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Post by Jenny on Dec 14, 2010 0:02:54 GMT -5
He nodded a little. "I didn't expect her to save us like that. Not by the look she had on her face."
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Post by KD on Dec 14, 2010 0:05:30 GMT -5
"She's a creature of instinct, like most of her kind, so I knew her hatred for the beasts would overcome her hatred of us." There was a hint of discomfort, just a hint, in Emeric's eyes, because he also knew her protective instincts had been risen and that had driven her as well, but it was harder to look at it from that point of view when they had her collared and shut up
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Post by Jenny on Dec 14, 2010 0:11:58 GMT -5
He shuddered a little, a morbid thought of burning alive crossing his mind. She could have done it, and lived. She could have escaped. He shook his head. "I just don't understand it."
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Post by KD on Dec 14, 2010 0:14:38 GMT -5
"I don't either..." Emeric shrugged, either not able or willing to give it much thought. "At any rate, at least that attack came later on in the journey, we'll be over the other side of the mountains by tomorrow and its much more populated. Less chance of an attack from the dark...well except by bandits, maybe, but I doubt we'll have any trouble taking care of those."
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Post by Jenny on Dec 14, 2010 0:18:11 GMT -5
He chuckled. "No, I don't think we will."
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Post by KD on Dec 14, 2010 0:24:16 GMT -5
They kept two people on watch for the rest of the night. Emeric went to tend to Rauni the next morning as the rest of them readied the wagon.
Ruani ignored him completely, which he found more disturbing than when she glared at him. Seeing her curled up in a ball in the corner of the wagon, not even stirring to eat the food he put in the wagon for her, stirred feelings of sympathy he couldn't afford to have. He backed off, leaving the food for her. Eventually he'd have to force her to eat but it wouldn't do any good at the moment, he knew from experience.
Rauni was tired and groggy and profoundly miserable. She'd woken chained up again and that stuffed with wool feeling in her head that was the rune power wrapping around her mind and powers. As usual but after that brief, glorious moment of freedom, it was ten times worse. As the wagon shifted and started to move forward, she buried her face against the rough wood of the floor and keened softly.
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Post by Jenny on Dec 14, 2010 0:31:08 GMT -5
He ate breakfast quickly, restless to get back on the road. He was short with the men, but not with Emeric. Never with Emeric. They couldn't eat quick enough, ready the wagon soon enough, and pick up the pace to his satisfaction. On more than occassion he strayed far ahead and had to stop and wait. It may be slightly disrespectful, but he wasn't in the mood to be polite. And he had to get away from the muffled wails coming from the wagon.
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Post by KD on Dec 14, 2010 0:40:19 GMT -5
Markus glared at him a few times but Emeric, of course, had no problems with it. Outwardly he didn't even acknowledge or seem to notice the sounds, maybe he honestly didn't hear her.
Rauni finally fell silent around midday. She stirred enough to crawl forward and eat a little bit. It occurred to her she didn't know why she bothered. Once, thoughts of revenge, of getting back home, had driven her to live but over the years, that just wasn't enough to sustain her. Especially after she'd seen the paintings of the palace the Master had been there to build when he captured her. Its expanse now covered what had been her forest. She didn't have a home to go back to.
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Post by Jenny on Dec 14, 2010 0:45:12 GMT -5
At the bridge, they crossed carefully. The rough winter had destroyed the first bridge, Vladik wasn't about to take any chances today. He had the wagon cross the bridge first, holding back the mercenaries, and then allowed them to cross two at a time. When the group was safely on the other side, he picked up the pace just as quickly as before. He called a halt to rest after about an hour later so everyone could take a brief rest. Vladik continued to pace restlessly ahead until it was time to move on.
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Post by KD on Dec 14, 2010 0:54:04 GMT -5
As Emeric had promised, the woods were less oppressive on this side of the mountain. There were more signs of human life, evidence of trees being cut down and such. They couldn't see any of the cities yet, but it was clear this half of the mountain range was occupied by humanity.
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Post by Jenny on Dec 14, 2010 0:57:48 GMT -5
He called for another halt when the mercenaries had visibly tired from the long march. This time, he joined the group, taking his place beside Emeric as they ate a light supper. Billows of smoke could be seen in the trees a few miles ahead, a small settlement where they could pick up spare supplies and perhaps a drink or two. That should cheer the men up a bit.
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Post by KD on Dec 14, 2010 1:03:10 GMT -5
Markus was muttering about the pace but even his flunky didn't seem interested in listening to him. They'd made good time today. The wagon was eerily silent. There wasn't even the sound of her usual pacing or stirring about.
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Post by Jenny on Dec 14, 2010 1:09:47 GMT -5
He had done his best to put the girl from his mind. Thoughts of her were too depressing. At one time he had wanted to slap her, another time he wanted to kill her, and now... he didn't know. She would be out of his life soon, it wasn't wise to become attached any further. Women were complicated creatures.
"Emeric, after Rauni is delivered to your master, are you to stay with him?"
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Post by KD on Dec 14, 2010 1:12:31 GMT -5
"That highly depends on if he has another assignment for me, at least until Rauni escapes again and I have to go get her. Why?" Emeric looked over at him curiously.
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Post by Jenny on Dec 14, 2010 1:16:46 GMT -5
He smiled a little. "This may sound a little insulting, but please don't be. You're a good and honorable man, for a noble." He grinned. "Look me up again if you need a job done."
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