The Walls of Isyl-Belyrith [1 Jan] - In need of players. x_X

[Little Red Sparrow]

"I'll explain later if we survive." Elizabeth whispered, transferring her gaze back from Rachael to the dark-clothed man. She took a shaky breath before letting it out in a heavy sigh, trying to calm herself.

The black-cloaked man raised his hand, muttering under his breath. Elizabeth knew what was coming, but she wasn't entirely sure she was ready for it. She contemplated just standing there and ending her pointless struggle for life in a city that clearly wanted her dead.

It was fear that won over in the end.

Swiftly she turned about and swept Rachael along with her, her shield-arm closing tightly about her as Elizabeth ran, pulling her along too. She gave a wordless cry to her horse, the animal alerted and moving towards them. Fear gave her energy whilst her body cried out to drop to the floor and rest. Her leaden legs threatened to trip her, but she managed and soon she was running alongside her white horse, her swordhand grabbing at the saddle and preparing to toss Rachael into it.  

[Little Red Sparrow]

{xD Silly. That's my job! Hahaha.}

Elizabeth lifted her now free shield-arm and akwardly tried to pull herself up and into the saddle. She had practiced getting on the ground at a run, but it seemed it was harder when you were being pushed to do it else lose your life. Her hands gripped at the horn and the stirrup whilst she gave one last attempt to hoist herself up. Her swordhand quickly shifted its hold to the other side of the saddle, scrabbling for a purchase. This loss of pull for half a second sent her torso against the side of the horse, but she was soon pushing herself up once more, struggling to get her leg over the rear of the horse.

It would have helped if she wasn't so short. The horse, quite used to almost being pulled off balance in this show of struggle, adjusted its stride accordingly before veering round a corner and down a narrow alleyway, the sharp shift of weight throwing Elizabeth into the saddle.

Swiftly, arms envelopped Rachael in a suprisingly soothing gesture to keep her in the saddle. The white horse picked up speed once more as a bright light behind them lit up the once dark and gloomy alley. Elizabeth's arms tightened about Rachael as her breath caught. Her teeth clenched and the bright light faded away quickly. Slowly but surely her arms released her, Elizabeth's form leaning more and more against her.  

[Little Red Sparrow]

The inn looked fairly old, but it was a sturdy structure. There was a fireplace in the far corner, the mantlepiece and its ornaments gathering dust. The tables looked old, but were free of dust and looked polished.

It appeared to be fairly busy, an elfen bard standing on the table and sharing a story with his audience. The story was near the end, The Greatn Hunt was known almost everywhere, but people enjoyed listening to it every time. And the elf told it with so much enthusiasm, following through and half acting it out as well.

His multicoloured patched-up coat, seemed to glow in the candlelight as he moved and danced about on the table. His golden locks frames his elfen features, a smile prominent on his face.

Pretty soon the story was over, however, and he had to hop off the table - with suprising grace.  

[Little Red Sparrow]

The bartender gave a grunt and a call into the door behind the bar. There was an answering call shouted through the wooden door.

"Will stew do?" a pretty voice asked, his tone a sweet melody to anyone's ears. The bard sat on the nearest stool and studied Scarlette and the elfen boy in her arms for a few seconds before looking towards the bartender,

"I think your stew will be better than bread. Would you get the little chap a bowl?" he asked, "I'll stay another night for your customers."

The bard's offer was more than enough to get the bartender moving. The bearded man offering him a grin and turned to disappear into the kitchen to wrestle with the cook. The bard brought the tavern good business, the longer he could get the bard to stay the more well-known his tavern would become. He might even become full for once.  

[Little Red Sparrow]

{Hehe, fine fine. If you wanna do you own skill check rolls fair dos, just tell me the result xP}

"Is he your son?" the bard asked, tilting his head with a small smile as he enquired. The bartender soon returned with a steaming bowl and spoon, setting them down in front of Scarlette with a little grunt before moving off to serve a customer who seemed overly excited about the bard. They were so rare nowadays, especially ones who stayed over a week in the same place.

---

Elizabeth gave no reply to her, her head gently hitting against Rachael's at the horse's movements. The horse seemed to be slowing down, pulling of a nice rounded and collected canter, the strides equal and the three-time beat steady on the hard ground.

They seemed to be on a main street once more, exploding from the narrow and dark alleyway into a festival of colours and rather suprised people. A few jumped back as the white horse turned and headed up up street towards a large oak tree that had earnt itself it's own street name and round plaza. Many of the taverns and inns on the street had names related to the oak, but there was only one building that, although rundown, proudly bore the name The Oak on its sign.

As the horse made it's way through what seemed to be a festival parade, parting the suprised marchers with their colourful instruments and flags, it became apparent that it was a military display. And it was making its way towards the outer wall and its gate, seemingly to go and fight whatever it was that was outside.

There was a cry from the crowds and a cry from the front of the small army. The foot soldiers around them came to a halt, one unlucky person getting rammed with the white horse's shoulder. He stumbled and quickly the small regiment of spearmen parted to let them through as the horse slowed down to a walk, walking unchecked through them, the reins dragging along the floor. Shortly after a rather brightly coloured man grabbed the horse by it's reins, pulling it to a stop before turning his attention to both riders.  

[Little Red Sparrow]

The white horse chewed its bit noisily in response to the man as he peered up from underneath the rin of his helmet. "Elizabeth?" he queried in a quiet tone, trying to keep his voice down so no one else could hear, but there was no point for a few brave people were venturing forward to see what the commotion was about.

"And who are you--" Elizabeth's horse yanked its head up high, lifting its front feet slightly off the ground and letting them drop quite swiftly. This sharp motion pulled the man off balance. Rachael was quite safe atop the mare so long as there wasn't a great surge and many hands pulling her off.

The mare tossed its head up in the air as the armoured guard tried to regrab the reins, unknowingly playing a game with the horse. Soon the mare got cocky and pranced about, spinning its hind quarters into the guard as he tried to keep up with its head, an arm outstretched to catch the reins.

There was a small applause from the crowd and laughter, the people seemingly not noticing Elizabeth's condition or that the atmosphere should have been serious, instead taking the horse's show as entertainment. The guard, however, did not look at all amused and rather embarrassed for himself.

The mare, now happy that she had outwitted a human, spun about in a half rear before trotting merrily up the road once more, choosing her path to cut sharply around some of the foot soldiers that were trying to ignore totally what was going on. Some failed. Elizabeth remained slumped against Rachael, her body shifting slightly with the horse's movements.