Brighid of Gauwynn

Brighid was no less awake than before her short nap, but she had certainly managed to be more on edge. At first the crowds gathered around created a sort of safety cushion for her, the more people there were, the more confident she felt of the safety of not only herself but everyone else. But the more the crowd moved, the more Brighid was sure she saw strange eyes watching her among them. Like before, her arms felt as if they were on fire. She began to clench and unclench her fists, trying to free the tension from her limbs and relax. 

She was broken from herself-imposed trance when Correl tapped her shoulder. With a sharp flinch, she turned her head to her squire and saw the shorter girl urging her forward, through the small crowd of people and into the gates of Odessa. Brighid’s ears felt hot from embarrassment, but she didn’t try to apologize. She should’ve, and for her earlier brusqueness as well, but her tongue felt glued to the roof of her mouth. She thanked Correl with a nod and followed the squire onto the other side of the gates.

Odessa was, for all the looks and sites, far more modern than Loeb. Whereas Loeb was a wooden town, built around a central road with all its main businesses on both sides, Odessa was nearly our times the size, and had mostly structures of stone and mortar. It also had a sizable square, squirming with life, and people of all ages were making their ways around and through to tend to their business. Brighid looked around, for a moment Ellington lost and trying to remember why they’d come here. She caught Correl looking even more lost, head turning back and forth, watching the world move by. 

Brighid tapped her shoulder lightly and pushed their little team onward. The least they could do until she reclaimed her bearings was not stop the flow of incoming traffic. Brighid pulled Trillion and Correl out of the dead middle of the square, onto the side, near one of the fewer older looking building, a low, wood building that seemed to serve as a tavern. Taverns are the oldest buildings in any place, Brighid mused as they stood outside of it walls. She wanted to avoid a repeat of Loeb, having to entertain others exhausted her greatly.

For a moment she closed her eyes, wanting to remember the way to her target. To her next suspect, rather, target was a wry ugly word. And not at all representative of the situation. The wizard was simply under investigation for several murders and would need to be treated as a criminal until he was cleared. Brighid was trying to see him hanged or burned, just… looking into if it was necessary.

Brighid sighed, they would need to talk with the Lord protector of Odessa, and with her wizard as well. The lady should be expecting them to meet her soon. So they couldn’t idle for long, Brighid gathered her bearings again, still stumbling on the names in her mind, and looked to Correl. 

Her Squire had barely contained excitement, eyes wandering over probably more people than she’d ever seen under Lord Wren’s care, all of them different, and more than a few of them knights as well. “Correl” Brighid tried to call her attention, failing in the face of a new and strange city. 

Standing there, Brighid couldn’t help but think of Correl as a big kid, excitedly looking around the city she ‘d only been visiting today for the first time. Her eyes wide and bright, trying to retain as much information. For a moment, Brighid was able to see the color of Correl’s eyes, bright pinks, reds, and oranges, that especially seemed to shift and change with the sun setting. Brighid could swear she could see the city reflected in them as well. She tried to remember if she’d ever been that excited about going anywhere…

Brighid reached a hand to her shoulder and shook her gently, “I promise we can stop and stay in the city a while before we move on, but we must hurry.” She looked around the square until she found what looked to be the most straightforward route to the Lord’s fort. “Lord Hawke is not usually so kind, if my memory serves me correctly.” 

That seemed to snap Correl’s attention back to the task at hand, who sheepishly turned and apologized. “I’ve never been to Odessa before. My apologies.” Brighid closed her eyes to cover the laughter threatening to escape her throat. She motioned for Correl to follow her with a wave of the hand, and the two began to make their way through the crowds once more. Several times, Brighid had to catch herself from telling Correl to sit on Trillion’s back. The random waves of paranoia having her constantly check and make sure Correl was beside her, or at times, behind her.  Correl’s voice reached Brighid’s ears over the crowds once or twice, asking for her master to slow down, or to verify where they were going.

Honestly, Brighid wasn’t entirely sure. 

Brighid kept a watchful eye on the towering, commanding shape of Fort Hawke on Odessa’s skyline.But roads, especially in the more modern towns, were difficult to navigate, the pair had doubled down and back winding side roads, for hours, until the soft reds of dusk became intensely cooler to signal the night, and the moon began to make its heavenly climb into the stars. They were standing in yet another alleyway when Correl’s voice picked up again. 

“…Are you sure you’re alright?”  She whispered almost inaudibly. Brighid grimaced, trying her hardest to ignore the implication of the questions. But, traveling blind in the dark does not inspire the most confidence. 

“I’m not entirely at my top form but… I’ll be fine, thank you.” She responded, giving the area one more look over to find their destination. At this point, they were being mocked, Brighid was sure of that. “Let’s try going back towards the square, and start over front there.”

“Are we going to be okay? The sun’s already set…” Correl, seemed to try and gauge the distance towards the fort on her own, and she didn’t seem to favor their chances, if the way she bit her lip meant anything. Before Brighid could start to haphazardly stitch together a plan, a voice came from the edge of the alleyway behind them, calm like a winter morning.

“I may be able to assist you, Lord Brighid of Gauwynn.” 

Both women whirled around as quick as possible to find the voice’s owner. He was a shorter man, even if you considered Brighid’s impressive height, hell, he was nearly a head shorter than Correl, yet he looked older than both of them. Black and white peppered hair was pulled taut into a thin ponytail, with loose strands most everywhere. Thin eyes were framed with metal-rimmed glasses, To Brighid, he seemed vaguely familiar, and when he spoke she was all the more convinced they’d met before.

“I believe,” he continued, and even in the dark she could see the amusement twinkle in his eyes, “ that you were looking to speak with me anyway.”

His name was Virgil, or that’s at least how he felt comfortable introducing himself to them. Honestly, Brighid was relieved to be out of the sprawling interconnected roads of Odessa. Virgil happily spared them explaining why they were still walking around the roads of 

Odessa and not making their appearance in front of Lord Hawke. Correl explained that they’d been lost sight-seeing and had not found their way back to the main road, which he seemed to believe.

Brighid felt awkward, not just for narrowly being”rescued” by their newfound companion, but for the fact that… this was him, the wizard she needed to speak with. This man may very well be a murderer. The only reason that she was sure, had to be the power this man possessed. Despite his incredibly unkempt and underwhelming presence, he seemed to radiate a power that she couldn’t explain. It felt like a mouse being played with by cats. 

Her suspicion was only confirmed when they found their way to Fort Hawke, and were greeted, all three of them, as guests of Lord Hawke. The servants who met with him treated Virgil with as much care and awe as Brighid herself. Virgil even led them to Lord Hawke’s study. The rightfully impatient Lorde Hawke welcomed them coldly, except for Virgil himself, who she summoned right to her side immediately.

“Perhaps we can finally speak, Lord Brighid?” Lord Hawke questioned, a menacing edge to her tone, caused Brighid to flinch, and that same burning sensation began to run through her wrists and forearms. “Or is there something else you’ve found more worthy of your time?”

Both Brighid and Correl bowed, and lowered their heads, with Brighid speaking up in a loud and softer tone, “Please excuse us, you Lordship. It was not our intention to anger you.” She meant it for the most part, but she knew it would only be harder from here.