AINO
Five children was a surprisingly heavy burden when stacked on top of the lungs. Aino breathed a deep sigh of relief, and let herself be dragged up on her feet with a few grudging mutters that were only partly feigned. "Yes yes, good fight. Well done. But I know fer a fact that you and you," she said pointing at two of the older children, "are s'pposed to work with your masters right now. And you three," she added, fixing piercing blue eyes upon the remainders whose smiles were quickly starting to sour, "ought to be havin' lessons with the elders." There were protests, loud and pitiful, but Aino was merciless. "I will not hear it!" she said. "Off with the lot of ye!"
She watched, hands on hips as the merry bunch wilted and bled away in different directions, careful to conceal her smile until they couldn't see her anymore. Then the stern look melted into one of warmth, and it lingered as she turned on the remaining young man.
"Aino Jandar," she introduced herself, with an outstretched hand. "Good meeting you as well. Haven't seen you around before; you an Outlander, friend?" Her gaze was direct as she looked him up and down, and seemed to miss nothing.
She watched, hands on hips as the merry bunch wilted and bled away in different directions, careful to conceal her smile until they couldn't see her anymore. Then the stern look melted into one of warmth, and it lingered as she turned on the remaining young man.
"Aino Jandar," she introduced herself, with an outstretched hand. "Good meeting you as well. Haven't seen you around before; you an Outlander, friend?" Her gaze was direct as she looked him up and down, and seemed to miss nothing.
For the good times that we share,
and the bad times that we'll have
and the bad times that we'll have
