Eglanor walks down the stairs and into the room from the 4th floor; was he up there this whole time? No one saw him if he was.
Upon hearing Goddard's questions, a small smile creeps onto his face.
"I told you cousin... rabies. It makes you tired before it drives you insane, not wholly unlike what is happening to the ice witch," as he gestures to Kat.
Eglanor points at Aara's neck at the pendant that is worn there - the iconography of Moor.
The dusky ruby set into the pendant glows with a soft light.
"Can you see it, cousin? Can you see the purple wind drawn to her?"
As Goddard looks he can clearly see the winds of Shyish coalescing around her pendant and trailing down toward the bite marks on her arm, creating the symbol of Shyish over her heart - the scythe of Shyish.
Eglanor reaches down and lifts the pendant up for a closer look.
"I have heard of these before, but I have not seen them up close. It is a rare gift indeed to have one."
Eglanor turns the pendant over to show Goddard the backside. A slight bump can be seen in the molded metal.
"It is said that each of these pendants contain within them a piece of bone from a high priest of Sigmar for protection against the undead."
Eglanor looks over at Tannin.
"Of course, the priests of Sigmar are more about action and not so much about 'defense'. They would rather pursue and destroy undead instead of having to protect against them. This pendant must have been activated by Tannin during his feedings."
He looks squarely at Goddard.
"This is a weapon against all undead. Any who are struck by the wielder will find the magics that animate them begin to fail rapidly as the pendant absorbs the wind of Shyish from them."
"Believe what you want, Herr Goddard. As long as you can laugh at yourself later when you are proven to be incorrect, then Loec approves."
Eglanor deftly plucks a piece of moose from the platter and slings it across the room into Goddard's face. It lands squarely onto his face making a 'plop' noise at impact. The juices from the meat form a suction, keeping the meat in place.
Eglanor sits down at the table facing Goddard with a bemused look on his face, watching intently as if an experiment where about to begin.
Goddard shuts his eyes quickly and his ears twitch. Deep down, he wants to be mad, but he just can't.
He grabs the piece of food and eats it. "I wish I would get some kind of warning when someone was going to throw food at me so I could catch it," he chuckles and walks toward the table. He didn't really eat as much as he should the last few days.
"And I think I am hilarious...it's others I do not find amusing."
Eglanor takes a sliver of meat from the platter and uses a knife to dissect it into tiny pieces. He stabs at one of the pieces and plops it into his mouth.
Goddard's ears droop at Eglanor's horrible joke as he looks at him far from amused.
"Cousin...that was pretty bad...I expected more from you...but please tell me how to avoid being hit the face with the limbs that I'll be hacking off after I master dancing," he chuckles.
"Speaking of dancing...I'd like to know what you think of my progress...if I've made any. I have a feeling you stalk about and watch everyone so maybe you've seen Aara and I practice."
Goddard rips the other leg off the bird and bites into it then takes a gulp from the wine glass.
"And unless you think my injuries would affect me too much, I'd like to see what dancing with you is like."
He places the knife down and pulls a feather from the pheasant on the table.
"You must show more control. Take this feather. If I were to drop it from on high, would you be able to keep it aloft with your sword strokes alone?"
He puts the feather down on Goddard's plate.
"The more you practice, and with live targets or partners, the easier this becomes. I suggest that every day you practice for at least 3 hours. It must become second nature. The songs will change with each opponent you face, and you will have to change your rhythm and steps to compensate."
He cuts a piece of pheasant from the carcass and starts to dissect it.
"Does this all make sense, cousin? If you are to be ready to face your destiny and reclaim a semblance of life away from your father, you must do this."
Goddard picks up the feather and looks at it thoughtfully. "It makes perfect sense. I'll practice every day."
He's quiet for a long moment. "What do you think will happen to me?" he asks softly, spinning the feather around. "With Malekith? If I die...keep them safe..."
Eglanor seizes a piece of bird leg and leaning across the table thrusts it up under Goddard's chin.
"I know not of this Malekith other than what was spoken of in legends," he plainly admits.
Holding the leg as if it were some kind of deadly weapon, he continues.
"You must stay focused. No talking of defeat. You do not have time for defeat, only victory. You must make your mind sharp against your fears like your blade is sharp against your enemies flesh."
He plops the leg down onto Goddard's plate.
"I do not foresee this Witch King as being a problem. If you keep your wits and mind sharp, you may not even need to meet him."
"Yeah that's all I know too..." he mumbles. "Except I guess I got more details of all the 'wonderful' things he has done and can do...but I guess you are right," he sighs. "No time for defeat. I think I have to undo all that non-sense the Amethyst college taught me."
Goddard finishes the leg he originally grabbed and eats what Eglanor plopped onto this plate. "If I don't need an audience with Malekith, I think I'd dance with Khaladh," he chuckles. "And actually dance...a waltz."
"I would believe that your college taught you to accept death as a natural part of life, not to go seeking it out by accepting defeat."
Eglanor stands up and walks away from the table.
"Do not forget cousin, when mighty Teclis created the colleges he did so for the sake of the limited amount of time and energy in human potential. You do not suffer their ills or failures and were born into a different purpose. A purpose that can last for centuries."
He adjusts his cloak and belt that holds his haft-blade. He pulls the blade from of the belt and gives is a few strokes in the air.
"Diath was granted to me by the Lady of the Wood for serving her and the elves during a time of great crisis. When I was cast out... she allowed me to keep it."
Eglanor turns away from Goddard and the rest of the room, facing the door out.
"Some things Goddard, no matter what happens, you earn. You keep with you as a sign of who you were. That does not mean that is all you are. There are more things to create yourself in the image of. Your path has just started."
"Maybe I wasn't paying attention," Goddard shrugs. "And you're right cousin. About all of it." He sighs. "So your eyes...is that why they cast you out?"
He stands perfectly still for a moment, as if no one had asked him the question before. Turning slightly to his side to half face the room, he speaks.
"Yes. My society has but one true enemy - the forces of Chaos in the form of the vile beast men. They poison the wood with their corrupting presence and attempt to undo thousands of years of growth and progress. Should our forest fall, all life in the Old World would surely follow."
He stares off into the room, looking at something but nothing at the same time.
"My troupe was tasked with protecting the ancient ruins in the center of the forest. Legend says that the Old Ones once lived among the wood and drew their power from there. We noticed several months ago a corrupting influence spread among the ruins. We investigated and discovered a creature of shadow and death."
Eglanor returns his gaze onto Goddard.
"Its foul magics were mighty and my troupe stood little chance of success. All but myself were killed in an attempt to dispatch our foe. They each gave their lives so that I could strike at him with a single blow - a blow that disrupted his corrupting magic and prevented the dark ritual from being completed."
His face grows ashen as he retells the final part of the tale.
"The energy released corrupted the ruins but did not have the desired effect the shadow creature wanted, as he soon fled the location. I was knocked through the trees by the magical forces released. When I awoke, my eyes had changed and the area was full of creatures from the Aethyr."
Eglanor approaches the sleeping form of Aara on the ground and stands over her.
"When I returned to the Lady of the Wood to give my accounting, she tearfully informed me that I was a threat to the kingdom. For her to show such emotion was... " his voice cracks at the end, like a twig snapping in a quite copse of trees.
Regaining his composure, he continues.
"I was exiled. Ritual suicide is permitted among my culture for the mutation that has afflicted me. I am a warrior... suicide was not my path. My purpose was to die in a manner which may regain my honor, and to that end I have tracked this being to the Empire and finally to Araby where I met your group."
Goddard growls angrily. "Why are elves like this? Father was turned away from that big fancy whatever tower and I had to escape or be killed myself. It isn't fair...we are still us..."
"People fear what they do not understand. Its not just the elves. Do you think my family would welcome me be with open arms if they knew what Ive become?" Tannin says, still laying on the floor
The scroll is revealed to be a map from the first floor of the tower, showing an overall map of Naggaroth with cities, locations of note and terrain details.
"If we don't find anything there that gives us direction, we should head toward Har Ganeth and see if the Autarii can gather some information on the fool in my tower."
"Or I can ditch my name and walk about," he chuckles. "Not like anyone will recognize me."
"We should be in this area," he pokes at a forested area of the map.
"A boat would be a straight shot, but I have a feeling the Shades do better on land than on water. So we may have to go the long way around," he drags his finger heading north along the western coast of the Sea of Malice.
Aara rolls over, grumbling, and shivers. With a sigh, she opens one eye, cursing her internal clock. Some habits can't be broken, I suppose. She slowly uncurls, stretching her feet and toes before her legs, back, shoulders, and neck. Stretching her arms high above her head, she cracks her knuckles and sighs.
Goddard is sitting at the table, poking at his food, grumbling in druhir. Arha is quietly sitting on Goddard's glass of wine, occasionally nodding, bobbing, or shaking it's head.
Aara stands and sees Goddard at the table with his shadow creature. Pushing her mess of hair over her shoulder, she walks over in stocking feet. Without the corset to cinch the tunic in, it's obvious how big it is on her small frame.
"What are you mumbling about?" she asks sleepily, sitting beside him and laying her head on the table.
"He means the opposite of what he said. It's a...holiday? Where the witch elves grab anyone they find and either send females away to be trained as witch elves, males to be dumped in a boiling cauldron of blood, or just kill them as a sacrifice to Khaine..."
"Wonderful right?" he says sarcastically. "And this will happen soon...in eight days. If I had any idea of time, I would have known this before now..."
Aara's hand pauses halfway to her mouth. Setting her food down, she takes a sip of water. "That's a holiday?" She curses softly. "And we'll be right in the middle of it, won't we?"
Goddard chuckles a bit. "If only it were that simple. Druchii board up their doors and windows so the witch elves can't get in. And you can't fight them off because if you kill a bride of Khaine, punishment may be worse than death. And yes...it's only or the night. Sunset to sunrise."
Aara shudders and pushes her barely-touched plate away. Tucking her feet underneath her, she lays her head back on the table. "I think your people need to be taught what a holiday is," she mutters.
She laughs. "Moose face? I wish I had seen that. But I'm glad you're feeling better. You're not suited to a sour temper." She shifts in her seat, yawning. "I like you much better when you're not brooding."
She stands in her chair and jumps to the table. Pushing his plate and cup aside, she sits right in front of him, feet in his lap. "When you're grumpy, you're grumpy at everyone, and it's annoying. It's decidedly not fun."
"Not the fun kind of bad things," she tells him with a smirk. She leans very far forward to whisper in his ear. "It makes me want to hurt you in ways you've never hurt before."
"As good as a shoulder can feel the day after you've been stabbed," he jokes. "It's fine lecai," Goddard smiles. "How about you? I didn't hurt you too much?"
Aara shrugs. "Tender, but otherwise fine. It'll serve as a reminder not to hold back on you next time." She grins, tugging one of her stockings that slipped down her ankle.
"I don't mind. One the reasons I rise so early is to practice for a few hours before Koroush wakes. My ustadh would work us from dawn to dusk during my training."
Aara pulls her plate closer, not quite willing to leave the warmth of his lap. "I wish your people ate vegetables," she laughed. "All this meat sits heavily."
She sighs dramatically, thinking of sweet melons warmed by the son, the cool flavor of salad sprinkled with citrus, and sticky, sweet al'salooq. "All the same, I wish it." She picks at her food, nibbling absently at some cheese.
Goddard stares at Aara dreamily. I hate Araby's stupid rules...stupid...dumb rules...
"Oh," his eyes fall on the necklace she wears. "Lecai," he carefully and slowly scoops up the symbol of Morr. "This amulet. It protects you. If you strike undead with any weapon while you wear this, its power disrupts the magic that animate the body."
She frowns, catching him staring at her. Do I have food on my face? she thinks, dabbing her mouth with a napkin.
When he tells her about the pendant, she raises a brow. "That's...well, that's helpful. Tannin beware," she laughs. "Did you find something in your books?"
"My dear cousin tried to scare me again with talk of vampires, bats, and rabies," he chuckles. "He pointed it out to me after Tannin bit you. It was as if it were activated by the bite. I just must not have noticed before because I get...distracted..."
"My temper, it seems. Goddard just told me that this pendant makes it so that if I strike an undead with any weapon, it disrupts the magic animating it. Sparring might not be a good idea," she laughs.
Aara shoots him a dirty look. "Because I can't," she says. "Not without speaking with Koroush first. He would have me whipped and abandon me- if not worse."
"And I wish I could start a single day without one of you taking about the sexual tension. All you two do is talk about how bad the other one is because you cant be together. Has it ever occurred to you that maybe you should just ask Koroush? And who, exactly is he going to get to whip you? He has no authority here, only Goddard does." Tannin says, rolling his eye
"Koroush has authority over me, you asinine dolt," she retorts sharply. "I have a blood debt to Koroush, but I wouldn't expect you to understand what it's like to owe your life to someone. And trust me, he doesn't need someone to whip me, he'll do it himself."
"So your just going to droll the rest of your life? Look Goddard, If I was about to walk into a city of people that wanted to kill me on the night of killing everyone, I think Id ask koroush about Aara. One of you very well may die, only leaving the survivor with regrets of what could have been." Tannin says like its the most obvious thing in the world. "Why go into this without the knowledge that when you come out, you can be together. Give yourselves a reason to come out alive; knowing you can finally be together in every way"
Aara grits her teeth and stands. "I'm tired of talking about it." Grabbing her boots, clothes, and scimitars, she stalks out of the room and up to the fourth story.
Goddard hears Aara's footsteps head upstairs. Annoyed with Tannin, he too gets up and leaves but heads downstairs, hoping no one will want to talk to him.
Shivering, Aara sits on the stairs and tugs on her boots, then wraps the corset around herself. Shoving her arms into the straps, she clenches her teeth. Idiot. What would he know about it? She laces herself up, fumbling with the strings because of her gloves. Pinning her veil in place, she walks out into the slowly brightening day.
Aara drags two sturdy crates out of the pile and finds a long board to set across them. It's makeshift, but should be sturdy enough. Leaving her cloak off, she starts walking the length of the board in a handstand.
"Dont mention it. I have half a mind to bite them both next time I feed and watch them set upon each other like rabbid dogs. Well...Not Watch , but you know what I mean"
Eventually, tannin gets out of bed. He throws on some simple trousers, his leather vest and the awkwardly form fitting chain mail over top. He straps the grail back around his waist with his sword belt, and grabs his ax.
"I didnt get a chance to do weapon drills last night. Assuming Goddard and Aara arnt both of there, I'll be on the roof if you need me." Tannin says to Katarina, walking outside
Aara stands on the center of the board, scimitars drawn. It isn't easy balancing on the narrow board, but she finds her center and before long she's moving through the spheres. I wish I had just cut his purse and run instead of picking his pocket. She sighs and forces herself to focus, speeding up until her swords are a blur and each step she makes is perfectly placed. Slowly, her mind empties, finding peace in the familiar muscle memories.
"I do mind," she snaps, not pausing her spinning scimitars. "You've ruined my morning, why don't you go find yourself some pretty druchii and ruins hers as well?"
"Because I speak the truth to you and Goddard? Listen, this state of limbo you are both in is old. Since you and Goddard are so alike, I'll try the same reasoning I use with him with you; Do somthing with this "Relationship" or what ever you want to call it, or accept that it will never happen and move on. Koroush is your master, and its not fair to Goddard to keep him on a string knowing he can never have you." Tannin says as he draws his axe, continuing to stretch in the pale dawn light. He clearly has no intention of leaving
She glares at him. "Do you think I don't know that, or want to do something about it? What you don't understand is that I can't talk to Koroush about it- that's not the way my society works. And I'm not keeping him on a string, as you put it. But since you're so concerned, let me explain it to you. I can have Goddard without permission from Koroush- if I want to be an outcast from my people and lose what little family I have left. Not to mention being whipped till my flesh peels off my back and abandoned by the one person who's been my protector and guardian.
"Or I can wait for Goddard to talk to Koroush and gain permission. Then I can be quietly moved into a harem, whether Koroush's or an ally of his. Or, if I'm lucky, some low noble or merchant won't balk at the idea of wedding a woman who has the names of her victims tattooed on her hands and I can live quietly and have a rather boring life raising fat little babies.
"Either way, it ends with me growing old and dying, and Goddard doing niether of those things." She stops moving and faces him. "I may never be released from my debt, so I'll take what I can get while I can. And I'd appreciate it if you and Katarina would stay out of it and let me enjoy it."
"Goddard is much closer to death then any of us, especially with whats about to happen. Or am I the only person that can Taste the coming blood shed? Even Eglanor is trying to give him a bit of help so he atleast stands a fighting chance. And what do you do, Aara? Remind him that the one thing he wants, he cant have, seemingly all day everyday. If neither of you will speak to koroush about this before what could very well be the end of you both, you could atleast get your head in the right place and out of the relms of pleasure and lust"
Aara sighs. "Eglanor isn't the only one trying to help him, Tannin. I worked with him most of yesterday and have the injuries to show for his improvement. But you still don't understand. And you never will."
Picking up her cloak, she brushes past him and heads down the stairs. She doesn't stop at the door to their room, though, instead continuing down the stairs. Eyes downcast, she passes quickly and quietly through the common room, spotting Goddard lounging next to the druchii who had been tied up the day before.
"And it just snapped him in half? Idiot," Goddard chuckles. "I have never been around a nauglir, but I have heard enough stories to know not to do that..."
"Ahh I know...It was shocking at first but now...it's funny," she takes a sip from the wine and passes it to Goddard.
Humans. So full of emotion. How many of these poor souls will be alive next week? Next month?
Tannin moves to where Aara was standing. He holds his longsword in a reverse grip in his off hand, and holds his axe near the bottom of the haft, Just like Harkon instructed
Standing up straight, Tannin looks at his soundings. Closing his eyes, he imagines 6 ghost combatants around him with various weapons. Crouching, he takes a defensive stance.
The first one comes at him, head on. The blow from his hammer is turned aside with the hook on the axes blade, the weight of it used agisnt the invisible opponent. Its head is easily loped off with the blade in his off hand.
Instinctively, he kicks out behind him, knocking the second opponent backwards. The other 4 lunge in, and Tannin flexes his speed. He kicks up snow with the head of his axe and becomes a whirlwind of death, spinning his weapons in his hands with brutal efficiency. Not a single move is wasted, a single step out of place, each stroke coming in with the strength and speed to cut almost anything coming into contact in two.
As his initial opponents die, more spawn around him. He dispatches them almost faster then he can think about them. Faster and faster he moves, pushing his body past the physical limit and into the unnatural.
As soon as she steps outside the walls, Aara feels a weight lift off her shoulders. Don't go far, it won't do to get lost or meet with one of those monsters again. Surverying the landscape, she spots a tree within sight of the tower. Making sure her scimitars are secure at her hips, she walks over and jumps up, grabbing the lowest branch. She climbs as high as she dares before settling in the space between two branches. Wrapping her cloak around her, Aara closes her eyes against tears of frustration.
On the ship, Katarina accused Goddard of using me as a conquest; I wish he were. It would be easier to rid myself of this wretchedness if that were true. And now Tannin acusses me of constantly reminding Goddard of what he can't have. I don't mean to. If I were beautiful and could use it against him, that would be one thing, but I'm not. I'm plain, and peasant born. I'm not like Tannin or Katarina or Koroush or Goddard. Even the two skaven have higher standing than I do. I'm not fit to be a companion to any of them. When this is all over, I'll go back to Araby, give myself over to Adahara's priestesses if they'll have me.
It seems the only option left. Assuming I don't die.
Goddard leans his head back and looks up expectantly at the elf standing over him.
"One of your slaves is a up a tree." He sounds annoyed. "It seems a bit suspicious..."
"Which one?" Goddard raises a brow. I feel bad but...certain 'slaves' I'd like to tie up at the top of a tree sometimes...and leave them...
"The little one."
"OH...don't worry about her..."
The druchii impatiently grinds his teeth.
"Fine...I'll go see what she's doing up a tree..." Goddard gets up with a sigh. "But, I know it's for nothing...and I don't appreciate being forced to go out into the cold to ease your nerves. She's just a small human woman..." he smirks
I can't seem weak...turn things back on them and hope none of them want to stab you...at least until later...away from this place where you just might have a chance.
The druchii growls. "You aren't being forced anywhere..."
"Yes I am... especially if I don't want to lose more of anything I own..."
Goddard walks out into the snow and pulls up his hood and cowl. A tree is pointed out to him and he walks over and looks up.
Goddard frowns at how high up into the tree she went. "No way am I getting up there," he mumbles.
He leans up against the tree and starts to sing. It feels good to be out in open air, and be somewhat relaxed. Especially since after being underground and then in a stone building. Even the crumbled rooftop feels too covered in comparison.
Aara cracks open on eye and looks down. What is he doing? The song seems to weave itself through the branches, swirling around like snow. She waits a moment before speaking.
"Can I be of service, my lord?" she asks softly. She isn't even sure he can hear her over his song.
"I had to make sure 'the little one' wasn't doing anything suspicious," he smirks. "I don't know though..."
((druhir)) "Sleeping in a tree?" he says loudly in druhir. "Highly suspicious activity..." he looks over at some of the Autarii who were watching from a distance by the tower and they turn away.
"Yes, it's natural," she says, ignoring his talk of revenge for her family. "It's good that you're comfortable with them, you'll be leading them soon."
"I hope I can do a well enough job of that," he chuckles. "Are you ok?" he pulls out the dagger in his boot and cleans his nails, hoping whatever watchful eyes don't think much of what may be going on.
"Move your hand, not your dagger." She sighs. "He said that I should stop reminding you of the one thing you can't have and help you prepare for what's coming. And he's right. But short of ignoring you completely, I don't know how."
Goddard chuckles. "Don't listen to Tannin. Don't take this the wrong way lecai," he whispers, "But all I need is my mind and even without eyes, I could remind myself of what I cannot have that very second."
Aara feels a small smile work its way across her lips at that. "I'm sorry?" she says, changing position so she swings upside down on the branch and grabs the one below her and carefully lowers herself on it.
"Ahh yes! After you help me train with my sword, I will help you read, everyday. Sadly, the only thing I have that wouldn't be completely annoying to figure out, is my cookbook."
Aara's quiet for a long moment, arms crossed and leaning against the tree. "If it were just a whipping, I wouldn't care," she says softly. "Tannin thinks he understands, but he doesn't. You do."
"Of course he doesn't understand...he's a Bretonian," Goddard laughs. "I wish I were understood...so I try my best to understand," he says thoughtfully.
Aara jumps across a wide space to a lower branch as easily as stepping down a stair. "You're not so hard to understand. Food, books, wine, and women," she laughs.
Goddard sputters and shakes his head. He leans down to scoop up some snow. "Now...where is a rock I can put right in the middle of this," he chuckles. "You're lucky I can't find one," he tosses it Eglanor.
Aara climbs carefully down to the next branch and makes a snowball. While Goddard's distracted by Eglanor, she hits him in the back of the head with it.
"On second thought cousin, you may not favor the learning method."
He steps out from behind the tree.
"It requires that you learn to hold your breath for a period of time. I've heard that you are not fond of the sensation."
He reaches over his should and lifts off of it an elegant elven bow. You didn't even notice it was there due to the bow string seemingly being a part of the design on his shirt.
"As any good elf from the Laurelorn Forest, I do have a bow..."
Aara works her way around the tree, gathering another snowball. "I bet you can't stop talking long enough to hold your breath," she laughs, throwing a snowball at Eglanor.
Elganor bats the snowball away with the edge of the bow.
He gives Goddard a serious look.
"I should warn you, Goddard. We do not use normal arrows with the elven bows of Laurelorn Forest... we use woodland creatures. Let me tell you, you haven't known terror until an angry squirrel is fired into your chest."
"You two don't know what a porcupine is?" he asks, shaking his head.
"It's the perfect weapon," he crouches down into the snow and begins to draw one. "It's a bumbling creature, covered in sharp spines, that stick into you and come loose from it's body and dig into your skin..."
"It sounds like a mythic creature. Just like Tannin's unicorn," Aara snorts. "And for the record, I've only been out of Araby just over a year. We traveled extensively within our own borders."
"I would be wary Aara of the creatures of chaos. They excel at making you believe that they do not exist. No doubt this porcupine creature is not only dangerous, but fiendishly intelligent."
He looks around as if trying to see if one is watching them now.
Goddard chuckles. "Yes they can lecai. Rather well I might add. But they are about...ooohhhh...four feet or so at their longest, counting the tail, so you would have seen it before it saw you."
"You think I would lie to you?" he gasps. "Lecai...you should know me better."
"And that is true about the skaven...but they are not spiky. We can fix this problem and I can fill them full of daggers. It won't be exactly the same but close enough for me."
He laughs. "It has nothing to do with chaos. It's a creature of nature. How about...a skunk? That one is pretty bad too as far as nature goes. Your horrible horrible nature my dear cousin..."
"I suppose we should," she says, sighing. She falls backwards, hanging upside down for a moment before reaching up and grabbing to branch to lower herself down feet first.
Aara walks close behind him. "I can teach you," she says. The closer they get to the tower, the more her demeanor changes into a meek, pliable pleasure slave. She twitches her cloak closed, covering her scimitars and raises her hood, making herself as unassuming and invisible as possible.
Eglanor walks down the stairs and into the room from the 4th floor; was he up there this whole time? No one saw him if he was.
ReplyDeleteUpon hearing Goddard's questions, a small smile creeps onto his face.
"I told you cousin... rabies. It makes you tired before it drives you insane, not wholly unlike what is happening to the ice witch," as he gestures to Kat.
"I'm sober this time," he smirks. "But you are correct. She is indeed insane. I attract insane women apparently..."
ReplyDelete"I'd be careful how you word that Goddard; your 'pleasure slave' is not wholly asleep yet."
ReplyDeleteEglanor moves over to where Aara is laying down and visually inspects the bite made on her arm.
"Hmm... yes, that does look odd," he muses out loud.
"What looks odd?" Goddard says with concern. He moves by Eglanor and looks at the bite as well.
ReplyDelete"What! I don't see anything!"
"You aren't looking close enough."
ReplyDeleteEglanor points at Aara's neck at the pendant that is worn there - the iconography of Moor.
The dusky ruby set into the pendant glows with a soft light.
"Can you see it, cousin? Can you see the purple wind drawn to her?"
As Goddard looks he can clearly see the winds of Shyish coalescing around her pendant and trailing down toward the bite marks on her arm, creating the symbol of Shyish over her heart - the scythe of Shyish.
"Yes I can. I've never seen anything like that before."
ReplyDeleteGoddard watches the winds, his brain frantically sorting through anything and everything he has read that might help him figure this out.
Eglanor reaches down and lifts the pendant up for a closer look.
ReplyDelete"I have heard of these before, but I have not seen them up close. It is a rare gift indeed to have one."
Eglanor turns the pendant over to show Goddard the backside. A slight bump can be seen in the molded metal.
"It is said that each of these pendants contain within them a piece of bone from a high priest of Sigmar for protection against the undead."
Eglanor looks over at Tannin.
"Of course, the priests of Sigmar are more about action and not so much about 'defense'. They would rather pursue and destroy undead instead of having to protect against them. This pendant must have been activated by Tannin during his feedings."
He looks squarely at Goddard.
"This is a weapon against all undead. Any who are struck by the wielder will find the magics that animate them begin to fail rapidly as the pendant absorbs the wind of Shyish from them."
He smirks. "Bad news for Khaladh if he gets on Aara's bad side."
ReplyDelete"But she's safe," Goddard sighs. He turns to Eglanor and gives him a shove.
"Don't scare me like that again cousin! Saying something is 'odd' while looking at lecai right after you tell me vampires have rabies!"
He looks at Goddard with a sad face.
ReplyDelete"Cousin, why would a follower of Loec try to do anything so heinous as to make you concerned?"
Eglanor stands up and walks over to the table with the food on display. He smiles slightly to himself.
"After all, he's only the trickster god..."
"That's a very convincing sad face," Goddard chuckles. "I don't believe it for one second."
ReplyDelete"Believe what you want, Herr Goddard. As long as you can laugh at yourself later when you are proven to be incorrect, then Loec approves."
ReplyDeleteEglanor deftly plucks a piece of moose from the platter and slings it across the room into Goddard's face. It lands squarely onto his face making a 'plop' noise at impact. The juices from the meat form a suction, keeping the meat in place.
Eglanor sits down at the table facing Goddard with a bemused look on his face, watching intently as if an experiment where about to begin.
Goddard shuts his eyes quickly and his ears twitch. Deep down, he wants to be mad, but he just can't.
ReplyDeleteHe grabs the piece of food and eats it. "I wish I would get some kind of warning when someone was going to throw food at me so I could catch it," he chuckles and walks toward the table. He didn't really eat as much as he should the last few days.
"And I think I am hilarious...it's others I do not find amusing."
"Good. You have accepted your fate then?"
ReplyDeleteEglanor takes a sliver of meat from the platter and uses a knife to dissect it into tiny pieces. He stabs at one of the pieces and plops it into his mouth.
As he chews he raises his eyebrows at Goddard.
"Hmmm?" Goddard looks confused at Eglanor.
ReplyDeleteWhere as Eglanor cuts his food up into little bits, Goddard just rips a leg off a roasted bird and chomps into it.
"My fate of being hilarious?"
Elganor sees that Goddard has fully fallen into the trap and now it is to be sprung.
ReplyDelete"No, your fate of being a moose face."
Elganor smile wickedly at the badly put joke, as if some sort of personal achievement has been accomplished. A moment passes and he laughs out loud.
"Oh yes, cousin. I do believe that's one for Eglanor, and zero for Goddard."
His face becomes serious a moment later.
"You should really work on avoiding meat-to-the-face. It is very distracting and will hamper you in combat."
Another moment passes and he smiles again whilst picking at another piece of meat.
Goddard's ears droop at Eglanor's horrible joke as he looks at him far from amused.
ReplyDelete"Cousin...that was pretty bad...I expected more from you...but please tell me how to avoid being hit the face with the limbs that I'll be hacking off after I master dancing," he chuckles.
"Unless you plan on losing your weapon, taking their fallen limbs, and then using them as clubs against the enemy... it shouldn't be a problem."
ReplyDeleteEglanor sees the look on Goddard s face.
"That was actually serious advice. I've seen Orcs do just as much."
He takes a tiny sip of the whine at the table.
"Besides, once you can dance to several songs, the rest is easy."
"Speaking of dancing...I'd like to know what you think of my progress...if I've made any. I have a feeling you stalk about and watch everyone so maybe you've seen Aara and I practice."
ReplyDeleteGoddard rips the other leg off the bird and bites into it then takes a gulp from the wine glass.
"And unless you think my injuries would affect me too much, I'd like to see what dancing with you is like."
"When you are ready, we shall spare."
ReplyDeleteHe places the knife down and pulls a feather from the pheasant on the table.
"You must show more control. Take this feather. If I were to drop it from on high, would you be able to keep it aloft with your sword strokes alone?"
He puts the feather down on Goddard's plate.
"The more you practice, and with live targets or partners, the easier this becomes. I suggest that every day you practice for at least 3 hours. It must become second nature. The songs will change with each opponent you face, and you will have to change your rhythm and steps to compensate."
He cuts a piece of pheasant from the carcass and starts to dissect it.
"Does this all make sense, cousin? If you are to be ready to face your destiny and reclaim a semblance of life away from your father, you must do this."
Goddard picks up the feather and looks at it thoughtfully. "It makes perfect sense. I'll practice every day."
ReplyDeleteHe's quiet for a long moment. "What do you think will happen to me?" he asks softly, spinning the feather around. "With Malekith? If I die...keep them safe..."
Eglanor seizes a piece of bird leg and leaning across the table thrusts it up under Goddard's chin.
ReplyDelete"I know not of this Malekith other than what was spoken of in legends," he plainly admits.
Holding the leg as if it were some kind of deadly weapon, he continues.
"You must stay focused. No talking of defeat. You do not have time for defeat, only victory. You must make your mind sharp against your fears like your blade is sharp against your enemies flesh."
He plops the leg down onto Goddard's plate.
"I do not foresee this Witch King as being a problem. If you keep your wits and mind sharp, you may not even need to meet him."
"Yeah that's all I know too..." he mumbles. "Except I guess I got more details of all the 'wonderful' things he has done and can do...but I guess you are right," he sighs. "No time for defeat. I think I have to undo all that non-sense the Amethyst college taught me."
ReplyDeleteGoddard finishes the leg he originally grabbed and eats what Eglanor plopped onto this plate. "If I don't need an audience with Malekith, I think I'd dance with Khaladh," he chuckles. "And actually dance...a waltz."
"I would believe that your college taught you to accept death as a natural part of life, not to go seeking it out by accepting defeat."
ReplyDeleteEglanor stands up and walks away from the table.
"Do not forget cousin, when mighty Teclis created the colleges he did so for the sake of the limited amount of time and energy in human potential. You do not suffer their ills or failures and were born into a different purpose. A purpose that can last for centuries."
He adjusts his cloak and belt that holds his haft-blade. He pulls the blade from of the belt and gives is a few strokes in the air.
"Diath was granted to me by the Lady of the Wood for serving her and the elves during a time of great crisis. When I was cast out... she allowed me to keep it."
Eglanor turns away from Goddard and the rest of the room, facing the door out.
"Some things Goddard, no matter what happens, you earn. You keep with you as a sign of who you were. That does not mean that is all you are. There are more things to create yourself in the image of. Your path has just started."
"Maybe I wasn't paying attention," Goddard shrugs. "And you're right cousin. About all of it." He sighs. "So your eyes...is that why they cast you out?"
ReplyDeleteHe stands perfectly still for a moment, as if no one had asked him the question before. Turning slightly to his side to half face the room, he speaks.
ReplyDelete"Yes. My society has but one true enemy - the forces of Chaos in the form of the vile beast men. They poison the wood with their corrupting presence and attempt to undo thousands of years of growth and progress. Should our forest fall, all life in the Old World would surely follow."
He stares off into the room, looking at something but nothing at the same time.
"My troupe was tasked with protecting the ancient ruins in the center of the forest. Legend says that the Old Ones once lived among the wood and drew their power from there. We noticed several months ago a corrupting influence spread among the ruins. We investigated and discovered a creature of shadow and death."
Eglanor returns his gaze onto Goddard.
"Its foul magics were mighty and my troupe stood little chance of success. All but myself were killed in an attempt to dispatch our foe. They each gave their lives so that I could strike at him with a single blow - a blow that disrupted his corrupting magic and prevented the dark ritual from being completed."
His face grows ashen as he retells the final part of the tale.
"The energy released corrupted the ruins but did not have the desired effect the shadow creature wanted, as he soon fled the location. I was knocked through the trees by the magical forces released. When I awoke, my eyes had changed and the area was full of creatures from the Aethyr."
Eglanor approaches the sleeping form of Aara on the ground and stands over her.
"When I returned to the Lady of the Wood to give my accounting, she tearfully informed me that I was a threat to the kingdom. For her to show such emotion was... " his voice cracks at the end, like a twig snapping in a quite copse of trees.
Regaining his composure, he continues.
"I was exiled. Ritual suicide is permitted among my culture for the mutation that has afflicted me. I am a warrior... suicide was not my path. My purpose was to die in a manner which may regain my honor, and to that end I have tracked this being to the Empire and finally to Araby where I met your group."
He faces Goddard once more.
"To that end, I shall not be defeated."
Goddard growls angrily. "Why are elves like this? Father was turned away from that big fancy whatever tower and I had to escape or be killed myself. It isn't fair...we are still us..."
ReplyDelete"People fear what they do not understand. Its not just the elves. Do you think my family would welcome me be with open arms if they knew what Ive become?" Tannin says, still laying on the floor
ReplyDelete"You aren't mutated Khaladh," Goddard waves a dismissive hand. "Humans are a bit more forgiving, especially when it comes to mutated family."
ReplyDelete"Ive seen Vampire hunters before. Folk that specialize in killing my kind. Ive never seen a mutant hunter"
ReplyDelete"Look cousin...again...humans and their inability to understand elves...it's maddening..."
ReplyDelete"There are those that hunt vampires, for I have met a few. There are also those in the Empire that hunt mutants - they are known as Witch Hunters."
ReplyDeleteEglanor gives Goddard a knowing look, but says nothing.
Sitting down at the table that is next to Goddard's chest of potions and books, he procures a scroll from his cloak and rolls it out on the table.
Goddard walks to where Eglanor sits and looks over his shoulder at the scroll.
ReplyDelete"What's this?"
"We should begin planning our next move."
ReplyDeleteThe scroll is revealed to be a map from the first floor of the tower, showing an overall map of Naggaroth with cities, locations of note and terrain details.
"First we should look at the cave the Autarii mentioned. Hopefully there will be some clues there."
ReplyDelete"If we don't find anything there that gives us direction, we should head toward Har Ganeth and see if the Autarii can gather some information on the fool in my tower."
ReplyDelete"Or I can ditch my name and walk about," he chuckles. "Not like anyone will recognize me."
"We should be in this area," he pokes at a forested area of the map.
"A boat would be a straight shot, but I have a feeling the Shades do better on land than on water. So we may have to go the long way around," he drags his finger heading north along the western coast of the Sea of Malice.
((druhir))
ReplyDeleteThe Autarii come in early this morning with breakfast. Everyone is still resting when they enter except for Goddard who opens the door to let them in.
"Death Night is eight days away," one whispers to another. "I wonder how that will affect everything?"
"We'll be fine," another smirks. "Are you afraid?"
"No! Just thinking ahead..."
They all head out leaving the food and drinks. Goddard gulps and looks around the room.
"Kynth Arha," he whispers...
Yes Master?
"Not you!"
No.
ReplyDeleteIt's not dawn yet.
You don't have to wake up.
Aara rolls over, grumbling, and shivers. With a sigh, she opens one eye, cursing her internal clock. Some habits can't be broken, I suppose. She slowly uncurls, stretching her feet and toes before her legs, back, shoulders, and neck. Stretching her arms high above her head, she cracks her knuckles and sighs.
Goddard is sitting at the table, poking at his food, grumbling in druhir. Arha is quietly sitting on Goddard's glass of wine, occasionally nodding, bobbing, or shaking it's head.
ReplyDeleteAara stands and sees Goddard at the table with his shadow creature. Pushing her mess of hair over her shoulder, she walks over in stocking feet. Without the corset to cinch the tunic in, it's obvious how big it is on her small frame.
ReplyDelete"What are you mumbling about?" she asks sleepily, sitting beside him and laying her head on the table.
The most wonderful time of the year!
ReplyDeleteIt speaks only to Goddard and Aara.
"Shut up arha!" Goddard grabs at the smoke. It just sits there.
Master, I'm very lucky that you cannot grab me and strangle me...
"Yeah you are..." Goddard grumbles.
"Most wonderful time of the year?" She frowns, sitting up and picking a few things to eat. "What does he mean?"
ReplyDelete"He means the opposite of what he said. It's a...holiday? Where the witch elves grab anyone they find and either send females away to be trained as witch elves, males to be dumped in a boiling cauldron of blood, or just kill them as a sacrifice to Khaine..."
ReplyDelete"Wonderful right?" he says sarcastically. "And this will happen soon...in eight days. If I had any idea of time, I would have known this before now..."
Aara's hand pauses halfway to her mouth. Setting her food down, she takes a sip of water. "That's a holiday?" She curses softly. "And we'll be right in the middle of it, won't we?"
ReplyDelete"I hope not...but with our luck...yeah we will probably be right in the middle of Har Ganeth when it all starts," he chuckles.
ReplyDelete"These witch elves, they just pluck other elves off the streets? Does it only last the night?"
ReplyDeleteGoddard chuckles a bit. "If only it were that simple. Druchii board up their doors and windows so the witch elves can't get in. And you can't fight them off because if you kill a bride of Khaine, punishment may be worse than death. And yes...it's only or the night. Sunset to sunrise."
ReplyDeleteAara shudders and pushes her barely-touched plate away. Tucking her feet underneath her, she lays her head back on the table. "I think your people need to be taught what a holiday is," she mutters.
ReplyDelete"We aren't much for fluffy bunnies and yellow chicks and babies that shoot arrows...unless its to eat them," he laughs.
ReplyDeleteAara scowls. "You don't eat babies. You don't like them enough to get close enough to cook them."
ReplyDelete"Ok ok fine," he frowns. "We put them in the boiling blood, cook them, but don't eat them...you have it all figured out."
ReplyDeleteAara sticks her tongue out at him. "You're in a rather playful mood this morning."
ReplyDelete"My cousin and I talked a lot last night. He made a lot of sense. And threw food at me and called me a...a moose face," he laughs.
ReplyDeleteShe laughs. "Moose face? I wish I had seen that. But I'm glad you're feeling better. You're not suited to a sour temper." She shifts in her seat, yawning. "I like you much better when you're not brooding."
ReplyDelete"No, you're lucky you didn't see it...or hear my cousins terrible jokes."
ReplyDeleteGoddard crosses his arms. "And what if I want to be a grump? Because its fun?"
She stands in her chair and jumps to the table. Pushing his plate and cup aside, she sits right in front of him, feet in his lap. "When you're grumpy, you're grumpy at everyone, and it's annoying. It's decidedly not fun."
ReplyDelete"It's fun for me..." he sticks his tongue out at her.
ReplyDeleteShe grabs his tongue, grinning at him. "It's not fun for anyone else. You make it hard to want to do fun things to you."
ReplyDeleteHe pulls back and smiles. "Does it make you wanna do bad things to me?" he says grinning.
ReplyDelete"Not the fun kind of bad things," she tells him with a smirk. She leans very far forward to whisper in his ear. "It makes me want to hurt you in ways you've never hurt before."
ReplyDelete"Aara," he whispers back. "That sounds like the extremely fun kind of bad things..."
ReplyDeleteAara giggles and bites his ear. "Be grumpy and find out."
ReplyDeleteGoddard frowns. "I can't be grumpy now! You've ruined the mood," he laughs.
ReplyDeleteAara laughs and slides into his lap, curling up against him. "Good," she says. "How's your shoulder?"
ReplyDelete"As good as a shoulder can feel the day after you've been stabbed," he jokes. "It's fine lecai," Goddard smiles. "How about you? I didn't hurt you too much?"
ReplyDeleteAara shrugs. "Tender, but otherwise fine. It'll serve as a reminder not to hold back on you next time." She grins, tugging one of her stockings that slipped down her ankle.
ReplyDelete"Speaking of that, how does practicing for at least 3 hours a day sound to you?" he asks softly picking at the stocking.
ReplyDelete"I don't mind. One the reasons I rise so early is to practice for a few hours before Koroush wakes. My ustadh would work us from dawn to dusk during my training."
ReplyDelete"So should we work on that after we finish breakfast?" he begins to eat now and not just poke at the food.
ReplyDeleteTannin yawns, waking. He hardly slept the night before, which isnt unusual for him anymore.
ReplyDeleteAara pulls her plate closer, not quite willing to leave the warmth of his lap. "I wish your people ate vegetables," she laughed. "All this meat sits heavily."
ReplyDelete"It's too cold for that," he chuckles. "And we don't exactly have farms to grow anything on. Mostly meat, bread and cheese."
ReplyDeleteShe sighs dramatically, thinking of sweet melons warmed by the son, the cool flavor of salad sprinkled with citrus, and sticky, sweet al'salooq. "All the same, I wish it." She picks at her food, nibbling absently at some cheese.
ReplyDeleteGoddard stares at Aara dreamily. I hate Araby's stupid rules...stupid...dumb rules...
ReplyDelete"Oh," his eyes fall on the necklace she wears. "Lecai," he carefully and slowly scoops up the symbol of Morr. "This amulet. It protects you. If you strike undead with any weapon while you wear this, its power disrupts the magic that animate the body."
She frowns, catching him staring at her. Do I have food on my face? she thinks, dabbing her mouth with a napkin.
ReplyDeleteWhen he tells her about the pendant, she raises a brow. "That's...well, that's helpful. Tannin beware," she laughs. "Did you find something in your books?"
"My dear cousin tried to scare me again with talk of vampires, bats, and rabies," he chuckles. "He pointed it out to me after Tannin bit you. It was as if it were activated by the bite. I just must not have noticed before because I get...distracted..."
ReplyDelete"Distracted? By what?" she asks, furrowing her brows.
ReplyDeleteFinally opening his eyes, Tannin props himself up on one arm.
ReplyDelete"What do I have to be wary of this time, Aara?"
"My temper, it seems. Goddard just told me that this pendant makes it so that if I strike an undead with any weapon, it disrupts the magic animating it. Sparring might not be a good idea," she laughs.
ReplyDelete"Distracted by you," he laughs. "Usually when you are bitten, you're all over me and I am not interested in the winds. This time, you were asleep."
ReplyDelete"Guess I dont have to worry about that pendent then if you have to actually strike me" Tannin says laughing.
ReplyDelete"Good morning to you both, by the way"
Aara looks up at him with wide-eyed innocence. "Nooo, not me," she whispers with glee.
ReplyDeleteGoddard laughs at Tannin's comment. "Morning Khaladh."
ReplyDelete"You are pure torture when bitten," he grins at Aara.
"Did you sleep well, Tannin?" she asks over her shoulder. "I'll have you know you're just as bad," she tells Goddard. "You're like a sandstorm."
ReplyDelete"Well...that doesn't sound like any fun," he complains. "A sandstorm...sounds awful. Unless I'm just missing some hidden meaning to this."
ReplyDeleteShe grins widely. "You're missing something," she laughs.
ReplyDelete"Nope. Never do. Also why dont you 2 just do it and get it over with?"
ReplyDeleteAara shoots him a dirty look. "Because I can't," she says. "Not without speaking with Koroush first. He would have me whipped and abandon me- if not worse."
ReplyDelete"It's like I cannot start a single day, or even end the day, without someone saying something idiotic," Goddard grumbles.
ReplyDelete"Ignore it, nuur'eni," she whispers. "He's just teasing you."
ReplyDelete"I have a million other things that one can bother me about...why pick something like that?"
ReplyDelete"Because it gets under your skin," she laughs. "And he can tease us both at the same time."
ReplyDelete"And I wish I could start a single day without one of you taking about the sexual tension. All you two do is talk about how bad the other one is because you cant be together. Has it ever occurred to you that maybe you should just ask Koroush? And who, exactly is he going to get to whip you? He has no authority here, only Goddard does." Tannin says, rolling his eye
ReplyDelete"Koroush has authority over me, you asinine dolt," she retorts sharply. "I have a blood debt to Koroush, but I wouldn't expect you to understand what it's like to owe your life to someone. And trust me, he doesn't need someone to whip me, he'll do it himself."
ReplyDelete"I respect her and her culture," Goddard growls.
ReplyDelete"And I cannot accept all of the conditions on good conscious," he grumbles.
"So your just going to droll the rest of your life? Look Goddard, If I was about to walk into a city of people that wanted to kill me on the night of killing everyone, I think Id ask koroush about Aara. One of you very well may die, only leaving the survivor with regrets of what could have been." Tannin says like its the most obvious thing in the world. "Why go into this without the knowledge that when you come out, you can be together. Give yourselves a reason to come out alive; knowing you can finally be together in every way"
ReplyDelete"See!" she says, scowling. "He thinks the same way I do. And I don't even want to agree with him right now."
ReplyDelete"I have reason to come out of all of this alive. Khyrkan is a miserable reason compared to all the others I have," Goddard says annoyed.
ReplyDelete"Its not about khyrkan" Tannin says, his pronunciation of elven getting considerably better "Its about Love "
ReplyDeleteAara grits her teeth and stands. "I'm tired of talking about it." Grabbing her boots, clothes, and scimitars, she stalks out of the room and up to the fourth story.
ReplyDeleteGoddard hears Aara's footsteps head upstairs. Annoyed with Tannin, he too gets up and leaves but heads downstairs, hoping no one will want to talk to him.
ReplyDelete"At least its quite" Tannin mutters to himself, rolling back on his back and placing both hands behind his head
ReplyDelete"Thank you. He's been noisy all morning." a weak little voice says from the corner.
ReplyDeleteShivering, Aara sits on the stairs and tugs on her boots, then wraps the corset around herself. Shoving her arms into the straps, she clenches her teeth. Idiot. What would he know about it? She laces herself up, fumbling with the strings because of her gloves. Pinning her veil in place, she walks out into the slowly brightening day.
ReplyDeleteAara drags two sturdy crates out of the pile and finds a long board to set across them. It's makeshift, but should be sturdy enough. Leaving her cloak off, she starts walking the length of the board in a handstand.
"Dont mention it. I have half a mind to bite them both next time I feed and watch them set upon each other like rabbid dogs. Well...Not Watch , but you know what I mean"
ReplyDelete((druhir))
ReplyDeleteGoddard makes it to the ground floor where the Autarii are. He spots Ashath lounging on a large pillow and flops down suddenly beside her.
She pulls a dagger on him. Goddard doesn't even flinch.
"It's you," she hisses. "Didn't I tell you to not touch me?"
"I haven't," he holds up his hands and smiles. "I tired of the company of humans...I wanted to..."
"Then why not get some druchii slaves?" She puts the dagger away.
"Because it's really difficult to find druchii in the Old World," he grumbles.
"You aren't looking in the right places then," she crosses her arms. "Why were you there for so long?"
"None of your business."
The both sit quietly and angrily next to each other.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteEventually, tannin gets out of bed. He throws on some simple trousers, his leather vest and the awkwardly form fitting chain mail over top. He straps the grail back around his waist with his sword belt, and grabs his ax.
ReplyDelete"I didnt get a chance to do weapon drills last night. Assuming Goddard and Aara arnt both of there, I'll be on the roof if you need me." Tannin says to Katarina, walking outside
Aara stands on the center of the board, scimitars drawn. It isn't easy balancing on the narrow board, but she finds her center and before long she's moving through the spheres. I wish I had just cut his purse and run instead of picking his pocket. She sighs and forces herself to focus, speeding up until her swords are a blur and each step she makes is perfectly placed. Slowly, her mind empties, finding peace in the familiar muscle memories.
ReplyDelete((druhir))
ReplyDeleteThe two finally relax, still not touching in any way. Goddard watches her fill a goblet with wine, wishing he had a goblet of his own.
She narrows her eyes at Goddard and offers him her goblet.
"You sure? This won't count as lips touching?" he smiles.
"I'll shove this down your throat if you don't shut up," she growls.
"Ok ok fine," he grumbles and takes the goblet, taking a sip and handing it back.
She takes a sip and offers it to him again.
"So...what was that?" she asks.
"What was what?"
"That flash...when I slapped you?"
"Oh...er...magic?"
She narrows her eyes again.
"Stop staring at me like that," he whines.
She smirks and takes the goblet back from him after he has a sip.
"Good. You're getting faster. I hope you dont mind If I join you?" Tannin says, stretching his triceps above his head
ReplyDelete"I do mind," she snaps, not pausing her spinning scimitars. "You've ruined my morning, why don't you go find yourself some pretty druchii and ruins hers as well?"
ReplyDelete"Because I speak the truth to you and Goddard? Listen, this state of limbo you are both in is old. Since you and Goddard are so alike, I'll try the same reasoning I use with him with you; Do somthing with this "Relationship" or what ever you want to call it, or accept that it will never happen and move on. Koroush is your master, and its not fair to Goddard to keep him on a string knowing he can never have you." Tannin says as he draws his axe, continuing to stretch in the pale dawn light. He clearly has no intention of leaving
ReplyDelete((druhir))
ReplyDeleteGoddard yawns and gets comfy on the pillow. His eyelids droop as he gets lost in the murmur of druhir and the crackle of the fire.
"If you sleep...I promise I won't slit your throat..."
"Oh gee thanks...I feel so much better," he sighs.
She glares at him. "Do you think I don't know that, or want to do something about it? What you don't understand is that I can't talk to Koroush about it- that's not the way my society works. And I'm not keeping him on a string, as you put it. But since you're so concerned, let me explain it to you. I can have Goddard without permission from Koroush- if I want to be an outcast from my people and lose what little family I have left. Not to mention being whipped till my flesh peels off my back and abandoned by the one person who's been my protector and guardian.
ReplyDelete"Or I can wait for Goddard to talk to Koroush and gain permission. Then I can be quietly moved into a harem, whether Koroush's or an ally of his. Or, if I'm lucky, some low noble or merchant won't balk at the idea of wedding a woman who has the names of her victims tattooed on her hands and I can live quietly and have a rather boring life raising fat little babies.
"Either way, it ends with me growing old and dying, and Goddard doing niether of those things." She stops moving and faces him. "I may never be released from my debt, so I'll take what I can get while I can. And I'd appreciate it if you and Katarina would stay out of it and let me enjoy it."
"Goddard is much closer to death then any of us, especially with whats about to happen. Or am I the only person that can Taste the coming blood shed? Even Eglanor is trying to give him a bit of help so he atleast stands a fighting chance. And what do you do, Aara? Remind him that the one thing he wants, he cant have, seemingly all day everyday. If neither of you will speak to koroush about this before what could very well be the end of you both, you could atleast get your head in the right place and out of the relms of pleasure and lust"
ReplyDeleteAara sighs. "Eglanor isn't the only one trying to help him, Tannin. I worked with him most of yesterday and have the injuries to show for his improvement. But you still don't understand. And you never will."
ReplyDeletePicking up her cloak, she brushes past him and heads down the stairs. She doesn't stop at the door to their room, though, instead continuing down the stairs. Eyes downcast, she passes quickly and quietly through the common room, spotting Goddard lounging next to the druchii who had been tied up the day before.
((druhir))
ReplyDelete"And it just snapped him in half? Idiot," Goddard chuckles. "I have never been around a nauglir, but I have heard enough stories to know not to do that..."
"Ahh I know...It was shocking at first but now...it's funny," she takes a sip from the wine and passes it to Goddard.
Humans. So full of emotion. How many of these poor souls will be alive next week? Next month?
ReplyDeleteTannin moves to where Aara was standing. He holds his longsword in a reverse grip in his off hand, and holds his axe near the bottom of the haft, Just like Harkon instructed
Standing up straight, Tannin looks at his soundings. Closing his eyes, he imagines 6 ghost combatants around him with various weapons. Crouching, he takes a defensive stance.
The first one comes at him, head on. The blow from his hammer is turned aside with the hook on the axes blade, the weight of it used agisnt the invisible opponent. Its head is easily loped off with the blade in his off hand.
Instinctively, he kicks out behind him, knocking the second opponent backwards. The other 4 lunge in, and Tannin flexes his speed. He kicks up snow with the head of his axe and becomes a whirlwind of death, spinning his weapons in his hands with brutal efficiency. Not a single move is wasted, a single step out of place, each stroke coming in with the strength and speed to cut almost anything coming into contact in two.
As his initial opponents die, more spawn around him. He dispatches them almost faster then he can think about them. Faster and faster he moves, pushing his body past the physical limit and into the unnatural.
As soon as she steps outside the walls, Aara feels a weight lift off her shoulders. Don't go far, it won't do to get lost or meet with one of those monsters again. Surverying the landscape, she spots a tree within sight of the tower. Making sure her scimitars are secure at her hips, she walks over and jumps up, grabbing the lowest branch. She climbs as high as she dares before settling in the space between two branches. Wrapping her cloak around her, Aara closes her eyes against tears of frustration.
ReplyDeleteOn the ship, Katarina accused Goddard of using me as a conquest; I wish he were. It would be easier to rid myself of this wretchedness if that were true. And now Tannin acusses me of constantly reminding Goddard of what he can't have. I don't mean to. If I were beautiful and could use it against him, that would be one thing, but I'm not. I'm plain, and peasant born. I'm not like Tannin or Katarina or Koroush or Goddard. Even the two skaven have higher standing than I do. I'm not fit to be a companion to any of them. When this is all over, I'll go back to Araby, give myself over to Adahara's priestesses if they'll have me.
It seems the only option left. Assuming I don't die.
((druhir))
ReplyDelete"Khadath!"
Goddard leans his head back and looks up expectantly at the elf standing over him.
"One of your slaves is a up a tree." He sounds annoyed. "It seems a bit suspicious..."
"Which one?" Goddard raises a brow. I feel bad but...certain 'slaves' I'd like to tie up at the top of a tree sometimes...and leave them...
"The little one."
"OH...don't worry about her..."
The druchii impatiently grinds his teeth.
"Fine...I'll go see what she's doing up a tree..." Goddard gets up with a sigh. "But, I know it's for nothing...and I don't appreciate being forced to go out into the cold to ease your nerves. She's just a small human woman..." he smirks
I can't seem weak...turn things back on them and hope none of them want to stab you...at least until later...away from this place where you just might have a chance.
The druchii growls. "You aren't being forced anywhere..."
"Yes I am... especially if I don't want to lose more of anything I own..."
Goddard walks out into the snow and pulls up his hood and cowl. A tree is pointed out to him and he walks over and looks up.
Aara looks asleep. Her eyes are closed, body relaxed and bundled in her cloak and scarf. But in spite of looking relaxed, her mind races.
ReplyDeleteGoddard frowns at how high up into the tree she went. "No way am I getting up there," he mumbles.
ReplyDeleteHe leans up against the tree and starts to sing. It feels good to be out in open air, and be somewhat relaxed. Especially since after being underground and then in a stone building. Even the crumbled rooftop feels too covered in comparison.
Aara cracks open on eye and looks down. What is he doing? The song seems to weave itself through the branches, swirling around like snow. She waits a moment before speaking.
ReplyDelete"Can I be of service, my lord?" she asks softly. She isn't even sure he can hear her over his song.
He stops singing and looks up.
ReplyDelete"I had to make sure 'the little one' wasn't doing anything suspicious," he smirks. "I don't know though..."
((druhir))
"Sleeping in a tree?" he says loudly in druhir. "Highly suspicious activity..." he looks over at some of the Autarii who were watching from a distance by the tower and they turn away.
"Would you like me to come down?"
ReplyDelete"Not if you don't want to," he says softly. "My kin are just paranoid and I'm actually pretty happy to be out here despite how much colder it is."
ReplyDelete"You don't want to go back inside with them? I saw you, you look comfortable among your people."
ReplyDeleteGoddard looks down and kicks at the snow. "Isn't that just...natural?"
ReplyDeleteThis must have to do with Araby...damn that vampire!
"We'll get revenge...for what was done to your family," he finally says.
"Yes, it's natural," she says, ignoring his talk of revenge for her family. "It's good that you're comfortable with them, you'll be leading them soon."
ReplyDelete"I hope I can do a well enough job of that," he chuckles. "Are you ok?" he pulls out the dagger in his boot and cleans his nails, hoping whatever watchful eyes don't think much of what may be going on.
ReplyDelete"I don't know," she answers softly. "Tannin's right."
ReplyDelete"Ow..." Goddard pricks himself with the dagger. "What do you mean? Do I need to take his tongue?"
ReplyDeleteHe thinks for a moment.
"Would that work? Would it grow back? Hmmm..."
"Move your hand, not your dagger." She sighs. "He said that I should stop reminding you of the one thing you can't have and help you prepare for what's coming. And he's right. But short of ignoring you completely, I don't know how."
ReplyDeleteGoddard chuckles. "Don't listen to Tannin. Don't take this the wrong way lecai," he whispers, "But all I need is my mind and even without eyes, I could remind myself of what I cannot have that very second."
ReplyDeleteAara feels a small smile work its way across her lips at that. "I'm sorry?" she says, changing position so she swings upside down on the branch and grabs the one below her and carefully lowers herself on it.
ReplyDelete"My brain is a curse," he says dramatically.
ReplyDelete"Your brain is brilliant. It's going to teach me to read, remember?"
ReplyDelete"Ahh yes! After you help me train with my sword, I will help you read, everyday. Sadly, the only thing I have that wouldn't be completely annoying to figure out, is my cookbook."
ReplyDeleteAara gives up another branch, this time standing on it and leaning against the trunk. "The one you were taking notes in that day in the kitchen?"
ReplyDelete"No. The printed one I have. The one I write in is written mostly in druhir, eltharin..."
ReplyDelete"Magic," he chuckles, "and the last bit of things are written in the same pictograms as the books we acquired."
Aara's quiet for a long moment, arms crossed and leaning against the tree. "If it were just a whipping, I wouldn't care," she says softly. "Tannin thinks he understands, but he doesn't. You do."
ReplyDelete"Of course he doesn't understand...he's a Bretonian," Goddard laughs. "I wish I were understood...so I try my best to understand," he says thoughtfully.
ReplyDeleteAara jumps across a wide space to a lower branch as easily as stepping down a stair. "You're not so hard to understand. Food, books, wine, and women," she laughs.
ReplyDeleteGoddard thinks for a moment. "Really? Just those four things?"
ReplyDeleteHe thinks a bit longer. "Yeah...I guess that's pretty much it. Damn, I'm boring!"
She laughs down at him. "You're not boring. You just have priorities."
ReplyDeleteEglanor appears out of the woods and tosses a snowball into Goddard's face.
ReplyDelete"HA! Got you again, cousin!"
Goddard sputters and shakes his head. He leans down to scoop up some snow. "Now...where is a rock I can put right in the middle of this," he chuckles. "You're lucky I can't find one," he tosses it Eglanor.
ReplyDeleteAara jumps up and down on her branch, shaking snow down at Goddard in one big pile.
ReplyDeleteThe snowball hits him in the chest with a wet thud.
ReplyDeleteSeemingly surprised, Eglanor ducks behind a tree and peeks his head out.
"I think you missed your calling, cousin. You would've made an excellent archer with that aim."
"Why are you both against me?" he laughs, getting up close to the tree trunk.
ReplyDelete"Archer? How would I learn how to do that cousin? More dancing? Face painting?"
ReplyDeleteAara climbs carefully down to the next branch and makes a snowball. While Goddard's distracted by Eglanor, she hits him in the back of the head with it.
ReplyDeleteEglanor considers his question for a moment.
ReplyDelete"On second thought cousin, you may not favor the learning method."
He steps out from behind the tree.
"It requires that you learn to hold your breath for a period of time. I've heard that you are not fond of the sensation."
He reaches over his should and lifts off of it an elegant elven bow. You didn't even notice it was there due to the bow string seemingly being a part of the design on his shirt.
"As any good elf from the Laurelorn Forest, I do have a bow..."
Goddard moves around the tree trunk, out from under Aara. I'm sure she can still get me no matter where I go...
ReplyDeleteHe makes another snowball.
"No cousin...that sounds terrible. I like to breath." He pops out from behind the tree and throws the snowball at Eglanor.
Aara works her way around the tree, gathering another snowball. "I bet you can't stop talking long enough to hold your breath," she laughs, throwing a snowball at Eglanor.
ReplyDeleteElganor bats the snowball away with the edge of the bow.
ReplyDeleteHe gives Goddard a serious look.
"I should warn you, Goddard. We do not use normal arrows with the elven bows of Laurelorn Forest... we use woodland creatures. Let me tell you, you haven't known terror until an angry squirrel is fired into your chest."
Aara's snowball hits Eglanor in the face and knocks him back into the snow.
ReplyDeleteAs he turns over to get up, he almost disappears into the snow as if by a mirage.
"I don't know what magic that is," Aara says, "but I feel like it's cheating."
ReplyDeleteGoddard stares at Eglanor carefully and contemplates an angry squirrel.
ReplyDeleteHe then laughs as Eglanor is knocked over by Aara's snowball and then he looks confused. "Where did you go Eglanor? Sneaky wood elf..."
Eglanor fully stands up and is clearly visible again.
ReplyDeleteHe turns back and faces them both.
"It's only cheating if the enemy knows it before they die."
He gives a quick look around and area and looks up into the trees, then back down at Goddard.
"You're lucky this land of yours is mostly barren of tiny animals."
"We have large, strong animals. No...sissy chipmunks and doves..." he laughs. "What you need cousin...is a porcupine."
ReplyDeleteAara sits on a branch right above Goddard head and dumps an armful of snow on him. "A porcupine?" she asks, stumbling over the word.
ReplyDelete"Yes, this animal that you speak of, what kind of devilry does this new world have that I am not familiar with?"
ReplyDeleteEglanor puts the bow away and walks under the tree.
"You two don't know what a porcupine is?" he asks, shaking his head.
ReplyDelete"It's the perfect weapon," he crouches down into the snow and begins to draw one. "It's a bumbling creature, covered in sharp spines, that stick into you and come loose from it's body and dig into your skin..."
"Hmmm... a creature of chaos then."
ReplyDeleteEglanor sniffs the air in derision.
"Then they should be destroyed as well."
"It sounds like a mythic creature. Just like Tannin's unicorn," Aara snorts. "And for the record, I've only been out of Araby just over a year. We traveled extensively within our own borders."
ReplyDeleteGoddard laughs. "Ahh I wish we could go look for one. Or a moose...for you lecai," he smiles.
ReplyDelete"I would be wary Aara of the creatures of chaos. They excel at making you believe that they do not exist. No doubt this porcupine creature is not only dangerous, but fiendishly intelligent."
ReplyDeleteHe looks around as if trying to see if one is watching them now.
"Probably demon possessed too."
"Yes...very much so cousin," he says sarcastically. "Chaos infused spiky rodents..."
ReplyDeleteAara looks around. "Does it climb trees?" she asks with a laugh, pulling her feet up.
ReplyDelete"You jest cousin, but lest I remind you that we have chaos infused rodents in our company."
ReplyDeleteHe looks up at Aara.
"Most creatures of chaos can get around through various means. Although most are not good climbers."
Goddard chuckles. "Yes they can lecai. Rather well I might add. But they are about...ooohhhh...four feet or so at their longest, counting the tail, so you would have seen it before it saw you."
ReplyDeleteAara shakes a branch above him again. "I'm not sure I believe you, nuur'eni," she says, sticking her tongue out at him.
ReplyDelete"You think I would lie to you?" he gasps. "Lecai...you should know me better."
ReplyDelete"And that is true about the skaven...but they are not spiky. We can fix this problem and I can fill them full of daggers. It won't be exactly the same but close enough for me."
She raises an eyebrow and looks down at him. "About an ugly chaos creature with spikes all over him the size of a dog? Yes."
ReplyDeleteHe laughs. "It has nothing to do with chaos. It's a creature of nature. How about...a skunk? That one is pretty bad too as far as nature goes. Your horrible horrible nature my dear cousin..."
ReplyDelete"Skunk don't fit onto my bow string, so they don't count in the ways of war."
ReplyDeleteEglanor starts to walk back towards the tower.
"I'd still watch out, Aara. I do not think Goddard is being completely sincere with us here."
As he walks back toward the tower his smirks to himself. Trickster god, indeed.
Aara throws one last snowball at Eglanor as he walks away, missing him completely. "Don't worry, I will," she tells him.
ReplyDeleteGoddard shakes his head and chuckles. "When I find a chipmunk, I'm going to make him use it instead of an arrow."
ReplyDeleteAara puts her feet back down, tapping her foot on his shoulder. "Can you catch one?"
ReplyDelete"If I can find one. Maybe? It's not common you find the timid little woodland creatures around."
ReplyDelete"You'll have to be fast," she says, tapping him again. "You're too slow to catch one now."
ReplyDeleteHe looks up at her and smiles. "Well then...we should head to the tower and work on my slowness. And then maybe later...I can find you a porcupine!"
ReplyDelete"I suppose we should," she says, sighing. She falls backwards, hanging upside down for a moment before reaching up and grabbing to branch to lower herself down feet first.
ReplyDelete"I'd have fallen on my head," he sighs and walks back toward the tower.
ReplyDeleteAara walks close behind him. "I can teach you," she says. The closer they get to the tower, the more her demeanor changes into a meek, pliable pleasure slave. She twitches her cloak closed, covering her scimitars and raises her hood, making herself as unassuming and invisible as possible.
ReplyDelete