[center][b]Suèlad[/b][/center] [hr] A task beyond merely lending a hand to the senior soldiers seemed very important to a young man. Especially if it involved communicating with someone [i]even more superior than his superiors[/i], and to double that, especially if it was a task given to him by a [i]woman[/i]. And not a bad-looking one, he thought. She even owned a horse. He was not yet convinced that they would be bonded under the gods. Yet. Such is the workings of a young man's mind. This young man is Suèlad. He has seen nineteen springs, the season of his birth. He is a newly recruited soldier, and as such, is ridiculed more than praised, but takes it in good humour. He has never lain with a woman, but he once saw one in the river by his hometown. Wasn't that exciting? Before he was given [i]the task[/i], he was pitching tents and fetching water. He was on his way back from the stream when the woman approached him, and gave him this task. [center]---[/center] "O' course, miss! I'll be righ' on it!" he said, rushing off in the direction of camp. He still had the pails of water in his hands, and they still needed delivering. A task started was not one to be forgotten, even for a woman on horseback. He was lucky that the ground was not rocky or unstable, as not much water spilled in his hurriedness. He considered this proudly while making his way to where the water was to be placed. It was what you might call a common-hall, if you could call an open pavilion with some fire pits a hall. The soldiers would eat, drink, and gather here, and as such, it was not at all surprising to see Ran here. Ran was Suèlad's training officer. Suèlad thought he was nice enough, and held a good deal of respect for the man. "Ran! Ran! I been given," he shouted, "given a task an' there was a Lady on an 'orse who tol' me wha' ta do an' I gotta find The Blessed!" "Eh?" Ran grunted. He'd never seen Suèlad like this before, and he was slightly taken aback. "Well, even if it was a woman on a horse what told yeh to do this, yeh can't jus' go up to The Blessed like tha'." "Well I was told ta deliv'r a message an' tha's wha' I'm goin' ta do." Suèlad said in response. He put his hands on his hips to emphasise his point and show strength, but his face was red as a spanked arse. "Fine," Ran shrugged, "You got nothin' else to do. Good luck." Ran did not need to say any more, because Suèlad was halfway out the camp when he finished his sentence. [i]That one has a good set o' runners on 'im,[/i] he thought. [center]---[/center] Suèlad crested the hill, and before him lay the procession. Thinking it a good idea, he did not stop running, and went straight for it. For his foolishness, he copped the butt end of a spear to his gut. The escort stopped, and all the soldiers that were close by rushed over, standing over him, spears pointed. There would not usually have been hesitation in removing a perceived threat, but one called out to the others, telling them to stand down. This same one reached down to give a helping hand to Suèlad, who accepted with the wrong hand, making the whole thing clumsier than it needed to be. The other hand was clutched at his side. He probably broke a rib, but that's fine. After a short exchange, he had relayed the message to the one who helped him up, who promised that it would get to Aedthel. That was good enough for Suèlad. [hr] [center][b]Aedthel[/b][/center] [hr] A short scream, a thud, and the palanquin stopped. Aedthel didn't worry, there would have been more sounds of battle if his escort was at threat, but he was concerned. If there was someone after his life this soon after arriving... What would that mean? He'd have to increase his Ordained guard, for one. He would have to ask the gods a few questions, which he never liked doing. He knew well that there'd be more to this gathering than was told to them. He didn't expect it to be so early. His thoughts ran on and on for what was far too long. They were stopped by one of his Ordained parting the cloth. "O Blessed, there is no cause to worry. Simply a foolish messenger, all he wanted to say was that Arlanna ap Tadgh has arrived." Aedthel smiled fondly, and reached out to his Ordained, grasping his hand in thanks. He held one hand up to signal for the Ordained to wait as he reached for his writing supplies. This was important enough to write his words. [center][i]Arlanna, I am glad to hear that you have arrived I am sure we will meet at some point, but the company of you and your new husband would be welcome in my camp tonight. I may not be much good for talk, but I hope to see you anyway. Aedthel[/i][/center] After finishing, he passed it onto the Ordained, who would see that it was passed to the messenger to deliver.