Post by Tray Parker on Sept 4, 2011 19:15:55 GMT -5
The sound of bird song filled the cool air as the sky began to lighten, the woods were still as if the plant and animal life were savoring the short time they had before the summer’s heat took hold of the land. Until night came to offer a short reprieve from the heat, the day would be hot a muggy unpleasant to labor or play in, If one was lucky they’d have a job inside air conditioned door, although many were forced to endure the unrelenting temperature. But for now the heat of the day was only a distant memory, the surrounding land holding such a peaceful air that the sound of men shouting shattered it like a rock thrown through a pane of glass. Birds watched from the trees as men ran to and fro upon the deck of a flying ship, anchored to the ground by two heavy anchors connected to thick chains. The schooner hovered at least twenty feet above the meadow it was anchored to, the rigging chattering, boards creaking as it slowly bobbed up and down, patiently waiting as the crew lowered barrels from her side with ropes and pulleys. The going was slower then if they had unloaded at the docks and at times a little awkward, but the crew had fallen into a rhythm and so the work went by steadily. Bellow men awaited to load the barrels into a wagon pulled by two armored iguanas. It was strange for a ship to be unloading outside of the encampment, and one might wander the legality of the cargo the ship held, for her crew to undergo such an arduous task in the woods. But the cargo was legitimate, the contents of the barrels a wheat like subsistence someone had ordered. The only reason the captain had decided to dock in meadow beside one of the many small roads leading up to the encampment was the fact that his employer live outside of town far from the ports. And so to cut the time he’d spend upon the wagon and away from his ship he decided to unload here (plus he wouldn’t have to pay to dock at the ports).
Shouting instructions to his men the captain helped undo the last barrel from the ropes securing it to a board before loading it onto the back of the wagon. Securing the last of the barrels to the wagon, Tray went over the knots and lines to make sure all would last the ride on the dirt road before turning to bid his crew a farewell. Leaping into the bench Tray took the reins from a crew mate, today he’d be making the journey alone perhaps a foolish idea with bandits and pirates around but the captain didn’t seem bothered by the danger. Snapping the reins the man clicked his tongue sending the iguanas into a walk. Dirt billowed up behind the wagon as the large lizards picked up speed steadily moving farther from the Stargazer. As always the man felt a sense of nostalgia as he drew farther away from his beloved ship, he often felt this way when he did business on land. And today was no different as he let the sounds of the forest envelop him as the wagon entered the trees, their branches casting pleasant shade over him. By now the sun had risen over the mountains heating up the land as it rose farther into the sky, its light filtering through the trees dappling the earth bellow. The going was moderately slow even with the lizards plodding along at a fast pace, the rattling of the wagon , the wheels creaking as they turned seemed so out of place among the forest. Though the driver found the noise comforting as he watched the land move around him.
Perhaps he’d stop by here another time and hunt, for now he had a job to do and the noisy wagon would have alerted all prey to his presence anyways. Fingering the yew longbow slung over his shoulder Tray lost himself in the memories of hunting with his father. It had been a while since he had visited his folks, he should go see them before it was to late. Maybe they could go hunting again, or perhaps he could take his family aboard his ship. Sicily would love that, she was always the outgoing type of gal which worried her elder brother. Their neighbors would joke that she would send him to an early grave with all her crazy antic. A tender smile teased tray’s lips, he wandered how she was getting on how much she would have changed since he had last seen her. Perhaps she had mellowed out as she matured, the thought was so unlikely that it caused tray to laugh. After this job he’d turn the ship toward home, he was sure his crew wouldn’t mind visiting his family his mother’s food was enough to keep anyone from leaving, and a bunch of hungry men would certainly please her. A loud snort from one of the iguanas jolted Tray out of his thoughts. Studying the large reptiles tray noticed how their gate had become choppier then normal. “Ho, ho, “ he said firmly, in an attempt to steady them before switching into a softer tone, “What’s wrong guys?”
The words hadn’t had a chance to properly leave his mouth when someone shouted “Freeze!” As if on cue a large group of men dressed in military uniforms stepped out of various hiding places, bows, crossbows, and other weapons in hand. Instinctively Tray reached from the hint of one of his swords but his hand didn’t even leave the reins before having to return to keep the reptiles under control. Startled by the sudden noise and appearance of the men the lizards lurched forward into a full on sprint managing to pull the wagon several feet before they were forced to a stop by Tray engaging the break with his right foot while tugging on the reins. The wagon came to a sliding stop just before hitting a man who had stepped out into the road a crossbow pointed at the captain’s chest. Letting go of the reins Tray raised his hands a look of totally confusion on his face, though this ambush had caught the man completely off guard it had not rendered him speechless and so he cleared his throat and asked, “Is something wrong officer?”
Tag: Arabella
Word: 1079
Note: ...
Shouting instructions to his men the captain helped undo the last barrel from the ropes securing it to a board before loading it onto the back of the wagon. Securing the last of the barrels to the wagon, Tray went over the knots and lines to make sure all would last the ride on the dirt road before turning to bid his crew a farewell. Leaping into the bench Tray took the reins from a crew mate, today he’d be making the journey alone perhaps a foolish idea with bandits and pirates around but the captain didn’t seem bothered by the danger. Snapping the reins the man clicked his tongue sending the iguanas into a walk. Dirt billowed up behind the wagon as the large lizards picked up speed steadily moving farther from the Stargazer. As always the man felt a sense of nostalgia as he drew farther away from his beloved ship, he often felt this way when he did business on land. And today was no different as he let the sounds of the forest envelop him as the wagon entered the trees, their branches casting pleasant shade over him. By now the sun had risen over the mountains heating up the land as it rose farther into the sky, its light filtering through the trees dappling the earth bellow. The going was moderately slow even with the lizards plodding along at a fast pace, the rattling of the wagon , the wheels creaking as they turned seemed so out of place among the forest. Though the driver found the noise comforting as he watched the land move around him.
Perhaps he’d stop by here another time and hunt, for now he had a job to do and the noisy wagon would have alerted all prey to his presence anyways. Fingering the yew longbow slung over his shoulder Tray lost himself in the memories of hunting with his father. It had been a while since he had visited his folks, he should go see them before it was to late. Maybe they could go hunting again, or perhaps he could take his family aboard his ship. Sicily would love that, she was always the outgoing type of gal which worried her elder brother. Their neighbors would joke that she would send him to an early grave with all her crazy antic. A tender smile teased tray’s lips, he wandered how she was getting on how much she would have changed since he had last seen her. Perhaps she had mellowed out as she matured, the thought was so unlikely that it caused tray to laugh. After this job he’d turn the ship toward home, he was sure his crew wouldn’t mind visiting his family his mother’s food was enough to keep anyone from leaving, and a bunch of hungry men would certainly please her. A loud snort from one of the iguanas jolted Tray out of his thoughts. Studying the large reptiles tray noticed how their gate had become choppier then normal. “Ho, ho, “ he said firmly, in an attempt to steady them before switching into a softer tone, “What’s wrong guys?”
The words hadn’t had a chance to properly leave his mouth when someone shouted “Freeze!” As if on cue a large group of men dressed in military uniforms stepped out of various hiding places, bows, crossbows, and other weapons in hand. Instinctively Tray reached from the hint of one of his swords but his hand didn’t even leave the reins before having to return to keep the reptiles under control. Startled by the sudden noise and appearance of the men the lizards lurched forward into a full on sprint managing to pull the wagon several feet before they were forced to a stop by Tray engaging the break with his right foot while tugging on the reins. The wagon came to a sliding stop just before hitting a man who had stepped out into the road a crossbow pointed at the captain’s chest. Letting go of the reins Tray raised his hands a look of totally confusion on his face, though this ambush had caught the man completely off guard it had not rendered him speechless and so he cleared his throat and asked, “Is something wrong officer?”
Tag: Arabella
Word: 1079
Note: ...