Aurasheild

Vigil now Karin, nodded to Laurel and croked a polite thank you, as she and Vahn exchanged words about a bloodstone? Whatever it was, it seemed to put both in deep thought. It seemed that the deamon, that had tried to kill Karin was now dead.

One less thing to worry about.

Trying to stand, Vigil felt dragged to the ground, this body ached more then Karin had let on. It was exhausted from fighting, lack of sleep and the whole mind switch that had taken place. Closing his eyes, he took a breath in and slowly exhaled. Then gritting his teath, Vigil rose and moved towards Laurel and Vahn.

"Wha. . What did you say about a blood stone?" his voice falling to a whisper near the end.

---------

Starting to breath heavily, Karin looked around, her eyes becoming ever so more adjusted to the lack of light. Four walls, a small window and corpse, wasn't much to look at.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT!!!" she screamed banging her hands against the cold wall.

"To fight." replied her voice, it seemed to bounce off the walls as though it came from every direction.

"THEN FIGHT ME!" Karin screamed again, drawing her sword and turning back against the wall. Sure that the copy would appear again.

"You worm. You think because I look like you, that we are at the same fighting level. Ha! However I will let you have a fair chance to win you life. You can train your skills, when your ready you I'll return."

Karin's heart jumped, she knew that she wasn't strong, but surely she could stand on her own. Couldn't she?

"Teehehe, why don't we play Karin?"

What another voice?

Quickly, Karin drew her sword and turned swiftly around. Before her, a young girl stood smiling. Her hands were at her sides, the girl was unarmed and somehow seemed familar.

"Teehehe, My names Clair, don't you remember me Karin?"

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Blossom

"Wha. . What did you say about a blood stone?"

Laurel turned to look at Karin. Again there was something different about her, as if she had somehow changed. Laurel glanced at Vahn, wondering if he had noticed, then down at the glistening red stone in her hand.

Dropping it onto the grass, she crushed it beneath the heel of her boot. Briefly it seemed to glow and spark, then was dark and still. As she bent down to pick up the fragments , Laurel answered, “What do you know about bloodstones?”

__________________
Knowledge is power. Power corrupts. Stay in school and learn to be evil.

Child of the Ver'ai - Prologue: Cyrin Dark Dreams - Excerpt
RPG addict? Visit Chaos Sword

Foxee

SKYE’S EYES WIDENED as fire wrapped around the cart, licking hungrily at the dry wood. Kinareth struggled, rocking the cart on its wheels, and for an instant she saw his face.

She had never thought to see Kinareth frightened but what she saw in his eyes pierced her soul.

“No!” she shrieked and slammed herself back against Berul, kicking the horse, doing anything she could to make them go back, “No, no, no!” It was a wail that cut short as Berul punched her very hard in the lower ribs, driving the air out of her lungs.

The panicked horse shot forward, not liking the fire, the screaming, or the reins that Berul laid across its quarters like a whip.

The Trader camp had broken and was on the move, leaving little but churned earth and a soon-to-be funeral pyre in their wake.

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Try the POSTCARD FICTION CONTEST! Closes for entries November 19. Can you write a story in 350 words or less?

Aurasheild

As laurel looked in Vigil's eyes, she seemed to notice that it wasn't Karin that was staring back, but he also knew that she had become still, when he mentioned the bloodstone, thinking for a minute, he remembered it was old magic and Karin wasn't skilled in that area, or so he thought.

"Not much." Vigil paused, watching Vahn to see if he had noticed. "I think it has something to do with old magic, but even though I want to ask questions, now isn't the time, nor the place. We have to get going."

Vigil took a few steps towards the edge of the circle. Looking back at the two, she rubbed her arm over the bandages."

Damn! It hurts so much.

Hopefully, Laurel would leave it at that, with ALexx and the rest of the team on their way to the camp, they couldn't stay talking for long.

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Aurasheild

No one posted, so I thought I would post again. I'll wait for anther while before continuing with Karin.

"Clair?" Karin mimiced.

She vaguely remembered a friend when she was a child. Clair MiKavou. Karin couldn't remember what had happened to her, but at least she could recall her.

"Not well, but I can remember some times we shared together, whats going on?" Karin's voice was firm but yet seemed relieved that she wasn't alone anymore.

"You don't know?" Clair paused all most confused by Karin's question. "teehehe, same old Karin. You have 5 lessons to complete." Her voice and presence faded as her words came to an end.

***
Casting another glance around the small room, Karin wondered what the girl had meant. Taking a deep breath, Karin loosened her grip on her sword. The blade barely showed it's golden colour now. The sound of footsteps could be heard faintly, gripping her sword tightly, Karin gazed around the room once more. The sound was coming from the furthest corner, after a few minutes they grew more louder until a figure of a man stood in the corner.

Unsure of when it had first appeared, Karin pointed her sword towards the figure. The figure drew a sword, then took a step towards her. Readying herself for an attack, karin watched the figure closely, noting his size, the weapon length, how heavy the man seemed to breath.


"Murder is one of the foulest deeds anyone can commit. However, the prospect of murder is quite insignificant, but only to one who is not a victim. When faced with death, people tend to panic, to feel utmost fear and will do anything they can to prevent it. Yet, before being faced with death, they may have taken their lives for granted, as they are one of the many to whom the prospect of murder is insignificant." The voice was masculine, firm and familar.

It took several seconds, but his identity hit her.

"What!" The words escaped her lips, that wasn't just some person, that was her father. Her grip on her sword loosened, watching the figure more closely Karin was sure it was him.

Clothed in black. A long coat framed him, wide trousers came down from his waste and were tucked in to a pair of high boots with chains hanging from them.
Her father ran towards her, his sword raised and about to take a deadly blow.
Quickly Karin used her sword to sheild herself. He stumbled backward, Karin ran towards him, on the intent of attacking.

Raising her sword, she swung her blade towards his neck. However her sword failed to hit it's prize, it was stopped mid air. Karin paused for a moment looking at her father. Was he him?

Was he the man, that kissed her goodnight everynight after a hard days work. Was he the same man, that she had admired above all else.

A sharp cold sting on her air, caused her to call out in pain. falling backwards, she watched her father stand over her, his sword raised.

"You stupid girl! What were you thinking, hesitating like that!" His voice was full with anger, and hatred. "I'm so dissapointed Karin. Very dissapointed. Sadly your sword only exhibits only fear. When you counter it's because you fear beinging killed. When you attack you fear killing. And when you try to protect someone You fear you could let them die. At this point the only thing your sword speaks of is senseless fright. And that is not good." Her father's eyes were empty of compassion and love. "What you do not need in battle is fear. Nothing can come of it. When you counter, you don't let them cut you. If you protect someone you don't let them die. When you attack you kill.Understand? Can't you see? My sheer resolve to kill you is reflected in my sword."

Tears welled up in her eyes. He meant every word. Her heart was pounding against her chest, her forehead covered in sweat. Looking up into those eyes, was worse then paval's.

His sword began to glow a crimson colour. The air around it seemed to falter. Blinking, Karin was sure it was her eyes. Now was her chance. Gritting her teeth, her grip on her sword tightened.

Getting to her feet, Karin's mind was clear. He was going to die.
Her father, looked up into her eyes, sensing her new found resolve. Rasing her sword, the golden sheen was now blinding, the air around her sword was now faltering too.

"Yeah, you see that. Your sword is calling out like mine. As if they wish to do battle."

Quickly both swung their swords, the sounds of clashing metal filled the air. Red and Gold beams of light flashed across the room.

******

Panting both were out of breath, each one dying for the other to attack. However her father, smiled and lowered his sword.

"Now you've got it. Thats called resolve. Always find that before you think about attacking. Lesson one complete" He left out a long sigh and faded from her sight into the darkness again.

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slayerofangels

Vahn resisted the urge to say anything at the small exchange. There was a tension here that had materialised as soon as Karin had mentioned the bloodstone, and both she and Laurel had looked at him as though expecting him to say something. Islen's Mercy, he didn't need this right now. Glancing at Karin for a moment, he gave Laurel a pointed stare that promised questions for later, nodding as she crushed the bloodstone beneath her heel.

"Its not perfect, but we can destroy it completely later," he said.

Crouching, he passed his hands through the blessed salt and muttered the catechism of unbinding. For a second the ring shone brightly, then all that remained was discoloured dust. Whistling to Bard, he turned to go.

"We'll need to leave the fire where it is," he said, "if no-one knows we've left this sight, so much the better. Now come on, Alexx and the others are already scouting ahead, and we'll need to move fast if we want to catch up with our enemies. Bard will carry you two."

__________________

For Sale: One soul. Mint condition, never been used.

Battle not with monsters lest ye become a monster. And if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you. - Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

Foxee

((I think that Rufus got lost in the shuffle but I suppose he can just sort of appear at the abandoned trader camp when we all get there.

I’m also going to take the liberty to fast forward us in time just a little…Alexx’s scouting party reaches the abandoned Trader camp. The Traders already are well away and have a good lead. Kinareth probably could use rescuing unless he’s managed to roll out of the cart. Don’t want him extra-crispy. ))

WOLF RACED ON SILENT PAWS and Va Poor sat behind Mano with Alexx in front. Va Poor was farthest toward the animal’s hindquarters so that every second step corkscrewed him sideways. Still, he hung on tight and exulted in the animal’s speed, tempted to morph into a favored avian shape and fly along simply for the glory of it. He restrained himself. He had to reserve his strength.

Va Poor thought of the wreck of Skye’s body, the twisted abomination they’d left behind.

How could he have been attracted to a demon? Va Poor felt a quiver of disgust at the thought that perhaps Skye had been a demon since the beginning. Perhaps even as he’d eaten dinner and chatted with her in Dalamites something dark had peered out from her eyes. He shivered, pleasure in the speed of their travel forgotten.

He couldn’t believe that, could he? But didn’t evil love to masquerade behind a fair face? Had he told her anything he shouldn’t have? Now he just felt stupid, used, and tricked.

His face burned. Never again, he told himself silently, I’ll never be such an…what’s THAT?

A grayish white plume rose ahead of them like a vertical thunderhead. Suddenly Va Poor could smell smoke and then Wolf burst into a huge clearing that looked as though it had been tilled by many feet. The field was utterly abandoned but for a blazing cart at the far end.


TEARS RAN DOWN Skye’s face unchecked. She had long since gotten her breath back though her side still ached from Berul’s punch. Probably a broken rib. It hurt to breathe but she no longer cared and allowed herself to cry for Kinareth.

Several looks back – Berul hadn’t prevented her – had shown a pall of smoke tiny on the horizon. Aia rode with Galt, the stocky older trader, the girl as slumped and hopeless as Skye herself felt.

Brains tend to work independently of their owners at times, however, and a part of Skye’s brain hummed away, remembering something that might help. At least it might help anyone tracking her. The little memory kept knocking as Skye cried, trying patiently to get past her emotions.

__________________
Try the POSTCARD FICTION CONTEST! Closes for entries November 19. Can you write a story in 350 words or less?

Blossom

Laurel pulled a small leather pouch out on a thong around her neck, into which she scooped the glittering fragments of the bloodstone. She cast another glance at Karin as she did so, but the black haired woman wasn’t looking, rubbing her bandages.

She opened to her mouth to ask if she was pain, when a bright light at the corner of her vision distracted her. By the time she had turned back the ring was plain dust, and she felt something inside of her that she hadn’t realised was tense relax.


"We'll need to leave the fire where it is. If no-one knows we've left this sight, so much the better. Now come on, Alexx and the others are already scouting ahead, and we'll need to move fast if we want to catch up with our enemies. Bard will carry you two."



“Yes … we might want to move fast,” Laurel said, looking upwards at the thick column of black smoke emerging from the trees deeper into the forest.

__________________
Knowledge is power. Power corrupts. Stay in school and learn to be evil.

Child of the Ver'ai - Prologue: Cyrin Dark Dreams - Excerpt
RPG addict? Visit Chaos Sword

Aurasheild

__________________

Renos Babe

((sorry if Kinareth has already rolled out i'm just i'll happily edit if that's the case))

Wolf Slowed in the clearing alexx not waiting for him to stop as she saw the burning cart she ran over to it the heat buringing her eyes yet she still looked inside, she could see the crouched figgure of Kinareth in the back without thinking she dove through the flames into the cart not thinking about the fire licking her skin and clothes. Reaching him she grabbed him dragging him to his feet and dragging him towards the entrance...

__________________

Foxee

Va Poor didn't hesitate. He slid off of Wolf, landing at a run, and Changed as fast as he dared, his form giving way to that of a huge lizard.

Tongue flickering he reoriented himself and darted into the shimmering heat, wrapping around Alexx and Kinareth, protecting them with his own body and pushing them off of the cart to the ground.

The fire licked against his scaly body, and he scuttled away, changing back equally quickly, several superficial burns paining him.

Mano was already there when Va Poor turned back, encouraging Alexx and Kinareth to roll on the ground and beating out the flames that had tried to start in their clothing.

__________________
Try the POSTCARD FICTION CONTEST! Closes for entries November 19. Can you write a story in 350 words or less?

slayerofangels

Vahn cast a brief, sharp glance at each of them. He had no idea what was going on here, but he was confident that he would find out in time. Nodding brusquely, he set off at a run in the direction of the trader camp. Part of him wanted to get there before the enemy fled, but in his heart of hearts he knew they were already gone. The best he could hope for now was to get there before the trail went cold. And then? He'd cross that bridge when he came to it, but it was not a pleasant thought, and he shook his head slightly, focusing on the lands around him.

Around him, the landscape varied from low-lying scrub-grass that horsemen loved, to thorny, tangled bushes and wooded thickets that would not have looked out of place in the black forests of the north. It was almost ideal for an ambush, if not the kind of place horses would have found hospitable. The thought of an ambush set his shoulders itching, but he dismissed the notion almost immediately. It was a risk certainly, and one he'd be watchful of, but if he read things right, they were withdrawing en masse and would not waste the men setting up small ambushes at this stage. In any case, that sort of distraction didn't seem to be their style.

What of the changeling then?

For a moment, his mind was blank, surprised by the question. The daemon and the bloodstone stood out as stark contrasts to his estimate of them, and he forced himself to reconsider each angle. From what he had gathered from Laurel, there had been quite a skirmish before he'd returned, and the Traders had used this as an opportunity to install the daemon into their ranks and burden Laurel with the bloodstone. That spoke of planning, though it seemed more spur of the moment than that of a grand-master. Such notions could be deceptive though, and he reined his thoughts in sharply.

Above, the sky was lightening, but there was still a chill in the air. He grimaced, wondering if the smells of the forests ever changed; that metallic smell of blood, the musty scent of earth and trees, the sickening smells of smoke and burnt flesh...

Burnt Flesh?

It could have meant anything (more considering most heretics), but right then, he wasn't going to take that chance. Taking some obscure comfort from the sound of Bard's iron-shod hooves behind him, he sped up, confident that they could keep pace. At this rate, he'd be in position any minute, and he loosened his sword in its scabbard. Still, he couldn't suppress a grimace at the sight at met him at the camp.

It was almost exactly as he'd expected; ground churned to mud by the passage of many feet and hooves, bones and the remains of camp-fires still smoldering where they lay. Almost, because he had not expected the burning cart in the centre of the camp, or the struggling figure within. Even as he watched, Alexx burst from the bushes, leaping into the flames to help Kinareth, while Va Poor, more sensibly, turned into something slightly more fire-proof. Taking a breath, he kept a firm grip on the fury rising in his chest, bottling it up. He would need that cold focus in the future.

"Help them," he said to Laurel and Karin, "I'll follow the tracks."

Suiting action to word, he set off again. He had no illusions about his ability to take a whole force of Traders by himself, let alone a force augmented by powerful mages, but the tracks were simple enough to follow. All he needed was their direction, he could deal with them properly later on.

It would be nice to kill something though.

He smiled. Yes it would.

__________________

For Sale: One soul. Mint condition, never been used.

Battle not with monsters lest ye become a monster. And if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you. - Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

Aurasheild

Vigil uncomfortably manage to fall off of Vahn's horse, wiping himself off, Vigil followed after Vahn on foot towards the camp. The camp was extremely disgusting, rotton flesh filled the air, corpses lay stricken throughout the area and worst of all, he swore that someone was still alive in a burning cart.

These eyes are playing tricks on me.

Shaking his head, he watched Alexx and Va-poor jump after one another into the burning flames. Those few minutes felt like hours, but eventually Va-poor emerged as a lizard type creature. He seemed to have a more resistant coating to flames, as he was able to protect Alexx and the unknown figure from any futhur harm.


"Help them," Vahn had ordered rather firmly. "I'll follow the tracks." With that he took with his horse after that trail only people like him would be able to see.

It was only then that he felt panick. Vigil had no training in healing. Vigil only knew how to dress wounds, he had no skill in using charms and potions like Karin. To him each bottle was filled with different coloured gunk.

"Laurel. I'll deal with Va-poor and Alexx with any luck they should have only recieve minor burns. That other guy will need your assistance."

-----------------------

Erika moved with the breeze, glancing here and there, as though she was looking for something. Karin simply found her inner world extremly different from reality. Words couldn't describe what she was feeling.

"Erika." Karin waited for the spirit to stop moving before she continued. "How was my father here just now."

The spirit floated higher into the sky, before allowing herself to fall only to stop short of the ground.

"Haven't we always been the ones closest to you."

"huh. What do you mean?" Karin didn't understand her response.

Watching from afar, the deamon ran his fingers over his lips. He could taste the girls aura. It was different, it had a flavour. Raising his hand into the air above him, he waited for his chance.

"You see, we are the powers from inside your soul. And each one of us is a part of you. " Erika answered in a sing song voice. Suddently the air became fierce, the peaceful atmostphere was removed within minutes, it was replaced with a disgusting feeling.
She felt that she had suddently become dirty.

"IT"S TIME KARIN. QUICKLY NOW. CALL OUT FOR YOUR TEACER."

"Huh."

"QUICKLY DO IT." Erika wasn't messing, whatever was causing the wind was bad.

"ARIOLD." Karin called out his name, her voice lost in the wind.

Suddently, something moved towards her. She couldn't see anything around her, but yet she knew it was there. It wasn't bad, but yet her heart jumped when a warm hand was placed on her shoulder.

"Stay calm Karin. You must use your aura to help you." The voice belonged to Ariold, it was calm and soothing yet somehow seemed alarmed.

Aura, but I never fully understood how to use that.

"Concentrate, find your resolve, quickly now."

Taking a deep breath Karin focused, she tried to remember her fathers words about not thinking about fear. It took a few minutes, but she found that place in her mind.

"Now, draw a circle in your mind. As dark as possible. And as heavy as possible. Then Imagine yourself jumping into the circle."

Nodding Karin did as she was told. After a few minutes, a ringing sound filled the air. Opening her eyes, she gasped as she saw a deamon. It's claws had hit off a
glass pane in the air, front of her. It was blue and cracked throughout it now. After a few minutes the deamon retracted his arm, it was bleeding heavily and the glass crumbled.

He faded from her sight.

"This is a very complex, yet basic technique for getting in touch with your own energy. However because you are weak and only beginging, you cannot form a complete orb around you, only a simple pane to protect you. It does the trick so congrats. Lesson 3 complete."

Both Ariold and Erika began to fade.

"Rest Karin, for the final lesson will come soon." Erika's voice was still cheerful. "When you have rested, he will come and a battle shall enrage, who ever submits will lose their existance."

__________________

Blossom

“That other guy will need your assistance.”

Laurel was already hurrying towards the burning cart. Va Poor had successfully retrieved Alexx (Laurel had already decided now was not the time to talk to her about jumping headlong into raging fires) and the victim of the fire, and was now morphing back into his human form and turning the body over to get a better look at the casualty.

“H-hey, I think he’s breathing!” he called anxiously to Laurel, then seemed to freeze over the body. That armour … the features … it was difficult to tell beneath the horrific burns, but, “I think – I think it’s Kinareth!”

Kinareth? Laurel paused for a moment, then started sprinting towards them. If it was him then one of their missing companions was accounted for – and clearly the Traders had never intended to take him.

She practically skidded to a halt, flinging herself onto her knees beside them. Much of his hair and clothes had been burnt off, and his body and face were covered in ghastly, festering sores that were still bleeding and oozing pus, but … it was. Kinareth.

“There’s still a pulse, and he’s breathing, but those burns will kill him if we don’t cool him down soon,” Laurel muttered to herself. If she could save him … he might be able to tell them about Skye and Aia. She looked up at Va Poor and in her haste snapped, “Water. We need to submerge him in cold water – now!”

__________________
Knowledge is power. Power corrupts. Stay in school and learn to be evil.

Child of the Ver'ai - Prologue: Cyrin Dark Dreams - Excerpt
RPG addict? Visit Chaos Sword

Foxee

AFTER THE INITIAL rush from the campsite the company of traders slowed, still trotting, as though anxious to reach an appointed meeting. It wasn’t surprising considering the ground had sloped down away from the camp and then had begun to slant upward again in a series of rolling hills.

Skye huddled numbly in front of Berul. Aia was mostly blocked from her view by Galt’s body as he rode a little ahead. The dark Vivian rode behind Galt, at Berul’s elbow and blonde Fleur rode on Galt’s other side. As though they were guarding a prize.

Now that the tears had dried Skye just felt weary. What could she possibly do? She was unarmed, bound, had escaped only to be caught again.

“Where are you taking us?” She asked Berul.

Her words fell into a silence filled only with squeaking saddle leather and breathing. And in that silence, the memory surfaced.

Her talisman, her prize from the mages, was in one of Berul’s pockets.


WATER. VA POOR knew that a camp of this size would have needed a water source. Scanning the churned field he saw a pool, still fouled and muddied. Running to it he found the spring that fed it and jogged upstream, finding another smaller pool possibly deep enough to accommodate Kinareth. Even if it was a little too small it was at least icy and clean.

He raced back to Laurel and Karin, thankful that Mano was already rigging a stretcher that the horse or the wolf might drag the young nobleman on.

It was awkward and Va Poor was thankful that Kinareth was only semi conscious or it would have hurt him far more. As it was Mano and Laurel managed well with Bard’s help. The horse dragged the sling with good grace, a relief, as his master wasn’t present.

“Come cool your burns, too,” Va Poor said, guiding Alexx by the elbow, “you didn’t really think you could jump into fire and back out unscathed, did you?”


BERUL IGNORED Skye's question, scanning the slope ahead and the angle of the light. The hills became steeper, leading to bruised mountain peaks in the distance. The horses’ feet were muffled and he needed better, stonier footing before he turned.

Would it really hurt for Skye to know at this point?

“I’m taking you to someone I work with.” If he’d been honest he would have said ‘for’ but Berul was seldom that honest even with himself. “You, Skye,” he said, enjoying the literal use of the words, “are a gift.”

There it was. An apron of gravely stone draped the rise ahead, left there by some gushing storm of the past that had sorted stone and sand by size, leaving berms of bracken pushed against some of he scrubby growth.

He shook the reins, keeping the horse alert, and slid a glance at Vivian. He really didn’t know what he could say to her at their leave-taking. She had been shooting poisonous glances at him at the campsite as they left and seemed not to notice him as they rode side by side.

Part of him wanted to take her with him.
Part of him wanted never to see her again.
Part of him wanted to impress her.

He remained silent, his eyes on the changing footing.

__________________
Try the POSTCARD FICTION CONTEST! Closes for entries November 19. Can you write a story in 350 words or less?