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Post by taran on Aug 18, 2008 16:32:37 GMT -5
Out of the corner of his eyes, Taran saw the two men flank him. He quickly moved, making a triangle with the two attackers, his back to the forest.
"What do you want?!?" he shouted at them. Only silence. He readied himself for the attack, sword up and feet apart.
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Post by micaylah on Aug 18, 2008 16:39:34 GMT -5
Aethelwyne had worked her way around the back of one of the men. Creeping slowly and silently she stood, with quick decisive intent, she grabbed the man under the chin with her left hand and slit his throat with the blade in her right. She let him drop to the forest floor with a thud. She stood with her head tilted to the side, a wild look in her eyes, and stared at the remaining man. She made no intent to move.
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Post by taran on Aug 18, 2008 16:45:02 GMT -5
Taran turned his attention to the only man still standing, though he was not the last alive. Raising his sword, Taran struck out with a large gust of wind, cutting into the man like a blade. The attacker fell to the ground, his life utterly spent. Taran cleaned and sheathed his sword, then walked over to the man he had crippled. Kneeling beside him, Taran looked into the man's light blue eyes.
"Why did you try to kill us?" he asked in a calm voice.
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Post by micaylah on Aug 18, 2008 16:49:01 GMT -5
Aethelwyne walked to stand beside Taran. Her sword down at her side wet with blood. She waited as Taran talked to the man with a fierce intensity on her face that in and of itself could have killed.
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Post by taran on Aug 18, 2008 16:55:47 GMT -5
Taran kept the man's gaze. The attacker struggled with every breath, though he managed to utter a few choice words.
"Contract...Kill...Athelwyne...Taran..Shadeslayer..." Taran could get no more from the man, rising in frustration as he died. He looked at Aethelwyne, seeing the fierce look upon her face.
"It is done," he told her, putting his arm around her shoulders. "Let's get moving, love."
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Post by micaylah on Aug 18, 2008 17:02:01 GMT -5
A contract on her and Taran. Who could possibly know about them? Aethelwyne stood for a moment not moving just breathing heavily. Her mind raced. This was not good. Not good at all. As Taran spoke the words 'My love' to her, it brought her back from her fury. Her demeanor changed, lightened, as she felt his touch on her shoulders. She let him lead her. Not speaking as she let the last of her anger leave her.
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Post by taran on Aug 18, 2008 17:06:49 GMT -5
Taran led Aethelwyne back to the camp, but still kept his guard up. Taking his leather armor from where it was drying, Taran pulled it on, not caring about privacy when they could be attacked at any moment. 'Adurthil?' he called out to his dragon. 'Tell Doc you two should come back now.'
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Post by micaylah on Aug 18, 2008 17:10:08 GMT -5
Aethelwyne put on a damp gown. It appeared that she had placed it on over another. Releasing the illusion she returned to her true face. "Who do you think could possibly know that we were together? I know I have many enemies but who would have connected us?" She looked at him with a faint concern hidden in her eyes.
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Post by taran on Aug 18, 2008 17:13:07 GMT -5
Taran sat down, keeping his sword within reach.
"I do not know," he said, looking into her eyes. "My guess is somehow Narth found out, and told someone. There may have already been a contract on one, or both of us, and they used the information from the horse to their advantage."
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Post by micaylah on Aug 18, 2008 17:14:43 GMT -5
"But why would he tell?"
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Post by taran on Aug 18, 2008 17:18:29 GMT -5
Taran thought for a moment.
"I don't know. But I do know it was him. I told only a few people, including yourself, about Reka the Shade. It is possible he grew angry of you and me, as well as Adurthil, and decided that he didn't want to be around me any more. Whatever the reason, we are in danger and must get moving."
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Post by micaylah on Aug 18, 2008 23:29:55 GMT -5
She knew Taran could be right but she wondered if Narth could possibly be in trouble. Could he have been captured and the information taken forcibly from him. It was hard to believe that a long time friend and companion would willingly put him in jeapordy. Aethelwyne couldn’t help but think about the man’s words. Contract…Kill…Aethelwyne…Taran…Shadeslayer. The words left her confused and wary. Had the words meant that there was a contract taken on them or had it been something else. She thought back, replaying the scene in her mind. The horse appeared and as Taran was looking at it, the archer drew down on him. None of them paid any attention to Aethelwyne, it was Taran who drew their focus. If there were contracts on both of them they would have targeted her as well. Could the words have been meant as a message to her? Had a contract been taken on Taran Shadeslayer and it was she who was meant to kill him?
The feeling came over her in a wave. She ran to the edge of the pool, falling onto the bank in the shallows. She cupped water in her hands and splashed it onto her face. She felt hot, like she was going to be ill. She plunged her face into the coolness of the water to find relief. She thought to herself ‘better to let the life drain out of me here under the water than to ask me to kill Taran!’ Still under the water, she reached out to him in agony. ‘TARAN!’ She pulled her head back and took a great gasp to refill her lungs with air turning on to her back in the shallows. Doc came crashing through the forest with Adurthil trying to keep up. ‘Aethelwyne!’ he roared with a mighty fury. He felt the agony she was feeling as torrents of blinding pain crashed over her like ocean waves against a rocky reef. Seeing that she was not physically hurt, he could do nothing but watch and wait for it to subside.
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Post by taran on Aug 19, 2008 11:12:01 GMT -5
Taran heard a great cry from Aethelwyne, full of agony and fear. Rushing forward swiftly, as fast as he could possibly run. Grabbing her from the water, Taran fell back onto the shore, holding her tight to him.
"What is it? I'm here, love, I'm here," he said to her, trying to comfort her. Lifting her head to look directly into her eyes, Taran brushed her hair from her face. "Speak to me. Tell me, what is wrong?"
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Post by micaylah on Aug 19, 2008 11:21:06 GMT -5
Aethelwyne was trembling as she looked up at Taran. She fought to master her fear. She reached to them in her mind. She could not bring herself to put voice to her thoughts, so she showed them.
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Post by taran on Aug 19, 2008 11:28:51 GMT -5
Taran grew shocked as Aethelwyne passed her fears before his mental eyes, then he grew worried. Leaning his head on hers, Taran let out a long breath.
"Relax, Aethelwyne, I'm sure all will come to pass. And wouldn't you think someone would have told you if I were your contract? And why would I be? I am not known to many, and I cannot think of anyone who would hire the Coven to kill to me. Relax, love. We will find out the truth, I promise."
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