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 Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 2:53 pm
A clearing in Shelk'ma Forest, outside Amerkand
5:50 a.m.
Linith rose with the sun, taking only a moment to stretch as the first fingertips of warm sunlight filtered through the treetops, then began to pack without delay. Taking care not to wake Ailfey, she was on her journey again within moments.
As she stalked along the little-beaten path, following the sunlight as it reached further across the land, she watched as the glittering spires of Amerkand became larger and larger on the horizon.
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Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 6:04 pm
[ Message temporarily off-line ]
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Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 6:59 pm
((Skipping ahead a bit, here. Hope it's okay...))
Amerkand, middle district, Sleepy Dragon Inn
7:00 AM
Isina awoke fresh and renewed in the morning. She gave a fleeting thought to Sachara, in the room down the hall, but dismissed it quickly. She'd be fine. This was a nice, safe, inn, Isina was sure. A smile spread across her face suddenly as she reminded herself of the coppers she had earned herself with her flute playing. Not only had she earned a good sum for a single performance, she had earned free board for herself and Sachara. Isina almost went to check up on the fragile-seeming elf, but decided against it; she might still be asleep. Instead, she swept her cloak back upon her shoulders, adjusted the beads in her hair, made sure she was presentable for a crowd; she left her swords in her room, for what need does a performing bard need weapons? Isina intended to earn some more coin.
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Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 6:18 pm
Amerkand, middle district, Sleepy Dragon Inn
7:00 AM
Sachara lifted the hood over her head and looked out the window of her room. It was really kind of her to save me and all, but I can't depend on another. she had hope to escape the inn without being noticed, and assumed that the bard would still be in bed.
Strapping her staff ot her back, she sneaed from the room, trodding lightly on the creaky wooden floor, especially as she passed her friend's room. I don't want her ot worry of me anymore. I'm strong enough to survive on my own. She creapt down the stairs and head flute music from the tavern. Oh, nuts! she thought, hitting her palm against her forehead. Maybe she won't see me. I'll just sneak past! she finished down the stairs and slowly made her way for the door, trying to avoid the bard's eyes.
(Nice to see your posts again Lis 4laugh )
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Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 6:33 pm
Amerkand, middle district, Sleepy Dragon Inn
7:05 AM
Isina loved playing for these nitwits in the tavern. They were all half-drunk already this early and loaded with coin. And they seemed enthralled by her music. She had been playing for several long minutes (it feels like a long time when you're playing an instrument) when she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. Adjusting her head ever so slightly, not changing her music's tone in the least, she noticed Sachara as she slunk towards the door. Isina tried not to smile; it would ruin her tone. Slowly, she stood, carefully meandering after the elf, trying to stay out of her line of vision. As she got within a few feet of her, she ended the melody on an ear-splittingly high shrill, then quickly taking the flute from her lips. Gently, she tapped Sachara on the head with the flute a few times, grinning broadly at her attempt to escape. "Where do you think you're going?"
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Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 6:36 pm
Just outside Amerkand
7:09 a.m.
The first stirrings of panic began to well up in Linith's heart as she, in the crowded street, drew inevitably nearer to the gates.
What will they do to me when they realize I have no money and no pass? she wondered, with a tremor. This was unfamilar territory; she had not the courage of experience to rely on.
As the crowded line of people drew her forth, past a boulder shaded by two trees, Linith made a split decision - she broke from the road as nonchalantly as she could, and made as if she had decided to take another road. It was all she could do to stall for a few moments and giver her brain time to think of a plan.
However, it is difficult to think coherently when panic is snapping at the edges of one's consciousness.
It was the fammilar serptenine writhing in her pack that made the light go off in Linith's head.
Making sure she was hidden from most of the eyes nearby, Linith pulled the dragon from her pack and murmered instructions into what could be his ear.
Moments later, even one trained to see such things could barely distinguish a small, blue-gray creature expertly scaling his way up the battlements with long pointed claws, escaping alone into the human infested city.
Linith waited, out of sight.
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Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 6:48 pm
((This may be my last post til about Sunday, guys - I'm going to New Orleans for a few days with my band, but I'll be back - don't do anything without me! domokun wink heart ))
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Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2005 2:47 pm
Amerkand - Middle district - Sleepy Dragon Inn
- 7:05 AM -
Sachara jumped, turning around to face the bard, "I- Uh- well I'm..." she didn't know how to respond. She had been caught, despite her efforts to sneak past the seemingly-occupied Isina. "I was, uh, trying to leave," she said, not wanting to lie. Of course, now she sounded ungrateful, but she did tell the truth, which was one up upon what she normally did.
She removed the hood from her head, "You know," she said, trying get the attention from her ttempted "escape" to another source, "they're going to get angry if you do not continue to play for them." It was the only idea she could come up with. Obviously the bard was worried abut her audience's thoughts, atleast, fom what she could tell, and it seemed like a decent enough escape route.
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Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2005 5:30 pm
Amerkand, middle district, Sleepy Dragon
7:07 AM
Isina glanced behind her at the small crowd of people she had been playing for. They were staring at her curiously, wondering what pulled the bard from her music. Sachara could be right, Isina thought. Crowds could get pretty messy, though none had ever rioted because she stopped playing. She didn't dare flatter herself thinking they would this time. "Perhaps," mused the bard, tucking away her flute for the moment in its case at her hip, "but they can wait a few minutes. Pray tell, why were you trying to leave? Urgent business that calls to you? If that is the case, then by all means, go on. But if it is simply to get away from me..." Isina pondered for a moment for the right wordings. "I must say I am curious as to why. If I have offended you in any way, please, tell me." She gave her best sweeping, bardic bow as an apology to the so-called offending.
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Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2005 9:02 pm
Amerkand - Middle District - Sleepy Dragon
- 7:10 PM -
Shoot, Sachara thought, it didn't work... She tried to think of another way out, but found nothing. Her only choice was o tell the whole truth.
"I feel like I do not need your protection. also, I do not want you to get wrapped up in any trouble because of me. thank you for saving me, I really appreciate it. and for paying for me a place ot stay, but I feel as though I cannot depend on you. I need to find a way to survive without being babied. You have not offended me, though. Thank you for everything!"
She didn't ant to leave the kind bard, but she felt the need to protect her by leaving her side. The bard had saved her, and now it was her turn to save the bard her trouble.
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Posted: Sun May 01, 2005 7:57 am
[ Message temporarily off-line ]
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Posted: Sun May 01, 2005 4:23 pm
Amerkand - middle district - Sleepy Dragon
- 7:15 AM -
Sachara hoped for a moment that she'd turn back, but in vain. "Thank you again, good bard." Her voice was soft, and she turned to the door, placing her hand on the handle, "And you play your flute well." She left the Sleepy Dragon, regretting her choice, but not wanting to show weakness by turning back. It's for her safety, she thought, because now my face will be plastered all over this city in only due time. I need to get out of here soon. She hurried through the streets, her hood hiding her face at the risk of being seen by and bystanders from the night before.
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Posted: Sun May 01, 2005 6:28 pm
Amerkand, middle district, Sleepy Dragon- the streets
7:21 AM
When Isina heard the door close after Sachara, she stole a look behind her. She kept telling herself she wouldn't worry over the elf, but couldn't help herself. The bard gave it a good five minutes at the most before she followed she followed after Sachara, but, being the good bard she is, not forgetting to collect her new fare of coin. The bard slunk out of the inn, but not catching a sight of the elf girl she had helped out. Sighing, she started out wandering, but then stumbled upon- or perhaps over would be a better word- a small, bluish-grey lizard-like creature, about half the size of her arm. "Alfred?" she asked, mispronouncing the name of her sister's beloved pet mini, Ailfey. Carefully, the bard picked up the wriggling reptile. "Alfred, is that you? Why're you here? Where's Linith?" The little dragon gurgled gutturally as a response, leaping out of the bard's arms and racing down the street, heading for the city gates. Surprised, Isina ran after him, calling out her own mangled version of his name.
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2005 6:49 pm
Amerkand - middle district - The streets
7:30 AM
Sachara looked around carefuly. She had seen no posters yet, but also assumed not enough would be drawn. Still, she pulled the hood down over her face. As she did so, she saw a little blue dragon ksittering through the city, "Eh?" she said, looking up. "Now where are you going...?" She began after it, skulking through the streets, making sure the dragon rarely left her vision. Why is a dragon here? Obviously, she thought, someone let it into the city. I think the guards are smarter than to let a dragon through the gates. she continued to follow it, hearing a familiar voice calling out 'Alfred.' Is that its name? Kind of silly. Even so, she wanted to know who owned the dragon and how it had gotten inside the city.
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Posted: Wed May 04, 2005 2:05 pm
Just outside Amerkand
7:51 a.m.
Linith waited paitently in hiding, if a bit fearfully. She had no way to know if Ailfey was having any success in finding her sister - there were so many variables involved that could easily through her plan off-course.
And she had no way of knowing that at that moment, two people, near strangers to each other, were headed her way.
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