Questions of Duty (Thelize, Saker, and Curlan)
Danraed thundered down the dirt path, his mount lumbering in long, powerful strides across the wooded landscape. The knife at his belt was wet; the purse which he clutched in one black-gloved hand was splattered too with the boy’s blood. He had known immediately that he was being followed, even before he saw the child lurking beneath his window, before the boy had the chance to utter the name, before the steel of Danraed’s knife had clicked against the bones of his throat. Thelize Shwinn. The name brought shivers down his spine each time he so much as thought of it. He had lost her so long ago, he thought; but here she was now searching for him, and find him she would. She had. He continued his ride.
He knew where he would find her; there was but one place he had seen in Manetheren that was clear enough for a canter, miles outside the city, the pasture where she had left him once before. She would be alone, at this time of day, and he was glad- he had much to tell her, much which could not be overheard.
He did not slow as he neared the field. His suspicions had been correct; there sat Thelize atop her stallion, staring into the trees at the sound of hooves. She knew the sound of his horse’s hooves as well as she knew the sound of his voice; she must have known who he was even before he drew near enough to see the brown depths of her eyes, to drop the coin purse into her hand.
His voice hung low between them.
“I heard you were looking for me.”
*****(sorry for the Faulkner bit, Thelize)*****
The day was hot as Alaren and Saker rode through the ranks of men at the Band’s camp; even the gentle breeze blew warm as it pulled tendrils of Alaren’s hair from her chignon and ruffled the hem of her riding skirts. Alaren had never been fond of visiting the camp, with its smell of sweat and steel and the noise of rowdy men, and the afternoon heat made the task even more unpleasant, but she understood the importance of this visit. News had come of trouble in Shienar, and the Band was to be called to fight against whatever force was plaguing it. This night which they spent with the Band would likely be the last which Alaren and Saker spent in Manetheren before they set forth, and there was much to be done.
They had arrived back to the tents now, Saker on his stallion and Alaren on her’s, and a pair of generals following behind them (and Curlan, of course). The men had been alerted, the weapons inspected, the horses checked and readied, and now Saker and the generals would brood over maps and talk strategy while Alaren sat up straight and nodded and tried to nurse her headache without anyone noticing. She sighed. Military strategy was the one arena of politics in which she was still useless, and, although she should have stayed and observed so that she might catch on, she was hardly in the mood for it.
The men dismounted, and Saker helped Alaren off of her steed. Alaren urged the generals to enter the tent and to make themselves at home; they complied, and she drew Saker off to the side.
“Saker, darling,” she said with quiet affection, “I know that you and the generals have much to discuss, and my presence will be worthless at best, if not a hindrance. I am going to take a quick walk down to the infirmary, if I am not needed here. I would like to check up on them before we depart.” Besides, they would have something there for her headache. “I won’t be much longer than an hour or so.”
Raekal RP Admin Band OL King of Manetheren
Posts: 279
(12/10/06 6:18 pm) Reply
Re: Questions of Duty (Thelize, Saker, and Curlan)
Saker sighed. The call had come far sooner than he had expected. His Asha'man had Traveled to Shienar to inquire as to matters there only the night before. Saker had gotten word from Shienar long before that the Trollocs were gathering for the Gap, and he hadn't heard anything else for a time. But the Asha'man had returned in the morning with a letter from the king, asking Saker to hurry, as none of his other allies had yet responded, and no one seemed able at this point to go to his aid. Leaving Manetheren, with her Asha'man, in a unique position to be able to help.
Saker had set out at once to rally the men, and gather as many together as they could, and leave a force behind to guard the homeland. Though they had little to fear IN the homeland at this moment, one never knew, so they would leave behind a sizeable force. He would take with him a force of nearly forty-five thousand men, however. Cavalry and infantry, though primarily infantry. Cavalry would have their advantage minimalized in the narrow passes in which the battle would be fought. They would be of more use here, where they could manuever faster than infantry against a superior foe, in case of an attack.
Saker had sent two Asha'man to the Black Tower, hoping beyond hope that they would spare a few more men to send with him. They would need all the help they could get in the Gap.
As his generals cornered him at last, and pulled out their maps and began to try to formulate a strategy, he sensed Alaren's impatience, weariness, uninterestedness with the proceedings. “Saker, darling. I know that you and the generals have much to discuss, and my presence will be worthless at best, if not a hindrance. I am going to take a quick walk down to the infirmary, if I am not needed here. I would like to check up on them before we depart. I won’t be much longer than an hour or so.”
He nodded. It was reasonable, he supposed. And, in the back of his mind, he knew she wouldn't go anywhere alone anyway. Curlan would be tagging along after her, as dogged in his protection of her that he would have made a fine Gaidin himself. Saker feared what telling the man that would mean... the man seemed uncomfortable around channelers.. men and women both. Except for Alaren. Then agan, Alaren was an exception to almost every rule out there. He smiled slightly at that thought. An exception she was, yes... but she was HIS exception.
"Alright, love." He put an arm around her waist and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. His mind was already swimming with all the details of the upcoming battle he needed to plan out. He would be up late this night, he knew. "I hope your head feels better," he whispered in her ear, and then let her go.
(Raekal Dunshain) -- First Stormleader Asha'man Bonded to Brenna Selanos (Saker Mandell) -- King of Manetheren (Seia Vron) -- Asha'man (Tristan Du'saa) -- Gaidin in Training (Kerin Lizaile) -- Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah
Re: Questions of Duty (Thelize, Saker, and Curlan)
Curlan watched from the back as the maps came out. He was really not in his element here. He had no scout force on the ground. No reports to give, and while his tactical knowledge was sound, the dozen other men in the tent knew just as much, if not more, then he did.
Seeing Alaren slip out of the tent was a pleasent change. Catching Saker's eye, he slipped out. He never had asked Saker how he felt about the near stalking he did of the Queen, but he wasn't sure it mattered. If Saker had a big problem with it, he would give the order.
The infirmary wasn't a great place, but he waited outside, watching like a hawk. Like a wolf.
Re: Questions of Duty (Thelize, Saker, and Curlan)
Alaren smiled gratefully as Saker gave her leave, watching him as he turned and ducked into his tent, the flaps brushing against his broad shoulders. He was a good man; she could only smile in happy admiration at the tent flaps that closed behind him.
The infirmary was a good thirty minute’s walk by main road, as it was situated halfway between town and the camps; she could half the time by taking a short cut through the woods, and set off in this direction with Curlan behind her. No sooner had Saker disappeared into the tent had Curlan emerged, stealthily as always; Alaren would never have known she was being followed has she not learned to recognize the feel of his yellow eyes on her back. She appeased him for awhile, walking along as though she did not know he was behind her, but eventually she grew tired of pretending and stopped, turning into the woods behind her.
“Curlan,” she said dryly. “I know that you’re following me. You know that I know that you’re following me. Why don’t you come out and walk with me? Your eyes will work no better from a distance.”
Re: Questions of Duty (Thelize, Saker, and Curlan)
Curlan cursed silently to himiself. Had he been too loud? Had he left the tent too soon? Was he simply just losing his touch? No matter, she was right and he never did enjoy walking alone.
Hurrying along, he caught up with her, his eyes and ears still sharp on the world around him. He was still uncomfortable with her so close, but she was now his Queen. The irony of that, considering the years he ducked Aes Sedai, was not lost on him
"You really should have stayed and learned Milady," he said softly, still not looking directly at her.
Re: Questions of Duty (Thelize, Saker, and Curlan)“I heard you were looking for me.”
Thelize studied the purse in her hand, dark and sticky with blood dried and drying. She looked up from it slowly, bringing her eyes to meet his. "It would appear you did far more than hear," she replied in an equally low tone. Even, calm. It was not an unexpected action for Danraed to kill, nor was it unexpected that he bring her back some token as if he were a ratter bringing his first catch to the stoop of his mistress' house.
"Not pleased," she said, handing him back the bloodied purse and wiping her hand on her cloak, not a trace of disgust in her look or remorse in her words. Yes, a life was a life was a life. But the life of a child...
Danraed stepped down from his horse, moving to hold Kaspar's bridle unecessarily as Thelize followed suit and dismounted. "Not pleased? Not pleased to see your Danraed here as you wished?" he teased, a smirk on his almost perpetually arrogant face. So self-assured. So like him.
Thelize smiled thinly. "Do not be a fool, man." He understood perfectly well what she meant, and she knew that. She stepped closer towards him, unwrapping his fingers from the reins as Kaspar snorted impatiently. Brushing past him she noted the condition of his horse. "Yet I turn that question to you as well. Had you merely come for me I doubt you would have spent your horse in such a manner..."
The smile that had come to Danraed faded quickly, his features becoming dark, serious, morose. "It is the Taint," he said flatly. "I--"
Thelize shook her head, cutting him off. "I do not want to know what you did this time, Danraed. And I told you there is nothing we can do about that--"
"No. That is why I am here. There is something we can do. But I need your help," Danraed interrupted in turn. He continued, now pacing in thought. "Thelize, this is my chance, and there is someone who would himself take it if I do not."
Re: Questions of Duty (Thelize, Saker, and Curlan)
((OOC: Yucky, I apologize))
“Perhaps,” Alaren replied, her voice neutral. As much as she resented Curlan’s chidings, she knew he was probably right; some day, the burden of military strategy would fall upon her, and she would need to know how to act. She doubted, however, that much could be learned while one was focused on keeping one’s eyes opened. There would be plenty of time to learn from Saker when the weather was not so foul or her head so sore. “Perhaps.”
The woods were growing darker as they walked. Alaren took hold of saidar, channeling a glowing orb into her hand to light their path. Curlan’s eyes shone yellow in the dim glow. Alaren had her suspicions about Curlan since she had first seen him the night before the coronation, but he did not seem willing to speak of it, and Alaren had never pressed the issue. But time had passed since then, and though their conversations had been few, they had become more comfortable with one another. Perhaps he would now be more inclined to speak of whatever it was that made his eyes glow yellow. She was about to ask him, but before she had the opportunity to do so, he quieted her with a wave of his hand, his eyes intent as though listening closely.
Alaren stopped, and after a moment, she heard as well; two voices, the low growl of a man and the familiar murmur of a woman.
“This is the only way,” the man said, his voice quiet in the evening air. “If the Dark One sees that I have surpassed his Favored One, he will grant me his honor instead. I have grown stronger. I could be one of them…. You do not understand. Think of the Power, the glory! But I need you…. Please,” he said, his voice pained with desperation. “I need you, Thelize!”
Thelize? At this, Alaren jolted, staring wide eyed at Curlan, who was motioning frantically towards the ball of light which she still held.
Bloody hell, she thought to herself, and considered the relative risks of maintaining hold of the Source and releasing it. Thelize would realize her channeling if she held it much longer, but she may notice too if she stopped now. She cringed, made up her mind, and released the Source.
Immediately, the talking stopped, and before Alaren could register what was happening, weaves of saidar had shot from the distance, hurling Curlan past her and into a tree, where he remained, slumped. Wolves howled in the distance. Alaren reached for the Source in time to find a block before it- not saidar; something different, stronger, which made her skin crawl. The pair emerged now, a tall, darkly handsome man with sunken eyes and a scar across his face, and Thelize, looking small and startled beside him. Some unseen and unbearable pain seared through her, as though her skin were being seared from her body and as though she were being torn apart limb by limb. Alaren heard a scream, and realized it was her own.
********
Danraed swam through the river of saiden which coursed through his veins, the overwhelming oily currents which made him both retch and shake with ecstasy, the power of it which tried to overtake him as he placed the block on the channeler. Aes Sedai, most likely, though it would not matter when she was dead. They had overheard his plan; he had no choice. He wove his cruel weaves, weaves which only the Dark One could invent, which only Danraed could so artfully employ, and prepared himself to kill.
Re: Questions of Duty (Thelize, Saker, and Curlan)
Though Thelize could not see the weaves Danraed was making, she had a good idea as to what Danraed had so rashly begun to do, cemented by Alaren's screaming. "Stop!" she said. "Stop, you'll kill her!"
Danraed heard her only faintly, his mind still adrift in the sickly sweet power of saidin, twisting the mangled weaves to his design (("this reeks of Absalom, Absalom! and Thomas Sutpen," Liz commented in passing.)) "That would be the point," he hissed from behind clenched teeth.
"Stop!" Thelize was screaming at him now. "She is my friend! Light, stop!"
Danraed started at this, his concentration and hold on saidin lost. He gathered himself in time to keep the block on the Aes Sedai. Thelize knew little of healing weaves and the like, as it had not been part of her training, but she knew they were similar in some respects to those that caused harm and manipulated a few weaves to ease Alaren's pain, in addition to binding her with air. Only then did she turn to Danraed, with a look like bloody murder.
"What in the name of Shai'tan are you thinking?" she demanded, hands on hips. She was hiding her anger well, for Thelize anyway. "You cannot just go around killing people, they do not look highly upon that here."
"She heard, they heard," Danraed said, out of breath. "They have to be killed, it is the only way."
"It most certainly is not!" Thelize said. "That kind of thinking will get you nowhere, Danraed."
He was not paying attention."Your friend?"
"Yes, I know you find it hard to believe, but unlike you I have managed to find a few new friends that are not in the service of the one you so desperately seek to please." He made as if to interrupt, but Thelize's hand stopped him. "I will not help you if you kill these innocents, you know me well enough to know that."
Danraed glared at the two, the man starting to revive but still bound securely in Thelize's weaves. "Then what do you propose we do?"
"Execution now out of the question, there is only one option."
Re: Questions of Duty (Thelize, Saker, and Curlan)
((Ugh... my muse is broken))
The wagon bounced along haphazardly, jolting its occupants unapologetically as it made its way through the dark of night. Alaren did not know where they were or where they were heading; Danraed, at Thelize’s urging, had Traveled them out of Manetheren and onto some strange, deserted road, where the only fellow in sight had been the poor man from whom they had stolen the wagon in which Alaren, Thelize, and Curlan were now riding.
They had been silent the entire way; Curlan was still unconscious from his encounter with the tree, and Alaren and Thelize had little to say to one another, the latter having kidnapped the former. Of course, Thelize had also saved her life. Alaren would have been grateful, had she not been so terribly confused. She had always gotten the impression that Thelize detested her at best- and yet the woman had called her a friend. Some friend, Alaren thought to herself bitterly. Some friend who fails to mention she’s in cahoots with the Dark One.
And yet being dragged off to suit some evil purpose was not what bothered her most; it frightened her more that the bond with Saker had grown so faint. She knew that his emotions must be strong, but even so she could hardly feel them. He must be hundreds of miles away! And what could he do? He had a war to fight, and he would have to fight it without her. Who would watch his back as closely as she, or be there to Heal him if he were to fall? It was silly to think that he would not be able to survive without her there, but it was in her feminine nature to worry.
Rather than anguish over her separation from Saker, she focused her energy instead on Curlan. She still could not touch the Source- Danraed’s block held firm- but Thelize has released her binds enough so that she could examine the poor fellow. His skull was not broken, luckily, though it was quite thoroughly bloodied from the impact. Fortunately, the wagon which they had commandeered had been that of a textile merchant, and there was thread and fabrics abound for her to work with. At the moment, she busied herself with sewing the broken skin on his head in an attempt to ignore the oppressive silence.
((Why am I still writing… crap crap crap!))
She finished, her stitches careful and even despite the bouncing wagon. She needed only to find a bandage and Curlan would be good as new. She glanced about the wagon and spotted a pile of dresses next to Thelize; Thelize looked towards her, and Alaren had no choice but to make her request.
“Hand me that gown,” she said simply, motioning towards the pile.
Re: Questions of Duty (Thelize, Saker, and Curlan)
Thelize was lost in her own thoughts. This was not supposed to happen. Alaren and whoever this other man was were not supposed to be involved. Light, she herself was most likely not supposed to be involved. But the Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills. Sometimes the will the Wheel had was not what you would have liked, but there was not much to be done about that. She would just have to do her best in this. Whatever "this" would be and what her "best" would accomplsih she could not yet say.
Alaren's caught her attention and she blinked slowly, nodding and tossing one of the dresses to the Aes Sedai. "I apologize that I know not much of Healing. It was not an important part of my training; there were...others for that." She glanced to Danraed. He sat tall, his hands holding firm to the reins of the pitiful excuse for a horse that drew them. Thelize sighed. Perhaps the man was truly mad.
"You are lucky it was my weaves and not Danraed's that hit your friend. I doubt he would be alive if they had not been."
Danraed snorted. "No doubt involved," he remarked snidely.
"Oh quiet, you," Thelize scolded. Dropping her voice such that Danraed could not easily hear her, she added, "I apologize for all of this."
Raekal RP Admin Band OL King of Manetheren
Posts: 284
(12/23/06 5:04 pm) Reply
Re: Questions of Duty (Thelize, Saker, and Curlan)
Saker sighed as he tapped the maps. His men were running through what was left of the camp. Men were packing up, getting ready to move, buckling on armor, rolling up tents, packing blankets into their bags. A column of cavalry jangled past outside, heading towards the main column of cavalry headed towards Manetheren. There would be two main forces left behind. A larger force in the city of Manetheren itself, and then a smaller force up in Baerlon, to hld up appearances and such. Cavalry, as it had been pointed out, would be forced to dismount and fight afoot in the Pass, and so would therefore be left behind to guard the home cities while the infantry itself went to war.
"No, no, no. Look. This part of the pass is exceptionally rocky. Not only could we not get men up onto those passes, but if we did, they would be vulnerable to attack from above. Dragh'kar and the like. They could swoop down from above and take their lives--"
"Lord Saker, Lord Saker!" a messenger shouted outside, swinging down from his still galloping horse. Saker sighed as he turned to see what it was now. He was partly startled to note the Asha'man riding behind the messenger, looking equally hurried. "Urgent news, Lord Saker," the messenger bowed, pulling from his pack with practiced ease a scroll case holder and handingit over.
Saker rolled it in his hand, flipped it over, and opened it quickly. Dumping the parchment, he inspected the seal for a split second before breaking it with his nail and reading the message quickly.
"Blood and bloody ashes," he muttered, tossing the messenger his case back. "Get the men moving! Now! The Shadow does not wait this day!"
His officers, which had begun to gather, scattered, shouting and waving banners, blowing horns and whistling sharply.
He spewed out a few more orders, telling men where to go and when, ordering that the infantry had to be ready to move in an hour's notice. "Get going," he told his aides, and they vanished on a hundred missions. He turned, looking for Alaren, and remembered she had went on a walk. He looked inwardly at the bond, realizing she wasn't very far off, and thought about sending her some urgent feeligns to get her back soon. They had to leave quickly.
About that moment, the bond came alive with startling racks of pain. He gasped, drawing in a sharp breath, bending over a bit to control the sudden agony. He knew only one thing during it... he had to get to Alaren, and quickly. And then it ended, just like that. He spun, grabbing the Asha'man with him.
"Get two others and three riders. Go! Quickly! Our Queen is in danger!" The Asha'man nodded and spun, running quickly. Saker grabbed his aide. "My horse. NOW!" the aide paled and ran. He spun, looking in the direction he knew her to be in. She was alive, and somewhat confused... he turned at the sound of hooves. His horse followed the men he had requested. He leapt into the saddle, pointing the way, and put heels to flank, setting off at a dead run.
The rest followed.
They ripped across the country, men leaping out of the way. They stared after them in obvious confusion. Saker could feel her getting closer, closer..
And then he blinked, and she was far away. His mind reeled with the sudden absence of his sense of her. Nothing worked. He drew up short, his horse panting. The others drew up around him.
"What is it, milord? Is she near?"
Saker merely shook his head, not trusting his voice, and set out again, to where he had felt her last. They rode quickly down among some trees, where one of the Asha'man suddenly ran forwards. "A male channeler was here," he announced. He glanced around, as if looking at something Saker could not see. "Not from the Black Tower. I don't think. His skill level is quite amazing. I've never seen weaves this narrow."
Saker looked around, and noticed a red smear on a tree trunk. He dismounted, walked off, and suddenly heard the distant howling of wolves. Curlan had been here, obviously. He hoped his friend was still alive. He looked around. He had a duty to hold to. He had Alaren to protect and help and serve and love, and then he had to go to the Gap, and hold, or else the entire land would be lost.
In a second he made up his mind. "You two," he said, pointing out two of the Asha'man. "Can you follow them? Can you find them?"
They looked at eachother. "We can try," one said finally.
Saker nodded. "Try hard then. Bring the Queen back to Manetheren, even if I'm still at the Gap, take her back to the City. We'll return there shortly. We have a battle to hold to. I trust you with her life."
They both saluted and bowed as one before setting about discussing the weave, the angle of it, where they could be going.
Saker rode back to his camp just as quickly as they had rode out. They needed to get going.
(Raekal Dunshain) -- First Stormleader Asha'man Bonded to Brenna Selanos (Saker Mandell) -- King of Manetheren (Seia Vron) -- Asha'man (Tristan Du'saa) -- Gaidin in Training (Kerin Lizaile) -- Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah
Re: Questions of Duty (Thelize, Saker, and Curlan)
((Three crappy posts in a row =) ))
Alaren caught the dress as it was unceremoniously tossed towards her. Thelize looked penitent, to some extent, but at the same time, from the way she looked towards the man at the front of the wagon, it made Alaren suspect that there was more to this than she knew or understood. It was not the first mystery Thelize had presented, and Alaren suspected it would not be the last. At the moment, she could not have cared less about the connection between Thelize and the channeler; she was too preoccupied with how she could get back home to Saker.
An escape seemed unlikely. She did not know enough of saidin to estimate the man’s strength, but if he could block her so easily, there was no doubt that he could overtake her. For now it seemed as though there was nothing more she could do than keep herself and Curlan alive. An opportunity would present itself; it had to.
"You are lucky it was my weaves and not Danraed's that hit your friend. I doubt he would be alive if they had not been."
"No doubt involved,"
"Oh quiet, you. I apologize for all of this."
“Apologize?” Alaren replied harshly, ripping apart the gown with a degree of ferocity which was likely unwarranted. “Apologize for what? For kidnapping me on the eve of battle? For associating with a darkfriend?” She glanced up at Thelize, her eyes narrowed. “I do not want your apology, Thelize Shwinn, unless it will ensure me a passage home.”
Re: Questions of Duty (Thelize, Saker, and Curlan)
Curlan came to slowly, and thankfully, he had enough control so he didn't jolt awake. Instead, he softly drifted into a wolf dream. He knew things were bad and this was about the only way to get them good again. Or get a grip on them at the very least.
He started searching for the wolves immediatly and found them almost as quick. Thankfully he hadn't been frightened of this in years.
"There is trouble brothers," he said softly, as more then a dozen wolves showed themselves. "I have been caught by friends of the Dark One. I must get word to the Red Eagle."
"The Red Eagle is moving Green Leaf," the eldest said, Grey Oak was his name. "They have left their camp, moving to the north."
"Are there no wolves in the north?"
"None that can spare time from the greater hunt," said Grey oak. Green Leaf knew he meant the fight with the trollocs and other shadowspawn. Even if they could break away, what could he do to tell Saker that they were fine?
"I thank you for your aid brothers," Greenleaf said, "I must return again. We'll speak again."
With that, Greenleaf became Curlan again, and all the pain of his brush with the tree rushed back. He groaned a little while he sat up slowly.
"Heh, think you would have at least taken my blade," he muttered thickly. He hated his job sometimes.
Re: Questions of Duty (Thelize, Saker, and Curlan)
"This blade?" Thelize asked, falsely innocent as she turned the item in question in her hands. "A fine enough sword, to be sure. But it would stand worthless against a--"
She stopped. No need to finish that thought. Though she was in this deep enough that adding insult to injury would not matter much. Well, Thelize had some sense of decency. At times.
Turning to Alaren, she decided to answer, at least in part, the Aes Sedai's question. "I don't apologize for associating with a Darkfriend, to be sure," she began. Well, it was true in that Danraed did not stop at being a Darkfriend, really. "I apologize for involving you in this, though really I guess that was your fault in the end. Nosy people. I cannot abide them." Thelize shook her head disapprovingly at the general statement. "Anyway, I do not care if you do not want my apology, I gave it and it is up to you to accept it or not." She brushed her hands off decidedly. She did not respond to outbursts well.
"This horse couldn't go any bloody slower, could it," Danraed mumbled to himself. Someone would catch on to them at this rate; he had not blocked the Aes Sedai's bond soon enough for nothing to be transferred through it. He turned back to Thelize. "Perhaps we'd go faster if you would allow me to hitch Kaspar to this--"
"I think not!" Thelize interrupted somewhat violently. "How many time do I have to tell you..." her voice trailed down as she left the two in the back of the wagon to join Danraed at the reins. The two were not so much a concern anymore as much a hinderance. She was beginning to regret that she had not let Danraed kill them in the first place. Oh, to be conflicted...how horrid it was. Sparing a glance at the pair, Thelize sighed. In time. She'd figure something out. In time.
Re: Questions of Duty (Thelize, Saker, and Curlan)
Alaren watched with narrowed eyes as Thelize stood and left the wagon. That filthy, conniving little…
“’Apologize’ my aged grandmother,” Alaren muttered bitterly, her hands tearing at the fabric she still held by their own volition; she realized what she was doing, and tossed the torn gown aside.
Her composure returned as she heard Curlan groan, and she turned to see him propping himself up with a wince. She still held the makeshift bandage in her hand.
“Hold still,” Alaren ordered, wrapping the bandage gently around his head, tying it off with precision. “You had best take it easy for awhile. It’s better if you keep still.” The wagon lurched, nearly tossing Alaren to the opposite side. A roll of fabric tumbled down on top of her; she glared at it with vehemence. “Oh, this blasted thing!” she cried, tossing the offensive linens back upon their shelf. She looked at Curlan, her face painted with genuine misery. “I am sorry, Curlan, for dragging you into this. I never should have trusted Thelize in the first place, or left the camp… this is all my fault.”
Re: Questions of Duty (Thelize, Saker, and Curlan)
Curlan gave her a small knowing smile before wincing, his head feeling the effects of the tree again. He laid back down slowly.
"We'll be fine, Milady" he whispered. "I don't know how we'll get out of this, but the wheel weaves as the wheel wills. We'll make it out ok."
Curlan could only hope the fears he had didn't portray through his voice. Thelize, while not seeming malicouse didn't seem friendly. And the male channeler had to be close to going mad. The way he sounded made Curlan certain of that. The wolves would be no help here.
Re: Questions of Duty (Thelize, Saker, and Curlan)
Alaren sighed, glancing anxiously towards the front of the wagon. She could hear Thelize and Danraed talking to one another in quiet voices over the clattering of the wagon’s wheels. What intentions they had for herself and Curlan, she could not even imagine. Alaren hardly believed Thelize would cause them any serious harm- she had already proven herself in saving their lives back in Manetheren- but Danraed… Danraed was driven, by whom or what Alaren could not fathom. Of him, she was wary.
“We will do the best we can,” she whispered in reply to Curlan, her voice distracted. She looked over at the man, whose yellow eyes shone back through the shadows. They betrayed an unease which his voice had not. He had guarded her faithfully thus far; now she bore the responsibility for his safety. I will do the best I can.
“Get some rest,” she said gently. “I believe it is going to be a long night.”
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