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 Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 6:27 am
The three Crimson stood for a short time after Malik had disapeared. "Well, what do we do now?" They knew what they had to do, but they didn't want to do it. With a collective sigh they gathered up their spears. One of them, clearly in charge, handed out what looked like small, polished, black pebbles. They popped these into their mouths and seperated, beggining their search of the city for Malik.
The child did not want to leg go of Onyx, and struggled mightily before the griffin got the girl firmly in her beak. Ashlyn was quick for her age, and easily darted inbetween people and falling debris. Her first step out of the biulding had her wings open, the second step had prepared her for the jump, the third threw herself int the air, pumping her wings furiously to become airborn. On a nearby rooftop, she made a landing, the child contiuing to struggle. Well now, this was interesting. What was it her Master had asked her to do? Bring him the child that was lost. She sapred the kid a glance before making her decision, she took wing once more and headed for the in. Once there, she found Master's and Mistress' room and sat just inside the door, holding her prize.
Moonstone was not far behind, and now that they didn't have to worry about Bode, they could make their way with only their own safty in mind. He saw AShlyn make it outside, but do to the crowd he couldn't see where she went. He sparred a glance behind him, they arena was crumblng around them like a sand castle. The air was filled with dust. "Onyx, what about your lizard?"
(Before)
"One thing stops the wheel of time, good sir. Death." She did not offer explination, but turned on her heel and allowed Tanundra to lead her away.
(At present)
They we already airborn, Tanundra's large body carrying them swiftly through the windswept passages. The Oracle was somewhat angry, a little curious, and confused at the same time. Her own role was very fuzzy to her, and yet the rest of the world was crystal clear. The city of Deep Water was on a precious balance, and she wasn't liking the way it would fall.
The King had already returned from the games, though why Aella would never know. He always moved about so quickly, she often wondered how he did it. He was relieving the stress in his harem, surround by hunfreds of girl, each one fawnign for attention, trying to gain higher status and therefore be treated with gifts from their most wonderful ruler. Out of her pettiecoats, she was now dressed and transparent layers of blue and purple cloth. a soft veil covering her nose and mouth. As much as she hated the pettiecoats, she always wished she as wearing them now. King Dimirti looked esspecially angry tonight, having recieved some news not too long ago from one of his Crimson Gaurds.
She aly on cushions of too the side, pretending to be one of the girls who had been pushed back, forced to "wait her turn." Then she shuddered as his voice rand out.
"Little Whirlwind..." he thought he sounded husky and appealing, when all he acomplished was a complaing whine.
She stood, knneled down int the spot that they others girls cleared for her. A spot that reasted herself in bewteen the man's feet. She could see the hissing looks of the other woman. "Yes, Your Majesty?"
The dwarf chipped carefully away at the stone in front of him, carving intricate designs into an enormus stone coffin. He had tried to make his work shotty, un appealing, but the whipmaster would not allow that. So he chisled away. following instructions that seemed more then absured, but somehow wrong, distrubing. Such lovely work was going into this coffin, into something the public ould never see, into something that was meant to be buried in the ground.
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 7:17 am
Malik gave the griffin a small smile, and nodded to her, walking over and even giving her an affectionate pat on the head.
"simple pleasentries and life. and what about studies. what kind of studies."
Then back to Keiran and Piper, and giving Keiran another once over.
"If you are her father, then what about her mother? surely the circumstance that brought you here woudl give her some interest? Or is she a more typical breed, the type that woudl attempt to kill me as to look at me?"
Of course he was a bit more interested now.
"And tell me, exactly what has my 'cher told you about us?"
Now that Bode was safe, and at moonstone's prompt, Onyx did indeed worry about Ironsides. and started to look for him, going back into the arena area, nevermind the falling building debris, calling out for his mount. he was a lovable thing, and Bode adored him. losing him would be horrible. and the longer he was looking the more agitated and worried he'd get. which ment people getting in hsi way were starting to get forcibly removed form it via pushing, shoving, and buffering with wings. He needed to find Ironsides.
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 8:18 am
Ashlyn accepted the pat with a beaky smile. It was not often that Master ever petted her, and she liked the fact that red-eyed Master had seemed to have taken a back seat. But to be honest, the child in her beak was getting the annoying, she kept twisitng around and kicking her feet, trying to get away. Now that she had completed her little mission, she dropped her.
Bode hit the floor with an audible thump, bruising her knees. She was still quite shook up about the whole thing, she had just made a biulding fall down and she was in the presence of the one who had spilled all that blood...she starred at Mr. Malik with wide eyed fear.
So what did she do? What she had done before, when she was being shipped to Deep Water in the first place. She scrampled up and ran.
Ironsides was on a wall that had yet to crumble down. For reasons unknown he had stayed still, and wasn't moving. Perhaps it was instinct, to stay as still as possible so that your enemies wouldn't see you. Maybe he was oblivious to his danger. Point was the biulding was comming down around him, and he didn't seem concerned in the least.
The dwarf paused a moment to whipe sweat from his forehead with an arm that was covered in stonedust. He didn't get the sweat off, just transfered the dust to his forehead, making a sticky paste that clogged his pores and made him sweat more in other places. Beside him, a half-elf who had been there for some time, was taking a piece of fin sandpaper to the stone, slowly making it smooth. Quite suddenly, the whipmaster put his hand the half-elf's shoulder and guestured deeper into the slave pits. The half-elf blanched, seemed to understand what was happening. He struggled when the whipmaster took him away. But the slave was weak with malnutrition, and could not fight back. Those who went into the lower pits did not come back.
Some time later, a man dressed in nothing but a pair of stained brown pants walked by carrying a large jar. He went around to the otherside of the coffin, where there were no slaves for the moment. When he walked by again, he was holding jar with one hand, by the lip. The jar had been emptied.
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 9:41 am
"your definition is undefined with proof i stand here moving foward. I suppose im not dead but beyond life."
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Fractured Moonlight Captain
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 11:09 am
Piper was having an extra bad day today. First she had been relieved to see Bode, but when the girl up and ran she had to take a moment to control her temper, and thusly issued a bitten out command. "Ashlyn, got fetch that girl again and then...take her to Onyx, then you are to come back here. Do that for me and I'll make ti worth it for you." That done she turned attention back to the two men with her...father had picked an excellent time to pop up didn't he? But that wasn't what worried her...Malik had a way of asking questions that could be too close to home for her. "Do we really have time for this idle chit chat? I think we should leave the city, Malik we can come back later and..." Her look went to Kieran who had that patient waiting look. "Yes father?"
"What did he call you?"
" 'chev. It means beloved." And she ran a hand through her hair oh he was going to be writing notes all night. "But right now I really-" Stopped mid sentence as Kieran laughed and walked over, clapping her on the back.
"Pip you worry far too much." Kieran's look returned to Malik's questions which he felt he need not hold back for. Blunt in his answers yes, but he knew not to give everything at once. More than one time in her letters she made mention of not telling Malik some things, but that was always her fear it all that stopped her. His silly daughter, always afraid of what others saw. "I study Mori'quessir, drow." Had a whole couple of bound journals about them all by now. And a casual shrug to that. "Fianna Swiftfeather." He shook his head slightly, "Piper's mother, is as you say...more traditional in her ways. Which is why I haven't told her of Pip since she left home, as she's asked me not to. And that's perfectly understandable considering all that happened."
"Which is better to not be brought up seeing as it caused problems before and doesn't need to be told now. Yes, my leaving caused quite the stir and we're going to leave it at that because sometimes the past is better left dead." There was a defensive edge in her voice." And then a look to Kieran as he was watching her with that studying look again. "What now?"
"Just looking at you. You cut your hair short...though I still see you keep redoing those red streaks I put in your hair, I must say they do make you look rather fetching. Not surprised you're this young and already on the path to marriage." Which brought his look to Malik. "And that's why I am here...Malik." He had paused those brief seconds contemplating on what to call him. But if Malik was going to call him Kieran well then he was going to use a first name too. "Other than news of your engagement shes' rattled off quite a few things. Of your meeting, of her falling in love, of your travels in the Underdark. Last she wrote to me, she told of you two learning each other's native tongues, of the tournament, and of your engagement as I said before."
Busted, wasn't she. Yeah that was a good thing...never thought that writing letters behind Malik's back was going to come of this. But she had only started it recently and what with the good direction her life was going she wanted him to know. Why? Because he had been the only one to really understand her and offer her options at times when she thought there were none. A tug at her collar. But there were some things she didn't even tell him, like her ears and collar. Even though she was sure he would only see the bright side as he usually did, her self consciousness kept her ears to herself and then she feared her collar to be misunderstood. Now she was looking for a convenient way to get the two men to part ways, even for a bit.
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 12:44 pm
Ashlyn sighed. Oh, all right...more running. Yippee. She stood up and stuck her head out the door, looking both ways to see where the child had gone. Problem was the kid had already turned a corner. Problem was the for some odd reason, Ashlyn couldn't pick up her scent. A little confused, she headed for the door of the inn, the only exit that she was aware of. But the annoyance was nowhere to be seen. Her bad lcuk for or less earsed the child's tracks as she ran....a very annoying inconvenience. Once again, Ashlyn started looking for the child that had been lost.
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 2:26 pm
"Indeed. of all that, and she never bothered to mention to me that she was even in contact with anyone."
A glance at Piper, and then back to Keiran.
"So you..study my race. how interesting. well..in good faith, I'll answer your question, if you answer a few of mine. this talk of bridges intrigues me, and I want to know why some Koada'dal woudl be interested in mentioning it. he told her something after he was beaten in an archery contest about such things, and she had a very worried look. it sounded to me like a threat."
Then another glance at Piper, and back to Keiran...and he lifted up hsi guantleted hand.
"Just a curiousity. Do you know what this is, and what it does?"
Onyx shook his head at the lizard, and shouted for him to come down. and the second he was down, Onyx was on him, riding as fast at they coudl do to an exit. and the best thing was, since Ironsides could climb on teh walls, it made it easier to avoid the people by going over them on teh walls as fast as the waddlng lizard could run. and the second they were out of the colloseum, he started looking for Moonstone, and of course Bode and the Griffin. They had better be alright as well. Then they probably need to leave, and quickly before this got them thrown into a jail of some sort. or worse.
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 2:37 pm
Bode tripped on a loose peice of cobblestone, falling and scraping up her knees and palms. No one paid much attention to her, she was just a child. She igrnoed her bleeding legs and got up again, taking off down the street. She didn't know where she was, she couldn't remeber how many turns she had taken, she just wanted to keep running. All she could see was blood, all she could think about was the look on Mr. Malik's face. The same face Mrs Piper had when she killed Mommy, the same look he had had when he took her and Mommy away from Daddy. She didn't want to see it anymore. Whenever she did, someone died. She kept running.
Moonstone saw Ironsides crest before anything esle, being the bright red that it was. He waved his brother over. When Onyx was in earshot, Moonstone hailed him. "Ashlyn will have gone where Malik and Piper are. If they haven't left all ready, they will have at least gone to the inn to pick up their belongings. We'll head them off!"
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Fractured Moonlight Captain
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 2:40 pm
"I didn't think it was important to mention." Lie, she just didn't want him to know. After all, Malik had his paranoid sides to him easily enough. "It's not like I asked him to come..." That part was muttered under her breath as she crossed her arms. This was agony. And then he had to go ask questions. "You know I really really think we should get out of here..."Hint hint men! Of course them being them they were being stubborn.
Kieran shrugged. "Fascinating really, your kind." Then he thought for a moment. "Koada'dal...Cala'quessir, high elf. Well...back in Andal...one of mixed blood who is the first of that mixed blood is commonly called a 'bridge'. I suppose it's not a threat in its' context but still...quite a powerful term." And then a raised eyebrow as Malik raised his hand, apparently flashing the gauntlet he was wearing. "Looks like a gauntlet to me, and commonly those are used to protect hands and forarms...but from your questioning I am guessing that it does more than that, yes?" His look went to Piper and he blinked once at her. "Are you feeling alright dear? You look a bit pale."
Piper rather numbly shook her head and then she turned her eyes to Malik, that pleading look of 'don't tell him' resting there in the tri colored orbs. Things were bad enough, why make them worse? Of course this was only her view on the subject about it all and was in all reality skewed to what was actually happening.
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 3:06 pm
"It has other uses, yes. just trying to guage how much dear Piper let known about me."
A glance at Piper, and a gesture for her to come to him, and when she did, he gave her a small kiss on her forehead.
"Start packing things together. As soon as Onyx and Moonstone show..and your pet..we'll get out of here. after all, your father deserves a rest in our home, as opposed to an inn, don't you think?"
Onyx nodded to his brother, and just for fun, bounded over on teh enthusiatic lizard and grabbed hsi brother, tossing him up and on.
"The lizard can get through crowds easier than we can. not to mention if guards come for us, we can see them easier in the crowd form the elevation. Provided any of them even survived a pissed of Malik D'vinn."
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Fractured Moonlight Captain
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 3:19 pm
Piper leaned against him a moment, regaining her compsoure...oh this would make for a nice long private talk later, not wouldn't it? Not a moment she was looking forward to but no doubt would come, knowing Malik. In truth he had right to know...after all, she knew quite the deal about hsi past and he not much of hers. Damn past, always came to bite you in the a**. "Yes...that's a very good idea." More so because they were leaving and the men were exhibiting sense. Pushing from him she did just what she was told, packing together what they had brought with them.
Kieran jsut smiled. In all truth, the behavior between them fascianted him slightly...after all he studied drow and well...they weren't know for affection at all now where they? "Sounds good to get out of this place...though I haven't been her long I have the distinct vibe that this isn't the best place to be. And as Pip said earlier, this place doesn't look too kindly on elves. Of course that didn't bother me really, I have Nerian." Then again nothing much bothered Kieran and he took to hsi patient waiting and quiet obsevring.
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 3:20 pm
Moonstone almost gagged, being pulled off his fee by the scruff of his neck. He landed rather painfully behind his brother, rowling. "Geez, couldn't have been more gentle to your older brother?" Moon still didn't like riding on the lizard. He looked around at the running crowd. "I doubt we'll have problems with gaurds at the moment." they reached the inn without incedent, unless you call tobbling merchant stands and people eventfull. They didn't waist time in dismounting and heading upstairs, where Malik, Piper, adn the other man where waiting. The head count was obvious.
"Where's Ashlyn and Bode?" was the first thing out of his mouth.
Ashlyn did what she could to try and pick up some trail of the child, but it was as if the girl had just vanished. Great, just wodnerful. Now she had to do this all over agian
Aella felt dirty. Had she a knife, she would have slit her throat. Dimitri made her stay by his side, while the other girls did things to him, around him. She suppressed a shudder. HSe hated this...perverted debauchery, this legal rape. He didn't notice of course, he didn't pay attention to anytihng but her body. She narrowed her eyes at him. If she ever got out of this place, she gladly do anything in her power to kill the King.
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 5:33 pm
"The Zephyrs are only so strogn, and have only so much they can do. a wound can be as fatal to them as any. and of course, us being gone means that the next person to take the fall will be Terran Gale. if I don't see him before then."
Then the arrival of Moonstone and Onyx. to which malik paid very little attention.
"She's gone. ashyln brought her here, I assume at one of your requests, and she ran off. the griffin is seeking her out right now, with orders to bring her to your brother."
Malik let Piper do the packing, keeping his eyes on Keiran.
"So she's the first of her particular breed. what was it, some kind of arranged marriage to make peace between the moon and wood elves?"
Onyx growled and would have lashed at Malik had Moonstone not grabbed his arm and shook his head in a 'don't do it..he might still be in a foul mood' gesture. after all they'd just seen Malik kill two men and possibly he'd killed several more before they got back here. which made Onyx instead cross his arms and snort, before leaving himself to go to Ironsides, mount up and start looking for Bode himself, track by scent if he could. Damn that elf.
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 5:44 pm
Piper had paused in her packing to look at Moonstone adn Onyx, then Onyx left in a huff. Oh great, more bad turns in the day. All she could do was shake hre head. "Bode won't be near us, she's scared. Ashlyn brought her but she took off so I sent Ashlyn to go fetch her again. What with her and your brother searching, I'm sure she'll be fine." Optimisism was hers at this moment and she wanted to keep it. Of course a few moments of mroe packing and that was that. "Let's jsut go." And a look to MOon. "You, ONyx, and Bode can come stay with us if need be...but considering your brother...well you know where I'm going." Now a look to Malik and Kieran who were being as casual as ever.
"No actually, Fianna and I aren't married. Back then there was a lot of..." he seemed to search for the word he wanted a moment, "...strife, between us all. Don't get me wrong, I love Fianna but marriage...well it just wasn't something plausable at the time. Then Piper came along and this...bridge...thing came up. Needless to say that everyone jumped at the opportunity and things got...difficult."
Piper gritted her teeth a moment then sighed. "Yes yes and I'm very sorry for it all, or whatever, can we please not talk about it? And I am still in the room you know..." A shake of her head before she pushed out the room past Moon and headed downstairs to whistle for Serino.
Kieran clicked his tongue and half grinned at Malik. "She's definately got Fianna's temper...but obviously Pip is rather touchy about that subject. I take it that she's never discussed it with you?"
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Fractured Moonlight Captain
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 5:53 pm
"Not once. She knows a fair bit about my past. as it was part of my past that brought her to me, as you might well know. Moonstone and Onyx's father, to be more precise. What mostly concerns me about this bridge thing is the fact that Terran used it in almost a threatening manner, that she seemed to take with worry. And as you well know, I don't like people messing with her. She's mine, and Terran is going to learn what happens when you mess with me and mine."
A look at Keiran.
"Study of the drow. sounds dangerous. even in my home plane anyone outside a dark elf was liable to quickly become a corpse on a street."
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