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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Whitey" data-source="post: 1439762" data-attributes="member: 15994">The most unnerving thing about it was the silence.Cole had just begun to settle into the brush, gathered into an ersatz pillow, his cloak bundled up by his throat for protection - against the rising wind, if nothing else.  Even the tepid orange glow of their dismal fire was beginning to look more inviting.  Instead, Cole tucked his knees in closer and drew in on his pack.  He wasn't about to give Evander the satisfaction of slinking back into camp, nor was he entirely willing to make concessions to the ranger.  Not until he changed those backward, backwoods ways.  Perhaps he could rely on the placid demeanor of Norece?  After all, the contemplative seemed willing to brook many indignities during their journey without a word of complaint - and after all, Norece seemed so completely engrossed in otherworldly matters that a spat between two mere mortals would hardly disturb him.  Cole began to rise, and began to raise his voice for the cleric, when the words rattled breathless in his throat.  Some great weight drew around his chest, and his breath tumbled out without words.  Suddenly he clutched at it, only to have his fingers slide away without gaining purchase, with his sword-arm now bound against his ribs. He kicked reflexively, his legs now tangled in his pack's harness, its weight holding him fast as well, thoroughly entangled.  The well-honed edge of his sword rasped against his bonds but his strength was fast fading - across the backdrop of stars he saw flecks of gray, his life swimming away from him into blackness.Cole tumbled backward to the hillock, fumbling with his free hand for the dagger by his belt, when two lustrous silver motes sprang into his view and joined the dappled stars.  Evander's eyes. The ranger had his hand on Cole's shoulder - the tracker had flung him back, hard to the soil, with a handaxe raised overhead.  Cole saw it there, silver poised among the moons, waiting to drop.  It struck.  The blade coursed by, just past Cole's left arm, tossing up dried leaves and telling true against the bound strangling him.  Norece was soon by Cole's side as well - with a crossbow bolt in hand the cleric struck haphazardly, rooting through the brush.  The horrible pressure around Cole's chest laxed, and Evander pulled him aside by the tunic.Only then could they all see it - glints here and there in the firelight.  The monstrous snake that had captured Cole lay twined through the branches, its tail vanishing from view. Norece was still jabbing at it with the bolt, wrestling the beast's body away.  Cole pitched foreward with his hands on his knees just as Evander thrust some rank-smelling weed under his nose, and Cole took a sharp breath instinctively.  Whatever Norece had to say while he stooped before Cole was lost in the rising rush of blood in the rogue's ears - not that Cole could muster much of a response.  Instead, he slapped indignantly at the crushed seed-pod by his nose."Corbus weed.  And it saved your life."Cole bent down to recover his short sword and instantly began hacking and coughing again.  Evander was now looking back to their camp, where the fire was smoldering out.  "Let's be on the move.  They were bound to hear that, and they'll be coming.  Soon."Norece was standing over the serpent's body.  "This. . this thing was called here.  Someone cast for it to kill us!"Evander was already gathering their gear and saddling their horses.  By the time Cole stumbled the short way back to the tent, the tracker was staring at him with obvious impatience.  The fire was doused as soon as Cole stepped into its light, and since his pack felt too heavy to carry he slung it on his horse as well."Quiet!" the tracker barked.Norece helped Cole into the saddle, the cleric's sandy hair hiding most of his face.  "Back to the road then?  Or bear north for the open fields?"The ranger had his bow in hand, holding it toward the moon, divining along its length.  "The road.  Take our chances there.  We must be swift.  Five hours until dawn."What Cole remembered of their ride was nightmarish - he could hardly keep his eyes open from exhaustion.  Branches would hit him in the face to jar him awake.  The echoing hoofbeats around put him on edge.  Bugbears ate horses rather then ride them, right?  Exactly when the world went from sullen gray to dawn he couldn't say, and when the party stopped at a muddy stream he nearly pitched off his mount. Lifting up the heavy hauberk of his armor, Cole found symmetrical rows of bruises where the iron disks had bitten into his flesh."We'll take care of those.  Evander and I."  Norece had cupped some water in his palms and raised it to the rogue.  "Here.  Not much, but it's a start."  Cole drank, awkward from the saddle.  The Chosen of Yrah favored him with a smile - just gentle creases around the ancient eyes set in his young face.Cole examined the blotches of serpent blood on his clothes.  "Some start.  What quest is this?  We face death to honor dead men?  They are great heroes to be sure, but is it worth the cost of our lives?"Norece's expression was at once as human and as distant as ever.  "For such a cause, could you do any less?"</blockquote>

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