Lore: Fugitives

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:29 pm

The group traveled all day with almost no stops for rest or food. Appointed people distributed food while they walked. More than a few people in the group eventually grew miffed at Soran's slave driving, but the rogue wouldn't give an inch on his schedule. It was nearly dusk when they finally reached the village, and the group was exhausted. The people living there stared at them with wary, confused eyes, as if already suspecting the worst. Well, the worst they could suspect wouldn't be far off.

There was a long moment of silence as the weary group stood just inside their gates with the villagers staring at them in dreading silence. "I need to speak to you governor," Soran broke the moment, speaking to no one in particular. That person was quickly produced by the murmuring villagers. A young man with red hair stepped out to meet Soran, looking barely thirty. "You're in charge?" Soran asked him emotionlessly.

"Yes..." the man said. "What is the meaning of this?"

Soran and the governor walked off into a private building where the rogue explained the situation at hand. Five minutes later, they re-emerged with the governor looking about 10 years older. "Come to the square, all of you. We have a great deal to discuss," he said to the waiting crowd.

Soran walked back to Mizuki and Rai as everyone else began migrating toward the center of the village. "I told them everything I could," he told Mizuki, sensing her injured conscience.

"This one goes with you, sir?" asked a man next to them, holding the bindings of a well-restrained and blindfolded Sid.

"Yes," the elf said dully, taking over the holding of Sid's bindings.

"Thanks for your...guidance, both of you. We'll do our best on our own from here," the man said, some deep emotion lingering just behind his voice. He was scared. He looked at Mizuki as if she might change her mind and suddenly stay with them, but then gathered his pride and took a deep breath. "Good luck."

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:50 pm

"May the Fates smile upon you," Mizuki returned, sorrow and weariness laying heavy on her voice. She kept Rai close to her side as she watched the people pass them by. She wished people luck as they went by, offered them prayers and what little comfort she could. This was probably the last time she'd see any of them, unconsciously she held Rai a bit closer to her.

Soran was standing like a pillar of strength next to her. This seemed nothing new to him, making sacrifices for a new goal. But it was an important goal to tell the Queen if she did not already know, so she would not judge Soran on the instincts he had lived on for so many years.

As the survivors of the Hepian massacre finally empty the gateway and crowded the square, Mizuki looked out towards the road ahead of them.

Another journey... Another hardship... But it involved more than just themselves now, it was all of Heirot.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 6:23 pm

Rai broke away from Mizuki, eager to hope around. Rai hadn't been paying much attention at all. She was so busy playing with Toby, and so happy that he had come back to her. She danced around Soran and Mizuki as they said there good byes, laughing and giggling as Toby followed her. He bounced and hopped, doing loops around her as she tried to catch him to hug him. Rai didn't understand the improtance of what was going on, or how it would affect her world forever.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 8:12 pm

When Soran and the others were alone again at the village gates, Sid spoke up.

"So, it's just us pals now. Can I get these things off?" Sid's muffled voice came through the rag that was tied across his face. He lifted his bound wrists up toward Soran hopefully.

Soran just cast him a dark, blank stare.

Sid blinked. "I thought all this was a necessary display of control to reassure your minions that I'm not some kind of spy working for the enemy..."

"Sid....you are a spy working for the enemy."

"But that was only bec -" Sid's sentence cut off as Soran wrapped a thicker rag around the first one so they couldn't hear him anymore.

"Yeah, I know that, I just want you to Stop. Talking." Soran asserted, giving Sid a push toward where Mizuki and Rai were. He gave Mizuki a small, smug grin as Sid whined a complaint harmlessly into his rag.

He looked down at Rai and Toby playing. The wolf seemed to have plenty of energy, even despite the day's travels. "You two doing alright?" he asked, crouching next to them. He was making an effort not to act as solemn as the day's work felt. He was praying Mizuki, Toby and Rai would be able to keep up with his pace, and he was willing to make an effort at good spirits if it would keep their morale up on this ominous mission.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 8:32 pm

Rai watched as Sid whined about his other gag. She glanced up at her father and then at Sid. "Daddy," she said, tugging on his pants to make sure he listened to her. "Can we let him go? Please? Its very sad to see him like that!"

Rai smiled at her father and then smiled at Sid. She didn't see anything wrong with him. He seemed like a nice guy... Like her father...

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:21 pm

"Absolutely not," Mizuki's firm voice came back, as if from nowhere. She fixed Sid with a firm, threatening stare. "Believe it or not Rai, this man is the cause of why Hepian was burned and we have to relocate." Her voice held ice, a little harsh for the child but she wasn't paying attention to that; she was focusing on telling Sid with her eyes that if she even had just an ounce of her powers she would make him go insane.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:45 pm

Soran wasn't going to argue with that, though the still-vivid memory of Sid dragging his half-conscious body to safety from the burning village had admittedly dulled some of his resentment for Sid. It was hard to hate him, but Soran wasn't known for being a quitter.

"He'll be fine," Soran added to Mizuki's decision, resting a big hand on Rai's head and tussling it slightly. "Come on, we have a lot of ground to cover." He began walking back out onto the faded trails outside the village, captive Sid in tow.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:50 pm

Rai glanced back at Sid, waving with her arm close to her body so no one would know what she was doing. Toby bit her nightgown and tugged gently to make her pay attention to what was in front of her.

After a while of walking Rai began to get very tired. Her legs were hurting and she stubbled slightly the more she walked. Finally a rather large stone became her arch enemy as it tripped her and caused her to tumble to the ground, skinning up her hand and knees. "Oww!" Rai said, though her expression didn't show that she was in pain. It was almost as if she said it because that was something she was supposed to say when she fell.

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:51 pm

Keeping a close eye on Rai and Toby, Mizuki trailed after Soran, trying to match his brisk pace. They should've obtained horses, Mizuki thought, it would've made their journey quicker. But then, having horses would require for them to change for fresh mounts at every village they came to, for they would've obviously rode the horses till they were close to becoming lame. Changing mounts would slow them down, but then walking wasn't any better. 'I'll just let Soran handle this, he'll know what's best,' she told herself, remembering Soran had the skill to survive on his own and without a horse if need be.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 10:27 am

Soran turned back quickly as he heard Rai go down. He could hear for some time that she was getting tired, and knew it was time to give her some relief. He knelt next to her and examined her hands and knees for scrapes, handling them gently like a doctor would. "You're doing a great job, kid. Want to sit on my shoulders for a while?" he asked her.

He glanced at Mizuki, wondering how she was holding out. They'd gone about five miles, but had easily 30 more to go. If they tried to use the trail, though, they'd be even further away, and risk getting spotted by any Arken spies. The enemy would not know this terrain well enough to wander off the path. So they were taking the direct route, cutting their way through when necessary.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 3:10 pm

Rai smiled and gave a single nod to her father as she climbed up on his shoulders. She had tiny legs, it was harder for her too keep up than for her mother. Since she was smaller she covered less ground.

"How much further? Are we almost there?" she asked, hugging her father's head lightly.

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 9:51 pm

Mizuki kept her eyes on Sid while Soran had Rai climb up on his shoulder. "Awhile," Mizuki's distant reply came. She was actually thinking about something else; about the undead sorceress that was attempting to track her down. Surely, the creature must realize that Mizuki was on to it now, and it could still track her down, but it would be much MUCH harder. It was only a matter of time before they'd be attacked again after the sorceress pinpoints her location.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 8:34 pm

Soran glanced over at Mizuki as they walked, eyeing her before snapping his eyes back to the path. They'd been going almost to dusk now, and even he was tired after all they'd been through. He was starting to wonder how Mizuki was still standing if he was feeling this way already. She hadn't voiced any protest about his harsh pace, but it occurred to him now that maybe she wouldn't. That look of inexplicable loss she'd had on her face this morning wasn't there now, but he wondered if she was really ok with the loss of her powers.

"Well," he declared, suddenly stopping and turning back toward she and Rai, "Shall we stop here?" He sat down abruptly at the side of the path, swinging the pack of supplies he was carrying to the ground next to him and starting to burrow through it. Still, the whole action was rather awkward in its abruptness.

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 8:48 pm

"..I wonder how safe it is to be on the path?" Mizuki wondered aloud and watched as Sid made the attempt to sit down gracefully with his hands tied. 'Least he knows it's pointless to run away...' she thought. Nonetheless, Mizuki took Rai aside to where Soran sat as well and ushered her to rest. The little girl was tuckered out even though she would not admit it.

Being unable to see how safe they really were camping here gave Mizuki another uneasy shudder. She tried to remind herself of how other brave travelers and warriors had traveled across all of Heirot without knowing of its many dangers, and they all lived. Still, she felt vunerable and hated it. Unable to warn of danger made her feel useless.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 8:55 pm

Sid sat across from them all, his arms aching from being stuck behind his back all day. This seating arrangement was odd; everyone sitting across from him like he was about to be interrogated. He'd done as Soran ordered, and not spoken a word all day. For Sid, it was practically a miracle to shut up that long.

Soran looked back at Sid, his cold green eyes completely ignoring Sid's expression. It was like they'd never even met before. The guy was probably waiting for a sign he could talk again. Soran wasn't going to encourage him.

Sid's shoulders rounded slightly at this lack of attention and turned his gaze to Mizuki, looking like a puppy waiting for a ball. Soran rolled his eyes and looked away.