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Barsoom Tales II: Romance, Revolution and BLOODY REVENGE!!! -- COMPLETE
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<blockquote data-quote="barsoomcore" data-source="post: 3699201" data-attributes="member: 812"><p><strong>Another Fine Mess: 6</strong></p><p></p><p>The sun rose over a ruined fort. Dying soldiers, hung from tall posts, begged weakly for death, their voices a terrible dirge hanging over the smoking ruins.</p><p></p><p>Arrafin seemed to have recovered somewhat from the night's trauma, and chatted quietly with Elena as they rode away, through the rocky valleys of this part of the Narid. They'd acquired two paras from the mercenaries' stables, and shared this one with Nevid and his sullen prisoner, as well as several cases of gold ingots. On the other para rode Isaac, Etienne and Fayeeda.</p><p></p><p>The latter had scarcely spoke since her encounter with her father in the camp. He had ridden off on some of the mercenaries' gallos with a number of savage-looking men, swearing vengeance against his treacherous brother, without a single glance for his daughter.</p><p></p><p>By mid-morning the little group had reached the stretch of beach where they'd first landed. There was no sign of Tariq or his camp. Flags waved aboard the <em>Thuria's Dream</em>, far out to sea, and a longboat put off from the merchant ship.</p><p></p><p>The riders dismounted, huddling close together in the chilly, spray-filled wind off the breakers.</p><p></p><p>Elena sighed and broke the silence.</p><p></p><p>"So we got the gold. That's good. And a prisoner."</p><p></p><p>Others mumbled agreement.</p><p></p><p>The longboat drew nearer.</p><p></p><p>Arrafin squared her shoulders and lifted her head.</p><p></p><p>"I don't want to go back. I want to go to Al-Tizim."</p><p></p><p>Nevid frowned.</p><p></p><p>"What? But we have to return the gold, take this Nevakada back..."</p><p></p><p>"No. The captain can do all that. I want to go to Al-Tizim. I want. I want to help."</p><p></p><p>Elena put a hand on her friend's shoulder.</p><p></p><p>"Arrafin, you can't fight the Kishak Empire by yourself."</p><p></p><p>Isaac nodded.</p><p></p><p>"Let's go home, Arrafin, and figure out our next move there."</p><p></p><p>"Go home? Al-Tizim IS my home, Isaac. Or Philip. Or Dominic, or whatever your name is. I am home. How can I leave? Look at what's happening here. We could make a difference. A big difference. For a lot of people. We could help."</p><p></p><p>Etienne chimed in, crossing his arms over his chest.</p><p></p><p>"Arrafin, it's not that simple. I lived under the Kishaks all my life. But revolution takes time and sacrifice -- "</p><p></p><p>"You think I don't know that? Do you think I'm not ready to sacrifice? You don't know anything. You don't know anything about me, so shut up."</p><p></p><p>The young woman's uncharacteristic outburst startled the others. Etienne shook his head and walked away, muttering.</p><p></p><p>The longboat was now passing through the high rollers that endlessly roared up the beach.</p><p></p><p>Nevid drew a breath.</p><p></p><p>"I think Arrafin's right. I think we should be in the middle of things."</p><p></p><p>He turned to Arrafin, ignoring Isaac and Elena's startled looks.</p><p></p><p>"But we can't be a revolution ourselves, Arrafin. We all want the Kishaks out of the Narid, but we have to be smart. We have to wait until we have enough power and support to act."</p><p></p><p>The Naridic girl nodded.</p><p></p><p>"Power. Yes."</p><p></p><p>She turned her head to study her little owl, and it almost seemed that the two of them were having some sort of conversation. She nodded to the bird and then to Nevid.</p><p></p><p>"Let's go. It's at least a week's ride from here."</p><p></p><p>The longboat scraped on the beach nearby and sailors came running up through the shallow water. Nevid met the first mate.</p><p></p><p>"We're not coming aboard. But here's a Nevakada agent for Isabella del Maraviez. And the gold."</p><p></p><p>The first mate took the news very well. Elena wondered if maybe they were just as glad not to have Arrafin the Sorceress on their ship again. She sighed inwardly, recalling that impossible whirlwind of blood the girl had summouned last night.</p><p></p><p>And the way Arrafin had said, "Power," to Nevid just now did nothing to ease her concern.</p><p></p><p>Fayeeda stepped forward, staring at Arrafin.</p><p></p><p>"Take me with you. Take me to Al-Tizim."</p><p></p><p>"It'll be dangerous. The Kishaks are coming there."</p><p></p><p>"I want to fight. I want to fight the Kishaks."</p><p></p><p>Fayeeda's quiet voice rose up in a sudden snarl.</p><p></p><p>"Don't you understand? My father was working with them. So was Tariq. They're traitors to our people. They. They don't care. They just want to kill. I can't not do something. Please. Let me come with you."</p><p></p><p>Bewildered, Arrafin turned to the others. Isaac shrugged. Nevid appeared to be studying the waves. Elena nodded, and answered the girl.</p><p></p><p>"Of course, Fayeeda. You can come with us."</p><p></p><p>*****</p><p></p><p>They were not alone in the desert. As dusk settled over the dunes, they heard the rattle and clang of riding gear and a small caravan of two paras and a dozen gallos came around the heel of a dune and into the hollow where they'd made their camp.</p><p></p><p>Hands went to swordhilts, but Arrafin rose and went forward.</p><p></p><p>"They're merchants, don't worry. Maybe they have news of Al-Tizim."</p><p></p><p>They did.</p><p></p><p>The leader of the caravan was named Serrus al-Farani beni Rifaa, and turned out to be a good-humoured middle-aged man who travelled with his entire extended family. Children, wives, sisters, brothers, and one elderly aunt all rode along, and their presence enlived the little camp as the sun set.</p><p></p><p>Serrus settled himself at the fire with Isaac and the others.</p><p></p><p>"Tell me, my friends, what brings four foreigners into the desert?"</p><p></p><p>Nevid spoke.</p><p></p><p>"We are travelling to Al-Tizim."</p><p></p><p>Serrus made a gesture of warding.</p><p></p><p>"Do not, as God is my witness! Things are terrible in Al-Tizim at this time. Terrible. No, turn around my friends, and go back."</p><p></p><p>Arrafin pressed forward.</p><p></p><p>"What do you mean? What's happening?"</p><p></p><p>"The Kishaks are in the city. The Emir is executed. Sharina al-Sharina's army is nowhere to be found. No, Al-Tizim is no place to be right now. May God have mercy on the City of Kings."</p><p></p><p>Serrus shook his head sadly.</p><p></p><p>"This is why I am here, now, with my family. Thanks be to God, we escaped just ahead of the Kishaks. I only hope that God will see us safely out of this country."</p><p></p><p>"The Kishaks are in Al-Tizim?"</p><p></p><p>Arrafin's voice was a whisper.</p><p></p><p>"Was there a battle?"</p><p></p><p>Serrus chuckled.</p><p></p><p>"In the streets, there was slaughter, child. We met some who had escaped after the Kishaks came. All who resisted have been killed. The university has been turned into a barracks, professors strung from the rooftops."</p><p></p><p>Arrafin gasped and Elena took hold of the girl.</p><p></p><p>"My father. My father."</p><p></p><p>She burst into terrified sobs. Elena addressed Serrus.</p><p></p><p>"Her father is a professor at the university."</p><p></p><p>"Oh, child, I am sorry. Many escaped, dear girl. God has not abandoned us. He may have preserved your father. We will endure this test if we have faith."</p><p></p><p>"Faith."</p><p></p><p>*****</p><p></p><p>Etienne ignored the sudden crowd. He'd found a position dug into the crest of a dune where he could survey the camp and watch the surrounding desert. The stars shone with enough brilliance that he could see the grains of sand around him.</p><p></p><p>He'd never seen anything like this in all his years on the streets of Pavairelle, he had to admit that much. The open desert was beautiful in its spare purity. That terrible whirlwind of blood last night still burned in his memory, but staring up at the stars helped to ease his mind.</p><p></p><p>And he felt a deep sense of security at the thought that he would see anyone coming from miles away. Nobody could possibly surprise them out here.</p><p></p><p>*****</p><p></p><p>Arrafin had at last fallen asleep, exhausted by the last day and a half of terror and death. Elena sat by the dying campfire with Isaac. Neither Nevid nor Etienne were anywhere to be seen. Fayeeda was talking with one of Serrus' daughters.</p><p></p><p>"What do you think, Isaac? I mean, Dominic."</p><p></p><p>"What do I think? I think we're missing every other word in this sentence."</p><p></p><p>"Yeah."</p><p></p><p>Elena looked over where that little owl sat next to Arrafin's sleeping form.</p><p></p><p>"I've decided I don't like sorcery."</p><p></p><p>"At last, we agree on something."</p><p></p><p>"But it does seem effective."</p><p></p><p>Isaac poked at the dying fire.</p><p></p><p>"Yeah, but what's the cost? Arrafin's changing."</p><p></p><p>Elena nodded in silent agreement, unable to put her fears into words.</p><p></p><p>"I'm not crazy about walking into a war zone, either."</p><p></p><p>Isaac grunted.</p><p></p><p>"On the list of stupid things we've done, it doesn't really rate."</p><p></p><p>Elena chuckled at that, and was about to reply when the night tore apart around them. The sputtering light of the fire revealed dark forms suddenly emerging from the night, shadows boiling and hissing up around them. Immense, hulking forms with axes. Surrounding a scowling Lohanese woman in some sort of weird whore's outfit, showing off her legs and cleavage.</p><p></p><p>The woman laughed.</p><p></p><p>"We have come for the Talon of the Raven. Surrender it at once, or die."</p><p></p><p>She considered that, surveyed the waking camp, and laughed again.</p><p></p><p>"To hell with it. We're just going to kill you all anyway."</p><p></p><p>Isaac got to his feet.</p><p></p><p>"Great. I prefer things straightforward."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="barsoomcore, post: 3699201, member: 812"] [b]Another Fine Mess: 6[/b] The sun rose over a ruined fort. Dying soldiers, hung from tall posts, begged weakly for death, their voices a terrible dirge hanging over the smoking ruins. Arrafin seemed to have recovered somewhat from the night's trauma, and chatted quietly with Elena as they rode away, through the rocky valleys of this part of the Narid. They'd acquired two paras from the mercenaries' stables, and shared this one with Nevid and his sullen prisoner, as well as several cases of gold ingots. On the other para rode Isaac, Etienne and Fayeeda. The latter had scarcely spoke since her encounter with her father in the camp. He had ridden off on some of the mercenaries' gallos with a number of savage-looking men, swearing vengeance against his treacherous brother, without a single glance for his daughter. By mid-morning the little group had reached the stretch of beach where they'd first landed. There was no sign of Tariq or his camp. Flags waved aboard the [i]Thuria's Dream[/i], far out to sea, and a longboat put off from the merchant ship. The riders dismounted, huddling close together in the chilly, spray-filled wind off the breakers. Elena sighed and broke the silence. "So we got the gold. That's good. And a prisoner." Others mumbled agreement. The longboat drew nearer. Arrafin squared her shoulders and lifted her head. "I don't want to go back. I want to go to Al-Tizim." Nevid frowned. "What? But we have to return the gold, take this Nevakada back..." "No. The captain can do all that. I want to go to Al-Tizim. I want. I want to help." Elena put a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Arrafin, you can't fight the Kishak Empire by yourself." Isaac nodded. "Let's go home, Arrafin, and figure out our next move there." "Go home? Al-Tizim IS my home, Isaac. Or Philip. Or Dominic, or whatever your name is. I am home. How can I leave? Look at what's happening here. We could make a difference. A big difference. For a lot of people. We could help." Etienne chimed in, crossing his arms over his chest. "Arrafin, it's not that simple. I lived under the Kishaks all my life. But revolution takes time and sacrifice -- " "You think I don't know that? Do you think I'm not ready to sacrifice? You don't know anything. You don't know anything about me, so shut up." The young woman's uncharacteristic outburst startled the others. Etienne shook his head and walked away, muttering. The longboat was now passing through the high rollers that endlessly roared up the beach. Nevid drew a breath. "I think Arrafin's right. I think we should be in the middle of things." He turned to Arrafin, ignoring Isaac and Elena's startled looks. "But we can't be a revolution ourselves, Arrafin. We all want the Kishaks out of the Narid, but we have to be smart. We have to wait until we have enough power and support to act." The Naridic girl nodded. "Power. Yes." She turned her head to study her little owl, and it almost seemed that the two of them were having some sort of conversation. She nodded to the bird and then to Nevid. "Let's go. It's at least a week's ride from here." The longboat scraped on the beach nearby and sailors came running up through the shallow water. Nevid met the first mate. "We're not coming aboard. But here's a Nevakada agent for Isabella del Maraviez. And the gold." The first mate took the news very well. Elena wondered if maybe they were just as glad not to have Arrafin the Sorceress on their ship again. She sighed inwardly, recalling that impossible whirlwind of blood the girl had summouned last night. And the way Arrafin had said, "Power," to Nevid just now did nothing to ease her concern. Fayeeda stepped forward, staring at Arrafin. "Take me with you. Take me to Al-Tizim." "It'll be dangerous. The Kishaks are coming there." "I want to fight. I want to fight the Kishaks." Fayeeda's quiet voice rose up in a sudden snarl. "Don't you understand? My father was working with them. So was Tariq. They're traitors to our people. They. They don't care. They just want to kill. I can't not do something. Please. Let me come with you." Bewildered, Arrafin turned to the others. Isaac shrugged. Nevid appeared to be studying the waves. Elena nodded, and answered the girl. "Of course, Fayeeda. You can come with us." ***** They were not alone in the desert. As dusk settled over the dunes, they heard the rattle and clang of riding gear and a small caravan of two paras and a dozen gallos came around the heel of a dune and into the hollow where they'd made their camp. Hands went to swordhilts, but Arrafin rose and went forward. "They're merchants, don't worry. Maybe they have news of Al-Tizim." They did. The leader of the caravan was named Serrus al-Farani beni Rifaa, and turned out to be a good-humoured middle-aged man who travelled with his entire extended family. Children, wives, sisters, brothers, and one elderly aunt all rode along, and their presence enlived the little camp as the sun set. Serrus settled himself at the fire with Isaac and the others. "Tell me, my friends, what brings four foreigners into the desert?" Nevid spoke. "We are travelling to Al-Tizim." Serrus made a gesture of warding. "Do not, as God is my witness! Things are terrible in Al-Tizim at this time. Terrible. No, turn around my friends, and go back." Arrafin pressed forward. "What do you mean? What's happening?" "The Kishaks are in the city. The Emir is executed. Sharina al-Sharina's army is nowhere to be found. No, Al-Tizim is no place to be right now. May God have mercy on the City of Kings." Serrus shook his head sadly. "This is why I am here, now, with my family. Thanks be to God, we escaped just ahead of the Kishaks. I only hope that God will see us safely out of this country." "The Kishaks are in Al-Tizim?" Arrafin's voice was a whisper. "Was there a battle?" Serrus chuckled. "In the streets, there was slaughter, child. We met some who had escaped after the Kishaks came. All who resisted have been killed. The university has been turned into a barracks, professors strung from the rooftops." Arrafin gasped and Elena took hold of the girl. "My father. My father." She burst into terrified sobs. Elena addressed Serrus. "Her father is a professor at the university." "Oh, child, I am sorry. Many escaped, dear girl. God has not abandoned us. He may have preserved your father. We will endure this test if we have faith." "Faith." ***** Etienne ignored the sudden crowd. He'd found a position dug into the crest of a dune where he could survey the camp and watch the surrounding desert. The stars shone with enough brilliance that he could see the grains of sand around him. He'd never seen anything like this in all his years on the streets of Pavairelle, he had to admit that much. The open desert was beautiful in its spare purity. That terrible whirlwind of blood last night still burned in his memory, but staring up at the stars helped to ease his mind. And he felt a deep sense of security at the thought that he would see anyone coming from miles away. Nobody could possibly surprise them out here. ***** Arrafin had at last fallen asleep, exhausted by the last day and a half of terror and death. Elena sat by the dying campfire with Isaac. Neither Nevid nor Etienne were anywhere to be seen. Fayeeda was talking with one of Serrus' daughters. "What do you think, Isaac? I mean, Dominic." "What do I think? I think we're missing every other word in this sentence." "Yeah." Elena looked over where that little owl sat next to Arrafin's sleeping form. "I've decided I don't like sorcery." "At last, we agree on something." "But it does seem effective." Isaac poked at the dying fire. "Yeah, but what's the cost? Arrafin's changing." Elena nodded in silent agreement, unable to put her fears into words. "I'm not crazy about walking into a war zone, either." Isaac grunted. "On the list of stupid things we've done, it doesn't really rate." Elena chuckled at that, and was about to reply when the night tore apart around them. The sputtering light of the fire revealed dark forms suddenly emerging from the night, shadows boiling and hissing up around them. Immense, hulking forms with axes. Surrounding a scowling Lohanese woman in some sort of weird whore's outfit, showing off her legs and cleavage. The woman laughed. "We have come for the Talon of the Raven. Surrender it at once, or die." She considered that, surveyed the waking camp, and laughed again. "To hell with it. We're just going to kill you all anyway." Isaac got to his feet. "Great. I prefer things straightforward." [/QUOTE]
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