A Brother Lost (Open)

[Galetaer]

Gale had been traveling longer than he'd bother to keep track of, but he finally reached the outskirts of what man had named "The Spine". When it dawned on him that his brother, Hadrian, may never come back after his three month disappearance, he quickly packed his few belongings and headed out to a place where only he and his brother had dared to tread; and only within the outer reaches at that. It has long been rumored that going into The Spine is suicidal, and that few men can even attempt to best the unnatural evils that lie within, and that's not even taking into consideration the very real threat of possible Urgal tribes or dangerous magical artifacts. Nevertheless, Gale decided to press on. He figured that - despite the terrors within - that his life was well worth that of his brother.
~~~

The weight of his blades and his filled pack had long since left Gale fatigued, and after countless hours of walking from sunrise into the late (thankfully cool) evening, he was definitely ready for a break. He took off his backpack first and then his claymore sword, propping them both up against the trunk of an absurdly large tree. A tree that rested on the edge of a biome full of many others like it. He then slumped down into a comfortable sitting position and tried to regulate his labored breathing. His throat burned as of he decided to eat matches, and it had been more than a few hours since he passed a place at which he could refill his waterskin; but to go into the cursed forest only a couple hours until sunset? What kind of progress would he hope to make when he could get in during the daylight, and then perhaps get lost in the dark?

Frustrated, he begrudgingly decided to get himself a place to sleep. He set to work finding wood and kindling, while also finding the appropriate materials to jury-rig a makeshift shelter. A few hours later, as the sky painted itself vermilion, he had constructed a small fire and a lean-to under the large tree and lied down on his bedroll. He had at that point set his weapons at various different places around him to grab and use at a moment's notice, his bag tucked behind him, resting in between his back and the makeshift wall that was the large tree.

Where could he be? Gale wondered as he began to drift off to sleep Hadrian has me treading thin ice, and as many times as he's been in this blasted forest, I can only hope he's here.

He rolled over to face the tree trunk that acted as rear-wall, and with outstretched hands traced the grooves and bumps with his fingers. He then, a few moments later, laid on his back and stared up at the sticks and greenery that was his small roof. He tossed and turned, but couldn't quite get comfortable.

It seemed like it would be yet another sleepless night.

But, he had nothing better to do than play the waiting game anyway.

[Brenton]

Horseback riding had always been one of the few things that the lord Dyami had enjoyed, even though it often required him to go through the Empire. Still it felt good to be free when the horse galloped over the land with careless abandonment, its muscles bunching and unbunching. He loved the way the wind blew through his hair softly, causing it to whip into his eyes painfully.

Dyami was looking around at all of the trees and land as it passed around him and the horse that he rode with ease. Mountains came into view and suddenly the young man looked at the Spine in shock because he wasn't planning on showing up at the most cursed place in Alagaesia. Even Galbatorix's men wouldn't go near the Spine and that spoke wonders for how dangerous the wild trees were.

As the sun sank down behind the treetops, the stallion crossed into the Spine with Dyami atop who was resting his hand on the pommel of his cavaly sword on the saddle. No sense in going in unprepared. This was the Troop Captain of the Varden and he had learned how to be prepared for such situations anyhow. Suddenly a campsite came into view and so the Troop Captain dismounted and drew his long sword from the sheathe on his back as well as a long leaf bladed knife in reverse grip. The sword was in his right hand and the knife was in his left, meant to be able to slash or deflect in case the person camping was prepared.

Hey! You in the lean-to! Up and at 'em without drawing a weapon so I'm not forced to put my sword through you. My name is Dyami Etu, Troop Captain of the Varden and lord of Etu Manor in Dras Leona. I came here on a leisure ride before my liege decided to do anything else. Dyami didn't think this was an Empire man but if he was then the Captain could kill him before he could get to a weapon.

[Galetaer]

Gale heard the hoofbeats long before he heard the voice, and he had hoped it was simply a passerby.
A passerby so close to the spine? Unlikely. Then he heard the voice, the unmistakable voice of a man.

Hey! You in the lean-to! Up and at 'em without drawing a weapon so I'm not forced to put my sword through you. My name is Dyami Etu, Troop Captain of the Varden and lord of Etu Manor in Dras Leona. I came here on a leisure ride before my liege decided to do anything else.

Varden Troop Captain? Lord of a Manor? Two things he quite honestly didn't expect to hear at all. Rather than opting to run, and after briefly considering his options he figured talking would probably be the best. He called out Alright, I'm coming out with my hands behind my head!

He unceremoniously rolled out of the lean-to, rolling over a dagger and longsword that he had placed by his side, causing him to stagger to his feet. He quickly faced the man and put his hands behind his head, and simply looked at him for a moment. Now he had a better idea of who had disturbed him. A man with medium length brown hair, his eye color indistinct at this distance, with a muscular build. Most suprisingly, the man seemed to quite young for bearing such great titles and despite this Gale reckoned he stood as tall as himself; perhaps even a bit taller.

Gale called out in response to the man as soon as he could get his thoughts together.

I am Gale Bladeslinger, son of Asher. I have come here to search for my brother, Hadrian, who has been missing for three months. He is known to traverse The Spine on occasion to hunt game, so I figured that after I got some rest and found some water that it would be best that I look for him. I have come a ways away from my family's apothecary in Teirm to look for him, and I seek to avoid any trouble if I can help it.

[Brenton]

Dyami watched the awkward movements as the big man rolled from under the lean-to and over a couple weapons before putting his hands behind his head. Well this man was true to what he said he would do at least and that might be something he could work with during this conversation. Slowly, Dyami sheathed the dagger and dropped the sword blade down into a military parade rest where it wasn't useless but wasn't going to hurt anyone either. From this position, he could have the sword blade raised with a flick of his wrist and blocking any attacks this man sent at him.

Forgive me, Gale Bladeslinger, but until I know you won't attack then I can't put my sword away in good faith. Just a precaution that I have to take in this time we are in with the war that currently goes on around us all as we speak. As for your brother, there are few places in this area but one of the people that I fight side by side has led a whole village through the Spine and spoke of it. I'm sure I can find a way to help you if Hadrian is somewhere safe.

Switching the sword over to his left hand, Dyami extended his right arm in hopes that Gale wouldn't be too offended by his refusal to put away his sword. I can also stay close by and keep watch if you wish to sleep some while the night is young. It is all up to you though, son of Asher.

[Galetaer]

Gale smiled, dropped his hands, and walked around the campfire so he was adjacent to his lean-to; but at such a distance that he would have to dive for any of his weapons. There he sat and motioned for Dyami to sit with him, but not before he gave the man a reply.

I understand these are hard times, but believe me, if I wanted to attack you I already could have. Though it is not an unwarranted fear, as you are correct, conflict between the Varden and the Empire are going to be at an all-time high. 

He paused and looked up at the man, then continued, grabbing a stick which he could use to aid in stoking the fire.

The way I see it is that this world doesn't need any more loose-cannon brutes cutting down people first and asking questions later, and you seem hospitable enough. You're welcome to share the warmth of my fire, but I'm afraid I don't have much else of anything to share. Though you claim to know a man who led a whole village through The Spine, finding one man could prove to be infinitely more difficult in some ways. There is no set goal, no set point at which will there as an exit, and he could be anywhere in there at all; assuming he even is.

Gale sighed, sat up, then let his right elbow rest on his right knee

Of course any help you could provide would be appreciated, Dyami was it? But in this kind of situation there are few options, and if there was any safe place he would try to escape to if he was pursued; I have no idea where that would be. And if he was captured, well, I'm in the dark even more so.

Though there would be plenty of reason to capture him Gale thought Being part of what was once a successful merchant family with much gold to spare. But no ransom note?

Gale yawned, then rubbed his eyes.

I'm sorry to trouble you with all of this, but I suppose talking to someone is just something I needed to do. I haven't really gotten much sleep since I was young, and I don't think I'll get any tonight; but if you would like to rest here you're more than welcome, though I won't be offended if you refuse.

[Brenton]

Dyami smiled warmly and lowered his hand in acknowledgement of the other man not wanting to accept the proffered hand shake. Well at least he had tried and that was all that was necessary in this situation. Or at least that was all that protocol said was necessary in this situation. In the life of a lord who had a manor they lived in and visited frequently, well there was another thing to do such as offer any assistance that they could. Dyami had been raised the son of a lord and therefore knew of these etiquettes so he was more than prepared for aiding in the search.

As Gale spoke of all the things he needed to say at whatever speed he could, Dyami simply nodded and sat down next to the man. He lowered the sword to the ground with the hilt right next to his hand where he could draw it up into a parry with ease. Suddenly Dyami sensed it more than saw the deer that was over to the left a little ways. Silently, the man stood up and stared into the darkness, drawing two daggers in his hands. Soft foot steps that made no sound as he progressed across the ground took Dyami to just downwind of the deer where it wouldn't see him.

A doe, nice and plump, with a buck just over the rise who was watching over a fawn that had been left there while the doe grazed in the thick lush grass. Silently, as soundless as the wind, Dyami bounded over to the deer and slashed her across the carotid and jugular in one motion. The second dagger went into the doe's heart where it would kill it instantly and cause no pain to the animal. He needed her meat for sustenance not her pain for pleasure. That was the sign of a monster within a human vessel.

As the buck looked up, Dyami cringed down, realizing he had left his sword back at the fire and couldn't draw another in time. That was when the heavy hammer crashed into the buck, smashing its skull inward with one blow. By that point the faun had already left and was quickly scurrying into a hole to hide for the night. Out of the shadows, and dragging the buck by both hind legs, walked Roran Stronghammer. Perfect! This was one of the few people who could traverse these lands and not get lost by fear.

Dyami grabbed the doe and both of the men dragged the kills to just outside the fire's light where they sat down and started cleaning the animals. Finally Dyami spoke to Roran. Roran why did you show up here just when I was needing a guide through the Spine? Nevermind that, we have something else to worry about. The man behind me is Gale Bladeslinger and he thinks his brother Hadrian Ashersson is lost somewhere in these trees. I told him I knew of a man who I fought side by side with who led a village through these parts and might be able to help. Will you make me a liar or do you think it's possible to find the boy?

Roran looked over at Gale briefly and sighed as he realized he would do the same thing if it had been Eragon who had gotten lost. Eragon was like his brother, even though they were only cousins, and so Roran knew what it was like to care about someone so much you went after them into the face of danger. That was what he had done with the village of Carvahall when the Razac had attacked. Finally he looked back at Dyami and nodded slightly, just barely perceptible. "It's possible to find him but it will take all three of us working in perfect synchronization to pull it off. Do you think he can handle that?"