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<blockquote data-quote="Funeris" data-source="post: 2586986" data-attributes="member: 22792">Chapter 2: Journey Into Darkness ContinuedThe cool pulse of divine energy flooded through Cassock's veins.&nbsp; His arms tingled with the harnessed power and the sensation snaked from his shoulder down through his fingertips.&nbsp; The surge leapt between his outstretched hands and the body of the unconscious child.&nbsp; The tide ebbed, waxed, then waned and they awaited the youth to awaken.&nbsp; Cassock fatefully glimpsed down, noting a line of blood stretching past the edge of youth's clothing.&nbsp; He carefully pulled the rough leather aside.&nbsp; Carved into the child's chest, the symbol of Cael rested.&nbsp; The youth's eyes snapped open.&nbsp; Their pitch hue filled with fear as he recoiled, slamming bodily into a tree.&quot;We're not going to hurt you,&quot; the priest began.&nbsp; In his most comforting tone he added, &quot;We just want to ask you a few questions.&quot;&nbsp; The youth seemed to relax a bit and tried to adjust but his hands were still bound tightly behind his back.&quot;Can you untie me?&quot;&quot;Once are questioning is over.&quot;&quot;Do it now.&nbsp; As a showing of trust?&quot;&nbsp; The youth bent over and stretched his hands outward, away from his spine.&quot;I cannot.&nbsp; It would not be prudent.&nbsp; You may be a powerful wizard,&quot; the priest set the recovered items near the boy's face.&nbsp; &quot;I would not wish to endanger my friends.&nbsp; And I have no need to slay you, yet.&nbsp; Answer the questions and we will decide whether or not you can be trusted.&nbsp; If you can be trusted, we'll untie you.&quot;The black haired youth smirked and sat back down. &quot;Are you a worshipper of Cael, child?&quot;The youth snickered.&nbsp; &quot;Of course not.&nbsp; Why?!&quot;&quot;You have His holy symbol carved into your chest, even if it is somewhat flawed.&quot;&quot;That would explain. . .&quot;&quot;Explain what?&quot;&nbsp; The youth glanced away into the forest, denying an answer.&quot;What is your name, child?&quot;&quot;I am Spinum Machaera and I am no child.&quot;&quot;Very well.&nbsp; Why did the druid take you prisoner?&quot;&quot;He claimed I had violated the rules of his forest.&quot;&nbsp; Bitterness touched with anger hung heavily upon the words.&quot;Did you?&quot;&nbsp; Cassock sat back, trying to read Spinum's face for lies and deception.&quot;I violated no rules.&nbsp; I was fleeing for my life when he caught me and beat me.&nbsp; When I awoke, he told me I would be sacrificed to the forest to right my wrongs.&nbsp; Can you cut these damnable bonds now?&quot;&quot;In time.&nbsp; What were you fleeing from?&quot;&quot;Probably that which had truly violated the forest...the Inquisition.&quot;&nbsp; Cassock snapped upward, drawing his mace.&nbsp; &quot;The Inquisition?&quot;&quot;Yes, they came upon my family and I.&nbsp; Thankfully, I was a safe distance away and in the cover of the forest.&nbsp; I could only watch helplessly as they killed my father and brother.&quot;&nbsp; Spinum struggled to scratch an unreachable itch.&nbsp; Cassock leaned in, slitting the bonds, gifting the mage with freedom.&nbsp; &quot;Thank you.&quot;&quot;Which way was the Inquisition heading?&quot;&quot;If they were following the road, it would've taken them to some small town...Green HIlls or some such.&nbsp; I do not know for sure.&nbsp; We were heading toward Aedil.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Why?&quot;&quot;My father and brother are...were holy warriors of Myr.&nbsp; They thought Aedil would be the safest place for our futures.&quot;&quot;And are you trained in combat?&quot;&quot;I have some training but I was never the match of even my brother.&nbsp; My power, as you suspect, is not one learned by swinging a shard of metal at another man's face.&nbsp; It comes within.&nbsp; It is true power.&quot;The priest grabbed the halberd and spellbook shoved them into the youths hands.&nbsp; &quot;You will travel with us to the Town of Green Hills.&nbsp; Try to run and I will kill you.&nbsp; There, we will set things right.&nbsp; You can have your vengeance on the Inquisitors.&quot;Spinum grimaced and shuddered.&nbsp; The young mage had no desire to face whatever it was he had seen.&nbsp; But fearing death at the hands of his new captors, he slunk to the floor to prepare a few spells.&quot;We're leaving in twenty!&quot;&nbsp; The priest shouted.&nbsp; &quot;Get your gear together!&quot;&quot;Why?&nbsp; What's happened?&quot; Ana questioned.&nbsp; &quot;Inquisitors were spotted heading in the direction of your Town, Lady.&nbsp; It is not a good sign.&quot;Before the last word had fully formed, Ana had vanished past the edge of the clearing, heading home.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Funeris, post: 2586986, member: 22792"] [b]Chapter 2: Journey Into Darkness Continued[/b] The cool pulse of divine energy flooded through Cassock's veins. His arms tingled with the harnessed power and the sensation snaked from his shoulder down through his fingertips. The surge leapt between his outstretched hands and the body of the unconscious child. The tide ebbed, waxed, then waned and they awaited the youth to awaken. Cassock fatefully glimpsed down, noting a line of blood stretching past the edge of youth's clothing. He carefully pulled the rough leather aside. Carved into the child's chest, the symbol of Cael rested. The youth's eyes snapped open. Their pitch hue filled with fear as he recoiled, slamming bodily into a tree. "We're not going to hurt you," the priest began. In his most comforting tone he added, "We just want to ask you a few questions." The youth seemed to relax a bit and tried to adjust but his hands were still bound tightly behind his back. "Can you untie me?" "Once are questioning is over." "Do it now. As a showing of trust?" The youth bent over and stretched his hands outward, away from his spine. "I cannot. It would not be prudent. You may be a powerful wizard," the priest set the recovered items near the boy's face. "I would not wish to endanger my friends. And I have no need to slay you, yet. Answer the questions and we will decide whether or not you can be trusted. If you can be trusted, we'll untie you." The black haired youth smirked and sat back down. "Are you a worshipper of Cael, child?" The youth snickered. "Of course not. Why?!" "You have His holy symbol carved into your chest, even if it is somewhat flawed." "That would explain. . ." "Explain what?" The youth glanced away into the forest, denying an answer. "What is your name, child?" "I am Spinum Machaera and I am no child." "Very well. Why did the druid take you prisoner?" "He claimed I had violated the rules of his forest." Bitterness touched with anger hung heavily upon the words. "Did you?" Cassock sat back, trying to read Spinum's face for lies and deception. "I violated no rules. I was fleeing for my life when he caught me and beat me. When I awoke, he told me I would be sacrificed to the forest to right my wrongs. [b]Can you cut these damnable bonds now?[/b]" "In time. What were you fleeing from?" "Probably that which had truly violated the forest...the Inquisition." Cassock snapped upward, drawing his mace. "The Inquisition?" "Yes, they came upon my family and I. Thankfully, I was a safe distance away and in the cover of the forest. I could only watch helplessly as they killed my father and brother." Spinum struggled to scratch an unreachable itch. Cassock leaned in, slitting the bonds, gifting the mage with freedom. "Thank you." "Which way was the Inquisition heading?" "If they were following the road, it would've taken them to some small town...Green HIlls or some such. I do not know for sure. We were heading toward Aedil." "Why?" "My father and brother are...were holy warriors of Myr. They thought Aedil would be the safest place for our futures." "And are you trained in combat?" "I have some training but I was never the match of even my brother. My power, as you suspect, is not one learned by swinging a shard of metal at another man's face. It comes within. It is true power." The priest grabbed the halberd and spellbook shoved them into the youths hands. "You will travel with us to the Town of Green Hills. Try to run and I will kill you. There, we will set things right. You can have your vengeance on the Inquisitors." Spinum grimaced and shuddered. The young mage had no desire to face whatever it was he had seen. But fearing death at the hands of his new captors, he slunk to the floor to prepare a few spells. "We're leaving in twenty!" The priest shouted. "Get your gear together!" "Why? What's happened?" Ana questioned. "Inquisitors were spotted heading in the direction of your Town, Lady. It is not a good sign." Before the last word had fully formed, Ana had vanished past the edge of the clearing, heading home. [/QUOTE]

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