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Gruugash stared at Kiva for a moment as he tried to comprehend her point. He hadn't really thought on it very much, but he hadn't slept for nearly two days now, and he was sure he wouldn't be able to do so until his army had relocated to their new position on the Corollian border. He could tell that she was trying to flatter him in the beginning, but as she continued, Gruugash started to become enraged. As she spoke, the only thing that kept him from wringing her throat was the knowledge that what she was saying had some merit, at least in the threat that she could return to Feldar with the false treaty. Still, these insolent words couldn't be entirely forgiven.

As soon as she finished talking, Gruugash quickly reached forward and grabbed Kiva by the throat, lifting her to eye level, squeezing her throat hard enough to hurt, but only slightly cutting off air flow. "If you plan on spendin' the rest of your time threatening and questionin' me then you'd better pretty up your pink little face for when I post in on a stake to show what happens to those who think they can say whatever they want!" Gruugash's voice was filled with fury, his words seemed to sound more savage, and as he spoke, his grip on Kiva's throat became tighter. However, as he stared into Kiva's eyes, his expression seemed to calm, although the grip was still tight as ever. As though coming to his senses, Gruugash released Kiva's throat before turning back to his tent.

"No Gift of Feldar, there will be no waiting, there shall be no moment of peace... My daughter will protect you, but more importantly, protect the task I have assigned you.... If you are able to do this, I will release you from servitude to do what you wish..." Gruugash stopped talking as a sharp pain spread over the back of his neck, and even with his incredible resistance to pain, he felt as if he would cringe at the feeling of thousands of searing needles ripping in and out of his flesh. Turning to face Kiva once again, Gruugash seemed to struggle with his speech. "You.... stay with Sauri.... Grahh... I.... pre....prepare...." This being said, Gruugash quickly moved into his tent without a second look at Kiva.

Meanwhile far north east, in the city of Zaltan….

"I don't see why they bother to put us on the south-east wall, everyone knows there’s nothing coming over those mountains!" None of the other guards paid any attention to this statement, of course nobody would attack from that direction, but that didn't keep them from earning a modest wage. They also knew that the chances of an attack were very slim. While the threat of raids from the sea was extremely possible, no army had risked the perilous journey across the snowy Zaltan Mountains since the time of Kalin. There was a brief moment of fear that a newly formed orcish hoard from the south would attempt an attack, but reports stated that the orcs had moved even further south.

Another guard looked over at the speaker and snorted, “We’re just here for a presence, they’ve moved most the guards to the northwest, the general is afraid that the raiders will attempt to make a surprise attack with this fog, can’t see a damned yard in this stuff…. I’m going to sleep, wake me up if one of the officers come… wait… do you hear tha… my god!” Through the fog, the soldiers could see an enormous humanoid creature standing far above the wall. “Men! To arms! Find reinform….” The guard captain was unable to finish his sentence as with a deafening grinding sound the creatures foot stomped on top of the wall, completely collapsing it. However, when the rest of the garrison arrived, they fled in fear when the beast walked through the wall, the stone hardly slowing its progress, and as the light from the torches on the inner wall illuminated the beast, the soldiers saw that whatever the creature was, it was made entirely out of stone.

As Evelyn heard the other girl move, she moved with her to the covering of a bush. She faintly thought that she should take her hat out to cover her hair, but that would cause too much movement.

The question brought out many city memories. The guards of the cities used the "Come out, come out where ever you are," on her many times. You'd think I was a cat, the drow/elf smuggly thought.

"Not the hospitality," Evelyn yelled in reply, sending her voice out like a ventrilquist. It was skill found useful to her in her profession. Her voice carried over back to the rock she had originally been hiding behind.

The amulet hummed lightly. The drow/elf grabbed in tight and willed it to stay quiet a little while longer. That's all I need right now, she scolded the amulet. You'll ruining it for both of us.

Evelyn knew that she was fast enough to get out of whatever could be coming. She popped out of the bush she was hiding in with her arms crossed. Her green eyes stared straight passed Sauri, not wanting to look directly at the girl. The uncontrollable power to but someone out of their mind just by looking at them was unnerving to her. She didn't want anyone to feel that, even if she was threatened.

"I wasn't hiding," the drow/elf casually explained with a wave of her hand. "I was sleeping and was just passing through. I'm of no threat." Unless you attack me, she thought blankly. The amulet was beginning to pulse light more steadily. She scolded it silently to not make a scene.

Evelyn sighed and closed her eyes. She placed her hands on her hips and shook her head. "I'm going to have to decline," she said to Sauri. "I am not much for social events."

Which was true. She was normally the person robbing the person out of house and home during parties. They gave themselves their own distraction as she slipped through the chorridors unseen.

It had been simple but a bit shaking for the rogue whom has never before encountered such a ferocious monster as a giant boar! Once the beast had show signs of tiring, Finch got out all the rope she had and lunged from tree to tree, tying its tusks, tail and knees. Then it gave a last brash squeal as she slashed the throat open with her clawed boots. Now the head and full hide of the boar is being laid out to dry beside two snow deer pelts. Finch herself is munching on nearby wild berries and keeping an eye on her latest forced ally, the young giant boar. She had seen him struggle and knows he can do better. Even much better if trained to fight alongside Rothun and the Bear of Altal.
Oltine.
Finch felt a slight tug to return to Altal but there was still much she wishes to experience. Brawling with the locals, playing the drums, helping cook, hunting...a loud snort makes the woman's eyebrows raise.
"Your feet itching too? Then let's head back, Grub."
Seizing the now dry hides her strong arms fling them over Grub's humped back. Using her last length of rope the rogue fastens it over the hides and under the boarling's stomach twice and knots it tightly. After Grub is coaxed the two make a slow travel down the trail of the mountain and towards the Talon tribe. By the time they reached the camp it was late morning. Rothun whinnied her joy to see Finch well and with a new creature. The hardy mare lunges to them with whimsical strides and snuffles over Grub whom does not show much interest. His coarse hairs make Rothun snort, letting her hooves whirl her to check over her rider. Finch snickers and pats Rothun's muzzle.
"Ushushush...xush dil...ushush...I am fine milady.", glancing over to see her brother's smug look and a rather sour looking man following behind, the rogue hails to her brother with abandon, "Wasn't able to get as many snow deer, but I took down a monstrous boar and found myself a second mount!"
Hawk chuckles softly at her jubilance and lightly hits the other man on his exposed chest. "You see? My sister can so hunt and so will."
"She took far too long, she could've stolen it from the Bounding!" the man is obviously more muscled than her brother. He has dark green eyes, some rugged stubble on his face, thick waist length dirty blonde hair and a silver war hammer.
Finch did all she could not to stare very long, she's a sucker for barbarians. Then again the powerful looking man just lost a lot of awe due to his hinting at any weakness the curly haired woman would have.
"I don't steal pelts, there's no thrill in that. Although I do steal I make sure to be seen at least from a distance to frustrate my target and lure them."
The man would not let this matter go and he stomps over to the shorter being to glare down at her. "Women can't hunt!"
"Not the ones here that you all keep with short shackle.", the rogue feels calm, this had also bee part of her training with Hawk. To not get angered by words. Actions speak more than words to her and so...,"Listen. If you don't like what you see, why don't we make this interesting? A hunting contest. Whosoever returns with the selected creature can truly call themselves a huntress or a hunter."
He seems to consider but still looks furious. "Alright! I choose though! We're hunting...a minotaur! The time it takes to travel to the edge of the desert will show endurance!"
"Then it is settled. Now I am choosing the time. An hour after sunset. No waiting for the other either, just go so long as you go at that time." she crosses her arms over her breasts and smirks at the barbarian whom storms off.
"That was the headhunter and no wonder he got so angry then, ah? Seth the Strong we call him. You...ever hunt a minotaur before?" the shaman apprentice looks over at his sister, both are calm.
"No. I will be very entertained by tomorrow night I am sure."

She had given Hawk a snow deer pelt to return to his master as Finch's gratitude for allowing her to hunt in the Fel mountains. The other stag pelt she has strung to the back of the giant boar coat and both of those are respectfully in Hawk's tent. After a meal of stewed fish and potatoes the rogue goes to her patched mount. She pauses to glance at Rothun's decorated mane. If the hunt will be so great then they must be in their original outfits. Removing the feathers from her mount's cascading locks and lets a breeze flit them away. Pale hand slightly pink against the grand vanner's creamy coat, Finch kisses the patched mare's shoulder.
"I hate hot temperatures and you have never been in a desert...we'll pull it off somehow, we always do."
Rothun burrs and begins to graze. The empty end of Grub's rope has been tied around her thick neck so the boarling cannot wander off without dealing with the crafty horse. Finch walks to the storage tent and finds the plain wooden chest used for guests. Other guests are decorated differently by families within the tribe, some with feathers of course or even pressed petals. Kicking open the chest she pulls out her armor and regular clothing. Kicking off the boots she pulls her dark blue silk pants on beneath her skirt in case of intrusion. They fit surprisingly well on her, the sides of her legs have an embroidered braiding of black weaving going down the sides. The hems of the pants are clad about the ankles with straps of soft leather for better travel and fitting into boots. Her shirt is of the same basic design with the cuffs bound with leather which thankfully allow better fitting of her gauntlets, the shirt stops to rest at about length with the tops of her hips. Now Finch clasps on her studded breastplate after undoing her sash, then her boots are yanked on, her greaves tightened and finally her spiked gauntlets are strapped on. Tossing the skirt and sash to rest of a shoulder she hauls out Rothun's tack to place on her. She'd need to take the mare on a quick ride to warm her up and stretch her out, it'd be another eight hours before sunset now.

The drow/elf now knew she was in trouble. It always gave her a nervous start when she was out-numbered. Floods of memories washed over her of when guards tried to capture her. Normally, she was quick enough not to get into those situations, but they would come and go. It always messed up her instincts when there were many people crowding around her trying to capture her.

Evelyn only stared at the guards individually, taking only a few seconds to gaze into each face. A swirl formed in her eye as the gold and green in her eyes switched to turn fully golden yellow. This was what happened when she intentually used her power.

It took only a few seconds before all the guards fell to the ground seemingly unconsious. They wouldn't be able to tell where they were for a few minutes. If they didn't have any mental discipline, they wouldn't wake up at all.

As the last guard fell, Evelyn's eyes changed back to their dark green and specked gold. She covered her eyes as the transformation took place. Turning back hurt as becoming gold didn't. Then she walk in Sauri's direction.

"I won't be guarded like a common criminal," the drow/elf declared as she walked in step a few feet behind the half-elf. I'm not common.

It had been a while since the pain had dissipated, but Gruugash still felt a great deal of rage. When the blood had unaturaly spread across the map towards the west, he knew what the wizard wanted him to do. It was obvious that he wanted Gruugash to continue his campaign along the southern portion of Espiran, but for what purpose, Gruugash didn't know. However, Gruugash had no desire to serve the wizard, regardless of the terms of their deal.

Unfortunatly for the warchief, moving north wouldn't give his orcs any chance to prove themselves in combat for a long deal of time. He knew that if this were to happen, there would be a large chance that they would grow restless, and stop following his commands. The other option was to cross the desert and attack Feldar, however if he was to do this, not only would he be fighting humans on two fronts, he would also lose a substantial amount of warriors to the deserts many treacheries.

His only real choice was to continue on to Corollia, and go along with whatever the wizards plan was, but if he found signs that he was helping the wizard in a way that may be a threat, Gruugash decided that he would take another path, regardless of the losses.

Gruugash continued to stare at the map for quite a while, only pausing to have a goblin stand underneath the broken part of the table to support it. However, as soon as Sauri entered, he looked up. "What is it offspring?!, didn't I tell you to watch the gift....." Gruugash stopped as his eyes caught site of the elvin crest on Sauri's forehead. "You ungrateful grotmother!" Gruugash stood up at this, knocking the table off the goblin's head as he did. "I try to raise you so that you can be a respected orc warrior, and you repay me by reminding me of your shameful pinkskin heritage!?" Gruugash's hand tightened around his weapon in overwhelming anger, and he continued to stand, ready to punish his daughter if she dared answered in a way he deemed to be insolent.