Holdless Discovered

Writers: Chelle, Miriah
Date Posted: 10th February 2012

Characters: J'ackt, Sarban
Description: Sarban finds a holdless boy
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 5, day 14 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentor Approved

J'ackt

It was an unlucky morning, Jenackt decided as he checked his fishing
line once again. No bites, no nibbles...no nothing. The supplies and food
he had pilfered from the cothold around Emerald Falls would not last
forever, and he would have to supplement his food soon. He exhaled,
baited his hook once again and tossed the line in, hoping for any kind of
luck.

It was when he heard the noise behind him that Jenackt went still.
"Fardles," he cursed softly as he turned slowly, his free hand going to the
dagger at his side.

Sarban never rode alone when he rode circuit. There was usually a harper
and a guard just in case. The steward's knots were concealed by the coat
he wore, but most Emerald Falls inhabitants knew him anyway. The runner
went forward then smelled something. Turning in his saddle, he saw the young
man. They halted. "Catch anything good?"

This was definitely not his day. Jenackt mentally cursed, his eyes narrowing
as he was presented with not one, but three riders. He was not able to hide
the wariness in his eyes as his gaze flicked over them. On one he paused; he
knew a guard when he saw one, which meant this might be some sort of patrol.
His eyes flicked to Sarban, pinpointing him as the lead rider when he spoke.

Keeping his hand unobtrusively close to his dagger, Jenackt shook his head.
"Bad day for fishing." His deep voice belied his age and seemed counter to
his slim build, but was plainly curt.

"Aye? Well perhaps you're just using bad bait. What's on the line?" Sarban
didn't get down just yet, but he did lean down in his saddle to get a better
look at the boy, wondering whose he was.

The very motion of him leaning downward seemed threatening to Jenackt,
who moved back just slightly. His fingers tightened on the lines. His Da had
warned him often enough of what would happen should they find him. Holders
didn't like the holdless on their lands.

Still...the sound of another's voice, any but his own, pulled at him deeply.
He mentally shook that feeling off and frowned, his fingers itching to go
to his dagger, just in case. "Bits of old meat and crawlies." Defensively,
he added, "It's what I have. And it works."

"Sometimes it will aye. Other times, it's good to have something with a bit
of color." Sarban did a bit of fly fishing himself in the river when it was
the right time. He made his own flies. Looking over at the others, he judged
no one had tackle or anything with them.

When he looked at the other two, Jenackt immediately backed up, not knowing
what this strange man was planning. He recalled the stories that his Da had
told him, that Holders would stake people out in thread, that they would kill and
torture those who were holdless. Was that what this man was planning? Had he been
caught?

Every muscle screamed at him to run from this man and from this group, but
he knew full well that the runners could overtake him easily. He flicked
his gaze at the water. It was too cold for extended swimming. But he needed
to get out of here; his discomfort was only growing.

He made his decision. Pulling his line out of the water, he brought it back,
winding the line around his elbow in a loose loop. "Perhaps I'll try again
later. " He hurriedly tucked his line into a tattered pouch. "Thank you
for the advice."

"Where do you belong to then? Perhaps we can give you a ride?" He didn't
see knots on the boy's shoulder, but that didn't always mean anything.

Why was he questioning him? Jenackt couldn't hide the look of suspicion
in his eyes as he stepped back, his jaw growing distinctly stubborn. Running
his hand through his thick blonde hair, he glanced over his shoulder, then
back at Sarban. "No, I don't need a ride. Thank you." He gave an awkward bow, for
it was not a motion he practiced. "Have a good day."

Turning on his heel, he strode towards the sheltering safety of the woods,
silently hoping that the riders would leave him be. If he could just get
to the woods in peace, he could leave them behind.

The steward looked at the other men. Adolescents could be awful surly, he
thought. Shrugging, he sat back in his saddle again. "Let's go on then. We've
already taken too much time." Making a small sound in his mouth, he urged
the runner on.

Last updated on the February 20th 2012

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Holdless Discovered