Dura chuckled to himself as he and Wosin approached the barn, and the man's features became more apparent. Master Venn and Mistress Sylvea's youngest son was a couple of years Dura's junior and was of average of height, and his muscular build was that one would expect from a farmhand - or a soldier. His features were a complete mishmash, at first glance the man seemed to be an Andorman, but a second glance would reveal a darker skin tone - indicating Tairen ancestry.

Dropping from Miera, Dura took in his friend's appearance. The world could shatter entirely and Drey would remain the same, he was the only true constant in Dura's life. They had been as close as brothers since they had first met, shortly after Dura had left home. Drey had followed Dura into the mercenary profession and had joined him in every company he had enlisted in. Drey had even been the one to suggest the Obliters as a possible career option, as his parents owned one of the farms which helped to supply the group. Dura had always doubted that Drey was the pair's natural son - the two were native of Baerlon and looked the part, which didn't explain Drey's distinctive features - but the love in the family was almost a force that always made Dura regret his own familial problems.

Clearing his head from its meanderings, Dura reached a hand forward and clasped his friend's arm jovially. "So they've finally come to their senses and tossed you in the barn, have they?"

Drey grinned wickedly, "If I had known you were coming, old friend, I would have prepared extra bedding, you know my mother doesn't care for Trollocs in his home."

"You always have to get the last word in, Drey," Dura said, stepping back from his friend. After letting his smile fade somewhat and taking on a slightly more serious demeanor "This is, Drey, Wosin, an old friend, and all-around nuisance," Drey made a face at this. "This is my companion, Master Wosin of Stedding Sholoon," continued Dura. "He is accompanying me to Silver Mount, and I was hoping that you and your parents could offer us some of their famous hospitality for the night."

Drey grinned and shook Wosin's hands heartily, shaking the Ogier slightly, despite his large size. "We've been expecting you at least, Master Wosin." He leaned forward and mock-whispered, "Shame you had to come with that one though," then laughed. "Obliter sentries have had an eye on you since you entered the Caralain Grass, and when they noticed you coming this way, they had everyone on your path prepare for an Ogier visitor. It's been quite a while since we've had an Ogier join us for any length of time, Master Wosin, and we're happy to offer our hospitality, come, I'll introduce you to my parents.

"You can stable the horses, Dura, if you can remember the way to it before morning rolls around," he added before stepping over to Wosin and leading him to the large farmhouse. "So, Master Wosin, what do you think of the fool so far?" he asked, obviously meaning Dura.

OOC: dont worry your not the only one lol

"Yes, that's the farm, though it is much larger than it was when I last visited it," Dura said after a short pause. “I'm sure that Master Venn and his wife will be happy to extend their hospitality towards us, my friend, and you're in for quite a treat. Sylvea, Master Venn's wife, bakes some of the best bread in all of the Caralain Grass, and we've also jested in the past that she cooks enough for a city's worth of Ogier, so I am sure that you'll be quite pleased with the portions."

This was wonderful news as far as Wosin was concerned and he was truly looking forward to the meal and the chance at rest but the road had been a long one and Wosin was too tired to give more then a grunt of approval.

“Ho there Dura!” came a shout from in front of the larger of the two barns. Looking down at the silhouetted figure, Wosin was soon able to make out the appearance of a man of average height and build. “Drey?” came a reply from Dura. Coming closer to the man, Wosin was now also able to see that the man was a few years younger then Dura, and had skin that was too dark for an Andoran, more of a complexion common in Tear.

Coming down from his horse, Dura took the arm of this new man as though he were a brother. “So they’ve finally come to their senses and tossed you in the barn, have they?” He said to Drey.

With a wicked grin Drey shot back, "If I had known you were coming, old friend, I would have prepared extra bedding, you know my mother doesn't care for Trollocs in her home." Wosin almost didn’t know how to react to that last comment. In a few of the villages he had passed through south of the borderlands, there had been shouts of trollocs from some of the more alarmed people at the sight of Wosin. Fortunately though, Wosin thought it might have been a simple jest, and not even directed at him but instead towards Dura.

After introductions had been made, Drey informed Wosin that Obliter sentries had watched him on his travels and warned other Obliters of him and his travels.

"You can stable the horses, Dura, if you can remember the way to it before morning rolls around," Drey said before stepping over to Wosin and leading him to the large farmhouse. "So, Master Wosin, what do you think of the fool so far?" he asked, obviously meaning Dura.

“If Master Dura is a fool then I think I should like to meet more of your people, the Obliters, for he would certainly be one of the most intelligent fools I have ever met which makes me think that the rest of the Obliters would have to be exceptionally wise and intelligent.” Said Wosin as he moved toward the house with Drey “In any case, I quite enjoy his company, its nice to have someone to travel with when so far from home.”

“Dura said that the two of you were old friends, so I wonder, how long have you known eachother? For having traveled with the man, even if only for the short time that I have, I know rather little about him.” Indeed, Wosin had met the Obliter hardly a day earlier, and already he had travelled a considerable distance with him and had even agreed to go with him to the headquarters of his organization.

Almost as soon as Wosin asked this though, the pleasant aromas of baking bread and other cooking foods wafted out from the nearby home and reminded Wosin of just how hungry he was. “And I hate to be rude but…might I ask when we will be eating?” Wosin said, his ears quivering slightly in embarrassment at his remark.