Of Dragons And War

[Darion McNair]

Darion lifted Ken-Dall’s chin up and kissed her softly. He waitied a moment before he pulled away. He grabbed the reins of his horse and led it outsided to meet the others while Ken-Dall followed close behind.

“Morning.” Darion said to Senyik as he saw that he was sitting down finishing up what looked like a pastery filled with meat. “Sleep well, smith?”

“Decently.” Senyik replied, taking the last bite of his pastery and standing up. “Ready to depart, actually. This mission has been a long time coming.” Darion nodded in reply.

“I know what you mean.” he turned his attention to the rest of the party. The gypsies, Miri, Rosaline, Rylus, Senyik and himself were present. The Swordsman and Meekal were conspicuously absent.

“Any word from our fearless leader?” he asked Senyik.

“Not lately. I’m not sure where he could be.” his friend replied. A corner of Darion’s mouth lifted in a half smile. He hoped the Swordsman wouldn’t be long, he wanted to get on with the mission.

[Swordsman]

Finally. The Swordsman stepped out the door into the stables, Meekal following closely, both laden and ready to ride. It had taken some doing, but they had managed to calm Moonitic down enough to let them go, and the two guards had arrived – Slade and Krasala, two of the original members of the Force, and two of Nækos’ most trusted troops. And then – “You have got to be kidding me.” The full group seemed to be there, ready to go. Along with Rylus, Rosaline’s brother. He looked to Rylus, knowing that his relationship with Rosaline would make things extremely difficult.

Before he could even speak, Rosaline cut in: “He’s my brother, and he’s coming along with us.”

“I know he’s your brother, but he is not coming along with us, and that’s final.” Nækos continued moving as he spoke, over to Onyx for final preparations before the trip.

Rosaline followed: “And why not?”

“Because we have too many people already – this is becoming more a caravan than it is an expedition. Unless he can demonstrate some specific value to the team, I will not have him along.” The straps looked alright on the saddle – no scores or cut marks.

“And if I say he is coming, and that’s final, what do you intend to do?”

The Swordsman looked blankly up at her from his checks. “Then I intend to call up several of my men and lash both of you to the stables while we leave, and not let you go until we’ve been gone several hours. And I sincerely hope that you do not force me to take that option, because that would require the use of more of my men, something I do not wish to do."

[Iwant2bafencer]

"So you're saying that Tæbryn can go, but my brother who's older than she, and most likely more talented can't?" She argued, her hands on her hips.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm growing fond of Tæbryn very quickly," this got a smile from the girl, "but your logic makes no sense here."

"Now, care to explain a little more?" She questioned stubbornly.

[Swordsman]

"I want Tæbryn along," Nækos explained. "I want to get to know her better. Additionally, I do not know what I would do with her otherwise. I imagine Rylus is rather more capable of taking care of himself than she, and I also have no reason to need to get to know him better."

[Iwant2bafencer]

Rosaline stepped closer to Nækos and lowered her voice so most of the company couldn't hear her.

"You want to get to know Tæbryn better hm? You've known her less than a week. I have been parted from my brother for over eight years now. So take how much you want to get to know Tæbryn and multiply it ten times over, and you'll come close to how much I want to know my own blood." She managed to keep her voice calm and cool as she spoke.

[Swordsman]

The Swordsman's voice lowered to a growl in response to the hostility. "Tæbryn also needs the experience. You have known your brother already. And as I said, he can take care of himself - whom can I trust to leave Tæbryn with?"

[Iwant2bafencer]

"Zelda is staying, Moon is staying, as is Ken-Dall, to name three. Do not presume to know who I know and don't know. I know my brother as much as I know you. Also, don't think that you're going to scare me into backing down. It won't happen. You still have yet to explain to me why Tæbryn can go but Rylus can't when they're both going for the same reason. Why is it alright for you, but not for me?"

[Swordsman]

"I will not trust Tæbryn to any of the three you suggested, or anyone else for that matter. You wish to bring Rylus? Well enough. But he will remain silent, he will remain out of my sight, and he will not get in the way or slow us down. He will bring his own gear and his own food."

[Iwant2bafencer]

"Honestly Nækos you make it sound like he's some dog tagging along." Rosaline frowned at him before moving back to her horse, and tightening some of the straps.

"Rose, maybe I shouldn't come." Rylus said softly.

"Look you're coming or you're not. I'll not force you, but I want you with me." She replied, sinching the strap.

"but if he doesn't want me to."

"Nækos isn't big on large groups. We'll just leave it at that." Rosaline replied, accepting a hot pastry from Ami and thanking her for it.

[Crin Dalmeiier]

"You know," Crin remarked to Talmour in the ancient gypsy tongue, something they only used for secrets and something she stumbled on more than she liked to admit, "we could just go and leave it at that. I've got the factbook about dragons. The rest can just catch up. Frankly, I'm getting a bit tired of this." She swung up into the saddle and the rest of the gyspies followed suit. "As soon as you're done with these spats," she called to the rest of the group, "feel free to join us on the road."

Shrugging, the gypsies set off, trusting that the rest of the group would be following them. If the Swordsman had anything to brief them on, he could do so from the saddle.

[Zelda]

Hey guys, you forgot that Naekos agreeded in an earlier thread that Alys could go if Zelda wasnt. Refer to Martial Preparations I page 6.

[MyraTrue]

(Thanks... Alys was going to have to protest soon!)

[Moonitic]

"Well," Ken-Dall muttered, "don't I feel invisible."

Darion offered a quiet laugh, one arm around her. "You, my love, could never be invisible."

She reached up & ran a finger along his strong chin. "You are too kind." They gazed at one another for a moment, a flurry of emotions passing between them. Finally, Ken-Dall looked away. She smiled at Meekal, who looked small & out of place at the moment. She could certainly feel his pain. "And where is that sister of mine?" she asked.

[Zelda]

Zelda relished the air on her face as she rode towards the Holly Daye Inn. She wasnt going to stop there, but at one further on called 2 Seasons (Sunny and Not). From here she planned to listen and find out in what direction Naekos was heading.

[Iwant2bafencer]

Rosaline looked around and the remaining group and sighed, realizing they were going to be there for at least a few more minutes.

"I'm going to get some more pastries from Nani." She told Rylus.

He shrugged and leaned against his horse who eyed him with a funny look.
Rose slipped out from the group and made her way to the kitchens. Once there, she heard the sound of clattering pans. Carefully, she opened the door and poked her head in to see what was going on.

"Who's been in my kitchen?" Nani cried from somewhere down near the ground. "I put it Right in here, and someone's been in here cleaning!" She griped to the pantry.

"Nani? Is everything alright?" Rosaline asked as Nani threw a spatula in Rose's general direction.

"No everything is not alright. I can't find my favorite stiring spoon." She complained, standing and moving to look for another one.

"I see, good luck with that." Rosaline shrugged. "I was wondering if we could have a few more pastries for the road."

"Yeah yeah, they're over there." Nani grumbled, flicking her hand to a table.

Rosaline moved over to it and began to put more pastries into a cloth.

"That's all that's left, the Queen cleaned me out." She stated, then gasped.

Rosaline froze and grimaced.

"I mean that brother O'eaty or whatever his name is." She stamered.

"She's following us isn't she." Rose sighed.

Nani shrugged helplessly. "She said she was going Dragon hunting."

"Great, this is just great. Thank you Nani. Goodbye." Rosaline quickly tied the pastries and left.

[Iwant2bafencer]

As she made her way back to the stables, she pondered what to do about their new situation. Her hand came up habitually to pay Abercrombie's nose, and instead hit air. Grimacing again, Rosaling turned to see the stall empty.
Just then, Anton came into the stable, saw Rosaline and quickly went to go back the way he came.

"Hold it." Rosaline snapped. The boy froze.

"Yes my lady?" He grinned, trying tp appear innocent.

"Where is she?" Rosaline asked.

"Where's who?" Anton frowned.

"I'm not in the mood for games Anton, I know she's gone, which way did she go?"

Anton bit his lip. Either way he would be dead.
"She went that way," he sighed pointing down the back road. "looked like she was heading to the Holy Day Inn."

Shaking her head, Rose thanked Anton then went out to the group. She swung up into her saddle after handing Rylus the pastries. She carefully steered Shadowmaker out of the group.

"Hey, where're you going?" Rylus called after her.

Rosaline was already out of the group, and letting Shadowmaker leap into a run down the small road. She bent over his neck, riding low and fast.

"I swear, if she doesn't kill herself I'll do it for her." She growled in the horse's ear.

[Swordsman]

Nækos snarled to himself as he rode out on Onyx, finding most of the group ready. Between Moon, Meekal, and Rosaline, it was not starting to look like a good day. It was, in fact, already much later than he'd intended to set out. Unfortunately, the gypsies and Rosaline were missing. "Would anybody care to inform me," he inquired in an exhasparated, semi-sarcastic tone, "where our dear friends the gypsies have gone, and whether they have dragged along our Captain of the Guard?"

"They gypsies started off earlier," Miri informed him, "and Rosaline just went galloping off after them at full speed."

"Marvelous." His tone suggested that the new was, perhaps, not quite such. "Thank you." He looked around him once more, shooting Rylus a glare. "Let us be off, then, I suppose."

As the group began moving out through the northern gate, the Swordsman found himself almost wishing the Russ would go ahead and show up. Not ten minutes ago, he had been forced to explain to Moon that she would not only remain behind in the castle, but that she would be constantly attended by Slade and Krasala, two of the earliest members of the Strike Force Aiovus. He finally conceded that they would not be allowed to touch her under pain of death, but Krasala would remain in attendance at all times, even if Slade had to step out of the room. At least when the Russic land, he mused, I'll be able to go back to just killing people who piss me off. He looked at Rylus, which made him think of Rosaline. Or most of them, anyway.

[Moonitic]

In response to Ken-Dall's question, Meekal's face grew red. "She was...held up," he said, & cast a glance at the Swordsman. "And I don't think she'll be very happy about it."

[Iwant2bafencer]

Rosaline had slowed Shadowmaker to a trot, and had moved to sit straight yet relaxed in the saddle. She knew the road, and all of the paths around it. Usually she enjoyed riding it because it was one of the less used backroads and always seemed to have a calm relaxed feeling. This time it however, seemed to compress inward on her, and the soon surrounding trees gave the feeling of tall foreboading shadows looming over head. She suddenly felt very small and even more alone than usual. She tried to think of happier things, but the darker parts seemed to keep coming back in.
When she was only fifteen she had left home to move into the city where she could be closer to the military and her work. She had joined at a young age, but she had wanted time to learn so she could find work quickly to help support her family. For the first year she had kept in close contact with her parents and brother, riding out at least once a week to spend a day or two with them whenever possible. After that year, it began to get harder and harder to find time to go home. She was quickly moving up in rank and therefore tied to her work.
It felt like she hadn't seen her parents since she was but a small child. It was then she realized that the group would be passing right by her home on their way north. She decided to tell Nækos that it would be a good stopping point for a night, when she caught the group once more.

Determined to get out of the shadowed, narrow bit of the road, she squeezed Shadowmaker's theighs a little and he shot off line an arrow, flying faster down the road.

[Zelda]

Zelda had run Abercrombie hard, but had finally slowed down to a reasonable speed. Looking up at the sky she estimated it must be about midday. Slowing down even further she looked around, taking account of where she was. A rickety sign was up head.
As she rode up to read it the birds around took flight. "Two Seasons Inn - your alternative to the Holly Daaye only 10 miles ahead" read the peeling paint. Zelda sighed. She may as well push on to the Inn, then decide if she kept going forward, or if she waited until she heard of any big groups heading north.