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 Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 6:40 am
  After following the Mage around the small ensemble of stores, strangely still open for business, Tala hid his content when the man finally decided they were to head out. "Now...transport is necessary if we're to leave town before the soldiers arrive..." Caran glanced around the town before spotting a barn, "I should think they'd have a horse or two to spare for an old man and his companion..." The Mage grinned and started off at quite a brusque pace for one so experienced... Tala merely rolled his eyes and followed, finding the man in deep, yet light-hearted conversation with the owner. "Only got a few left, so I'll want a good price for them." the man muttered, his accent had a slight twang to it, but Tala wasn't overly interested... His attention had been drawn to the dark mare in the corner of the barn; there was something about her, not necessarily her coat, or her deep burgundy eyes...but something. "I'll take the Bay and the...hmm," Caran produced a bag of gold from his satchel, then glanced across in the male's direction, "Are you sure you want that one lad...?" he maintained a grip on the bag as the owner extended his hand to take it, "Wouldn't you prefer the nice, White Mare over there?""This one." Tala reached out a hand and the horse flinched, her ears flicking backwards as he traced his fingers along her forehead... "...Ok, if you insist...""That one's a little wild lad." the owner watched as the horse seemed to twitch, shaking her head before falling silent as he made his way down her flank... "A perfect match then." Caran nodded, finally releasing his grip on the pouch and letting it drop into the man's hand. "Now let's see... Hunh?"He turned as the Black Mare suddenly let out a whinny, bringing her forelegs up and striking the air before rushing past them, the Dark Prince already in the saddle, "You see what I mean...?" Breathing a sigh, Caran gathered what supplies he needed and mounted his own horse, riding out of the barn in the direction that Tala had travelled. The male had already vaulted the fence and was riding a short lap around the marketplace before returning. "We want to aim for the mountains, once we're through them, we should be able to..." he fell silent as Tala's mare drew her forelegs up again before starting off. Breathing another sigh, Caran directed his own horse after him, hoping to catch up before they got separated...
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Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 11:38 am
 Sino watched smirking, slowly grinning as his board showed the pair to him. "Ah so there is a dark heart, sealed away to hide from me. Now, how about a long trip to your destination?" he asked chuckling and held his hand out over the board, resting his head on his other hand that was closed to a light fist. He smirked, moving his free hand out in a slow circle, letting small whisks of darkness flow down and vanish into the board. "The horse shall take a long trip from where you are wanting to go and if I cannot have the Princess as a wife then I can simply have her done away with." He chuckled softly as he slowly worked to have the horse head near Princess Rosa's location so they would see her but not be on top of her, planning to cause them to go and help her.  Rosa had gotten a fire started, sitting by it to warm herself. She looked around, her stomach growling. Touching her stomach she sighed, taking her glasses off to rub her eyes. "This day has been horrible. I tried to tell mother to not do it but she didn't listen. Why wouldn't she listen?" she asked softly wiping away a couple tears from her eyes, thinking her mother was dead. "I wish she had listened, if she had then this wouldn't have happened and we still be living a happy life as a family." She took a slow deep breath, exhaling then sighed shaking her head and stood. "I must find food, that is a needed thing now. But....where do I begin looking?" Rosa asked looking around some and began to walk around, staying nearby the fire as she searched for food, checking the bushes for anything at all, working to keep track of the fire as she searched for food.
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writing_in_waters_star Captain
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Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 12:26 pm
"Where are you going?" Caran finally caught up with the boy as his horse reached the outskirts of town, hesitation before pawing the ground at the sight of the forest, "The mountains." Tala replied bluntly, "It's where you wanted to go, right?" he frowned, realising the man must have wanted to go another way, rather than through the forest following trails he was sure can't have been as safe as those he'd planned to travel... "There are many mountains..." the Mage breathed a sigh, "I was hoping to head towards the East...but I'm sure we could probably push through this way and..."The horse gave a tug of the reins and Tala turned his head to see why it was reacting in such a way... "I think it best that we...Wait!" Caran pulled his own horse onward as the Black Mare suddenly shot forward into the undergrowth... Tala glanced back at the Mage but was forced to lie back against the horse's back as a low branch threatened to knock him off... Regaining his balance he pulled the reins in an attempt to slow the beast but it powered on... He could hear the Mage calling after him and at one point had the 'bright' idea to dismount, only his foot had become caught in the stirrup and he realised it was safer to ride it out... The pounding of hooves, with the occasional brief silence as the horse vaulted fallen logs and debris would have thundered past anyone walking the nearby trails, but all Tala was able to make out was a flash of many green shades with the occasional blue of sky... Caran continued to call, but quickly lost hope of catching up... Eventually, the horse itself decided to slow, almost turning on a sixpence as it broke the cover into a clearing and flew over the final hurdle... Tugging the reins Tala spun the horse round, it reared up and then placed all four hooves on the ground before falling silent... Within minutes, a flash of red silk worn by the Red Mage came into view, carefully avoiding the large boulder before coming up alongside the male, "What on earth got into you?!" the man sounded angry, "It wasn't me." Tala growled in reply, Caran glanced down and realised the male's foot had become caught in the stirrup he breathed a sigh, dismounting before sorting out the problem... "We need to head South," he said eventually, "I've no idea which way you've led us, but we don't want to circle back round towards the castle if we can help it..."Tala turned his head away, dismounting now his foot was free before using the horse's wide gut as a barrier as he muttered something beneath his breath... "Seeing it's clear and open here, we'll make camp for the night." He drew two ropes from his satchel and tied them to the reins before attaching the other end to a nearby tree - the horses would be free to wander, but not far enough that they could run away...
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Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 11:01 am
Rosa returned to her fire with several berries in her arms. Panic hit her when she seen her fire starting to fall and go out. "Oh no!" she exclaimed racing over quickly getting down by it blowing on it to try and save the fire. "Please! Please don't go out!" she shouted trying to save it, her berries now laying in the snow. She sat back watching the fire die out, her face fallen in defeat. "I can't believe it. Now I have no fire, and my berries....my berries!" she looked through the snow, trying to find them again without luck as more snow was beginning to fall. "Oh this is not my day. First I lose my mother now I've lost my fire and my food. Ugh could today get any worse?" Rosa asked yelping as a very chilly wind blew hitting her strong, causing her to fall over and show to blow over her. When it quieted down she got up and shook her head to get the snow off, sighing. "I just had to ask. What in the world is this happening to me? There's no way anything more could happen." She said then began to walk around to look for more dry wood and food. "Why didn't mother listen to me? Why? I know I'm not a mage able to view the future or anything but I do have visions and I tried to tell her but no, Princess Rosa knows nothing." Rosa complained letting out a grunt of frustration with a bit of a scream to vent her frustrations out. She then sighed, leaning back against a tree, waiting for the snow to stop though it's softly falling. Looking over to the side towards the clearing she just came from she closed her eyes. "This day is so horrible." She said softly ready to cry. Hearing a faint noise she opened her eyes again, looking towards the clearing, slowly standing. "Hello?" she called, slowly walking towards the clearing, thinking she had heard a horse then thought she heard voices. Stepping closer she began to see a man in red, bringing confusion to her face. As she neared she jumped eeping as a twig snapped under her foot. She looked down then up moving quickly to hide behind a tree, peeking out to see another man. Confusion entered her eyes as she wondered who they both were and what they were doing out this far into the forest. She also wondered if they were friend or foe she didn't know yet.
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writing_in_waters_star Captain
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Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2012 4:50 am
Tala heard the snap of a twig, but didn't turn to see what was there... He would remain on alert however as his companion hadn't seemed to have noticed anything... Caran was busy reading; he'd awoken a fire and had produced an orb of light to read by. The pages of his book turned without his touch and on occasion he let out a little chuckle... Tala meanwhile had turned his attention to whittling a piece of wood to a point... this was partially out of boredom, but also for protection... He'd at least have something to hand if they were attacked by whatever was out there... "Why don't you carve one of those creatures...Y'know... like you do sometimes...?" Caran had noticed the male was carelessly scraping away the bark of a stick that would make better use as kindling rather than scrap... Tala merely lifted his narrowed eyes at the man, then rose from the log upon which he'd been sitting and crossed to one of the horses to grab a blanket. A stray breath reached his ears and he turned towards it, making a swift motion with his hands that called forth a spell that he hoped would ensnare whatever was spying them with vines...
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Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2012 9:05 am
Rosa watched panting slightly before looking over and gasped, screaming when she seen the vines and began to struggle, trying to get free. "Let go!" she cried, trying to get free, falling out of hiding, getting ensnared by the vines. She turned seeing the boy, swallowing hard. "Please sir I did not mean to do anything wrong. I wasn't going to hurt you or steal from you." She quickly stated, looking up at him, still struggling against the vines. Her eyes turned to look at the man in red, her eyes widening seeing the floating orb, assuming now that he was a mage. "Sir, sir please. Tell your friend I'm not an enemy. I'm Princess Rosa from the Ice Lands castle." She said, hoping he would speak for her, knowing her mother and father knew plenty of mages and hoped that he was one of them. The snow fell softly as she had stopped struggling, fear in her eyes that if she was wrong she could be killed or worse, taken back to the Demon King.
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writing_in_waters_star Captain
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Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2012 2:34 pm
Caran had heard the cry and lifted his head to see what the boy was up to... Realising Tala had ensnared a spy he rose to his feet, making his book and the orb vanish before crossing towards them. He listened to Rosa's pleas with interest, scrutinising her before closing his eyes. "Let her go." He flicked the male across the back of the head before turning away, "That's no way to treat a woman, especially a Princess!"Momentarily distracted, Tala lost his control of the vines and they fell loose around Rosa's feel; letting out a growl he turned, snatching the blanket from the saddlebag before crossing the clearing before sitting down. "Milady...?" Caran had returned to his seat infront of the fire, "You look chilled, might I offer you a seat by the fire?" he waved her over, then cast a glance across at Tala who had laid down on the ground with his back to them.
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Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2012 10:31 pm
Rosa slowly stopped watching as she slowly stood, shivering some and nodded, stepping closer to the fire and sat down, holding her hands out to the flames, loving the heat. "Thank you sir. I thank you with all my heart. How may I ever show my gratitude to you both?" she asked happily, smiling to first Tala then to Caran. "I'm terribly sorry if I am putting you both out. Just....I can't go back home. I can't take down the Demon King. I don't have what it takes." She said softly looking down then to the flames again, holding her legs close to her, making sure her dress was smooth before moving a little closer to the fire, loving the warmth as her shaking began to subside. After some minutes she spoke again quietly, her eyes on the fire then turned to Caran. "What is your name and the boy's name? Did either of you know my mother or father?" she asked curiously, watching him with her kind gentle eyes. She had her mother's eyes but inside burned her father's passion for justice and for things to be right and fair for all that showed the rights to that justice and fairness.
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writing_in_waters_star Captain
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 4:20 am
"No need for thanks, Milady," Caran shook his head, reforming the orb before drawing his book from his shawl, "It must have been quite a shock..." He resisted going into detail like he normally would and instead focussed on her next question, "I never personally knew your parents," he shook his head, "But it's been a pleasure to know you." He extended a hand of friendship towards her, "My name is Caran the Red, I'm a Travelling Mage and my associate is Tala Maxwell, don't mind him though, he doesn't say much..." he chuckled, then dropped his gaze to his book. Tala didn't approve of being named, but made no movement to dispute against it... instead, he pulled the blanket closer around himself and curled up.
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 9:35 am
Rosa listened closely, nodding. "It's a pleasure to meet you Sir Caran the Red." She said taking his hand and shook it before letting go to let him go back to his book. She looked to Tala giving a soft smile. "It is also a pleasure to meet you Sir Tala Maxwell." She said smiling a little. "As you both know I am Princess Rosa." She introduced politely before sighing. She nodded. "It was quite a shock. I had tried to warn mother but she did not listen. I thought she would and she did not and look what happened? The people are going to suffer and why? Because she had to open that cursed door and not listen to her daughter who tried to give warning." She said moving her hands up to place her face into her hands. "The Ceremony was a disaster." She said softly, holding back tears. "I don't know what to do."
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writing_in_waters_star Captain
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 12:28 pm
"Sir? I'll be happy for you just to call me Caran, I'm sure Tala would appreciate that as well..." he chuckled, "Anything else seems a little too formal if you ask me..." he saw her smile at the male but knew with his back to them it wouldn't have been seen... "The best thing to do is to just carry on," he knew it sounded a harsh truth, but it was the best advice he could give... "When the time is right, you'll know what to do...and I'm sure you'll rise above anything that stands in your way." he gave her a reassuring smile, then returned his attention to the book... Tala was listening quietly as the pair spoke; occasionally he'd shift his position as sleeping on the cold floor out in the open was a little uncomfortable, but the rest of the time he remained still...
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 8:32 pm
Rosa nodded, smiling softly. "Okay, Caran and Tala." She smiled softly then sighed, resting her head now on her knees, her arms holding her legs close. "But....I feel so helpless. How can I know when I'm ready when I feel so helpless?" She asked Caran softly looking at him, now resting her cheek against her knees. "I couldn't even do anything at the castle. I bet he has already killed mother and father." She said softly closing her eyes some then fully, sighing softly. "Have you ever felt so helpless that you also feel lost?" she asked softly, sounding tired as she tried to open her eyes again but they did not want to open for her, staying closed. She tried to speak more but her words just came out as mumbles and slurred together, her body starting to fall over as she began to fall into sleep, leaning towards Tala as she drifted off, not aware she was even falling over slowly as her body relaxed.
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writing_in_waters_star Captain
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 4:24 am
((Tala's across the far side of the clearing, he distanced himself from everyone remember...?)) sweatdrop "Oh, You'll know." Caran smiled reassuringly, "And I highly doubt he's killed anyone...yet." he couldn't help himself saying the last word, but figured it worth explaining himself when he saw the look cross the girl's face... "I've known Bandits to take prisoners, they would use them to tempt their prey into their domain and...ah..." he realised she'd fallen asleep and returned his attention to his book, realising he'd finished the passage and put the tome away... Tala had heard the girl's body slump over and had rolled to face the pair, sitting up... "What did you do?" he narrowed his eyes accusingly, "I did nothing." Caran frowned, "She's exhausted." he snuffed out the orb of light and placed a few more logs on the fire, "You had better get some sleep, we've got to find our way out of this forest and towards the mountains..."Tala didn't question the man and rolled over again, wishing he'd chosen to sleep closer to the fire now it was getting colder... Caran rose to his feet and grabbed a blanket for the girl which he placed over her before lying down and pulling his shawl closer around himself; It wasn't long before he too fell asleep, leaving Tala the only one awake...
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 3:00 pm
(oh forgot, sorry -sweats- ^^;;; ) Princess Rosa slept soundly, snuggling in more to the blankets, unaware of Caran's words. The fire flickered, a male's voice coming from it as it flickered and crackled. "Tala" the voice called softly almost like a song. "Tala, I know you can hear me sweet Tala." The voice said softly, slowly becoming more feminine as it spoke to him through the flames.
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writing_in_waters_star Captain
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 3:27 pm
((Tiz ok)) :p Hearing his voice, Tala at first believed it to be Caran, trying to stir him from what little slumber he'd had... it was only as he muttered something beneath his breath and sat up to look, that he realised there was nobody there...except for the slumbering Princess and the Old Mage... "...Hello?" he said this quietly, unsure if he was going mad... The horses murmured to one another quietly, but voiceless and with little tone as the one he'd heard...
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