Dreamed Into Life

[GamesMaster]

Ravna starts a song, and there's no more talk of this on the way home. 

When they get back, Ravna follows Illiana to her bedroom, shutting the door behind her. "You were bad today," she growls, in a playful tone. 

[Illianna]

"I'm not in the mood ravna we need to talk." I say taking a seat at my loom and starting to weave. "We can't massacre castle without the red empire coming down to kill us. We're a nosebce to them now but Elania is the daughter of the sister in-law to the wife of the empires cussian! Look this might mean nothing to you but the empire looks out for its bastards and distant relationship if they have access to power that might help them expand. She's the queen of castle now and they'll defend her, unless the people turn agents her. If she's no longer useful to them they'll leave us be. But we can't risk her death until we have the people on our side. Castle and the reds have the same political style and if you're not careful we won't be playing politics we'll be praying for the lives of our children" I say one hand protecting my belly the other changing shuttles for the blanket I'm weaving.

[Ravna]

Ravna's face shutters. "No."

[Illianna]

"Then let me help you. Let me spread the stories to aid you and while you're fighting let me make a diplomatic relationship with the reds. Let them see that we are better allies than castle. That you hold the true power in the region."

[Ravna]

"No! You do not dictate policy to me, child!" 

[Illianna]

"I'm not. I'm making a sudgestion. I have friends in their court with weakness we can exploit. I just want to help mistress" I say meeting her eyes but bearing my throat as I'd seen other wives do when showing slight submission in an argument

[Ravna]

Ravna crosses to her, gripping her throat tightly -- not cutting off air, but making her presence known. "Then stop undermining me in front of my men."

[Illianna]

"I haven't, but you've done a damn good job of convincing them I'm incompetent"

[Ravna]

"You've been doing nothing but undermining me since we left! Spinning stories, speaking of women's work to men, teaching them to see me as something soft and fragile!" 

[Illianna]

"You are the farthest thing from soft mistress." I sigh softly "I'm sorry. I never meant to I just want to help. I just want you to see me a competing companion. I just want your respect."

[Ravna]

"You need to stop assuming you have the answers and learn. In punishment for today's transgression, I'm going to have you sleep in the barracks among the men for the next week. I will cut off any hands that touch you; however, you won't have your fine things nad your loom. You will have to learn what the men are truly like."

[Illianna]

"While I am there at least think over my plan? Look into my people and see how this might play out. And next time, just talk to me." I say standing and walking towards the door

[Ravna]

Ravna growls in frustration, but lets her go. 

[Illianna]

The next few days pass quickly. The barks are a place of chores mostly. There's cleaning and mending and up keep of armor and weapons and training. But mostly we chat idely. I learn new tails of renown and new songs. We are nearly through the week when it happens.

On the night of the new moon, just before midnight we are all roused from our slumber and told to arm ourselves and meet at the shore. I'm a plain dress with simple leather gamboson and bow go into the shore to join my first raiding party.

[GamesMaster]

Big Red, a large guy with russet hair, is shouting orders in their native language. It takes her a moment to switch gears, but when she does, she's able to understand what's going on -- to some degree, as there's a number of shouts coming in as well. It's messy, it's chaotic, and it's got a frantic, urgent energy to it.