Graceling

[Cara]

Kasta winced slightly in pain as she pulled the five arrows from the target. She'd managed to split two of them straight through. As soon as she walked out, two things happened. First most of the archers, guards who were practicing, stopped and looked at her. They all dropped their bows and stood aside. Almost half of them left, ducking their heads, as if to avoid her gaze. The rest just watched her with a secretive curiosity. They wanted to see the skill of the infamous Graceling killer. Kasta ignored the furtive glances and the whispered words, and fired off her arrows with precision.

Lorn was the first to leave. They had to wait and leave at different intervals so not to attract attention. He spurred his horse off. He wanted to get back to Kasta. She would be happy to know that all of their missions were a success...

[Galadas]

"Bring this to Elliot." The old woman said to Dedelean and handed her a cup of warm soup. "You might have to wake him up, but he had to eat." She gave her a wink.
Lean jumped up the stairs, having trouble with keeping all the soup in the cup, but she didn't care. Now she could talk with Elliot, all by herself. "Elliot!" She whispered loudly and lay her elbows on the bed. "El, wake up."
The boy opened his eyes, the dark brown and the dark green eye, under the dark brown hair. Lean laid her hand on his smooth face and went through his soft hair, it was like it had always been and felt like it had always felt.
"Dedi?" Elliot asked, he smiled weakly.
"I'm here to bring you some food!" She fed him the soup and watched him eat with a big smile, she remembered the last time they'd met. It was somewhere in Rada, they'd been helping some other Gracelings finding a new place to live. They were together every night, and it was romantic, or at least, that's what she thought.
"Like you're in Rada just to give me food." Elliot grinned, when she finally stopped cramming him full.
Lean shook her head. "That's something for later, I'm first going to watch how you get better."
The Graceling nodded. "Yeah, but I'll have to get better soon!"
"What happened to you?"
"A mission. I had to kill a man called Lorn, but he was by far better protected than I had imagined."
Lean smiled at the openness that Elliot had with her, it was like the years hadn't passed, and they were still together on some field, together. "Well, you're still alive."
"Thanks to you."
"Me? What did I do?" Lean asked, stunned.
There was no answer, Elliot had fallen away in his fever again. The old woman had said he would be better soon, because she would take care of him. That he was lucky to have two women looking after him. Now she would protect him, from whatever was after him.

[Cara]

Lorn watched from afar as Kasta rode through the training course. She definitely looked better. Kasta turned and saw him. She smiled, her eyes laughing as she rode over and jumped down.
"How did it go?"
"Good... I have much to inform you."
"Excellent. Not here. There are too many ears... I want to leave as soon as you are ready. I've been packed for the last hour."

Levia had now explored the castle. She was good at being unseen. She had her plan. Attack Kasta when she returned, which would be anyway now.

[Galadas]

Lean watched as the old woman examined the wounds.
"He's healing faster than I thought."
Lean grinned, she knew that. Elliot always healed faster, he had something special when it came to fighting and the scars. She was sitting on the bed, it was big enough to hold three people, he was lucky in such a house. She cared one of the big dogs, his name was Jeffer. She was trying to learn each name of all the animals, the old woman said she had twenty three, but Elliot was her favorite. "When will he be able to stand?"
"If he goes on like this, he'll be on his legs by tomorrow."
"Can you make that sooner?" Elliot asked, he had his eyes wide open, and looked a lot better.
"Come!" Lean said, taking Elliot's hand and lifting him up from the bed. "Let's see how far you can get." Elliot had almost no trouble with standing, he only held one hand on Lean's shoulder. "See, it works!"
"Dedi, can I talk to you?" He moved his eyes to the old woman, who then left the room.
"Uhm, sure. What is it?" They sat down on the bed and Lean didn't like the way Elliot looked.
"I think they'll be after me, so it's not very save for you to be here!"
"What!? I want to stay here, El, with you. I'm also hunted, they'll try to make me into a slave! You have to help me!"
"Wow, I have my own trouble too, and if you get caught up in it, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself."
Lean pushed Elliot away and looked mad at him, a bit childless, but she thought it was needed. "I can help you, you know. I'm a Graceling too, I"m very strong."
"But I won't have you fighting."
"You're always like this, this is the reason why I left you!" She stood and threw a cousin at him.
"Okay, wait." There was something flashing in Elliot's eyes. "You know what! I'll help you with your problem, and you help me with mine."

"Ambush?" Lean asked softly when they were walking through the streets, Elliot leaning on her shoulder.
"Yes, it's simple, we'll just wait, when they come you put them under shock..."
"As long as I don't have to kill anyone." Lean snapped.
"That's my job." Elliot ensured her. "We'll surprise them in the woods, I don't think they'll expect me to be back."
"If you say so."

[Cara]

Kasta rhode through the gates. She had to first report to the King everything that happened. She wouldn't tell him about the attack. She knew better than that.

Lorn sat down at the secret spot by the lake. Kasta would meet up with him after her report to the king. He sighed, as he skipped stones across the smooth water.
His head swirled with thoughts. Why would anyone call for his death!? Who? He didn't like necessary violence, that was for Kasta. There was enough for both of them. He was more a diplomat compared to Kasta, despite being the weapons master apprentice. Sighing, he closed his eyes to rest. They'd go to town later and check up with some of the Order....

[Galadas]

Lean stared at Elliot, who was getting more and more nervous. "Do you smell anything?" She asked, knowing that he had an amazing smelling ability, that came with him if he ever turned wolf, and sometimes worked when he wasn't.
Elliot grinned. "I think I found my guy, he's all alone! At the lake."
"All alone? Then you don't need me right?"
"For safety."
"Yeah right." Lean muttered, and followed Elliot who seemed to walk perfectly without her help.
They sneaked into the woods, it was silent, and they were almost one with nature's sound. They were like ghosts, walking over the forest ground without a sound, without the smallest crack. This what they had always done when they were still together, running, fleeing.
"Are you going to kill him?" Lean whispered, she felt nervous, bad, she didn't want to do anything near killing, but yet she always helped Elliot.
Elliot nodded. "I have to."
"Why?"
"For me, to survive." He held Lean stop and bowed forward, his eyes were staring like a lioness searching for her prey. He put one hand on the ground, sitting down where he could see better. He grinned, deeper and deeper. "There he is."
Lean joined him, but less aware of danger than him. She looked at a man who was sitting at the water's edge. "What should I do?"
"Put him under shock, I can not yet kill him, first I need to use him as bait for that Kasta girl."

[Cara]

Lorn stretched himself out on the rocks, heated by the sun. This was peace. It was his and Kasta's secret place. Away from the Court. Away from the accusing eyes. Away from the pain that existed in their lives.
He closed his eyes, listening to the sounds around him. The birds singing their morning songs. The water lapping against the shore. He sighed, as her heard Kasta entering their little clearing.
Kasta smiled sitting down besides Lorn. He didn't even open his eyes, but he smiled.
"What did the king have to say?"
Kasta shrugged, even though Lorn couldn't see it. "Nothing more than usual. Satisfied with my... handiwork," Kasta said, spitting out the last word.
Lorn sat up, wrapping his arm around her, as they leaned back against the heated stone. "That bastard king..." Lorn said. "He's as bad as any of the Southern raiders. A slave driver..."
"Did you find out any more information by the Order?"

Elliot crept closer. They were entirely unaware, thinking that they were alone together. He almost was sad to disrupt the tranquility of the moment. He could now hear them talking. He was about to motion for Dedelean to attack, when he heard his name mentioned. He paused, listening. It would be good to hear what they were saying.

"Do you have any names?"
"A few. Michael, Sammons, Elliot, Shawn..." Lorn listed. "Suspects under watch by the Order."
"Good... What I can't understand is why?"
"Same..." Lorn said. His eyes were distant as they sat in silence. "Hey, do you ever think of running away?"
"Running away?" Kasta asked, surprised. "Used to... but I've given up on that idea. There are plenty who wish me dead. Should I leave the protection of the Court..." Kasta paused. "What would I do? I'll be helped by the Order, I guess. But I'm known everywhere for my Grace! It's a curse!" Kasta said, getting into her usual rant.
Lorn squeezed her shoulder. "Relax..." he said. "I just was thinking. What about in Druid? They harbor Gracelings. See them as blessed."
Kasta snorted. "Perhaps. But they themselves are hated for their strangeness in the rest of the kingdoms. Besides, they reside high in the northern mountains..."
Lorn sighed. "Just a thought," he said, closing his eyes again. Kasta stayed awake as she felt Lorn's breathing even in sleep. She kept thinking about what he said. Running. Besides until the king was dead, he would come for her. Would search for her. Besides, she was a slave in every way possible but in title.

[Galadas]

"El, what do we do?" Lean asked, she whispered right in his ear. "What are they talking about, some Order?"
"I don't know!" Elliot said, a bit louder, but he kept to a certain volume. "But I want to find out! Shock them!"
"You're not gonna kill them right away?"
Elliot shook his head, he lay down on the ground, his face just a bit up, everything to overcome the shock of static that Lean could create. She held in her breath while standing up from the ground and touching her long hair, where she got the static from. It started with some lightning noises, and ended in a shock blowing over the lake at Kasta and Lorn.
Elliot stood, he grabbed Lean's shoulder as fast as he could, the only way to overcome it. "Be sure not to touch the water." He smirked, and moved to the two, they were unconcious, or he hoped they were. Lean followed him.
"You're gonna ask them, right?" She asked, when she saw Elliot drawing his weapon. "El!"
Elliot stopped, turning to her, he put away the weapon, and showed his empty hands. "I won't, I promise." He went back to doing his job, tying them up. Now they were under his profession, they would not ask question that would be answered, neither would they have anything to say if it was rude or mean.

[Cara]

Kasta woke first. She immediately knew that she was bound. She didn't move, keeping her eyes closed in faked unconsciousness. Quickly she mentally assessed the situation. They were tied with rope to a tree. She felt Lorn stir. She knew that if she could talk, as they weren't dead yet, she could get enough time to free them...
The boy saw them wake and walked to stand over them. A girl stood back, watching with nervous eyes.
"You!" Kasta hissed, glaring at Elliot. Her lip curled in disgust. She heard Lorn take a fast breath as he recognized his attacker. "What do you want?" Kasta asked, eyeing them coldly.

[Galadas]

Elliot sat down, holding up an emotionless face, he got on the same height as Kasta and Lorn. He leaned with his elbows on his knees, and made himself comfortable. He turned his head to Dedelean, who finally approached, standing next to him. "What is the Order?" As he studied the surprised faces of his prisoners, he decided to formulate his question differently. "What can the order do for people like..." He paused to look at Kasta. "Us?" Patiently he waited for an answer.

[Cara]

Kasta laughed. "Why should I tell you?" Kasta asked. "It's in my benefit not to say anything," she said. "But as you seem so keen..." she smiled. She paused. "You must have heard of The Order. All who care to know listen and hear of it."
Elliot frowned. He had heard of it before. The Order. But he hadn't really thought about it much. Why would he have to?
Kasta's smile grew. "You have heard of it..." she said, knowingly. "And what impression do you gather from the news?" she asked, waiting. All the why she worked at freeing the bonds. She was honestly curious. She was good a such mental games. Perhaps she could find out why this boy was after Lorn and her...

[Galadas]

Elliot decided to throw that question in the wind, he wasn't there to answer. "What is the order?" He asked again, he couldn't really remember what he heard about it, only that it was called The Order, there his knowledge stopped.

[Cara]

Kasta just smirked, glancing at Lorn, who gave the slightest of nods. Lorn spoke up. "The Order is an underground organization of those against the corruption of the kingdoms. There are more members than even known by those who created The Order. They protect those who require it and kill those who encourage the wrong as well as various sabotage and espionage. Basic idea that everyone knows about the Order..."
Suddenly Kasta and Lorn sprang forward. Kasta grabbed Dedelean, wrapping her dagger about her neck. The other hand she trapped her arms to her side.
"Dedelean!" Elliot cried.
Lorn stood behind them, having grabbed his sword.
"Don't move..." Kasta snarled. "And don't try anything," she said to Dedelean just as Dedelean let lose a charge of electricity. Dedelean gave a cry of surprise and pain as she felt her own electricity rebound into her. "I told you not to try anything," Kasta hissed into her ear.
"How...?" Elliot asked, confused.
"I've dealt with enough Gracelings to have acquired some tricks..." Kasta said. "If you try again, I can redirect your own energy back into yourself. Lorn you go and get the others..." she said. "I'll deal with this... problem," Kasta said. Lorn hesitated, but then ran back to the castle leaving Kasta with Dedelean as her hostage. "I have a few questions of my own," she said. "Why did you attack us? to start..."

[Galadas]

Elliot was caught in a breath, he put Dedelean in danger, it was all his fault, just when he promised her he would protect her. He needed to speak the truth in order to keep her safe now. "I'll tell you everything, if you promise not to hurt her, to let her go, please."

[Cara]

Kasta gave a short laugh. "I won't hurt her if I hear what I want," she promised, "but I'm not letting her go. Not until I can assure Lorn and my safety..." she said. "Now start talking," Kasta snapped, pressing the blade closer to Dedelean's neck until a thin sliver of blood showed.