Nothing out of the Ordinary

[Brian]

Once Nathan leaves the library, most of the other Storm-riders excuse themselves and follow.

Eric, Arthur, Edward, and Alec all follow a few steps behind.  After a moment, Alec ventures, "Food would be good."

[Rezantis]

"Definitely. Been a little too long. And . . ." he turns to the other stormriders as they walk towards the mess hall, "Sorry about that. I wasn't entirely expecting to be sitting around for several hours, but I guess someone had to do it."

[Brian]

Eric sighs, looking more tired than you've seen him before.  "I'm tired ... but I'm hungrier, still.  My wife was ... she was lucky.  Only wounded," he says after a moment.  "And with the priestesses, she'll be alright.  I should ... I should be with her," he finally says.

[Rezantis]

Nathan closes his eyes and sighs.

"I had no idea, Eric, I'm sorry.  Go," he opens his eyes and looks at Edward and Arthur, "We're pretty much done, if you want to head back - we're just going to get some food, but feel free to come along."

[Brian]

He nods at you, managing an earnest, and hopeful smile, showing just the smallest bit of weariness.  After that, he jogs to a side corridor, and vanishes.

"Aye, luck to him," Alec says quietly, so as to keep Eric from hearing.  "But he's strong."

Edward nods, looking at Alec appraisingly, and Arthur hums thoughtfully.  "It's strength like that," he says, "that we find heroes in," the younger one says.  Glancing at Nathan, he seems to realize what he said, and winces.  "Ah, not that an ancestor's will should go unrespected, Sir," he adds appologetically.

[Rezantis]

Rez nods, looking after Eric "It's very true, though . . . in that way, I think, he's definitely stronger than I."

[Brian]

Edward looks at you with new eyes, and nods respectfully.  "Though, you are a hero of kinds yourself," he muses.  "Aye.  I'll drink to that."

"Ah," Alec adds.  "The feasting hall!"

The room is as the last time it was when you saw Durant here, though the peasants have thinned out a bit.  There's enough room for everyone to find a seat, and servants are passing out bowls of hearty stew and bread.

[Rezantis]

"Aha!"

Rez finds a table with plenty of room and sits down, calling a servant to fetch some food.

While he's at it, he looks around quickly to see if anyone he knows is in the hall.

[Brian]

There's a press of people ... and most of the people you know are either Storm-riders, minor celebrities, or made of stone.  But you don't see Durant around.  Maybe he's sleeping.

[Rezantis]

Who knows?

Sitting at a table, Rez and Crew gets some bread and stew and start eating.

Mmm. Stew.

[Brian]

It's pretty hearty; got some form of meat (probably the oxen things), something that looks and tastes like potato, and mixed vegetables.  The other Storm-riders are pretty eager to dig in.  Food, warmth, and folk music.  Not too bad.

[Rezantis]

Stew! Wai!

Bread! Wai!

Folk Music! . . . why?

Rez digs in. Decent stuff, though.

[Brian]

When you finish off one bowl, servants clear it and offer you another.  Alec doesn't hesitate, and just dives into his second bowl.  Arthur and Edward decline, just finishing off the bread they were given.

[Rezantis]

Rez also gets another bowl.

It's been a while since he ate, and getting thrown around battlefields is hungry work.  

"So," he asks between mouthfuls, looking around the table, "Alec and I need to drop by Master Ekim's forge . . . ahm . . . I'm not really sure what else needs doing. I might take the opportunity to get some sleep, after that."

[Brian]

"Would not go amiss," Edward seconds, around a mouthfull of bread.  Arthur just nods, sipping from the flagon one of the servants gave him.