The True Test

[Trinn]

As soon as the tree closed around Tezza, Jason felt his heart stop. "Tezza!" He shouted, launching himself at the tree. He pounded his fists against the sturdy bark, receiving splinters. Frustrated, he unsheathed his sword and prepared to hack away at the tree. He was stopped by the dragons wise voice. Still, half of him still longed to cut the tree to pieces in order to get to Tezza. With a frustrated sigh, he shoved his sword back in its sheath and retreated. He looked up at the platform, praying for Tezza's safe return.

Before he could get to Tezza, the elf was there before him. Annoyed, Jason shrugged his way in between Aradan and Tezza. "You don't look alright, Tezzie. What happened in there?" He asked, taking her by the shoulders in concern.
***

Maude groaned as Ian rushed off. Seeing she had no choice but to wait, She sat back down, gingerly placing herself up against the boar's shoulder. The furry animal brushed his snout across her head, ruffling her head. "Can you knock me out boar?" She asked him in the ancient language. The boar snorted once, loudly, and Maude took that as a no. Leaning her head back, she tried to sleep, but that was no use. So she waited, painfully awake, for Ian to return.

At last he did, and she wondered what he was up to now. She watched him make the paste, and recognized the concoction. One of her father's, of course. The next part was worst. Maude bit the inside of her cheek while Ian undid the bandage. Just touching her shoulder and arm were painful enough. To be jostled by removing the bandage was agony she had never experienced. Tears filled her eyes, and she hated herself for it. Don't cry! She shouted at herself. Don't cry! She bit the inside of her other cheek now, drawing blood, in an effort to distract him from the more terrible pain of the broken and shattered bones.
***

Finding her mother, Tally slid to a halt in front of her. "Mom!" she started. "We've been invited to dinner from one of the royal houses of Ismalia. Prince Tristan's children. Doesn't it sound grand? Can we go?" She was gesticulating with the arrow, having forgotten it was still in her hand.

[Max452]

With each look of pain that spread across Maude's face, Ian felt his heart wrench. "I'm almost there. It'll be over soon." He promised her as he finished unwrapping the bandages. "Hey, Maude," Ian gently placed a hand on her cheek. "You'll be okay, I promise." He vowed to her, his eyes filled with conviction. He removed his hand, using it to reveal the bruised and broken shoulder. He quickly, but gently began to apply the balm, making sure that it got ever inch of her broken bones. It should work within minutes, that was what Master Kyler promised! He really wished he could just heal the pain, so Maude would be okay. Finally, he used all of the balm and returned to rewrapping her shoulder. When he was done, he gazed at her, concern filled in his eyes. "Feel better Maude?" He asked her.

[Tismri]

At the boys' concern, Teza Mae felt herself break down. She shook her head at Aradan's question, and when Jason put his hands on her shoulders, she fell against him, weeping.
"I...I don't want to talk about it," she said. She didn't even want to think about it. That test was the most terrifying thing she had ever seen. She looked from Jason to Veryan to Aradan. "I just...I never want to see this place again," she told them. "Can we go...?" She wasn't sure she would ever be able to tell anyone what had happened in there. She had no idea how the masters set it up, but they gave her probably the hardest test she could ever have faced.
~~~~~
Glory sat down at Seth's instructions, holding out her leg for him. He got to her just in time; she was starting to feel pain spread from her leg.
"It hurts..." she whimpered.
Hang on, Glory! Sundavar told her in a panicked voice. How long ago did it bite you?
"I got bit...about three-fourths of the way through," she said. "I had to keep moving after that, so I think it spread a bit." She spoke through clenched teeth and restrained tears. She really wanted to scream from the pain, but she held herself back, not wanting Seth to know just how much pain she was actually in.
After he spent some time sucking out the venom, Glory felt the pain stop spreading, and even receding a little bit.
"I think you got it," she told him, still trying to keep from crying. It still hurt; she recalled what she had learned about poisonous animals. Water moccasin. Its venom damaged tissue, including blood. It was probably going to keep hurting for a few days at least. "I think I can stand," she told him. "We should get going if we're going to find your scroll."
~~~~~
Tylon's eyes widened at Tati's accusing voice, and he held up his hands in defense. "Well, you should have thought of that before shooting me," he told her. He felt significantly safer as she stalked off, and took a deep, shaky breath. He turned to Thane.
"I think the army will definately be safer. She's going to kill me one of these days."
~~~~~
Marola glanced up when she heard Tally coming over. She noticed the arrow in the girl's hand; it was a good make, though obviously human. It had a different sort of design than most arrows she'd seen, so she concluded it was probably Ismalian in make. She wondered how her daughter had gotten ahold of it, until Tally mentioned their invitation.
"Well that's nice," she said with a smile. "I don't see why we can't. Why don't you find your brothers so we can all go over there together?" She frowned; Cortell hadn't come back yet. Daeron must be somewhere very out of the way right now.

[Trinn]

Jason felt furious. What had that tree done to his sister! He glared at the tree now, wishing for nothing more than to hack it to pieces with an axe. Where was Thane when he needed his cousin? That guy always carried an axe around with him. "We can go immediately. No point wasting more time here anyways." Putting a protective arm around Tezza, Jason directed her to Veryan. "Aradan, thank you for taking us this far. If you don't mind, shall we take our leave now and fly onwards?"
***

Find her brothers? That might be an impossible task when it came to Daeron. "Of course! I hope they haven't scattered too far.... dinner's not very far off." Giving her mom a smile, she turned on her heels and dashed off. Cortell would be the easiest to find. He was usually doing something responsible.

After a few minutes of running about, Tally finally found Cortell near another batch of tents. "Hey, Cortell!" She called, waving at him with the hand that held the arrow. Realizing now that she still held the weapon, Tally smiled sheepishly and tucked it into her belt for safekeeping. She would have to return that to Lady Tatiana. "Cortell! We've been invited to have dinner with a Royal family from Ismalia! Does Prince Tristan and Lady Teodora sound at all familiar?" She asked. Perhaps he knew more about foreigners than she.
***

Maude was very briefly distracted from her pain when Ian gently touched her cheek. It was very tender, and rather unexpected. It left her feeling somewhat confused. But the agony returned and forced her attention. She ground her teeth together the whole time Ian worked, trying to distract herself. She even started counting and going through sword motions in her head. At last, Ian was done, and a minute later, the pain was lessened to bearable. Tears of relief welled in her grey eyes. "That's so much better." She said in a strained voice. "Thank you, Ian." Wiping briskly at her eyes with the hand that was attached to her good arm and shoulder, Maude stood up and tried to focus again on the task at hand. "We have to hurry to our final destination." She said to Ian. "The sooner out of here, the sooner we both can get proper healing." Turning to the boar, she was about to ask the creature to let her mount, when it knelt down for her before she had the chance. Fresh tears sprang to her eyes. Why was she feeling so emotional!? "Elrun ono fricai". she said, thanking the boar. With her good arm, Maude pulled herself up and onto the boar. She gestured for Ian to follow suite. Haste was of the essence.

[Max452]

Aradan watched with concern at Teza Mae's apparant fragile state. "Are you all right, Princess Teza Mae?" He frowned and thought about comforting her. He motioned to do so when her brother took that place. Better that way, he supposed. Aradan wasn't sure how to really comfort others; he was raised up alone. "Yes. We will leave now, I think. This place gives me an unsettling feeling." He told them as he helped them toward Veryan. The dragon lowered himself and waited to be boarded. When all were ready, the group headed off to their next destination: the Icelands.

It was hours until they reached the cold barren field of snow and ice. Aradan had taken out his cloak and wrapped it around himself, but not before making sure that his two guests were also well bundled.

Veryan pushed through the heavy snowfall, wondering if it was a wise idea to just breath is fire on everything; or perhaps it would be fruitless. After another hour (the blizzard had slowed Veryan down a great deal), they finally found the spot that indicated Aradan's scroll. The half-elf jumped down. "Stay here," He told them all, his breath easily seen through the freezing air, "if this is my challenge, then I must venture alone. Veryan, keep them warm."

Do you not want me with you? The dragon flickered a motion of hurt.
I do, Veryan, but something tells me you cannot fit in there. He glanced over to the entrance of the cave that was indeed a lot smaller than Veryan could muster in. Keep them warm, my friend and I will be back soon. Aradan flashed a smile and bid the three a quick goodbye before running into the dark, cold, cave.

Veryan whined after his rider, but nonetheless complied. He rested himself just outside of the cave, coiling himself so that the two Ismalians could be warm. He blew out some flames, warming the area a bit. He lowered his head onto the ground and whined once more when he felt the loss of his mental connection with Aradan.

***
Lips sore and pluckered, Seth gazed back at Glory when he felt that the venom was all gone. "You sure, Glory?" He unconsciously glanced back at her punctured leg. "I think I got some soothing leaves in one of the medical kits I happen to have in my pack." Seth motioned to get up. He staggered a bit until he found Hyperion's saddle. "You worried me when you disappeared." Seth told her quietly when he returned with the leaves. He could still feel his cuts and bruises forming from his falls; fresh and bloody. He gently put the green leaves onto Glory's leg, letting the juices soak in. "Yes, I agree, we need to get moving, but I suggest you rest a bit more or until the juices have settled in your wound a bit." Seth said, trying to calm his racing heart; his mind still lingering on Glory's dangerous disappearance.

***
Daeron tumbled out of the tower after being scolded by the teacher in the tower. He rolled his eyes and raced out of the area, looking for another way inside the boundary walls; he was going to find that boy that was taking advantage of his sister! And strangle him!

***
Ian gave Maude a half-smile, his eyes still filled with a worry expression. "I'm glad I could ease it a bit; I got really worried there." He told her and successfully managed to not frown at her next words. "You should rest a bit more." He told her, but she got up anyway. He sighed. She wasn't one to stay still long. He hovered behind her, just in case she tumbled or needed help when she boarded the boar. "Thank, Boar." He patted the boar gratefully; the creature had really gotten close to Maude. Ian noticed Maude's fresh tears, but misinterpreted them from ones out of pain. "Is it hurting again?" He asked, the worried and concerned look intensified as he hopped onto the boar behind Maude. "I have some more twigs..." He hurried and grabbed them out. "You should rest more...you can lean against me to sleep..." Ian suggested, glad that Maude was in front to not notice his blushing again.

[Tismri]

Teza Mae was grateful for her brother's comforting arm around her. She clung to him for a moment or two, trying to steady herself and forget the terrors she had just experienced. Then, after calming herself, she went back to her place on Veryan's saddle. She was still so disturbed that she didn't even notice as she put her arms mechanically around Aradan while they flew to their next destination. It was only the suddenly icy air around her that brought her back to the present. She pulled a warm cloak out of her pack and wrapped it tightly around herself, trying to ward off the chill.
Once they arrived at the location of Aradan's scroll, Teza Mae stared into the cave. She desperately hoped his trial wasn't going to be as horrific as hers had been; no one deserved to suffer the way she had.
"Stay safe," she called to him before settled down next to Veryan and anxiously waiting.
~~~~~
Glory gave a small sigh of relief as Seth placed the leaves over her wound. It eased the pain a little from that spot, although the damage from the venom had spread farther than that. She sat still, letting the juices of the leaves do their work.
"Sorry," she said quietly to him. "I shouldn't have run off like that...or at least I could have said something. But before I knew it, I was almost lost in there." She shook her head, and then glanced at him. Her eyes widened. "Seth, you're bleeding! What happened to you!"
~~~~~
Cortell turned at the sound of his sister's voice. He'd been asking around for where Daeron might have sneaked off to. He smiled, though raised an eyebrow slightly at the sight of the arrow in Tally's hand. He was surprised a little at her announcement.
"Well, that's a little unexpected," he said. He thought over her question for a few moments. "I'm not sure. I don't know much of Ismalians. I don't think I've ever met any of them myself, but I'm pretty sure the crown princess is taking the exam with Glory." He glanced around, finally sensing his brother.
"There you are," he said, catching the back of Daeron's tunic. "Where do you think you're going, little bro? It's almost dinnertime and you know Mom will be mad if you're late. Especially since we've been invited to eat with some very important people."

[Trinn]

"An Ismalian royal family!" Tally said right after Cortell. There was obvious excitement in her brown eyes. "Mom's waiting for us over there," And she waved in the general direction of her mother. "I don't know where dad went to... probably exploring someplace else. But mom will be able to call him, I'm sure." Grabbing both of her brothers, she began to drag them back towards Marola. "Come on!" Looking over her shoulder, she squinted her eyes at Daeron. "Where did you go?"
***

"We'll see." Was all Maude said. Telling the boar where to go, they set off again to their final destination. Halfway through the day, Maude felt herself growing tired. A bit of the old pain starting thrumming in her shoulder again as well. Groaning, she allowed herself to lean back and rest against Ian. "I think I'll take more of those twigs now." She asked in a weak voice. "And when we rest for the night, if you don't mind, could you concoct some more of that paste? It really did wonders."