(no subject)

[athelstanthescribe]

It's a harried and frankly a little frightened Athelstan who hurries through the door tonight, clutching a book to his chest, and makes straight for Bar. Before the door closes behind him, a church bell can be heard ringing frantically on the other side.

"Mistress, would you keep this for - but why not?"

"Well, yes, I know it belongs there, but it may not be safe - "

"...as you wish, of course."

He turns away, looking around uncertainly.

Comments

[lt_blade]

Sonya's in civies, more specifically, jeans and a workshirt and smelling a lot of the barn and horse. She was actually on her way to a shower when she spotted Athelstan.

"Athelstan...what happened?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Boats have been seen approaching the island", he explains quickly. "Boats of a kind we've never seen there before. They'll make land in an hour or less."

[lt_blade]

There's something in his manner that raises red flags. He's told her he's traveled before, so seeing strange ships alone shouldn't have him this scared.

"Maybe they're traders, some countries do trading with foreign countries." She doubted the words even as she said them. There was trading with monasteries, but even so, most seamen used navigation, they would head for a port city, not a monastery. "What did they look like?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"And we would know the look of their ships", he says with a nod. "Unless they've become lost - they had strange figureheads, the brother who saw them told us. Some are saying they're devils... and riding out of such a storm..."

[lt_blade]

At his description, Sonya tried to put the pieces together, the why he described the ships sounding familar. Then there was the year he came from.

Sonya forced her expression to remain stern, though a twitch in her eyes and her jaw clearly read of an 'o crap' expression. Dragon figureheads were common with some Asian cultures, but at this time in history, no Asian country would consider sailing all the way to the West. The viking warriors however-and monasteries were such easy targets.

"I don't think they're lost, Athelstan." She managed to keep her voice calm, her demeanor going back to Officer Blade. "The description you gave matches them to Norse ships, raiders."

Another person may've sounded panicked, but Sonya's seen and experienced too much to let her emotions control her like that. "I don't suppose your monastery has any means of defense."

She didn't because she doubted that was the case. Only the most sadistic and crazy Englishmen would attack a monastery in that time period.

[athelstanthescribe]

"No", he says simply, watching her face. "There's never been reason... you also think they mean us harm?"

[onceaviking]

{ooc: would this be too weird?}

[athelstanthescribe]

[ooc: hah! Possibly but I say do it anyway.]

[onceaviking]

Eric looks up from his phone.

That's a frightened looking little monk. Frightened smelling too.

And the sound of bells sounding in alarm ....

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan sees him and gives him a distracted nod - then veers in his direction, clutching his book.

"Eric. Would you tell me what your boats looked like, when you were young?"

There's a touch of authentic Norse in the way he says "Eric", whether it's copying Eric's own pronunciation or a holdover from his visits to those parts.

[onceaviking]

So the time has come perhaps.

Eric leans back in his seat.
"Our longship? They were long and graceful. Shallow too and lights. The smallest would carry around forty men , the largest twice that's. Some of them would be decorated with the faces of dragons and other beasts. In times of peace, we'd take down the dragon heads, so as not to frighten anyone."

In times of peace.

[athelstanthescribe]

"So that was what Brother Osric meant", he says under his breath. "You - no, they - have not taken down the dragon heads."

[onceaviking]

"You're being attacked."

It's not a question.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Not yet. They have not yet made landfall. But... yes, I believe we will be."

[witchfinder_general]

Father Harman is there, reading a book.

"Brother Athelstan!" he says. "What's the matter?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Boats have been sighted off the island", Athelstan tells him. "Of a kind few of us have ever seen - but I have. I think they may be raiders."

[witchfinder_general]

"Yes, I'm afraid so," Father Harman says. "Historically, they do happen around your where and when."

[athelstanthescribe]

"...you knew?" he asks quietly.

[witchfinder_general]

"Not to you, precisely," Father Harman says, sadly. "But in your time and place, Viking raids did happen."

It would be a reason why the monk is interesting enough for the bar to steal. Bloody thing, to not treasure the man just for being a scribe and illustrator possibly involved in the Lindisfarne Gospels, as he deserves to be.

[athelstanthescribe]

"What becomes of my home?" he wants to know. "Please tell me."

[equal_of_any_man]

"Athelstan, my friend?" Olivier steps to him, reaching to support the monk. "What is wrong?"

[athelstanthescribe]

He leans unconsciously into Olivier's hand. "I think trouble is coming, Olivier. Longboats."

[equal_of_any_man]

"Sit, my friend. You are safe here and have time to gather your strength." He guides Athelstan to a chair. "Tell me of this trouble?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Brother Osric was on the shore", he says, sitting obediently. "Gathering driftwood for the fires. He saw boats coming, with strange figureheads. I've seen such before, in the Northlands, and one here has told me if they meant peace, the figureheads would be removed."

[equal_of_any_man]

Olivier gently pries the book from Athelstan's hands and holds them in his own, feeling the cold of shock in them. "And you fear these men of the north mean you and your people harm?"

He holds Athelstan's eye earnestly. "If you desire it of me, I will come back with you." He is a soldier, a warrior of the Cross. What is his duty if not to protect the holy places and to stand at the side of a friend.