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Post by Damien on Nov 15, 2006 7:23:10 GMT -5
Technically, there should have been absolutely no reason for him to have to visit Marna. But Marna was where the best coffee came from, and the Empire’s stores were running dry. That, and he had to do a damage report on the skirmish that occurred near the Elven woods a week ago, and Marna was on the way.
Solen was still visibly edgy throughout the entire journey.
“We’re almost at Marna, and then we can rest.” Maru checked the map once again. “And tomorrow morning we can check the site . . . Solen? Is something wrong?”
“Nothing you should concern yourself with,” he stated.
The two men continued riding near the river, with the small town of Marna already in sight. They should arrive by the evening.
Maru glanced around, and said, “I’m probably just paranoid, but I don’t think we’re alone. And I’m not talking about the merchant caravans; we’ve been traveling with them for days now.”
“It doesn’t matter, we’re not wearing anything that identifies us as Empire soldiers.” Solen replied quietly.
Maru still looked doubtful. “If you say so . . .”
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Post by Kaala on Nov 16, 2006 19:39:07 GMT -5
Lutra snarled as her horse hit another bump on the small road the wound its way through the woods. "Loki! How did you talk me into this?" she asked, the small boy behind her shook his mane of black hair out of his gold eyes.
"I didn't talk you into anything." he said, his voice flowing like silk around them.
"Don't lie. Your the one who talked me into making a trip to see what happened at the skirmish on the border. I can't believe I let you do this." she whispered, her voice angry and filled with irritation. She pulled the horse into the woods by the side of the road and tethered the beast. "I hate traveling..." she said, brushing her long hair out of her eyes. As she set up camp she noticed that Loki had disappered. "d**nable werecat!" she muttered...
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Loki jumped from tree to tree keeping an eye on the two men riding on the path. They were well ahead of Lutra's camping spot but he still wanted to be sure...
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Post by Damien on Nov 17, 2006 8:50:25 GMT -5
Solen reached out to touch the minds around him, feeling Maru’s instinctive recoil and simply glancing over the merchant’s consciousnesses. The tendril of thought just barely brushed the snoop’s, and he pulled back almost immediately.
“The one watching us is a creature of magic. Not sure what type, but neither an elf nor a shade. I did not sense any malice.” Solen stated. There didn’t seem to be any immediate danger, so he couldn’t care less.
Suddenly, one of the merchant’s horses reared up and raced off in the opposite direction, taking its partner, the driver, and a wagon full of flour with it. Maru expertly turned his grey stallion around to chase the panicked horses, although Fade was too intimidated to get close. Solen stood back and simply observed as wagon neared the snoop’s hiding place.
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Post by Kaala on Nov 22, 2006 10:35:43 GMT -5
Loki jumped calmly off of his branch and onto the path, avoiding the cart and the startled horses. He looked up and found himself face to face with one of the two males he had been following. He hoped that in his human form they would mistake him for a young boy and not what he really was...
____________________________________________
Kali had just finished getting the fire started and groaned when she heard a crash. She reached out to find Loki and found he had closed his mind. Thinking the might have been something wrong she reached under her saddle bag and drew her staff out before heading off. She followed the path a little ways before coming to what at first seemed like a scene of chaos. She noted the cart and horses before flickering to the three figures not involved.
She saw Loki standing face to face with one of the other two males. She looked closer and found that she semi-recoginized them. She stepped from the trees and said, "Not anything wrong I hope?" while planting her staff in the ground.
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Post by Damien on Nov 23, 2006 23:44:50 GMT -5
Maru quickly pulled Fade away from the boy, narrowly avoiding a painful crash. He cringed as the two horses crashed into a bush and a cloud of white dust swirled around the wagon, some settling on his hair and clothes. He bit back a sneeze.
Turning to the child before him he asked, ¡°Are you alright?¡±
No obvious damage, so he should be fine, and he couldn¡¯t have been hit by the carriage . . . but where did he pop out from?
Solen looked on without much interest, but his black mare automatically moved closer to Maru. I¡¯ve seen that boy twice, in the castle. He is either an elven child or a werecat. Most likely a werecat.
((Not anything wrong, I hope?))
¡°There was something wrong, but unless the horses start up again, we¡¯ll be fine. Is this boy with you, miss . . . ?¡± Maru gestured at the child in front of him.
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Post by Kaala on Nov 24, 2006 12:10:10 GMT -5
"Indeed he is sir." she replied smoothly. "He ran off while I was setting up camp." Her eyes shone with impatience toward the small black haired boy. "I don't suppose you meant to run off, Loki?" she asked her voice tinged with malice.
The small boys' eyes flashed with amusment at her obvious anger and impatience. "No, I don't suppose I did." he said, his tone mock appologetic. She watched as he turned and began speaking the male in front of him.
"I've met you before haven't I?" he asked his curious cat-like nature getting the best of him. "In Uru-baen wasn't it. You're a soldier in the kings army." he whispered conspiritorally((OOC: is that a word?)) not wanting to be heard by any unwelcome guest.
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Post by Damien on Nov 27, 2006 2:40:59 GMT -5
Maru looked amused. “Yes, I am.” He knelt so that he wouldn’t have to look down. “My name is Maru. You really must have a good memory to remember me . . . or is it just the blue hair?”
He then looked up and watched in amusement as Solen’s black mare walked slow circles around them, with her rider clinging on helplessly.
Maru, they’re working for the Empire. I’ve seen the woman. Now offer to escort her or whatever you knights do, then we can hurry up and go already. I can’t feel my legs anymore.
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Astarael
Soldier
Why bother saving people when you can just be saved by some pyscho in a green suit with a sword?
Posts: 29
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Post by Astarael on Nov 28, 2006 10:17:53 GMT -5
Astarael walked along the path with smooth, confident strides, her ghostly entourage following wordlessly, along with several nervous soldiers, whose horses kept shying away from the spectres she had raised in Tierm. Coming over a hill, she spied several figures and a merchant caravan. Speeding her pace and forcing the mounted troops into a canter, she quickly closed in on them, drawing two knives and muttering "Garjzla du knifr", she suddenly stopped with surprise upon recognizing the two boys from the castle.
"You two! What's the meaning of all of this!?" she declaired in an authoratative voice.
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Post by Damien on Nov 29, 2006 0:34:44 GMT -5
Solen glanced at the shade, and sighed. “Good evening, Lady Astarael. We are headed towards Marna, but due to some . . . complications, our journey will be delayed for a while.” He brushed off the flour that had collected on his hair and cloak, while his black mare made yet another circle.
“Evening, Milady!” Maru grinned, still kneeling and completely undisturbed by the thin layer of white slowly blanketing everything, or by the spirits that followed the shade around. “If I may ask, though, why are you taking an army of the dead and not-yet-dead through a rarely used trader’s rout that ends very close to Ellemera? We are ordered to see the coffee plantations of Marna and also write a damage report on a recent battle, but I doubt you are required to complete such chores . . . is this trip just for fun, then?”
The not-really-black-anymore mare circled the young knight and the kid a few more times. Solen couldn’t understand why he had to ride his own horse, instead of riding double on Maru’s. The rest of the merchant caravans stopped to stare (or run away screaming) while the merchant who owned the flour started swearing.
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Astarael
Soldier
Why bother saving people when you can just be saved by some pyscho in a green suit with a sword?
Posts: 29
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Post by Astarael on Nov 30, 2006 10:34:44 GMT -5
Astarael glanced at the merchant, who suddenly found a knife laced with black flame protruding from his throat in mid swear and fell over, dead before he hit the ground.
"Actually, both, Maru. I've lost track of Arkantos, and I can't sense him either... I should never have let him live after that night..." she murmured with a tinge of remorse and betrayal, "I think he's dead, captured, or has turned double-agent against us. Not only that, but he has a very unusual copy of Domia Abr Wryda, the Dominance of Fate. It is imperative that I retrieve it, and after what I let him do... the...king...will be very...displeased..." she said this in a businesslike tone, but faltered in an unexpected swirl of emotions as she unconciously put a passing hand over her stomach, and her forehead.
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Post by Kaala on Nov 30, 2006 15:44:15 GMT -5
"My lady!" she said as she walked over to the shade. "Are you ill?" She quickly strode over to the boy on the ground. "Your medicine pouch please." she gave him a terse smile before rummiging through the bag and pulling out a small root-like plant. "Ginger. It will help for your stomache though I wouldn't eat to much of it or it will make it worse."
She pulled a small dagger from her pouch and sliced a small strip of the ginger and offered it to her while passing the pouch back to Loki, still looking on curiously.
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Post by Damien on Dec 1, 2006 4:28:30 GMT -5
Maru sighed and pulled the two horses up, hoisted the dead body onto the wagon, and sent it off with the rest of the screaming merchant troupe. Said troupe was now heading away from their destination, and right into the Haradac Desert.
Looks like Uru baén won’t be receiving any coffee until next month. Solen thought, before magically forcing the horses to move even faster. Writing a report of all the casualties and the resultant loss of profit is definitely not his idea of fun.
The mage only half-listened as the shade spoke of Arkantos, and was vaguely glad that he wasn’t the Empire’s librarian, but an accountant. He watched rather detachedly at Astarael’s queasiness, the young woman’s offer of ginger, and the white dust that was still collecting on them.
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Post by Mithiel on Dec 2, 2006 11:28:53 GMT -5
Mithiel galloped her horse into view, and reared Caleb to a stop, skidding in front of Maru and Solen and the carriges, her black cloak billowed like a whirlwind behind her as her raven black hair swayed in the wind, Mitheil turned her sharp forest green eyes onto Maru and Solen. "What happened here Maru?" Mithiel asked, raising her eyebrows as Daros glided in to perch on Caleb's satin brown neck, turning a grey piercing gaze onto Maru. "Shouldn't you be on your way to Marna and the Elven Woods? Whya re you still delaying time here. And where is Rory?" the officer of Galbatorix asked, a commanding tone in her voice as she hopped of her brown stallion gracefully and eyed Maru and Solen, before turning her gaze onto the the shade, Astarael. "What are you doing here? Finish your job confirming what has happened to Arkantos. If he is not yet dead, kill him. I do not care what or how you feel, the King's buisness and missions, must be finished, or else Farthen will be most...displeased.." Mitheil snide, chuckling sneeringly before looking at the other two. Nodding her head, she acknowledge. "Lutra, Loki." before swivellingback to Maru and Solen. "Hurry with the reports. And I think I better follow you guys for the rest of the journey, lest the King's wrath. I finished my mission much earlier, and was on my way back." the young teenage girl said, a warning loook at the Shade, and she hopped back on the satiny back of her stallion and swung him around, Daros took flight again. Rolling her eyes, Mithiel gave a swing of her hand, and the white dust billowed before floating away, leaving the air as clean as before. ((How was that Damien?  )) |
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Post by Damien on Dec 2, 2006 21:02:43 GMT -5
Solen mentally ordered his mare to follow Mithiel, and raced off without a word. He caught up to her fairly easily.
“Rory has been skipping out on practice, and has to do extra. He would probably be more hindrance than help, as all I am required to do is a report, instead of fighting a battle.”
Back where the action used to be, Maru was apologetic. He knew Solen, clueless as he is on a horse, could at least tell the mare to follow. Leaving anyone behind without so much as a backwards glance was definitely not encouraged. Maru seriously doubted Mithiel would appreciate it if he said sorry for her, but . . .
“Lady Astarael, I apologize for my companion’s behavior. Is there any way that I could help you in your quest?” he offered.
((It should be fine, though I sort of assumed you rode off until I read it over again. Hope you don’t mind?))
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Post by Mithiel on Dec 2, 2006 21:18:15 GMT -5
Pulling on teh reins again, Caleb snorted and trotted around, and Mithiel's eyes pierced into Maru's back. She has been known to be a ruthless officer, and one never apologises. But then again, being in a top officed beside Galbatorix for more then 13 years does do that to you, and till now, no one has dared defy her. "Maru!" the maid said authoratively, "Is there any need? Astrael should be going after Arkantos now, instead of wasting her time here while the chased one might be getting away. I do not see a need of apologetic words there." she asked, her eyrbrows raised. (((Nope.  )) |
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Post by Damien on Dec 3, 2006 18:51:55 GMT -5
Maru sighed, and smiled at the shade before mounting his horse and running after Mithiel. “I’m coming!”
The trio started moving again, with Solen’s horse taking its usual place at Maru’s left and one step behind.
“No need for apologetic words, maybe, but I’m a knight . . .” Maru grumbled.
“Duty comes first.” Solen stated. And, “we’re here.”
They stopped in front of a small inn, dismounted and Solen left to take care of ‘other matters’. Namely the coffee sellers. That left Maru and Mithiel to arrange for their rooms.
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Post by Mithiel on Dec 4, 2006 9:05:21 GMT -5
"Knight or no knight, one does not need to apologise when one has done no wrng, though I see you are more intelligent then your brother, you need to learn more from him, in attitude." Mithiel replied, kicking into Caleb's side, the horse started to a trot and soon they entered Marna, the bustling streets of the Empire City
Rolling her eyes Mithiel raised her arm, and immediately a silver grey hawk dropped out of the sky onto her arm, his talons gripping around her arm, silvery feather reflecting the evening light, definately one of the grandest ahwks in existence, since Mitheil doted on him. I'll be busy for the rest of the evening, so go hunt, whatev, I'lls ee you tomorrow. Luv ya. the girl said, unmounting her chestnut horse, she lightly whacked his rump and as if knowing the drill, t he horse trotted off to a nearby inn's stable, settling himself comfartably. All right, careful. See ya. Daros replied, and in one sweep of his 3 feet wingspan, he took off into the darkening skies again, calling out a goodbye to her. A rare smile adorned her features as she watched her best friend took flight, and then her frown returned. "Come. We've things to finish." Mithiel said curtly, and she stpped into the dingy inn.
"Three rooms. One night." Mithiel said, her forest green eyes a warning as she asked he innkeeper. Stutteringly, the man behind the counter reached underneath and took out three keys, before saying in a timid voice. "2nd floor, Three rooms from the left." , dropping the keys in her outstretched hand. "I want the three horses in the stables treated with utmost care, and given the best oats and hay." she instructed, dropping a few gold coins in his hand, she took the keys and continued her way up, throwing two keys to Maru.
"Get your rest. I'll be back in an hour." Mithiel said, and pocketing her own key, she jumped to a window and jumped to a roof, running lightly atop the roofs of Marna, she soon dissapeared.
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Post by Damien on Dec 4, 2006 19:54:31 GMT -5
Maru sighed as Mithiel left the inn. But Rory can’t even tell when he’s done something wrong . . . The thought for a moment. And he doesn’t know how to stop advertising his thoughts, either.
With nothing else to do, Maru decided to look after Fade-to-Grey and Solen’s as of yet unnamed mare personally. And then he went to groom Caleb as well, just in case.
Meanwhile, Solen had arranged for several hundred pounds of coffee powder to be delivered to Galbatorix’s castle the following morning, and was off to the drug stores.
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Post by Mithiel on Dec 6, 2006 11:13:54 GMT -5
"Stupid soldiers..." Mithiel muttered as she jumped back into the room throug her window, a long bloody gash down her left arm. Collapsing down on her bed, her right hand went up to realeased her midnight black hair from the band, letting it fall down freely, before tending to her wound. It was inflincted by magic, and had ripped her tendon, and will not be easy to heal, definately not by the usual 'Waise heill'. Grabbing a long clean clothe off from her bundle, she created a spurt of hot water and soaked it before wrapping it around her gash, wincing as she did so. "Stupid soldiers." she mutterd oncer again, before laying her head on the bed, her forst green eyes closing to enter the deep slumber.
((You're welcome to fast forward damien. XD_))
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Post by Damien on Dec 8, 2006 0:21:46 GMT -5
An hour later, Solen barged walked into Mithiel's room without bothering to knock. He glanced at her injury, and uttered a lengthy spell to accelerate healing. He then placed the paper bag on her bedside table, deeming it bad manners and possibly fatal to wake this woman up, even if it was to offer supper. He exited immediately, and Maru (who was waiting outside, since his captain had drilled into him that entering a girl's room is taboo no matter the circumstance) followed him into his room to eat their grilled chicken wings.
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))
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