The Heartwood
After Dusk, the Town of Cragside
Rameday, The First Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Camelia, Celi, Cesare, Kadri, Daxia, Bekkah, Mikah and Darian and Longtooth

"Just a fullhand of crowns ... that'll cover the tab your mercenary built up and a full saddlebag of cookie's wares. Though I can't be seing a need for the latter."

Dunwich pushed his hand through his hair, shaking his head.

"We carry this for between towns, because there's far too many of us for a day's travels inn to handle. You and yours, well, you'd be what an innkeeper would call a real good night."

The exchange was made, and tallies settled. The Horde's quartermaster bid Daxia a god afternoon. Pointedly there was no mention of a good night.

Dusk fell far far too quickly. It was if the entire town was waiting for the day to end; the Hart and Horse mostly empty by the time She touched the far horizon, as if everyone was already expecting the arrival of their Noble family come the dawn. The tavern conversation had been hushed growing softer as night approached, for in a place as small as Cragside secrets of this sort were an impossibility in keeping. For the conspirators there was time to rest, be it in a room or the commons or the stables. It became obvious that this place was a shelter in the storms; the death of the Veilikki had focused everyone's attention on the hilltown's darker activities, sending all to cover. As long as they stayed put ... and the steel stayed put, no need for intervention.

Sometime, however, long or short, after dusk but before the moons had risen they gathered. The town was asleep; even the stirring in the commons from the mercenaries was subdued. If anything there was a curious look, but that was all, as one by one rest was given up for the evenings tasks. Gear and horses gathered, and into the Cragside backstreets the small troop promenaded. It was, however, a very, very slow promenade. Because it was dark. It was not just dark, it was the pitchest black; the shadows between the buildings swallowed any hope of illumination. A two edged sword for sure; on one hand it made progress to the warehouse extremely difficult. On the other hand it made being followed and spied on equally hard. And like Mikal's preferred fighting style, there was another two edged sword in the fray. The sound of their feet upon the hard packed ground echoed. Just as did the curses of those watching the Horse and Hart.

"Krysta's crowns they be moving ... who does anything after dusk ... you cannae see a bloody OOOIIIIIIIIIOOOOOCH damn damn damn ..."

The warehouse was eventually reached, the lock opened, the door slid back and then closed behind. Now there could be the lighting of lanterns; the ones that hung from the rafters. In their stalls the big carters stirred; a couple sticking their heads out of the stalls to the unexpected activity. Perhaps hopeful for some oats and some water or a little attention. The three carts waited, each with their three lare coffin sized crates. As eyes grew accustomed to the bright light, Kadri's words were proven true. In the back of the warehouse, neatly stacked - because it was Kadri's previous work to see to such things. Rope was there, in long lengths and aplenty as well as block and tackle and metal crowbars of various lengths and sizes for opening crates of various lengths and sizes. From the rafters above were several big metal hooks, for hanging the pulleys of course.

And in the horse's tack, of course, leads and horse collars. And very conveniently, six big strong draft horses.

In the end, matters ended up in an odd reversal.

The warehouse was built to handle cargo.

Not to open up the walls between two adjoining warehouses. The trick, of course, is that it could not be simple vandalism. The walls had to be able to be put back together when the work was done. Thus it was those tasked with the steel that ended up waiting for those tasked with opening up the walls.

By then ... whether it was deep into the night or the dawn of the next day approaching, it was not known. Pulleys and ropes and the strong shoulders of the carters made pulling the rates into the adjoining warehouses a straightforward task. Rebuilding the walls took an equal amount of time and an overwatching of Kadri to return them to a passable condition. A wheelwright or carpenter could probably tell something was wrong; but anyone else, they would have to be specifically looking for the subterfuge to notice.

Leaving, of course, was only a little better. By now the two moons had chased themselves across the night sky and were almost touching the Black Mountain peaks. All their silver illumination did was cast grayer shadows in the darkness.

Backstreets again, and the sound of footsteps behind.

All the way to the gate.

"Mikal ... if they have my head for this ...

"I'm coming back and haunting you."

Slowly the town gates of Cragside were opened. And slowly they closed behind all.

The Heartwood
After Dusk, High Falls Tavern
Rameday, The Sixth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Camelia, Celi, Cesare, Kadri, Daxia, Bekkah, Mikal and Darian and Longtooth

The road west was a quiet trip; as expected, as predicted. When dawn had shown Her face above the mountains a week ago they were a good bit down the trail, at a walk because riding in the dark would have been a foolish thing. The twists and turns of the foothills, however, had vanished behind them both the town walls and the ramparts of the Rock.

Pursuit, it seems, was not forthcoming.

Out of sight, out of mind, out of sight a convenient scapegoat to settle concerns of blame.

To put it simply, asfar as the Shannons were concerned, they were somebody else's problem.

Each day, as the sun rept her way to sleep, there was someplace to take shelter. If not a tavern, per se, but a farmhouse whose family made a few extra coin providing shelter for a few extra places at dinner and a corner of the barn to rest.

Dunwich was proven correct, of course. The trail rations bought went mostly un-needed.

A handfull of days from Cragside brought a true wayside tavern. It was set at the base of a rocky outcropping, either the last of the first vestige of the mountains behind them. There was a spring at the top which cascaded down into one of the many streamlets crisscrossing the rolling farmlands.

The inn itself, named for the pretty waterfall was little more than a collection of three simple buildings.

The first, a small house, where the barkeeep and his family lived.

Second, an open sided barn where horses could be sheltered. Where spring and summer it would have been nought but open timber posts and a roof, for the storm season they had made makeshift walls of hay and straw tied into simple bales.

Last, of course, was the commons hall; a one room building with a big fireplace in the center. Folks were expected to sleep in the commons; traditional for a day's travel inn.

A stewpot dominated the hearth and a couple planks on a pair of wooden trestles served as a bar and a place for bread and cheeses to be stacked.

The tavern owner was obviously doing well, of robust tummy and a lackadaisical manner. But he was friendly and his wife cooked a good stew, so it was a comfortable place to spend the night.

OOC Note: if the players wish to backfill conversations, the High Falls Tavern is a good place to do so. The action post continues, to bring you to a point where SOMETHING ACTUALLY HAPPENS that you can respond to!

The Heartwood
Midday on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Camelia, Celi, Cesare, Kadri, Daxia, Bekkah, Mikal and Darian and Longtooth

West of High Falls the plains opened out, the first hints of the rolling farmlands and scattered boulders that become the High Tarn. The air was brisk, frosting one's breath, but the pace was kind; a simple walk from one farm to the next, each day a day farther from Cragside and a day more sure that the events within that town had stayed inside that town.

For now the weather had held; if there came rain, cold and icy and borne by bitter winds, it came around sundown and left a little ater dawn. The wind's howl became an accustomed companion come each night, making one very happy that there was shelter findable at the end of each night.

It was, however, cold enough that the Brementown Road, linking that strange village with Bordertown, was hard and frozen, Her light not even softening the ice through the length of the day. Those with Highgaard cloaks thanked their warmth, the others looked forward very much to the stewpot waiting somewhere, anywhere, come sunset.

To the right, to the far horizon, there were mountains no more. Just the low, far off haze of green that was the edge of the Dirkwood. No sane person would tread beneath the canopy of that forest. To the left, closer and closer, was another wood; the Forest of Roth. Equally cursed and beshadowed it grew closer and closer to their trail with each day.

High Falls was over a week behind the travelers, and the odd place called Brementown two days past.

Brementown had felt ... uncomfortable. Not that there was anything wrong to be seen. A small collection of perhaps twenty buildings, clustered about the simple crossing. Here was where the Road East joined the mainland's trails. Heading along it would thread between mountains and the Dirkwood Forest; the only towns between there and the Imperial City were those whose names were known only for their destruction by the East at the end of each age.

It was not that the folks were unfriendly or unkind or mean spirited.

It was like a blanket of quiet hung over the small town, like a fog, like a cloud, dampening everything.

Even the stew in the stew pot tasted ... a touch ... bland.

As if they had given up on matters many years ago and were now only going through the motions of living.

Even the cold air and harsh glare upon ice covered streamlets seemed more welcoming, more alive, once Bementown was left behind.

A day out, when they sat down at a farmers oversized dinner table, the goodwife noted,

"Brementown ... aye the folks there are a touch strange. But they cause no trouble, they don't do anything at all."

Two days out and at the makeshift inn Brementown wasn't even a matter of conversation. They were more concerned about the upcoming midwinter's; if they were going to spend it at home or travel west to the Tumbledown Tavern for a real celebration. That and their winter stores and the health of their livestock against the rains. And, it being just into the Storms, all was well.

Traveling the main trails in the storm season was a quiet matter. Most traffic heads west, towards the coast, so it is only rarely that one crossed the path of other travelers; usually a farmer moving between fields or doing business with his neighbors.

Thus, when something, different occurs, it stood out.

It occurred at a bend in the trail, just coming over a small hillock.

It was both Celi and Darian whose attention was snared first; by a warning, by the hint of motion from behind.

Motion accompanied by thunder, the thunder of hooves upon frozen ground, not of a walk or a canter, but a full out gallop, hard and fast, so fast.

The rider rounded the trail's bend and lightnings through their small group. The horse, it was the color of snow, its confirmation fair and slender, light. It was fast, upon them, in their group and then past in less than a handful of heartbeats - there and gone again before any action could have taken place.

The horse was unlike any seen; by Kadri, by Celi ... by Mikal and Daxia.

Its rider was slender, crouched over her steed, pressing as hard and fast as possible. Lithe and light, she was probably a she ... hinted at in tunics bright colored, sparkly bangles on her wrists and long, long black hair - the color of midnight - streaming out behind her like a playful banner. Her face was unseen, a full length heavy cloak with a fur lined hood protecting her from the cold.

There was a glance, a glance behind as she passed. A look of panic, of horror, but not to them.

She immediately turned her horse, hooves skittering on the hard ground, almost falling but not.

She galloped, hard. Heading for the nearby woods.

What ever she was running from was worse that the threat of the Forest of Roth.

What she was running from was off to the right, cutting across the bend in the trail.

More horses, more riders.

Over a handful.

They too were galloping at a breakneck speed. They too were riding horses of white. And they were bedecked in the most garish of colors, of bright mantling, the covers of their steeds snapping in the wind. Blues and reds and purples and greens, bright and clashing, patterns intricate and tangled. Like a hell bent kaleidoscope they pursued the lone girl.

She had just herself.

Their steel sparkled bright beneath Her light, shining silver and polished, some reflecting black as night. Their blades were curved, for slicing from horseback, their spears sharp, doubling as lances.

Daxia saw; one rising to ready a horse bow ...

And then cursed as their quarry vanishes into the tree line.

They followed.

Celi had taken to sleeping out and alone, a little odd given the weather but she seemed to be no worse for the wear and in fact was considerably better rested and more cheerful than anyone might expect.

She had been a big contributor to their traveling rations, finding palatable root stock, berry patches, greens, and bringing in game both small and deer-sized as needed, even when the others had uncovered no spoor at all.

She ignored questions and passed the meat along, letting others practice their cooking chops on whatever she found and cleaned.

SHe had made an effort to travel close to Mikal -- as close as her being on foot and him on horseback would allow. She had the ability to wolf-run for long distances without getting exhausted, which allowed her keep up with any pace trot or slower that Mikal chose to set for intermediate distances.

So it was they were close together when they werfe surprised by the single rider followed by the pack.

Celi looked at Mikal, said softly, "I -- that uis to say, *we* -- can take one of the pack and disrupt their pursuit, giving us someone to question if 'we' are ... careful. But I am learning; I will start this *only* if you think it right. I personally hate to see anyone run into the ground, and she looked very much afraid. I would like to help her, but I have no way of knowing what the right of it is, without asking one of them. If it were me in the front, I would wish for help but be too proud to ask."

Daxia
with Bekkah and Kadri on the road

Daxia road at the head of their small group today, accompanied by Kadri with Bekkah walking between the two horses, a pattern that had emerged early in their journey. When the first rider barrelled their group, Daxia merely looked at the strange horse and rider with puzzlement. But when the group of similar riders went flying across the road in front of them, combined with the girl's look of terror, she let out a short expletive, and pulled her bow from its pocket hanging from her saddle and quickly began stringing it.

"Kadri, if you are any good at throwing that knife from horseback, I'll welcome your assistance... Bekkah, ask Darian and Longtooth to follow; Celi and Camelia are no good against armed men, but stay with them, please. Follow if you must, but stay together. And I suppose Cesare will do what Cesare wishes to do." She smiled briefly as she rested the bow in front of her so she could grab her helm.

She turned towards the back of their little strung-out group. "Mikal," she called, "follow!" She nodded to Kadri before putting on the helm, and simultaneously grabbed bow and reins, then spurred Fern forward to move as quickly as possible after the riders.

Darian

The walk and the company was pleasant though the weather tried to make it not so. The movement kept her warm enough with the addition of the deer hide to the underside of her cloak and the furs tucked into the open spots. She had kept her bow strung and at hand in case there be need, but there had not. Shelter had been found at the end of each day, be it farm or inn.

The sudden sound of riders had Darian drawing an arrow and setting it to bow before she had even moved off of the road. It was pure defensive reaction. Beside her Longtooth's hackles raised, and he growled. Both remembered what that sound had led to for their Pack.

The appearance of the girl astride a loan beast was a puzzle, but she was gone before more could be made of it. Darian had not missed the look on her face though. The look of the hart that knows it is caught.

Then the others came, and something about them set her teeth on edge though she could not name it. Then Dazi, who had called them friend, was stringing her bow and giving chase. She glanced down to Longtooth and asked, "A Hunt in Roth?"

Kadri:

"This cannot stand."

She moves to range, and readies herself to throw a knife, should the opportunity present itself.

Cesare

"Remember, we do not know what is occurring here. She may have murdered someone."

He calls out after Daxia who seems intent in getting involved in something that is not her business, splitting their group in two and likely bringing trouble down on them all.

Mikal

After the hard work at the warehouse, the ease of exit is a relief. "I owe you one." He replies to his friend, clasping arms with him as they leave.

The initial few hours on the road consists of constantly looking back over his shoulder, at first for the sounds of pursuit, as it is too dark to see much, and then once She rises for any telltale dust. By the time afternoon arrives, he is fairly relaxed in the surety that they've gotten away.

The following days bring him back to the monotonous repetition of road travel. Dozing in the saddle when it is not his turn to be watchful, his unconscious familiarity with Talia's gait allowing him to keep steady in his seat even while taking cat naps. He appreciates the stops at inns and farmhouses along the way, both for the softer beds, or even hay to sleep on, and the warmth of the indoors. He bundles up in layers while on the road when it gets too cold, eyeing those with the heavy cloaks enviously.

He has a series of conversations with Celi, trying to drive home the point that as much as he understands her wanting to be helpful and contribute to the group, there are some things that she is best off keeping to herself. Things he doesn't want to get into, or know about.

He doesn't mind carrying the trail rations, even though it turns out they don't need them, as had they been pursued and had to have run cross-country, they would have, and as his ma always said, Better to have and not need then to need and not have.

When the girl on her horse, pursued by the others crosses the group's path, he pulls up, and automatically grabs and dons his helmet and checks his crossbow hanging from it's strap. He curses softly at the expected command from Daxia. He finds himself in agreement with Cesare. For all they know this girl is a murderer under just pursuit, and he isn't sure they should be getting involved, but he also knows that you don't question your leader in times like this, you follow orders or people die.

Turning to Celi, who is near to him, he says softly, "Anything you do must be unseen. I leave it to you to decide whether you can or not, but lean toward not if you are unsure. Keep your skills to protect yourself and these others."

"Lead Camelia and Bekkah, and Cesare if he stays with you, to a safe spot, and keep them safe. If we are not back in the time it takes to slowly count to a fullhand, a fullhand of times, and that again a handful of times (i.e. 25x25x5=3125, or roughly an hour), I leave it to you and they to decide whether to continue on the road or to follow our trail."

He then spurs Talia and takes off with the other two riders chasing the strange white horses and their riders into the Forest of Roth. He knows Celi can find his trail and follow if needed, so he has no concerns about that. That group will need to decide whether to do so or not.

Celi

Celi resented being cast aside, when she could easily have solved the problem. But, doing so would put her in a difficult position with the others, so she elected to take a secondary leadership[ role, and keep the others safe.

She collected Camelia and Bekkah, got Cesare's attention. "Listen to me. I am going to take us away from here, to a safe place where we will not be assailed. I can keep us safe from any attack, and after a while, if we have not heard from the rides, I can follow them.

"If the riders return, I will deal with them and keep you all safe.

"I cannot command you, but I can swear to you on Her Bright Spirit that I can do what I have told you, and i will keep you all safe if you come with me. I am expert in the Wild and with the children of Nature. First, I will find us a nice comfortable place to await the return of the others."

She turned about once, and found a point in the forest that seemed to hold her attention; she appeared to be looking for someone or something invisible to the others. After a moment, she relaxed and returned her attention to those around her.

The Heartwood
Midday on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Kadri, Daxia, Mikal and Darian and Longtooth

The snarkhound's answer was both immediate and predictable.

It was a hunt.

Head low, he immediately turned and ran, heading not upon the trail of the girl and her pusuers, but straight across the frozen fields and into the trees; a path of interception.

The riders were distant, perhaps too far, as Kadri's first dagger sailed through the air and while the arc was true it never reached her target; on one hand this was a blessing in disguise - for the group of riders stayed on their own path. Their quarry was the girl; they seemed to care not for those behind them. This left the Amber lass one but one choice to close the diastance, to urge her horse after Daxia.

The three; Daxia, Mkal and Kadri, turned to pursue the pursuers. A breath, a handful of heartbeats and they too vanished into the tree line.

Followed by Darian; while on foot the hunter might fall behind.

But a bow's reach could render that difference moot.

The Heartwood
Midday on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Camelia, Cesare, Bekkah and Celi

Told to wait, to hold the path, the four watched as their compainions vanished into the Forest of Roth. While the woods themselves were not cursed like the trees of the Dirwood, that could not be said of those who lived within those woods. To take shelter there, that was something done only by the most desperate.

Celi lead the other three into the shadow of the treeline, to what she believed was a safe place.

While four of their little troop went after the girl, after her pursuers, against the pack of riders ...

... outnumbered.

The Heartwood
Midday on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Kadri, Daxia, Mikal and Darian and Longtooth

There was a small break in the tree line; this is where the black haired girl upon her white horse rode.

Her pursuers, pursued, into the very edge of the forest, but for a moment, for a moment, lost from sight.

Ahead, there was the sudden sharp cry of a horse's paniced whinny.

And then they saw into the break in the trees.

But a few fullhand of paces into the woods it the trees thinned, forming a small, sheltered, protected glade. The little copse was no simple field, however; it was a rough and tortured ground - shards of wood, splintered, rose through the tangled underbrush. Bits of metal, old and rusted hoops, poked through the tall brown grasses as well as rough mounds, large and small, unidentifiable at a glance, having been overgrown by more than a few seasons.

It perhaps explained the scene before them.

The girl was in the center of the wreackage, on all fours, desperately shaking her head as if trying to regain her bearings. A few paces away her horse wandered, hooves dancing, as if losing it's rider was as panicing as being chased.

The pursuers rode to close upon their prey; one riding hard and around to the right, another to the left, encicling her like the horns of an angry, ill tempered bull. Three riders faced her, still mounted, dark swords held in their grip. Just beyond them one had dismounted. He wore no armor, stepping towards the girl as if he owned her, as he interlaced his fingers and then pressed downwards. His knuckles popped, a sharp rattle and snap echoing like a smith's hammer blows.

Their archer, he held back, bringing up his bow, nocking an arrow and leveling it at the fallen woman.

In the center of the glade, lost and lonely, there was what was left of a tall banner; perhaps two tall people high. It hung in tatters, its colors faded by Her light. A silent witness.

The unarmored one spoke,

" ... al'khashtena'ha'al'kh'lhy'al'rohmshkya ... al'khasten'daylna'khorran ... al'khantistan'mishya!"

Darian

She could have guessed Longtooth's answer. Partially did, tucking her cloak to be out of the way of her ability to draw, set and shoot arrow. She followed her Hound companion at an easy lope, her gait not unlike his, and watched him for the signals. This separated them from the others but so did the speed of their mounts.

"Lord Khannish favor us," fell from her lips as she bounded away, if any had been close enough to hear.

A Hunt...a true Hunt. It had been many handfulls of days...since before the last time the Grey Men came to Yagherspring. She felt her spirit soar with the chase...

Longtooth led her true as they wove through the trees, and she came along side the riders she knew. She did not call to them but kept in the Hound's wake. Her footfalls made no more noise than his did, though under the noise of the white horsed riders they could not be heard.

She watched as Longtooth cut off toards his intended target then drew bead on the middle of the three she spied and let fly.

As Kadri rode up, she muttered under her breath - where none but the horse - and one other - could hear.

"My Lady, mother, sister, I think its time for that man's aim to become aimless. Let him contend with the shadows in which he stands."

"Light unto the dark one; hear what shadow sayeth. Dark unto the Light one, upon your head it layeth. Light and dark make shadow - hear what shadow sayeth. Shadow lend your aid."

A smile, perhaps a tad dark this time, crossed her features momentarily.

No. She did not like. . bullies.

Daxia
with Mikal and Kadri heading towards the glade

A glance... just a brief glance at the banner, and Daxia jammed her bow back into its holder as she started keening. It was soft at first, but a mournful sound full of pain and anguish. She spurred Fern on to even greater speed as she drew her sword. She and Fern wove between the archer and the swordsmen being harassed by Darian and Longtooth... the death wail getting louder. She came to a stop in front of the girl, in front of the banner, and stood between them and the man who spoke in the unknown language. The keening ended in a single shouted word...

"STOP!

"This is MY banner. Where stands my banner, I stand to defend it and those who claim refuge beneath it.

"Girl... do you claim sanctuary in the shadow of Dawnview Vale?"

Celi

Celi set about making the others comfortable, making sure they rested, took water and whatever food they required. If warmth was needed or hot food, she dug a pit then built and banked a fire that could not be seen from more than foot away. The scent she couldn't altogether dissipate, but she promised them she would know if someone was coming before they got close enough to windward to scent the fire.

"Anyone have thoughts as to who the girl or the rideri might be?"

Meanwhile, she went through another of those distant-attention episodes, focusing away and then returning.

P

Bekkah

At each farmstead along the way, Bekkah had spoken with the owners. She knew that seeing a Lady of Attera amongst the group would instantly relax their would be hosts. She always offered her skills if any within the household needed her Lady's attentions. Other than that, the time was spent idly chatting, getting to know some of the people they now traveled with. They were each unique, but they also possessed a goodness to them that she liked.

When traveling, she now wore the fur wrap around her neck, keeping her even warmer as Darian had said. Other than her boots, it might be the finest thing she owned. She walked each day between the horses, never slowing, never complaining. For the most part, she was always smiling. A lot of it had to do with being reunited with Dazi, but the others also made her feel good.

Then the rider flew by them and everything changed. Before she could say anything Dazi was gone, not that anything she would have said could have kept her sister from going after the girl. No, that would be as useless as trying to swat away rain drops.

She wanted to follow, but at least for now, she would do as Dazi had ordered. Things went smoother when everyone did what was expected of them.

"Celi, is there any way to get closer without being seen?"

{OOC apologies for any inconvenience but I have not had chance to post since my last post less than 24 hours before and Cesare will not stay back with Darian running in on foot.]

Cesare

Longtooth charges off, instinct and presumably training kicking in. He turns to Darian to suggest she recall him but Darian is already giving chase.

With a soft curse under his breath, he runs after her concerned that, with the speed of the hound and the horses, she could be caught out on her own.

He is not about to let that happen.

[OOC: That's kinda why I said Cesare would do whatever Cesare wanted to do. No inconvenience, and as far as the map/drawing Wolf did, we should assume Cesare is next to/behind/near Darian? Welcome to the crazy zone.]

[OOC That's fine Apology was also for Nicki]

Mikal

He rides along the twisting trail, following Daxia and Kadri. The ride is shorter than he'd suspected, his having prepared for a long forest chase, as they quickly come upon a clearing where it would appear the girl had been thrown from her horse.

As they close, he quickly takes in the tactical situation. They are outnumbered, but seem to have the element of surprise on their side as their foes are focused on the girl.

He drops Talia's gait to a walk so he can choose his target and glances at his companions. Kadri appears to be staring intently at the mounted archer to their front. To his left he can just see the movement of Longtooth and Darian headed toward the group of three in the middle. That leaves the flanks to he and Daxia.

**Well, to me I guess.** He muses as Daxia rides straight ahead into the clearing.

Guiding Talia to one side of Kadri, he slides from her back to the ground, crossbow in hand. He drops her reins to the ground, knowing she will not move.

Mikal focuses for a moment, as his ring mail covered leather tightens about him and brings up his crossbow. He takes careful aim at the mounted man off to his right, beyond the mounted archer and fires a quarrel. He aims low purposefully, intending to hit the man in the guts, or if he misses, to hit his horse.

Once the quarrel is away, he prepares for the reaction. Should he be charged, he expects to use the trees as cover to continue firing until surrounded, at which point he will drop the bow and draw his blades, using the trees to cover his back.

[Ooc: "it'll give 'em to know our intentions was serious..."Rooster Cogburn]

CELI (with Bekkah and Camelia, but not with Cesare who took off on his own)

Celi had been working on making the site she had chosen suitable for a long-term occupation, since she had no idea at this moment how far the chase was going to run, or how long their horsemen would be engaged. She didn't sigh or roll her eyes or take any action that would show frustration, since in fact she really wanted an excuse to take them closer to the action. Then she could bring Stormrunner out of the shadows and into play, if needed. And if not, then so much the better; they weould be closer to a reunion. And she could use Stormrunner to guide Mikal to them, and save some time.

"Yes, I can follow them, but you must all stay close to me and move as silently as you can. We don't want to put our group in danger, which might cause our horsemen to put themselves in danger to protect us. Do you follow what I am saying?"

While she checked with the two women in her charge, she immediately started Stormrunner on the trail of the riders, with a proviso that he remain out of the action for now, and lead her group silently to a safe point close to the riders, before she would join him in taking a more active role.

The Heartwood
Midday on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Kadri, Daxia, Mikal and Darian and Longtooth

The girl on the ground shook her head. She didn't look up, still dazed, only knowing that the crash of hoofbeats meant her pursuers aware upon her.

Through the small glade a suden wind kicked up, slamming through the trees, whipping like a harsh stampede through the leafless branches, making them sway like they were alive. Clothing and cloaks snapped, the banner looked as if it would be blown to its very threads. It roared, it swirled about the glade ... and then with a treetop rustle, braches snapping as if punched by a huge fist, it was gone.

"Kkkkhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ...."

The sharp, guttural cry of sheer terror slashed in the whirlwind's wake, matched by the sudden snap of a horseacher's bowstring. The arrow, however, went wild as beneath his shadowed tree the brigand convulsed. He was but a silhouette beneath the trees, shorn from Her gaze. His horse reared, nostrils flared, as its rider desperately slashed about him with a hastily snared dagger. The light through the trees cast him in a moire of grays and black, as like a drowning man he panicked. His horse bolted from beneath him, galloping deeper into the forest while he ... his back arched, his gray eyes bugged like an instance ... his heart having bucked and stopped before he hit the thick underbrush, his sprawl awkward, his fading eyes still full of whatever horror had stolen his life.

One down, six to go.

The second bow shot, however, found its mark. From her shadow Darian's shot sliced between tree trunks and through the low lying branches. Square in the back of the middle rider his shot pierced, through armor and into flesh. He jerked forward, causing his steed to move forward too. A cough of red burst from his lips and then he fell forward over the front of his saddle, across the neck of his retreating horse.

Two down, five to go.

Three down, four ... no.

Mikal's crossbow shot true, catching the brigand in his side, just below his ribcage. It caused him to start, to jerk his attention from his foe. He reached around and as he yanked the quarrel from his side there was a splash, a starburst, a cometing of rainbow sparkles. He in turn drew his destrier around, tucked close and down and charged. A ton of horse and armored thundered towards the Jvrillian, the sword drawn against him black as the night.

The warning of those fallen did not go unheeded. The two remaining riders, sharp, sure, professional, turned their horses to face this new threat. One rider headed into the brush, seeking the archer who took down their compatriot. The other ... upon Kadri.

For a moment, like the space of time in the flash of lightning, there was silence.

Broken by Daxia's mad dash through, to the banner to the girl.

He, however, did not see a joke.

They saw a threat.

"Daylna'sitari'm'rtyu!"

The girl panicked, tumbling over on her back, pushing herself into the underbrush, away from the Dayalan, as if she had just jumped straight from the frying pan right into fire.

"Starrybred killer ... strawberries ... haven scary ... sanc .. sanc ... sanctuary?"

The unarmored man locked his gaze with Daxia and raised his hands.

That simple motion.

The girl screamed, her sibilant voice loud and sudden.

"Strawwwrrrrry-berries! Havenny-scary! Sanc-sanc-sanc-tuaries! YES YES YES!"

The Heartwood
Midday on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Camelia, Cesare, Bekkah and Celi

Closer to the conflict the remainder of the companions crept.

Ahead was Cesare; by the time he reached Darian's side the rider was bearing down upon her, a cavalry charge, silvered blade held high.

By the time they could see into the small glade they could here the desperately cried ...

" ... YES! YES! YES!"

The Heartwood
Midday on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Camelia, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Daxia, Mikal and Darian and Longtooth

All it took was that single motion ...

The sharp scent of acid, a taste of bitter sliced through the air like a dagger's thrust. The air was virtually shorn, a jagged tear of darkness so black it was almost blinding.

And then IT stepped through.

Like one might a tent flap, except the narrow rip was in the fabric of the wind itself.

It was tall and horridly skeletal; standing almost a person higher than the banner. Its flesh was an ever flowing sheen of dark grey, moving awfully over its frame. Huge shoulders of bony plate rose on either side of its sunken, bleached bone skull. Its eyes were just holes, black, empty, and yet they still turned to find its natural foe; the woman with fire colored hair. It too had red in its coloring, its huge exposed beating heart, pulsing un-rhythmically beneath its open rib cage.

The demon dripped, lurching its attack - horrid, odd, yet deadly smooth, its claws bound to tear Daxia from Fern.

The Dayalan's horse was panicing.

Staying calm in a fight was one thing.

Facing down a demon was another thing all together.

Darian

Another arrow was nocked as the first one flew to its target, and none too soon. A rider bore down upon her, blade flashing. Too many memories flashed at once and she fired again, not towards the rider but towards the chest of his mount, the soft flesh just above the join of the legs.

She knew even if the arrow flew straight and true to the animal's heart, it could still thunder down on top of her, crushing her in it's death throes. Tucking her bow tight against her, she dives and rolls to the side while an odd sting of sounds issuing from her, the only intelligible words being bend and blend.

Daxia
with the girl -- and the Very Bad Man and the Demon -- in the glade

Nostrils flaring, though more likely in anger given the look in her sapphire eyes rather than the panic Fern showed, Daxia grabbed her shield as she slid from Fern's back, quickly tucking the reins through one of the many loops and rings attached to the saddle. "Run, girl... follow Kadri," she muttered. The horse bolted, and the Dayalan turned towards the man and the demon, an expression of contempt on her face. She took a small step to the side, putting herself just that much farther away from the demon, and that much closer to the mage. She spoke clearly, her voice ringing across the small glade.

"My Lady Dayala, I call down the full force of your wrath upon this demon, this creature of chaos."

As the last words echoed, she was stepping in to strike the mage... evisceration with the sword, moving upwards to slice lungs and heart if possible, keeping the shield between her and the demon-caller.

Celi pushed the two women she was leading down and out of sight, while her mind careened across the intervening space to hook up with Stormrunner.

I know you're out there, Stormrunner. Unhorse that one ...

She sent a mental image of the one charging down on Mikal,

... then leave him to Mikal and take down that one ...

the second image she sent was of the one after Kadri. "He's yours.

That would leave three on horseback: one looking for their archer; one going at it with Darrian and Cesare and by inference the Hound; and an ostensible leader of the band, now confronting the girl and Daxia.

Celi could get to all of them, as soon as she and Stormrunner could get their act together. She had to be careful not to sic him on someone who might panic and try to hurt him before they realized the softpad was on their side, and to keep him from trying to have a go at the demon "just because." She sensed Daxia's magic, and hoped it was better suited to fighting demons than anything Celi could do, and she did not want to see Stormy killed for being needlessly heroic.

"Bekkah, you two stay down and out of sight. If you see a big cat, it's my brother. Don't let him scare you. He'll help us."

She readied her kukras, crouched like a contest runner waiting for the signal to go; she focused on Stormrunner's actions and positioning. She would dart in and cut the throats of the ones he unhorsed, before they recovered their senses. They were a well-trained team.

KAdri. . . looked at the scene, sighed, then turned LIsica sharply and urged her to as much speed as she could manage. There was little else she could do here, and one thing that he Lady taught is that you know when to run. This was. . that time. She moved to find Bekkah and company.

Bekkah

She didn't need to be told twice. Bekkah hated fighting. She saw no sport in it and when it was real, she hated it even more. She would help those hurt, that she could do, but she had no desire to watch. She trusted in these people because Dazi trusted them.

"Do you see Daxia?" she asked worried about her sister.

She barely registered the comment about a cat.

Cesare

The scene is upon him almost before he can react. He is aware that others are in trouble beyond but Darian and Longtooth are here and so is an enemy. A soft curse escapes his lips. The man might not have been an enemy only moments before but Cesare knows that he will try to hurt and kill both Darian and himself given the opportunity and so now he is an enemy, kill or be killed is the order of the day.

Estimating the horse's momentum, he runs for a tree close by to offer some protection, as he intends to try to hurt the rider if possible, horse if necessary. As he runs blades appear in his hands ready to step out and attack from the side.

Mikal

If there is one place on all this earth he has learned it is not wise to be, that is standing in the path of a charging destrier and it's armed rider.

He does not expect he has time to reload the crossbow, so he discards it as he moves into the thickest set of trees nearby. He focuses on the man's weapon causing a brief flicker to flash from it as he pulls both his blades.

He begins to use the trees both to cover his flank, and to eliminate the momentum of the destrier, forcing it to stop and wheel to go past and to make sharp turns around the trees. At the same time he stabs at the man and his mount as the horse comes with range, quickly darting back into cover after his strikes.

The Heartwood
Midday on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Camelia, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Daxia, Mikal and Darian and Longtooth and The Girl

The girl scrambled, though the underbrush in a chaotic tangle of arms and legs and skirts and cloaks. Her direction was, quite simply, away! Her tumbled path took her towards the road, into the wood, and she would have made the trees if she didn't trip and stumble, falling out of sight in a depression in the tortured, ancient wreakage.

"EEEEK!"

... was her comment upon the sudden turn of events.

Kadri too had the same idea, turning her horse around, spurring it fast, the fine Amber mare showing just how fleet of foot she could be. The fact that she was being chased, that she was leaving a fel magician and his demon pet behind, that could only serve to increase her speed. The brigand that followed her pushed his steed too, just as fast, just as sure. His sword was drawn and held low, his mantling snapping in the wind. Like his companions, the only common marking they wore was a faded red-brown scarf, trailing like a nightmare pennant. To the right and back past Cesare and Darian Kadri galloped, returning the way she came. Her pursuer was perhaps five horse paces behind, gaining only slowly, when there iwas a sudden flash of green and tawny dashing through the underbrush. While the rider iwas a good distance from hunter and Rhoni, this new combattant crosses his path so fast. Low to the ground, the large critter was a feral blur; three large strides and a leap! The sharp moment was noted, perhaps even expected, as a breathed whisper passed through the brigand's lips, almost singsong, but a dangerous singsong. There was a sudden feline scream as mid air the pouncing softpad screeched in terror. It's leap, its attack was ended, all there was was a scared and panicked cat. Away from the rider he twisted, as if trying, impossibly, to fly some other direction. The softpad overshot and landed in the underbrush, not on its feet as feline lore says it should but in a rolling sprawl, vanishing into a tall briar bramble.

Kadri broke free of the woods and led her pursuer out into the fields, back towards the Brementown Road.

To the side, in the trees, Darian let loose another arrow. It flew straight, it flew true, it missed the horse's body. Instead the horse's head jerked back as the steel pointed shaft drove into its long muzzle, not stopping until it's point burst out just below a tall white ear. Darian had to move fast and quick, barely avoiding the sudden, massive, inertia driven corpse of the horse coming down upon her. Cesare was not so lucky, however. The horse's rider did better than terrorized felines. He landed on his feet. Cesare hit; but between motion and mistiming his blade failed to even penetrate the brigand's light armor. The brigand, however, was more fortunate. In return his heavy blade slashed across the Rhoni's arm. White hot pain was shared with a sudden splash of blood. The blade bit deep, coming away covered in blood and it was all Cesare can do to keep ahold of his blade.

Mikal danced, Mikal moved. And far too quickly did he duck and weave around the tree, pursued by his brigand. Evenly matched they were - the rider pulling his mount in tight circles, the Jvrillian orbiting about his tree. Swords struck upwards, swords slammed down. Two sound strikes ... Mikal barely parrying the hard attack from abov just as the brigand did the same against Mikal's attempt, slashing away the deadly blow from below.

Leaving only the conflict in the center of the glade.

A summons answered.

It was bright, it was blinding, yellow light spearing down from the sky; hot - one could feel the heat of Her light even into the woods - soundless but like a blazing lightning strike the tall, misshapen demon was lost in the glare, enveloped complete inside a pillar of fire. It made a horrid noise, anguish, hurt and gurgling as if melting.

Daxia stepped around. She looked into the sorcerer's eyes and he looked into hers. And then, then she knew she couldn't win, that all was lost, her friends dead, the world ending, her sisters even turning their back upon ... upon ... upon.

And she knew it was lies.

Magic and lies.

Drawing herself up Daxia tossed off the Eastern curse, cleared her head and struck. Her attack had been interrupted, it was not as sure, but he wore no armor. Her sword bit into his upper leg. he collapsed to his knees, still up, still breathing, but - for now - badly hurt.

He looked past the Dayallan and upwards.

Watching as the demon shuddered and stepped forward. It was blasted, there was the sickly scent of burn flesh and sinews, it dripped obscenely, its inside dripping to the ground. It struck, hard, almost knocking Daxia off her feet. But her shield held, blocking between her and the slowly disintegrating thing.

The demon still stood.

But it was badly, badly hurt.

Celi and Stormrunner

The squall from the softpad cut through Celi's head like a hot knife, the pain and surprise shared and her own voice added to the big cat's in a wail of pain and surprise.

She recognized the magic, for there was no mundane weapon that could turn the big softpad from its intended prey. Armed with that recognition, she did her best to damp the fear, first in her own mind and then by extension in Stormrunner's.

She was certain he could fight it if he knew what was causing it -- and she stayed in there with him. Brambles again? she said. I think you are a bramble magnet. Calm, Big Brother. I am coming to you. I will remove all the thorns, and soothe your skin with a lotion of aloe and sweetgrass, and I will comb your fur, and heal all your cuts and scratches.

Know this: that was magic, that brought the fear. It is not real, but it is hard to push past. Stay with me in my head, and we will fight it together.

The attack apparently had done nothing to deter the horseman's pursuit of Kadri. They were headed away from the vicinity, toward the Bremertown road, and she was not going to run him down, even if she had been foolish enough to want to. If he lost track of her, she could swing in behind him and hamstring his horse; if an opening presented itself for that, she would take it. That would save Kadri from pursuit and put the horseman on the ground with a lame horse, while she set about rehabilitating Stormrunner.

MAybe they could help Daxia with the unarmored one ...

Cesare

For a second there is only the pain, but then comes the fear and with it the adrenalin surge to fuel his survival instinct. He now has an opponent on the ground, an opponent who is likely a seasoned fighter and unhurt. But the odds are not that bad, even with his injury, because there is Darian, maybe even Longtooth as backup. It should be enough. He just has to stay in the fight and to survive long enough.

Gritting his teeth against the pain, he channels his energy into the dance, and if he gets a chance to heal his arm at least to stop the bleeding.

Kadri:

Looks like a fine little mess I've gotten myself into here, Lady. Going to need a little . . luck. . .to get out of this one. See what I can do about creating that. . .

So, Apparently, she could not outrun him . . . time to figure out if she could outmaneuver him. Again, she leads Lisica into a sharp turn, switching directions as far as she could with a minimal loss of speed. Perhaps the other horse could not change its momentum so fast as the smaller mare. Looking over her shoulder as she executes the move, she mutters under her breath.

"See if that horse is as smart as you, Liss'."

"Fox and hound, sight and sound, an sure your senses spin around. Keep your eye upon the trail . . don't stumble when your senses fail."

(If I can't, I can't, but the basic idea is to Dullard the horse at the point of the turn to break its concentration and pull off its reaction time in following. If I can't do that, then ignore it and edit that part out. Still trying the rapid direction change either way)

Mikal

He grunts in respect for his adversary as he parries the man's blows and sees his own parried in return. He keeps to the man's off-hand side, to force him to have to strike across his body where his reach is restricted.

**Well, this will get us nowhere.** He thinks as he ducks back behind a tree and sees the horse spin to follow him. **Time to do something else.**

And as fast as he thinks that, he parries the next blow from the horseman with his Main Gauche, but instead of striking back at him and his sabre, he instead feints a blow to the man's side, then angles the blade downwards, stabbing it deeply into the horse's front leg, attempting to sever the tendons and muscles and bring the man to the ground, where the fight will be more to Mikal's liking.

It is possible the man might even be rolled onto by the horse, or fall prone, and Mikal prepares to react to any such opening provided.

Darian

The Hunter is no where to be seen...

Bekkah

She had raised her head up enough to see the demon summoned against her baby sister. She wanted to scream and charge out of hiding to help Dazi, but she knew she'd do more harm than good. She smiled as Dazi called upon her God to attack the demon, but the smile faded as she saw the creature still standing and now attacking Dazi. She held her breath, only letting it out when she saw her still seemingly okay.

She took a moment to look around at others of their group. She'd barely seen Kadri on horseback go flying past them with an enemy in hot pursuit. There was nothing she could do for Kadri so she turned her attention to Mikal who seemed to be holding his own, then Cesare. Perhaps it was a healer's instinct, but she knew instantly that Cesare was hurt. Not mortally, but bad enough that he could be in trouble. He needed help and quickly.

"Celi, can you help Cesare? He's in trouble I fear." she said trying to remain as calm as she could while her attention moved back to her sister and the horror attacking her.

Daxia
with the mage and demon in the glade

She hissed at the sorcerer's attempt to cloud her mind. When the demon struck her shield, she stumbled but quickly righted herself. With no hesitation, she once again invoked her Goddess' help. "My Lady Dayala, lend your strength and wrath to my blade," she murmured.

Turning slightly to get the proper angle, she slashed through the demon's legs on a downward angle to give the strike more force, keeping her shield between herself and the mage, and stepped quickly back... ready to parry an attack from either of them, or move even farther away should her strike cause the demon to topple in the wrong direction.

The Heartwood
Midday on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Celi, Camelia, Cesare, Bekkah, Daxia, Mikal and Darian and some various and sundry bad men and one demon.

It was a deadly dance, one of circling, one of back and forth and back and forth, between Mikal and his red scarfed foe. Fient and strike, blow and parry hooves dancing close and hard. His blows were as fast and as sure as the Jvrillian's, until the tactics changed. Mikal's blade finally ducked beneath the dark metal bastard sword to strike true. The horse screamed,a dark and painful whinny as its foreleg was shattered, shorn, coat and bone torn and splintered. The handsome animal tumbled forward in a final collapse, smashing into the underbrush, tossing its rider. Even on the ground it screamed in pain and panic, trying to get back up and failing, again and again and again until it just ...

... lay there.

However ...

... not before the easterner's black blade slashed down against Mikal.

He could feel, he could hear, the harsh edge blade crush and then shear his armor followed by an absolute cold of the bastardsword's bite. For a moment, for a heartbeat, it was a if the sword did more than hurt, it was as if it were seeking out his very soul. When it drew back, as the brigand tumbled, crimson blood splashed through the air. Mikal's main gauche was gone, his arm loose at his side, unable to hold anything let alone a parrying weapon. From his shoulder poured blood and every motion sent a bolt of pain, blurring the mercenary's vision.

As a few yards away his opponent shook himself back together, rising from where he had been tossed, looking right at Mikal with carnage crazed eyes.

It was all Bekkah, Camelia and Celi could do, to watch the carnage unfold around them; Celi holding her actions, to see how the fortunes of battle played out. For Cesare it too was a trade of blows; the red scarfed brigand's blade slashing into his abdomen, a harsh blow that cut past armor and drew blood. One wound healed, another given. It did not topple the Rhoni, but it stung enough to steal his breath. In return they traded blows; Cesare's dagger plunged into the Easterner's chest, all the way to the hilt, jamming in the man;s ribs. The blade was yanked from his hand; and it was as if the brigand actually reveled in the pain, the blood the conflict. Until, from out of absolutely nowhere he arched, his chest pushing forward. He rose to his tip toes before he fell to the his knees. Somehow he was still alive, swaying there as if in prayer. However in the center of his back was a second blade.

One of Darian's.

This left Daxia and her horrid foe. The demon lurched, its odd claws reached out, seeking her - to him - tiny figure. And yet it stumbled, she could feel the weight of its blow in the air, and if but a breath more sure she would have been broke in two. Her sword, now it shown, milky white and pure. The blade cut a fast arc and it was if it trailed a hundred tiny tiny stars in its wake. The demon screamed, its shuddered, it convulsed as her blade drove into its leg. Halfway through her blade should have stopped but it didn't. The entire macabre figure shook, shuddered, and in a twisting of the air it fell apart, like a jar of molasses emptied upon the ground. The muck, it's being, splooshed across the center of the glade like a thick tsunami, over a foot deep before it started to bubble and boil off.

The eastern mage, he had used this time well. On his feet, he pushed himself, sibilant words choked out with a slash of his arms in an arcane pattern

He did not attack Daxia, no ...

But in the wake of a open hand's dramatic sweep a barrier rose up from the very ground to separate him from his foes.

It was a wall; writhing, twisting, of grays and black and disturbing flows of crimson. It crossed the small glade, rising higher than Daxia's head.

It took a second look to realize that the twisting gray cobbles were not stone or masonry ...

... but faces. And even if they didn't make a sound, their contenances were contorted in a forever of screaming.

The Heartwood
Midday on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Kadri, Longtooth and Dean

For one of them is was deja vu.

For the other it was midday, cold because it was Crown of Ice, and he was far from home; many months had past on his ride east, so far that it was hard to remember what the sound of surf against stone was. His own quest, it must be coming to a close because he was literally running out of geography. Soon he would be at the mountains, and there was nothing past that.

Home was a forever ago, the tall formal Keep of Talantal almost as long past. The No More Griffins Inn, Highside Heather and the Silk Creek Ravine; all behind him. Even Bordertown was a handful of weeks at his back.

But it was noon and he had drawn his horse to a stop, to nibble upon a travel biscuit; a gift from a farmer's wife at breakfast. They were poor folks, but it would have hurt them if he had refused.

His horse's mantling matched his own surcoat, deep red and formal, trimmed in light gold up the sides. The cloth snapped in a suden wind, one which was there and gone again.

The odd thing was the Girl.

She was on a beautiful black horse. But she was bent over her steed's neck, her hair snapping behind her like a pennant, galloping hard, galloping fast, coming from the south, cutting across the Brementown Road and then continuing on north.

Behind her was another rider, this one in fel pursuit. His horse stumbled for a moment, allowing her to regain a bit of a lead. Stern commands from the rider, however, brought his horse back into control and the chase resumed. This was a strange manner of hunter; he had long white hoar, his garb and armor was of horribly clashing colors as if collected at a handful of farmer's markets. About his neck was a long scarf, it may have been white once but now it was stained many shades of red.

His purpose was probably ill, since his long curved sword was out, surely gripped in a strong hand.

He drove his horse across the trail, perhaps a handful of yards in front of the Squire.

A few moments later, chasing the man who was chasing the Girl, loped a dangerous looking ruff.

No, not a ruff.

A snarkhound.

Celi with Stormrunner, somewhere near Mikal

Help me, Stormrunner. Help me, help Mikal.

Cesare had done for his foe, though the damned easterner refused to fall over.

But Mikal's foe, despite seeing his horse killed from under him, had struck Mikal a wicked blow, rendering one arm almost useless.

So maybe Mikal could use a little help with a distraction.

She could do that, and stay as loose and alert and agile as she could, dodging whatever the easterner threw her way until (hopefully) Stormrunner or Mikal did some damage.

"Hey!" she called out, from behind the easterner, where she was suddenly standing in his blind spot. If he didn't turn to mark her, she would use one of her lightning-fast acrobatic maneuvers to slice his anterior knee ligaments, the one place you couldn't armor and still bend your knees. Her kukras were sharp enough a hundred times over, to strike such a blow as she moved past and away just as acrobatically to dodge any attempted riposte.

She was tempted to add some sort of cocky comment such as "...don't make me hurt you." Only she really didn't want him to take serious notice of her until after she'd moved in, slashed and moved out. Besides, her mouth was too dry for all those words, and she was really worried about Stormrunner, who was singularly quiet ...

Bekkah

She nodded approvingly as her sister, her baby sister took out the demon, then she saw the wall appear. Fortunately for the priestess of Attera, she could not see what the wall was made of. Her attention though was drawn back to Mikal and Cesare. The latter seemed to have miraculously dispatched his foe with a weapon in his back. This she did not understand. The scene with Mikal was much more dire however. She saw the blood flowing from his arm and knew the severity of the wound at a glance. She thought about attempting to heal it from here, but then Celi was gone from her side, appearing behind Mikal's foe. If she could dispatch him quickly, she could get to Mikal before he lost too much blood.

Kadri:

She shouted out as she went by.

"HELP!"


And she starts swinging Lisica around to go back towards the glade. Perhaps the man - and as importantly his swordarm - would follow.

Cesare

He had little doubt that the other dagger belonged to Darian and he knows enough about them that he knows it wasn't thrown; too much force behind the blow. He is relieved anyway, regardless of who and how - those questions are for the survivors at a later time. His opponent is still alive even though on his knees.

Instinctively he considers whether he could render the man helpless, a blow from the hilt to the temple, an attack on the weapon hand or arm to disarm him. That might give them someone to question and he still has the manacles he took off the girl..

[OOC Not being actually able to see the opponent, I can't judge on Cesare's behalf how much of a possibility this is. If the risk is to great, slitting the man's throat might be a better option. ]

[half a post in PM ]

Mikal

Pain! Sharp, shooting pain. Pain such that the oddity of the sword seeming to be attempting to draw out his life force is almost unnoticed. Almost. But still shockingly harsh, the foulness of it a stain on his soul.

He'd been dancing with the man, and had gotten him to the ground, but not without cost. And a cost that might turn out to be fatal.

Drawing on his concentration, he does what he can to get past the pain. Ignoring it is simply not possible. A soft flash washes over the wound and the blood seems to flow a bit less strongly.

Still he knows that he had been a close match for this man, and now, without his blocking dagger, and weakened, he is no longer. He must act quickly. A drawn out battle is not going to go his way any more.

So he instantly changes tactics. Taking a firm hold of his sword, instead of dancing back as he had been, he instead steps forward. Closing inside the man's reach, stabbing with his short sword he attempts to drive it thru the man's chest.

As he starts his move to do so, he hears Celi call from behind his opponent. He does not expect the man to lose his concentration, but if the attempted distraction will help, for even a fraction of a second, that may be all he needs.

Since Celi was standing with the non-combattants, it will take her the entire combat round to cross the glade to aid Mikal.

Daxia
with the mage and his skanky wall in the glade

As the demon began melting, its lifeforce oozing out along the ground and rising nearly to the tops of her leather boots, Daxia caught the movement of the mage from the corner of her eye. Turning to parry an attack, she saw instead the rising wall... and the horror of it.

These men... THIS MAGE... was the kind of evil and chaos her Sisters faced at the end of the First Age, and again at the end of the Second Age. In no more than a heartbeat, her features changed from shock to steely determination and she began slicing away at the wall with her sword. Her goal was to reach the mage and eliminate him... and if she could put a fullhand of a fullhand or more of those silently screaming heads out of their apparent misery in the process, so much the better.

[Ooc: if you read two posts back, you sort of skipped over Stormrunner's first action: unseat the rider bearing down on Mikal. The one after Madrid was next, depending on success. When SR got flung in the broad patch, Celi began moving that way. So does that impact her positioning and time on scene?]

ooc: I didn't skip over Stormrunner's actions. Stormrunner got a nasty spell cast at him ... the party has been using divine magic against the bad guys ... its only fair they fight back with similar means. As previously noted the non-combatant group was of the map to the north. all posts have been very clear about approaching the glade but not joining into the combat (except for stormrunner, who will be panicked for another ... hmmm ... 10-12 minutes). Mikal's brigand is with Mikal, on the south side of the glade; in order to join into combat with Mikal, those on the north have to cross the glade.

Dean

Dean spurs his horse forward, his sword unsheathed. There is no time to think, to consider the situation which brought the strange trio to disturb his lunch. He knows only that he must react to the plea for help. Not being one to revel in unneeded shedding of blood, he attempts to knock the man off his horse, using the broadside of his sword.

The Heartwood
Midday on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Kadri, Dean and Longtooth

The quarry turned her horse into a slow curve, heading back to the Forest of Roth. It was a gentle arch, not sharp enough to allow the Easterner to simply cut her off.

"Help!"

Kadri's - the girl upon the black horse - call did garner a hero, a valiant rescuer, a knight in ... well they were all out of Knights, so hopefully a Squire would do.

To answer that call Dean spurred his own mount forward; it was sure and fast and did not seem at all perturbed to be sent in chase of another; it also ignored the rather large critter gaining on all of them. The brigand definitely didn't expect the interference in his chase, his attempt to parry the flat of the Squire's sword not arriving in time. Indeed, all it did was place his arm before the punishing strike, sending a shudder of hard pain through him. His grip was broken, his deadly blade spinning off to the side of the trail.

Dean now definitely had his attention.

The white horse reared, sudden, with nostril's flared and ears folded back. This heralded the arrival of the tawny snarkhound. The ruff worried the horse, barking, biting, nipping at the horse's hocks and upper legs. For a moment, just a moment, the rider seemed about to fall. But then, in the saddle he turned, turned with a madness in his eyes,as if even if he did die it would be to celebrate his liege's dark tastes. He launched himself at Dean, jumping from one horse to the other, ending in locked in a deadly grapple, rendering the Squire's long blade useless while he drew his own dagger.

The Heartwood
Midday on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi and the Girl.

Bekkah watched as the fel wall went up, as the demon cascaded down in a sudden splash of gore and ichor. Her protector abandoned her, Celi sprinting from their side of the woods towards the embattled Mikal. Her companion is no longer seen, the magics sent at the feline as strong as the ones they were drawing upon.

Darian was also on the move, at least one might be hoping as much the hunter was also nowhere to be seen. Cesare was no longer in danger; while it took all his strength to draw his dagger back the crazed look in his opponent's stunned eyes set his fate. The Rhoni's blade slashed, it cut, right above the man's blood soaked scarf and opened his throat.

With an odd smile he simply fell forward, into the brambles, face down and still.

For Mikal, his dance was coming to an end. His whisper drew forth his own Lord's strength, a black and red shimmer jumping and twisting from wound to blade. Daring, dangerous was his tactic, for to close meant opening himself up to an attack by the longer sword. Which did arrive, skilled and practiced; sure enough to evade the Jvrillian's parry. Breath and strength, however, were not behind the attack, the dark metal barely penetrating armor. Its bite was still cold but not enough to halt Mikal's response. The brigand was good, bringing his blade back to parry Mikal's blow. But so close, so hard, the strength of the Jvrillian's blade still pressed him back, arm twisting wrongly from blow, in a way no arm is ever supposed to, accompanied by a dull snap.

Now it was his turn to lose a weapon, but unlike Mikal he had only one.

He reached for his dagger.

Celi finally arrived, Mikal now having at least one more person at his side.

Faced by the horrid wall, Daxia struck at it, as if to try and shatter the deranged cobble blocks by the sheer force of her bow. She almost spun herself silly, for her blade cut through it as if it was not there. She tried again, watching her white sword slice into the barrier and then come right back out.

She stood, still, for a moment. Her expression was a tangled deadly mixture. Frustration, hate, anger, enragement ... before she threw herself over the insubstantial line.

On the other side her opponent had already made the tree line. He was running as fast as he can.

Away.

being on the other side of the wall, however, blocked her from seeing the black haired girl pop up, straight arming herself halfway up from her hole.

She turned, looking to the north, to the south, sharp blue eyes catching the slow disintegration of her pursuers. She then blinked. Once, twice and glanced upwards. Her eyes went wide, her lips silently breathed two short syllables. And then she was a sudden mad scramble, as if she needed to be somewhere else.

Actually ...

... as if she needed to be anywhere else!

Kadri again turns, moving to try to come alongside the Squire's horse - pull a dagger - and start clubbing his assailant from behind. After all.

If he disengaged enough to attack her, he would indeed be in trouble.

"Run away," Celi hissed, whirling her kukri deftly, "and live. Leave my friend, and I give you leave. "

Her mind reached out for Stormrunner, aching in his absence. She felt hollow. If the easterner tried to fight, she would have to do her best to kill him.

Daxia

Nostrils flaring, lips curling and eyes blazing with anger, Daxia watched the mage flee. There was no way to catch him; not while she was on foot, not while she was wearing armor. She yelled after him, at the top of her lungs.

"COWARD!!!"

Then she spun on her heel and retreated back to the other side of the mage's illusionary wall, to see the girl scrambling off.

"And just where do you think you're going, Girl?" Her voice was icy calm now, and her tone carried with it a suggestion that answering the Dayalan's question would be in the girl's best interest.

Bekkah

She felt herself relaxing as Dazi's foe ran away and the others nearby seemed to be taken care of. She got to her feet, no longer feeling the need to be hidden. Now was the time to aid. She hiked her skirts and ran towards Cesare and Mikal who had obviously been seriously hurt.

[ooc: Let me know who is closest. If they're still playing with the enemy, she'll go to whichever one is free.]

Darian

From somewhere near Mikal, the Hunter's voice rang out, "Dazi! Run!"

Then closer to the redhead, Darian's words came again, "We must go from this place!"

Cesare

He knows the man is dead. He feel no triumph - nor any regret - just relief that he is the one still standing. He grimaces, well just about standing. And he knows he could have maybe avoided getting hurt but he had needed to keep attention on himself rather than on Darian. Now he needs to be better prepared, especially as he is hurt.

And from the sounds around him there may still be others in trouble. He has no idea where Darain is but he hears her voice ring out and knows that she is around.

He heads further in towards the glade, his eyes looking for where the greatest threat may be and where he might help. As he moves in, he mutters to himself, adding armour protection and focusing on the stomach gash to stop the bleeding.

[OOC Likely that Bekkah will find him first so providing that opportunity before rushing in]

Mikal

He is completely focused on the opponent in front of him, so the actions of Daxia, Bekkah, and others are distant echoes to him. He does see Celi appear nearby and he shakes his head at her, warning her to stay back. He isn't averse to help, but this man is armoured beyond the point Celi can hurt him. As a distraction, though, maybe it can be useful.

And finally, after starting at a large disadvantage, he has an edge on his opponent. He uses any distraction Celi's appearance causes the man to his advantage, but he steps back slightly, now using the longer reach of his own weapon to his advantage. He blocks the mans dagger out wide and stabs at his chest with his sword. He wants to finish this quickly as in the back of his mind he thinks he heard someone saying something about leaving.

Daxia
with the girl and the invisible Darian in the glade

When she heard Darian's voice, Daxia moved with all possible haste... towards the girl. Gripping her upper arm, the Dayalan force-marched the girl along with her. When Darian spoke again, closer this time, Daxia nodded. "Yah, Dazi move quick-quick." However, once she and the girl crossed the treeline, Daxia released the girl. She stood for a few heartbeats just looking at the her, star-sparkled sword still held in one hand.

"Ok, Strawberry Girl... what's going on here?"

Dean

Shock crosses Dean's face as he realizes what his opponent has done. He is appalled at the speed in which the man moves. The hours of training he has recently completed don't allow him to pause as the dagger he draws flashes out at the man. Only at that moment does his face register the fact that the woman whom he was...er...rescuing is now attacking his attacker. Who is this woman?

The Heartwood
Midday on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Kadri, Dean and Longtooth

Even this close, even this tumbled, this tangled there are some simple truths.

A dagger has a longer reach than a fist.

Especially when one's other arm is trying to drag a Squire off his horse.

Dean's blade struck ... about the only place it could. Right there, driving upwards, into the brigand's gut. It took all his strength for the Squire to press past the armor, to bite into unhuman flesh. He could not see, but he could feel, the sudden flow af dampness, seeping all over his hand.

To add insult to injury, the Girl was back, and the girls of the wilderness, they must be very different breed from the shy farmer's daughters or dour fisher child from his home. She had brought her horse back around, very tight, very fast, and it is when her dagger found his kidney that the brigand shuddered, he convulsed once, clawing as he could no longer hold on, his eyes fading as he fell into the tall brown grass.

His white horse bolted away, in a dead run out into the wilderness.

The tawny ruff, the snarkhound, having driven the horse away had already turned around, running back towards the dark Forest of Roth.

The Heartwood
Midday on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi and the Girl.

" ... kkkhhhhyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy ... "

There was no answer to Celi's call, at least none that can be seen, none that can be heard. For Bekkah, Cesare was the closest; and while hurt he would most certainly live, and between her and his magics there would be no scar. The worst had been taken care of, power had already been spent, so no new magics would help; at least not for a while. However, this is what bandages were for, the old pragmatic remedies, to make sure his hurts would not get worse and that when they did heal, it would be clean and proper. Bekkah was un-wounded, not bearing the weight of armor and pushed forward by her calling. If the Rhoni did wish to enter the glade, he would have to do get past the Priestess of Attera first.

" ... hhhhyyyyyyaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ... "

Pain, hurt, each movement sent waves of torment through the Jvrillian. His opponent was unarmed, yet still he charged, as if his life meant nothing, as if the fight itself was the entire world. that if blood was spilled, it didn't matter it it was Mikal's or ... his. Here in such close quarters, Mikal's shortsword proved its worth. He struck first, a hard blow square in the chest, no slice, no stroke, but point first. Blood fountained out of the brigand's mouth as he was impaled; the sword driving into flesh and sinew, past bone, until the point tented the back of the Easterner's tunic.

He slowly fell to the ground, fallen in carnage, dead. Though he did cast one final frustration upon his opponent.

For the life of him, Mikal could not pull his sword loose from the body. It was stuck.

" ... aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ..."

It was not the drop of the other shoe. For there were two, and they were not shoes at all.

Almost impossible to see, the writhing and flailing forms plummeted from the sky; one was man-sized, one was about four times the size of a very big man. When they hit the ground it was with a resounding crash, crashing into the underbrush, accompanied by the sharp crackle and snap of rotted wood splintering. The fel cry came to a complete and final stop when they hit the ground.

Her arm free, the black haired girl took one scared step away from Daxia.

However she did rise to tip toes, so she could peek into the depression that she had rapidly escaped, the scene of the meteoric plummeting.

To nicely answer Daxia's question.

Eyes wide, blinking with the shadow of her hood, she offered innocently,

"Watching tracker and horse fall from sky?"

Seven down, zero to go.

Kadri to the Squire:

(As nothing in the glade can be seen at all by her)

"This way! Easterners, Demons. My friends need help. . please?"

She motions the Squire and starts moving her horse that direction again.

Bekkah

She stopped in her run to help when the thing fell from the sky. She stifled a scream, covering her mouth, only relaxing when she was certain Dazi was still safe. Then she was focused again, moving to Cesare.

With Cesare's bleeding stopped, she looked up into his eyes to make sure he was going to be okay.

"Still need to clean and bandage. We not go anywhere until I finish." she told him in a not for debate tone. Then she was running over to Mikal.

"Mikal, let me see your arm." She commanded, not caring about his sword. She looked concerned. Without concern for the blood, she touched the wound. "Lady Attera, guide my hands to heal this valiant man."

[ooc: So just to understand, did she cast anything for Cesare? Let me know how much she has left after these two. I assume she didn't use any of the divine spells.]

Daxia
with the Gang less Kadri and Longtooth plus Girl in the glade

She gave the girl a cold look before looking around... dead Easterners, something very large that had fallen from the sky, most of her people... Bekkah already taking care of Cesare and Mikal.

"Darian? You come back now, ok?"

Then her gaze turned once again upon the girl. "That did not answer my question. So I will ask more plainly. Who are you? Why were these men pursuing you?" She took another short glace across the glade. "Tracker? Looking for you, I suppose?"

Darian

"Darian be here, Dazi," Darian's voice said from very close by. "You see again soon. No more to Hunt."

There was a long pause.

"Why white hair man and white horse fall from sky?"

Daxia
with the Gang less Kadri and Longtooth plus Girl in the glade

Daxia shrugged, her focus never leaving the girl. "Dazi not know. Maybe girl tell that, too, yah?"

Celi with Cesare, Mikal, Stormrunner and Bekkah

Celi applied her healing arts to Cesare and Mikal, naming sure they were stable and on good hands with Bekkah. At any other time. She would have fussed endlessly, soothing his brow, perfecting the wound repair, removing any hint of residual pain.

But Stormrunner was hurt, unable to speak to her, suffering somehow...

She had to find him, heal him... she headed for the brambles, prepared to wade in to be at his side.

[OOC: Um. Bekkah has already done the healing thing for the guys.]

Darian

Near the pit, Darian's voice sounded again, "They be dead."

Dean

Too stunned by the whirlwind of events that interrupted his lunch to do anything else, Dean follows the girl he had thought to save.

[ooc: to Bekkah - Celi was closest by both and merely offered her assistance, particularly with Mikal.I took the GM post to mean she assisted, and was confirming. Not trying to step on any toes.]

Celi was oblivious to the others, hacking her way into the brambles, using her kukri like machetes, intent on making her way to Stormrunner's side. She was crooning soothing words, words matched by her mind's efforts, doing her best to force all fear from her, intent on reaching him...

Cesare

His ears, if not his eyes, tell him that things have quietened which is a relief. So he does what he desires most and sinks to the ground finding a tree to lean his back against whilst he finds his waterskin. Taking a long drink, he lets the adrenal burn from his body, taking the opportunity to grab at least a few minutes rest.

One of the felled opponents, one impaled by an arrow, twitches a bit then the arrow, point first, leaves his body. A piece of his tunic comes up to wipe the gore from head and shaft before the fletching peels away. The arrow vanishes.

There are footsteps, not heard but seen as light depressions on the covering foliage that springs back. These cross to the dead horse. There is a low grumble, and the arrowhead snaps off of the arrow.
The pointed metal is cleaned then also disappears.

The footsteps move again, this time coming to the Rhoni.

"Cesare?" Darian's voice asks quietly. "You be well?"

Mikal

As long as Bekkah doesn't try to restrain him, he allows her to help him, offering a brief, but heartfelt, "Thank you" when he feels the healing warmth flow into his arm. He smiles at Celi as well, nodding thanks to her for her help.

However his first concern is that no more enemies are about, he knows some rode off in pursuit of Kadri and could return. Additionally there could have been more easterners riding behind this group who could appear at any time.

If either of those thing happens, he needs to be armed, but after tugging and pulling on his short sword several times he realizes it is not coming out. He sees the man's sword lying on the ground nearby, and he immediately reaches down and picks it up then turns to scan the woods to make sure no more enemies are about.

If it seems clear, and he can see Daxia has the girl in hand, he takes a few minutes to retrieve his dropped crossbow and make sure Talia is safe. He then searches the fallen enemies and their mounts for anything of use.

Cesare

He dosn't need to see her to know she is near and the voice confirms it.

"I'll live. Just taking a breather. Besides, your favourite healer told me to stay put.. and I have no reason not to."

He shrugs.

"Everyone else OK? What about Kadri?"

SHortly thereafter KAdri' horse comes thundering in, followed by, a short distance behind, another horse, bearing a rider in red and gold. She stops when she sees a scene under control.

"He's not an enemy!"

She adds, quickly.

Darian

Her smile is in her voice though he cannot see it. "Good."

"Kadri be not back. Will find her."

Her lips press to his, and mid-kiss, she once again becomes visible.

Cesare

"Mmmmm.. feeling better already."

He smiles at her now he can actually see her.

"Be careful huh?"

Darian with Cesare and the arriving Kadri and squire Dean

She smiles then looks up and tenses at the sound of more riders approaching, then relaxes as it is Kadri that rides in.

"Not have to look far."

The Hunter rises and offers a hand up to Cesare.

Daxia
with the Gang plus the Girl and a Squire in the glade

She had nodded at Darian's comment, keeping her eyes on the girl while watching Celi's scramble through the underbrush from the corner of her eye. But when Kadri reappeared, she turned towards her friend, visibly relieved.

"Da, Kadri," she said with a ghost of a smile. "The followers of Lord Rames are not usually enemies." Her gaze pointedly moved to the underbrush where Celi had gone, before turning her attention back to the girl.

"You obviously can speak. You obviously understand me." She paused a heartbeat, and another, sapphire eyes hard and icy. "And I, obviously, would like some answers."

ooc note: Mikal's posted actions included the initial healing of his wound; he was very sneaky in that! This is the very reason I always recommend combat types take Heal 1 as a basic combat spell, it prevents bleeding to death and keeps you in the battle longer.

Just realize the bad guys, as Illustrated, also have this.

Bekkah's skills come in handy when catastrophic hurts occur, which, since you have several combat-characters in the group will happen. This is not Doom, this is a normal part of the game; and because you have Bekkah it should not be something feared.

Bekkah is also a Priestess of Attera. This makes her the absolute best healer in the group, both magical and in first aid and treatment. This is common knowledge. It is not wise to let less skilled healing prevent her from doing her work.

OOC Note: After healing Bekkah is tired, but not as tired as she was the last time she did this.

Bekkah

With both patients okay, she turned her attention to Kadri and her new friend. She watched the way they each moved to detect if they had any injuries that needed tending.

She would boil some herbs later for those who had been hurt to ensure there was no lasting effects, but that could wait until they camped. Well as long as said camping took place within the next couple of hours.

She then turned her attention to where Celi had gone.

"Celi, do you need help with friend?"

The Heartwood
Midday on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of
Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and the Girl.

Furious cuttings and slashings at the brambles and Celi was able to find her companion. In the center of the clump of underbrush was a very large softpad. Ears up, muscles tense, it was obviously terrified. She could stay with the critter, trying to calm and comfort it, but it would be a bit, beyond the arrival of Kadri and her accompanying Squire before the feline would calm.

It is an odd scene that Dean found himself riding into; obviously the scene of a very recent battle. There was still an arcane wall of screaming faces, all writhing and twitching preventing view to the far half of the small glade. Behind it, rising above it, was the top of a tattered banner, its shorn cloth shifting gently in the slight breeze. It was an odd collection of people he was. A swordsman. A woman tearing through brambles to comfort a cat. A really, really big cat. A dark haired man, a finely dressed lady, and another finely dressed lady - this one in the whites and cremes of a follower of Lady Attera. As he took all this in there was a rustle at the edge of the embatteled copse. It is the sound of hoofbeats as three horses walk to the glade's edge, herded by the shaggy ruff he had seen earlier. The ruff sat then, quite pleased with himslef, and just stretched as as canines are wont to.

Last, however, were two truly strange ones. The first is a red haired woman, dressed in armor, of all things, in her hand a sword still shimmering with stardust magic. The second was a slender lass, wrapped in bright tunics covered by a heavy long cloak. Long black hair snuck out from its hood, and she looked confused, with a hint of panic in her stance; as if the threats contained in the glade were not quite yet banished.

At the icy stare, she started walking slowly backwards, retreating from the flame haired woman.

At the redhead's words she jumped, truly did panic, and then bolted!

Not very far, however.

Right to Bekkah's back.

"Kind One!

"Starbred-killer promised! Promised strawberries!"

She pointed to Daxia.

"Please! Please please please, don't let Starbred-killer kill! Promised strawberries, promised safe, promised protect, she did, you hear, please! See! Look, eyes cold as horns, wants blood, wants death, murder, kill! Don't let starbred-killer hurt! Slice with sword, smash with hooves, freeze souls and shatter into little sparkles, never to find rest ..."

"Promised ... not ... hurt ..."

Her last words faded into a whisper.

As if with each one hope for the promised sanctuary was fading too.

Mikal

A sharp grimace comes over his face as he touches the sword, but he forces himself to hold onto it for the moment as he can hear the sound of pounding hooves approaching and it may herald more enemies.

As soon as he determines it is Kadri, with an unexpected ally, he takes the sword's sheath from his foe and slips the sword into it and slides the loop of the sheath around his shoulder. Upon releasing the sword, he flexes his hand several times.

He then continues around the clearing searching the foes and mounts and gathering anything of value together. He keeps an eye on where Celi went, once Kadri's new companion appears, hoping she took his words over the past few days to heart.

Celi

Celi stayed by Stormrunner's side, soothing him with touch and words, as well as the anodyne of her own mind's gentle caress. She had a brush for his fur, and removed thorns and brambles with her own fingers, massaging a cooling balm into his skin at any places where the briars had pierced his thick fur. That he had stayed in the briar patch in preference to facing whatever spellcaster and struck him said volumes about the nature of fear.

Celi did her best to convince him that it was magic that had done this, not anything real, and that she and her friends were here to protect him. More importantly, she needed him to know how much she needed his protection, going forward. "We may have to leave these folk and strike out alone," she explained softly. "They fear the Coven, the followers of Mother Nature and The Sun. There are those who would burn me at the stake for my beliefs, and even the ones who are not so fearful, might surrender me to my enemies simply to preserve their own existence.

"I just want you to be back to your old cheerfully sardonic self, Stormrunner. You are my heart and soul, and I need you. I am not alive without you."

She buried her face in his fur as she brushed and deburred it, talking to and cajoling the powerful softpad beneath it.

STORMRUNNER

Daxia
with the Gang plus the Girl and the Squire in the glade

Sheathing her sword and placing hands on hips, the very essence of frustration, Daxia looked between the girl and her sister. She sighed. And paused yet again. Finally, she spoke.

"Well, it seems that her people at least have some respect for Dayalans... though I'm not sure being considered evil incarnate is any better than than being the laughingstock of the Heartwood.

"Bekkah, see if you can get Strawberry to tell you who she is, why the Easterners..." Daxia spoke the last word with loathing. "...were chasing her. Perhaps even how the horse and rider managed to be so high in the sky, and what caused them to fall." She gestured towards the glade. "I must... there is a thing I must do here."

Before going, however, she looked more closely at Kadri's companion. "Well met, Squire. My thanks are yours for assisting my friend Kadri. I am Daxia Yurisdotter, known by some as Knight of Dawnview Castle."

Bekkah

She barely caught her balance as the girl bumped into her back. She could see the look on Dazi's face and hear the panic in the girl's voice.

She turned and took one of the girl's hands and pulled her toward her.

"Shh child, she isn't going to kill you. Come with me."

She drew the girl away from the others.

"Now calm yourself child. Just relax and take deep breaths. You're safe now. Tell me what happened. Who were those awful men? Who are you?"

The Girl

She followed Bekkah, carefully always keeping, the Priestess between her and the Dayallan.

"But that's what starbred-killers do! They ride at night, wth swords of white and hooves of black, no mercy, no kindness, they hate hate hate and live to cut down not just men, but wives and kidlets ... smash them into little pieces, let their horned horses drink kidlets blood. Always told, if not good, be left outside at night, for starbred-killers to find."

As Bekkah spoke, she hugged herself tight, swallowing.

"They wants catch. They wants drag away. They wants to makes Rhomanishkah'al'lhahrhonsha'al'khylyrishkatsarinish marry."

Daxia
with the Gang plus the Girl and the Squire in the glade

Though her attention remained on the newly arrived Squire, Daxia listened to Strawberry's description of Dayalans and opened her mouth to speak, then thought better of it and merely shook her head. At the girl's last statement, however, she exchanged a glance with Kadri, frowning.

(HOld, I have a perspective on what this is about, perhaps - fopr when I get home.)

[Sure... we should wait for Mokie anyway.]

Dean

Dean's jaw slackens as he stares from person to creature to person. Not in his wildest dreams (nightmares) as a farmboy could he have imagined such a group. No training has prepared him for this sight.

However, his training has prepared his manners and he knows he has been spoken to. In response to the red haired woman, he says "Greetings, Lady, er...Knight. I am Dean...of Talesan"

Realizing this was not enough of an introduction to his better, he stammered on..."I am Squire Dean Talesan, Squire...umm I mean I'm a Squire and I'm Dean...I mean I...mean, I'm Squire Dean Marguard of Talesan."

Finally, thrilled to have finally gasped out something that didn't sound offensive, he bows deeply and extends his gaze to the rest of the group in front of him.

Remembering that he is in fact a Squire, his mindfullness of duties come flooding back. Not quite sure how to ask and chagrined that the woman he was supposed to have been rescuing probably saved his life. He looks toward the woman he followed into the glade and asks "Are you ummm...well?

Kadri:

She avoids rolling her eyes his way. Just. Apparently whatever training he had had, speaking was not part of it.

". . thank you. That . . man. . was not going to let me go. Name is Kadri."

Now that he heard her speak, her speech had a definite accent to it - not from around here.

She turns her attention to the girl, intense and earnest, hopping down from Lisica

"You. . girl. . . I am Kadri. Is that long twist of the tongue your name? Can I call you Rhoman then? Who wants to make you marry? Marry who? Please, speak clearly. This could be very, very important."

ooc note: Dean - Best My Name Is Line Ever.

Mikal

He steps back from the body in front of him and puts his hands on his hips in frustration. He glances back over to the others. It seems that Daxia, Kadri, Camelia, and Bekkah are dealing with the girl, Celi is busy with Stormrunner, and Darian and Cesare are busy sticking close to each other.

Looking to the newcomer he says, "Squire Dean?" He reaches down to his stuck short sword and starts to forcefully twist it back and forth inside the dead man's chest. The sounds of ripping flesh and sucking gore resonates in the small glade.

"Do you mind giving me a hand here? Damnable easterner seems unnaturally attached to my sword." He gives it another twist, and a rib pops and sticks up thru the flesh of the man's chest.

"I really like this sword, and it'd be a poor reward for it for me to leave it in this wretch's body any longer than necessary."

He wrenches once more, and some blood spatters into the air, but the sword doesn't come free.

"Squire Dean?" He asks again.

He then looks over to the man, and says, "My apologies. Name is Mikal. Now, any chance for a hand?"

The Girl

"Kadris?"

The Girl looked at the Amber lass with a slow tilting of her head.

"Names so short! How can tell who you ares with names so short?"

Her nose wrinkled, the tip seen from beneath her shadowed hood.

"Romanas. Romanas are Romanas are Romanas. And of course importants! Romanas are Romanas are Big Fish!"

The girl ... Romana ... held her hand up, vertical, fingers together and her thumb up. She waggled her hand then back and forth, a sinuous and swimmingest kind of motion.

"Father'shkahl wants marry. Father big, powerful prince, wants to be biggest powerful prince of all thousand towers! So says, Friend, you biggest and most powerful Friend of all Friends. I give you only Rhomahnishkahs, you be My Friend!"

Somehow, however, the intonation of the word "friend" is off, it is different ... as if it mean something other than a close acquaintance.

Daxia
with the Gang plus the Girl and Dean in the glade

As the Squire introduced himself... rather, made a long rambling attempt to introduce himself... Daxia stared for a heartbeat, then slowly her smile returned. By the end of his introduction, she was grinning. As Kadri dismounted and went to speak with the girl, Daxia strode towards the Squire, who seems so befuddled as to not have heard Mikal. She stopped at Mikal's side, but looked at the Squire, hands again on her hips.

"Very well met indeed, Squire Dean Marguard of Talesan. I doubt even Bekkah could have broken my foul mood so well. I thank you for that." She looked around at her companions. "And I suspect my comrades thank you as well. This is my Second, Mikal," she said, indicating the man at her side. "The Priestess of Attera is my sister, Bekkah. You have met Kadri; the other is Camelia, though the Eastern girl..." She shrugged and pointed to a couple... well, a trio, as the large ruff had returned to sit by the woman's side. "Cesare and Darian; the ruff is Longtooth." She looked around again, brows furrowed. "Celi is about somewhere.

"You may as well join us as we decipher what has happened here.

"And please... Daxia is fine."

Daxia tapped Mikal on the shoulder. "Dazi help. Let Squire get bearings, yah?" She placed a booted foot on the body and her hands on the hilt overlapping Mikal's. "Ok, we pull together, yah?"

[OOC I have not yet had a turn to post in the last 22 posts. If I do not post now I will miss the chance for presumably another 22... so I am posting.]

Cesare

He accepts Darian's hand with a grin, and pushing off with his other hand against the tree, gets to his feet easily. He looks up sharply up as Kadri returns, his stance at first defensive until recognition sets in, though there is a stranger in their midst.

"Glad you are safe Kadri."

He nods to the newcomer, a wary welcome. Taking Darian's hand they move to regroup with the others. And it would appear that they saved the girl but what most draws his attention is initially the writhing wall which gives him a real feeling of disquiet.. and then Celi's companion. Now he better understands what she had said to him back in the inn. He smiles at her.

"Stormrunner.. impressive. Has he been following us since we left the town?"

OOC Note: While there is nothing inherently wrong with Celi's post, the timing of it is a bit off. There should be several more rounds of conversation before the effect of the Divine Magic spell Stormrunner got hit with to wear off; one thing I have learned over the years is that a lot can happen in the ten minutes - it is an amazingly long time. And from my personal experience on the Tourney Field, the exchange of three or four sword blows is measured in seconds, not minutes - the fight with the brigands would have been lucky to last more than five minutes.

Since I am a touch more flexible and adaptable when it comes to posting, Nicki you can either just hold the post until I un-panic Stormrunner or edit it for the cat to still be scared. There are Divine Spells available to you folks with similar effects; I am sure everybody would want them to run their full course.

As for it's content ... I suspect the timing might be a bit off too. While every one who had been in Cragside may have one point of view, it would be unrealistic to expect everyone now in the glade to be cavalier or nonchalant.

Or to quote:

Quote

He then continues around the clearing searching the foes and mounts and gathering anything of value together. He keeps an eye on where Celi went, once Kadri's new companion appears, hoping she took his words over the past few days to heart.

OOC Note: No problem Gypsy! As I said, I am adaptable!

[Sorry. Your PM guidance was for Stormrunner to remain afeared until Kadri returned, which I thought I had duly waited for. I will delete the post and remain in the briars until you say different. Regular communication with Stormrunner would eliminate these issues, IMHO, so a little help there would make my job easier.]

Mikal

When Daxia comes over to help he nods to her comment. It is probably a good idea to let the man take a few minutes to absorb the scene and the people around. He cast another glance to the briar patch where Celi and Stormrunner are concealed, hoping she stays there for a bit, and comes out alone.

He then turns back to Daxia, an odd feeling coming over him as her hands wrap around his. A slight flush coming to his face. He focuses on the sword to cover it up, places his foot on the chest of the dead man for stability, and says, "On three, yes? Ready? One, two, three.....!" And he pulls straight up and out as strongly as he can.

Darian

She gives Cesare's hand a squeeze but drops it to look around some more, especially the horse she felled. She kneels at its head and speaks with out sound. She regrets having to have killed it and a decision needs to be made with what to do with the remains...

Daxia
with Mikal in the glade

Together, they managed to yank the shortsword from the dead Easterner, Daxia stumbling slightly into Mikal at the sudden release. "Sorry," she said, releasing the sword to his sole custody. Then she furrowed her brows at all the blood on his tunic. "You hurt bad? Bekkah fix, yah?"

Kadri

"I could give you a longer name. But that longer name has nothing in it that I would consider mine any more, so I will not use it. You see. Someone . . . wanted me to marry when I did not wish to. So. . . I went elsewhere, kept the part of the name which is mine, and left behind that which is not. And they can keep it."

Cesare

Glancing back at the writhing wall, he looks at the others who were in the clearing during the fight, mainly Daxia and Mikal.

"What is that?"

He points to the wall.

"And what happened here?"

His gesture is very general, encompassing the glade, the girl, the bodies, the tattered flag..

Daxia
with the Gang and Dean and Romana in the glade

Still concerned about Mikal's injuries, Daxia turned to Cesare. She glanced at the wall and then back to the Rhoni, shrugging. "Illusion, magic. Meant to frighten Dazi, maybe." She let out a harsh bark of a laugh. "Coward underestimate Dazi.

"What happen? Fight Easterners... easy to say." She looked at Romana. "Girl? Maybe Bekkah, Kadri find out, yah? She very scared of Dazi." That thought put a troubled and puzzled look on the Dayalan's face. "Starry-bred killer? 'Starry-bred' understand, yes... Dayalan. But Dazi only kill bad people."

Then she looked out over the glade, stared for long moments at the tattered flag of her home. "About banner Dawnview Vale... not know what happen. Hope to learn. NEED to learn.

"Need to learn," she whispered.

Bekkah

She kept a hold of the girl keeping her calm.

"Those stories of Starbred, not true. Honorable warriors. Never hurt kids, never innocent. Only other fighters like them?" she said pointing to the bodies that they had dispatched.

"We tell our young same kinds of stories of Easterners. But you're safe with us. Starbred is my sister. She's good."

"So you were to brought back for marriage. Now what will you do?"

Darian

She stood from her place by the horse and came to stand once again by Cesare, casting a glance to the newest arrival. Her expression was a bit troubled. She slid her hand into Cesare's again and entwined the other in Longtooth's scruff.

"How can help, Dazi? Should burn bodies, man and horse alike, otherwise make glade sick...more sick."

Daxia
with the Gang and Dean and Romana in the glade

She tore her gaze from the banner fluttering in the occasional breath of wind, and looked at the Hunter. "Search for... why banner here. Think find wagons... people..." Again, Daxia's gaze was drawn to the center of the glade; she seemed transfixed, haunted, tormented by the sight. "...important people, long dead. Need find them, proof who they are."

Daxia was silent, almost seemed to be in mourning, for fullhands of long heartbeats.

"Yah," she said, nodding. "Then need burn bodies."

Mikal

His blush deepens as Daxia leans on him while straightening up. He then glances down at the bloodstained sleeve, shrugging towards her. "I am fine. Mostly thanks to Lady Bekkah." He bows towards Bekkah. "My sincere thanks, and apologies for their lateness in coming."

He wipes the sword off on the dead man's tunic, inspects it briefly for any bad nicks, and then sheathes it.

Turning to Daxia and Bekkah he adds, "It is all a matter of where you stand. If you grow up with stories and real events of an enemy who comes and kills you and yours, naturally they are 'killers' to you. The fact that enemy believes you and your friends to be evil and they are only protecting their own is a hard concept for a young girl to grasp......, it was hard concept for me to grasp." He finishes more softly. "Still is."

Daxia
with the Gang and Dean and Romana in the glade

Daxia looked quizzically at Mikal as he blushes, but then nodded at his comment. "Ok, good. Contract not up. Dazi not let you out by die, yah?" she said with a grin, clearly teasing him. Tilting her head, she simply 'hmmmms', and was quiet a moment. "Is ok, Mikal. Take time, yah? Dazi know Jvrillians not so bad," she said with a smile. "Maybe Squire Rames not so bad. Maybe Eastern girl not so bad. Dazi find out!" She punched him lightly on the shoulder in a comradely way. "Dazi not cobble-block. Dazi only say 'this is this' when she know for sure, ok?"

She looked again towards the banner in the glade. "Dazi search now. Must." She looked back at her companions, then over her shoulder at the Squire still sitting... dumbfounded? confused?... astride his horse. "Any want to help, Dazi not say no."

Daxia walked towards the glade, but stopped at the brier patch into which Celi had crawled. She crouched down and spoke only loudly enough for Celi to hear her. "Celi," she said with a warning tone. "You behave when you come out. Shy farm girl. No bragging. And NO CAT." She paused for a heartbeat or two. "Dazi know who you are. Others? Not want to know. You behave. Celi can have friends if she want friends, but not if she act like... someone no one like, yah? Dazi know, Dazi not care. But Celi not behave, then Dazi care because Celi put all in danger. You think, Celi. You remember Dazi watch you. Dazi thump Celi head when Celi not behave... like Dazi teacher once do to Dazi." Again, there was a silence of a few heartbeats. "Hope cat feel better soon."

Without waiting for a response, she stood and walked into the glade. Starting at the tattered Dawnview Vale banner, she began searching the ruins... the shards of splintered wood, the bits of rusted metal... digging in places with her dagger or, if necessary, her sword. The mounds... those, too, must be investigated.

Dean

Startled to realize people have once again been addressing him and he has been reacting not unlike a rock to the wind, Dean leaps down from his horse. He starts toward toward Mikal, but seeing that his help was no longer needed, moves towards Daxia.

"I'm sorry...it's just that I've never seen anything like this."

Not noting any response from her, and realizing that none is necessary, he moves to her side and starts helping her dig through the wreckage.

Daxia
with Dean, digging through the wreckage in the glade

She remained silent for the space of two fullhand of breaths, picking carefully through the rubble. "Dazi not think..." She snapped her jaws shut, and sat back on her heels. "I'm sorry. I have only recently been convinced that my Dawnview country way of speaking is not always... effective." Daxia gave him a shadow of a smile. "I have never seen Easterners before today, though I have heard the tales of how they killed nearly every Dayalan on the Heartwood at the end of the First and Second Ages. I have never been in a pitched battle before today. I have never seen a mage before today. I have never seen, nor fought, a demon before today.

"There is nothing to be sorry about, Squire. I have never seen anything like this before, either. The shock of it hit you immediately. For me, it will likely all come crashing down on me long after Her setting; my training will not allow me to become unnerved by all of this until then."

She paused, pulling a larger piece of wood from the earth, examining it and setting it aside.

"I am looking for anything that might be of Allaine or Kierkegaard origin. Do you know their colors?" She pointed to the tattered banner above them saying, "That is the banner of Dawnview Vale, of the Allaines. It is faded, it is worn..." Her voice broke, and she paused yet again. "We are black and silver and red. The Kierkegaards are blue and green and black." She shook her head. "I think there is... something... a missing piece of a puzzle here. I... I cannot leave this place until I have either confirmed or disproved my suspicions." She gave him a long look, and then turned back to the task of dislodging a piece of rusty metal from the ground.

The Heartwood
Just past Midday on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of
Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and the Girl

"How can you give aways names? Romanas not understand ... cant get heres without being theres first?"

Her words were broken, as the stranger chattered back to Kadri, definitely curious and a bit confused. Save for the odd conversation there was very little left to disturb the glade. With a shimmer in the air the arcane wall flickered, lost whatever cohesion it had and faded like a bright cloth left out in the sun far, far too long. Also hidden, wherever Celi had vanished to, there was a rustling in the shelter of the thick brambles.

"Only kills bad people ..."

The black haired girl looked between the elder Priestess and the younger Dayalan, her arms still wrapped protectively about herself.

"Romanas not want kill ANYBODIES. If it good for Romanas killings, then fair fine to kill Romanas, and Romanas do not like that one little tinny tiny bits."

The glade itself took a good long while to search; tearing away the underbrush, digging through years of fallen and mulched leaves - revealing insects and worms and other little scurrying things.

" ... eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwww."

After watching, oddly silent, wrapped all up in her cloak, once she saw what was going on Romana bit her lower lip and helped too. Manual labor did not seem to come easily to her, but she tried anyway, even if it meant tugging at a vine with both hands and landing in a sprawl when it snapped. She'd just frown, adjust her hood and try some more.

Though it was apparent she wasn't too pleased with worms or centipedes.

Just before sunset, the history of the glade, its story began to be pieced together.

There were the remains of four carts, which were once perhaps fine; the largest having had an all rounded top and tall wooden sides. It was big enough to provide a room of sorts on wheels; broken crockery, rotted cloth, bits and pieces of jewelry were found all about it. The carts themselves were purposefully arranged, in a circle about the ragged banner. It was a tragedy, however, whatever happened here; because once the leaves began to be disturbed, once each small mound poked through, the more bones were found. Most were about the circumference of the circle; and these were armored. The armor, however, was now beyond useless; rusted and pitted, broken and shorn, pieces missing, pieces mismatched as if this was not the first time the dead had been disturbed.

Probably by the victors of this old combat.

Most of those near the carts seemed to share a similar mantling. Most bore tabards broken into horizontal bands of dull greens and blues and black; and this was odd. The glade bore the banner of different heraldry and yet no skeleton found wore a matching tabbard. One area looked to be the focus of the carnage, there a handful of skeletons protectively encircled a singular one.

Of the others, those who won the glade, there was no sign; as if they had taken their dead with, leaving no hint to who staged this ancient attack.

Mikal's search included those more recently felled. The brigands wore little beyond their distinctive mis-match of armor; mostly courboilli or leather with heavy studs; a few pieces had metal rings sewn into them. The saddlebags upon the fallen horses contained oddly cut clothes and various and sundry bits of food; it was apparent they were foragers and had been claiming their meals from whatever or whoever they had run across. It wasn't until he turned back to join the others that he tripped and fell.

And discovered the last body, a final skeleton.

But this one wasn't with the others; it was as if he had fallen and tried crawling from the field of death, only to get lost in a tangle of large, twisted roots.

It was a warrior, like the others.

Except his faded tunic was all the shades of gray.

"Poor horsie ..."

The blackhaired girl softly petted a long, white skull. She then looked back to Bekkah and nodded.

"You asked what Romanas want.

"Romanas want to live."

Daxia
with the Gang in the glade

Daxia sifted through the bones and the tattered, disintegrating cloth around and under the skeleton that had seemed to have been the most protected. She sought... anything, anything at all... that might give tangible proof of the body's identity. Something, anything that could be returned to a grieving father.

Kadri:

She looks at 'Romanas" slightly askew and grins.

"Good. It means. . we share a goal then. I want to live too."

Mikal

Anything of value he piles together as he searches, and suggests Daxia and the others do the same with the jewelry and other bits of value they find. Money and things that can be sold for money being something not to discard.

Hearing Daxia talk to the Squire he nods when she mentions the impact hitting her later, and makes a note to keep an eye on her. He's seen it happen before, to first timers, and it happened to him as well. Everyone deals with it differently, some better than others.

He adds to her, as he searches, "You will get more used to it as time goes by, sad to say."

As he turns to head back to his pile, he almost stumbles over a skeleton buried in the dirt and leaves. It is notable mostly in that it's dress is different than all the others. "Black and silver and red, or blue and green and black, you said, right? This one is wearing every shade of gray you can imagine." He points to the skeleton on the ground.

Kadri:

"Men in grey . . . Montague?" She says, screwing up her eyes.

"Men in grey, right?"

Darian

The Hunter helps in the search too, stopping at the horse the Jrvillian had killed.

"Aye, Montague, Grey Men, no color," she agrees then asks of Mikal, "You see before? Is Montague?"

Daxia
with the Gang in the glade

She looked through the pile of jewelry they were collecting, as well. Nothing that was clearly Kierkegaard... nothing that was Allaine.

She looked up sharply at the mention of many shades of grey. Montague.

Daxia knelt over the jewelry, apparently deep in thought, for two handful of a fullhand of heartbeats before rising and walking over to the body Mikal found. "That is Montague livery," she said, absently.

She seemed to hold her breath as she stood over the body, staring that far-off stare of hers. She let out her breath slowly, then glanced at Darian... and then shook her head.

She turned to Mikal.

"You are from Montague lands," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do you know of a miller by the name of McLaine? One who might have a tall red-haired wife, perhaps a young red-haired daughter who might be 15, perhaps 16 summers old?"

Cesare

He helps with the searching, teaming up with Darian and Longtooth, not because he is particularly interested but it obviously matters to some and it is not his way to sit idly by.

Then as they all regroup, Darian slipping her hand into his, it reminds him of what she suggested earlier.

"If we are going to burn the bodies, we should do it at night whilst the night hides the smoke and the trees hide the flame. We should also keep a watch, maybe ask the girl, there may be others come looking when no-one returns."

Celi

Celi had hacked a path in; she was able to withdraw approximately by the same path. Her kukri sufficed to keep any slight variations in the path clear, without subjecting her to any more further briar damage.

Of whatever it was that had induced her to beat the urgent path into the patch, there was no sign; and she made no indication when she appeared, save to glance at Mikal and make a "locking the lips" gesture at her own mouth before turning her interest to the current discourse.

Mikal

"Brockman's Holdfast, actually." He corrects Daxia. "But plenty of experience with Montague. None of it good."

He looks at the body, musing. Shaking his head negatively, he replies, "No. Never heard of him or his family."

He then looks up at her. "How long ago would you say this battle was? I'd thought you said Dayallan was most recently active at the end of the Second Age? Montague didn't break off from Brockman until after the start of the Third Age. So, is this scene more recent, or did this one", he points at the gray-clad body, "come along later?"

Daxia
with the Gang in the glade

Daxia watched Celi as she emerged from the underbrush, watched as she gestured to Mikal, watched so that Celi knew she was watching before turning her attention back to Mikal.

When he answered, she shook her head, quiet for a moment before speaking, softly at first but her voice gaining in strength as she continued. "Brockman's... I apologize. I hear he is a good man.

"I am not happy with the idea of venturing into the Montague lands, but I will need to find this McLaine. Katshka said Richter Gwynn visits their farm on occasion; I will need to speak with her, as well, I think.

"As for this..." She gestured to the body, and all they had uncovered in the glade. "It happened almost four handful of years ago; perhaps about the time our mother died, and Bekkah and I went to live in the Dayalan Temple." She paused. "There..." She pointed to the skeleton surrounded by a handful of others. "I am certain -- though I can find no proof -- that is Lord Danton Kierkegaard, who was to be married to Khorall Innocence Allaine of Snowgate Keep." She gave one sharp nod to the center of the glade. "That is her banner; that is the banner for all of Dawnview Vale.

"But where is Innocence, I ask? Where is any evidence that she was ever here? It is well known that they traveled together; it was their marriage procession." She looked back down at the body by her feet. "A Montague should not be here. And I'm afraid my thoughts run to more intrigue, Mikal, for I know the Kories -- who were to have provided their own house guard rather than those mercenaries over there. Again, there is much I cannot prove, but even Priestesses and warriors whisper when they don't realize the ears of a small child are hearing, and the small child is remembering. There were rumors that the Khorall was encouraged to accept the Korie house guard rather than the Allaine house guard... because Dayalans are not welcome in many places outside the Vale.

"Except that we are welcomed by the Kierkegaards.

"And other rumors said the wedding party was encouraged to travel along the Satin River, travel around the Forest of Roth, to visit Bordertown, Brementown, Cragside before returning to Kraigskell Keep for their marriage... instead of traveling the shorter route past Lilia's Castle and then to Kraigskell.

"So there were no Allaine house troops, no Korie house troops, only a moderately-skilled mercenary group to supplement the Kierkegaard house troops when they were attacked. By brigands, yes," she said, nodding at the bodies of those beyond the one at her feet. "But those few could not have defeated moderately-skilled mercenaries, and certainly could not have done more than scratch one or two of the Kierkegaard troops."

Daxia looked down again at the body clothed in the greys of Montague. "These were the ones who killed Lord Danton and his troops, the mercenaries, and I would even guess they killed the brigands, as well. Montague... the Grey Men... they are the fist that pounds the Heartwood."

She looked up again, and her gaze moved across her companions; she regarded both Romana and Dean intently before continuing. "Again, I have no proof but the connections and patterns I see, but I believe the Montagues kidnapped the Khorall. Whether or not she still lives... I cannot know. But I owe Khoralls Linnell and Sasha, her sisters, the journey to find out. A Dayalan riding through Korie and Montague lands is an anomaly; Richter Gwynn is the only one who rides there. One who looks like an Allaine will stand out even more. I could use all the friends I can get when I make that journey."

Then she nodded to Cesare. "Da, though I would prefer not to make camp in the Forest of Roth. If Romana who is Romana who is Romana," she said with a smile at the girl, "does not think more of her countrymen will be following today or tonight, we should set up camp out on the other side of the road."

Darian

"Friend Dazi must tread carefully," Darian warned. "Grey Men take what want. Use no skill arrows. Kill all but two."

She then added. "No camp in Roth. If want, Darian and Longtooth find good camp."

Daxia
with the Gang in the glade

Daxia lightly laid a hand on her friend's arm. "Dazi know, Darian. Dazi go most carefully, yah?" She dropped her hand and nodded. "Please. Trust Hunters find best camp."

Celi

Celi tried not to look too befuddled by Daxia's exposition. She knew almost nothing of the social intricacies and recent history of the peoples and areas on which she expostulated. But she tried manfully to process it, to at least slot the various folk as friend or foe.

It was easy to see how someone could be swept up by the intensity of Daxia's sentiments, and lose touch with their own agenda (if they had one). Fortunately, Celi's own agenda was exquisitely simple: stay alive and learn.

She focused for a moment on Stormrunner, which brought them into sympatico: Do you know any of these people or places or events Daxia [a simple mental image of Daxia made clear who she referred to] is talking about? She didn't think it was possible, but ... she would feel like a fool if she didn't ask, and Stormy had somehow come into possession of that knowledge. Too bad she didn't have an image of Innocence to pass along. She could manage the various banners and colors with some degree of accurate craft.

Kadri:

"I am with you - you already know that."

Darian

She gave a nod to Dazi then turned to Cesare. "Cesare come too?"

The Heartwood
Just past Midday on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of
Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and the Girl

The dark haired girl just leveled Daxia a quiet and evel look.

One hand raised, straight armed, almost eerie, pointing deeper into the woods, in the direction the eastern Magician had fled.

"Romanas not go any farther into woods.

"One, two, many night, not few but not many, Summoner reach center of forest.

"They will then know.

"May be welcomed, may be helped, may be raised up in toasties and clanging of mugs.

"Or they may tear him apart.

"Marin's folk, khai?

"Everyone knows that."

Daxia
with the Gang in the glade

"Ta, Kadri," she said with a smile. Tilting her head, Daxia listened to Romana's answer. And stared at the girl for a handful of heartbeats before saying, "No. Only Romana knows that.

"Here, we have tales that the Kingdom of Roth fell in a single night, but no one can say why.

"Here, we know chaos riders come from Roth to regularly raid Bordertown.

"But here..." She stopped. Blinked several times. "Here we do not speak of the gods of the East.

"But His followers are known by the red scarves, the red of blood, around their necks. The swordsmen following you wore such scarves."

Again, Daxia paused, studied the dark-haired girl.

"Romana... why were His followers chasing you?"

The Heartwood
Just past Midday on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of
Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and the Girl

The girl looks down to her feet.

"Fathers really really really really really wants Friend."

Daxia
with the Gang in the glade

"Friend?" Daxia looked confused. "How would catching you get a friend for your father?"

Kadri:

"YOu. . keep saying friend. I think you don't really mean. . friend. Ally? Is it a political marriage? Are you. . important?"

Celi

Celi returned her attention to the here-and-now, satisfied that hef companion knew nothing related to Daxia's missing Innocence, or any of the other aforementioned banners and colors that humans used to decorate their passage through the world.

Maybe she should volunteer to help the Hunter find a campsite.

Or ... maybe not. Why test the snarkhound's nose against Stormrunner's? Better not to put them in any competition. Besides, the Hunter would ask if any assistance was desired, and the Hunter impressed Celi as someone who much preferred to operate solo.

The Heartwood
Just past Midday on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of
Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

The black haired lass kept her head ducked. Looking to the ground.

"Friend require trades, trades to become Friends. The bigger,powerful Friends, more rare trade.

"Romanas is trades ... big fish trades ..."

She then tilted her head, looking back to Kadri.

"Friends are ... Friends. Friends ... give stuff, Friends do. Big Friends, middle Friends, little Friends.

She scuffed her foot through the boiled mucky remnants coating the center of the glade.

"Summers summon Friends. This Friend, teeny tinny friend, only good for boppings, not too smart ...

"Father wants biggest Friend his. Biggest. Smartest. Powerfulnessest.

"Marrys Romanas to get Friend.

"Friend marrys Romana ...

"Next night ...

"... Friend eats Romanas."

KAdri:

". . . "

She gets a disturbed look on her face.

"Am I understanding."

She looks at Daxia, then Darian, then the others.

"That she was basically to be a sacrifice to summon a bigger and nastier and smarter version of that thing? And that her 'father' was the one offering her for a sacrifice?"

Her eyes were. . smoldering. She slips back into what must be the tongue of her homeland.

"L'enet anh'a ra bh kemetran mazan az helels jaaa keh anha ma tewanend fased."

And spits on the ground in disgust.

Daxia
with the Gang in the glade

She stared at Romana, then exchanged a look with Kadri, jaws clenched tightly. After Kadri's remarks, she looked at Romana again.

"No," she said simply, and with finality. "No 'marrying' demon, no being eaten by demon." She planted her hands on her hips, looking fierce and angry. "This is the worst idea I have ever heard! No, absolutely not!" Daxia shook her head. "I will not allow it. Romana will NOT 'marry' this demon friend of father's, Roman will NOT be eaten by demon friend of father's."

She continued to look at the Eastern girl. "You understand me, Romana?"

Celi

"I think she means 'fiend,' not friend," Celi muttered, then with a look of surprise on her face as if the whole idea of saying something had astonished her, she clammed back up and continued to watch.

Cesare

"Let's go to look for a safe place to camp."

He takes a step back towards the road before pausing and looking back, hearing what the girl said, though his remarks were addressed to Daxia.

"I go where the tides take me and at the moment the Fates seem to be steeering a course in the direction you travel. So count me in until the tide changes."

It is about as much of a commitment as he can honestly make and it will have to do. He turns again to follow Darian and Longtooth, quickening his step to catch up.

Darian and Longtooth

With Cesare in tow they head towards the road and in search of a decent place to camp.

[returning to PM]

Mikal

Gathering up what useful items, jewelry, and such, as have been found by the group, he puts them into the saddlebags of Talia and Fern. Then dusting off his hands he watches and nods as Cesare and Darian head off to find a campsite.

Turning to Daxia he says, "Where did you want to make this pyre?"

Daxia
with whomever is left in the glade

Mikal's voice called her attention away from the black-haired girl, and she looked around the glade. Finally, she pointed to the spot close to where she had slain the demon, just beyond the line where the mage's obscene wall had stood. "There," she said, "Kierkegaard and those who defended them only; these are the ones who stand with Allaine. Let the Easterners and the Montague rot." Then she nodded to the banner fluttering in the middle of the glade. "Dawnview will bear witness to the courage of our allies."

Dean

Dean is poking around the glade, looking for wood to burn in the pyre, but is watching and listening to Daxia. He doesn't understand much of her story, but, as he has learned in his past years as a student, if he pays attention now, someday he may be able to attach meaning to what she has said.

The effect that the black-haired girl's tale has on Dean is apparent on his face. Appearing appalled and unbelieving he pauses to listen. At no time in his young life has he ever even imagined anything so awful. No training as a Squire is necessary for a man to want to help this poor girl.

Returning to the task of collecting wood, he swallows hard and says out loud, not to anyone in particular, "I would go with this group, if they will have me."

Mikal

He begins piling and stacking the gathered wood, asking Daxia if there is any prescribed pattern for it. Once that is accomplished, he gently moves the skeletons and lays them as gently as possible on the pyre.

When Dean makes his comment, he stands up and gives the man a look, as if trying to see thru him. He purposely avoids looking at some of the others, but just grunts, then glances curiously at Dazi.

If Dean looks at him as he helps with the pyre he nods towards Dazi. "Not for me to say, though", he grins, "I'd enjoy having another male in the group."

Dean

Dean has never been the quickest amongst the people of his village and much has happened in the last hour. He nods to Mikal and starts toward Daxia. It suddenly dawns on him that during introductions, she had named her sister. His head snaps around, he drops the wood he has been carrying and stares at the Priestess of Attera. Striding towards Bekkah he draws his sword and graps it with both hands by its blade.

Just before he gets to her, his head bowed low, Dean drops to his knees and proffers his sword up to her. He says reverently. "Lady Bekkah, I am your servant."

Daxia
with the Gang in the glade

She had handled the skeleton of Lord Danton herself, carrying it with the respect and reverence due a Noble, an ally of the Family she served. When she gently placed the remains on the pyre, she had whispered, "Rest peacefully with your God, my Lord."

Daxia turned to look at Dean when he asked to join the party, raising an eyebrow when Mikal glanced at her.

But when Dean seemed to suddenly remember Bekkah, she had to clap a hand over her mouth to keep from giggling. After a handful of heartbeats, she was able to say to her Second, "I don't believe we have any choice, Mikal. Where Dazi goes, Bekkah goes. And now where Bekkah goes, Dean goes."

Mikal

He chuckles out loud at the scene. Even with his complete reverence for Priestesses of Attera, the number of times Bekkah has tried to get him to stop calling her 'Lady' comes immediately to mind. He shakes his head, still chuckling, thinking: **That's the end of that nonsense. If she tries to make me call her plain Bekkah again, I'll just point at Dean.**

Stretching from bending over, he sees Celi standing at the edge of the clearing and adds in her direction, "Celi? Might you start a small fire off to the side here so we can use it to light the pyre when we are ready?"

He expects she can do that faster than he can, and he's still moving remains around.

Bekkah

She had been silently watching the group. She knew that many 'warrior' types were often too proud to ask for healing when they needed it. Since she was relying on these people for her life, she wasn't going to let their fool pride get in the way of that so she watched each of them for the tell-tale signs. When they camped, she'd also examine the two who had been injured more thoroughly. She was going through an inventory of herbs she'd want in her head when the newcomer was before her, then he was on his knees.

She stood looking down at him, her mouth open in shock. He seemed so earnest, she could not squish such exuberance.

"No, you shall not be any servant of mine. I will hear no such talk. But I will accept you as my protector. These are dangerous times in dangerous lands. Will you accept such a role?"

Celi

Celi jumped in without a word and helped collect fuel for the pyre, though she didn't grasp the reason for it. Death was part of life, and your flesh fed other life in death.

A couple of times she started to ask Mikal why they wasted so much time and effort in a meaningless ritual. But that would probably mark her as a Covener, and then Mikal would stab her through the heart and whiz on her dying head.

So she ducked her head and continued to work.

Daxia
off to the side of the glade

As promised, Daxia was keeping a close eye on Celi. She was helping, and truly being helpful, but appeared somewhat discomfitted. While attention was focused on Bekkah and Dean, she moved farther away from the group.

"Celi? A word, please?"

Celi

Celi pushed her hair out of her face, and trotted after Daxia. When Dax stopped away from the others, she stopped as well, shoved her hands in the pockets of her trousers, and looked up into Daxia's eyes, a curious expression on her face.

"Yes, Daxia?"

Daxia
off to the side of the glade

"You seem..." Daxia stooped to pick up a piece of kindling. "...perhaps 'uncomfortable' is not quite the right word," she said, looking at the branchlet as she turned it over and over in her hands, "but these proceedings seem to set you a bit out of sorts." She looked up from her hands to Celi's face, smiling. "Don't worry, I don't believe anyone else noticed. I have an annoying habit of observing people."

She raised an eyebrow, and asked, "What is bothering you?" After the stern words Daxia had given Celi as she sat with Stormrunner, the kindness in this question certainly showed a different side of the Dayalan.

KAdri:

She looks over at Dean:

"Certainly I don't mind. . ."

And when the "My lady" bit started, she bit her tongue as well to keep from a giggle.

The Heartwood
Almost Dusk on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of
Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

It takes a while for the dark haired girl to answer; as she waches the funereal arrangements begun. And, uncharacteristically she is quiet throughout it, as if curious, and a if respectful - not perhaps understanding the nature of it, but certainly respectful to its importance.

Deans word's an look get a small smile back ...

Finally, however, she offers a single quiet word, with a nod to both Kadri and Daxia.

Though, oddly, she doesn't seem or look at all hungry.

" ... pancakes."

Kadri looks at her for a second, her face screwed up in thought, then offers. . .

"You're welcome?"

The Heartwood
Almost Dusk on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of
Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

Romana blinks and smiles bright.

Celi ... off to the side of the glade


Celi turned widdershins a couple of times as if flattening the grass, then settled down in a crouch, studying Daxia carefully. It was a position at once relaxed and yet coiled for launch, like a predator in ambush. Finally she said, "I want to learn about other people, so that I can work and live among them without causing trouble. It's not that I plan to settle down immediately; but ... I need to learn whether I can even do such a thing. I have never had a friend. I hope to learn what it is to have and, and to be one, among people.

"I am also confused, by the tale you told about the peoples and events that transpired here. Mikal and the others seem to be ... well, at least familiar with the events, or at least the behaviors and emotions involved. They understood what you were saying."

She looked steadily into Daxia's eyes, and her own glistened. "I did not understand any of this. I am not stupid, but... who is the girl? Who were those men who sought to capture her, and why nwere they seeking her? Is there some historical connection to you, or your people? I know none of these things, and it makes me feel ... "

She shrugged. She didn't have words for how she felt.

Cesare

He makes his way back to the clearing, pausing at the edge looking between Mikal and Daxia who both seem to be busy. He will give them a few moments but if necessary he'll interrupt or talk to someone else. He doesn't want to leave Darian on her own for long, just in case.

Daxia
with Celi off to the side of the glade

Daxia crouched at the far side of the glade with Celi; they appeared to be deep in conversation. But after only a handful of heartbeats, Daxia looked up and, noticing Cesare, motioned for him to speak with Mikal.

Dean

"Yes, yes Lady Bekkah, I was told by my Knight and mentor, Sir Kevin Magesbane, that I would find you."

"He told me...told me that I was to be your protector, your servant."

Dean starts to rise, then realizing she hasn't released him, drops back to his knees.

Then realizing what she had said, jumps to his feet and cries "Yes! Yes! Your protector! I shall be your protector!"

Arms extended exhuberantly, in his excitement, he makes to hug her in gratitude. And stops.

Horrified by his action, he again collapses to his knees, gathers himself, looks up gravely and says in a low fervent tone, "Yes, Kind One, I would be your protector."

Bekkah

It was a monumental effort of concentration and willpower, testing her as much as anything in her life to not giggle at the poor lad.

He was really handsome, probably 10 years younger than she was, but still handsome. Clearly this was his first time away from home. She had to get him to relax or he'd clearly do far more harm than good in trying to protect her.

She bent and placed both hands on his shoulders, pulling him up. She wasn't sure why she did it, but she kissed him on the cheek.

"Please relax. I'm just a regular person. Just a woman who happens to have the favor of Lady Attera. In public, treat me as a priestess should be treated, but amongst our group here, I'm Bekkah, not even Lady Bekkah."

"Okay?"

"Now, tell me your name, for I will not call you Squire all your days. And I do not know a Sir Magesbane, tell me how it is that he knows my name?"

Cesare

He catches Daxia's signal but pauses for a moment to take in the scene with the new squire demeaning himself before Bekkah. He doesn't even try to smother his grin. However, work to do. He heads over to Mikal.

"Found a site for camp, some protection and on a rise to give sentries a view of the road. Wood & water close by. Darian is setting up. I need to go and help, not good that she is out on her own, but I need to show someone where we are as it doesn't look like you are finished here. If you can walk with me to the edge of the tree line I can give you the direction?"

Mikal

He looks up as Cesare comes closer, pausing from arranging one of the bodies atop the pyre. Seeing the grin on Cesare's face, and suspecting it's cause, he chuckles. "Let us hope our Lady Bekkah uses her newly found power to beguile and control men wisely, and for good causes."

Dusting off his hands, and taking up his weapons, he nods to Cesare's request and follows his lead.

Dean

Dean's hand strays toward his face wonderingly and he carefully says, "Yes, Lady Bekkah. But Knight Kevin did not tell me anything other than I would meet you and that I was to protect you and that you were a great Lady."

As if invoking the name of his leige reminds him of what it means to be a Squire, he reaches down for his discarded sword, sheathes it, and says in a cautious voice "I'm Dean."

Bekkah

"An incredibly wise man your knight. For I had no idea where I would be, especially given that I have been traveling for most of the last 5 years. I would like to meet him one day and learn the answer to this mystery."

"Well Dean, well met. And it is just Bekkah when we are just with our group. I know you have met my sister, Daxia, have you met everyone else? An unusual group we have, that is certain."

Dean

Dean looks around at the people in the group, nods once, bows more deeply to the Priestess and says, "With your leave, Lady Bekkah, I will help the others."

Bekkah

She just sighed as it was obvious there was going to be no deterring him from the 'Lady Bekkah' thing.

She watched him go join the others and she walked over also. She assumed they'd be camping where she'd want a second look at the injured.

Celi

Celi, still deep in conversation with Daxia, had a considerably more subdued reaction to the squire's presence than did the others. In fact, she regarded him with a troubled expression, of the sort normally reserved for a potential threat, even when he was his most earnest

Daxia
with the Gang in the glade

Daxia looked up as Dean moved away from Bekkah, and grinned. She stood and said a few more quiet words to Celi before striding across the glade to her sister's side.

"The look on your face is so subtle, and yet so telling, my dear sister," Daxia said with laughter in her voice. "Let me guess. He won't stop calling you 'Lady Bekkah'."

Bekkah

She sighed and shook her head.

"And I doubt he ever will." she added.

She then looked at Dazi.

"Dazi okay? Magician not hurt you? You never stop impressing me, you know?" she said with pride in her voice.

Daxia
with the Gang in the glade

She chuckled as she watched Dean helping the others. "Nah, Dazi fine. Just annoyed to use two spells of Dayala's own, and no way to regain them without going home." Daxia shrugged philosophically. "Just better not meet anymore demons, yah? Also annoyed cowardly mage run away. Not nice person, him." She glanced sidelong at Bekkah. "Don't be too impressed with Dazi. Without Dayala's help, Dazi would be flattened like leaf."

She shuddered. "Never, never, never want to see demon again, ever." The nodded towards the newcomer. "And Romana say that was little stupid demon!"

After Dazia left her, Celi remained sitting for a bit , considering her options. Eventually she rose with easy grace, and rejoined the others.

Bekkah

She stretched on her tiptoes and gave Dazi a kiss on the cheek.

"Still always impressed with Dazi. You don't think I heal without Lady Attera's help do you. I understand. And I agree, no more demons."

Kadri

"Well, Dazi - much more useful in a fight, demons or otherwise, than I ever will be. My main contribution to a fight is running, no?"

She grins.

Daxia
with the Gang in the glade

She hugged Bekkah with one arm around her sister's shoulders. "I know, Bekkah. Lady Attera help you, and you Priestess, so you get some good sleep and ready to heal people up again." Daxia grinned. "Not so easy for lowly initiate, yah? And many more Priestesses of Attera for when lowly initiate need some help, yah? Dazi not able ask Dayala help like that until go to Priestess, make proper sacrifice."

Then she grinned at Kadri. "Ah, but Kadri run like the wind! And bring Squire back, so Dazi can tease Bekkah more. Kadri help much!" she said, laughing.

Bekkah

She gave little sister a swat on the rump.

"Yes thank you for that. Please tell me that you two aren't going to tease me endlessly? He does mean well." she said sighing as she looked over at Dean.

Daxia
with the Gang in the glade

"Of course I am... though I can't speak for Kadri. And of course he does." She looked over her shoulder, trying to see where Bekkah had swatted her. "Hope Bekkah not hurt hand on Dazi armor," she said with a sly grin.

Bekkah

She rolled her eyes at Dazi.

"Still a brat." she said, but clearly she had nothing but love for her little sister.

"Just remember, can't always sleep in armor."

Daxia
with the Gang in the glade

She grinned at Bekkah. "Only crazy people sleep in ring armor, Bekkah. Very, very uncomfortable." Glancing over at the pyre, she became serious again. "Must ask Squire question. We finish soon, I hope, then find Darian and Cesare at camp, ok?" She patted Bekkah's arm before walking over to where the Squire was working.

"Squire Dean? I have a... ah... theological question I need to pose to you."

Dean

Startled, Dean looks up and says "Yes, Daxia?"

Daxia
with the Gang in the glade

Daxia nodded to the pyre. "The Kierkegaards, they're good Rames people. You don't think your Lord Rames would be offended because I'm according them the highest honor I know... the Dayalan funeral rite... do you?" she asked, her brows pulled together with worry.

The Heartwood
Sunset on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of
Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

She touched the far horizon, low and flat, no longer the mountains that had surrounded the little group. Her light cast the sky in deep purples and dark reds, staining the thin clouds so high up. Already the East was a darkening shadow, the first hints of the stars coming out, framed between the receding Black Mountain peaks.

Eventually, finally, their castaway, their runaway, settled herself down next to Bekkah.

Still wrapped in her heavy cloak, fingering the thick fur that wrapped around its collar and hood. The hood was still up, and those with a modicum of tactical sense would see that it was almost second nature, for her to rest with the Priestess between her and the Dayalan, the Jvrillian, the back waters country girl and even ... Squire Dean.

"Ladi'bekky'shah?"

She tries out Bekkah's name, unable to avoid her odd sing-song accent.

"Does Ladi'bekky think red-gold man maybe protect harmless Romanas too?

" ... mostly harmless ...

" ... perhaps ... not harmful ...

" ... or no harmful wishings ...

" ... if Romanas ask all proper and politnessessess like?"

Darian

The Hunter sat close to the fire, as much for its warmth as for the light it gave off. A small pack of feathers, the end of the arrow she had taken from the horse and a long straight stick lay on a folded oilcloth before her. She brought out a length of sinew and a dagger and set about remaking the arrow she had had to break.

Longtooth was laying against her backside, facing out into the night with his sharp eyes and even sharper nose and ears.

Bekkah

She remained close to the girl since she could tell it comforted her somewhat. When she spoke to her, Bekkah kept her voice soft and comforting.

"I think he would Romanas. He seems to be a good man. I trust him." she said confidently.

Kadri was sitting and looking up at the sky, humming a melody of some sort.

Celi

Celi spent a moment in silent commune, feeling a little sad at the need for such secrecy. Linking minds didn't have the same physical satisfaction that a good lean with a fist full of fur gave her. But, once they were sympatico, she returned to the here and now, and sauntered over to look for Mikal.

Nowhere to be found. He must have gotten involved in the campsite recon. Something Celi could have assisted in, only she was an outsider. She found a c.omfortable spot, and sat down to wait.

Kadri, after a moment, walked over her direction.

". . . Do you mind if I sit here?"

Celi

Celi tilted her head back and regarded Kadri dispassionately. "Please sit, and welcome. How may I help you?"

Up close, Celi was wiry and short, with a pretty face, striking blue eyes and the look of someone who worked hard -- callused hands, an assortment of scars and bruises. Her hair was a tousled dirty-blonde mane, and she moved with the feral grace of a feline. Her clothes were cheap, well-worn and ordinary.

Up close, Kadri was. . .well. . perhaps not as wiry, but definitely short and moved like a cat, or perhaps a fox. Her clothes are well - used - but show evidence of meticulous care to render them looking as well as they could.



She has a seat.

"Just all this time, and I've never found the moment to talk to you. Want to fix that, if possible. If I might die with someone, knowing something about who they are. Would be a good thing, yes?"

Cesare

Moving to the edge of the treeline, he takes a moment to check the open area and the road in both directions, before turning to Mikal and pointing out where Darian is making camp.

"I don't think you will be too long now but I will return to Darian and help with the final preparations before the sun hides her face."

He nods to the man, ready to return the way he came.

Celi

Please," Celi said, with a sweep of one hand. "I would be most honored.

"I hope you don't mind if I am less than voluble about my personal life. Some people find elements in conflict with their beliefs, so to avoid conflict, it is safer if I remain silent.

"I can say I am much more comfortable out of doors, and all my close friends have four legs."

KAdri:

She sits, then after a long pause, speaks again.

"Celi. . . I really do not care what you are, only who you are. They are not one and the same. By the same light, I can say I am comfortable on the back of a horse on the open plains, the wind blowing through my hair. That I go where I go, and stay there until I go somewhere else. That if you are a friend, you are always a friend until, by word or action you end that friendship. Do you understand? People have secrets. I have secrets. Very few people bare their whole soul for all to see."

Mikal

He follows the pointing finger and nods approvingly. The spot seems, from here, to be a good one. Off the road, sheltered from view but close enough to reach the path quickly and to hear and react to anyone passing.

"I expect we'll be done here within the hour. Will send the others then. I may need to remain with Daxia for a time after that. I am not sure if her rite requires her to observe until the fires extinguish themselves, but we must ensure they do not spread thru a random gust of breeze, so I will remain to make sure they are out. Save me some supper, please?"

Dean

"Daxia, I uh...I do not know! There are most certainly people in the world that would disagree with what you are doing, but I am not one of them."

"The last time I spoke with Knight Kevin, he told me I would find many different peoples in the world, some Squires and Knights that have been trained to serve Lord Rames, but not in the same way that he has trained me. He bade me to watch and learn, but I think, not judge harshly those that serve differently than I am to."

Cesare

"Assuming we find some, will do."

He nods and then sets off at a run to return to Darian and the campsite.

Darian and Longtooth at the campsite

The firepit has already been setup and contains a fire. A pot of water sits on a rock in the flames heating up, and Darian sits before the fire fletching an arrow. Longtooth rises at Cesare's approach, watching him carefully. Darian turns and smiles, beckoning him to join her.

"Will others be long?"

[continued in PM]

Mikal - leaving Cesare and returning to Daxia and Dean

He nods to Cesare and returns to the pyre area. Finishing that setup, he moves closer to Daxia and nods towards the pyres. "Are they acceptable?"

Daxia
with Dean and Mikal in the glade

She nodded to the Squire. "Your Knight Kevin sounds much like Verchovai Gilly. I... well, perhaps now is not the time to discuss the nature of the Deities, their interactions, and their desires for the people who follow them," Daxia said with a smile. "But I would certainly enjoy having such a discussion at some point."

When Mikal approached, she surveyed the site, and nodded. "Da, thank you, Mikal. Squire, if you wish to stay and say your own prayers for the Kierkegaards, I would not mind the company, but know that it is not necessary. Mikal, I assume you have your own rituals for the Jvrillians we found." She looked quietly from one to the other, then took a deep breath and sighed. "Sooner begun, sooner done... and She is about to set," she said, barely above a whisper.

Walking over to the small fire Celi had started, she found a good length of dry wood and caught the flames. Setting the pyre aflame in several spots, she stood on the east side facing Her setting. She drew her sword and held it vertically, blade pointing to the sky and hilt held two-handed at heart level... a salute to those who had perished.

As the fire caught and grew, she said quietly, "My Lady Dayala, I honor those who gave their lives to protect one of Your followers. On behalf of Dawnview Vale, I thank them for their service, their courage, their honor. If my Lady would not find it objectionable, your humble Daughter would ask that thanks be given to Lord Rames -- and Jvrill, as well -- for allowing their followers to serve the Allaine family and Your daughter Innocence." Daxia stood still and silent until the pyre was fully engulfed in flames, then reversed her sword, planted the tip in the ground and lowered herself to one knee. With one hand on each side of the guard, forehead touching the hilt, she closed her eyes.

And thus, the Watch began... and would end when the fire had burned itself out. During the Watch, Daxia would be heard humming or singing wordless chants, the melodies haunting and eerie; she would occasionally open her eyes to measure the fire's progress. Other than that, she would not move.

Mikal

After getting the pyres setup to Daxia's satisfaction, Mikal goes to the locations where the fallen Jvrillians he'd been able to identify lie. As he'd worked he'd been careful to leave them exactly where they'd fallen and to make sure others who were helping move bodies to the pyres knew to leave those alone.

Now that Daxia has started the pyre and is keeping watch, he thanks Dean and Celi for their help and tells them, and Kadri and Camelia, that they can go relax at camp and help Darian with dinner and getting camp set. He will wait here with Daxia.

He then moves from Jvrillian body to Jvrillian body. He gathers up all the weapons, armour, and other martial gear lying near each body that could reasonably be considered either part of that man's equipment or that of his foes and piles it carefully atop each body. He does not move the body at all, leaving it to lie above ground or partially below, as it was found. Only covering it as completely with the weapons and armour as possible.

As Daxia chants and keep vigil for the Kierkergaard dead, he finds whatever large rocks as he can nearby. Taking them to a spot near each body he removes a small, makeshift, chisel from his pack and carves a crude series of Runes upon each rock. He is not a skilled stonemason by any means, however the runes are reasonably clear. He sets each stone in place by it's body reverently.

The runes are those of Death, Mastery, and Trade:

Celi with Kadri


"I am not so sure anyone can ever separate who they are from what they are, Kadri ... at least not in the minds of the casual observer. If you see an armored Jvrillian from afar, you do not wonder if he might not secretly be a practitioner of Lady Attera's gifts. You believe what your eyes tell you, and what you have been told about Jvrillians. But a friend ... a friend will have come to know enough of what you are to be able to see the obvious as only one small component of who you are. A friend should be able to differentiate between the various elements that make up the whole of who you are, both obvious and hidden.

"The problem is, I have ... ah, never had a friend. A human friend, I mean. I get along ever so much better with the beasts of the wild. It is ... well, it's a knack. Still ... I would be willing to *learn* to be a friend. Do you have the patience to tolerate an earnest but dreadfully inexperienced student?"

She grinned, and her face lit up like a child seeing a beloved parent. "I am sure I can find something to teach you in exchange for having to tolerate me. I promise not to winkle out your secrets and then spread them about at the nearest inn. If you will promise me the same. And I will try very hard not to burden you with elements of me that might cause you trouble down the road."

Kadri:

She looks at her and offers a broad grin.

"Celi. . I am not now, and never will be, a casual observer. I am who I am. What I am? That has been left behind in the wind and the long grass. A first impression is only a tentative starting point, and is subject to alteration on a whim. I do want to ask, though. . you do understand why . . . there are sometimes problems between what you are and who you are. Not everyone will discern what they think they know. . from what you actually are. Whatever that may be. You must make sure they know and concentrate on the who by hiding the what. . and all that comes with it - so that information doesn't distract them. You sometimes have to lie. . in order to allow people to see or know the truth."

She smiles.

"And now that I have likely properly confused you. . . I see perhaps a point of agreement. . I to talk to an animal and consider one almost as a soulmate - LIsica. Where I am from, a Horse is not merely a steed; They are a part of your family."

"But you must introduce me!" Celi said. "Now that I am properly confused. I would love to meet your horse friend."

KAdri:

SHe nods, and motions her over towards where the horse is tethered.



"Celi. . .Lisica. She might be small. But Small suits me."

She says, patting the horses nose, then whispering in its ear.

Celi with Kadri

Celi stood in front of Lisica for a moment or two, murmuring gentling words as she allowed the black to get a good look. After that, she carefully extended one hand palm up and open to give her a scent, while caressing her neck with the other.

[see PM, Boss!]

The Heartwood
Sunset on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of
Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

To Bekkah's words their new ward simply nodded, offering he squire a curious look for now. For the most part, she stayed silent; in the priestess shadow and only moving once everyone else does, retrieving the reins of her pale horse from whence it had been previously herded.

Kkaxri's horse took a look, took a sniff, then relaxed completely as Celi handled her gently, carrying on a low running conversation.

"She is so beautiful... and smart, aren't you Lisica? "

Lisica vigorously bobbed her head, making Celi laugh. She hugged her neck. "She likes to *play*, yes she does. Frisky girl!"

Kadri:

"She likes to run. It means that we share a desire. Have you ridden across an open plain, only the level ground below in front and behind you, and the empty sky above?"

Celi



"I prefer the long grass, when I run," Celi said. "The unity with the land and the life around you, moving silently with Sun on your shoulders, the joy of the stalk, the ... *aliveness* you feel when you make your kill cleanly and can feed yourself and your family. Your prey becomes one with Nature and with you in such moments. I always give thanks to Mother Nature for accepting me as a living part of this beautiful world, to share such perfect moments.

When I ride ... yes, I have felt what you describe. It is part of the world, a most amazing element. How anyone can deny the existence of Sun and Nature, in the face of such elemental beauty is ... well, it is hard for me to fathom."

Bekkah

She watched the strange girl move away to the horse.

*Perhaps it will understand her better.* she shrugged before going off towards Dazi.

She'd do what she could to help both her and Mikal with the dead. She would not say any words for them as her Goddess' expertise was with the living, not the dead. She'd stay by her sister's side as long as it took, resting nearby until she was ready to go rejoin the others.

Ooc: we can continue this conversation in pm if you like, i am going ro move ahead here though so we can move the group ahead.

After her conversation with celi is over, and she is shown where it is, Kadri makes her way to where camp is being set.

Dean

Dean watches Daxia for some time, appreciating the differences in her rites and his own. He sets to tending his horse and his own ablutions, and, still watching Daxia, he settles in to reflect on the day.

Mikal

(OOC - OK, lets clean this up a little)

Once Daxia starts the fire and begins her watch, and Mikal has setup the markers of equipment on the Jvrillian dead, he gathers all the others together and points out where Darian and Cesare have setup the campsite.

"You should all go and help make camp. I will stay with Daxia. I have my own rites to perform, as she has hers. I expect we'll not be finished for some hours."

He turns to Celi.

"Would you take Talia with you and see she gets some feed? I don't want her to have to wait for me to get back."

Celi

Celi was perfectly happy to take care of Mikal's horse, though she was somewhat surprised that he suddenly found her approachable.

She wasn't certain whether it was because he was trying to be more comradely, or he simply needed someone to feed his horse and she was available. Because of who she was -- and because she had an inexplicable "thing" for Mikql -- it didn't matter in the end. She would have done it under almost any circumstances, just to get to talk to him.

He was busy. He had his ancestors' honor to worry about, though she didn't have the same sentiments he did regarding dead ancestors. IUt was hard enough worrying about live people.

Darian and Longtooth with Cesare at the camp

As the evening had deepened, Darian moved to a position where she would no longer be silhouetted by the fire. The small amount of animal life there was fell silent, and Longtooth rose to his feet. She drew and nocked an arrow, prepared to defend the camp if need be...or give them time to flee.

[ooc - please wait for Gypsy to post]

Cesare

He is crouched by the fire, in a position where he can move easily and also watch Darian's back. His attention though does seem more concerned with stirring a couple of pots on the fire and enticing cooking aromas emanate from them.

Celi ambled into camp atop Talia, Mikal's horse, who seemed perfectly at ease. Celi threw a leg over and slid off her back, then stopped to have a cheerful dialogue which involved much nose- and neck-rubbing, some gentle laughter, and a few affectionate head-butts by Talia. Celi led her to some good grass and straw-hobbled her, them bounced back to camp, happy as a clam.

Mikal

Several hours later, well past full dark, and a good bit into the part of the evening called 'late', Mikal finishes his carvings and offers some words to Jvrill for the brave men who fell here.

Standing and flexing his fingers to get some of the kinks out that he developed working with the crude chisel, he moves over to Daxia. The fire seems finally to be out and her chanting had stopped just a minute or two ago. He reaches out a hand to offer her help up, figuring her knees might be a bit tight from kneeling for so long.

(OOC - Kel, you can post our arrival at camp.)

Kadri came riding to camp, greeting the watchers ont eh way in, then seeking out Cesare to show him how to care for Lisica.

Daxia
with Mikal, Bekkah and Dean in the glade

The flames had finally died; all that was left now were smoldering embers and the large bones that could not be burned. As Daxia prepared to stand, Mikal was there with a helping hand. She smiled her thanks as she got to her feet, more gracefully than she would have without his help. "Ta," she said, brushing the dirt and leaves off her breeches. After flexing her knees a few times, she said quietly, "Fire was not hot enough without lamp oil, but spreading the bones amid the ashes will suffice, I think."

With his assistance, the remains of the pyre were spread out and any embers were fully extinguished before they joined Bekkah and Dean where they waited. She reached out her hand to help her sister up.

"Traditionally, we would now feast and speak our memories of those slain." In the dark, with the moon barely risen, it was difficult to see her shrug. "There are no memories among us except perhaps tales often repeated and rumors overheard." Turning to Mikal, she said with a smile in her voice, "As for a feast, perhaps our companions have saved a bit of dinner for us, da? If you will lead, we will follow. Bekkah, Squire..." She gesture, barely seen, for them to follow Mikal. Gathering Fern's reins, she followed them to the camp.

Cesare

All are welcomed into their temporary camp, informed that there is a small stream and a place to wash a little downstream where there is a flat rock.. and more importantly offered hot food.

He takes his first lesson from Kadri on caring for horses, previous experience with herd animals making him a quick learner.

Learning that Daxia, Mikal, Bekkah and their new recruit will be a while yet, Cesare saves a good portion of the food, adding water so that it doesn't dry out. He covers the pot and places it to one side ready to put back on the fire when they arrive.

Apart from taking it in turns to keep watch, the time passes in easy conversation.

[OOC I know a couple of folk have expressed an interest in conversing with Cesare - and presumably other PCs. We can do those in PM so as not to delay this thread. Happy to take PMs from anyone. ]

Bekkah

Not long after arriving at the camp, Bekkah rummaged through her pack and withdrew some items. Herbs it looked like to anyone watching her. She also took out a small bowl and began crushing the herbs, adding in other ingredients. When she was done with that, she then took out some other items and prepared them as well. She spoke to no one while she worked, seemingly quite intent on what she was doing. Finally she stood and walked over to Mikal and then Cesare.

"Show me your wounds." she said in a tone that was clearly not a request. There was an assertiveness to her that they'd not seen yet.

Cesare

He seems amused by her tone but complies willingly enough, raising his top to show the red weal across his stomach and the matching one down his arm.

He is more interested in the herbs she is using though.

"Lowvine? I have some if you need it. What else are you using?"

Bekkah

She is somewhat surprised that he knows if Lowvine.

"It is, plus something else that I learned about in my travels. Helps it get in deeper and not be so easily washed away."

Without asking permission, she began to apply it to the wounds. Her hands were both strong and soft and she didn't seem the slightest bit embarrassed or shy about touching his strong body.

"This will keep it from becoming infected. Keep it dry for the next day if you can."

"And do try not to take any more wounds." she added her tone softening back to her more quiet self. She also added a pretty smile and a wink, knowing full well that he hadn't done it on purpose.

"One more thing. You will drink this." she said all business again, handing him a cup with an ounce of something he probably couldn't identify by smell.

"And yes it tastes awful, but you will drink it all anyways."

[ooc: It wasn't a secret, she'd tell him what it was, I just don't know]

Mikal

After leaving the glade, he leads the group towards the campsite. As they approach arrow distance, he holds up a hand to stop everyone and calls out, "HELLO. WE ARE COMING IN. YES?"

He pauses for an acknowledgement and then heads into where Cesare and Darian have setup the campsite. He purposefully doesn't use names. An old habit from his scouting days with Cameron's Lights. When scouting and approaching a campsite of known friends, you let them recognize your voice. Names can too easily be overheard by someone spying, and then used for unwanted reasons by those. An enemy could hear the name of someone in the camp and try to trick them by using it.

Once inside, he checks that Talia has been taken care of before doing anything else. He trusts Celi, but Talia is his best friend. He then settles down, finding a reasonably level spot, preferably with grass and not rocks to lie on, and drops his gear, then heads to the dinner pot to see what is left.

He thanks those who made dinner, as no matter what it is it is better than what he'd have made on his own. He sits and eats from a small bowl and is just finishing up when Bekkah arrives and insists on looking at his wound.

"It is fine", he says. removing his armour and his shirt, revealing the chiseled physique of an extremely strong and well muscled young man. There is not an ounce of fat on his body, and his muscles ripple as he moves, although those muscles are lean and sinewy, not the bulk of a weight-lifter.

Shirt removed, Bekkah can see scars that criss-cross his chest, arms, and back. Some are old and faded, tanned over by the sun. Some are more recent, still pink with new flesh. On his left arm, about mid-bicep, is a deep, angry gash. Still deep and dark red with barely healed skin, it clearly had been an extremely deep wound, cutting thru the muscle and likely reaching the bone. It is closed now, the muscles knitted back together, thanks to his own small healing and Bekkah's much greater effort back at the glade, but the seriousness the wound he took can be seen clearly for the first time.

"See", he says to Bekkah, flexing his muscle. "Good as new. Thanks to you, Lady Bekkah."

Darian

"Aye, join us," she replies to Mikal's announcement.

As the group passes, she catches both Daxia's and Mikal's attention. With a brief glance down to Longtooth she says, "We watch."

Her attention is returned to the night beyond.

Bekkah

She said nothing when he claimed to be fine. She'd certainly heard that before and didn't turn away, instead patiently waiting for him to strip. Some often simply thought of her as some celibate untouchable lady, but she was as much a woman as any woman. So while she didn't swoon at the sight of the man's excellent physique, she wasn't past being impressed by the man. She could only hope that at some point, some of the people she'd meet would notice that she was still a vibrant, beautiful woman. She had tried to keep herself in good shape. The amount of walking she'd done helped immensely there. Of course she was covered from feet to neck so it was hard to see her form as well as she could see his, but she hoped it wouldn't take her stripping down for someone to ever notice her.

She pointed to the newest gash.

"That hardly looks fine as you claim. Yes it will heal, but there is more than simply repairing the skin and muscle."

She took the pasty material she had brought over with her and began applying it to his muscles. Strong, but soft hands ran over his skin, rubbing in the salve. She talked as she worked.

"This will keep it from getting worse and it should lessen the look of the scar. Something you could have used in the past from the look of it." she said indicating some of the older marks.

Mikal - with Bekkah

"Again, my thanks Lady."

He shrugs at her latter comment. "I was not so fortunate as to have regular access to an Atteran Priestess. We were quite often in the field for months. Most of the time it was my own meager efforts and a bandage, often not as clean as I'd have liked either. Jvrillian Priests tend not to worry so much about healing wounds as helping to deal them."

Bekkah with Mikal

"Well if you are interested, I can teach you of the herbs I use. They may save your life if you're on your own one day."

She then handed him a cup like she had Cesare.

"You will drink this. And as I told Cesare, it tastes as bad as it smells, but you will drink it anyways. There are times, I take orders from the rest of you, this is one the times you take orders from me." she added with her best smile, softening the words.

Celi

Celi was off by herself, watching Mikal interact with Bekkah while trying to look like she wasn't *really* watching him.

That proved harder than she'd imagined, so she made herself look around the campsite, anywhere but at Mikal, and had a thought about ... Cesare?

Why did that image pop up? Well ... he *had* wanted to talk to her, once upon a time, but circumstances had conspired to make that impossible. At least he wouldn't threaten her with treason or blasphemy or some kind of social abuse of the language. And he was pleasant enough to look on.

Daxia
with the Gang at the camp

Daxia walked beside Fern as she followed the others into the camp. Nodding to those already gathered, she led Fern over to the other horses where she spent time silently caring for the mare, occasionally looking over with a smile at Bekkah fussing over Cesare and Mikal. After the usual brushing and feeding, Daxia spent a few moments quietly talking unintelligibly to the horse.

After moving her gear closer to the fire, and accepting a bowlful of stew from Cesare with thanks, she sat down near one of the newcomers to their group.

"So, Romana not marry, Romana not be breakfast for demon," she said after a few spoonfuls of the stew. "What might Romana like to do now?" After another spoonful of food, she said, "Oh! So sorry, very rude." She pointed to herself. "Daxia. Long name Daxia Yurisdotter, short-short name Dazi." She tilted her head, looking at the girl. "Rhomanishkah'al'lhahrhonsha'al' khylyrishkatsarinish..." She said the name rather slowly, as thought, perhaps, trying to ensure all the proper syllables were in the proper order. "...very pretty name. Romana easier to say for us, yes?"

The Heartwood
After Dusk on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

Eventually, the soft glow that tinged the air over the glade faded, went out and all was still. Warriors whose spirits were never lain to rest before had been tended too, either drifting upon the wind or sleeping upon the spoils of their sacrifice. One by one ... two by two ... horse and rider ... the little caravan regrouped upon its own little hill. To the east the nearby Forest of Roth rose to the sky, the canopy of trees an even blacker than black shadow against the velvet skyline. It towered; or more appropriately, it lurked. It did, however, provide the deadwood for the small campfire; a gentle warm glow gifting both light and the warmth to banish the cold breath from beneath the Crown of Ice. Loongtooth circled thrice before sprawling down at its edge. The snarkhound stretched and sets his nose upon his paws. There he relaxed; the only time he stirred was when a bow was drawn and an arrow knocked. Then his head just lifted, shook once and returned to his rest. It was twilight and even if there was anyone else out upon the fields they would be doing exactly what was being done here; making camp; not here but wherever they were. Truth, however, there was a second time the snarkhound shifted; his eyes closed tight and he drew his forepaws over his ears upon Mikal's very loud pronouncement. It was almost a wince, as the greeting echoed over the winter grasslands, the cold dry air carrying the words clear and sharp and for quite a distance.

As the stew was cooked, coney and herbs, thickened and spiced, the night slowly grew deeper. The stars, one by one peeked out to scatter across the zenith, except for the long swath of the Dark Path which arched over the nearby woods. When the stew finally simmered, the two moons were peeking over the top of the abandoned Black Mountains, their silvery light allowing the darkness to be crisscrossed with a moire of shadows. The food provided good welcome, as their Priestess made her rounds, ensuring the afternoon's wounds were not simply tended too but tended to well and sure, to knit back together properly instead of just good enough.

The quiet one was Camelia, a bit unsure, as if being on this road again, out beneath the stars was the last place she could feel ever comfortable again.

At least it wasn't raining.

Their other ward, however, moved a bit more lightly. She claimed a spot on the fire with a whumf of saddlebags; heavy leather, ruggedly made, and not too empty. They became her backrest as she flounced upon the ground and drew her oversized cloak about her like it was armor. From somewhere in the pack a bowl was found - a small ceramic thing glazed in white with blue tracery and a spoon made from bone. very naturally she waited, and as if she - of course - belonged, took her share of the evening meal.

"Deliciousness-i-ness!"

Was her reply after a spoonful.

"Pancakes!"

In the soft illumination her furred hood still cast shadows over her features; but at rest and with a bit of peering some facts could be ascertained. She was definitely tall, slight of frame, with a complexion fair; almost porcelain. A small nose poked out from the protective fur and there was a hint of jewelry; an almost chaotic chose of pendants and the hint of earrings - one glowing ruby red, the other a gentle sapphire in the shifting firelight. Hooped bangles wrapped both wrists, the playful bracelets sometimes jingle-jangling like fey bells when she moved.

"Dazidazidazi'al'khasten'daylna'khorran ..." Romana whispers back to Daxia, her head ducking - perhaps still a bit worried, still a bit unsure.

"So shorts ... names ... names supposed to tell who you are, how you are to people, how you are to world... not just taglet to make one thing not like others. Might well take charcoal and write numbers on forehead,one ... two ... three ... eleventy five."

She paused then, a catch of breath.

"Not matter. Silly Romanas.

"Romanas are Romanas are Romanas, now, here, that best."

Kadri looks over at Romanas, and talks quietly.

"I have no need of a longer name than Kadri. I am what I do, and my name doesn't make that happen. I am what makes me different from others. And I will not be bound by what a longer name would imply."

Daxia
with the Gang at the camp

Daxia smiled slightly at Romana's speech, then tilted her head at Kadri when she replied. After a few heartbeats she said, "Short name makes Kadri happy, long names make Romana happy." She turned back to Romana. "Kadri is Kadri is Kadri. Short name for Kadri is same as long name for Romana." She shrugged. "We learn about who people are, how they are with other people, how they are to the world by... talking to them, being around them, watching them, yah? Very different from your home, not knowing who people are just by name.

"But what does al'khasten'daylna'khorran mean? Romana seems to already know who Daxia is, how Daxia is with other people, how Daxia is to world if Romana give Daxia such a long name, hmmm?"

Cesare

He accepts Bekkah's ministration with good grace and downs his medicine in one, his other hand pinching his nose. He follows that up with first a deep swallow from his water skin and then with thanks to the healer.

He starts to gather the pots and other bowls that have been used for the meal, feeling as if he is under scutiny. Looking around he catches Celi looking in his direction. He feels she has had a hard job fitting in. Knowing Darian is on guard, he asks Celi directly.

"Want to give me a hand with these?"

His people are used to keeping things clean and tidy, comes of constant travel and the constant need to be ready to move quickly if the world's currents suddenly change direction. Besides, better to be doing something, keeps you warm and busy.

Celi

Celi started at the sound of Cesare 's voice. She had been trying to be surreptitious, interspercing her study of Cesare with an occasional mental check-in with Stormrunner.

"Wha ... oh yes, of course." She normally caught and prepared her own, but they had been happy to add her game to the pot and someone was a wonderful camp cook. Different than Celi's, that was for certain. She liked her own seasonings, but a little variety wouldn't hurt...

Celi rose gracefully to her feet and dusted herself off, then jumped right in, collecting cookware, tin plates, and any road bread that was salvagable. "Reminds me I need to refill my water and see about ... "

She waved her hand in quick dismissal

Mikal - with Bekkah

"Yes, Lady", he replies, taking the cup and drinking it straight down without batting an eye. He hands the cup back. "It has never tasted better than fermented horse p..", he stops, blushing. "Sorry. I meant to say that your variation tastes better than most, and I would truly enjoy learning how to make such concoctions for myself."

Bekkah with Mikal

She smiled knowing what he was going to say.

"We'll have much time as we travel. I'd be delighted to teach you what I know. I think more people who travel away from towns should learn such things."

The Heartwood
After Dusk on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

The dark haired lass blinked. She blinked and swallowed and peeked back to Daxia from beneath the shelter of her furred hood.

"Well ..."

She continued slowly, fingers tracing a pattern through the stiff brown grass.

" ... al' ... al means Dazidazidazis must be looked up to."

Her brow scrunched and she gnawed upon her lower lip.

"Means able to make persons dead. Caste, Blood, Strength, doesn't matter, has power to make you dead.

"So Dazidazidazis are Slayer Children of Stars, of Her Ladyships Dayala, the ..."

Romana choked back her words, continuing then at a quiet whisper.

" ... well, something not very nice."

Her head turned, looking this way and that, until she caught Kadri in her gaze.

"Oh! Have saying about short names!"

She looked as if to speak again before swiftly covering her mouth with both hands.

" ... but can only says in whispers!"

She squeaked.

Kadri pauses again, and looks over at Romanas.

". . very well."

She leans in.

"Whisper."

Daxia
with the Gang at the camp

Daxia's eyebrows rose quite a ways as Romana defined the name she'd devised for her.

"Dazi think ask Romana change name. Dazi not like... not nice name." She frowned sadly. "Dazi Sister of Stars. Dazi Daughter of Dayala." She scuffed her foot on the ground, watching the marks her boot made. "Suppose Eastern people think Dayalans bad like Dayalans think Eastern people bad. But Dayalans only protect when Eastern people come, never go to Eastern people." She shook her head. "Never, never go there. Never know why Eastern people come here." Daxia looked back up at Romana. "Only protect. Dazi only protect! Dazi protect friends, Romana from demon! Dazi only follow Eastern people when Romana ride past, look very scared. Dayala say protect Romana!"

She looked back down again, at the toes of her boots. "Maybe Romana know Dazi better, Romana give Dazi nice name, yah? Maybe. Dazi be Protector Sister of Stars, of Lady Dayala. No not nice name, maybe."

She picked a long blade of the grass and turned it 'round and 'round between her fingers.

"Someday. Maybe."

... the dark haired girl leans in to whisper quietly to Kadri ...

Cesare

There is something eager.. no, over-eager about Celi. And that is something that others could exploit. Of all of them in the group.. with the possible exception of Camelia.. Celi still seems the most at the fringes. Makes him curious.

Anyway he gathers the rest of the pots and leads the way to the flat rock he found earlier that evening.

[Moving to PM so conversations don't get mixed. ]

Darian

The Hunter has not moved from her guarding position though she does shift occasionally. Her eyes briefly watch Cesare and Celi as they go by.

She leans back and looks at her, and raises an eyebriw that would neither confirm nor deny what was just whispered.

The Heartwood
After Dusk on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

" ... boredom."

The word rolled off of Romana's tongue like it was the most natural, most obvious thing in the world.

Daxia
with Kadri and Romana at the camp

Daxia looked up, her impassive Court face turned towards the Eastern girl.

"Boredom? The Eastern people have come to our land killing fullhands of fullhands of fullhands of fullhands of people out of BOREDOM?"

The Heartwood
After Dusk on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

Sitting wrapped in her cloak, the dark haired one took a sudden interest in her stew.

"Folks like something, they do it. Is right way of world - if makes you feel good, then doing is good."

"When all folks do what they likes, all times, life is always interesting. Thousand Princes in a Thousand Towers of a Thousand Colors all doing what they want, when they want, life always different, always changing, exciting, like watching stars sparkle on a rippling sea, never the same twice."

Still looking down, Romana tapped a potato with her spoon.

"Never had a potato like thissis. Life is good."

She scooped it up, smiled ... for a little while.

"Works well until ... until what one prince likes another doesn't ... Prince with biggereest power, biggerestus friend, they get to choose what happens. other Prince doesn't like .. so they fight. Fights always happen, all the time.

"Still, every day differents, everything aways changing, always exciting, always interesting, always new ... life is good.

"Except ..."

She looked into her bowl.

"Sometimes Prince most powerfuls. Biggerest armies, biggerestus magics, biggerestus friends ... eventually so powerful all Cohrlayans must do what Biggest Prince says ...

"But is only so much one can do in one city, one ocean, one land ...

"Eventually everything gets done ... stories just repeat ...

" ... nothing new to do."

Romana paused, her words falling off.

" ... nothing left to do but invades The Heartwood.

"Happens rarely, Prince so big. Happened twice before."

Daxia
with Kadri and Romana at the camp

The Dayalan stared at Romana, jaws clenched tightly, her breathing rapid and shallow. She stared for a fullhand and a fullhand more of heartbeats. Finally, she stood and looked down at the Easterner.

"Daxia'al'khasten'daylna'khorran is a fine name, thank you, Romana," she said, her voice flat and emotionless. "Your precious princes who have slaughtered countless innocents, as well as so very many of my Sisters, all in the name of boredom... they are contemptible." She spat on the ground.

Then, tears streaming down her face, she turned and walked into the night, collapsing in a heap about a handful of horse lengths from Darian.

The Heartwood
After Dusk on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

"Say everyone does what makes them happy ... folks like something, they do it. Is right way of world.

"But what if Romanas likes hurts someone else? Should Romanas do it?"

The girl's soft words follow Daxia into the dark, crisp and soft in the night air.

"Romanas thinks nots.

"Romanas thinks all that makes is world of folks hurting each other."

She is quiet, quiet for a beat.

"Is truth. Starbred killers massacre Cohrlayans. Not just story.

"Dazidazidazi ask Romana not believe Dazidazidazi like this."

A second beat, before her singsong of broken Colonial continued.

"Romana's Princes?

"Did Dazidazidazi not hear? Not Romana's Pinces. Princes want to marry Romana to Friend. Big honor. Much power. Short marriage.

"Dazi not want Cohrlayans to stay on Cohrlayans side of mountains?"

"Romanas give up everythings to be where all folks want her dead.

"That what Romanas do.

"What Dazidazidazi do?"

Kadri:

She speaks quietly.

"Let it be for the moment. . this is a. . very sensitive thing, to her people. Let me just say. . I can understand. You are not your people, as I am not mine. I am myself, and I happen to have been born where I was born. But birth is not. . . who you are."

Darian

No matter how quiet she had she was, the sound of her sorrow reached the sharp ears of the Hunter. Darian look to her furred compaion and spoke a word of guarding to him. He did not move but gave indication that he would and had been.

She went to and knelt by their defacto leader then put a hand to her shoulder. "Dazi. Darian listen if need, or keep company only."

It was statement, not question. Dazi would do what she would do.

Daxia
with Darian near the camp

Daxia knelt on the ground, arms crossed over her chest, fingers clutching the opposite shoulders of her tunic beneath the warmth of her heavy Kierkegaard cloak -- looking so much like Kadri's formal greeting, but for the fact that there was no ease, no grace in the posture, only a deserpate clinging... looking almost as if she was trying to hold herself together in one piece. Eyes closed tightly with fresh tears washing down her cheeks, the only sounds were her ragged breathing and an occasional moan or high-pitched wail.

After a long period of time that could not be measured in such tiny increments as heartbeats or breaths, she opened her eyes to the darkness around her.

"Darian?" she whispered.


[OOC: The last thing Daxia heard Romana say was "Happens rarely, Prince so big. Happened twice before." She did not hear anything Romana said after she walked off.]

Darian

Holding still for many marks of the candle was something not unknown to the Hunter. Patience and waiting were part and parcel of any hunt, whether one be chasing a meal or an answer.

"Aye, Dazi?"

ooc note - just to be clear, then it comes from choosing not to listen; the camp isn't that big.

[OOC: It's not a 'choosing', it's an inability to hear much beyond the pounding in her head and her own screaming thoughts.]

Daxia
with Darian near the camp

"In days of old, at the end of the First Age, came the Easterners," she whispered, reciting a tale handed down through generations of Dayalans. "At the Port of Lys, known now as the Battle at the Water's Edge, stood a fullhand times a handful of Dayala's Children, holding back the hordes from the East. And though our Sisters killed a handful of Marin's avatars upon this plane, the Daughters of Dayala were shattered, and scattered across the sky... these, our Sisters, who have gone before us. That day, the piers and waters at Port of Lys ran red with the blood of Her children."

Daxia looked up at the sky, at the countless number of stars shining brightly. "So many, many Sisters," she said softly, her voice filled with pain and anguish, "all because some Eastern prince was bored. Not greedy or cruel like the Montagues, not sly and devious like the Kories. Just... bored."

Bowing her head again, she implored, "Dayala, please help me. Please."

Darian

She did not understand all of Dazi's words, but she understood enough. The Easterners were like those who hunted not for food but for fun, showing no respect for the creature that gave it's life to provide. Those kind were Hunted from the Pack's territory, given to become Prey by the word of the Great Hunters.

She stumbled over her words as she sought to offer comfort. "Loss of many ...Sisters makes heart sad... but Sisters ... die for what believe, aye?"

Bekkah

She sat alone near the fire, watching all around her. She saw Dazi and Romanas talking, then Dazi got up, heading for Darian. She could not tell what was wrong, but something was. She would talk with Dazi later if Dazi wanted to talk. She was getting tired. Healing took strength. Not as much as when Darian had been hurt but still took some. She ate alone, keeping warm with the gift from Darian wrapped around her neck.

Daxia
with Darian near the camp

"Loss of Sisters always make heart sad, Darian," she said quietly. "Sadness that Dazi carry every day. But Dazi proud of Sisters for protecting people of Heartwood." Daxia sat silently, head still bowed, for a fullhand of heartbeats. "Always we think... oh, Eastern people want something we have, come to take. Or Eastern people hate Heartwood people very, very much... just don't know why. Sisters understand theses things, Sisters protect all they can."

She looked up at Darian, tears in her eyes. "But Sisters die because Eastern people want new game to play? That hurt Dazi heart, Darian. It hurt very, very much."

The Heartwood
After Dusk on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

Daxia had asked for a sign.

But why did it have to be this one?

It must have dropped from some cart many years ago, a small thing, forgotten. Freeze and thaw over many years had shattered it, but it was still identifiable.

There, caught in the firelight, a bit of ancient debris.

A broken cobble block.

Darian

She frowned, trying to piece it together. "But...others..."

Darian looked around at htere hodge podge group.

"...even here...all us... not same...not same wants...why what others want make heart sad? Sad for Sisters Darian understand... Darian miss teachings of Hakur, even Hakur too...but died as lived, as Hunter not Prey."

"And...and must take many handfulls of handfulls of handfulls of years make Easterner forget. Else come many handfulls times, not just three."

Kadri;


"I will talk to her - I have a thought for you though - long names are good, but why let their name define you? Why let the ones you left - that would have fed you to a demon for his service - define who you are and your place in the world? You are Romanas - let the rest of your name start new here, along with you."

Mikal

He nods to Bekkah in agreement, though he isn't sure what he can offer a Lady of Attera in return. He'd never actually traveled with one for any length of time. Every previous time the Troop had traveled to where one was and took advantage of her help then left.

"Well, I expect we'll be headed towards Bordertown in the morning. Perhaps we can talk along the way?"

He turns his head at the exchange between Daxia and the girl, Romana? He isn't sure if that is her name, among the way too long string of letters she uttered earlier, but at least that much he can remember.

As she describes what sounds like an explanation for why the Easterners invaded the Heartwood at the end of both the First and Second Ages he finds himself nodding. He understands why Daxia moves off, obviously upset. Her order lost many, if not most, of it's members during those incursions, and whether she knew them or not they were sword-sisters to her, as odd as that term sounds in his own ears.

Still, from a practical standpoint, and he is nothing but practical, it makes sense. Seeing Darian sitting with Daxia, Cesare with Celi, and Bekkah looking tired, he approaches Squire Dean.

"Squire? Do you mind?" He asks before sitting down next to the man. As the only other military person, besides Daxia, present, perhaps he has a take on what the girl is saying.

Bekkah with Mikal (earlier)

"Of course. Anytime." she said with a smile.

Dean

Dean has been carefully watching the people in this group, trying to understand the dynamics and relationships. He is, coming from an agrarian past, well suited to patience and contemplation. He hopes he manages to understand enough not to fail Lady Bekkah and in turn, Knight Kevin and all of the others who brought him to this spot.

He gives Mikal a friendly, silent nod when he asks to join him.

Mikal

"Sorry we have not had time to talk before this, but it was first hectic, and then busy. I noted you had sworn to protect Lady Bekkah. How did you come to learn of her?"

The Heartwood
After Dusk on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

"Word not define Romanas ... only Romanas can ..."

She cast a glance to the retreating Dayallan, then looked between her and Kadri. She simply nodded. Then eyes closed, they opened, all accompanied by a philosophic shrug.

"Names like life ... always changing, always new. How one speaks Romanas name ... says whether likes Romanas - smart thing - or hates Romanas - sad thing. Says wants talks to Romanas princess of Thousand Towers, or Romanas rider of Dancer, says you are higher blood than Romanas or lowers, whether wish wells or wishes not so wells, whether Romanas big and fierce or teeny small and moose like.

"Though Romana thinks moose like silly.

"Whiskers would tickles."

Daxia
with Darian near the camp

"Come only twice to kill-kill," she said absently, "This time to catch Romana, not play new game on Heartwood. Sometimes raid caravans on road between Black Mountains and Dirkwood."

Daxia sat quiet and still again, thinking, brow furrowed. After a while, she opened her mouth as though she was going to say something, then shook her head, frowned, and thought even longer.

"Feel like... like Sisters all die because Eastern people play game, make dying..." She was clearly struggling with words. "...make dying not mean anything, yah? Hakur, he be Hunter, stand against Montague, he Hunt, to protect Darian, Longtooth. He give Hunter, Hound chance for living, yah?" She sighed as she wiped the tears from her face. "Sisters stand to protect many, many, many. But Sisters die, Eastern people still kill ones Sisters protect.

"Maybe Dazi silly. But if Eastern people hate Risha's people, when Verchovai Jeminy, her Dayalans, even little Initiate Kisa Allaine all die to protect, that mean something. Mean... mean honorable thing they do. But if Eastern people just want kill-kill-kill, why come to Heartwood? Why kill us? Why they not stay home, kill each other, leave us alone? Why they not let my Sisters live?"

She took another shuddering breath and looked up at the night sky, pointing. "See so many stars? They Dazi Sisters. Most die because Eastern people want kill-kill-kill so be not bored. Sisters not die protect farmers, not die protect towns, not die even protect so many sparkly things of Nobles. Sisters just die..." Daxia swallowed hard, trying to get emotions under control. "Sister die... not even a reason for dying. Just Eastern people want kill."

She sat quietly for a while longer. "I not explain good. I explain with Noble words, I explain good. But Darian not understand so much. Want friend Darian understand, yah? Dazi feel... feel like Sisters die... is foolish when reason for killing is so... so... so STUPID!"

Again she shook her head, and sighed. "I die, you die, everyone die someday. Dazi want last breaths of life be honorable, be worth dying. Dazi die today try kill demon? Ok. Then maybe others be safe, yah? Dazi die fall down well, that stupid.

"Kassia? She die. Maybe already, maybe not yet. Kassia old, but Kassia best teacher of Dayalans for many, many, many year. Whole life worth more than everything Dazi ever do. Kassia not protect this person, that person. Kassia protect teachings of Dayala. Kassia... Kassia here? Kassia rap Dazi on back of head, say Dazi dumb as cobble-block. Dazi brain know Dazi dumb as cobble-block now. Dazi heart just hurt so much. Dazi brain not know how tell Dazi heart stop hurting."

She blinked away the new tears that had fallen and again dried her face in her sleeve.

"Darian understand? Darian maybe know way Dazi tell heart stop being dumb as cobble-block? Tell heart stop hurt so much?"

Darian with Dazi

She listened hard, had to because those she had met on her journey were so very different from what she had known.

She supposed though, it might be a bit like when the sickness came and robbed the Pack of nearly half its number.

"No know how tell heart stop hurt. Only...only..."

She looked down, considering, "Mayhap telling help...."

"Afore Hakur teach, afore Grey Men come, handfull years and more, cold months come colder than any membered. Food little. Game die, some hungry, some sick."

Now she raised her eyes to meet Dazi's.

"Many of Pack die. All Darian's yearmates. Even she who birthed Darian. All Pack sad, heart hurt. Half gone by time Crown of Ice melt."

"Heart hurt took some from our way."

"Seem half gone no reason, no honor."

"Many handfulls years pass afore understand, if half not gone, all Pack die. Half offer selves save rest. Rest stronger."

"Then Grey Men come, all but Darian and Longtooth die. Make sacrifice half seem no reason. Now Darian must be strong, be worth sacrifice of all."

"Think same for Dazi. Not say easy or make hurt stop. It what Darian and Dazi must do."

Daxia
with Darian near the camp

Daxia listened attentively to Darian's words, chewed her lip while considering them.

"Is... is like..." She tilted her head slightly, remembering something. "Dazi ask Bekkah again, but long, long ago... Dazi very little... Papa die from sickness. Then, when seasons turn around one time, Mama die, too. Bekkah say..."

Daxia looked up at the star-filled sky.

"Bekkah say Mama too sad, heart hurt too much with Papa gone. So Dazi, Bekkah go live at Temple."

Watching, just watching... and all her Sisters watching her back... Daxia sat quietly for a while.

"Dazi think Sisters maybe tell Dazi she silly, too. They do what Dayala say: protect. Reason for protecting not matter when Dayala say protect." She nodded, more to herself... or perhaps to her Sisters. "Dazi do same. Dazi protect friends..." She looked at Darian with a smile. "...even friends not need too much protecting. Dazi protect Eastern girl, too. Romana not know words will hurt Dazi, she just say, yah? Dazi not know words will hurt!

"That very strange, yah? Many people say words to Dazi, think they hurt Dazi." She shook her head. "They not hurt Dazi. So Dazi very surprised when Romana words hurt, hurt, hurt! But Romana not mean hurt." She took a deep breath and sighed.

"Darian smart. Say good words to Dazi. They," she said, pointing again at the stars, "do what they should do. So Dazi do what she should do. Dazi not be like Mama, let heart hurt make Dazi sick, die. No, no, no. Gilly say something Dazi supposed to do. Lord Kisa, she say many things Dazi supposed to do.

"So. Dazi do.

"Not sure WHAT Dazi supposed to do. But Dazi do." She shrugged, and smiled.

"Ta... thank you, Darian. You listen good, say good words."

Darian

It has been difficult for her to communicate with those outside her experience on this journey, at least to the depth of the conversations she has been having. Within the Pack there was always a common frame of reference. Some things were understood by all. She had always known things were different beyond their territory, esoterically, but living in it was enlightening. She likened it to learning about a new type of animal, some here would be friend like Longtooth, others she still was not sure of.

She ducked her head in acknowledgement of Dazi's words and offered a small smile. "Now Dazi know hurt but not hurt alone. Okay to hurt, not okay hurt be all. Dazi friend. Darian not have friend...long time. Glad Darian help Dazi."

Bekkah

She watched Mikal move off to speak with the squire. It made her smile. He was so young. She could only imagine what they'd discuss. She also saw Dazi off with Darian. She looked for Longtooth, but didn't see him. She'd love to curl up next to him. She gathered her bed things and laid herself down close to the fire. She closed her eyes, silently thanking Lady Attera for helping her keep these people safe.

Dean
to Mikal

"My liege, Sir Kevin, told me I was to find Lady Bekkah and serve her. I had expected it would take a long time, as I was told she was a healer from far away."

Dean shrugs and says "'who am I to know the odd ways of chance and gods,' my Da used to tell me."

"How came you here?"

Mikal

He shrugs in return. "A long story. Basically I have worked as a mercenary for some time. First with Cameron's Light Horse, and then, after they disbanded, on my own. I was traveling up to Cragside to winter at the barracks there and see if any work was posted when I sort of fell in with the group. I think most of us sort of dropped into each others lap around that time. I am pretty sure only Lady Bekkah and Daxia knew each other from before."

He tosses a stick into the fire.

"So. What do you think of us?" He smiles, knowing he is putting the man on the spot. "And what do you think of Romana's story?"

Daxia
with the Gang at the camp

Daxia gave a little shrug, then a big sigh. "Dazi have only one friend, all of Dawnview Vale. Now have TWO friend outside! Maybe more, someday." She looked over her shoulder towards the campfire, then back at Darian.

"Dazi say mean words to Romana. Dazi need say nice words now." She stood, and grinned. "Dazi find Longtooth for scritch, too. Longtooth having many friends!"

Her walk back to the fire was considerably more serene than her departure, cloak wrapped tightly to ward off the chill air and nothing more. She stepped over to Romana, who still sat beside Kadri, and looked down at the girl for a heartbeat before crouching down so they were eye-to-eye.

"I was rude," she said to Romana. "I said spiteful things because your words hurt me, but you did not mean them to hurt. I am sorry I said words that hurt you back."

The Heartwood
After Dusk on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

The strange black haired girl simply watches as Daxia approached, as one might watch Krysta herself come close. She looked to Kadri for a moment, though her head tilted as she listened to the Dayallan's words. Then she just raised a slender pale hand.

"If Romanas words hurt Dazidazi, then ... then it is only natural to want to hurt back, has right to hurt back.

"Romanas not like hurting folks ... because means folks can hurt Romanas, and that not good. Much better to be nice, because nice makes nice."

She offered a Daxia a small, tentative smile.

"Done now, in past, yes? More important, now, how moving forward, yes?

"Maybe, though, maybe though part of it ... Romana speak bad. Hard time, with words so small."

The strange girl looked back to the spot where Daxia and Darian had spoke.

"Is true, when bored, Cohrlayyan most dangerous. But important, but remember ... if boredom that makes Prince look to other side of Mountains for entertainments ...

"... never ever happens ... until one Prince becomes strong enough to say what every every every other Cohrlayyan do."

Daxia
with Kadri and Romana at the camp

Daxia returned the smile and said, "Da, done and gone; we will move forward, and I will try very hard to remember that Romana only has small words, and does not mean to hurt anyone with her small words. Maybe Daxia has the right to hurt Romana back, but it is wrong for Daxia to hurt Romana. Daxia and Romana will be nice, and friend Kadri," she said, tapping her friend's foot and grinning at her, "may poke Dazi without fear of mighty sword if Dazi forgets that Romana means no harm with her words, da?"

She returned to sitting comfortably on the ground. "Cohrlayyan... that is the name of your people, or the place, or both? And there are many princes in your land?" Daxia nodded to herself as she pondered for a moment. "If the many Cohrlayyan princes are more numerous and as, ah, friendly as the Noble Families of the Heartwood, perhaps it may be that they will remain on their side of the Black Mountains forever. It is said that trying to get an Allaine and a Korie, the two most powerful Noble Families, to agree on anything is as likely as finding an icicle in a forge." She chuckled. "I think... perhaps... the Khoralls Allaine and Korie MIGHT agree that east is east, and that She rises there each day, but I think they would not agree on much more than that."

KAdri:


"Romana. . ."

She pauses a long moment.

"Is one prince becoming. . stronger - much stronger - right now?"

The Heartwood
After Dusk on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

Romana looked up to the Dayalan and smiled,

"Yes!"

Then she blinked and wrinkled her little nose.

"Yes and yes? Bothes? One and sames and one from the other, not have one and others, place where folks lives and folks who lives in places?"

She then threw out her arms and swung them this and way that,

"Many princes, thousand Towers, thousand colors, thousand princes ... and that only prettiest city!"

He expression stilled, however, as she repeats herself,

"But Dazidazi not hear. Has nothing to do with agree or disagree ... has to do with making others say what to do ...

" ... has everything to do with power."

Romana turned to Kadri and swallowed.

"Father wants biggest Friend for reasons ...

" ... has everything to do with power."

Daxia
with Kadri and Romana at the camp

Brows knit together, glancing at Kadri, Daxia said, "So... without Romana, Father can't become most powerful? Or maybe Father will give biggest 'friend' many small fish instead of Big Fish Romana?"

She paused for a moment, then shook her head.

"No. I think Kisa would have seen something like that. She only spoke of much trouble on the High Tarn, but nothing of the East." She looked back at Romana. "Are there any other princes who can makes friends with this biggest 'friend'? Or is Father the only one powerful enough to make friends with biggest 'friend'?

"Hoi! Romana very, very smart to run away from all that! Even if Romana is only little fish on this side of Mountains, yah?"

The Heartwood
After Dusk on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

"Power attracts Power attracts Power ..."

Romana's quiet singsong has a serious beat.

"Romanas Father one Friend away from making Kh'lhy'ra of the Thousand Towers do what Fathers say ... And where Kh'lhy'ra leads, Cohrlay follows. All others close, do what Fathers say ... or ... or ..."

The girl closed her eyes then, trembling a bit.

" ... hang from tallest Tower until ravens feasts."

Kadri:
She places one hand on Romana's shoulder, looks into her eyes.

". . there will be no feasts for ravens here."

She looks over at Daxia.

"Paths can be altered, remember. Perhaps. . one has."

She shrugs.

Daxia
with Kadri and Romana at the camp

Daxia nodded. "Oh, most definitely yes! Paths change. Patterns, connections... Hoi! Yes!" She placed a hand lightly on Romana's knee.

"Lady Daxia, Knight of Dawnview Castle, Protector and Sister of the Stars, of Her Ladyship Dayala, Bringer of Time and Order... I say I will protect Rhomanishkah'al'lhahrhonsha'al'khylyrishkatsarinish. No ravens feasting, no demons eating." Again the fire-haired woman shrugged. "Dayala most definitely does not like the gods of Cohrlay, very much does not like them. But here you are, perhaps because the Fates of which Cesare speaks led you to cross our path, and you need to be kept safe from your Father and his 'friends'. So... Dayala's wishes are very clear in this matter.

"Dazi protect Romana."

She pulled her knees up and rested crossed arms on them, then tilted her head to regard the dark-haired girl. "Hmmmmm. Maybe I can see new Patterns; I will look. Not as good at this as Kisa, but something very new and very big like meeting a nice girl from Cohrlay? Should change something, yes?"

Dean

Carefully listening to the interaction of Daxia and Romana, Dean tells Mikal "I...I have...no...idea."

Mikal

"Huh. Well then, let me know as you decide, alright? Always interested to hear a new impression."

He glances at the fire again, then back to Dean.

"So, to more professional subjects. Are you interested in some sparring sessions? Daxia and I have a regular workout routine set for almost every evening when we can spare the time. Always good to bring in new blood, so to speak. New techniques. Styles. Weapons. Learning is life, as my mother used to say. You stop learning, you die."

The Heartwood
After Dusk on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

"Paths go where one ... "

There was an awkward pause, a catch of breath, and Romana hugged herself suddenly, very tight, as Kadri's hand sets upon her shoulder. Blue eyes blink and she looked back with a small nod.

" ... where one takes them, not other ways arounds ... just ... carefuls please? Pancakes."

She lets herself be distracted by Daxia, however, but it takes a whole long while - many heartbeats - as she tried to untangled the Dayallan's length proclamation.

At first there was a nod, a hint of a smile, and abright duck of her head.

But then her eyes went wide as she just looked at Daxia.

"Dazidazidazi Witch?"

She then looked around thecamp, her head snapping back and forth.

"Who is Dazidazi's Window?"

Dean

"Yes...yes...listen! Sorry, I don't mean to be rude...but listen"

Dean looks to Mikal and points towards Daxia and Romana.

KAdri:

She blinks and draws back.

". . Sorry?"

Daxia
with the Gang at the camp

Daxia just stared at Romana, not saying anything for many, many long heartbeats. Then she blinked.

"Romana, I am not a Witch. On this side of the Mountains, that is a very, very bad thing to call a person.

"Why do you think I am a Witch, Romana?"

The Heartwood
After Dusk on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

Romana looked back to Kadri, her eyes ducked apologetically.

" ... folks touch Romans nicely end up dead ... not want Kadris dead ..."

Daxia's words, however, take her by surprise.

"Witches different here?

"Witches and Windows ..."

She paused, quiet.

"World is change, always changing, always new, always interesting, like trying to nail down wind, world refuses, going which way and that, world is unicorn whites ...

"Window ... Window is special girls, who can open Window, see the tides and currents that push and pull lives ... Rhonifolks blood ...

"Witch ... Witch interprets what Windows see.

"Witches are scary ... Witches weave through Chaos.

"Witches only come from West."

Daxia
with the Gang at the camp

"Witches weave through Chaos? I..." Daxia looked very confused. "Do you mean seeing the Paths? No, that is a curse of the Allaine family. And Window...?" Suddenly, her face cleared, all confusion lost as connections were made. "You mean Camelia, I think," she said, pointing to the young girl sitting apart from the rest of the group, "if a Window must be a girl. Or Cesare," she added, indicating the Rhoni, "if girl or boy does not matter.

"Cesare is Rhoni... Camelia is part Rhoni."

Then she looked back at Romana, looked closely, looked carefully. "Romana..." she said in a sing-song, not quite questioning tone, "your true hair color is white, isn't it?"

"Well then, we will just have to change that, won't we?"


- fixed misspelling

The Heartwood
After Dusk on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

Kadri is offered a smile, while Daxia simply a shrug of shoulders.

"White hair in West like standing in pack softpads wearing moose ears and whiskers."

KAdri:

"So. . Like standing in a group of cats dressed up as a mouse. Something you hide, because, if you don't, your neck gets lengthened."
"

Daxia
with the Gang at the camp

Daxia nodded, still studying Romana.

"You are the white-haired child Cesare saw when he was young. Camelia's father died, likely Cesare's father, to keep you from being returned to Kh'Lhy'ra.

"Camelia's mother... her task has always been to find you again, and bring you out of Kh'Lhy'ra again. It would be Camelia's task to do so if her mother failed."

Daxia shook her head. "And Romana saved herself instead."

Mikal

He shakes his head at Dean. "I usually try not to. Safer that way." Though in this small campsite there is no way Mikal can't hear what is being said.

He'd not been privy to most of what Kadri and Cesare had told Daxia about their individual issues. He recalls something about wanting to marry somebody, but not much else, so most of what they are talking about is news to him.

"But you seem agitated about it for some reason?"

Cesare

Cesare and Celi may only be vague shadows at the edge of the extent of the firelight but anyone looking in their direction can see the Rhoni's head suddenly snap around, looking back towards the camp fire. It would seem he is aware of the conversation with Romana.

Darian

Dazi seemed better as she shot off to make things right with the odd speaking girl. That was good, and left Darian no longer needed there. She returned to her former place of watching, but sat this time, one arm draped over Longtooth.

They all used many words and still said very little. She recognized the names of companions when used and worked out that the Easterners were a particular nasty sort of Prey one must be cautious in hunting. She was also quickly learning in the very now and real sense the precise whys the Pack kept their contact with those not like them to a minimum. She shook her head minutely, thinking how they all made things so very complicated that did not need to be. It was good to truly know, though, for if she did need to make her own Pack, she would need to know these things. And some part of her thought that might be the case...

She scratched at Longtooth's fur and thought of many things as she watched the quiet night.

Dean

"I am not so much agitated as I am confused. I am to be a protector of Lady Bekkah and I need to understand what is happening with this girl, as Lady Bekkah seems attached to her."

Dean shakes his head and sighs. "I wish to make my mentor proud. I wish to live up to expectations of my teachers. I wish to...to...do good, or failing that at least not show myself as a miserable goofer the first time I am let out of the village."

Dean grins at himself and then at Mikal. "Ah well. There is only so much that will fit into my head at one time...I wouldn't want to force anything important out the back end. I would welcome practice with you!"

Mikal

He chuckles. "I remember feeling the same way once. Seems a long time ago now."

He leans back. "Here's a piece of advice. Don't worry about what others think of you, especially others who are not here. If you took their lessons to heart, then you will make them proud. And if not, then fooling yourself by trying to will only make you, and they, miserable."

He looks at Dean. "Worry about what you think of you. If you can sleep at night with what you've done that day, knowing you did your best and kept your personal integrity, then who cares what others think?"

The Heartwood
After Dusk on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

"Mooses ... meeses ... mouses!"

Romana let the words roll off her lips, testing each one for flavor and tone.

"Hiding is better than being caughts. Ran away, given away, once, then caughts. Caughts is bad. Escapes once, very hards ... escape twice ... very luckys ... escape thrice ... not happen."

She turned her head, looking back from Kadri to Daxia, blinking several times.

"Romanas knows no Sezzyzares; and only runnings, long times, hiding, when so little. First time, runs aways, givens aways ... hard time ... last time ... last time Romanas saw Mothers ....

" ... alive."

She then swallowed, her arms wrapping about herself very tightly.

"Dazidazidazi wrong. Romanas not save herself. Romanas have help ... no, not right word ... help, melp, whelp .... stylish, story, stall, stool ... stole ... Romanas ... Romanas ... Romanas was ... stolens. Yesyes, Romanas stolens."

Gnawing upon her lower lip, she still looked downcast; that is, until she caught a snippet of another conversation. Romana then sat up straighter, smiled and waved all friendly like towards Mikal And Dean.

"Hihi!"

She beamed.

"Most folks thinks Romanas stupids.

"Romanas not cares.

"Romanas knows truths."

Kadri:

She pauses again, mouthing.

". > You did escape, though. Because, well, you are HERE. Not there. If you had help. . who helped you? And where are they?"

Daxia
with Kadri and Romana at the camp

Daxia shook her head and smiled at Romana's testing of words. And almost laughed when she waved to Mikal and Dean. Between those moments, though, were the serious ones.

"Dazi sorry Romana not see Mother long, long time," she said, reverting back to her Dawnview speech patterns. "Dazi not see Mama, Papa long, long, long time, too. Dazi understand that sadness, yah? Dazi have sister Bekkah back now, so less sad. Dazi have friends! So less sad.

"Dazi not think Romana stupid, no. Romana only have little words, yah? Ok not have so many words. We teach Romana new words, ok?" She pointed to everyone in the camp. "All, we give Romana new words, ok? Kadri already give Romana 'mouse'," she said with a grin... that faded quickly.

"But Romana stolen... this time? Second time escape? Who steal Romana?"

She glanced at Kadri, then back at Romana, nodding. "Yah, who steal Romana? Good person, bad person? Where stealing person now, huh?"

The Heartwood
After Dusk on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana


"She ... we got separated in the cities ..

"Her names ... very pretty ...

"Madoka."

Daxia
with Kadri and Romana at the camp

Daxia closed her eyes and sighed. "Madoka kha'Ayanna kha'Kame kha'Chikato khal'Homura Akemi Koromov," she whispered. "Yah, name very pretty." She sat quietly, a fullhand of heartbeats, then a handful. When she opened her eyes again, there was sadness, worry, pain reflecting from the blue depths. "Romana think Madoka maybe ok?" Looking at Kadri, she said, "Need tell Cami, yah?"

Another handful of heartbeats, eyes closed.

"Madoka..." She sighed as she opened them again, looking at Romana. "Madoka Camelia mother. Madoka do thing she promise." She turned to look at the young Imperial girl sitting, as usual, alone at the edge of the group.

"Dazi hope Madoka ok."

Kadri

She nods ever so slightly.


"You might have been helped, Romana - but the will to escape was your own - never let that escape. You are fate's master, not it yours. Noone - NOONE- can take this -"

She taps her head.

"And this"

She taps her chest over the heart.

"If you do not let them. That is where freedom lives, even if you be in chains. Be proud. Yes?"

The Heartwood
After Dusk on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

"All depends on what okays mean ... little word, too many meanings for such a little world. Okays as in alives and not not alives? Okays in eating roasted merebeast and drinking soft sea wine? Okays as in finally at pieces, okays as in hiding in shadows and hunted but not caights? All different kinds of okays, all things that could be ... word needs to be bigger and longers ...

"Romanas not know ... ill luck when speculate don okays of someone in danger and not knowns ... tempts world to turn not nice at all.

"What Romanas does know is that Windows, good Windows are something Princes collect ... Princes never kill Window for spite; well unless they are really really angry.

"Then worse things are, than dead ...

"But the, Madoka also used very short name."

Hugging herself tight, Romana looked down into her bowl of stew.

"Fate means there is one way things will be. Romanas not sure if Romanas believes in fate. What Romanas do believe is that Romanas can try and choose what waves Romanas ride ...

"Sometimes waves better than others.

"Right now ..."

She smiled back to Kadri,

"Right now good good waves."

She held up her empty bowl.

" ... more ...

" ... please?"

Kadri:

She winks at Romanas.

"I understand."

A pause, looking at Daxia.

Daxia
with Kadri and Romana at the camp

Daxia returned Kadri's look with one of mild confusion. "Dazi not understand," she said, before turning to Romana again.

"Dazi understand Romana not know fate Madoka. Dazi understand Madoka Window, prince collect then maybe Madoka stay alive but never go home. Dazi not understand use short name. Dazi not understand why prince like Window if only..." She paused, biting her lower lip. "...if only person from West say what Window means when see currents, tides. Princes have West people?"

She shook her head, frowning with brows knit. "No, no. Dazi not understand."

The Heartwood
After Dusk on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

The dark haired woman blinked blinks and then just looked into her empty bowl sadly.

For a moment, and then she shook her head,

"Can tell lots from currents ...

" ... but ... Not-Windows rare ... know of, tales and song ... many many many years of course find ... todays, probably not."

Daxia
with Kadri and Romana at the camp

Again, the Dayalan shook her head. "No, no. If Dazi understand what not-Window is, many Allaine women not-Window. Some not so good, like Dazi. Some good, like Khorall Linnell. Only one very very very good." Daxia frowned again. "Princes find out about Lord Kisa, she in big trouble. Yah, she stay home. But Dazi not let any hurt Kisa. No, no, no. Dazi..."

She took Romana's bowl and filled it with more stew, then handed it back to her.

"Dazi die before let anyone, anyone hurt Lord Kisa. Dazi promised," she said firmly... and then, more softly, "Dazi promised. Dazi do."

She sat quietly for a handful of heartbeats before speaking again. "Not understand how not-Window say what Window mean, but maybe because Dazi not so good not-Window, yah?

"Still not understand about short name. What means that?"

Kadri:

"Then we are even. I don't understand the windows."

She pauses.

"And its. . something we have already talked about. The name thing."

Daxia
with Kadri and Romana at the camp

"Ha! Not even!" she said to Kadri with a smile. "Dazi not understand Window either. Just Romana think Dazi not-Window, many Allaine not-Window, Kisa big-time not-Window. But Window?" Daxia shrugged. "If Cami Window, Dazi never never understand Window!"

She looked between Kadri and Romana several times, eyes narrowed. "No, no. Not about name thing already talk about." Her eyes settled on Romana. "What Romana whisper to Kadri? Hmmm? Not so good not-Window Dazi think whisper whisper make Connection, yah? Please tell."

The Heartwood
After Dusk on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

The hooded girl simply looked between Kadri and Daxia and blinked.

Daxia
with Kadri and Romana at the camp

Daxia looked even more confused. "Maybe... maybe Dazi not say right words?

"Romana say, before Dazi get upset about bored princes, have saying about short names. Tell Kadri. Then Dazi have concern about Madoka, Romana say Madoka use very short name. Not tell Dazi what means.

"Kadri say already talk about, but Dazi not think is about giving up names not fitting. Madoka not give up name, only use short short. Still Madoka kha'Ayanna kha'Kame kha'Chikato khal'Homura Akemi Koromov."

She looked between the two of them again. Finally, she shrugged, and said, "Fine. Fine, ok, fine. Kadri, Romana want have secret... have secret. Dazi figure out why Madoka short name important. Someday."

Kadri:

"I'll say. . . just not where others listen."

She says in a murmur.

And she leans over to whisper.

Daxia
with Kadri and Romana, then Camelia, at the camp

Daxia's expression was unreadable as she nodded slightly. "Yah. Dandy tell Dazi this about Madoka, Thomas." She glanced again at the Imperial girl. "Think Cami still not... hmmmm... adjust to knowing Mother not who she imagine Mother is. But Madoka is Madoka is Madoka... so..." She smiled slightly. "Dazi think maybe Madoka find way home."

She looked up at the sky, tracking the journey of the moons. "Get late, yah. Should sleep... all." Looking back at Kadri and Romana, she said, "West, west, west... more west we go, safer Romana is, yah? Only safer place maybe Dawnview Vale." She tilted her head, studying Romana. "Think Romana be very uncomfortable in home of Ladyship Dayala's Daughters, though. Yah. West, west, west with Romana." She she grinned. "Still have things ask Romana! Tomorrow better for asking. All should sleep." She took a deep breath, and let out a great sigh. "But Dazi talk to Camelia first."

Still, Daxia sat quietly for a fullhand of heartbeats before moving... nodding once, sharply, then standing. "Good sleep," she said to Kadri and Romana before turning and walking towards the edge of the camp where Camelia sat alone. She crouched down in front of the girl and said, "I have news of your mother, Camelia. May I speak to you now? Or would you rather be more rested before we have conversation?"

The Heartwood
After Dusk on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

"What's there to speak about ..."

Camelia, simply sat by herself, casting a shadow by herself as she sat apart from the others.

"It was impossible not to hear ..."

She then just cast a look to the other side of the camp, to where their newest ward was investigating her empty bowl, turning it over in her hands.

"I can't even think of helping Mother ...

"It would put my best friend in danger, it would be the last thing she wished, it would put all of you in needless danger.

"What am i supposed to think now; how do you think I feel?"

Daxia
with Camelia at the camp

"I think you feel hurt, betrayed, miserable, alone and lonely. Perhaps not even sure who Camelia Ayannasdotter is anymore." Daxia paused a heartbeat or two. "And all of us let you isolate yourself, perhaps thinking -- as I did -- that introspection might be the best way for you to cope." The Dayalan shook her head. "Except for Bekkah, none of us is more than a handful of years older than you, Camelia. We don't have the wisdom to know how to help you. I doubt any of us can even imagine how it would feel to have our whole world torn asunder as yours has been."

Daxia shifted her position, sitting back on her heels, hands resting on her thighs. "It's true that there is nothing you can do -- now -- to help either your mother or your friend. But..." She glanced over her shoulder where Kadri and Romana continued to chat, before looking back at Camelia. "...if your mother is as... hmmmm... clever as I suspect she is, she will be best off helping herself. And your friend is safe because you are here.

"I don't know what you are supposed to think now, Camelia. Maybe you could think about talking to the others in the group. I can see you took a dislike to me right from the start, so we need not talk if you would rather not. But Bekkah and Kadri are easy to talk with... talk with Cesare," Daxia said with a bit of a smile, "if you can pry him from Darian's side... talk with the young Squire we just collected. He looks like he is feeling quite bemused at the moment.

"Maybe just think about the future and the present. What is done, is done. What is yet to be?" Once again, Daxia shrugged. "That -- despite what Cesare says about the Fates -- I think is up to us.

"And 'us' includes you."

The Heartwood
After Dusk on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

"Us ..."

The young woman shook out her long blonde hair, a golden fall of silk cascading over her fair shoulders. In her hands she turned over a small piece of pasteboard, perhaps two thumbs wide by four. Upon it was the fragment of a complex mandala which arcied on one side of a simple triangle.

"All of us."

Camelia looked down upon the card, then looked to Daxia and then finally to Romana. The dark haired woman was curling up like a kitten near the fire. Cloak drawn over herself, hood pulled up, she had become but a grey shadow within their company.

"She has the oddest names for things, doesn't she."

Camelia then returned to her own tasks ... staining the two runes in soft shades of green.

The Heartwood
On the Brementown Road
The Second and Third Weeks of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

The Crown of Ice is an empty month.

As is The Road East, upon the ride from the haunted grove. The mornings are cold and the air brisk, each breath frosting the air. Their pace seemed to match the season, the each step of two legs or four curt and sharp, no leisurely walk beneath the sun. Indeed the setting of the sun, her long fall towards the far flat horizon was something that became welcomed; it meant that there was a a place to rest coming soon. A farmhouse by the road with an ample barn and a very large fireplace, a small inn; it may have had only a pair of rooms for guests but the food was warm and filling and having a wall - no matter how thin - was better than sleeping out in the fields. Slowly the nature of the farmlands known as the High Tarn became familiar. The fields were scattered with small copses of trees, here and there, around a little hill, surrounding a little hollow. And just a handful of trees or no more than a full hand, as if the rees were shy families, staying close and wary of having others close. Just as scattered were the broken grey stones, tossed as if some drunken farmer had broadcast the landscape with them like he would have seed. Some were small, many were the size of barrels or caravan crates, enough to be sure companions along the trail were the size of small buildings. Their shadows crisscrossed the empty plains, a insubstantial counterpoint to the little streams that ran hither and yon. Fresh water was never a problem; not a day went by that several streamlets wandered across their way; most small enough to step across, where they weren't there was usually some manner of bridge or stepping stones - maintained by no town council or manor lord, but simply by travelers such as they.

The routine was simple, it was comfortable.

Breakfast ... and the discovery of a new regular chore. Deciding who would be the one to wake Romana. It was not soon discovered that it wasn't even improper for the menfolk to do; she had a tendency to cocoon herself and it was fair odds whether the lump beneath the covers had her head or feet at the top of the bed. Not that she was mean or cranky or bitter, but with a definite habit of mumbling a gentle roommmmaannaswakes before rolling over beneath her blanket and forgetting that it was morning. The dark-haired lass was hazy most mornings, a friendly but even harder to understand bundle upon a bench or chair wrapped all up in cloak and hood, cradling a bowl of gruel like it was the finest of noble soups or delighting in the warmth of a muffin. She used both hands and all her strength to haul saddlebags and packs about as the others prepared and she did seem to know enough to care for her own white mare, who would be brushed out and treated with an apple before the day's traveling.

On the trail she stayed in the very middle of the group, a seemingly happen stance and average place to end up.

It was both Daxia and Mikal, however, who noted a hint of tactics in such a position. Not only was she safest from surprise, ensconced with the others protectively before and after ... but riding center also sheltered her from casual sight.

As for meat and such; between Darian and Celi there was always fresh meat. But after leaving the first buck at a farmhouse there was little true need for big game; the day's rest innkeeper or farmer's goodwife were more than glad to add some rabbit or merebeast to the stew. More would have been too much.

Farmer Mulligan, Little Mill Inn, Hodson's Bridge, The Lazy Ruff, Farmer Lyle and Genny's Kitchen ...

The passage of time and distance measured in cast iron pots of stew in a fireplace come evening.

Celi, whose internal alarm was regulated by Our Lady Sun and always awoke just prior to sunrise, volunteered to be the alarm clock for Romana.

She would await sunrise, then rest her hands briefly on the cocoon lump that contained Romana, make a judgement, then unerringly unwrap Romana's head and blow gently in her ear. She had contemplated unwrapping her feet and tickling, but she didn't want her jaw broken by a too-enthusiastic kick.

"Good morning," she would say, after the first eye flicker. "Our Bright Lady awaits you, Would you care for some breakfast?"

She took her cue from Romana's wishes thereafter, always cheerful.

Romana

" ... Romanassleepyberightwakeyssoonnoworiesyesyesyes?"

The unerring unwrapping stops very short, at the clenching of cloth in tight hands, a veritable death grip, still ensconced, still entombed in her warm cocoon, her dark haired head remaining completely covered.

A tickle?

It would happen once.

The young woman would jerk within her covers, and the sharp cry would echo throughout the morning camp, a panicked call ...

"NO TOUCH! NO TOUCH ... no touch ... no touch."

That added a day to their travels; as it took almost until noon to get the terrorized waif to just peek out of from her covers, let alone wake and eat.