Chapter I - In Search of a Druid

[Menweh Reolláolásh’miés]

Menweh took a long thoughtful sip of her tea.  How brave of Lyon to try to help her in her moment of need, he had tried to help her and had lent her a helping hand.  It seemed as though he had been there in her hour of need. She stopped sipping and pondered the idea. He seemed like a kindly soul. Maybe his being blind offered him insight that no one else had. He seemed very valiant.

The elfess had accepted his hand in help; of course that is when she caught Maue’s glare. What had she done to her! The woman was starting to make her mad! She too was an elf! As was most of this group, what made Menweh ANY different? Honestly?! Menweh took a cooling breath. She would not let Maue’s loathing get to her. Menweh tossed her hair, well her braid over shoulder and drank the rest of her tea in one large gulp. She needed to thank Lyon for his actions. The elfess stood up, her leg protested a bit as the tea needed more time, but she did not have that. She walked over to Lyon leaning more on her staff than she would have liked.

“ Lyon, thank you for earlier. It was very chivalric of you to help me up,” Menweh blushed lightly, her musical voice demure and full of sincerity. She looked him in the eye, or where his eyes would have been. She wanted to make this right, to show him that it was appreciated, and to show Maue that she was not a bad person. Menweh was raised right and to be a lady. She would show that to Maue, one way or another.

“ Oh, and Irid thank you as well.” Menweh smiled at her, her musical voice carried the same bright tone to Irid, save for the blushing.

[Rukaqua]

Ruka's pale green eyes followed the retreating back of the weasely man as he hastily took Irid's advice and hurried away.  Snorting in a cross between a laugh and a huff the warrior shrugged off the encounter, beginning to tidy away the stuff she had out in preparation for leaving.  Just as she had stowed the pack of cards away in a sidepocket of her pack she heard a pained gasp of breath from one of the elves, but in the moment it took toturn around and work out where it had come from the lady had already been offered help.  Ruka saw no point in crowding her after all.

So instead she continued to pack up her stuff, and tidy away the cooking equipment once Xanth had finished boiling the water.  The tattooed warrior took her own belongings and attached them across the saddle of one of the horses - a large, black, sturdy beast who looked as if he could carry her weight all day if he needed to.  A little feathering on his fetlocks showed some sort of carthorse or northern ancestary, as did the strength in his flanks and quarters.  His mane and tail were thick and full - protection against any weather, his eyes deep-set and his head rather square with a slash of white from right eye to left nostril. The right eye was a milky blue, the left the usual deep browny puddle. He was no masterwork of fine breeding, but his lack of hot-blood would hopefully make him easier to handle, less prone to skittishness. 

Ruka gave his soild, muscly neck a quick pat, waiting for the others to ready themselves as she finished eating the hunk of meat she had taken earlier.  The quiet gelding innocently nosed her breast, curious as to why she was standing next to him and not leaving him to a peaceful nap.  Ruka scraped the last of th meat from the bone, tightened the horse's harness and pulled her weight up onto his back as Irid moved towards her own beast.  He shuffled his feet slightly, adjusting to her weight, but pricked up his ears and lifted his head in seeming enthusiasm to get going.

[Lyon Ridgebane]

Lyon allowed himself to relax, listen, and be led to his horse without speaking. He hadn’t done so in many months it seemed. He had not has to ask for help in this way, and although he felt a little ashamed, he was justified in the fact that he did not ask for this, their Leader did so out of the kindness of her heart. She obviously still wanted him to come along, and for that he was grateful. Still the familiar forest around him kept him calm, the Kanapan was at ease in this place, at least with the tension that accompanied the intruder gone.

”Thank you, Irid, I will be fine mounting, I have ridden before.” The man said in his soft voice, low enough to be heard only by immediate bystanders. His broad mouth turned up in a sheepish smile, not wanting to decline her, but know he must show her he could do most things on his own. He was, after all, a grown man.

He stroked the animal thoughtfully, chewing on a small morsel of bread from his pack. He had not eaten much for lunch, due to his avoidance of meat, but nevertheless enjoyed the sounds and aromas as everyone around him had the benefit of eating. The horse before him was soft, its fur sleek and smooth under Lyon’s rough palm.

Contemplating what to do with his staff while he rode, the man settled at putting it across his lap. A slow blush crept at his cheeks when thinking of the touch of Menweh’s hand, and her thanks to him. Especially so at his only mumbled ”You are welcome, lady..” In return. He knew, deep down, that she did not need his help, but she’d taken it gracefully and he was glad he had been there for her, not bumbling like an idiot across the clearing.

As Lyon launched himself lightly onto the creature’s back, he settled his staff across his lap and adjusted his pack across his back. Pulling long, nor’sidion hair over his shoulder and into his lap as well, the Kanapan listened closely for the hooves of the others’ horses on the forest floor, and for the call of Irid or one of the others that they had started moving.

Curling his hand comfortingly in and out of the mare’s thick mane, Lyon waiting for their little caravan to get started. He assumed Irid was correct in that his horse would follow hers, and as the animal shifted slightly from side to side, allowing its weight to change and disperse, he cocked his head to the side, listening to the others make ready for their journey.

[Irid alMenie]

Irid nodded approvingly when Lyon climbed onto the horse by himself, forgetting for a moment that he could not see her nod. Satisfied that the blind man was capable of looking after himself, she went over to her own mare and mounted. When she looked around, she noticed that not everyone was entirely ready to leave. She knew, though, that if she wanted to find the druid within the specified time, they had to leave now, or they never would. Calling out to the people who were not seated on their horses, she said: "Please hurry up with getting ready. We won't be going fast the first few miles, catch up in a few minutes, ok?"

Then she turned her horse north and led the people who were ready out of the camp at an easy trot. Looking back, she was satisfied to see that Lyon's horse was following hers, just like she had been promised, and that the blind man had an easy way of riding that belied his disability. Ruka was there too, on a large black horse, which had come from the Armourwain. Menweh was there too, on another Armourwain horse, sipping from her waterbag every once in a while - Irid knew that she had poured the tea she had made in there. She wondered what was wrong that the mage needed such a painkiller. Maybe she should ask about it; Then again, maybe she shouldn't, it was a private affair after all, so long as she wouldn't be hindered at a crucial moment. There was time to decide that later though.

All the others were still getting ready, though it looked like Xanth and Xander were about ready to mount and follow them. Maue, Merysa and Blyxx were still inside the camp. Irid hoped they would catch up soon, the group wouldn't always have time to wait for two or three people. Then she turned her gaze north, where she hoped to find the druid, and put an end to her condition - curse, if you will.

*********************

Jorn watched from the bushes as part of the group of mostly women moved off on their horses. Good, a few less people to fight. They only wanted one victim here though - the orcess. He had glimpsed her in the morning, as he was going down to Santhala, and had decided that he couldn't let vermin like that live. In Santhala, he'd managed to convince some mates that vermin ought to be extinguished, as well as the people that associated with it. They had taken their swords - most of them rusty and badly taken care of, though they were still sharp - and come out to catch the orcess.

When they'd arrived, the group seemed to have grown considerably, and Jorn began to be afraid that they wouldn't be able to get to the vermin, especially since all of them seemed to be armed with at least one weapon, and one giantess with several - that he could see. They might not have enough lads, even though most of their opponents were women. When the one who seemed to be in charge had called out that they were leaving, though, Jorn had started grinning. The orcess was one of the people staying behind. Good.

They waited for a while, to let the others get far enough, then the men surrounded the people left in the small campsite and came out with their swords drawn. Jorn automatically took the word, he usually did. After all, he had started this venture. He looked straight at the orcess, though his eyes had registered where the others were as well. "Well well, what do we have here... Vermin, and people associating with vermin. Well, we happen to be very good vermin extinguishers... So that's what we came here to do." He nodded at the seven lads to start attacking.

[Maue]

When Maue saw the others preparing to leave she walked out of the small camp to where she had tied Witz. It didn't take her long to tighten his saddle. She was more than willing to let the mage leave before her though. This way she would be able to see what ever that woman did. A scowl crossed Maue's face as her thoughts led her back to her brother. It wasn't until Cal cawed that she realized she had let the others travel farther down the road then she had intended. In one swift motion she mounted Witz.
Without reentering the clearing she trotted to the rode. At a brisk trot it didn't take her long to catch up to the group. The blind man was staying close to their leader. Maue would apologize later for becoming distracted. It amused her that the mage appeared to still need her brew. Some due punishment for spending her life studying magic.
Maue rolled her shoulders. They were traveling in the direction of home. She knew that some people said all forests were the same but that just wasn't true to her. that each had their own taste, their own personality. She would be very glad to be back among trees and trails she recognized. Looking up Maue could see that Cal was enjoying his flight.

[Rukaqua]

The sturdy gelding moved off into a low, easy jog-trot with very little effort from Ruka, and she concentrated on slipping into that combination of relaxed back and arse muscles which would allow her to sit most comfotably.  She could feel her cooking equipment jingling up and down in the bottom of the pack, and the heavy leather plates of her skirt lifted each time with a slight flap-flap-flap.  Ruka guided the animal to the lefthand side of the little group heading north.

Suddenly Ruka felt the horse move beneath her - a few quick steps into the right towards the other horses.  His head shot upwards in a quick snort as a bird - white and about the size of a pidgeon - rocketed out from under a bush across the path in front of them.  It must have passed about a fore from her horse's head, frightened by the thud of the hooves passing by.  Another followed it almost instantly, fluttering up with a frightened, high-pitched sqwark.

Ruka calmed the horse as best she could, swinging him around from where he was stubbornly frozen and snorting in fear.  He had never put her in danger of falling, but little shots of alarm were shooting up from him into the warrior's seat.  She patted his neck, trying to convince him that not all bushes would be as scary as that one.  She looked around to check the others were alright as well, having been absorbed for a few seconds in dealing with her own mount.

[Menweh Reolláolásh’miés]

Menweh’s stead plotted along, seeming to go every which way. The beast would not stay on one path

“ Oh come now, please stay on the road?” She whispered to her beast of burden. It struck her that this is probably how horsemen felt when breaking in a new stead. Suddenly her world shifted. She imagined that she was being paid to tame this wild, wild beast.

The horse did not seem to enjoy Menweh’s imaginings and slowly plodded to a shrub to nibble on its leaves.

Menweh had the feeling that this was going to be trying before they got to their destination, but still she had to learn how to ride this animal before the journey was done. It was moments after that that the bird darted out of the bush next to her horse and zipped in front of it. The horse backup and whined loudly Menweh uttered several words under her breath that would redden the cheeks of any fine lady if she had heard them. The horse did not like the fact that strange things had just happened. Menweh made cooing and soothing noises. It was several minutes before the beast was calmed down enough to let the elfess continue to ride it.

[Irid alMenie]

Warning: somewhat graphic language at the end of this post.

Irid's horse snorted and pranced for a moment when all kinds of unexpected noise rose up behind her. She was not at all comfortable with the fact that at least two horses seemed nervous for some reason. When Irid turned her around, though, she could not discover the reason for the unease. She had heard the flapping though, so she assumed that the birds had flown. The mare could not see anything amiss either, so she calmed down of her own accord. Ruka quickly had her steed back under control, for Menweh it lasted some more time. Irid quickly took in the party, the twins had joined them as well but the knight and the orcess were still behind. Hmm, were they fighting out their differences? They might pick a better time to do so.

Still, she assumed that they would come, so when all horses were calm again, she led them north again at a gentle trot. Everyone was riding behind her at the moment, but she turned around in her saddle. Her golden eyes searched out the ranger, Maue. When she had caught her attention, she nodded with her head to ask her to come ride beside her. There were some things she wanted to ask the woman, a few somewhat more sensitive than others.

***********

If Jorn had been expecting anything, it was not the lightning quick reaction of the orcess - or her companion. The human looked like a knight of some sort, why was she hanging out with something as evil as an orc? It was all he had time to wonder before he toppled backwards with an orc's arrow protruding from his chest. Shocked to the core, his companions looked at their fallen leader, then at the two women, one with a new arrow on her bow, the other with drawn sword. Then they rushed in for the attack. Another one died by an arrow, and suddenly two or three were swept away by a streak of dark, which turned out to be the orcess's mount. One died by Merysa's blade, and another one got an arrow through his neck and choked on his own blood. These thugs had been too inexperienced fighters to take on two trained women.

There was just one of the seven who stayed behind while the others rushed to the attack. He took a fairly sized stone in his hand, believing himself to be a decent shot. While his comrades were falling one by one, he took aim and released the stone. He aimed for the orcess, but the stone landed with some force on the temple of the woman knight. Before he could take another stone, even before the orcess could aim again, he too was swept  up by the biggest Warg he had ever seen - though admittedly, he had not seen many.

Merysa was lying unconsciously on the ground, blood trickling into her hair. Cursing in her orcish language, Blyxx - feeling somehow responsible for the woman who had helped save her life - put her on her horse, then called Grizzy (after she was done eating) and mounted her. She led the horse by its reigns, but rather than going to the group she had joined, she went the other way and tried to find a safe place where she could take care of the fallen knight. Some strals away from New Santhala, she found - quite by chance - a deserted little hut. It was rather run-down, but it would do for now, until the woman regained consciousness and strength.

[The Illiana Twins]

Perched on his horse, Xander brought his midnight black mount into a leisurely trot. Beside him, his sister’s chestnut hued mare matched the rhythm easily, the two horses’ hooves clipping in tandem. A few minutes passed in a companionable silence, both elves finding no need to speak. In any case, there wasn’t a conversation going on in the first place.

Xanth watched in slight amusement at Menweh’s horse. Her mount didn’t seem to want to listen to her, and she found it a rather nice source of entertainment. She would never say that out loud, of course. That would be mean. Xander’s head turned from the road to her. “You should help a fellow elf, Xanth,” he said quietly, his face stern, though his eyes twinkled.

“Oh, shush. I will, if she falls off,” Xanth muttered back. “You know, I was thinking of calling my horse Twelve. I just like that number, so don’t give me that look,” she added, in response to Xander’s incredulous look.

Xander opened his mouth to tell his sister exactly what he thought of her choice of name, but right before he could, a loud squawk from the front made his mount start. “Woah,” he cried in surprise, caught off guard. Pulling gently on the reins, he managed to get his horse under control. His horse (which he had christened Cray as soon as he got it), was easily calmed, the frightened neighing rapidly quieting. Xanth, however, had gotten the short straw when it came to horses.

Twelve bucked violently at the combined sound of squawking and neighing. The sudden movement nearly threw Xanth off, the elfess only managing to hold on by grabbing her saddle with one hand and catching the reins with the other. A sharp tug from her stopped Twelve’s prancing, but it left Xanth muttering a multitude of curses under her breath.

A loud chuckle from Xander earned him a death glare from his sister. “Well, little sister. You sure you want to help Menweh? That would be like the blind leading the blind, it seems,” Xander teased good-naturedly. “At least I’d try,” she shot back. “Some gentleman you are.” Xander’s only reply was another chuckle, before he started Cray on a fast trot ahead.

[Maue]

Maue watched as the mage lost control of her horse. She didn't even try and keep the smile from coming to her face. She watched as the small bird whizzed up to the sky. Cal dove past the bird only causing it to spiral yet again. Maue let out a low chuckle.
Bringing her eyes back to the land, Maue viewed her companions. After staring at the mage for a moment Maue realized that Irid was watching her. As the two elves' eyes met Irid nodded. Maue could understand a beckoning when she saw it. Kicking Witz, and pulling his reins to the right, Maue sped up. She made certain however, that she avoided the mage. If that cursed woman was to be behind her then it would be for the least amount of time possible.
"Whoa." Maue pulled back on Witz's reins slowing him to the same speed as Irid's mount. "Whad may I do for ye?" Maue couldn't help herself as her eyes flicked back to the mage. Who knew what trickery she could be up to.

[Rukaqua]

Ruka's eyes scanned the rest of the party as they brought their animals under control again.  No-one in her line of eyesight seemed to have a huge problem with their beast and she was privately glad.  It would be a fine thing if their potentially long horseback journey was mired by little horse-related problems.  The warrior woman had been on trips with horses which were way too flighty for their owner's before and it could really prove a challenge to look after someone who's mount had a habit of bolting whenever something surprised it.  She was always surprised how many badly trained beasts there were out there, but then she had never tried to teach a horse to go against it's instinct to flee herself.  It was possibly much harder than it looked.  The warror woman patted her sturdy black mount once more before urging him forward to trot behind Irid.

The warrior woman found herself jogging along beside the young mage, who was in some ways most like the nobles she most often travelled with.  This time however she wasn't in the lady's pay, and that meant she could ask questions which she would have kept to herself if she had been the bodyguard.  The opportunity was temptingly too good to miss.

"So, Miss...sorry, remind me of your name?  I am Rukaqua, or Ruka"  She inclined her head slightly, the proud eyes showing a little respect for the mage.  "Tell me, what brings a learned mage like you on a trip like this?   Not that I'm not happy to have a little magic on our side you understand.  I just wouldn't have figured it for a ladylike position."  The words rung out loud enough to be easily heard above the jangling of harness and equipment.

[Menweh Reolláolásh’miés]

Menweh gave the travel worn woman a sideways glance, to afraid that if she turned an looked at her, her beast would take that as a signal to move that way.

“My name, Rukaqua is Menweh Reolláolásh’miés” the Elfess smiled at the very long, and very elvish name, “But please don’t bother with my last name, its just a formality really.  Just call me Menweh.”

Menweh laughed as she thought of her response to her traveling, and wondered what Ruka would think of it,  “ As to why I am here, I suppose I just wanted to travel again. Its been so long since I stepped foot out of Ximax. I wasn’t always a wizardess, when I was younger, about thirteen years ago, I sailed with my Father and helped aboard his vessel. I suppose I just wanted the wind back in my hair and to travel again.” As soon as Menweh said this she realized how silly she must have seemed. As proven by the by her walk on foot, she almost needed to walking stick to go with her everywhere.

She continued with disregard to her last statement, “ I also just wanted to see how I would fair outside the Library, and…” Menweh blushed lightly as she added,” I also wanted my own adventure, reading so many stories about heroes just inspires you. What about you? If it is not terribly rude, why do you accompany us? " Menweh couldn't have helped asking. Her curiosity was beginning to take hold. She wanted to learn more about this adventuresome woman and maybe even some of the ways of the wild.

[Irid alMenie]

Irid smiled at Maue as she came to ride next to her. "Nothing of too much consequence right at this moment. I was only wondering, you're from up North, aren't you? And I understand you're a guide? So you must be familiar with more or less most parts of the forests up there. Do you happen to know anything about druids living up there?" She glanced at the woman as she listened to the answer, wondering when she could bring up the mage. Perhaps not quite yet. Instead, she nodded her understanding at the answer, and continued to ask some general questions about the surroundings of the forests up there, as well as telling of her own memories from the two or three times she had been up there. As the conversation went on, the group moved on at a steady pace, which the horses could keep up easily.

Some time in the afternoon, while the sun was still shining happily but slowly and unnoticeably going lower, Irid called a pause near a small brook, to water the horses. With nothing much to keep them there, they soon after went on again, going steadily north. It was during this time that Irid asked Maue casually: "So can I ask what it is you don't like about Menweh?" It was perhaps not too important, but she wanted to keep the frictions in the group to a minimum if she possibly could.

[Maue]

Maue instantly brought her attention back to Irid when the elf began to speak. It was always wise to listen to ones employer. She carefully nodded with each question to denote understanding. "Yes I come from de nord und I am a guide, bud I am afraid do say I do nod know of any druids. This does not mean dad none live dere. Simple I don'd know dem." The couple's conversation continued for quite a while a Maue was relaxing as the day progressed.

It was afterthey had watered the horses that the conversation took a more personal not for Maue. Why didn't she like the mage? "I don'd like any mages. I learned long ago dad magic corrupds. I find that it doesn'd matter whad magic a mage sdudies or where dey sdudy dey all durn oud de same. Up nord I refuse do work for a mage and anywhere else I jusd can'd drusd dem." Maue looked away. She wasn't ashamed, she just didn't want Irid to ask anymore. She didn't want to tell about her brother. After all these years how could the memories still burn.

[Menweh Reolláolásh’miés]

Menweh studied her companion. The elf looked over the swirling blue markings on her face. The Wizardess' first impression was that they were symbolic of the element of wind and her thoughts strayed to the images she'd seen in the spell books at Ximax. The tattoos reminded her of the wind strewn image that showed a sail being filled by a powerful and unending wind. This had been the art work for a favorite spell of hers: Conjure Wind. It was one of Menweh's strongest spells, and a fact that she was fiercely proud of.  A smile started to grow upon her lips as she remember the vary reason she'd studied Wind magic: to never again be stranded at sea, to assure that her father would never again be doomed by the the Gray Lords calm winds.

Menweh forced herself back to the present. The elfess again looked at the warrior's markings. She pondered them for a moment longer before making an decision that she would ask the woman later.  Until then Menweh awaited for her response.

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