[The Trough] Friends Made (Bolden Denusk)

[Tallandir Mithadar]

50th of Summer, 511AV Tallandir entered the large canvas tavern known as The Trough and was greeted with the typical atmosphere, maybe more so, of a tavern. He was dressed in full armor, Surcoat and Sword as well. since he'd just gotten done practicing sword movements in his armor again. He went to the bartender and ordered himself an ale. He quietly said "Thank you" and gave the man the proper amount of money. He chose a lone table towards the back of the tent and while making his way to it said Hello and returned any greetings he got. Tallandir then sat down. He wanted to think some on what he would do now for his pavilion. He'd done much since his father had died but he would have to get a wife eventually even if he thought them all evil and deadly to one's health. Perhaps his thinking would change in due time. Tallandir sipped his ale, watching men and women, come and go from his table. He watched a young man walk in and watched him socialize a bit and then saw him approaching his table. He would wait for the man to interact with him before extending a greeting.

[Bolden Denusk]

"Hey there. I'm Bolden Denusk of the Sapphire Clan. " He held out a food pouch that looked like Tallandir's, and set it on the table before the stranger.

"I noticed you dropped it near the door, and thought you might miss it."

Bold sat down at the table with a mug of mead in hand and gave a friendly smile.

"So what's your name? Are you here visiting family?" He asked, taking a long cool drink of the mead. His large hands were rough and calloused with long fingers. His elaborately braided, sapphire blue tunic showed evidence of his status with the highly ranked Denusk Pavilion.

[Tallandir Mithadar]

50th of Summer, 511AV Tallandir blinked and looked at the pouch for a moment and then took it from Bolden. "Thank you. My name is Tallandir Mithadar of the Diamond Clan. I lead the Mithadar Pavilion....or what little is left of it." Tallandir paused for a moment looking Bolden over. He was still young it appeared and he was well up in status with the Denusk Pavilion. He took a long drink of the cool ale. Tallandir had heard of the Denusk's, as most do in Endrykas, but he'd never met any of them but it seemed he had the chance to meet at least one of them now. So Tallandir started talking again. "Bolden Denusk. Well, the Denusks will always be welcomed by me as friends. Tell me what's your relation with...what's his name...Vanator, right? I've heard he's a good man, never met him though."

[Bolden Denusk]

The young man was about to say something to the first comment but Tall's question made him wanna shove over the table and storm out.

'Even strangers know of Mister Legendary Vanator the Mighty, the Heir to the Ankal. Hey it's not like we have the same father---oh wait--yea. We do.'
Bolden thought angrily, doing his best to rein in his unruly temper.

'Why the hells did I come back? It's obvious that all our Pavilion needs is the 'great Hero, Van! Who needs petching Bolden when you already got your hero?'

He looked down thoughtfully into his mug as if searching for the best diplomatic answer, practically choking on the family dignity that must be upheld. Bold sullenly replied,

"He's my older half brother and Heir to our father the Ankal. Yes. He's quite a legend."

His tone was dead flat and held the merest hint of resentment. Having Van as the first topic with a stranger was sure to kill any further good will or conversation. The young Denusk sighed heavily and took a big slug of the mead.

'Always all about Van. I should've stayed with my Palomino...'

[Tallandir Mithadar]

50th of Summer, 511AV Tallandir saw a flash of anger in Bolden's eyes before Bolden responded in a tone of resentment toward Vanator. Tallandir had heard the stories, but he rarely took the time to believe such things about a man without meeting him. "A Legend? Legends are material to be moulded, and not facts to be recorded. Action to me is worth more then the equal of a bag of gold mizas of words. No, he's a man like any other, a man that has attained the status to have stories told of him but still a man. One can only judge a man by meeting him, and that is where you will discover the true virtue of a man. Not by hearing stories of his exploits or victories or how heroic a man supposedly is, but by speaking to him and looking into his eyes." A wave of sadness overcame Tallandir at that time since most of what he said came from his father's wisdom, he shed a single tear as the wound in his heart was still raw and bleeding. He looked away and then looked into the mead and gulped the rest of it while waiting for Bolden's reply.

[Bolden Denusk]

The man seemed to grieve as he spoke and Bolden looked for a black band in the man's hair to show his mourning, but there was nothing to be seen.

'Either it's well hidden in the back or the death was a long time ago.' Bolden thought passingly.

When he saw the grown man cry -in public- no less, Bold averted his gaze in strained embarrassment. Awkward. He just barely stopped himself from squirming in his seat and blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

"Do you have a horse or Strider? I have a Strider stallion named Nightwind."

[Tallandir Mithadar]

50th of Summer, 511AV Tallandir looked up and began to speak. "Yes I have a Strider stallion. His name is Augustus, He chose me when I was Twenty five and we've been inseparable for the last two years. Come, I'll show him to you." Tallandir got up and for a brief moment his black braid for his father was visible before the rest of his hair covered it once again. He signaled for Bolden to follow in a friendly manner and with a small smile on his face. Once the pair approached the Stallion a little ways from the large tent, Augustus came up to Tallandir. Tallandir sent a thought to Augustus telling the Stallion that the man with him was a friend and to NOT kick him across the grass back into the tent. "This is Augustus my fierce-" Tallandir stopped because Augustus Nudged him some almost making him fall. Tallandir regained his balance laughing. "And playful Strider Stallion. Such beautiful animals, and always more to learn. Intelligent, fast, strong, what more could you want from an animal?" Tallandir finished as he patted Augustus' neck.

[Bolden Denusk]

The young man saw the black braid and nodded as if to himself. When they reached the paddock, he saw a new strider. His eyes roamed the stallion as thoroughly as they would a beautiful woman.

'The head seems almost too delicate for the neck. He must be still filling out. About three years old. Well schooled judging by his gait. When Nightwind was that age the testosterone made him so edgy!'

Nightwind cantered over to Bolden, practically sitting on his haunches to stop. He greeted Bold affectionately, but his ears kept flicking back and forth to listen to the nearby stallion's antics. He scratched under the Strider's forelock and looked over Augustus with a practiced eye.

"His neck's just starting to muscle up, so he'd be about three or four now? I really like the way he engages his hocks. Good natural balance. He's a fine Strider, Tallandir."

Bolden stroked Nightwind's ears as he spoke, his actions telling the story of long habit. The Strider draped his head over Bold's shoulder and just soaked in his rider's company.

"Nightwind was a terror at that age. His neck started thickening and all he wanted to do was fight and kick and just be a rebel about everything." He laughed as he talked and slapped the animal's gleaming neck to send him off as he pleased.

" He still gets the devil in him, but with daily training, he's shaped up well. We're still working on his manners, but even an ancient stallion will still have a saucy attitude." The young Denusk chuckled and started to relax. He could talk horses all day and all night.

[Tallandir Mithadar]

50th of Summer, 511AV Tallandir listened to Bolden talk. Tallandir also forwarded the complement to Augustus from Bolden as well. Tallandir also looked over Nightwind while Bolden spoke. Bolden knew his horses and once Bolden had finished, Tallandir responded. "Yes, he's four now Bolden. He also thanks you for the complement, let's hope it doesn't increase his ego more. I'd say he's a fine Strider as well. Saved me a couple times in the last two years." Tallandir laughed as he spoke. "Stallions and manners just don't go together. In any case, I try to keep training him though not as much as most others have too it seems, I keep him well schooled in any case. Nightwind I must say is a beautiful strider, and you two seem to have a strong bond. Intelligent Stallion too, you any good at riding him?" Tallandir laughed when he said the last sentence.

[Bolden Denusk]

Bold smiled at Tallandir and nodded.

"Yea striders are noble like that. Ever since I could walk, I wished I could -be- a strider. They're independent and can't be forced to do things and yet they still choose that one person to be totally loyal to. I -still- want to be a strider." His voice took on an admiring and wistful tone.

"Whatever they do is done out of devotion. It's amazing how a strider does only what he wants to, yet will love one Drykas so completely they would die for us. Let your strider keep his ego! He's a fine animal. He's got as good of manners as any stallion his age. Besides, if he didn't have an ego, he wouldn't be a strider, right?"

Bold looked at the man beside him, hearing the last question.
"I'm your average Drykas rider. No worse or better than the next."

Nightwind's ears perked up at all the compliments and arched his neck proudly. He took all of it as his dues and bobbed his head up and down as if in complete agreement about how great striders are.

"Although my strider's gonna need a bigger paddock to fit his huge ego in!" Bolden laughed with affection.

"Like strider, like rider."

Secret :

Sorry to make you wait so long. I've been very distracted.