Unintentionally I Swear!, Open =3

[Isla]

Deciding to go out and ride her warmblooded mare for one of the first times she'd gotten up early and had dressed for riding. Then she'd had a short breakfast, packed a few things and headed down to the stables. Her blood bay mare had been saddled and so she slid right up atop the mare and headed off. Trotting through the castle grounds, out through the gate and she headed for the town. Isla pulled her hair back and tied it up with a ribbon. She pulled the hood of her cloak up over her head and then adjusted her cloak about her.

The ride down through the town was pleasant enough and she was more or less ignored by the majority of the people. After a while of riding around the town and talking to various people she decided to go find the waterfall Lasair had told her he'd spent some time at. Unfortunately it would be her misfortune to sort of forget where she'd been told to turn off and picked the wrong turn that wove it's way through the woods. After riding a bit she emerged into a sort of clearing.

The hairs stood up on the back of her neck and by the time her mare stopped at the remnants of last night's cook fire she knew she was in deep shit. This was NOT the waterfall camp Lasair had set up. Very quietly she attempted to urge her mare to leave with all, quiet, haste.

( Her Horse )

[Lore]

LAUREN VARAC

More than Myth

A few days old and the wound still hurt, but having been mended and cared for the pain was now a dull ache, and although it was constant she was glad for it. Her father had always told her "If you're not in pain you're dead". For the most part he was right -- on a normal basis a person generally experienced several types of pain, anything ranging from a headache to a broken arm. In her case she felt the ache of a slowly healing arrow wound, and because of it she hobbled about on one good leg while she used a lovely stick she had found as a make-shift cane.

The morning was like the others she had experienced: quiet, cold, and surprisingly relaxing. In its stillness she could smell the remaining smoke of the previous nights fire and could see the glow of the sleeping coals. Not having much else to look forward to (adventuring was off the ledger for a while, thanks to her leg) Lore took her quiver, shouldered her bow, took her large stick-cane in hand, and made off slowly towards the woods to try and find some dry wood so that she could rebuild the fire and enjoy a pleasant morning absorbing its warmth. The thought of cozying up near the warm flames filled Lore with a happiness that sat firmly in the pit of her stomach, it was such an exciting proposition that she couldn't help the giddy feeling bubbling up -- but that quickly wrenched itself into fear as the sound of an approaching horse caught her attention. Quickly she took shelter behind a tree and patiently awaited the approaching danger.

What met the girl's eyes gave her some confusion. A woman? On top of that she looked well-to-do. What was she doing here? Frowning, Lore knocked and arrow and more or less crept out from behind the tree, a task that was decidedly hard with a hindrance such as hers. "Lost?" She asked, an arrow drawn but pointed towards the ground. Caution, the action said. Move aggressively and I will defend myself.


OOC: this is me assuming Lore is now staying in the bandit camp after her first thread xD;

[Isla]

Her mare caught onto the scent and sound of another before Isla did. Trusting her mare, Isla backed the mare right up, away from the woman with the bow, eyeing it warily from the shadows of her hood. A flash appeared out of the corners of their vision and only a short word in gaelic brought the massive, bristling dog to a halt just short of Isla's Mare's front legs. She'd forgotten all about Valeria. The big dog had been an exotic present from her father, rasied to protect and follow her. In her haste to ride she'd forgotten all about him.

Figuring it couldn't get any worse than it already was she slid off of her horse and touched the big red brindle mastiff's head. He quit growling and lifted his head into her hand, straightening up and sitting at a gentle touch from Isla's hand. Her free hand felt the tip of the knife up her long and loose sleeve, just incase she needed it for this particular situation. It wouldn't outmatch a bow, but she had good aim that came from years of competition with her brothers and father.

She cast a wary look around and then reluctantly nodded "Yes, Very lost it seems."

[Lore]

LAUREN VARAC

More than Myth

Lore wasn't sure what to think of this site: a cloaked woman on a horse in the middle of the bandit camp. Did she have a connection to the others? Ever wary, Lore kept a close eye on the woman as she backed her horse up. Was she leaving? If she leaves she'll know the way here. Sean was quite clear about the secrecy of the way here, would he allow her to leave with such knowledge? While Lore contemplated the odd predicament she found herself in something moved through the woods, crunching through the snow. The redhead looked up, her eyes widening at the sight of an incredibly large dog rushing her, hackles up and lips curled back in a snarl. Instinctively Lore raised her bow and aimed it at the dog, but a sharp word from the rider stopped both outlaw and beast almost immediately.

The dog no longer charging, Lore lowered her bow slightly and looked to the hooded woman as she dismounted and placed a hand upon the hound. The animal quieted almost immediately but it did nothing to soothe Lore's own nerves. She was shaking, each breath quivered as she exhaled a fog of warm air into the crisp winter atmosphere. A span of two breaths later the woman finally spoke and Lore lowered her bow further. "Ah," she said through a long exhalation of breath. Straightening her posture a bit the outlaw loosed the tension in the bow string, further removing herself from an aggressive stance. "I don't trust a face I can't see. Remove your hood."

[Kerr Ellsion]

( PEOPLE MOVING ALL THE TIME )
i n s i d e a p e r f e c t l y s t r a i g h t l i n e

A gravelly voice came from the trees as a large, rather bulky man stepped forward, moving close to the two young women “Lost people don’t belong here.” Of course the tiny Miss Lore knew by now that he was not at all as scary as he seemed, but the very lost young woman would not know this. So Kerr, being protective as he was, made a move as if to reach for the young woman, but instead placed his hand on Lore’s shoulder in a sign of affection and defensiveness. The hooded woman seemed to pose little threat, but Kerr trusted all women to hide things, whether within the loose fitting fabric of their skirt or cloak, or within the confines of their hearts. Yes, he concluded, all women are hiding something. And this particular one, with her hood drawn over her face, seemed to Kerr to be the type to have a weapon hidden on her person.
Regardless of whether or not she was carrying a weapon, she still posed as a liability. For now that she knew where they were located, all she had to do was find her way back to town and tell someone what she had seen. The guards would swarm upon them like flies to a rotting corpse. And that’s what the outlaws in the camp would become, rotting corpses sitting in jail cells or hanged in the square. And so it was that Kerr made the decision to interrogate the girl thoroughly before any judgment on her future was made.
“What is your name girl?” He glared at her, as if attempting to scare her, and asked another question. “And what brought you into the forest on such a day?”
Kerr himself was wearing a simple leather doublet with a warm woolen shirt beneath and thick trousers tucked into his big boots. The frost of the day had not cleared and in the chill one could even see their breath as they spoke. It was not ideal riding weather for young ladies. Yet another reason Kerr had found not to trust the girl.
He listened as Lore asked the girl to remove her hood, “Aye, and do as she says.”

template by wreckoftheday ! of caution.

[Isla]

Isla was pleased the other woman had stopped when Valeria had, for it would have turned into a bloody free for all if neither had been able to stop when Isla had commanded it of the mastiff. She relaxed a tad bit when Lore relaxed the bow almost completely, well aware the woman could bring it up again and fire most likely in seconds if she made a move to flee or attack. So she kept her mare on one side and Valeria on the other, stroking the big brindle to keep him calm. She was about to shake her knife back into her sleeve and pull down her hood when tall, dark and handsome appeared.

Isla noted the man's grip of Lore's shoulder and then when he snapped his questions out and glared and postured it did nothing to phase Isla. She squared herself up with the greater of the two, presenting Kerr with her hip, her feet shoulder width appart and a straight back and lifted chin. It all indicated she both knew how to fight and how to hold her ground against larger opponents and while not agressive, it indicated she was more than prepared for a fight.

He was right, she was hiding something, several somethings. Fifteen somethings, all nice and sharp and pointy, and she was even less prepared seeming for this weather than either of them. Her dark eyes meet Kerr's eyes and she held them as she let her knife slide back into her sleeve and pushed her hood back. It pooled about her shoulders to reveal her facr. Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun, and her cheeks were only slightly tinged red.

Her fingers slid the rest of the way down and she pulled the cloak pin with a practiced movement, letting it slip from her shoulders, the air around her steaming from the heat of her body. Dressed in a warm woolen blouse, a black front lace corset, long layered skirts split up the sides to her hips for riding and tall leather boots that laced up and hugged her calves. Leather riding gloves completed her wintery outfit and she seemed not the least bit put off by the cold.

Being born in northern Scottland, the highlands as many called them, had their advantages here. Under her clothing she was pretty sure at least Kerr would be able to tell not all of her curves were because she was a woman. She'd learned to shoot and fight with the best of her brothers with the so proclaimed bruitish claymores her highland kind favored. After another glance at the man and woman she sighed and muttered something to Valeria and he laid down. Isla finally answered his other two questions. "I got lost." She said with a shrug "And my name is Chelsey" She said, maintaning a straight face even as she offered up a slightly altered last name in favor of turning over her own true name. "You can call me Ches." She didn't ask for their names.

[Lore]

LAUREN VARAC

More than Myth

The first time Lore had encountered Kerr she had been, well, skittish. He was a bear of a man, casting a mountain's shadow. At first glance she wasn't sure if she'd ever feel comfortable around him, but quickly discovered he was less of a grizzly than she had initially imagined. Despite knowing this Lore still had a tendency to scare, so when his voice unexpectedly cropped up the red head startled slightly, turning her head in time to watch as his hand settled upon her shoulder. Oddly enough it helped bolster her courage, mostly against the large canine that sat at its owners feet, a vigil guardian ready to gnash and hackle at a word it seemed. Injured Lore plus big dog? Outcome looked grim. "Mornin' Kerr," Lore greeted quietly, her eyes shifting back towards the woman whom she had a growing dislike for.

Kerr spoke again, directing his words towards the intruder. He asked of her her name and tacked on a confirmation to Lore's own request. Name and hood, to which the woman replied. First went the hood, well second the hood. First came the defiant body language and then the requested action. The woman dropped the hood, but didn't stop there; she undid the pin of her cloak and let the garment fall to the ground, revealing a fit figure. She didn't seem a stranger to combat -- figure or stance. Lore watched carefully, looking for the tell-tale signs of hidden weaponry, but found herself distracted by the motion of the dog as it lowered itself to the ground. With the animal completely off its feet the outlaw relaxed even further, her shoulder shifting backward beneath the weight of Kerr's hand.

"A fine place to wind up," Lore said, separating her bow and arrow, keeping the arrow between two fingers while she rest the bottom of the bow against the ground. Her leg was beginning to hurt, so she leaned weight off it it and onto her bow. Where had she dropped her stick-cane? Thinking of this lead Lore's thoughts back to her attempted morning of relaxation by the heat of the fire, to which she sighed. Can't have it all, I guess, Lore thought, focusing on woman as she gave her name. Chelsey? Ches. Always suspicious, Lore took the information with a grain of salt. "Well, Ches, don't think we can let you go knowing how to get here. What do you suggest?" Tilting her head towards Kerr, Lore directed the ending question to the lumbering man.

[Sean Fletcher]

”Dress yourself woman… we are a simple folk, and are not easily impressed with your show.” A voice drifted to the gathered through the hazy fog of the morning. The weak sun’s rays were slowly beginning to dissolve the haze, but patches still lingered over the frosty ground. Sean’s breath streamed from his lips as he spoke, his bow negligently placed about his shoulders, his hands resting upon it as he walked. His expression was one of little concern as he sauntered into the clearing. He stopped beside Lore and Kerr, giving them a cheeky little wink in greeting. Sean had been watching the interaction carefully, one he needed to know just where Lore’s loyalties lay, and this confirmed that Sean had not made a mistake in allowing her to be a part of their family.

He took in the woman’s stance, the dog, the horse, her clothing, everything, in one sweep of his dark and brooding eyes. He nodded as he contemplated the situation. ”Well, what to do indeed? Y’see, we have a bit of a problem here my lady, first off, well…. You know the way to our camp. This in itself would not be such a bad thing, but that hound complicates things now doesn’t it? Secondly….” He removed the bow from his shoulders and over his head to hold it in one hand as he began to walk towards the woman. … secondly, you are rich, we are poor, and you’ve stumbled ‘accidentally’ upon our camp. What do you suggest we do now? Allow you to go willy nilly?” Sean shook his head in a show of sadness, false regret upon his stubbled face.

”Here’s the deal, you give us a third of whatever money you have upon you right now, and we’ll let you go. If you lie, we’ll take everything. But be warned, if soldiers suddenly find our camp, I shall know who to find…. And I will find you.” His voice was quiet, yet held a distinctive note of menace as he warned the woman before him. He had ways and means of getting into the castle undetected, and of finding out information he needed. He looked briefly to Lore and Kerr, signalling that they should do nothing yet.

Talk this way

[Elsbet Dundas]

( PEOPLE MOVING ALL THE TIME )
i n s i d e a p e r f e c t l y s t r a i g h t l i n e

Kerr smiled slightly at the acknowledgement from Lore. He already liked the spunkiness that the young woman possessed, though he’d only known her for a short while. She was loyal, it seemed, and that was the best quality a person could possess in Kerr’s eyes. His smile broadened a bit as Sean arrived and took charge, the way he always did. Sean was their unofficial leader. Everyone respected the man and his judgment was impeccable. Kerr took a step toward the intruder upon their happy camp, and grinned at her. “I think she means to fight us all three Sean.” His grin was half challenging and half sarcastic prick, expressing his feelings toward the girl rather clearly. Her manner and dress did not impress him in the least, and he wanted to make sure she knew it. In fact, Kerr disapproved of woman riding astride, especially when they wore skirts. It was on thing for a woman in trousers to ride astride, but then she was not very womanly to begin with. It seemed to Kerr that the woman wasn’t sure whether she wanted to be a man or a woman. And how improper to have a skirt that was not really a skirt. Kerr found himself feeling more and more disapproving of the young lady at each passing moment. She was not a proper lady, and that lowered her quite substantially in his mind. And it was thus that he addressed her, “My friend here is offering you quite a fair deal, if I were you I would accept it and learn not wander. Trust me there’s many a man that would do more than just demand your money from a woman dressed as you are.” His distaste for her was so blatantly evident that he could nearly taste it on his own tongue as he spoke to her with a cheeky grin on his face. He was insulting her without having commented as heavily as he might have liked. If that had been his daughter, she would’ve received a sound lashing for daring to go into public dressed so, and he didn’t even believe in lashing a child.

template by wreckoftheday ! of caution.

[Lasair]

Isla lifted her chin and eyed Kerr once more and then her eyes shifted over Lore. She wasn't even sure how she'd gotten here so the woman's words didn't make much too much sense for her. Sean's appearance and words cause the veins in her neck and forehead to pulse, but she showed no other signs of a reaction, watching the man as he studied her back. She watched the interactions between the three and made a guess they were close, and then felt the hairs on back of her neck prickle in warning.

As Sean and Kerr stepped forward Valeria climbed to his feet in a flash, hackles raised and teeth barred, a threatening growl raising in the air. Isla reached for reins and collar at the same time, flexing and pulling the growling hound backwards even as she felt the tips of her knives touch her fingers, ready to be shook the rest of the way into her hands. Fortunately no one was behind her, and therefore couldn't easily see the fact she had steel resting against her wrists.

Unfortunately for the two men she hadn't even brought her purse out here with her, and she sure as hell wasn't going to let them have her horse, or Valeria, or her cothes. Her body she wasn't acctually worried about, she'd willingly sell her body to get her out of this mess. She swallowed a smile at Kerr's words and lowered her lashes and flicked her glance to Lore and smirked "Too bad the pretty lass you seem to have a thing for, isn't a lad, or I'd call you out and call this a ball."

She drew the reins up over her mare's head and released Valeria's collar after giving the dog a gentle few words. She flexed her chest muscles "And darling." She added for both men, her eyes shining "Did you ever consider I dress like a whore because I am one?" She didn't give them time to really consider a reply, dragging her mare's head around and digging a heel into the animals side before she was even halfway up into the saddle. Valeria turned and fleed at top speed, disappearing into the woods.

Oh she knew she most likely would get shot a few times, and jumped at some point on the way home. No matter. She'd go find somewhere to hide and nurse her injuries... maybe Alex would help her... Fortunately for the trio she didn't flee to the road, instead she fled deeper into the forest.

[Lore]

LAUREN VARAC

More than Myth

The announcement of a fourth party undoubtedly belonged to Sean, and at the sound of his flippant remark Lore briefly glanced in the outlaw's direction. She lifted her hand that held the arrow and rest the shaft of the arrow against her shoulder, grinning at the statement -- he just cut to the heart of things. Looking away, Lore's eyes stopped upon Kerr, noting his smile, before shifting back to the noblewoman and her pets at which her smile faded, leaving her lips pressed into a firm line, her brow furrowed. When Sean stopped beside the pair there was a brief pause, a silence which Kerr's deep voice filled. "Much confidence in her," Lore commented with a slight frown. "Or stupidity." Lore's voice was quiet, only meant for the ears of her companions, and was accompanied by a slight grin.

From there it seemed level until hit a sudden downward curve. Sean recited a speech Lore was sure he had repeated many times before, adding on a few unique words to fit the circumstance, which were followed by Kerr's own voice warning the noblewoman that she was rather lucky they weren't run-of-the-mill thieves. Honestly? It was something Lore counted herself lucky for - most men who operated outside of the law.... operated outside of the law in most unpleasant ways and often had very low morals or none at all.

What this woman, "Ches", said next caught Lore slightly off guard. Before much could be said in retaliation she was in the saddle and off as quick as a flash. "Always have to run and cause more trouble," Lore hissed and in response nocked the arrow and raised her bow, drawing the bowstring backward, her thumb brushing against her cheek. Here she paused, glancing at Sean from the corner of her eye. Acting independently could swing one of two ways: well and not well. There was a thin line between good action and bad action. Good action, in this case, seemed a slim chance that could so easily swing towards a negative outcome... like death. If this woman died who would come looking for her? But, if she did return who would come looking for them?

If they gave chase Lore would simply go back to gathering the wood. What would she do? Hobble after the woman and shake her fist like an angered old man chasing kids from his garden?


ooc: man this post was a stinker to write. my muse really hates me right now ><

[Sean Fletcher]

Sean’s distaste for this woman was growing by the second. He had no respect what-so-ever for women that used their body and sexuality to their own advantage, in his eyes they deserved to get whatever was coming to them. He was a man of honour, flirtatious yes, but still a man of honour. For despite the fact that Calanta had been missing once again for so long, he still felt that he was bound by her, even though deep down he knew that their relationship could never really happen. Slowly, deliberately, Sean lifted his bow, cocked an arrow upon it and aimed it at the woman as she spoke. But the arrow was not released, never would he shoot a woman, or anyone for that matter, without cause. But his anger at how she sold herself was overwhelming.

He saw Lore do the same out of the corner of his eye and tensed his aim as the woman mounted and ran. For a few seconds the bow remained raised, his focus completely upon the fleeing figure. He pulled his arm back as though he was going to let loose the arrow, but instead he let out an explosive breath and lowered his weapon. Without looking at Lore or Kerr he spoke. ”Let her go! She will get her comeuppance sooner or later. Her type always does.” His eyes had gone dark. ”Come my friends, let us back to the camp and warn the others that there has been an intruder. As for the lady…. Maybe an unexpected visit would suffice to silence her tongue, what do you think?” He waited for the advice of his gang, for he valued their opinion. They were all in this together, and what one did effected the whole lot of them.

Talk this way

[Elsbet Dundas]

( PEOPLE MOVING ALL THE TIME )
i n s i d e a p e r f e c t l y s t r a i g h t l i n e

Kerr smiled his first genuine smile in a very long time, “Aye, let her go,” he paused a moment, “But might I be the one to go and ‘visit’ our dear Miss Chels?” he knew that it was a long shot, Sean would not want to allow any room for mistakes in such a delicate situation. After all, if she really was the town whore, then she could open her mouth and spill the bean, as it were, to any of the wealthy not-so-gentlemen that came to see her. It disgusted Kerr just to think about it. He had little tolerance for women of that nature. Had they no self respect? And she had so boldly presented herself as being a whore, she obviously lacked parental supervision and care as a child, else Kerr assumed she’d have learned to be more proper a lady.
Kerr had little experience with women, excepting what he had with his late wife and daughter, but it was his opinion that woman ought to be polite, quiet, and reverential. This woman had been none of those, and it honestly infuriated Kerr. He had no respect for the girl, nor did he think that would change when he saw her next. And he was going to be sure she became quite aware of exactly how deep his detestation for her was.
As he watched the girl ride off, his smile broadened. How he wish he’d have kept the horse. It would have been a great satisfaction to watch her walk away. She’d get lost in the forest and they may not find her again for days. However one can always escape the reclusiveness of the forest when on horseback. For a horse is always drawn home, no matter where its home is. And at the very least, she’d make it to the edge of the forest using the sun as her guide.

template by wreckoftheday ! of caution.

[Isla]

Isla fled through the trees and once she was sure she'd left them behind she slowed and whistled for her dog. Valeria bound up and then together they based their direction on the sun's position and headed off once more. Isla soon found the road and raced back towards Nottingham, not wanting to be caught out here by the outlaws twice in one go. After she reached the castle Isla would change, pack and skitter on down to the blacksmith's shop and the protection that staid there. Hopefully she wouldn't have to see any of this bunch ever again...

[[OOC; I apologize this being really short. It was needed to wrap my end of this thread up.]]

[Lore]

LAUREN VARAC

More than Myth

Let her go! Lore lowered her bow, watching as the woman faded from view, and sighed. "Lets hope so." It stung to let a woman like that get away, especially with the knowledge she now held -- once she emerged from the forest and made it back to town there was no telling who or what would come searching for the camp, if anything. Separating the arrow from her bow, Lore returned it to her quiver and set the end of her bow against the ground, leaning weight onto it, all the while frowning. She looked towards Sean as he spoke -- back to camp -- and glanced up towards the sky. An unexpected visit? She looked between Sean and Kerr, a grin brimming at the corners of her mouth. "An unexpected visit? That should put a fright in her," Lore laughed a bit and turned to face the camp. "It would me," she added as she began to unstring the bow, a habit she had been trying to teach herself. If she left it so for too long it's power and efficiency would deteriorate over time. Although using it as a crutch isn't all that good, either, a small voice reminded her. Lore sighed at this and shook her head. So many annoyances in life. Taking her bow at the grip and holding it at her hip, Lore carefully started back towards camp, the thought of a warm fire holding up her bitter spirits. A promising morning had been soured by an unfortunate event. Stopping for a moment, Lore looked back towards the two men, pausing to see what they would do.