Ill News is an Ill Guest <Home Sweet Home cont.>

[Arkantos]

Arkantos and Verin sat close to each other under a large tree, a short way away from their campfire, and out of plain sight. Tendrils of magical power entwined throughout their bodies as Caranthor looked on with interest at the spell being created. The power ceased suddenly as they completed the final parameters of its functions, and they found themselves looking around at their campsite that they shared with Rhaxta, just outside of Petrovya on the Surdan border. They were heading for Arkantos' manor nearby to rest up and replenish their supplies, which had taken a serious drop with the addition of the Rider and her dragon. It was at his manor that Arkantos hoped he could train both Verin and Rhaxta in secret, creating a cell of loyal followers that he could plant in both the Varden and Empire, respectively. Once that cell grew, he could supplant both leaderships, and rule as a new Dynast-King over Alagaesia, forever changing- he shook the thought of power lust out of his mind, most likely slipped in by Linnea through his mental shield. Frowning inwardly, he stood up and helped Verin to her feet, their work for now complete. Because Verin was a Seer, Arkantos found a willing partner and test subject to delve into the mysteries of prophecy while they traveled. The spell they were constructing, which would eventually take the form of a circlet helm or tiara, would, with any luck, aid in the regulation and accuracy of prophecy, making it easier for any prophet to see the future without the need to sleep, or the danger of waking prophecies that often killed their Seers. Cringing with guilt, he looked back at Rhaxta, just now remembering that he had a magic lesson with her tonight. Things had been going smoothly, as the girl had progressed from survival to finesse rapidly, learning and using words in and out of context with an almost natural mastery. He was working with both women on how to properly manage the energy needed to use a spell without incapacitation.

Verin sighed with satisfaction at the chance to finally work on a complex spell of magic with another magician. To make it even better, the magician was a man, and not a greasy, cruel assassin of Galbatorix's, but a young warrior and scholar, powerful in body and his knowledge of the ancient language. She giggled to herself and Caranthor's eyes swirled sarcastically with long-suffering grief. Ever since she had recovered from that elf woman's spell, and managed to escape the battle of Riders on the outskirts of the Hadarac, she'd traveled with Arkantos and Rhaxta; partly out of the need for safety while her dragon grew, but mostly to be near Arkantos, who she'd managed to get a crush on, due to her tendency to become infatuated to male magic-users through her prophecy-fed addiction to magic. Caranthor had been the second reason she had not yet gone back to the Empire, and to the king. He was too young yet to make a choice on who he wanted to serve, and Verin was not going to make it for him. In the few weeks since he had hatched, little Caranthor had managed to grow to well over the size of a great eagle.

"Nice work, Verin, but we'll have to continue this later. I'm afraid that I've got to tutor Rhaxta now, but we'll work on this spell tomorrow. Maybe we can find out why the spell seems to collapse at the verification web and-oof!" Arkantos announced to Verin, only to be interrupted as she tackled him around his waist, bringing him down to the ground as she smothered him with kisses. Arkantos flailed for a few seconds, then eventually gave up and gently lifted her off of him with magic. Verin pouted adorably at being denied as she was gently set down on the ground out of range of Arkantos. Arkantos was flushed from the encounter and slightly out of breath, but he wiped his mouth and ruffled his hair with his gauntleted hand. Sighing, he reflected on how low their supplies were getting, and the length of the journey he was going to have to take with a Seer who was absolutely obsessed with him...

[Rhaxta]

Rhax had swiftly grown wearisome of the heavy club of a sword she had taken from one of Arkantos' late men. She had grown to long for the elegant and light sword she had found in the forests near Lake Tudosten. Slim and light, it was as if both the sword and longbow had been made for her. She regretted not retrieving them before leaving where the soldiers held her captive, however there were much more pressing matters then.
So, after they had left the scene of the rider's fight, Rhax slipped away for a few hours. Arkantos probably would have disapproved- if he had known- as Rhax had left in the dead of night.

She returned to her desolated home, only to find the army- and thankfully the rider- was gone. The whole town was deserted, save for a few soldiers that had stayed behind to take the few of the towns riches for themselves.
Rhax knew very well what had happened to the towns' people. They were in the pile of unmarked graves the soldiers had roughly dug up and dumped their bodies in. If not that, the last remnants of them as free humans were their footprints in the dust as they struggled against the shackles the soldiers forced on them. Dragged off to be sold as slaves.
The young woman didn't hesitate to take out her anger on the few soldiers that were foolish enough to stay at the scene of the crime.

Returning the next morning, exhaustion weighing down her limbs, Rhax avoided answering any questions as to where she'd been, and why she was covered in blood. She had no desire to tell them of torrent of guilty and sadistic pleasure Rhax had let take her during the night.

For the whole time they had traveled since, Rhax's stomach twisted in a rage as she knew her friends and neighbors were now items of the lethargic rich folk, or harsh men that beat them into forced labor.
Rhax found she couldn't really bare the company of the other three, fearing that she may accidentally let her anger get the best of her. She was just managing to keep the facade of peace when she was around them. When she needed time alone she said something about going hunting before wandering into the forest.

This had been the very story only an hour earlier. Rhax returned to the camp, squinting as her sensitive vision adjusted to the light of the fire. She dumped the few pheasants she'd managed to hunt down nearby before grasping her hand on the pommel of her sword that clung to her hip, her nails digging into the leather, trying to regulate her breathing. She had nearly emerged nearby to Arkantos and Verin, although seeing the state they were in Rhax flushed with a strange anger, and left them to their peace. Taking a moment to regulate her breathing, Rhax sighed deeply before closing her eyes. It was just her anger toward the soldiers, she promised herself, nothing to do with those two. This was her own burden...

After a few moments, Rhax opened her eyes, her green gaze less intense. Her slightly angled eyebrows raised and her expression softened as she relaxed. She didn't want to take this out on the others, and she wasn't going to let herself do that. Turning, Rhax stopped dead as she saw Arkantos, the creature in her gut arching it's ugly head and twisting until her lungs ached. Praying to the gods he hadn't seen her attempt at composing herself, Rhax smiled softly before nodding to him. She didn't trust her voice yet, and was careful to keep the wards around her mind so Arkantos wouldn't feel the torrent of emotion Rhax had twisting in the pit of her stomach.

Clearing her throat, she grinned gently. ''Hey...how did the tutoring go?'' Rhax said, a tone of forced humor in her voice. It was better that than a voice laced with subdued anger. She did well enough to hide it.

Looking past him slightly, Rhax didn't spot the seer. They rarely spoke, or rather..Rhax rarely spoke to her. For some reason she felt uneasy around her and her dragon, though fascinated at the same time. She wanted to let her temper die down before she could approach them again with ease.

[Arkantos]

((Hah hah! Too many confusing subplots in this post! Try not to lose your sanity, dear Rhaxta! Mwahaahaahaaha! ;D ;D ))

Arkantos looked up, surprised at the half-elf's silent arrival from hunting. He shrugged noncommittally and reached over to pluck and dress the fowl that Rhaxta had caught. Examining the corpses, he could immediately feel that they had been killed with magic. The stench of the taint of anger was oozing out of them. Magicians and sorcerers of this caliber were always susceptible to the stresses that accompanied the awakening of their powers.

Arkantos started to move very slowly. As he was carefully plucking the birds, he gently extended a mental probe in her direction. Silently warding himself against a backlash, he carefully dissembled her barrier, which was oddly flimsy for one who had mastered it so comprehensively just a short time ago, and replaced it with a monitoring web. It would feel like her own barrier, but would give him a backdoor into her mind. Inwardly, he raged at himself for this horrible evil he was committing. Controlling Rhaxta like this, and using the Seer, Verin, as a pawn, albeit a useful one, was borderline treasonous to the Varden.

He softly floated on the edge of her conciousness, and beheld the rage, guilt, and....-what was that odd sensation there?- swirl in a maelstrom of chaotic madness, barely concealed; barely controlled. Arkantos went cold at the sight of how close Rhaxta was to the killing edge. She might snap at any moment, and it looked like anything would set her off. He had to diffuse it, and fast. He glimpsed the images of her brutal slaughter of the soldiers, and while he was impressed with her sense of the dramatic in her killing style, he was equally disturbed about how much it scarred her. He had killed so many men loyal to the Empire by now he did so without a second thought. But this poor girl...her confusion at what was happening around her was almost nonexistant. Instead, a fearsome rage burned cold within her. Arkantos was frightened. Her power was growing exponentially by the day as her rage fueled the capacity that her life force could withstand. She would be much more powerful than him in a matter of months. He could not let such power be wasted to insanity and grief. He unconciously gulped as he considered the only nonlethal option that wouldn't result in his own death.

He would have to seduce her. It would probably be risky, no better than a fifty-fifty chance that she wouldn't catch on and just incinerate him with a fireball, but he would have to do it.

Sometimes the perks of this job seem like an occupational hazard..., he thought silently behind his warded mind.

Retreating back into his own thoughts, he became aware of how close Verin was to him, and that somehow he'd managed to make a hearty stew without even paying attention to what he was doing. He started as Rhaxta said something about tutoring Verin, her voice hoarse and rhaspy from forcing down an unpleasant emotion.

"The tutoring? Ah, yes, well, Verin's doing quite well under my supervision. She already knows much about the ancient language; in fact, I don't really have to teach her that much. She's really the one who's been the lynchpin in my research. Thanks to her, I've got a live subject to test my experimental spells on. Don't worry, though. We're always heavily warded with safeguards to ensure that we don't blow ourselves up in the process." Arkantos smiled a forced smile back at Rhaxta, noticing how she was gripping her sword hilt. He stood up and sat back down next to her, gently removing her hand and holding it within his own. A gentle expression of understanding and peace overcame his features, and he gave Rhaxta a small smile. Reaching over, he brushed his lips softly across her cheek, then smoothly leaned back to give him enough clearance to run if she snapped at him.

He opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted when a wall of air slammed into him and threw him like a rag doll across the clearing. Looking up blearily, his vision swimming, he saw Verin looking over him and wearing much less clothing than usual. Her hair hung luxuriously down her shoulders, and the childlike pout on her face never reached her souless, tormented eyes. For the first time, he noticed that she was carrying a staff across her back, as well as a rapier strapped to her right thigh. But wait. That wasn't a pout. It was an expression that eerily resembled the face that his childhood family friend, the Shade Astarael Atanamir, had made. Just before she slaughtered most of a portion of a city, to be sure, but that was different. Seafood had been involved. And he was pretty sure that no one had been eating crab, or human blood, recently enough to warrant this kind of cool, indifferent, sadistic condemnation of the entire human race.

"Arkantos Halimar. What do you think you are doing?, Verin said to him in a soft, dangerous voice.Are you aware that every time you get yourself involved with that girl, you are giving the dark elf more potential leverage over you? You shouldn't be so callous to my advances next time. Linnea fears me, in a way. Surely you've realized by now how unusual it is for the ring to be so inactive. She's either found a new host, which is highly unlikely, or, the more probable thesis, that she is planning something. Something big. Now, either you keep away from Rhaxta, or I'll just decide to teach Caranthor here how to bring down a much...bigger kill. Okie-dokie, then!". She brightened intensely, and gave Arkantos a kiss full on the lips. He panicked and initially resisted, but then he saw Caranthor sitting nearby, innocently sharpening his talons on a tree, leaving deep gashes. Almost innocently.

He caught the gleam of feral, ancient intelligence, mixed with slow, deliberate, and methodical satisfaction of the anticipation of what was to come. He was so shocked at such an outward sign of plannning from a dragon at his Rider's request, that his resolve weakened, and he shaded his eyes in shame as he gave in to the kiss.

Boy, was his little sister going to have a field day when she got the report about this fiasco. She'd already sent him a humiliatingly sarcastic and humorous letter about the previous women he'd been involved with, but now she was going to come down from the Yazuac garrison herself just to laugh at his misfortune. He just hoped that Serenity didn't know how to scry yet, if she was even learning magic at her age.

[Kaala]

Kaala sighed as she hunted several miles away. Keeping tabs through a web of her own, as well as monitoring emotions, she managed to learn of everything going on with the small group of humans and half-human. She'd begun to distance herself from them, unable to stand the domestic disputes. The whole business had her reeling with constant headaches and it made her wonder if the is how Gildor had felt dealing with the rest of her other group. She highly doubted even they had been this bad. She was about to have to step in, if anyone was going to get anything done. "Perhaps it is time I take over Verin's training. Arkantos can only teach her so much about the ways of Riders. I will speak with him when I return."

"I think you are right, Little One." Mirror's voice rumbled within her mind, the faint, and feral, smile he sent her warming her insides. "It will take care of both teaching the youngling and keeping her away from Lord Halimar. It's about time I tried my wings at teaching, yes?" Kaala sent him a smile in return. She rarely ever smile at anyone other than him anymore. She was too tense with the battles going on. She easily mounted the saddle and Mirror pushed off, leaving the long gashes that were not so uncommon now marring the earth. The ride did not take long and they were back within sight of the small group a few minutes later.

Mirror landed a small distance away, so as not to disturb the camps' setting and she dismounted. They travled the rest of the way on foot and when she entered the camp she discovered that Verin had tackled Arkantos to the ground and was kissing him. She easily began undoing the saddle with precision and she set in on the ground next to her sleeping roll. A few moments later, the saddlebags were beside it. As soon as she was done Mirror lumbered over to the edge of the clearing, watching the young dragon curiously. "Was I ever really this small?" The thought made her laugh and she cleared her throat to cover it.

"Lord Halimar." She said, waiting for a moment to make sure she had his attention. "I do believe it is time I took over young Verin's training." Her inflection left little doubt that she thought he might be enjoying training her a little too much.

[Rhaxta]

(( What sanity? And sorry for the crummy writing before, I was rushing, had a pre-birthday barbeque to go to. Now I'm feeling very jolly and I'm gonna edit and fix itttt *glees* <33))


Gradually the grip on her swords hilt weakened. Though she closed her eyes again and forced herself to breathe slow.
Breaking from her stillness, Rhax moved over to the fire and sat down, crossing her legs. Her smouldering, dark gaze fell upon the fire for quite some time before the flame was extinguished from her vision when she closed her eyes tightly, as if scared the frightening amount of anger that boiled in her would escape through them.
Rhax felt herself start as someone moved, though she stayed where she was, though shaking slightly, and opened her eyes see Arkantos had sat next to her. They snapped open as she felt Arkantos take her hand in his. Her eyes widened and she looked at him, her heart hammering against her ribs.
Though he was careful to keep any traces of it from his mind and from his voice, Rhax could tell...he was scared of her? His body language - and no one could hunt their whole life without learning something of it- as he'd moved over to her, and his widened pupils as she looked into his eyes told her what was hidden from her mind. Surely he knew she wouldn't hurt him..

Guilt jumped up her throat and she frowned, the flame in her stomach being doused by the awful feeling. Rhax's mind opened for a split second to touch his, to try tell him she wouldn't harm him, but was stopped as she felt a ghost of his mind just outside her own.
Her gut twisted, he'd known all along. Rhax had hit the gentle barrier of his around her mind. She returned to her own, insisting she calm down, the anger had made her own defenses lax. She didn't care that Arkantos had invaded her privacy, for within moments it was forgotten. His lips were against her cheek and she shivered slightly, before his grip on her hand was pulled away as he was thrown across the clearing.
Rhax felt the burn of anger flare in her chest, licking at her throat making her feel as if her very flesh was being seared away by the rage, leaving her hollow of heart and mind and leaving nothing more than a creature with no morals, nor cares.

She subdued a frighteningly feral-sounding growl that tensed her throat. Rhax glared as the seer passed, her mindset moving to where she could use magic. The air was pushed from her lungs with the shock as it flood her mind aswell as body, her mind charged and every muscle and nerve tense and filled with the power. Rhax's eyes widened as it threatened to take her over. She closed her eyes, her body shaking with the effort of subduing it.

Rhax still listened, though she hated to admit it, the seer was right...''although, the rider has her own things to learn.. and I can teach her one thing.'' Rhax jumped to her feet, and strode swiftly over towards the two, ignoring the expression on Arkantos' face. Glaring at the dragon she whispered something, barely audible. The roots around the tree it was clawing at rose and twisted around the young creatures legs. Though Rhax didn't wish to hurt it, she wasn't going to let the dragon come and stop her.
As she closed in on them Rhax's sword was ripped from it's scabbard, and slipped between them with speed, the tip of the sword pushing harshly against Verin's chin, forcing her to move back slowly or be impaled through the neck. Rhax drew back her sword, but the anger flared in her. Her vision wavered and she barely realised through the torrent of anger as she withdrew her sword and then, with startling speed smashed the flat of the blade against the womans head. Though the sword was slim, it was stout enough to stun her for all the time Rhax needed, Verin was all-in-all unharmed, only left with a bleeding forehead and monumental brain-ache.

Her blank expression probably more frightening than a face contorted with rage, Rhax stood over the seer, her swords tip pressing under her chin and boot on her chest so she didn't move.
Rhax felt herself tremble as the frighteningly impure magic that burned through her veins threatened to take over. Her dark eyes bore into Verin's own and she spoke, her voice filled with all the forboding and premonition of a Judge putting someone to death.

'' She may fear you, though you aught to watch your step, Verin. I am nothing close to her own powers and I was able to incapacitate you... The riders own downfall was that they thought themselves too powerful. Watch yourself or you may suffer the same. You're not immue to Linnea either...''

Stepping off Verin, Rhax's eyes lifted as the other rider approached. Rhax looked back to Arkantos and gave a slight smile, an expression of genuine apology on her face. That was all Rhax offered before she strode away with determined slowness, only breaking into a run when she dissapeared into the trees.
The earth spinning under her as she tore through the forest, Rhax used every trick she had to hide her route; water, mud, covering her own prints with magic and for some of her tomented journey, she travelled along the larger of the trees When Rhax didn't want to be found, she wouldn't be.
She ran, like all the demons of the otherworld were chasing her. The burn of the magic in her chest made her feel so, and believe so with a horrible clarity. The hours that passed were a haze of fear and exhaustion. All Rhax knew was she had to stay away from Arkantos and the rider until she controlled herself or the magic would take her, and probably them with her...

Rhax hit the ground knees first, only making them ache more. Crawling forwards Rhax fell beside the river, her face and hands in the cool water. The night had fallen by now, and for a few moments she didn't move, and just lay like one dead in the shallows, the cool water soothing her burning brow. Rhax opened her eyes, only now she realised it was raining. With a great effort Rhax pulled her weapons from her and thew them back under the canopy of trees. Closing her eyes, she just lay there, too exhausted for her rage to continue. Her wound stung as raindrops hit them, the lines of blood across her arms and neck caused by wispy tree branches, as they wipped against her skin when she tore past them earlier in the night. Rhax muttered, not having the strength to heal them. The burn in the back of her head was gone, as well as her anger. She'd managed to stop it from taking over...

Rhax knew very well she would wake up in a fever, whether or not she made a shelter, but she could cope with that. She couldn't anyway, her limbs ached. She just opened her mind, to observe the night as it passed..

[Arkantos]

Arkantos stood up and scowled at the elven Rider and her dragon. Walking over to Verin and Caranthor, he healed the Rider and freed her dragon, who was in a rage that belied his small size. Caranthor immediately took the opportunity to burst up into flight and soar in the direction Rhaxta had fled. He helped Verin to her feet and bowed stiffly and formally.

"I apologize for my lapse in ethics, my Lady. Rider Kaala, I believe, is a more suitable trainer for one who wishes to learn the deep secrets of the arcane, as well as the ancestral secrets that I doubt the elves who have safeguarded the rites of the Riders would let anyone else learn. Rider, I intrust this neophyte to you. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a highly unstable mage bordering on sorcery to find and stop. Verinas Soledwyne, you'd better alert Caranthor to swallow his pride for now and wait until he gets bigger. Then he may have the right to kill my pupil...If I won't have already." Arkantos announced, nodding at Verin's shocked expression. Drawing his sword from his scabbard, he let flames run down the edges and picked up his spear on the way out of the campsite. Rhaxta had covered her tracks well; almost too well. He went far out of his own conciousness as he walked, and just barely sensed the slight aura that magic gave off. He had found Rhaxta's trail by sniffing out what she had covered up. For a moment, a sense of regret at what he might have to do overcame him, but it was replaced by a cold, indifferent, grim sobriety that had stood him so well in the past as he killed people. Perhaps it would be nice if he made a new name for himself.

The Nightstalker. Hrm...too cliche, Arkantos mused, as he closed in on Rhaxta's trail. The problem with those who used the ancient language in conjunction with an selfish anger was the fact that it tended to warp itself into dark sorcery. He had seen it in action, and short of Rhaxta somehow permanently dealing with her inner demons, he would have to eliminate her before she started to unconciously manifest outer demons. It began to rain and steam hissed slightly as it rose up from his sword. He felt Caranthor watching him before he saw the aquamarine dragon. He was perched up in the shady canopy of a great fir tree, and he nodded, one hunter to another, seemingly independant of his Rider's urgent mental requests that he return to camp. Arkantos nodded back and approached the riverbank where Rhaxta was- then it hit him.

Her mind was open, invitingly so. He could break her right now, and she wouldn't even know he was there until it was too late. A teacher never gives away the true secrets of mastery to their student. He was within sight of the half-elf now.

Ah, well, Arkantos thought. I suppose I should give her a few seconds warning before passing judgement.

"Apprentice Magician Rhaxta! By the authority of the Varden and my status as a mage, I hearby sentence you to death for threatening a Rider of Alagaesia and for the use of dark magic. What is your last request, so that I may record it in the law annals?" Arkantos said in a stone cold voice, his spear beginning to channel lightning around it, and his sword still wreathed in flame. He looked like a spirit of judgement, sent to annihilate those who were unworthy of the gift of life...

[Rhaxta]

A pair of green eyes opened to reveal a pitch sky through the thin canopy of foliage above them. It took a few seconds for her traumatized mind to waken from the intensity of her unconscious state. When it did, she instantly regretted even opening her eyes. A cry of pain tore past her lips and Rhaxta's muscles twitched involuntarily. The fever felt like boiling pitch coursing through her veins, dousing her skin, licking over her innards in some merciless, sadistic way of cooking her alive in her own skin. Through her dazed vision, Rhaxta found herself sitting up, hunching over because of the pain. Her vision swam, making the earth beneath her seem to crawl under her weight. She staggered to her feet, cursing the very air under her breath as she wrestled the protective leather bracers and boots from her, the rest of the clothes she removed came from her easily.

Panting, Rhax gave a slightly subdued cry of anguish, the heat wasn't going. Through her panicked mind Rhax couldn't think of the words of the Ancient Language to help her, even with the intensity with which she had them memorized. She looked to the river. Without thinking she stumbled into it, falling to her knees and cutting her long legs on the rocks beneath the water. Rhaxta pushed herself forward to her stomach and submerged, the water of the river returning to the smooth flow it had followed before her intrusion. Rhax held her breath beneath the water, determined to shock the fever from her. All she had to do was wait....and wait....and wait.

Droplets flew everywhere and the water roared as once again Rhaxta's slim form invaded the flow of the water. Gasping, a shivering Rhax clawed her way to the land and paused, still on her hands and knees, staring at a rock. For a few ugly seconds it swam and writhed as everything was, then went still. Rhax shivered, thankfully the relentless heat had escaped her when she let the river saturate her body with the cold.
Struggling to organize her thoughts Rhax cast her gaze about, her deep green eyes struggling to focus for a few minutes.
''Where am I? she thought, roughly pushing her sodden hair behind her and wringing the water from it. She stood up, and slowly walked away from the river, like a newborn Bambi. She frowned, she hated feeling this pathetic. She didn't know where she was, what had happened or where Arkanto-
The harsh, dark visions of the previous day suddenly flashed through her mind, causing her to tremor. A bitter twist of guilt pained her chest as she remembered what had happened. Rhax did regret what she did to the rider, but it wasn't her... she couldn't control it.

Rhax grabbed any dead wood she could find and lit a small fire with magic. Sitting down by it, Rhax stretched pulled the sodden top off herself to hold it before the fire - not venturing to do the same with her underwear however- making the water steam off it. She didn't give a care that she was topless, no one was here. When it was dry she pulled the top back over her head and hugged herself, roughly brushing her fingers through her wet hair, causing ringlets to form about her face. Rhax tried to calm the tremors of her flesh- and her soul- as she looked into the flames, the soothing warmth letting the feeling crawl reluctantly back into her limbs.

She felt him before she heard him, that odd tingling in the back of her mind. Panic rose in her chest, a blind, unbearable one that made her shiver despite the warmth of the fire. She couldn't remember all that had occured, all that she had done.

'' Oh god...please say I didn't...'' She stood, her deep green eyes probing the dark for any sign of him. Waiting anxiously Rhax found she needn't have the decent night vision she did, for Arkantos was illuminated by the spectacular display of flame crawling over his sword.
''I...I didn't hurt you, did I?'' Rhax breathed, voicing her fears, her watery eyes wide with concern.
Rhax was about to continue, but the words died before they broke past her lips. His words had just hit her, and had left her dumbstruck.
Shaking free of the shock, Rhax's eye was caught by the flutter of blue scales. Turning from Arkantos, Rhax approached the dragon before bowing low, despite the muscles in her back objecting as pain shot through them.
''Bjartskular'' Rhax spoke, trying to catch the dragons attention, speaking in the ancient language during her plea.

''I cry your pardon for any discomfort I caused you and Rider Verin, I am deeply sorry. I was plagued by something I know nothing of. Though I had barely any control of my actions, I am not attempting to justify my attack, never would I. I deserve what I am undoubtedly...'' Rhax paused, looking to Arkantos for a moment before back to Caranthor, speaking past the newfound lump in her throat. ''...going to get. I just pray you understand me.''

Her green eyes turned back to Arkantos, her relentless gaze unwavering. The depth and clarity of her eyes had returned with their normal hue, rather than the dirty evil green that they were as Rhax struggled against the magic that took her before. She felt an involuntary tremor course through her body, making her skin crawl. Still light-headed from her fever, Rhax took some time in lulling over his words.
''Same to you, Lord Arkantos,'' Rhax said, reverting to calling him a Lord rather than Master, as she did before. She thought it was blatant he held no desire to teach her. '' I am not trying to justify my actions, though as you've suffered something of the same yourself, I imagined you'd have some understanding'' she said, her eyes moving down and resting on his ring, frowning inwardly as she remembered Arkantos' own struggle for control. Still in the ancient tongue, Rhaxta continued, moving a little closer to him as she spoke.
'' I...I didn't know what I was doing. I was already half-wild with grief for those that I'd left behind in my home town, though just seeing Verin use and mistreat you like that...it made my blood boil,'' Rhax said, her voice wavering with slight anger, revealing the depth of her passion.
'' I'm sorry, Arkantos...''
Rhax paused, both in her words and movement. She stood just before him, her green eyes boring into his own grey ones for a few moments before her gaze slipped down to his lips. She let it linger for a few indulgent moments before she cast her gaze to the ground.
''My final request?'' Rhax said, knowing her doom and doubting she had convinced him otherwise.
''Make it quick...'' she said, softly.

She had no desire to be tortured, this was pain enough. Rhax closed her eyes, shivering as she felt a drop from her wet hair run down her neck, almost fearing it may be the last thing she felt.

[Arkantos]

Arkantos leveled his spear at Rhaxta's heart and raised his blade. His face was utterly devoid of emotion as the flames gave his face a unholy glow in the gloom of a cloudy night. The blade began to fall, the spear began to fly, when suddenly he lost his nerve. The spear flew past Rhaxta's head and embedded itself in a tree several yards away, vaporizing most of the tree in the process. The blade fell to the ground and lay there, cold and lifeless. Arkantos' hand twitched sporadically as he shaded his eyes.

"...Useless...Too weak...I can't...do it. I need to get out of here. Now. I must gain power....more power....I can't even carry out an execution. I have failed...I hate this!...I hate all of this!...Get away...Get out!...DIE!!", he murmured aloud, not noticing Rhaxta, seemingly embroiled in a conflict of his own. He let out a grunt of frustration and grabbed his sword, violently stabbing it back in its sheath, slicing his hand deeply.

Almost shouting a string of curses, he healed it with a sentence in the ancient language and called his spear back to him with magic. He stormed back into camp, blasting his way there with fire and hardened air. Grabbing his things, he ignored Verin, who rushed to his side with concern as Caranthor flew over his head, mentally replaying the scene to Verin. He snarled at the the elven Rider and spat out the words that would take him to Petrovya, roughly pushing Verin aside to clear enough space for the spell he was going to perform. A gateway opened, and he felt the energy flood from him just to keep it large enough for him to fit through safely. He strode through it and closed it immediately behind him, only to open up another one directly to Uru^Baen. Immediately, he found himself surrounded by guards and mages.

Closing the portal behind him, he grimaced in anger.
"I don't have time for you fools. I need the secret books of magic! Now GET OUT OF MY WAY!!", he roared, and let loose bursts of flame and solid air, shredding the Imperials to confetti-like ribbons of gore. He continued to stalk down more corridors, killing soldier and servant alike, ignoring the constant drain on his energy, and hating himself all the more for even feeling it...

~~~~~

Back at the campsite, Verin was frantically trying to replicate the spell that Arkantos had used, to little success. Caranthor nuzzled her head roughly, and she realized that she needed his instinctive grasp of magic in order to complete the spell. She said the words falteringly, and was relieved when the gateway opened in front of a armorer's shop in Petrovya. As she hurriedly grabbed her things in a bundle and jumped through, eagerly looking for any sign of Arkantos, the armorer rushed out, worriedly wringing his hands, his heavy apron still on.

Verin tilted her head and stared blankly at him, wondering what he'd been waiting for.

"Excuse me, milady, but are you perhaps the Dark Priestess?", the armorer asked mildly for one of his size.

Verin's eyes widened at the use of one of her names, and nodded mutely. The large man beamed in relief and rushed back inside his shop. He emerged some fifteen seconds later, much to Verin's utter confusion, carrying a large box that undoubtedly was much heavier than it looked. He opened the lid, and revealed a set of expensive plate armor, setting down in a neat order in front of a perplexed Verin.

"Milady, this arrived for you via courier just this morning. A figure, I couldn't tell whether a man or woman, had two others just like him bring this in and told me to keep an eye out for a female Rider with long hair and...interesting eyes. I assume he meant you. Either way, no charge. The figure said payment had been taken care of. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to get out of here...things are getting too strange for my tastes...", he announced, bowing and walking back into his shop with 'nary a backward glance. Verin just shook her head and started to put the armor on, wondering how it managed to fit her perfectly. The armor that she couldn't get on herself, she used magic to manipulate on.

Several minutes later, she was fully armored and looked a fearsome sight. But no one else was around to see it. She sagged in her plate mail looking disappointed, but then brightened and took a deep breath, reopening the gateway and awkwardly carrying her things back to the camp. Caranthor huffed in exasperation at her fickleness, but fluttered back through with her.

[Rhaxta]

The silence seemed endless, the terror only thriving in the horrible emptiness of Rhax's chest. She didn't dare open her eyes for fear of her last memory being Arkantos as he loomed over her, the symbol of her own doom becoming his mind, body and spear. Rhax heard the slight shuffle of his clothing and tensed, knowing his arm was raised and spear or sword was about to end her. A lone tear crept from her eye and trickled down her cheek, despite them being closed.

Though she hadn't noticed, Rhax's mind was still open. She sensed the slight flicker of doubt in his mind, though before her confusion registered something tore past the side of her face, the air slicing open a hairs width from her ear. Rhax winced horribly, her eyes wide as she stared at Arkantos. After a slight pause, Rhax didn't hear the few words that passed from her mouth, though if she had she would only hear an entanglement of enraged curses, and relieved mutterings.
She had to struggle to organize her thoughts before she spoke coherently.

Roughly wiping what she thought was tears from her cheeks, Rhax forced herself to speak. ''What...what stopped you?'' she whispered, speaking past the lump in her throat with some difficulty.
Though she never got a response, he may not even have heard.

Rhax watched as he worked himself into a frenzy, and she couldn't help herself but try to approach, to help him.
''Ark! PLEASE!'' she yelled, frantically trying to snap him out of it.

''...I hate all of this!...Get away...Get out!...DIE!!'' Rhax was gilted, thinking he was speaking to her. Trying to stop herself from panicking Rhax winced as he sliced open his hand. She ran forward, attempting to grab Arkantos before he did himself more injury, but he was gone from her reach.
''Arkantos!!' she screamed after him.
She pulled on her boots and stuffed her other clothes into her pack, before muttering some words of the ancient language. She dragged a ball of water from the river before flinging it roughly at the fire, immediately extinguishing it. Grabbing her weapons she charged after him. Rhax didn't hold back, despite the cold biting into her limbs and the thorns of all the plants she forced herself through cutting and embedding themselves into her bare legs. She didn't even know why she was following him, he was trying to kill her only minutes before after all. Though nothing stopped the pull against her heart strings as he tore off, making her follow. He may have turned against her so quickly, but she wanted to help him.

Jumping over yet another tangle of vines along the woodlands bed, Rhax's world span dangerously as her feet touched down, and she crashed into a heap, halting her in her pursuit. She whimpered, rolling onto her back and covering her eyes with her hands. After a moment she let out a wild cry of heated frustration; she was still weak from the fever. Though she was adamant it wouldn't stop her from catching up to him, she felt her limits as she struggled to her feet.

Rhaxta skidded to a violent stop as she emerged back at the camp, looking around in vain for any sign of Arkantos. When she didn't see him she groaned in frustration.
It took her a few moments before it registered in her mind, the rider she had assaulted before was standing there swathed in armor.

'' I hope Caranthor told you what I said to him, but please if you're still holding a grudge, you can get your reparations later,'' Rhax said in a rush.

'' Where is Arkantos?'' she demanded, dropping her sword and letting it sit in the dirt, only now her cheek beginning to sting where Arkantos' spear had cut her, blood sticking to her face and neck.

[Arkantos]

"It's alright, Rhaxta. I forgive you. Unfortunately, I couldn't find him. He must have made another gateway, one that I'm not skilled enough to copy. He jumped from here to the center of Petrovya, and from there to somewhere else. Right now, we need to figure out where Arkantos could have gone. What exactly did he say to you before he ran back here?", Verin said softly, placing a gauntleted hand on Rhaxta's cheek and healing it with a flash of light. She picked up her rapier, now lying between the swathes of her robes, and belted it on her, drawing it and twirling it expertly, only satisfied when blue tendrils of force swirled around it like a deadly coccoon. Releasing the magic, she sat down heavily and removed her helm, allowing her hair to fall heavily on her shoulders, and placed her head in her hands. A few minutes passed in which Caranthor, bored with the entire thing by now, flew off and returned sometime later with a fawn, just nearing the yearling stage. Verin looked up and laughed, the eternal happiness that was ever-present in her returning now that she had something to laugh at.

[Rhaxta]

''Useless...''

Rhaxta slowly began to recite Arkantos' final words to her before he fled, their presense in her mind and memory as deep and permanent as any of the scars upon her skin. They felt like a stark physyical presense with the worry and grief they caused her.
''Too weak...I can't. More power...need more power...'' She continued with deliberate slowness, letting the words churn in her mind before she spoke them, trying to figure out Arkantos' motives.

''I have failed...I hate this, all of this. Get away...get out. Die.'' Rhaxta sighed deeply, trying to cool the heat of worry in her stomach.
''He sounded like there was some kind of struggle in his own mind, it's how I felt before. Do you think Linnea...'' Rhax let the sentance die, and narrowed her eyes slightly.

''What makes you think he couldn't kill me He's in no way too weak....I'd surrendered myself,' Rhaxta said, the concern etched into her expression.
Looking to Verin she gave a slight, forced smile and thanked her for healing her cheek. Rhaxta didn't quite trust her own use of magic anymore..

Rhaxta's green eyes followed the dragons movements, before she grinned slightly, knowing Ark would've found it amusing aswell. They facinated her, she slightly hoped she'd have more of a chance to understand Caranthor and his rider now that Rhax was calmer.

[Arkantos]

Verin looked up in alarm at Rhax's replaying of the scene by the river.

"Power? Did he say he needed more power? This is bad...there's only one place outside of Du Weldenvarden that has a massive source of ancient and powerful books of magic. The capital of the Empire itself. Uru^Baen. There's books there that could shred his mind to pieces...or worse, give him all the power he wanted, but at the cost of his sanity. I should know. After spending most of your life in a place like the palace, you figure out quickly which places will get you killed and which won't. There's even forbidden tomes of alchemy, as well as dark sorcery. If he opens and reads any of those tomes...we may have a Shade on our hands... a Shade with intimate knowledge of the Varden's command structure as well as a massive store of knowledge himself. To make matters worse, if Linnea gets together with the Shade...there won't be any precedent for the body count that will follow. The forests themselves will rise up against the elves; the mountains crumble and collapse upon the dwarves...and for humanity...we unhappy few have the fortune to die by the sword and the flame...", Verin said lightly with more than a hint of prophecy, though her hands were trembling inside her armor. She stood up and paced in circles, her mind a whirl as she contemplated the outcome of whatever their next actions were.

[Rhaxta]

The horrible pit of guilt in Rhax's gut thrived at Verin's words.
''A shade..'' she breathed, staring ahead with a defeated expression upon her face. Rhaxta knew the horror that could well be unleashed upon the world, but it seemed toned down and distant compared to her primary concern.
Arkantos. It was her fault, whatever stopped Arkantos from killing her was her doing. Now he was on a quest to find something to help him kill her, but it could very well destroy him.
Furious tears brimmed her eyes as Rhaxta felt the anger toward herself flare. Standing up she walked to the fire, her whole body and movements tense. Pacing about like a caged animal, she let her nails dig into her palm as she made fists with her hands.

''It's my fault...if it's too much for him to handle. Whatever thing takes him it will be because of me!''
Rhaxta angrily kicked a rock, sending it into the fire and causing the ash the spray. ''You've more grasp of magic than me, can't there be any way to contact him? To try and stop him? Or do you think we're strong enough to make a gateway to Uru^baen? Rhaxta asked, though inside she rebelled at the idea of setting foot in the Empire, considering what happened to the villagers of her home town.

'' By the gods, why could he not just kill me..?'' she muttered into the cold nights air, confused by what had stopped him.

Feeling her emotions begining to get away with her, Rhax closed her eyes tight. She wasn't going to make this mistake again. Biting on her lip, she tried to control the storm of emotion that threatened to overwhelm her, though she didn't know if it was going to make her scream with rage or burst into tears.
Breathing deeply, Rhax steadied her nerves. When it was calm, her mind was free. A clear, solid note of revelation broke through the confusion.

Help him, damn the expense.

''Maybe I can...maybe...'' Rhax whispered to herself, looking around. Snuffling the air, she came to the point where Arkantos had opened the gateway with magic.

So what if those dogs at the Empire had taken the villagers to be slaves? It won't stop her from entering that god forsaken land.
Rhax told herself she wanted to go so she could have a chance at finding the villagers, but she was trying to hide something from herself. She didn't want to care about Arkantos' fate as much as she did.

She felt it, that slight whisp of magic in the air that had been left behind by Arkantos' spell. Rhax turned on her heel, to face Verin and Caranthor.

''I am afraid I have to leave you now. Woman on a mission and all that. You have your lessons to tend to, anyway. Do take care, dear Verin. Also, you, brave Caranthor. I bid you farewell'' .

Rhax bowed slightly, her deep green eyes hard with determination. She turned, and spoke a line of the words she had gleamed from Arkantos' teachings and the rare occasion she had been permitted into his mind. Like a knife slicing through paper; a streak of white sliced open the air before growing wider. Rhax winced at the immense drain on the little energy she had. Without hesitation she stepped through into whatever fate had lined up for her.

[Arkantos]

((I guess this is closed then. Isn't it? Or who are we waiting for? Me?....Eh....Whatever. KAALA!!! I THINK IT'S YOUR TURN!!!))

[Rhaxta]

[[Oh mai lawd. I JUST GOT MYSELF AN IDEA. *pantpantpant, is gonna move Rhax elsewhurrr if that's okay. Edit's post*]]

[Arkantos]

((No problem. I think this is dead anyway. I'll be moving Verin to Aberon anyhow. Maybe in Danny's first thread in a while? I've been meaning to try and Rp with him for ages.))