Paladin - the path north volume one

Chapter 11

Tar'vid sat at the head table that stood upon a small raised platform, still finding it hard to believe he was the not only chieftain of the Jakken but celebrated as well. One by one the lords of the surrounding villages had knelt and offered him their sworn oath, to follow him loyally until death. Bordin stood nearby, as he had done ever since the duel on the bridge, refusing to take a seat beside him. Tarquin sat on his left, Tar'gorth to his right. Both had partaken in copious amounts of the local mead and were quite drunk. The other soldiers Tar'gorth had brought were also enjoying themselves, mixing with the Jakken people happily under Svein's watch. Rorholm and his younger brothers stood guard at the base of the platform with their short swords. Bordin and Tarquin were still sceptical of their loyalties, but Tar'vid believed in the sincerity of their oaths and would hear nothing of it.

"More wine my chieftain?" Languardia asked, leaning over to refill his goblet.

She leaned in so close he could smell her perfume, like a fragrant flower he thought, her hair brushing against his cheek.

"Perhaps, a little more," he replied nervously as he became flustered... how much wine had he drank exactly?

The Jakken looked to him with each refill until he raised is goblet in a toast... he wasn't used to alcohol at all and he wasn't thinking clearly at all.

"Come on, my friend, you've earned the right to have a little enjoyment," Tarquin slurred, reaching out to grope Languardia.

Tar'vid batted his hand away sharply, letting her finish topping up his goblet unmolested. Tarquin was pretty lecherous when he was drunk.

"I shall do so, on your promise that you'll stop trying to molest my serving staff," Tar'vid replied harshly, though his own words were slurred now.

"I make no promises, my friend, but... I shall damn well try my best," he said before standing unsteadily to his feet.

Tarquin rang his knife on the inside of his goblet, the hall stopping its activities to look at him.

"Friends! New and old. Our chieftain, Tar'vid, has brought our peoples together in the greatest fashion I've seen in all my years, now, raise your cups. To chieftain Tar'vid!" he proclaimed, raising his goblet high and sloshing wine onto the table.

"Chieftain Tar'vid!" Roared the room as they all downed their cups in one.

Tar'vid drained his own goblet, perhaps stupidly as he followed suit. Again Languardia filled his goblet, her soft breath tickling his ear as she seemed to lean in ever closer.

"Are you feeling alright, my chieftain?" Bordin asked, suddenly standing beside him.

"I'm... really not feeling so great," he replied slowly, his thoughts swimming as he struggled to concentrate.

"Perhaps we should get you rested, It has been a long day after all" Bordin suggested, placing a hand on his shoulder.

That seemed like a prudent plan, he could just sleep this off and suffer through tomorrow as everyone else would.

Before Bordin could subtly usher him away, Tar'gorth stood and Tar'vid groaned, knowing exactly what would come next.

"When I first arrived here in the north" he began. "I was suspicious of all of you, but now, having been amongst you... You're all the greatest people I've ever met! To Tar'vid!"

Again they shouted his name, many perhaps unable to comprehend Tar'gorth's drunken words, but they looked to him once more and he followed suit, gasping at the effort as the others drained their cups. It seemed Bordin had been foiled as Languardia leaned over once more, his eyes drawn uncontrollably to her now open cleavage, had her dress been that open before? He sighed and leant back in his chair... had he been staring at her... by the gods what was wrong with him?