The New RPG! - Page 126 - Writers Forum

Renos Babe · 04-06-2008, 04:56 PM

“Come cool your burns, too,” “you didn’t really think you could jump into fire and back out unscathed, did you?”
Alexx shook her head, "Since when do i actually think about anything before i do it?" She shrugged allowing Va Poor to lead her towards teh water which she quickly submerged herself in. her burns on her back instantly felt a lot better than they had been. "at least someone thinks, thanks Va Poor"

Blossom · 04-07-2008, 03:21 PM

With Mano’s help, Laurel managed to carry Kinareth, who was fading in an out of consciousness, over to the stream Va Poor had found. He was already there, helping Alexx bathe her minor burns. Mano gently placed Kinareth on the ground, then turned to Laurel.

“How can I help?”

“Strip him.” Laurel kept her voice calm and even, the voice of an experienced medical practitioner. “We need to submerge him in the water to take the heat out of his burns.”

Mano nodded and began to carefully peel Kinareth’s armour and clothes off, using the water to help where they stuck to the blood and pus. While he was doing that, Laurel pulled out her healer’s kit and rolled it out on the ground. She pulled out from a pocket the small flower of the thorn apple, and another purple leaf. When she turned back to Kinareth, Mano raised an eyebrow.

“Aren’t thorn apples poisonous?”

“In excess doses, yes,” Laurel nodded, “The right dose produces a general anaesthesia that lasts for around six hours.”

As much she wanted to speak to Kinareth about Aia and Skye, the burns would be too painful for him and it was better he remained unconscious. Mano nodded and kept working at the Nenarai’s clothes. Laurel placed the flower into her mouth, and vigorously began chewing it. After a few minutes she spat out the paste and began chewing the leaf.

The paste she gently forced into Kinareth’s mouth, then, supporting his head, massaged his throat until he swallowed.

“Won’t chewing it knock you out too?”

Laurel glanced up at Mano. “The leaf’s a stimulant that will counteract the anaesthetic effect.”

Kinareth had looked back before the remnants of his clothes had been taken. Without them, his body was a mass of angry red and black burns, oozing blood and pus. Both Laurel and Mano grimaced. Together they lifted the wounded man up and lowered him bodily into the stream. Laurel took her cape off, then waded into the stream until the water was waist deep. Holding Kinareth up in the water, she motioned Mano in as well, and began to wash the burns clean.

***

Vivian eyed Aia suspiciously as they rode. The girl was slumped backwards against Galt, eyes closed. She would have seemed asleep if it weren’t for the tears running silently down her cheeks and the occasional silent movement of her lips, as though she were talking to someone.

Well, perhaps she was. But Vivian had expected more of a fight, some attempt to escape, like Skye. She could be waiting for the right moment, but her very posture suggested defeat, a broken spirit.

I will have to keep an eye on her, Vivian concluded, turning her head away. As she did so out the corner of her eye she caught sight of Berul watching her. She fought to keep a smile from her face, wondering if her ignoring him was getting to him.

Berul was a conflicting subject for her. He never failed to set her heart racing, but she could still feel the resentment and bitterness smouldering inside her. Part of her wanted to kiss him, part of her wanted to kill him.

He worked for Orro … but he was Berul. It still surprised and dismayed her that he could cause such an eruption of mixed emotions. But he was as confused as she, if she was any judge, which gave her some consolation.

And she had ignored him long enough. Though that didn’t mean she wouldn’t speak coldly. “You will be leaving soon?”

Foxee · 04-09-2008, 09:25 AM

VA POOR STRIPPED HIS shirt off, laying it carefully on the bank. He slid his hands into the water and they went numb immediately. He helped Alexx and then splashed water onto his own burns. The cold of the water took his breath away, biting into his flesh more than the thin red marks had.

He had no idea how the others could pile into the stream without so much as a reaction to the freezing water. In the wintry cold of Southern Islen exposure could kill them quickly in wet clothes.

“Are you well enough to gather wood for a fire?” Va Poor asked Rufus, who stood by holding his strained arm, “We just need enough to dry some things. I don’t imagine we’ll stay long.” Rufus looked blank for a moment then nodded and went.

Wiping the water from his limbs the best he could, Va Poor went back to Bard and the bundles of belongings, fishing out anything that looked like it might make a good towel and searching for changes of clothing for those in the stream, finding some things from their fallen companions that might fit.

It was in one of these sad bundles that Va Poor found the dagger. He drew it from among the other things, clearing away a cloth that wrapped it. Scarred but sharply businesslike it was unadorned but for the etching of a long, thin serpent, twisting on the blade.

Va Poor looked at it for a long moment, feeling rising anger over the infatuation he had for Skye and how she’d duped them all - even the mages! - from the beginning. Damaged pride warred with stubborn vestiges of love as he remembered her smile and the sparkle of her eyes. Now, because of her treachery, people had died.

Grasping the handle, Va Poor sheathed the new acquisition at his side. He would keep the dagger for Skye. He would find her, Islen help him, and he would send her back to whatever circle of hell that had spawned her.

AS SOON AS SKYE thought of the talisman in Berul’s pocket she began to toy with how to recover it.

Her wrists were bound together in front of her but not attached to the pommel. She forced her memory back over the distressing scene with the shape-changer. Watching Berul in her mind’s eye…

A pocket on the right side.

Vivian rode on their left. All Skye needed was a handy distraction as, even for an accomplished pickpocket, reaching around with bound hands would hardly qualify as subtle.

“You will be leaving soon?”

Vivian’s question was simple but Skye felt Berul’s body straighten a little more behind her.

“Soon.” His tone was as icy as he gave what sounded like a formal response, “And may powers at the edge of night guard your journey.”

Renos Babe · 04-17-2008, 10:11 PM

Alexx crawled out of the stream ignoring the sudden cold she felt. Streching she noticed Vapor by the belongings seh walked over to him and knelt down, "Are you okay?" she asked quietly placeing a bandaged hand on his shoulder.

Aurasheild · 04-18-2008, 07:24 AM

Slowly Vigil glanced around the camp, each one was doing ok. The most burnt was kinareth, but Laurel was tending to him and with his current happenings, Vigil wasn't the best to help her. All he could really do was provide Alexx and Va-Poor with lotions for burnt skin.

"Did the water help?" He asked, walking over to where Alexx and Va-Poor where seated. "I have in my bag a lotion a made earlier, if might help."

Smiling kindly, he didn't wait for an answer, he began searching through Karin's bag for the lotion. So many, herbs, twigs, jars, jewels, and other trinkets filed the shoulder bag. how she managed to bring it around was beyond him. A body was useless enough as it was, it became tired, it was slow, awkward and had none of the powers he used to have. But to carry a bag, sword and have to keep up with so many companions, he admired Karin's will power.

No doubt, our next meeting will be a one, that one shant forget.

Blossom · 04-18-2008, 09:40 AM

Steam rose from Kinareth’s body as the red hot burns clashed with the icy cold water. The smell of cooked flesh made Laurel grimace. Mano’s face was also twisted with distaste as he kept the young Nenarai almost completely submerged beneath the water. It had been a wise decision to keep the boy unconscious, or surely he would be screaming in agony now.

Laurel was stood on tiptoe as she gently bathed the burns on Kinareth’s face, the stream deep enough that the water lapped at her breasts. Her thin blouse and trousers were little protection from the biting, icy water, and already she was numb below the waist. But that wasn’t important now.

Beneath the clear water the blackened, dead skin of the burns came away easily, and with some gentle coaxing so did the oozing yellow pus. There were still patches of clear, pale skin, particularly where Kinareth’s armour had protected him, but most of his flesh was a mess of brown, black and red charred burns.

“Poor boy,” Mano muttered, shaking his head. “This is … disgusting. Inhuman.”

“The Black Traders are not known for their compassion,” Laurel sighed, “Can you get him out of the stream by yourself?”

“Yes, certainly.”

***

“Soon.” Berul’s tone was as icy as he gave what sounded like a formal response, “And may powers at the edge of night guard your journey.”

“And those same powers keep you safe and shielded.” Vivian gave the traditional reply equally formally. She turned back to Fleur and added, “We must make haste. We need to put a good distance between us and the Heroes.”

Fleur nodded and began to ride up the ranks, barking out orders and sending sparks of fire at those that grumbled or weren’t quick enough – the image of the burning, screaming Kinareth was still fresh in their minds, and these sparks were a reminder of her true, savage and merciless nature.

Renos Babe · 04-19-2008, 03:23 AM

((Just thought it was time i actually started introducing Alexx's past and why she's bandaged. If you object Blossom i will change it for you ))

As Karin approached Alexx stood up taking her hand off Vapors shoulder, "Nuh, it's fine Thanks Karin" Alexx looked around, small pains were beggining to run up her arms again, Karins eariler pain killers had worked average, but she realised that she needed something stronger, and that her only choice was to ask laurel glancing over at the girl she decided against it, her eyes now truely open to the damage the fire had caused Kinareth, part of her wanted to cry for him, seeing him like this, hurt her, and she had no idea why.

Reaching down she grabbed her pack, walking slowly towards the forest, Wolf standing up from his position under a tree and running after her. As she reached the edge of the clearing she turned back and called out, "i'm just going to change" before dissapearing into a lump of trees, as soon as she was far enough away from the others she pulled her dripping shirt off and hung it over a tree, exposing her bandaged torso. Carefully she reached into her bag, pulling out a set of clothes identical to the set she was wearing, laying them out carefully she returned to searching her bag until she uncovered several fresh rolls of linen bandages.

Sitting the rolls on top of her shirt she started unwrapping herself. Revealing the red, oozing scars that adorned most of her body. As she finished unwrapping her torso, wolf's head tilted to the side, on Alexx's back was a large pentergram engraved into her flesh, it was red and swollen, blood dripping from the corners of the scar. Alexx looked over at wolf knowing his question, "Four days" was all she said and wolf nodded. Turning his head as Alexx unwrapped her arms revealing more oozing scars. Alexx stared at her arms for a moment, trying hard to see any patch of her once perfect olive skin. But it had long since vanished under the scars.

Alexx then started unbandaging her hands leaving her pants on until she had finished attending to her upper body. She placed the group of now pink bandages under her wet shirt. She grabbed the new ones starting to slowly wrap her arms back up. Fighting down the new sparks of pain the unhealed scars were sending throughout her body.

As she finished wrapping up her torso she gently touched one of the burns on her cheek, turning to wolf she muttered, "It's gonna be hard to explain why it's not healing" Wolf nodded at her, but she shrugged, "At least the burns give me an excuse to ask laurel for painkillers" Wolf grinned at this. Alexx pulled her dry shirt over the bandages making sure that no knew ones where evident and that her hands were done properly.

She only took a couple of seconds to change her pants before winding the wet bandages up into a tight bundles and placing them at the bottom of her pack. Grabbing her clothes she began slowly walking back towards the others, quietly muttering "He knows where we are wolf...and he will come after us...we're only going to be able to say it's the black traders demons hunting us for so long...before one of them figgure it all out. What will they think when they do...Will they believe that I've changed?" As Alexx whispered this she emerged back in the camp area.

Aurasheild · 04-19-2008, 05:26 PM

Vigil nodded to Alexx, almost relieved that she hadn't asked for anything stronger. Karin had given her some pain killers earlier, but from what he had seen. Alexx was under immense stress. Nearly all of her body had a scar of some sort.

Vigil watched, the girl and her wolf leave to dress behind a bunch of trees. Taking a deep breath, he had forgotten how putrid the camps stench was.

"And what about you?" Vigil had turned his gaze back to Va-Poor now. "That was very smart of you back there." He smiled before his thoughts returned to Vahn.

Would he catch them? And if he did, could he defend against them on his OWN!

He from the start, like most and even Karin herself had admired Vahn. He wasn't tied down to the quest, but yet was the very thread, that held everything together. However, he failed to see that each time he left the group, they seemed to fall into a hole. Deep down, Vigil honestly wanted the group to move on and and elude the previous bad event streak.

slayerofangels · 04-22-2008, 11:04 AM

Vahn slowed slightly, ducking off of the track into the scrub at the side. He'd been running hard, harder than he needed to, and his muscles were starting to ache. It was a good ache though, and it went some way towards working out his frustration. He could keep up the pace for hours, longer if he had to, but on ground as rough as this that could be dangerous, and he was getting close. good and all as the exertion was, he needed to be alert.

And if you do find them, you'll just take a look and go back. Just watch...right?

He almost stopped. That was the plan, and he wanted to say yes, but a small part of him wondered. It wondered what he was doing here, and it wondered what he'd do if he saw Aia, or Skye. He wanted to say he'd stick to the plan, but he was tired, tired and angry. It wasn't physical, but it was there, throbbing behind his eyes. And if he saw Berul, or this Vivian? Just watch?

I don't know.

This was pointless. He wouldn't know Vivian even if he saw her. And Aia? She was a sweet girl, but if it came to a choice between her and Skye... And there was something about her that didn't sit well with him. Had been for a while, now that he thought about it. What was it? A signal went up ahead, and he slowed more, eyes narrowing as the first horse came into view.

Aia...

There had been a change in her, like a weight had been put on her shoulders...was that it? He concentrated on staying out of sight, mind skipping from thought to thought. At the time, he'd put it down to the quest. After all, it didn't take too much of that kind of pressure to change a person. But was there more? If so the mages should have noticed... He fought the urge to sigh. One foot in front of the other. He'd been looking forward to reaching Dethsahn more than he knew. He wasn't looking for answers there, but at least the familiarity might help set his thoughts straight.

Keeping hidden, he moved up the line getting as close to the convoy as he dared. A motion away ahead of him, on the far side of the convoy, caught his eye. One rider was pulling aside, joined shortly by another. He narrowed his eyes; he knew that face.

Berul...

In spite of himself, he smiled, though the expression fell away when he saw the figure on the saddle with him.

"Skye," he breathed.

He stared as though blinking would make her disappear, grip tightening on the hilt of his sword. Even though he knew none of them could see him, he almost willed her to look his way.

Hold on...just..just hold on. I'm coming.

If he read the path right, they were heading west now. The only passable routes here were either further south, down the path Berul was heading for, or back North. So Berul was splitting from the main group? Not the smartest move in these lands. The irony wasn't lost on Vahn, but he knew he could defend himself. Berul would be easy prey...as would Skye.

So the traders are going back North with Aia...

As much as he wished it were otherwise, the Heroes couldn't afford to turn around now. They didn't have the strength or the supplies to follow the traders farther. Laurel would need to pass this on to the mages. Hopefully they'd follow it up.

Sorry Aia...

He ignored the relief he felt at the thought of following Berul. He had to get back and tell the others. He half reached towards Skye, then reigned himself in.

Hold on.

He backed up, unable to look away. Then he turned and started back towards the rest of teh group. He'd deal with Berul.

Aurasheild · 04-27-2008, 12:49 PM

"No thank you karin." Va-Poor smiled slightly before moving to rest.

Thats good.

Glancing around Vigil found that Laurel and Mano were tending to Kinareths wounds. Both were working hand in hand. Vigil knew better then to offer his help to Laurel. He knew that she would take his offer up and test his know how on potions. Know how that Karin had, and he did not.

Sighing, Vigil returned the bottle in his hand to the bag at his waist and turned to look once more up the path were Vahn had gone. Expecting the same desoulate road as before. He was right partially, is the distance, was the faint figure of a man. He took a few minutes for Vigil to realise but it was Vahn returning.

Alone. Which means that he either hasn't found the traders, or maybe he found them, and yet realised that even he was no match for them alone.

Vigil took a step foreward.

Should I go see? Even though I already know the answer.

Taking another step foreward, he listened to the air around him, allowed the putrid smell to fill his nostrils and made his mind up to go. Vahn was a determined man, strong and so sure of himself, yet a huge cloud of mystery surrounded him. The cloud made him seem distant, yet uncomfortably close.

Taking a deep breath, Vigil took a few more steps towards the growing figure, he stopped suddenly as his head began to pound, his heart began to race.

KARIN!

Fighting back, he continued on towards Vahn. He stopped just short of three metres and allowed Vahn to travel the rest, the walking along side Vahn, he kept his gaze on the group. As if he knew, that if eye contact was made, he would lose his resolve over Karin.

"Have you had any luck Vahn?" He asked, as the words past his lips, he knew Vahn would shake him off.

Foxee · 04-29-2008, 09:22 AM

((And finally...a post! My apologies that it took so long. Here's hoping this gives us some good stuff to work with. I still love this story! If you are unsure what the watching beasts are and need to write about them, PM me and I'll tell you. ))

ALEXX’S VOICE CAME to Va Poor as though through a fog, heavy with the desire to move, to find the demon, to bring Skye down for eternity.

How dare she? How dare she gain their trust, how could she have come so far with them? How could she have made a fool of HIM?

He heard Alexx’s voice, detached from reality, asking if he was all right. Nodding, he sheathed the weapon and straightened as her hand fell from his shoulder. Karin was looking at him as well, asking a similar question.

“I’m fine.” He said quietly, and in his soft dark eyes a new purpose burned.

Va Poor turned away from Karin and continued gathering dry clothes from their meager supplies, carrying them back to the others.

At the stream Mano stooped and lifted Kinareth, Va Poor knew the older man was strong yet he ran to help him lift the dead weight of the young nobleman.

Rufus had thrown together kindling and lit a fire to help dry things out as the snow began to fall.

THE BEAST WATCHED the heroes as they sported in the stream, nostrils flared, scenting them. Smoky smell, fire gone, water, blood. What were the two-legs doing? Ears swiveling it heard the babble of voices, nervous-making concern.

Shifting weight the beast stayed with the others in the cover of the brush, in the trees between the gorge and the churned field, watching the heroes soothe their burns.

BERUL’S HORSE’S HOOVES STRUCK gravel, spattering it along with the other Trader’s horses. Skye was unprepared for Berul to suddenly rein the horse right, splitting away from the others. The demon split with them, running along the left side of the horse.

Skye edged her hands over near his pocket.

“Aia!” She called loudly, turned to look back, “Please,” she asked Berul, “Where are we going?”

“Shut up.” He growled, struggling to keep her from overbalancing and maintain control of the horse, “You’ll know soon enough.”

She fell silent, settling to look straight ahead through the snow as it began to fall. Small flakes, promising a possible squall.

The talisman was between her hands as she bowed her head.

Surely someone would track her. Surely Pavl would give herself away.

Skye thought of the demon wearing her face. Who had she hurt? What had she done? Would Va Poor or Laurel have been fooled for long? Would…she felt sick at the thought…would Vahn?

Vahn bore the stamp of someone who didn’t trust easily. She had felt that perhaps he had begun to trust her a little. What if Pavl had taken advantage of that?

What if Pavl had killed the heroes and there was nobody to track them? Surely she couldn’t kill Vahn. He wouldn’t, Skye fought down nausea, he wouldn’t have let her get close enough to…

No. The thought of Vahn letting his guard down in front of the imposter, perhaps presenting an unguarded back to her blade… Skye killed the thought right there.

Guilt swamped Skye even though she knew it was illogical. She had tried to stop Pavl, she had been taken unwillingly, yet the fact that her face had been used to betray the others...

She let the talisman slide from her fingers.

It fell, the broken thong wrapping around some brush, the pendant itself buffeted by hooves, sliding off of the leather cord and tumbling shining patterns through the air before landing in their wake. Snowflakes began to settle on it as the pulsing glow around the butterfly dimmed.

A tear rolled down Skye's cheek. Surely there was still someone to track and seek she and Aia. She had to believe that.

THE COMPANY OF TRADERS had not gone unnoticed. The thickset powerful man on the rugged, shaggy brown horse knew exactly where they were. He also had a good idea where they were going.

Celtis’s eyes were brown. His complexion was mahogany. His armor, clothing and cloak were shades of brown and deep bronze. He gave the impression of a strong woodcarving and was often just as still, listening, wary.

As the snow began to thicken the air he saw the rider with the girl, a demon running alongside. They were heading away from the others down the slope. He nodded to the others and they turned away as one, vanishing into the underbrush.

There would be time. Celtis believed that there was always a right time.

Blossom · 05-08-2008, 03:00 PM

((My apologies for taking so unbelievably long ... blame A Levels.))

After waking, Aia had quickly assessed the gravity of hers and Skye’s situation. Clearly the Traders were willing to readily deal with excess burdens or troublemakers – the images of the writing, burning Kinareth was still emblazoned in her mind, bile rising up her throat whenever she thought about it – and she and Skye were hopelessly outnumber. No point, then, in simply making a run for it. They would have to bide their time – perhaps their companions would come for them, but if not surely they could images some vestiges of a plan?

The Voice in her mind was strangely quiet.

What she had not prepared for was Berul taking Skye in a different direction. The heard the spray of gravel of a horse suddenly wheeling round, and when she opened her eyes and turned in the saddle she saw Berul’s horse, Skye astride, turning off the path.

“Aia!” Skye called, looking back anxiously.

“Skye!” Aia stretched across Galt, straining as though she could reach her friend. A sudden frenzy of panic overtook her – she was alone in an army of hundred of Traders and daemons, heading back North were the Heroes would not follow, with only a Voice in her head for company, likely to be killed, or worse. Acute terror filled her and she kicked and struggled, tears coursing down her cheeks as she screamed wildly, “SKYE! SKYE!”

“Shut her up!” Vivian snapped finally.

Galt, one arm keeping Aia in the saddle, obediently clouted her across the head. The girl fell back across his chest, eyes closed and a bruise already blossoming across her forehead. The last tears dripped down her face and she was still, the only movement her soft breathing.

Aia felt herself sliding into unconsciousness, and as she slid into darkness she felt the cold tentacles of the being inside her spreading out. Before passing out completely, she heard the Voice, whispering, <Do not worry … we are safe now …>

***

While Mano laid Kinareth out on the cloak Laurel had spread on the ground, the woman herself was anxiously rummaging through her healer’s things for what was left of the paste had made for his wounds in Dalamites. Finding it, she threw it to Mano with hurried instructions to spread it thickly on the burns.

That done, she grabbed her kit and a small brass pot from their packs and crossed to the fire Rufus had gotten going. Kneeling down, she began pulling various herbs out and laying them down.

“Is there anything I can do?” the young man asked anxiously, fiddling with the strap on his bandage.

“Do you know how to recognise bloodmoss?”

“Yes.” Rufus nodded.

“Good. First, fill the pot with water, please, then gather as much bloodmoss as you can carry.”

“And after that?”

Laurel looked up, and almost smiled. “I’ll tell you when you get back.”

***

Alexin left his meeting with the Trader Lord soberly, and, after being guided out of the labyrinth of underground tunnels, stood in the bright sunshine of Arin feeling both informed and perplexed.

“The Fool” was certainly a misnomer for the man he had just been speaking to – certainly not a fool, he had seemed frighteningly perceptive and intelligent, and had easily enough evaded giving Alexin too much information. What he had gathered, however, in combination with Saehenine’s first hand knowledge of the Mistress, might just be what they needed.

He looked eastward to where the Mage tower stood tall and proud at the edge of the city, set against the backdrop of the rising sun.

But how long would it last? Ever since the Heroes had left on their quest Alexin had felt the end of the Mages’ time in power drawing ever closer. Exactly when, and how, though, he was unsure.

Renos Babe · 05-08-2008, 05:24 PM

Alexx knelt down next to Laurel, "Anything you need me to do?" she asked sitting on her heels.

Aurasheild · 05-13-2008, 10:11 AM

Sighing, Karin sat down on the the soft green grass and watched animal like clouds drift effortlessly across a light blue sky. Everything had happened so fast, leaving home, training, joining the order, the quest and of course the mind daemon. After a short stretch, she ran a hand through her hair like a fine comb. Everything was so serene, so peaceful, so familiar yet so alien.

Suddenly and without reason to, her heart began to beat faster. And within a few minutes the ground was melting away beneath her. However instead of falling, the luscious green field was replaced with semi warm rocks. A few yards ahead of her, was a large pool, steam rising from within it. Karin's clothes seemed to fall off her as she gently slid into the warm liquid.

Vigil knelt at the ground and began tracing his name in the soft clay beneath his feet. he was thinking about what Vahn had told the group. The first bit of news came as great relief to Vigil. Skye was alive and the creature that attacked Karin was only a daemon spie. However something bugged Vigil. Why did they only take Skye and Aia.
Were they crucial to closing the daemon gate or a bandit plan to attack.

Sighing, he rubbed his eyes. He felt as though everything was written on the ground in front of him but he just couldn't read it.

Smiling, Karin relaxed into a sort of half day dream, as the water massaged her muscles and cleansed the foul stench of the camp from her body. She stayed in the pool for about an hour before rising and stepping out onto the smooth rocks. Smiling ever so lightly, she shook her head watching as her damp wet hair, transformed into straight luscious black hair that seemed to shine with the sun.

Ignoring her clothes for a moment she gazed around her. In a second this world could change, to suit her. In reality, she was the one that had to change to suit the world. Finally realizing, Karin felt something deep down inside her stir. Something that gave her reassurance that she wasn't alone in doing so. Something that forgave her actions, but warned her not to repeat them.

Frustrated Vigil kicked the words into oblivion. Nothing he could think of would allow the heroes to follow their lost partners and still continue their quest. Well, the only one that could abandon the quest at anytime and follow was Vahn, and yet he was no match for the traders alone.

Maybe thats the plan.

Vigil felt something click. By taking two, they reduced the risk of the quests completion. The traders where smart, and without a way of communicating with the council they wouldn't be able to ask for help.Still something still bugged him. Why only burn Kinareth and not all three. This meant that Skye and Aia were valuable to the traders and if such a thing were true, then their lives were safe for the moment.

Laughing to herself, Karin watched as she was able to transform the plain in front of her by simply concentrating on an image. She was able to grow trees instantly, create animals, remove animals, move the clouds, change the weather and even change the time of day. However she could one more thing, one thing which she didn't understand and could barely achieve. This was of course recreating the four walled dark grey room. At the moment she could only lay down a few bricks before the room melted away, as if another was trying so hard to stop her goal. Each time she tried, she managed to progress more and more. Before a strong wind came along from within the room and swept it from existence.

With his headaches growing worse, Vigil was struggling to suppress them. With more glance at the group, he decided to run as it had helped Karin clear her mind when she was little.

Blossom · 05-13-2008, 02:25 PM

"Anything you need me to do?"

Laurel looked up from where she was laying out various herbs and plants to see Alexx crouched nearby. She considered for a few moments, then nodded, as Rufus came up with a full pot of water and then hurried away again to find the much needed bloodmoss.

“In the packs there should be some spare clothes,” Laurel said to Alexx, “I need you to rip some up into enough bandages to cover all of Kinareth’s burns – long wide, strips.”

Without waiting for a reply she hung the pot Rufus had brought over the fire to heat, and went back to the ingredients needed for Kinareth’s poultice.

***

At Galt’s blow Aia slumped over the saddle, eyes closed, breathing slowed. Her eyelids fluttered briefly, then she was still. Unconscious – or so Vivian hoped. If Galt had killed her they would both face the Mistress’ wrath.

Then, suddenly, after a few moments Aia sat up again – bolt upright, looking interestedly around her. Vivian frowned. There was a something different about her; her posture was ramrod straight, her movements sharp and a little jerky as she manoeuvred herself into a more comfortable position on the horse. In fact, as Vivian watched her it almost seemed as if her whole body had lengthened.

It was when she looked round at Vivian that the change was obvious; her whole face was different – her cheeks were pinched, her brows drawn down into a thoughtful frown, her lips thinned. And her eyes – her eyes were hooded, and instead of the warm, grass green they were a flat, cold viridian as they stared at Vivian.

It took a moment for the Trader to grasp the obvious, but then she relaxed and smiled, cat-like, at Aia. Or not Aia, as it were.

“You’ve managed to completely take over.”

“Yes,” her voice was deeper, smooth and seductive, with a cool, sharp intelligence lurking beneath. “Her spirit was not easily subdued.”

“You have been trying for a while.”

“Ever since she accidentally awoke me.”

“The Mistress will wish for your account in full – she offers her most humble apologies for the foolishness that allowed the girl to get free in the first place.” Vivian gave an awkward bow atop the horse.

“Just don’t let it happen again.” Even with Aia’s girlish face softening the glare, it was still piercing.

“Of course,” Vivian straightened, “It is good to have you among us again, my Lord Lamont.”