Mercenary

[micaylah]

"Good get me something to would you?" She gave him a coy grin.

[taran]

Smiling, though slightly irritated, Mar rose to go hunting. Taking his bow and a few arrows, he set off into the forest, following recent deer tracks.

[micaylah]

"Mar! It was a joke! I'm sorry." Kalri yelled after him but he was already in the forest. 'That's what I get for trying to be funny.' She pouted as she gathered wook to make a fire. Once she had the wood arranged she whispered "brisingr" and the flames lept before her. She pulled bread and fruit from the packs and got some water from a nearby stream, filling their waterskins. She sat and waited for Mar to return.

[taran]

Mar nocked an arrow, taking aim at a large buck near a tree. Drawing the bowstring back, he held it at his cheek, making sure the deer was unaware of him. Loosing the arrow, he released his breath. The arrow stuck home, just behind the shoulder of the buck, but below the spine...the sweetspot. Retrieving the arrow, Mar hauled the deer over his shoulder. As Mar neared their camp, he saw the small fire glowing, making his stomach rumble with hunger.
"I'm back," he said, dropping the deer before the fire. Mar began to field dress the animal, taking care to minimize the blood-loss.

[micaylah]

Kalri pulled her knife to help Mar clean the deer.

[taran]

Mar gladly let Kalri help clean the deer, not being a big fan of it himself. Maybe it was his elven heritage, or maybe he only wished to see those who attacked him dead.

[micaylah]

Kalri liked cleaning animals. She liked the feel of the blood and the warmth within the body from the fresh kill. It made her blood race within her veins, almost as much as the actual killing did. She wiped her hair out of her face with the back of her hand, leaving a trail across her eyes. Her eyes held an almost fanatical look about them.

[taran]

Mar watched as Kalri cleaned the animal, the joy clearly written on her face.
"Okay, I think you are done now," he said, putting his hand on her shoulder. He finished cutting the deer into its separate portions, then set them over the fire on a skillet. His mouth watered at the smell of the fresh meat roasting. Taking the rack, Mar tied them to his pack, making sure the horns were no in danger of poking someone.

[micaylah]

Kalri came back into herself at Mar's touch upon her shoulder. Looking at him she smiled a little as he cooked the deer meat over the fire. She walked to the stream nearby and sat on the bank for a moment. Looking at her reflection beneath the light of the full moon, she was suddenly drawn to something her mother had taught her on a visit to the coven as a child. She could not resist the pull of the moon as she chanted the words, held her blood stained face up to it, and channeled its power into her. Kalri didn't usually practice her mother's teachings, but tonight the draw of the moon was too strong for her to resist.

[taran]

Mar watched from the fire as Kalri performed the ritual that the coven witches practiced. Looking up at the moon, Mar felt its power. He quickly turned away, knowing the danger in the moon's untamed power to one not used to its strength. Quietly, Mar spoke a series phrases he had learned centuries ago from a group of wandering scholars.
"The trees speak of wisdom, but the warrior only hears the wind. The rivers and creeks tell of strength and power, but the sage only sees the danger. The desert tells of perseverance, but the wanderer only sees desolation. The plains tell of lessons learned long ago, but the king only sees war. The chains speak of hope, but the slave only sees pain. Do not be the warrior, nor the sage, nor the wanderer, nor the king, nor the slave, but a man. A man sees all these things, surpasses kings, and warriors, and sages, and wanderers, and slaves. Be wise in thy decisions, mind the past and future. Love those who need it, and those who are not deserving." A small tear fell down his cheek as Mar said the words, remember lives long past.

[micaylah]

As Kalri finished the ritual, she cupped water into her hands and slowly washed the blood off her face. She returned to camp as Mar was finishing with the cooking. "What were you doing Mar? I heard you speaking but I could not make out the words." She sat down near the fire, smelling the deer as it sizzled against the heat of the pan.

[taran]

Mar still felt the old sadness in him as Kalri returned, clean.
"Oh, it was nothing," he said, trying to lose the images in his mind. "Just a little something I picked up when I was young. I've never forgotten it." Mar looked down at the sizzling meat, using the distraction cooking it offered to shake the feelings of regret and pain.

[micaylah]

Kalri could feel the sadness in him. She reached out to touch his mind to see what it was that he was trying to hide from her. Though she usually tore her way through to what she sought, she reached out to him softly.

[taran]

Mar felt her touching his mind softly, looking for something. He knew she could have forced her way through, but she did not. Looking into her eyes, a small tear fell down his face.
"If you really want to see it," he said, lowering his defenses so she could see his memory, though he kept all others secret.

Mar walked along with a small group of scholars, on their way from Ellesmera to Uru'baen, before it was Uru'baen. Mar had seen them from afar, then quickly made his way to them, always interested in the elves of his heritage. They all shunned him, save one woman his own age, though she was very wise. They talked for what seemed like hours as Mar traveled with them. Suddenly, they were attacked by a larger group of Mercenaries, swords drawn and already covered in blood. The woman he was with threw him a pair of short swords, slightly curved, the blades dulled in the light. Mar quickly drew the blades, fighting with all his might to protect the first person who had ever accepted him. He was fast, but not enough to save her. An arrow flew through the air, missing his head by inches, and embedding itself in her chest. Mar ran forward, screaming in anger as he cut down all those before him, friend and foe alike. He reached the woman as she was taking her last breaths, tears in her eyes. She reached up to stroke his face, kissing him softly.
'I will miss you,' she said softly. 'Do not forget what I told you.' With her last words, she kissed him, then drifted off into death's cold embrace. Mar ran off, tears clouding his eyes.

Mar quickly closed his mind before anyting else could be seen. The tears filled his eyes, but would not fall. Taking a breath, he stood, taking a knife to cut the meat.

[micaylah]

Kalri watched the vision unfold before her minds eye. Closing her own eyes she watched Mar's pain as the woman died. Feelings she had never know before washed over her as she reached up to her cheek and felt a tear. She had never shed a tear. Not once. Mar's memory was so strong, that she had felt his feelings for this woman. She felt heartache and pain which she had never experienced. Her life had been complete. Everything she ever wanted she had received but touching this memory... She slowly went to him and placing her hand on his cheek looked into his eyes. "I am sorry." she said to him. It was the only time in her life that she really meant the words as she spoke them.