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Post by Sir Ironside/Merlin on Jun 28, 2012 0:30:37 GMT
"How can you help?" he asked, incredulous. "Can you return what was taken from me? Can you give me back what was lost? Can you raise my brothers from their watery grave? Can you award me the honors and glory stolen from me? No, my hand will remain in a bear's gullet while you cower."
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Post by Morgan le Fay on Jun 28, 2012 12:29:21 GMT
The child queen burst into tears and fled the room. As Ironside watched her go, he saw a man seemingly melt from the walls and stand before him. A man in a long robe, with his black hair turning silver.
"Best not tell King Fiachnae you made his queen cry," the man observed. "What sort of knight speaks like that to a pretty girl?"
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Post by Sir Ironside/Merlin on Jun 28, 2012 17:24:22 GMT
"The sort that just had his sword hand bitten off by a bear." Ironside grumbled to the stranger, left hand sliding down to the hilt of his seax. "What sort of courier gives advice before an introduction?"
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Post by Morgan le Fay on Jun 28, 2012 17:48:47 GMT
The newcomer folded his arms.
"The sort who has an honoured place at this castle, sir. I am the royal sorceror. I would advise you not to draw your blade, else it will find itself embedded in your skull before you have time to blink."
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Post by Sir Ironside/Merlin on Jun 28, 2012 19:17:14 GMT
Ironside eased the grip on his blade and raised his arms up in mock surrender.
"Don't worry, I've tangled with your kind enough for one day." he said in response. "How you all devote a lifetime to such a fickle mistress as magic is beyond me. It's only brought me false promises and loss to date."
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Post by Morgan le Fay on Jun 28, 2012 19:46:02 GMT
The man looked at his stump.
"I see. You are sworn to the Lady Hallewes, though, are you not? Why devote yourself to a sorceress if you do not trust sorcery?"
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Post by Sir Ironside/Merlin on Jun 28, 2012 20:24:08 GMT
"Men must stomach many things they don't trust for the sake of survival." Ironside said sadly, as if remembering better days. "If this has taught me anything, it's that steel isn't enough anymore. Magic isn't an option if you want to win, it's a necessity."
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Post by Morgan le Fay on Jun 28, 2012 20:54:28 GMT
"I agree, but it is a way of life for me. I have always had the ability to use sorcery, even before I knew what it was. Would I be right in guessing that the loss of your hand is recent?"
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Post by Sir Ironside/Merlin on Jul 1, 2012 9:25:26 GMT
Ironside grunted.
"Aye, if you consider this morning to be recent."
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Post by Morgan le Fay on Jul 1, 2012 13:03:11 GMT
OOC - it took them a few days to get there, but I'll say the sorceror doesn't know that unless you want to change it?
The man looked dispassionately at Ironside.
"I suppose I must forgive your ill temper then. I cannot imagine the loss myself. After all, what use is a knight who cannot draw a sword. What will you do now?"
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Post by Sir Ironside/Merlin on Jul 3, 2012 19:13:43 GMT
"Adapt or die." Ironside said simply, flexing his remaining hand. "I am far too set in my ways to take up farming now."
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Post by Morgan le Fay on Jul 3, 2012 19:54:36 GMT
"Farming?"
The sorceror laughed at that.
"I cannot picture you with a plough and an ox. Farming is for the peasants, sir. Your left hand looks strong enough, though. I am sure you could use it well, with time and practice. Perhaps our master at arms might oblige you, if you fancied trying."
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Post by Sir Ironside/Merlin on Jul 6, 2012 10:06:21 GMT
Ironside flexed his left hand and mentally steeled himself. In retrospect he had survived much worse. Learning to fight with his weak hand seemed trivial compared to some of the trials and tribulations he had faced.
"Point the way." he answered, with a grin.
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Post by Morgan le Fay on Jul 6, 2012 11:02:18 GMT
/////////
The Irish sorceror led Ironside through the castle to the armoury where a muscular, black-bearded man stood among several others, shouting orders at them.
"That's him," the sorceror said. "Bran the Baneful. We call him that because he's lost three wives in childbirth and not fathered a single living child of his blood."
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Post by Sir Ironside/Merlin on Jul 10, 2012 21:05:17 GMT
"Quite a fearsome nickname considering it was not forged on the battlefield." Ironside responded, unimpressed.
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