Gil'ead

[Trinn]

Gianna narrowed her eyes at the man. Although she again felt pity for him, his actions could not be ignored. "Then I feel no sympathy for you." she said, ignoring his snide remarks. Raising her hand, she shouted, "Jierda!" A jet of dark purple light struck the ward, dissolving into it. He cannot keep the ward up forever if I keep attacking it she told Gladia, who agreed. Eventually, it will sap his energy trying to keep it up. Another jet of energy flashed from her gedwey ignasia. "We'll see how long you can hold out." she nearly snarled. She continually bombarded the ward, aiming all her attacks at Salian. Using small but effective magic, Gianna could keep it up for the rest of the day.

[wiana]

Salian frowned inwardly at the attacks. He sensed her plan, and began to counteract. When the next spell flew out, he dropped the shield and switched places with a man. The magic shot straight at the man and something cracked. His eyes widened in shock and pain, but no scream escaped his open mouth. Salian raised the ward again and used the spirit of a bush to heal him.

Cupping a hand around his mouth he called up to his assailants. "Do you wish that to happen every time?"

[Trinn]

A cry of shock and pain escaped Gianna's throat. She had not been expecting him to do that. Foolish. He is heartless, why wouldn't he? Clearing her face of emotion, Gianna replied, "I think they would prefer death to more slavery. They would take broken bones any day. I'm sure they've had them before." Gladia swooped lower, racking her talons across the ward, making the large shield vibrate. "And, if you heal them every time, why would I stop?" Gladia, I have a plan. The dragon tilted her head to the side.
What?
I am going to attack again, but when I do, I am going to slip off your back and, hopefully, into the ward. If he opens it again, that is. Gladia growled.
What if he captures you? Gianna lowered her head, fighting down the pain of the idea.
He won't. He's already got his hands full with the group down there. With subtle motions, Gianna bent low, her fingers nochalantly releasing the leg straps. Her hands looked to be itching her legs. Once the straps were loose, Gianna straigthened, focused her magic, and released another jet of magic at Salian. Gladia flew low over the ward, inches above it.

[wiana]

Salian's eyes watched the pair, unsure of what to do next. He really didn't want to go into this for a bunch of silly slaves. Then he grinned. Using my magic to move the ward and heal people will take a lot of energy, and I don't want to kill the woods.

He silently commanded the slaves to run the second he dropped the shield. Run everywhere, and if someone is to weak to move, help them. They blinked in acknowledgement and readied themselves. Another blast of magic descended on him, and he dropped the shield. The slaves scattered like leaves before a wind and he moved to avoid the blast of magic.

[Trinn]

As soon as she was sure the sheild went down, Gianna dropped from Gladia. The fall to earth was short, but terrifying. She landed in a roll, leaping up a few feet from Salian. With the slaves running around, she wondered if he had free'd them. No, probably another trick. In a quick flourish, Gianna brought her dagger from it's sheath. Gladia landed heavily behind Salian, ready to strike should he try to take Gianna again. With a scream of righteous rage, the rider launched herself at Salian, blade moving quickly for his throat. Although not a favorite for any type of killing, Gianna knew what was neccesary.

[wiana]

Salian laughed when the two landed. This was fun. He cut the laugh short when Gianna lunged at him, and he stepped aside. He ducked for good measure and reached out with one hand and grabbed her leg, pulling her down. Then forced his way to her spirit and brought back to her mind her own painfilled memories. Then he made his guilt known. How much he hated doing this, but how he had no choice. He told the slaves to stand still and released them.

Pain exploded in his shoulder and blood resoaked into his shirt. He hissed in pain and released Gianna's leg. Stars flashed in his eyes, and his mental barrier dropped, allowing all his pent up emotions free.

[Trinn]

Gianna's dagger slashed through empty air. Salian was quick. Suddenly, a strong grip grabbed her leg, pulling her to the ground. Gianna struggled to break free, but Salian was too strong. "No!" She screamed, realizing what he was going to do, again. Tears streamed unchecked down her face as he pulled forth agonizing memories, filled with pain, sickness, and horror. Edged with the pain was guilt, his guilt. For some reason, the guilt only made Gianna angrier. This was his choice, he didn't have the right to feel guilty! As she began sinking deeper away from herself, He suddenly released her leg, and Gianna waisted no time in scrambling away from him.

Gladia roared in fury and swept her talons at Salian's back. Her talons tore into his shoulder, gouging the muscle. (OOC: I'm assuming that is what happened to him. If not, let me know!) As soon as he realeased Gianna, Gladia leapt over the man and landed above her rider. She encircled the teary eyed woman, protecting her with her scaly body. With her mind, she told the slaves, RUN! Hearing her urgency, the slaves put on a burst of speed and rushed off. Thankfully, they were still headed in the direction of Surda.

Gianna took only a few moments to regain her composure. Salian had not held her soul nearly as long as before. Let me see him, she told Gladia. The dragon uncoiled, revealing her to Salian. His shoulder was shreded, blood flowing freely. Gianna's eyebrows drew up. The sight should have been satisfying, but she hated any sort of harm falling on anyone. Even this deluded man. Before she could act, Gladia opened her maw and released an inferno of fire at him. "No!" Gianna shouted, trying to stop her. Gladia did not listen. I will do what must be done. she said simply, letting her fire rage.

[wiana]

OOC: yeah, that works.

Salian managed to gasp a spell out before the fire hit. He drew heavily on the trees around him. After a second, he rolled out of the flame's path and rose shakily to his feet. "Wait," he moaned. "Please . . . please don't hurt me." He swayed and took a step forward. He didn't notice Gladia's hostile look, his eyes were fixed on a point above Gianna's head. "I do not wish to fight you anymore," he said in the Ancient Language. "I wish, now, only to --" he gasped as his shoulder throbbed, and he collapsed to his knees, curling in on himself. He did not have any energy left to even use the trees around him for healing.

Fog crept into his vision and he looked up with a pleading grimace. "I would never kill either one of you," he promised in the Ancient Language. Then he lost consciousness, falling to his uninjured side with a soft thump.

[Trinn]

Watching with amazment, Gianna was about to go to to Salian, but Gladia held her back with a talon. No! He is too dangerous. If he touches you again, he will trap your spirit again! Gianna glared at the dragon, then looked back to the man. He was now taking shaky steps towards them. Gladia growled. When he collapsed, he spoke in the ancient language. Gianna glared again at Gladia. "See!" Grumbling, the dragon removed her talon, allowing Gianna to approach the fallen man.

Gianna rushed forwards, falling to her knees beside Salian. His shoulder was in rags. Good thing I'm good at healing. she thought absently. Placing her hands above his torn shoulder, Gianna closed her eyes and muttered, "waise heil!" Purple energy flowed from her gedwey ignasia in gentle ripples, encasing Salian's entire shoulder. In her mind, she could sense his wound on a different level. She began by stopping the flow of blood, then mending the torn muscle, sinew, and tendons back together. Even the bone had to be reshaped. Lastly, she threaded the skin back together. As her magic faded from Salian, Gianna opened her eyes and looked at her work. A large, red scar ran across his shoulder. "My mark for you," she thought, almost bitterly. A shadow passed over her, and she looked up to see Gladia standing near. The dragon growled gruffly. He needed shade. A weary smile came to Gianna lips.
Thank you. Now, we wait for him to come around. Hopefully he has abondoned his plan to recapture the slaves. Gladia growled again.

[wiana]

Salian moaned and opened his eyes. He lay on his back with the afternoon sun shining in his eyes. He closed them again and wondered what happened. Two spirits were nearby, both very familiar. Another moan escaped his lips when he remembered what had happened. Reaching up with one hand, he felt his shoulder. Part of the sleeve still dangled from it, and he felt a strange dpression in the skin.

He reopened his eyes and turned his head to look at his shoulder. A large red scar covered the whole area. He smiled bitterly. Well, you didn't deserve as much, he thought. Then he noticed that someone had removed his shield and spear from his back.

Now he sat up and glanced around, looking for his spear. If he lost it. . . . But there it was, leaning against a tree with his round shield. "Excellent," he said aloud. Then he froze as he remembered the dragon. He craned his head, spotted the dragon and arose, unsure of what to do.

[Trinn]

He's awake, came Gladia's ruff voice. Gianna looked past the dragon's bulk and spotted the man on his feet. Her eyes narrowed. Was he going to his weapons. Moving quickly, Gianna intercepted him, standing before the spear and sheild. At first, there was a moment of awkward silence. How did one address someone who a moment ago had been the enemy? "You're up." She glanced at his scar. "Sorry about that. But fair's fair, right?" She couldn't keep the bitterness from her voice. A scar would be better than the pain she now constantly felt. "Anyways, you had better be on your way back to wherever you came from. The slaves are long gone, so there is no use trying to re-capture them." That wasn't entirely true. At the most, they may have traveled a good twenty miles closer to Surda. On edge, Gianna clenched and unclenched her hands, half expecting him to attack.

[wiana]

"I wasn't going to recapture them," Salian said, trying to reach around Gianna for his spear. "You can keep them if they're so important to you. I, on the other hand, need to get back to Gil'ead and inform these slaves masters." He took a step back and rolled his shoulders. "So, if I can just get my weapons, I will be gone." A hand went to the sword still sheathed and belted to his side and he stroked the hilt. He decided to ignore the bitterness in Gianna's voice.

He looked at Gladia. "Thank you for not roasting me, Gladia. I'm sorry that I caused you and your rider so much pain." He bowed. Then said in the Ancient Language, "And I promise never to do again what I did." And I will forget this failure as soon as possible, he added to himself. What I need is a hunting expedition; find myself some easier prey for a while.

[Trinn]

Surprised by his easy tone, Gianna stepped aside so he could get his weapons. Placing her hands on her hips, she watched him curiously. His past intrigued her. Had he once been a slave as well? He had said their pasts were similiar. Beside her, Gladia inclined her head to the man, accepting his words. Tell him he is forgiven. Nodding, Gianna related the message. "Gladia forgives you. As do I." I find him very mysterious, she told her dragon. Gladia shrugged.
Not really. Just another person messed up by Galbatorix. Gianna frowned, unsure what to do. Finally, she asked, "What is your name?" It had just occured to her that she did not know it. Gladia snorted, finding the question ridiculous.

[wiana]

Salian took up his shield and restrapped it to his back. Then hefted the spear and turned to look at Gianna. He answered her in the order she spoke. "Tell Gladia I am grateful for her forgiveness. And as for my name.. . . ." he flashed a genuine smile. "I am Salian. And thanks to you, I will be taking my leave." He bowed again. "Farewell Princess, Gladia." Then he turned north to Gil'ead and breathed in. Squaring his shoulders, he strode off, leaving the dark purple dragon and her fiery haired companion behind.

On to the next adventure, he thought with some irony.

[Trinn]

A small smile appeared on Gianna's lips as she watched Salian walk off. That was the second time he had called her princess. The thought was hillarious, and she found herself laughing softly. Turning, she walked back to Gladia, who stared after Salian ruefully. About time. He's wasted enough of it! Shaking her head, Gianna leapt onto the dragon's sadle.
I don't know. I think he could be a really cool guy to know, and handy in a sticky situation. This time, Gladia was the one shaking her head.

Raising her translucent wings, the purple dragon took flight, gaining high alltitude. As she leveled off, she replied to Gianna, You know, you are really strange. Gianna smacked one of Gladia's hard neck scales.
Shut up and fly. Barking out laughter, Gladia angled her flight towards Surda.

After a a half hour, the slaves came back into view. Tired, they had slowed from a walk to a jog. Gladia swooped low, flying over their heads. The slaves looked up, then stopped when they realized who it was. Upon landing, they put up a loud cheer, causing Gianna to blush. Holding up a hand, they slowly quieted down. "Thank you. Salian won't be bothering us again." The group looked confused at the name. "It doesn't matter. Come on, let's cover a bit more ground. We need to get to less open land." Nodding, the free'd slaves turned and set off again. Unfurling her wings, Gladia re-took the sky.