|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:31 pm
Stunned Seth stared at Lucid for a long moment, he had never seen his mentor this way. So defeated almost, and he didn't like seeing him that way now.
"What's so special about her? You could just give her to them. They had more detailed posters, larger ones with sketches of her as a child and then an adult. Claimed she was family, so why hide her from them?" he asked, not sure what else he could say.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:37 pm
Lucid shook his head. Sitting up, he pushed the goblet away from him as well.
"You've not met her yet, Seth. Wait until you meet her. There is no way that those people are family to her, and if they are, they don't want her back for good reasons." he said, getting up. "You should get some rest and I need to go think about things for a while. Your room should be empty."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 5:36 pm
With a sigh, Seth looked up at Talon after watching his mentor walk away.
"Well, old friend, this can't be good." he whispered and lifted his arm.
Taking the hint, Talon lifted his wings and glided down to land gently on his outstretched arm. Tilting his head to the side he stared back at Seth with one gold eye.
:Too true...it is the girl who weighs on his mind so...and now you as well. He is fearful for what will happen. Perhaps not so much to himself as to the Haven and what it has always represented to immortals.:
"I don't understand...how will threats change what the Haven stands for?"
Talon simply shook his feathers as Seth began to walk out of the room. Keeping his balance easily once he was used to the easy rhythm.
:The Haven has always been a safe place, literally a Haven for those in need of shelter or the security it offers. Now that the Haven itself is being threatened by someone with actual power, Lucid fears for it...and for those who have sought refuge within it's walls. You have to understand Seth, that yes, Lucid guards and lives in the castle alone, but many immortals seek sanctuary here when they are in need of it. Arjay...for example...or many of the immortals you met, for however brief of a time it was over the course of the years you lived here. That is a lot for one man to take on.:
Shaking his head, Seth absently rubbed a hand down the falcons feathers as they talked and he walked down the endless corridors to his room. He could have simply vanished but the walk gave him time to think and to speak to his very wise friend.
"As always you see too much Talon...it was one thing that Lucid always worried about with you. I continue to see why. What do you think I should do?" he asked quietly. He could have simply spoken to Talon mind to mind but he felt no need here, he tried to keep knowledge of their mind-link a secret should he need it one day.
:Stay...rest and stay here until this passes. I know we planned to come, warn Lucid of the danger and continue on....however...:
"Lucid might need me...whether he'll admit to it or not." Seth finished the thought easily. Lucid was not the kind of man to ask for help...even when he desperately needed it, he never had been.
Talon let out a soft screech and lifted into the air,
:My thoughts exactly:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 5:56 pm
Danielle darted along the dark corridor, her long, blond hair swinging behind. She was running from Daz, as usual, only this time he was hot on her heels. She'd only just told him what had happened between herself and the stranger that she'd healed and he hadn't seemed happy about it. So she'd bothered him until he'd smiled. Unfortunately, this had backfired in that he now wished to get her back.Now she was completely lost, running blindly down dark hallways to escape the tickling that Daz had promised. She paused at one intersection, her acute senses listening down the hallway for the Dempire. She knew she more than likely wouldn't hear him coming anyway, but it was sometimes worth the effort of trying. She was backing up, prepared to turn and run again when she collided with something tall and warm. Letting out a squeal, she jumped and wheeled around to face the person, her arms clamping about her slender torso to prevent any tickling that might come her way.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 6:09 pm
Seth's hands automatically lifted and came up to steady the other individual. Female, his mind automatically said, the brief press of the body and the scent said female. Looking down, Seth met her eyes with his own gold ones, allowing a slight smile to curve his lips. She wasn't bad to look at, he thought, taking a brief moment to glance down at her form. Dropping his hands, he took a small step back.
"Are you alright?" he asked quietly, his voice deep and rough from lack of sleep.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 8:50 pm
Dani gave a quick nod, feeling Daz poke at her mind. Loosing her hands from her sides, she straightened, brushing her bangs back from her face. Her crimson gaze moved over him, studying his face carefully. She didn't sense any ill will toward her coming from him, just exhaustion.
"I'm sorry." she said, quietly, looking down as she spoke. She should have been paying attention to where she'd been going instead of being silly. Lifting her hands, she pulled a thin lock of her hair, rolling it between her fingers in a nervous habit. "Did you come on the big boat out there in the water?" she asked then, remembering the sight of those huge sails. She'd spotted them from a window somewhere in one of the halls. It was the first time in a very long time since she'd seen the sails of a sea fairing vessel. It had been long before she met Dazramus or even started on her journey. She'd still been little then, watching the elders of her family leave on that huge ship. She didn't know where they had gone. No one had bothered to explain to her why they left either. She only remembered waving bye to them as the ship moved away from the docks. Daz's presence startled her from the memory and she felt the cold calm of him even before he came close enough for her to smell or hear.
Daz passed his pale gaze over the stranger that stood in front of Dani, his arms crossed over his chest. He'd been trying to keep up with her, but she, as always, had managed to lose him for a while. He too had stopped long enough to gaze at the sails of the ship as it had moved slowly toward the rocks. Now that he had caught up with Dani, though, he moved to stand just behind her. He said nothing, keeping his expression carefully blank as well as his mind. For now, he was simply an observer.
For now.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 8:59 pm
Seth let his own cold gaze narrow on the male that stood rather protectively behind the girl. Dismissing him, Seth let his eyes move back over to her, and let them warm slightly due to her question.
"Yes...I arrived in that ship not too long ago." he answered, his voice soft.
Talon who had flown ahead now swooped back and caught off guard by the sight of the strangers let out a startled cry that echoed along the hallways. Swooping downward he flew easily past the male and female and gently closed his talons over the arm that his master had instinctively thrown up. Spreading his wings for balance, he made a small sound, almost a whisper compared to the early cry and settled himself.
Seth pulled his arm and the bird to him quickly, not wishing to frighten the girl in front of him.
"Easy...easy my friend.." he muttered and stroked an absent hand down Talon's breast feathers to calm him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 9:18 pm
Dani watched the bird intently, a smile lighting up her face.
"Is he yours?" she asked quietly, so as not to frighten the bird away. She'd always wanted a pet. Most animals liked her too. But because of her father she'd never gotten to keep any of the strays that she had brought home as a child. To her family, her training was more important than her happiness. Now days though, Daz was turning out to be sort of like a pet. She could tell him anything she wanted to and he never judged her or said mean things. Most other people weren't as nice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 9:27 pm
Seth returned the smile at her obvious delight in Talon. He nodded and slowly extended his arm once again.
"Yes...in a way, Talon is his name and he chooses to put up with me." his voice rang with humor as well as exhaustion though he refused to give in to the latter of the two.
"Stand still for a second and we'll see what he thinks of you."
Once again taking the hint, Talon moved carefully down Seth's arm and stopped on his wrist. Tilting his head he studied the young girl intently. His wide gold eyes fixating on first her and then her companion. Deciding to play along because he sensed his masters warning if he did not, Talon slowly extended his head out further toward her...testing her courage, seeing if she would have the guts to attempt to touch him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 9:36 pm
Dani watched the bird for a moment, then reached out without hesitation and offered her arm. She still had on the leather arm guards, so she wasn't worried about the sharp talons slicing her up. The only thing she was worried about was the bird trying to fly away. She opened the part of her mind that was common with animals, allowing it to leak out toward the bird. It was just one of the many things about her that proved her Terran heritage.
"He's beautiful.." she whispered, looking back at Daz to see his reaction to the falcon.
Daz simply nodded, his expression softening toward Dani. It made him very happy to see her so excited about something. The past few days had been pretty tough on her. Reaching out, he brushed a hand down her hair lightly, then crossed his arms again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 9:45 pm
Talon tilted his head to the opposite side and made another small sound as he power brushed over his mind. Acting on impulse, he looked down at her arm and shifted easily from his master to her. Turning his head to look at her once more, he shook himself.
:You can be at ease....I have no intention of flying off at the current moment. You are of a very ancient race indeed, and quite lovely if I may say so.: Talon's voice was deep, slow and held an easy humor, though he was very sincere in his words. He knew that he probably shouldn't have spoken to her, but she radiated such loneliness, he could not resist. He knew his vast capabilities were rare among raptors, even ones such as he, but she was only a girl and Talon felt rather drawn to her.
Seth watched in apt fascination and leaned comfortably against the wall.
"Feel special...he's never let anyone but myself, Lucid, and Arjay hold him."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:17 pm
Gemara stepped into the hall. She had stayed in the rom for a few days, uneasy about the atmosphere, but now hunger had driven her out. Facinating as the castle was, there was an ominious feeling about it now. "should I continue my wanderings?" she asked herself. "This castle would make a great story, but one that could be dangerous to tell. " She moved alond the edge of the hallway, hoping to be unnoticed . Humming little song, she frowned. She felt several auras, but none of them were human. Her apprehension increased, bet after a moment she smiled. "Well, I wanted adventure. Maybe I should have been more careful what I asked for. But anyway, this might be fun" Fixing a picture of the mysterious wolf in her mind, she melded with the shadows and disappeared down the hallway
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 4:53 pm
Dani's smile brightened slightly.
"I always feel honored when an animal chooses to allow me to touch it." she said, glancing up at the man for a moment. She then looked back at the bird.
:Thank you for the compliment. You are a very handsome falcon as well.: she replied, reaching her free hand up to stroke his breast feathers gently. :I'm Dani. The man behind me is Daz, but don't mind him, he's just shy.:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 5:08 pm
Talon did not respond, only rubbed his head briefly against her hand before moving down and carefully lifting back into the air with a few strong beats of his wings. Gliding easily down the long corridor he let out a soft cry...his master was tired and he needed to rest.
Knowing what he falcon was pushing at Seth sighed and pushed away from the wall with an easy smile.
"Sorry...we're both tired. It's been a long journey. We'll see you again." he added, his eyes flicking over her bodyguard for a brief moment. You can count on it, Seth thought as he nodded once to the man and turned to make his way down the corridor.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 5:29 pm
Dani watched them go, then turned and gave Daz a hug.
"Did you see? Aren't they nice?" she asked, laying her head on his broad chest. "They came on that ship..the one out in the water. It must be wonderful to cross the waters on a ship. We must do that sometime."
Daz put an arm around her and said nothing. His gaze was still on the dark hallway where the man had disappeared. Something felt off..but Daz couldn't tell what. The good thing was that seeing the falcon had certainly lifted Dani's spirits some. That, he could be glad for. Besides, if anything happened, he would be there to protect Dani. He would give his life for her if it meant keeping her safe. That had been his promise to her when they'd first started the journey together. He'd meant every word of it too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
