Hector turns to Sane and shakes his head, "She seemed in a hurry to leave... something may be bothering her... I suggest you go and find out." Sane raises an eyebrow and smiles, "Why me? I mean hell you like her don't you? Why won't you use your woman skills and go coax it out of her." Hector hits Sane in the shoudler, "Damn it Sane I don't feel the least bit attracted to her anymore... Too hardheaded for me... I like women with class... Now... I'm off to the Inn for a drink... I suggest you go talk to her." Sane nods ands smiles walks off after Kiah. Hector shakes his head and mutters to himself, "The idiot has no clue does he?" Hecotr stalks off towards the Inn.
Sane reaches the West gardens and smiles at the beauty of the place, it looked so peaceful near the end of the day...
::Kari moved to her pack and began to put everything back into the worn leather bag that Olivia had given her back in Bremer. She choked down a small strip of jerky and tied up the pack, slinging it over her shoulder as she stood up, turning to leave. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Sane::
Sane smiles, "Heading somewhere else? I'm sorry to disturb you Kiah... But Hector made me come... It seems he is worried something is bothering you... and from the way you left abruptly I believe there is something that is bothering you." Sane's smile fades and his eyes turn soft, "Do you want to talk about it? You can trust me... be sure of that."
::She wanted so badly to tell him everything. Her heart screamed at her to throw her arms around him and laugh and weep and tell him that she was the one he missed so badly. But she knew she couldn't. Being around him was hard enough, without him softening around her as he was doing now. She gathered all her wits and all her training about her as she replied, but heard her voice come out soft and weak nonetheless:: Sane...I have to.... I have to make an overnight errand. I'll be back by dawn. Keep a sharp ear for any intruders. ::She moved past him and called softly in Elvish to the brown mare grazing nearby that she had acquired from the bandit she had left back in the forest. The mare promptly walked to her and Kari easily slipped on the bridle. She then picked up the saddle from the ground beside the garden wall and moved to the horse's side, slinging it effortlessly and gently over the mare's back. The Elf maiden tightened the girth and stirrups in silence, tying her pack to the saddle and swinging up onto the horse::
Sane nods and forces a smile, she wasn't telling him something... He could tell, but he would not force it. He woudl abide by her wishes and keep an eye and ear out for trouble. "That is fine Kiah, I shall do as you ask, may the gods bring you speed and safety on your trip." Sane smiled and leaned against a tree, he had a bad feeling about something... he couldn't place it yet though...
::Kari nodded to him and turned the mare, heading off down the stone streets and out the gates of the city. She galloped across the countryside into the deep dark of the night for many hours before arriving at a familiar sight. Velnarre. She rode silently down into the valley, careful to not be seen. Leaving her horse near the edge of the valley behind some trees, she slipped into the Great Hall and crept down the halls toward Remeli and Celdir's room. To her surprise, she spotted her friend walking down the moonlit halls. She caught up and covered Remeli's mouth so she wouldn't scream. When the Lady of Velnarre relaxed, she embraced Kari tightly:: Dear Stars, Val, what in the Heavens happened to you?!
::Kari whispered back:: Ferus attacked me. I had to kill him, Remi. He was mad with jealousy. He nearly killed me in the process. ::She proceeded to tell her friend everything that had happened as they moved to the large store room near the back of the Hall::
::Remi closed the door behind them:: Well you'll need supplies for your trip, no question. ::She began filling Kari's pack with weybread and jerky, along with bottles of different medicinal potions. She also handed her a few cloaks, tunics, and blankets for the trip. Lastly, Remeli moved to a chest back in the corner and opened it. She pulled out a wrapped bundle and handed it to Kari:: This is the cloth made specially for the Guardian of Velnarre many years ago. It is sacred and has many useful properties, protective and otherwise. You will know when to use it.
::Kari smiled and embraced her friend, tying off the now-full satchel and slinging it over her shoulder once more:: Thank you, Remeli. ::A sorrow came over her face:: I don't think I shall return... The people will call for my blood in return for Ferus' death... he was loved in this valley...
::Remeli set her hands on Kari's shoulders:: Be patient. Do not give up home just yet. I will plead with the people. If they think me wise, they will listen. Celdir will listen as well and stand with us in this. If the people of this valley honor us, they will listen.
::Kari hesitantly departed from her best friend, vanishing back into the night and remounting her mare. She headed off toward the city once more at a fast pace, passing through the woods as cautiously as she could. As they moved through the dark trees, Kari could sense something drawing near. Something she could not identify. Something she did not like, nor did her mount. Both were uneasy and on edge. Something wasn't right.::
Sane stood again the tree his eyelids getting heavy, he been up all night, Sane yawns and shifts his position against the tree looking out. He shrugged and decided to take a walk through the village one last time before he called it a night and went to bed. Sane throws on his white cloak to protect him from the coolness of the night as he walks through the town. Most of the houses candles had been put out already and most of the streets were empty... Besides on where a horse stood... A black beast of a horse it was too, build for one thing, charging head on into battle. Sane looked at the building it was standing in front of and noticed it was the armor shop...
::Kari looked around her through the trees, uneasy and on edge. Suddenly, a figure leapt from the shadowed branches nearby and knocked her off her horse to the ground. She quickly found her feet, a knife appearing in one hand. The man stood as well, his eyes gleaming. It was the bandit she had knocked out to take his place in the group back before the seige. She cursed under her breath:: Dammit, I knew that would come back to haunt me...
::He took a few steps to the side, and began to circle:: You didn't really think you would steal my horse and get away with it, did you?
::She side-stepped as well, matching his own footwork, always keeping herself opposite him:: I was coming back to get you.
::The man screamed, blinded by a proud rage:: BULLSHIT!! ::Without another word, he lunged at her, dagger in hand, and didn't live to see past her eyes. He fell to the ground, and Kari pulled her blade from his heart as a tear ran down her stone face. She slowly cleaned the knife and sheathed it, re-mounting her horse. For a long moment, she ached in her chest at such a useless killing. Her attention was diverted when she sensed a strong dark aura off in the distance. She narrowed her eyes and then realized that was the direction of the city:: s**t! ::She yelled to her mount in Elvish, urging it into it's fastest, most desperate pace. It took a half hour to cross the plain between the woods and the walled city::
Sane keeps low as he moves his way towards the building. He looks through one of the windows to see a man, wearing a red cape talking to the metal smith. Sane looks on with intrest, "Wasn't Farven's cape red?" Whispers to himself. "You're right that you are Sane boy!" Says a voice behind Sane as he grabs him slamming him against the wall. "Except that isn't Farven... I am Farven... that is just a decoy." Sane looks up into the face of a man, his face scarred with battle wounds, and wrinkled though not with age. "What... what do you want?"
::Kari and her mare raced through the gates and up through the streets of the city. The half-elf maiden quickly dismounted in the gardens and looked around. When she didn't see Sane, she pinpointed the dark aura and rushed off to the smithy. As she peered around the corner of a building a few stores down, she saw a black warhorse and a man in a red cape in front of the smith's shop:: Where is your dread lord, foul daemon...?
::Suddenly, a voice sounded behind her:: Right here, actually. ::Kari whirled around to see a man in a black cape with jet-black hair leaning casually against the wall. He looked worldly and worn, middle-aged, yet strong as any fifteen years younger than he. He played with a bootknife in his hand:: And I don't appreciate that title. Dread Lord isn't exactly becoming. ::He looked down at the knife, and then to her and held it out:: Sorry, couldn't resist.
::She immediately realized that the knife he held in his hand was the bootknife she had bought the day before. She snatched it and sheathed it, keeping up her guard the whole time. She straightened and locked eyes with him, her voice harsh and demanding:: Who are you?
::He took a step back and bowed courteously:: My name is Fhalrik. ::He glanced to her forehead:: You must be Kari.
::She narrowed her eyes, knowing that Sane could be within earshot:: My name is Kiah. I know naught of this Kari you seek.
::He smirk suddenly, a cruel hint appearing in his eyes as he looked past her to the door of the smithy:: I see the smith just couldn't keep his mouth shut. Even after all that gold and threatening...
::She could see the dark thoughts forming as his aura swarmed angrily about him:: He told me nothing. He would not speak.
::He looked back to her, amused:: Really? Then how did you know I sought you? I know I did not reveal as much. I merely named you.
::Kari was growing desperate. Too much of this could blow her cover:: My name is Kiah, dammit!
::He snickered:: Sure it is. ::He started past her toward the smith:: Think I'll go pay my little friend a visit and see what he has to say.
::In a flash, she had a knife to his throat:: You will not touch him.
Sane heard the voices, he also heard the exchange of words. "Kari... my Kari? This must be some other Kari you are searching for." Farven smiled and shook his head, "Does it matter... she's as good as dead..." Sane's eye lit up, "I swear by my life and soul you will not live past tonight, you shall not hurt her!" Sane punches Farven in the face and he stumbles back clutching his jaw. "Ha ha ha you have no idea my dear boy... what you are messing with." Farven says throwing off his cape and drawing out two short axes, Sane smirks and reaches behind his cape drawing out two short swords. "You will not... hurt my Kari..." Sane stammers through his rage. Farven smirks and nods, "I don't have to... my master will."
::Fhalrik turned his eyes to her, death eminating from his very person. His eyes alone could have paralyzed any normal human, but she had promised the smith that no harm would come to him. He had placed his life in her hands, and she would not disappoint. She would protect him, or die trying. Her own emerald eyes locked on Fhalrik's, he spoke, his voice as cold as ice:: What did you say?
::Her eyes flashed dangerously and she repeated herself, only slower this time and with more force behind each word:: You...will...not...touch...him.
::Fhalrik lashed out with his aura, knocking her against the wall with a short, sharp cry. The knife clattered to the stones beneath her feet and the black-haired man was on her in a second, his hand pressed tightly against her throat. She gritted her teeth, her features losing none of their viciousness as she matched his eyes. He pressed in close and hissed:: You will learn your place soon enough, half-breed.
::Kari's eyes flashed in rage and her aura flared, throwing him back a few steps. She fell to her knees, gasping for air and grasped her knife, unsheathing the other as she stood once more. Fhalrik suddenly rushed at her drawing a blade from his black wrap as she tried to side-step him. Caught off-guard by his immense speed, she gave a cry of pain as blood dripped down her shoulder and her cape fell to the ground. She tightened her grip on her knives and smirked as she saw a small trail of blood on her opponent's hand::
Sane shook his head, "No... NO!" Sane rushed in at Farven who quickly sidestepped. He had been taught well by his master, yet was nothing compared to his might, Farven smiled and ran at Sane, his speed much greater he caught Sane by the throat and hoisted him up smashing the handle of his ax into Sane's cranium. Sane slumped to the ground clutching his head the blood leaking from it. Sane shook his head trying to fight off the darkness. Farven smiled, "Come now Sane... I heard of your fight against the lord of this town... You slaughtered the soldiers without problem. What's wrong... I can feel you holding back your anger... let it loose... let it flow through you... use it." Sane shakes his head, "I will not fall back into that again!" Sane rushed at Farven once more jumping in the air and slashing, Farven rolled out of the way but not until he slashed with one of his axes catching Sane's thigh. Sane landed on the ground holding his thigh blood seeping from it, he turned to Farven and smiled... "Look at your shoulder..." Farven looked... there... was Sane's blade planted in his flesh. Farven's eyes widend and he ripped the blade form his shoulder tossing it to the ground... "I have no pain... Human."
::Fhalrik smirked:: It's not in your best interest to fight back. I wouldn't want to have to hurt you. I need you in one piece.
::Kari glared at him, her mind racing:: I'm NOT KARI!! What the hell do you want with HER anyway?!
::He straightened, leaning on his falchion and sighing casually:: What I don't get is why you're trying so hard to hide your identity. Do you hate yourself THAT much?
::She did not respond, but heard a clash of metal nearby and turned to see Sane on the ground, clutching an axe embedded in his leg and his head bleeding profusely. Her eyes widened but she didn't have enough time to cry out to him before she heard Fhalrik right behind her, whispering in her ear:: Oops. ::She knew as soon as she heard that voice that she had made the biggest, most foolish and fatal mistake there was in battle. She had been distracted. She had turned her back on her enemy. And now she would pay for it. Her head throbbed a moment as the hilt of Fhalrik's falchion slammed into the back of her head, and she fell forward, unconcious::
::Fhalrik caught her and whistled to the black warhorse. The stallion ran to him and he effortlessly climbed up onto it's back, setting Kari in the saddle in front of him. She slumped over the horse's neck, blood seeping down her back and neck from the gash his sword had left. He looked to Farven and called to his servant with his mind, then turned and raced off into the night::
Sane's eyes widen and he struggles to stand. Farven smiles and begins to walk towards Sane... then... stopping in mid stride and turning around and leaving. Sane struggles to stay concious... then slumping into a darkness.
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