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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Laurel" data-source="post: 1760881" data-attributes="member: 17067">Chapter One- “Shadows of the Past”Day Seven– The Road East The next day around mid-morning we see that the tracks have divided. Archonus moves through the open road studying the indentations and marks through the gravel and sand, but not saying a word. I know he is better then I and can probably read more, but I follow the marks and tracks as well reading them like a book. After a while, finding him still silent I tell the others, “It looks like there was a struggle they were not separated willingly.” I look closer at the tracks adding, “There are two groups one larger group is being herded east, while a small group is being taken to the city.” “With so many at risk to the east, and possibly at our fault taken, we must go east,” declares Selura. We each acknowledge this though Archonus stands poised for flight to Thainsport, but glancing again and again at the signs of struggle and the road east. As if noticing we are staring at him, without turning around he acknowledges our looks, “Jaine has been taken North. She is being taken under custody, by the talons.” “We must go get her to safety,” Justice orders looking to Brad. “We can go help her, however, later for now we should go east,” Edriss replies. Yes, there are more in danger to the east… we should go east… I think that is a first for Edriss, instead of choosing the comfort of the city and ending this job he instead wants to help those captured. Archonus seems to wage a quite war internally, but we can not wait. Edriss, Arfin, Selura and I head our horses to the east. Justice and Brad watch Arhconus slowly following us, but not trusting him alone. I glance back once, not knowing if I should hope, but can not help the happy feeling I get when Archonus’s form tops the first hill following us. We ride hard through the day and as the trees start to fall away to rolling open grassy hills so does the light of day fade to the dark of night. The paladin pulls up her horse and jumps down telling us to dismount as well. Walking forward we see a massive stone walled fort in this unpopulated area. Somehow it is decided that we split-up, with Brad, Arfin, Kareth and myself staying back in case the plan goes awry. Selura and Justice will go to gather Mr. Miagi and his people and if necessary negotiate for their release. Arhconus recognizes his fellow Talons. For some reason trusts our opinion of these people, and so he goes to see what help he can lend for Justice and Selura. Edriss not being able to be kept out of things sets off after them trying to stay to the shadows. He intends to hide and climb the wall no doubt, and we can just hope he does not get himself or the other killed in the process. We start a small fire, to keep the late fall chill away, and soon Brad can be heard snoring with steady rhythm. I take care wiping down the horses and re-moving their bridles so they can graze a little. The monk sits off to himself and has a look of peace surrounding him. Back by the fire, the dwarf pushes all our packs into a heap and then sitting on them opens his canteen, singing in common of a large hairy woman.  I feel the change first in the horse beneath my hands and then in the ground, a slight tremor. The horses all raise their heads, and unbridled I quickly try to easy them. Then I hear hoof beats in the distance and crouching down into the grass search to find which way they are coming from. I try to call softly to Arfin, but between the song and Brad’s snore he is hearing nothing. I don’t see the monk and can only assume he to has hidden. They may not be bad people, but to take from Michael’s book it never hurts to have the upper hand. By the time I can tell their direction, the small group of horses is within sight of us. They ride at full gallop toward our small hill and toward the oblivious Arfin and the sleeping Brad. As the horses pull up, Arfin rolls off the packs to Brad’s side kicking him harshly awake, still smiling at some joke only he knows. The leader calls to Arfin, “Who goes there? What are you doing here?” Arfin waves his jug slurring out, “I am me, and I am tryin’ te get through the nigh’. Wha’ abou’ you?” The guard does not take kindly to this and kicks his horse around so he is closer to Brad and asks, “What of you, why are you here?” Brad flourishes his cape and gives a low mocking bow, “To stay the night, and tour this great land.”  Happy that we did not send these two to negotiate for Mr. Miagi, I glance once more around for the large green shape of the monk. The guard face turns red at Brad’s reply. Seeing his commander floundering, the second horseman pushes forward and draws his sword. The other guards quickly follow. I slowly crouch lower to the ground and move closer. One of the horses shies at the rising whiff of battle knocking into the commanders horse and causing the others to erupting into chaos. The leader’s horse goes wild, and while Brad and Arfin are disarming the closest guards I go around the side. I see Kareth’s silent hulking form quietly erupt from behind one guard and with a quick fist to the head, the guard goes down. The guard at the end of the line sees me, but not before I whisper to his horse “A’lthelti” which causes her to buck wildly unseating the guard. While he lays on the ground stunned, I use his horse as a shield get close to the next horse. I touch her and whisper “Ethialdras.” He kicks behind him, not only unseating his rider but hitting the commander in the head. Both fall to the ground, and I hear Arfin say “That’ll teach yea to go against a dwarf!” I grab the reigns of all the horses near me and go to collect the others, while Brad and Arfin tie up the captured men.  Once I have secured and calmed all the horses, I turn at the sound of more hoof beats to see Justice, Edriss, and Selura riding toward me. I lead them back to camp with the new horses to find that Brad has not just tied the prisoners but also de-clothed them. He claims it was to ensure they don’t escape, but with everything else going on I can only think that justice will be served to Brad when the time comes. I turn back to the riders waiting… hoping they will freely give us an update. Arfin does not wish to wait though and asks what happened. Justice tells us that they have secured the freedom of Mr. Miagi’s people but they have to go to the Monastery of the Sacred Rebirth. A monastery Selura knows well where she trained and received the guidance of the light.  We all quickly turned at Brad’s battle yell by the imprisoned guards. He has drawn his sword and in a great heavy chops the head off the tied and bound leader. Various yells of “stop” issue from us, but to no avail as the head plops to the ground and begins to roll down hill. A silvery bipedal shape appears from the corpse a great long sword in his own hands. Before we can blink Brad’s own head is chopped off. The headless body remains standing as an open hand reaches into Brad’s chest and pulls out his still beating heart. The figure then seems to materialize more completely into a humanoid figure saying, “The Bluestar will not accept your interference anymore!” With a small wisp of smoke it disappears into nothingness. We are too stunned to react for a few moments, Brad’s body finally taking the full impact of death falls to the ground. Selura first to spring into action, races towards it, cursing and praying at the same time. Ever so slowly the sounds around us penetrate my ears. Horses on the road and hundreds of feet wearily trudging on. The others seem to notice as well as we all spring into action trying to forget the horrifying sight.  I take my simple brown cloak and cover Brad’s corpse. Justice pulls Selura with her to get Mr. Miagi’s people on the move, “We can mourn later.” While Edriss and Arfin loot the two fallen bodies, and I move to gather the extra horses and watch for Mr. Miagi’s people to be on their way. Once they are completely out of the prison Archonus waves towards us. That’s the signal. The last of Miagi’s people can be seen fading into the horizon, as we release the prisoners handing them their clothing. We quickly jump on our horses and ride quickly to catch up with the group, and as I see the most injured, I help them gain a seat atop the extra horses.  The road to the monastery is long with so many, and so we are forced to stop for the night about 10 miles shy of the monastery. These people have been pushed too hard, and suffered much already. Though it would seem through sheer determination they would follow Mr. Miagi until they gave their very lives, and I wonder at that dedication could I have stood the test and trials they have.</blockquote>

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