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| ==Dialogue== | | ==Dialogue== |
| TBA
| | Eivor heard yelling as she entered the longhouse. |
| | *'''Rowan:''' ''Push me any further, Holger, and I will make you eat that wretched hat of yours!'' |
| | *'''Holger:''' ''Do you not know fine millinery when you see it, Rowan? I could trade that hat for two of your horses.'' |
| | *'''Randvi:''' ''Silence, both of you!'' |
| | *'''Rowan:''' ''Randvi, I demand that this matter be settled here and now.'' |
| | *'''Randvi:''' ''Have patience, Rowan. There is a time and place for such disputes.'' |
| | Eivor approached. |
| | *'''Eivor:''' ''Rowan, Holger. Why all this shouting?'' |
| | *'''Randvi:''' ''Eivor, thank Tyr.'' |
| | *'''Eivor:''' ''I heard shouting. Is something wrong?'' |
| | *'''Rowan:''' ''Holger robbed me! And I demand he be punished!'' |
| | *'''Holger:''' ''Ah! Robbed is a pointed word. Does the deer rob the stream when she takes a drink? Does a cow rob a field as it crops on sweet grass.'' |
| | *'''Randvi:''' ''Eivor , this matter require sensitive judgement. Will you...?'' |
| | Eivor took a moment, looking at the throne, before sitting. |
| | *'''Eivor:''' ''Of course. From the beginning, please--'' |
| | She was interrupted by Dag, who had been hanging around. |
| | *'''Dag:''' ''Well, now! There is no excuse too small, I see ... nothing to keep you from coveting that seat, is there?'' |
| | *'''Eivor:''' ''In Sigurd's absence, who has better claim to oversee these disputes?'' |
| | *'''Dag:''' ''You might leave them to work it out for themselves. But that would mean ... letting go, would it not?'' |
| | Dag shrugged and left. Eivor took a deep breath before turning to the quarreling men. |
| | *'''Eivor:''' ''Please start again. Tell me all that has happened.'' |
| | *'''Holger:''' ''I will start. I have been falsely accused by this Saxon philistine!'' |
| | *'''Rowan:''' ''A filly what? Are you mocking me?'' |
| | *'''Eivor:''' ''Silence, please. I will hear both of your complaints and render a decision, awarding compensation if needed. Understood?'' |
| | (If "Rowan, I'll hear from you." was chosen) |
| | *'''Eivor:''' ''Rowan, tell me your version of these events.'' |
| | *'''Rowan:''' ''Huh. As you are aware, Holger and I are neighbours. Near enough that I often catch him at my stables, stealing my tools.'' |
| | *'''Holger:''' ''Borrowing!'' |
| | *'''Eivor:''' ''Holger, let him speak.'' |
| | *'''Rowan:''' ''Stealing, borrowing ... my point being, I have always allowed him to use whatever he pleased. I greatly admire your Norse generosity and had hoped to match it. But this morning, Holger stretched the limits of my grace. Entering my stables for their feed, I found my most beautiful, gentle mare stripped of her tail! Bereft! Not a strand in sight! I am ashamed to say my natural suspicion drew me to Holger. And how right I was! For when I peered across the lane, there he was, gripping a horsetail brush slathered with indigo, dragging it across a sheet of--'' |
| | *'''Holger:''' ''Painting, Rowan! I was painting! You make it sound so crude.'' |
| | *'''Rowan:''' ''You see? Such willful arrogance! It will take ages for Aelfgifu's tail to reach its former length. I demand compensation!'' |
| | *'''Eivor:''' ''I understand. Thank you, Rowan.'' |
| | (If "Holger, your defense?" was chosen) |
| | *'''Eivor:''' ''Holger. Let me hear your side.'' |
| | *'''Holger:''' ''Eivor, you have known me as a skald for years. You have seen how my poems bring life and joy and wisdom to our people. And you know that my work requires a certain, let us say, freedom ... to make use of rare resources to compose my verses. Often, when lacking the proper tools, I have made use of novel items. Alvis's walking stick. Tove's inks. All were given gladly.'' |
| | *'''Rowan:''' ''You cut off my horse's tail to make a brush, you bleedin'--'' |
| | *'''Eivor:''' ''Rowan.'' |
| | *'''Holger:''' ''As I was saying, this morning, in the throes of a poetic reverie, I realized that my latest piece required delicate brushwork. I could have used a frayed stick, some cloth, my hands, but no ... I needed something gentler, softer. To make a perfect brush, I needed the fine hairs of a well-raised horse. And so I availed myself of a local resource..'' |
| | *'''Rowan:''' ''You clipped Aelfgifu's tail to the rump! Without asking!'' |
| | *'''Holger:''' ''It was early, I did not wish to wake you.'' |
| | *'''Eivor:''' ''Thank you, Holger. I believe I understand your position.'' |
| | (If "I've heard enough." was chosen) |
| | *'''Eivor:''' ''I believe I have heard enough. If you will--'' |
| | *'''Rowan:''' ''My horse looks like a fool, Eivor! No handsomer than a donkey now. You must do something.'' |
| | *'''Holger:''' ''Do not conflate hair with beauty, Rowan. She remains radiant. Aelfgifu's hair will grow back in no time.'' |
| | *'''Eivor:''' ''Quiet, both of you. Now listen...'' |
| | <tabber> |
| | |-|Holger is right.= |
| | *'''Eivor:''' ''Rowan. However daft his approach, Holger meant you no harm and lost you no coin. The horse's hair will grow back.'' |
| | *'''Holger:''' ''But--'' |
| | *'''Eivor:''' ''And you, Holger ... your habit of borrowing without asking ends today. Apologize to Rowan and greet as friends.'' |
| | *'''Rowan:''' ''This had best be a very good apology.'' |
| | *'''Holger:''' ''It will be! Ahem-- To you, O man of horses, I do offer my utmost apologies. And to Aelfgifu, most elegant of mares, I dedicate my finished work. You are, respectively, a king of men and a queen of horses, and I exalt you. I ... am ... sorry.'' |
| | *'''Rowan:''' ''Hmff.'' |
| | *'''Eivor:''' ''Rowan, does this satisfy you?'' |
| | *'''Rowan:''' ''As much as it can. I accept the apology.'' |
| | *'''Eivor:''' ''Good. Then by Tyr's blessing, let this matter rest. We are done here.'' |
| | She rose from her seat. |
| | *'''Eivor:''' ''Return to your homes in peace.'' |
| | The two men bowed. |
| | *'''Holger:''' ''I will return your tools and offer you one of my paintings as a sign of good will.'' |
| | *'''Rowan:''' ''Hmph. Unless your paintings can regrow horse tails, I have no use for them.'' |
| | |-|Rowan is right.= |
| | *'''Eivor:''' ''Holger. Rowan is clearly in the right. You sheared the tail from his horse without gaining permission.'' |
| | *'''Holger:''' ''I borrowed the tail! Borrowed! Does the reality of regrowth not make this a victimless crime?'' |
| | *'''Eivor:''' ''It is a two-victim crime, Holger. Though they are unharmed, you took without asking and that will not do. As the horse's value has diminished significantly, you will pay Rowan its market price.'' |
| | *'''Holger:''' ''But the horse was not for sale! Rowan, admit it!'' |
| | *'''Eivor:''' ''My decision is final, Holger. Pay what you owe and meet tomorrow as friends.'' |
| | *'''Holger:''' ''And if I do, may I keep the horse?'' |
| | *'''Eivor:''' ''Pay the man and be done with it. Rowan, does this satisfy you?'' |
| | *'''Rowan:''' ''It does. Thank you, Eivor.'' |
| | *'''Eivor:''' ''Good. Then by Tyr's blessing, let this matter rest. We are done here.'' |
| | She rose from her seat. |
| | *'''Eivor:''' ''Return to your homes in peace.'' |
| | The two men bowed. |
| | *'''Holger:''' ''Would you allow me to pay you with a vibrant painting? After all, in some ways, you helped in its creation.'' |
| | *'''Rowan:''' ''Absolutely not. Silver is the only color I wish to see from you.'' |
| | </tabber> |
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| ==Outcome== | | ==Outcome== |
