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“Got 'im!” said the Orderite archer triumphantly. The Notbjaovin let out a little mewl and slumped to the ground, an arrow in it's side.

“Nice going, sir.” said another Orderite, clapping.

“Yeah, great job, Corporal.”

The archer grinned. “I couldn't have done it without Medrol's help.” he said modestly, inclining his head to the Oblivionite.

“It was a simple matter.” said Raemos, smiling and sheathing his magical wand, “I only needed to track a spot of darkness in a land of light. It was like tracing a line of ink on a piece of white paper.”

The archer laughed. “Don't sell yourself short!” he said fondly, “You were amazing. I'm glad you were around to recruit for this!”

Raemos dipped his head to hide a blush. “I was only in the area.” he said, twitching his tail from side to side.

Indeed. He had only been in the pleasant port town for a few days, gathering supplies and waiting for his ship to take him back to Taliuma. In these days of strife, it would be unexpected for him to have anything resembling a job in Serenia, besides guarding the ferrying of goods and people on ships: His uniform and reputation bought him that much leeway on his beloved land of light, and such tasks prevented him from being sent to Soldul too often, despite the many long term and well-paying missions there. He did go, on occasion, to that shadowy land, but he still felt uncomfortable there and much preferred the brief trips to Serenia's coast and the occasional visit with his sister.

So, when a few friends of his from the Guardians had come into the port town, complaining about the difficulty of their mission, they had found him there, enjoying the sights.

Their mission had been to track down a Notbjaovin, a stalker in the dark, that had been preying upon the Leklan herds of the farmers in the area. But, due to its rarity and stealth, they had had a beast of a time tracking it.

They recognized him from the seige at Tukyere and, after greeting him with surprise and sitting down to catch up, had happened upon the realization that, as an Oblivionite mage, he might be able to help them with their job.

He had accepted and, in the end, had helped them track down their prey, prey which now lay, dead, on the ground.

“Well, we really appreciate it!” said the archer. He was also a Corporal, and a nice Orderite. A good friend, though friend was all he would be – Ever since Cearlan, Raemos knew who was willing to be something more, and who wasn't. “Lets get a drink back in town, our treat.” he said, to expressions of agreement from the rest of his troops.

Raemos nodded, unwilling to go against such a majority decision.

~~~

The Mara had been mostly expunged from Serenia for the time being – either by Orderite hand, or by the claws of Khehora and dragons. Most of them had returned to Eowyn to regroup.

These three, a mage and its guards, were survivors.

Their stone was dented and dulled and lustreless but their attitudes were experienced and mature as they stalked the golden land, seeking out vulnerable targets to take out for their king.

One of the rock mara sounded a soft chime, pausing upon the floating magic that served as it's legs, it's weapon in hand.

“Winged life forms: Detected. Quantity: 2. Status: Unguarded. Query: Orders? Query: Approach?” it said. The other rock mara looked to him as well, waiting for the answer.

The Mage looked in that direction, almost thoughtfully. “Assessing...” it said in it's stony voice, humming for a moment. “Affirmative.” it said finally, drawing magic around it, “Approach at will. Lethal force is permitted.”

“Affirmative.” said the rock mara in unison, starting towards the Orderites. They burst from the treeline to the side, hammers raised as the mage mara scooted a ways ahead and popped out onto the road ahead.

“Inhibiting progress of the life forms.” it said emotionlessly, gesturing with its hands, and, with a mighty rumble of earth magic, raising a towering pillar of stone to block the road. “Escape is futile” it said, turning to face them...

(718/1800)

“Does not compute.” replied the mage mara.

The water splashed on the stone armor of one of the mara, curling around it and cracking a part of it off with it's magic-enhanced force – an impressive show of strength for an Orderite and a scholar besides. He probably could take on one of the stone creatures...

Not three.

The stone mara charged at them, swinging it's massive, stone hammer at the Orderite male.

~~~

Raemos stiffened as he felt the ground rumble beneath him, flashing back to the shifting sands of the mara battle. “You may have to hold off on those drinks.” he said, moving into a jog.

“Yeah.” agreed the archer, drawing an arrow, “Soldiers, move!”

They advanced onto the road in time to see the mage mara begin it's attack, metallic magic shrieking in it's hands.

The moment he saw it, Raemos was back in the desert, struggling against the mara for the first time. With a cry, he flared his complicated wings, sending his magic forth and enveloping the mage in gelatinous, semisolid shadow, crushing out it's life and magic before it could react or fight.

Gasping, his blood burning with adrenaline, he returned to reality in time to acknowledge that his fellow guardians were now in formation, facing the two stone Mara.

He turned to assess the situation of the civilians...

(945/1800)

The older one was newly dead, twitching in a bloody mess on the ground as the Mara hefted it's heavy hammer.

“Target: Terminated.” it clanked, turning to Ismene with it's cold and merciless gaze, “Target: Aqui...”

A magicked arrow sang into a crack in its armor, ice tendrils forming around it and locking the mara in place. The Orderite bowman nocked another arrow to his bow, his face grim. “Take that, you pile of rocks!” he taunted, as one of his fellows came in and smashed at it. It took three strikes to drop it, but it's essence was soon lifting from the rubble of its body, returning to its home and king.

Raemos turned his attention to the lady – an attractive young Orderite clearly unprepared for such an encounter – And ran in to shield her from the encroaching mara, summoning a shield of shadows that buckled and bent under the Mara's attack. “Now!” he shouted, shoving the mara back and locking it in place with it's own shadow. They converged their magic and blade upon it, destroying the stone creature with relative ease.

It collapsed to the ground in a pile, moaning metallically as it's magic was no longer able to sustain it.

“Are you all right?” Raemos asked, turning to the girl.

(1163/1800)

“Check the area.” ordered the archer. His soldiers – not all men – nodded and followed his command, not without a few sympathetic looks in Ismene's direction. It was odd that the Oblivionite among them was comforting her, but he seemed to be doing fine and, in the Archer Corporal's eyes, there was no need to step in. The priority, thus, was making sure no more of the stone bastards were around. He watched Raemos, though, ready to step in if the Oblivionite needed help with the girl...

~~~

Raemos studied her for a moment – she did seem alive, yes, and uninjured besides. His gaze traveled to the dead adult. He took off his cloak – worn against the and covered the body with it, despite the stains his cloak would receive. Stains could be washed out. Memories could not.

“We were doing our job.” he said, finally, turning back to the girl, “There is no need to thank us... though I am glad you...” at least “are safe...” he hesitated, “Where were you and... he... going?” he asked, “We would gladly escort you to your destination.” he said softly, “If you wished it.”

(1359/1800) 

Raemos put a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Of course.” he said, his tail flicking at his Orderite comerade, “Of course we shall escort you home.”

“Yeah.” said the Orderite, agreeing, “We'll transport him respectfully, don't worry.” He gave the Oblivionite a shrug as his soldiers returned – no other mara in the area, they reported. He started giving orders to his men, arranging for transportation of the body and such.

Raemo's focus was, however, on the girl. “How far are you from your home, miss...?”

(1446/1800)

The city. Raemos drew back. He could not enter Ashen city – his wings and tail cursed him to remain at it's very periphery, the distance allowed to him by his uniform and alliances. “That is a few days away.” he turned to the archer, “Correct?”

The Corporal nodded. “If you don't mind a detour here or there, it shouldn't be more than two days travel...” he looked at Raemos. They both knew that the situation had become complicated.

“Mmm.” Raemos said, “I am Corporal Medrol, and this is Corporal Kassel. We will ensure you reach home safely.” He bowed, “We should start for those destinations immediately, if you do not mind.” his voice softened. “If you need rest, however... we can wait. There is a town not far...”

(1576/1800)