|
Post by KD on Dec 18, 2010 0:49:29 GMT -5
Emeric shrugged. "Soon she'll be back in her Master's hold and she won't be our problem anymore, at any rate. I'm just afraid she knows something and will let it happen..."
|
|
|
Post by Jenny on Dec 18, 2010 0:51:40 GMT -5
"I wouldn't blame her," he lowered his eyes. "But if she intended to harm us, she would have let us burn."
|
|
|
Post by KD on Dec 18, 2010 0:53:34 GMT -5
"She protects, it's her nature. All her instincts were fired up then. She's had time to think about it now." Emeric let his fingers brush the hilt of his sword, looking around.
|
|
|
Post by Jenny on Dec 18, 2010 0:58:03 GMT -5
He sighed. He stopped and turned around towards the militia. "Keep the alert, men. We may have some action."
|
|
|
Post by KD on Dec 18, 2010 1:03:26 GMT -5
They didn't meet with any outward resistance as they made their way into the city. Perhaps this close to civilization they didn't have much power.
Just as they hit the edge of the city, Rauni started wailing and the wagon shook as she slammed herself against the door again and again. Markus snapped and pounded at the door from the outside, yelling at her to shut up.
|
|
|
Post by Jenny on Dec 18, 2010 1:08:28 GMT -5
Did she know where she was, so close to the master that she had become just too upset? Everyone had stopped moving, and were staring at the wagon with varying degrees of emotion. Vladik looked around, searching for a possible explanation as to what had set her off, if not this.
|
|
|
Post by KD on Dec 18, 2010 1:13:23 GMT -5
There was nothing but Emeric finally shook his head and spoke the word to activate one of the runes that bound her. The crashing stopped and her wailing tapered off into soft, barely audible crying.
The city was abuzz as they came into it. The Master...his name apparently was Vyris...was the center of conversation, everyone speaking of how astonishing his newest acquisition was. Apparently he'd picked up a new pet while they'd been gone and had put great expense into setting up a place for it before presenting it during a party. There were talks of amazing amounts of magic, sleeping spells, golden diamond studded caging, ect...
|
|
|
Post by Jenny on Dec 18, 2010 1:18:29 GMT -5
Vladik, for one, was grateful that the wailing and pounding had stopped.
He looked from one to the other as he heard this and that about how wonderous and awe-insipiring Vyris was, and was slightly compelled to see these 'acquisitions' for himself.
|
|
|
Post by KD on Dec 18, 2010 1:23:38 GMT -5
Vyris lived in a large estate on the outskirts of the city. Guards opened the great gates for them and Emeric breathed a sigh of relief as the came up the long road.
A large man dressed in finery burst out of the house, waving exuberantly. "Emeric! You've returned!"
Emeric bowed. "We brought her back for you, sir."
The man blinked. "Who?" He looked at the wagon. "Oh! Rauni! Yes!" He looked excited all of a sudden. "Oh, yes, I'd forgotten! She'll have to go into the new wing of the menagerie, yes, she'll make a perfect accent for...her." He clapped Emeric on the shoulder and blinked at Vladik, smiling good naturedly. "And hello there, who are you?"
|
|
|
Post by Jenny on Dec 18, 2010 1:30:19 GMT -5
He gave Vyris a small bow. "My name is Vladik. I have aided Emeric in his journey back to you, with your precious cargo protected."
|
|
|
Post by KD on Dec 18, 2010 1:40:26 GMT -5
"Vladik has been an amazing help, sir, we wouldn't have gotten nearly as far without him."
Vyris beamed at him. "Well then, you have my profound thanks, my man! Emeric, you must come see my newest member of my collection. Vladik, would you like to see as well? We'll have to add Rauni in. Oh, and you must stay for dinner, I'm afraid the banquet was a few days ago and it's too late to plan one for tonight but we can make a party ourselves, eh?" He hurried around the wagon, speaking a mile a minute. He pressed a few gold coins on all of them because he just happened to have some in his pockets in that moment and let the rest of the militia go. "The runes held, did they?"
Emeric was smiling, he didn't seem able to help himself, it was the sheer energy of his Master that seemed to spark the air around them. "Yes, although she messed with the ones on the wagon a bit."
"Minx. Well, if she didn't have any energy how boring would that be." He pulled a golden chain out of his pocket and opened the door, speaking the words to activate the runes.
|
|
|
Post by Jenny on Dec 18, 2010 1:45:00 GMT -5
He smiled and nodded. "I would be delighted, thank you." Vyris was such a likeable man, he found his worries about Rauni and concern for the other 'acquisitions' were put out of his mind.
|
|
|
Post by KD on Dec 18, 2010 1:48:45 GMT -5
Vyris led Rauni out with the gold chain attached to the collar around her neck. He was still talking non stop, which was a mistake because the second he patted Rauni on the shoulder she whipped her head around and sank her teeth into his hand. He yelped in surprise and pushed her back so she stumbled away. He spoke another word and Rauni fell to her knees, shuddering. Emeric hurried forward, alarmed, to help the master.
He was right to be alarmed. When Rauni looked up at her master, her gaze was so blatantly full of utter and complete hatred there was no doubt whatsoever that if she ever got the chance, she would kill him. The desire to do it practically burned the air between them.
|
|
|
Post by Jenny on Dec 18, 2010 1:54:48 GMT -5
She was daring him to touch her again. If Vyris got close, she would surely seriously wound him. Runes may control her body but she would find a way, he was sure of that. As Emeric was tending to Vyris' hand wound, Vladik took a couple steps towards Rauni, raising his hands in a placating manner.
|
|
|
Post by KD on Dec 18, 2010 2:01:15 GMT -5
Rauni just hissed at him, the hatred in her eyes not dimmed in any way when she looked at him, and backed against the wagon, unable to attack because of the rune. She took a swipe at Emeric when he got too close and would at Vladik as well. She was snarling. Not just an expression but a literal sound like an animal's.
"Rauni." The master's voice was remarkably calm. "Get up." She shuddered, resisted for a moment, then rose to her feet, unable to resist following his order. His hand wrapped, shaking his head with a bemused smile on his face, Vyris took hold of her leash and drew her along with another order, apparently not bothered by the look or her anger.
Emeric sighed and shook his head at Vladik, leading him into the house after the master.
|
|