- Interlude: Catnap -
The sun had neared its climax and its bright light melted the sleep from Ruben's eyelids. Stretching out his arms he let out a loud yawn and looked into the blue sky. Just that moment, the boat of theirs was passing beneath the branch of a tree standing at the river's side. All of a sudden, the boy was fully awake.
"Nadia, we have to..."
Too urgent seemed what bothered him to finish the sentence. He grabbed the tow of the boat and tied it to the hilt of his longsword, which he thereupon took and rammed into the soil at the shore. Immediately, he jumped off the nutshell and ran towards the plant which the two travellers had just sailed by.
"What is it?"
Nadia had stood up, startled, and chased after him, who had already climbed half of the trunk.
"Look!"
To the branch hanging over the stream clung a small figure. Nadia looked more closely. It was a young striped kitten, about to fall off into the water.
The frail magician stated the obvious: "It's about to fall!"
Her comrade had meanwhile reached the crown of the tree and tried to get closer to the animal in peril. Suddenly, the sound of wood snapping.
"No!"
The small cat fell, along with a part of the limb it was grasping. Ruben watched in terror; this turned into surprise as the boat of the two was suddenly darting upstream, its sail inverted as though a giant had blown into it from the front, having torn out his weapon. Just ere the kitten could be devoured by the river, Nadia's cloak which she had discarded earlier due to the warmth brought upon her by the sunny morning buffered its fall, shoved below its rapidly descending body along with the even more rapidly moving vehicle, which soon came to a halt a bit further away from the scene. Ruben's eyes were widely open in disbelief as he turned to his friend. She in turn panted heavily, staff in hand.
"What... just happened?"
"I quickly cast a wind spell to propel the ship backwards."
She let out the words along with her nervous breathe.
"...wow."
The sun had neared its climax and its bright light melted the sleep from Ruben's eyelids. Stretching out his arms he let out a loud yawn and looked into the blue sky. Just that moment, the boat of theirs was passing beneath the branch of a tree standing at the river's side. All of a sudden, the boy was fully awake.
"Nadia, we have to..."
Too urgent seemed what bothered him to finish the sentence. He grabbed the tow of the boat and tied it to the hilt of his longsword, which he thereupon took and rammed into the soil at the shore. Immediately, he jumped off the nutshell and ran towards the plant which the two travellers had just sailed by.
"What is it?"
Nadia had stood up, startled, and chased after him, who had already climbed half of the trunk.
"Look!"
To the branch hanging over the stream clung a small figure. Nadia looked more closely. It was a young striped kitten, about to fall off into the water.
The frail magician stated the obvious: "It's about to fall!"
Her comrade had meanwhile reached the crown of the tree and tried to get closer to the animal in peril. Suddenly, the sound of wood snapping.
"No!"
The small cat fell, along with a part of the limb it was grasping. Ruben watched in terror; this turned into surprise as the boat of the two was suddenly darting upstream, its sail inverted as though a giant had blown into it from the front, having torn out his weapon. Just ere the kitten could be devoured by the river, Nadia's cloak which she had discarded earlier due to the warmth brought upon her by the sunny morning buffered its fall, shoved below its rapidly descending body along with the even more rapidly moving vehicle, which soon came to a halt a bit further away from the scene. Ruben's eyes were widely open in disbelief as he turned to his friend. She in turn panted heavily, staff in hand.
"What... just happened?"
"I quickly cast a wind spell to propel the ship backwards."
She let out the words along with her nervous breathe.
"...wow."
The stream had carried the boat back down to them. Ruben got hold of the tow and wound it around the tree, also taking back his sword. Nadia picked up the somewhat frightened kitten and bore it in her arms kindly.
"Don't worry, you're safe now."
The newly acquired peace was broken by the thundering sound of hooves rolling in from towards the horizon, accompanied by a cloud of dust being kicked up from the dry path. A single horse rode towards and past them, mounted by a young man, bearing on his top a rather simple chaperon not obscuring the slender form of his head. Ere the two friends could study him further, the elusive figure in the long, brown gown had rushed past them. A few metres further however, the horse rose to its back legs as its rider jerked its reins and jumped off, running towards the baffled travellers.
"Did my eyes... Oh thank god, they did not fool me!"
He appeared before Nadia, and before she could realise it had taken the kitten out of her hands embracing it in a loving hug.
"Oh Klara, you are safe! I was worried sick about you already!"
The cat meowed and once he had calmed his endearing hug licked his cheek; it and its counterpart enshrined a remarkably shaped nose vaguely reminiscent of the beak of an Eurasian eagle old, blue, big eyes and a small chin. He looked relatively young, perhaps around the age of 20.
"Is that cat yours?", Ruben asked, no longer having been overwhelmed by the man's spectacular entry.
"It is indeed, young man! And I fail to express my gratefulness for you apparently having found it."
Somewhat reproachfully, the warrior described the circumstances under which they had found the animal.
"You know, when we saw it it was stuck at the top of a tree and almost fell into the river. You should have taken better care of it!"
"Goodness, is that true?!"
He held the kitten away from him to examine it thoroughly, before pressing it back onto his not very muscular chest.
"I'm so sorry Klara! You see, she is my dearest friend and we have travelled together for a while now. Usually she sits safely and comfortably in the saddlebag of my horse. Which, however, became thirsty not too long ago and thus we briefly rested around here for it to refresh itself. When I had continued on my way I was eventually overcome by an unpleasant feeling, and upon inspection I was shocked to find my dearest kitten missing, urging me to turn around immediately to look for her!"
"I see..."
"Well, she's fine and that is all that matters.", Nadia interjected.
"Indeed it is! I thank the two of you and am forever in your debt, had anything happened to ehr I could not have lived on."
"Hey, aren't you exaggerating a bit...?"
Ruben eyed him a bit critically.
"If there is any way for me to reward you, please-"
"Nah, don't mention it."
"You and your kitten really seem to love each other, so reuniting you is the biggest reward in itself.", Nadia added.
"How noble of you two! But allow me to ask, have you consumed luncheon yet? I carry plenty provisions with me, so if not I would be glad to have you as my guests."
"Now, this is something I won't decline."
In the shadow of the tree's leaves rustling in the light breeze gently stroking the wisps of the corn fields the three of them had sat down. A small blanket had been laid out, and in it rested a few loaves of bread along with a few slices of cheese and meat. Klara was lapping up milk from a thimble while the horse was feasting upon the grass blooming in a gay green. Ruben had bitten into a chunk of bread while Nadia was conversing with the stranger.
"Oh my, in all this commotion I have yet failed to introduce myself properly. My name is Frank Arnoldsen, it is a pleasure to meet you."
"I'm called Nadia Bluot, and this is my dear friend Ruben."
The one mentioned nodded and continued to chew.
"Say, what kind of thing do you do? For a living?"
"Ah, I am but a small postman, carrying the letters of the people hither and fro from one town to another."
Ruben had swallowed his sizeable bite.
"Really? You talk like a noble, or a rich burgher."
Frank reacted almost shocked by the suggestion, and hastily corrected the chain-laden boy.
"Oh no, not at all. I... I merely get around a fair bit, and... over the time you merely pick up quite a few words and terms!"
"Huh. I see, I guess."
"May I ask in return what the two of you are doing here, all out in the vast nature?"
"We're adventurers! Basically we just travel around from one place to another, to wherever our help is needed!"
"I say, that sounds exciting. I am sure your days are filled with the most interesting experiences!"
"Yeah, I guess you could say that."
Nadia had finished eating a thin slice of bread and cheese.
"You must be getting around a lot too though."
"Indeed, so I do! You learn of a lot of stories and fates in the occasional conversations with the folks receiving and entrusting me with their mail."
He raised his head and looked through the net of branches, letting the leaves' shadows play on his countenance.
"You will probably have heard of it already, but the king of this country seems to have become quite weak. Rumours say His Majesty might pass away in not too distant a time... Ah, but goodness!"
He quickly stood up after taking a small bite of the sausage he had held in his hand for a bit of time.
"I apologise for my haste, but I have to arrive at Färstedt by sunset today!"
He seized Nadia's hand and bowed down to give it a kiss, picked up his kitten carefully placing it in his saddlebag before closing it, unleashed his horse and mounted it.
"Do continue this feast without me, you two young travellers. Meeting you was a delight, and remember that I shall be forever grateful for having saved my dearest furred companion."
The animal bearing his weight neighed loudly and set in motion.
"Farewell my friends, I hope we will meet again some fortunate day!"
"Don't worry, you're safe now."
The newly acquired peace was broken by the thundering sound of hooves rolling in from towards the horizon, accompanied by a cloud of dust being kicked up from the dry path. A single horse rode towards and past them, mounted by a young man, bearing on his top a rather simple chaperon not obscuring the slender form of his head. Ere the two friends could study him further, the elusive figure in the long, brown gown had rushed past them. A few metres further however, the horse rose to its back legs as its rider jerked its reins and jumped off, running towards the baffled travellers.
"Did my eyes... Oh thank god, they did not fool me!"
He appeared before Nadia, and before she could realise it had taken the kitten out of her hands embracing it in a loving hug.
"Oh Klara, you are safe! I was worried sick about you already!"
The cat meowed and once he had calmed his endearing hug licked his cheek; it and its counterpart enshrined a remarkably shaped nose vaguely reminiscent of the beak of an Eurasian eagle old, blue, big eyes and a small chin. He looked relatively young, perhaps around the age of 20.
"Is that cat yours?", Ruben asked, no longer having been overwhelmed by the man's spectacular entry.
"It is indeed, young man! And I fail to express my gratefulness for you apparently having found it."
Somewhat reproachfully, the warrior described the circumstances under which they had found the animal.
"You know, when we saw it it was stuck at the top of a tree and almost fell into the river. You should have taken better care of it!"
"Goodness, is that true?!"
He held the kitten away from him to examine it thoroughly, before pressing it back onto his not very muscular chest.
"I'm so sorry Klara! You see, she is my dearest friend and we have travelled together for a while now. Usually she sits safely and comfortably in the saddlebag of my horse. Which, however, became thirsty not too long ago and thus we briefly rested around here for it to refresh itself. When I had continued on my way I was eventually overcome by an unpleasant feeling, and upon inspection I was shocked to find my dearest kitten missing, urging me to turn around immediately to look for her!"
"I see..."
"Well, she's fine and that is all that matters.", Nadia interjected.
"Indeed it is! I thank the two of you and am forever in your debt, had anything happened to ehr I could not have lived on."
"Hey, aren't you exaggerating a bit...?"
Ruben eyed him a bit critically.
"If there is any way for me to reward you, please-"
"Nah, don't mention it."
"You and your kitten really seem to love each other, so reuniting you is the biggest reward in itself.", Nadia added.
"How noble of you two! But allow me to ask, have you consumed luncheon yet? I carry plenty provisions with me, so if not I would be glad to have you as my guests."
"Now, this is something I won't decline."
In the shadow of the tree's leaves rustling in the light breeze gently stroking the wisps of the corn fields the three of them had sat down. A small blanket had been laid out, and in it rested a few loaves of bread along with a few slices of cheese and meat. Klara was lapping up milk from a thimble while the horse was feasting upon the grass blooming in a gay green. Ruben had bitten into a chunk of bread while Nadia was conversing with the stranger.
"Oh my, in all this commotion I have yet failed to introduce myself properly. My name is Frank Arnoldsen, it is a pleasure to meet you."
"I'm called Nadia Bluot, and this is my dear friend Ruben."
The one mentioned nodded and continued to chew.
"Say, what kind of thing do you do? For a living?"
"Ah, I am but a small postman, carrying the letters of the people hither and fro from one town to another."
Ruben had swallowed his sizeable bite.
"Really? You talk like a noble, or a rich burgher."
Frank reacted almost shocked by the suggestion, and hastily corrected the chain-laden boy.
"Oh no, not at all. I... I merely get around a fair bit, and... over the time you merely pick up quite a few words and terms!"
"Huh. I see, I guess."
"May I ask in return what the two of you are doing here, all out in the vast nature?"
"We're adventurers! Basically we just travel around from one place to another, to wherever our help is needed!"
"I say, that sounds exciting. I am sure your days are filled with the most interesting experiences!"
"Yeah, I guess you could say that."
Nadia had finished eating a thin slice of bread and cheese.
"You must be getting around a lot too though."
"Indeed, so I do! You learn of a lot of stories and fates in the occasional conversations with the folks receiving and entrusting me with their mail."
He raised his head and looked through the net of branches, letting the leaves' shadows play on his countenance.
"You will probably have heard of it already, but the king of this country seems to have become quite weak. Rumours say His Majesty might pass away in not too distant a time... Ah, but goodness!"
He quickly stood up after taking a small bite of the sausage he had held in his hand for a bit of time.
"I apologise for my haste, but I have to arrive at Färstedt by sunset today!"
He seized Nadia's hand and bowed down to give it a kiss, picked up his kitten carefully placing it in his saddlebag before closing it, unleashed his horse and mounted it.
"Do continue this feast without me, you two young travellers. Meeting you was a delight, and remember that I shall be forever grateful for having saved my dearest furred companion."
The animal bearing his weight neighed loudly and set in motion.
"Farewell my friends, I hope we will meet again some fortunate day!"
