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Post by Morgan le Fay on Dec 11, 2011 11:21:58 GMT
The countryside of Dumonia. Morgan and her companions west to Cornwall on their quest.
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Post by Morgan le Fay on Dec 11, 2011 11:24:58 GMT
Morgan had sent Galahad off to scout for them. He rode away from their group into a landscape of fields and trees. Birds sang and grass rustled but there was no sign of humanity, neither bandits nor peasants. And then he came to a river. Up ahead he could see the dark shapes of peasants' hovels. Clearly somebody did live here.
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Post by Sir Galahad on Dec 11, 2011 17:54:09 GMT
Galahad rode towards the hovels looking for signs of life.
"Hello?" He called out questioningly wondering if the peasants had not heard his approach.
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Post by Morgan le Fay on Dec 11, 2011 18:29:07 GMT
There were only about a dozen hovels in the area. A few women gathered with young children. The women were either old or noticeably pregnant.
"Greetin's lord," an old lady called in a quavery voice. "What do you want with likes o' us?"
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Post by Sir Galahad on Dec 11, 2011 18:35:47 GMT
"I have heard that there are bandits in the area. Do you know anything about them?" Galahad demanded.
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Post by Morgan le Fay on Dec 11, 2011 19:56:22 GMT
The old lady's face changed and sorrow filled her eyes. Two of the children burst into tears and two of the women shrieked and embraced.
"Aye, we do. They stole half our food. We barely have enough to live on. Killed some of our men too, but the others had to go work in the fields with the able-bodied women. We are defenceless here. Most of our children and old people hide in their homes now."
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Post by Sir Galahad on Dec 11, 2011 20:05:01 GMT
Galahad gritted his teeth. Morgan intended to leave the bandits unmolested, where was the justice in that?
"I see. Do you have any idea where the bandits may be now?" he asked the old lady, less aggressively than before.
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Post by Morgan le Fay on Dec 11, 2011 21:14:11 GMT
"No. They went that way," she said, indicating the direction opposite the one Galahad had come from.
"There's at least a dozen. But I can't count more than that. We're just common people and want to farm our lands and be left in peace. We tried to send a man to ask our lord for help but the bandits killed him. I don't know where bandits live."
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Post by Sir Galahad on Dec 11, 2011 23:17:20 GMT
"Where does your lord live?" Galahad asked. "Can one of you take me there?"
He hoped that this would be the solution to the problem. If he could notify the lord, then the lord would deal with the bandits while their party went on unmolested.
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Post by Morgan le Fay on Dec 12, 2011 0:24:39 GMT
"Perhaps. Could you take someone up on your horse? It's not a short walk."
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Post by Sir Galahad on Dec 12, 2011 0:40:25 GMT
"On my horse?" Galahad said incredulously. As much as he hated the idea he knew that he would probably have to consent for the good of the quest. "Well, I suppose if they wash before coming near me or my horse I could tolerate it."
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Post by Morgan le Fay on Dec 12, 2011 10:23:53 GMT
The children giggled and the other women looked offended but the old lady simply nodded.
"As you wish, lord. I will send someone to you. Give us a few minutes."
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Post by Sir Galahad on Dec 12, 2011 23:27:12 GMT
"Very well, I shall wait." Galahad replied.
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Post by Morgan le Fay on Dec 13, 2011 0:46:37 GMT
The villagers scurried back into their hovels. It seemed at first that no-one was going to come then a young boy, perhaps ten, appeared. He was so thin his ribs showed through ragged clothing and his arm was bound in a makeshift sling. The old lady stood beside him.
"My grandson," she said. "He escaped from the bandits. Keep him safe, lord."
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Post by Sir Galahad on Dec 13, 2011 6:01:16 GMT
"I am no lord." Galahad replied. "But I will keep him safe." He offered the boy a hand to help pull him up onto the horse.
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