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L'Aurel's Journal (A Kingdom of Ashes) -updated 3/23
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<blockquote data-quote="Laurel" data-source="post: 2024966" data-attributes="member: 17067"><p><strong>Chapter Five: “A Hidden Kingdom”</strong></p><p></p><p><em>Day Thirty-five - Hywrl</em></p><p>The next day was filled with a strict task list for many around, but the final leg for most on the plan that has taken ten days to complete. We had to get supplies, and everything else in place for our absence that night and possibly for good. By early afternoon we were all ushered away by the Duke and the regent to get some much needed rest.</p><p> </p><p>As full twilight darkened the world, we stood in a close circle, Xath, Justice, Archonus, Kareth and I next to the large gray tier stone with archaic symbols atop it. Arfin and Farathier stood a little outside the area. It had been agreed that they would wait for us here, and ready the second part of our plan.</p><p> </p><p>Randall looked at us, “Are you ready?” Justice was quick to reply for us all, “We’re ready. You know what to do, and remember to wait for the signal.” Justice turned throwing her voice to the 20 sailors, 4 mages, and Inelliron who stood around us prepared for their time. “You know your part, if this fails the Duke has instructions.”</p><p> </p><p>As Randall reaches out to touch the portal stones, I quietly pray. With that I close my eyes. When they blink open again, I am standing mere inches in front of a scaly draconic guard. I quickly raise my arrow point, draw, and fall to one knee. Silently two shafts embed themselves deep into his chest. Kareth, who teleported directly behind the guard, closes his hand around the guards mouth and pulls the quickly dying body softly down to the deck. I flatten myself to the deck and looking forward see Justice at the other end of the boat setting down the other guard. Archonus a line of black next to the iron railing calmly returns my look. His blade flashes once in our direction and I see the dark stain of blood drip onto the planks. Xath has already changed into the guard Justice holds waiting for it’s last breath to fade.</p><p> </p><p>At Arhconus’ signal, Kareth and I crawl silently toward the hatch opening to the lower levels. Archonus and Justice go to the hatch way on their side of the ship. Xath stands at the mid point trying to look out at sea, but watching closely Archonus’ and Justice’s movements.</p><p> </p><p>Kareth and I see nothing below, but when I look up Archonus is motioning furiously. I shake my head in confusion, since the hand signals we know are for closer quarters and simple phrases. Justice swipes at his hand stopping him from motioning again. Ignoring his look, she holds up both hands showing six fingers and then pointing into the hold. I nod my head, and look to Kareth for his agreed understanding. I hold my bow ready, but let Kareth enter first. In close quarters, he is definitely the superior warrior.</p><p> </p><p>As he lands softly below barely making a thump as his big feet touch down, I hold bow and arrow in one hand and slide down. Swinging by one arm for a few seconds, I stretch my toes to touch the wooden planks. Slowly as Kareth creeps forward I place more weight on my feet moving the bow to the ready.</p><p> </p><p>As Archonus dark form lands in the center three guards stumble back bleeding profusely. As the others stand and ready to fight Justice lands at Archonus’ back slicing through one guard. Kareth’s great hands make pudding out of another’s head before the reptile can even turn. Archonus focuses on one as Justice and Kareth mark their own as well. I fire at the one Kareth holds, his neck already snapped from his punches. At the same time Justice sweeps her blade through her foe, and Arhconus quietly leans over his victim whipping the blood from his blades.</p><p> </p><p>I walk over each making sure they breath no more, while the others start a line to check the rest of the hold. I lay slanted across the stairway, letting only my eyes up go above the hatchway. I watch Xath’s easy movements across the deck. The night around us still and unsuspecting.</p><p> </p><p>My bow moves to point at the floor as Archonus goes past me and up onto the deck. Kareth follows shortly after sliding each guard from the top deck down to Justice. They move them to a pile with the other six. As Kareth moves to the opposite hacthway and lays as I do, Justice then stands up and to an unseen eye motions the okay. For a few seconds there is only the lapping water on the hull, a distant bell tolling, and a bout of high pitched laughter far above us in a docked ship. With a strange shuffling the sailors, mages, and Inelliron appear in the hold. After five minutes, they finally stop coming and the small hull is cramped with allies. Seaborn who is taking the head count quietly look at me perched above him his normal anger lacing his words, “That is only twenty four, we are missing one.”</p><p> </p><p>Inelliron sandwiched next to him turns around whispering, “We knew there may be trouble, let us hope he can survive wherever he is. When we are back in Hywrl we can search to find him, but there is nothing we can do now. Let us start then,” Inelliron states to the mages. Peering up from the steps I motion to Archonus and Xath the okay sign.</p><p> </p><p>I feel the hair on my arm stand up when the strange words are spoken. Looking up the gray clouds move to cover what little light the stars and moon had provided. As the wind starts to pick up, a bell sounds close off the port side. I look to Xath, and watch her move to that side. From over the side of the rail comes a rope, Xath looks at us helplessly. Archonus nods at her to tie it off. As she stands from the deck she moves one hand behind her. Then pointing down holds up two fingers. Now either she has to send them away or she has to get the up here without too many questions.</p><p> </p><p>I quickly duck down, motioning the others to silence. Kareth moves down a few steps glancing around at the full hull and those forced to stand on the lower steps. Justice looks over at him, and with one green finger points at me. Pushing her way closer, she slides her sword out of its sheath and takes position directly behind me. From here she is a scant few feet from where they will be coming up onto deck.</p><p> </p><p>In the dead silence, I can hear the soft thud of the smaller boat hitting out hull, and the clank of armor as the two draconoids climb up to the deck. I lower my eyes seeing a group of mages has moved around Inelliron trying to sound proof him as he continues the spell.</p><p> </p><p>It takes a moment for my mind to move the growles and hisses as a language. “If you want anything to eat you had best hurry,” the harsh draconic dialect issues form one of the guards below. “Let me go get the others,” Xath answers them in what we hope is a perfect copy of their dialect. “The flesh of the littlest ones will be cold if you wait any longer.” Bile rises in my throat, as I look over to Archonus’ hiding place and see movement. I motion to Kareth who with Justice just a step behind jumps out remaining low to the deck. Archonus quickly slices the throat on the closest one, just as Justice slides her blade into the stomach of the other one. I grab Archonus’ victim around the mouth and chest and pull him to the deck. While Kareth grabs the other one similarly, Xath continues to walk back and forth along the deck.</p><p> </p><p>The winds have picked up enough now that the sails around us snap and twist. The white sheet of snow blinds us but to the closest of vessels. Now it is all about timing. We move quickly to get the sailors up on deck and us on our way. As the storm increases timing and stealth are no longer needed. The mast is raised. The anchor locked into place, and the mages hold one another while trying to concentrate.</p><p> </p><p>We pass within inches of some ships, but for the most part the storm is now waging so fiercely no one can see even their own hand before their face. We have a little cocoon of wind that blows steadily in our favor and keeps the storm at bay from our mages. Inelliron comes up on deck and nods at Seaborn. “Sail her straight for it,” he shouts pointing straight ahead. As we glide through the now open sand bar we see shiny red bobbles floating in the waves. Alarms, but they will be too late to tell anyone anything.</p><p> </p><p>We soon sail out the harbor and the storm, but with little time for celebration. This was only the first step. The twenty sailors with the help of Xath and Archonus sail around the southern tip of Pyrdein and into a small cove on the eastern side of the island. Inelliron and another mage increase our sail wind, while Seaborn heads us straight for the shore. The iron sided ship shutters as it digs deep into the sand the mast breaking on the impact. Even prepared as we were many were thrown to the deck, into walls, and into each other. As we unload everyone we see Yoshi, Farathier, Arfin and some others waiting in the cover of the forest. They emerge with equipment ready to go and set to work.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Laurel, post: 2024966, member: 17067"] [b]Chapter Five: “A Hidden Kingdom”[/b] [i]Day Thirty-five - Hywrl[/i] The next day was filled with a strict task list for many around, but the final leg for most on the plan that has taken ten days to complete. We had to get supplies, and everything else in place for our absence that night and possibly for good. By early afternoon we were all ushered away by the Duke and the regent to get some much needed rest. As full twilight darkened the world, we stood in a close circle, Xath, Justice, Archonus, Kareth and I next to the large gray tier stone with archaic symbols atop it. Arfin and Farathier stood a little outside the area. It had been agreed that they would wait for us here, and ready the second part of our plan. Randall looked at us, “Are you ready?” Justice was quick to reply for us all, “We’re ready. You know what to do, and remember to wait for the signal.” Justice turned throwing her voice to the 20 sailors, 4 mages, and Inelliron who stood around us prepared for their time. “You know your part, if this fails the Duke has instructions.” As Randall reaches out to touch the portal stones, I quietly pray. With that I close my eyes. When they blink open again, I am standing mere inches in front of a scaly draconic guard. I quickly raise my arrow point, draw, and fall to one knee. Silently two shafts embed themselves deep into his chest. Kareth, who teleported directly behind the guard, closes his hand around the guards mouth and pulls the quickly dying body softly down to the deck. I flatten myself to the deck and looking forward see Justice at the other end of the boat setting down the other guard. Archonus a line of black next to the iron railing calmly returns my look. His blade flashes once in our direction and I see the dark stain of blood drip onto the planks. Xath has already changed into the guard Justice holds waiting for it’s last breath to fade. At Arhconus’ signal, Kareth and I crawl silently toward the hatch opening to the lower levels. Archonus and Justice go to the hatch way on their side of the ship. Xath stands at the mid point trying to look out at sea, but watching closely Archonus’ and Justice’s movements. Kareth and I see nothing below, but when I look up Archonus is motioning furiously. I shake my head in confusion, since the hand signals we know are for closer quarters and simple phrases. Justice swipes at his hand stopping him from motioning again. Ignoring his look, she holds up both hands showing six fingers and then pointing into the hold. I nod my head, and look to Kareth for his agreed understanding. I hold my bow ready, but let Kareth enter first. In close quarters, he is definitely the superior warrior. As he lands softly below barely making a thump as his big feet touch down, I hold bow and arrow in one hand and slide down. Swinging by one arm for a few seconds, I stretch my toes to touch the wooden planks. Slowly as Kareth creeps forward I place more weight on my feet moving the bow to the ready. As Archonus dark form lands in the center three guards stumble back bleeding profusely. As the others stand and ready to fight Justice lands at Archonus’ back slicing through one guard. Kareth’s great hands make pudding out of another’s head before the reptile can even turn. Archonus focuses on one as Justice and Kareth mark their own as well. I fire at the one Kareth holds, his neck already snapped from his punches. At the same time Justice sweeps her blade through her foe, and Arhconus quietly leans over his victim whipping the blood from his blades. I walk over each making sure they breath no more, while the others start a line to check the rest of the hold. I lay slanted across the stairway, letting only my eyes up go above the hatchway. I watch Xath’s easy movements across the deck. The night around us still and unsuspecting. My bow moves to point at the floor as Archonus goes past me and up onto the deck. Kareth follows shortly after sliding each guard from the top deck down to Justice. They move them to a pile with the other six. As Kareth moves to the opposite hacthway and lays as I do, Justice then stands up and to an unseen eye motions the okay. For a few seconds there is only the lapping water on the hull, a distant bell tolling, and a bout of high pitched laughter far above us in a docked ship. With a strange shuffling the sailors, mages, and Inelliron appear in the hold. After five minutes, they finally stop coming and the small hull is cramped with allies. Seaborn who is taking the head count quietly look at me perched above him his normal anger lacing his words, “That is only twenty four, we are missing one.” Inelliron sandwiched next to him turns around whispering, “We knew there may be trouble, let us hope he can survive wherever he is. When we are back in Hywrl we can search to find him, but there is nothing we can do now. Let us start then,” Inelliron states to the mages. Peering up from the steps I motion to Archonus and Xath the okay sign. I feel the hair on my arm stand up when the strange words are spoken. Looking up the gray clouds move to cover what little light the stars and moon had provided. As the wind starts to pick up, a bell sounds close off the port side. I look to Xath, and watch her move to that side. From over the side of the rail comes a rope, Xath looks at us helplessly. Archonus nods at her to tie it off. As she stands from the deck she moves one hand behind her. Then pointing down holds up two fingers. Now either she has to send them away or she has to get the up here without too many questions. I quickly duck down, motioning the others to silence. Kareth moves down a few steps glancing around at the full hull and those forced to stand on the lower steps. Justice looks over at him, and with one green finger points at me. Pushing her way closer, she slides her sword out of its sheath and takes position directly behind me. From here she is a scant few feet from where they will be coming up onto deck. In the dead silence, I can hear the soft thud of the smaller boat hitting out hull, and the clank of armor as the two draconoids climb up to the deck. I lower my eyes seeing a group of mages has moved around Inelliron trying to sound proof him as he continues the spell. It takes a moment for my mind to move the growles and hisses as a language. “If you want anything to eat you had best hurry,” the harsh draconic dialect issues form one of the guards below. “Let me go get the others,” Xath answers them in what we hope is a perfect copy of their dialect. “The flesh of the littlest ones will be cold if you wait any longer.” Bile rises in my throat, as I look over to Archonus’ hiding place and see movement. I motion to Kareth who with Justice just a step behind jumps out remaining low to the deck. Archonus quickly slices the throat on the closest one, just as Justice slides her blade into the stomach of the other one. I grab Archonus’ victim around the mouth and chest and pull him to the deck. While Kareth grabs the other one similarly, Xath continues to walk back and forth along the deck. The winds have picked up enough now that the sails around us snap and twist. The white sheet of snow blinds us but to the closest of vessels. Now it is all about timing. We move quickly to get the sailors up on deck and us on our way. As the storm increases timing and stealth are no longer needed. The mast is raised. The anchor locked into place, and the mages hold one another while trying to concentrate. We pass within inches of some ships, but for the most part the storm is now waging so fiercely no one can see even their own hand before their face. We have a little cocoon of wind that blows steadily in our favor and keeps the storm at bay from our mages. Inelliron comes up on deck and nods at Seaborn. “Sail her straight for it,” he shouts pointing straight ahead. As we glide through the now open sand bar we see shiny red bobbles floating in the waves. Alarms, but they will be too late to tell anyone anything. We soon sail out the harbor and the storm, but with little time for celebration. This was only the first step. The twenty sailors with the help of Xath and Archonus sail around the southern tip of Pyrdein and into a small cove on the eastern side of the island. Inelliron and another mage increase our sail wind, while Seaborn heads us straight for the shore. The iron sided ship shutters as it digs deep into the sand the mast breaking on the impact. Even prepared as we were many were thrown to the deck, into walls, and into each other. As we unload everyone we see Yoshi, Farathier, Arfin and some others waiting in the cover of the forest. They emerge with equipment ready to go and set to work. [/QUOTE]
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