Sorana - 1999-6-17
mber's eyes went round at the sound of his voice and her mouth opened and closed several times of it's own accord. *Oh my. Did my horse just _speak_ to me? Horses are _not_ supposed to _do_ that! Maybe I just imagined it? No, no way I could've imagined _that_. At any rate, I should at least answer his question....even if I did somehow imagine this.*
"Au-Aubrey? Y-your n-name is Aubrey? O-of course I'll call you Aubrey. As y-you said, it i-is your name. Um. I think I'll sit down now."
Amber half collapsed onto the straw floor of the stall and waited nervously to see if Aubrey really _had_ spoken to her.
Alexia - 1999-6-18
"-I'll try not to be s-stupid," Elexa replied nervously. " H-h-have p-problems w-with the f-fire though. C-can't s-seem to c-control it anym-more. Am t-trying but." She trailed off with a heavy sigh, jumping slightly when the tiny grey kitten on her shoulder stirred and then jumped down into her lap. Letting go the reins, she gathered the kitten up and pressed her face against the soft fur, taking comfort in the soothing purring of the feline. Tenderheart continued along at a sedate pace, keeping his gait calm as he realised that his mistress was distressed. He raised his head after a moment, and whinnied slightly, at which Elexa took the reins back up and patted the horse's neck. " W-where are we g-going?" she asked finally, not able to remember if Keleos had told her. He had been too scared to take in any of the other's words before, but she slowly sifted through the memories. " Torrigan? W-why there?" she questioned, recalling that the other woman had said that would be their destination. " I-I'm n-not u-used t-to t-talking much." she added apologetically. " P-people are afraid of me o-or they t-think I'm s-simple. Maybe I am." She glanced across at her companion at that. " I-I'll try and b-be good and n-not c-cause t-trouble," she added hopefully, clearly willing to please. " I r-really d-don't m-m-mean t-to. It j-just h-happens." She sighed again, a defeated and weary sound, matching her mood.
Abby - 1999-6-23
He shifted uncomfortably. He didn't like having to apologize; it put him off-balance. "You've done me a huge service getting me away from him. I suppose I owe you."
Abby - 1999-6-23
eleos smiled slightly. "Don't worry, we'll work on it. I'm used to trouble; I can cope. Yes, we're headed for Torrigan... why is something of a long story. In a nutshell, I ran into a particularly nasty black healer, goaded him into challenging me, and killed him--which wouldn't in itself be a problem, since the council of mages really doesn't like it when their people start sacrificing their own apprentices, but the council is way the hells over in Pallas, and Sevarius had plenty of allies who'd have been more than willing to avenge him. I decided to heed the better part of valor and betake myself elsewhere.
"As for why Torrigan in particular... I rather like it there, for one; the Knights are generally good people. Very honorable, if a little stuffy. And the Torrigan government has been at odds with Melanos for years upon years, so if a bunch of Melanan nobility comes looking for me they won't find a warm welcome. Not that I really expect anyone to come hunting me. Black healers have been dying in mage-duels since magic began."
Alexia - 1999-6-23
"h," Elexa sighed, glancing across at the other woman and falling silent, hoping that Keleos would not ask her how she came to be setting fires in Ansleigh. She didn't want to talk about that yet, just wanted to shake the memories of those horrible men. and all of the things that conjured up from long ago. Swallowing hard, she tried to practice one of Edex's breathing and focus exercises only to find herself getting close to tears again as she remembered him teaching it to her, hearing his voice in her memory as if he were beside her. Tenderheart snorted and tossed his head, glancing back at her until she patted him gently. She was very glad of the company though, not to be riding alone through another night and perhaps when they stopped Keleos would take the lead and get them some food. Some fresh bread maybe. Maybe somewhere to stay, with a proper bed. But she had no way to pay the other woman; no way of even being useful and helping her and she did not wish to take advantage of anyone's kindness, but there seemed no other avenue of help open.
Mandi - 1999-7-26
amni's violet eyes sparked angrily at her own stupidity... How could she have been as foolish and ill prepared for such an incident. Had she even been aware that she was not watching her back she would have caught the movement in time to prevent her current situation. But no, she had been trying to compose another song and paid no attention at all to the road she travelled on.
She grabbed harder to the limb of the pale tree she was perched in and tried to blow her messy auburn hair from her eyes. She peered down through the leaves and still couldn't see the animal that had attacked her so suddenly.
"Curses and all!" Gamni swore as she swung to a more sturdy branch.
Her pack, instruments, staff, and bow were all laying scattered underneath the tree. had she any of those items she would have been able to hold her own but now all she could do was hold onto the tree and hope someone came along soon to 'rescue' her from the beast she couldn't even see.
She heard another thump as the tree shook violently again swaying dangerously. She let out a shriek of startlement both out loud and into the minds of all those who might be nearby; though she was unaware of that gift.
"HELP!"
Akiarine - 1999-7-26
RASH! A stream of liquid flame about the width of the tree branch Gemni had been holding split the air. Gemni shrieked again as it hit something not a few feet from where she clung--something she still couldn't see! What was going on?
*Would you mind shutting up! I am trying to concentrate, you know* The voice, feminine and annoyed popped right into Gemni's head. Nonsense, Gemni thought, I'm imagining things. But she could not shake the feeling that she had not heard the voice but had....well, there wasn't a word for it.
*It's called sending and I said SHUT UP!* came the voice again *or do you actually want the wind lizard to get you?*
Suddenly another stream of fire streaked across the clearing and hit the wind lizard, whatever that was. this time it was farther away and the third found it's mark even farther.
Gemni risked a sigh of relief and then spun as she heard movement off to her right. The brush parted and out step a young woman. She had blonde hair past her waist with twin witches streaks on either side and it was held back by a band of silver . She was clad in dark green and indigo leathers. She had eight blades strapped onto her legs, each with a three inch blade. Her eyes were green, but her pupils were silted like a cats and silver! Who....no, What the hell was this girl?
*There we go. I think it's decided we aren't worth the bother. I am Akiarene, who the hell are you?* the voice demanded.
"uh........" Gamni began, "I............"
Mandi - 1999-7-27
"h........" Gamni began, "I............" Gamni tried again to swallow but her mind was doing circles within itself and she couldn't form a single coherent thought. She had just had this... this... thing-woman talk into her mind without talking, AND she had obviously been the cause of the strange lights that burned without burning the tree, THEN out she steps with weapons all over and only the Goddess knows where all over was. with strange eyes and hair that could send a child screaming under his bed. Sweet lady! Where could she begin!!???
"H... how did you do that?" Gamni remained clutching the tree wanting badly to sit down but not daring to hardly BREATH near this... this woman? "T... Talking into my mind.. and , and the lights!!"
Gamni took a deep breath "WHAT ARE YOU!???" Just then her mind finally decided to understand this woman's question "I am Gamni. Gamni Airn Hart. I... I don't know exactly who I am... I am trying to find out." Gamni looked almost like a Shenmiri but also had unmistakable elf like qualities. "Thank you for helping me" Gamni waited shyly for the woman's reply.
Danae - 1999-7-28
y the time she had reached the stables, Rody had caught up with her. As she saddled up her black stallion she watched him out of the corner of her eye. He seemed fidgety for some reason. He wasn't moving with his usual cat-like grace. Hmmmm.....oh well. He was probably just ready to be off. Mounting her beautiful horse, she knew she looked amazing. Her long, shimmering hair watched her horses mane and tail perfectly. Her tack was all done up in silver and white trappings with accents of turquoise the exact color of her eyes. She was a striking sight and when she rode, it took people's breath away. She and her horse moved as if they were of one mind and together they were perhaps the most perfectly matched horse and rider in her house. As she looked down upon Rody she noticed a light in his eyes that she had never seen before but suddenly he looked away and when his gaze returned to her his eyes were as lidded as always.......
As Rody gazed up at his mistress, his heart caught in his throat and for a moment he was unable to move. Suddenly he heard the chime of Lucian's tack on his antsy horse. He looked down the road and saw Lucian riding, with two figure walking beside him. He could see that one was female and one was male. Even from far away he could tell that the female was quite beautiful and that all of her attention was focused on the Lord. Upon this assessment, he looked back to Adriana and met her eyes once more, this time prepared for the sight she presented. "It looks as though your guard has just arrived." As she looked out towards her brother and his escort, he watched for the slightest change of expression in her face. He could tell that her interest was focused mainly on the male half of the watched set. Although he was not one to judge a man's form, he had to admit that his rival was almost as finely wrought as the females. Again he felt his hackles rise but kept his face expressionless. "Well, don't just sit there and stare child," he scolded. "Be polite and go and greet them. They are after all going to be with us for a very long time"............
He had interrupted her very calculating appraisal of all of the man's features and her face turned red at his coment. "I wasn't staring," she snapped. "And I'm going. Are you coming or not?" And with that she rode off in the direction of her brother and her new guard, leaving her most devoted guardian standing in her dust.....
Copyright (c) 1999-2000 Abigail Laughlin and the members of the Circle of Stone.