Vindicated

[Max452]

The chill of the night air forced the lone traveler to wrap his cloak around him tighter. Who knew that the nights in Surda could reach such a cold temperature. Perhaps it was because he was near the Hadaraac Desert; deserts were cold at night.

Finding an inn for the night, Aramis settled himself in his room. For sixteen years the former Black Hand member had been on the run, not only from the empire of Queen Nasuada, but from his old enemies as well. Sitting himself on the bed, Aramis sighed. He was getting too old for this. He had scattered himself throughout Alagaesia and Surda since the fall of Galbatorix and the disbandment of the Black Hand. And for awhile now, he was tired. Tired of running and hiding. He laid his head down onto the pillow, thankful for a soft bed for the night. His mind was beginning to drift when he heard a knock on the door. Tensing, Aramis gripped his dagger, wondering if it was an assassin hunting him down. He slowly approached the door and opened it just a crack.

[Trinn]

Nethia wasn't any good at hunting. That was why she felt forced to go into towns such as this and steal her food away. Of course, Nefrox hunted quite capably, but he was yet a growing dragon and she wanted him to eat each kill he made. Besides, she didn't want to get out of practice with her thievery. Nethia had a pack slung of her shoulder, and it was already full of dried meat, eggs, and bread from the bakery and butchery she had pilfered earlier in the night. Why she now stood in the inn, she didn't know. Sometimes the patrons carried useful things she might need. Like gems and gold. She crept through a hallway now, trying to be as quiet as possible with her bag of goods. Unfortunately, her bag knocked into one of the doors, making a rather loud noise. Nethia froze. A second later the door opened. She had been caught. Twirling, she drew out her dagger and slashed at the face that appeared through the crack in the door.

[Max452]

Aramis was glad his reflexes were still good, despite his aging. He spotted the end of the dagger quickly. He dodged to the side, his hand sprung out to grip the attacking wrist, while his dagger hand went to make the killing blow. He manueverd to slam the girl's wrist into the wall, hoping to knock the blade out of her hands. He stopped his blade millimeters of the girl's neck, realizing who the attacker was. A young woman. He stared at the girl. Was she an assassin? He didn't remove his dagger, weary, and knowing that assassins came in all shapes and sizes. "Who sent you?" He hissed out.

[Trinn]

Nethia hadn't been expecting such a quick return attack. She hadn't expected the patron to even know how to defend himself. She felt a flutter of fear when she realized she may have just cost herself her life. I'm coming! Nefrox said, his voice ringing in her mind. Hopefully he would arrive in time. Nethia had little time to react when her wrist was caught up in a strong gasp and knocked into the wall. The hit surprised her and caused her fist to open, letting her dagger clatter to the ground. She squeezed her eyes shut, expecting the man's sword to slice her throat. A second, then two passed, and Nethia realized he was sparring her. For now. "I sent myself!" She hissed back, narrowing her eyes at him. "You had best release me! Dragon Riders don't take kindly to being thrown about!" She said, trying to scare him. It was true she was a dragon rider, but not from Bromsland. She didn't have any noble Dragon Rider notions. The only idea she had was survive and keep Nefrox alive with her. Nethia tensed her muscles, ready for a fight anyways. She was glad Nefrox had been bonded to her for a year. She had gained a little more strength and speed since then. The only problem was she hadn't been trained properly.

[Max452]

Aramis narrowed his eyes. So, this girl was not sent to kill him. He made no visible expression at her declaration of that she was a rider. "And yet, here you are, at my mercy." Aramis replied in a cold tone, his eyes flickering toward the shadows, wondering if the girl was a distraction from any real threat to him. "What purpose do you have here, Rider?" He demanded of her, his voice laced with sarcasm. "If I knew better, Riders don't have the habit of sneaking around in the night like a thief." He told her, not really believing her story; she could be just making that up to not get killed, or better yet, to distract him long enough to kill him. "Once again, who sent you?" He demanded, his cold blade touching lightly on her throat.

[Trinn]

Now Nethia felt annoyed. She had already told him who sent her. Herself! She felt again the cold steel of the sword at her throat, and she swallowed hard. Maybe it would be better if she just made up a story... Or perhaps the truth... Her eyes flickered to his face, noting the coldness in his features. He was a killer. There was no doubt. Which meant her life hung currently on a thin string. "I am a rider." she said, trying to sound calmer and more authoritative. "But I am also a thief. I work alone and for myself. I am Nethia the Fox, and you are going to lose your arm in the jaws of a dragon if you do not release your hold!" Nethia tried threatening again. It was then the ground shuddered and furniture rattled. Outside, a frightening snarl ripped through the night air. Nethia smiled. "Told you so."

[Max452]

Aramis listened coldly to the girl's story. He gazed into her eyes, discerning the truth from her. She looked like she was telling him the truth. He scoffed lightly. "A thieving Rider." He shook his head then, slightly disappointed in the girl. "Talent wasted on thievary." He sighed then, as Nethia mentioned her dragon. His body then tensed when he felt the ground shutter, but his deadly eyes did not leave the girl's. "You seem to not understand the situation, Rider." He pressed her throat lightly with his blade. "Your dragon is out there, and you are at the mercy of my blade. I care not if I live or die; that is the way of my profession." He was tempted to end her life there but his mind reflected on a promise he made to a little girl. Promise? Samara's voice echoed in his head. Yes, Samara, I promise. I won't kill any more, not in cold blood, at least.

Aramis grunted at the memory. Feeling emotions well in him. He missed her. He released his hold, stepping back from Nethia, but not taking his eyes from her. "Be gone, Nethia the Fox. I lost the taste for blood a long time ago." He told her, sheathing his dagger.

***
Dominic laid hidden in the rafters of the inn, watching the scene adjacent to him. His Master had sent him to kill Joshua Aramis. A traitor of the Black Hand, turned wanderer. He was then surprised to hear that a Dragon Rider was here. One that proclaimed to have no allegiance. He knew that his Master's leader, the Shade Rider, was looking for followers. Perhaps Dominic could please his Master if he brough the Rider to their leader? He continued to watch, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. He first had to complete his mission, and then, work on bringing back something better.

[Trinn]

Talent wasted? Nethia sneered at that comment. Her whole life already felt wasted. As soon as the man released her, Nethia backpedaled quickly and retrieved her fallen dagger. She sheathed it quickly, not wanting him to think she might try an attack again. "Well, I can't say that it was a pleasure meeting you, whatever your name is. But I'll be sure not to cross your path again." Nethia gave him a mocking curtsy, and then walked carefully backwards, watching him steadily. He could be putting on a ruse. Finally she stepped around the corner of the corridor. She rested her back against the wall and really started breathing again. That had been too close.

[Max452]

Aramis smirked once the girl disappeared. He was about to return to his room when he felt a deadly presence. And it was right where the girl had taken off to. He groaned. It looked like the Black Hand did send someone to kill him tonight.

Dominic let out a silent breath as he gazed down at the girl below him. He was hanging from the rafter, hidden in the shadows of the night, but it was very quiet tonight...she could hear him, and he didn't want to startle her before killing Aramis.

Aramis took out his staff, twisting it to its full length. He rounded the corner, finding the girl against the wall. He could sense him. He was here... Aramis' eyes shot up into the wooded rafters of the inn. There!

The assassin sprung out of his wooden hiding place, lunging at Aramis with his scimtar. Aramis could tell the assassin was young, for he had not even bothered to cover his face. Aramis blocked the attacked with his staff, then proceeded to twist his body so that the other end of the staff could trip the boy.

Dominic's back hit the floor with a loud thump. He cursed at his luck. His Master would not be pleased at this. He was found out quickly and had to act before he was dead. Dom swung his legs in the air, gaining the momentum he needed to get back up. He flipped back to his feet, eyeing the old assassin. He could hear the voice of people now, waking up to their loud ruckus. Dom grunted. Master would not be pleased to learn that he had failed, but perhaps he can make amends with the retrieval of the girl. He turned to gaze at her, a mistake on his part, as Aramis then attacked with his staff.

The two collided, but Dom managed to plunge his sword into Aramis' leg. The elder man cried out briefly, but punched Dom in the face, causing him to backpeddle. Dom, not wanting to be exposed to the people in the inn, turned around toward the stairs, where he had been hiding above and toward the girl. "Come on!" He shouted, grabbing her by the wrist and attempting to escape with her. "You don't want to be caught with those goods do you?" Dom asked, attempting to get her to come with him willingly.

"Leave her be, assassin!" Aramis called out, limping after him.

[Trinn]

Nethia shouted out in surprises when the old man appeared around the corner, weapon in hand. It appeared he wanted to kill her after all. Before she had a chance to pull her dagger back out, a dark blur fell on the man from the ceiling. Nefrox whined anxiously in her mind. Nethia felt frozen to the spot though, unable to look away from the brawling figures. In a way she felt she should help the elder man. Then again, he had threatened her life and questioned her honesty. The fight didn't last long. Nethia decided the best option would be flight. She made to turn and run, but the figure who had started the attack grabbed her by the wrist. She felt her lips curl back in a snarl. She didn't like being pulled around. The younger man did make a valid point though... Giving the old man one final, sorry glance, she rushed out of the inn with the other. When they were outside, she tried shaking off the young man so she could get to Nefrox and escape this night for good.

[Tismri]

Samara walked silently through the town, a dark cowl covering her face so she wouldn't be recognized. She was worried about Joshua. She was always worried about him these days. It seemed like at some point over the last sixteen years, their roles had almost reversed.
When she had turned eighteen, blatantly against Aramis' wishes, she had revealed herself to her father. He had, of course, been in absolute shock and disbelief. He was certain she was dead. But in the end, there was no refuting the evidence. Some small, venomous part in her had been glad to see this man humiliated, after he'd denied her and called for her death because of his own lack of control in the past. Still, all she demanded was her brithright, as his eldest child. Eventually she had been granted this, quite grudgingly. But there was no denying that she had a rather authoritative personality and in many ways made a perfect heir for the Nolan name.
At around the same time, Joshua had to become anonymous, being hunted as a rouge by the Black Hand. His life was constantly in danger, and this pressed down on Samara's mind every minute of the day. She always wanted to be certain that her friend and protector would be safe. Even now, at the age of thirty, she always wished to watch out for him.
She entered the inn, using that intuitive instict that somehow always guided her to him. She knew it had to do with magic, and with the bond that had been created between them twenty years ago. She never questioned it, but was just grateful for it. As she entered the inn, she was passed roughly by a younger man and woman, both seemingly in a hurry to get out of there. Samara stared after them for a moment, then entered the inn.
"Joshua!" she said, her voice quiet, but shocked as she watched Aramis limp toward the door. She ran to him, shaking her head. She was too late; he had been attacked. However, it seemed he only had a leg wound. She put her arm around him, her voice suddenly becoming strict. "Stop moving. Sit down and get off that leg."

[Max452]

Dominic raced out of the inn, pulling the girl along. He skidded to a stop when he was met by a dragon right outside the inn. His eyes were wide, but he remained on guard, his sword upright in a protective stance against the beast. He shielded the theif from the dragon, out of mere extinct, before remembering that this was probably Nethia's dragon. "Give me a ride and I'll ensure that all your heists combined will not even compared to what I can offer you." Dom hurridly offered as he heard the commontion in the inn escalate as people began to awaken; the guards in this area would be here soon.

***
"But they're getting away!" Aramis proclaimed to Samara, but complied. He no longer bothered her with silly questions of 'How did you find me?' or 'What are you doing here?'. She had always had the gift of finding him and the stubborness to ignore his warnings. Aramis sighed. "I'm getting to old for this." He muttered as he hobbled to a chair and placed himself in it. The patrons of the inn began to clamour about and some even began shouting for the authorities as they discovered some of their precious coins were missing...
"We need to get to another place; I don't want people asking too many questions." He whispered to her as he bent to check his leg.

[Trinn]

Nefrox loomed over Nethia. He bent his head preparing to bite in half the man who held his rider, sword or no sword. Nethia seemed content with letting him, until he spoke again. "hold a moment, Nefrox." she said placing her free hand on Nefrox's leg. She looked the man up and down, scrutinizing. She didn't care if the people of the in. Saw her now. They would see her with a dragon and assume she was one of the blessed riders from Bromsland. The man who held her would be the culprit. "What makes you think I'm interested in being wealthy? Wealth is a stupid human notion. I want only to survive and be free to make my own decisions. And right now, my decision is to feed you to Nefrox unless you release my wrist!"

[Tismri]

Samara rolled her eyes at Aramis' pointless protest. She wasn't about to let him go limping off after his would-be assassin. If he insisted, she probably would have tied him to a chair or something.
"For once we agree on something," she commented when he mentioned being too old for this. She gave him a small smile as she checked his leg. The sword had dug deeply into his flesh, probably severing a bit of the muscle. She shook her head. "You see, little choices you make during your life cause big events to happen later," she told him softly. "You didn't kill me, I turned you into this big-hearted softy, and now there are people trying to carve your leg off." She rather ignored the other patrons in the inn. If questions were going to be directed toward them, she could probably come up with a false answer in seconds.
She studied the wound. She wasn't the best in the world at magic, but she could probably heal it with relative ease. However, she wasn't confidant to use magic in such a public place. So for now, she ripped of the sleeve of the tunic she wore, not caring that it was expensive. She tied the cloth tightly over the wound in an attempt to get the bleeding to stop. "Think you can walk out of town?" she asked him with concern.

[Max452]

Dominic let loose his grip on the Rider, watching her as she analyzed him, but being full aware of the dragon near him as well. Dom shook his head, noting that the Fox had not understood what he meant. "Did I mention monetary wealth, Rider? What I offer, is what my Master and Leader offer: Freedom. This accursed Empire, though many do not see, is corrupt. I offer you a chance to make your own world. Come, hear what my Leader has to say and decide for yourself if you wish to create a world free of captivity and chaos." He recited to her what his Master had told him. He heard the shout for the authorities, but remained were he was, hoping that Nethia would take up his offer.

***
Aramis grunted at Samara's words. He wasn't a softie. "They can try and crave me up, but as long as you are still alive, I will forever fight back." He grunted again, indignant. "I can manage, thank you." He replied, his voice a bit more softer than before. Okay, perhaps he was a softie, but only toward Samara. "I'll heal it once we're out of this place; I don't want people finding out about me. You need to get going, Samara. You have other matters to attend to now, then to gallivant finding an old man." He placed a hand on her's. "You need to stay safe and that means to stay away from people that are being hunted, namely me." He searched her eyes, hoping she would understand this time. "You musn't find me anymore, Samara. You have your titled to consider now. I am nothing but a criminal and Nolan's are not meant to be friends with people that will tarnish their good name." He told her, though it always pained him to separate from her. "You have a far more better life than I can ever offer you." He had told her this argument before, and yet, still, she would always find him. He didn't understand her sometimes. "You are safe now - you don't need me anymore."