|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 7:02 pm
Melantho's mind raced. Behind her, Aku dropped quietly from the tree and snatched up the severed horn in his jaws. Just the sort of battle trophy they both thought worth keeping. But...the forest? Whatever for? The stallions were gone, doubtless back to Clytaemnestra. If that wasn't proof enough she didn't know what was.
On reflection, though, she realised that Storm's idea of flight was probably better. What she'd done to that one stallion could have been mostly dumb luck, and was more likely to anger the Commandante than convince her of anything. Besides, if the forests Storm spoke of were as fearsome as was claimed they would be an ideal proving ground. There was one small worm in the apple, however, and she voiced her concern as soon as it came to her.
"We'll have to look sharp," she said, feeling a familiar weight as Aku hopped on to her back. "If we don't watch out we'll end up passing right through my father's lands. He owns a vast territory to the north east. We'll have a job avoiding it, and his army is a lot bigger than the dozen or so stallions Clytaemnestra's got with her. I've no idea where the borders are - Aku, do you remember them?"
The Rit carefully dropped the horn on to her back, pinning it down with one paw. "Clear as crystal," he confirmed. "I reckon I can chart us past his turf, but we'll have to stay hidden. They let most anyone walk through, but us two? We're wanted, and Storm-ma'am will be too the minute Commandante's runner gets back there with word of what we done."
"Right. Got any diversion tricks in your repertoire, Storm? I don't know what Seers can do, but if you know anything like that I'd keep it fresh and ready. Distraction is the best thing if we run into any wide patrols - that was Aku's job on the way out of Father's country."
It was only as she finished speaking that she realised, with no small amount of relief, that she had become Sereva again.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 7:14 pm
Storm could have kissed Sereva just then for not putting up a fight. It took a huge burden off her head, because she would have resulted to force if the black had continued to be stubborn. She, however, was not at all happy about the next statement Sereva made. She went everywhere, she didn't give a damn whether it was herd territory or not, and she intented to trudge right through.
Yet, by herself, stubborness was allowed, but not with Sereva here. She couldn't endanger the black on purpose. Swallowing her pride she nodded and dug into her brain for anything.
"I'm no illusionist," Storm began, but she did have something. "However, I can make them think the Commandante is calling them from another direction, make our voices elsewhere in their minds. That will keep them wandered. Its simple mind tapping, and I pray they are too stupid to realize what I would be doing." That, however, was all she could do. Her powers as a seer were not yet great enough to make them pause to relive memories. Someday, maybe, but her experience was too far lacking.
"Even if they spot us, once they get to the forest, it will create the diversions." Especially on a night like this. "But you have to take my mane and never let go, because if you do, you'll be lost, and I don't know if I can find you." The only reason she could get through the forest was because she could tell what were illusions and what weren't. She'd have to keep her eyes closed the entire time, as to keep a sense of direction, and keep her seer mind open.
If there was no mind, it was illusion, and they were not to turn that way. Granted, they might run into a few trees, but nothing she couldn't handle.
"So you're going to have to trust me, no matter what you hear?" She didn't like being this strict, but she'd fallen spell to the forest once already, and she wasn't inclined to let Melantho do the same.
Without giving a second glance she turned sharply and took to the skies. "Bring Aku, we're travelling by air, and high, so they can't find us." She just hoped the Rit knew his stuff.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 7:49 pm
The decision didn't even need making. There was no question of obedience now, not to Storm. "Aye," Melantho called up to the golden mare, resisting the urge to add "sir" to the end of her acknowledgement. "Aku, all set?"
"Mmf-hm."
He was holding the horn again. Good. She didn't want to lose that. His claws in her back did not trouble her any more: in fact, as a sure sign he was still hanging on, they were something of a comfort to her. "We're off, then," she announced, both to her brother and to the world. "To the north-west, and Father's herd be damned! We'll see Casa Tiner before long!"
She took to the air and soared after the gilded crossbreed, wondering what awaited the three of them in this mysterious forest. Some survivors had told of horrors dogging their every step, others of visions of the future. More still had mentioned the ghosts of lost friends, cryptic words, faces and voices unknown and yet still familiar.
If surviving that didn't shut Clytaemnestra up, the dark mare thought to herself grimly, then nothing would.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
