Danae - 1999-12-20
"Adriana, although slightly distracted by her mount's nervous antics, answered her new guard graciously. "It is I who am honored." Upon this statement, having gained control of her horse, she looked down at the pair and was immediately caught in the depths of Deran's golden eyes. She was strangely attracted to the feline shape of them. It somehow made him look dangerous and fierce and a slight shiver coursed through her spine. To cover her moment of discomfort and embarrassment at being caught staring so intently at the man, she feigned another wrestle with her horse for its attention. She still felt his eyes on her and unsure of what else to say mumbled some comment about still having much to pack and quickly turned away.......iana and Deran, may I introduce you to my sister and your charge, Adriana. Adriana, meet your new guards, Diana and Deran, the best that money can buy."
Diana stared measuringly up at the girl, a slight smile playing over her features. Her horse shifted nervously, picking up on Lucian's mount's unease and the strange, wolven smell of the two Llowran mercenaries.
Deran, on the other hand, executed a slight bow, his golden eyes never leaving Adriana's face. "I am honored," he murmured.
Diana tried not to laugh at her twin.
Watching his sister manoeuvre her horse quickly out of range of the guards and break into a full gallop within seconds, Lucian sensed something. Although they had always been close, he had not been able to tell what she had been thinking. "I think you may have flustered her. Please do not be offended by her hasty retreat. She is only not used to getting so much attention. Perhaps now I should tell you the reason for your being hired, however, it is not something I enjoy discussing. If you would follow me I will get you settled in rooms for the night and then we can sit down over a decanter of wine and I will tell you the whole story from the beginning. You will need to know what this girl has been through if you will be able to understand her and protect her in the way she needs." Beginning to turn his horse towards the estate in the very direction Adriana had taken off, he became aware of Rody's quiet gaze. "You too must join us Rody. You have known her better than anyone else in these past few years. She has trusted you like no one else and they will need to know all that you can share." Assuming everyone's contentment with this arrangement he again set out towards the estate in complete security that all would be well for his beloved little sister......
As Rody had watched his charge, he had known very well exactly how she was feeling. He had taken not of every minute change in her attitude from the time she had first seen the guards, to her hasty retreat from their presence. Everything he had seen had only made him less and less happy with the present circumstances. Lucian was right, he did know Adriana better than anyone else and he wanted to keep it that way. He took the rear position in the small party that made it's way towards the buildings so that he would have time to think things through and put back the mask that was his habitual expression. It had painfully been pulled from him twice in one day and each time that happened he found it harder and harder to put it back up. "You're going to ruin everything," he thought to himself, "you're going to ruin it all if you keep on slipping. You're getting old....soft. Come on now, stop it." By the time they arrived at the main gate he had fully contained all of his confusing emotions, but somewhere, in the very back of his head, he knew they couldn't stay there forever, and no one would probably want to be there when they all came tumbling out.......
Amber - 1999-12-21
enra didn't move as she heard the woman's voice behind her, her fingers moving steadily as she knotted the bandage she had just finished tying around the man's head.
"I would suggest you put your weapon down. SilverStrike doesn't take kindly to people focusing their weapons on me." She didn't even turn around as a slight rustling sound announced the huge tiger's approach.
Stepping into the clearing, his tail lashing and fire in his eyes, he made quite a sight. Jenra fished in her pack at her side, pulling out a small red berry.
"Eat this. It will take away the dizziness and help clear your head." She said to the man softly, ignoring the other two. They wouldn't harm her, not with Silver right there, his claws bared.
Alexia - 1999-12-20
lexa started at the scream, eyes flying impossibly wider as she froze stiffly, TenderHeart shifting and snorting under her. Her gaze darted about, taking in the trees and seeing no danger in them.
She forced herself to concentrate as Keleos began to speak, then dismounted and crept off into the trees. Elexa did not wait a minute before sliding off Tender's back. She was not going to stay on the dark road by herself. Keleos was good and strong; she would be safe with her, not alone. And the woman had been kind to her, helped her; she would not let her go off into possible danger alone.
Clenching her teeth, hands fisted, eyes flying about her surroundings, she followed Keleos soundlessly. The other woman was not even aware of her presence as she slipped between the trees and bushes, her slight stature making her passage through the narrow gaps easy. Her whole body stiff with fear, she watched the woods around her carefully, keeping back from Keleos, but within close range should trouble befall either one of them. And she did find comfort in the woman's company, even if the soldier-woman didn't realise that she had a shadow. Swallowing hard, she crept to the edge of the woods, as Keleos stepped out onto the road beyond, calling out a command.
Elexa peered through the branches as the small elven woman, standing over a young man and a corpse. She wrinkled her nose, blinking a few times, tilting her head to the side as she examined the new woman, and then stepped out of the bushes, skittering over to Keleos to pull on her sleeve.
"Nice," she said, pointing at the elf, nodding a few times at her friend to emphasise her words. "Lo-ho," she greeted the other woman shyly from Keleos' side, before turning her attention to the man.
The elf seemed to have him under control, and Keleos was close by, but that idn't mean that he wasn't still dangerous. Looking into his face, she curled the left side of her lip up and hissed through her teeth at him, threateningly.
Abby - 1999-12-20
"Keleos' slanted eyes narrowed slightly, her stance not changing as a massive white tiger slid out of the brush nearby and silently menaced her.would suggest you put your weapon down. SilverStrike doesn't take kindly to people focusing their weapons on me." She didn't even turn around as a slight rustling sound announced the huge tiger's approach.
(So, it's to be intimidation, is it?) she thought tartly. (I don't care to play such games. Either I stand down and hand away my dignity, or I get flattened by something that is probably little more a tiger than I am. No thank you.) The corner of her mouth twitched slightly, the only change in her expression. (As Kyril the Red would say, 'If you don't care for the game, change the rules.') Metal sang as she slid her swords back into their ebony sheathes. Her eyes slid to Elexa.
"I see we're going to have to work on our communication," she murmured in dry amusement, before she turned her regard back to the woman in the center of the clearing. (You want to be arrogant? Fine. I'm more interested in the ones who aren't on their feet.)
"Now," she drawled in sardonic tones, the Shenmiri lilt in her voice becoming markedly more pronounced, "If we're done playing who's-more-dangerous, perhaps we'd like to behave like adults, and you can tell me when you plan on untying that young man." Out of the corner of her eye she watched the tiger, straight-spined stance saying more clearly than words that she was not intimidated.
Amber - 1999-12-23
She turned to face them, her hands on hips. "I came to help. Not to hurt." Her blue eyes narrowed dangerously as she watched the swords slid into their sheaths.
"Silver, calm." She said softly, while cutting the man's bonds with her knife.
Silver glanced at her. <Are you sure Jen?> Jenra nodded. "I'll be fine. Will you get me some florentina please. I need an antiseptic for his head wound." Silver nodded, disappearing into the forest.
Jenra brushed her hair out of her face, kneeling beside the man. "Are you feeling better?" (Arrogant obnoxious Outsiders.) She thought, rolling her eyes.
Gavin - 1999-12-22
he woman's sharp voice still ringing in his head, Daemil did not hear the reply the silver-haired one gave, although he could hear a strange hissing.
The silver-haired one placed something in his mouth. "Eat this. It will take away the dizziness and help clear your head."
Daemil bit into it and tasted a slightly sharp, but generally pleasant taste seep onto his tongue.
He heard the two women argue slightly, then the silver-haired on asked: "Are you feeling better?"
Daemil looked at the body beside him, but didn't reply as emotion welled up and he began to cry again...
Copyright (c) 1999-2000 Abigail Laughlin and the members of the Circle of Stone.