Wendie
Ludmilla Monette
Azariya-Amaranth Ye Olde Green Eye

Ludmilla glanced at the knight for a second before heading back upstairs to her room. She locked the door and put down her bag in the corner. It had been a while since she stayed in town, she walked over to the window and opened the faded curtains, taking a moment to look out at the town in the dark. Far in the distance, she could see the line of trees, the forest leading to her home. She smiled, it was a comfort to see. 

After a moment, Ludmilla closed the curtains and took off her heavy cloak, draping it over the chair in the corner, and pulled back the blanket on the bed. She inspected it for a second before getting it. It seemed mostly clean, if not for a few stains. However, Ludmilla wasn't one to complain about her lodging. It took her about ten minutes before she drifted off to sleep.

In the morning, Ludmilla awoke before the sun. It was habit for her, she always had to wake up early to tend to the sheep. Long days allowed for more to be done, and that was important for her solitary life. She got up out of the bed and smoothed the blanket, a habit from home. The blanket had been itchy on her arms, she was glad to be going back home. She picked up her cloak and pulled it over herself, then grabbed her bag of things. Ludmilla went over the window and re-opened the curtains again for a glance at the magical sight of the town in the morning. Her favorite. Only a few people wandered around, all determined, with a clear job to do. It was nice. All working parts of the machine that made the society run. Ludmilla remembered when she was part of that society, and smiled, but then waved away the nostalgia. 

She turned away from the window and went to the door, turning the handle to leave. After Ludmilla closed the door behind her, she looked around for her executioner friend. Not seeing him quite yet, she went downstairs to the tavern, where only the bartender was this early in the morning, and sat to wait. She looked rather silly in a big cloak, carrying a sack, just sitting in the tavern chair. However, it was certainly practical, and that's all that mattered to Ludmilla.
Nicholas
Mozi'ach Blutgerinnsel
Ye Olde Green Eye Azariya-Amaranth

Mozi'ach came sauntering out, a tired looking guard following him. He sat down beside Ludmilla and yawned. "Glad you're awake, I'd hate to wake a woman up from her rest." He scratched at his beard, setting some silver pieces down and ordered a heavy breakfast. 

While he waited for his meal, he sipped on some ale he ordered shortly after the meal. The guard sat down and ordered only some eggs and bacon, almost nodding off to sleep, before Mozi'ach gave them a light smack on the back.

"Been up all night protecting my sorry ass. The previous trip I had, I woke up to the guy defendin' my life from a weeping widow that mourned the loss of her husband I executed." He sipped his beverage, his gaze going beyond the bottles adorned on the tavern's walls.
Wendie
Ludmilla Monette
Ye Olde Green Eye Azariya-Amaranth

Ludmilla watched as the two walked in with a plain expression. "I'm used to early mornings," She explained, "The daylight only lasts for so long 'round here, gotta make the most of it." The woman hadn't thought they would take time for breakfast, but she supposed it made sense due to the long journey ahead. She ordered toasted bread with fruit preserves, handing the money to the tender.

Ludmilla was surprised at the close relationship the executioner seemed to have with his guard, she supposed it was nice, if they went together everywhere. He probably knew he could trust him. "Sounds like a hard job," She commented. "People are often fueled by revenge." 

When her food was brought out, she began to munch on it quickly. She supposed she was quite hungry, even if she hadn't noticed before. She rubbed her eyes of sleep.
Nicholas
Mozi'ach Blutgerinnsel
Ye Olde Green Eye Azariya-Amaranth

He nodded, and began wolfing his heavy breakfast down with haste, the guard followed suit. When they finished, both sighed and stretched their legs. "Might as well pack up." Mozi'ach strode outside, the guard following. They walked for a minute and came upon a stable, a carriage was resting outside. "Best if you bring your steed now, must hook them together and let them get to know each other while we pack up."

Mozi'ach and the guard helped two black horses together, before letting Ludmilla add her horse to the fray. Then both began packing up the carriage with their own belongings. The guard scampered off and fed all three some water and food, before petting them. 

"Best if we go now while the day is early, I estimate we'll reach your home in due time before the sun sinks behind the horizon."
Wendie
Ludmilla Monette
Azariya-Amaranth

Ludmilla got up after the two as they walked outside, and she collected her horse to walk with them. She held the horse's lead in one hand, her sack in the other. Ludmilla's mottled brown horse was a stark contrast to the two severe black horses, she smiled at the mix. But, they seemed to get along just fine when they were hooked up to the carriage. She watched as the guard cared for the horses, a kind business. She supposed they must have a soft spot for the creatures. 

When the executioner made the comment, Ludmilla looked back over at him, and nodded. "That seems agreeable," And she walked over to the carriage, pulling herself up inside and sitting down. It was nice and comfy on the seats, traveling in luxury they were. A full day to travel home was longer than it would take her alone on her horse, but she supposed that was just a small sacrifice to enjoy a carriage ride.
Nicholas
Mozi'ach Blutgerinnsel
 Azariya-Amaranth

Another guard came trotting up, speaking with the guard. It heaves a sigh, climbing down. "Oh? It must be Joel. Good for him." The aforementioned Joel climbed onto the carriage out front. Mozi'ach climbed in as well and sat down. They rolled up the flaps of the carriage and looked out. It was a lovely day, with a few clouds speckled on the horizon. 

"Would you like some biscuits and tea?" He sets a kettle down on the little wooden table, with a tray of buttermilk biscuits. He moved the kettle to a stone tablet with runes engraved on it and opens a little compartment underneath. He lights some tinder with... Something and the smoke just filters out through a pipe in the side. He shifted to the ceiling and pulled open a cabinet, and examined the teas.
Wendie
Ludmilla Monette
Forest outside Azariya-Amaranth

Ludmilla thought about how tired the guard was at breakfast. "Will he be able to stay awake through the day?" She asked the executioner. She felt concerned for him. Looking out the window was nice, the sky was a beautiful hue of blue. 

When he rolled out the kettle and biscuits, she snorted, "Do you just hide food in all the little pockets in here?" She chuckled. It seemed rather extravagant to just have tea and biscuits within the carriage at all times. But, she supposed, convening. She gladly took a biscuit, however, taking a bite. "Lemon tea would be nice," She asked.
Nicholas
Mozi'ach Blutgerinnsel
 Azariya-Amaranth

"He switched with Joel." He took a teabag out and dropped it into expensive china. He let the water to boil slowly.

"I have more snacks in here, such as fruit preserve and bread we bought a day ago." To show, he opens a little cabinet, showing a jar and a loaf of bread under some glass Tupperware. He drops a teabag into his own cup. "Do you like your tea sweet?"
Wendie
Ludmilla Monette
Azariya-Amaranth

"Ah," Ludmilla commented. That was the exchange she had heard between the guards outside. She smiled. The executioner seemed to have all these things figured out quite nicely. It must come with the life, she supposed. "So, Joel is driving us, but you never gave me your name." She asked. For now, she'd just been calling him the executioner, which was rather dehumanizing, she thought. 

"Yes, please," She added for the tea. She nodded, impressed, when he showed her the other snacks they had. They were very well stocked and prepared for trips like this, it seemed. She was glad she had taken the offer of a ride.
Nicholas
Mozi'ach Blutgerinnsel
 Azariya-Amaranth

He added some honey to her cup, the kettle shaking as it boiled, and began to whistle. He snuffed the fire out, and poured the boiling liquid into the cups. He sets it down, and yawned. "Mozi'ach, Mozi'ach Blutgerinnsel." He let his cup to the side to cool, as he clasped his hands together. "And you? I've been calling you lady or woman."

He looks outside, they left the city walls now, and it was empty plains with herds of fauna grazing. He shouldered off his armor, since it seemed unnecessary now. Underneath all of the shining metal was a grey tunic and two different knives strapped to his belt. His blade rested beside him, engraved with celtic runes and carvings.
Wendie
Ludmilla Monette
Azariya-Amaranth

Ludmilla gladly took her tea cup, holding it in her hands to warm them. "Thanks," She said as she took a sip of the sweet liquid. "Mozi'ach, that's a nice name, I'm Ludmilla Monette," She smiled. Ludmilla stirred the tea around to let the leaves flavor the water more. 

Ludmilla looked at the knives, wondering what he needed so many weapons for. She thought maybe they were for his executions, or defense, but she thought just one might do well enough. Her single spear did her well, usually. Having taken it from her horse that morning, it leaned next to her on the seat. It's long wooden handle had some herbs tied around with a cream-colored ribbon, for luck. She looked outside the window at the nature.
Nicholas
Mozi'ach Blutgerinnsel
 Azariya

"Ludmilla? Wonderful name." He finally sipped his tea, then held it in his hands to keep warm. "It's beautiful outside, is it not? It's... Welcoming." He sniffed his hand, then frowned. It reeked of blood and decay, he had washed his body the night before, but...

He sighs, the smell clung to him like an odor. Something soap and water would never clean. He dipped a biscuit into the tea and ate in silence. It was to be expected, he had worked with bodies, infatuated with every aspect of them and how they rot over time. That was the karma, was it not? Smell of the bodies you work with. 

His eyes looked weary. He sets down the cup and opened his booklet. "A messenger sent me these descriptions of the men I must execute. Jonus Arbukl, Garfil the Lazed and Odus Jonsson." He flipped through another page. "War criminals from the south of Northwind's border, probably to come in as spies." Then he looked at his notes. "Ah, I see... Poisoning a noble? Very daring."
Wendie
Ludmilla Monette
Outside of Azariya-Amaranth

Ludmilla nodded, agreeing with his statement. "The tranquility of the landscape here is perfectly balanced, it's why I can bear to live in isolation out here most of the time. The beauty of nature is truly unmatched." She said all of this while looking out the window, admiring the beauty. She was glad to find someone else who truly appreciated it, although Mozi'ach was not someone she would have expected to enjoy it. 

When he began speaking about his next execution, Ludmilla looked back over at him, to the booklet he was reading it from. "Do they have them locked up already?" She asked. She assumed they would, as prisoners, be locked up, but she supposed she also knew very little about executions. "People despise nobles, for their wealth, but I think it's better if we all just stay to our own stations and enjoy our own lives, not worry over the stations of others." She commented. Usually she wouldn't share her opinions, but it was nice to talk to someone. Besides, they had a whole day in the carriage. She took another sip of her tea.
Nicholas
Mozi'ach Blutgerinnsel
 Azariya

"I hate the nobles, always so high and mighty upon their gold laden thrones. Corruption is what I see." He spat, then sighed. "My hatred stems from when I still lived in the Witherlands. Bitterly cold, the entire lot. We were a large family, until my father had come to be terribly ill..."

His gaze darkened. "They did not want a so called shitblood on their doorstep when we pleaded for warmth and medicine. They did not want disease. They pitied us when my father passed." He lowers his eyes to the floor. "They pitied us when my family passed until it was only me and my two brothers."

"Then we split, burnt the family cottage and moved on. I had replaced my father and my two brothers had grown to become great smiths. Guzan and Touzan, have you heard of them?"
Wendie
Ludmilla Monette
Outside of Azariya-Amaranth

Ludmilla listened to him tell his story patiently, a pained look in her eyes. She waited until he finished speaking before commenting. It seemed he had had a hard life, with so much death. Right of him to hate the nobles, for ignoring his family and causing him pain. "The Witherlands must be a rough place to grow up, especially with loss like that. I am sorry to hear of it." She thought of her own family, she simply could not imagine losing them, even though she hadn't spoken to them in years. They remained close in her heart. 

She had indeed heard of the two smiths he spoke of. She smiled. "Yes, Guzan and Touzan, are they twins? They come to Azariya-Amaranth sometimes to sell weapons and metal goods, I've bought many shears from them. Very good quality." She was glad that Mozi'ach felt comfortable opening up to her with this story. It made her feel trusted.
Nicholas
Mozi'ach Blutgerinnsel
 Azariya

"Aye, rough place. Bitter winters and short summers. Many times, we had to stay inside, trying to warm up with the firewood. We had to live off of eating the rats and insects of the house, and eventually go outside and butcher a stray boar."

He smiled, as he remembers his brothers fondly. "Yes, they are twins. About three years older than I. I wanted to smith like them, but something about corpses were... Alluring." He sounded... Off at the last sentence, but the thought faded as soon as he began speaking again.

"They are amazing smiths, learning from the blacksmith in our town, then went to have full apprenticeships in Northwind. They're situated in Terresol though, I visit from time to time."
He huffed, smiling to himself.
Wendie
Ludmilla Monette
Outside Azariya-Amaranth

Ludmilla nodded, "I remember the winters where I grew up, much more Northern Azarya, were very cold, too. Im sure the Witherlands is worse, but, it definitely teaches something about survival. It's a rough existence" 

The smile when Mozi'ach spoke of his brothers was contagious. Ludmilla nodded while he told of them. The comment about corpses, however, seemed rather strange. She frowned, slightly concerned about that. But he continued talking of his brothers, so she ignored it. "That sounds quite nice. Send them my compliments, the next time you see them." She smiled.