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 Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 8:06 pm
Sir Fireheart picked up the piece of paper and sighed heavily. “Well, Kit… I was hoping you would already know what it meant, but I think I can trust you. You see it is believed that this is a rune, and aperio is the activation word.” The knight paused waiting for a reaction, anything that might give away that Kit already knew what it meant but was not telling. Kit leaned in just slightly and had a very curious look on his face, but not one of guilt. It was more curiosity.
“But that isn’t possible, rune magic does not exist anymore, so how can it be?” Kit asked smartly.
Sir Fireheart smiled at this response. He was very glad that Kit didn’t have any further connection to these events than just coincidence. “Well, my boy, I’m not sure yet.” Sir Fireheart rose from his seat and walked toward the exit. He opened the door, but before he was completely out, he turned back to Kit and added, “But don’t you worry. I will get the answers I need. Oh, and don’t forget to come by anytime you want to take Tanya out.”
The door shut behind the pompous knight, leaving Kit alone once again.
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Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 9:03 pm
Kit sat in his little room just mulling over the horrible thought of going out wit Tanya. Kit had never even thought of a girlfriend and if he did it would never be Tanya. If anything it would be….
Kit just looked around as if he had said what he was thinking but was doing it to stop himself from thinking.
‘No, she’s not interested in me. Why would she be for that matter? I’m not that interesting and besides were more friend right? Why am I asking myself?’
Kit sat in his small room just trying to figure out this Tanya thing and why he was asking himself question.
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Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 10:28 pm
Ari walked around her small room, not wanting to sit at the little table. Hours went by, or maybe it was just minutes… it was hard to tell in this room, no windows, only a door that was locked. Ari investigated the lock, and if she had her lock picking kit, it wouldn’t take long at all to escape. Escape? Why did she want to escape? She was in no danger here. The city had a man roaming around its most secure places and she and Kit were the only ones who saw him up close.
The door opened with a slight creak causing Ari to turn around surprised. Sir Fireheart came into the room, looking very arrogant.
“Please sit down, Ms. Morningstar,” he said, more like a demand than a request. Ari complied and slid into one of the chairs. Sir Fireheart was slowly turning a small piece of paper in his hands as he sat on the edge of the table, as he had in Kit’s room. Without a word he placed the paper on the table and slid it towards Ari.
The young scout picked up the paper and immediately recognized it. “Did you find out what it means?” she asked very intrigued. Was this piece of paper the clue to the man’s identity?
“You mean you don’t know?” he asked slyly. “You found it in the library, and you have had multiple encounters with this cloaked figure around the city, and you are going to tell me that you have no idea what this is?” He was beginning to raise his voice slightly.
“Yes, that is what I am telling you. Ask, Kit. He was there every time this man showed up as well. Did you question him like this as well?” Ari was feeling more like a criminal than a witness now, and she didn’t like it, especially coming from this buffoon of a knight.
“Well, considering that Mr. Leafstorm comes from a respectable line, it is easier to believe him, than the daughter of a traitor.” The verbal attack hit its mark, just as he had intended, but the reaction it produced was not. Tears formed in her eyes, and her face went red all over. Sir Fireheart almost felt guilty for what he just said, almost.
“Look, I know that my father betrayed all of us, but I was small when it happened, and I don’t even remember him. I have no interest in defending his name to you or anyone, and I never have. I don’t see what this has to do with the cloaked man though?” Burning tears were running down her defiant face, and Sir Fireheart was speechless. He had expected her to rage against his slander, but she had not. It was obvious to him that she was not aware of the Runes, as her father had been. He would not find his answers here.
He relaxed his disposition, and smiled. “No, you wouldn’t, now would you. In truth, it doesn’t matter. You are free to go now if you want.” The knight got up and opened the door. Ari left the room, leaving the paper on the table.
Kit was already at the front gate along with both his family and her mother Sabina. Ari ran and hugged her mother. “Oh, thank heavens you are safe.” Sabina stroked her daughter’s white silky hair.
“Sabina, may I talk with you a moment,” Kit’s father asked. Sabina nodded and left Ari for a moment. Kit came over to her and noticed her tears.
“Is everything alright?” Concern filled his eyes.
“Yes, let’s just say Sir Fireheart has strange methods of questioning.”
“Tell me about it. I might have nightmares tonight,” Kit added with a grin. He was about to tell Ari all about it when Sabina came back over.
“Ronyo, I mean, Mr. Leafstorm and his wife have offered to let us stay with his family, at least until this intruder is apprehended. What do you think, Ari,” she asked smiling. Ari nodded and smiled. Something good did come from this after all.
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Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 9:04 pm
Kit smiled and nodded after hearing Ari’s mom. Kit could think of no better way to insure Ari, and her mom’s, safety during this ordeal. Kit smiled and nodded at his mom and dad, then turned to look at Ari.
“Don’t worry Ari will protect you and your mom from whatever is going on. If that cloaked man tries anything again, between my dad and your mom, he’ll end up looking like a pin cushion,” Kit smiled an nodded at Ari’s mom who smiled.
Kit’s father walked up and put a hand on his son’s shoulder, “ Kit, why don’t you escort Ari and her mom back to their house so they can gather some things they need. If either of you ever needs to back to your house for anything make sure either Kit or I am with you. There is greater safety in numbers and I intend on keeping safety a number one priority.”
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Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 8:43 pm
Many interesting events happened over the following weeks. Ari met Kit’s energetic sister, Nova. She couldn’t go anywhere in the city without being escorted. This was very strange indeed, but she saw nothing of the mysterious cloaked figure, much to her relief.
To her revulsion, however, Tanya Fireheart had a new obsession… Kit. Everywhere they went, there she was, smiling that phony smile, giggling, and flirting. It was enough to make Ari sick. The only good thing that came from it was Tanya’s friends stopped picking on Kit, and in turn, stopped picking on Ari.
Life went pretty much back to normal. Classes continued on, and she and Kit went back to their after school jobs. After working, Ari would go with Kit to his private lessons. She enjoyed watching him maneuver his blades. Yes things were pretty much back to normal.
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Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 11:34 pm
Class had finally let out and Kit could finally get to his private lessons with Mr. Maximas, as long as he could stay away from Tanya. It was becoming more and more creepy every time she came around. He actually wished she would start sending her goons after him again. As he exit his class he saw Ari walking towards him. Kit waved at her and she waved back and began to jog over to him. However the same time Ari made it to Kit’s side Tanya did the same. “Well hello there kit. Hope you had a wonderful day today, I know I did but I always have a wonderful day. Oh, hi Ari.” Tanya said smiling to Kit and then rolling her eyes at Ari. “HI Tanya,” Ari was doing everything she could to keep from telling this pesky knight off. “So Kit where you off to now? I was hoping we could go back to my house and I could show you my new mounted armor daddy bought for me.” Tanya seemed like she didn’t even hear Ari. “Sorry Tanya I have my lessons with Mr. Maximas. Maybe we can…take a rain…check,” Kit said trying his best to be nice but was finding it harder than sparing with Mr. Maximas. “Oh foo, well that’s ok, it’s good your keeping yourself in top order. Any chance I could come watch?” “No sorry Tanya it’s a closed lesson. Well I’m running late and Mr. Maximas makes me do laps if I’m too late. Come on Ari.” “Why does she get to go? I thought you said it was a closed lesson.” Tanya asked as her eyes shot daggers at Ari. “Ari isn’t allowed more than 5 feet from me outside of class. Besides Mr. Maximas has been informed.” With that Kit ran off throwing a half wave, more to signal Ari then to say bye to Tanya. Ari beamed at hearing Kit tell Tanya off. She raced off after Kit and the two were on their way to Mr. Maximas’ office. ******** Mr. Maximas came in swift and hard with his single short sword. The blade was different then most swords. It curved in and out in different places along the blade and then along different places down the blunt end. Some of the kids said the guard on the sword was a dragon bone, but most people took that as school myth. The sword dove in and out around Kit as the young swordsman parried and spun in a tight defensive circle. Kit was starting to understand the routine Mr. Maximas was teaching him but the translation from one blade to two had taken some time. High strike, then a diagonal chop feint, followed with a thrust to line up a harder slice, then back and thrust low. Maximas came in with his low thrust that was meant to take Kit in the groin or inner thigh. Kit followed the defensive counter and did a cross down block. Maximas let the force of Kit’s block carry his blade backwards and then around which dove his single blade inside Kit’s block. With a spin an a twist of his sword Maximas brought Kit’s blades up high then retracted his own blade and brought it right to Kit’s unclad gut, Maximas had them train without armor so they would be more concerned about vital areas. Mr. Maximas stepped back and sighed. “You still need to be faster with the second parry and riposte.” Mr. Maximas said as he laid his sword on a nearby desk. “I am beginning to think its not my second parry that’s the problem. I think the parry to your thrust low is wrong.” Kit said going over the moves with a imaginary opponent. “The parry can’t be wrong Kit, its been that way while I was going through classes. You just need to get faster on the second parry.” “That may be Mr. Maximas but you seem to know just how to strike in order to make the second parry harder.” “That’s my job as your teacher.” “I know sir, but it seems if you know how to get through my second parry then everyone else would to. That leaves me with a disadvantage as soon as I go on the defensive, and I can’t stay on the offensive for ever would tire out to fast.” Mr. Maximas laughed, “Good I’m glad your catching on to some of the finer points. That’s what separates us from the knights. Since we have less armor and are always on foot we must learn to use both offense an defense in balanced. The knights can stay more on the offensive because they have stronger armor to do the defending for them.” Maximas nodded as he throw Kit a towel and a gourd of water. Kit drank slowly and turned to Ari who sat watching the whole thing, like she always did. It was nice having a scout watch his moves, Ari always saw small flaws in Kit’s defense and that helped Kit for when he faced Mr. Maximas again.
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Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:03 pm
Ari woke up early because she had to go to work at the Library. Kit came along, as he always did, to drop her off before going to the stables. After a brief goodbye, Ari began sorting books. She noticed that several needed their bindings repaired, so she went into the room where all the glue and tools were. She ran into Mrs. Birdsong there, already working on other books needing healing.
“Ahh, Ari. How are you this morning, my dear?” she asked in a singsong voice. The more Ari got to know this teacher, the better their relationship became. Now they treated each other like grandmother and granddaughter, which suited Ari fine. “Oh, leave those books here and I will get to them in a minute. I have finished with all of these however. Will you please put them back where they belong.” Ari took four books and looked at their index numbers. Two belonged on the main floor, but the others went in the restricted section. Ari felt a bit apprehensive, especially considering that everything had been so quiet recently.
Mrs. Birdsong sensed her apprehension, then added, “Oh, I can return those if you feel frightened.” Ari snapped out of her daze. She wasn’t scared. A determined look came over her face that made Mrs. Birdsong smile. “I can do it, I’m not afraid,” Ari piped up. Mrs. Birdsong just handed her the huge key without another word.
Ari put up the two books on the main floor and then walked downstairs. All the torches were already lit, and despite the chilly dampness, the hall seemed very inviting. Ari arrived at the restricted section and was relieved to find the door locked tight. This trip was already a lot better than her last.
Ari unlocked the door and entered an empty room.
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Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:19 pm
Kit was enjoying his time in the stables. He looked forward to working with the animals almost as much as he did his lessons with Mr. Maximas. Today Kit was helping a few of the rangers teach a pair of new hawks how to hunt and come back. Kit was playing the part of prey while the rangers coaxed the hawks into gong after him. The first couple of attempts ended with the hawks attacking Kit but not returning to their respected handlers. Fortunately Kit had decided to leave his armor on and now dawned a leather helmet to protect his head.
“Mr. Oakensword, are you ready to try again?” Kit asked one of the rangers.
The ranger gave a thumbs up and Kit ran into the field. Mr. Oakensword released his bird of prey and the hawk went right for Kit. After two successful dives the handler called the raptor back, and this time it listened. The hawk returned to Oakensword’s gloved hand and received a snack for its good dead.
“Ms. Trueshot, I’m ready.” Kit waved at the female ranger.
The second bird performed just as wonderfully as the last, and received a treat in turn as well. The two rangers walked over to Kit, who took his helmet off out of respect.
“Nice job Kit, thanks for playing the target,” Ms. Trueshot smiled
“Aye, as good with animals as his old man. You would have made a fine ranger my boy,” Mr. Oakensword said as he padded Kit on the shoulder.
“Thanks sir, glad I could be of help. My father did bug me about it for a time, but understands my skills are best honed with the sword.”
“So we’ve heard, that little feet in the swordsman class was something,” Oakensword grinned as he gave his hawk a gentle stroking down its head.
“It wasn’t much, anyways I have to finish a few things in the stables take care,” Kit said as he ran off towards the stables.
“Tell you father hi from us,” Ms. Trueshot yelled after Kit
Kit waved his hand in agreement and went to finish his work in the stables.
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Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 8:12 pm
Ari didn’t think she was in the right room a first. The restricted section seemed so different than the last few times she had been in it. All the furniture was exactly where it should be, but the atmosphere of the room had changed. It was friendly and inviting. All of Ari’s anxiety vanished, and she smiled.
Ari cheerfully placed each book back in its designated place. She was returning the second book when a small piece of paper dropped from its pages onto the floor. Ari looked down at the torn scrap. She pushed the book all the way into place, and then bent over. Ari gasped as she saw what was on the page. It was that symbol, the one Sir Fireheart had told Kit was a Rune, except this time, the word was not written beside it. Ari had tried over and over again to recreate the image in her head, but it had never seemed right.
Ari was very intrigued. She looked around the room to make sure she was alone. Then Ari stood up and focused very hard on the symbol, taking in every mark, every curve, and every dot. Then Ari thought hard, trying to remember what that word was… it started with an ‘a’… aperio? Yes, that was it… aperio. Ari brought the symbol to mind again, then closed her eyes and whispered, “Aperio.”
Ari waited for a second, and then opened one eye. Nothing seemed to have happened. Ari had always imagined what it would be like to do Rune Magic. Since she was little, she wondered what the joining of words and symbols would be like, but she expected more than this.
Ari suddenly felt very childish indeed. She was back in her nursery, pretending that she was the last good mage in all the land, using her magic to heal the sick and fight off any remaining evil mages. Ari blushed at her foolishness. She quickly regained her composure and walked toward the door. She held up her right hand and pushed the door opened, but before she made it out of the room, she remembered something. When the cloaked figure had bound her voice during her training session, he had held up his hand to silence her.
Although Ari knew that she was probably going to end up looking like an idiot once again, she couldn’t help but feel curious. Once again Ari entered the room and looked around, to secure her solitude. The she stood still in the middle of the room. Ari brought the image on the paper into her head. It burned in her mind, overpowering every other thought. Then she raised her right arm and held her hand outstretched. Ari felt strange. She could feel her body growing warm and tingling. Then she focused that feeling into her hand. Ari mouth burned as she finally said “aperio” once more. The word seemed to trigger the next event. The symbol in Ari’s head flowed down her arm, and into her hand. It then manifested itself in the form of a floating blue light that exploded in the room. The light ran around the walls until it rested in one particular spot.
Ari felt like she had just gone through the most intense training of her life. She was panting heavily and covered in sweat, but none of that mattered as she moved over to the blue light on the wall. Ari got closer and then the light vanished, leaving a huge hole in the wall.
Ari panicked for a second, thinking she had just destroyed part of the library, but then noticed that there was a passageway on the other side of the hole. Once again, curiosity won over her better judgment. Ari grabbed a torch from on the wall and walked into the passage. It seemed very crude. It only resembled a path, and rocks bulged out from every angle, sometimes even the floor. Ari had walked only twenty feet when she heard something behind her. She turned to see the hole in the wall mend itself. Now she had no other choice than to go forward. Ari cautiously moved on, shaking off the burning sensation in her right palm.
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Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 7:27 pm
Back in the stables Kit was finishing up his daily chores. The horses were fed and so were the hunting dogs. Kit had changed the cages in the hawk cages and swept everywhere he could think could use a good sweeping. It was getting close to the end of his work day so that meant it was time to make sure all the animals were where they were suppose to be. The stable master worked on putting blankets on the horses while Ronyo checked the bedding for the dogs.
“Well Kit, I need to leave early today. The missus has something planned that she says she can’t do without me. Can you handle everything here?” The stable master asked.
“Of course sir, I think I can handle these guys for awhile by myself,” Kit said as he looked at the animals and smiled.
The stable master waved his thanks and walked off to his house. Kit walked about double checking all the animals and spending some time with the ones he enjoyed the most. There was no worry about getting to the library on time. Ari was becoming later and later as she and Mrs. Birdsong found more things to do.
‘no since in hurryin, she’s still gonna be late’
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Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 8:03 pm
Ari was so excited about what she had discovered, but she decided, for safety reasons, to finish exploring this vast cavern. Ari didn’t know how long she had spent exploring, but it had to be getting late. With her torch held high, Ari continued down the path, carefully avoiding protruding rocks. Finally, the scout came to a wall. After examining it for a brief moment, she discovered that there was a long, irregular crack down one side of the wall. This must be a door, Ari thought, but it took her a while to understand how it opened.
At first Ari thought she could use the same rune magic as the last door, but when she tried using the spell, the rune would not conjure. After three attempts, Ari gave up and looked for another way to open the wall. If she hadn’t had her scout training, she wouldn’t have noticed the crevice conveniently large enough to fit a human hand in,Ari wouldn’t have reached in and felt the strange smooth surface that felt like a lever, and she wouldn’t have pulled on the lever. Ari quickly withdrew her hand as the wall pushed out and slid to the left.
Dust flew everywhere creating a thick cloud as the stone groaned to move. When the dust finally settled, Ari realized she was now in the stables, not by the smell of the horses, or the sound of the dogs barking. It was the shocked expression on Kit’s face that told Ari all she needed to know.
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Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:56 pm
Kit just stared at the scout as she came through one of the walls. Several of the animals gave out alarms but Kit just stood there as if he had just seen a dragon come from that wall. The hay he was bringing to one of the horses was now at his feet and his mouth was slowly opening in confusment.
“Ar….Ari?”
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Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 8:29 pm
“Uh, hi, Kit,” Ari said sheepishly, realizing that coming out of a wall would seem fairly strange. Ari hadn’t really thought this far ahead. All she comprehended was the excitement of the new things she had discovered. She didn’t stop to think that once someone found out she had used Rune Magic, what would happen. Now she was a bit nervous. But why should she be nervous? It was just Kit, and the one person she could tell was him. But what if someone else found out, like Tanya. Then she would really be in trouble.
Speak of the devil… “Kit! Kit are you here?” Tanya’s voice came from the entrance. Ari panicked and grabbed Kit’s arm, dragging him into the small cavern. Then she quickly closed the stone passage, cutting off Tanya’s final, “Kit?”
Ari turned and realized that she had pinned Kit to the wall and covered his mouth to keep him quiet. This was a commonly used scout move for abducting people, and it just came second nature to Ari. Now however, she found herself uncomfortably close to Kit's face. Ari felt hot with embarrassment and quickly released him, throwing her eyes to the ground. "Sorry," was all she could say.
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Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 6:23 pm
“Ari, what is going on?” Kit kept his voice at a whisper seeing as Ari had just saved him from Tanya. He was thankful for the dark area because realizing Ari’s face so close to his had made his checks flush a bit.
Ari let Kit go and told him about the passage she had found. She still wasn’t up to telling him about the rune magic part of her journey.
“A passage in the library? Will this place is old I guess it would have all sorts of hidden areas. Well since you dragged me in here think you could show me?” Kit smiled and hopped Ari could see it in the dark area, a good adventure always beat having to talk with Tanya, actually anything beat talking with Tanya.
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Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 8:42 pm
Ari led the way through the serrated tunnel, the whole time thinking of being so close to Kit back at the exit. She could feel his heart beat against her chest. The memory of it made her blush once again. They were coming up to the most exciting part of this secret passage when Ari realized she had not yet told Kit the whole story, and therefore could not bring him any farther.
Ari stopped dead, almost making Kit run into her. “What’s the matter, Ari,” he said trying to see around her.
“Nothing,” she responded, thinking quickly. “Before we go on, I need to tell you something.” Ari found a not-so-jagged rock to sit down on and breathed in deep. Now she would find out how deep her friendship with Kit really was… she was a bit nervous.
Ari told Kit what had happened back at the restricted section room. She told him about finding the scrap of paper, about trying the spell, about succeeding the second time, and then she stopped the story. She thought for a moment, skipped the secret part and moved onto the end when she found the exit at the stables. Ari sat quietly, waiting for his response to her illegal actions.
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