Troth - Sanction - Chyril 22nd

[Vanadius]

Suddenly, the clash of spears could be heard before the appointed time had passed, bringing the room quickly to order. A group of women warriors escorted the Kona herself into the Great Hall. Tryggva da'Yrsa was a tall, regal woman with long strides and the aura of great confidence and calm. The leader of the North was flanked by her daughter Aesa, once betrothed to Anochrim, and the renowned Thaara da'Waelkyrige, who served as the leader of the warrior elite of Trothgard as well as the Kona's champion and personal bodyguard.

Another crash of spears signaled for all to be seated as the Kona was now addressing the chamber.

"I have been informed of the proceedings here. We are sanctioning this plan of action brought forth by Lori ve'Margeir for the purposes of slaying the Embol. What does the Council say upon this matter?"

Several women stood at nearly the same time. These were women that Lori and Hex recognized as the various Elders of the many clans.

"We also sanction this plan."

"We stand with the Kona."

"We approve."

On and on they came until each of the clans Elder's spoke. Perhaps it was to be expected, but there was no dissention in the chamber today. Standing against the Kona, was to stand against the Queen herself, and there was not a living soul among the the Elders that would do that. Not in public in an open forum such as this.

Other plans were brought forward by members of other clans. There was a plan to give the Embol gifts to appease him which was resoundingly laughed out of the chamber. These were fierce warriors of the North. Appeasement was akin to surrender, that would never happen. There was a plan to bring up armies from the southlands to fight which was heavily debated, although hotly contested by Thaara and her clan. It was rejected because it meant more strangers on the Isle, more souls for the Embol to corrupt. More uncertainty of which side their allies would actually fight for. Once and for all it was decided by the Kona that this was a problem for the native lands, and it would be decided by those who existed here now. One by one the plans and schemes came forward. Each was rejected leaving only Lori's plan that stood in any sort of agreement.

Half a mark later the chamber stood in silence as the Kona waited for any other plans to be brought forward. When none came, she spoke again.

"The Embol has arisen in our time. The Queen tests us like a hammer against the anvil. Crystal is not formed without pressure and heat. We will allow Lori until the next full moon to gather her information and return to us. Once the Embol's plans have been revealed, Thaara and the warriors of the North will strike, and the Embol shall be slain."

She stared out over the room defiantly, expectant, waiting for any hint of dissension or discord in the Great Hall.

The clash of spears sounded her retreat, and the Kona began to leave the chamber. And as if the room had been holding it's breath, there was a rush of noise as those gathered began to speak and interact again.

A decision had been reached. For better or worse, the fate of the North rested on the shoulders of a slave girl.

[Reiker]

Reiker watched the regal ladies come and leave. He listened attentively to the words they spoke, and he got curious. In a place ruled by women, what was he? He'll need to know what he would be fighting for if he really was going to fight. He turned to the people he was talking to earlier and asked, "What exactly is an Embol? And, if let's say I do fight for you people, what exactly is going to happen if you win?"

[Langredoc]

The sound of crashing spears made Langredoc's hands fly to the hilts of his weapons , the blades where already half the scabbard before he realized that it was a call to order.
With a annoyed grumble he pushed the blades back in place, he clearly did not know the rules around here yet. If he ever wanted to know them.

So he watched the women fight.... discuss the future, it was only interesting because it would also involve his future.

"The Embol has arisen in our time. The Queen tests us like a hammer against the anvil. Crystal is not formed without pressure and heat. We will allow Lori until the next full moon to gather her information and return to us. Once the Embol's plans have been revealed, Thaara and the warriors of the North will strike, and the Embol shall be slain."

One name in this statement struck a accord in Langredoc,,,, Lori, a eyebrow rose and he turned towards the young women once again, wondering about why she had to spy, and who...... interesting times.

No bathing in blood then.. thats bad for spying...

Then Reiker spoke"What exactly is an Embol? And, if let's say I do fight for you people, what exactly is going to happen if you win?"

Interesting questions and Langredoc was curious to the answers, the man had decided to keep his mouth shut until less explosive and armed spectators would be around. This after he had concluded that in this temple the women had a short fuse towards men, maybe against anybody. The Ice queen seemed to be a hot blooded woman to him, not at all cool.... if her followers reflected her that is.

[Guest]

When the Kona entered the chamber, Lori shivered with a mixture of awe and fear. She had never seen this wise and famous woman in the flesh before, having previously had no cause to attend council meetings.

As the elders deliberated, every tired muscle in the young woman's body was entirely tense. She stood with her teeth clenched, her hands curling into fists at her sides. Then the Kona spoke her name. "We will allow Lori until the next full moon to gather her information and return to us". She felt like all the breath had been sucked out of her body, the flickers stretched into an eternity as she waited to see whether the clans were united in agreement.

The spears hit the floor.

The room exploded in noisy chatter. She could feel dozens of eyes looking her way. Had she just sentenced herself to a horrible death? So be it, said a voice inside, stronger and calmer than before. Noise whirled around her as the meeting came to a close, she swayed on her feet slightly, dizzy from the implications of what had just occured.

Her brain picked out a voice in the babble, deeper than the others. Reiker, still questioning. Hex seemed momentarily lost in her own thoughts. She gave her friend's hand a squeeze and stepped forward towards Reiker, who towered over her. "The Embol is a name given to he who menaces us, who would have us subservient or slain." Her voice was cold, she didn't like this guy's tone.

"And if I do fight for you people, what exactly is going to happen if you win?"

"Well for one thing, you'll be fighting with us, not for us, we are not weak women who need protecting by men like you, but we will nonetheless be glad of your help." She paused and looked around the room, at the people whom she suddenly felt so proud to be among, before resting her gaze once again on Reiker.

"And I cannot tell you what exactly will happen if we win, but, in the Queen's name I pray we will. But I know that our lives, our Trothgardian traditions that we have held dear and sacred for countless yahren, will be allowed to continue and to flourish as they should, not be stamped down and crushed by the Embol and his army."

She finished speaking and held the man's gaze for several flickers. She couldn't quite believe she'd just done that, just faced someone fiercely and spoken exactly what was on her mind... I sounded almost like Hex then! she thought gleefully. Apparently she was no longer someone who would speak only when directly spoken to. Lori ve'Margier was becoming a force to be reckoned with. She smiled to herself.

[Langredoc]

A smile lingered around Langredoc's lips when he listed to what Lori had to say. Even though her thought was wrong, he still liked her.

Maybe one day he would tell her that mercenaries don't fight with you, they fight for you. They are paid to do so, they are resources you can waste. Its only bought loyalty, thats why they just fight for you, until someone pays better.

Now he would just keep his thoughts to him, this was not the place nor the time to discuss it.
Lori would learn, one way or a other.....and he would make sure that it was not the hard way... actually he concluded that that would not be a problem with Hex around, that woman clearly had a ,,,,,, how would you say it.....eye for war.

[Reiker]

"Hmm." Reiker looked at Lori the same way he looked at a child that misunderstood a pear for an apple. He crossed his arms and replied, his voice bored and monotonous, "Um, I'm not sure if you're aware of the concept of henchman or mercenary.When I fight with you that means I'm not a merc, I'm a comrade. When I fight for you that means I fight under you people but only until after the contract is fulfilled. We don't necessarily fight for gold, but we do fight for an agreement."

[Langredoc]

Langredoc laughed. He imagined his old lord doing something just for the honor or fun. All the years that the young man had grown up between mercenaries there had only been one law, gold. If there was not enough gold, there would be no army.

No mercenary would fight for peanuts if he valued his life, he had no bond with those he served, so he had to be paid for his loyalty. Hex would know this he guessed so he kept still, they could always ask him what the reason of his amusement was.

Langredoc wondered how much Reiker knew of these people he wanted to serf, because if he would have noticed that there where no males around here.

Amusement played in the eyes of Langredoc now, but he stayed alert, life could change quickly now, very quickly.

[Hex da`Bergliin]

Hex watched as the Kona came in with her daughter. Hex would serve this woman because her Queen demanded it. Her feelings on the Kona would go back and forth for some time Hex felt. Much had changed under her watch, much that Hex did not like.

It did not matter now, Hex no longer thought of taking the womans seat, she would do her influencing from the field of battle. Hers was to be the long path and most likely a path she walked alone.

Hex looked at Lori standing up to the merc known as Reiker. She was pleased by what she saw, pleased by her found strength. Langredoc was a professional and obviously a man who had served someone. In a way it was good to have the two extremes standing here, good for Lori to see the difference between a killer and one whom fights with purpose.

They bantered, Hex listened. Around the room Hex could hear the whispers and the words being spoken about them. Praise, doubt, hope, faith and in some...pity. Pity because they thought Lori went to her doom. Hex was going to do all she could to make sure that that did not happen.

Hex sensed a tone that made her decide that it was time for her to say something.

"Reiker, you asked for supplies and armaments as wage. The contract is to kill all and any whom cross our path until the worm is defeated. You will be equipped now and re-equipped after in some of our finest strike steel if you hold your end of the deal. Where we go men are corrupted on a whim and only the strongest resist. That will be your true battle, the one within yourself to see if you are more than the hand that wields a blade but a heart and mind that is your own. You spoke of me as 'boss-lady', as such these are the words I speak and that is the contract. Remember what I said about inner strength and corruption."

Hex turned to Langerdoc.

"You seem to know the trade of being the shadow. Shadow Lori. No other person matters here if she is not able to do that which she has set out to do."

Hex looked at the three who stood before her.

"To answer another question...we are at the dawn of a new time for Trothgard. None know what follows. There is always the wall of death. There will always be more to do. Lori, you have drawn the road in the snow so you must be the one to lead the way. I will be there when the time comes for combat, for killing...but it is your path to walk and mine to ensure that you walk that path."

Hex had a few plans to make to ensure that they all had what they needed on this walk but it time for Lori set her plan in motion.

[Vanadius]

Their path now chosen, their ruud now defined. The women and servants in the Great Hall began to file out in small groups. The Moot was over, and now there were preparations to be made.

Pats of support, or even perhaps sympathy, were showered upon Lori's shoulders as people filed past her. Most Trothgardians were an honest, straightforward people, so subterfuge and subtlety were often appreciated by many who could not bring themselves to suffer such troubling and difficult concepts.

They would make spears. They would gather supplies. They would prepare themselves to strike at Lori's signal.

It was a curious thing as they filed past the small group that had assembled around their new spy. It was almost as if they were saying goodbye.

The group was left alone, to their own devices. Sovereign over their own fate.

[Guest]

As the hall slowly emptied, Lori tried to meet the eyes of each woman in turn as they filed past her. Were they proud of her? Or did they think her foolish and doomed? She tried to tell herself that she didn't care either way, that this was the path she was meant to walk, and that she would lay down her life for her people if that's what it came to. The flashes of sadness and sympathy in many of the clanswomen's faces told her that, as far as they were concerned, her death was a distinct possibility. The cold fingers of fear ran up and down the knobs of her spine. Don't get too scared now. You have to stay strong....remember those days at the Gjof. No fear. You're gonna do this, and you're gonna live

"Well....it looks like the time has come" she said, her voice shaking. "I can set out for Grimkell immediately, that's where his camp is." She continued, thinking out loud, "if I'm to persuade him of my loyalty then I should take no provisions, so I can leave now...I need to make him think that I have been mistreated here in Rimmerhold...that I'm sick of being a slave...that I want to fight the clanswomen and the K..Kona." The last word stuck in her throat like an icicle. The thought of anyone wishing ill on such a wise leader was simply wrong..it was hard for her to stomach. But she knew she'd have to speak these words, and worse, if she stood any chance of convincing Skaali.

"What will you do?" She asked the three warriors. "Make camp somewhere well hidden and wait for me? Or do you have another plan?"

[Langredoc]

Langredoc answer to Hex was simple "The warrior stands", and he moved behind Lori.

Inside the warrior thought about the fact that these people probably did not know what this phrase actually meant. It brought back that cold morning in the Dortish highlands that the old weapon master of his lord told him that he had decided to teach him to use weapons well.
The man a true follower of the Red Warrior also thought him the meaning of "The warrior stands."...it was short for "There shall be no retreat, the warrior stands, for honor and duty until the sun dies and the moon crumbles. The warrior stands."

A smile flashed over his face when he also remembers the adhiel priestess who thought him more peaceful arts, like writing and lovemaking. And the day she left had said "You could be so much more then a mere warrior, bleeding for a master, so much more." He had never seen her again, just one more lost in the darkness of the years.

... that I'm sick of being a slave.... these words of Lori made Langredoc's eyes flash in anger until he had it under control again. This was not the place nor the time.... other people.... other habits.......slaves........never....

Then Lori asked "What will you do?" She asked the three warriors. "Make camp somewhere well hidden and wait for me? Or do you have another plan?"

"I am your shadow, so I just join you and keep you alive.... I am a stranger in this land anyway. Nobody knows me and a woman alone or a man alone is less obvious. We just have to decide what our .....relation is.."

The last words provoked a smile on Langredoc's face when he resumed "You could be my employer, or my lady if you wish."

Then a flicker later and wiping away the smile he said softly enough to be only heard by Lori's ears.

"But never a slave...." his eyes reflected the brewing hate.... yes Langredoc hated slavery...

Then louder "We shall need supplies and clothing,I would prefer to create camp later on so we can use the remaining light to move. It seems that we have not much time, so we better use what we have..."

[Hex da`Bergliin]

First of the last...What exactly did that mean?

Hex had no doubt that this was all by the Queens hand. The thought that this was her land after all brought a smile to her lips.

As some of the warriors filed past Hex made hers, and the others, needs known for their departure. Proper clothing, weapons, armor, and food. Hex felt skilled enough to be able to keep this small group alive outside of the settlements, well Lori could handle herself but the men would need help.

Hex looked at Langredoc, or rather it was as if she was trying to look inside the man.

"Langredoc the words you speak are true. You know nothing of our ways so for you to think that she be your lady is so ridiculous that such a plan might work. In the end though it is what Lori thinks will work."

Hex shrugged.

"I will make sure that you make it to Grimkell which means that we will need supplies. You can say you stole them if you want but you would never make it there without at least some food."

Hex looked over to Reiker.

"I sense a bloodlust of sorts within you. This neither frightens nor offends me. All I ask is that you stay true to your contract."

Hex liked her lips. It was good to be getting back on the road out of town. It was good to be getting back on the hunt. She had grown fond of the warm salty taste of the blood of her enemies.

"Lori, I cannot enter Grimkell with you. To even try and make anyone belive that I am anything but what I am is foolish. I will figure out what I am to do when the time comes that you are where you need to be. Perhaps Reiker and I shall hunt on the parameter, perhaps he will go with you. Only one knows that and we are the pawns in her game."

Hex knew that they had a fews burns if no longer while provisions were sought and gathered. There was no need for any of them to go anywhere until they left. It would be better that way.

Hex moved up to stand in front of Lori. Hex had put on some muscle in the past little while but in terms of some of the other warriors, she was small. Now though she seem to tower over Lori, fierce flickers of hate burned in her eyes.

"Now tell me slave girl who will never be da`Margeir, never get her feather, never be a warrior...we don't even go on slaving runs anymore because you are all so weak that it was not worth our bother. Tell be what's keeping you here and I will beat it out of you..."

Hex did not wait for Lori to give and answer. Hex drove her bare fist into Lori's face.

Hex paused, grinned wickedly like a wolf about to enjoy a crippled deer...

"You are the first of the last. I love you Lori for all that you have done and will do. Your hate though, must be real. The Worm will know if you are acting. I want you to live so you can grow old and tell your childrens children of your tale. Find your hate and bring it forth, carry it, let it fester like a infected wound."

Hex motioned for a servant girl to bring some hot food.

"Now before I wander back out into the cold night, let me have a properly cooked meal before I go."

[Reiker]

Reiker raised a brow at Hex's words, "Whatever gave you that idea Boss-lady?"

He smirked and continued, "You'd be surprised to see what lengths I reach to keep the credibility of my business undoubted and respected. Be sure to tell your friends after this."

"Now, about that meal Boss-lady said," he turned his empty gaze towards Lori, "Do I get dibs on that too mate?"

[Guest]

Lori listened to them as they fleshed out the bare bones of her plan. Hex loomed over her, a full head taller than the young slave and lithe with muscle. Her voice was hard, and her words rattled out like stones from a slingshot. When her fist smashed into Lori's face the young girl staggered backwards, reeling with shock and tasting blood in her mouth as the stronger woman's fist made contact with her jaw. She had had an idea that Hex would test her in some way, but she still wasn't expecting the blow when it came. She looked deep into her friend's face, her eyes defiant and sparkling.

"Do not worry for me, Hex. I will find what I need to from within, and he will not suspect." Already there was a note of harshness in Lori's voice that had not been there flickers before.

Wiping the trickle of blood from her lip away with the back of her hand, Lori turned to Langredoc. "I think it will be easier if we are merely two strangers who met on the journey to Grimkell, that way we can arrive together but don't have to waste time creating a history that we do not have, and that could cause the Worm to be suspicious if our stories ever falter."

"Let us eat, and then make ready to leave," she said, addressing the group. "Langredoc is right, we do not have much time."

[Langredoc]

Anger flashed in Langredoc's eyes when Hex struck out to Lori, his hands moved towards the weapons until he realized in a flash that it was not only Lori who was being tested. He was being tested and he did not like that...... not at all. He knew that Hex would have noticed his reaction........so there was no reason to hide it.

Releasing the hilts he waited until Lori finished her speech...

Then he said calm and clearly "You don't seem to understand Lady Lori, for now and until I say otherwise you are my lady.... Hex asked me to be your shadow, and I accepted. That means that from now on..... every person who does even try to harm you shall answer to me...... no exceptions. After you did your task... I leave... and you can reap your rewards whatever they maybe be."

To Nether with their bloody Goddess, and to Nether with me because I stay.... and twice to Nether for the Red Warrior for putting a challenge like this on my path...

Langredoc turned away from Lori and towards Hex. "Don't even try to hurt her anymore while she is at my watch....next time I cut your ba..... head off. "

The urge to punch Hex face was almost unbearable for Langredoc, Hex bloody hell had the nerve to hit Lori on HIS GUARD !!!

Controlling his anger he stepped back, wondering what would happen now, but he knew that fighting in anger while they would need each other in the long run was a bad thing. Although deep inside something grinned and roared waiting for a excuse to hurt this bitch..... woman as badly as he could.

Domination was not his game.... he would fight it all the way.

Somewhere in his mind he hear the echo of a female voice "Your eyes hold enough love to warm me.... and enough hate to chase me away..."

Women !!! Nothing then trouble.... THE WARRIOR STANDS !!!

[Reiker]

Reiker snickered under his breath with a teeth full smile as Langredoc stormed off.

"Touchy touchy."

[Langredoc]

Langredoc turned for a brief flicker towards Reiker...

His eyes resting on the mercenary he thought. My principles are not for sale...so where are you smiling about.

And he decided not to speak out his thoughts, no need for even more tension.... this guy was not worth it to fight anyway.

He smiled at the thought, and moved his feet into the position of the cat, ready to fight. If this would be his last day, he would make it a good day. Suddenly he was cool and calm again, his training kicked in, the warrior stands.

[Reiker]

Reiker chuckled at Langredoc's attitude. He sighed when he saw his eyes look at him. He knew the other warrior did not approve of him, but hell, it didn't matter as long as you did what was expected. There was a difference between him and the other one, and he knew it well. Like black and white, a warrior was not a soldier. He was a soldier, LAngredoc was a warrior, so he wouldn't understand why he moves like this.

Reiker looked at Hex again and started to speak with a low voice, "Now, It's alright by me not to have my questions answered, but since the kids are gone. I was wondering if you could answer them now Boss-lady."

He moved nearer to her, swinging his blade upon his back. His face grew graver as his humor fled him, "I need to know the exact amount of forces we're going against. The provisions we will be provided. The allies we will be granted. The weapons we are alloted. Where we're going to go. The environment we're traversing. And, most importantly, what exactly are my order?"

"Unlike some people, I have this thing for following orders because in all the battles I've fought, orders save men. Exact orders, orders with reason, plans. That's what I need from you right now. What are we going to do?"

[Hex da`Bergliin]

It was a good sequence of events.

Lori's face should show that punch, Langredoc looked like he wanted to kill her and Reiker found great mirth in it all.

Hex smiled.

"Lori, I have never doubted that you would, in fact, I belive that you already have that which you need to succeed. I was just helping make you look the part... and oh, testing your new shadow. No woman of Trothgard would let the words you intend to say come out of your mouth without ramming her fist back down your throat. That should swell enough to reflect that. I could have stripped you and had you whipped but that seemed a bit much."

Hex's throat made a rumble as she cleared it.

"Now Langerdoc, I needed to see how far you thought an order was to go. Would you kill me? Would you even try? I don't have time to test you here and now, maybe on the road we can have a little sparing but let me help you understand that you go to fight more than flesh and steel..."

Hex put forth her left hand in a motion to stop while she drew one of her daggers with her right. Hex channeled, it had become easier as she had had so much practice with it while she was 'hunting' in the north. She did not want to do much, she just frosted over the blade of the dagger so that he, and the rest, could see...then she released it.

"The Worm is a man of greater power than any one woman and perhaps all the priestesses combined. That is why Lori must sneak in and help us find a way to defeat him. Without power I would like the chance to cut him apart, but he is never without power. He has runes, he has crystal and for some reason that only the Queen knows, she wants us to kill him. She could have, Lori was there as was I. He is the start of a new dawn in Trothgard so do not speak to me of tests. The test I take will end my life and my way of life if I fail, if she fails."

Hex's finger pointed squarely at Lori. Hex was never one to mince words.

"Reiker, our mission is to infiltrate the enemy territory and take Lori as far in as we can go. Spring is upon us and the snow is melting. So it will be snow, water and rocks. We should travel by foot. It is still cold, you would say very cold and we are going further north, several days travel by dog sled, more on foot and our path will not be direct. We should avoid fights but slaughter all if we are forced into one. Once we see that Lori has made it to the settlement of the Worm, well we wait, hunt his scouts and prepare for the battle to decide the fate of a land. Those are the reasons and as of this moment, that is the plan. Oh as for numbers, small groups of maybe twelve or so to hundreds, give or take a few."

Hex shook her head.

"Men and their numbers. I once had a chat with a priest, wizard type of man whom professed to be of the 'One'. He said his legions out numbered me and that I was a barbarian heathen. I killed his friends, enslaved his page, smashed his ship that he said flew there and then froze him solid and cut off his head. Oh, then me and two friends went and killed all of his soldiers. Numbers, just kill them faster and then there will not seem like there is so many. "

Hex shook her head as she sheathed her dagger.

"Oh well, supper should be here soon...I guess my bath will have to wait a few more months."

Hex laughed at herself as she thought of what she must look like to her collected little group.

[Langredoc]

Listening to the words and watching the dagger become ice Langredoc felt his grin return.

So she was testing me after all.... the bitch... A feeling of respect was growing inside him.

Then he responded, the anger flushed away as fast as it had come, and replaced with a twinkle in his eye.

"If needed I would kill you Hex, just as you would kill me. And no magic like that would heal you if your head would be on the ground. It gives you a advantage, maybe even a large one. But there is a ending and a solution to anything.... And for me being Lori's guardian or partner, she just have to ask me. Say something like "Langredoc, please protect me from any harm, and help me in my quest, and accept me as your Lady." If I accept.... she could tell anybody that I am her partner and or lady... and it would be no lie......trust and truth are dangerous weapons against those who rule with fear."

A nod ended his speech. The grin stayed, it seemed that the situation in a bizar way did amuse him. Although he was not suicidal.

He would enjoy testing Hex'es skills. He would train every evening anyway. After a flicker he wondered about how she got those powers to put ice on the dagger... ice... ice queen... and a talk a few yahren ago. "If you serve the Red Warrior well enough, he shall grand you powers to serve him even better Laddy." Those where the words that the old weapon master spoke then. Langredoc concluded that that should be the case. Well that was a disadvantage for him, he would never be that good in the grace of the Red Warrior... not keen enough in creating sees of blood. The lady was keen enough to serve her icy mistress and that could mean that the lady was frigid... well in some ways anyway. At least they treated men not in the loving way.

A bit funny though, maybe they would go extinct this way. That would spil the fun of the Worm guy. Interesting times,

[Reiker]

Reiker chuckled at her final comments against those of the one. He remembered his own experiences during the war. The war just gave him a thousand more reasons not to have a god.

"I know what you mean," he replied to Hex's words, "Priests of the One don't make good commanders, no matter how many men you put under them. Those of the One weren't made for war. They were made for questing and inquisitions. The Kingdom was stupid enough to let their own people get the best of them because of religion."

Reiker snickered at the thought of how badly the war ended for the Kingdom of the West. He remembered the orders he was given. He remembered the actions he had to take. He wasn't proud of that war. It was fought without brains.

"But," He continued, "One should never disregard number. Had those men been true soldiers, under the command of capable men, I do not think you'd be here right now. Good men are scattered, if they were kept in one place and followed instead of the priests, the westerners wouldn't have a dead king."

[Hex da`Bergliin]

"They were true soldiers, but it is true that they were poorly led. They died because they were poorly equipped and in a place that they could not win."

Hex paused and looked to the two men.

"Magic here comes in many forms. I show you these things not to gloat about my own powers but to help you understand that all may not appear as it seems here. You must be on guard for more than skill and strength. My examples of numbers is much the same. I do not gloat of my kills but rather to say that a well equipped group fighting for something they belive in, and care about, can defeat numbers of those that fight because they are told to. I am not surprized this king of the One's has died, they seemed...weak."

Killing her own kind was nothing like killing those that invaded. Her kind was stronger and more cunning. Yes the next road was going to be a hard one. It was going to be nothing compared the the wall of death. All of this just seemed to be like one long training exercise for Hex.

He was to show us the Ruud...

Perhaps it was a test after all. One to separate the true believers from those that had wavered. Perhaps...

Hex would have taken the council of an elder on the subject but she doubted that they would talk with her or that what they had to say would change a single thing in Hex's mind.

Hex looked to Lori wondering what she was exactly the 'last of'. As she was thinking of that her stomach growled. Hex scanned the room looking for a servant girl to yell at to get that meal moving.

[Guest]

Lori moved towards Langredoc. Touching him lightly on the arm she said "Langredoc, I am grateful for your protection and your loyalty, and I thank the Ice Queen for it. The task I face....the task we all face, is a great and difficult one."

She paused, and looked deep into his eyes, trying to make him understand. "I understand that your job is to keep me from harm, and that in that way, I am your lady, and believe me, the knowledge that you will be looking out for me is already helping to combat some of the fear I feel at what I must do, and for that, I thank you. But, you must understand the need for subtlety, for secrecy." Her voice cracked with the urgency of what she was telling him...if he tried to present himself as her guardian or employee to Skaali he'd get them both killed for sure.

"Slaves in Trothgard do not merit protectors or "employees"...we are not high enough in status. So, Langredoc, you must look inside yourself, you too must find a story and stick to it. I will tell the Embol of my unhappiness here, to persuade him that I want to join his ranks. What will be your story? How have you heard of Skaali? Why do you want to join him? All of this you must decide and speak with conviction before we set off. I do not know what will happen once we are inside his fortress, but you must be careful what you say, both of us must keep up the pretence. Because really, we are both imposters. If everything goes according to plan, and no-one suspects us, your strength as a warrior should not be needed until we make our escape with the information we need."

She hoped she had said enough. There was a lot of pressure resting on both of them, and while she felt instinctively that she could trust Langredoc, he knew so little of the ways of her homeland that he could still prove dangerous to the success of her plan.

All the while, Lori couldn't help thinking of the Ice Queen. It was she who had brought Lori and Hex face to face with Skaalyr. Why? She looked at Hex, and it was clear from her pensive expression that she too had questions that remained unanswered. Lori felt that now was not the time to bring these up. The two men had had enough of a crash course in Trothgardian culture for the immediate future, but she made a mental note to try and get Hex alone later, as they journeyed to Grimkell. She wanted to know what was on her friend's mind.

ooc: sorry for slow posting rate guys, RL pretty busy at the moment. Will try and speed up soon.

[Langredoc]

Langredoc listened to Lori the touch of her hand was as light as a feather, more hot then a funeral fire. And her words although right from her point of view, where wrong from his. So when she finished his voice was hoarse but steady and he said.

"Lori......you tell me that you are a slave....for me nobody is a slave, if somebody tells he that he owns a person.... I would probably kill him....or her. And I don't know how powerful or suspicious that worm person is, but he shall never be able to detect anything else then the truth from me. I am not from your religion, I don't understand why you stay here in a country where the hearts seem as cold as the ice they worship."

His eyes captured Lori's filled with a red hot fire when he resumed.
" I learned my trade serving a man who believed himself higher then those who died for him on the battlefields, many a time I slept in front of his tent, whatever the weather would throw at me. He just made bets about my survival, and I stayed alive. Now he sends assassins after me because I got away with a title that would make me in theory his equal, and although I would never be accepted by his peers does it harm his pride enough to want to see me dead."

Even now he was not finished his stand showed a man who would challenge a god if he believed that he was right, and he was right.

"Normally I would disappear after we left this place, your goal is not mine, and my life is valuable enough to cherish it. And although I have made my lord enough money as his weapon would I never serve anybody for money alone. I am not from here, and your worm and his people shall know that the moment I move among them. So I shall tell them that I wanted to see you save..... and it shall be the truth as always, because I have decided that. For me your not a slave, not now not ever, your...... status for me is equal to that of Reiker and....... HEX. What price you pay me for my protection..... well most men would have some ideas about that. So as I said I stay until you are finished with YOUR quest. For me I have other priorities in life, and shall leave as soon as you hope to get some rewards for your sacrifice...and servitude."

The warrior stepped aside to give Lori space enough to walk on.

Inside him there was a battle raging around one question "Why did he actually not leave and stay alive ?" The answer was simple, at least he would never just sacrifice a person if he could help it. Not a slave, never a slave but a person who needed his help. Silently he made a note to kick a old weaponmaster's ass if he would see him again. Stupid code of honor....he had never realized how much it had grown on him. Then he wondered why he had lost his temper already three times today. Not a good score for mister always prepared..... Automatically he scanned the surroundings for danger before turning his attention back to Lori.

[Vanadius]

OOC:

Great interaction!

Feel free to get to know one another in this thread, as well as continue on here;

https://tazlure.nl/board/viewtopic.php?t=14082

Great job! looking forward to seeing what you all do next!