Visitation cont

The slaver invited the man who had a claim on the Pani girl. I had seen him before, but he never names himself. He is Torvie, with a deep Torvian accent. His manner is brusque and he is frequently has his face hidden in a rough fabric. On this cold night however, he was bare-faced and I could gaze boldly on his striking features. I noted that the pani girl must be his for they made a fine looking pair, Jarl and bond.

The slaver asked why the girl had been permitted to wander about. The man replied that he had been away for a number of days and so it was somewhat his fault that she had wandered off, but that he would see to punishing her.

We all then went to the long hall so he and the slaver could discuss further over mead. Nearing the long hall, the slaves stripped off their kirtle. The Pani, not understanding the command to strip, had her kirtle ripped off by the Torvie man. We entered the darkened hall, the slaver left the Torvie's weapons by the entrance and they sat down at the low table.

"Neve, serve me mead. Laylee, play your flute for us." The slaver turned to the Torvie, "this slut is mine." he added indicating Laylee with a wave of his hand.

The Pani girl managed to serve the Torvie after some confusion. I served the slaver warmed mead and bosk steak, which was no small feat given my arms were trembling and rope burned from the Mori pirate attack earlier that night.

After partaking of drink and food, the slaver and Torvie negotiated for the Pani girl. The slaver suggested, "I'll return her to you, if you swear your allegiance and join our camp and defend it with your axe and bow."

The Torvie responded thoughtfully that a friendship could develop like an uncurling talendar, given enough time and that he would gladly swear to the camp but said sheepishly that he did not have his weapons. The slaver then returned the weapons to him.

The Torvie stood up, raising the double axe above his head and roaring in a deep Trovie accent, "I swear my allegiance on my axe to this camp as a friend..." The Pani woman did not understand much of his words other than "axe" and "friend" and trembled.

To be continued....