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Post by Sovereign on Sept 19, 2012 12:26:42 GMT -5
Benaiah
After seeing to the wounded man, and making sure the Crow had been taken care of properly. Luckily Eve hadn't saw him looking through the bars, she didn't seem to like him. He met with his father about him going out scouting.
His father hadn't wanted Benaiah out scouting today, not after finding a Crow, a mysterious young women, and a unconscious man with a fever. "Trouble comes in three's" his father had said when forbidding him to do the very thing he was doing right now. Benaiah had taken the long route, making as wide a circle as he could before he turned back toward camp, following the path the Crow had taken.
Benaiah loved, and respected his adoptive father for many reasons, one of the most important being that the man had never allowed Benaiah to believe he was his blood but he still saw Benaiah as his son. He often wondered who his father was and what connection the pendant inscribed with what seemed to be the Rose of Yalown. And today was one of those times as he silently stalked through the woods around the camp, being careful to mind the traps they had placed.
I wonder if my father was connected to the royal line? Their symbol was this rose....or is it just a memento of my mother? He skillfully evades a trap that if he hadn't been the one to place would have caught him.
Did they even want me or was the war threatening my life someh.. His thoughts come to an end as he see's four men, most likely Crows up ahead. He ducked behind a tree, three of them almost fell into a simple bear trap. Idiots. The other one, the leader had a more level head on his shoulders and saw through the trap.
Luckily he had taken that long route or they might have ran into him, and no matter how skilled he was or unskilled they where he didn't like fighting a 4-1 fight unless he absolutely had too.
Best course of action is to follow them until I see an opening to pass them and make it back to camp. Father will be furious that I disobeyed him but the camp needs to know about this, if these idiots found us then the main army will have no problem. He followed at a distance.
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Post by atlantis on Sept 19, 2012 13:47:38 GMT -5
Tha Goons
Noble Ackbar Ballack valiantly led his three best men through the forests laced with Hawk traps, steering them away from all danger. They lumbered through the forest like rhinocerous ninjas, keeping their eyes peeled for any signs of the enemy. "We're getting close," Ackbar whispered, pushing a tree limb forward to allow him through. "I can feel it." He walked onward, loosing the limb.
From behind he heard a loud thwack! followed by three solid thunks on the ground. Turning around he saw Maka, Waka, and Laka laid out side by side on the ground, each rubbing their heads. "Idiots! Stop goofing off," he hissed. "Someone will hear you."
In the distance further behind him still, he heard a brush of leaves. He studied the wilderness with sharp eyes but saw no movement. Deciding it was only a squirrel or a passing bird, he continued on. Ahead, he could see the pale yellow of a canvas tent. He hurried forward, his three minions galloping close behind, until they had reached what seemed to be the edge of the enemy campsite.
As they stooped down in the bushes, peering in, Waka whispered, "Where would they keep him?"
"Likely not in one of these tents. Somewhere sturdier," Ackbar replied.
Maka let out a startled shout to his left and collapsed into the brush in pain. Turning quickly to his fallen soldier, Ackbar saw the arrow sticking out the fool's back. He looked into the trees and saw the Hawk that had fired. "Get him to shutup," he ordered Laka. Ackbar pulled a dagger from his boot and tossed it at the archer, hitting him in the shoulder and causing him to fall from his perch.
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Post by purplemunster94 on Sept 19, 2012 16:58:37 GMT -5
Samara
Samara smiled at Garrett. She fell whole heatedly into Novorus' trap. She had always been overly trusting, and it had always ended with her hurt. She felt her eyes fill slightly with tears from exhaustion, and everything finally hitting her. "We who've escaped from.." she looked around the room, "well you ready know from where. But we were sent here and told that you would be able to help us."
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Post by atlantis on Sept 19, 2012 23:51:59 GMT -5
Novorus
One of them, the young girl, smiled back at him, readily telling him of their plight and her hope that he could help them. Yes, I think I can help you... find your way to the executioner's welcoming blade. "Very well, then, m'lady. There is plenty comfort to be found here. If you will all follow me upstairs, I'll be happy to show you to your rooms."
He led the prisoners to the second floor and opened two doors, one room for the girls, one for the men. "I trust you will alert me should you find yourselves in need of anything? I can only imagine the suffering you must have endured on your journey here."
Once he was sure they were properly tended to, he turned to leave, but stopped on the first stair. "I will be gone for a bit, finding... medics to see to your wounds."
Novorus followed the stairs back down to the ground floor, wrapped himself in a black cloak, and slipped out the door with a nod to the 'cleaning maid'. Outside, he walked around to the side of the inn, hidden by the alley, and climbed a ladder to the top. He began making his way through the city from rooftop to rooftop until he had come to the one he was looking for. Taking a door through the roof of the building, he strolled through the third-floor hallway of Damagra's Lord Tollisken before entering the last room on the right.
Inside the room, he was greeted by several Crow soldiers, engaged in a meeting with the Lord. "The time has come," he said simply.
Tollisken grinned with wicked satisfaction. "The King will be pleased."
"I'm just ready to shuck off this pleasant innkeeper act," Novorus replied. "But yes, the reward should be handsome."
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Post by Sovereign on Sept 20, 2012 1:02:30 GMT -5
Bethany
She had watched the group of Crows come blundering in with no stealth at all. Why me?!?!? She thought. Only reason she was even on watch duty was because she had been one that had hit the Crow didn't act like a Crow.
She reached behind her back and pulled out an arrow and aimed at one of the Crows. Oh my Lord, these guys are clueless aren't they? While they where certainly close to the camp, any idiot with half a mind would notice that the fire pit hadn't been used that much. This was the decoy camp, set up after today's earlier fiasco. Traps placed in every tent.
She let loose her arrow at one of the idiot Crows and took him down, right where she wanted him, shoulder.
She was getting out another arrow when the leader, who was completely incompetent threw a knife at her shoulder, knocking her off her post in the tree. Luckily her armor stopped it and just gave her a bruise. She turned her body to absorb the fall so as not to break anything. Not two seconds after she had hit was Benaiah at her side. "Benaiah what are you doing!" She whispered rather loudly.
Benaiah
He had saw Bethany's signature in the tree's way before he saw her. She always scratched a arc in a tree to let Hawks know where she was. But those idiots probably only saw it as a random mark. That was the beauty of it.
Then she shot one in the shoulder. Benaiah stifled a laugh as the man fell down hollering in pain but then the actually someone level head leader threw a dagger at the tree Bethany was in knocking her down.
He rushed to her side to see if she was hurt or even alive. Her armor had saved her and she looked just a little beat up. "Benaiah, what are you doing here!" She whispered.
I was out scouting and ran into these idiots! He nodded in their direction, bringing a smile to her face and the response "So I'm not the only one who noticed their idiocy."
"Bet you wished you brought your short bow tonight." Benaiah says helping her up.
"Shut up and let's just capture these guys." Bethany whispers harshly. "I'll take the two idiots, you take the boss?" Bethany was okay with a sword, while Benaiah was pretty skilled, she had no allusions that she could take on the one who threw the dagger..not without her short bow.
"Sounds good to me." Benaiah says as they both draw their weapons. "Hey you guys are in the wrong place!" Benaiah says quite seriously, for his age the guy was rather serious when it came to battle, and Bethany thought Even noble-like
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Post by atlantis on Sept 20, 2012 11:19:05 GMT -5
Ackbar
Ackbar watched as the young archer was joined by someone else, a man even younger than her. It's clear all the Hawks have left are babes and ragged prisoners. He drew his sword with a slight nod to Waka and Laka who stood behind him.
"Hey, you guys are in the wrong place!" the young man said.
Foolish! I should have known.... "This isn't the Hawk camp. It's a trap!" Somehow he kept finding those. "And you! How long have you been following us?-- It doesn't matter, we'll take care of both of you."
"We've got the archer, cap'n," Waka said.
"I should hope two grown men could take down one little girl," Ackbar replied. "... but then look who I'm dealing with. Nevertheless, if you can handle her, by all means, stay out of my way." With a growl, he charged the young man, sword at the ready.
Tha Goons
Waka nodded, though Laka hardly looked ready to take anyone on in battle, wide-eyed, his hands clutching his sword with white knuckles. Waka led the charge, quickly tripping over his fallen brother Maka, who was still wailing on the ground. Laka glanced to the ground and back to the girl several times before cautiously sticking his sword out and yelling a battle cry-- without going anywhere.
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Post by Sovereign on Sept 21, 2012 1:03:44 GMT -5
OT: Manda and I got bored....so here's another huge JP.
Bethany
She just smiled and slowly walked toward the man who had let out the shouting, kicking the one who had tripped. “Are you afraid of little ole me?” She says as Benaiah rushes past her at the other man, sword at his side like a wing.
Benaiah
He watched as Bethany toyed with the scared man. Okay, she’s a different person in battle, but not all that different. He thinks as he could still hear the genuine sweetness in her voice, as he passed her by running at the older, probably more experienced man. Bringing his sword up to his side and turning his body in a full circle, putting his whole weight and speed behind the blow.
Ackbar
The kid knew what he was doing, that was for sure. He wasn’t the silly child the leader of the Battle Warriors had expected. Nevertheless, he had practiced for many years and felt confident that no young brat could beat him in battle. He mirrored the boy’s attack, meeting their swords in the middle and pressing back in hopes of turning him onto his back.
Tha Goons
“Are you afraid of little ole me?” the girl asked after kicking Waka.
Laka didn’t know what to do. He was petrified with fear. He nodded quickly, bobbing his head up and down. His sword was still standing straight out in front of him and he mustered all his courage to stick it out a little further-- maybe he could scare her back? (Doubtful.)
Waka pulled himself back up, rubbing his ribcage where she had lashed at him. “I’m not afraid of you,” he answered and picked his sword up off the ground. He made his charge but before he realized it he had tripped over his own bootlace.
Bethany
“Did...you just trip over your own...nevermind.” She turned back to the one still standing and charged him, slamming the flat of her blade onto his hand.
Benaiah
He smiled as the man mirrored him and tried to push him back, Benaiah was a gentleman after all and obliged. Just not in the way the man probably wanted. As soon as the man connected, Behaiah let the man push him back, but so suddenly as to make the man’s momentum carry him forward and past Benaiah who brought his fist into the mans side as he sidestepped and turned to face him yet again.
Ackbar
His eyes widened as he fell face-forward onto the forest floor, receiving a punch in the side on the way down. He rolled over in time to see the boy looking down on him, ready for his next attack. Eyes narrowed, he got to his feet with a growl and a sweep of his arm to try and slice the youth open. “How dare you make a fool out of me. Do you have any idea who I am?”
Tha Goons
Laka dropped his weapon as soon as her blade made contact, quickly waving his hand to try and shake off the pain. He fell backward into the bush behind him as she came forward. As he tried to get out of the bush, the harder he kicked the more entangled he seemed to become. “Captain! Help! Helphelphelphelphelphelp!”
Bethany
She watched as the man fell backward, her eyes going wide. She walked over to the struggling man. “You don’t belong in this war.” She whispered to herself as she brought the point of her sword to his throat. “Please be quiet, I don’t want to kill anyone tonight.” She says barely putting any pressure on his throat, but enough to draw a prick of blood. “But don’t doubt I will, the scum you work for killed my family.”
Benaiah
He jumped out of the way of the stupid flailing of the leader. “Do you have any idea who I am?” Benaiah looked around the area before looking at the man again. “You are the idiot who brought three men who act like boys, into a enemy territory.”
Ackbar
With a glance to his men and the yelping noise of Laka calling out for assistance, he caught his enemy’s meaning with little effort. “At least I have men to bring to battle. Apparently all the Hawks have to offer are a scrawny girl and a kid who’s still recovering from acne.” It was a pitiful comeback, but he couldn’t lose the battle of wits as well.
“Now fight me, you fool. Before I kill you where you stand.” He advanced once more, slamming his sword down from above in what might be a lethal blow to the boy’s head.
Tha Goons
Laka whimpered in the bush as the girl brought her sword to his throat. “Please, please, I’ll do whatever you want. I’ll never come back here ever again, just let me live,” he simpered, shutting his eyes tight.
Behind her, Waka had gotten up yet again and-- believe it or not-- tied his bootlace. He was ready to attack the girl from behind when his brother, Maka, suddenly leapt up from the ground screaming in pain and startled him. Waka fell over once again, rolling several feet away this time.
Benaiah
He brought his sword up in time and was able to deflect the force of the blade but he was brought to his knee, both his sword and his opponents sword at his side, with the man standing over him. He didn’t even say a word, just brought his opposite foot up, kicking the man in the head.
Tha Goons
Maka was sweating, drips forming on his brow both from the pain and from the anxiety. But his brother Laka was in trouble and his other brother was too much of a dolt to save him. He had to do something and he had to do it fast. He got to his feet, ragged and bleeding and made his way toward the girl who was threatening Laka. “Leave him alone,” he demanded, drawing his sword awkwardly with his left hand. He lashed out at her, hoping his sudden move would distract her long enough for Laka to get loose.
Bethany
One of the other men charged at her from behind, and he wasn’t quiet about it. It made it easy for her to turn bring up her blade, which he hit pretty hard for a wounded man. But he was right where she wanted him. She brought her arm around their swords, pulled him closer, keeping him trapped right there. “You have something of mine, and I’d like it back.” She smiles, and before the man can even get the first word ‘what’ out, she grabbed her arrow, right below the fletching, and ripped it out.
This caused him to fall forward onto her, but she disengaged her hold, twisted his left leg in hers causing him to trip and fall on the other man in the bushes. She just looks down on them, in pity.
Ackbar
He pulled himself up on his elbows, his head spinning from the kick. Waka was lying on the ground, Maka and Laka were caught in a bush, thoroughly beaten by the archer. And he was lying here, mud on his face (OT: Ya big disgrace! Waving your banner all over the place.), having been kicked in the head. It was time to call it a day.
He pulled himself back up to his feet. “Retreat! Back to the capital!”
Tha Goons
Maka collapsed onto the bush, on top of his brother who had begun flailing again. He was groaning in miserable pain, in too much agony to even shout like he had before. Laka’s constant motion beneath him wasn’t helping. Then he heard his captain’s voice calling for them to retreat. He willed himself to get up and saw Waka already galloping out into the forest. He turned to try and pull Laka out of the bush, try and untangle him but the poor fool was still too frantic to think.
“Leave him!” Ackbar called after him. “Leave that idiot and come on!”
“But...” Maka looked back at his brother, all wide-eyed and terrified.
“M-Maka...” the silly coward said. “You wouldn’t....”
“Let’s go, Maka!” Ackbar was still shouting. “We don’t have time for him!”
Maka bowed his head. “I’m sorry,” he said before dashing off after the others.
Benaiah & Bethany
Benaiah and Bethany looked at each other and back at the guy trapped in the bushes. “Can you bind him while I go get my bow?” Bethany asks without waiting for an answer she darts off. Benaiah grab the downed man, reaches behind his back and pulls out a length of rope all Hawks carry on them for this reason only, and ties the mans hands together as Bethany returns, her bow unstrung, and her sword at her hip. “You ready to head back, your father will want to know about this.”
She was right and Benaiah knew it. “Yeah let’s go.” They both picked up the man and grabbed an arm each and walked back to the encampment.
When they reached the camp, Bethany took the prisoner to the prison cells. While Benaiah headed to speak to his father. He had to tell him, war was coming.
Bethany grabbed the keys, and medical supplies and took the man into the prison, where she saw Eve tending to the man she shot earlier. “Hey Eve, sorry I got you in trouble.” She says as she sets her prisoner down, and begins to bandage the wounds...that he gave himself. It was strange, bandaging their enemies but Melizikiah insisted that they were not the Crows, and they would not treat their prisoners like they did.
Laka (OT: that’s right, poor goon, since you got captured you get your own name title thingy.)
Laka watched his brothers and captain go, his flailing subsided, replaced by tremors. He listened to the Hawks talk, as though he weren’t there, was frozen in place as the young man tied him up. Though it was really all for the best. He didn’t know what to say and didn’t know where he would go if he were free.... So he let them lead him into their camp, guided to the prison cells, and sat down where the girl saw to his injuries.
“So...” he said, and then realized it probably wasn’t typical for prisoners of war to chat with the enemy. He looked away, scanning the walls for something interesting to stare at for a little while. Then he realized he had started to say something and didn’t finish. One thing their father had always drilled into their heads was to finish what you start. “I... um... thank you. Y’know. For not killing me.”
Bethany
“You were no threat to me or anything that I loved, why would I kill you.” She whispers as she rubs some strange ointment on his cuts causing him to whimper. “Oh be a man.” She says as she continues to administer aid to him. “Why do you fight for Malphas.....” She says abruptly without any thought at all except the words that came out.
Laka
The question took his mind off the stinging pain of her medicine. “I don’t... fight for Malphas. I fight for Captain Ballack,” he answered simply. “He’s the hero of Alluska. It’s an honor to fight by his side.” He watched her work, but watching only made him remember the sting again. Instead he thought back to the forest. He had always given the captain his loyalty, even when he was afraid, which was... often. The world outside Alluska was bigger and more terrifying than he had imagined. And after he had stood by his captain’s side through the years, Ballack had just left him. “Though I guess first you have to get him to stay by your side in order for that to be the case,” he mused.
Bethany
She listened to him talk, finishing up her work. “Well, you have more honor than him and certainly more courage, while your brothers were on the ground, you stood and faced me. Even though you were terrified. A man who leaves his subordinates behind is no man at all. If you weren’t the enemy, I’d introduce you to some of the men of this camp.” She stood up, dusted her leggings off. “May I know your name?”
Laka
They’d only been talking a few minutes and already he trusted her more than he trusted half the men he’d ever worked with. And none of them had ever held a sword to his throat. I’d doubt you’d speak for my courage if you knew me better. “It’s Locke. Locke Fendras. It’d be foolish of me to expect to hear yours, I suppose. Say I worked up nerves of steel and ran off on you-- can’t have me blabbing your name to the whole Crow army.” No sooner had he said it than he realized what an idiot he sounded like. He laughed at his plight. “No, I think I’m thoroughly stuck.”
Bethany
“Locke, it’s a good name. And honestly, we are probably about to see the whole Crow army now that your friends escaped. You can call me Bethany. Bethany Amelyon. And if you do somehow escape, tell them. Tell Malphas most of all. Tell him so that he may know that he wasn’t able to wipe away all the traces of the man who almost defeated him. Vincent Amelyon, my father.” She looked at him through the bars. “I don’t know what we will do with you, but know we rarely kill our prisoners.” She turned and walked away.
Locke
She was kind in such a way that it left him completely bewildered. But he knew he couldn’t possibly turn her in if the opportunity ever arose. The kindness she had spoken with left him so warm even the talk of what would happen to him in the end slipped through his mind unheard. He watched her leave, for once without care or concern about the future.
Ackbar and tha Other Goons
They had made it back to their original campsite, where they had left to search for the mysterious ticking noise. “Where are we going?” Waka asked.
“Back to the capital,” Ackbar answered with a sigh. “I already said that. Five times.”
“What about Laka?” Maka asked. “What about Allett?”
“The brutes will likely have already killed your brother,” the captain answered harshly. “And I have no doubt in my mind that Allett has fallen into the same fate. Those tracks back outside the capital... they were a trap. The real path was the one the other two took. We’ll have to inform Lord Wylder about this as soon as we return.”
“So that’s it?” Maka demanded. “You’re just going to assume they’re dead?”
“Listen,” Ackbar urged, turning around to look Maka in the eyes, “even if we went back, the three of us couldn’t save them. The only hope lies back at Tirh Ciaradh. Now will you follow me or will you honor your brother by re-enacting his cowardice?”
Maka sighed. “Fine. Waka, let’s go,” he replied, calling his brother who was snacking on Ackbar’s leftover lunch.
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Post by atlantis on Sept 21, 2012 17:20:52 GMT -5
Novorus
He crept back into the inn with five other men, locking the door carefully behind him in case any wandering travellers should find need of an inn at an inopportune moment. He led his crew upstairs, moving silently. Before entering the women's room, he readied his crossbow, and motioned for one of the others to follow him in while the other two headed into the men's room. Instantly upon entry, he fired at the foreign girl, straight through the chest, before she could even make a sound. His aid was ready for the other with his dagger while Novorus reloaded his bow.
Next door, in the men's room the muffled sound of men shouting came through the wall, and then the thunks of two corpses hitting the floor. Novorus smiled at the sound. "You're alone now, Miss."
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Post by purplemunster94 on Sept 21, 2012 18:28:29 GMT -5
Samara
When the Inn Keeper left them alone Samara felt exhaustion sweep over her. She was positive that she had never been this tired in her entire life. She collapsed into her cot and curled up on the bed. The group was free, and now that they had found who they needed, they would be safe. All of them would make it in the end. She closed her eyes and was about to fall asleep when the door burst open. She jumped from the bed and yelled to *her companion, but was too late as the arrow from the crossbow hit her. Samara let out a cry and turned to the attackers, and was in shock when she saw that it was the Inn Keeper. Again, she had been too naive to see what was really going on. She heard the collapsing of the two men in the room across the hall. Her eyes filled with tears and she turned toward the man who had led them into this.
"You're alone now, Miss."
Samara wanted to scream, but what good would that really do? The man was right, she was completely and utterly alone, but she would never give up, even as he loaded his crossbow to end her life. She looked to the girl laying motionless in her bed, and blinked back the tears in her eyes. "You are a terrible monster! Who could ever work for someone who would willingly and mercilessly murder people." Samara noted the man with the dagger, but ignored him and ran at the so called Inn Keeper. She pushed her whole strength into him, trying to knock him out of the way just enough for escape. She felt a sharp pain across her side, and knew that she had been hit by the dagger, but she would not let that stop her. She would get back to the Hawks if it was the last thing she did.
*I couldn't remember who else was left in the group....
Daray
Daray knew the other soldiers called to this meeting would already be there. They always had this way of thinking they were better than everyone else. They were Malphas elite. She rolled her eyes at this thought, if they were so elite, how did she make it into the group so easily. She walked up to the door where they would be waiting, and pushed the door open making sure it made a lot of noise. A smirk came across her face as she bowed low to the ground. "Sorry I'm late ladies, have I missed anything important." She seriously doubted the "meeting" had even started, but it was always fun to stir up a reaction out of the bunch of stiffs.
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Ambassador
Full Member
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidance of things not seen.
Posts: 130
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Post by Ambassador on Sept 23, 2012 15:16:31 GMT -5
Eve
"I wouldn't really call that bad luck," responded the Crow with a small smirk. "Trying to defend an innocent citizen from bullies has nothing to do with luck. Besides, I expect the Crows to be following me soon enough. They've got better trackers than little old me in their ranks."
"Bullies? If you've have a grudge against bullies, maybe you should stop being so cozy with your friend Malphias." Eve said with a hint of bitterness as she stepped outside the barred cave. "Here." before closing the bars, she placed some rations on the floor: a bowl made of thin wood which contained some soup and a second bowl full berries. "I'll keep an eye out for your friends--assuming you are not lying." The bars were closed and locked, and Eve turned her back on them and the prisoner.
The truth was, she was sure he was telling the truth.
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Alaric
Alaric listened carefully and critically to everything the girl had to say. The corners of his eyes crinkled slightly at her quick mind and the vivaciousness of her speech. She spoke so convincingly that a weaker-minded being would give in to her requests. And yet he believed she was sincere about saving the crow, even though she was no friend of their cause--Alaric had believed since the glade that she was innocent.
The way she had reacted to everything: the bright life, yet fear, in her eyes, the confidence in which she defended herself, her quick thinking in every situation. No enemy creating a diversion could have been that precise. Unless...she and the crow had planned to be captured from the beginning, as a diversion or some kind of spying. The idea sent a shiver down his spine. It was sad to think that even one as pure-hearted as this girl seemed could be a deceiver. And yet, though he couldn't explain why, Alaric believed she was innocent. The sudden revelation of why he trusted her only caused him to feel even more saddened.
The girl let out a sigh. "I guess there probably isn't any way you'll believe I'm not in cahoots with him now...it's just that...he put my safety above his mission and his duty to the Crows even though he'd never seen me before and hasn't got any reason to care if I live or die. I feel like...like I owe him, and the most I can do for him is try to keep him from being tortured. But I still think you'd actually get better information out of him if you try to turn him to your side than you'll get by torturing him. I'm not a Crow, so it doesn't bother me a bit if you get something you can use to give the Crows a good drubbing."
"Yes, his actions toward you...intrigue me as well." Alaric confided. He let out a heavy sigh and leaned on the bars as if from weariness. "If only you could have more confidence in us. Look Miss, I wish I could help you, but I cannot. I am mearly a simple solider, and as it is I overstepped the line taking control back there. But I promise, if you are innocent, no harm will come to you." That part was true. He took a deep breath. " I'll be honest: for my part, I believe you to be innocent, someone in the wrong place at the wrong time. Any affiliation you have with my cousin is certainly a wonderment--but a coincidence. I promise to vouch for you, on my honor,--though it is not the honor of a knight, as you appear to think me." Alaric briefly smiled. "I know I can cause them to believe me. Eve too would help. She may seem brusque, but she's really not all bad."
"Really? Good to know that's what you think of me." a new voice said and Eve walked out of the cell next door, where the crow must be. "Melzikiah wants to see us." Alaric nodded in resignation and glanced briefly back at the girl behind bars. "We'll do what we can." He turned to face Eve again, when several crys echoed from in the forest not far away. Voices fluctuated up and down, and there was a whooshing of projectiles being thrown through the air. Alaric locked eyes with Eve. "The crow said there were others with him. He was telling the truth." she stated.
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Branson
Branson sat at the council table, garbed in fresh cloths and a clean face, though he had re-donned his armor. The bandage that nursed the bruise from Daray's mis-aimed throwing knife felt tight under the sleeves of his left arm. He threw a squinting glare across the table at Daray, then folded his hands neatly on the polished wooden surface and listened carefully to the proceedings.
"Ah, Lucien. So bad that they had to bring me back already? Maybe what little respect I had for you was a bit too much?" Said Lucas.
"It's a shame you couldn't learn kindness from your man Benjamin Allett. Have they mentioned to you that he's likely dead or being tortured deathward in some Hawk camp someplace. But enough of this childishness. There is yet a war to win," he added, changing the subject. Turning to Malphas, he said, "And I am ever your servant, my king."
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Post by Zabby on Sept 23, 2012 20:08:51 GMT -5
Ben
Malphas? thought Ben to himself A bully? What is she talking about? The king may not be the best person or this land, but he got the position legitimately and there's no other heir. Do these people realize the law exists for a reason?
The caged crow just shook his head and sat there. He could not accept these people or their ways. If they wanted to change things, bloody rebellion was not the way. No, they were just trouble makers and bullies. If they got the throne, nothing would change.
Ben closed his eyes and sighed. He wasn't hungry, so he decided to just listen and wait for another interested Hawk to come by to question him.
After a few minutes, he heard the creaking of the cell door. Ben opened his eyes and saw another Crow being brought to his cell. He watched as the woman treated the kid's wounds and they had a heart to heart.
When she finally left, he smirked and said, "Don't get too attached. If they can turn a Crow to their cause, they'll do it because that's another harden fighter they can use. She's probably been trained to try to sway you."
Saudra "Look," Saudra started, trying to attempt a comforting tone, but just sounded annoyed. "No one is going to get us here. If they could track us, they would have done it already. Besides, I'm sure I can still handle a few troops here and there. We just need to rest, get you recovered and then we'll try to find a way to meet up with the others. If they're still alive."
Saudra let out a sigh. This was why she preferred to work alone. It was far too much work to care about other people. Far too much work to worry. It was starting to put a toll on her. Also, she really wasn't sure if she could handle killing a few more. She hated what she became when she was fighting. The idea of having to do it again almost caused her to be sick.
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Post by atlantis on Sept 23, 2012 21:54:37 GMT -5
Locke
His fellow prisoner spoke to him just then. "Don't get too attached. If they can turn a Crow to their cause, they'll do it because that's another hardened fighter they can use. She's probably been trained to try and sway you."
He almost laughed out loud. "She's seen me fight; I'm not what you might call a 'hardened fighter'. And anyway, what's the use in fighting for a man who abandons you to the enemy...?" He realized he'd be hanged for saying that to a Crow officer if they weren't prisoners, and he immediately looked to change the subject. Then he realized... a Crow officer, here? "Hang on, you're Benjamin Allett?" he asked, whispering the name so not to be overheard. "I... I'm sorry to tell you this, but it was my brothers and I that came to rescue you. Led by Captain Ballack."
Avan
He sighed heavily. If they're still alive, was the height of his worries, not to mention that the others would flee Damagra in two days whether they were there or not. But he tried to take his mind off it. "I'm sorry... about the priest. I've lost a few friends over the years. Either killed off in battle or else executed in prison. He was a good man. And Elhanan worked through him to the very end."
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Post by purplemunster94 on Sept 23, 2012 22:24:35 GMT -5
Samara
Samara stumbled, but was able to regain her balance, as she actually pushed passed the man. She looked back, as he got up, but increased her speed, and ran out of the door of the inn. She ran as fast as she could away from the place where they were supposed to be safe. She held her side as she sprinted, feeling the blood ooze through her dress. Samara knew she had to stop somewhere and fix it, but there were other prisoners that were heading toward Damagra and she had to find them and warn them. How she was going to do that she did not know. There were two more people that had been prisoners who had returned to find the man who had saved all of them, she knew they had made it, but they were heading right into the same trap that she had been in.
After running for what seemed like a lifetime, Samara finally couldn't take it. She was certain she had lost too much blood, and she started to feel dizzy. She closed her eyes, and grabbed onto a tree trying to stop the world from spinning around her. She knew she should have wrapped the wound before it was too late, but then she would have been trapped by the men at the Inn. Slowly she lifted her hand from her side, and grimaced at the red that had spread throughout her dress, and hands. She searched around the base of the trees until she found a cleansing root, and tore off a piece from the bottom of her dress. She clenched her teeth and pushed the root up against the deep gash, and tied the cloth around tightly. Samara slowed to a stumbling walk and passed through the forest, grabbing on to every tree that she passed to balance herself. She had momentarily lessened the bleeding, but the loss of the blood was too much. Where were the two people she needed to warn, she had to find them.
Samara's vision was slowly going black, she knew she needed to rest, but she couldn't, not yet. She jumped when she heard two voices in front of her. Quickly she hid behind a tree, but the movement was too much, and felt her knees give out underneath her and everything went black.
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Post by Zabby on Sept 23, 2012 23:33:59 GMT -5
OT: So Amanda and I kinda got carried away to JP last night....
Saudra The hairs on the back of Saudra’s neck stood on end when Avan mentioned Hozai. Anger rose within her and she quickly turned her back to Avan. She didn’t want to talk about Hozai or think about how they had prevented her from saving him. “Don’t talk to me as if you know anything about it,” Saudra replied in an aggressive tone, her jaw clenched. Her hand was unconsciously reaching towards her dagger.
Avan
The edge she adapted in her voice was almost frightening as she turned away from him. “I didn’t mean to make you angry. I just wanted to... console you, I guess. I mean, it was brutal what we saw in there, but you must believe that he’s okay now. That he’s free.” Still, as her hand reached for her daggers, he felt a little nervous, climbing to his feet and leaning against the tree so he’d be ready to dart if she decided to do anything crazy.
Saudra “I told you to stop talking about him!” Saudra yelled and she spun on Avan, pulling her blade out about to strike at him. Her arm was arcing to thrown the blade when she saw motion out of the corner of her eye. She stilled her arm and looked over.
It was one of the other prisoners, bloody and passed out on the edge of the circle. Saudra let out a loud curse. “Why?! Why am I surrounded by idiots?” She let her dagger loose in frustration, but made sure it was no longer aiming at Avan.
Then she walked over to the passed out girl. She lifted her up roughly by her arm and said in a commanding tone, “Help me get this one onto the horse. Then, you’ll mount after her and we’ll get out of here.”
Avan
He cringed as she whirled around, shouting, preparing to throw her dagger at him. He swallowed hard and clenched his eyes shut. But something happened, and her dagger went elsewhere-- not by accident, either, and he knew she wasn’t as helpless as she’d been when she was unconscious. This was the assassin he’d heard about, who could kill him on the spot if she wanted.
She continued to shout before dishing out orders and pulling a limp, bloody girl out of the forest. He recognized her as one of the prisoners, the young archer girl that had felled one of the Crows early on in their escape. He helped her load the girl onto the horse as she asked, but before getting on the horse, he turned to the woman who had so very nearly ended his life. “For the record, I’m not an idiot, and she isn’t either. At least I have the sense to get out of a place when someone is trying to kill me. You’re a fool. If you had tried to save your priest when Malphas killed him, you would have been the next body tossed on that spike!” He realized these were all very dangerous words, but he couldn’t stop himself. “If you want to go after the entire Crow army on your own, then fine, do what you want.”
Saudra “Fine!” yelled Saudra back at Avan. “That’s what I’ll do. I’ll get the damned Crow King’s head and bring it back just to show you!” Then she set out in the direction that the other prisoner had come in, following her trail of blood.
Avan
He climbed onto the horse beside the girl, awkwardly with his pained knee, and shook his head as he watched Saudra dash off into the forest. “Hope you’ll be okay,” he said after her, quietly. “Though I doubt it.” He stirred the horse up, leading it into the forest. If the injured girl had been with the other prisoners and she came back from the southwest looking like this, Damagra probably wasn’t the safest bet. But he didn’t know where else to go. He headed back toward the mountains near Tirh Ciaradh. They would at least provide good cover and plenty of hiding places until they were both healed, not to mention he was more familiar with the terrain.
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Post by Zabby on Sept 23, 2012 23:58:57 GMT -5
Ben “Hardened fighter, someone who has actual training, same thing really,” replied Ben. He was confused about the part to do with abandonment, but Ben didn’t press because his cell mate didn’t seem like talking about it. The subject was quickly changed.
“I’m the one and only,” he said in response to the question about his name. Then he put his hands behind his head and said, “Surely, you didn’t think they expected you and Captain Ballack to come back with me?”
Locke
“Well, we had hoped we might find you before you ended up here. We had hoped you wouldn’t be captured.” He pulled his legs up to his chest and slid into the corner to rest his back. “Then again, it’s probable that they only sent us here so we’d be out of the way. In any case, Captain might have left me, but my brothers will find some way to get us out.” He thought about the statement for a moment, reconsidered. “They’ll find someone who can help us,” he revised.
Ben Shaking his head he said, “They’re going to raid this whole place and probably burn it down. From what I can tell, this is a pretty important Hawk base we’ve stumbled upon. Don’t worry so much about your commander. He realized, as should you, that getting the location of this base to the command is more important than one soldier. It’s what you sign up for when you join the ranks. You’re here to lay down your life for the good of the country.”
Locke
He shook his head at that last part. “I’m not here to die. I’m here to be with my brothers. And try to see them home safely, though they’ve mostly been saving me. That’s all I want.” He looked at the stairs outside the cell where Bethany had disappeared. “Anyway, I’m not so sure the country’s worth dying for at this point. If the best Malphas’s enemies can hope for is to have their entrails picked out by black birds of death.”
Ben Ben just looked at the boy across from him because that’s really what he was talking like, a boy. A compassionate smile crossed his face as he stood up and put his hand on the kid’s shoulder. “Look,” he said softly. “Fighting for your brothers is a great reason to fight, and this country is worth dying for.” He looked the kid in the eyes. “This country is our home. We’ve got futures, lives, and hundreds of people that we fight for. Each one of them is just as important as your brothers, maybe not to you, but to someone. The best thing for them is to have the government intact and working the way it should. We’re fighting to preserve a way of life, our way of life, but if you’re just fighting for your brothers, that’s good enough.”
Locke
Ben’s words were stirring, encouraging even. It reminded Locke of the way Madoc had looked and spoken and walked the day Ballack walked through their hometown, the day he signed up to fight for Malphas with so much courage. It was enough to muddle his head again. “But... what kind of way of life are we preserving?” he asked. “By fighting under Malphas are we preserving any kind of life at all? Wars are so bloody, how can it be possible to fight for life?”
Ben “We’re preserving our parent’s way of life,” replied Ben. “Those who oppose Lord Malphas have no right, no justification, by law to do so. They’re just people who want to grab power. It’s always the right thing to put down those who seek power for their own twisted means because those people are unfit to rule. They will only create more bloodshed. We fight to keep the power out of the wrong hands.”
Locke
“But...” He shrugged his shoulders. “If you say so.” He wasn’t particularly interested in honor or bravery or any of that. But he had been shown more kindness and gentleness of spirit from Bethany than he’d seen displayed by any Crow. If someone like her was in danger of being killed by the King, then he couldn’t count on the goodness of the throne anymore. And he certainly didn’t care if she was intentionally trying to convert him as Ben had suggested.
The horrible truth, though, was that this was the sort of attitude that got you killed in the world. His stomach squirmed at the idea, but... he remembered his brother again, and even the courageous words Ben had spoken before, and he tried to convince himself that he could stand for something.
Ben Ben got up from standing in front of the other Crow and sat down on the other side of the prison without saying anything more to the kid. He realized that the Hawks had gotten their claws into him. He might turn soon. This made Ben very sad, but there wasn't much he could do about it. I really hope I don't have to meet him on the field of battle some day He thought to himself sadly. He hated the idea of killing someone who had simply been seduced by corrupt people.
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