Roxanna - Prolog Part II

From Black Country Role Playing Society

Wilbur emerged from the kitchen of the farmstead holding a pot hook attached to a large pot of stewed vegetables with as much meat as the poor farm could provide, for a moment he stood in the shadowy corridor that lead from the kitchen to the dining room, and listened to the low murmurs of conversation, his eyes wandered over towards the end of the furthest trestle table, where Helena sat alone save for her six year old daughter, Roxanna. While it was true that at first the farmers had been stand-offish towards the attractive woman and her baby, she had worked as hard, if not harder than any of them, but even now she sat apart; there were rumours that she thought herself better than the others, but Wilbur knew that this certainly wasn’t true. Wilbur cast his eyes longingly over the sweet lines of her face and for the millionth time wished she wasn’t married. “Don’t be a fool” he muttered to himself “how could a beautiful woman like that, be even remotely attracted to a wretched crippled toad like you.”

He sighed deeply, and stumped into the room and dumped the stew pot onto the serving table. “Grubs up you lazy maggots” he muttered gruffly. He winked at Roxanna as he caught the disapproving look from Helena.

The lamp light began to flicker and the window shutters began to swing, as the steady northern breeze became a chilly draft. Wilbur got up gesturing with a palm down motion for the others to remain seated and finish their meals; he walked over to windows and began to fasten the shutters. He returned to his bowl of congealing stew and was about to take a mouthful, when from outside there was a flash of lightning and then a minute later there was a loud crack of thunder. He looked over towards Helena and noticed that Roxy had moved a little closer to her mother and that Helena was almost unconsciously stroking the long red hair of her daughter.

The Storm grew closer, and the atmosphere grew more subdued, while it was true that no one was truly scared, no one liked storms, as too often they damaged the structure of the farm building. The thunder was about six miles away when the sound of hoof beats was heard from outside. Helena lifted Roxy onto her chair and walked swiftly over to the door and pulled back the bolt, immediately the door was whipped out of her hand, she placed her foot in the path of the door, limiting the amount it was open. Outside the rain sheeted down and a figure on horseback was riding up the path, his mount jibbing every time the lightning flashed or thunder peeled, a hooded figure dismounted quickly wrapped the reins of the horse around the fence and approached the door. Even though the room had fallen silent, Wilbur had to strain his ears to catch the conversation between Helena and the horseman. He missed what the man said as the thunder cracked again,

but heard Helena say “Can we offer you a room for the night?”

“No miss, if I ride my horse hard, I should keep ahead of the storm, and I have urgent business in Waterdeep.”

“Have a safe trip them” she said, and pushed the door closed and shot the bolt.

Helena walked across the room towards the stairs to her room, she patted her leg and obediently Roxy half ran, half walked over to her mother and placed her hand in her mothers. Wilbur rose and stumped over to the pair

“You going to read me my letter?” asked Wilbur.

“It’s addressed to me.” Helena replied.

Wilbur raised an eyebrow, “Want me to put the ankle biter to bed?”

“If you wouldn’t mind. Roxy go with Uncle Jenning.”

“Okay, Mommy”

Helena walked into the kitchen already breaking the wax seal. “Okay, you little hellion, lets take you up to bed.” Said Wilbur patting Roxy on the head, “do you want a pony ride?”

“Yes please!” replied Roxy excitedly.

Wilbur swept her up and placed her arms around his neck and limped up the stairs to the room Roxy shared with her mother. Once inside he dumped her on her bed and tucked her in.

“Suppose you want a story?”

Roxy nodded vigorously,

“Once upon a time….”

Wilbur Limped down the stair, it had taken three stories to get Roxy off to sleep, for some reason she never could sleep easily when there was a storm, all the other farmers had left the dining room and gone to their respective rooms, but Wilbur noticed the lamp in the kitchen was still burning. He hobbled over to the door and cautiously peered in. Helena sat on a stool, a crumpled piece of paper by her feet, hand clasped to her face and occasionally, she let out a quiet sob. Wilbur debated with himself for a few second and strode in and gave an unconvincing start of surprise.

“Helena? Are you alright?”

Helena removed her hands from her tear stained face, her lower lip trembled for a moment and then she burst into tears unable to contain all her grief. Wilbur stumped over to her and put his arm around her, “Tell all to Wilbur.”

“Oh Wilbur….” Sobbed Helena “it’s Rupert, he’s been captured.”

“Captured? By who?” asked Wilbur

Helena eyes filled with tears once more “The Zhentarim.”

(On to Roxanna - Prolog Part III)

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