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Sir Gerard d'Montfort - In his own words (a tale of Anka Seth)- Updated Nov 11th
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<blockquote data-quote="Haraash Saan" data-source="post: 5251474" data-attributes="member: 46615"><p><strong>Chapter 15 – Libraries, a place for quiet contemplation</strong></p><p></p><p>As we broke camp and saddled the horses Morgan cried out in surprise, “Someone’s approaching!”</p><p></p><p>Following his outstretched arm I saw a burly man casually step into the clearing. His long vest of strange interlinked mail clinked against his powerful thighs as he strolled forward. He wore two sheathed swords on his belt and even though his arms swayed with each step his hands were never far from their hilts.</p><p></p><p>My own blade was out of its scabbard in an instant. Moxadder already held two daggers and Morgan had knocked and arrow to his bowstring. Stravarious just sneered.</p><p></p><p>“Hail Hydra!” spoke the stranger. </p><p></p><p>His familiarity did nothing to ease my mind. I tightened my grip on my sword as I replied, “Indeed you do hail the Hydra. Who are you and what is it that you want?” </p><p></p><p>“I am Kir and I bring word from Baron Yorath. He has not heard from you in many months and wishes to know of your intended actions,” he replied. “But of more immediate concern are the Barrow Dwellers that track you.”</p><p></p><p>“Track us?” spat Moxadder “They’ll not be following our trail.” He assured us that he had cleared the trail and that the warriors of the Dominion from Artyom Seth’s temple would not be able to follow us.</p><p></p><p>“I’ll grant you were clever, but your attempts did not stop those that are coming. There are at least five not more than an hour from here.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. ” You can’t defeat them, not in the open, so we must run. Todesmagie’s Tower is no more than two days away. We may yet make it.”</p><p></p><p>My intuition told me that Kir spoke the truth, and I saw no harm in moving out, especially as we were practically ready to ride in any case.</p><p></p><p>Moxadder must have felt the same, for he looked at me and said, “I’ll look into it. You lot ride out and I’ll catch up.”</p><p></p><p>I agreed. There was no need to take unnecessary risks. I did not quite trust Kir, but I was sure that we were more than his match if it came to that.</p><p></p><p>Kir mounted Zhontell’s horse, Morgan led Moxadder’s and we rode out in the rough direction Moxadder, indicated.</p><p></p><p>The Gerechians led the way followed by Kir with the remnants of the Hydra trailing. Morgan whispered to Strav and I that he had seen Kir before, in the gladiatorial pits of Morannin. He was the apprentice to Riork, the famous gladiator whose bronze statue graced the arena in Halfast. If it were true, he may well be more formidable than I first imagined.</p><p></p><p>Light drizzle began to fall, only making us more uncomfortable and edgy. First there was the incident with Zhontell and now the appearance of Kir and his knowledge of the Baron and also warnings of foes previously unknown.</p><p></p><p>Two hours passed before Moxadder returned. “He’s right.” He said inclining his head to Kir, “There were a dozen cat like things. Each had two tails but stranger than that was that they walked on two legs. With them were five hooded men. I reckon it’s time to move on a bit faster.”</p><p></p><p>I saw Stravarious’s eyes widen at the word “Cat”. He would have to be kept in check. I still did not understand his hatred of the animals.</p><p></p><p>On Moxadder’s advice we pushed the horses into a trot and continued our journey from the hazy rain. </p><p></p><p>As we rode Kir told us a little of his tale. Like us the Baron was also his employer. He too was part of a gladiatorial company, Stilleta. We queried him on this and he explained that it was the Baron’s first company. They had been asked by Yorath to retrieve a parchment from a ruined manor in the heart of the Dominion lands. However they were discovered and were forced to flee. Only he had survived. From that point he had been operating in the Fastness with instructions from the Baron, via Lady Timandra. She had been in Morannin when she had instructed him to come and find us.</p><p></p><p>It was an interesting story. That, and his dagger that bore the spear motif of Yorath, eased our minds a little of most doubts we had of Kir, but not enough to be entirely trusting.</p><p></p><p>Later than morning we heard a strange shriek in the distance. I turned cautiously trying to place the direction it had come from. Lightning flashed several miles behind us. That was not a good omen.</p><p></p><p>The rain steadied and we heard no more from our pursuers that day. We decided to make a short camp to tend the wounded Gerechians and rest the horses.</p><p></p><p>Once again Moxadder volunteered to see if he could find any trace of our foes.</p><p></p><p>I found some shelter under a tree, and it was a small relief from the constant rain. Even if we had dared we could not have lit a fire. So instead we sat and shivered. </p><p></p><p>I had the unsettling feeling that I was being watched, but every time I turned I could see nothing but brush swaying in the breeze. </p><p></p><p>“What the?” began Morgan.</p><p></p><p>“What?” I said as I faced him.</p><p></p><p>“On Thuus’s sword I swear that there was a floating eye watching us!” he vehemently replied.</p><p></p><p>An eye? Floating? Surely he had been seeing things in the rain and encroaching darkness. However, I said nothing. This was not the time to cause internal strife.</p><p></p><p>Half way into our break Moxadder ran into the camp, mud splashing from every heavy footfall. “Mount up! They’re only minutes behind me and they’ve got wizards!”</p><p></p><p>That explained the eye Morgan had seen. I mouthed a prayer of courage to Thuus as I ran to my horse and swung into the saddle.</p><p></p><p>Yodfor looked grim. He drew retrieved his axe and quickly ended the lives of the three Gerechians that had to be tied to their horses. “They’ll slow us up, and now at least they can’t be taken by Geduld.” He said matter of factly.</p><p></p><p>Night fell quickly. The rain became heavier again and thunder boomed ominously. </p><p></p><p>Cries of “Eye!” came often, although I never saw one. </p><p></p><p>We rode slower than I would have liked, for the horses were exhausted and even then they often stumbled over unseen roots. At least our pursuers had the same conditions to conquer and would be making little if any ground on us.</p><p></p><p>A fork of lightening jagged across the sky as we crested a hill. Behind us more than a dozen figures trudged perhaps a mile away. I was wrong, they were gaining on us!</p><p></p><p>Mental and physical fatigue set in sometime well after midnight. In my minds eye I saw the laughing faces of cats mocking me from the trees and dismembered eyeballs dancing just out of my rapiers reach. </p><p></p><p>“Ride now! As hard as you can!” Kir’s cry cleared my delirium. The darkness and dissolved into a grey gloom. The rain still fell but it was morning.</p><p></p><p>Kir spurred his horse forward. The others followed. With a glance behind me I saw the catlike creatures running from the cover of the woods that we had just left. Cowled men followed in their wake. </p><p></p><p>My horse, sensing the urgency reared up on its hind legs, flailing its forelegs into the sky, before launching into a fast gallop. I did all I could to hold on, for I was no longer in control of the beast. Fear was its master.</p><p></p><p>All I could see was my companions riding to what we hoped would be our salvation, the Tower.of Todesmagie. It loomed up in front of us, a beacon of light in the grey.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Haraash Saan, post: 5251474, member: 46615"] [B]Chapter 15 – Libraries, a place for quiet contemplation[/B] As we broke camp and saddled the horses Morgan cried out in surprise, “Someone’s approaching!” Following his outstretched arm I saw a burly man casually step into the clearing. His long vest of strange interlinked mail clinked against his powerful thighs as he strolled forward. He wore two sheathed swords on his belt and even though his arms swayed with each step his hands were never far from their hilts. My own blade was out of its scabbard in an instant. Moxadder already held two daggers and Morgan had knocked and arrow to his bowstring. Stravarious just sneered. “Hail Hydra!” spoke the stranger. His familiarity did nothing to ease my mind. I tightened my grip on my sword as I replied, “Indeed you do hail the Hydra. Who are you and what is it that you want?” “I am Kir and I bring word from Baron Yorath. He has not heard from you in many months and wishes to know of your intended actions,” he replied. “But of more immediate concern are the Barrow Dwellers that track you.” “Track us?” spat Moxadder “They’ll not be following our trail.” He assured us that he had cleared the trail and that the warriors of the Dominion from Artyom Seth’s temple would not be able to follow us. “I’ll grant you were clever, but your attempts did not stop those that are coming. There are at least five not more than an hour from here.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. ” You can’t defeat them, not in the open, so we must run. Todesmagie’s Tower is no more than two days away. We may yet make it.” My intuition told me that Kir spoke the truth, and I saw no harm in moving out, especially as we were practically ready to ride in any case. Moxadder must have felt the same, for he looked at me and said, “I’ll look into it. You lot ride out and I’ll catch up.” I agreed. There was no need to take unnecessary risks. I did not quite trust Kir, but I was sure that we were more than his match if it came to that. Kir mounted Zhontell’s horse, Morgan led Moxadder’s and we rode out in the rough direction Moxadder, indicated. The Gerechians led the way followed by Kir with the remnants of the Hydra trailing. Morgan whispered to Strav and I that he had seen Kir before, in the gladiatorial pits of Morannin. He was the apprentice to Riork, the famous gladiator whose bronze statue graced the arena in Halfast. If it were true, he may well be more formidable than I first imagined. Light drizzle began to fall, only making us more uncomfortable and edgy. First there was the incident with Zhontell and now the appearance of Kir and his knowledge of the Baron and also warnings of foes previously unknown. Two hours passed before Moxadder returned. “He’s right.” He said inclining his head to Kir, “There were a dozen cat like things. Each had two tails but stranger than that was that they walked on two legs. With them were five hooded men. I reckon it’s time to move on a bit faster.” I saw Stravarious’s eyes widen at the word “Cat”. He would have to be kept in check. I still did not understand his hatred of the animals. On Moxadder’s advice we pushed the horses into a trot and continued our journey from the hazy rain. As we rode Kir told us a little of his tale. Like us the Baron was also his employer. He too was part of a gladiatorial company, Stilleta. We queried him on this and he explained that it was the Baron’s first company. They had been asked by Yorath to retrieve a parchment from a ruined manor in the heart of the Dominion lands. However they were discovered and were forced to flee. Only he had survived. From that point he had been operating in the Fastness with instructions from the Baron, via Lady Timandra. She had been in Morannin when she had instructed him to come and find us. It was an interesting story. That, and his dagger that bore the spear motif of Yorath, eased our minds a little of most doubts we had of Kir, but not enough to be entirely trusting. Later than morning we heard a strange shriek in the distance. I turned cautiously trying to place the direction it had come from. Lightning flashed several miles behind us. That was not a good omen. The rain steadied and we heard no more from our pursuers that day. We decided to make a short camp to tend the wounded Gerechians and rest the horses. Once again Moxadder volunteered to see if he could find any trace of our foes. I found some shelter under a tree, and it was a small relief from the constant rain. Even if we had dared we could not have lit a fire. So instead we sat and shivered. I had the unsettling feeling that I was being watched, but every time I turned I could see nothing but brush swaying in the breeze. “What the?” began Morgan. “What?” I said as I faced him. “On Thuus’s sword I swear that there was a floating eye watching us!” he vehemently replied. An eye? Floating? Surely he had been seeing things in the rain and encroaching darkness. However, I said nothing. This was not the time to cause internal strife. Half way into our break Moxadder ran into the camp, mud splashing from every heavy footfall. “Mount up! They’re only minutes behind me and they’ve got wizards!” That explained the eye Morgan had seen. I mouthed a prayer of courage to Thuus as I ran to my horse and swung into the saddle. Yodfor looked grim. He drew retrieved his axe and quickly ended the lives of the three Gerechians that had to be tied to their horses. “They’ll slow us up, and now at least they can’t be taken by Geduld.” He said matter of factly. Night fell quickly. The rain became heavier again and thunder boomed ominously. Cries of “Eye!” came often, although I never saw one. We rode slower than I would have liked, for the horses were exhausted and even then they often stumbled over unseen roots. At least our pursuers had the same conditions to conquer and would be making little if any ground on us. A fork of lightening jagged across the sky as we crested a hill. Behind us more than a dozen figures trudged perhaps a mile away. I was wrong, they were gaining on us! Mental and physical fatigue set in sometime well after midnight. In my minds eye I saw the laughing faces of cats mocking me from the trees and dismembered eyeballs dancing just out of my rapiers reach. “Ride now! As hard as you can!” Kir’s cry cleared my delirium. The darkness and dissolved into a grey gloom. The rain still fell but it was morning. Kir spurred his horse forward. The others followed. With a glance behind me I saw the catlike creatures running from the cover of the woods that we had just left. Cowled men followed in their wake. My horse, sensing the urgency reared up on its hind legs, flailing its forelegs into the sky, before launching into a fast gallop. I did all I could to hold on, for I was no longer in control of the beast. Fear was its master. All I could see was my companions riding to what we hoped would be our salvation, the Tower.of Todesmagie. It loomed up in front of us, a beacon of light in the grey. [/QUOTE]
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