In View of the Castle....

[SirThanatos]

*He had ridden without great haste, feeling that the battle had passed him by..his sword had not tasted the blood of the enemy, and hung upon his back in almost a forlorn fashion...his features, if any were near enough to see, would show signs of simple weariness, riding had always been a source of pleasure to him, yet that no longer held true.

Pulling his mount up short as he came within sight of the castle entrance, he studied the scene carefully...there were people moving about with varying degrees of purpose. He saw the wagons bringing in the dead to be buried, and his eyes took in the looks of the wounded as they hobbled towards Windstorm for the aid of people such as the Lady Rayven.

Drapping his forearms across the saddle horn, he gave the castle itself another look, then speaking in low tones he urged Mortis forward.*

"Onward Mortis old friend, let us see how the battle fared shall we? Obviously, Windstorm has been Victorious, for there is no change in how King Agustin's banner flies over the walls...So let us go hither, and learn of how it all fared eh my friend?"

*With that, the great white horse moved down the roadway and entered the Castle proper. After seeing to Mortis' needs, he then walked to the Great Hall and stepped inside to see who may be about, and what news he could learn...and perhaps get some food and drink...*

[Sinold Bragasson]

Sinold could see his friend Thanatos approaching even from afar, and since the battle was over and all enemies well under guard and check, the Norse ran down from the ramparts to the stables, hopping onto Ligea’s back without even bothering to saddle her, then pressing his heel into the horse’s side and rushing out of the gate, towards his friend and comrade in arms.

When he arrived by Thanatos’ side, he turned Ligea around sharply so that both horses now rode side by side. For many moments Sinold said nothing, simply riding alongside the older man, mustering him from head to toe. Finally he spoke.

“You look healthy, my friend… no Frankish arrow sticking inside you, no blood on your sword… by Odin, have you had rampart duty as well and I just didn’t see you?” Sinold grinned, knowing it would wear on Thanatos not to have been in the battle between the guards and the Franks.

[Rayven]

Outside the castle, the winding road ran down through the town and broadened out onto the plain below. In the rolling meadows kingcups and lady-smocks dotted the long grass as the rider threaded his way along the road leading up to the castle.

His form was almost invisible in the shelter of the groves, a shifting form transfigured by the dappled morning light.

He wore a fine green tunic and leather jerkin his cloak flaying out behind him as he rode closer, the sun glinting off the gold torque of knighthood round his neck that was his only adornment.

The shifting shadows of the trees parted as he rounded the bend in the road and I glimpsed his dark blond hair and familiar features and a smile spread across my face.

Sir Thanatos was home!

[SirThanatos]

*As he gazed at the castle and it's ramparts, along with the steady flow of people moving in and out, there was one figure that rode to meet him..and he chuckled a bit as he recognized his friend Sinold.
Listening to the man's "observations" of his umpreforated hide, and the quip made of why this was, his mood lightened a bit and he laughed outloud*

"Ahhh, Sinold m'friend, so good of thee to greet me this way! No, I was not upon the ramparts as you were...apparently I was sent "away" but that is another thing m'friend!

Tell me, how went the battle???"

*As he spoke with his friend, they had made progress towards the his eyes started looking closely at the gateways, wondering how the reception would be from Rayven...he was sure she would be upset by his method of departure...*