Yvonne - 2000-01-14
eran hid a smile and turned his feet toward the hulking waste of space that Adriana called her home. It could fit three or four of his wreshalal inside, and still have room for another.
But his personal opinion on her home really didn't matter. They'd be leaving tomorrow, and the sooner the better. Diana usually pushed for daybreak departure and quite frankly, her twin agreed. There was no use in hanging around losing light and miles when one could be getting on the road and out of the crowds and false settings that characterised human habitations.
And he had a feeling that his charge would need all the sleep she could get.
Finally the impassive stone walls rose up before them, and Deran guided her to an ill lit doorway that would take her into her home. "Well. I shall see you tomorrow then, lady. We will be departing as early as we can, so sleep soundly. Good night."
With a slight bow, more of an incline of the head than anything, he melted soundlessly back into the night, his dark leathers shielding him from view as he watched to make sure Adriana got inside safely. Diana would _not_ be pleased with him if they lost their job even before they begun. *And it isn't like _that_ hasn't happened before.*
Gina - 2000-01-14
ith the exception of the flies that tormented Tala, the forest of Northern Aleron was silent. Lying on her back, the young woman stared up at the canopy of leaves over head. A growl vibrated deep within her throat before she slapped at a mosquito that had landed on her cheek. Stupid bugs, she thought. The noisy little insects irked her. They were too small to eat, for she had tried; it was her opinion that they lived only to frustrate her.
Sighing loudly, she wiped the squashed insect, and the blood that had filled it, from her face. This brilliant and exciting "adventure" of hers was growing less and less appealing. Over the past week, the atmosphere had become colder and the tangle of vegetation grew thicker. Of course, she COULD have travelled the nearby road; but she didn't. Only the Gods knew why she fancied the difficult path.
-But tomorrow would be different- How many times had she thought that now? She guessed that depended on how many bugs had decided to make a midnight snack out of her or maybe it was how many times she tripped over some hidden root. -No...No... it was how many times my fingers and toes felt like they were going to fall off- Although this complaint was one of her favorites, it really wasn't THAT cold out; and yet, to her Ronin blood the atmosphere had rivalled freezing. She had made up her mind that night, as she laid on her weaved blanket, a new direction was to be taken. Tomorrow she would start east.
Above her the pitter-patter of raindrops against the canopy reached her ears; soon the cool water fell and splash onto her face, hair, legs... Were the Gods punishing her? She had thought so. Groaning, she grabbed the corner of her blanket and curled up. Tomorrow she WOULD have dry clothing, perhaps even warmer clothing. She smiled as she closed her golden eyes; how fortunate was she in "finding" those leather pants, bodice, and cloak?
Amber - 2000-01-15
enra slept on, through the quiet summer afternoon, the shadows playing games across her smooth, peaceful face. At some time or another, the basilisk slithered down from its perch above her cave to stare at her, and it and Silver left to have a 'friendly' game of hide-and-seek in the cliffs above.
But Silver was always, always watchful and protective, and the basilisk respected that, always hiding near the cliff where Jenra could plainly be seen, a tiny shining blur of silver and green.
Martin - 2000-01-20
uranog shifted in his saddle to regard the outlander who had stepped up to him, interrupting his conversation with Keleos. He regarded him silently for a moment, before speaking.
"To die with honour is the crowning achievement of life. To die without honour is a disgrace - but to kill without honour is equally so." the pyromancer's face took on a grim cast, as if remembering something other than what he saw before him. "Honour demands that we keep Oath with those we have sworn to. Yet honour demands also that they command us honourably." Muranog looked down at Keleos. "If your Lord commanded you against honour, it is he who transgressed. In honour, you could not refuse - yet in honour, you could not carry out an act of dishonour. A dilemma indeed." Muranog's eyes were hard as flints. "Who was the Lord who committed this breach?"
Abby - 2000-01-24
eleos, intent on the other Shenmiri and her own anger and pain, was taken by surprise when Elexa stepped up, hissed through her teeth at both men, and threw her arms around Keleos' leg. The Avarel fairly radiated an odd mixture of sympathy, anger, misery, and disgust, and, sure enough, the ground was starting to smoulder again...
(Elexa, dear one, *please* do not set me aflame...)
"Bad!" Elexa shouted at the men suddenly. "Keleos NICE. Help 'lexa. Keleos NICE!"
Keleos immediately turned her attention to the obviously distraught young girl, resting a protective hand on her shoulder. The pyromancer could be damned. Keleos had a responsibility to Elexa.
"Want to go. Nasty men. Go, go?" the Avarel pleaded, stuffing a clenched fist into her mouth. " Go, go?" She pulled on Keleos' cloak, half-hiding behind her leg and staring out with obvious fear at the two men.
(Aid comes from sources unexpected...) Keleos' own distress dissolved into calm. She was needed; her own needs came secondary and, for the moment, could be ignored. she turned a reassuring smile on Elexa, opening her mouth to speak soothingly. But the other Shenmiri spoke first.
"To die with honour is the crowning achievement of life. To die without honour is a disgrace - but to kill without honour is equally so." The pyromancer's face took on a grim cast, as if remembering something other than what he saw before him. "Honour demands that we keep Oath with those we have sworn to. Yet honour demands also that they command us honourably." Muranog looked down at Keleos. "If your Lord commanded you against honour, it is he who transgressed. In honour, you could not refuse - yet in honour, you could not carry out an act of dishonour. A dilemma indeed." Muranog's eyes were hard as flints. "Who was the Lord who committed this breach?"
Keleos returned her regard serenely to the pyromancer. "My Oath was sworn to Lord Talasar," she replied simply, and shrugged. "And I believe my charge may have the right of it. If I am not wanted among this company, it is best that I leave."
Abby - 2000-01-24
"es. I wish to speak to you about tomorrow. What is the exact route you wish us to take. What is our exact destination. How many to we bring with us, and are my brother and I to protect them as well. Are we to stay in any particular city. Are there any stops along the way that we must make. Does Lady Adriana have any health concerns that we should be aware of. Does she have any training to defend or care for herself alone, or is she completely helpless. Is there anything else I should be aware of. I do believe that we should leave for somewhere more .. private," Diana finally said, managing to make that simple request into something a little less than proper, "I do not know whether or not you wish to make the rest of your people aware of our plans. I would council against it, but you are the one in charge.
Lucian, for his part, prayed devoutly that he would not break out into a cold sweat. He was embarrassing himself quite enough as it was... and Diana was making him very nervous.
"Of course," he answered briskly, his tone holding a great deal more vigor than he felt. "If the two of you will accompany me to my study, I'll be happy to address your concerns..." He half-turned, looking again for Adriana in the hopes of a chance to bid her goodnight and perhaps disengage Deran from her side, but his sister was gone. He restrained a sigh, and led the way out of the great hall, down a short series of corridors to his private study.
He had his hand on the door before he realized it was locked, and nearly managed to drop the key before he managed to get the thing open. (Manual dexterity goes first, right. I'm making a proper idiot of myself...)
Graciously he waved Diana and Rody in ahead of him, and closed the door behind him when he followed, moving to take a seat behind his desk. (I won't fall over, at least; one less worry.)
Addressing Diana, Lucian began, "We decided it best for Adriana not to travel too conspicuously, so you'll be travelling only with her, Roderon, and perhaps one maid. Roderon is my sister's personal bodyguard and can take care of himself; your responsibility is only with Adriana."
After a pause, he continued, "We haven't planned an exact course--I leave that to your discretion--" he nodded to Rody to indicate the Felana was to be included in such decisions "--but I will ask you to keep in mind that Adriana is not familiar with wilderness travel. Again, I leave stops along the way to your discretion. Adriana is not trained in physical self-defense, but she is fairly well-practised in magic and has admirable common sense. As to her health concerns..." he frowned slightly in thought, then shrugged. "You would do better to ask her directly, as she will no doubt know better than I."
Fishing a map out of a drawer, he spread it out on the desk, motioning Diana and Rody both closer to look at it. "My one request would be for you to enter Torrigan somewhere in this area." He indicated a particular region on the border between the two countries. "A friend of mine, a Knight of the Shield, lives there, and I've sent him a message asking him to keep an eye out for Adriana and for you. His name is Roarke Tarrant."
Martin - 2000-01-25
:Control!: He thought sharply to himself, recalling the words of his Masters. His late masters. :There must be control! Even though she speaks -that- name, though she too has suffered through -his- actions...:
Aloud, he responded to Keleos in the language of their people - this did not have to be a matter for outsiders - his eyes becoming somewhat less flinty and his tone softening slightly.
"Lord Talasar, indeed? This name is not unknown to me - far from it. Lord Talasar is the patron of the cryomancer who murdered my Master, Kyril the Red - a killer who goes unpunished, my Master's death unavenged, due to Lord Talasar's protection." Muranog paused, clenching his fists for a moment to keep control of the feelings surging inside him at the mention of his Master's death. "Perhaps we are not so unalike, you and I..." he paused, softening his gaze and his voice, as he belatedly realised the effect the confrontation had had on the young Avarel who called herself "Lexa" - the one who, according to Keleos, had the Gift of Fire, a Gift that could only too easily create havoc if not controlled. He turned his attention to her, switching out of Shenmiri and into the Common tongue.
"Forgive me, young one. I mean you no harm...indeed, if you allow me, perhaps I can help you. Clearly your powers could benefit from proper training..." Once again he turned his attention to his fellow Shenmiri, though remaining in a language that all nearby could understand.
"Forgive my haste. It has been some weeks since I have seen one of our kind, and clearly I spoke too soon. As to leaving - clearly there is safety in numbers here, judging by yonder corpse's fate," he indicated the dead body nearby. "Warrior though you are, you cannot fight as well alone as two could together - or more," he continued, taking in Daemil with his glance. "Particularly with the young one to protect. And I would be pleased to help your young charge - Lexa, is it? - control her Gift. As our kind know all too well, the Gift of Fire is not safe to leave wild and uncontrolled." he switched to Shenmiri one last time. "We have both suffered at Lord Talasar's hands, one way or another - you in years gone by, I more recently. You know these lands better than I, I would surmise. Where are you bound, with your charge? If our routes follow the same path, I would accompany you, if you will permit it."
Copyright (c) 1999-2000 Abigail Laughlin and the members of the Circle of Stone.