Lore: Fugitives

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 9:01 pm

Mizuki's gaze lifted to meet Sid's. His expression was so pitiful it made her rethink having him tied up. But no, he was part of the enemy.

"I hope your Queen is happy, now. She gained the border with as much bloodshed as possible. I pray the villages-" Mizuki stopped short. Her mother lived in the border! Dear Gods! Was her mother even still alive?! Tears welled up in her eyes from the shock of it. She had no idea and couldn't even contact her to find out. She had to stand and turn away, biting her fist to keep from crying out.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 9:20 pm

Sid's expression fell sober at Mizuki's sudden words. He glanced at Soran as she suddenly stood and turned away, thinking that this had something to do with him.

Soran took one glance over at her and rose to his feet, coming up next to her. Almost resting one hand on her shoulder, he leaned around her and tried to catch her eye. "Mizuki," he whispered, a hint of concern making it to his eyes. He knew something had just happened, and had no idea what.

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 9:27 pm

"My...m-mother..." Mizuki choked out. She can't reach her without exposing their whereabouts, she can't do anything! Mizuki slipped into the dark vat of depression, something she hadn't had in a long, long time. Not since Luc. She looked at Soran's eyes with a side-long glance. Funny how a gruff, cold man like he had been had suddenly gave her a new meaning in life.

But what did she have now?

A baby boy waiting for the right time to come home to her. A boy that looked like Soran's, but wasn't. A boy with a very special blood-line in him. She had to stay around for him to come home. Shea will not have all of Heirot. Again Soran's fierce green eyes had brought her back into the world.

...But what about her mother?

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 9:42 pm

Soran's mouth drew tight as he caught on to the source of Mizuki's distress. He watched her silently a moment. "There's no proof that the army attacked anywhere except Hepian. Your family may still be safe. It was news to the village we just visited; if they took on the entire border at once, they couldn't proceed with the stealth they seem to be aiming for," he said firmly but quietly into her ear.

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 9:45 pm

"You think so?" Mizuki's anxiety calmed down a bit. So, mother might be alive? Relieved, Mizuki hugged Soran, drawing on his strength to build up her courage.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 5:49 pm

"On the other hand," Soran said, "using the element of surprise to acquire as much territory as possible is also a possible approach, and that would put the entire border at risk." He was too logical to bias his predictions toward optimism. "Without knowing their specific objectives, it's impossible to predict their exact strategy. However, there is one source of information available to us." The rogue's eyes shifted and locked on Sid darkly.

Sid raised his eyebrows as the look on Soran's face sent chills through him. He opened his mouth, paused, and closed it again.

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 5:52 pm

"Do you think he as all the information?" Mizuki asked, letting go of Soran and following the path of his eyes with a glance.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 6:14 pm

"What exactly is your rank now, Sergeant Sid?" Soran said harshly, like every word he spoke could cut him. From the look on Sid's face, they did.

"Chief Liutenant," Sid said, like stepping out onto ice.

"Not much of a promotion from ten years ago," Soran scrutinized.

"No. I was under suspicion for being affiliated with your escape, and leadership was never really my thing." Because I stopped caring after you died, he wanted to say, but held his tongue. He gave Soran a confused look. The rogue had to understand at least that much.

"I don't care how little effort you may have put in, there's no chance in hell the army'd feed and train you for ten years to merely raise you to Liutenant," Soran said, anger tremoring in his voice. He knelt in front of Sid and lowered his face near his, eyes bitter cold. "Now I'm going to take my daughter to look for food, and you're going to tell Mizuki EXACTLY what happened to her family. You will listen to all of her questions, and you will know all the answers. Do you understand."

Sid nodded slowly. It was an automatic response to obey Rhen, but he immediately wondered how he could comply with the elf's orders. Soran stood up and walked to where Rai was sitting. "Rai, come with me," he said quietly, holding out his hand.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 6:35 pm

Rai blinked, so very confused by all that was happening. She just nodded and stood up, dusting her tattered nightgown off and longing for her real clothes. Though, she guessed she wouldn't ever see them again. That made her sad. She liked her clothes. What about school?!

Rai ran up to Soran's side and took his hand, looking up at him for a moment before looking back at Sid. She smiled at Sid and waved her hand, still not understanding why everyone didn't like him. She thought he was very nice.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 8:46 pm

Soran returned Rai's grip, avoiding being too rough with her hand. He was ready to kick something in half. Why? He walked quickly, well out of earshot of the camp, and suddenly stopped, just standing there in the path looking in front of him like he forgot where he was going.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:03 pm

Rai looked up at Soran and blinked. "Daddy... what are we going to eat?" she asked him, wondering what they could possibly find in the woods for food. "Leaves taste bad, I ate one in class because the boys dared me too. It was nasty!!" she said and giggled, trying to cheer her father up.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:16 pm

Soran looked down at Rai and drew a deep breath. "I won't make you eat leaves," he promised. The anger that was slowly draining from his system made his voice sound thin. "There should be tama melons around here. It's the right season." But instead of investigating the area, he leaned back against a tree and slid down to a sitting position with his knees drawn up.

"Sorry, kid...we'll find food in a minute, ok?" He hadn't let go of her hand, even to sit down.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:39 pm

Rai nodded and took a seat next her father. She looked rather bored, watching a line of ants cross there path carrying leaves. Rai giggled as she watched how odd it looked to see such a tiny creature carrying such large leaves. She let go of Soran's hand and walked across the clearing to where the ant bed was, looking down to watch as they dragged the leaves inside the tiny holes in the ground.

The bushes in front of her began to shake and shiver and Rai immediatly jumped up as a tall thick bodied man staggered into there small clearing hold a flask of ale.

He looked down at Rai, who looked startled, but not frightened. Rai was hardly afraid of anything, at least she didn't show it.

"What a pretty... pretty... girl..." the man slurred, grinning. "You look sweeter than candy..." the man said, clad in Arken clothing with Shea's crest on his chest. He grinned and reached down as Rai went to step back. He grabbed her by the arm and lifted her into his arms. Rai let out a scream, not expecting him to be so quick. "Lets play a game..."

"Daddy!!!" Rai screamed.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:45 pm

Soran's eyes shot up to where Rai had been playing, only to find a large Arkenese soldier towering over her. His words were disgusting, but honestly, he didn't strike Soran as much of a threat.

He jumped to his feet and walked swiftly toward Rai. "You appear to have disrupted my daughter's investigation into the wonders of entymology," he criticized, sizing the man up. It looked like an Arken soldier, all right, but not a particularly bright one.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:49 pm

Another man emerged, not quite as drunk. The third one was completely sober. The drunk one just seemed to sway back and forth and then grinned at Soran. "I like yer daughter... she's perty..." he stumbled slightly, almost falling over with Rai in his arms. Rai got her hands lose and poked him in the eyes.

He screamed and dropped her. She fell onto the ground hard, but stood up and went to move away. "Ah-ah... little girlfriend, you aren't going anywhere..." The second one grabbed her long curly hair and snatched her back. She cried out, reaching out for Soran, wanting to grab onto him for safety, but couldn't reach him.