05-31-2001, 09:01 AM
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#1 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 698
| Aftermath of the Assassination
The strange procession of several black-clad figures and one screaming girl in a gown hurried through the kitchens, spooking one of the cooks before they came out the large doors into the dark alley. Three of the black figures moved ahead about a quarter mile, scanning, looking for anybody else. Another three surrounded Nækos, and one watched behind. After a few feet, FencingAngel removed his cloak and used it to wrap the arms and head of Nækos’ troublesome load, so that she couldn’t hit him or scream anymore. Silence was imperative. After another few steps, Nækos leaned forward, transferring Dame D’escrime to his arms, so that his shoulder didn’t punch into her stomach with every step. He started jogging, then started running, and clutched her tighter so that she wouldn’t slip, or bounce around too much.
Moving through back streets and alleyways, they headed for his cottage on the outskirts of the city. When they were about a mile away, the three advance guards took off, moving quickly ahead to check the cottage. When the rest arrived a few minutes later, the residence was secured, several cots set up for the guards, and a clean set of linens on Nækos’ bed.
Entering the bedroom with his cargo, Nækos tossed her unceremoniously on the bed, and allowed her to unwrap the cloak from her face. She looked around in bewilderment, then horrified terror as Nækos began removing his torn, bloodstained tunic. She relaxed, though, when he took a clean one from a small wardrobe and pulled it on. “Would you like to explain better what’s going on here?”
Nækos turned to the three soldiers in the room with him, and motioned for them to establish a perimeter. “Nobody gets in.” Turning back to Dame D’escrime, he took a deep breath, then pulled a chair up next to the bed, sat in it. “As I said earlier, you sister was assassinated earlier this evening. As we were standing on the balcony, she told me that she had been receiving threatening letters from an unknown source, and that you were also threatened in them. She was confident in being able to take care of herself, but asked me to protect you, and, were anything to happen to you, to train you in the ways of the sword and hammer. I promised her I would, and would give her a protective detail. I also promised that I would be your personal bodyguard, backed up by the rest of my force. And then she was killed by a longbow shot. So I intend to keep my promise now.”
Dame D’escrime remained silent. “So I’m a sort of prisoner here? I guess this is your house…”
“Well, I’d prefer not to think of it that way, but you need to be kept safe, at least until the assassin is caught. I want you to stay here at least for the night; anybody could off you at the ball. I know how much losing somebody like that takes out of you, and I think you need rest. I also know this building better than any other, and have more weaponry here than you’ll find in the royal armory. So, I think this is the best option, for right now, at least.”
“I see…will I get any…I mean, I won’t have to…”
“Of course not. You will be allowed all the privacy you want in the bathroom, there,” He pointed to a door to the side, “but only after it has been checked. And cots have been set up for myself, and my men. You will be treated as a guest here.”
“Very well…may I be brought some other clothes from my house? I don’t wish to spend the entire time in this gown.”
He smiled. “Naturally. Your things are being brought over as we speak. In the meantime, make yourself as comfortable as you like.” She wanted out of the gown immediately, so two men inspected the bathroom for cracks, holes, hidden doors, anything of the like. Finding it satisfactory, she was allowed to lock it and run a bath. She stayed in for nearly an hour, and Nækos thought he heard crying from that direction for part of the time. Finally she emerged, looking refreshed and wearing her nightclothes that Moonitic, who had come by, had handed in to her. Her fingers and toes were also all wrinkled.
“Anything I can get you, m’lady?” Nækos wondered.
“Right now, I just want to sleep, and forget all of this in dreams.” She turned back the covers on the bed, and slipped between the sheets, dropping to the pillow with a sigh. “Are you going to wait until I fall asleep?”
“For what? Then leave? No, I’m going to stay in this chair all night.” Nækos stood up, stretched his legs, back, chest, then drew his gladius and sat back in the chair. There wasn’t a whole lot to look at in the room, especially since he knew all of it, but he figured she wouldn’t sleep very well under his stare, so he studied the picture on the opposite wall. After a little bit, she fell asleep.
For several hours, Nækos sat there in the dark, playing mind games with himself to stay awake. He could hear the whispers of the patrols outside, occasionally saw their shadows. He watched her as she slept, memorizing the lines of her face. He studied the shapes of her nose, eyebrows, lips, chin, appreciating the beauty of a woman’s sleeping features, relaxed and set in place. After a little while longer, one of the guards entered, tapping him on the shoulder to inform him that the watch was changing, and he was relieved. Nækos nodded as the guard sat in another chair, but he did not move. Instead he closed his eyes, and let his thoughts dissolve into dreams.
He dreamed of a woman, a beautiful woman whom he didn’t know. He knew her in the dream, but had no idea who she was. He was talking with her, standing in a field by the edge of a wood. He couldn’t hear the words, but he made her laugh. After a little, she stood closer to him, then leaned against him. He put his arms around her, then she looked up and kissed him lightly and gently. He looked into her eyes for a moment, and was about to lean forward and kiss her again, but she faded into a the pink glow of morning light coming through his eyelids.
He took a deep breath, slowly tensed and then released each muscle, waking them up. Then he opened his eyes, focused. Dame D’escrime was awake, still lying in bed, looking at him. He met her eyes, and she smiled. He returned it, then watched as the events of the night before came back to her, and her smile disappeared. He got up, then crouched next to the bed as two tears formed in her eyes, then dropped strangely across her face to the pillow. He pushed some of the hair back from the side of her face. “You alright?”
“I miss her…”
“You will. But it will become alright. I will train you, and then we will hunt down her assassin together. That is a promise.”
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Sir Nækos Servaya, leader of elite Strike Force Aiovus
"You can run, but you'll only die tired". -Michael Anson
__________________
It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protestor to burn the flag. - Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC
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| | | And now for this message... |
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05-31-2001, 09:02 AM
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#2 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 698
| Sorry. My muse has been working overtime, and she gave me THAT LOOK, the one I can't refuse...
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It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protestor to burn the flag. - Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC
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05-31-2001, 09:54 AM
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#3 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: North Bend, Washington, USA
Posts: 400
| Very nice swordsman... a moving story.
::sniff sniff:: | |
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05-31-2001, 03:36 PM
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#4 | | Guest | So, what am I supposed to do, throw myself into training or something? Didn't she tell you? I don't do training! I've gotten along just fine, so far, without all those blasted weapons she LOVED. Besides , it's your job to protect me, you said so yourself.
So, how about some breakfast and then you can decide what to do about a funeral or something.
AND WHAT ARE YOU GUYS LOOKING AT! she directs towards the others who are looking on in astonishment, wondering about the Dame's behaviour.
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You CAN teach old dogs new tricks. | |
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05-31-2001, 08:29 PM
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#5 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 698
| Mango, please just shut up.
I'm not in charge of the funeral arrangements or anything, but there will be one. And you WILL train. I promised your sister that. And I'm not going to break that promise.
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Sir Nækos Servaya, leader of elite Strike Force Aiovus
"You can run, but you'll only die tired". -Michael Anson
__________________
It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protestor to burn the flag. - Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC
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05-31-2001, 08:40 PM
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#6 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 698
| FencingAngel has expressed interest in writing another side to this. This is great!! I'm really having a lot of fun both reading and writing these partner stories. Too bad Space left, he was starting to get good. Let's keep this up, and Mango, will you just lay off? Put up or shut up. If you don't like it, don't read these threads.
__________________
It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protestor to burn the flag. - Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC
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05-31-2001, 09:41 PM
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#7 | | Guest | HMPH! she replies as she defiantly folds her arms across her chest and rolls her eyes. | |
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06-01-2001, 07:09 AM
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#8 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 698
| You can argue all you want about this, but it's not going to make a difference. M'lady.
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Sir Nækos Servaya, leader of elite Strike Force Aiovus
"You can run, but you'll only die tired". -Michael Anson
__________________
It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protestor to burn the flag. - Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC
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06-01-2001, 07:51 AM
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#9 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: earth(sometimes)
Posts: 1,181
| Mango.....Mango.......Mango..... | |
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06-01-2001, 10:09 AM
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#10 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 698
| Thank you, space. Glad you're back!
__________________
It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protestor to burn the flag. - Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC
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06-01-2001, 10:43 AM
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#11 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: North Bend, Washington, USA
Posts: 400
| yessss... space is finaly back.... wheee some one to pick on... not really space... just haveing a little fun 
[This message has been edited by Fencing Angel (edited 06-01-2001).] | |
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06-01-2001, 11:12 AM
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#12 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: North Bend, Washington, USA
Posts: 400
| The night after the roayl ball was a troubling one for the strike force. almost no one slept in and around Nækos' house. the guards where posted, but there was still a fealing of uncerantity in the air. questions like "what did she do??" "why would someone want her killed??" "is there anyone else that would be assinated??" "why ledgerto?? why not someone of the roayl family??"
all of these are questions that where rolling around in my head the entire night.
then next morning after breakfast i walked over to Nækos and asked. "do you think that the assassin will be back for dame D'escrime?" "i don't know. but that is why it os our job to make sure that he doesen't get in or out alive..."
at that i threw Nækos a fancy salute and walked back inside.
the first thing that i did was send a message to the kings personal guards stateing that the roayl family lives may be in danger, and to keep a eye in any one who vists them.
Nækos wanted to start Dame D'escrime's weapons training that morning. but to say the least she wasn't ready...
that night after all the guards where posted, i was makeing use of the sword polishing rags in the cornor, i heard Dame D'escrime crying her self to sleep in the next room...
[This message has been edited by Fencing Angel (edited 06-01-2001).] | |
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06-01-2001, 11:51 AM
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#13 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 698
| Nice, FencingAngel. I liked that even a little better than the one you wrote on the rescue. Let's have more!
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Sir Nækos Servaya, leader of elite Strike Force Aiovus
"You can run, but you'll only die tired". -Michael Anson
__________________
It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protestor to burn the flag. - Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC
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06-01-2001, 02:15 PM
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#14 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: North Bend, Washington, USA
Posts: 400
| oh come on space... that wasn't that bad was it?? thanks swordsmen.. i tend to do a little better on short storys then i do on longer ones... | |
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06-01-2001, 02:47 PM
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#15 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: North Bend, Washington, USA
Posts: 400
| Quote:
Originally posted by ledgerto:
Being a young maiden alone in the countryside, I approached cautiously to offer aid. He tried sending me away, warning that if I aided him, my life would be placed in great peril. Not one to be easily intimidated, I persisted, telling this great bit of masculinity that I knew well the area about and could safely guide him to shelter where he might be healed.
| Could this be the reason that ledgerto was killed?? | |
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06-01-2001, 06:03 PM
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#16 | | Guest | The Dame, an impulsive young woman, is getting restless, bored, and angry. In addition she is dealing with the loss of her sister. She is tough on the outside and would never let anyone see her cry. To her it is a sign of weakness. She has a major chip on her shoulder. She likes to be called "The Dame" because she thinks her Christian name, Josephine, is too girlish.
She is a wild one and will be difficult to train.
So, what's to do around this place? How long are you going to sit on your butt while my sister lies rotting in the castle?
Speak up, you!
And by the way, do you make it a habit of carting off people you don't even know!
Why are you looking at me like that?
My God this place is boring. I have to get out of here.
Without waiting for answers to her questions, she heads for the door.
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You CAN teach old dogs new tricks.
[This message has been edited by Dame d'escrime (edited 06-01-2001).] | |
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06-01-2001, 06:50 PM
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#17 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 698
| No. I told you, somebody else is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Now, are you going to train with me, or do you need to stay indoors a few more days? And if you're going to train, you need a haircut and a change of uniform.
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Sir Nækos Servaya, leader of elite Strike Force Aiovus
"You can run, but you'll only die tired". -Michael Anson
__________________
It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protestor to burn the flag. - Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC
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06-01-2001, 07:25 PM
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#18 | | Guest | Hair cut! Uniform?! I don't think so. You can't make me do that!
Oh, no you don't...you stay away from me with that. | |
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06-01-2001, 08:22 PM
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#19 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 698
| Yes I can, because I can detain you indoors otherwise. Just try me.
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Sir Nækos Servaya, leader of elite Strike Force Aiovus
"You can run, but you'll only die tired". -Michael Anson
__________________
It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protestor to burn the flag. - Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC
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06-01-2001, 08:27 PM
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#20 | | Guest | Don't tempt me... get out of my way..I'm out of here!!
You, over there...Fencing whoever...move this guy! | |
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