Post by Kanchana on Dec 31, 2010 17:32:40 GMT 10
Gem
One day, I'd gone for a ride on one of our finely bred horses. My guard had left me earlier, at my request. I'd wanted time unaccompanied to think, and plan. I was now very much by myself, and on the way home.
It was on the verge of twilight, where had the time disappeared to? I admonished myself for staying out so late into the afternoon, outside of Anthatal's shielding fortifications.
It was hushed in the bush, which was quite typical of this time of day. Most of the animals were back in their dens, with their children. I was usually safe in the city at this time. The only sound was my horses hooves as they struck the earth.
I felt my horse leap over something without warning. The unanticipated jump unseated me, and I clung to his mane as he soared through the air. Then he was striding away from the fallen log and I regained my seat which I had so momentarily lost.
The darkness in the surrounding woods slowly increased. As the shadows lengthened, I said, "Anga rah! Anga!”
To help him increase the span of his stride, I bent down low over his hot neck. With one hand I held my sword still so it did not repeatedly whack him on the sides or rump.
'I'm not quite home Gaelira,' I said. 'See you in half an hour.'
I'm watching from the walls. I know you'll be safe,' Gaelira said, a little austerely. I could tell she was worried about my location, but I understood that.
My horse stopped as we reached a divide in the trail. Two different paths now split off in front of us. I eyed both speculatively. With assurance a split second later, I told my fearless charger to go along the left one. I knew it was the way home, even though under no circumstances had I been out of the city at this time, in particular alone.
All did seem well, though I knew it was taking longer to get home than normal. Quickly I searched the bush around us for any menace lurking in advance with both mind and eye. I saw naught with my gift which was unsettling.
"Rekka!" screeched a male voice.
With a loud shriek, my horse tumbled to the ground. I leapt from him as he did, and landed like a cat on the balls of my feet gracefully. My eyes raked the surrounding bush for the speaker, whose voice turned my blood to ice.
Then twenty orc's ran towards me, weapons raised. My head spun around, sizing the ugly enemies up. All of them seemed very young, but this did not make me fear them, or care about them. They were the elves mortal enemies. They would depart this life by my sword or they had to slay me. Very speedily they spread out, blocking all my likely escape routes.
They did not attack, but watched me rather warily. One stepped forwards from his -was it a male or not? It was hard to tell- companions and said in a curt voice, "Our master wishes to see you."
His tone of voice is not the one, I thought. How did they get into my woods? Only an elf can-
The orc snarled, pounded his fists together and said, "We do not linger good-naturedly, elf!"
"Oh I know that. Enemies we are and for good reason. You do not care for me, nor I you!"
My words were not meant to be careless; they simply were a forewarning I knew of their kind. I studied the leader critically. His face was heavily scarred, and one of his eyes was missing. One ear was squashed too, and his teeth were filed to points. Quite ugly, if you ask me.
"I will not go with you to your leader." Remembering one insult I'd learnt for a situation like this, I hissed, "llye ena fin divana ar' Marcos!" I knew he knew what it meant.
The orc bared his teeth furiously at my infuriating insult. Then he attacked me savagely. To my incredulity, I did not see that approaching with my gift; I did not seem to be able to see them with it. Quickly I dodged the attack and drew my sword. I soon had him lifeless at my feet. Tauntingly I looked at his companions, daring them with my eyes.
They came at me in pairs, hoping to wear me out. Some of them I slew with magic, others with my blade. The spells I used to kill them were simple, they did not require much strength.
For a small number of seconds, my eyes rested on the Marvellous lifeless horse that had ever so enthusiastically carried me. Then a stick snapped behind me and I spun around, sword still in my hand. A tall man watched me, with a naked rapier in hand.
Ah so this is the man to blame for slaughtering my horse, I realized, as the man stepped forward into the vanishing final light of the sun. But he's human, I thought, quite horror-struck. And he's only young. My eyes ran up and down his body.
Then the man struck at me with his blade. I snarled and dodged nimbly. In a shower of sparks my blade met his, as we circled, stabbing at and blocking each other. It started to become frustrating when I could not touch him. How can he block me? Elves are so much faster than humans, I thought to myself, attacking again.
My gift proved to be of little help, he kept changing his attack at the last moment. Eventually I began to tire and dreaded the fact he would possibly kill me. Still I struggled to fend off his attacks.
I cannot continue like this, I realised. Continually fighting mans attacks off, I fixed a picture of my father in my mind. I had to implement a little spell he'd taught me for occasions such as this. Then I reached into my pocket and raised a swan feather up above my head.
"Taragrifae," I hissed.
As my strength was sapped by the spell, the man hissed a spell of his own. I tumbled to the ground, as his spell pushed me. I had neither the time nor the strength to shield myself from him. The man's face was drawn into a feral snarl.
"Likamei," the cold voice said.
My ankles instantaneously snapped together and refused to part. My wrists were in the same predicament.
'Gaelira help me,' I called frantically.
'I am already approaching,' was her counter. She sent me an image of her soaring above the foliage.
Then my left over strength ebbed away and the last thing I saw was the man glowering down at me. Then all went black.
When I finally came to, I felt very uncomfortable all over. Then I tried to sit up. It would take a great effort to do so I gave up. Rather maddening for me, I did not like the fact I'd lost command of my own body. Something was holding me like this, but I could neither see nor feel anything impairing my body. At last I managed to raise my head up, but that was all.
Swiftly I looked down the length of my body. There was zilch visible binding me in place. I saw that I lay on a cold, hard marble table. It also came to my awareness that the worn leather curved sheath on my side was empty.
Where am I? I wondered.
Auraka Lamya
The painfilled roar of a dragon reached his ears, the fast flapping wings of his bonded one approached.
Rasjar, he said quickly, feeling his pain what is the matter?
Gem... came the quick, fleeting reply.
Auraka felt worry grasp at his heart, pulling him away from the task at hand, which at the time was sparing with another elf he was training.
"Rest Snaar, we shall return to this at a later time," he said quickly, nodding his head and running to the side of the clearing of where Rasjar was landing upon his clawed feet.
Explain he commanded the purple dragon, leaping onto his back and urging him to take off.
Attacked...Gaelira...Gone...
His words were tangled into one, making no sense. But, from the few able words, Auraka grasped at straws and guessed that Gem had been kidnapped.
"Gem's gone?" he whispered, hoping he was wrong.
There was no reply from the great, purple dragon. But their shared emotions made it clear he was correct.
"Take me to Gaelira!" he commanded, the wings turning slightly to the left and flapping faster to reach the place Gaelira rested.
"Gaelira!" he yelled, leaping from Rasjar's back before he had even fully landed. His fear of heights were long gone.
Gaelira
She was growling, her tail moving from side to side like that of a distressed cat. The white dragon knew that something was a miss. Her Rider had sent out the call for help not long ago, but she knew when she'd gotten to the clearing that she was too late. The air there wreacked of magic, but it would be hours old now, and she knew it as she spotted younger Rasjar coming down towards her.
She surged to her feet as she heard Auraka calling her name. Her whole body was tense and she was continuously growling at the moment. "Auraka. I suppose you know my Rider vanished a few hours ago?"
Auraka Lamya
He shook his head quickly, though nodded at the same time.
"Yes..no...kind of," he said quickly "I couldn't get a decent responce from Rasjar, he's to upset and worried for you."
Auraka! Rasjar snapped, head turning and looking at him with pleading eyes, he did not want Gaelira to know his feelings for her.
"And Gem," he continued on as if nothing had been said.
He quickly apoproached the beautiful white creature, pausing before her large head and gently rubbed her snout.
"What do you know?" he asked quietly, needing to know what she did so that he could help her.
Gaelira
The tail continued to move as Auraka came towards her. She knew that he wanted to help her find her rider. That much at the moment she could tell. Though there was enough worry in her not to see the great shadowy clouds that were being summoned by a massive blue dragon in the sky.
"Orc's took her." She hissed though, as she felt the sun's warmth dissappearing from her scales. Snarling, she jerked her head up into the sky and let out a fierce bellow of rage. The sound was so terrible, that any dragon nearby would wonder what was the matter with her. "Rhothilion!"
Snarling visibly, she leapt into the sky. the blue dusk dragon snaked out towards her.
"No one interfere," Gaelira shouted to the other dragons below her. "My fight!"
Auraka Lamya
He shook his head sadly, knowing in his heart that he would find her or die trying.
"Gaelira, I'll find her!" he yelled up to her "I love her to much!"
He had never said the words allowed, but it was true. Ever since the day he had met her, in the forest and under the safety of the trees he had had feelings for her. From their sparing match, to his helping her faults, it has blossomed.
He sprinted to Rasjar, leaping onto his back and urged him to fly towards the city. Gaelira would be find, but she needed her rider. Without Gem, she was in constant danger.
"Fly Rasjar!" he commanded, needing to feel her in his arms.
Gaelira
"You're riderless at the moment, aren't you, sky crone?" Rhothilion teased. Then he was at her as she flew right for him.
"You dare?" Gaelira roared. She was furious at him. With every word she next issued at the blue dragon, some part of her hurt him. "You dare come here, where the elves would kill you? The place I protect? You dare call me that? When you know that your rider made sure Gem was caught?"
Her mind had only one thought in it now, she ignored Rasjar and Auraka completely. Her mind shielded, she attacked with rage and power.
Gem
It was a rather gloomy room and the only light that came in was from a single beam of moonlight that fell on my face. It came from a tiny barred skylight that was set high in the wall. From where I was, I could not see out of the window.
Then a bitter, extraordinarily feminine voice that rang crystal clear like an elf's said, "Langmar."
There was a noisy clank, and I heard a door swing open somewhere nearby. Then a tall woman came into sight as I looked timidly towards the sound.
"Hello young elf," the woman greeted me unkindly. Yes it was her that the voice came from, I recognised it.
I simply looked at her dismally. My eyes took in her exterior, tall, slender, mud brown hair. The colour was very unusual to me. Her eyes were blood red, which was truly terrifying for me to see.
"Wh... where am I?" I asked almost mutely. I was certainly panicky now.
"In King Marcos'-" I heard the way she said the name with respect, "- country. This little cell is in Ciarbera."
How in Nuban did I get here? I wondered. Then my mind replayed what had happened only hours, maybe days ago. I made a face in horror. "Be glad I was not the one who captured you. I simply sent that man after you," the woman said. Then she spun on her heel and with obvious grace floated from the room.
"Langwick," I heard her mutter as she shut the door. No doubt she'd just locked the door.
That gave me something to deliberate about. She was as graceful as my kind, but defiantly not an elf. It was obvious she was not fully human either. Thinking about those thoughts, I fell asleep.
I was next awoken by the woman unlocking the door.
Here she comes again, I thought.
"This time, you're not the one asking the questions. I am," the woman said. "My king wishes to learn something's that only you can tell us."
I don't think I can lend a hand with that, I thought. Then I replied to her lightly, "I greatly doubt that I can really help."
"Ackaro!" snarled the woman. She pointed at my left arm.
A second later I yelped as her spell made a shallow cut in my lower arm. My blood felt extremely hot on my cold skin as it ran around my arm and dripped onto the table.
I looked up when the woman hissed hungrily as my blood started to come out. Her blood red eyes flashed in excitement.
Uh oh, that's not good, my mind told me. Since when did one of then live here in Nuban?
Though things were starting to fit together in my head as to what the woman was, I still did not fully comprehend.
"Now where is the wyvern I know you ride?" asked the woman. I could tell that she was not really interested in questioning me; her eyes seemed to burn as she watched my blood dry.
Hastily I lied, "I ride no wyvern. The only wyvern I know of is Rhothilion, King Marcos!"
"Seetha!" the woman hissed.
Something like ice grappled with my mind. I knew it was the woman and I fought to withstand her attack. I shrieked as she shrugged past my defences.
I can't allow her to catch a glimpse of Gaelira, I thought in protest. Swiftly I began to refocus my defence around all my memories of Gaelira. As I did, I tried not to provoke the woman's suspicion.
"Don't bother," the woman said, "I got much more than I needed."
Oh dear, I hope she does not know of my gift or Drannor's one either, I thought.
“Ackaro." I yelped as the cut on my slender arm became twice its original length. The woman's eyes burned again at the smell of my blood fresh in the air. "Don't lie to me elf," the woman hissed and then left again.
That deadly, beautiful voice left me in a bit more of a trance. I finally got out of it. Hmm, her eyes had brightened at the time she hurt me. She got excited about the scent of my blood. Her movements were elegant and fast. A picture started to form in my head.
Oh great, I thought sarcastically. She's one of them.
Auraka Lamya
He knew where she was. IT was simple. But he didn't have time to talk it over with the council, they would just talk options and say that she, loved as she was, was beyond saving and would be a needed sactrifice for there kind.
With annoyance, he puched Rasjar's side lightly and growled to himself, telling himself when he got her back he would do several things.
First of them, place a guard around her. The highest trained, ordered never to leave her alone in the forest again. No matter what she said.
The second. Tell her his feelings and hope she felt the same way.
"Rasjar, land near the stables," he commanded, plan forming in mind.
I wont leave you, he told Auraka, growling into his mind Gem gone is bad enough
"Rasjar," he murmered gently "Gaelira will need you, she will be alone without Gem and I can move quicker and safer without you."
If you get captured, he growled I will hunt you down and kill you myself.
"Thanks Rasjar," he said, patting his neck and running into the stables.
OOC: at least get Drannor to help out... you'll need him when you find her not just humans and orcs gaurd her....
The next day, the vampire came again into my cell. The foul leech used magic to lift me into the air, and then toss me like a rag doll to the ground.
I vehemently refused to lie on my back. So the woman kicked me over and I gasped as her freezing, barefoot collided powerfully with my back. Then magic bound me in place again.
Time for more of this torment, I thought. What is it going to be this time? I grimaced at the sore spot that was bound to be a bruise soon.
“I heard that you sent a feather somewhere before my man had fully exhausted you. Where did you send it and why?"
I smirked at the vampire as I thought of a smart response. It did not matter how much I got hurt, friends were coming for me soon. I'd rather die, than tell the truth, I thought. Quickly I looked up at her and lied, "I do not know what you're talking about."
The vampire rested her foot on my wrist and pressed her weight onto it. With a sickening snapping sound, my wrist broke. I yelled at the sudden pain, completed expected from the bloodsucker.
Auraka Lamya
His large feet clancked on the dirt floors, his eyes searching for the horse carer, Jeryaman.
"Jeryaman!" he called, seeing rows of horses one after another, lined in neat rows. Each stall, fresh hay in neats. Clean horses, highly trained, calmly nibling at the food.
"Aye?"
"I need a horse."
"We'll you came to the right place...we'll lets see, here's old Bessie.." he continued on with his babbling and Auraka noticed he was actually human.
"I need a fast horse," he cut him off "a horse which can outrun all others, run for day on end without failing."
He looked so despart that the human paused, hand lifting and gesturing towards the black mare on the end of the barn.
"Abiadura, she'll run her heart out....but why, young elf would you need such a horse?" he questioned, approaching the stall and rubbing her black mane.
"Our princess....is in trouble," he said, opening the stall and sliding in.
He'd heard the conversation, Auraka was not far from his own home at the moment. He'd been heading home from dealing with an insubordinate Hawkblade member earlier. The dolt had abandoned Gem out in the woods, and because of that, she was missing.
Then he entered the stables, and looked towards Auraka. "Mind if I come and help?" There was nothing he would not do for his cousin, and Auraka knew that he was only too loyal to Gem at the moment.
Auraka Lamya
He stopped in his words, looking over his shoulder at Sahar's mate. Drannor. And his general.
"So long as you hurry and can keep the pace," he said quickly, chatting to the horse carer quickly and gathering the supplies for the mare he needed.
"Do you need a horse?" he asked Drannor, impactient to get going.
"No, I don't," Drannor replied. Moving out of the stables, he whistled. Galloping out of nowhere came his white stallion, Nimrunya. He smiled as the big horse moved over to him. "Nimrunya and I have done a lot of travelling like you've suggesting. he won't let anyone else ride him."
With that he mounted quickly. "And we'll keep up, you wait and see, Auraka." There was no doubt in him there.
Auraka Lamya
Nodding his approval, he thanked the man and lept onto Abiadura's back.
"You look after her, you hear?" he said and Auraka nodded.
"Of course, she will be lavished upon whence we return," he promised and urged her forewards.
Rasjar he called once we leave, to far for them to catch up, you need to make sure they send no one after us.
The deep purple eyes looked upon Auraka with a deep sadness, resting upon his purple claws.
I don't want you to go he keened, snout lowering towards him but Auraka pushed himself away.
"No Rasjar! You need to look after Gaelira," he said, refusing to talk by mind and allow Rasjar to know how much it hurt him to do so.
"Look after yourself," he said and slowly the huge dragon nodded his great head, walking off with thundering strides towards the forest.
Watching him go for a moment, he looked to Drannor.
"We'll hunt on the way."
"Leave that one to me," Drannor replied. He was not one of the type to share the things he killed, but Auraka did not know his secret at all. No one but Sahar knew about that. Gem might, but other than that, he'd hidden it well enough.
"Let's go."
As the two horses moved off, he sent his mind out over the plains, searching for the one they wanted to find.
Auraka Lamya
With a nod, he leapt forth with the mare, loving the gravel stride she had. It was true, what the human had said. She was finely bred.
"What of Sahar?" he asked a they raced, knowing Drannor would hear.
"Isn't she having a child soon?" he called over, though they still raced though the town. Quickly, the gates came into sight and they charged though without a word to the guards.
"She'll be fine," he replied. "And yes, everythings going well with our growing child as well." It was amusing that one like him could possibly father a child.
Nimrunya bounded forwards as the moved. "From time to time, I think I'll run on foot. Don't worry about my keeping up, that'll be easy."
Auraka Lamya
He nodded, glad she was okay.
"How did you to meet?" he asked, wanting to know more about his little sister. Maybe he should tell Drannor, he might be able to help tell her that sone family of hers still breathed.
"I was out in the forest, when I stumbled upon her after hearing her struggling against a few humans. I saved her from them." Drannor chuckled at the memory. "Thatw as a while ago now." His eyes turned towards the forest. Now that they were outside of the city, and out of its sight he spoke again. "I'm going to scout ahead. I'll be back soon."
Auraka Lamya
He nodded, lost in his thoughts for the moment and pulled the black pelted mare to a slightly slower pace, so not to tire her so early in the journey.
He needed a plan, having never really been into a human town he had no idea what to expect. Yes he had heard stories, yes he had seen memories of others thanks to magic, and yet it was never quiet the same meeting it face to face.
His green orbs followed Drannor as he moved forth, a sigh escaping him. No one had guessed about him, so far anyways.
He didn't really look anything like his red-haired sister apart from the eyes. She had freckles, he did not. She had red hair, he had brown. She had beautiful green orbs, so did he. It was the only thing the siblings shared, other then blood.
He would talk to Drannor, he knew him better then anyone in town. And hopefully, one day he would be a brother-in-law.
He spoek quietly to his horse and the big stallion slowed down a good amount. “Narimya'll wait here with you. Keep moving and he'll stay with you. I'm going to scout ahead on foot.”
without another word, Drannor was gone from sight, feet rushing across the plains. There was no chance that he was going to rest ofr a while.
Auraka
The brown head nodded, green eyes distantly in thought as they slowly landed upon the large stallion. As Drannor had said, the well built stag kept his pace well and followed the ebony mare he was riding.
Obviously another example of a well trained Elven horse.
A sigh escaped him, eyes running over the area they were approaching and wondered when Drannor would return.
His feet pounded over the ground, carrying him as fast as a sun dragon could fly at the moment. It did not take long for him to scout through a few cities, until he could heard Gem’s frightened thoughts. Looking up, he knew where she was.
Ciarbera.
There was no chance she would be gotten out of there by only one person. He turned and with a second glance at the city, was speeding back to Auraka. As soon as he got close he slowed down, so he would not shock Auraka. "Found her."
Auraka
"Where?" he asked as soon as the running figure returned, wanting to get to her quickly before anything bad happened.
He pushed the mare forward and few more strides, closing the distance between him and Drannor.
“Hurry, lets go,” he said, hating to know she was so close and yet so far.
“Ciarbera. She’s well guaded though, and unfortunately not only by normal humans either. A few of my kind as well. Things are going to get difficult. We can’t risk the dragons being known of though, so that’s no option, though their flames would be a huge help. Dragon fires one of the things that can destroy my kind.”
That was something thatw as a bit of a thorny issue for him. If only he was not so worried by such a thing, like he used to not worry about it. "At the moment, there are no dragons there, but I daresay we wont have long before one gets there while we're there.”
Auraka
His eyes widened slightly in surprise. But that was too far to have been there so quickly...maybe it was his mind reading gift that had picked her up.
“We shall travel by horse back until we get closer, then on foot. The horses will stay in a hidden place...we find a way in, get her out quickly and leave before they noticed.”
It sounded so simple, but as any good general knew; nothing was as simple as it seems.
“Have you been there before?” he asked Drannor “or by any chance know the lay out?”
Once, when I was travelling with Laura and Zelphar in one of their raids. It’s a complex city and I know that there are many places that can confuse and lose a person.” He sighed. “I remember enough though for us not to get lost."
He chuckled. Things were going to get interesting. “Those like me there will be told apart. Red eyes. Not something any normal human has.” He said it so that Auraka would know what he was fighting. “Leave those like me, to me.”
There was no way he was going to let Auraka get in such a fight
Auraka
The brows burrowed together, but he nodded meekly in agreement.
“Of course...” he said, trusting Drannor with this at the least. For, this was his leader after all and if he couldn’t trust him, who could he trust?
There was a few moments of quiet silence, Auraka just thinking quietly to himself.
“You know Sahar is my sister,” he said after a moment “you seem to know her best out of anyone in the whole town...how do you think she’d react if I told her?”
His green eyes turned, studying Drannor and hoping he would have a reply.
He sighed. "I don't really know. Gem would be able to tell you better than I can. My mediums minds, not the actions that happen outside the mind. Gem will know whats happening at any moment in time, for anyone. She'll eb able to tell you."
It was not a topic he was that willing to talk about. Auraka didn't know that his sister was pregnant, and he knew that when that came out, well, Auraka would probably hit him, or worse.
Auraka
He nodded absently, not noticing Drannor's reluctance at the topic.
"But what do you think...I know what Gem can do, but you know her best," he said "what would she do if you told her something like this?"
He looked upon him with earnest.
His fingers thrummed gently upon the pommel of the saddle, still deep in thought.
"I know that you think I could figure her out, but at the moment, there are a few issues going on. I think she'd accept it, but I have the feeling not without a lot of questions asked. She likes to ask questions, and I don't really mind."
His eyes blazed though for a second, and as his horse continued on, he seemed carved from stone for a few minutes. Eventually though he let his breath out. "Must people be fighting nearby? Very uncomfortable for me."
He sighed. "I guess though its something that is going to get to me though when we get to Ciarbera."
Auraka
He nodded again, long fingers twisting in the black mares mane and sighed, though his attention was captured by what he had said.
"Like what?" he asked "what issues...is anything wrong with her?"
His eyes ran over the figure beside him, sensing his sudden stiffness despite the stallion still moving forth.
“She’s been beaten a few times. The only problem I have with that is the smell that I’m likely to get from her. Not that it’s going to hinder us. I won’t let it, at all.”
He was more than prepared for that. No way was she going to make this hard for him. “We’re getting close,” he said, pointing ahead. On the horizon, not three hundred yards from them, was Ciarbera’s black box like shape.
Auraka
He felt his hand tighten at the mention of Gem being beaten.
I will tell her, he promised to himself, everything I feel I shall tell her when she is safe
He tugged the mare to a halt as they moved closer towards the town, eying it with a trained eye.
"On foot here?" he suggested, not wanting to take the risk of being seen by the guards.
"On foot would be good. I didn't get too much closer before I heard her." He stiffened a thought. She's not answering us. Time to take her to the king. "Better move quickly, they're going to move her to Nuduien. We can't let her go there, or she'll be killed."
Though he was worried, it did not show on his face. he was not at the moment listening to Auraka's head. No, instead he was searching the walls for her, to find the most convienent entry. "Ah!"
Auraka
He growled under his breath, hearing the words of what Drannor had said and jumped from the horses back ordering her to stay with the stallion.
Following Drannor's lead and trusting the older man's instincts, his eyes roamed for possible harms.
There was a guard, circling but it was simple to get past. Archers, resting and chatting. It was much to late for them to be staring at the world below.
It was the perfect time for attack.
Which building? he thought, knowing Drannor would hear. It was better that they didn't speak allowed, unless they were heard.
He paused under one of the few unseeable spots, and let his mind range out again unheard or felt. There was so much he wanted to do to some of the humans around him and the thought made his teeth throb, wanting to rip and tear. He stilled himself though, listening intently. She was fighting with them but it would not last long before the humans overpowered her.
She hasn't eaten in a while, he said mentally. Finding her now. His mind roamed out quickly, finding the easiest path to her and back that was least watched. This way. He started moving.
Auraka
His fist clenched again, worry of Gem growing stronger every step they took. It had been a few days since she had been kidnapped, and a lot could happen in a few days.
Lead the way he thought, moving silently after the older elf.
He seemed to be snarling soundlessly as he wove through the streets, knowing where to go and when to duck out sight. His gift was a major house. Magic opened the door to the building Gem was in. It was very quiet as they headed through the corridor down to where Gem was. No one was in sight.
"Something doesn't feel right."
Auraka
He followed Drannor without question, trusting his abilities. Ducking, hiding and weaving though the streets was something new to Auraka, not normally his fashion but at the moment he didn't care.
Pausing behind Drannor, he felt he hairs upon his neck rise.
"I agree," he whispered, eyes peeling around the area but seeing nothing.
He sighed, looking around. "theres someone here." He sent one beam of magic towards one of the corners, which did nothing. "Hmm." Where were they. Something felt wrong about this. Then he heard them. "Incoming," he warned Auraka. The first three opponents through the doors were his own kind. "Mine!"
he snarled and leapt towards them, dissappearing as more came crowding in, but they were normal humans.
Auraka
He jumped at the humans before they could get to Drannor, knowing he would have enough on his hands without them as well.
It was several against one, unfair but Auraka couldn't care less. They were what stood between him and Gem.
Sword flew free of its sheath, cutting and dicing the humans before him. Quickly, one by one, the crowd grew smaller and the bodies grew taller.
Finally, they were gone. Auraka allowed himself one quickly breather before looking to Drannor, hoping he was dealing the same.
Drannor hissed as he struck and attacked. His sword remained in his sheath at the moment, he knew that it was useless here. One vampire though his teeth bit into's jugular, killing him. Another, he worked quickly to snap his arms off before ripping his head off with his bare hands. The third though managed to pin him, but a quick kick and he went flying as well. Drannor killed him before he could recover as well.
The fangs in his mouth were long and sharp as he cleaned his mouth off. "All done."
Auraka
He blinked. Shocked. But, as any well trained warrior, he pushed it to the back of his mind for later use.
"Okay.." he muttered, wiping his sword clean on a dead mans shirt and sheathed it before heading down the path the way they had come. Gem was in one of these rooms.
"Which one?" he asked Drannor, knowing that back up would be coming soon, but at the current time it was empty.
He led the way silently. There as magic barring the door that was guarding where she was. Even though his own magic was even stronger than any other elf's rider or not, it did not dispel. HE sighed, looking at him for a moment. Then it clicked. What he was could enter, but not Auraka.
His hand touched the door and it opened. "wait here," he said. "You won't be able to get through, only one of my own kind can. I'll dispel this from the other side. All you can do at the moment is watch."
Sighing he walked through.
Auraka
He nodded, though wishing he could see her. Taking to guarding the entrance instead, his eyes peeled the hallway for any sign of movements. It was quiet.
His green orbs flickered towards the door Drannor had disappeared and waited until he could enter.
"You can't be here, Drannor," Gem gasped, as she opened her eyes. "It's impossible."
"Well, I am little cousin. So's your mate, Auraka."
Her eyes widened. "That I did not expect."
"I know."
He sighed, turning towards the entrance, carefully dispelling the magic there. "Come on in, Auraka."
Then he turned back to her. Then someoene else sprang at his back.
"Keep Gem safe. I'll handle her. She's like me!" he told Aruaka. He knew this was not something they wanted to see. he was furious at the fact that this vampire had dared to hurt Gem like this.
The vampire hissed, recognizing that Drannor knew how to destroy her. She did not speak as she saw him, instead she sprang right at me.
I dodged and attacked her.
Gem
I was surprised when the door opened and Aruaka was where it had been. "Aruaka!" I gasped. My wrist was seriously hurting at the moment, but at the moment I was able to ignore it. Then the vampire sprang at Drannor.
Auraka
He hurried inside, mouthing opening to yell at Drannor to watch out but the girl was to quick. Nodding sharply, he rushed over to Gem, eyes sad.
"Oh Gem," he whispered, looking over her small, broken body. She was covered in blood, cuts running up and down her arms. A wrist sat at an impossible angle, clearly broken. Her ribs were as swelled as her clothes were torn and broken he guessed by the purple colour of the skin.
His eyes flickered over to see how Drannor was doping and knew he had to get her out of there. He would catch up later.
"Gem, we need to get out of here okay," he murmured, hands scooping under her legs and back "and I need to carry you...I know it's going to hurt love, but you need to try and stay quiet okay."
He pressed his lips to her unbruised forehead before picking her up and holding her to his chest, moving to the doorway.
She winced as he picked her up, clamping her teeth together, though she was pleased to see him. Drannor was already fighting and she knew that he would not miss them at the moment. he'd liekly be glad that she was away from him at the moment, he'd be able to concentrate easier with her away from him.
It wasn't till they were out of the city and somewhere safe that she said anything. "Thank you. And yes, I'm hurting as bad as I look."
Drannor snarled, attacking again with his strength. The other vampire was backpedalling now. Slowly he managed to rip her to pieces though. She would not be put back together, Lindan Marcos did not have pity for those that failed him.
Then he rushed out of the building, just as a blue dragon came swooping overhead. It was the human himself.
"Not safe," he told Auraka and Gem as he reached them. "Marcos' here."
Auraka
He smiled slightly down on her, moving lightly over the lands with silence despite there being so much he wanted to say to her.
"Gaelira is worried about you," he told her as they waited for Drannor, wishing there was something he could do other then just bind the wounds "I left Rasjar with her..."
He kissed her forehead once more, sitting beside the horses and watched the lands waiting for Drannor.
"You know..." he said "when you went missing, I promised myself something..."
He grinned at her "several things actually."
But before he could say anything else, Drannor appeared followed by a blue dragon.
"Drannor, you have to carry Gem...you can run faster then me and I doubt she could sit on a horse as she is," he said quickly "I'll take the horses and lead them away."
"We're not splitting up, Auraka. Not right now." Drannor looked behind him, muttering a spell as he did. The blue dragon soared over them not seeing them. "I can keep us sheilded till we get somewhere safe away from here."
Then he looked down at Gem and snarled. "She didn't...."
Auraka
He nodded, eyes following the blue dragon from above before looking down at Gem.
"Lets go," he said and looked to Drannor in surprise.
"She didn't what?" his orbs flickered between Gem and Drannor "whats happened?"
“She bit you, didn’t she?” he asked, looking at Gem.
“Yes.”
Drannor snarled at the very thought of what he’d just done. “You’re in more trouble than I thought then. I just killed her, and I can tell that because of that, you’re deteriorating quickly.” He was furious now with this situation. “She poisoned you. I think she was planning on turning you.”
One day, I'd gone for a ride on one of our finely bred horses. My guard had left me earlier, at my request. I'd wanted time unaccompanied to think, and plan. I was now very much by myself, and on the way home.
It was on the verge of twilight, where had the time disappeared to? I admonished myself for staying out so late into the afternoon, outside of Anthatal's shielding fortifications.
It was hushed in the bush, which was quite typical of this time of day. Most of the animals were back in their dens, with their children. I was usually safe in the city at this time. The only sound was my horses hooves as they struck the earth.
I felt my horse leap over something without warning. The unanticipated jump unseated me, and I clung to his mane as he soared through the air. Then he was striding away from the fallen log and I regained my seat which I had so momentarily lost.
The darkness in the surrounding woods slowly increased. As the shadows lengthened, I said, "Anga rah! Anga!”
To help him increase the span of his stride, I bent down low over his hot neck. With one hand I held my sword still so it did not repeatedly whack him on the sides or rump.
'I'm not quite home Gaelira,' I said. 'See you in half an hour.'
I'm watching from the walls. I know you'll be safe,' Gaelira said, a little austerely. I could tell she was worried about my location, but I understood that.
My horse stopped as we reached a divide in the trail. Two different paths now split off in front of us. I eyed both speculatively. With assurance a split second later, I told my fearless charger to go along the left one. I knew it was the way home, even though under no circumstances had I been out of the city at this time, in particular alone.
All did seem well, though I knew it was taking longer to get home than normal. Quickly I searched the bush around us for any menace lurking in advance with both mind and eye. I saw naught with my gift which was unsettling.
"Rekka!" screeched a male voice.
With a loud shriek, my horse tumbled to the ground. I leapt from him as he did, and landed like a cat on the balls of my feet gracefully. My eyes raked the surrounding bush for the speaker, whose voice turned my blood to ice.
Then twenty orc's ran towards me, weapons raised. My head spun around, sizing the ugly enemies up. All of them seemed very young, but this did not make me fear them, or care about them. They were the elves mortal enemies. They would depart this life by my sword or they had to slay me. Very speedily they spread out, blocking all my likely escape routes.
They did not attack, but watched me rather warily. One stepped forwards from his -was it a male or not? It was hard to tell- companions and said in a curt voice, "Our master wishes to see you."
His tone of voice is not the one, I thought. How did they get into my woods? Only an elf can-
The orc snarled, pounded his fists together and said, "We do not linger good-naturedly, elf!"
"Oh I know that. Enemies we are and for good reason. You do not care for me, nor I you!"
My words were not meant to be careless; they simply were a forewarning I knew of their kind. I studied the leader critically. His face was heavily scarred, and one of his eyes was missing. One ear was squashed too, and his teeth were filed to points. Quite ugly, if you ask me.
"I will not go with you to your leader." Remembering one insult I'd learnt for a situation like this, I hissed, "llye ena fin divana ar' Marcos!" I knew he knew what it meant.
The orc bared his teeth furiously at my infuriating insult. Then he attacked me savagely. To my incredulity, I did not see that approaching with my gift; I did not seem to be able to see them with it. Quickly I dodged the attack and drew my sword. I soon had him lifeless at my feet. Tauntingly I looked at his companions, daring them with my eyes.
They came at me in pairs, hoping to wear me out. Some of them I slew with magic, others with my blade. The spells I used to kill them were simple, they did not require much strength.
For a small number of seconds, my eyes rested on the Marvellous lifeless horse that had ever so enthusiastically carried me. Then a stick snapped behind me and I spun around, sword still in my hand. A tall man watched me, with a naked rapier in hand.
Ah so this is the man to blame for slaughtering my horse, I realized, as the man stepped forward into the vanishing final light of the sun. But he's human, I thought, quite horror-struck. And he's only young. My eyes ran up and down his body.
Then the man struck at me with his blade. I snarled and dodged nimbly. In a shower of sparks my blade met his, as we circled, stabbing at and blocking each other. It started to become frustrating when I could not touch him. How can he block me? Elves are so much faster than humans, I thought to myself, attacking again.
My gift proved to be of little help, he kept changing his attack at the last moment. Eventually I began to tire and dreaded the fact he would possibly kill me. Still I struggled to fend off his attacks.
I cannot continue like this, I realised. Continually fighting mans attacks off, I fixed a picture of my father in my mind. I had to implement a little spell he'd taught me for occasions such as this. Then I reached into my pocket and raised a swan feather up above my head.
"Taragrifae," I hissed.
As my strength was sapped by the spell, the man hissed a spell of his own. I tumbled to the ground, as his spell pushed me. I had neither the time nor the strength to shield myself from him. The man's face was drawn into a feral snarl.
"Likamei," the cold voice said.
My ankles instantaneously snapped together and refused to part. My wrists were in the same predicament.
'Gaelira help me,' I called frantically.
'I am already approaching,' was her counter. She sent me an image of her soaring above the foliage.
Then my left over strength ebbed away and the last thing I saw was the man glowering down at me. Then all went black.
When I finally came to, I felt very uncomfortable all over. Then I tried to sit up. It would take a great effort to do so I gave up. Rather maddening for me, I did not like the fact I'd lost command of my own body. Something was holding me like this, but I could neither see nor feel anything impairing my body. At last I managed to raise my head up, but that was all.
Swiftly I looked down the length of my body. There was zilch visible binding me in place. I saw that I lay on a cold, hard marble table. It also came to my awareness that the worn leather curved sheath on my side was empty.
Where am I? I wondered.
Auraka Lamya
The painfilled roar of a dragon reached his ears, the fast flapping wings of his bonded one approached.
Rasjar, he said quickly, feeling his pain what is the matter?
Gem... came the quick, fleeting reply.
Auraka felt worry grasp at his heart, pulling him away from the task at hand, which at the time was sparing with another elf he was training.
"Rest Snaar, we shall return to this at a later time," he said quickly, nodding his head and running to the side of the clearing of where Rasjar was landing upon his clawed feet.
Explain he commanded the purple dragon, leaping onto his back and urging him to take off.
Attacked...Gaelira...Gone...
His words were tangled into one, making no sense. But, from the few able words, Auraka grasped at straws and guessed that Gem had been kidnapped.
"Gem's gone?" he whispered, hoping he was wrong.
There was no reply from the great, purple dragon. But their shared emotions made it clear he was correct.
"Take me to Gaelira!" he commanded, the wings turning slightly to the left and flapping faster to reach the place Gaelira rested.
"Gaelira!" he yelled, leaping from Rasjar's back before he had even fully landed. His fear of heights were long gone.
Gaelira
She was growling, her tail moving from side to side like that of a distressed cat. The white dragon knew that something was a miss. Her Rider had sent out the call for help not long ago, but she knew when she'd gotten to the clearing that she was too late. The air there wreacked of magic, but it would be hours old now, and she knew it as she spotted younger Rasjar coming down towards her.
She surged to her feet as she heard Auraka calling her name. Her whole body was tense and she was continuously growling at the moment. "Auraka. I suppose you know my Rider vanished a few hours ago?"
Auraka Lamya
He shook his head quickly, though nodded at the same time.
"Yes..no...kind of," he said quickly "I couldn't get a decent responce from Rasjar, he's to upset and worried for you."
Auraka! Rasjar snapped, head turning and looking at him with pleading eyes, he did not want Gaelira to know his feelings for her.
"And Gem," he continued on as if nothing had been said.
He quickly apoproached the beautiful white creature, pausing before her large head and gently rubbed her snout.
"What do you know?" he asked quietly, needing to know what she did so that he could help her.
Gaelira
The tail continued to move as Auraka came towards her. She knew that he wanted to help her find her rider. That much at the moment she could tell. Though there was enough worry in her not to see the great shadowy clouds that were being summoned by a massive blue dragon in the sky.
"Orc's took her." She hissed though, as she felt the sun's warmth dissappearing from her scales. Snarling, she jerked her head up into the sky and let out a fierce bellow of rage. The sound was so terrible, that any dragon nearby would wonder what was the matter with her. "Rhothilion!"
Snarling visibly, she leapt into the sky. the blue dusk dragon snaked out towards her.
"No one interfere," Gaelira shouted to the other dragons below her. "My fight!"
Auraka Lamya
He shook his head sadly, knowing in his heart that he would find her or die trying.
"Gaelira, I'll find her!" he yelled up to her "I love her to much!"
He had never said the words allowed, but it was true. Ever since the day he had met her, in the forest and under the safety of the trees he had had feelings for her. From their sparing match, to his helping her faults, it has blossomed.
He sprinted to Rasjar, leaping onto his back and urged him to fly towards the city. Gaelira would be find, but she needed her rider. Without Gem, she was in constant danger.
"Fly Rasjar!" he commanded, needing to feel her in his arms.
Gaelira
"You're riderless at the moment, aren't you, sky crone?" Rhothilion teased. Then he was at her as she flew right for him.
"You dare?" Gaelira roared. She was furious at him. With every word she next issued at the blue dragon, some part of her hurt him. "You dare come here, where the elves would kill you? The place I protect? You dare call me that? When you know that your rider made sure Gem was caught?"
Her mind had only one thought in it now, she ignored Rasjar and Auraka completely. Her mind shielded, she attacked with rage and power.
Gem
It was a rather gloomy room and the only light that came in was from a single beam of moonlight that fell on my face. It came from a tiny barred skylight that was set high in the wall. From where I was, I could not see out of the window.
Then a bitter, extraordinarily feminine voice that rang crystal clear like an elf's said, "Langmar."
There was a noisy clank, and I heard a door swing open somewhere nearby. Then a tall woman came into sight as I looked timidly towards the sound.
"Hello young elf," the woman greeted me unkindly. Yes it was her that the voice came from, I recognised it.
I simply looked at her dismally. My eyes took in her exterior, tall, slender, mud brown hair. The colour was very unusual to me. Her eyes were blood red, which was truly terrifying for me to see.
"Wh... where am I?" I asked almost mutely. I was certainly panicky now.
"In King Marcos'-" I heard the way she said the name with respect, "- country. This little cell is in Ciarbera."
How in Nuban did I get here? I wondered. Then my mind replayed what had happened only hours, maybe days ago. I made a face in horror. "Be glad I was not the one who captured you. I simply sent that man after you," the woman said. Then she spun on her heel and with obvious grace floated from the room.
"Langwick," I heard her mutter as she shut the door. No doubt she'd just locked the door.
That gave me something to deliberate about. She was as graceful as my kind, but defiantly not an elf. It was obvious she was not fully human either. Thinking about those thoughts, I fell asleep.
I was next awoken by the woman unlocking the door.
Here she comes again, I thought.
"This time, you're not the one asking the questions. I am," the woman said. "My king wishes to learn something's that only you can tell us."
I don't think I can lend a hand with that, I thought. Then I replied to her lightly, "I greatly doubt that I can really help."
"Ackaro!" snarled the woman. She pointed at my left arm.
A second later I yelped as her spell made a shallow cut in my lower arm. My blood felt extremely hot on my cold skin as it ran around my arm and dripped onto the table.
I looked up when the woman hissed hungrily as my blood started to come out. Her blood red eyes flashed in excitement.
Uh oh, that's not good, my mind told me. Since when did one of then live here in Nuban?
Though things were starting to fit together in my head as to what the woman was, I still did not fully comprehend.
"Now where is the wyvern I know you ride?" asked the woman. I could tell that she was not really interested in questioning me; her eyes seemed to burn as she watched my blood dry.
Hastily I lied, "I ride no wyvern. The only wyvern I know of is Rhothilion, King Marcos!"
"Seetha!" the woman hissed.
Something like ice grappled with my mind. I knew it was the woman and I fought to withstand her attack. I shrieked as she shrugged past my defences.
I can't allow her to catch a glimpse of Gaelira, I thought in protest. Swiftly I began to refocus my defence around all my memories of Gaelira. As I did, I tried not to provoke the woman's suspicion.
"Don't bother," the woman said, "I got much more than I needed."
Oh dear, I hope she does not know of my gift or Drannor's one either, I thought.
“Ackaro." I yelped as the cut on my slender arm became twice its original length. The woman's eyes burned again at the smell of my blood fresh in the air. "Don't lie to me elf," the woman hissed and then left again.
That deadly, beautiful voice left me in a bit more of a trance. I finally got out of it. Hmm, her eyes had brightened at the time she hurt me. She got excited about the scent of my blood. Her movements were elegant and fast. A picture started to form in my head.
Oh great, I thought sarcastically. She's one of them.
Auraka Lamya
He knew where she was. IT was simple. But he didn't have time to talk it over with the council, they would just talk options and say that she, loved as she was, was beyond saving and would be a needed sactrifice for there kind.
With annoyance, he puched Rasjar's side lightly and growled to himself, telling himself when he got her back he would do several things.
First of them, place a guard around her. The highest trained, ordered never to leave her alone in the forest again. No matter what she said.
The second. Tell her his feelings and hope she felt the same way.
"Rasjar, land near the stables," he commanded, plan forming in mind.
I wont leave you, he told Auraka, growling into his mind Gem gone is bad enough
"Rasjar," he murmered gently "Gaelira will need you, she will be alone without Gem and I can move quicker and safer without you."
If you get captured, he growled I will hunt you down and kill you myself.
"Thanks Rasjar," he said, patting his neck and running into the stables.
OOC: at least get Drannor to help out... you'll need him when you find her not just humans and orcs gaurd her....
The next day, the vampire came again into my cell. The foul leech used magic to lift me into the air, and then toss me like a rag doll to the ground.
I vehemently refused to lie on my back. So the woman kicked me over and I gasped as her freezing, barefoot collided powerfully with my back. Then magic bound me in place again.
Time for more of this torment, I thought. What is it going to be this time? I grimaced at the sore spot that was bound to be a bruise soon.
“I heard that you sent a feather somewhere before my man had fully exhausted you. Where did you send it and why?"
I smirked at the vampire as I thought of a smart response. It did not matter how much I got hurt, friends were coming for me soon. I'd rather die, than tell the truth, I thought. Quickly I looked up at her and lied, "I do not know what you're talking about."
The vampire rested her foot on my wrist and pressed her weight onto it. With a sickening snapping sound, my wrist broke. I yelled at the sudden pain, completed expected from the bloodsucker.
Auraka Lamya
His large feet clancked on the dirt floors, his eyes searching for the horse carer, Jeryaman.
"Jeryaman!" he called, seeing rows of horses one after another, lined in neat rows. Each stall, fresh hay in neats. Clean horses, highly trained, calmly nibling at the food.
"Aye?"
"I need a horse."
"We'll you came to the right place...we'll lets see, here's old Bessie.." he continued on with his babbling and Auraka noticed he was actually human.
"I need a fast horse," he cut him off "a horse which can outrun all others, run for day on end without failing."
He looked so despart that the human paused, hand lifting and gesturing towards the black mare on the end of the barn.
"Abiadura, she'll run her heart out....but why, young elf would you need such a horse?" he questioned, approaching the stall and rubbing her black mane.
"Our princess....is in trouble," he said, opening the stall and sliding in.
He'd heard the conversation, Auraka was not far from his own home at the moment. He'd been heading home from dealing with an insubordinate Hawkblade member earlier. The dolt had abandoned Gem out in the woods, and because of that, she was missing.
Then he entered the stables, and looked towards Auraka. "Mind if I come and help?" There was nothing he would not do for his cousin, and Auraka knew that he was only too loyal to Gem at the moment.
Auraka Lamya
He stopped in his words, looking over his shoulder at Sahar's mate. Drannor. And his general.
"So long as you hurry and can keep the pace," he said quickly, chatting to the horse carer quickly and gathering the supplies for the mare he needed.
"Do you need a horse?" he asked Drannor, impactient to get going.
"No, I don't," Drannor replied. Moving out of the stables, he whistled. Galloping out of nowhere came his white stallion, Nimrunya. He smiled as the big horse moved over to him. "Nimrunya and I have done a lot of travelling like you've suggesting. he won't let anyone else ride him."
With that he mounted quickly. "And we'll keep up, you wait and see, Auraka." There was no doubt in him there.
Auraka Lamya
Nodding his approval, he thanked the man and lept onto Abiadura's back.
"You look after her, you hear?" he said and Auraka nodded.
"Of course, she will be lavished upon whence we return," he promised and urged her forewards.
Rasjar he called once we leave, to far for them to catch up, you need to make sure they send no one after us.
The deep purple eyes looked upon Auraka with a deep sadness, resting upon his purple claws.
I don't want you to go he keened, snout lowering towards him but Auraka pushed himself away.
"No Rasjar! You need to look after Gaelira," he said, refusing to talk by mind and allow Rasjar to know how much it hurt him to do so.
"Look after yourself," he said and slowly the huge dragon nodded his great head, walking off with thundering strides towards the forest.
Watching him go for a moment, he looked to Drannor.
"We'll hunt on the way."
"Leave that one to me," Drannor replied. He was not one of the type to share the things he killed, but Auraka did not know his secret at all. No one but Sahar knew about that. Gem might, but other than that, he'd hidden it well enough.
"Let's go."
As the two horses moved off, he sent his mind out over the plains, searching for the one they wanted to find.
Auraka Lamya
With a nod, he leapt forth with the mare, loving the gravel stride she had. It was true, what the human had said. She was finely bred.
"What of Sahar?" he asked a they raced, knowing Drannor would hear.
"Isn't she having a child soon?" he called over, though they still raced though the town. Quickly, the gates came into sight and they charged though without a word to the guards.
"She'll be fine," he replied. "And yes, everythings going well with our growing child as well." It was amusing that one like him could possibly father a child.
Nimrunya bounded forwards as the moved. "From time to time, I think I'll run on foot. Don't worry about my keeping up, that'll be easy."
Auraka Lamya
He nodded, glad she was okay.
"How did you to meet?" he asked, wanting to know more about his little sister. Maybe he should tell Drannor, he might be able to help tell her that sone family of hers still breathed.
"I was out in the forest, when I stumbled upon her after hearing her struggling against a few humans. I saved her from them." Drannor chuckled at the memory. "Thatw as a while ago now." His eyes turned towards the forest. Now that they were outside of the city, and out of its sight he spoke again. "I'm going to scout ahead. I'll be back soon."
Auraka Lamya
He nodded, lost in his thoughts for the moment and pulled the black pelted mare to a slightly slower pace, so not to tire her so early in the journey.
He needed a plan, having never really been into a human town he had no idea what to expect. Yes he had heard stories, yes he had seen memories of others thanks to magic, and yet it was never quiet the same meeting it face to face.
His green orbs followed Drannor as he moved forth, a sigh escaping him. No one had guessed about him, so far anyways.
He didn't really look anything like his red-haired sister apart from the eyes. She had freckles, he did not. She had red hair, he had brown. She had beautiful green orbs, so did he. It was the only thing the siblings shared, other then blood.
He would talk to Drannor, he knew him better then anyone in town. And hopefully, one day he would be a brother-in-law.
He spoek quietly to his horse and the big stallion slowed down a good amount. “Narimya'll wait here with you. Keep moving and he'll stay with you. I'm going to scout ahead on foot.”
without another word, Drannor was gone from sight, feet rushing across the plains. There was no chance that he was going to rest ofr a while.
Auraka
The brown head nodded, green eyes distantly in thought as they slowly landed upon the large stallion. As Drannor had said, the well built stag kept his pace well and followed the ebony mare he was riding.
Obviously another example of a well trained Elven horse.
A sigh escaped him, eyes running over the area they were approaching and wondered when Drannor would return.
His feet pounded over the ground, carrying him as fast as a sun dragon could fly at the moment. It did not take long for him to scout through a few cities, until he could heard Gem’s frightened thoughts. Looking up, he knew where she was.
Ciarbera.
There was no chance she would be gotten out of there by only one person. He turned and with a second glance at the city, was speeding back to Auraka. As soon as he got close he slowed down, so he would not shock Auraka. "Found her."
Auraka
"Where?" he asked as soon as the running figure returned, wanting to get to her quickly before anything bad happened.
He pushed the mare forward and few more strides, closing the distance between him and Drannor.
“Hurry, lets go,” he said, hating to know she was so close and yet so far.
“Ciarbera. She’s well guaded though, and unfortunately not only by normal humans either. A few of my kind as well. Things are going to get difficult. We can’t risk the dragons being known of though, so that’s no option, though their flames would be a huge help. Dragon fires one of the things that can destroy my kind.”
That was something thatw as a bit of a thorny issue for him. If only he was not so worried by such a thing, like he used to not worry about it. "At the moment, there are no dragons there, but I daresay we wont have long before one gets there while we're there.”
Auraka
His eyes widened slightly in surprise. But that was too far to have been there so quickly...maybe it was his mind reading gift that had picked her up.
“We shall travel by horse back until we get closer, then on foot. The horses will stay in a hidden place...we find a way in, get her out quickly and leave before they noticed.”
It sounded so simple, but as any good general knew; nothing was as simple as it seems.
“Have you been there before?” he asked Drannor “or by any chance know the lay out?”
Once, when I was travelling with Laura and Zelphar in one of their raids. It’s a complex city and I know that there are many places that can confuse and lose a person.” He sighed. “I remember enough though for us not to get lost."
He chuckled. Things were going to get interesting. “Those like me there will be told apart. Red eyes. Not something any normal human has.” He said it so that Auraka would know what he was fighting. “Leave those like me, to me.”
There was no way he was going to let Auraka get in such a fight
Auraka
The brows burrowed together, but he nodded meekly in agreement.
“Of course...” he said, trusting Drannor with this at the least. For, this was his leader after all and if he couldn’t trust him, who could he trust?
There was a few moments of quiet silence, Auraka just thinking quietly to himself.
“You know Sahar is my sister,” he said after a moment “you seem to know her best out of anyone in the whole town...how do you think she’d react if I told her?”
His green eyes turned, studying Drannor and hoping he would have a reply.
He sighed. "I don't really know. Gem would be able to tell you better than I can. My mediums minds, not the actions that happen outside the mind. Gem will know whats happening at any moment in time, for anyone. She'll eb able to tell you."
It was not a topic he was that willing to talk about. Auraka didn't know that his sister was pregnant, and he knew that when that came out, well, Auraka would probably hit him, or worse.
Auraka
He nodded absently, not noticing Drannor's reluctance at the topic.
"But what do you think...I know what Gem can do, but you know her best," he said "what would she do if you told her something like this?"
He looked upon him with earnest.
His fingers thrummed gently upon the pommel of the saddle, still deep in thought.
"I know that you think I could figure her out, but at the moment, there are a few issues going on. I think she'd accept it, but I have the feeling not without a lot of questions asked. She likes to ask questions, and I don't really mind."
His eyes blazed though for a second, and as his horse continued on, he seemed carved from stone for a few minutes. Eventually though he let his breath out. "Must people be fighting nearby? Very uncomfortable for me."
He sighed. "I guess though its something that is going to get to me though when we get to Ciarbera."
Auraka
He nodded again, long fingers twisting in the black mares mane and sighed, though his attention was captured by what he had said.
"Like what?" he asked "what issues...is anything wrong with her?"
His eyes ran over the figure beside him, sensing his sudden stiffness despite the stallion still moving forth.
“She’s been beaten a few times. The only problem I have with that is the smell that I’m likely to get from her. Not that it’s going to hinder us. I won’t let it, at all.”
He was more than prepared for that. No way was she going to make this hard for him. “We’re getting close,” he said, pointing ahead. On the horizon, not three hundred yards from them, was Ciarbera’s black box like shape.
Auraka
He felt his hand tighten at the mention of Gem being beaten.
I will tell her, he promised to himself, everything I feel I shall tell her when she is safe
He tugged the mare to a halt as they moved closer towards the town, eying it with a trained eye.
"On foot here?" he suggested, not wanting to take the risk of being seen by the guards.
"On foot would be good. I didn't get too much closer before I heard her." He stiffened a thought. She's not answering us. Time to take her to the king. "Better move quickly, they're going to move her to Nuduien. We can't let her go there, or she'll be killed."
Though he was worried, it did not show on his face. he was not at the moment listening to Auraka's head. No, instead he was searching the walls for her, to find the most convienent entry. "Ah!"
Auraka
He growled under his breath, hearing the words of what Drannor had said and jumped from the horses back ordering her to stay with the stallion.
Following Drannor's lead and trusting the older man's instincts, his eyes roamed for possible harms.
There was a guard, circling but it was simple to get past. Archers, resting and chatting. It was much to late for them to be staring at the world below.
It was the perfect time for attack.
Which building? he thought, knowing Drannor would hear. It was better that they didn't speak allowed, unless they were heard.
He paused under one of the few unseeable spots, and let his mind range out again unheard or felt. There was so much he wanted to do to some of the humans around him and the thought made his teeth throb, wanting to rip and tear. He stilled himself though, listening intently. She was fighting with them but it would not last long before the humans overpowered her.
She hasn't eaten in a while, he said mentally. Finding her now. His mind roamed out quickly, finding the easiest path to her and back that was least watched. This way. He started moving.
Auraka
His fist clenched again, worry of Gem growing stronger every step they took. It had been a few days since she had been kidnapped, and a lot could happen in a few days.
Lead the way he thought, moving silently after the older elf.
He seemed to be snarling soundlessly as he wove through the streets, knowing where to go and when to duck out sight. His gift was a major house. Magic opened the door to the building Gem was in. It was very quiet as they headed through the corridor down to where Gem was. No one was in sight.
"Something doesn't feel right."
Auraka
He followed Drannor without question, trusting his abilities. Ducking, hiding and weaving though the streets was something new to Auraka, not normally his fashion but at the moment he didn't care.
Pausing behind Drannor, he felt he hairs upon his neck rise.
"I agree," he whispered, eyes peeling around the area but seeing nothing.
He sighed, looking around. "theres someone here." He sent one beam of magic towards one of the corners, which did nothing. "Hmm." Where were they. Something felt wrong about this. Then he heard them. "Incoming," he warned Auraka. The first three opponents through the doors were his own kind. "Mine!"
he snarled and leapt towards them, dissappearing as more came crowding in, but they were normal humans.
Auraka
He jumped at the humans before they could get to Drannor, knowing he would have enough on his hands without them as well.
It was several against one, unfair but Auraka couldn't care less. They were what stood between him and Gem.
Sword flew free of its sheath, cutting and dicing the humans before him. Quickly, one by one, the crowd grew smaller and the bodies grew taller.
Finally, they were gone. Auraka allowed himself one quickly breather before looking to Drannor, hoping he was dealing the same.
Drannor hissed as he struck and attacked. His sword remained in his sheath at the moment, he knew that it was useless here. One vampire though his teeth bit into's jugular, killing him. Another, he worked quickly to snap his arms off before ripping his head off with his bare hands. The third though managed to pin him, but a quick kick and he went flying as well. Drannor killed him before he could recover as well.
The fangs in his mouth were long and sharp as he cleaned his mouth off. "All done."
Auraka
He blinked. Shocked. But, as any well trained warrior, he pushed it to the back of his mind for later use.
"Okay.." he muttered, wiping his sword clean on a dead mans shirt and sheathed it before heading down the path the way they had come. Gem was in one of these rooms.
"Which one?" he asked Drannor, knowing that back up would be coming soon, but at the current time it was empty.
He led the way silently. There as magic barring the door that was guarding where she was. Even though his own magic was even stronger than any other elf's rider or not, it did not dispel. HE sighed, looking at him for a moment. Then it clicked. What he was could enter, but not Auraka.
His hand touched the door and it opened. "wait here," he said. "You won't be able to get through, only one of my own kind can. I'll dispel this from the other side. All you can do at the moment is watch."
Sighing he walked through.
Auraka
He nodded, though wishing he could see her. Taking to guarding the entrance instead, his eyes peeled the hallway for any sign of movements. It was quiet.
His green orbs flickered towards the door Drannor had disappeared and waited until he could enter.
"You can't be here, Drannor," Gem gasped, as she opened her eyes. "It's impossible."
"Well, I am little cousin. So's your mate, Auraka."
Her eyes widened. "That I did not expect."
"I know."
He sighed, turning towards the entrance, carefully dispelling the magic there. "Come on in, Auraka."
Then he turned back to her. Then someoene else sprang at his back.
"Keep Gem safe. I'll handle her. She's like me!" he told Aruaka. He knew this was not something they wanted to see. he was furious at the fact that this vampire had dared to hurt Gem like this.
The vampire hissed, recognizing that Drannor knew how to destroy her. She did not speak as she saw him, instead she sprang right at me.
I dodged and attacked her.
Gem
I was surprised when the door opened and Aruaka was where it had been. "Aruaka!" I gasped. My wrist was seriously hurting at the moment, but at the moment I was able to ignore it. Then the vampire sprang at Drannor.
Auraka
He hurried inside, mouthing opening to yell at Drannor to watch out but the girl was to quick. Nodding sharply, he rushed over to Gem, eyes sad.
"Oh Gem," he whispered, looking over her small, broken body. She was covered in blood, cuts running up and down her arms. A wrist sat at an impossible angle, clearly broken. Her ribs were as swelled as her clothes were torn and broken he guessed by the purple colour of the skin.
His eyes flickered over to see how Drannor was doping and knew he had to get her out of there. He would catch up later.
"Gem, we need to get out of here okay," he murmured, hands scooping under her legs and back "and I need to carry you...I know it's going to hurt love, but you need to try and stay quiet okay."
He pressed his lips to her unbruised forehead before picking her up and holding her to his chest, moving to the doorway.
She winced as he picked her up, clamping her teeth together, though she was pleased to see him. Drannor was already fighting and she knew that he would not miss them at the moment. he'd liekly be glad that she was away from him at the moment, he'd be able to concentrate easier with her away from him.
It wasn't till they were out of the city and somewhere safe that she said anything. "Thank you. And yes, I'm hurting as bad as I look."
Drannor snarled, attacking again with his strength. The other vampire was backpedalling now. Slowly he managed to rip her to pieces though. She would not be put back together, Lindan Marcos did not have pity for those that failed him.
Then he rushed out of the building, just as a blue dragon came swooping overhead. It was the human himself.
"Not safe," he told Auraka and Gem as he reached them. "Marcos' here."
Auraka
He smiled slightly down on her, moving lightly over the lands with silence despite there being so much he wanted to say to her.
"Gaelira is worried about you," he told her as they waited for Drannor, wishing there was something he could do other then just bind the wounds "I left Rasjar with her..."
He kissed her forehead once more, sitting beside the horses and watched the lands waiting for Drannor.
"You know..." he said "when you went missing, I promised myself something..."
He grinned at her "several things actually."
But before he could say anything else, Drannor appeared followed by a blue dragon.
"Drannor, you have to carry Gem...you can run faster then me and I doubt she could sit on a horse as she is," he said quickly "I'll take the horses and lead them away."
"We're not splitting up, Auraka. Not right now." Drannor looked behind him, muttering a spell as he did. The blue dragon soared over them not seeing them. "I can keep us sheilded till we get somewhere safe away from here."
Then he looked down at Gem and snarled. "She didn't...."
Auraka
He nodded, eyes following the blue dragon from above before looking down at Gem.
"Lets go," he said and looked to Drannor in surprise.
"She didn't what?" his orbs flickered between Gem and Drannor "whats happened?"
“She bit you, didn’t she?” he asked, looking at Gem.
“Yes.”
Drannor snarled at the very thought of what he’d just done. “You’re in more trouble than I thought then. I just killed her, and I can tell that because of that, you’re deteriorating quickly.” He was furious now with this situation. “She poisoned you. I think she was planning on turning you.”
