The meal was delightfully boring and Santiago was beyond tolerating the idle chit chat going on. Especially when the man who had been with the oafish ogres showed up. He grew agitated as the party hunched over and pleaded with him to keep a civil tongue. Leaning in to Valya, he expressed the notion of checking on his horse. Castillo was a fine breed and with the arrival of this man, Santiago wanted to make sure the horse had not been spirited away while he was indulging in a meal.
The air outside was crisp and Santiago kept his hand on the hilt of his sword and tucked the carrot he had procured for Castillo tucked in his belt. The light framing the stables gave him enough to see figures in there, too close to Castillo for his liking. Still it was worth a listen. Padding softly to the side, he listened in on the conversation. Again this Lord Aranekkes name is thrown about. Who is this man I wonder, Santiago thought. The largest of the three was definitely one of his dogs but the two smaller ones Yes, they were not amused by this ones presence.
A slight shuffling sound brought Santiagos eyes down to the ground. His eyes widened as the same white-faced monkey who visited him last eve appeared before his eyes. If it made the slightest of noises Santiago tried in vain to shoo the thing away but it just bobbed his head to the sway of his hand. Scrubbing his face in defeat, Santiago patted his shoulder to welcome the monkey. Scurrying up, the monkey proceeded to pick at Santiagos hair again. Grimacing at what that meant, he vowed to take a bath. The sooner the better.
Santiago slipped away with his new companion and stopped a mere ten feet away. Why leave them to their devices? Turning about he started singing in his best drunken cadence a song of sailors while marching straight towards the stables again. He waved the carrot in front of him as if he was directing his own gaggle of minstrels. As he half expected, the threesome scattered as he came close.
"By the Gods that was good rum! Castillo! I have something for you my fine horse! Santiago belched. His eyes darted even as he entered the stables. The monkey tried to snatch the orange treat from Santiago and he chuckled.
Nay, not you Jose. Tis Castillo's carrot!" Castillo snorted as Santiago came in. The ill tempered animal was angry for some reason but Santiago saw no one in the stables but himself. Not knowing what was lurking in the shadows, he played up his act for them. A good bout of sword play just might lighten his spirits some.
"Come now, Castillo. I haven't neglected you for that long! Have an eye for one of the phillies, aye?" Santiago waved the carrot slowly in front of Castillos face to get his attention. Better than hay, aye? The carrot drooped and stopped dancing long enough for Castillo to claim his prize. Santiagos eyes narrowed. A small gash that had not been there before was on Castillos cheek. Santiago rubbed the horses nose.
What's this then? Thankful for the training he had received on that god forsaken island, Santiago took great care in treating the wounded animal. Anger boiled and he was half tempted to call those louts out for what they had done to this animal but the horses mood stopped him. Castillo was more than compliant for Once and Santiago almost missed the entrance of the stranger from before.
The man was untying his own horse and Santiago would have just as soon let the man leave in peace for now but the man was not so inclined.
"Practiced swordarm you have there. A shame our previous encounter was such a farce."
Indeed. Was the only reply Santiago gave. Castillo had become has priority of the moment. Besides, he had no desire to mince words with someone who takes orders like a lap dog but the man had other ideas.
"I hope that you don't mistake Lord Aranekke's blundering minions with the servants of the Bandit King. We are a bit more able and have a bit grander purpose than highway robbery." He chuckled before adding. "And we tend to have better footing in combat."
Whether that was a jab at Santiagos fall the other day or not, it angered him slightly to hear someone obviously inferior to him speaking in such a manner. Better than him? Pah! How many times had Santiago humiliated someone in the circle back home? Santiagos mood darkened at the thought of the loss of his primary hand. The gloved fingers flexed in agitation.
"I hope to test that theory." He retorted while speaking in hushed tones to Castillo. The horse seemed content for the first time Santiago had claimed him for his own. His hand itched for the feel of his sword. Only the motion of petting his horse stilled his irritated hands and made him forget the day he was forcibly removed from his homeland.
"I don't have much doubt that you will, though I'd rather see you with us than against. Times may well soon become troubled, and we'll need all the strong arms we can get."
This mans talk sounded too much like a speech than an idle conversation. Better to end it quick, thought Santiago, before I do something rash.
"That may well be but I've never been one to follow anyone or anything." The man nodded and Santiago looked him straight in the eye, his head tilted in that haughty fashion of old times. "It is not in my nature to follow."
"All the same, should you be captured by Lord Aranekke's men, and I'm not about, ask for me. I'm Avatar J. They'll show you a bit more respect..."
Santiago merely nodded to the mans words but still the man approached and offered his hand. His left hand. Perhaps he was watching the battle more than Santiago realized, perhaps not. Either way Santiago shook his hand firmly and felt for the mans own arm strength. Then again, perhaps he was not left handed either as Santiago was not always left handed himself. No matter. To meet again will be interesting indeed and Santiago was never one to back down from a challenge.
As if reading Santiagos mind, Avatar spoke of them meeting again on whatever terms. Yes, they will meet again and Santiago grinned as he watched the man leave. After this meeting he wasnt sure what he thought more disgusting. His own race or the ogres. If they were to meet again, Santiago would have to do better than he had as of late. Giving Castillo one last pat, he turned quickly on his heel and left the stables behind.
The air outside was crisp and Santiago kept his hand on the hilt of his sword and tucked the carrot he had procured for Castillo tucked in his belt. The light framing the stables gave him enough to see figures in there, too close to Castillo for his liking. Still it was worth a listen. Padding softly to the side, he listened in on the conversation. Again this Lord Aranekkes name is thrown about. Who is this man I wonder, Santiago thought. The largest of the three was definitely one of his dogs but the two smaller ones Yes, they were not amused by this ones presence.
A slight shuffling sound brought Santiagos eyes down to the ground. His eyes widened as the same white-faced monkey who visited him last eve appeared before his eyes. If it made the slightest of noises Santiago tried in vain to shoo the thing away but it just bobbed his head to the sway of his hand. Scrubbing his face in defeat, Santiago patted his shoulder to welcome the monkey. Scurrying up, the monkey proceeded to pick at Santiagos hair again. Grimacing at what that meant, he vowed to take a bath. The sooner the better.
Santiago slipped away with his new companion and stopped a mere ten feet away. Why leave them to their devices? Turning about he started singing in his best drunken cadence a song of sailors while marching straight towards the stables again. He waved the carrot in front of him as if he was directing his own gaggle of minstrels. As he half expected, the threesome scattered as he came close.
"By the Gods that was good rum! Castillo! I have something for you my fine horse! Santiago belched. His eyes darted even as he entered the stables. The monkey tried to snatch the orange treat from Santiago and he chuckled.
Nay, not you Jose. Tis Castillo's carrot!" Castillo snorted as Santiago came in. The ill tempered animal was angry for some reason but Santiago saw no one in the stables but himself. Not knowing what was lurking in the shadows, he played up his act for them. A good bout of sword play just might lighten his spirits some.
"Come now, Castillo. I haven't neglected you for that long! Have an eye for one of the phillies, aye?" Santiago waved the carrot slowly in front of Castillos face to get his attention. Better than hay, aye? The carrot drooped and stopped dancing long enough for Castillo to claim his prize. Santiagos eyes narrowed. A small gash that had not been there before was on Castillos cheek. Santiago rubbed the horses nose.
What's this then? Thankful for the training he had received on that god forsaken island, Santiago took great care in treating the wounded animal. Anger boiled and he was half tempted to call those louts out for what they had done to this animal but the horses mood stopped him. Castillo was more than compliant for Once and Santiago almost missed the entrance of the stranger from before.
The man was untying his own horse and Santiago would have just as soon let the man leave in peace for now but the man was not so inclined.
"Practiced swordarm you have there. A shame our previous encounter was such a farce."
Indeed. Was the only reply Santiago gave. Castillo had become has priority of the moment. Besides, he had no desire to mince words with someone who takes orders like a lap dog but the man had other ideas.
"I hope that you don't mistake Lord Aranekke's blundering minions with the servants of the Bandit King. We are a bit more able and have a bit grander purpose than highway robbery." He chuckled before adding. "And we tend to have better footing in combat."
Whether that was a jab at Santiagos fall the other day or not, it angered him slightly to hear someone obviously inferior to him speaking in such a manner. Better than him? Pah! How many times had Santiago humiliated someone in the circle back home? Santiagos mood darkened at the thought of the loss of his primary hand. The gloved fingers flexed in agitation.
"I hope to test that theory." He retorted while speaking in hushed tones to Castillo. The horse seemed content for the first time Santiago had claimed him for his own. His hand itched for the feel of his sword. Only the motion of petting his horse stilled his irritated hands and made him forget the day he was forcibly removed from his homeland.
"I don't have much doubt that you will, though I'd rather see you with us than against. Times may well soon become troubled, and we'll need all the strong arms we can get."
This mans talk sounded too much like a speech than an idle conversation. Better to end it quick, thought Santiago, before I do something rash.
"That may well be but I've never been one to follow anyone or anything." The man nodded and Santiago looked him straight in the eye, his head tilted in that haughty fashion of old times. "It is not in my nature to follow."
"All the same, should you be captured by Lord Aranekke's men, and I'm not about, ask for me. I'm Avatar J. They'll show you a bit more respect..."
Santiago merely nodded to the mans words but still the man approached and offered his hand. His left hand. Perhaps he was watching the battle more than Santiago realized, perhaps not. Either way Santiago shook his hand firmly and felt for the mans own arm strength. Then again, perhaps he was not left handed either as Santiago was not always left handed himself. No matter. To meet again will be interesting indeed and Santiago was never one to back down from a challenge.
As if reading Santiagos mind, Avatar spoke of them meeting again on whatever terms. Yes, they will meet again and Santiago grinned as he watched the man leave. After this meeting he wasnt sure what he thought more disgusting. His own race or the ogres. If they were to meet again, Santiago would have to do better than he had as of late. Giving Castillo one last pat, he turned quickly on his heel and left the stables behind.
Santiago
Love, my friend, is a fool's game played by the young. Go searching for it? Nay, I've had enough daggers aiming for my heart to welcome something as deadly as that in.
Love, my friend, is a fool's game played by the young. Go searching for it? Nay, I've had enough daggers aiming for my heart to welcome something as deadly as that in.
