Spine ((open))

[Ashteth]

((You all seem to have something fun going on here, so does anyone mind if I pop in? Poor Ashy-chan's just going to love stirring up trouble. ^^ If this post/interupption is unwanted, just tell me and I'll pop on out.))

Ashteth was one annoyed minion. Traveling from the capital to the Spine wasn't particularly challenging, but it was one load of a bother to stay incognito. Blue skin wasn't exactly the most common of hues to find on a man. Flitting from tree branch to branch, small rustlings and the occasional drop of a leaf the only indication of his presence in the canopy above, the elf continued to move quickly, despite having been in the branches for over four hours. The dual broadswords, twin blades that shared a plain leather sheath, bumped lightly against his left hip and thigh as he raced along the forest.

It wasn't even that important of a mission, to be honest, and Ashteth felt slighted by the task. Looking up on to minor warriors, one of them human and the other a female. The King has definitly gone slack on what's expected of evil recruits, to allow anyone to go on a recon trip without at least a twelve-man squad for backup. Then again, Ashteth was being sent out to help the two empire employers.

Glaring and suddenly stopping, Ashteth's ice-cold eyes narrowed, lips parting in disdain. The forest stunk of human. His long blue ears twiched, and the elf bent down, his long black cloak draping around him like darkness around a mountain. Shock white hair that seemed to defy gravity stood still as Ashteth's breathing nearly stopped. He was listening to the conversations going on in the camp, realizing that the two recruits where already inspecting the children.

A worthless effort. One rider has already appeared here, out of chance. What point is there to this? None. These common-born brats have about as much chance of being rider as I do of becoming human. These two are wasting their time with petty questions and bad acting. Not to mention that their lenient attitude is severely depressing. Since when do we care about human life? Emotions training will need to be harder in the future.

Sharp face turning into a sneer, Ashteth continued to listed to the camp, narrowed eyes picking up small flickers of light from the fires spread throughtout the base. There was nothing to do until someone realized his presence. He hoped they would soon, his mind was one of the strongest around, and his consiousness would be like a hammerblow compared to these little pukelings. Then maybe he could convince the two outsources of some other alternate direction of action. Although convince was a very mild term compared to what Ashteth had in mind.

[Damien]

((Eh, I don’t mind. My exams are over, I am ecstatic, and I don’t have a care in the world until tomorrow when school starts.))

Truth be told, Rory didn’t want to notice. Really. He was happily poking around, and another consciousness showed up out of nowhere and distracted him. The kid he was checking suddenly developed a migraine, and went home to take a nap. It didn’t take him a second to figure out the intruder’s purpose Aww crap, not another random check . . . third time this month! and steadfastly ignored him.

Mithiel, someone’s been sent to check up on us . . . and three more kids are complaining of headaches. If I put enough pressure, do you think their heads will implode?

[Mithiel]

Would you BE gentle on them? Mithiel said irritatedly after she sent her kids back. She had finished. And none seems convincing, though a few had potential t o be great swordsmans. She pulled her cloak hood higher. It had dropped lower a great deal when she was checking, and soon, she saw what Rory was talking about. A stronger one was sent, but Mithiel could not sens whether was she or he, human or not. Great. Here we go again. Mithiel sighed to herself irritatedly.

((I wouldn't care less. the more the merrier. But try and stir some trouble. Its getting boring. ))

[Damien]

((So long as nobody dies . . . and where’s Luna? Since both of you hold pretty high ranks, any chance your characters would have met, been introduced, or at least caught a glimpse of each other? Otherwise, there may be some, uh, fight to prove superiority. Or something.))

You know, I think the king has an unlimited amount of . . . supervisors. My grand total was twelve, in one month.

He casually sent away the last of the children, and sighed.

I’m just a soldier . . . And Mithiel, wanna burn this place to the ground? It won’t survive anyway, now that some other guy’s found it. Or girl. Might even be bi, I can’t tell . . . and can’t be bothered to look.

Rory stood up and nodded to the guards, and walked towards the stranger’s tree. He didn’t fail to take notice of the small fires popping up here and there, but ignored it.

[Ashteth]

((If Ashy and Mith ever had any contact then it would have been Mithiel to remember, and she would know Ashy only in passing. I think. . .She's only seventeen, it's not like Ashteth works to remember all the names of his minions.))

Ashteth's blue eyes narrowed in the dark. He stood up from his crouch, revealing his full six-foot plus frame. His dark pants and tight shirt were nearly invisible beneath the backdrop of night. He realized that the two soldiers were coming towards him, or at least one was. Deeming the escapees of little or no magical value, the elf felt confident enough to send out a message to the two empire supporters.

Get out here now. I'm in no mood to cater to your childish games. No complaints, no backtalk. Just walk. And make yourselves incongruious, you shouldn't have even entered the camp.

Then, on second thought, added harshly, even him mind-voice hard and dangerous.

And I am so much more than a mere supervisor. Move.

Doubly angry and inscarible, Ashteth glowered from his perch on the tree, wind around him biting. He didn't feel the cold, but instead concentrated on the approaching soldiers, hoping that they would be competent, or at least complacent. The King was getting tired of 'accidental' deaths on retrieval missions.

[Damien]

Rory couldn’t really be bothered to disobey, despite the supervisor’s attitude. There would be fire and the town would soon turn into a blazing inferno, and all was good. He lit a few more, just because.

It was just a little obvious which flames happened to be his, as they burned purple. They gave off an abnormal amount of heat but less light, and the ashes of this fire were fluorescent blue.

So long as there’s fire . . . Mithiel? Is something wrong?

[Mithiel]

Mithiel rolled her eyes at Ashteth's command, and cursed under her breathe as the wind billowed her cloak, the black material flapping around her ankles. Her eyes narrowed, sharp forest green eyes flashed in intence dislike as Mithiel gripped her hands, forming a fist. So hard did she grip them that it turned white, from her fury.

Holy... What the heck does it have to do with him?! I was sent on this mission myself, none of his busines. Mithiel cursed incessently, her rage and fury burning inside of her as she swept her cloak off her head, her midnight black hair tumbled down to reach her ankles, shimmering in the sunlight, in all its silky glory. Mithiel's head tilted, enough for Rory to see the fury and rage burning in her eyes, and when the question came, the highest ranked warrior of Galbatorix's court rolled her eyes, Does it look as if I'm ok? replied Mithiel sarcastically before turning her attention to the intruder. And why, exactly, must I follow your orders? Mithiel retorted, every word seeping with cold rage and superiority.

[Ashteth]

Asteth was still up in his tree on the outskirts of camp, watching the commotion from his branch with a growing intensity of dislike every second. So much for incongruous, the soldiers were acting like complete children. Glaring, his eyes narrowing, Ashteth sent a spark of his magic into his eyes, sharpening his vision and expanding his field of site to include the inside of the camp. Suddenly, his own mind was intruded, and the elf resisted the urge to roll his own eyes, ice-blue eyes narrowing even further as he listened to the girl in the clearing.

The girl was disillusioned. Probably mentally unstable. Ashteth had no time to be spent arguing with one who thought herself special. She had no real power, the elf could tell, and he knew that this girl would not be able to stand up to him at any level, intellectually, physically or magically.

Your hair looks ridiculous. Move. You're attracting attention. Ashteth sent them both an image of a small clearing full of pine trees, with a trickle of a river running near it. It was obvious he wanted them to go there, and it wasn't that far of a walk, even for humans. Only about five miles, far enough away from the camp to ensure privacy.

Ashteth was about to flit off the the meeting spot when he remembered that the girl had actually back talked to him. Having the gall to question his position. And you will follow my orders, girl, because I'm stronger than you. And an official agent of the king. Don't think you're special because he's talked to you a few times. He'll only kill you in the end. It's what he does.

Not waiting for a reply, Ashteth quickly swept off the limb, leaving only a few whispering leaves in his wake, his elfin muscles and training pushing him through the canopy faster than a human could ever hope to achieve. He jumped again, and landed in the clearing he had mind-sent to the two children.

Children.

What had the empire come to? Bad enough they employed elves and shades, but children? It was a disgrace. Asteth walked over to the small stream and bent over, taking a few sips of the clear water before standing up and stalking over to a tree, sitting down in a lotus position. No doubt the girl would try to kill him.

No matter. She was only human. And he was elf. Ashteth began to meditate, quickly slipping into a state where time had almost no meaning. His breathing rate slowed and his white eyeslashes fluttered. The humans wouldn't arrive for another fifteen minutes, at the least. Maybe seven or eight minutes on good horses and clear trails. Either way, it was enough time for Ashteth to slip into a ruminative state, his mind retreating inside itself to again try to break down the barriers in his mind.

[Damien]

((Where’s Luna?))

That guy really has an ego . . .

The town exploded into purple flames as Rory contemplated going straight home and never leaving the castle again, ever. Then he decided that nothing could possibly force him to stay in the castle all day, and so he thought about the merits of getting himself killed now just to stop having to fight people with obviously superior skills. It’s disheartening . . . And then he dropped that train of thought as well.

He started walking, and then realized that he didn’t know the way. Not wanting to get any more involved with the supervisor Should have at least told us the name and gender . . . or maybe it just likes being called an ‘it’. he simply walked in the direction he thought the stranger had run off to.

Mithiel? If you want to crack his head, you’ll have to get to him first. Err . . . I am going in the right direction, yes?

[Mithiel]

Rolling her eyes at the incompetent stranger, she whistled for both her companians as she headed towards the exit of the Varden camp. Almost immediately, her call was answered by the galloping of hooves and the call of a wild eagle. Grabbing the reins of a galloping Caleb, she swung up as Daros swooped down to perch on her shoulder. Pulling her diamond dagger from her pack, she slipped it into her boot before speaking with her eagle again, "Here we have another one doubting my rank in the Empire. How longer does it go? Must i annouce it to everyone in Alagaesia? Mithiel complained irritatedly as she urged her stallion into a fast canter. Calm down young'un. He's just an incompetent elf. I've seen him. And you can easily smash his mind to smithereens. But I doubt you'll do that, for Empire stats, you're too soft hearted for your own good. The silvery black eagle rpelied, ruffling his feathers before taking off again, but never wandering too far, always just above the travelling group.

yes Rory... Just follow Caleb and you'll be fine. Mithiel replied the boy as her stallion cantered. Soon, they re-appeared in the small clearing, where a seemingly... Blue elf? Mithiel thought, trying to keep down her laughter as she dismounted from Caleb and rapped his rump, allowing him to wander. Daros soared down to her oustretched arm to perch on it, a single silver pool trained on the blue, meditating elf as Mithiel approached the insolent one. "What do you want?" Mithiel hissed.

((Ohh... This has got to be intresting. Two imperial high ranking officials fighting. Galby ain't liking this. Oh, and just so you know, Galbatorix is Mithiel's some sort of adopted father, though I'm sure he'll kill her in the end. But yeah. till now, Galbatorix is still pretty fond of the young girl. ))

[Ashteth]

((Look, if we do have an Ashy-Mithie fight, I just need to press the issue that Ashy is a three and a half decade old elf. And Mithiels a seventeen year old human girl. Trained or not, I highly doubt that Mithiel can overpower Ashteth in a fight. Just putting that out there.))

In the iridescent pool of his own mind, Ashteth again came along the one rock that broke the surface of his meditation. The marks. There was almost nothing he hadn't tried to break down the mental barrier that the elves had imposed on him so many years ago. He was lucky that he had enough self control to regulate his magical flow, letting some of his old power seep through the subconsious walls that where put up around his mind.

Although it seemed like hours to Ashteth, the small movements of his slow breathing the only notion of his time of the outside world, it was only a few minutes until the children arrived. He heard the horses clop into the hearing, louder than he would have appreciated. Wincing slightly, he half-opened his blue eyes, long white lashes lightly brushing the sharp edges of his elfin face.

"What do you want?"

Ashteth almost sighed. Almost. Apathy, he had long since decided, was the best kind of indifference when dealing with idiots. Standing, his simple movements elegant and fluid, the elf rested one hand on the hilts of his swords, pushing the leather sheath behind his hip, his cloak half-covering his arm.

"I'm amazed," Ashteth began, his eyes hard and his voice dripping with cold contempt of the entire human race, "That Imperial operatives are so utterly incompetent with even the most simple of tasks. Neverminding your complete lack of respect or subtlty, I'd say that right now, I want that small hideout burned down, every man, woman, and child dead and the memory of your ineptitute erased from my mind. Considering the latter next to impossible, why don't we agree to have you two stay here and be considered backup while I go and exterminate the renegades."

Ashteths eyes hardened and his eyebrows furrowed, dark blue skin only accentuating the sharpness of his face, the white curse-marks on his face highlighted by his icy hair. The elf was quite a sight when showing even the slightest indication of emotion, and now his face was twisted into a mask of calculating preeminence.

"Does that sound like plan we can agree on?" he asked, voice soft and dangerous.

[Damien]

((Unless Rory decides to risk his neck, I’m pretty sure somebody would die if Ash and Mithiel fights. Though Mithiel should have the upper hand magic wise, and Ashteth in physical combat. That is, assuming I read the profiles right.))

Already burned, but I’m not sure if they’re all dead. Most likely, though.

Rory entered the clearing about three minutes after sending his thoughts, and then gave a short bow.

Male. Most definitely male. And probably not human, unless he’s a masochist that really likes tattoos. What specie comes in white-speckled-blue? I’m pretty sure there was this inbred bluebird . . . He kept these thoughts private, and stopped thinking when it started getting a bit disturbing.

“What now?” he asked, his voice quieter than usual.

((Mithiel, do you want to use this? Made it a while ago, don't know what to do with it. I can add text, if you want.
))

[Mithiel]

((Its inevidable. And i know its IMPOSSIBLE to have Mith beat Ashy in a battle, and I'm willing to let Mith loose too, just don't hurt her pride too much. ))


"I'm amazed That Imperial operatives are so utterly incompetent with even the most simple of tasks. Neverminding your complete lack of respect or subtlty, I'd say that right now, I want that small hideout burned down, every man, woman, and child dead and the memory of your ineptitute erased from my mind. Considering the latter next to impossible, why don't we agree to have you two stay here and be considered backup while I go and exterminate the renegades." Every word fuelled the already raging fire of anger in her heart, and Mithiel snapped her head to look at Ashteth into his deep eyes, her fist still gripped, knuckles white.

"And why must I be considered backup? When I actually, was the only one, with Rory sent on the mission?" Mithiel challenged, every octave in her voice a deep menacing tone. "And if you were blind, or just plain dumb, then I wouldn't be surprise that you didn't realise that Rory had just brunt the whole village down. I'll consider you as both blind and dumb then." Mitheil replied, crossing her arms and glaring at the blue elf. Yet again, Blue?! Mithie commented to her silver eagle, laughing through their link. Daros snickered back, but gave no particular answer.

" What now?" Rory asked. "Stay out of this Rory... Its for your own good." Mithiel hissed at the boy in warning, though her eyes never left the elf's.

(( damien! Thats soooo Mithiel!! I'll take it ))

[Damien]

((Glad you like it! It was official art from Fire Emblem, by the way.))

Rory raised both his hands in a gesture of submission, and then backed away.

I’ll only get involved if something goes drastically wrong, kay?

There was so much tension and pent-up anger Will I be that angry when I grow older, too? that it was almost tangible, in pretty much the same way rain could fall so heavily that you would imagine being able to swim in it.

It suddenly occurred to him that he was staring at Mithiel and the supervisor while thinking of impending doom wrought by furry mammals falling from the sky.

((I’m running out of things to write about, and if I’d taken my medication I wouldn’t have been able to write. Gah.))

[Mithiel]

((should we wait for Ashy-chan? Or want me to continue?))

[Ashteth]

((Sorry for the wait. XP. I didn't realize that you guys had posted. And just a thing about Ashy, he takes a lot of offense easily. Don't mention the blue skin, he'll take it personal. ^^))

Ashteths eyebrow twitched and his mouth's already thin lips streched out taunt against his sharp face. His ice-blue eyes hardened and he glared down at this impudent girl that continued to disrespect and insult him. It would be so easy to kill her, so easy to whip out his dual blades and completely ruin this humans life. He wouldn't even need his swords, a few pinces in the right spots would have Mithiel on the ground, paralyzed for a good three hours.

"You just contradicted yourself, you ignorant little whelp." Ashteth growled, hand clenching the hilts of his jointed blades. He really didn't care if this girl was the next Rider, or if she was the most recent plaything of Galbatorix. He had been serving the empire far longer than she could ever hope to do, and he was far more than prepared to severe every limb from the girls body.

"He said that there might be survivors. Considering the panicky nature of you humans,"- he was speaking softly, his voice smooth and dangerous, the last word uttered like a curse, -"Many will have fled into the forest. I intend to find them and kill them." The elf had already sensed the consiousnesses of the villagers during his meditation and knew exactly where a group of the renegades had been five minutes ago. It wouldn't take long to find and execute them, if these two children didn't get in the way.

"Move girl. Or I will make you." Ashteth snarled, his normally beautiful face twisted into a mask of indifference and condemnation. His white-palmed hand now reseted lightly on the hilts of his blades, the shared sheath pressed against his left thigh. He wouldn't compromise his dignity for this girl, and if she didn't back down soon, she would find herself facing the buisness end of his swords.

It wouldn't be too hard to kill her, she was only human.

[Damien]

((Your answer¡¯s already arrived. But since Rory¡¯s just watching, I have nothing to write about except . . . want commentary?))

[Mithiel]

"He said that there might be survivors. Considering the panicky nature of you humans,". Mithiel's eyes narrowed, and she laughed, a nightingale like sound, which many would have said, sounded like music to thier ears. "Panicky nature? I haven't trained under the King for 10 years for nothing you know. And I'm sure that you-" Mithiel said snidely, looking up and down, "a traitor-ish elf like you, will come of no use to the King in days to come anyway." she finished. "And don't think you're in a very high rank, soldier." she continued, stressing on the word. "With a single of my command, and you'll be hanging on one of the castle's rafters by tomorrow. No interference allowed, and tryst me, the King wouldn't care less if you fall 5 feet to your death. In fact, he'll just ask me to demonstrate more.". Blinking at Ashteth, she smirked daringly, as if challenging him.

"Move girl. Or I will make you." . "Try me." she hissed in reply, definately challenging him this time. Her hands remain crossed, but her muscles tensed, the diamon studded dagger pressed its cold metal against her ankle and tight. Her eyes hardened, a cold gling flashing, and far abovehead, Daros sounded his battle cry.

(( I wouldn't mind commentary. ANd what if.. Rory try to even things out? At risk of his own life of course. ))

[Ashteth]

This girl was quite infuriating. Idiotic and suicidal, apparently. Not a very healthy combination, considering her position. Ashteth almost sighed, his furious face abating to that of disintrested apathy. Her tone of voice alone made the elf want to wring her neck. She thought herself so powerful, so influential that she could order him dead? Not even. He was elf, and no matter what the girl said, no order of hers would ever be able to hold dominance over him.

Ice-blue eyes suddenly covered by his long white lashes, the elf resisted the human urge to roll his eyes. Suddenly, without warning or even any visible movement other than the slight shifting in his cloak afterwards, Ashteth's right hand shot out and swung around, faster than the human eye would be able to follow, on a straight course for Mithiels face.

It would be near impossible for any human to block his outburst, even with magic. It was just too fast for a human's mind to process what it was seeing to react to it. If the back of Ashteth's hand did connect with the girls cheek it would seen her reeling at least five feet out of his way, either on the ground or staggering past him. The blow would probably break her cheekbone or jaw, and most definitly cause bruising, but it wouldn't be anything an average magician wouldn't be able to handle.

((Yeah. . . Okay. So that's it, I didn't really G-Mod, you still have time to respond, but agian, I must reitterate that Ashteth is an elf, a battle hardened, amoral, apathetic, killing-prone elf. And I really don't normally do this, but I'm just saying that Ashteth has enough of an upper hand with his physical strength and mental barriers to be able to defeat Mithiel with litte or no trouble. So yeah. . . That's my little spiel. And it's nothing against you, it's just that the charracters are so unevenly matched. Yeah. Now I'm done. ^^;)

[Mithiel]

((Yeah yeah, i get the point Ashy-chan. But Mithiel's much more better in magic. ))

An elf with no honours deserves to die anyway. Daros thought skeptically in the air as he swooped around. Suddenly, through the blink of an eye, he saw the movement under the cloak, and immediately he screamed at Mithiel, Get out of the way! . Mithiel's reaction was fast enough above normal humans, but not fast enough. Her right hand flashed up, and the force of the blow was softened as she fell back according to the weight throwned. Falling back to the grass, her hand throbbed as a bruised was form, a bad one at that. Her eyes flashed as she glared at the elf, but above, Daros can take no assault to his mistress and friend, espiecially not one as unfair as this. She is a human, he an elf.

Angling down, he dived, his wings folded back , and like an arrow, he aimed straight for the effendiung hand, and his steel hard beak clipped harshly into his skin, his talons pulled its course along the length of his hand before Daros took flight again,his eye always out for the despicable elf, or so he thought.

Mithiel had enough, she opened her gateway to her magic, and stood up, her hand throbbing, but so what? She doesn't care less, her ruthless demeanour was showing itself again. "You'll pay hell." she hissed, and muttering a spell, her hand glowed, and in a split second, she flung her palm out, a blinding flash of light burst foward, arrowing itself straight at the elf. Too fast to be avoided by humans, and its force impossible to be stopped by magic.

((Hmm... An elf could avoid it, by a close shave without being hurt t all... ))