On the way to the Valley of the Brownies

[Capher]

Capher was a blur as he leaped and attacked the intruders.  His snarl was ferocious as he leaped upon another man, tearing at his clothed arms until he found flesh as the man tried to protect himself.  

Finally Capher bit hard, the man screamed, as Capher shook the man's arm, shredding flesh from it until bone shone.  The man tried to scramble away, but Capher was upon him in a blink of an eye, tearing at the man's unprotected back and neck.  The man rolled over with a dirk in his hand and he tried to stab Capher, but Capher was too quick, and jumped out of the way.  He then rushed in again and tore flesh from the hand holding the dirk, and the dirk dropped and then Capher went in for the kill.  His jaws locked upon the man's throat and he tore and shook his head, blood sprayed all over from the severed jugular vein.

The man died with his eyes wide open.

Capher sat upon his haunches, his muzzle full of skin and blood and howled.  His howl was not the usual howl of a wolf, but it had the mixture of a roar a dragon would make as well. It made the birds and animals in the nearby grove and as far away as the Quallian to fly or run away.

Capher.

[Ta'lia of the Seven Jewels]

Talia quickly moves a bit to avoid the falling horse and man. The man gives of a shriek when the horse falls on him and Talia hears a cracking sound. That was a leg or more, he won‘t get up quickly. Seeing that all foes are bound she looks after the first man who has cut himself with his sword and to her shock she sees, that he has cut open his wrist and is already unconscious, if not dead. That was not what she had intended to. But all help is to late. While watching him he does a last sigh and is dead.

Talia is trembling. She doesn‘t like killing, not if it can be avoided, and this man was not meant to die from her hands.

An unnatural howling  - Capher‘s - brings her attention back to the other man. The horse is already standing again and seems not to be injured despite the whip and the crash. When it hears the howling it is running away, giving the man on the ground another hit with its hooves.  He is  lying some peds away with a face showing awful pain. Another quick scan over the clearing and Talia sees, that the fight is over. One or two men are running towards the trees. So she goes over to the man she made tumble with her whip, knees down next to him carefully watching him. she inspects his leg - it is broken, but not smashed, he was lucky. Blood is running down his head, but this is just a cut he just got from one of the hooves of his horse. Not too bad, he should be able to answer.

„Who send you?“ she asks him quietly. But he is not yet willing to answer her questions.

„Better talk to me, the others might not be as patient with you as I am. I might even mend your leg, so that you can go back and tell your employer, that you failed. However, you could take another path as well“she suggests.

He looks doubtful at the others. But then starts to talk with a low voice.
„We stayed in a little village outside of the Quallian and we got message from somebody from the elves there, from this forest in the south, that a group of well equipped travellers would head northwards, travellers who have enough resources for a long voyage. “

„Who are you, or your group?“

„Just a bunch of mercenaries without work. This king has much to much under his control, all is so peaceful now, that there is no work left for a swordarm.  “

***Astropic of the day***
"For me there is only the traveling on paths that have heart, on any path   that may have heart. There I travel, and the only worthwhile challenge is to traverse its full length. And there I travel looking, looking, breathlessly. ~Don Juan"

[Garrek Driel]

Garrek, watching from a good distance, mostly invisible from where they stood on the path, wheels his horse about and moves completely out of sight. Ah, well, at least they're staying awake. Besides, this wasn't meant to stop them; the day of powerful warriors for a little fancy coin is a day his eyes have never beheld.

It is strange today to ride alone. When working with mercenaries, he usually brings an assistant, to make sure everything is nicely cleaned up, but the red elf he left in Aer'Ylferrhim didn't really give him time for that. Now certain he is out of sight, he stops, dismounts, and rests himself and mount, listening for the party to be ready to move again.

Of course I have nothing against you personally, but I'm afraid I've told you more than is safe...

[Aueniteri]

'Teri had stopped, and landed with a light step on the ground. She had almost begun to tie her horse when quite suddenly the enemy appeared. Taken completely by surprise, she stood there, keeping her animal from bolting at Capher's demonic howl, and watched the fight take place, unable to react. Now with the fight ended, she turns her gaze up the road from whence they came, and sees no more.

-------------------
Silence! You could give your excuses until Injèrá hides her head from all Santharia, but it will never preserve your life.
I have so sworn...
____________________
Listen to the songbird, don't ignore it...
Legacy of the Songbird

[Talas Anthavin]

Ta'las considers rushing after the fleeing men, but stops when he notices Talia has captured one of their assailants.  Instead, he dismounts Desert Rose and strides up beside Talia, his weapon still at hand.  

He looks at his Shendar-sister.  "He has told us nothing useful, and his intentions are not good.  Unless he speaks of this person who hired him, I see no reason to grant him leniency."

Ta'las

[Ta'lia of the Seven Jewels]

Talia looks up to Ta‘las and answers:

“It won‘t do us any harm, if we let him live. Look, how young he is. There is no need to kill, and then we don‘t have the right to.  “Then she turns to the wounded man.

I will see , if I can bind your leg.  Your only hope is though, that your comrades who have fled come back and help you. We will leave one of the horses for you. But, tell me, what is your name?“

“ Matt“


„So, Matt“  Talia inquires “
How looked the elf or the messenger who told you this? Do you know his name?“

“ No, such people never give their name away, you should know this. But he was tall - as all elves, and had red hair. “


„Red hair?  Aha. Good let me fix your leg now - and if you have any other information you might want to share with us, I have open ears.“

Talia goes to Swing to look for some cloth for the boys leg. A small fitting bough is soon found and Talia starts to mend the  leg and his headwound.


„Could you try to get some of this horses? We could use the best for Z‘doth and place this youngster on another. Then he might have the chance to get back to is village.“ she asks her friends.

***Astropic of the day***
"For me there is only the traveling on paths that have heart, on any path   that may have heart. There I travel, and the only worthwhile challenge is to traverse its full length. And there I travel looking, looking, breathlessly. ~Don Juan"

[Capher]

Capher ran toward a large mound went behind it, changed back into himself and then jogged to where Talia had one of the men who had attacked them.  She was binding his injuries.  "Has he told you who he is and who he is working for? And why he attacked us?" He asked Talia while  menacingly, peering down upon the man, who looked liked he was only a boy, in human years.

Capher.

[Talas Anthavin]

Ta'las cocks an eyebrow at Talia's statement about not having the right to kill the man named Matt.  "I had not thought to kill him.  I am just concerned that leaving this man alone could be dangerous to us in the future."

The Shendar shrugs and sheaths his weapon, and then returns to Desert Rose.  He grabs a piece of salted meat from his pack and bites off a chunk, which he chews while watching their enemy in silence.

Ta'las

[Terra Artemos]

Terra over hears Ta'las's recomendation as she rides in toward the group after making a sweep around there would be camp for any more attackers. She speaks up, her voice smooth but weary and it is obvious that the fight has taken alot from her.

"Ta'las is right, even if this young man hild no more ill intentions toward us, his comrads may coherse him to give them information that could cause us more trouble later. It may be best to take him with us till we can find somewhere he can be propperly looked after."

Terra Artemos aka Mortus Pryde

[Ta'lia of the Seven Jewels]

Talia looks shortly back at Ta‘las.“Well, what did you mean then with saying: ‚I see no reason to grant him leniency‘ ? Taking him with us  instead of killing him would just be that. Apart from that, what for harm could he do to us? At least two have fled and they will bring soon message to those who have hired them - or given that hint - that we are not defeated and that no harm was done to us. But if you think we should take him with us, I don‘t object. It is better for him, but he will be a burden to us. Terra, why should he be a menace for us later, with his broken leg?“

Then she turns to Capher: “Yes, his name is Matt and they got a hint form an elven man with red hair, that we might be a good target for a robbery. Did you hear of a red-haired elf in the Quallian? This is not a common color there.“

Talia gets up and is restless. she can‘t eat here with the dead lying around. Her Shendar brother seems to have a more enduring stomach.

“Let‘s ride on for an hour and then rest there. My appetite is gone and I want to bring some distance between this place and our resting area!
Z‘doth, do you want one of these horses? We should take all with us and leave them in the vale or sell them, I don‘t know, if they are able to survive on their own. What are we doing now with Matt? How can we fasten him on his horse without causing a lot of pain?“

***Astropic of the day***
"For me there is only the traveling on paths that have heart, on any path   that may have heart. There I travel, and the only worthwhile challenge is to traverse its full length. And there I travel looking, looking, breathlessly. ~Don Juan"

[Talas Anthavin]

He looks at Talia, and then at the others, and agrees with her assessment in one regard.  "You are correct, two others have escaped.  One more will do no more harm."

Careful not to aggravate Matt's broken leg, he lifts the young man from the ground and helps him up onto a horse.  "Leave, and return to your home.  I suggest that you take up something more honourable than a mercenary's life.  You are young and strong - perhaps you would make a good carpenter."

He then smacks the horse's backside to send the horse on its way.

When Matt is gone, Ta'las looks at the others.  "I suggest we leave and travel quickly.  Though Matt may not bother us again, we know nothing of the others who escaped.  Z'doth, I am going to allow Desert Rose to stretch his legs - you will be hard-pressed to keep up with him on foot.  Please consider taking one of the horses."

The group quickly gathers up their belongings, and then soon is on its way.  The open plain of swaying grass gives way to rolling hills covered with copses of ash and oak.  Ta'las rides at the head of the group with Z'doth, and allows his Aj'nuvic to set a fairly rapid pace, but one that the horses can cope with.  

A stiff breeze picks up out of the north and makes travel a little cooler, and within an hour a thin layer of white clouds filters across the sky.  There is no threat of rain in these clouds, but they are enough to cover the sun and bring a chill to the air.  

They soon reach a small clearing protected by a ring of massive oak trees.  A spongy layer of moss and ferns covers the floor of the clearing, and here and there are some bushes covered with small redberries.  The air is still, but not muggy, and sunlight reaches through the boughs of the mighty oaks.

He looks back for confirmation from the others - they are at least an hour's travel from the site of the battle, and this place will offer some shelter from the cold wind.  Ta'las nods to the others and taps Desert Rose's flanks.  "We will stop here, friend."  He dismounts and grabs some food from his pack.

Ta'las sits quietly, contemplating their earlier encounter.  He was quick to respond to their enemy and fought as he had been trained, but he had allowed his anger to rise when faced with what to do with Matt.  What might I have done if Talia hadn't been there? he wonders.  Perhaps my mother-sister was right that I have far to travel along my path toward 'Second Reality'.  He looks over at Talia, and decides he will explain himself.  

He walks up to her and speaks quietly.  "Shendar-sister, it is not good that there is discord between us so early on our journey.  I do not enjoy killing, though I will do it if necessary.  But I will try to curb my lack of compassion toward a defeated enemy."

Ta'las

Edited by: Talas Anthavin at: 3/17/06 5:13

[Ta'lia of the Seven Jewels]

Talia is lost in thought on their short way to the next rest. She hates such encounters which cost unnecessary lives, even if the men had been of an evil  intent. She quarrels with Seyella, why such things have to happen. But when they arrive, her mood is lifting again, she jumps from Swing and starts to unpack the food , when Ta‘las approaches her. He apologises for his attitude towards Matt with the promise to be more considerate next time.

Talia smiles at him, hugs him and holding still his arms, with some distance though to be able to see his face she says: „No problem, brother!“ and with her inevitable weakness to have to tease everybody who gives the slightest reason, she adds, with a mischievous smile this time and a twinkle in her eyes: „You see, Ta‘las, therefor it is so good, that the women rule our tribe. The world would be much more peaceful if every government would be dominated by women! “  

***Astropic of the day***
"For me there is only the traveling on paths that have heart, on any path   that may have heart. There I travel, and the only worthwhile challenge is to traverse its full length. And there I travel looking, looking, breathlessly. ~Don Juan"

[Talas Anthavin]

He nods and returns her smile with a smirk.  "Perhaps that is true, Talia.  And at the very least the men would have more freedom."

He sits down and begins to eat, scanning the glade.  "This would make a nice place to camp," he starts, loud enough for the others to hear, "but I wonder if we are still too far from the vale to stop for the night."

Z'doth looks over at Ta'las and nods.  "Yes, my friend, we will only stop here for a short break, and then we must be on our way again."  Their guide rubs his bald pate and turns back to his meal.

Ta'las eats his meal in silence, and then stands, eager to travel.

Ta'las

[Capher]

Capher was not sure about letting the young man go. An old adage kept nagging him about, "never letting your enemy live so that they can stab you from in the back."  But as Capher thought about it as they rode to a more suitable place to rest and have some food and drink; Talia was right, since we allowed two to escape, which should not have happend, but it did, it really did not matter whether this Matt was released or killed.  Still it bothered him, leaving enemies behind his back.  Perhaps at night when the others are asleep, I can go back and track this fellow and his companions? he thought as he slid off his horse.

He listened as Ta'las apologized to Talia and they along with Z'doth had sat down upon the grass to eat something.  He took the saddle off of his horse and let the animal graze as he watched Terra and Teri and wondered if they would join the group.  He walked up to where the three sat, "Do you have any more of that beef, Ta'las?" He asked, while at the same time he sat down he asked Talia.  "Did you say that this boy, Matt say he and his companions were hired by a red-haired elf?  That is very curious.  Red-haired elves are not common.  And I seem to recall Teri telling of a red-haired elf when we first met Morcaanan.  Do you remember, Ta'las?"  He asked frowning in thought.

Capher.

Edited by: Capher at: 3/20/06 17:27

[Talas Anthavin]

Ta'las nods to Capher.  "Just a minute," he says and rummages through his pack until he finds some more salted meat.  He hands a couple of pieces to Capher and smiles.

"They're good, but very hot for most people's tastes, my friend.  Shendar are quite fond of spicy food."

He shrugs at Capher's question about the elf with red hair.  "I think she may have, Capher, but I am uncertain.  I did not know that elves rarely had red hair."

Seeing that the others are still not ready to leave, Ta'las grabs his bag of red fruit, and pops one into his mouth.  "In my haste, I forgot to ask what these are called," he says, savoring the sweet taste of the fruit.  

Then he holds out the bag to offer some to the others.  "Please, take some if you like."

Ta'las

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