Trustful: Day 8

Word Count: 48,027

Summary of Events:

Rosemarie was in the kitchen looking for a frying pan for Wolfgang when Hulda confronted her about the loaf of bread she'd taken and tried to attack Rosemarie with a tornado of pots and pans that Rosemarie escaped. Wolfgang and Rosemarie talked more, particularly about the dresses that Rosemarie had found, and how they suggested that she was a daughter of nobility. Rosemarie was nearly caught by Hulda when she was heading back into the fortress, but managed to escape Hulda's notice. Wolfgang was trying to find some more deer to hunt, but having no such good fortune, and the stories he'd heard as a child about the forests of the Black Mountains were dissuading him from going to look around . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

"He suddenly saw something that attracted his eye. It was a golden eagle, which was considered the official bird of the house of Adler, being prominently featured in their coat of arms. It was considered a symbol of good fortune and victory.

The bird was staring at him, with almost too knowledgable a stare for any eagle. It moved one wing around in front of itself.

In response — not that he was sure why — Wolfgang brought his left arm around in front of himself as if he were holding it out for his falcon back home.

Immediately the eagle took to the air and glided across the space between him and the tree it'd been perched on to alight gently on Wolfgang's forearm.

Wolfgang then noticed that there was a small roll of paper affixed to the eagle's leg, which the eagle bent down and took hold of before holding it out to Wolfgang.

Taking it, Wolfgang waited for the eagle to take off again, but it didn't. He carefully unrolled the paper to look at the words written inside.

Lord Erbherzog von Hochhohl,

I, Elven-Lord Karl-Steffen von Friedhelwald, guardian of the Souls of the Black Mountains, have heard word of your plight, and I offer what help I can for your safe navigation of this treacherous place, wherefore I have sent this eagle to you, a favourable omen of your lineage, to give you the authority of my word in this place. It shall guide you to such places as are safe or favourable upon your command, and will remain with you until you have passed beyond this realm.

Your gracious servant,

Elven-Lord Karl-Steffen von Friedhelwald

Wolfgang was astonished. He'd just been given a magic eagle by an Elven-Lord. He'd met some Elves before, but never an Elven-Lord. The Elven-Lords rarely made appearances, and were therefore considered somewhat mystical, but one had heard of his plight?

He saw numbers on the roll and read them: 02.19.1620. It appeared to be a date. Was it the date the Elven-Lord had sent this to him? Wolfgang looked at the eagle, which stared at him almost unblinkingly.

Putting the roll away, Wolfgang decided he would test the eagle. "Where might I find deer for hunting?"

The eagle raised its wings and Wolfgang thrust his arm upward as he did with his falcon when it was to take off. The eagle did two great flaps before taking to the sky just over the treetops.

Wolfgang followed it through the trees until he spied a bit of a clearing in which a buck and several does were grazing. He saw the eagle then perch on a tree and gaze at him somewhat knowingly."

Pronunciations:

Erbherzog: ehrb'hairzohg

Friedhelwald: fry'dhehlvahld