Seeker of Truth

[Cara]

Elize closed her eyes, suddenly weary, as the adrenaline wore off. She felt like screaming though. Hitting something, but was still, tumultuous emotions raging a silent battle inside. She looked over at Joan, who was watching her expectantly. She was reminded of how the Confessor had touched him. He had been Confessed. Lord Rahl had told her the boy was special, but she didn't know exactly how. This was why. He had saved her from the Confessor's touch.
She hated to admit such weakness. It was unlike a Mord-Sith to admit that they had been assisted. She was prideful. "Let's keep going," she said, tersely. "They'll have trackers on us. The sooner we get past the border, the better. They won't follow us that far." She paused. "And thanks," she said, not making eye contact, as she jumped into the saddle.
Elize didn't wait for Joan to mount his horse. She trotted ahead, sitting straight, not looking back.


Luchin kicked a clod of dirt, sending it flying into the side of a wagon. It broke apart to dust. It had been two days already. Five days left. He felt entirely fine, but he knew that the poison had worked its way through his body and after the seventh day, it would kill him. There had been no word from Reemus, not that he had expected it, and there had been no sightings of any Confessors or other ilk.
The men were getting anxious. The beatings that had gone on for the past two days had put everyone on edge. It was very unlike Luchin to order such punishments.
Luchin went to see them after they had been released. He felt happy to see the fear in their eyes at his approach. Something that inside also sickened him. This was his fault. But no! It wasn't! That was what he told himself. He hadn't done anything that he could think of to trigger Lord Rahl's anger.
He looked at the six men before him. All men he had trained and treated as friends.
This was the first chance he had to speak alone with them. "I demand a reason to know why Lord Rahl ordered this," he growled. The men looked at each other but said nothing. "Do you wish to see the whip again?" he hissed.
All but one of the men shied away. “Do your worst, General. I follow Lord Rahl’s orders only.”
Luchin clenched his jaw. “I shall.”


Aslen looked at the woman bowed before her. “Mother Confessor, I have knews.”
“Speak,” she said with a nod of her head.
“I just... took a Confession,” the woman said, her face troubled. She was still out of breath from her hard ride back. The Confession had taken strength from her too. “It was to a young woman, a Mord-Sith named Elize Mesaro. Except there was a boy who got in my way and pulled a sword on me. I had to Confess him. I touched him, right about his neck and released my power...” The Confessor looked at Aslen. “I swear, I released my power. I felt it, and I felt the drain and the effects! The boy he wasn’t Confessed.”

[Galadas]

Joan was proud that he heard a 'thank you' coming from Elize's mouth. He finally felt useful. Now they were back on their way, and this time he wasn't shackled to his horse. He decided not to mention it, hoping Elize would've forgotten. She was grateful, right?
The horse he had taken, was different from Aur, who he missed dearly. He found riding not as comfortable. He wondered how long it was, but just as before, he didn't dare to ask.


The night had been long, but the morning seemed even longer. Time was still of the essence, he wanted to reach the Sisters of Dark before nightfall. One other night in the wild would kill him, he needed a bed and warm food.
The group was close to their destination, and during the early afternoon they got only closer. Ademai rode next to Reemus, whispering to him that he shouldn't trust the Sisterhood, they were evil. He would reply that she was evil too.
"Reemus, we're getting close," Eleni said to him. She was riding next to General Lyra, who was disappointed about the journey, she wouldn't mind if they had to take a tour into a village or city. She had only been to Melidis cities after they were conquered, and never had experience real city life.
"How close?" Reemus replied. He hated the vagueness that the Sister of Dark had been speaking with, the whole time it had been 'we're close', 'we're almost there'. He was getting irritated, but he wasn't about to admit it.
Two minutes later, two women appeared on the road, they were dressed like Eleni was before they left. The both stood with grace and kept their straight faces as they came closer.
Reemus jumped off his horse, he nodded at the two ladies, holding his head high and his eyes fixed upon them. "I'm Marshall Reemus Shorshall, if it would be okay with the sisterhood, me and my companions would like to rest before we start discussing," he said. He had decided to keep it polite, not knowing who were the superiors and who the soldiers.


Evana entered the hall, her elegant body covered in a warm cloak. She held a tray with two cups of coffee in her hand. The cold had reached the castle, and they hadn't quiet figured out how to keep everything warm. The big fireplaces didn't seem to be enough.
The only one who was sitting in the hall was General Kyur, he had a pile of letters in front of him and did not look up as Evana sat down beside him. She placed the coffee before him and even then he didn't look up. "I'm worried about General Coladar," she said to him. "Some soldiers came to inform me of his actions, it doesn't seem like something he would do... more like something Reemus would do. Do you know what is wrong?"
Kyur shook his head. "No idea. I was wondering the same, but I'm sure he'll be fine, Reemus will talk to him as soon as he's back," he said, his gaze still on the letters.
"Letters from Lord Rahl?" Evana asked, understand that Kyur wasn't interested in what was happening to Luchin.
"And your father. Especially this one concerns me: Marshall Shorshall, I assume you have used Ormelli as your current headquater. I and my followers will arive two days from now, I take this will be no problem for you," Kyur read. "This will be a problem, right? What if Reemus won't be back in two days? Sorry, one day, the letter was received yesterday. Anyways, Evana, Luchin and me are not going to do good if we have to welcome Lord Rahl!"
Evana shook her head. "It will be fine, I'll welcome him. Tell Ayton to send a letter back, about the possiblity that Marshall Shorshall will not be there when he arrives," she ordered.
Kyur nodded and stood, he walked away. His muscles tight and his head dropped. He felt cold and sick, being Marshall was harder than he had thought.

[Cara]

Only after a few miles of riding, Elize drew her horse to a halt and got down. She felt her heart jump. It was still there. Of course it was. Anyone who dared touch it would be inflicted with insurmountable pain. The agile rested where it had fallen when she had been captured. It was a rod, the size of an average dagger, covered in red leather. It seemed harmless to the eye, but it was infused with ancient magic. Elize reached down and clenched her agile in her fist. Pain rocketed through her body, but she didn't so much as flinch. The only sign was the whitening of her knuckles. How many times had that agile been used on her? Her blood was one with it.
She silently looked it over, its weight so familiar in her hand. It caused so much pain, yet it was hers.
Elize put it in the holder at her hip and got back on her horse. "Let's keep moving while we have daylight."


There was a knocking at the door. Evana opened the door, as she prepared the exit. "Oh... Luch...General Coladar," she said, trying to hide her surprise.
"Evana," Luchin said in greeting.
Evana stepped aside, watching him. There was definetly something bothering him.
"Any news?" Luchin asked, moving past Evana. "Any word from Lord Rahl? From Reemus?" There was an edge to his voice. Almost a hysteria, desperation.


Aslen was silent. Andrioth spoke finally. "That's impossible. Your powers can't just leave you. And the boy. He wasn't begging to do your command? You are sure?"
"That I am, Wizard Andrioth. And since he was traveling with a Mord-Sith... I can't say what she has in store for him."
"Where were they headed?"
"Towards the People's Palace in Dahara."
"But that's still leagues away. She has to have another location to stop at," Aslen said. She paused. "You must capture that boy. My guess is the Daharans want to use his special ability. We can't let that happen."
"Mother Confessor?"
"I want him and that Mord-Sith, dead or alive."
The woman bowed. "Yes, Mother Confessor. Your word is law."


Lord Rahl stared out of over the city. The white marble glowed like gold in the rising sun.
"Lord Rahl, you are up," the young woman said, coming up behind him. She put his arms around him, her hands pressed against his chest. "It is still so early. Come back inside," she said.
"Kristine, go. I have other matters to attend to," he said. There was still no word from his spies. Things were not to his liking. The Confessors and wizards still held strong. And the rebellions were getting more frequent. His impatience was growing. The only good thing was that General Coladar was right on schedule.

[Galadas]

Reemus had expected the Sister of Dark living in a big castle, or some temple, but instead, this group of about twenty women was sleeping in small tents, similar to the tents they brought along. He stared around the tents for a while. Eleni had joined her sisters, and they were following two sisters, both talking softly to each other. He was walking next to the horse, just like the others of the small group of travelers.
He nodded at Ademai, who seemed more on edge than before. "Everything will be fine," he told her. They would rest first, then he would discuss further plans. He knew everything would be fine as long as he didn't get to bossy. Eleni had warned him for that, and because this was so important, he would keep to that.


Joan nodded, but Elize didn't see that, she just acted without any word from him. Different from before, she seemed to tell him what they were going to do. It wasn't a real conversation, but it was close to it. He hated that it was silent around him, he wished for some company, but Mistress Elize was stone cold on that subject.


Evana watched Luchin as he sat down on a chair, he seemed lost, as if he was there, but he wasn't. "Nothing from Reemus," she answered, "but we did get one alarming message from Lord Rahl, he'll join us a day from now." She watched him closely. "Are you okay, General Coladar?" she asked, hoping he would give him some kind of reason why he was acting the way he was acting.

[Cara]

"I'm fine..." he said, dismissively. Luchin seemed to pale ever so slightly at those words, but his face was neutral. "Lord Rahl, you say, is coming a day from now?" Evana nodded, watching him. "Right then," he said. "And why was I not notified of this earlier? When did it come in?" Luchin demanded.
"It arrived early this morning, General Coladar."
"It's almost evening," Luchin said, evenly with a dangerous edge to his voice.
"Well... things have been hectic."
"Yes..." Luchin said, more to himself. "Next time, I wish to know any news immediately. As soon as it arrives; whether it is deemed important or not."
"Yes, sir."
Luchin seemed to frown, as he mulled through his own private thoughts. "There has been little action from the Confessor's palace. I don't like it," he said.


Elize finally stopped her horse, as the last of the light threatened to dip below the mountains in the distance. She dismounted, and silently tied up her horse. She surveyed the area. "We need a fire," she said. She finally looked back at Joan. "Gather wood," she said. "There was some I saw over there. Stay where I can see you." She stepped closer, as if daring him to make a wrong move. "Don't try anything stupid."
With that said, Elize turned back and started unloading the saddle bags.

[Galadas]

[Taking over the plan you had with the Sister of Dark, a bit, I don't know anything about the Sisters of Dark :3]

Reemus lay in a deep sleep when someone entered the tent which he had been given. He didn't wake, only when a hand patted him on his shoulder. He was laying with his back to the door and the skin to skin contact alarmed him. He turned immediately to his other side, facing the door. A young woman watched over him, she was dressed in the same outfit as Eleni and the other sisters.
"Stand up, they want to talk to you," she ordered with a cold face and threw him his clothes. She seemed not to care that he was laying there half naked and with surprised face. She didn't even turn her back as he dressed his body in the same traveling clothes as those he wore on the journey, they hadn't even taking the liberty to wash them. The more he watched their way of living, the more he came to think they were primitive. They didn't knock, they lived in tents, and they acted more social incomplete than the Mord Sith.
When he was fully dressed, he followed her. They left the tent, where Reemus was not greeted by the first sunlight of dawn, but by the moon, that still hung in the dark skies. "How long have I slept?" he asked the Sister. He waited for an answer, but it didn't come. "Okay, how long has it been since we arrived?" he decided to form his question differently. No answer again. "Where are my companions?"
"Still in their tent, sir," she said, almost instantaneously.
He was getting angry, the fact that she ignored his first two questions was getting on his nerves. He understood not why she didn't answer, if she hadn't know it, she could've at least said that. They walked towards the biggest tent on the camping site, a lot of people were still awake, cooking and washing and most often reading in big books and training their fighting skills. It was disturbing to say the least. The biggest tent was red from the inside and outside, six Sisters were in the tent, which had red and black decorations: closets, bookcase, books. They looked at him with empty gazes, and he felt uncomfortable in their company. Especially since he was alone, no Ademai or a General at his side to keep him company. He kept his head high and stayed calm. Most importantly, he waited for his time to speak.
"General Reemus Shorshall," one of the Sisters said, and she nodded at him.
"Marshall," Reemus corrected her. "It's Marshall, General is lower," he added. It sounded rude, but he hated to be called General by other. He was not a General, he was Marshall, Marshall General of Lord Rahl's army.
The Sister who spoke to him nodded. "My name is Dani," she said. "And I was wondering why I have the pleasure to talk to the Marshall instead of Lord Rahl himself."
Reemus didn't like the way he was adressed, but he kept a straight face and answered directly to Dani. "Because Lord Rahl is in Dahara and I have arranged most of this plan."
Dani grinned slightly. "As I've heard, Reemus, your lord is no longer in Dahara, but on his way to your castle. You want to know how I know?" she asked and Reemus got the chills from her cold voice. "Because I have lines of communication all over Melidis, and you, Marshall Shorshall have none. None know where you are now, they only know you've left for the camp of the Sisters of Dark, but no one bothered to ask a map in case anything would go wrong," she whispered.
He was wrong not to trust Ademai when she warned him something was wrong, because as Dani spoke those words, he realized he had trusted the Sisters of Dark blindly, even though so many bad things were said about them. He was a fool. He tried to keep calm, although his mind was racing with fear and anger. FOOL! he thought to himself. "Well, if the Lord is on his way to my army, it would appear I have to return immediately," he said. His throat was dry, and he was surprised he could even say those words.
"That would be a mistake," Dani said. They stood only two meters away from him, and the entrance was right behind him.
Reemus searched for his sword with his hand, but he had left it back in the tent.


Joan jumped off his horse and listened to Elvira with a surprised look in his eyes. Then it became clear to him, or at least, with such an explanation it seemed logical. When he saved her, she lost her superior place, and by taking away that trust, she could push him around again. Of course she knew he wouldn't escape, he had gotten a chance before, and he let it pass by, only to save her. Without worries, he walked over to where she had pointed him and collected branches for a fire. He would not allow her to get the best of him, he remained calm and started a fire.


Evana watched Luchin calmly, but at the same time she couldn't believe the tone he held up against her. She was a General as well, under Marshall Tora that was. But he had no right to speak to her with such a tone. He had changed long way since he received the authority from Reemus, and if this was really his hunger for power, Marshall Shorshall better find someone else as his replacement. "They are probably making plans, just as we are," Evana said.
"We should not allow them to be planning," Luchin replied.
"Well, sir, I think that Lord Rahl's arrival is a much bigger problem now. You better find General Kyur and discuss it with him!" She pointed him to the door. "Please, leave my room General Coladar, and go cool off." She had enough of him, if Reemus wouldn't return tomorrow, she would have to discuss things with General Kyur, the only one who seemed to stay the same with this change of authority. Those who couldn't handle power, were always easy to find.


Reemus found himself outmatched. He couldn't take on six Sisters of Dark, they seemed strong and he had no weapon. He thought about it, what would be his next move? He turned to the entrance and ran into it. Before he reached it, he felt a sharp object slide through the skin on his shoulder, the one that had been hit twice in the past days. He screamed and fell to the ground, but he wouldn't give up just yet. He jumped up and dodged the next two flying stars, staying close to the canvas. The two sharp objects flew through the canvas and it made it much easier to fall apart. The pain in his shoulder was making him light in his head.
He watched the six Sisters that stared at him, silently, the flying stars ready to be fired again. He jumped, this time to the back. His back hit the canvas and under his weight, it was ripped apart. He fell to the ground again, the star that cut his skin, sliced deeper. He crawled to his feet, the Sisters following him, the stars flying in his directly. He started running, down the camp, on his way to the tent. He needed his sword.
Reemus had only made a few meters, when one of the flying stars cut through his thigh and made him drop to the ground again. It was a deep cut, and he needed more time than before to try and stand again. The Sisters had reached him and kicked him to the floor. A few kicks later, and his world went dark.

[Cara]

(haha, ok. Well just some things to know about the Sisters of the Dark... They are an old order of women who separated themselves from the Sister of Light. They are very similar to the Sisters of the Light, and most of the time, people mistake them for Sisters of the Light, which they use to their advantage. The Sisters of the Light (Known as just the 'Sisters') are very respected. They are priestess, serving good, and the great Creator. The Sisters of the Dark work for the Keeper (equivalent to the devil).

Everyone with magic has something called a Han. It is what their magic is, and comes from. It's like their 'inner eye'. Like an aura, I guess. They also use a special weapon called a Dacara. This is a magical blade that when combined with their Han will kill that person instantly, no matter where the wound is. It sucks the life out. But that's only if they put their Han into the blade.

The Sisters are not well known of in the three lands. Only a few know of them. Mostly wizards. They live in the Palace of the Prophets. That's basically it for now.)

[Cara]

(oh and by the way, Elize didn't lose her agile. If you re-read the post earlier, she went back for it, before traveling on with Joan)

Luchin shot Evana a look of contempt, but then his features softened in what seemed like shame, regret or pain. Perhaps all three. Without another word he turned away.
When Luchin was outside, he looked around him. Things seemed to be running so normal. He grated his teeth, startled as anger surged through him. Evana had been born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Her father had given her everything. Luchin had fought for his right. He had rose in power and rank because of his skill and prowess. He rubbed his throat absentmindedly, feeling the ghost of the burning liquid pour down his throat. Three days left.
Should he write a letter to his family back at the People's Palace? Could he even bare to tell his family with shame what had happened? How he died? No. That would bring dishonor to him. But they would fine out anyway. Lord Rahl was coming tomorrow. He was coming tomorrow... Luchin felt like screaming, but was silent as he watched a group of soldiers pass by. They looked at him with a nod of respect.
Luchin felt his stomach twist. He could see the doubt - and fear - in their eyes as they moved past. That was his fault. He had respect for his men, and enjoyed being liked. Not feared. What was happening to him? Damned magic! He hated it. Loathed it.
That still didn't fix the problem that he needed to be Confessed in three days...

(not really finished with my other characters... but feel free to go ahead anyways. I'll be back in two weeks!!!)

[Galadas]

Reemus woke with a start, he pushed his body from the ground, but fell back in a scream. He felt boasts of pain flow through his entire body, originating from his shoulder and leg. He closed his eyes in order to calm down. A hand was placed on his good shoulder and two knees dropped to the ground only inches from his right side.
“Reemus, are you alright?” a clear voice asked.
He opened his eyes again, looking up at General Lyra, who had bruises all over her face and her shirt showed stains of blood.
“I’m fine,” he replied, his teeth against each other. With a slow movement, he tried to get into a sitting position again, but Lyra would not allow it. She pushed him back and looked beneath his shirt, she handed the cloth as if it could burn in her hand. He followed her with his eyes, with his shirt aside, he could see a bandage, once red but now red and wet. “Did you do that?” he asked.
Salesia shook her head. “The Sisters did, they did your leg too. I’m sure it was not out of kindness, rather to keep you alive,” she whispered. “They need us for something.”
Reemus nodded slowly. “What about Ademai, where is she?” He had been wondering that for the past few minutes, she wasn’t anywhere in the room.
“I don’t know, after they killed the scouts, they took us both, but they brought me here and we were separated.” General Lyra surely didn’t talk calmly, she was racing through her words and kept her voice low. She didn’t trust what was happening. “You are lucky, Reemus. From what I’ve heard, the Sisters can kill you with even the smallest sharp object, they hit you twice, and you’re still alive.”
“Yes, I’m very lucky,” he snapped angrily. He wasn’t at all happy with the way things had worked out with him, he might still be alive, but he had failed to deliver Lord Rahl the perfect plan to get into the city. Aydindril was not even close to be theirs. Not even with Marshall Tora’s army at his side, could he conquer such a well-defended city. He needed a different plan, but first of all, he needed to get out of here. “Where are we, Salesia?”
“Within one of the tents, very close to the main tent,” she said and ripped a part off her shirt. With carefulness she bound the piece of cloth around the wound in Reemus’ shoulder. “But in this state, Reemus, there is no way you can escape. You can’t even get up,” she whispered in terror.
“I can’t, but you can,” he said, nodding at her. “You can reach Ky’ur and Coladar, and make sure they come and get me out of here.”
“Sir, that’s a dangerous mission you send me out on,” Salesia reacted.
“We’ll be killed if we don’t do anything to get out of here, so what does it matter!” He felt the wound in his shoulder as he tried to move his arm. He felt so tired, and wasn’t quite happy with General Lyra starting a discussing with him.
She wanted to answer, but footsteps made her jump from her place back to the bench. A Sister of Dark opened the steel door to the cell. She watched the two of them carefully and waited for another Sister to join her within the four walls. Reemus and General Lyra kept quiet, not sure what they were doing there.
One of the Sisters grabbed Lyra’s arm and she yelped to her feet, the nails pressing into her skin. She was taken from the cell and disappeared around the corner. Reemus could not move, his head turned into the direction of the last Sister. She was named Dani, the same one that warned him of the danger and took him down with her feet. She pressed her fingers against the wound on his shoulder and he kept him lips together, wanting to scream.
“Tell me, Marshall Reemus Shorshall, how many people have you killed?” she asked, a small grin on her face.
At first Reemus did not understand the question, he had not expected such an insignificant opening, yet decided to answer with the truth. “I don’t know,” he said.
“As I’ve heard, Reemus. You killed many, directly and indirectly, you stabbed three Confessors to dead and left so many families without a home, a breadwinner, or money to care for themselves. Lord Rahl surely appointed the right one to lead his army. You show no mercy, you spill blood as if there is plenty of it, and you take decisions that leave people devastated. You survived severe torture, and even that couldn’t get you to rethink your chosen occupation,” she said.
“So what!” Reemus snapped. The words didn’t hurt him, he only did what was necessary and logical in war, everything to win.
Dani laughed. “The Keeper shows great interest in you, Reemus, and even more in your master.” She sat down on the bench and nodded at her sister, who had returned, to help Marshall Shorshall up.
Reemus shrieked in pain as he was pushed up by a strong and firm hand and placed against one of the walls, his shoulder burning. He felt immobile, unable to move another part of his body as long as the hurtful sensation continued to fill every inch of his being.
“You are a strong man, and you have absolutely no moral,” she continued as if she was complimenting him. But being without sense of moral wasn’t really positive, neither was killing people,” and most of all, you will do anything to complete your goal.”

[Cara]

Andrioth rubbed his slender fingers along his temples. He gave a sigh of frustration. Everyone was in a bad mood. Aslen had called Aydindril to lock down, basically. No one could enter or exit. Not with the threat of the army. Though lately their spies have came back with strange reports. The main generals had left. Gone. Was this a trick? A plan? He couldn't understand it. But if it wasn't any of those things, it was a vulnerability. They could attack.

"Mother Confessor," Andrioth said, as he approached Aslen. She was seated regally on a throne of white marble. The hall was already filled with ambassadors of Milidis. Rulers of regions under Milidis that met at Council. The chamber quieted as Andrioth spoke. He was the First Wizard of course.
"Yes, Wizard Andrioth?" she asked, wearing her Confessor's face.
"The main army is defenseless! We have confirmed it. This is to our advantage. We need to attack while the time is right!"
"Our armies have already been decimated..." Aslen started.
"Which is why this is our only opportunity!" Andrioth interrupted, as only he could without getting a beating. "Think of it," he urged.
"What of General Coladar?" one man asked, leaning forward.
"Yes, there is reason he was left in charge."
Aslen stood. "I can deal with him," she said, eyes flashing. The surrounding ambassadors fell silent. Aslen sighed. She hated this, but it was necessary. "Ready the all who can fight. We attack at dawn."

[Galadas]

When Evana woke, she knew she had lots to do before Lord Rahl would arrive. She jumped out of bed and dressed herself in her best outfit. It was early in the morning, the sun hadn’t even began to rise behind the horizon. Winter was truly upon them, leaving each day with less sunlight. It was not in their advantage, their soldiers were fierce and had a lot of endurance, but they cursed the darkness and the cold.
She cleaned her face and asked a servant if there was any news on Marshall Shorshall’s return. There was none, and it worried her. She would have to welcome Lord Rahl on her own, maybe with General Ky’ur by her side. She wouldn’t let General Coladar join her, she would notify the other General of this soon.
Meanwhile he father wasn’t anywhere near either, still traveling with his immense army towards the city of Ormelli, aware of Reemus being on a journey and Lord Rahl coming to check on them. Why in the Creator’s name would their lord and master head into the war of Melidis, while he could stay safe in his palace.
“We still haven’t heard anything from Reemus,” Ky’ur said as Evana left her room. He was waiting for her. “He was supposed to be back this morning, latest this afternoon, but no message has arrived since they left two nights ago.” The young General was concerned, as was she. “I’ve send a group of soldiers after them, they are following the trail that Ademai set up, she promised she would, if anything would go wrong. But they will certainly not be back before Lord Rahl arrives.”
“It doesn’t matter, Lord Rahl has been made aware of Reemus’ plan and where he is. You and I will make sure Rahl is given everything he needs until Marshall Shorshall’s return.”
“And General Coladar?” Ky’ur asked.
“I have people keeping an eye on him, if he makes a mistake, I’m going to make sure he’s removed from charge,” Evana responded.

[Cara]

Luchin let his mind narrow to one thing as he moved, sword in hand, at his target. With amazing swiftness, he struck forward, the blade slicing neatly through the straw dummy. Turning with natural moves, he swung around and lobbed off the head. It fell with a satisfying thwack. Luchin stared at it a moment before picking it up and placing it back on the body. Usually practicing movements and his swordsmanship helps to calm his mind, to focus his thoughts. It wasn't working.
Evana. He disliked her already. Women with power were dangerous; always to be watched. All that Lord Rahl had his armies fighting for seemed set against Melidis and their magic. The Confessors. All women with an ancient magic enough to take your very soul away from you. Mord-Sith. Cruel, black-hearted women who enjoyed nothing more than to inflict pain of the mind and body. It didn't matter what side they were on, they enjoyed it from both perspectives. Then of course, there were these Sisters of the Dark. Even their name invokes a chill. Why had Reemus left with them? He had a horrible feeling in his gut that his friend was in serious trouble.
Luchin gave a cry and pierced the straw dummy suddenly through the middle. It snapped in two.
Why was Lord Rahl coming today? He had met the man only a few times. Luchin was pretty good at reading faces and people, but Lord Ether Rahl was unreadable. A mystery with dangerous secrets and powerful magics. And he was asking the most horrible thing of Luchin. No, forcing him. Why? Why? Why? That probing word. Luchin sat down on a fallen tree, staring at the dummy in silence. What was he going to do?

[Galadas]

(I have a very awesome plan, but I'll keep that a secret until the next post :3 )

Ademai had been sitting on the same spot for a while now, keeping everything she thought to herself, meanwhile she was being watched by a few Sisters, who also didn’t talk. It had been going on like that since the evening before, when she and General Lyra were caught off guard. The scouts were all killed, like with what she heard was called Han. Salesia surely told her a lot about the Sisters of Dark before they got separated.
She was in one of the tents close to the main tent, and she had not closed her eyes for the whole night. She was waiting for the right moment to strike, her hands weren’t tied, and she did not struggle when they wanted to move her. She simply did what they asked and pretended to be the easy going prisoner. They knew of course, but they wouldn’t always be paying full attention. She had seen how they killed the scouts, she knew they needed a bit of time to place their Han into their weapons. It was only a few seconds, but that was enough.
It was her new mission to break them out of this place, herself, Reemus and Salesia, and bring them to safety. It was easier said than done, this was a camp full of peopled that could kill you with one blow and they were only with three. That was if none of them was seriously injured.


General Ky’ur followed Evana onto the square, they had received message that Lord Rahl was close and they had sent a group of Calvary soldiers to ensure his safe travel.
“Where is General Coladar?” Evana asked. They were all ready to greet their master once he arrived, but not everyone seemed to have heard of the invitation. “Get him here, please.” She was wearing a shining armor and a red cape, one like General Ky’ur.
A young scout emerged towards her, running with his feet pounding on the stones. He stopped a few inches away from her, his heavy breath touching her face. “Generals, I heard… I heard… news, news from Aydindril, they are on the move. They are on the move!”
Fear entered Evana’s eyes. She had to act swift with this news, but she had no idea what there had to be done. Is was more of a consular than a real leader. She turned her face to Ky’ur.
The only recent promoted General Tyron Ky’ur was rather heroic. He was strong and had a lot of admiration for Marshall Shorshall, probably because he hated Marshall Kato, the one who was in charge seven years ago. “Ready some men, warn our scouts, let them be extra careful and report any new movement, we need to get Lord Rahl in safety first,” he ordered.

[Cara]

Aslen sat atop her white horse, watching as Confessors and Wizards disappeared before her. She felt sick, but she was determined. Andrioth stood besides her, his face set, hands extended. He chanted under his breath, sweating starting to bead on his forehead. She could feel the magic in the air.
Aslen's heart was in her chest. To her left and right stood a few soldier of Melidis. The Home Guard. The best guard in all Melidis, and the personal security of the Confessors and Aydindril.
Andrioth finally stopped, his body slumping forward with a groan.
"Andrioth," Aslen said, her voice concerned.
"It is done," Andrioth said, his eyes sharp, despite the drain.
"Good. I hope we gave our soldiers enough time," she said.

Luchin bolted upright as he heard screaming. He grabbed his sword and charged out of his room. Men were running in the street. Some were lying dead already on the ground. "What...." he gasped. A man was dragging himself at him, begging for help. "General! General! My legs!" the man cried. Luchin looked at him. He was perfectly healthy. But the man still dragged himself forward as if he couldn't walk.
"Luchin!" a soft voice called.
Luchin turned to see a young girl in a pale dress running towards him, her arms outstretched. "Sophie!" Luchin said, overjoyed to see his little sister, but terrified that she was there. Here. "What...what are you doing here..." he started. Suddenly there was a man behind Sophie, a sword in hand. "No! Sophie--look out!" Luchin screamed, every nerve in his body, burning. He ran at her, but it was too late. He saw the sword point go through her body. The tip stuck out the top in a blossoming of blood. "Sophie! Sophie..." Luchin cried, as he cut her murderer down. "Oh no... No... No!" he murmured, dropping to his knees, as he held her in his arms. She was so light, so frail.
"I love you," she said, looking at him, blood dripping from the corners of her mouth. "Mother, Linet and I...we miss you. Come home..." Sophie said, as she closed her eyes.
"No, no no... Don't leave me. Don't you dare die on me!" Luchin gasped, as he grabbed at the wound. "Sophie!" This was his worst nightmare, and he was helpless to stop it. This couldn't be happening...

[Galadas]

Ademai waited, she had seen one of the sisters leave, which meant it was just her and a Sister of Dark. Their attention was fading, as the morning continued. She acted shift when she had to, jumped up and broke the neck of the Sister, who wasn’t fast enough. The woman fell to the floor and Ademai stole her weapon, the Dacara, simple in her hands, deadly in the hand of those who made them.
She sneaked out of the tent and ran down the camp, searching for a sign of Reemus or Salesia. It was most of all important that she wasn’t caught, she feared them and they must have feared her. The first tent on her left was her goal, she ran in, deep through her knees. She heard a voice that was rather familiar to her, the voice that came from Reemus, the one that had tried to talk to her, every single day.

“I don’t know what they want, they speak as if they just want to start a conversation,” Reemus explained to Salesia, who was back in the cell. A Sister stood next to it, just one. But he was still too weak, and she had been kicked in her stomach and chest several times. They surely wanted to keep them in place. “Meanwhile, Lord Rahl is in Ormelli and I can’t be there to welcome him.”
Salesia shook her head.
“Now I have to leave the big things to Luchin, Tyron and Evana. I feel that something is going wrong, and I can’t be there to fix it.”
“Don’t worry, Reemus. I know Tyron, he can be very good with these things, they’ll manage. You better think about a way to get us out of here,” General Lyra said, her voice low. How big was the chance that they would get out of there? She had little trust in her Marshall to make up a plan that would free them from a terrible fate. All he could was send his armies and take over cities and villages.
Reemus sighed, his eyes faced the ground. He was in pain, and only talking kept him from thinking about it. “I was captured, a long time ago, you might have heard. After being tortured for two longs days, they came and got me out, a small team, of four soldiers. One of them was Evana, daughter of Marshall Tora. They will find a way to get us out, Salesia, I trust them to do that.”
They both turned their heads when they heard a loud noise, the Sister of Dark moved, but she was grabbed and hit the floor. Within the tent now stood Ademai, fierce and loyal, her face scracted open and in her hand she held a strange weapon.
“Ademai!” Reemus yelled surprised.
“No time, no time, we need to go!” the Mord-Sith replied and gave Salesia the weapon of the Sister of Dark. She kneeled down next to Reemus. “Can you walk?” she asked, having seen the wound in his shoulder.
With a sour face Reemus shook his head. He was a fool for letting that get to him, he felt weak, unable to stand and needing help from this woman, who he loved and hated at the same time. She grabbed him around his shoulder blades and his knees, and lifted him from the ground. She pointed General Lyra to the exit. “There are horses, left of the exit. Run!”
Salesia and Ademai, carrying the wounded Marshall, jumped out of the tent, where Sisters of Dark were searching other tents to find the escaped Mord-Sith; they were warned when one of them spotted their captives.
The two ran to the horses, Ademai threw Reemus into one of the saddles and urged him to ride. “Ride, and no matter what; keep riding!” she yelled, watching the Marshall taking the reins and storming off. Selfish bastard! She and Salesia jumped on the horses, facing a group of knife throwing Sisters.
“Go, get Reemus into safety, I’ll make sure they won’t follow you!” Salesia said to Ademai, as her horse flew into the sky and kicked away the wooden fence, releasing the horses. She held her eyes on the Mord-Sith, her face a mask of determination, and she was not going to think twice about what she said. Even if she despised Reemus for his selfish ways and lonely planning, but admired him for his plans and his hidden love for his Generals and the remaining of the army. He was a good man, and right now, he needed to be saved.
Ademai nodded, throwing Salesia the dagger she had stolen. “Good luck, and please Salesia, try to escape. You are a great soldier and a great General, we need you,” she whispered, not sure if General Lyra could hear it. Those weren’t her own words, she imagined Reemus saying them, but he was almost at the edge of the camp.

Reemus saw the red tents flash by, the green trees coming closer. His head was light, as the pain in his shoulder got worse. He needed both his arms to keep himself in the saddle, and every time his leg hit the horse, he felt his body tremble. In his whole life, he never had to run. His plan had failed, his body broken, and there was nothing positive that he could bring back to Lord Rahl. As the horse kept carrying him through the woods, his mind faded, the pain was too much.
“REEMUS!” a scream blocked the darkness, a woman opened his eyes.
Minutes seemed to have passed since he felt like passing out. He was laying against a tree, his breath heavy. Ademai was kneeled down beside him, she had taken off her shirt, and was ripping it apart. He looked at her naked skin, white and shining in the sun. She took his shirt off, under which he wore another, much lighter, shirt under it. It was all they had, they looked, smelled and acted like normal citizens. The Mord-Sith wasn’t a Mord-Sith and the Marshall wasn’t a Marshall. “You stay with me, Reemus!” she whispered to him. With care, she placed pieces of her shirt against the wound in his shoulder, his leg was bound again. When she was done with the second wound, she pulled his shirt over her head, her skin disappeared.
“Where is Salesia?” Reemus asked, his tongue was dry, and he wasn’t even sure if he really spoke those words.
“Not here,” Ademai replied. She held her own agile in her hands, moving it between her fingers. There would be danger soon, and she wasn’t sure if she could let Reemus move.

The sound of an inhuman scream echoed through the forest, Ademai’s eyes were wide open as she jumped to her feet, her agile flashing through the air. She turned, a shield between Reemus and a strange, mythical being in front of her. It was dark Magic, and she feared it, but at least it was only one.
The monster was not too big, his body was like that of a salamander, his face that of a crocodile, with big teeth and a long beak. It stared at Ademai with bloodthirsty eyes, attacking within a second, its claws ripping at her. She defended herself with the agile, and both didn’t take too much damage at the other. Until the monster clenched his jaws around the arm in which the agile rested. The Animal dug his teeth deeper into her skin, cutting through flesh and muscle alike.
“Take it down, take it down!” she heard screams from behind her and a few seconds later, soldiers threw their arrows and swords at the monster. They weren’t Daharan soldiers, and that made Ademai let loose of her agile. They were Melidis soldiers, and she and Reemus were dressed as citizens. She fell to the ground, when the monster released its grip, and landed on her back, losing conscience almost immediately.

Ademai opened her eyes, the light forest had made place for a white canvas. She stared up at the sky, in a room that was warm and darkened.
“She’s awake,” a voice from her left said.
She turned her head, a warm bed beneath her. She saw a young woman with bandages and a tile of water sitting on an occupied bed. The bed where Reemus lay in silence, his eyes closed, his breathing heavy. The next face that entered her view was a young and calm one, with a long white dress and soft hands, which grabbed her hands.
“Hello,” the Confessor said, helping Ademai up. “What is your name?” she asked.
Ademai wandered around in her head, scared to make a mistake. They were in the belly of the lion, in the camp of their enemies. This was perfect! “My name is Salion,” she answered. It was the name of Reemus’ mother, and she knew his father’s name too.
“And his, who is he?” The Confessor pointed her perfect finger at Reemus.
“Occas, he’s my husband,” she replied, finding herself acting properly.
“I’m sorry to hear what happened, but we’ll make sure you two are okay. Just rest a little more, we’ll talk when you’ve rested,” she said, her eyes still on the heavily wounded man.
Ademai nodded, laying down again. In her head she grinned, as long as no one would blow their cover, they could hang around the camp of their enemies.