Adventures of Caelereth

Hours had passed since the fight in the forest. Everything was pretty much quiet as usual. Hardly anyone spoke of Lilas' death, for everyone probably figured he deserved such a fate. Severine was looking down , hardly paying attention to the scene in front of him. All that fighting was making him tired.

"There it is!"

Severine looked up, and saw Sheren village in the distance.

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

As the caravan continued onward, a subtle bend in the road revealed a great wall of roughly-hewn treetrunks, some ten ped in height.  This massive wall dissapeared into the forest on each side.  It was interupted at the road by a wide, strong-looking gate set under a tower that rose even higher than the wall.  A half-dozen men were guarding the gate, but they opened it for the caravan as soon as they saw Voltaire waving to them.  After the caravan entered, the gate was closed again.  There were guards set on the inside of the gates as well.

Once through the gate, the road dipped down a casual slope giving a view of the village of Sheren and the realization that this entire community was surrounded by the wall of trees.  One other tower and gate was in the distance, where the road continued on outside of the village.  

The majority of buildings were in three distinct groupings.  Roughly in the center, built in a wide circle about an open space, the businesses stood: a tavern, a small inn, stables and smithy, a church, a meeting house, a few shops and such.  The other two groups of buildings appeared to be dwellings and they were scattered in no particular order indicating they were built with no planning in mind.  The surrounding areas, within the walls of course, were filled with farmplots, herd enclosures, work areas, and lone buildings that were built farther out from the others.  All in all Sheren was comprised of some sixty or seventy buildings.

Taking its time, the caravan traveled down the road toward a rather large building on the outskirts of the village proper- a supply house or storage building of some kind.  There was no sign indicating the name of business or who owned the building.  Once the wagons were safely lined up next to the wide open door, Voltaire was able to address his hired guards and drivers.

Edited by: Phiona Whitefire at: 8/26/03 22:45

Severine slowly got off Rosebud, and took a looka round the village once all the caravans were lined up.  For a city that was well-protected...it looked too organized. The people walked around in small groups...what few people there were in the streets around this time. The soldiers watched them very carefully, eyeing their every move. They did the same when Severine and the caravan arrived.  Severine kept his hand near his sword...just in case if anything happened. He moved close to Tierria, who also got off her horse.

"There's something about this village," Severine began. "I can't quite put my finger on it-"

"Ladies and gentlemen!" Crestus' loud voice out done Severine's own, getting his attention along with everyone else. "Thank you for helping me on this journey to Sheren village! Even though we suffered a tragic loss...it's good that the rest of us survived. As you know, my men buried Lilas, and made a small grave for him in the forest. Unfortunately, he has no family that can be contacted. I want to thank our new group of elves who helped us in our battle. Ripp, I expect that you will continue with me on my travel to Klinsor. As for the rest of you, you're welcome to come along as well. You will all be paid in the morning...I'll be waiting for you all in the bar area of the Sheren Inn. The elves will be paid as well for their help. I'll also pay for you're stay tonight, so the inn will be free for you all! I also want to discuss other matters with you in the morning! Since the people here have a curfew...I suggest heading to the right away. My helpers and the soldiers will take care of the rest here. Once again, I thank you all. As for our friend Ren, the soldiers will make sure he gets to the infirmary."

With this said, Crestus walked into the supply house, followed by a few soldiers. At this point, all the wagons went inside, leaving the guards outside with their mounts.

"Well" said Severine, turning to everyone. "I guess we should turn in for the night...get some stress off of today's matters, huh?"

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Penrith bounded through the forest, glancing over his shoulder every few seconds. He was carefully weaving in and out of the trees, because a face-to-face encounter with a tree wasn't on his to-do list.

He finally reached the edge of the forest, and he was surprised that there was a city there. He'd never been this way before. Penrith pulled his hood up, over his head. He had had it off while running, exposing his dark-blonde hair. Penrith was breathing heavily and perspiring even more. When you have a bounty hunter after you, it's not easy to be calm.

The wanted-man noticed that there was a caravan of sorts on a road leading to the city.

"That place looks heavily guarded..." Penrith thought to himself. "I wonder if they've got wanted posters for me around here." He glanced back to the woods. Apparently he had lost the tracker awhile back.

"That guy just had to be rich and powerful, didn't he?" The man said aloud, to no one in particular, shaking his head. Penrith looked around at the walls, to see if there were any openings of any sort he could exploit to get into the city. An opening for a river, a drainage hole, anything....

Sieg saw a group crouding around one man, he has a speach going on about some battle.

Sieg had stopped in town to rest on his way to, well where ever.  The man had gone on about paying his men, and it looked as if he lost a few and needed a little more.  

The man had finished his speach, and the group started to scatter away, most likely to meet in the same spot.  Sieg slowly aproached the man before he left to turn in and started to speak, removing his dark blue hood.

"Sir, I couldn't help to over hear that you lost a few warriors today.  I was trained as a Korenjaan, and maybe my assistance would be needed.  Of course not for free," Sieg finished off chuckling.

Phiona listened to Voltaire along with the rest of them.  Afterwards, since the rotund merchant had invited the lot of them to the inn, everyone began to gather their packs and luggage and to head that way, toward the center of the village.

A curfew?  Did he say curfew?  Her eyes narrowed in suspicion at this, and darted from one soldier to the next.  She didn't like this one bit.  She was starting to feel trapped... first by the wall and now by the abnormal amount of guards in the village.  With a small nudge to her mare's sides, Phiona turned and rode down to the stables, located next to the Sheren Inn.  She took an extra long time brushing down the warhorse and settling her in a stall while thinking about this new situation.  The guards were too regimented and there were far too many of them.  She wondered what was going on.

Grabbing her pack and weapons, she left the stables and went straight to the inn.  She managed to get one of the last few private rooms, glad that most of the caravan workers were sleeping in the cheaper, common room for the night.  After stowing her things in the room, she changed into her last, unstained tunic and went downstairs carrying only a long-handled dirk for protection.  This she tucked in her belt.

Finding an empty stool at the bar, she ordered a meal and an ale, paying the coin up front with a little extra for speedy delivery.  She glanced frequently around the room, keeping a good watch on the mood of the room's occupants and keeping to herself as well.  

Crestus looked at the man who asked him about work. "Well I am making my way to Klinsoir in a few days" he said. "I couyld use anotheer guard. Let's talk business..." Crestus led the man away from the group.

Severine and Tierria began moving their way to the Sheren Inn. Many of the passing guards were eyeing Tierria with inteerst, and Severine with resentment.

And Crestus expects me to join these people, Severine thought to himself.

The village did look too heavily guarded...as if the guards were guarding a fortress rather than a small village. Along the way to the Inn, Severine kept his hand on his sword. Tierria was feeling nervous as well, but did her best to make the most of it. He knew deep down inside the girl was scared...after what happened during last afternoon's events. She even almost lost her beloved horse. Severine put a soothing hand on his friend's arm, and stroked it lightly. Tierria turned to him and smiled a bit, which made Severine feel good inside.

Inisde the Shere Inn was like walking into a small tavern that only served royal soldiers and mercenaries. Most of who was in there were soliders. And it wasn't too many either. Severine saw Phiona go upstairs, but decided not to call her, thinking that she was going to go to sleep. After getting their rooms settled with the inn keeper, the two entered a room that looked like it was probably more expensive then the common ones. They would share this room, for there were only a few of these left. Severine would rather have a second room, but Tierria insisted that he stay with her.

"Not bad," said Severine, taking off his armor and looking around. "Not bad at all..."

"Yes" said Tierria, smiling. "It is nice..." The Stratanian girl reached into her sack for her things after setting her staff against the wall. Pulling out her nightgown, Tierria laid it upon the only bed in the room, big enough to have the two of them sleep in it. Seeing this, Severine walked towards the door.

"I'll be on my way..." he said. "I'll come back later."

Tierria blushed a little, and started to giggle. "Sevy" she said. "I don't mind changing in front of you.  It's not like you're going to come on to me or anything..." she continued to giggle as she reached to untie her hair.

Severine stared at Tierria for a moment, wondering if that was a joke or rather some kind of flirtatious hint. "It's alright...really...you can have sometime to yourself..." Severine handed his sheath with the Sword of Halo in it, and gave it to Tierria. "Keep this with you while you sleep. I don't trust what is going on here. I thought you the basics of swordplay...should catch these men off guard if they come in here. I'll be back in two hours.

Tierria nodded, and took the sword. Severine then kissed her on the forehead. "Sweet dreasm Tierria. Just in case you fall asleep that is." Severine smiled a bit, and walked out the room.

Downstairs, Severine saw that a few of the soldiers left. There were no villagers at all in the facility or anyone else besides the employees. Anyone but Phiona that is. She was sitting by herself, chekcing out her surroundings. Severine knew she was just a ssuspicious as he was.

"Hey Phiona" greeted Severine. "I guess you're down to your last tunic, huh? Pretty soon you'll be wearing nothing..." grinning at the woman, Severine found a seat next to her.

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Edited by: SeverineHalo at: 8/28/03 18:26

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?"  She retorted, a bit sharply.  After an awkward pause, Phiona glanced over at Severine and smiled, "Uhm, I'm sorry.  This place has me on edge."  She looked over her shoulder at the rest of the room before bringing her gaze back to his.  

Phiona opened her mouth to say something else and just then her the barkeep arrived with her supper- a bowl of spicey venison stew on a platter filled with hard cheese, sliced apples and a thick slab of  hot, dark bread dripping with butter.  To the server she said, "Another one for my friend."  indicating Severine beside her.  She hastily dug in her pouch and brought out a couple more silvery coins to pay for it.  After the barkeep asked Severine what he'd like to drink, them man scooped up the money and left about his business.

Phiona turned away form her food and looked at Severine again.  In a quiet voice, so she wouldn't be overheard, she said, "This place reminds me of a stockade."  When she saw that he might not have understood her, she added under her breath, "A jail, a military jail."

Continuing in a hushed tone, she said, "And it may be the curfew, but except for these guards, I haven't seen any villagers but for a couple women...and they seem pretty intimidated."





 

After ordering his apple juice, he turned to Phiona. He listened closely to what she had to say in a hushed tone. Slowly nodding to to himself, Severine looked around and saw a few soldiers were eyeing them suspiciously.

"I never been in a stockade before Phiona...but I agree with you." Severine started to lightly tap his fingers in the counter. "Something doesn't seem too right...as if they're hiding something." Severine spoke in the same tone his companion did. "We should see what's up with this village in the morning. It's too risky now, and more of the people will be outside tomrrow. We can maybe get some info from them."

After recieving his dish, Severine smiled. "Thanks for paying for my food. Would it surprsie you knowing that I saved your life because I knew you was going to pay for my next meal?" Severine wanted to kill the tension that was in the room, trying to relax from the suspicions that clouded his mind.

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Tierria sat on the bed, holding the Sword of Halo close to her...the way she would be holding Severine right now. She felt a bit worried about the current situation they were all in. Someone died (even though they deserved that death), she was almost raped, and Severine seemed like he was fighting against an inner rage. Ever since they accepted that mission, things have been weird. Already Severine was showing interest in another woman, Zeadon was too quiet, three elves show up out of nowhere, the guards that were left actually showed some kind of honor, and now it seemed like they just walked into a prision. Holding the sword tighter, Tierria sighed to herself. She wished Severine was her right now...golding her tight...easing her fears like he always did. There was many a time where he protected her from lechers and annoying suitors. And now, she needed his protection. She needed Severine. The soft, gentle Severine that she fell in love with. She was hoping that the move she made not too long would have them making love...but it didn't work. Once again, Severine of the Halo clan pushed her aside. She wanted to be with him so bad...these past few days were a little hectic for her. They were hectic for him as well without a doubt...and she wanted to ease his soul...even a little bit.

Starting to comb her hair, Tierria started to silently wish that Severine would come through that door. But he didn't. She knew she probably would be asleep just about time he came back. She didn't mind much...just as long as he kept her company through outt he night. She was starting to feel scared...being in such a mysterious place...in a room all by herself. She wanted more courage...but couldn't come up with any. Sighing to herself, the lonely girl lied in her bed. She started to think about what it would be like if he made the move on her earlier...and she soon fell asleep...holding the Sword of Halo close to her.  

"How do you heal a man's heart when you always end up wounding it?"

Ripp glanced about the [ivillage[/b[/i]   noticing the heavy fortifications he was impressed with the look of readiness on all the guards.  

Following a few of the others into the tavern he saw the Shendar and young human female, a rather attractive one at that.  With his wide grin he waled over to their table and sat down next to the Shendar

"'ello, have you decided on whether or not to accept Crestus's off he spouted abruptly.  Then a look of self-consciousness creased his sharp angled features, he went on, "Ah, forgive my manners I failed to intorduce myself: Ripp Dide, water druid and member of the Sanhorrhim elven tribe." he finished with a miniature bow from his seat.  

Feeling a slight pressure against his leg he looked down to see Eva, peering up at him from the floor.   Reaching into one of the many pouches around his waist he grabbed out of one a small piece of salted fish and gave it to the Slinker.  The magiced compass tattooed on his hand spinning idlely only pausing momentarily to point toward on of the town wells.

Edited by: Ripp Dide at: 8/29/03 22:49

Penrith watched the village intently. He was waiting to see if at anytime the guards left the gate unattended. He was getting very bored doing this, and was getting ready to just walk up and ask to be let in. The man wasn't used to thinking about things, he usually just acted on impulse, but he decided not to do that for awhile, based on his current prediciment.

He was getting very worried, too. The bounty hunter could be upon him at any moment. Penrith was getting very nervous and fidgeting alot. He glanced back at every noise he heard, expecting to be caught or killed. Suddenly, he noticed something. One of the guards turned the corner while partol the walls, and he was out of sight of the others.

Penrith watched and saw he rounded the corner every few minutes. He looked around him and found a nice sturdy stick. So, he swiftly and quietly ran over to the wall. He stood by the corner, just out of sight. He waited a little while and finally the man rounded the corner. Penrith was ready and gave the man a quick jab the the throat and hit him over the top of the head with the piece of wood. It didn't make to much noise and it was done very quickly. Luckly, the helmet the man wore wasn't very strong.

Penrith quickly got into the mans clothes, and he was just the right size. He slipped the helmet over his head and it was perfect, it hid his face from view. The wanted-man dragged the guard off into the woods. Hopefully he was dead and wouldn't expose Penrith, but he wasn't quite sure. He covered the man up and ran back to the village. He began patrolling like the man was and came to the gates.

"I need to check on something," Penrith said in a deep voice, hopeing that's what the man sounded like, "I need to get inside."

Phiona chuckled at Severine's witty remark, finally turning to her food once his had arrived.  It was a delicious meal and she quickly ordered another ale to quench the spiciness of the main dish.

They ate in silence and had just finished when the elf, Ripp Dide, joined them by sitting in a recently vacated barstool next to the Shandar warrior.

" 'Ello, have you decided on whether or not to accept Crestus's off-- Ah, forgive my manners!   I failed to intorduce myself.  Ripp Dide, water druid and member of the Sanhorrhim elven tribe."

Phiona recognized Ripp as one of the elves she'd seen right after the ambush.  These elves, she'd deduced, came to the caravan's aid and then traveled with it afterward to this village.  She finished her ale, pushing both the mug and tray to the far side of the counter, before she said, "Well met.  I am Phiona Whitefire."  

She turned to face Severine and Ripp, leaning against the counter.  "As for your question, I'm not sure yet..."  

Once they made it into the village, Elraralia looked around feeling as if she was trapped. She had been in numerouse villages throughout her life, but she had never seen one like this.  The closest thing that she had ever seen to something like this, was a prison camp holding the hostages of one war or another.  Strange how a village would seem like that...

Once she entered the Inn, she made her way up to the rooms she assumed they were assigned to, quietly following the rest of the group.  Entering the room, se set her things on the bed, and took a moment to recollect what had happened.  It seemed so strange to think that just two days ago she was wandering some lone path, away from everything.  

Sitting down on the bed beside her things, she picked up her quiver, counting the arrows that she had left.

'Twelve...definitly will need to make more of those...' she murmered to herself, and setting them down, she felt her stomach grumble as the smells from below in the tavern began wafting up.

Making her way down, she spotted the rest of the group sitting at the bar.  Heading over to them, she looked at the seat next to one of the females of the group.

"Do you mind if I sit here?" she asked gesturing at the stool.

"Do you mind if I sit here?"

Phiona turned to look at the female elf, another of the three that helped the caravan earlier.  Nodding, Phiona said, "Please do."   She introduced herself to the red-haired Tethinrhim.  

To the barkeeper, Phiona said, "Another round for us..."  She put more silver on the counter.

Severine smiled to himself, seeing that the elves were being friendly, and the four of them was having a good time. its been awhile since Severine has felt this good.

"So," said Severine to the two elves. "What brought u two around Sharadon forest?"

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Eryk jolted upright.  His eyes flashed around him, his hand automatically straying towards the nearby scabbard containing one of his shortswords.  He felt sweat trickle down his forehead and a strange buzzing was in his ears.  His ears were burning, his face flushed.

Not again...

He lay back down, allowing his still blind eyes to adjust to the darkness that enveloped him.  Nothing had changed.  He was still in the alley that he had been in the night before.  His two swords were next to him, within easy reach, and he felt his daggers safely in their places at various points on his body.  His bow and quiver were leaning up against the crumbling brick wall on his left, his extra pack on his right.

There was a soft whinny.  Willy looked up at his friend and rider with deep, soft eyes and snorted.  The beautiful horse pawed at the ground nervously and tossed its head.

Eryk stood up slowly and walked over to his horse.  He put a hand affectionately on Willy's muzzle, rubbing it as he had done so many times before.  Willy gave a slight push and Eryk nodded.  He slung his back over the horse and strapped on the two ornate scabbards that held his prized heirlooms and weapons.  He shouldered his bow, pausing only to scan the ground around him, making sure everything was in order.  It was, so he climbed atop his mount.

Before Eryk could spur his horse forward, Willy set of at a slow pace, his head bobbing slightly.  The pair strode out of the narrow alley that had been their home for the past few days and onto the main street.

Quickly, Eryk glanced around, making sure there were no guards.  Twice since he had been in this town he had been warned of the curfew, but he had shrugged it off as only one so young can.  There were no other bodies, so Eryk pushed Willy's flanks with soft leather boots.  The horse and its luggage sprang forward, bursting into a gallop as he rounded a corner.

The windows of the Sheren Inn glowed with life and light, and Eryk felt a sudden pang of hunger.

Perhaps I should stop...

Judging by the moon, it was close to midnight.  He slowed Willy as they neared the Inn, Eryk's keen eyes scoping out the area.  With a swift and smooth move, he dismounted and led Willy to the stables.

As he brushed his companion down, he hummed softly.  The song was not one he had ever heard, but rather a random composition of notes and rhythms that Eryk spouted randomly.  He chuckled as he left Willy, patting the horse once more before he entered the tavern.

Immediatly, the sound of quiet talking and the clinking of glasses filled his ears.  The smell of alcohol and foot assaulted his nostrils as he strode through the tables.  He looked around him.  Most of the patrons were soldiers or guards of the city.  Not unusual.  One table was different.  Two humans, a male and female were seated with two elves, once again of different genders.

Interesting...

Being in such close proximity with other people made Eryk grin widely, and he blushed slightly as he did so.  Making his way to an unnocupied table, he sat down, pulling out a small money bag and withdrawing coins from it.  He put them on the table, idly spinning one as he waited for service.  Soon, a waitress came to his table.

"Can I help you sir?"

"Actually yes," he said pleasantly.  "I'd like a drink and a room for the night, if it's not too much trouble."

He picked up the coins and handed them to the outstretched palm of the woman.

"Not at all sir," she replied, counting the coins with a practiced eye.

As he waited for her return, Eryk's eyes rested upon the strange group sitting at the next table over.  He didn't mean to stare, and when he realized he was doing so, he quickly averted his eyes.

The waitress returned with a small bronze key and a glass of yellowish liquid.

"Thank you."

She nodded and left, leaving Eryk to his drink.

"Wait a moment.." Elraralia said to the waiter, as she opened up the purse on her belt, and digging up the last of her few coins, put them on the table, and motioning to Phiona said

"I'll have whatever it is that she's having, it looks delicious..." and with a nod the waitress hurried off to wherever it was she was going.  Taking a look around, she noticed that most of the people in the bar looked to be gaurds of the place, non of them civilians.  

"I guess they were serious when they said that there was a curfew...odd to have one for the whole town..." she said turning back to Phiona  "This whole town seems a bit odd"

Taking another look around, she spotted a man in one of the far corners of the bar, who didn't seem to be from around here, as he wasn't in a guards uniform.

"What brought me here?  Wanderings, it was where I was at the time, if that makes any sense" she answered to Severine, realizing that it probably didn't make much sense, but she was too tired and hungry to care.  

Just then she began to feel the hairs on the backl of her neck prickle,and turning around, she saw the man in the back of the tavern hasitly look away.

"That man wouldn't be a friend of yours...would he?" she asked the other three.

Ripp shrugged, "Oh, I was actually in search of Crestus.  He had asked me to help guard the caravan.  We've know each other for awhile first met him back when I was still a sea captainn.  Apparently he had been expecting a good deal of trouble which proved right."

"That man wouldn't be a friend of yours...would he?"

The elf looked quickly back to see the man to which Elra was pointing.  Shaking his head Ripp replied, "Nope, can't say I know the lad."

A couple of the guards turned towards him, and gave him a puzzled look, which he couldn't see, becuase of the helmets.
"What are you talking about?" One of them asked.
"I, well, I ummm...heard a noise..." Penrith said, getting concerned. He'd surely be killed if they found him out.
"A noise? What kind of noise? you know what, you sound different..." The guard said, in a questioning tone. Penrith was getting very nervous, he voice was starting to quiver, and he was doing his best to cover it up.
"A suspicious one." He gulped silently. "Like a slight scream... Just let me go check it out." The guard seemed suspicious of Penrith, but decided to let him in.

The gates slowly open with a few slight creaks.
"Thank you," Penrith said, nodding to the man. He walked inside and the gates closed after him.
"Now to find a place to change out of these clothes..." Penrith thought to himself. As he was walking around the town, he saw a few people walk into a tavern, and decided he could go there. He noticed nobody was around, so he quickly took off the guards clothes right in the street, and put them off to the side, near a house. He quickly ran to the tavern and stepped in.

When he was in, he noticed it was mostly guards, with a few people that weren't guards sitting at a table.
"Uh, oh..." He thought to himself, as he walked to a nearby table and sat down. "Not good, not good at all..."

The young elf walked down the dark and dusty road.  Chewing thoughtfully on a piece of sweet fruit.  “You shouldn't have taken the shortcut.” A small voice uttered.  She chewed a bit more before swallowing.  “We still got to place we can, just took a bit longer.” And she resumed eating her apple.  “Sure, in the middle of the night.” The brownie said indignantly.

By the time she reached the gate she had eaten her fruit gone.  Maybe she could get some in the inn.  By the looks of it she almost thought they were guarding a fortress.  ”Halt who goes there?” A strong gruff voice rang out.  The torches shined off the guard’s armor in the most eerie way.  “Excuse me, but could I enter for the night.” She asked politely.  “No.” A flat sound was all the guard grunted back. “Why not?” She inquired.  “Curfew.” He was not in any way wanting to talk to the elf.
“What for?” She asked again.  “None your business.” He said harshly.  Tema thought he was very mean. “You big bully, would you really turn me out at night?” She retorted.  The guard looked at he a bit shocked, when you recovered he looked about.  “All right I’ll let you get to the inn, but make it quick.”  He said as he opened the gate.  “Thank you very much!” And she gave a small bow.  He only grunted in return, as he just wanted her to leave.

She ran quickly through the streets.  How odd that they were all empty.  Not even the small pests stirred this night.  The village was so small, yet even small towns had night noises.  Then the noise of people talking filled her ears.  This had to be the inn.  

She slipped in quietly, and made her way to the bar.  There was a group of people there; they seemed so out of place among the guards that filled the rest of the building.

“Excuse me, could you perhaps get me some fruit or dried meat?” She said as she pulled out a few silver coins.   The bar keep took the coins without a word except “aye.”  She sat down, but couldn’t help listening o the other conversations...

Severine took a sip of the juice that he was drinking, and looked over at a weird looking elf girl who was wearing bright colors. He has seen elves coming in and out of Uderza, but he has never seen someone of the nature of the girl he was looking at.

Interesting, thought Severine, and took another sip feeling amused.

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Phiona glanced over her shoulder at the man, then looked back at Elraralia and shrugged.  She turned back to her drink and took a healthy swig of ale.

"Tierria, looks like it's your home. I'll see you later."

"Severine...thanks for walking me home. It was really kind of you..."

"Heh...Tierria, I walk you home nearly every night. What's so special about now?"

"Ah...it's nothing. Just happy that you're keeping me safe that's all..."

"Are you sure 'Ria? You've been acting a little odd lately. You know you can tell me anything..."

I know Sevy...I know...it's just that this is one of those things I must go over with myself before telling anyone..."

"Okay. Well, when you're ready...I'll be there..."

Really?"

"Of course. I'll always be there for you...no matter what the odds are...that's what friends do for one another right?"

"Yes...friends...friends who love and care for each other..."

"Exactly. I'll always care for you Tierria..."

"Yes...care for me...thank you Severine..."

Tierria awakened, still holding on to the Sword of Halo. She wasn't asleep for a long time, but all this thinking of her and Severine was causing her to dream about the past. If only things between them was different. Goingover to the window, Tierria stared at the moon, which hid itself behind the clouds. Only a part of it could be seen.

I wish I could be the moon at times...only showing myself when mostb are alseep...hiding myself behind the clouds...

Tierria sighed to herself, and spotted a soldier walking by himself in the streets. He was walking a bit odd...as if he didn't want to be noticed...

"How odd..."

"How do you heal a man's heart when you always end up wounding it?"

Eryk blushed as the occupants of the table he had been watching looked at him in turn.  Slowly pushing the wood chair from under the table with a noise that was half squeak, half grind, he stood up slowly and made his way to his earlier point of interest.

"Er...well...I'm really sorry if it seemed like I was staring...or anything.  I was...um...intrigued.  I've never seen a party quite like this one."  He stumbled over his words, his embarrasment clear.  He fidgeted, his hands tracing the intricate runes and designs on the hilt of the swords at his waist.  "My name is Eryk Aisean."

Severine stared at the man before him, who looked pretty umcomfortable in the situation he was in.

"Severine Halo." Severine had put out a hand. "You can come and join us if you like."

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Visibly relieved, Eryk extended his hand.  He looked over the other man.  A warrior.  Or traveler.  His eyes gave him away.  Eryk had always been a good judge when it came to character.

"Thank you," he said somewhat breathlessly.  He pulled up a chair and sat on it, his hands idle.  His eyes looked over each of his newfound...friends, if you could call them that.  There were two elves.  One a female, with red hair that reminded Eryk of the sun.  The other was bluish in color, and easy to look upon.  The other human was female, and by the looks, she was a fighter or soldier as well.  She also looked somewhat uncomfortable in her sorroundings, as her eyes occasionally darted around the room.

For some reason, he felt comfortable with them now that the ice had been broken, or at least cracked.  Unnatural for him.  Eryk almost never settled down so quickly.  Perhaps there was a future in these 4...

Penrith tried to keep descreet, sitting alone at the table. He descided not to pull his hood up, as it might appear his hiding something and draw undue attention his way. He just casually glanced around the bar, and he waved off a waitress that came near. He was interested in why there were so many guards here, and so few non-guards, such as himself.

He watched the group that sat not to far from him, as it kept growing. People just kept going over there and striking up conversations. Penrith thought about it for awhile, but realized he too was staring, as the man that had just joined them apparently had been doing. He looked away from the group, and suddenly a thought hit him.

"Safety in numbers..." He thought to himself, mouthing the words and smiling. "I don't mind elves..." He thought of a way to approach, he didn't want to be too suspicious, or sound too needy for company.

After giving a quick glance at the man wearing a hood who was staring at their group, Severine turned back to Eryk. He certainly didn't seem like a mercenary who would be here, compared to the others of course.

"So Eryk," started Severine. "Are you working as a mercenary here against the bandits?"

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

As Severine started a conversation with the young man who'd joined them, Phiona stared down into her half-empty mug.  

Bandits.  At the mention of the word, a thought that had been niggling at the back of her mind all day finally thrust itself forward and she could no longer ignore it- the bandits were unorganized and did not fight like trained men- much like most bandits- but she'd never seen a band of thieves stand ground and fight unto the last man like that.  It was extemely odd.  It didn't occur to her earlier, but why would those men die trying to steal weapons?  Money?  Phiona did not think so.  So why die over... unless... they were trying to keep someone else from getting the weapons?!  

She looked up suddenly, the motion catching Severine's eye.  Glancing quickly around the room to make sure no village guard was near, she leaned in toward the center of the table and asked in a hushed voice, "Voltaire's cargo... was Sheren the destination, or is it all going to Klinsor?"  She looked around the table and everyone before continuing,  "I assumed this was just a resting point, but what if its all unloaded here?"

She tried not to appear agitated, though her finger tapped the table lightly, unconsciously, as she waited Severine's opinion...

Edited by: Phiona Whitefire at: 9/4/03 1:16

Severine glanced at Phiona for a moment and thought about his opinion. The woman certainly has been in deep thought as of lately. It was good to have that kind of person with him on his travels.

"Voltaire did say that he was dropping off these items in sheren village...but he also mentioned he had a trade route to Klinsor...or was it all the way to Marcogg? I forget..." Severine rubbed his chin a bit, slowly feeling the same way Phiona was. "He's probably picking up cargo here...but for what reason? Maybe there's more mercenaries in those places...but I suspect something deeper...something we're not seeing..."

When he spotted a soldier watching him, Severine became silent, and took a sip from his cup. Another soldier walked by his comarde, and something was said to him. The one standing looked back at Severine's group for a moment, and then walked away. Severine knew he wasn't talking loud enough for him to hear...but suspiscion was rising on the so-called 'mercenary' camp's end none the less. Severine could see it the moment they first entered the militant village.

"We're being watched..." said Severine in a low voice, inbetween sips. "This is what we do...whoever wants to help investigate...meet me in my room tomorrow morning before collecting pay from Voltaire. Eryk, you're welcome to come along as well. Phiona, I want you to tell him what's up. I'm going to get some rest..." Severine stood up slowly, and shook hands with Eryk. "Nice meeting you. I'm sure we'll get to know each other in the morning. Ripp and Elralaria, thanks again for helping us. And Phiona..." The handsome Shendar male gently kissed the woman's hand, locking his eyes with hers. "You're welcome."

Taking one last casual look at the soldier whow as still watching him, Severine headed towards the steps, telling the innkeeper to deliver his food to his room.

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

(OOC: This is the part where the young boy goes back to the 'bandit' headquarters)

William never expected for this to happen. By the way Jaru said it, things were going to run smoothly. The archers were going to take out most of the guards, and the front runners finish the rest. They even out numbered the caravan. But still they lost to a bunch of no good mercenaries. Mercenaries who killed nearly all the people William grew up around. One of those were Jaru, one of the leaders of the 'Freedom Hawks'. Thirty-five accepted the mission. Only six came back alive.

Who were those bastards!? thought William angrily, while waiting for a response after telling his story. And that dark skinned fighter...the one with the well-made blade...looking into his eyes were looking into the eyes of Coor himself...

"William."

The brown haired young man looked up at the five leaders that were left in the rebel group against the evil mercenary group  known to some as 'The Legion Of Rage'.

"Are you certain that they were mercenaries for The Legion?" asked Karla, a tall brunette with pale skin, and light blue eyes.

"Yes Commander Karla. We surveyed the caravan for awhile before attacking it. Ever since they stopped to camp outside of the village. Our spies indicated that they were taking weapons and supplies to Sheren village. And possibly Klinsor."

"Klinsor..." Darman, the oldest of the leaders, rubbed his great beard slowly. "They have yet been fully affected like our village has...only minor activity runs there..."

"As well as in Marcogg. And if we try to warn any other twons, we'll be in trouble for sure...The Legion's amount of traiotrs to Sarvonia are endless..." The red head Carak sighed, and stared at the wooden floor of the small shack they were in. This was one of many little 'meeting spots' through out the forest.

"We should send in a few spies to Sheren Village" suggested Karla. "And see what is exactly is going on at this point. William, go with them and point out the newest mercenaries. As of lately, they seem to be coming out of nowhere. Crestus Volatire must be very active as of late."

William nodded. "Yes ma'am." He then turned away, and left the shack.

Richart, who was dressed in a claok with a hood was standing in the corner. "Whoever have taken out our troops must be very skilled warriors. We may not be experts, but with only two deaths? I want to know who these people are...and what they're weaknesses are. And fast. We lost one too many of our own. It's about time we take back what is ours!"

((OOC: they thought they killed Ren))

Yullius, who had been quiet the whole time, finally spoke. "I agree with Richart. We must develop a plan."

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Eryk nodded.  It had been awhile since he had been part of the group.  He assumed that he was to stay with the woman Phiona, so he stayed put as he watched Severine kiss Phiona's hand and walk upstairs.

He glanced at Phiona.  He couldn't read her reactions enough to assume anything.  He assunmed they were friends, good ones probably, but wasn't sure enough of anything to make conversation about it.

He took another sip of his drink, contemplating where he would sleep tonight...

Tierria sat upright in her bed, unable to sleep. Whenever she would awake from some kind of dream, she would not sleep for hours on end.  Her hair was staright as an arrow from being brushed constantly for the last half hour. She decided to occupy her mind until she started to feel tired again...but that didn't work.

When is Sevy coming back? she wondered to herself.

Just then, Tierria heard the door opening slowly. Quickly blowing out the candle she had on the table near the bed, Tierria carefully took The Sword of Halo out of its sheath as darkness once again surrounded the girl.

"Who goes there!?" she demanded with as much authority as she could muster.

After a brief moment of silence, a voice answered her back. "Tierria, it's me."

The brown skinned girl sighed to herself, and sat down. "Thank Seyella, it's you Severine."

Mumbling a thanks as her food came, Elraralia pushed it around a bit before trying some.  Just as she thought, it was delicious.  Sitting back she looked around the tavern a bit, noticing what everyone else had probably noticed: that their group stuck out like a sore thumb.  It was a no wonder that Severine thought they were being watched, the entire tavern was staring at them.  Beginning to feel uncomfortable, she turned to Phiona, as she tried to ignore the feeling of being watched.

"So, how did you come to be with this group?" she asked casually, in an attempt of making conversation to cover up the awkwardness.

Penriths highly trained ears listened to the people speaking.
"So this is Sheren village?" He thought to himself. "And they're going to Klinsor?" His brain started to fire on all cylinders, and he came up with a plan. But, by the time he came up with it, he relized that the man that seemed to be the leader had gone.

"Hmm, wonder if I can pull this off with one of them?" He thought, standing up slowly. He walked over to the table and leaned in a little towards the woman that the other man hand kissed on the hand. "Sorry to interupt, but, did I hear someone mention Klinsor?" He said, quietly. "I was headed that way myself, but I've lost all of my traveling companions..." He trailed off, leaving the sentence to be finished by one of the party members. Penrith figured that he had come up with a pretty nice plan. His only problem was, he had no idea where Klinsor was or what business he had going there.

Phiona was just wondering where to start when the red-haired elf maid, Elraralia, asked her,  "So, how did you come to be with this group?"

That's as good a place to start as any... Thought Phiona, however before she could speak, another man approached the table.

"Sorry to interupt, but, did I hear someone mention Klinsor?" He said, quietly. "I was headed that way myself, but I've lost all of my traveling companions..."

Phiona said tersely, "Sure, sure.  Just sit down, why don't you!  You're attraction unwanted attention..."  Phiona noticed the looks the small group was getting from the several off-duty guards that were in the common room and wondered how long it would be before one of them came over to pester the group for information.  

"Look- I was hired by Voltaire at the same time Severine was.  To guard the caravan to it's destination... Sheren village.  It wasn't until we got here that Voltaire mentioned continuing onward to Klinsor."  She took a drink of her ale and lowered her voice a pinch, "That caravan, almost all of the seven wagons were loaded with weapons.  Along the way, we were ambushed by a group of bandits.  They fought to the last man, well nearly so, to get those weapons from us and they failed.  We left their dead by the side of the road, buried our only casualty in the forest."  Phiona paused to let the idea of the massacre sink in.  "Now the weapons are here.  I thought the cargo was just passing through.."

"Judging from the looks of this place, I can see who the weapons are for."  She glared around at the guards, clearly despising them.  "I wonder what the good people of Sheren think of this bunch?  Somehow, I doubt this forest is so dangerous that Sheren needs such guarding!"


 

"Sorry, didn't realize they where watching you..." Penrith said, almost silently. He sat down as nonchalantly as possible, doing his best not to attract any more undue attention to the little group. He listened intently when the woman started to talk.

"Ah, so that's their story..." Penrith thought to himself. He figured Severine must've been the man that left just a short while earlier.

"The forests around here are pretty empty. And this place is way to heavily guarded... I've seen cities much bigger than this,  with less than half of the guards this place has swarming around..." Penrith said, agreeing with what the woman had to say.

"I'm Penrith, by the way." He said nodding to the party. His mind was still somewhat on the bounty hounter that was on his trail. "He'd never think to look in here... would he?" He thought, his pulse quickening. He gulped, but he hoped it wasn't to noticable. He was getting edgy, but doing his best to hide it. Penrith was twitching and figdeting every few seconds, however, he just couldn't help it.

Following Tierria's voice, Severine slowly walked through the darkness and sat next to his long time friend on the bed. He reached to touch her tender face, and took the Sword of Halo from her.

"Careful 'Ria" said Severine. "You might poke somebody's eye out."

"Sorry..." Tierria looked down.

Laughing to himself, Severine started to lie on the bed. "Worried that somebody might sneak in, huh?"

"Yes..."

"Heh. With you on alert like that, I doubt nayone will succeed coming in without being noticed." Severine took off his shirt, and stood up with his sword. "Mine if I train while you rest?"

"Go ahead."

Even in the dark Severine could see that Tierria had a sad look that plagued her attractive features. He went back over to her, and kissed her forehead gently, holding her to his strong chest. "Worried about that something might happen right?"            

"Yes. Something just doesn't feel right Severine! Ever since we started on this trip...I've had this uneasy feeling. And now a companion of ours is dead...Ren is fighting for his life...and you...well I feel a little strange being around you Severine...ever since the fight in the forest...you just don't seem the same..."

Severine sighed to himself as he felt tears upon his chest. Severine began to rock her gently as he closed his eyes. "Everything's alright Tierria...I'm sure of it. Everything is fine..."

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

She mumbled, "Phiona." for her introduction, then fell silent, her eyes still on the many guards in the room.  Some of the guards were starting to leave now.  Before long the common room was almost empty except for the caravan drivers who were readying their bedrolls in the far shadows.  One guard was at the bar, pretending to ignore the group at the table and doing a lousy job of it.

Phiona stood.  "Remember Severine's words."  She nodded a brief goodnight to everyone at the table and then went up to her own room.

Seeing the other man join them, Elraralia had to shake her head.  At the rate that this group was growing, they would have the entire town on board by morning.  Not that it would be bad for them to leave this place, what with the prison atmosphere and all.

"Remember Severine's words." she heard the Phiona murmer as she headed to where Elraralia assumed was bed, and about to turn to the boy, had to stifle a yawn that threatened to tear her face in two.

Nodding a goodnight to the man, she made her way through the gaurds, ignoring the whispers that  followed.  Making her was to the room, she cleared the things off the bed, and lying down, was asleep before her head hit the pillow.

Strange...

As Eryk thought about what Phiona had just told him, the others from the table got up and left.

My turn...

Nodding to the other man, he stood up, leaving a few coins on the table, and strode outside, into the stables.  A whinny from Willy told him that the horse had been waiting, and Eryk chuckled.  He walked into the stall where his horse was, and, after stroking the beautiful steed, made a bed for himself in the thick hay.  He'd itch tommorow, but tonight, it was heaven on earth...

It was getting late, she thought as everyone started to file out.  She had been eves dropping a little catching bits of their words here and there.  Not much to really put anything together.  Sounded as if they we having some troubles, but they weren't hers to worry over.  

        She hardly noticed that she had eaten what she had ordered.  She was drowsy and she tried her best to stay awake, but she couldn't will herself any farther.  She lay her head on the table and fell into a deep sleep.

(( OOC: Introduction of Blackwine))


Few candles were lit in the room of the Commander of Sheren village's mercenaries. One of those candles gave light to the tall, blode figure writing in a book. The man's blue eyes were focused upon the page when he was suddenly interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Come in" said The man, and stood up from the table.

A "mercenary" of Sheren Village opened the door, and walked inside.

"Commander Blackwine" he said, and gave a salute. "I would like to give you a report on the arrival of Voltaire's caravan arrival."

"He's already here?" Marlus Blackwine rubbed his chin. "The chubby fool actually had the courage to come here during midnight...heh..."

The mercenary nodded. "I was surprised too. But when I saw the people he was with...then I could see why."

"Oh really?" from the look in Marlus' eyes, he was starting to become interested.

"Yes commander. They all seem like experienced fighters...and they was actually attacked by bandits in the forest. They were out numbered greatly, but defeated them with only one casulty.From what I hear one mercenary...a dark skinned man with black braids has taken out most of them with incredible rage..."

"Incredible rage? A beserker's rage?"

"Maybe. But I'm not too sure though..."

"Ahh..." Marlus stared past the mercenary for a moment, at the wall behind him. Slowly gripping the black handle of the his sword...the man closed his eyes. Soon, the whole room started to feel chilly. The mercenary backed away from high ranking officer of The Legion of Rage, holding himself.

"It's getting cold..."

"Iniquitus...it senses a strong power nearby...actually two...one similar to myself, Lord Kalyn and the others...and one that is different...hmm..." Marlus opened his eyes to look at the soldier. "Paxton...send spies immediately. Make sure you don't keep your eyes off these 'arrivals'. And report back to me regulary!"

The mercenary known as Paxton gave a salute. "Yes sir!" he said, and left.

Once the soldier left, Commander Blackwine stared at the journal he was writing in. "This could either be a good sign...or one that will trouble me so..."

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Severine held a sleeping Tierria in his arms. The poor girl had cried herself to sleep. Severine had felt bad about Tierria feeling strange around him...and somewhat hurt. He never wanted the girl to fear him...not after all the years of protecting her. He cared for her greatly...and if something was to happen...especially by his hands...he could never forgive himself.

Gripping the sword tightly with one hand, and holding Tierria with the other...the young man soon fell asleep.

Severine...

Severine's eyes snapped opened as he caught a glimpse of his father standing in front of the bed on the other side of the room. Once Severine blinked, the tall and well-built dark skinned beared man disappeared. Taking a look at Halo, Severine saw that the sword was glowing brightly. For a moment...he though he felt his father's prescence go through him.

"Father..."

Sighing to himself, Severine feel asleep a half hour later, wondering what more mysteries was about to occur soon.  

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Ripp broke from his reverie and noticed that almost everyone had left the common room. Rising to his feet he nodded to the young human men who had joined them during the night.  He then gazed upon the small elfen child asleep, her head rested upon the table.

"T'cha, ain't good to see one of such youth forced to sleep in such a place.

Walking over to her he gave her shoulder a light shake,

"Oye, child do you need a place to rest?  I'd be happy to offer part of my room to you."

“Huh?” She replied sleepily blue spotted hair sliding across her face.  

    “Oh, that very kind of you.” She said as she lifted her head slowly from the counter.  She rose into a groggy and tired slouch rubbing one of her eyes.

    Absentmindedly she picked up what was left of her food and stuffed it into a pocket. “Which way my generous patron?” She said in a low whisper of someone who was half-awake.

Phiona did not go straight to bed, once in her room.  She sat at the room's small desk and wrote the day's events in her journal, paying particular attention to the ambush and its aftermath.  She wrote little about Sheren and the ambiguous guardsf, as she was quite unsure of what was going on and Phiona did not like to "second guess" her own journal entries.  She finished writing the details, reread her entry once more before closing the leather bound book.  Slowly she put away her scribing implements, her attention drawn repeatedly to the lantern's small yellow flame.  She knew something wasn't right with this village.  It was a gut feeling that she couldn't escape.  If only she knew why she felt this way.    

Suddenly she felt like the room was too stuffy.  She rose and opened the second-story window, looking down onto the empty, main square of the small village.  Starlight shining down from the black sky was the only light, but it was enough to illuminate a lone man, yet another guard by the uniform, walking up the main road toward the inn.  Phiona watched his approach until the guard dissappeared beneath the awning that covered the inn's front porch.  Hmmm, this place must stay open all night.  Feel sorry for the men sleeping in the common room... all that activity and noise.  Up here, in the private room, it was quiet and very peaceful.  If only she felt at peace...

Phiona decided to sleep with the window open.  The fresh air and cool breeze was welcome on her skin after the long, hot day of travel.  She blew out the light in her lamp, undressed and climbed into the bed.  She stared at the dark, rough beams of the ceiling for many long minutes before finally succumbing to a dreamless sleep.

Tierria's green eyes slowly opened during the first sign of daybreak. She found herself wrapped in Severine's strong arms. The girl immediately blushed, and started thinking about the dream she just had of her and Sevy in an even more 'intimate' moment then they were in even now. She began shifting positions every now and then, certain personal parts of her body burshing up against his. She was trying to go back to sleep, but after ten minutes of trying, she gave up. The girl realesed herself from the sleeping fighter's embrace, and began to change. Severine was asleep, so she didn't mind too much changing in front of him. Actually, even if Severine saw her, she still wouldn't mind. Last night, he told her that they were to have guests in their room in the morning after they all collected their pay. She diecided to be dressed for the occasion. Tierria put on a purple top to cover her chest, and long purple pants; an outfit combination she hasn't wore in a long time. Tierria would wear pants every now and then, but with her it was mostly dresses and skirts.

Severine's eyes blinked a bit behind his braids as he was getting used to being awake once again.

He watched the whole time.

From the moment Tierria walked over to the dresser to get changed, Severine was awake. At first he wanted to warn her or keep his eyes closed...but something urged him to keep them open, watching 'Ria's every move. His eyes searched her body like a hungry wolf...barely even blinking. very rarely these feelings would come out when it concerned Tierria. But then again, this was his first time seeing her nude. Trying to fight himself from the inside, Severine began to act like he was waking up when Tierria was fully dressed.

"Ahhh" he yawned, and stretched. "I see that you're awake Tierria...and already dressed too. For the first time, you beat me!"  

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

"Of course" said Tierria, turnging to Severine as he got up. "Don't wanna keep our guests waiting...now do we?" She then smiled seductively at him...a move she loved to use when flirting with him. When she was getting dressed, she saw Severine watching her from the corner of her eye. She was relieved to know that he was somewhat interested in her...even if it was her body...something she would offer to him at a drop of a hat.

The Uderza woman purposely brushed against her companion as she walked by, and put her nightgown in her sack.

Eryk awoke to a silent morning.  Unlike the other towns and cities he had been in, there was no early morning activity.  There was no gossiping of women, no horse hooves on the dirt roads.  Nothing.

But then, this wasn't really a town from the looks of it.  He stood up, grabbing his two shortswords from their place buried under the hay.  Gripping the two metal hilts, he sighed in relief that they were still there.  He had slept fitfully last night, awaking almost every hour in a sweat.  Still, he felt rested and the promise of more companionship with his newfound friends roused him even more.  

He pulled a small mirror out of a pouch in his bag, and examined himself, none to carefully.  He looked as he had the day before, except his hair was a bit tussled and the rings of sleep still walled his eyes.  He shook his head, his hair falling in place naturally.

Smiling, he walked back out of the stables into the tavern.  Some of the chairs were still up on the tables, and he pulled four down and placed them around the same table he had joined the previous night.

Approaching the bartender, who was polishing the cheap glass cups, Eryk cleared his throat and blinked before he ordered.

"Juice?"

"Aye.  Comin' up."

Alcohol was not Eryk's thing in the morning.  He put a few coins on the bar, spinning one idly while the bartender filled up a tall mug with a thick, reddish drink.  Without asking what it was, Eryk grasped the mug and drained it.  Walking back to his seat, he let the weight off his legs and waited for the others...

Ripp looked sideways at the groogy young girl.

"Upstairs, where on Caelereth are you parents?"  

He led the bright haired youth up to the room he had purchased.  Gesturing for her to take the bed, he rocked a chair back to lean against the wall.  Stripping down to his sea green long shorts he propped his feet up on the small table and closed his eyes.

After Severine changed, he left his room, and went downstairs where he saw Eryk sitting at a table. Nodding at him, Severine went over to Voltaire who was sitting at the bar.

"Severine!" greeted Crestus heartily. "Good morning to you dear sir!"

"Good morning" greeted back Severine.

Crestus reached for a pouch that was in his pocket. "Zeadon left the village earlier after he got piad...and I don't know where Miss Aiyana went off to..." he then took out a piuch of gold coins, and handed it to Severine. "I gave you a little more than expected after what you did yesterday..."

Severine took the pouch. "Thank you. Now if you excuse me, I must talk with somebody..." Severine backed away to head over to Eryk.

"No problem my friend. I need to go soon to make preparations to deliever goods to Klinsor." Crestus handed out four more pouches filled with gold coins. "These two are for Phiona and Tierria, and these two are for the other elves. Give these to them when you see them..."

"I will." Severine went over to the table where Eryk was at. "Good morning. Did you sleep well?"

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Tierria put all of her clothes back into the drawer, an left the room. Severine that devil...he changed quickly while she had taken a bath. She was hoping to get a glimpse of him...but oh well. Going down the stairs, she saw Severine at a table with a very handsome young man whoo looked around her age. Maybe a bit older. Crestus wasn't around, so she approached Severine.

"There you are" she said, putting a slender hand upon Severine's shoulder. Tierria looked at Eryk, and smiled. "Is this one of the people we're to meet?"

Severine nodded. "This is Eryk."

Tierria sat down, and ordered some fresh milk to go with the bacon she wanted for a meal. "It's a pleasure to meet you Eryk."

Eryk took in a short breath, almost a gasp, involuntarily when he saw the girl.  He had never seen anyone like her.  She was stunning and exotic, her appearance one Eryk had never seen on a human.

Defying his past, his personality...everything about him, Eryk was not nervous.  "I'm Eryk Aisean.  The pleasure is mine..."

He quickly flashed a glance to Severine, and saw him smiling slightly, almost protectively, as if he was looking down at his younger sister.

"I don't believe I got your name..."

A few hours after the sun rose over the eastern horizon a figure broke through the trees to come face to face with the village wall.

"Bloody Coor..." a young half-elf cursed to herself and the waking forest as she stared up at it. Shaking her head she looked left then right then stared straight at the trunk of wood before her.

She stood for a short moment and stared at the wood, rubbing her bare fingers over it. After some short contemplation she whipped out a set of twin daggers and backed up a few steps. The young woman, appearing no older that 20 by human standards, took three steps then lept a good ped into the air and dug the daggers in far enough to hold her weight.

She made her way up the wall, occasionally looking down and around, luckily finding no trouble, and soon found herself perched atop the wood wall. She looked back at the still rising sun, sheilding her eyes with one of her slender hands. The half-elf then glanced down and sighed with relief as no guards patrolled the wall. Cleaning her daggers of small wood chips and dust on a bare knee, she lept from her perch and part climbed, part slid and part fell down the wall, slowing her desent by dragging her daggers down the wood.

Coming to the ground with a mute 'thud', the woman dusted herself off and hid the daggers back under the thick leather belt. She flipped the deep violet cowl of her cloak over her head, shadowing the upper half of her face and her half-elven heritage from common onlookers.

The strange figure walked to the village, admiring the farm cottages and the small plots of animals. But she overlooked one particular animal that she happened to walk a bit too close to.

The half-elf's keen ears picked up the distinct, throaty growl instantly and without even looking back, bolted away and towards the town center. One particularily nasty dog was in close pursuit, its jowls dripping with gooey saliva.

The intruder managed to outrun the dog until reaching the city center, but the beast was not too far back. It was still early but she nabbed the attention of a few early risers, roaming the village center for whatever reason. Thinking fast, the woman threw back the hood of her cloak and began laughing and looking back at the dog every once and a while. She moved fast, and few would recognize the half-elf as what she was by quick glance, but one thing seemed obvious. The girl was simply out for a run with her dog.

Panting, the already tired woman spotted an inn with a few figures moving within. This was probably her only chance. She dove to the side and whipped the door open, half running half skidding, through the jam and slamming it shut with a loud crash. The dog was going too fast and a quiet crash was quickly followed with some dimming wimpers. But the farm dog was not the only one with too much momentum for its own good.

The flailing half-elf stumbled across the floor, her legs trying futily to stop and her arms out with a pathetic attempt to steady herself. Her knee soon met the seat of a hard wooden chair and the heavily cursing woman flew the last ped or two, coming to a heavy crash on the wood floor.

Without looking up at the innkeeper who just stared on and helplessly attempting to smother a chuckle, the half-elven woman sat up and looked down at her knee.

"Great loving Ava..." she muttered, rubbing the knee cap, "Bugger...that's ought to bruise"

---

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

The other people gave a quick signal to acknowledge him then, apparently, went to their rooms. After the people had left, he went over to the inn keeper and asked him for a room. He reached into his pouch and rummaged around, and pulled out some coins.

"That should be enough," Penrith said, walking away and up the stairs. He looked for his room and opened the door once he'd found it. He carefully closed the door behind him, as not to wake up any of the other guests. He yawned and stretched, holding his arms up in the air.

He slowly crawled into the bed, all his clothes still on. Penrith quickly went into a deep sleep. He was dreaming about the bounty hunter chasing him, and finally catching him. At the climax of the dream he woke up, in a cold sweat. He reached up with his arm and wiped his forehead with the back of his foream. The wanted-man was wide awake now, so he got out of bed. Right before he opened the door, he heard dogs barking. He opened the door and walked down the stairs, eye brows arched in an inquisitive nature.

He looked around and noticed the man from last night that left before he could talk to him, and a beautiful woman standing next to him. It appeared the two were talking to the other man he'd 'met' last night. Then he saw a new woman burst in, she was coincidentally dressed much like himself. Appearenty she had bounded in and hit her leg on something.

"You okay?" He half-called over to her, across the tavern.

Tierria smiled at the man who gave her his name. He seemed polite enough, and by the clothes he was wearing, he was a fighter. A good-looking one at that. With all the men that came on to her, Tierria didn't become attracted to a man that easily. But this one seemed different...a similar difference Severine has compared the other men. Hi brown hair went nicley with his tanned skin...and those eyes...

"Tierria Selig."

"Tierria Selig."

Severine grinned broadly at the way Tierria and Eryk was looking at each other. Never before had Severine saw Tierria look at another man like  that. Besides himself. Then again...now that Severine was thinking about this...a small tingle of jealous began to rise inside of him.

Come on Sevy...it's not like she's your woman or anything...

Sighing to himself, Severine's thoughts were interupted by a voice on the other side of the room.

"Are you okay?"

Severine turned his head, and saw the same man from last night with the hood.

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Phiona woke with a start.  She had an odd feeling in the pit of her stomach that she overslept.  Damn these inns with their soft beds!  She got up, grumbling and cursing under her breath the whole time, dressing in the same clothes she wore the day before.  While she fastened her belt, she vowed to purchase a new tunic before the day was done.  She ran a brush through her long, tawny locks a few times before walking out of the room.

She walked down the hall and knocked on Severine's door.  He'd said he wanted everyone to meet in his room this morning, before they collectied their pay from Voltaire.    There was no answer.  She knocked again.  When she heard nothing from the other side of the door, she shrugged her shoulders and continued on down the hall toward the stairs.  Maybe they already finished the meeting...

Phiona saw Severine, Tierria, Eryk and Penrith at the same table they'd all sat at last night.  She walked over and plopped down into an empty chair, mumbling a vague salutation to the group.  

Edited by: Phiona Whitefire at: 9/10/03 22:40

"Morning sunshine" greeted Severine, smiling at Phiona. He gave her the pouch that Crestus gave him. "Here's your pay. We're all going up to my room in a bit. I'm waiting for Ripp and Elrararia, so I can give them their pay. Aiyana and Zeadon left right after they got paid..." Severine turned his head over to man who seemed like he was approaching his group. He was now looking at the girl who fell into the inn.

Maybe she needs help, thought Severine, and went over to the girl and the man.

"Is everything okay?" he asked.

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Eryk nodded and mumbled a greeting to Phiona as the woman sat down.

Not a morning person I suppose...

He grinned slightly, then looked back at Tierra and smiled even wider.  His eyes gazed into hers, and he did not avert his gaze as he would've with any other woman.  He felt unafraid, confident.  His eyes twinkled slightly.

He was interrupted by a waitress taking his empty cup.

Eryk turned back to Severine.  Glancing at the warrior, Eryk was half-surprised to see Severine's eyes darken slightly, as if he was angry.

I hope it wasn't anything I did.  Wouldn't want to get in a fight with that one.

Slowly opening her eyes as the morning sunshine poured into the room, Elraralia sat up suddenly, unsure of where she was...why wasn't she still in the forest?  Suddenly the previose days events came flooding back to her: fight, joining with the group, and entering this creepy village.  About to lay back down again, in hopes of getting a little bit more sleep, her stomach gave a loud grumble, reminding her of how little she had eaten the night before.

Heaving her self out of bed, she smoothed her tunic, and grabbing the key to her room, made her way down the stairs to the tavern below, where Severine, Phiona, and the other female in their group, the man from last night, and a newcomer, halfelf by the looks of it, were already seated, eating.

Heading over to where they were, she sat down at the bar next to them.

"A juice please, and whatever it is that you serve here for breakfast" she told the waitress, and pulling the last of her coins out of the pouch, gave them to her.  After the waitress left, she turned to the female that was with Phiona and Severine, and smiling, said.

"Goodmorning! I don't think we really met yesterday, as you were busy with your wounded friend.  I'm Elraralia.  Speaking of your friend, how is he doing?"  

Still cursing heavily, she got up with a groan and dusted herself off, looking down at the new red blotch just under her knee cap. Shaking her head she bent down and pulled at the top of her knee-height boot so it came to nearly cover the bruise.

"You okay?"

She looked up and to the man that had obviously adressed her. The half-elf didn't seem embarassed in any way, like most would, making such a....unique...entrance. She half shrugged, half nodded and looked away. The young woman knew that most people asked things like that just for the sake of saying it. Like 'hello' or 'excuse me' or 'hey, that's my money'.

She jostled her head and fidgeted with her cloak that hung limply from around her neck. Her face was completely visible now. She was a pretty girl; her oval, almost baby-faced, features melding nicely with slightly elvish highlights and those large almond brown eyes. Her brown hair was cut at a length somewhat unusual for most women. Instead of having it long and flowing it was cut short and choppy at chin length, a good deal of bangs brushing into her eyes.

Hearing another voice directed at her, the half-elf looked up at the male coming towards her with an almost concered look on his face.

She straightened and placed her fists on her hips, conveniently close to the daggers hidden well under her belt. Cocking her head and quirking a brow, the half-elf looked at the attractive man.

"Aye...I'm fine, I suppose. Not much concern of yours though" she replied in a sarcastic and rather rude tone. She spoke quickly and with a bizarre accent that seemed to be a mix of the common tounges heard in Caelereth.

---

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

Edited by: Luca the Thief  at: 9/13/03 4:25

Phiona took the pouch that Severine offered and peeked inside.  Satisfied with the healthy amount of silver it contained, she busied herself with attaching it to her belt right next to her sheathed dirk.  She then ordered a meal and an ale from the innkeeper and sat back to wait for it to arrive.  This didn't take long.

Phiona dug in and put away the food fast.  She was hungry, sure, but there would be a meeting soon.

Penrith glanced at the man, that also asked if she was okay. He became a little frustrated when she became short with them.

"I'm sure you are." Penrith said to the girl, being rude in return. He then turned to the other man. "Would you be Severine? I was going to talk to you last night, but you left before I got a chance. I talked to your friends though." Penrith said, looking in the direction of Phiona.

Pushing the empty plate away, she drained the last bit from her mug of ale.  Seeing that nothing was happening just yet, Phiona stood and headed outside.

The sun was shining on the small village and pleasantly warming the air, even in the shade.  From the porch of the inn, she watched the minimal activity of the locals.  Here an older woman walked swiftly from one building to the next, carrying a cloth-covered basket.  Over there, two young boys carried firewood from a stack next to a building inside.  A couple of young women were herding a small group of goats form one pen to another, and looking fearfully around them.  The only men Phiona saw were more armed guards.

This isn't right.

Phiona decided to investigate further and she could buy that new tunic while she was at it.  ignoring the stares of the guards, she casually walked through the center of the square and went into the only shop in town.  It was a general store, of sorts, empty of people except for the clerk- an older woman with drawn features and grey hair pulled back into a severe bun.  Seeing Phiona enter, the woman busily began straightening items on the shelves.

Phiona went over to the area that displayed clothing and leather goods.  She selected two gray linen tunics which were plain but sturdy.  A bit large for her, but Phiona would make do.  She carried these up to the woman.

"How much for these tunics, please?"

The old woman fairly jumped and here eyes looked form the clothes to Phiona and back again.  "Uhm.  T-ten silver each."  The woman looked nervously to the door and back to Phiona again.

"All right."  Phiona draped the tunics over one arm and opened her coin pouch.  She counted out the correct amount and placed the coins in the woman's outstretch hand.  "What's going on here?"  Phiona asked abruptly.    

"W-what?"  She knew exactly what the stranger was asking and glanced again at the doorway.  ""Uhm.. nothing dear.  You just run along.  If you need anything else, please come back."  She turned quickly and went ot the other side of the room to straighten up some more items.  

Phiona stood there for a moment and then left the store.  The two guards had moved closer and were now just outside the doorway.  They looked at the tunics Phiona carried and then stepped aside to let her pass.  Phiona walked back toward the inn, looking only once back at the guard who were still watching her.

Odd... the way everyone is acting.  

Severine watched in amusement as Phiona ate hungrily. She wasn't like any other woman who he met before,  who made sure to eat properly and had pproper table manners. While he was doing this, he heard the man ask for his name.

"Yep, that would be me, Severine." he replied, still smiling at Phiona's actions.

When he saw Elrararia, he waved. "Good morning" he greeted. He then pointed over at Eryk. "This is Eryk Aissen. He'll be with us when we go upstairs." Tuyrning his head, he saw that Phiona had gone. "Whoa...she's quick...I guess we'll wait until Phiona comes back. I'll bet my whole pay that she's out buying tunics."

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Tierria left her gaze from Eyrk and saw the girl who just got up from the ground. Tierria cloud swear that she was the most cutest little thing that she ever saw. But yet from what she said to the man who talked to her politely, her attitude was the opposite of her looks. Shaking her head, Tierria turned to the woman who had introduced herself.

"My name is Tierria. You must be Elrararia. Severine told me a bit about you all. As for Ren, I'm not too sure of his condition, but I'm going to the infirmary today to see how he is doing."

Edited by: Tierria Selig at: 9/14/03 18:13

Phiona walked back into the common room of the inn, only a few minutes after she'd left.  Catching Severine's eye, she nodded toward the stairs and then dissappeared up the darkened staircase.

Going into her room, she quickly undid her belt and stripped off her stained tunic.  She took the time to freshen up with the water in her wash-basin before slipping on one of her new, gray tunics.  She was right, it was a little oversized, but the leather belt held it in place just the same.  

As Phiona reattached her coin purse and dirk sheath, she wondered if the others were already heading to Severine's room for the meeting.  She also hoped that when they did, that they all didn't tramp upstairs enmass, which might alert the guards that something is up...

Edited by: Phiona Whitefire at: 9/14/03 18:40

Nodding back at Phiona, Severine turned to the others.

"Follow me" he said. "But at separate times. My room is three doors to the left." Severine stood up, and started to levae. "I'll see you guys later" he said casually, and loud enough for everyone around the area to hear. Going upstairs, he then saw Phiona. Opening his door, he gestured for her to come inside.

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Just as she stepped out of her room, Severine crested the stairs and motioned for her to join him.  She pulled her door shut and followed him into his room.  

It was similar to her room, except for a faintly perfumed scent in the air and a number of colorful clothing items strewn over the chairs.  Tierria had been here and Phiona just now realized that the two must have shared the room.  An odd sinking feeling hit the pit of her stomach, but she didn't miss a step...the Avennorian warrior, ignoring the obviously single bed, strode over to the window and looked out onto a view that was identical to the one in her room, dispaced by several ped, that is.  

In a way, Severine could tell that Phiona felt a little nervous being in his room and all. It was obvious that Tierria was here as well. Hopefully, that didn't stop Phiona from being friendly with him, giving her some kind of impression that the two were a couple.

"The others should be arriving soon" he said. "Bit by bit, but they'll all be here."

Severine then sat down, next to her. "So...did you see anything strange when you was outside?"

Severine then realized that he was sitting a little close to her than he thout he was.

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

As Tierria waited for a few minutes before leaving, she looked at the window to see a group of kids walking with each other. They seem to walk a little faster than a normal person would. A few moments after they were gone from sight, a few guards appeared in her line of vision. In the direction they were headed, it looked as if if they were going around the area where the entrance to the village was.

All of this is really starting to sound suspicious, Tierria thought to herself as she tood up. "I'll be the first to go" she told everyone else in a low voice. As she walked across the room, she saw a woman staring at her. She didn't look like any soldier or mercenary...nor did she even look like a villager. Could she be interested in her despite her sex? Maybe. But something about the woman told Tierria that she wasn't...

((From last night))
She didn’t take time to reply to her host, because she couldn’t quite remember in hat moment.

She awoke late, not surprising as she had stayed up so late.  What had possessed her?  Those strangers last night.  It was an unexplained feeling to know more about them.  The man who had let her stay in the room was still asleep.  She stole the time to take a quick shower.  Hr hair was still damp as she headed out.  She didn’t know where Klein had gone.  Probably stole off into the night.  She could find him later.

She came at the stares two at a time as loud thuds came from her feet.  So fast she was going that barely missing the other who was about to go on up.  At that she almost fell to the floor, but regained he posture by grabbing hold of the rail.
“Excuse me I didn’t see you coming!”  She exclaimed and took a short apologetic bow.  Her accent was one unheard of in Sarvonia.

She rolled her eyes and sat at the bar, not far from the small group of others. The tender made a movement to go to her but a sharp glare stopped him in his tracks and he quickly diverted his gaze, busying himself with wiping down an already spotless counter.

She stared at the small group and was clearly eavesdropping. The man, Severine she guessed, told the others to meet him in his room. She rubbed her chin in thought, the worn leather of her ripped gloves cold against her skin.

Of course she had seen groups of travelers before, it was not an especially uncommon sight. But there was something about these people that intruiged her, but the outcast couldn't quite put her finger on it.

She knew this 'Severine' wouldn't openly welcome her into his room, she knew what people thought of half elves. They came from dishonorable families, were attuned to the ways of criminals and the underworld society. For this particular thief, it was mostly all true, but still made her angry. Judgement was everywhere she went, and none of it was of the positive kind either.

Shrugging to herself, she stood from the bar and casually followed a woman who was heading for his room, like the others would eventually.

Besides she thought to herself if this lot don't catch me fancy, I could always rob the buggers blind

---

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

Eryk watched Tierra go with interest, his eyes following her graceful movements.  She went up the stairs, followed by another female, but one who was apparently not in the group.  He looked at the others, understanding shading his brown eyes.

Pushing his chair back slightly, Eryk stood up, walking over to the bar and ordering a small drink.  He stayed standing as he drank his order, then casually followed Tierra's suit and walked up the stairs.

Now the hard part.  He had to find the room.

Ripp slowly openned one eye he saw the bed was messed and his young guest was gone.  He rose slowly and stretched out his limbs and cracked his neck and wrists quite audibaly.  

Hmmm, wonder where the young gel has gotten too.

Pulling on his habit he headed out to the hall, he saw the pink haired young'un standing by the stairs.  Ruffling her hair as he walked he greeted her with a grin and wink.  He didn't stop however he squeezed passed the other person on the stairs and made his way into the common room.

Phiona acknowledged Severine's first words with a brief nod yet her gaze stayed outside the window.  Then the bed sqeaked as he sat down- she hadn't even heard him approach so quiet was his step-  and his knee brushed against her leg.  


He asked her, "So...did you see anything strange when you was outside?"

"Yes."  Phiona sighed and crossed her arms.  "They are afraid of the guards... and," she turned her head slightly to glance at Severine, saw he was watching her closely,  "except for the guards, I haven't seen any men.  I find that very odd."

Just then the door opened.  She looked over her shoulder to see Tierria entering the room.  Phiona looked away, back to the empty village square outside the window.  "I wonder where they are...?"  She asked quietly.

 

Tierria stood at the doorway, saying nothing. What she saw was Severine sitting close to Phiona. It might have been nothing, but Tierria felt a tingle of jealousy just staring at the sight.

'Ria...snap out of it!

Walking slowly over to the bed, Tierria lifted a finger to the door. "They're coming" she said, her voice almost cracking. Seeing that Severine had lengthen the distance between him and Phiona, Tierria sat between them, being closer to Severine. "I guess you'll give a plan or something...when everyone comes in...huh?"

The girl tried not to show any strong emotions regarding to the scene she saw moments ago. Doing that would only show how immature and possessive she was being. Severine wasn't her lover...a statement she told herself many of times. But...twice that many she had told herself how much she loved and wanted him.

Trying to smile, the girl moved her hand over Severine's.

Severine blushed slightly when Tierria was staring at him and Phiona. He turned his head slightly has the Stratanian girl walked towards them. He hoped that she didn't suspect that anything was going on between them.

Why would you be worried!? he told himself mentally. She's not your lover you know! You can be attracted to whoever you see fit to!

Severine moved over as Tierria sat next to him. Attracted to? Severine shot a glance at Phiona, who was staring out the window. He couldn't deny any further that he was attracted to the brunette beauty. But why was he so concerned about what Tierria's thought and feelings? Severine began to ponder that, as well as how close he was to touching Phiona's leg, which he was staring at from the corner of his eye. He also couldn't deny that he was staring at Tierria's as well. More thoughts began crossing his mind...certain thoughts that he would never mention to anybody else while his eyes traveled from the thighs...to the stomachs...and upward...

"I guess you'll give a plan or something...when everyone comes in...huh?"

Severine snapped out of his trance, and tried to smiled at Tierria, who now had her hand over his.

"Uh...yes!" he replied, louder and more sudden than he would've liked to. "I was thinking I should collect information that everyone has thus far, and then spilt everyone up...to examine the area..." Severine grew silent afterwards. A moment later, he spoke again. "I guess we'll wait for everyone else to arrive..."

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Eryk heard a door close up ahead.  He wasn't sure that it was the door leading to the others, but it was as good a place to start as any.  As he strode through the corridor to the source of the noise, he ran his hands along the hilt of his twin swords.  He didn't know when he had picked up the habit, but whenever he was unsure of something or nervous, his fingers traced the intricate patterns inset in the metal hilt.

He heard voices from inside the room.  One he identified as Severine's.  He turned the brass knob and pushed, the door swinging forward on oiled hinges.

The sight inside was somewhat comical.  Tierria, looking strangely uncomfortable and somewhat suspicious was sitting quite close by Severine.  Severine was flanked on the other side by Phiona, who was gazing out the window.  Severine's eyes were strange, a swirl of colors.  He was either nervous, happy, mad...any combination of things.

"Hello everyone," Eryk said softly but cheerfully.  He nodded at Severine and bowed to the women before leaning up against the wall, watching.

Nodding to Tierra, Elraralia turned back to her food, glancing up only when Severine left, with the instructions of being inconspicuose.  

'Who would think of being anything but?' she thought to herself, and turned back to the food in front of her, and began to dig in, glad to have a semi full stomach again.  Glancing up, she saw that only she and Eryk were left, and standing, nodded to him, and made her way through the tavern to the stairs, glancing only to the half elf who had made all the comotion.  But then again, what could you expect from a half elf?

Reaching the top of the stairs, she passed Ripp, as he made his way down the hall to the stairs.

"We're all meeting in that Severine fellows room to discuss something or another.." she muttered under her breath, and continued until she reach a door that was partly ajar, from within she heard the voices of the people downstairs.

Opening the door, she entered quickly, closing the door behind her just as Severine finished a thought.  Looking around, she shook her head slightly, noticing the tension in the room was a bit stronger than usual, something she asummed was coming from the fact that this Severine was obviously the center of both of these girl's affections.

Clearing her throat, she leaned against the wall, waiting to see what would take place.

As the woman she had followed slipped into the room, the curious half-elf continued to stroll slowly and aimlessly down the hall. The others of the group would come soon enough and the thief didn't want to miss a word of this apparent 'meeting'.

Halfway down the hall, the theif noticed something glimmering on the floor out of the corner of her eye. She bent down and picked up the lone san. She shrugged and dipped it into a pocket. It may not be much, but it's money she thought to herself.

As she stood upright, another thing caught her eye. The lone eagle claw suspended by a thin leather thong that she wore as an amulet had come loose from its hiding spot under her shirt and now hung out in the open. She scooped it up and fingered it, admiring the pretty thing with its glossy sheen and the intricate runes that riddled the claw. She smiled to herself and clutched the talon in her hand, whispering something to herself. The magical runes glowed a very faint white light and the half elf dropped the amulet back under her shirt.

---

Atop a branch, slightly hidden in the thick green foliage, perched a magestic eagle with blood red plumage. The bizarre but beautiful bird held a dead rabbit still with one of its crushing talons, this particular foot missing a claw, and ducked its head ready to dig in to it's meal. But suddenly, a familiar voice entered the birds mind and it paused, actually froze, for a moment. It kicked its untouched prey to the ground and flew off. If birds could sigh.....

---

Stay on the roof and stay out of sight!

"Fine fine. But why did you call me?" rang the familiar female voice in the half-elf's mind

Because I can....A group of travelers have caught me attention. Thought you might be interested thought the woman to herself. She didn't have to speak aloud since the magic of amulet permitted the master a telepathic bond with the bird. Besides, speaking aloud would be futile since a few feet of wood seperated the master and bird.

"Not as interested as I was in my dinner" responded the annoyed eagle, pacing atop the roof of the inn and well out of sight of villagers.

---

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

Penrith nodded to Severine before he left and took a seat. He was still tired since he slept a terrible sleep. He was finding it hard to stay awake as he looked around the room. Penrith did his best to not glaze over, but before he knew it his eyes were closed. He was dreaming about the bounty hunter again, and he didn't like the dreams at all. He found it disturbing that he didn't even know if it was a man or woman that was after him. Penrith especially didn't like that he didn't even know is his tracker was in this village. Suddenly he awoke, he didn't know why though.

When he awoke he was afraid he had been asleep for awhile, but realized he hadn't been for too long because he saw Elraralia walking up the stairs. He shook his head quickly to make sure he was awake. Then he stood up and paced alittle bit, not looking too suspicious, he was just trying to keep awake. After a few minutes had passed, he looked at the stairs and began walking towards, then walked up the flight.

He walked up casually, and noticed the woman he had seen earlier standing in the hall. She seemed a bit preoccupied, but decided to be nice so he turned to her and smiled pleasantly. Then he opened the door carefully and took a step inside, closing it slowly and quietly.

He was still smiling when he said, "Hey,". He was about to move toward one of the walls but noticed that both were occupied so he walked over to the chair and sat down. He sensed an air of tension in the room, and noticed it came from the bed, in which Severine, Phiona and the other girl he saw down stairs was sitting down on.

Ripp nodded to Elraralia, "I'll be up in moment." stepping outside he took a deep breath of the crisp air.  Striding over to the well he quickly filled his water bladder and splashed some of the cold water onto his face.

Quickly spashing more water from the drawn up bucket he wet he near white hair.  He pulled it back once more and tied the leather thong about it.  Walking back inside he slapped a few coins on the bar and grabbed a warm loaf of bread.

All this taking but a few minutes, he took the stairs two at a time and soon opened the door and walked into Sev's room.  

"So...what's the deal?"

Phiona didn't move as each of them entered the room in turn.  She could plainly hear them moving around,  each finding a place to await the start of Severine's meeting.  

Somewhat impatiently, Phiona shifted her weight from one leg to the other before uncrossing her arms and hooking her thumbs in the wide, leather belt which hung low on her hips.  After Penrith entered, she turned and half leaned, half sat on the sill of the closed window.  Her dark brown gaze slowly swept over the room's occupants- all except for Severine and Tierria- and she wondered what each of these newcomers had to offer.  Of the original caravan guard, only she, Tierria and Severine remained.  Of the elves who had helped fight off the ambush, only Elraralia was here.  The others, Severine had found only during a single night's stay in this disturbing little hamlet.  She sincerely doubted that any of them came from this village either... were just passing through?  Phiona's cautious nature borded on suspicion.  She was fast losing her capacity to trust strangers, not that she blindly did so on a regular basis... no, not by a long shot.

Erik leaned against a wall, his fingers running over the runes carved into the hilts of his sword.  An unconscious habit, perhaps?  He watched the people in the room as intently as Phiona did.

Elraralia, her red hair in a single, thick braid, leaned up against the wall opposite Phiona, right next to the door.  Phiona was not too familiar with the elven races, but she could see that this elf was very cool and collected.

Penrith had pulled a chair out from the small table and was comfortably slouched in it as he checked out everyone else.

Eventually, everyone in the small room ended up looking to Severine.  The young Shendar had called the meeting, so it was only logical that he speak first...

Just then the door opened again and in walked Ripp carrying a warm loaf of bread.  He asked, "So...what's the deal?" which was the very same question on most everyone's mind.

 

Edited by: Phiona Whitefire at: 9/16/03 4:37

The half elf spun on her heels as she heard the door click shut. Was that the lot of them? she thought to herself not caring if the bird was paying attention or not. That was one of the problems with having the bird summoned to her side, no such thing as a private concious thought.

She padded over to the door, her soft leather boots not making a sound on the rug that lined the wood floor. She slowly sat down at the door's base and pressed a pointed ear up against the wood. It took her a moment to sort out the muffled question...asked by some unidentified male, but after a moments concentration, the rooms audio was clear to the sharp sensed half-elf.

---

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

Sighing to himself, Severine began to realize that everyone was staring at him. Of course they was staring at him, he was the one who called for this meeting! He wasn't shy when attention was upon him, but at what was going on before everyone came in...well...he just wished that he had some to to compose himself. In a situation like this, Severine would untie his hair, letting some of it fall over his face to cover his eyes, which made him less nervous, being that nobody could really see his emotiuons through his eyes. So while standing up, Severine began to untie his hair. The left side of the hair covered his left eye, so he was fine with that.

"Well..." he began, as he strolled around the room. "Where to began..." Severine began looking at each member of the ground.

Tierria: his longtime friend, and now traveling companion.

Phiona: A now good friend and a possibly an object of his affections.

Eryk: A what seemed to be easy going young man, who obviously fell head over heels with his Tierria.

My Tierria? Thought Severine, showing confusion in his right eye. He then just shrugged it off, and continue to move around the room.

Elararia: A friendly elven female who will most likely be a very useful ally. Much like the others.

Penrith: A man who seemed like he didn't care too much about his looks, but seemed to have a good heart just by looking into his eyes. He also looked like he has been in plenty of fights...

I'll keep an eye on him...just in case...

And finally, Ripp: Another elf who looked just as expiernced as Penrith, and holds a certain dignity or respect about him that nobody could take away. Learning from Tierria, she told him that it was possible that he was a water druid.

Very useful indeed...

Severine stopped in the center of the room. These people around him...he began to wonder what was in store for all of them. And himself as well.

Will these be the people that will be with me when I finally found what I'm looking for? How about when it is all said and done with?

Clearing his throat, Severine spoke. "I think you all have an idea why you're here." His voice became a little lower...just in case. "Phiona and I were discussing aboiut this village...a village that reeks of suspicion. There are somethings...things that don't seem right..."

Severine slwoly walked close to the door. Somebody might be listening in. It was best to stand by there when not talking...just in case if he heard something. Before he made it over there, he turned around.

"Before I give my idea, have any of you notice anything suspicious?"

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

She glanced around at the others to see if they would speak.  Phiona had already told Severine what she noticed about Sheren and wondered if anyone else had noticed the same.

Tierria waited for a few moments to see if anyone would reply. After nobody did, the girl then spoke up.

"I saw a few children...being followed by guards" she said. "It looked like they were heading towards the village entrance."

Ripp met Severine's glance, "Folk around here seem pretty tight lipped about anything concerning the fortifications, and as to why they're there."   He tore a bit of the bread off and chewed on it thoughtfully as he tried to work out the puzzle.

Eryk listened intently as the others described their experiences with the town.

"I've been here for awhile now, and have been warned a couple times by the guards to get someplace at night.  I was almost arrested at my second offense."

He stopped talking, and leaned back again.  His ears were open and listening.  His eyes flicked around the room, eventually resting on Severine.

A friend...perhaps.

She listened intently through the door. Her keenly honed hearing picking up the conversation as if she was in the room itself. She paused and thought about the unusual amount of guards patrolling the small village.

Hmmm...why hadn't that caught my attention?

"Because you were probably gallavanting around like an idiot and stealing petty trinkets" came the familiar female voice into her thoughts once again.

I've stolen nothing yet! she forced angrilly to the top of her mind, conciously enough for the bird to be able to hear it.

"Aye, I see. But do you deny prancing around like a fool and drawing as much attention as possible towards yourself?"

The half-elf growled under her breath and hissed back, this time aloud "Remind me to ring your scrawny neck next time I have the chance"

"I'm a companion! Not your hired bookkeeper!"

"You're far too much trouble to bother keeping!" she shot back angrilly at a normal speaking voice.

---

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

Ripp's head jerked at the sudden sound, "Oye!  What was that?" he said in whisper.  He turned to the door

"Oye! What was that?"  Ripp hissed as he turned toward the door.

Phiona had heard it too, and she could see that some of the others had also.  Her hand went to the hilt of her dirk, still nestled in its sheath at her hip.  She was no longer leaning on the windowsill.  She took three silent steps closer to the door yet still was an arms-length from Ripp.  But Severine was already at the door, his own swift movement quiet as a wraith.

Had the guards come to disrupt this small gathering?  They were about to find out!

Severine raised his eyebrow slightly, eyes pointting to the door. He raised a finger to everyone so that they'll quiet down and be still where they were at. Gripping The Sword of Halo tightly, Severine listened closely on the other side, and heard a female voice.

Just as I thought...a spy.

Opening the door swiftly, Severine pulled out Halo, and soon found the blade pointing at the neck of a young half-elf. Narrowing his eyes at the "spy", Severine grabbed her by the collar, pushed her into the room and once again had his sword inches from her neck.

"Well, well, well" he said, his hair covering his now devious eyes. "Looks like we got ourselves a little eavesdropper." From the face, the half-elf looked like nothing but a young child. But her body said otherwise. "What is your business girl!?"  

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

((OOC: Meanhwhile, back downstairs...))


William sat across from his fellow rebel Julia, who was quietly staring at the mercenaries with interest. He was going back and forth outside, to see what information he could gather from the children who was working on the fort a a half-mile away from the village.

Damn mercenaries...forcing children into slave labor...

William had to make sure he looked as mcuh as an adult and outsider as possible. Thankfully, no of the guards remebered him from years back.

"That was all of them?" The short haired brunette started to drink her ale. Her third glass that morning.

William nodded. "All excpet for the ones known as Aiyana and Zeadon." He made sure to learn what all their names were, as well put the face with the names.

"Do you think they'll join the Legion?"

"Don't know. Maybe they will, maybe they won't. But the death of our comrades can't go unavenged!" William hissed the last part, instead of talking outloud.

"Of course not." Another glass finished. "We'll make sure they pay the consquences." Julia gestured for a waiter to come over. "Another ale please." After the waiter left, Julia turned back to William. "When they come back down, we'll follow them. To see what they'll be up to..."

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

She heard the click of the door and noted her mistake instantly. As it flew open, her hands whipped down to her hips but was already sprawled on her back with a blade to her neck just as her thumbs touched the cool wood handles of her twin daggers.

She glanced around the room, at all the people she had seen earlier. She took account of their weapons, position, composure. Instinctivley, she gave the room a keen scan over noting a somewhat blocked window and door.

So much for an escape

Blinking she cleared her mind to examine the situation at hand: She was in a room full of people, armed people, on the floor, unarmed and with a blade to her neck.

Just dandy

Groaning she relaxed and lay down on the ground, propping herself up slowly with her elbows. She made sure to keep her hands in clear sight and with open palms. She stared up at the apparent ring-leader with a calm face and large brown eyes that were caught between a twisted gleam of child like innocence and hidden guilt.

What had he called me? Spy?

Clearing her throat, the young woman spoke slowly against usual habit of quick slurred speech. "Ahem...I assure you I be no spy, Sevran" using the name she had picked up earlier in the common room, though pronouncing it akwardly through the strange mixed accent.

"Was curious, tha'all!" she said, her voice stressing and spinning her hands in an explanitory manner.

The tip of the sword was not only incredibly uncomfortable, but the throw to the floor had jostled her amulet up and the blade rested closer to the precious item than she cared for. Luckily, the cloak still tied around her neck hid it somewhat, though the sun could easily flash off the shiny surface of the polished claw if it were to hit it right.

---

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

During this whole encounter, Eryk remained, back to wall, watching intently.  He watched as the girl gave, rather weakly, an explanation.

That won't be enough...

He noticed the glint of something under her hood.  One hand gripped the hilt of his sword, but he did not pull the revered blade from its home just yet.  Severine could handle this.

Stepping out of the way as Severine threw open the door, Elraralia wasn't really all that shocked to see the half elf in the doorway.  Sneeky little things they were, never knew when to stay out of things.  Watching as Severing threw her on the ground, she saw a glint of something from beneath her cloak.  Not sure as to what it was, being that she was what she was it could be anything, she looked at Severine, and nodding twords the half elf's chest, said.

"Might want to check that out, never can be too sure as to what it could be.."

As Ripp was now standing closest to it, Phiona said, "Close the door!"

She looked down at the young woman that Severine was covering with his blade.  Since Phiona had a closer vantage, she could see the claw-shaped amulet with it's carved runes.  "It's only a necklace.  Shouldn't we be more concerned about why this girl was lurking outside our door?"  Seeing that Severine had her under control, Phiona returned to her seat on the windowsill while keeping a wary eye on the half-elf.  

Severine took a glance at the object that was inside the girl's clothing. "It looks harmless..." he began. "But you could never know..." Severine took what looked like a small eagle's talon. "Hmm...looks nice. Is this some kind of magical calling device? Just in case you were in trouble or something?" Severine wasn't no magaician...but he had his suspicions with certain itmes.

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

The only indication of worry was a slight twitch from her left eye. She'd had a few close calls with the amulet, most too close for comfort. That bird, however troublesome and annoying, was her only friend.

Glancing down, she looked at it and thought for a minute, seeming as though she had nearly forgotten what it was.

"Aye...simple sentimental trinket. Musn't pay head to it."

"You need a distraction?" came the voice into her head. It was unexpected and she had to pause before she could sort her thoughts.

No. Too many people. Sure to notice me leavin' and least one of them would make the connection. Stay put, bird the half-elf replied mentally, biting her bottom lip in habit to keep herself from talking aloud again.

---

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

Penrith's head shot in the direction of the door when Severine opened it. He shook his head disapprovingly when he saw Severine pull his sword out. Penrith didn't like weapons very much. He had nothing against fighting, he just didn't like swords or knives or even bows, for that matter.

Penrith was also disappointed in the girl. He thought she seemed nice, just somewhat defensive. He never would've suspected she'd be a spy. It looked like the room was covered so he felt no need to move, beside that, he was tired. Penrith was a bit interested in the amulet thing she had though.

"Simple, eh?" Severine looked at the item once more, and gave it back to Luca. "Get up" he said, and sheath his sword. "Tierria, get a chair for this girl. She has a lot of explaining to do. I want to know the COMPLETE reason why you was listening on us. And if the reason sounds valid and there's no harm done...I'll let you go without a scratch..."

Severine held the end of his sword...ready for any moment's notice.

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Tierria went to a corner to get a wooden chair. She was just as surprised as everyone else with who the person listening in was. The girl looked rather harnless...but then again looks can be decieving.

Tierria placed the chair near the girl, and took a look of Severine. His eyes were serious...but there was something deep inside that wanted to unleash all hell. Hoepfully, the girl wouldn't trigger that.

"Here," she said to the half-elf. "Sit here." Her words were kind and gentle. There was no way that this girl could be a spy. She could feel it.

Stepping smoothing to the door he quietly shut the door.   He then spread his legs and crossed his arms and attempted to look as foreboading as possible.  

But he felt sorry for the troublesome youngster, though by her looks she was probably older than any of the humans he was with.  So as slyly as he could he slipped her a friendly wink.

Sighs inaudibly and stands with a curt nod to nobody in particular. She sat down on the chair, one leg casually tucked under her other thigh and her right arm hooked over the back. She liked to be comfortable. Her gaze rested on an elf near the door, and catching his wink she smirked back then turned back to the leader.

With a shrug she began, "Just passing through.....here. Wishin' to snatch up some supplies before I was off 'gain by nightfall." She held back her smirk; by 'snatch' she meant steal. No better way to go nowadays. "Y'all caught me intrest. Few groups go through so much trouble to keep their business away from prying eyes. Matter of fact, most like to brag and babble on 'bout their situation. Like this one fellow...ugly bloke, tried to git--"

"Lucky!" broke the voice into her mind, stopping her in mid sentence "It's a great story but I think you ought to clam up bout him and keep talking yourself out of this. Before this lot strings you up and leave you out for the dogs"

She nodded to herself and continued on, "Well...you know how it is. Things you can't have, you want. Or, in this case, things you shouldn't know you want to find out." Shrugs, "What else can I say? Curiosity got the best o' me".

Thinks for a moment then looks around the room, her curious stare coming back to Severine, "By the by, what you lot up to 'round here?" She grins and eyes the nice sword in his hand, "Up to no good, I 'spose?"

---

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

Leaning against the wall, Elraralia rolled her eyes after hearing the half-elfs tale.  Curiosty got the better of her...that was a laugh.  Curiousty was getting the better of the entire town yet they weren't sneaking around, listening behind doors.  And there was something strange about her as well.  More so than the usual half-elves.  She kept getting this far off look in her eyes like she was no longer there, and then *poof*!  she was back to normal, if you counted getting a look as if she was agreeing with herself normal...and there was something about that amulet...

"I wouldn't be one to talk about up to no good if I were you.." she said matter of factly to the girl "We weren't the ones listening behind doors were we?"

Severine nearly laughed at Elraraia's remark.

"She's right you know" he said, And started walking around the girl in circles. "But since you told us your story..Ii guess we can tell you ours." Severine had a feeling that this girl wasn't no spy. A real spy wouldn't have gotten caught. "Most of us came with a caravan that arrived here last night. Right now, we think something is going on in the village...something that isn't right. I have invited these people into my room to discuss the situation. If you want to help...you're welcome to stay...if not then leave right away."

Severine turned his back from the girl for a moment as an evil girn began to spread across his face. "But...since I don't trust you...you have no choice but to stay. So from until we're done finguring things out..." Severine turned around. "You're with us." Severine gave an obivously fake smile as he watched the girl stare at his sword.

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Tierria quickly went infront of Severine to smile at the girl.

"Well I guess since we're stuck with one another...we should introduce ourselves...RIGHT Severine?"

Tierria had an eyebrow raised. She then turned around to smile at Luca. "My name is Tierria" she said, doing a curtsey.

She shot a cold glare at the elf by the wall. "Watch it, elf. I've been around the eavsdropping block many a times. I know what I'm doing."

She carefully examined Severine's choice of words. A caravan? If these folks are trading merchents then I'm a bloody mage!

Shrugging off the thought she turned to the other woman. She raised a brow at the curtsey and thought to herself Great...I'm stuck with a high and mighty hero and his powder-puff sidekick. Giving a sincere smile to the woman, she gave a weak salute with two fingers. "Seems you all've got luck on your side, t'day. The name's Luca...or Lucky. Whatever you prefer." She had decided not to list off all her other nicknames. It would take far too long and she was sure it would be an effort wasted on this group.

Crossing her arms over her chest she smiled slightly to herself "Now. What exactly is so suspicious about this village? You lot never seen a wall before or are guards just a passion of yours?"

---

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

Listening to the girls remark, Elraralia scoffed.

"As have I, but the fact that you got caught makes me doubt your skills in what you would like to call the 'eavsdropping block.  A thought for the future, when you talk, it is often hard to remain inconspicious.  Especially when the walls are as thin as these."

Turning her eyes back to Severine, she had to admit that keeping the half elf with them was a good idea.  Otherwise she could go off telling the world that they were suspicious of something.  

"Severine, back to the subject.  We've established that this place is creepy, stinks like a cage, and the people here act no better than rabbits.  But what are we going to do about it?"

By Baveras, this ones going to be a nasty one to have along."

Ripp gave Luca a stern glance, "Ware your lip young one or others maybe forced to split the ones you have."  He excentuated his point by tapping one of the iron shod tips of his Efryst on the floor.

"As to our curiosity to the fortifications of this place, either you are playing dumb or are as blind as Seyella.  You must have not seen many places other than the greater walled cities not to consider such a heavily garrisoned villiage odd."

Edited by: Ripp Dide at: 9/21/03 20:43

Phiona's eyes darted from one speaker to the next as she listened to them speak... but always returning to the strange half-elf that sat in the middle of the room.  Her posture was so casual, even with the tip of Severine's Halo practically pressed against her throat.

The situation was well in control and Severine knew what he was doing.   I hope... but he still is a young man and allows his emotions to control his actions sometimes.

Phiona glanced out the window over her shoulder and was slightly startled to see a man, one of the village "guards", standing in the square and blatently looking up at their window.  She quickly looked away.

"Severine, I think they know we are up here planning something."  She nodded toward the window.  "They are watching us."

Edited by: Phiona Whitefire at: 9/21/03 21:01

She glared at the elf by the door. Was that a threat?
"You've a point, I'll grant you that, elf, but this place is probably just trying to keep something out. Oh, you know...trespassers, wanderers, beggers, troublemakers.....thieves," she replied calmly, trying to hold back a grin, "Paranoid lot, this village. Walls, guards....dogs" she said with an inaudible snarl at the memory. Luca hated dogs. Especially the ones that liked to run and bite.

"Tis one thing to poke your nose in other people's affairs, perhpas where you may not belong. But to act on it, that's a whole other matter," she added, shooting a quick, cocky grin towards the elf maid against the wall.

---

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

A wry grin grew on one side of Ripp's face.  "All we wish to know is preciscly what they are paranoid about, to go through so much trouble their paranoia must be founded on something."

Penrith listened to the exchange jovially. He could barely keep himself from laughing at everyone's arguing.
Can't they figure out Luca's art? He thought to himself, smiling subtly. He had already figured out from the subtext of her speech that she was a theif.

He slowly began to lean back in his chair, chuckling to himself quietly. "I wonder why they're watching us?" He asked sarcastically. "I'm sure nobody saw us pull her in,"  He said, nodding toward Luca. "Or the noise that followed that." He shook his, scofflingly, and strecthed, leaning back even farther. At the height of his strecth he toppled backward in the chair.

"By Coor!" He exclaimed upon hitting the floor. He cleared his throat while getting up. "Didn't see that coming..." He said, quite ashamed with himself.

"Trust me...I don't think any of us saw that coming either..." Severine only smiled from the side of his mouth, and turned his attention back to Luca. "Luck, huh? Well...if you prove yourself useful, then I guess I would agree with you..." He then took a quick glance at the window. "They might be on to us. There was no doubt that they were watching us ever since our arrival. Here's the deal. We'll split up into groups of two to survey the village. Act casual...like nothing seems out of the ordinary and you're playing along with their 'story'. But with the attack on us from last night...they might be right..." Severine moved over next to Phiona. "But never the less, we must be alert with our surroundings. A little looking around never hurt anybody..." Severine glanced at Luca. "Unless if anybody has something different to say about that..."

Takng off his cloak to reveal his white shirt, Severine then removed his belt that held his sword and replaced it with another. "When outside, we can't look too suspicious. Calm and collected is the way to go through this. And it's best to look non-threatening. Carry items that you can conceal...but hide the ones that you're not taking with you. I wouldn't be surrpised if they were checking all of your rooms as we speak..."

Severine casually walked to the window. The manw as gone. "Phiona and I will check the main military area of this village. Tierria and Eryk will go to the central marketplace. Maybe if you will buy enohgh items...these people will say something. Elra and Penrith will check the inside businesses, and Ripp and Luca will go along the country side just outside, and hang around the entrance...but don't be noticed." Severine turned from the window to lean on the wall next to it. As he stared at everyone his hair was infront of his face. While he spoke, he began to tie it back. "We'll leave this room every few minutes...gorup by group. Make sure nobody is in the hall when you do leave. Phiona and I will be the last to be...after Tierria and Eryk. Less suspicion will occur if we are being watched and the people who stay in this room are the last to leave..." Severine's eyes trailed back outside. "Penrith and Elararia will fo first. in five minutes..."

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

When Severine looked out the window, Phiona looked again and also saw that the watcher was gone.   Must've taken off as soon as I spotted him...  damn.  I wonder if they think I imagined him?  As for dressing down the weapons, she'd been running around with only her dirk for protection since last night.  Her hand went again to the hilt of the long, pointed dagger.  She thought, If anyone goes through my things there will be hell to pay!

Phiona listened as Severine split everyone into pairs, and was only slightly curious as to why he hadn't chosen Tierria as his partner- she thought that Severine wanted to protect his young friend at all times.  Phiona turned her gaze to Tierria now, to see what her reaction was... before turned her back to the room and scanning the village again for visible guard placement.

Eyeing the man who had fallen, she rolled her eyes "I guess balance is not one of your strong points, boy"

"Ripp and Luca will go along the country side just outside, and hang around the entrance...but don't be noticed"

I'm supposed to drag him over the wall? Luca thought, eyeing Ripp straight on, not bothering to hide it.

"By the gods, girl, don't go over the wall with him in tow!

We supposed to just prance out through the gates? I think the gaurds may note that I never came IN through the gates. Guards may be blind but that doesn't mean they're stupid

Hearing no reply from the pestering bird, Luca couldn't help but smile lightly to herself in satisfaction. She leaned back in her chair, awaiting for her turn to leave the room. This may prove interesting...stranger things have happened she mused silently, watching the fidgeting of the others.

---

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

Edited by: Luca the Thief  at: 9/23/03 1:39

Eryk had been motionless through the events that had taken place.  As Severine explained their "plan", as cliche as it sounded, Eryk grinned inwardly.  He liked Severine.

Slowly, his deep brown eyes moved across the room, resting on each person, trying to see what was inside.  As he passed over Luca, a smile tickled the sides of his lips as he saw the familiar look of mischief in her eyes.  They stopped on Penrith, who by now was looking quite embarrased.

A different breed it seems...

They came to rest on Tierria.  Red pigment flowed through his cheeks, and his eyes twinkled.  There was something about her...not only her looks, but...what?

Severine finished, and Eryk turned his attention back to the man.

Marketplace?  Interesting.  We ought to be able to learn something...

He then realized he was paired with Tierria.  Not only was he quite surprised, but he was somewhat nervous.  Perhaps he could answer some of his questions...

Severine had his reasons for pairing people the way he did. First off, Phiona seemed like the type to know something about military...at least a bit of it. She could be of some use when they scan the area. Plus, he didn't want Tierria to get hurt if they were to get in trouble. Tierria came from a dynasty of successful merchants...sending her to the marketplace would go well, where she could work her charms to find information. Eryk looked like he could protect her, so he placed her with him.

Hopefully, that's all that he does. thought Severine, trying to to show a hint of glare in his eye. Sev...you're doing it again...

As for Ripp, he looked like he was the most experienced out of everyone who was here. Also, if Severine placed Luca with Elra they would most likely be arguing most of the time. And Penrith seemed like the type to lose the girl easily if she choose to escape. And Tierria...she would robably use the girl's kindness against her. This was the best way Severine could split up the group. For now.

From the corner of hsi eye, he saw Tierria with a look of disappointment...but the girl had slightly blushed when she looked at Eryk. Sighing to himself, He placed his gaze over to Phiona, who stared out at the window again.

"Alirght everyone" he said, finally speaking. "Penrith...Elra...I suggest you start leaving. leave your things here, but keep them well hidden."

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Edited by: SeverineHalo at: 9/23/03 17:38

Tierria sat quietly as Severine spoke. She was quite surprised that Severine didn't have her go with him, but then again he probably didn't want her around a bunch of perverted soldiers.

Well he could've went with me to the marketplace, thought Tierria.

The girl figured something was up. was he and Phiona doing something that they're not saying? Tierria sighed but started to blush when she saw the way eryk was looking at her.

I guess it won't be so bad after all...

Catching Luca's stare he returned it with his near white eyes, set deep in his darkly tanned face.  One eyebrow raised in a silent query, Shall we?   Ripp softly nodded his head toward the door,  "Onward and outward, if we aren't to be noticed, try not to be too loud this time." he softend his jest with a small smile.  

Turning to Penirith, she nodded, as if to tell him to wait a moment. The inside buisnesses...eh?  This could prove to be interesting.  The key now seemed to be as inconspicuiose as possible.  Knowing that elves were rare in these parts, or at least in this town, she took out her braid, and redid it, but this time made it so that it covered both of her ears, the most obviose part of her that made reference to her race.

Walking over to him, she smiled. "Well, if we are to do this, I'm thinking that perhaps the best place to start would be the general store type place.  If anything, there is always a good amount of gossip going on in those places.  What do you say?" she asked him, as she began to tuck her dagger under her shirt.  

Slightly taken aback by Severine's sudden change of mood, Eryk's grin slid to a slight frown, his forehead wrinkling.

Watch your step Eryk.  I will.  When did I start talking to myself?  This could be a bad sign...

Eryk unbuckled one of his shortswords.

"I trust I can leave my things here?  I have no room at the moment," he said, muttering the last part.  He blushed again.  Striding over to the bed, he easily lifted up the cheap mattress and slid the sword and scabbard under it.

He adjusted his things, and returned to his place against the wall.

"I'm ready."

Penrith turned to Elraralia as she came over to him. He listened as she spoke, and nodded with agreement once she had finished.

"Yeah, a general store sounds like the best place to start. Old women seem to have a lot to chatter on about," He said to the elf, chuckling slightly. "Well, I have no weapons to speak of, and no items that need to be hidden. So, after you." He said politely, gesturing towards the door. Penrith had  already forgotten his embarassing tangle with the floor a minute ago, and he was ready to go exploring this very odd town.

She broke the akward stare with Ripp a few long seconds after he matched her gaze. Busying herself with other matters. Remove any suspicious or noticable items, eh? she thought to herself, looking down. Not a single blade or scrap of armor could be seen on her, save the old, worn long bow and quiver slung lazily across her back. Oh...forgot about those. But I'm not about to trust these folks any more than they trust me. Some things have too much importance to be left in the hands of strangers she convinced herself, putting the old weapon back on her back along with her quiver of assorted arrows.

No voice entered Luca's mind this time. Pick may be a bird and not know much about the complexities of human emotion, but the intelligent being knew enough to steer clear of the problems and memories that haunted Luca's mind. Those were matters that would be left for the thief to work out...on her own.

Luca was lost in thoughts and memories. Her eyes seemed to dim and glaze over, lost in another time and place.

"Onward and outward, if we aren't to be noticed, try not to be too loud this time."

She blinked once and she was back in reality. She had to pause to try and remember what precisly was going on, but it came to her soon enough and Luca gave a curt nod with a faint smile.

---

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

As Severine started to watch everyone leave, he placed the Sword of Halo under the mattress along with Eryk's weapons. He would take with him his two daggers and hidden knives. He then leaned against the wall, and started to think.

Is this really a good idea? he thought to himself. Putting our noses into other people's business? Maybe the people are comfortable here? Maybe they don't want any outside interference? Whatever the case may be...we should still investigate...

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Tierria walked over to Eryk, who looked like he was ready to go. Giving him gentle smile, took some of the herbs and medicine that she may need with her.

"Looks like we'll be sight-seeing together" she said. "That'll give us a chance to get to know one another."

Guessing that his blue robes had been recognized as being with this party he pulled them off over his head.  The white linen tunic and brown linen pants were much less conspicuous.  Keeping his staff and water bladder with him he walked from the room and headed for the stairs.

The robes he left stashed in the closet, even if they found them there would be nothing of intrest on them.  On his hand the magiced compass rotated slightly and those who saw his back could see the tip of a horn reach the begining of his neck

Eryk grinned gamely.

"It appears so...might you have any idea where the marketplace in this town is?  I've been here for a few days and haven't seen anything remotely resembling a market.  Perhaps we should try the jailhouse?"

Blinks and glanced around the room. "Where was that bloody elf?" she muttered under her breath. She caught a glimpse of him leaving and shot up, bolting out the door. She came to a regular walking speed a few paces behind him and followed him lazily, not really bothering with their 'mission'.

Eyeing the tip of the horn curiously she opened her mouth about to say something, but thought the better of it and shrugged it off. Luca continued walking slowly behind him, checking out the rather plain decor of the inn, "How homey..." she spurted quietly, her voice lathered thick with unimpressed sarcasm.

---

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

Smiling at Penirith, she lead the two of them slowly out the door, and down the stairs.  Reaching the bottom, she stopped for a moment to check that all was in place.  Stopping for a moment, she quickly realized that all of the woman seemed to be the dress and apron wearing type.  Not only that, but they tended to be quite short. Hiding her obviouse differences was definitly going to be harder now...

Turning to Penrith she said under her breath

"Disguising myself is going to be a bit harder then for you.  I'm going to draw my hood over my face, and not talk, unless necissary, so as to look like I'm just your mute male friend.  Sound alright?"  

Tierria nodded.

"The jailhouse is fine with me" she said. "We could ask questions and get information from the villagers on our way there." Tierria started to head to the door as soon as everyone else was gone. Turning around, she smiled at Eryk. "Coming?"

((This post focuses on the rebels))

Julia caught her eyes on the elven girl and the strange-looking man that had just arrived downstairs. From the looks of it, they seemed to be planning something. By the way her hair was covering her ears...it seemed the female was hiding the fact that she was an elf, which Julia noticed earlier.

"That must be the one known as Elrararia?" Julia asked William.

"Yes, that is" said the young man. "I think the waiter said the man's name was Penrith. He caught the name while he was talking to Severine and the others."

"Ah." Julia finished her glass. "Tell Barry outisde to follow those two."

"Right." William nodded, and went outside.

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Phiona listened to the chit-chat as the others began to file out of the room at intervals, per Severine's instruction.  She never turned away from the window the entire time.  

Very soon, she spotted Penrith and Elraralia- the elf having now pulled her cloak's hood up- walking out from under the porch awning as they casually strolled toward the general store.   I hope they have better luck with the old woman than I did...

Shortly afterward, Tierria and Eryk headed toward the building that housed the jail.  Phiona had glanced at it in curiosity on her short trip this morning, but the building look deserted to her.   I wonder what they will find there?

Phiona did not see Ripp and Luca leave.   They must have slipped around the side of the inn.  When they were alone again, Phiona turned and looked at the young Shendar warrior.  "So... just how close to the barracks do you think we'll get?  We may be in for a fight, you know."  With a sigh, she uncrossed her arms and sat on the edge of the bed.  "I think the only reason we haven't been run out of the village yet is because they think we are leaving with Voltaire.  It is obvious they are hiding something dreadful."

She glanced up at Severine, wondering what he'd say...  

Severine looked down at Phiona.

"Well if we play our cards right...we should get pretty close. Maybe if we act casual...like a couple or something. The guards will be less suspicious..."

Severine wasn't paying attention to what he actually was saying as he started to head for the door. Meaning that he didn't pay attention to his idea s the two of them acting like a couple...

Turning back to Phiona, he leaned against the door way. "I agree with your reason why they haven't ran us out yet. They don't want to ruin their relationship with their number one business man. If they are doing all of this in secret and I'll bet you any amount of money they are, then they don't want to screw anything up."

Turning his back to her, he asked "Ready?"

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

"As I ever will be."  Phiona stood and followed Severine out the door.

Once they were outside the inn, she looked around but none of the others were in view.  Will we all be meeting back up in Severine's room afterward?  I can't recall if it was mentioned.

Phiona took a deep breath of sun-warmed air as the two warriors turned toward the distant barracks.  Even from here, Phiona could see that these buildings were built recently, as opposed to the other buildings in the Sheren village.  They walked a casual pace, like they were out on a stroll rather than prowling or scouting the village out.

Eryk followed Tierria out.  Offering his hand as they descended the stairs, Eryk's eyes were distracted as he looked around the room.

Besides the normal assortment of guards, there were a few Eryk hadn't seen before and didn't recognize.  Staring at each face in turn, he imprinted it into his mind.

As the pair walked out into the bright sunlight, Eryk turned to Tierria.

"So how did you end up in this town?"

He blushed slightly.  He probably should of had a better question.

Severine began to stretch a bit, staring in the same direction as Phiona. The buldings did look like they were built recently, and the closer they came to the barracks, the more guards they saw.  Severine tried not to show any signs of suspicion and gave a casual smile at Phiona. She looked attractive to him whenever she was in deep thought. Fro the activity that has been going on as of late, Severine has never got a chance to get to know her.

"So," said Severine moving a little closer to Phiona while two guards stared at them suspiciously. "Did you grow up in a military place like this?" A small smile crept upon his face as his mind searched for a better question to ask.

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Tierria smiled, and took his hand as they went down the stairs.

"Quite the gentleman you are," she said, and the two went outside.

Tierria saw that there were no teenage children outside, nor there was middle-aged men and women. There were some, but most of them was either working or disabled in some way. Hearing the question Eryk asked her, the woman turned around.

"Well my friends and I arrived with a caravan that we were protecting" she replied. "We was attacked by some bandits on our way here, and one of our allies is in the infirmary. We'll see hima s we look around." Tierria didn't mention about the slime that got himself killed when using Ren as a shield.

"So...which way to the jailhouse?"

"Those are your orders. Go!"
The last word's Deren had  heard before trailing the suspicious guests. He was able to follow the one whom was called Eryk, and keep close watch on him without being detected.
"So, which way is the jailhose?"
"The jailhouse? What are these guys up to?"    

Wanting to get it over and done with, Luca picked up her pace slightly and took the lead in front of Ripp. She walked casually down the street, one hand resting on her hip while struggling to keep her messy bangs from her eyes with her other hand.

As she walked, she caught a glimpse of something just out of the corner of her eye and shot her head up. Luca's eyes widened as she saw an eagle casually gliding high in the air above them. Luckily, the half-elf had inherited a good deal of her mother's excellent sight and could tell easily that the birds feathers reflected a deep crimson tint.

Good sweet Ava! What do you think you're doing!?You're going to get me killed! she angrilly thought, struggling to keep her communications completely telepathic.

"Shut up and listen. You can't slip past the guards and you certainly cant drag the elf over the wall. How do expect to get out into the country sides like you're supposed to?"

Groaning quietly to herself she thought and then thought to the bird, I'll ditch him. Go seperate ways. I'll take the wall and meet him outside.. Luca glanced behind her and wondered if the simple plan would actually work.

---

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

Ripp kept his steady pace and was soon outside the inn.  Evå was waiting for him outside, "Come on gel." he called softly keeping his eyes on the half-human in front of him.  The Slinker padded silently behind him.  He shivered slightly without his robes.

She looked over at Severine when he asked his question.   Why would you want to know where I was raised?  You astound me, young Shendar...   Speaking quietly so the guards wouldn't overhear, Phiona said, "I grew up in Marcogg, a place that is east of here."  

Seeing that the guards were staring suspiciously at them, the Avennorian warrior abruptly stepped closer to Severine and snaked her arm around his waist so that they were walking hip-to-hip like lovers do.  Leaning in closer she said, "Sorry... they were staring, so I thought I'd give them something to stare at.  Anyway, Marcogg... I come from a family of scribes and bookbinders, but some of us were career soldiers also.  I went into the army at 16, fully intending to be a career soldier myself...."  She fell silent as the memories of her last days in the royal army flooded through her.  Her anger and disgust at the atrocities she'd seen and endured translated to a slight shiver in her body that Severine was sure to feel, but at this point she didn't care.  If they were to be friends, then he would find out sooner or later.  But what she'd been through was horrible.  So horrible that it took a long time before she could share the experience with her friends.   And now they are all dead, too.    As for the physical scars, Phiona was sure that Tierria had already told Severine about those... how could she not?  Those two were far closer than Phiona had guessed when she first met them.

They passed the two guards, but Phiona sensed they were still watching.  

Edited by: Phiona Whitefire at: 9/28/03 4:50

"We're being watched," Eryk exhaled under his breath, just audible enough for Tierria.  "The jailhouse is this way."

He started to walk down the dirt roads slowly, looking from side to side at the guards who seemed to watch their every move.

"It's up ahead."

She eyes the Slinker behind Ripp and groans audibly "Good sweet Baveras" she muttered eyeing the beast.

"Baveras? Going pirate back on me now, girl?" came the thoughts of the bird circling above their heads. It was no secret that Luca's time out to sea were not enjoyed by the bird.

Continuing to eye the slinker, Luca began to speak telepathicaly with the crimson eagle:

I can't risk the wall with that with him.

"What a surprise......"

Quiet. I can slip through the gate easily enough. Even with the elf and the beast with him.

Slowing her pace, the half-breed came to walk just in front of Ripp and the Slinker, still eyeing the 'thing' with an untrusting glare. Having been a thief for over 35 years, it had become second nature to Luca to be especially wary of anything that remotely resembled a dog.

---

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

Edited by: Luca the Thief  at: 9/30/03 1:45

Penrith waited as Elraralia converted herself to a male.

"Well, I guess that will work..." He whispered to her. "Although I'm sure most or the guards already saw you before," He said, slightly shrugging. He walked out of the inn, looking around. Hmm, where is this general store? He thought to himself. The man turned to his left, and saw a guard, openly staring at him. Penrith gave the guard a big smile and winked at him. The guard promptly as made as if he was just looking around.

What's with these guards... What are they afraid of? He thought, staring intently at the turned-away guard. He pulled his hood up and casually stuck his hands in his pockets. He turned around and looked back, waiting for Elraralia.

"It's ok..." Severine slightly smiled, and listened to Phiona about her past. Just as he figured...she was a soldier. He could tell just by looking in her eyes and her demeanor sometimes. His father always told him that once a soldier is always one...even if they don't think so. His uncle told him the samething.

"...I went into the army at 16, fully intending to be a career soldier myself..."

Severine felt shiver coming from Phiona. His natural reaction was to hold her close...something that he did immediately. While they walked, he wrapped his arm around Phiona's shoulder, bringer her even closer to him. This was a reaction he did with Tierria whenever she was emotional, so it was second nature for him to do such a thing. Some of the guards stopped paying mind to the situation, and turned their heads. As for the others, they looked on but tried to act casual. Some even gave a slight nod to Severine as if to say hello. At that moment, Severine could careless. Right now, he hoped that Phiona was in a stable mental state...just in case something did happpen.

Stopping the former soldier in her footsteps, Severine turned her face to his and looked into her eyes. They looked normal to the untrained eye, but there was a deep sorrow inside...a sorrow that felt like it didn't want to reveal itself. Just like most people of Caelereth, Phiona was a victim of a cruel life.

"Phiona," he began with a kind voice, as his hand placed itself on her face. "You don't have to go on if you don't want to. If it is something painful that you don't want to tell me...you don't have to..." Severine slowly began to realize that his other hand was on her hips and the fron of their bodies were indeed pressed against each other. He also realized that since his hair was tied back, he basically had concern written across his face so well, that even the guards who were at a distance coould see it.

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Tierria nodded slightly and followed Eryk. To keep up with him, she gabbed his wrist and walked next to him side-by-side.

"Well, I answered your question. I guess I can throw it back at you and asked how you got here yourself?"

The water druid bent down to meet Luca's gaze which was fixed frimly on Eva, with even a hint of distaste on her features.  Ripp smiled, "I'm sorry you haven't met Eva have you?" a little chirup came from the Slinker at the sound of her name.  

"Don't worry about her she's harmless, unless ordered otherwise." he added grimly still headed toward the gates.

She flashed an obviously fake smile, "The thing's positivly darling" she groaned, her voice full of sarcasm.

Looking up she eyed the gate that was visible off in the distance. "Weren't we supposed to stay unnoticed?" Luca said, her voice hushed as guards continued to watch them. "There's no rule saying we need to use them gates"

"What are you doing, girl?!"

Second nature. Who knows, maybe he'll agree.

---

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

Phiona looked up at Severine who, at this proximity, filled her vision.  He was so sweet at times, a total switch from his warrior nature.  Standing close like this, she felt she could get lost in those beautiful, deep brown eyes.  She nodded once at his words and then, on impulse, kissed him full on the lips.  Then, as if just now realizing what she was doing, she pulled away and smiled to hide her feelings.  The last thing she wanted to do was complicate things at this critical time.  

She said, "That's for covering my back yesterday... during the ambush."  Phiona leaned her head on his chest, mostly to continue the ruse for any guards who were still watching them.  Glancing sideways she saw one guard walking away toward the main building where, most likely, whoever led these village enforcers would be located.  "These men seem highly paranoid about us being here... maybe we'd get a better take on the situation if we just talked to their leader?  Maybe we could ask about their recruitment incentives?  Is that too obvious for us...or too dangerous? "

Edited by: Phiona Whitefire at: 9/30/03 17:19

Severine was caught off guard from the kiss Phiona had given him. But his face didn't show it. Instead, he acted like he was playing along with the situation and started brushing Phiona's brown hair while her head rested on his chest. That made fewer and fewer guards look their way.

"I feel we should ask some of the newer privates what is going on" he said, enjoying the feel of Phiona's body against his. He wasn't feeling the normal animalistic kind of feeling whenever he felt intimacy...this was more of a normal feeling of typical human affection. Something he hasn't felt in awhile. "The privates would be less suspicious if we asked them what is going on. Our cover up story would be that we want to join the mercenaries and we want to know what is going on to have a general idea. But we got to have more of a 'dark' attitude with these guys...as if we know what is really happening, and want in on it. But we can't be too obvious. Then after getting information from the privates we could talk with the leader and then come back to the inn."

Severine was silent for a moment, still trying to gather his composure from the unexpected kiss. The female's warriors lips was something that he was growing addcited to very quickly. He wanted to kiss her himself, but he was afriad she only did that for show.

"Well, let's walk towards the main bulding" Severine finally said. Seeing a soldier walk by looking at him, he then spoke louder for the solider to hear. "I'm thinking about joining these people." Looking back at Phiona, Severine kissed her tender lips and grinned. "That's for buying me dinner last night." He then took her hand and led her down the dirt path.

I wonder if she knows that she's the first girl I ever kissed...?

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

"T'cha, I take it you as most of your...profession are wary such a beast?" he replied.  "Ah well, lets get to it and follow orders," he excentuated he distaste with a mock salute.

Phiona listened to his reply, all the while wishing she was better at communicating with people... because then she could walk right up to a guard and sweet-talk the needed information out of him.  But she knew she'd fail at such an endeavor.  She would stutter, or use the wrong tone or word, or worse, she'd choke and not say anything.   Wouldn't that be slick?   If only I could write a note or something... but that wouldn't work either.  What if the guy can't read?  Wouldn't that be ironic?

They just stood there for a few moments, leaning on each other in the middle of the path.  She could feel and hear his strong heart beating.  The rhythm lulled her for a moment and then Severine said quietly, "Well, let's walk towards the main building..."  and she nodded in agreement.

As  they both turned he raised his voice. "I'm thinking about joining these people."  And then suddenly Severine kissed her!  It was very quick and sweet and she caught her breath in surprise.  But the Shendar warrior quickly followed it with a grin and "That's for buying me dinner last night."  She just looked at him, feeling a bit stunned still.  Luckily, Severine then took her hand and led her down the dirt path.  Phiona was glad that they were walking now because she was quite flustered.  Also, she was very glad that he wasn't expecting a reply because Phiona was quite sure she'd be speechless.

And walking toward the main building hand in hand felt very strange to her... she'd only walked that way with one man before and the thought of Blackwine creeped her out even now, several years later.  Oh, why is it that whenever I have a single, happy thought, that the memory of that bastard has to slip in and ruin it?  Suddenly, holding hands wasn't quite so fun but she didn't pull away, since they needed to keep up the appearance of being a couple.  She pushed Blackwine out of her mind, but it was a massive feat- mainly because the atmosphere of this place was strikingly familiar...

Phiona glanced around, suddenly worried that he'd step out a door or something, yet all the while she scolded herself for being so silly.   I mean, what would be the odds?  Calm yourself!  You frighten so easy... like a child.  Get a grip...  Even so, her free hand wandered to the hilt of her dirk, resting in the sheath on her belt, just to be sure it was still there.

Edited by: Phiona Whitefire at: 10/1/03 8:26

Nodding the Penirith, she walked outside the inn with him, and looked around.  As she did so, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end at the sheer strangness of the town.  Not a person was in sight, except for the occasional gaurd or two, but the weirdest of all, was the fact that there were no children present at all.  For such a small town, most would expect there to be at least one or two running around, playing in the sunshine, or even peeking out a window, but for whatever reason, this wasn't the case.

Catching up with Penirith, she nodded to the guard standing next to them, and walking past him, turned to Penirith, muttering

"This seems to be more of a army camp, then a town.."

Severine led Phiona to the front of the main office, where quite a few soldiers stood guard. The Shendar stopped in his tracks, and took a casual glance around. The soldiers were now glaring at Severine and Phiona, as if to tell them to leave. Severine just waved casually.

"Hello everyone" he said. "I kinda hear about what is going on, and I was thinking about enlisting with your mecernary service. Actually my lover and I that is."

"Oh really?" said a soldier, crossing his arms.

Severine nodded, his smile never fading. "We're mercenaries who came by Crestus Voltaire's caravan. He told us about what you all are doing, and we figured that it couldn't help to offer our services..." Severine then soon had a dark grin on his face. "After all, you probably need help to put these people in order, and get rid of the 'outlaws'."

One of the soldiers started laughing, as if he understood where Severine was getting at.

"Well it never hurts to get more help" he said. "But how can we be sure that you're trust worthy?"

"Well I didn't get this far in life by betraying people" Severine pushed a few braids that waan't tied back.

"Commander Blackwine, can I speak with you for a moment?"

Severine became silent for a moment as he saw a tall, blonde haired man walking out of the main building. A rather young lokking soldier ran up to him from behind and started to speak to him. The two seem to be walking in the opposite direction that Severine and Phiona was standing. Just abotu when Severine was going to turn his eyes away, the man was looking at him...his cold blue eyes staring into Severine warm brown ones. The two concetrated their sights on each other...as if they were having some kind of mental conversation. The before Severine knew it, the man started walking away.

Blackwine...that name sounds familiar. I've heard it before recently...

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Eryk kept walking, his eyes still suspicious.

"I wander.  I haven't found my place on this world yet, and until I do, this world is my road."  A dark look flashed in his eyes, and a slight gloss appeared as memories flowed through his mind.

Perhaps my place is with...

He gave a weak smile, trying to cover up the sorrow in his eyes.

Don't get ahead of yourself Eryk...

Penrith nodded along as Elraralia spoke.
"Yeah, there is something very strange going on around here..." He whispered to the elven woman, trailing off.
"I'd like to know where all the men are, the only ones seem to be the guards," He looked around suspiciously upon saying this.

The city looked nice enough, but it was apparently hiding something sinister.
"Any idea where this general store is?" He asked Elraralia.

Sighing, Luca placed her hands on her hips and stared up at the sky. She spotted, to her dismay, the crimson eagle happilly circling them above. But she could feel the bird's energy draining. Slowly, she brought her hand up to her neck and clasped the amulet in a slender hand Be gone, Pick. You're company, however pointless, has been pleasent.

She could see the bird pause for a minute in its circular flight and then soar off into the distance. The eagle was always grateful for a peaceful rest from it's master, but Pick was wary of leaving the sometimes inept half-breed alone with armed strangers.

Casting a quick glance to the Slinker, Luca turned her gaze back to Ripp. "So....what are we doing now? Come to think of it, I hadn't seen much when I was roaming the brush o'er there," she said, waving a hand in the general direction of the gates. "Just some old overgrown paths."

Lucas travels had been casual and uneventful the past few weeks, as usual. Traveling for a day and resting often for camp or curious exploration. She had never been one for strict itineraries or scheduals.

"What did you want to get at? The farmfolk can't be all that interesting..." she began, her voice trailing off to a murmer, "...not that any of this other nonsense is especially captivating."

---

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

As usual, Phiona stood silent while Severine talked to the soldiers...  Guards.  Guards!  This is no army, however regimented it may seem... ... about joining ranks.  He was still holding her hand; so to play the part of the 'lover' she leaned further against him and tilted her head to rest on his strong, lean shoulder.  She didn't speak, only peeked demurely out from under her thick, brown eyelashes.  Best they think she is taken so they'd leave her alone.  As Severine shifted around a bit and she let him do all the talking, she meanwhile measured how close the guards were and what the immediate area looked like in terms of tactics, should a fight break out.  Never hurts to be careful in any given situation.

And then she heard: "Commander Blackwine, can I speak with you for a moment?"

Reality came crashing inward and Phiona froze, not out of fear but out of sheer disbelief... she absolutely refused to believe she just heard someone address Commander Blackwine somewhere behind her, within her earshot.  She dared not turn and look, no matter how badly she wanted to confirm that it was all in her twisted imagination!  Phiona's hand, which hand been idly stroking the hilt of her dirk in what she'd hoped would be construed as her being subtly seductive, suddenly gripped the hilt to the point that her knuckles turned white.    He's here!  If he finds me, we are all in for a difficult time!   With that thought, Phiona ducked her head a little, practically climbing under Severine's arm , until his arm was draped over her shoulders and she was a little more hidden.  Phiona glanced up at him, caught his eye and gave him a slight shake of the head... she'd only mentioned Blackwine once, yesterday morning and she was afraid he might give them up.  In the short time she'd known him, she could see he was prone to impetuousness and she was worried that the young Shendar warrior might start a fight while they were completely surrounded.

Should have listened to my first instinct...

Edited by: Phiona Whitefire at: 10/2/03 6:38

"Commander Blackwine. The fort should be set up soon enough. Surprisingly, we're  way ahead of schedule. It seems those youngin's have more in them then we realized..." The soldier who was speaking to his superior officer cracked a smile.

"I see..." Blackwine's eyes were still upon the brown skinned boy.

So...he's the one. The one who Inquistis has been sensing. I only sense the power that comes from the others and myself though. The other one I feel is towards the center of the village...

Blackwine's eyes trailed over to the woman that the boy had his arm around. She looked very familar to him, even thouhg he coudln't clearly see her face.

Could that be her? he though to himself. There's no way that Whitefire bitch would be putting her nose into other's people business...not after what she did...

Shrugging off that thought, Blackwine got upon his horse. He had better things to attend to than stare at some couple all day. Riding his black stallion towards the gates along with the soldier that was talking with him, Marlus' eyes narrowed.

If that is her...than that boy will regret ever putting his hands upon my woman...

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Severine was silent for a moment before speaking. He barely even notice his hands running along Phiona's body while she moved into a different position. He did catch her looking at him though, shaking her head as if something was wrong.

So it is him, Severine thought to himself. The wielder of the evil sword.

Realizing that they would be in trouble if the man would recognize Phiona, Severine started to wave at the soldiers he was talking to.

"Well, it appears that my lover and I must be leaving" he spoke. "I'll be back later on." Severine then turned to Phiona and kissed her forehead. "Let's go sweetheart." Taking her hand, he then led her back up the path. The good part about all of this was that less soldiers were looking at them, for they were feeling less suspicious now.

"It'll be okay..." Severine seemed to sound like he was whispering to Phiona, but he meant that for himself. He had got a bad vibe from the man who Phiona had known...and was possibly involved with. Something that didn't seem rgiht...something that seemed frightenly familiar...

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Ripp shrugged,  "Where any of those old trails near here?  They would be as good a place as any to start looking for something odd." he nodded toward the woods which stood near by

She hadn't paid an especial amount of attention to the old path. Probably just old hunting trails.

"Half hours walk. Maybe hour. Two hours maybe. Possibly three." Groaning Luca shrugged and threw her arms up in frustration "Oh I don't know. They were just there"

Dropping a gloved hand into her pack that bobbed lazily as she walked, Luca began fishing around the mess inside. She pulled out a few peices of dried meldarapple and popped one into her mouth. Luca hadn't eaten since the previous morning.

---

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

Ripp nodded as he thought about this new information.  "Point well made and taken."  He stopped walking for the moment, "In that case," he paused, "Where, should we go?"

Shivering slighty at the shear strangness of it all, she nodded to the center of the square, where a lone shop stood.

"I'm assuming thats it, unless there are others in this town that we don't see.  Odd that there is only one here.." she said trailing off, and began walking towards the store, ignoring the odd glances that the guards were giving her.  Stepping into the store, she let her eyes adjust, as she looked around.  No one was in the store at the moment, except for an old woman, standing behind the counter.  But as soon as they walked in, she gave a sort of sqweak, and scurried into the back.

"Well, so much for asking her..maybe we should look around a bit....she has to come back at some point.."

They walked all the way back to the inn in a comfortable silence, dropping the "lovers act" once they were well away from the barracks.

As they climbed the steps of the inn's porch, Phiona asked, "Shall we wait for the others in the common room?"  She glanced around at the enpty porch.  "Or out here maybe?"  If she seemed distracted, it was because she was... she was still absorbing the unfortunate fact that Marlus Blackwine was here in Sheran Village.  She knew he was up to no good.  She was curious as to why there weren't any of the Royal Army here... perhaps he'd left or was finally kicked out for his cruel leadership tactics.  No matter the reason why, Phiona scowled as she looked down at her boots.  Damn my poor luck.  It follows me everywhere!  

Continuing to talk with her mouth full, Luca pointed in the general direction of a farm. "How 'bout them?" A few women were working out in the fields. "If they're anything like the working women I used to know, they're bound to talk and gossip.".

Walking, Luca turned to Ripp. "Just wonderin' though...What are you doing hanging about with Braid Boy and his gang of uptight buddies? I sure you got better things to do than worrin' about some creepy town." she said, curiosity once again getting the better of her. "I know I do..." she added under her breath.

---

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

Edited by: Luca the Thief  at: 10/7/03 1:19

As he leaned against the wall, Severine stared forward with his eyes locked upon the soldiers who were laughing and smiling at some young male teenager who was running towards the end of the village...as if he was in a rush towards somewhere. His long black bangs bounced infront of his face, in a similar way Severine's braids would bounce in front of his when he was running.

Something's wrong with this picture...

Severine glanced around the scenery before him. All the villagers seemed to be doing more work then the soldiers were. Very few common folk was doing nothing. Whenever a soildier would approach a villager, it would seem like he was bossing that person around. But of course the only people that were around were ones that looked too weak to do any heavy duty work. And it seemed to work that way with the children as well. But what caught Severine's eye the most was a female brunette wearing a brown cloak like his staring at him and Phiona while looking at a book. Or making it seem that way.

"Don't look directly," he began, trying not to move his lips too much. "But we're being watched. Woman wearing a brown cloak. Give a casual glance around, and you'll spot her."  

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

"Right."  

Phiona stretched and casually turned toward the other side of the porch.  Severine was correct, a dark-haired woman was sitting just in the other side of the large, multi-pane window that allowed light into the common room.  The woman's eyes had ducked back to the book just as Phiona had glanced her way.  And the woman was obviously eaves-dropping too.  Phiona walked to the far end of the porch, away from the open door, and rested on the low railing.  From there, Phiona beckoned Severine to join her.

When Severine moved closer, Phiona turned her head so the woman couldn't see her lips moving.  In a quiet voice, "Oh, she knows we spotted her alright, I'm sure she overheard you telling me.  But she can't hear us from this far away... well, if she were an elf, but she isn't.  So, do you think this woman is a spy for Blac... I mean for the village guards?"

Oh, Phiona... very smooth.  How could he possibly know I am here?  She pulled her dirk and carefully inspected the weapon's pointy end so she wouldn't have to look at Severine.  She just didn't think she could take the intensity of his gaze just now.  "I wonder how the others are doing?      

Ripp looked to the women and as Luca had pointed out their tounges were doing more work than their hands.  There were few guards in this area, and those that were, were beyond earshot.  So the women in the fields seemed more amiable than most in this town.  

He nodded to the half-elf's questions.  "I'm with them more by chance than choice.  I have had little to do these past few years, so I've taken up work as a mercenary.  A good fight always gets ones blood flowing, and these folk seem to run into a bit of trouble.  Plus, there could be a bit of gold in it at the end." he said with a small quirk of a smile.  

She stopped in her tracks and Luca nearly choked. "Gold?" she reiterated to herself. Luca had a personal distaste towards any kind of sword-hire, but she's found ways to sell her services without breaking a personal pledge not to kill...again. Besides, Luca grew up a poor orphan who grew up with other poor who were drowning in debt and disaster. For anybody who knew what it was like to live days hungry and nights cold, any cash was good cash.

The thief had new plans now...instead of getting away from this group as quickly as possible, Luca decided to stick around and see what could be in it for her.

As they approached, Luca's half-elven hearing (just a hair off from that of a pure elf's) started hearing the women talking happily, but was still too far to decifer what it was they were saying.

---

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

Tierria smiled at Eryk, and touched his face.

"It's ok," she said softly, looking at the sorrow in his eyes. A few minutes later, they were in front of the jailhouse. Several guards stood around, while others were walking in and out of the one floor stone building. This bulding was one of the few that was actually made from stone in this villages.

Probably don't want their prisoners escaping that easily, though Tierria, and approached the door. As soon as she did, one of the guards glared at her.

"Where do you think you're going!?" he said, eyes narrowed.

Severine had his back turned away from the woman, and instead had his eyes on Phiona.

"I doubt it. I seriously do. With all of these guards watching us...they wouldn't need somebody like her. I believe she's watching us for a different reason...but I just don't know why..."

Severine paused for a moment. "Here's what we'll do. We'll walk around to have her follow us. We'll split up so that she'll follow one of us. When we go to a deserted area of the village one of us will come up from behind her and we'll trap her. then we'll get some answers from her." Severine's hand went along the edge of the dirk, barely touching Phiona's hand. "How does that sound?"

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Julia's eyes narrowed as she was reading through the book she was reading.

They've spotted me looking at them, she thought to herself. These two must be professionals. Hopefully, they'll think I'm with the guards.

The woman decided to peek one more time from the book. This time, the one known as Severine had his back turned to her while he talked with the one known as Phiona. She had followed the two to the barracks, and then followed them back. It seemed like they were obviously lovers.

And I thought he was with the other dark skinned girl. Hmm...a couple in crime, huh? Interesting...  

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

"Why go through all that?  Can't we just confront her now?"  Phiona pulled her dirk away from Severine's hand and thrust the blade into its sheath with one swift movement.  She stood up as if she were on her way to doing just that, then hesitated.   Maybe he's right.... but there is no guarantee she'll follow us.  She let out a short, frustrated sigh.  "All this running around... all this not knowing what is going on around here... and now Marlus!  Ah!  Its driving me crazy!  I'm not.. I can't... er, I mean I don't do investigations well, Severine.  Point my sword to the enemy and tell me when to march... I'm a fighter!"  All of this came out in a rush of whispered words that was fairly close to a hiss...  "That's what I do!  All this slinking around is putting me on edge..."

Even though she sounded angry, the ire didn't reach her eyes.  Phiona was clearly disturbed by everything they've discovered since arriving in Sheran.  She turned away from Severine and looked out at the surrounding village, at least to what was visable from this section of the porch.  She found she was full of nervous energy.  Phiona knew she needed to work it off or when trouble finally arrived, she may end up over-reacting in battle.    

Severine sighed for a moment, and touched Phiona's face slightly.

"We can't do that Sir Whitefire" he said in a way a lord would address his knight. Smiling at his comment, he continued. "I know you're used to fighting. Hell, I can't even call myself a real fighter nor adventurer...cause this is the first time I've ever done all of this..." As Severine's hand dropped from her face, his fingers nearly touched her lips. "...And those aren't the only things that were firsts for me." Severine tunred around, and started walking. "Let's check out some more areas" he said to Phiona, a little louder. Hopefully, that was loud enough for the woman to hear...  

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Penrith looked around the store. He noticed a very seedy looking guard leaning against the counter.

Penrith lightly nudged Elraralia and asked, "What you think he's doing?" He looked stealthily in the general direction of the man.

"Think he's watching us?" The wanted man walked away and pretended to look at some tunics on the other side of the store. Penrith glanced casually a few times at the man, who seemed to be glaring at him.

He is a guard isn't he... Penrith thought, becoming puzzled.

Wiiliam stood in the distance, watching the full elf and the half elf talking to one another. Julia had ordered him to spy on them, to see what they were up to. To the young rebel, it seemed as if the two of them was trying to find out more about this village.

But why? the young man wondered. Wasn't they going to join the mercenaries? But then again...I never saw that half-elf before. Just what is going on? I might have to observe some more...

William moved closer to the two in a casual manner, hoping he couldn't get caught spying on them. A soldier eyed Willam suspiciously, but the young blonde paid no mind to it.

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

As Ripp and Luca reached the four women, one of them, appearing to be the eldest there, stood from her work and stood before the two.

"Can I help you?" she asked. The woman's voice was rather calm but her sweating hand clutched a basket handle tightly and her eyes appeared wary.

Luca jabbed Ripp in the ribs with her elbow, a little harder than necessary, for him to speak. The half-elf wasn't used to stuff like this. Besides, she barely knew what it was they were looking for.

---

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

Without uttering a reply, a frustrated Phiona watched Severine stride across the porch and down the steps.  He was well away from the inn before before she reluctantly followed, jogging to catch up.  Once by his side, she fell into stride with him, at his side.  There followed a long, comfortable silence as they headed in the one direction that the rest of the splintered group were not directed to check out... mainly because there wasn't anything over this way except a small orchard and what looked like, from a distance, a covered well, or a gazebo.

Once Severine and Phiona passed the first corner of the tightly-planted orchard, she whispered to him, "Do you think she took the bait?"  Phiona turned her head toward Severine, and saw a bit of movement behind them, which was expertly hidden by their 'spy'.   "Do you want me to duck into the trees?  She may be more inclined to approach me than you..."   She gestured toward the gazebo, "I can go over there..."

Turning to Phiona, Severine nodded slightly. He figured that about time the woman saw caught up to them, she would only see Severine. With Phuona Hiding behind the gazeboo, she could surprise her from behind.

"Alright" he said. "That would be a good idea."

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Severine agreed with her...and that was good.  She felt some pride that he valued her ideas.  Additionally, the Shendar warrior was far more imposing a figure than Phiona every could be, she was doubtful that this woman had ever seen Phiona fight, so the spy might think Phiona an easy mark.  She gave him a quick nod before turning to walk toward the gazebo.  Phiona was careful to not look back where she suspected the spying woman was hiding.  

Once closer to the circular, open-wall structure, Phiona found that it was built over a low, stone dias which sported a well surrounded by a low, wide rim of dark gray stone.  The six braces that held up the gazebo's roof were overgrown with a dark, tiny-leafed ivy.  The rafters were filled with cobwebs of varying age.  The shade under the gazebo was cool and creepy.  But then, a haunting whisper from within the shadows drew her closer...  Wha... what was that?

Phiona, forgetting for a moment that she was to lure the spy over, instead walked over to the well and looked down into the pitch-black opening.   What an odd set up...  She thought, there is no bucket and rope, or any way to draw water.  She peeked in the well.   So deep... can't see the bottom.   Phiona slowly circled the mouth and stopped on the far side.  She knelt down on the floor and peered into to the well's depths, resting her arms on the ledge for balance.   So deep... and cold...   A sudden draft flew up from the dark hole and enveloped her and she shivered.  She could have sworn she heard someone calling for help just then, from the darkness below.    Who could be down there?  And why?  Does he, or she, need help?

In the back of her mind, Phiona remembered that she wasn't here alone... Severine was with her, hiding out by the orchard.  She wanted to look up at the bright light beyond the shade of the gazebo, wanted to call for Severine to come help her rescue the victim in the well... but she couldn't tear her eyes away from the blackness.  

Another nearly-inaudable whisper called to her and she leaned in, trying to hear what it was saying...

Edited by: Phiona Whitefire at: 10/11/03 3:34

Looking around the room, Elraralia saw a lone man standing by the counter, looking rather suspicios.  About to nudge Penirith, she saw that he was already looking in that direction.  The man, seeing them looking at him, began wandering around, looking at some shirts.

Just then, the woman came from the back room, carrying with her a bag of something that clinked oddly, as if it was filled with coins.  Ignoring the two of them, she looked nervously at the man, who looked up at her.  Seeing that she was back, she quickly handed him the bag, and stepped away as he tried to draw her closer.

"See you next week.." he murmered softky, thinking no one could hear, but Elraralia picked it up, and her brows furrowed as he walked past them, brushing her shoulder on the way out.

Severine walked behind a tree, and waited for a few minutes before seeing if the woman followed Phiona. Phiona had a good idea about going up to the gazeboo while he hid in the orchard. Indeed the woman would probably be more inclined to approached Phiona if she wished. The Shendar took a peek and saw that hiding behind this tree was a wise choice. He could see the woman walking towards the area in the distance. It didn't seem like she was planning to hide anymore.

She must think that I have left, he thought.

Taking a glance at Phiona, he figures that she was inspecting the are to not seem suspicious, so he paid her no mind. As soon as the spy was in a reasonable distance, Severine took another look again and saw that Phiona was now staring down the well. From the way he head was about to move, it looked like she wanted to call him over.

She might want to call me over. But it's too late now...

The woman was now closing in on Phiona's area alot sooner than he realized. from what he could see, it seemed like the woman had something in her hand. Severine knew he couldn't take any chances. Phiona was in danger. Wasting no time, Severine started running towards the woman who was now a few feet away from the Marcogg ex-soldier.

"Phiona!"

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Phiona was quite absorbed in trying to hear what the well was whispering to her when she heard her name called out by the Shendar warrior.  His voice was far off.  Distracted, Phiona looked up, and the movement in her peripheral vision surprised her!  Phiona twisted about while grapping for her dirk.  She caught a glimpse of the woman-spy standing less than a ped away with dagger-in-hand, this startled her and she jerked back, losing her balance.  

Phiona fell backward, down into the dark shaft!

She bounced and scraped off the stony walls before landing, head first in the chill water at the bottom of the narrow reservoir.  Phiona sputtered and gasped for air, righting herself before spending the next few moments in the darkness, treading water.  Sound echoed off the walls and the water’s surface.  The only light was the well's opening far above, a small, far-off circle of dim brown that was the underside of the gazebo's roof and the defused light from the sunny day beyond.  

Still kicking to stay afloat, Phiona slicked her wet hair back off her forehead and tried to see what else was down here, some way to escape.  As her eyes adjusted to the dark, she could see that the well was a lot wider down here, with the walls like an inverted, gradual slope to about eight ped above the waterline.  From there on up, the well was a narrow shaft that led straight up another eight or nine ped.  She swam to be directly under the shaft and looked up.   Phiona saw a silhouette head up there, looking down into the well.  Phiona knew first-hand that whoever it was, the person couldn't see her.

Continuing, her search for a way out, Phiona strained her eyes a bit and finally spotted a series of carved handholds, like horizontal niches, in the wall.  Clinging to them, just above the water, was a young girl!  At first, Phiona thought she viewed a spirit- as the girl was dressed all in white- but then Phiona heard the girl whimpering and saw she was shivering from the cold.  Who knew how long the girl was down here in this nearly ice-cold cistern?  

Trying not to think about the bone-chilling temperature, Phiona swam over and grabbed one of the handholds.  With her free hand, she put a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder.  "Don't worry... we'll get you out of here.  What's your name?  I'm Phiona..."  It took a conscious effort to keep her own teeth from chattering, as Phiona tried to calm the frightened child.  Her white dress was damp, but most of the water had drained from the material so the girl had been up out of the water for a while now.  Also, now that Phiona was close, she could see the girl could be no older than ten or eleven years... and the girl stared straight at the wall with open, solid-white eyes that gleamed oddly in the dim refracted lighting.   She is blind.  Oh dear gods, what next?

The girl didn't turn her head toward Phiona when she answered in a high, soft voice that was the source of the haunted whispering Phiona had heard earlier, "My n-name is Maya.  Th- they pushed me."  She shivered violently, her small body trying desperately to stay warm.  "Tease me... all the time.  B-b-because I c-can't see..."   She paused for a moment.  "D-did they p-p-push you, too?"  

Phiona look to see how far the handholds went up… though it was difficult to tell in the darkness.  “You could say that.  Who pushed you, the guards?”

At the mention of the guards, the girl began to tremble harder and Phiona knew it was more from fear than the cold.  “N-no… the children.  Th- they th- think I’m useless… b-because…”  She started to cry, sniffling.  “They s-say I make the guards even madder at us than they already are!  And that they take it out on us.”

Phiona tried another tactic.  “Maya, where are your parents?  Do they let these other children treat you so?”  The girl only sobbed harder and Phiona silently curse her inability to talk with people.  

“Mama, and Papa are away, working!  All the time!  I’ve been staying with Opa… they don’t want him ‘cuz he’s old.  But they took away my Mama and Papa!”  Then the girl seemed to withdraw into herself, still crying but more quietly now.  Phiona decided to wait until they were out of the well before asking any more questions of the distraught child.  

So Phiona clung to the wall and stroked Maya's damp hair, wondering how this would all end.

Edited by: Phiona Whitefire at: 10/13/03 21:03

"Phiona!"

Severine yelled one more time when he saw Phiona fall backwards into the well.

Dear Baveras, no!

Severine did his best to mantain his composureso he wouldn't wouldn't lose it. Thankfully his timing was right. The moment the woman turned around, she swung her dagger upon impulse making Severine jump back with uncanny timing, tearing only a piece of his shirt, and not his skin. Before Severine could even move forward, an arrow whizzed past him. Turning his head, Severine saw a crossbow aimed straight for his heart.

Damn it...

The woman grinned at him. "You didn't think I was stupid enough to fall for your little 'surprise attack' did you? I've been in the spy business too long to be stumped that way."

From the corner of his eye, Severine saw a man coming up to him with a sword. The man placed the blade along Severine's neck.

"One more move and you'll lose your head" he said heartlessly.

Severine glared at him as more men came from what seemed to be out from behind the bushes and trees near the orchard.

How the hell did they get here before us? Severine wondered to himself.

Wasting no time, the woman pointed to the well. "She'll should be okay. There's still water down there." She then turned to Severine and grinned. "Call for her. We'll drop a rope. Say a word about us, and we'll waste no time killing the both of you."

Severine sighed in regret as he heard those dreadful words. At first hesitating, Severine glanced at the well and then quickly tunred his head away before speaking.

"Phiona! It's me Severine! A rope is going to be dropped down to you!"

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

"Phiona! It's me Severine! A rope is going to be dropped down to you!"

Phiona heard his words echo down the shaft, heard them resound within the small cavern.   A rope?  There's no rope up there and we weren't carying any... ahh... he's made friends with that spy pretty quick.  Or not!  But there will be no help for us if I do not answer...    She searched her belt and found the sheath empty.    Damn it all!  I lost my dirk in the fall.  Water too deep... and it's way too dark to find it by diving anyway...  

So Phiona finally called back, "Hurry, it's cold down here!"  She knew something wasn't right, but she'd take her chances above, rather than suffer a chilled, watery death.


A short time later, a coil of rope unwound and fell, one end, landing in the water with a small splash.  Phiona was relieved to see there was plenty of extra to tie around someone.   Excellent...   She thought.

To Maya she said,  "I am going to send you up first, but you'll have to trust me to tie this rope around you."  Phiona let go of the wall and swam out to retrieve the rope, bringing it back to the girl.  After the knot was tied, she said, "Now you grab hold and don't let go until you are out, you hear?"

Maya nodded and said, "Th-thank you, Phiona."  before giving a quick hug around the warrior's neck.   Then the child gripped the rope tightly with both hands.  

Phiona tugged on it and called up the shaft.  "All right, pull up!"  She watched as the slack shortened and then as Maya swung out over the water.  Soon she disappeared up the narrow opening.

Phiona clung to the wall and waited.   They had no clue this child was down here... I hope they send the rope back for me...  but if they don't?    Phiona glanced around the dark well.  There were two ways to go- up or down into the unknown.  She thought she'd felt an undercurrent, which means there had to be a way for the water to come in and go out again.    But will there be enough room for me to swim through?  And how far before I find air again?

And so Phiona waited... and worried.

Already bored of a conversation that had yet to really get under way, Luca stifled a yawn and glanced around.

What a drab little place. Bet these folks just play cards all day. Course...nobody will be playing Mother's Rue round here anytime soon. she thought, with a little grin. The game reminded her of the days of living on a pirate ship with an entire male crew. Pirates are very persistent people.

Her unimpressed gaze drifted across the area until she noticed a boy wandering around the outer parts of the field. Luca couldn't help but smile.

Little brat sneaking off from chores, I 'spose. she mused.

---

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

Severine waited and waited. He couldn't help but stay mad at himself for setting Phiona up like this. But it was the only way that the two was guarnteed that their lives would be spared. For a fewminutes, nobody said a word. But as soon as they all saw what camer out the well, everyone began to speak at once.

"What the..." Severine was speechless, as he stared at a little girl in a damp, white dress.

"By the gods" said one of the men that surrounded Severine. "This can't be the woman that he was with..."

As for the woman, she had a different reaction.

"Maya?" Her dark brown eyes went from surprise to worry in an instant. "Maya, what happened to you!?"

"Julia!" cried the young girl, whom Severine could tell was blind. "Is that you Julia!?"

The woman known as Julia ran over to the girl known as Maya and embraced her in a way an older sister would embrace their younger sibling. "It's me honey. Was those kids messing with you again?" Her eyes closed tightly while the girl became a sobbing mess.

Maya sniffed abit before speaking, and started to cough. "Yeah! They always mess with me! B-because I'm not like them!"

Severine could tell that Julia nearly forgot about him when the woman started to touch Maya's gentle pale face, and kissed her forehead. "Your special Maya," she said. "Much better than those little brats. I can't believe at a tough time like this for our people, we have those who hurt their neighbors in such a way!" After a moment of silence, Julia sighed and turned her attention to the matter that was at hand.

"Bring down the rope again" she commanded the man who held the rope. "That woman must be down there...somewhere."

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

The rope was dropped in again.


Phiona considered, briefly, to stay here and get out on her own after they left, but then she realized whoever was up there could always lower someone down to look around.  There wasn't anywhere to hide in the cistern and holding her breath for an undertermined time was out of the question....

...so Phiona swam out as soon as she saw it.  But rather than tie the coil about her waist, she grabbed the rope and began to climb up, hand over hand, with her crossed ankles giving her ocassional purchase.  She was already three ped up when she felt the rope being hauled in from above.

When she reached the top, she let loose the rope and grabbed the stone lip of the well to pull herself out, only to be roughly assisted by some burly-looking, blond man who had apparently been hauling on the rope.  He held on to her arm like he thought Phiona was going to run off.  She saw Severine standing back by the step, a sword's edge pressed against his throat.  She saw Maya being cuddled and comforted by the woman-spy who'd followed Severine and herself here.  Obviously, the spy hadn't been alone.   We fell right into a trap!  But from the look of things, they didn't know Maya was down there...

Phiona tried to yank her arm away from burly-man, but he was pretty strong so that didn't work.  Her weapon was lost, but it wouldn't be too hard to take one from her captor, however, he was very wary of her movements and would definitely fight her off.  Then Phiona thought about shoving burly-man's nose up into his brain with one swift punch, but knew that would give them reason to kill Severine, so instead she settled down.  Turning her attention to the woman who was in charge of the situation, Phiona hoped that Maya might be able to smooth things out... but the child was blind and had no idea what was going on.   Putting all our faith in a blind child... Ava help us!  

William stood frozen, as the half-elf girl watched him.

Did she spot me? He thought to himself. Maybe if I keep moving...she look the other way.

William kept working along the path he was on, trying not to look at the female that was looking at him.

Hopefully...she won't find a reason to follow me...

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Severine felt relieved that they didn't hurt Phiona. Not yet anyway. After Julia embraced the little girl, she then stood up and looked at Phiona.

"You must be Phiona" she said. Turning to Severine, she nodded. "Severine Halo."

Severine only glared at the woman's comfortable look. "How do you knwo who we are?"

Julia laughed, and tossed back her hair. "I have people who get around" she replied. "And from the looks of it and what I've been hearing, your people is up to no good. Especially after the murdering you did..." her eyes became serious. "The murder of my people. And I don't take that kindly...especially if I'm looking them in the eye..." Julia was now face to face with Severine. "Jed. Take Maya to Opa's. We got some interregating to do..."

Severine watched as the little blonde girl was being taken away. As soon as the man and the girl was off in the distance, someone else came into view running towards them.

"Guards!" he shouted. "They're headed this way!"

Julia muttered a curse under her breath. "We're going to have to get these people out of here!"

The last thing Severine saw before blacking out was Julia snapping her fingers.

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Tierria sighed as she walked back to the inn with Eryk. The two tried to get into the jailhouse, but failed miserably. They even tried going around the perimeter, but the guards was watching them like hawks. The two of them didn't say much to each other on their way back...they only stared at the floor.

I hope Severine and the others are doing okay, Tierria thought to herself.

"You must be Phiona"  Said the woman-spy in charge before turning to Severine.  She nodded to him. "Severine Halo."  Severine only glared back at her.

Phiona almost growled.  The woman sounded so smug and patronizing.   But the she-spy  just laughed.   "I have people who get around... and from the looks of it and what I've been hearing, your people are up to no good.  Especially after the murdering you did..."   The woman wasn't laughing anymore.  She closed in on Severine, "The murder of my people. And I don't take that kindly...especially if I'm looking them in the eye..."  The woman was in his face by the time she finished her little speach.  Severine said nothing, only continued to glare daggers at the spy.

She turned her head a fraction and gave an order,  "Jed. Take Maya to Opa's. We got some interregating to do..."

They all stood in silence until the Jed and Maya were far away.  But then another man ran up, young, with long blonde hair now that his hood fell back in his haste, "Guards!" he shouted. "They're headed this way!"

The woman-spy spat out a curse. "We're going to have to get these people out of here!"  She looked at the man holding a blade to Severine's throat, then snapped her fingers.  With his free hand, he brought down a sap hard on Severine's head and the Shendar hit the floor.  He didn't move after that.

"No!"  Before the spy could order her captor to do the same, Phiona spun around and aimed for burly-man's nose with her palm.  She missed, merely breaking the man's nose to the side.  Far from her original plan, but she didn't let that faze her because blood spurted anyway and he yelped in pain.   Good!   He also let go of Phiona.   Perfect!     She turned away from burly-man and advanced on the woman, their leader.  The man who'd knocked out Severine, stood up and brandished his blade in one hand and the sap in another.  They both circled Phiona in the tight space near the well, while burly-man tried to overcome his messy handicap.

Keeping both in view, Phiona said, mostly to the leader, "You'll not take us!  That blow to your friend could have been lethal, but I chose to not kill him... I might not be so kind to you, wench!"  

Unperturbed, the spy only smiled grimly.  Since the third young man had finally reached the gazebo, Phiona was seriously outnumbered.  The spy replied, "You are in no position to make threats, Phiona.  Come quietly and we won't be so hard on your during questioning."

Phiona snarled, "No.. way.. in.. hell!" and she lashed out a side kick to the young scout who'd just arrived, knocking him off balance and away.  This gave her a little more room to maneuver... but not much.  She advanced on the woman and sent a jab her way, landing it on the woman's ribcage, just below her left breast.  Phiona began to lay into her and got three more punches in before she was tackled by the younger man who'd since recovered from the kick.  They both fell to the stone floor.  Even more furious, Phiona realized the woman had allowed herself to become the target, just so her men could overpower her attacker.    Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!    

Then the man with the sap was upon her, and he didn't hesitate to slam that weighted sack against Phiona's temple.  
They quickly gathered their two captives and left.  


The village guards, when they finally arrived, found an empty, blood-splattered gazebo and nothing else.

"Well we finally got them here."

"Yeah. That woman was gettin' kinda heavy..."

"Geez Abraham, I thought you would be stronger than that!"

"Whatever."

"Will you two pipe down! Just because we're in someone's home doesn't mean the soldiers will decide to bust inside!"

Even though Severine had his eyes closed, he already resurfaced back to the world of consciousness a few minutes ago. He still wanted to play "dead" so he could overhear what the kidnappers might be saying.

"Why did you bring these people to my home Julia?" this voice sounded like an elderly male.

"Because Ceaser...this was the nearest place we could take them. They were the ones who contributed in killing our comrades. nearly thrity of them. The one with the braids was responsible for most of the killings."

"Hmph. You mean this one?" Severine could hear footsetps coming closer to him. "The one playing dead? Open your eyes boy, I know when someone's faking it."

Before Severine could react, he felt a stinging sensation against his face. Opening his eyes, Severine saw that he was tied to a chair with Phiona tied behind him to oen as well. He could tell whether she was awake or not. Before him, Severine saw a man who looked just about in his fifties. Behind him stood Julia and the men who assaulted him and Phiona.

"Well, well, well," Julia's eyes lit up a bit. "The pretty boy is awake. Thought you was going to sleep forever like your girlfriend over there is doing."

"I don't know who the hell you are...but you'll regret doing what you're doing right now..." Severine's eyes were locked upon Julia.

Julia showed the same glare. "Well before that my dear...I'll make sure you suffer for what you did to my people! It's just a matter of finding an appropiate punishment..."

"Well we'll wait to see what the commanders have to say" the older man faced Julia. "They're interested in seeing the people who took out our best fighters."

Julia nodded. "Fair enough. But when we do punish them...I wanna do it myself. Then if not..." the woman approached Severine. "At least let me do away with him."

Severine could do nothing but glare at the woman. "Well for your information, your people attacked us! We only fought out of self-defense! You're the ones that are the bandits!"

"Hmph! Oh really huh? You are the ones that comes into our village and take over our people! You were the ones that made all of this look like some kind of legit set up so nobody would be suspicious! You're the reason why so many of our people suffered! I hate mercenaries! Every single one of you!" If Severine wasn't mistaken the woman would've been in tears if she wasn't hiding it with rage. Letting it out, she slammed her fist against Severine's face. Feeling his rage growing...Severine only grinned.

"You hit like a girl..." his voice was now a little difefernt than before, causing everyone to gasp a little. His hair was over his eyes hiding a bit of his viciousness.

"Hmm..." the elderly man started rubbing his beard. "I'm not the best at magician but i know an evil aura whenever I sense it. Similar to that damn Blackwine's. I would even consider you an agent of Coor if you wasn't human!"

"Go to hell." Severine tried to spit at the man's face, which made Julia try another punch. Surprisingly, the older ma held her arm in his hand.

"Don't" he said. "He'll get his. Soon enough..."

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Marlus walked through the fortress that was being made by his "workers". His officer was right. Those brats were working faster than usual. Sometimes it would take whipping after whipping to get those kids in shape.

I wonder what was the change of attitude? thought the man with a sickly smile.

"Commander Blackwine."

Marlus turned around, and saw Crestus Voltaire coming up to him awith a few of his employees.

"Ah, merchant Voltaire. It's good to see you again. Getting ready to go to Klinsor?"

Crestus nodded. "Why yes I am. I'm hoping that my guards would "accompy" me."

Marlus smiled. "Well i have a feeling that some of them might stay..."

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

"You hit like a girl..."  
Distantly, through a dark fog and a pounding headache, Phiona heard Severine's taunting.

"Hmm..." said an unfamiliar voice, a man's,  "I'm not the best magician but I know an evil aura whenever I sense it.  Similar to that damn Blackwine's.  I would even consider you an agent of Co'or if you wasn't human!"  

Wha?  Marlus?  Who....?

"Go to hell."  was Severine's reply.  Phiona felt a small yank on her, on ropes wrapped around her and through her haze she realized she was tied back to back with the Shendar.    

So... we've been captured after all.  Genius, you figured that out on your own?  Ow.....  

Eyes still closed, Phiona winced from the pain in her head.    Oooh, they sure hit hard...    And then she remembered the fight right before they knocked her out, and Phiona understood why.

"Don't" said the unknown man, "He'll get his. Soon enough..."

She lifted her head up and forced herself to open her eyes   ow, ow.. no.. just one eye...   and managed to peer up, only to find burly-man sneering at her.  His nose was a swollen, bruised lump.  

Good.  Heheh.  Serves him right... bastard!  She closed her eye and let her head drop again.  Her headache didn't hurt quite so much then.

"This one's awake, too!"  Came a gruff voice that Phiona knew was burly-man's.  It was followed by a rough stomp on the toe of her boot.  Phiona winced again, but didn't cry out... she wouldn't give them the pleasure.  She just kept her head down and tried to will her headache away.

Edited by: Phiona Whitefire at: 10/17/03 21:37

"This one's awake, too!"

Severine's mind was now concetrated on Phiona. He felt a little better now that the woman was conscious which gave sign to that she was somewhat alright.

Julia turned to the window, and sighed. The woman was getting impatient. She knew that the commanders would have to disguise themselves in order to get inside the village. They were always successful...but something was troubling her now. These captives even though they slain her people...they didn't seem like the other guards that the merchants brought back and forth. They didn't have the same selfish demeanor nor did they look like evil mercenaries. Actually, when she observed them, they seemed rather friendly.

"Ceasar," she began, addressing the old man. "Our spies reported that the fort that is being bulit is almost to completion. If that place gets built...then there's a chance that The Legion will send in more soldiers."

"The Legion?" It was now Severine's turn to speak. One of the men in the room glared at him as he went over to Phiona's side to see what the woman was up to. "What is that?"

Julia turned back to Severine, her eyes showing no expression. "You don't know who The Legion is?" she asked.

The Shendar, who was calm at this moment shook his head.

Julia sighed once more, and stepped forward. "The Legion Of Rage is a large organization of mercenaries whose goal is taking over small towns and villages such as this one, and inflitrating Sarvonian governments. Not too many outside of the organization know of their existence. But we managed to find out their true nature after they attacked and inslaved our village. You see, a large group of skillful bandits attacked and burned part of our village nearly five years ago. A group of mercenaries came to our rescue...or that's what we thought. You see, the bandits and mercenaries were working together so that we can gain the mercanaries' trust. They claim that they would watch over our village in exchange for shelter, food, water, and some pay. We accepted their offer...abd before you know it, they were controlling her council, taking whatever they wanted, using our people as slave labor, and various other vile things..." Julia winced for a moment. "We was hoping the royal army would do something about it...but the soldiers that patrol this area were paid-off, and was told to capture anyone who tried to escape. Some of us did...and we decided it was time to fight back."

Severine was silent for a long time. These people weren't bandits at all. Or were they? They could be fooling them after all...but Severine doubt it. There was too much pent up anger and emotion inside of this woman. He was surprised that she was telling him all of this.

And so was she.

"Julia...I suggest you stop there." The man known as Ceasar raised a hand. "You don't want to give him too much information about us. Even if he won't live long enough to tell anyone."

"I know. But if they don't know who The Legion Of Rage is...then I doubt that they are mercanaries for Marlus Blackwine. Even if they had just arrived...and Blackwine was in command for a year and a half now. His name has spread like wildfire throughout the region. Word is that he was a soldier for the royal army. A high-ranking officer that is. They say that he was thrown out because of a situation where his fellow officers reported him harrassing a female officer. He was also convicted for the incident in Seraia village where incident women and children were whipped. I even heard someone say that he whipped his own lover...but don't know if it's true or not. But i wouldn't be surprised if he did..."

Severine's eyes widened a bit, thinking about the cruel things this man had done.

Harassing a female officer...whipping an entire village...even his own lover...

At this moment, the Shendar hoped his companion wasn't paying attention to what was just said.

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

She opened her eyes as they talked, but Phiona kept staring at the ground anyway, trying to appear uninterested.  She tried to absorb all the conversation going on in the room even through the dull pounding in her skull.  Fortunately for her, the headache was abating, albeit slowly.

So, Blackwine is behind all of this... the village, the weapons.  I should've known.  Legion of Rage?  that bastard!  I bet Blackwine came up with that one all on his own...   She didn't outwardly react to anything being said, other than her hands tightened into fists.  She subtly tested the strength of the bonds.  The ties held fast.

When she heard that Blackwine had been tossed out of the Royal Army for his actions in Seraia, she didn't know how to feel- elated that she could now take her revenge without committing treason against the monarchy, or anger that Blackwine wasn't tossed in a dark dungeon somewhere.  Still, Phiona kept her mouth shut.

"He was also convicted for the incident in Seraia village where incident women and children were whipped.  I even heard someone say that he whipped his own lover...but don't know if it's true or not. But I wouldn't be surprised if he did..."

Phiona flushed with anger and embarrassment when she heard this comment.  She'd only told one other person about what had happened that day- Tierria- and she didn't know how much was passed on to Severine.  Phiona managed to control herself enough not to shake... she closed her eyes and began to quietly breathe in measure, a calming technique that was taught to her years ago by her grandfather.  In..... out.... in..... out....  Phiona shut out the world at this point.  

Whether or not Phiona was a possible victim of Marlus Blackwine was crossing Severine's mind over and over. He knew he had to focus on a way of getting out of this situation rather than focus on the past.

Think about the future Sevy...the future...

"To be honest with you all...I'm actually starting to believe this story of despair that you're all telling me. No apology could make up for what my comrades and I had done...but we'll be willing to help in any way possible."

There. That should do it.

Ceasar raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?" he said. "What could you do to make up for murdering nearly thirty of our men!"

Severine looked eye-to-eye with the elderly man without any kind of facial expression. "I can help you end this" he replied. "Once and for all."

Ceasar only stared at Severine for a long time, deciding whether or not to even belief his statement. He would've liked to hear from the woman that was tied with him...but she was apparently not answering. From what Abraham said just minutes ago, the woman was awake.

"What about you my dear?" he asked, calling to her. "Do you really think you can make up for such a disaster?"

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Tierria walked into her room back at the inn, and sighed to herself. Everyone was gone for awhile, and she was starting to get worried.

I hope everyone's okay, she thought to herself.

Changing into her long white skirt and top, the Stratanian girl sat on the bed. She had visited Ren earlier, who was recovering well. There she saw Gromelsona nd the others who paid a visit to the young mercenary also. They were getting ready for Crestus' next trip, and after talking with them they seemed to be an okay crowd...despite the fact they were looking over her body every chance they could get.

Tierria giggled to herself at that fact, which made her feel better than she was just a moment ago.

"Don't worry yourself Tierria Selig. Everything will be alright..."

"What about you my dear?  Do you really think you can make up for such a disaster?"

Phiona looked up at the man, barely concealed rage in her eyes.  Her fervent answer surprised even herself- "I'd like nothing more than to end Blackwine's miserable existance!"  She looked away again, focusing on the floor and trying to contain herself.

Ceasar smiled down upon her. "It seems as if you have a hatred towards this man." The older man laughed, and lifted Phiona's chin to stare into her eyes. "I can see it...pain and anger. Those things you can'ty hide from me woman because I've been through it all!" Ceasar let her head fall back down, and walked over to Julia. "If your group had taken out our men...then you all must be something. We'll take your idea into consideration. But it is not for us to decide...but our commanders. And they should be by soon."

"Just how soon?" asked Severine.

A moment later, there was a knock on the door.

Ceasar smiled. "Soon enough."

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Luca yawned and glanced around for the umpteenth time.

It's that boy again. And is it just me, or is he getting closer? she thought to herself as the young boy with blonde hair strolled through the field.

Throwing a quick glance to Ripp who was occupied enough to have forgotten about her, Luca took a few steps back and began jogging away. After a few steps, she stopped and began a casual walking pace away from Ripp and towards the boy who was snooping around the field.

Trailing him, Luca shot a few quick glances back towards where Ripp and the women were. So far, so good she thought, as she turned back to William. Now I wonder what he's up to...

---

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

OOC: Since Penirith has erm...disapeared, I'm just going to move along with the story.

IC: Once the man had finally left through the open door, Elraralia turned to Penirith, and seeing that he was still imersed in watching the large bully man, she turned to the the counter, and made her way to the woman still standing behind it.

Once she got there, weaving in and out of tables full of sale goods, she smiled nicely, but the woman just looked scared, and began looking around frantically, begining to panic.

"Wha..wha..what do you need?" she finally asked, surprising even herself in her sheer boldness.

"Umm...this.." Elraralia said hastely, and picking up a brush, placed it on the counter, along with the money.  "Sorry, I'm new here, I was also wondering if you could give me some directions to the nearest...school.." she finally decided, assuming that the children would have to go somewhere during the day.

"Umm, well, there really is no school" the woman said, becoming less afraid as she realized that Elra wasn't going to attack. "They all work..I mean no, wait, thats all wrong...I'm sorry, I can't talk to you.." she said, scared tears forming in her eyes, and with a glance twords to the door, she ran back into the back.

Turning twords the door, she saw what had frightened the woman, a guard had just apeared, and was pearing inside at Elraralia and Penirith.

"Come on Penirith" she said, grabbing his arm, and steering him out. But then she heard a gruff voice come from the door as they made it out.

"Wait just a moment."  Elraralia's stomach dropped.  Perfect time to be unarmed...but turning, the guard just tossed her the brush. "Don't forget your purchase" he said smiling, and continued walking down the street.

"That was weird...that woman was about to mention something about the children working, but I don't think she was supposed to, especially with the gaurd right there.." Elraralia murmered to Penirith "Lets head back to the inn" and with that they set off down the street.

Entering the inn, the quickly made it back up to Severine's room, where they found Tierra.  Taking off her cloak, Elraralia rebraided her hair to it's normal fashion, and retrieved her weapons.  Once she was certain all was well, she turned to Tierra

"So...where is everyone?  Are we the first back?"

Phiona didn't resist when the older man, Ceasar, lifted her chin, even though she knew she couldn't hide her strong feelings at the moment.  When he let her go, she kept her head up, scanning the room quickly... well, as much of the room that she could see.

She wondered what was in store for her and Severine.  Perhaps these people would recruit them, but she didn't think so.   More likely that they'll kill us... that way they don't have to worry about us.  It's what I'd do in their situation.

Ceasar opened the door, and in came three people. Severine looked through his braids and saw a tall, black haired woman standing between a bearded man and a man who wore a cloak with a hood covering most of his face.

"Commander Karla...Darman...Richart" Julia gave a salute. "Where are the others?"

"They deicde to stay behind and let us come to investigate the area" said Karla, and scanned the room. "What is going on here?"

"We fund two of the mercenaries that killed our men" said Ceaser. "They claim that it was out of self-defense...and that they do not know what is going on here."

"And?" Richart sounded like he didn't believe the answer Severine had given them.

Ceasar sighed. "And...and I feel that I believe them."

"You do?" Karla looked into Severine's eyes for a long time. Severine could only stare back into the woman's green eyes. "The boy...he has a hidden rage inside of him...the eyes of devilsh angel...how poetic..." Karla sighed.

Darman only glared at the two. "So I guess you wanted to wait for us before you passed judgement upon them...am I right?"

Julia nodded. "Yes sir. They say that they wanted to know what was going on in this village...and we trold them. Apparently the woman knows who Marlus Blackwine is. It seems if the two hads a troubled past...and she claims to want him dead. I have an idea what might have happened...but I'll keep that between she and I..." Julia's eyes were upon Phiona for a very longtime.

Karla circled around the two a few times, saying nothing. "Well if they want to fight the merceanries...but yet killed our own...well this is a complicated situation indeed. They look like that they could become very valuable allies...but they must be punished. What do you propose Darman?"

The man rubbed his nearly gray beard and stared back down at Severine after looking at Phiona. "I say we let them join us for an assault on the fort we was planning for sometime. Them and their allies could make up for the lost of our men. Then deoending on what happens...we'll decide a punishment."

Severine only said nothing. What was the use of helping them if he was going to die anyway?

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Phiona wondered how all these people were able to get past the gateguards.  They obviously have much skill in skulking about, but their fighting skills are seriously lacking- Phiona remembered well the ambush and how badly these 'rebels' fought.   Perhaps they are thieves...    And for all their protestations and avowed hatred for the mercenaries, they sure seemed to be copying the military, with salutes, ranks, etc.  It didn't make mush sense to Phiona.

And her head still ached.  

But she took Severine's cue and kept her mouth shut.  She studied their faces and voices... memorized their names.  Phiona no longer struggled with her bonds.  She was biding her time.  If these people were going to kill her and Severine, it would not be without a fight.   I'll take as many with me as I can.....

After a few minutes of silence, the "commanders" began to speak again. Nobody said much after talking about Severine and Phiona, only looking out the window occassionaly to see if any guards were around. Severine was quiet the whole time...watching each man carefully. It would be wise to remember who these people were. Soon enough, one of the men spoke.

"So...we're going to have them help us when we attack the fort?" a rather lean and tall man asked this question, while peeling a potato as he leaned against the door.

"Good question Langston" said Darman. "I was thinking that myself. These two are strong enough to fight alongside us..." Darman looked at Severine, never missing a beat. " ...As prisoners."

Even from a few feet away, Severine could hear the sucking of Julia's teeth. "I rather eat cattle dung."

"By all means...do so."

Ceasar, Darman, and Karla glanced at Severine, a bit surprised that he started speaking.

"You have quite a sense of humor," said Karla, approaching Severine. "A strange combination with you exotic looks wouldn't you say?"

Severine slightly smiled. It was one of his uncle's adventuring friends that told him about smiling when being interrogated. It can catch the enemy off-guard or even frustrate them at times. "We only knew each other for a bit and already you want to lay with me...I'm flattered." Severine threw back his head, making his hair go back.

Kalra gave her own smile back...and placed her face directly infront of his. "I'm sorry...but prefer men over little boys."

Darman gasped  a little at Karla's reply. She was never the type to participate in such flirtatious play. "Karla...pay no mind to the bastard..." he began.

"Bastard? Heh...how did you know?" Severine turned his attention to Darman. "That happens to alsobe the sword that I carried. The sword that I used...to kill your people..." Deep inside Severie readied himself to be attacked. But nothing happened. Then again, Ceasar held back Julia.

"Spunky boy...such a spunky boy..." That was all the Richart said.

"Well this spunky boy is going to be aprt of the attack on the fort at midnight" said Julia, turning back to her comrades. "I'll even throw one better. He'll lead our forces in the attack."

"Him!?" exclaimed Julia, breaking from Ceasar's hold. "You're letting him be in charge!? Have you gone mad!?"

"When I last checked, my mind was stable." Karla looked at nobody at that point, while walking away from the Shendar. She stared out the window and explained her action. "If anything happens to many of our people...or if they fail...it will all be on his shoulders..." Karla tunred back to everyone and pointed at Severine. "And he will surely suffer then!"

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Tierria looked upat the elven woman and shook her head. "You were the first to arrive back besides Eryk and myself." Tierria got up from the bed, and walked over to the window, and stared at it as the afternoon sky was beginning its process of fading. "I'm a little worried about Severine and Phiona. They said that they would be snooping around the military base for awhile. I hope they didn't get captured or anything."

Luca continued walking towards William, the usual bounce in her step back. She fingered a coin in one her pockets, and estimated that she could live without stealing for another day or two. But then again...purses' were such bothersome things, always finding their way into her hands.

With a sigh she looked at William, who must have spotted her by now. He seems awfully nervous... the thought to herself as she approached him.

"Eh, boy! Hold on a mite. Would you mind helping me out?" Luca said, her voice sickeningly pleasent.

---

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

Fflewdur walked into the inn with thoughts of sleep in his head. He had been put through questioning by the gaurd at the entrance and the only reason he got in was his look of total exaustion. He thumped down on a chair, barely able to keep his eyes open.  He sat back in the chair and thought back to what brought him here.He had been in the Rahz Dath looking for a discarded cavern or such to make his home.  However, he had come to the desert unprepared,without desert knowledge, and weak. His pony died and then he was stranded in the middle of the Rahz Dath on foot, phisicly weary from his travelings and emotionally weary from the death of his pony. He soon met fatige and would have died if he had not come across a group of Shendar. They gave him food and drink and escorted him to the edge of the desert. He had then gone on wanderings to increase his strength,but it was doing nothing but wearing him out. He needed something like a quest or mission to really put him to the test. He was a fairily skilled warrior and hoped this skill would help him on his mission, if he ever got one.He snapped back to reality and looked around the room. Thats strange, he thought, because the room was full of gaurds. He pushed the thought out of his mind and relaxed.

Elraralia nodded, from the little she knew about Severine, he didn't seem to be the type to be late.  

"I know what you mean, it's a bit odd that they aren't here yet.  They may be in the tavern though, let's go check before we come to any conclusions about where they are.  I'm just hoping they weren't captured, I really wouldn't put it past the people in this town." she said, and shouldering her bow, forgetting all means of lookin inconspicious, she opened the door, and nodded to Tierra.

William turned tp the girl that seemed to be following him. As he did, a middle-aged walked by him.

"give the signal anytime."

William slightly nodded...trying not to show it as being visible. He smiled at the half-elf, and scratched the back of his head. "What do you need help with?" he asked, rather casually.

Luca saw a middle aged man walk close to the boy, who she continued walking to so could get a better look at him. By the gods...he looks just like Ano did. A bit younger...more serious too. But that hair she thought, a lump forming in her throat. Ano had raised her, with much help from their friends, and had been just eight years older than her. She often referred to him as Brother Ano, and him to her as Little Sister. Ano had been only eighteen when Luca...when he had died.

Lost in old thoughts and memories, Luca missed the very brief exchange between the two. Smiling sweetly, she replied "Eh? Oh right. Where's the--" Luca's voice trailed off. She hadn't really thought of what she was going to say to him. "Herbalist" the half-elf muttered under her breath, her casual glance catching noticing a small shrub growing against a wall. Bloody hell, that was lame....

---

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

Severine's eyes stared at the group before him for a few minutes before responding. He knew what they had in store for him and Phiona: They would use their skills to help them achieve their goals and have them killed once the mission was over with. The Shendar wasn't born yesterday after all.

"Do you really think I'm that simple?" Severine lifted a brow, his braids separating from his eyes a bit. "You'll kill us all afterwards! Why would I do something for the people that's bound to kill me anyways?"

"Because..." Julia walked up to Severine and smiled in his face. "You have no choice."

"Actually, I do" said Severine rather calmly. "And the choice is fu-"

"Hey there young man...no need for vulgar language." Ceasar was quick to correct Severine. "And you will do what we say. One way..." Ceasar smiled. "Or another."

"That's right, braids." Julia smiled at the nickname she gave him. "I alrighty know you're the type to be loyal to yourself 'till the end...cause you're too damn stubborn and proud...reminds me of myself. But...every so-called hero has his weakness..." Julia smiled over at Phiona.

It didn't take Severine long get what she was saying.

"You wouldn't..." his dark brown eyes began to narrow...giving off a tinit of red. His hair once again returned to the front of his face.

Julia's sly smile even made the commanders a little nervous. "Maybe. It depends on your choice."

"How about I get out of this chair...and make my choice?"

"How about I just skin you alive right here and now instead after the mission?"

"How about you free Phiona and see what she'll do to you?"

If Severine wasn't tied to a chair in such a dangerous and stressful situation, he would laugh at how childish both he and Julia was becoming. Julia realized this as well, and moved away from Severine. Knowing this Phiona woman...she had a warrior's heart. And a true warrior would sacrifice their life for anything.

What about that woman...the dark skinned one. What was her name again? She seemed close to Severine. That might be his sister. Having a captured family member would but anybody on edge. If he can kill many of my comrades than it wouldn't hurt to take the life of a family member. But what was her-

"Tierria." The name escaped Julia's lips as if it was second nature now that she recalled it. The moment she said it, she snapped her fingers. "Bring her to me." Turning to the commanders, she smiled. "If he resists then...we'll take her life as well as this Phiona."

Before Severine knew it, he broke free from the chair with incredible strength and rage, his eyes starting to glow red.

"You dirty little b-"

Once again the Shendar was in the world of darkness after feeling a sharp bump on the head.

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Tierria nodded, and went with Elrararia downstairs to look around the tavern. There was no sign of Severine nor anybody else for that matter. There was a few more guards in the area, and there was a dwarf sitting at a table.  She had saw a few of them in her lifetime, some buying at her parents store.

Must have just arrived, thought Tierria. Maybe he saw Severine or anybody else.

Walking up to the dwarf, she asked "Excuse me, but have you seen some poeple around this village that look like their not from around here? Perhaps a dark skinned young man with braids?"

Fflewdur snapped out of his sleepy daze and looked up at the woman who addressed him.

"Well, there was some blood on the floor of the gazebo".

"My name is Fflewdur, by the way." and then in a lower tone "Is it just me or is there a suspicous amount of gaurds around here?"

He sat back in  his chair after this outburst and thought Why am I telling her this? I dont have the slightest clue as to who she is!

Yet somehow he, just by looking at her, could tell she meant well.

"May I ask your name?"

Edited by: fflewdur at: 10/29/03 0:11

"It's Tierria. Tierria Selig."

The Stratanian girl then pointed to her elven companion. "This is Elrararia. The man I'm reffering to is named Severine. The woman he was with is named Phiona. You said that there was some blood by the gazeboo? Could you take us there?"

Tierria was starting to get worried when she heard that sentence come from the dwarf's mouth.

Please Seyella...don't let that be Severine's blood...

"Greetings Elra....... , well may I call you Elra?" he said with a nod at the elf. He,unlike most dwarves didnt mind elves.

"Sure I'll take you to the gazebo""Now what am I getting myself into?"Fflewdur stood up."Shall we leave now?"

OOC: Finally got my signature working. Yay!

"We have met the enemy, and the enemy is we."

Edited by: fflewdur at: 10/29/03 22:05

*Dray awakes one morning from sleeping in the forest under the stars the night before. He stands up and stretches his arms and entire body and smiles. The day is nice and cool the sun is out and Dray has a very restful nights sleep. He gathered his things, and looked over to see a bird standing on a rock nearby that was picking at its leg a little. Dray say there was a parchment attached to the birds leg*

Of course this is a carrier bird, but is this a message for me?

*Dray approached the bird slowly, but it did not start or fly away Dray held out his hand and the bird hopped up and Dray took the parchment off its leg. No sooner had this been done than the bird took off and flew away. Dray watched the bird for a moment before unrolling the message it has delivered.*

Dear Dray,


It's been a long time since we've seen each other. I've heard you was staying in Klinsor for a bit, so you must've heard about the rumors of an evil mercenary group going about. Well unfortunately, those rumors are true. And what else is true is that our village of Sheren is being controlled by these heartless beasts. We've created a rebel group known as the Freedom Hawks to fight against the opposition, but each day there seem to be more soldiers than we anticipated. It seems that they're recruiting soldiers nearly everyday. We could use a man of your strength Dray. I've known you for awhile and you was always there when I needed you the most. Let this be one of those times. If you come...go to the tavern. Someone will be waiting for you. Thank you Dray.


Sincerely,


Ardan Slyther

"Ardan!! amazing I have not seen him in...well ava only knows how long.

And he needs my help, he would do the same for me I know, now that village is close, I will help him if not for just him then for all those people as well.


*Dray places his bag over his back and attaches his 2 swords to his waist and takes off in the direction of the town*


*****************************Later on*********************************

*Dray arrives in Sheren and heads for the tavern. Once inside he sees people sitting around including a dwarf talking with 2 elves who look about ready to leave*

Nice to see some dwarfs and elves can get along after all

*Dray heads right to the bar and sits down setting his pack on the floor and orders a drink and waits for whoever may be meeting him here*

The difference between a brave man and a coward....is facing your fear instead of running away

Not haveing much choice, Phiona just sat and listened to the chatter, threats, and challanges without responding one way or the other.  

She'd tested her bonds and they were so tight, she had no way of breaking free.  When Severine broke his, though, she was just as surprised as most of the people in the room were... most, but not all!  Phiona craned her neck, to see what was happening behind her, just in time to see burly-man knock Severine in the head with a sap.  The Shendar warrior hit the floor.  Phiona worried that Severine would end up impaired, he was taking so many hits to the head recently.  The woman- Julia- caught the look in Phiona's eyes before Phiona had a chance to recover.

This was going to be a long night...

 

The door slowly sketched open and a chilling breeze entered the room, being pulled in by the body of a muscular and tattered body of a huntress. She was obviously elven by the ears and height, but she seemed to be drow, because of her sharp nails, teeth, piercings, wild hair style, and her rings. She was wearing a brown cloak and brown boots, that were slightly mudded. In both of her hands were a single bloodied dagger. She looked very satisfied and happy, she had just made her first kill of the night.

 She had broken away from the Hounds of Paelelon for a while. They were without a doubt the most fearful and the most vicious hunters that Marmalan had seen in her life, and she enjoyed their company. Being the only female member of the six made her feel very important and special. She had developed a close bond with the leader, and she would use that to get her way up to the top in due time, but for now she needed a break. She had left her hounds with the leader, he said he would tend to them while she was away. Marmalan walked to the counter and placed her daggers in a thin pouch and then into their sheaths at her side before sitting down. She gazed around the room, not seeing anyone of interest to her and smiled.

Death is the only way out of the Dream.

Blood?  Fabulous.  That ment either one of two things: the guards are getting more abusive than usual, or one of the outsiders in their group had gotten a little....rowdy...either way it was doubtful  they would get our of this town without a fight at the rate they were going.

She nodded at the dwarfs question, but didn't say anything either than that.  After all, he was a dwarf, and the only thing that was perhaps worse when it came to being something you could trust, were half elves.  Something she already had to deal with...but then again, he was the only one that knew where this mystery blood was so far, that they knew of.  

'Well just follow him, and then...ditch him..' Elraralia thought to herself 'Not that we need the help of course, but it would be nice to know that way.'

"Lead the way" she said gruffily and followed him out the door.

A cloaked man sat in the tavern, staring at the black haired man that sat from across the room. He had been staring at him from awhile, while drinking his tea.

Is that really him? It has been awhile since we last saw each other...

The cloaked man strolled across the room and stood infront of the man.

"Dray?" The hood of the man's cloak went off, to reveal a tanned man with long brown hair. "Dray, it's me, Ardan."

Fflewdur walked over  to  the door , opened it and held it open for his "aquaintinces".

He grinned to himself at the way the elf had acted.
Typical elf,  she hates dwarves. Oh well, I'm used to it.

"After you."
***************************************************************

"We have  met the enemy and the enemy is we.

Edited by: fflewdur at: 11/1/03 22:47

Shooting the dwarf a look, she walked past him into the street, and looked around to see if anything had changed since she had last seen it.  Nothing was new at all, nothing was different.  The street was still devoid of all people, including children, that still struck her odd.  

Looking around for this gazebo that the dwarf had spoken of, she saw nothing, excpet for the street, a wall, and off in the distance there was an orchard.  No sign of a gazebo what so ever.

Turning to Fflewdur, she followed as he led them towords the orchard, that turned out to be a bit farther tan she had bargained for.  But at least they were a bit further from the village..and the strange inhabitants.

Finally reaching it, and what appeared to be a well nearby it, she bent down on the ground, to look at the tracks that seemed to be recent.

"Something happened here...a fight or something..recently too.."

Edited by: Elraralia Horfiwiel at: 11/1/03 21:54

William nodded stifly and began walking away, motioning to Luca to follow. The half-elf followed closely, glancing around casually. I'll go into the store, look around, then leave this hole to get on with more important things she thought, as the boy the led her down the street. Luca picked up her pace for a moment, to bring herself beside William.

"What's up with this town, kid? It's seems awfully...quiet. Then again, I'm not into these old farm villages at all. I'm more of a city girl, y'know? Grew up in a city. Learned life the hard way. Baby cities baby their youth, make em weak and useless. No 'fense of course," she said casually, just trying to make conversation, though talked as though she were just wasting time.

William looked at her and smiled broadly. He shrugged, a smile so fake Luca could have picked it off his face still plastered on his face, and continued walking. Touching her arm lightly, he led her behind a random building, the area littered casually with discarded bottles and trash, along with a few empty crates. "Wait here" he muttered, and skittered away.

"What? Hey! Hol--" Luca began, taking a step forward, but catching something in her sharp peripheral vision stopped her in her tracks. She could guess what had happened.

Cursing for her own ignorance, Luca turned nonchalantly to stare four burly men in the face. "'Lo there boys, have I ruined your party? A shame...I left the good ale in my other skirt."

She made a slight gesture, and seemingly instantly, a pair of twin daggers flashed in her hands. "Care to dance?"

---

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

Edited by: Luca the Thief  at: 11/1/03 23:26

Tierria stared at the blood that was now dried on the ground. Approaching it with caution, Tierria's fears were beginning to rise again. Even though Severine and Phiona said they were checking the mercenary camp, anything could happen in the last few hours. She was scared that the dreadful things that crossed her mind might be true.

Don't think that Tierria, she told herself. This might've came from a fight between some drunken guards.

Turning her head, Tierria saw four men in the distance, all of them looked like citizens rather than guards. Each man was carrying a sack filled with something that rather looked heavy. Seeing that didn't look suspicious, Tierria turned to Fflewdur.

"This was all you saw?" she asked.

It was another long day for Randall the gate guard. He was one of many who watched the gates of Shendar village each day. The key was not to look too suspicious and keep an eye out for those who might be up to something. It was amazing how they lasted this long, and nobody from the outisde suspected a thing. Besides the rebels that is. But of course nobody would help those pathetic fools.

Just as he lauged at that thought, he saw something black with what seemed to be white hair juimped from the trees and over the gate under the evening sky. The man blinked twice, thinking that no average person could do such a thing. But then again, Randall was tired, and wouldn't be suprised if he was hallucinating.

I'm starting to lose it, the guard thoguht himself, and shook his head slightly.

"Well, the only reason I even came to the gazebo was because I saw a big group of gaurds running towards it.  I followed them there to see what was up. By the time the gaurds and I got there, the only thing left was blood."

"I figured it was just a fight and the gaurds were going to break it up,but there are too many gaurds here and I'm starting to get suspicious."

Fflewdur looked over at four people  all carrying somehing heavy.

"I say, whats that?"

All four men unsheathed short swords, and two of them approached Luca slowly, grins on their faces. The woman seemed calm and collected, fingering the daggers comfortably and with familiararity in her nimble hands.

The men neared, and Luca could see their hands clench around the hilts of the swords in aniticipation. "Boys boys boys....didn't anybody tell you kids that you mustn't hit a lady?"

One of the men, a black haired man with a scruffy beard, sneered "Lady? You're nothing but a scrawny bastard half-breed. You're mother should have killed you when she had the chance".

Luca cringed slightly but the hurt woman shrugged thoughts away, and shifted into a ready position.

The two men charged and Luca took her cue. A flanked charge? Easy she thought to herself. Deftly twirling her daggers, she held each in a stabbing hold. Readied, Luca launched forward, her elbows sticking out to the side, the blades’ tip of her daggers leading in front of her elbows.

Time seemed to slow for Luca, as she flew through the air, her arms held rigid in their position. The blades scraped across the cheeks of both men, cutting a deep but clean slice through their skin. The men startled by the sudden, unexpected pain had already made a horrible mistake. As they flinched from the pain, an elbow came to meet them in face. One of the men received a broken jaw from the harsh blow, while the other, shorter rebel, took the elbow in the nose, getting a complimenterary nose bleed and black eye.

The half-elf landed silently as the two hit the ground with a thud behind her, groaning on the verge of unconciousness. The last two men gawked in surprise, as blood dripped from the faces of their comrades. “She’s not human,” he whispered, looking up at Luca.

Scoffing, Luca gave a curt nod as a sign of irritation, “Damn straight! Humans are pitiful. And Coor'll walk the land if elves are any better!”

But the distraction had given the other remaining rebel his chance. Pulling a crossbrow off his back, he notched it and shot towards the woman.

Luca dropped her left shoulder just in time so it wouldn't puncture it, but the arrow snagged on her cloak and knocked her off balance, dragging her to the ground.

The two men were upon her, both sword tips on her throat. She cursed harsh enough to make a sailor stare and relaxed on the ground, muttering to herself "I knew I should of left this village alone. Should have kept on walking. But noo"

---

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

*Dray sets down his cup and looks over at the man who appraoched him. Dray takes a good long look and breaks into a huge smile and clasps the man's hand and shakes it laughing a little*

"It has been a long time...what.. I can't even remember how long its been...you still look the same though....now for what you told me about I think you should give me some more details....all I have is some rumors and your letter to tell me whats happened....besides we have catching up to do anyways...lets get you a drink and head over to a table huh?"

*Dray orders a drink for his old friend and they both go over to the table he has just left so they can talk alone*

The difference between a brave man and a coward....is facing your fear instead of running away

Ardan nodded at his friend, and the two went over to a table where the two could, talk more privately.

"To be honest Dray, you looked like you haven't changed one bit since I last saw you." Ardan laughed at his comment and sat down. "I just wished that our little reunion was at a better time. Maybe after all of this you and I could reminensce on old times. But right now, I'm going to have to brief you on our situation here." Ardan looked around him for a moment after ordering some food and lean his head in.

"You see thirty of our men was killed by mecenaries who we believe are working for the Legion of Rage. From what I hear two of them are captured. These people seem like skilled warriors. If we are to try and destroy the fort they are building by using our strong young children..."

Ardan stared at a soldier walking past him.

"We must succeed."

*Dray looks down at his cup his brow furrowed in thought*

"Well my friend 30 of you men killed by 2 mercenaries means they must be good...and the legion of rage must be stopped. Using children for labor as well....this i cannot stand for....you can count on me my friend...what do you need me to do?"

*Dray glances around to make sure nobody seems overly interested in their conversation as he awaits his friends reply*

The difference between a brave man and a coward....is facing your fear instead of running away

Tierria started to feel nervous as the four men drew closer. A few guards passed by them, eyeing Tierria of course with their lustful eyes. The men seemed to pay no attention to the group at first, but as soon as the guards were gone from sight, the men stared at Tierria and her group for a moment. A moment later, all four of them dropped the heavy sacks, as if those were some kind of decoy.

"Lookis like we have a problem," said the female healer, gripping her staff tightly.

Fflewdur's fingers went straight to the axe on his belt.
"You're telling me" Fflewdur growled through clenched teeth. "I'll help you two out if they give us too much trouble."

I knew no good would come of going with these two! Oh well, I geuss this could all turn out good in the end.Fflewdur shook his head. Who am I kidding, this is as bad as it gets. He shrugged to himself. I'll live..... hopefully.

After they subdued Severine and tied him into his chair again- with the ropes doubled- Julia, Caesar, Karla, Langston and Darman disappeared into another room and shut the door, leaving Richart, 'burlyman' and a few others to keep watch on the captives.  Phiona tried hard to hear what they were saying, but she only caught muffled voices.  Apparently the walls were thick in this house, but not thick enough- they sounded like they were arguing, or at the very least having a hot debate.  Phiona could tell that this group, although not for a lack of trying, was plagued by too many leaders and not enough followers.  As amusing as that was, she couldn't bring herself to smile.

A short time later, they all re-emerged from the room.  Darman and Langston came over to Phiona and, lifting her chair and all, carried her into the other room.  As they moved her, Phiona looked back at the Shendar warrior and, as far as she could tell, she thought that Severine was still unconscious.  Though tied in the chair, his head was slumped forward, the dark braids covering his face.

The two men plopped Phiona's chair down around the corner from the doorway so there was no clear view between the prisoners.  Darman grabbed a long strip of cloth from a nearby table and handed it to Langston before leaving the room.  The tall man created a makeshift gag out of the cloth, forcing it into her mouth before tying it tightly behind her head.  All he said was, "Sorry, sweetheart.  Looks like you lost."  To give the man credit, at least he wasn't smug about whatever it was that Phiona lost at.  

She tried to speak, but her words were unintelligible.  Langston wasn't smiling when he ran his hand gently down the side of her face.  When he left the room, he shut the door firmly behind him.

Phiona listened intently to the sounds from the next room, nearly straining herself in the process.  

     

Ardan's smile crept up slightly.

"What we need you for my friend is to lend a hand in fighting. Especially when we attack the fort tonight." Ardan's voice was low, as a guard walked by. "You're skills are exceptional Dray. I am among those who have seen them first hand. Even thought you couldn't take out these mercenaries by yourself, you could atleast fight off a few of them. But since we have two of them captured, I doubt their allies would try anything. I can show them to you if you want me to."

*Dray smiles a little as his old friends excitment shows through*

"Yes I would like to see these 2 who did sooo much damage...maybe I can get a clue as to how if I see them. My fighting skills are good, but theirs may even be a little bit better. We will see, but you can count on me...now shall we go visit...our friends...?"

*Dray breaks a little sarcastic smile to his friend as he finishes off his drink and rises to his feet*

The difference between a brave man and a coward....is facing your fear instead of running away

Tierria turned to dwarf that had accompied her. "Thank you very much. Hopefully, Severine is around here..." the girl readied her staff, hoping that the lessons Severine had taught her in staff fighting wasn't in vain.

"Elra...are you ready?" Fear could be heard easily in the girl's voice.

Watching the men circle in closer, Elraralia felt for behind her, to see if her arrows were close to her reach.  Feeling them,  she swore silently to herself, as she felt only five, maybe six left in her quiver.

"Ment to replace that..." she mummbled to herself, then turned to Tierra "As ready as I can be for a suprise anbush" and then turned to the advancing people.

"Thought you could escapeif your little group split up, did you?" one of the guards said sneering "Looks like your little plan backfired."

"Sorry boys, wish we could stay and play, but we really ought to be going.." Elraralia said notching an arrow in her bow "Unless of course, you would like feel what an arrow in the chest is like, then by all means, lets play."

Ardan nodded. "I see why we shouldn't wait any longer." The man lead Dray out of the tavern, and along the dirt road. Looking over his back every so often to see if anyone was following him, Ardan walked up to a small wooden house and knocked on the door. A moment later, the door slightly opened.

"Come on in Ardan" said the voice of an elderly man.

"Thanks Ceasar" said Ardan, and walked inside with Dray.

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Phiona heard the muffled sound of a door closing from the other room.  She wondered if they were leaving, or if someone else was arriving.  

Frustrated, she craned her neck around to search the bedroom again for something, anything that would be of help.  What a predicament!  That's when her eye fell on something she'd missed earlier... the tip of a wooden handle was sticking out from under a towel on the bureau.  Could it be a knife?  Or better yet, since it was next to an ewer, basin and mirror, maybe it was a razor!  If she could only get hold of it...  But getting over there would be tricky.  Her ankles were bound to the chair, as were her wrist, arms and waist.  She thought, though, that the ties on her right ankle were a little loose.  She quietly worked her foot back and forth and within a short time she was able to slip it out of its binding.

Now to get across the room...

Sorry....


 Marmalan saw the girl wrestling with the two men and they both held blades to her throat. She didn't like unfair play, but she didn't want to intervene. It would be better for Queprur if Marmalan just sat this one out, but the idea of a fight pricked the huntress' conscious. She stood from her seat and looked down upon the two men.

"That is not even a fair fight, now is it boys?" she asked slyly.

 She raised her very sharp nails and pounced upon one of the men from the side causing him to knock himself and the other man off of Luca. She pulled her dagger out of her side pocket and the blood from her previous battle had been wiped clean from it. She kissed the blade and then jumped at the men, leaping over Luca with incredible skill that belonged only to her dark elf kind. She smiled as one of the men scuffled away. She thought she had intimidated him with her dark features, but she was wrong.

 As she prepared to torture the other man with her blade, the man who escaped knocked her from behind and made her fall into the the first man, plunging her blade into his gut. He spat out blood and his eyes widened. Marmalan looked up at him and smiled, she had got her job done, although she wasn't expecting a kill. She looked behind her to see if the girl had gotten off the floor, and as Marmalan tried to raise herself her braided and beaded hair was grabbed by the other man.

"You shouldn't ave don't that to me friend!" he spat in her face.

"I did nothing! That was all your handy work," she smiled.

He threw her foreward, but the huntress landed on her hands and pushed herself upwards. She threw her dagger and it flew right past the man lodging itself in a wooden pillar. Now Marmalan was upset. She didn't need mortal-made weapons to kill someone or to defend herself. She alone was a weapon, her sharp fangs, and claws were enough to rip through flesh and she loved it. She growled showing her teeth to the man, and then she looked towards Luca again. Something about this woman made Marmalan want to defend her, but she just didn't know what it was.

Death is the only way out of the Dream.

Ardan looked around the small room that wa susually empty. Now it was filled with people; people who were fellow comrades in battle. Some of them were the Commanders of the Freedom Hawks. Others were fellow rebels. Seeing that they must've placed the captives in rooms, Ardan gestured to Dray.

"This is my friend, Dray Ducriox, the one I've been telling you about. He just arrived in town."

Karla was the first to respond with a hello, and a nod. The others pretty much did the same, except for Richart who only gave a slight nod. He did speak though.

"This is the fighter-mage I've been hearing about from time to time," said richart. "I'm sorry if we seem a bit pre-occupied right now, but we have some murderers to deal with."

*Dray surveys the room filled with people and looks towards the man who spoke*

"Yes so I have heard that is actually a reason I am here....Ardan told me you have 2 captive who took out about 30 of your men right *Dray sees a few of them start a little* Nothing meant by the comment I was just checking my information...I would actually like to meet these 2 and see who they are if you don't mind....are they in that other room?"

*Dray guestures towards a closed door and takes a few steps that direction*

The difference between a brave man and a coward....is facing your fear instead of running away

She'd managed to scoot her chair about a ped closer to the mirrored cabinet when she heard the latch turn on the door.  

Damn!  Damn, damn, damn!

Phiona quickly moved her foot to rest against the leg of the chair.  Maybe they wouldn't notice that her ankle was free.  Maybe they wouldn't notice her chair was in a different location from where they placed her before.   Maybe.   Don't count on it...   She hung her head a bit, allowing her hair to fall forward and shroud her face.  Perhaps she could convince them she was napping...


She peered at the door from the corner of her slitted eye.

Luca sighed helplessly, expecting a snide comment, something, anything before these two men finished her off. But before she could mutter some better last words, her insult was caught in her throat as something bowled both men over.

Taking her cue, the half elf rolled over to the side and stood up, dusting off her skirt with her gloved hands and nochanlantly looked up. Just as the woman drove her blade into the man's gut.

Frowning, Luca took a step forward, her hands reaching for her daggers. But to her surprise, her twin blades had been knocked from her grasp and were lying in the gutter. Cursing, she scanned the street behind this building. What have we here? Crates, barrels, a broom, a bag of dirt. Wait. A broom?! Luca smiled broadly and skipped over to a pile of rubbish and picked up a discarded broom, hearing some noise coming from the two. With a quick kick, the brush had been knocked off and she now held a half decent, wooden staff.

Looking to see what was going on, the half-elf noticed that this new woman was looking at her too. Bad move Luca noticed disdainfully, as the other man, his back to Luca, lunged to the woman. Winking cheerfully to the dark elf, Luca twirled the staff in her hands and launched it like a javelin. The staff's blunt end connected with the ruffians left shoulder blade, causing him to stumble before the dark elf.

---

"The lawful may sleep better at night. But we unlawful enjoy the waking hours much more"

Marmalan was still looking at Luca and she smiled when the girl took out the man that the huntress took her eyes off of. The huntress was feeling incredibly good now, she had just gotten her fifth kill of the day, not her highest, but a good start. She moved over towards the small girl, hoping that she wouldn't be alarmed. She formed a thin, weak smile showing her fangs and then stopped smiling again.

"Nice one. My name is Marmalan," she said holding out a pale yet dark colored, and cold hand. Her nails were very long and sharp and she angled her hand in such a way that her nails wouldn't scratch the girl.  

Tierria slowly started backing away from the men as they approached. One of the men showed a toothless grin at Elrararia who had an arrow notched at him.

"You might wanna consider not doing that my dear" he said. "You just might live to regret it."

"What do you want with us?" demanded Tierria, trying to put on her best intimidating face.

An even uglier man sneered at Tierria. "It's not what we want with the lot of you, it's what we want with you." Seeing the look on the girl's face made him sneer even more. "We don't want you in that kind of way my dear, even though I prefer it like that. But unfortunately, it's not in our orders."

"Who ordered you then to take me?" Tierria was getting rather annoyed with these men.

"That's none of your concern right now. But what you should be concerned about is what would happen to your two friends if you don't come along with us."

"What two friends?"

"The ones known as Severine and Phiona. A cute little couple, if I should say so myself. Even if that bitched punched my friend in the nose."

Phiona!? Severine!? No... Tierria started to shake her head slightly.

"I-I suppose in order to keep them safe, I have to go with you then."

"Heh...you're a smart one, aren't you?"

Tierria turned and looked at Elrararia who looked like she was going to shoot these men at any moment.

"What should I do?" she asked her elven companion. The Stratanian female felt so lost at that moment in what to do. She didn't want anything to do with these men...but then again she didn't want anything bad to happen to Severine or Phiona.

"Father! I finally did it!"

"I know son. I'm very proud of you. You finally bonded with an aj. Being bonded with creatures such as these is like having a family member with you always. treat him well."

The young Shendar looked up at his father and smiled. He was very happy this day. He bonded with his aj'nuvic quicker than most children did. His mother always did say that he was gifted. His mother...the beautiful Serenity Halo.

"What did you name him?" Serenity's smiled upon the boy like the sun giving life to Ava's plant life.

"Rosebud." Severine smiled back, and touched his rose pendant.

"Rosebud? Is that any name for the partner of a future hero?" Steelwind tried not to laugh.

"Well, looks and names can be decieving my dear." Serenity smiled slyly at her husband. "Looks and names can be decieving...

Severine awakened to find himself in a dark room. Trying to move, he found his hands shackled from behind his back. He sitting against the wall, and looked down to see that he legs were binded as well.

They've must've put me in some room after what I did, thought Severine, just feeling the after effects of being hit on the head. Twice this day...Severine, you could go for a record! Geez Halo...you're even sarcastic in a dire situation justy as this.

The Shendar soon silenced his thinking as he heard sounds coming from just outside his door. He couldn't listen clearly to what was going on, but he could tell that someone had just arrived inside the house that was now his prision.

"Who could that be...their main leader?" Severine tried his best to move closer to the door, but failed.

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

*Dray appraoched the door unstopped by any of the people in the room. He looked around as he turned handle on the door and watched just to make sure somebody was not going to try to stop him before he opened the door. Dray opened the door slowly and looked inside the room which didn't have much inside except for a woman seated in a chair bound and gagged her head hung foward.*

Hmmmm i know appearances are not everything, but this has to be one of the 2 who took out 30 men...a woman...must be a strong warrior like some friends of mine in the past. Still is so she dangerous they have to manhandle and gag her so?

*Dray walks slowly into the room and watches the woman in the chair the entire way. He walks a circle around her noting her legs are not bound...and that maybe its because she unbound them somehow...he almost says something to alert the others, but stops himself as he comes front o face her making sure he is more than a legs distance away from her just in case she got fiesty or anything*

"So you must be one of the warriors who took out 30 men then eh?"

The difference between a brave man and a coward....is facing your fear instead of running away

Phiona watched as the man- she could tell he was a man because of his weight on the floorboards- circled her chair, his long deep-blue cloak covering most detail that she would've  perceived on his legs and leather boots, although she did glimpse a bit of a forest-green shin-guard.  He kept well away from her, either he was wary or paranoid... but somehow she knew he wasn't afraid of her, not bound and gagged as she was.  She sensed he knew she was awake.

Then he confirmed it:  "So you must be one of the warriors who took out 30 men then, eh?"

She quietly sighed in frustration, more of a slow exhalation through the nose than anything else.  However, he didn't sound like he came here to taunt her.  Perhaps he wanted information.  Well, he isn't getting anything from me...  she thought.  With this resolve, she lifted her head and looked him in the eye.

He was tall, about the height of Severine and with skin nearly as dark, but that was where the semblance ended- this man's build was massive compared to the Shendar Clay people.  Phiona did not think they were of the same tribe and the brief tinge of hope that he was a fellow tribesman of Severine's faded quickly.  What drew her attention then was the odd white marking that surrounded one of his steel-blue eyes -the white star stood out in contrast to the darkly tanned skin.  His long black hair was streaked with white, yet she could see he was closer to her own age.  Perhaps older, but not by much.  His hair was held out of his face by a headband decorated with an image of the head of an elder white wyrm.  

She observed this man with a fearless and critical eye.  She wondered what he wanted with her.  He did not seem to have the same animosity toward her as the rest of her captors.  After looking him over, she brought her gaze up to his, waiting to see what he'd do or say next.

*Dray looks at this woman and his breath stalls for a second as her gaze meets his. Her full lips and brown eyes seeming to take every detail of him into her mind...he could tell she was sizing him up in some way. Dray just glances back at her hsi gaze unwavering from her own. He simply nods at her after they sit and gaze at each other like that for what seems like a very long period. Dray then heads over to the door and motions Ardan over to him and in a low whisper speaks to him*

"Ardan I want to speak with her alone. Obviosuly she has been manhandled by the rest of these people here and will hold no high regard for any of them. She may not for me either, but it will be easier for me if I speak with her alone...I know you trust me old friend so do so now and do not let anybody into this room unless I say so"

*Dray looks at Ardan and receives a nod. Dray then turns around and heads back inside the room and closes the door behind him. He returns to his stance in front of the woman who had been watching him the entire time.*

"Now I am know your feet are free and that you have somehow freed them from the binding placed on you...I can call the rest in at any time should you decide you want to try and escape or try to subdue me. I know you to be a very capable warrior not just because you assited with taking out those 30 men, but I can see it in you eyes. I am going to take the gag out of your mouth so you can speak to me. I mean you no harm I just want to know what happened"

*Dray goes over behind the woman and undoes the binding holding the gag in her mouth. Dray then slowly removes the gag from her mouth and sets it aside. He reaches into his bag he set upon the floor and brings out a canteen.*

"My name is Dray and I am from a small village and the coast of the Dark Sea....I am not a native here as you may well know, but I have friends here who are trying to overcome a legion that is oppressing the people...they believe you to be a part of this legion...I want to know from your side what happened with this fight I know their side and i want to know yours so I can find the middle ground maybe..."

*Dray trails off waiting for a reply but after a few seconds of silence he opens his canteen and offers her a drink*

"Your throat must be dry from that gag and you probally need a drink before you can speak...if so just nod your head and I will give you a drink from my canteen here. If not *Dray takes a drink of the water himself* then more for me."

The difference between a brave man and a coward....is facing your fear instead of running away

Luca grinned and slammed her hand into Marmalan's. "Why 'lo there! Eh, thanks a lot back there. I tend to get into trouble o' lot." she shrugged, still shaking the woman's hand enthusiasticly. The half-elf talked awfully fast and her strange mix of multiple accents made it difficult to understand. "Say, Marmalade, are you a dark elf? Never met a dark elf a'fore. I've heard lot's about you though. Not especially good things though. You lot really do have a bad rep. But then again, so do I. And I like to think of myself as a good person."

Letting go of the dark elf's hand, the half-elf introduced herself "They call me Luca. Say...speaking of 'they' I guess I should go find my 'friends'. If you can call them that. Anyways, they told me to go back if I found anything interesting" Gesturing to the four bodies, and actually kicking the nearest one, she continued "I think this counts as interesting. So you're free to come along if you want, Marmaduke." And with that, the half-elf turned on her heel and starting walking back towards the inn, her usual bounce back in her step. The morning's events had really been quite distressing, but after such an interesting afternoon, how could she not be in her usual cheerful mood?

---

"Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life"

Edited by: Luca the Thief  at: 11/12/03 7:24

Naturally, Phiona was suspicious when the man came back into the room after telling the others to leave him alone with her, no matter what.    Right, then...   She thought, for she had even expected it sooner or later from this rag-tag bunch.  So, of course, she was a bit perplexed when the man started talking to her instead.

Then he stepped behind her and removed the gag from her mouth.  Her mouth was incredibly dry from the cloth and in spite of the fact that she was pulled out of a well earlier that day, Phiona found she couldn't remember the last time she swallowed water.  Walking back into her view, the man pulled a canteen from a large bag he'd left on the floor, as if he were reading her mind.  She could hear the water sloshing around in it as he continued speaking to her.   What is it now?  To tempt me with water... drug or poison me?  She wondered,  So, you just want to know the truth... does this mean you don't trust your associates?   Phiona just looked at the man mutely.

He paused for several long moments then offered her a drink.  She glanced from the canteen to Dray with obvious suspicion until he swallowed some of the water himself.   Not poison then, nor drugged.   She peered at him a moment longer before nodding.  He held the container and she took two long drinks from it before he pulled it away.  Water splashed on her chin.  Phiona licked her lips, not sure when more water would be forthcoming.  

Dray was still looking at her, like he expected her to talk... now.  Phiona cleared her throat a bit first.  "Legion?  We were hire to guard a caravan.  That is all."  She kept a level gaze with him so he wouldn't think she was lying.  "I don't know anything about this legion you speak of."  But the last sentence didn't ring true as Blackwine's arrogant face flashed in her mind's eye and she realized then this man Dray would know she was lying-  not a good thing if she was to survive and get out of this predicament.   Time for some damage control...  so Phiona spoke, haltingly at first but definitely changing the subject,  "Look, uhm, Dray.  We- myself and two others- were hired out of Dasai by a man called Voltaire to guard that caravan.  Those men attacked us on the road.  We thought they were thieves but those men fought harder than any bandits I'd ever ran across.  I am sorry your men were killed, but they just kept on coming.  They were trying to kill us.  We were defending ourselves."

"We didn't know what the cargo was."  She added, hoping that bit of information might help.

"Do you really think your friend there could get some information from her?" Karla looked at Ardan questionably

Ardan shrugged. "I'm not going to guarantee it, but Dray can surprise a person from time to time." Ardan started thinking back to when the two first met. He was traveling through out Sarvonia back then, and he was staying at a tavern with his now late love, Selena. Selena  was a very beautiful woman, and had caught the attention of many men. It didn't surprise Ardan that men would try to come up to her to have their try at making her their own. But of course, they would all fail. And one of those men didn't take failure lightly. He and his men attacked Ardan and his wife one dark night, but the two were saved by Dray who was passing by. Dray ended up traveling with the couple for awhile, and they were good friends ever since.

Ardan stared at the door that Dray had walked through minutes ago.

"You better know what you're doing my friend..."

Keeping the arrow aimed at the man, Elraralia seethed with anger, but didn't show it in the slitest.  The only hint were her eyes, that had turned to a piercing green.

How dare these people do this to them?  First the attack on the caravan, and now even further attacks.  What had these people done to diserve this.  But one thing was for sure: there was no way that she would just sit by and let Tierra get taken.

"You say that Tierra must be taken, or Severine and Phiona are hurt...but whos to tell that she hasn't escaped...if you don't live to make it back..?" she finally said, testing the words to see the reaction that death had on these men.  

"Yes, I am a dark elf. I know we like our bad reputation, it keeps people out of our woods. And the name is Marmalan, you might want to get it right now...I suppose that I will follow you. I have nothing better to do here, and you are entertaining so far," said Marmalan.

Marmalan straightened her clothes and followed the girl back to the inn. As they walked a question came up in the huntress' head.

"What do you do for a living Luca?"  

Luca stepped up onto the porch of the inn. "I'm a thief actually" she said matter of factly, if not proudly. "Also pirate, con-artist, guide, babysitter, bodyguard and I reckon I've immitated every occupation out there four times over, back and 'round again" she added, walking up to the innkeep.

"Do you know where my friends are? A couple big guys. Two pretty ladies and an elf with hair that looks like somebody's set her on fire?" she asked him casually, leaning over on the counter top.

The innkeep looked at the half-elf, then around the common room. The inn's business was slow and only a lone guard sat in a table in the corner. "Sorry lady. They're not in their room's if that's what your asking" he said in a hushed voice, just loud enough for the two to hear but inaudible to the guard.

Luca nodded in thanks to the keep and walked out of the inn, leaning against the outer wall. "Those boys back there were awfully organized. And I don't know how many heroic dark elves are wandering about" she said to Marmalan, reaching her hand up to the eagle claw amulet around her neck "I think it's time for another set of eyes"

---

"Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life"

The Hound put her head down slightly as they approached the innkeeper. She didn't like too many people looking at her because they often had bad thoughts and ideas about her being a dark elf. She was glad when Luca walked away from the man. Marmalan smiled and laughed dryly at Luca's response about dark elves. The Hound of Paelelon's voice was raspy and deep, but it shouldn't have been too scary for an experienced being like Luca. The dark elf looked over at Luca's amulet and squinted her eyes. She wanted to know what it was, but talking wasn't really her thing. She decided to talk anyways, she didn't feel like being left alone because she was being unsociable, which was a normal thing for her kind.

"What is that for?"  

Death is the only way out of the Dream.

Luca stopped, holding the eagle amulet in her hand. The black claw's polished surface engraved with magical runes shone in the light. "It's a friend" she said simply.

She clasped the claw in her hand and muttered a few words under her breath. A very dim white light peaked through her fingers.

The half elf stared expectantly into the sky and soon enough, a small dot appeared in the sky. Remembering how much attention the scarlet eagle attracting, Luca moved into a small alcove between the inn and a neihboring building, motioning for Marmalan to follow.

Within seconds, the magestic eagle landed surely on Luca's shoulder, trying to keep her talons as loose as possible as to not hurt the half-elf.

The eagle examined the dark elf with curious eyes.

"Who's this? Have you been eavesdropping on more people? Dark elves! Next thing you know, you'll be pestering Co'or himself" came the telepathic message from the eagle, via the magic of the amulet.

"Oh shut it, Pick," Luca scolded angrilly aloud. "As long as she doesn't treat me like the gutter scum I am" the half elf muttered under her breath, hoping so Marmalan wouldn't hear. "Besides, I called you so you could find the others. I seem to have misplaced them" she continued.

The crimson bird nodded its feathered head and, with one last wary glance to Marmalan, took off and soared high enough so those on the ground could not identify the red eagle.

---

"Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life"

*Dray stands there taking in everything she tells him...the last bit of info was unexpected, but he keeps his composure about him*

Hmmm she thinks I am one of these people.....i wonder how much interrogating they did to her...and possibly to the man....they were mercenaries hired to do protect the caravan...they didn't know what the cargo was...hmmm

"Didn't know what the cargo was....would you still have accepted the job if you had known what it was....would have fended off 30 men trying to get to it if you knew why they wanted it...are you only in it for the payment...most mercenaries don't care as long as they get their payment in the end...."

*Dray's gaze becomes a little harder as he gazes down Phiona awaiting her answer*

This will tell the tale as to what kind of warrior she is...I can see the fire in her spirit....what kind of person is she now?

The difference between a brave man and a coward....is facing your fear instead of running away

Marmalan stared in awe as the eagle flew from the sky. She had a natural ability to sense how animals were feeling or thinking and she already didn't like this bird. She moved her hand to her dagger threateningly and smirked at the bird after Luca's reply. She didn't know what the bird had said but she had the feeling that it wasn't good.

"Keep the bird away from me unless you want to wake up one day and see me eat it," she said sternly as she watched the bird fly away.  

Luca shook her head as she watched Pick fly out of sight behind a building.

"I've thought of the same thing many times over. But I've heard magic can turn your stomach," she replied, but whether she was being sarcastic couldn't be determined from her voice. "But don't hold her in ill will. Pick means well. I don't think animals know how to be mean. Annoying perhaps, but not mean" she said, sounding unusually subdued and almost sad.

Sighing, Luca began walking aimlessly into the street. "What do we do now? Pick won't be back for a few minutes"

---

"Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life"

Blackwine's room in the fort was mostly dark, with the exception of the light emmitting from the various candles from around the room. Marlus was leaning back in his chair, his blue eyes scanning the walls in front of him. The shadows seemed to dance around the tall man, muscular arms crossed before his chest. From the corner of his eye, Marlus caught a moving shadow passing through the light. Instead of becoming alarmed the man uncrossed his arms and stood up.

"I was wondering when you was going to get here," He said, without turning around.

For a moment, everything was silent. As if time had stopped for a moment. Seconds later, it continued.

"Well I figured my time would've been wasted if I headed south." The seductive tone of a female was something that Marlus haven't heard in awhile. After all, the man was busy with supervising the building of this mercenary fort, and the 'imprisionment' of Sheren Village.

The voice continued to speak. "But I had this feeling...that I might be needed of my services."

Marlus cracked a smile. There was a few different type of services that he wouldn't mind recieving from this woman, but Kalyn right now is the only one who can require them.

"Well the only service I need from you right now my dear 'snow white' is to observe. There are these group of travelers that came with Voltaire's caravan that seem to be putting their nose into business that is not theirs..." Marlus stopped himself from finishing. He knew that she had left.

"A little too ahead of ourselves my dear white angel...I guess that's why she's the best..."

"I've thought of the same thing many times over. But I've heard magic can turn your stomach."

"I doubt it would do that to my stomach. I have developed quite the resistance to things of the such, although I have never eaten a magical creature before. But I can adjust."

"But don't hold her in ill will. Pick means well. I don't think animals know how to be mean. Annoying perhaps, but not mean."

"I have two hounds, although they are with my...companions," she said hesitant to reveal that she was a Hound of Palelon. "They are the most loyal beings ever to walk the face of this world. I hold them in higher respect than many of the humans and elves and dwarves and other races I have come across. I will keep your little birdy out of the reach of my claws and fangs as long as you keep it from getting under my skin."

She continued to follow Luca, but the girl seemed bored and kind of lost. "What do we do now? Pick won't be back for a few minutes" Marmalan caught up with Luca, and sighed. "I do not know...I have no need to do anything as of yet. A hunt can make one extremely patient."

Death is the only way out of the Dream.

"I don't know how to answer that, Dray.  Why don't you tell me first why those men attacked the caravan and why they were so willing to fight to the death?  Why don't you tell me what that cargo was?  Only then can I answer your question about whether I would have accepted the job, had I known."  She glanced once at the door nervously, like she expected the others to come bursting through any second.  She wondered how Severine was, as he'd taken another nasty blow to the head.  She brought her gaze back to the man in front of her.

Phiona forced her thoughts back to this room, to the conversation she was having with Dray.  "Once we were here in Sheran, and once we'd seen the odd way the people here were acting, some of us guessed that the cargo might be something harmful, weapons maybe... but we don't really know.  Tell me, Dray, do you?"

The man simply smiled at Elrararia. Tierria knew that something was up, something that didn't quite fit right. This man could be right that Severine and Phiona was captured...but why though? Did they get caught by the mercenaries? These men looked strong, but they resembled nothing like the guards around the village. Tierria closed her eyes slowly, and sighed to herself. She had to make a choice fast.

"I-I'll go with you." The healer's eyes opened and were now upon the men. "But on one condition. I get to see Severine and Phiona when we get to wherever we're going."

"Not a problem m'lady. Not a problem at all." The man gestured for Tierria to start walking ahead of him. As Tierria moved forward she turned her head back to Elra and Fflewdur and mouthed the words "I'm sorry" from her lips. Hopefully, the two would follow them froma  reasonable distance.

Fflewdur watched silently as the men and his "companions " exchanged remarks. He was silent through the whole thing, never moving a muscle. The first time he moved was when Teirra mouthed the words "Im sorry." Fflewdur nodded solemly in response. Then he turned to Elra and whispered
"I will help you. There is something very strange about this village. I am determined to get to the bottom of this. You seem to be the group to do it with. So, that being said, now what?"

This just may be what I need to get my strenght up. Unless of course this elf ditches me. I wouldn't be suprised. But as far a I can tell she needs all the help she can get.

Before Elraralia knew what was happening, she watched as Tierra was being led off, into who knew what sort of a situation.  Seething with anger, she almost didn't hear the dwarfs comment.

"What are we going to do?  I'll tell you what I am going to do.  I'm following them.  You may do as you wish, but if you come and get us caught, you will wish you never did." and with that she began to follow, until they reached the village.  Stopping for a moment, she ducked into an alley way for a moment, and when she was sure that the coast was clear, peaked out, and began to follow them again.  Until they reached...  

"You have dogs? I never did grow fond of dogs. Of course...it's hard to like something thats trying to bite off your leg" she said with a shrug. "But you dont have to worry about Pick. She won't be bothering you much anymore. I'll send her home when she comes back. No need wasting her energy" she said, talking just to make conversation until Pick returned.

---

The magestic crimson eagle soared above the village, its sharp eyes looking down at the few people she saw. Luca hadn't actually given the eagle much of a description of what the bird was looking for. But with the amount of people (save the guards) on the streets, it wouldn't be too hard to find somebody suspicious.

Pick's suspicions proved true though, so the bird soon noticed a female elf and a dwarf slinking behind a small group of men. Pick dove down, drawing the mystified gaze of an old woman, and flew slowly at eye level (to the elf at least) just beside the woman. Pick was used to flying slowly at such a low level, having flown beside a traveling Luca for so many years. The bird examined the woman with scrutiny. "Hmm...Luca blathered something about a nasty red haired elf. Seems right to me. But I don't recal anything about a dwarf" she thought, dropping back to fly above the dwarf. Thinking nothing of it and not wanting to call any unwanted attention, Pick soared back into the skie with a effortless puff of her wings and headed back to Luca and Marmalan.

---

"Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life"

"You have dogs? I never did grow fond of dogs. Of course...it's hard to like something thats trying to bite off your leg. But you dont have to worry about Pick. She won't be bothering you much anymore. I'll send her home when she comes back. No need wasting her energy."

Marmalan smiled when Luca mentioned the dogs biting off her leg. "My hounds will only bite off your leg if I tell them too. But you have no need to fear any of that, you have gained my respect...for now," she said.  

Sable mumbled for himself "Too late. If I had found her just five minutes before..." He had been searching the village for two days, trying to found Tierria. Her parents took care of him when he was nearly dying of an infected wound, and he promised to serve his daughter as a bodyguard to cancel the debt. But when finally the tavern's patrons told him where she was, that men took her away... He was behind a corner when they told her they had kidnapped her friends... What was going on here? After all, she was just a apothecary, wasn't she? Their parents were worried about her, but that wasn't strange after all, the world was full of perils...

He enter in a shop when the elf and the dwarf come his way, and just after that started following Tierria and the men, after all none of them know about him. They walked inside a small wooden house, with almost no windows. Sable walked all around it, searching for a stealthy place from which to spy indoors, but there was none. But he found something... the elf and the dwarf were back, almost in the same place from where he watched the house. So he took an alley and walked just behind of them. Moving noisily on purpose, for not surprising them, he spoke:

"Are you friends of Tierria?"

Sable, "There is a time you can only flee forwards"

Edited by: Sable at: 11/20/03 9:15

As Phiona waited for Dray to answer, the whole time she kept her gaze steady to his eyes.  She willed him to believe her.  He just had to see that neither she nor Severine were the villains these people made them out to be.

Is there nothing I can say that will turn him to our side?  She wondered, but in reality Phiona feared for the worst.  She fought the urge to tap her leather-clad foot on the floorboards, a habitually nervous habit that would give her away for sure.  But the stress from this unusual interrogation was taking it's toll on her, for she was only human after all.  




 

*Dray kept his gaze with hers unwavering as the silence stretched on. He could tell she was a little anxious or something, but she was doing a very good job of keeping herself calm and collected...Dray was very impressed..not since Uragel had he seen a female warrior so skilled with herself and fighting.*

"I'm not quite sure when this turned into a chance for you to ask questions...so you didn't know what the cargo was and still don't yet you guarded the caravan anyways. Fought to protect it because you were paid to without worrying about what was inside...let 30 men die for your money...why not surrender or give up...you were way outnumbered and look where you landed now...why fight in that situation...is money what matters to you?"

*Dray lets his emotion show through somewhat with his words...his dislike of mass killing is obvious as he talked about the fighting that took place and the death it caused.*

The difference between a brave man and a coward....is facing your fear instead of running away

Phiona nearly snarled with frustration in her answer, "I told you... they attacked us!  We were defending our lives.  It is not our fault they continued to throw themselves on our swords!  We did not ask them to do it, nor did we force them!"  She finally broke gaze with him, grumbling down at the floor, "Let them die?  Let them?  Absurd!  Makes as much sense as letting them kill me...."

Phiona knew it was useless to struggle further with her bonds, so she just stared resolutely at her feet.

Edited by: Phiona Whitefire at: 11/19/03 23:24

*Dray's hand grips his sword hilt tighter as she snarls in response and laughs at himself in his head as he does so*

Silly Dray shes tied up and everything she can't do anything to you right now....but she seems genuinely sorry that she had to kill them...if only a few men from the assult survived so I could talk to them. Well I have all I need from her...guess its time to go talk to the other one now

*Dray looks at her as she stares down a the floor. He begins to say something then stops. He instead takes a few steps towards the door, but stops again and comes back this time he walks right down in front of her and goes down onto one knee*

"I can see you genuinely regret the fact that you killed those men...It is impossible to show that when you in fact do not regret an action of that sort. I could see from when I walked in you had the fire of a warrior in your eyes and I now see you also have to compassion of an honorable one as well. I will leave the gag out and let your legs be free, but I want your word you will not try to escape. I may be able to get you off the hook with these people...but your services may be needed for free. The man who hired you is part of a group that is trying to take over this village. Those men you fought and the ones that hold you captive now fight against this Legion in order to keep the people free. You are obviosuly a skilled warrior and I would like you by my side and these peoples to help end this injustice that is being done. Whatever grudge you may have I ask you to put aside and help, your warrior spirit will guide you in the right direction.

*Dray stands up and lets his gaze linger on Phonia for a few long moments before he turns to go and leave the room*

The difference between a brave man and a coward....is facing your fear instead of running away

When Dray went down on one knee and said his words, she could only look up at him, speechlessly.  As he talked, Phiona's frustration shifted to confusion, although she was still anxious.  Her eyes followed him as he left the room, closing the door behind him.

Could Dray actually be negotiating with these people on their behalf?  Could this man with the star-marking on one eye, be their savior from this horrible ordeal?  She did not like that their captors separated her and Severine.  Phiona was confused.  All she knew is that she'd feel a lot better about things if she could see that Severine was all right...

She looked up at the dresser, with the razor that was partially buried under a towel.  Even though she did not give her word, she decided to wait.  It was a gamble, but she thought that, maybe, Dray was telling the truth.

Edited by: Phiona Whitefire at: 11/20/03 0:30

Luca gave a weak bow to Marmalan, but coming from the thief, was a sign of sincere gratitude. Just then, Luca heard Pick's voice in her mind as the bird neared. The magic of the amulet was not especially strong and it was difficult to understand the telepathic messages unless they were relatively close together.

"Lucky. Did you say that there was an elfmaid with red hair in your group?"

Yes actually. Did you find her?

"I think so. But she was with a dwarf"

"What?" Luca asked. "Oh well. No matter to me who she's friends with. Where is she Pick?" the half elf asked aloud. Luca turned to Marmalan "The bird's found one of my friends. I take it you're coming?"

With that, Luca, after receiving some last minute directions from the bird, sent Pick home. Pick simply took off and flew off into the distance, to wherever it was that the magical eagle called home.

The half-elf started walking casually towards the street where the eagle had seen Elraralia and Fflewdur. She was in no hurry to catch up with them and the theif even contemplated pickpocketing a guard as she passed, but could almost hear what the fussy eagle would say.

Edited by: Luca the Thief  at: 11/20/03 19:05

*Dray closes the door to the room behind him not letting anyone get a good look at Phiona inside the room. He smiles at Ardan as he heads towards the other room*

"No worries old friend just got to talk to the other one now and see what he has to say...got some good stuff out of the woman though and Ardan......she has a warriors spirit and I think she will help us"

*Dray turns and opens to door leading into the room the other man is located in. Dray walks inside and looks at the man slumped over in the chair. Unlike his female counterpart he was still bound legs and all. It was obvious he had been through quite a rough time so Dray just stood there waiting surveying the man looking for any insight as to what kind of person he may be*

The difference between a brave man and a coward....is facing your fear instead of running away

Severine's brown eyes slowly lifted themselves along with his head to look at the man that had just entered the room. His braids covered a vision a bit, but he could tell that this was a man who he have never seen before. He wasn't there when he and Phiona was in the front of the house. He must've arrived while Severine was unconscious. Unitl now, Severine was left to his thoughts, mostly thinking about what happened to the others. He hoped Eryk protected Tierria well, and that Phiona was safe. He heard some voices from the next room, and one of them sounded like Phiona.

Please Baveras...let her be okay, the Shendar thought to himself.

Eyeing the man a bit, Severine was mostly fixated on the star pattern on the man's eye. He figured that he had to be someone of some kind of importance, maybe some kind of holy warrior for one of the gods. But of course, it was bbetter to ask.

"Who the hell are you?"

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

It was a long and quiet walk to wherever Tierria and company were heading. She never said a word to her "captors" after leaving Elrararia and Fflewdur, only thinking what kind of condition Severine and Phiona was in. If they were to let her see them, then there shouldn’t be be anything physically wrong with them. She hoped the emotional damage was not bad either.

The way that the men had Tierria positioned made her seem like she was some kind of nobility, being in front and all either a guard on either side. This caused less trouble from the guards. But then again, these men might be part of the military. Maybe they were with some kind of special brigade or whatever.

After what seemed like a decade, the group stood infront of a small house. One of the men knocked slightly on the door. After waiting for two minutes, the door was opened by an elderly man.

"Come in" he said briefly, and Tierria was pushed inside. Instead of protesting, Tierria glanced around the room, and saw that everyone was staring at her.

"Uh...hello" she said with a short wave to everyone, her voice showing every ounce of being nervous.

"Well...you must be Tierria Selig" said a man wearing a cloak. "Welcome."

"Thanks for the hospitality so far" said the Stratanian girl, glaring at the man whom she was talking to earlier. "Now what is all of this about!? What happeend to Severine and Phiona!?"

"Well, for now they're under our care" said a black haired woman, who looked like she was in control of the situation. "For now that is. You're just an assurance that they do what we want."

Tierria crossed her arms. "Let me guess...with me in danger, Severine will do anything you tell him to? How typical of people like you!"

"You sure talk a lot for a warrior who participated in killing thrity people" said the man in the cloak.

Tierria's eyes widened a bit. "Then...you all must be with those bandits we fought? You mean to tell me that all of you are out for vengence? H-how did you all even get in this village!?"

"Well to put it simply," said a man who had a full-grown beard. "This is our village. And we want it back."  

"I know what it means to be quiet," Fflewdur replied gruffly "but you  might consider being a little less speedy and a little more carefull. In case you havn't noticed were a little outnumbered."

He followed the elf close behind. Here goes nothing!

He stepped lightly, balancing on the balls of his feet as he had learned in his basic lessons with his father before the earthqake.

A sudden wave of anger rushed through him.
Quontvil take it! Can nothing be easy?!?  I finnaly reach a place where I can relax and something like this happens. Its just my luck. First I almost die in the desert, and  now I get involved in this! He sighed to himself.

The dwarf sped up until he was walking level with Elra. He shifted his weight from side to side, using his momentum from one step to power the next step, rolling his feet when they hit the ground to make walking a effortless as possible. He need his energy for whatever was about to happen.

"Of course I am coming," replied Marmalan. The two of them walked through the town, Marmalan always behind the shorter thief, wearing her hood over her head, and her daggers at her sides. She always kept her hands low and near the blades, she never knew who could be trusted or when she might need them.

"What are you looking for these people for?" she asked, then she thought over her question and it didn't sound right, but Tharian wasn't even her native tongue, so it was good enough for her.  

Death is the only way out of the Dream.

Luca slowed to walk beside Marmalan, her hands hung over the rim of her belt. "Well it's a funny story really. See...I came into town and this big group of strangers caught my interest. And just so happens as I bent down to lace up my boots" she said, gesturing down to her laceless boots "Pretty Boy himself opens the door. For some reason, they think that I'm a spy or some such nonsense. Then the whole lot yells at me for what seems like hours and tell me to go find anything 'suspicious' then come back and tell them. But when I return, with some very crucial information, they're not even there. Quite the rude bunch, really" she concluded sounding insulted.

The two rounded a corner only to see that Elraralia and the dwarf seemed to be talking to yet another new face. Casting a curious glance at the two men, Luca thought of introducing herself, but then thought better of it and turned to Elraralia " Oi! What's going on? Where is everybody?" the cross-breed announced in a voice none too quiet.

---

"Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life"

Edited by: Luca the Thief  at: 11/21/03 21:44

"Hello there. May I ask your name?" Fflewdur said to the man who approached him. And then a minute later to an half-elf who came up to them "Hello to you now. May I ask who you are?"

Wow! This group is getting bigger by the minute. I wonder if Elra knows who they are?

Marmalan moved through the streets with Luca, and she was suprised when she saw the dwarf accompanying the woman. The woman was indeed beautiful, even one with a heart like this hunter could notice that. When the dwarf question Marmalan she wanted to speak out of hate, she didn't really like dwarves. They had no grace, no beauty, they were careless oafs to Marmalan.

Luca glanced down at Fflewdur. "You can call me Luca, dwarf. And who might you be?" she said in her usual, cheerful bubbly attitude. She had always liked dwarves. Luca herself had only gotten to know one. He had been the first mate on her old pirate ship. That ship had been the setting for some of the best years of her life. The crew being the uncles she never had, and the jovial and laid back captain had been the closest thing to a father to her.

The half-elf snapped out of her trance like state of flipping through fond memories and awaited either the dwarf's introduction or a reply from Elraralia. At the moment, the other man didn't seem of much importance to the half elf.

---

"Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life"

My name is Sable. And yours? I've been looking for Tierria because her parents told me to protect her. But it seems I'm late. What's happening in here? Why did those men kidnap her?

Luca's head snapped up. "Kidnapped? That's odd. Matter 'o fact, I was just attacked a bit ago. If it wasn't for Marmalan here" she said, sticking a thumb in the dark elf's direction "I'd probably be dead." Luca's brow furrowed in a moment of looked like intense thought, cupping her chin in a gloved hand. "Hmm....I've come to a conclusion" she announced in all seriousness, proudly placing her hands on her hips, "The gods are against us. Lets go home"

---

"Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life"

Marmalan was still getting used to be away from all her companions and being around so many humans, and other elves, and dwarves. She looked at Sable, and she let off a light smile. She was about to speak but Luca spoke first saying "The gods are against us. Lets go home".
Marmalan was suprised by the half-elf's words. "We are not going home. I did not walk through this city, or risk my life to save you to find out that you are going to just give up. The gods do not matter, whether they are against we or not. I for one do not even know these people, but I know that you do and that is enough to stay for...."  

Elraralia glared at the half elf.
"You may go home if you so choose.  I on the other hand am not so inclined as to leave an innoucent girl at the mercy of whatever freaks took her, and have Severine and Phiona with them." she said barely able to contain her frusteration.  Brushing past them, she watched as Tierra was forced up the steps of a house, and was quickly ushered inside.  Looking up above for some way in, she saw a window that was partly ajar.

Going back to the group, she took a deep breath

"They've led her into some sort of house, or store or something.  There's no real way in, except for that window up there.." she said pointing "I'm going up to check it out, you may all come, disperse, dance, because quite frankly I do not care..  Just don't mess anything up..got it?"

"My name is Fflewdur and I met up with Elra and Company at the pub. I decided to help them. A group of men came and kidnapped Tierra. As for why they took her, your guess is as good as mine," Fflewdur paused for a second, then added "So you were hired to protect Tierra, eh? Then I take it you will be joining us?"

Fflewdur turned to Elra and said

"Though I would love to stay here and dance, I think I will help you save Tierra and the other two people that you talk about." And with that he walked slowly,silently and sneakily towards the building.

OOC: Is "sneakily" even a word? LOL.

Luca huffed and watched in despair as most of the others were quite against her very reasonable idea. She looked up at the ajar window and shook her head sadly.

"No doubt if I let you dimwits try to break into that house on ye'r own, you'll get killed and try to blame it on me!" she said, rather exhasperated. The half-elf could only imagine the pestering ghost of Elra hovering around her head blaming Luca for her death. "I'm coming with you, and by the gods, if you die, don't come crying to me!"

---

"Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life"

Elraralia gritted her teeth, before she did something rash, like killing the little half elf. Something she knew she would regret, though at the moment couldn't think of any acutal reasons.

"Don't worry, I won't" she finally said to Luca, and then got to work finding a way up onto the roof.  She finally settled on the lattice work running up the side of one of the houses nearby, and walking over, tested its stability.  It was seemingly sturdy, and she stepped on it carefully to be sure.  Satisfied, she scurried up, and crowched low on the roof.  Slinking along, she got to the window, she peered up, and looked inside.

Marmalan could already tell that she wasn't going to like this woman. The dwarf wasn't as bad as she thought, but this woman seemed to have a dead rat up her butt. Marmalan laughed at her thought, and while the others snuck up to the house, the huntress stood off to the side. She walked towards the side of the house, sitll in view of the others, but not in view of anyone in the house. She didn't really care about saving anyone, as it wasn't her business, but if they needed her she would come and help.

She started to clean her long nails, they were stained with blood from the men in the pub earlier. She was suprised none of the guards were looking for her now.  

"Of course I'm joining you. I gave my word" - said Sable - "But I'm not a mercenary. I'm helping Tierria because her father saved my life, and I'm repaying a favor with a favor"

Sable looked around "This is a strange group, indeed. You and the elf, the little half-elf, and yet another elf there... a dark elf if I'm not wrong" - He touched the scar in his left cheek, a gesture he usually made when he was thinking - "I'd like to take Tierria out of there, but not rushing in like this. She - he was pointing at Elra, in the window - is too impatient. She does not know how many are in, nor what's happening with them. And if things go wrong, we can't just scape. They have three prisoners there..." - he made sure sword and dagger were ready in his belt - "If we find too much enemies, try to retreat to the door and fight there, ok? That way their numbers won't matter too much. I'll try to get pass them, take Tierria and run away"

Sable, "There is a time you can only flee forwards"

Tierria stood quietly, fiddling with her thumbs. More moments of long silence seem to be active in the room, and it was getting quite repetitive. Occasionally someone would say something, but it went back to basic silence. Finally, what seemed like it took forever, somebody said something.

"Put her in Phiona's room" Ardan said. "Since Dray is interrogating Severine. She wanted to see her friend after all."

Karla nodded. "Fine" she simply replied, and gestured for one of the nearby men to grab Tierria. The young woman struggled a bit, but eventually, she was nearly tossed in the room where the ex-soldier was sitting in. Tierria fell onto her hands and knees, slowly looking through her long bangs at someone who for a moment she thought she would never see again.

"Phiona!" Tierria cried, running towards her friend with new found energy, and wrapped her arms around the woman as tight as she could. "Thank Seyella you're safe!"  

*Dray stands there and gazes right at the man as he speaks*

"Servine: Who the hell are you?"

Well he certinly is a fiesty one...of course probally to be expected after what he has been through

"My name is Dray, My friend contacted me about a problem they had and asked me to come assist them with this problem. Now you were guarding a caravan and men attacked you and you killed 30 fo them...30 lives taken for that cargo you were guarding...was it worth it? Do you know why those men were trying to take that cargo....Mercenaries all they want is the money for their jobs they don't care what else happens as long as they are paid...let me ask you this? Do you know what the cargo was...did you know what it was to be used for.."

*Dray's gaze becomes hard and cold as he glares at Servine talking and appears to be not very happy*

The difference between a brave man and a coward....is facing your fear instead of running away

Luca groaned audibly as she watched Elraralia get onto the roof as she made her way beside Marmalan to the side of the house. "Horrible first-timers." she muttered under her breath and she surveyed the wood of the house. Luca's hands flashed and twin daggers seemed to appear in her hands. The half elf looked up and shrugged, she could scale in a wall in her sleep. Crouching, the woman broke into a sudden, short-lived, run and launched herself towards the house. Her daggers whirled in her hands then dug into the wood, an impressive ped and a half above the ground. Luca landed against the building silently, clinging to the side of the wall by her daggers.

Muttering bitterly about how hungry she was and how Elra wouldn't last a minute on the streets, Luca made her way up the wall like a spider, using her daggers and finding even the most miniscule holds for her feet.

In moments, the half elf pulled herself onto the roof and leaned over the edge to flash Marmalan her signature cocky smile "Need a hand, darlin'?" Luca taunted.

---

"Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life"

Watching as Luca scaled the wall with her daggers, Elraralia groaned inwardly to herself.  Why was it that halfelves always felt the need to be flashy, taking the indirect route.  Leaning over, she grabbed Luca away from the edge, and then  said in a voice barely over a whisper

"Do you WANT to get us caught?  Have you even done this before?  Obvioulsy not, and if we are to get out of this alive, I guess I will be tutoring you:
One: no more of this flashy scaling the walls of houses.  You'll be lucky if the wall isn't thatch, and it collapes on you as you climb.
Two:Unless you haven't noticed, this town isn't really a loud and busteling one.  Calling to the people under us, ESPECIALLY when we are next to an open window, is asking for them to spot us. In other words.  Shut up, or Ava help me I will cut out your tounge." she said finishing,and then added as an after thought

"Oh, and put the daggers away, the nice shiny metal is acting as a nive shiny reflector for the nice little sun that is right above us.  Anyone anywhere near us can see the light coming from those things.  Unless of course...you want them to act as becons.."

((Muahaha I'll show you who's the first timer ))

She was reviewing the conversation she had with Dray a short while before, and was also wishing her hands were free because the tip of her nose itched, when the door open again and Tierria was suddenly tossed into the room.  Phiona couldn't believe it!  She had hoped, even though she and Severine were captured, that the others would keep Tierria safe... obviously this wasn't the case.  

Then the young woman jumped up and nearly strangled Phiona with a hug.  "Phiona!  Thank Seyella you're safe!"

"Safe is a relative word, Tierria." Phiona grumbled.  "Now would you untie me, please?"  

An odd, muted thumping noise came from the outter wall just then, only about four or five times before it stopped.  Phionia looked at the raven-haired healer.  "So what happened?  How did you come to be captured?"

Edited by: Phiona Whitefire at: 11/26/03 0:13

Severine was not intimidated by the man's look. Instead, Severine gave the man a similar cold glare to show that he wasn't in the least afraid of him.

"Well for your information, when your life is on the line, it's pretty damn worth it to kill thirty men. Actually any amount of men for that matter. As long as they are assaulting you. We were only defending ourselves. As for what was in the cargo? From what I heard, it was weapons that were supplied to the mercenaries defening this village. But when we got here...I guess defending isn't the word to describe it..."

Severine paused for a moment and sighed to himself. "I'm starting to think that these people are not the 'good' kind of mercenaries. And...you people don't seem anything like the sort of bandits. Well not all of you, anyways. So it's my turn to ask you something..." Severine leaned towards Dray as far as he could. "What's the story with you guys?"

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

The spark of her wild spirit within the depths of her almond eyes was gone, and replaced with the firey rage of a person with no home, no name, no heritage, no family...no answers.

Words that Luca wanted to scream at Elra burned in her mind. I have scaled a thousand walls. Crept upon a thousand floors. Broken a thousand locks. And snuck through a thousand windows. For all my days, I have taken a thousand insults. Born a thousand strikes. Lost a thousand friends. Not killed a soul. So, Eyasha help me, no high and mighty, stuck up, pure blood elf is going to tell me how to do something I have done since the day I could walk

The bubbly and care free thief had undergone an almost shocking transformation, and her pain seemed to surface for an instant, Luca's young face drawn with memories of a dragging past. But Luca cleared her mind and closed her eyes and wished, in the very depths of her subconcious, that she would never have to open them again. But returning to reality, Luca was once again cloaked in the innocence of an ageless young woman. The half-elf flashed a cocky smile and slapped her daggers back into hidden sheaths "Let me do things my way. Do not doubt the skills of a veteran thief, dear elf."

Luca brushed past Elra to sit crosslegged on the roof just above the window, waiting for the others to join them.

(OOC: don't mess with pent up rageful half elves, it could prove hazardous)

---

"Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life"

"This elves are crazy" - Thought Sable for himself. He could more or less climb to the window by his own, but the dwarf would have a pretty difficult time. "help me with this boxes Fflewdur. let's make a sort of stairs to get to that window"

Sable, "There is a time you can only flee forwards"

Marmalan said nothing to Luca, she just stood on the side of the house and then jumped with uncanny strength and speed. Her hands latched onto the side of the roof, and she pulled herself up. The huntress dragged her body to the top of the roof, and then smirked. She stumbled a bit, making very little noise with her steps. She looked at the half-elf and the other woman and smiled. "No, I don't need a hand."

She walked next to the bickering women, and stood silently with her hands close to her daggers.  

"Heh...sorry." Tierria blushed a little, and started to untie Phiona. "How did I come to be captured? Well basically I was walking with Elranaria and this dwarf we met when all of the sudden these men approached us. They said that if I didn't come with them, that they was going to hurt you and Severine. So of course I had no choice but to go with them. I didn't want anything to happen to either of you..."

Tierria sighed as she finished untying Phiona. "So...what's the story with these people? Do you know?"

Ardan was silently sitting in this chair when he heard several noises coming from the walls of the house. He slowly stood up, and looked at Julia.

"Did you hear that?" he asked.

Julia nodded a little. "A few times I did, yes." Another sound was heard as the woman stared at the walls. "Do you think someone is making a pathetic attempt to spy on us?"

"It's probably Severine's allies, trying to rescue him and his two female companions." Richart gave no hint of amusement as he said the last part of his sentence. "There's no doubt in my mind that they followed the girl."

"If you ask me, we should go out there surprise them," Julia's eyes began to burn with passion. "And make them pay for what they did!"

"No." Karla moved away from the wall she was leaning against, and made her way to the center of the room. "We wait for them to come to us. We make ourselves look like we're off-guard. We act casual. If they are in fact working for the Legion, then they have no problem bringing soldiers here. I want a few archers to stand by the wondows. If you see them leaving...then shoot them. If nwe can't, then we'll follow them and make sure their message never reach Blackwine."

Darman nodded. "Karla's right. They probably want to try to take us out and get some kind of special reward from Marlus. That's how bounty hunters are. They're all greedy."

Julia tried her best not to roll her eyes. "So we wait?"

Karla nodded. "We wait."

*Dray watches as his cold gaze is returned equally by the man but keeps his on him*

"Whats the story with us? Well I can tell you what my old friend told me, but that is about it...as for the whole story you will have to ask them. You are right about those mercenaries you supplied the weapons too. They are lead by a man who wants to control this city and many others not protect them...the protection is just a ruse for him to get on the peoples good side before he takes over the village. Those people who attacked you were trying to keep those weapons from the Mercenaries in order to tyr and get their town back. They fight against them...and I am here to help them...Now I spoke with your female friend in the other room and I know where she stands and what her spirit says...what about you? Are you the kind who only cares for the money will you not put your great skills to a good cause for the defeat of injustice and evil....or are you just a mercenary.

*The last word was said with a extreme distain on it as Dray stares back at the man again*

The difference between a brave man and a coward....is facing your fear instead of running away

"What?  Tierria!  You should know better than to put yourself in danger like that!" Phiona replied with a hiss, in an attempt to keep her voice down.  She rubbed her wrists, standing up for the first time since she awoke as a prisoner in the small house; she immediately began to pace the small room like a panther in a cage.  Although it felt good to stretch her legs, it was very apparent that she was angry with the young healer just then...   "We would have gotten out sooner or later... now I have to make sure you are safe, too, which is a hell of a lot harder than just looking after myself!"

Remembering the handle she spied earlier, Phiona went over to the dresser and moved the towel.  It was a straight-razor that sat next to the shaving bowl.  She grabbed it up and slipped it into her right boot, just in case.  The towel, she rearranged so that it looked like no one had touched it.  Looking back to Tierria, Phiona realized this was the first time she ever spoke to her friend in anger.  Suddenly she felt bad about that so she grumbled a lame apology, "Look, I'm not really mad at you... more just angry about this stupid situation." She crossed her arms and sighed in frustration.  And Phiona wasn't about to tell Tierria that she fell in a well before getting captured by these goons!  Keeping her voice low in case anyone was eavesdropping, she said,  "They sent in a man to interrogate me.  Dray is his name and I don't think he is really one of them.  He may be a wizard, too, but anyway, these people think we are cold-blooded killers because we defended ourselves against their people!  Unbelievable!"  

Phiona started pacing again.  Still talking in a hushed way, she asked, "You said you were with Elraralia?  Did she follow you?  And what's this about a dwarf?"

Edited by: Phiona Whitefire at: 11/27/03 8:28

Putting her own feelings aside for the moment, Elraralia looked at the newcomers whom had arived with Luca, but she had failed to properly notice until now.  A dark elf..and a human.  Well, the dark elf would be a nice addition, she may be dark but at least she was an elf.

Once everyone had scaled the wall, she motioned for them all to crouch down so as to be out of site.

"Alright, any ides on a plan?" she asked them all, hating the fact that she needed to.

"Me? I'm just someone who wants to make some honest coin while being on a personal journey. This is just some mess I got myself caught up in." Severine didn't bother to see if Dray looked like he believed him or not, and was staring at the wall instead. "If you want to know what's so personal about it...well I'm looking for the murderer of my family. My childhood friend Tierria and I had set out from Uderza to find the killer. As fate would have it, we found out the an assassin by the name of The Ivory Fox might be connected or know something about the murder of my family. Then, after helping out a merchant to try to have some amount of funds for my journey...we end up in a suspicious village, and I'm now captured by a group of rebels who i thought was bandits...and they think I'm the enemy..."

Severine finally looked up at the man. "And that's my story. Now that I'm starting to come to my senses, I feel like the both of us want the samething. To bring down these so-called 'mercenaries'."

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

Luca stared out over city and after some thought, said aloud "Y'all do know that the element of surprise was never ours, right?". Turning now to look at the group, the half-elf continued "These people know she has friends, and that we wasn't too happy seeing her off. I'm not saying they know we up here, but I am saying that you cant expect them sitting around for midday tea!"

Luca looked at them "I be figuring that I can work a rope or lock faster than any you, so when we go in, I'll get the others as to boost the odds while you kids do...whatever it is you do best" the half-elf concluded, with a wink to Marmalan.  

---

"Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life"

*Dray cracks a little smile as the mans story reminds him of his own reason for setting out from his village*

"Well we do want for the same thing....in more than one area...then you will help take down these mercenaries...this legion with us...I know I would rather have some one of you skill as an ally than as an enemy.....My father was murdered by bandits when I was but a child myself...the bandits were fended off and he made them retreat, but the wounds they caused him killed him. I set out from my village much for the same reason you did in an attempt to find his killers and do unto them what they did to him....we appear to have kindred souls....will you give your word that you will help us...fight on the side of good and rescue this city....and if you do I give my word as a warrior that I will help you find this Ivory Fox to get clues as to your parents killers."

The difference between a brave man and a coward....is facing your fear instead of running away

All right -Said Sable- That looks pretty like my idea. You unlock the doors and during that I'll cover your back. The others entertain them while we take Tierria and the others out. Protect the door but, if you meet too much problems, go out and attack them as the get out of the house. We'll try to make our way through the window -Sable looked one by one at all of them- Don't run risk. Just distract them while we rescue the prisoners. Are you ready?

OOC: Sev do you want us to enter right now or do you need more time with Dray and the others?

Crawling across the roof, Elraralia peeked into the window, and was surprised with what met her eyes.  Right there, were all the people that they needed to rescue, except for Severine, that is.  But they weren't alone, the room was filled with gaurd like people, and three others that appeared to be in charge.

Crawling back over, Elraralia crowched down next to them all.

"Ok, minor set back, Severine isn't in the room with the rest of them, so we are going to have to find him.  But everyone else appears to be in the room right next to us..conveniantly enough.  But there are also nine others or so gaurding them. " she concluded, and then turned to Luca
"Since you are so wonderful at the lock picking, your going to be the one who is going to have to go and look for Severine, as the doors are all going to be locked.  The rest of us can take on this room, some acting as a diversion, as Sable put it.  But now we have to decide, are we going to get them out through this window, or the door.."

Tierria backed away a bit to give Phiona her space. She knew the woman wasn't having a good day, and Tierria was hoping there was something she could do to make it better. But that would have to wait.

"Well knowing Elrararia, she would follow me. As for the dwarf known as Fflewdur, he was someone we met in the tavern. He said he saw some blood at the gazeboo. That's what led us to going there, and me getting captured by these men." Tierria sighed, and stared at the door. "Is Sevy okay?"

Severine nodded. "I guess we're much more alike than either of us thought. And thank you for your offer good sir."

Severine immediately started to feel comfortable around this man, a total turn around to his feelings towards him a few minutes ago. If everything went well, his group could merge with the rebels to get rid of Blackwine and his men once and for all.

"Talk to your allies about this. Let's see what they say. I'll be more than happy to aid you all as long as your intentions are good. I am deeply sorry that my companions and I can't make up for what we did in the past, but we'll surely help you all with a brighter future."

"Once again, the lone soldier walks off into the sunset..." -Anonymous

*Dray cracks a smile with Severine's words*

"I will discuss this with those in the other room, I believe I can sway them over to letting you help us, they need all the help they can get"

*Dray opens the door and leaves the room....as he does he gets a funny feeling that something is up, but looks around and sees nothing out of place so he shrugs it off and goes over to Ardan*

"My friend your captives know not what they did....and they regret what happened to your men and the fact they supplied a evil man with weapons. They want to atone for what they have done and have agreed to fight the legion with us. The female has a warriors spirit and she will help us as for the man....him and I have something in common and I know he is genuine in wanted to help us take down Blackwine."

*Dray turns to the rest of the room to speak to them*

"Would you not rather have these 2 as allies than captives or enemies...they did defeat 30 of your men...they wish to help and we all could use great warriors like them in the upcomming assult...put your personal feelings aside and look ahead towards the greater goal and see what needs to be accomplished and how these 2 can help get you there."

*Dray scans the entire room watching and waiting for the reactions on those inside*

The difference between a brave man and a coward....is facing your fear instead of running away

"Severine?  I wouldn't know, but I hope so.  He's taken a lot of hard knocks to the head lately..." She stopped pacing and looked at Tierria.  "You mean you didn't see him when they brought you in here?  He was right out there when they carried my chair into this room." Phiona pointed toward the front room.  "Damn them!  What did they do with him?"

She paused for a moment and then went to the door and placed her ear against it, listening, while motioning to the healer to stay quiet.  

Ardan nodded briefly at Dray. He believed the words of his long time friend, for he knew that Dray was one not to tell a lie. And even if he did, he wouldn't lie to a friend. He felt bitter inside that such a misunderstanding would be taken so far, but in order to stop Blackwine and his men, they had to concetrate on the matter at hand. Afterwards, they would mourn for their lost comrades.

"Dray speaks the truth," said Ardan. "Our plan was to have them fight for us...but now we have a divine purpose. And besides, it's the least that Severine and his party could do for us. We must focuse ont he future...always. That's what got us this far, hevn't it?"

Karla nodded. "Spoken like a true hero" she said. "I feel fortunate to have someone on your side. As well as someone like Dray. In a few minutes, we'll take Severine, Phiona, and Tierria out their rooms. Right now, I'll need someone to report to the others while the rest of us get into action with planning."

"I'll take someone with me and report" said Julia. "I'm also going to inform William of our situation. He should be somewhere around the village."

"Right." Richart walked away from the wall. "Take the prisioners from out their rooms."