[h1]Kinnisvara[/h1]

The great hall was dimly lit, shades of dark orange and red slowly dancing on the ceiling and wall hangings from the embers of the fire that had roared during the feast the night before. The air was thick with the smell of dried sweat, spilled mead and what food that had been left unmolested. It was a sour odor, with hints of sweet and salt. Enough to make Kadri sick. She was sprawled on her great chair in the center of the dais, observing through slitted eyes the devastation before her. Someone to the side of her grunted.

"By the dead." Paavo moaned, "I must have died and been taken by the wyrm. I can't see how else I could have deserved feeling like this."

Kadri snorted. "One and a half keg of Triinus sweet-drink would do that to you, you fool."

"Perhaps... Although I still suspect the wyrm and all of that."

She only muttered and nodded softly in agreement. That joy and revelry was rewarded with such pain and regret was surely the work of the great snake. Daring a glance at the food left to rot on the tables, Kadri wondered if she should try and eat some, and if any of it was still edible. She started reaching for it but gratefully collapsed back into her chair when Paavo resumed the conversation.

"What happened last night, anyway? I can't remember too much. Did we - ?"

"No. No, we didn't. But it wasn't on part of you not trying, that's for sure."

A sigh. "Shame. But it'd be twice the shame if we'd done it and I'd been to drunk to remember it."

Kadri turned her head sideways and gave the warrior what she hoped was a stern look. "I swear, someday Heino is going to find out, and then he'll kill you. You must learn to control that wriggling little worm of yours."

Another sigh, and a chuckle. "He could try it, but I dare say you'd be a husband poorer for it. Heino is weak."

Kadri reached down and slapped him on his shaven skalp at that. He looked up at her with feigned upset, but soon lost his act and gave way to a fit of laughter. "You're lucky Heino doesn't want me defending his honor for him, you know." she said, "I could have your tounge cut out for that."

"You could, aye." Paavo replied, a wolf grin on his lips, "But you wouldn't. You like that little bugger too much, and besides, you agree with me."

Kadri held his gaze a few moments longer before relaxing and slumping back into her chair, once more looking out over the waste-strewn battefield that had once been her great hall. "I suppose you're right." she admitted, "But, thinking about it, I could always tie that little bugger on a string round my neck so that it'd always be with me..."

Paavo was just about to reply when the double doors on the far side of the halls were opened. Daylight washed over Kadri and her lover like a wave of fire, and all she could do was keep from screaming out loud. 

"Jarl Kadri!" a woman yelled, with a serious tone in her voice, "I bear urgent knews from the coast! There has been a raid!"

[i]Shit, shit, shit.[/i] Kadri tried to open her eyes, but quickly conceded they would have to remain shut for the time being. A raid so soon after their victory? Could the Pale fuckers already have regrouped? It seemed unlikely, but she didn't put anything past those cave-dwellers. "Where, which village?" she grunted, "And when?"

"Külake, on the coast. We recieved word just now."

"That's not far." Paavo mused, "It must've happened last night. If we move quick we could probably intercept them, whoever they are."

[i]Sure, but I'm not sure if we'd be doing more harm than good in this sorry state. We can't let them get away though. An attack on my holdings is an attack on me.[/i] Kadri rubbed her temples, knowing fully well what she had to do but trying desperately to find a way out.

The warrior at the gate spoke up once more. "What is your will, my Jarl?"

Kadri parted her eyelids and forced them open this time. "Muster the warriors." she said, "We're going hunting."