(no subject)
It was a cold day, and much of the village was at the tav'. Being that people are her business, Lagley was well-advised to follow suit. In addition, she suspected that though Aetius had been acquisitive enough to let her rent board, the miserly gentleman would not welcome a full-time house guest. It was only practical to entertain herself elsewhere.
This particular tavern, run by Marina and her husband Iuvelanis, an elderly couple who have lived in the area for some time, was of middling size and dreadful quality, but beggars haven't much choice, and travelers through the village will not find anywhere else willing to spare food, even for coin.
Lagley gets a beer from the bar and a seat in a neat corner of which she is fond, and waits. As she suspected might occur, a boisterous young Lady of fair complexion and colorful dress falls through the door and heads for a grungey-looking woman drinking near the bar. Her voice carries in a somewhat earsplitting manner, which is unfortunate for everyone involved, considering.
"You --!"
The woman already sat down was much quieter. "Yes, my Lady?"
"Y -- You -- you said you'd make him see sense!"
"No, I said I'd knock him about."
"I don't -- then make him see reason!"
"I can't."
"But surely there's something he can do!"
"I don't think there is."
"There must be something!"
"Have you tried a boat?"
"Oh, this dreadful little village."
The bridge is still flooded over, then.
Lagley, content with that much of Lady Fulvia's conversation for now, politely nods to Elspeth, a shrinking, round-eyed sort of girl whose face had the sort of overall cast one can't help but compare to some manner of seabird, and whose clothes were styled in the strange manner of the country Galla, head-ribbons and all.
"Laglouis! No luck, then? I don't suspect your caravan has looked for you...?"
"No rescuers from Senexia, I'm afraid, no."
"This is so strange, though. The last time a merchant was caught here, his caravan was all sat on the other side of the river for weeks! The children took turns trying to chase them off with rocks, they would not budge -- missus Hadriana sings songs about the loyalty of Hlafording merchants!"
"I told you, I'm to meet them in a small village further down the road. I'm sure they're still waiting there."
Elspeth makes a scrunched face, but nods. "I wish there were something I could do. So many people all stuck here, every year! It's just no good. We need a wizard or some sort of thing."
"It'll let up."
"I know, I just, I worry. The noble ladies are all with the yelling and you look sadder each day."
Lagley smiled. "I'm fine."
---
Lagley left the tavern after an hour or so, taking the road down at a steady pace towards Mirjam's house. She could see from afar that Mirjam was already walking calmly after her eight geese, none of which looked best pleased.
"Godne päev!"
"Wes hal, Mirjam."