Travelling People (Isolde)

[Robyn Lester]

Travelling and working was always so much more fun with music, that was what the Raven Pack all agreed on. And since they were more or less a merry lot and had a great repertoire of songs to boot, usually there was seldom an hour quiet in their travels. As the four wagons one after the other trundled along the dusty road on a nice afternoon in midsummer, just on the brink of a woodland in the kingdom of Cantia, it didn’t take them long to fill the peaceful quiet air with their laughter and singing. Jerome, who steered the second wagon, was always the one to intone the most scandalous songs, and this time when his voice rang out, there was a huge erruption of laughter that nearly drown out his rich bariton voice.
”On yonder hill there stands a creature,
Who she is I do not know
I will court her for her beauty,
She must answer yes or no.”

And of course, the three women of the Raven Pack, Madla, Raven’s wife, Tessa and Robyn, provided the answer for the quite bold lad who wished to win over that certain lady: “Oh no John, No John, No John, No!” By no way discouraged Jerome-John carried on singing, backed up by Tybalt and Raven, and even little Alfie who knew the song but certainly did not quite yet understand its full meaning and the many insinuations in it. Every verse was accompanied by boisterous laughter, since Jerome had a knack to fill the words with amazing life, so you could almost see the scene in front of your inner eye.

Then came the moment for the ‘lady-verse’ which was sung by Robyn alone. Adopting a feign naïve and innocent voice, she sang:
”My husband was a Spanish captain,
Went to sea a month ago
The very last time we kissed and parted,
Bid me always answer no.”
For the repeated chorus line, the other women stepped in: “Oh no John, No John, No John, No!”

But certainly, as such stories went, the lady only could protest for so long, and in the end, she of course gave in to the man’s advances, which was once again accompanied by nearly unintellegible words through laughter, especially when Jerome sang about his hand ‘slipping a little farther’. The final verse was sung by the whole group together, some more loud than melodious, but all showed just how much fun they were having.

”My love and I went to bed together,
There we lay till cocks did crow;
Unclose your arms my dearest jewel,
Unclose your arms and let me go
Oh no John, No John, No John, No!”

Suddenly, just as the last ‘no’ had been rather shouted than sung, Raven’s voice at the head of their wagon convoy rang out with a sharp: “HOLD!” Craning her neck, Robyn tried to see past the second and first wagon to find out what was the problem. They had just rounded a slender curve of the road and were now facing a trunk that had fallen over the path, blocking it for the wagons – or it had been put there. Immediately, the merry air of the moment was replaced by one of anxiety as the Raven Pack pulled on the reins and let their gazes flicker around their immediate surroundings. This could be nothing but an accident… but it also could be an ambush! Had they been too reckless? Robyn thought to see a movement to the right and her hand darted down towards her feet, where a wooden staff was hidden, ready for defense if need be.

---

If you want to listen to the song: here!

[ladyisolde1]

Today was a long day, Isolde sighed inwardly as she walked, particularly as they wanted to reach Longstead by nightfall to deliver their 'precious' cargo. But since they were tired from travelling non-stop for several, not to mention hungry, they decided to stop for a few hours to rest up and eat.

Everyone split up, having being given different tasks. Isolde decided to go hunt and see if she could find some rabbits or other animals that they could eat. She had been walking around the dense forest when suddenly she heard some leaves ruffling 10 yards ahead of her, looking up she saw that it was a rabbit. Getting her bow and arrow ready, she was ready to fire her arrow towards it when she suddenly heard people singing and missed. Annoyed, Isolde sighed and then decided to walk further to see whether she could find more game. For if there was a rabbit in this area then surely that meant that there was more around here somewhere.

So she walked on, quietly humming to herself as she had no one to talk to, when she finally reached the clearing heading towards a road. And there she saw a wagon blocked by a huge fallen truck in its path. She was about to walk across the path, when the people in the wagon saw her approaching, alarmed by her presence they began grabbing for their weapons. Grasping a little, Isolde stopped still, then realizing that they probably thought she was going to ambush them, raised her arms and spoke up, voice strong, "Do not be alarmed. I'm not ambushing you," She then held up her brow and arrow and explained, "I was just hunting."

[Robyn Lester]

Raven at least seemed to have seen the movement as well, because he demanded Jerome and Tybalt back with a sharp call, as they had neared the log to try and put it out of the way. Gladly, they seemed to understand immediately and instead began to take position on either side of the wagons, letting their attentive gazes wander over the woods on one side and the vast meadow on the other. Even Aflie, a lanky lad of almost fourteen now, joined them against the restraining hand of his mother. Robyn’s hand had found the staff now and she put it across her knees, ready to use should someone try to attack her wagon. There were little values inside her own, but they still had some precious goods with them, mostly consisting of their stage props and costumes. If someone were to steal or destroy them, they would be definitely far worse off.

A tense moment passed, in which a figure slowly emerged from the woods, a woman, but clad in trousers. That usually meant trouble. No respectable woman, if she wasn’t acting on stage as a man – which was scandalous enough in the eyes of many – would walk around like that. That meant she must be part of an environment that wouldn’t look upon these things as odd or reprobate… which often enough made this group of people reprobates themselves. The Raven Pack was only too aware of such things, as they had to live by them every day, and were often counted amongst those kinds, and so for Robyn it wasn’t much of a surprise to see Jerome’s eyes narrow as he stood close to her, another staff ready in hand.

Then the woman spoke and excused her appearance and her way of approaching.
"Do not be alarmed. I'm not ambushing you," "I was just hunting."
Robyn bit her lips. Maybe she had been hunting. But then where was her game? And she could also been lying, and try to distract them. Robbers often worked like that, sending someone, the most inconspicuous in appearance often which well could be a woman or a little boy, forward to distract their target and lure it into a false sense of security, and then they striked. “So you say”, Robyn called out, beating Raven to the punch which earned her an irritated glance. “But you could also just meant to distract us so we trust you and lower our weapons. And then your little friends come and finish us off.” Now Raven chimed in, sounding a little less offensive and more collected. Forgive us our misgivings, but it wouldn’t be the first time.”

[ladyisolde1]

The woman at the front -- who Isolde realized must have been the leader of the group -- bit her lip and Isolde knew that they still regarded her suspiciously and she was not surprised. For if it were the other way round, she would suspect the same.

After a few seconds, the woman called out, “So you say.” And Isolde noticed the man next to the woman giving her a irritated glance, most likely because he was the leader. "Believe me I am," Isolde tried to reassure them. Sure, she was a smuggler but her and her group did not ambush people and rob them. The woman continued speaking, still eyeing Isolde suspiciously, “But you could also just meant to distract us so we trust you and lower our weapons. And then your little friends come and finish us off.” Isolde nodded her head, because things like that do happen, but she was not the one to cause them. She was about to explain this to them, when the man next to the feisty woman piped up, "Forgive us our misgivings, but it wouldn’t be the first time.”

"True. That could all be true. But I can only try and assure you that I am indeed hunting and nearly caught a rabbit moments before when I got distracted by some singing, and missed hitting the rabbit and decided to try and follow it, ending up here." Isolde tried to tell them calmly, for usually she was strong-willed and hard to scare. But this was usually when she was armed with her sword and was not so outnumbered 10 to 1.

[Robyn Lester]

Robyn knew she was maybe not an expert on judging people, but then she had lived her whole life on the street, and she thought she knew a honest face when she saw it. Well, honest in regards of not plotting your downfall behind your back anyway, and thus she was fairly sure this woman was telling the truth. Who knew, trees fell just like that, and people appeared at the same spot at the same time, coincidences were as much a part of life as fate. And then… the story the woman told was so original it could only be true. For a moment there was silence, then Tybalt was the first to break out into his usual boisterous laughter, pointing at Jerome.

”I TOLD you! I told you, you can’t sing! Now it’s damaging the poor inhabitants of this beautiful country as well, and that should make you finally reconsider! Stop tormenting our ears!”
Of course it had not only been Jerome singing, and of course they had all sung quite well, having to hold up some standard, if they usually made a living out of it, but that was just a part of continous banter between the two young men. Jerome would tease Tybalt mercilessly about his fire-breathing and every mistake he made, and in return Tybalt would let no chance pass him by to make a comment about Jerome’s voice. It didn’t take the rest of the Raven Pack long to joining in the quite liberating laughter, gladly feeling the tension of the last few moments wash away. Robyn laughed as well, but unlike the others, she did not totally blend out their unexpected guest while she did so.


”Don’t listen to them”, she remarked and made a dismissive gesture. “Jerome and Tybalt are lunatics, if you ask me.” But she said it while still having the hint of a chuckle in her voice and with her eyes gleaming fondly. Even though Jerome was not related to her by blood, she loved him like a brother still, just like she did Tybalt, her real brother. The times when she had had to be wary of Jerome wanting more of her than friendship and sisterly affection were gladly over. “I do hope you find yourself another rabbit. By the way, I’m Robyn, sometimes also called Mockingbird, or Lady Justice. Take your pick.”

Meanwhile, the rest of the Raven Pack had also recovered from laughing and Raven, Alfie, Tybalt and Jerome were moving towards the fallen log a few yards away, the latter two still bickering and exchanging playful shoves and nudges. Hopefully the log would be easy to lift by the three alone, if not, they would call for the women to help as well.

[ladyisolde1]

Isolde inwardly sighed in relief as two of the men began to bicker at each other about their inability to sing, because it meant that they believed her story. The woman who addressed her earlier then remarked to Isolde with a light chuckle in her voice not to listen to them and that her two male companions were idiots. Isolde gave a light chuckle back as she very well knew what men can be like when they were a little rowdy or drunk!

The woman then smiled at Isolde and introduced herself to Isolde, not before telling her that she hoped that she will find another rabbit. Isolde laughed when Robyn remarked that sometimes she is called Mockingbird or Lady Justice and found herself thinking that Robyn would make a great friend.

"Hello Robyn. I'm Isolde." Isolde then stepped closer towards her and took out her hand for Robyn to shake.

In the meanwhile most of the group was recovering from the laughing, though four of them started to try and move the log out of the way. And it was at this point that Isolde decided that she should lend a hand before returning to hunting for some food for her group. So Isolde looked at towards Robyn, smiling warmly before she offered nicely, "Would you like some help moving the log?"

[Robyn Lester]

Ah, a woman with detectable humor, Robyn thought while a bright grin of approval settled itself on her face. Lord knew those were far and few between these days, where most women either thought themselves too high above you to take notice of your jokes or felt too miserable to even grace them with a comment other than a glance like that of a silently suffering mule… no, this turn of events was definitely refreshing. She had been going out on a limb with this careless remark about her friends, but Robyn felt genuinely rewarded by the woman’s reaction, and found herself even looking forward to testing this humor some more. Maybe the following minutes would prove to provide a few more opportunities?

So Isolde was the name of the woman with good humor… too bad almost she had to get rid of that newly installed nickname so soon after, but then a name was always better than just referring to someone as ‘the woman’ or ‘the girl’. Robyn didn’t mind Isolde staying with her conventional birthname, her other nicknames were more oftne than not used in jest anyway, even though ‘Lady Justice’ had a far more solemn story. Gripping the offered hand tight, Robyn smiled at Isolde and inclined her head. “It is a pleasure to meet you, huntress Isolde. Once again, sorry for our slightly frosty reception.”

Isolde’s offer took the Raven Pack a little by surprise, but by the looks that were exchanged you could see they were not in the least opposed to the thought. Since the question had been more or less directed at Robyn, even though holding a meaning to the whole group, they left it to Robyn to answer. She would have done so either way, being the one with the quickest tongue of the carney group by far anyway. Even if something was none of her business, Robyn usually just MADE it her business, that was common knowledge amongst them all.
“Sure, an extra pair of hands would never go amiss with that thick beast in front of us”, she said, then hopped down from the wagon and started to walk towards the log where the three men and the boy were already situating themselves.

“You’re not going to play the invalid this time?! Miracles and wonders!” Tybalt greeted Robyn, which earned him a smack on the back. “Stuff the inside jokes as long as we have company, okay?” she chided him, then turned to Isolde. “Sorry, if their words don’t make any sense to you, protest or ask me. Right now for example he was referring to this”, she explained, holding up her left hand showing only four fingers. “I couldn’t do any hard work involving my hands for quite some time, and he’ll never let me live through that I guess.”

[ladyisolde1]

Isolde was glad to meet another woman with a great sense of humor and feisty personality. Gripping her hand, the other woman finally introduced herself and smiled at her, “It is a pleasure to meet you, huntress Isolde. Once again, sorry for our slightly frosty reception.” Isolde could not stop herself from laughing at the nickname Robyn had given her. The men in her own group had given her such nicknames so it was something she was most definitely use to and did not mind. Rather she liked to encourage it a little.

"Oh, don't worry. Believe me, my group and myself would have acted the same way if it happened to us." Isolde shrugged it off for she understood the difficulties and dangers that come with travelling around the Kingdoms.

Isolde noticed the looks of surprise on the some of the members of the group when she offered to help them move the tree trunk. Finally Robyn answered for them, “Sure, an extra pair of hands would never go amiss with that thick beast in front of us.” And with that she hopped down from the wagon and Isolde followed her as they walked towards the log where the three men and the boy were already standing, ready to move the humongous tree truck.

[Robyn Lester]

Robyn’s ears perked up as she heard Isolde talking about a group. That was quite interesting indeed, if she was hunting alone, where had she left her group then? And what kind of group would that be? Usually people who travelled were alone, unless they shared a common purpose, like a pilgrimage or they were carneys like Robyn and the Raven Pack who practically lived like this. Isolde didn’t look much like a pilgrim, but she also didn’t have the look of a carney - as far as Robyn could tell. So, to be honest, she was quite intrigued at these words and couldn’t hold herself back for long in asking further about it. “Oh, so you’re with someone after all? Where are they now? And what kind of group is it?” There had been no hint of suspicion in her voice, just genuine and carefree curiosity. Robyn was now firmly convinced Isolde posed no threat to them and was no part of a ploy, and she hoped her trust in that would not be betrayed.

Isolde also seemed not to be a woman of very many words, which Robyn found very amiable. She was usually talking for two or three at once anyway, at least that was what her brother always said. “Have we even introduced ourselves to you?” she asked the young woman, while she grabbed one of the thick, leafy branches of the fallen tree and got ready to pull it from the ground on Raven’s command. “We’re the Raven Pack, a group of dancers, jugglers, fire breathers and actors of little plays. It’d be great if you have heard of us already, but we won’t be so vain to think you should have[/color]”, she joked, then looked again to Raven. The older man had just opened his mouth to issue the command to pull, when he was cut short by a sharp cry coming from the woods: “NOW!”

A moment later, two arrows whizzed out from the forest and hit the side of the first wagon with a dull thud. Another arrow followed soon after, missing Jerome only by a hair’s breadth. For a moment everyone seemed to shocked to move, but then Raven’s deep baritone roared up, crowding out the eerie howling and yawping that seemed to come from everywhere. “An ambush after all! Run for cover and guard the wagons!” Robyn’s eyes found Isolde’s and her brows furrowed. “Now what, heh?!”

[ladyisolde1]

“Oh, so you’re with someone after all? Where are they now? And what kind of group is it?” Robyn asked her out of curiosity and Isolde freaked out a little, before she answered the question as truthfully as she could without going in-depth with what her group did. "Well I'm travelling with my future husband and a group of merry men. W travel around place to place setting up a stall at carnivals." Isolde hated lying to this kind woman, but she had to. For, while her and her group felt they were doing the right thing, going around place to place selling goods without charging huge amount of taxes, others may not see it this way.

“Have we even introduced ourselves to you?” Robyn asked her and Isolde shook her head. Then she grabbed one of the thick, leafy branches of the fallen tree and got ready to pull it, which Isolde copied, having grabbed another branch on the other side and gripping it ready when commanded to begin lifting it . “We’re the Raven Pack, a group of dancers, jugglers, fire breathers and actors of little plays. It’d be great if you have heard of us already, but we won’t be so vain to think you should have,” she joked and Isolde laughed.

Isolde waited for the older man to issue his command and just as he begun to open his mouth, they heard someone shouting in the woods "NOW!"And with that two arrows flew into the air and hit the side of the wagon. Another arrow nearly hit one of the men but missed, thank god. Isolde and the others quickly scrambled to the floor while one of the men ordered for them to protect the wagons. Isolde felt very much worried now for she knew what the others may be thinking that she may be involved with the ambush. Which she wasn't.

Robyn’s eyes found Isolde’s and her brows furrowed. “Now what, heh?!” she asked her and Isolde thought for a moment. Before she spoke up, "Well I know you want to protect your wagons and we need to keep cover from the on-sought. We need to come up with a plan to catch them off guard and defeat them." Isolde suggested wisely. She just hoped that they would listen to her and trust that she was not apart of the men attacking them at the moment.