The Preserve's edge: Sunday morning

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

The temperature had dropped drastically overnight, to the point Galahad was just waiting for it to snow. He'd stoked the fire up as high as he could, and coaxed Gawain to lie down (not an easy task by any stretch of the imagination - Trenor was a very irritated horse) next to it.

Between the warmth of the horse, the warmth of the fire, and the warmth of the half-naked bard at his back, it was almost comfortable.

If he ignored the pricking of his conscience. True, the woman had been infuriating: quite mad, insulting, and she'd tried to steal his horse, but... He blew out a long breath, watching it curl in the air and sighed. Gawain, the real Gawain, would thrash him when he heard.

[ooc: so very open, yes.]

Comments

[doubleohblonde]

A knive was far better than some of the things he'd seen used. "Thank you," Asriel said as he sat. "I'm afraid I know little enough as it is. Although what do know intrigues me."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He handed it over as he sat, pulling a matching one from his boot. "And what do you know?" he asked, scooping some porridge expertly up on the tip of his knife and bringing it to his mouth.

[doubleohblonde]

"For starters, we're in a land called America," Asriel replied, taking a mouthful of porridge. "Although it's possible you might know it as something different wherever you're from."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"No such place is part of the Empire," he said, taking another bite. "But if it exists, I'm sure it will be soon enough."

[doubleohblonde]

"Which Empire would that be?" he asked thoughtfully.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Galahad looked at him as if he'd just said 'which sky'. "The Roman Empire, of course."

[doubleohblonde]

"Oh, of course," Asriel nodded. "This land is far to the west of the Empire. Many weeks voyage by sea."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He visibly brightened. "You know where it is!" Not that he wanted to go to Rome, he wanted to return to Britain. He'd be branded a deserter by now, but if he could get back to Arthur... "Do you know where I could find a ship to take me there?"

[doubleohblonde]

"I'm afraid not, but given this is an island, I imagine you might be able to find someone who does."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"You're right. And I have no coin, but I'm sure I can earn my passage." He started eating his porridge with renewed gusto. It would be no more than a year before he saw Arthur once more, he was sure of it. "And where do you come from, Asriel?"

[doubleohblonde]

"Brytain," Asriel replied. "Although I don't belive that it's the same one that you might be familiar with."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He stopped with his knife half-way to his mouth and simply stared. How could there be more than one Britain?

[doubleohblonde]

Asriel noticed the expression. "It's complicated."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"It must be." In this one thing, surely cowardice could be forgiven.

He wasn't going to ask Asriel to explain. He didn't want to know.

[doubleohblonde]

Which was a relief since Asriel wasn't entirely sure he could explain it to someone with no knowledge of experimental theology.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He ate in silence for a minute, before looking up. "Have you learned anything else?"

[doubleohblonde]

"Mostly that these people have some truly astonishing devices." Even if they didn't have the same comforting craftmanship and elegance of those back in his own world.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I have seen some of that for myself," he said. "Water came out of the wall when I turned a piece of metal!"

[doubleohblonde]

Asriel nodded. "And as far as I can tell, that's only the start of it."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"An island of wonders." And mad people, but thanks to Asriel he knew how to get home.