Post by Alfreya on Oct 23, 2007 8:13:32 GMT -7
WARNING: Reading this can be ADDICTIVE !!!!
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The Captives of Freeport - Chapter II - Part 3
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The girls sat there until the Freeport party had comepletely left; and then sat there for a small amount of time more.
Elinea looked up at Kaefir, and noticed she had a very odd expresion on her face.
"Kaefir, what's wrong?"
Kaefir's head turned to one side as if she were listening to some far off sound, and then she shook her head from side to side for a few moments.
"Kaefir, are you alright?"
Her friend looked up at Elinea with a confused look, "Eli, they're hunting us; looking for us." Kaefir managed to whisper.
"Hunting us? Why? How do you know?"
"I don't know how I know,they just are. I know it. I can feel it."
"Then why didn't they know we were here? Right under their noses? Why didn't they see us, Kae?"
"I don't know that either. Maybe we're being shielded in some way."
"You mean like some sort of invisibility? That's crazy, Kae. Neither one of us has the ....... we can't do that, Kaefir."
"Eli, something is working in our favor. I don't know what it is or how it works, but they left us alone. And they ARE hunting us."
Elinea stood up and put out her hand to Kaefir, "Come on, Kae. If they are looking for us, it can't be for anything good. Let's get out of here. They just might come back."
"Where are we going to go, Eli? Which direction?"
"I don't know. Let's go in the opposite direction we think they are going. Not a very definitive direction, but right now, the only idea I've got I'm afraid."
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The Overlord sat in his chair in his office, with a group of papers in front of him. He was quickly looking and signing when a particular report caught his attention more than the others.
He stopped and picked it up and read: "Report of Qeynos Guild Activity in Freeport".
He read briefly for a time, until the words 'Rising Dawn' jumped out at him.
The Overlord threw the paper down on his desk and slammed his fist, "Rising Dawn, again. Why can't I get rid of that persistantly annoying half-elf dirge leader of theirs? He's been trouble ever since I first heard of him and his guild."
As His Lordship was thinking of how to deal with the issue of the Qeynos guild, he felt a presence in the room with him.
"Yes, and what is it this time? I am very busy with Freeport business just now."
The voice from the darkness came again, "My Lord we have a somewhat disturbing development in the search. Our party was on the path of our targets, when they suddenly disappeared."
"What do you mean they 'disappeared'?"
"Just that my Lordship, my people lost them. Something, or someone, is apparently shielding the girls from us. We believe it is the little healer. It is not an uncommon thing for a natural, gifted healer to have the shielding ability. And all she would have to do is to touch the other person to shield them."
A sigh escaped the Overlord's lips, "Well then, we have no choice. The little healer must be eliminated. It is a shame, but there is no other course of action; we must have our little caster. The Dismal Rage will just have to get another healer. They won't like it, but I'll deal with them and their protests later, I'm sure."
"My Lord, do you really think....."
"That it's necessary? Yes. See to it."
"As you wish, my Lord."
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Gerrath and his men found themselves stopped--again---by the Teir'Dal advisors. He had decided this was a good time for a meal break and had given his men permission to make a camp and eat. He knew by the quiet talk amongst the Teir'Dal, all was not going as well as they'd hoped. Zocien finally broke away from the group and came toward Gerrath.
"Commander, we have new instructions from his Lordship."
"And what are the new orders, Zocien?"
"We are to find the Koada'Dal caster and bring her back, but eliminate the Feir'Dal healer."
"You mean kill her."
"Yes,Commander. Kill her. Apparently she is shielding her companion and His Lordship has decided she is unnecessary and expendable."
"Very well then," Gerrath took his sword from it's scabbard and held it up to examine it, "our little blond wood elf healer will die."
"I'll inform my men."
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Two uneventful days passed and Kaefir and Elinea had managed to circle around and were headed toward the coast again after taking a brief detour to hopefully confuse their trackers. Elinea found herself alone at the moment, Kaefir having insisted on going and foraging for supplies, against Elinea's wishes.
"Kae, it's just not safe out here to go anywhere alone right now."
"Eli, I'm Feir'Dal. I know these woods better than you or anyone from Freeport. Trust me, I'll be fine. So will you, just stay here and be quiet; use your lightening if you get in trouble." A bright smile went across her face. She patted her friend on the back, "From what I've seen, it's pretty deadly. You should be able to handle them."
"Right, Kae; handle them, sure," Eli softly said to herself and sat down to wait for her friend.
Gerrath had gone off a ways from his men, he was scouting out ahead for trail signs. The two girls couldn't be very well trained in concealing their trail signs, so perhaps he could pick up some and lead his men to them. The prospect of killing an unarmed girl was not something he looked forward to and he hoped he would not have to be the one to do it. None of his men were happy about it when he had told them, and he understood. It was considered a dishonorable kill, and certainly nothing that he or any of his men would brag about. But it was an order from His Lordship, and for that reason alone, had to be carried out. He had traveled quite a far distance, when he came upon a small group of trees and ground cover. Garreth decided to stop here and take a meal break, and started to go through the cover, when he heard a noise from somewhere in the clearing behind the bushes. He stopped and looked through the dense cover before he proceded any further.
On the ground, on the other side of the small area, was the Koada'Dal caster. Gerrath knew her from the description they'd all been given, fair with red hair. She was alone and unarmed.
"Now is the perfect chance. It would be so easy, just go around to the back side of her and grab her before she even knows I'm there", the thoughts went quickly through his mind. He thought of other ways, but dismissed them. He decided this was the best course of action.
"Once we have her, we can use her as bait for the other target, and possibly not have to kill her. That would make the Teir'Dal and His Lordship happier, hopefully. I'd have to get that idea approved by the 'advisors' of course." "'Advisors'", Gerrath digustedly thought, "All they've been is a lot of trouble and a big headache for me." It would all be over once they had her at least,they could all go back home and Gerrath would receive praise from the Overlord himself. "A very pleasing thing", a smile came on his face with this thought.
He started to move over toward her, but stopped to look again to get a bearing on how far she was. He stood there and realized she was about the same age as his daughter at home. Home. If he didn't complete this assignment, and bring the girl back, he would never be allowed back in to the Commonlands, or Freeport.
He started to move to her again, but once more stopped. Something inside him made him look again and think of his daughter.
"What if Shada were the one out here being hunted? She's young and untrained and doesn't have a chance to get out of this." Gerrath's thoughts bounced between his daughter, his only daughter, and the comparisons he couldn't help but make about the two of them. He realized after many agonizing moments, he couldn't capture her. He'd have to pass up this chance and let her escape.
"It will cause my banishment if we don't get her, he thought. But she's just too innocent and has no idea what it is going to be like for her once we get to Freeport. I wouldn't wish that for Shada, either."
Gerrath quietly turned around and left her. Elinea sat there until Kaefir came back with the supplies, and they moved on.
Another day and a half passed. The day was getting late, and Elinea and Kaefir were looking for a safe place to camp for the night. They had done very little traveling by night, they both agreed it was just too risky. But even though they only traveled in the daytime, the coast was gradually getting closer; and with that, the safety of the shore caverns. They were large and convoluted; and it would be very hard to find the two girls inside the caverns once they were there. Fortunately, both Eli and Kae knew them well from numerous trips there with their brothers.
Not far away,Gerrath was looking for the girls accompanied by his second in command. He had convinced the Teir'Dal that it would be better if the search was made by a "sight first" search, since the shielding was making the mission much more difficult than any of them had anticipated. He had split up his men once more, this time into groups of two to three. More land could be covered that way and it was agreed that the first one to find the healer, would take care of the problem of the shielder. Gerrath secretly hoped it was not him or Arroc.
The sun was rapidly setting, Elinea and Kaefir were trying to find a clearing to camp, but not having any luck. Gerrath and Arroc were in the same situation. The forest had cleared out some here from the fire storm, and the land was mostly grass and small ravines.
Finally, Elinea and Kaefir came to a small clearing with one tree untouched by the fire rocks. Some of the larger tres had been burned in the area, but this one, still stood. It wasn't huge, but large enough to give some cover. They stopped and started to make camp for the night. Suddenly, they both stopped.
"Eli."
"Yes Kae, I heard it. A bow string being pulled back", she whispered.
The next second the girls were faced with two large Ogre soldiers with their weapons drawn on them both. Elinea looked just in time to see one of the soldiers get off an arrow toward her companion.
"Kaefir, DUCK!"
Her companion's reflexes made her move just in time to have the arrow miss her by inches. She fell to the ground, and the Ogre came after her.
Elinea dropped her hands instinctively, and before she really realized just what she was doing, she cast towards the soldier. A large bolt of lightening hit him and knocked him down, but he got up and again went toward Kaefir. The other Ogre made his move on Elinea, but he had put away his weapon. She saw him, but ignored his advance, and cast again on the one attacking her friend. This time, her cast was stronger and caught him next to the only tree in the clearing. The bulk of the cast caught the tree and not the intended target. The tree was complete destroyed, and on fire.
Elinea saw their chance to run. She grabbed Kaefir's hand, and pulling her up, quickly ran off before the Ogres realized what had happened and could get their bearings.
"Commander,are you hurt?"
A smile came on Gerrath's face, "No, Arroc. I'm fine. The best I've been since we started this mission, my friend."
"Commander?"
He turned around and started to remove his armor and toss it randomly on the ground, "Our little Koada'Dal caster has given me my life back, Arroc. As of this time; I am officially dead, killed in the line of duty, Commander Arroc."
Arroc looked at Gerrath with a confused, puzzled look.
"It would take too long to explain it all to you and the Teir'Dal will be here soon. I am sure they sensed that cast and know her last location....here. We've both seen wizards and their casting abilities, Arroc. Now refresh me if I'm wrong. Lightening kills living or once living things. And if strong enough, destroys completely, leaving no trace."
Arroc thought for a moment, "Correct, commander."
"It doesn't destroy metal like fire can, I believe."
"Again, that is true, but Commander....."
"Arroc, I'm dead. Please my friend, back me up. I have to leave before the Teir'Dal get here. You're the commanding officer now, Arroc."
"Yes Commander. Your last orders will be carrried out as you wish, Sir. I will report you as being killed in action. Your last duties were those that the Overlord of Freeport gave you, trying to apprehend the Koada'Dal caster and kill the healer."
He gave Arroc one last handshake, "Someday we will meet somewhere else, and over an ale, will discuss this very incident, my friend."
A brief thoughtful silence followed.
"Yes Sir. Good luck, Sir."
Gerrath, all of his armor now laying discarded on the ground around the destroyed tree, turned and faded off into the scarce brush and out of Arroc's sight.
As Gerrath had predicted, it wasn't long before the Teir'Dal advisors arrived.
Arroc gave his report of Gerrath's death. The advisors, of course, examined all the 'evidence' left behind, or at least all that was left. They decided a report would be made to the Overlord when the sun rose in the morning.
Kaefir and Elinea had been running for a long time. They were both exausted when they finally collapsed, out of breath on the ground. Neither one spoke for awhile. Kaefir finally managed a smile and spoke, "Eli?"
A tired, worried Elinea looked over at her friend and saw the smile on her face.
Kaefir was giggling very softly, trying to control her laughter.
"What is it, Kaefir?", she sighed.
"Eli. You killed a tree." Kaefir replied.
She sighed again, "Mother of All." Elinea's eyes looked up at the dark sky and back at her friend, "I was aiming at the Ogre, Kaefir."
"Maybe, but you killed the tree."
"So my aim is a little off."
"A 'little'?"
"Ok, it's something I'm going to have to work on. I have a feeling you're never going to ever let me forget this. Are you?"
"No."
"Kaefir, hush and go to sleep."
Elinea lay down and put her hand over her closed eyes.
Keafir's quiet giggles stopped, and she too laid down beside her friend, back to back.
"Elinea? One last thing?"
Elinea once more opened her eyes, "Yes Kaefir, what is it?"
"Thank you. For both of the times. I don't think I ever said that for the first time you saved my life."
"You're welcome,Kae. My pleasure. I know you'd do the same for me."
Both the girls stopped talking, the night got quiet. They both fell into a restless sleep on the ground.
Two more days passed. If it was quiet, and they listened, they could hear the water softly breaking on the shoreline of the northern coast. The sound kept them almost running all the time. They barely stopped to eat at all during this two days' time. Daybreak of the third day, found them on the hill overlooking the beach and the safety of the caverns. They put down the packs of supplies and few belongings from home, and stood in a clearing just before coming to the cliff line.
"Eli, we made it."
"Not yet Kae,we still have to get down there and inside, remember?"
"You are such an optimist."
"Just realistic, Kaefir. We've had too many bad surprises on this little trip. I'm not ready to say we're safe just yet. And remember, we're still on Faydwer, and so are the others. We aren't going to be totally safe until either they're gone, or we're gone."
As she spoke these last words, a soft rustling came from the bushes around them. Elinea at first thought it was the coastal breeze kicking up. But as she heard it more, a horrible sense of dread filled her mind. The two girls fell silent, and stood very still.
"Eli."
"I heard it, Kae."
"Eli, we're surrounded."
"Kaefir, on my signal - run."
There was a brief few moments of stillness, and then the group from Freeport came out of the trees around them. The two girls never had a chance to run.
Elinea's hands instinctively went into their now somewhat familiar casting position.
At the same time, she heard a brief struggle and small muffled scream to her left. She turned in time to see Kaefir on the ground with a Troll standing above her and a small, but growing, red spot forming on the ground beside her.
She looked back straight in front of her and saw Zocien coming out of the trees with the other part of the Freeport party, including the five other Teir'Dals. Zocien and Elinea stood and stared for a moment before Zocien spoke.
"You're out numbered, Elinea. You may have a gift, but we're trained and seasoned, you are not."
Kaefir's voice, weak but rebellious, "Take ‘em out, Eli."
A longer period of silence, Elinea did not back down or move and looked the Teir'Dal in the eyes. For a very brief, imperceptibly brief moment, Zocien saw what she had feared she might see. A flash of blue light like a small flame in Elinea's eyes. And for a very brief moment, she thought about backing down and letting them go. But as quickly as she saw it, it was gone, and her fear went away.
"You cast, Elinea. One cast." Zocien nodded over to the Troll standing above Kaefir. Elinea's head turned in time to see the tip of the Troll's sword placed on top of Kaefir's chest above her heart.
"One cast, and your friend dies. Is that what you would like?"
Elinea did not hesitate. She put both hands behind her back.
"Eli, no don't!"
One of the Ogres came behind her and started to tie her hands.
"Kaefir, be quiet. It's over, I'm not going to let them kill you" Elinea commanded.
The Ogre finished and stepped back. Zocien crossed her arms and spoke once more, "Ah, the renowned Koada'Dal sense of loyalty. That,of course, will have to be eliminated."
Kaefir, still spirited, although getting weaker, "Eli, when we get out of this, I really would like first shot at her."
Elinea smiled to herself, "Dear, wonderful, optimistic, Kaefir. What would I do without you?", she thought.
"Oh yes, and that annoying Feir'Dal sense of humor. That will have to go also."
"You have what you came for", Elinea shot back. Her head nodded in Kaefir's direction, "now heal her."
"Of course. That was the original plan. Bring you both back to His Lordship. Alive."
Zocien turned and gave a signal to the armored Teir'Dal beside her.
The dark elf walked in Kaefir's direction.
"No Eli. He's an Inquisitor!"
"Kaefir, just be quiet please. He's a healer; just be still and get it over with."
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D'Lere was finishing his work for the night. “Paperwork, one of the less pleasurable responsibilities", D'Lere thought.
A noise in the darkened office took his attention away abruptly. A figure walked toward him out of the shadows.
"And for what reason do I owe this personal visit?"
"I have good news, my Lord."
Lucan laid down his quill, "Good news for a change? This is a welcome surprise."
"We have the two girls. It wasn't necessary to eliminate our little healer after all. They are on the ship. On their way to you, my Lord."
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It had been two days since the ship from Freeport had left. Gerrath had been hiding since he had created his 'death'. But he had followed the party from a distance out of curiosity. Besides, he had always been taught to keep the enemy in the line of sight. So he was sure now they were gone and it was safe to come out to the shoreline.
Now, he was also free to try and get his own transportation off of Faydwer.
He stopped in the clearing where they had finally taken the girls and stood there. Thinking to himself, until he noticed two small packs partially covered up by dirt and leaves. He picked them both up and opened them. "Nothing of value", he thought. The only strange things that were in them, were two envelopes with what appeared to be elven writing on them.
"Curious, perhaps valuable", he mused. He put the two envelopes back into their respective packs and placed them in his supply belt.
"No use to leave them here. If I meet my young caster once again one day.....", his thoughts traveled off to an uncertain future. He shrugged and started to make camp.
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The Captives of Freeport - Chapter II - Part 3
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The girls sat there until the Freeport party had comepletely left; and then sat there for a small amount of time more.
Elinea looked up at Kaefir, and noticed she had a very odd expresion on her face.
"Kaefir, what's wrong?"
Kaefir's head turned to one side as if she were listening to some far off sound, and then she shook her head from side to side for a few moments.
"Kaefir, are you alright?"
Her friend looked up at Elinea with a confused look, "Eli, they're hunting us; looking for us." Kaefir managed to whisper.
"Hunting us? Why? How do you know?"
"I don't know how I know,they just are. I know it. I can feel it."
"Then why didn't they know we were here? Right under their noses? Why didn't they see us, Kae?"
"I don't know that either. Maybe we're being shielded in some way."
"You mean like some sort of invisibility? That's crazy, Kae. Neither one of us has the ....... we can't do that, Kaefir."
"Eli, something is working in our favor. I don't know what it is or how it works, but they left us alone. And they ARE hunting us."
Elinea stood up and put out her hand to Kaefir, "Come on, Kae. If they are looking for us, it can't be for anything good. Let's get out of here. They just might come back."
"Where are we going to go, Eli? Which direction?"
"I don't know. Let's go in the opposite direction we think they are going. Not a very definitive direction, but right now, the only idea I've got I'm afraid."
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The Overlord sat in his chair in his office, with a group of papers in front of him. He was quickly looking and signing when a particular report caught his attention more than the others.
He stopped and picked it up and read: "Report of Qeynos Guild Activity in Freeport".
He read briefly for a time, until the words 'Rising Dawn' jumped out at him.
The Overlord threw the paper down on his desk and slammed his fist, "Rising Dawn, again. Why can't I get rid of that persistantly annoying half-elf dirge leader of theirs? He's been trouble ever since I first heard of him and his guild."
As His Lordship was thinking of how to deal with the issue of the Qeynos guild, he felt a presence in the room with him.
"Yes, and what is it this time? I am very busy with Freeport business just now."
The voice from the darkness came again, "My Lord we have a somewhat disturbing development in the search. Our party was on the path of our targets, when they suddenly disappeared."
"What do you mean they 'disappeared'?"
"Just that my Lordship, my people lost them. Something, or someone, is apparently shielding the girls from us. We believe it is the little healer. It is not an uncommon thing for a natural, gifted healer to have the shielding ability. And all she would have to do is to touch the other person to shield them."
A sigh escaped the Overlord's lips, "Well then, we have no choice. The little healer must be eliminated. It is a shame, but there is no other course of action; we must have our little caster. The Dismal Rage will just have to get another healer. They won't like it, but I'll deal with them and their protests later, I'm sure."
"My Lord, do you really think....."
"That it's necessary? Yes. See to it."
"As you wish, my Lord."
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Gerrath and his men found themselves stopped--again---by the Teir'Dal advisors. He had decided this was a good time for a meal break and had given his men permission to make a camp and eat. He knew by the quiet talk amongst the Teir'Dal, all was not going as well as they'd hoped. Zocien finally broke away from the group and came toward Gerrath.
"Commander, we have new instructions from his Lordship."
"And what are the new orders, Zocien?"
"We are to find the Koada'Dal caster and bring her back, but eliminate the Feir'Dal healer."
"You mean kill her."
"Yes,Commander. Kill her. Apparently she is shielding her companion and His Lordship has decided she is unnecessary and expendable."
"Very well then," Gerrath took his sword from it's scabbard and held it up to examine it, "our little blond wood elf healer will die."
"I'll inform my men."
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Two uneventful days passed and Kaefir and Elinea had managed to circle around and were headed toward the coast again after taking a brief detour to hopefully confuse their trackers. Elinea found herself alone at the moment, Kaefir having insisted on going and foraging for supplies, against Elinea's wishes.
"Kae, it's just not safe out here to go anywhere alone right now."
"Eli, I'm Feir'Dal. I know these woods better than you or anyone from Freeport. Trust me, I'll be fine. So will you, just stay here and be quiet; use your lightening if you get in trouble." A bright smile went across her face. She patted her friend on the back, "From what I've seen, it's pretty deadly. You should be able to handle them."
"Right, Kae; handle them, sure," Eli softly said to herself and sat down to wait for her friend.
Gerrath had gone off a ways from his men, he was scouting out ahead for trail signs. The two girls couldn't be very well trained in concealing their trail signs, so perhaps he could pick up some and lead his men to them. The prospect of killing an unarmed girl was not something he looked forward to and he hoped he would not have to be the one to do it. None of his men were happy about it when he had told them, and he understood. It was considered a dishonorable kill, and certainly nothing that he or any of his men would brag about. But it was an order from His Lordship, and for that reason alone, had to be carried out. He had traveled quite a far distance, when he came upon a small group of trees and ground cover. Garreth decided to stop here and take a meal break, and started to go through the cover, when he heard a noise from somewhere in the clearing behind the bushes. He stopped and looked through the dense cover before he proceded any further.
On the ground, on the other side of the small area, was the Koada'Dal caster. Gerrath knew her from the description they'd all been given, fair with red hair. She was alone and unarmed.
"Now is the perfect chance. It would be so easy, just go around to the back side of her and grab her before she even knows I'm there", the thoughts went quickly through his mind. He thought of other ways, but dismissed them. He decided this was the best course of action.
"Once we have her, we can use her as bait for the other target, and possibly not have to kill her. That would make the Teir'Dal and His Lordship happier, hopefully. I'd have to get that idea approved by the 'advisors' of course." "'Advisors'", Gerrath digustedly thought, "All they've been is a lot of trouble and a big headache for me." It would all be over once they had her at least,they could all go back home and Gerrath would receive praise from the Overlord himself. "A very pleasing thing", a smile came on his face with this thought.
He started to move over toward her, but stopped to look again to get a bearing on how far she was. He stood there and realized she was about the same age as his daughter at home. Home. If he didn't complete this assignment, and bring the girl back, he would never be allowed back in to the Commonlands, or Freeport.
He started to move to her again, but once more stopped. Something inside him made him look again and think of his daughter.
"What if Shada were the one out here being hunted? She's young and untrained and doesn't have a chance to get out of this." Gerrath's thoughts bounced between his daughter, his only daughter, and the comparisons he couldn't help but make about the two of them. He realized after many agonizing moments, he couldn't capture her. He'd have to pass up this chance and let her escape.
"It will cause my banishment if we don't get her, he thought. But she's just too innocent and has no idea what it is going to be like for her once we get to Freeport. I wouldn't wish that for Shada, either."
Gerrath quietly turned around and left her. Elinea sat there until Kaefir came back with the supplies, and they moved on.
Another day and a half passed. The day was getting late, and Elinea and Kaefir were looking for a safe place to camp for the night. They had done very little traveling by night, they both agreed it was just too risky. But even though they only traveled in the daytime, the coast was gradually getting closer; and with that, the safety of the shore caverns. They were large and convoluted; and it would be very hard to find the two girls inside the caverns once they were there. Fortunately, both Eli and Kae knew them well from numerous trips there with their brothers.
Not far away,Gerrath was looking for the girls accompanied by his second in command. He had convinced the Teir'Dal that it would be better if the search was made by a "sight first" search, since the shielding was making the mission much more difficult than any of them had anticipated. He had split up his men once more, this time into groups of two to three. More land could be covered that way and it was agreed that the first one to find the healer, would take care of the problem of the shielder. Gerrath secretly hoped it was not him or Arroc.
The sun was rapidly setting, Elinea and Kaefir were trying to find a clearing to camp, but not having any luck. Gerrath and Arroc were in the same situation. The forest had cleared out some here from the fire storm, and the land was mostly grass and small ravines.
Finally, Elinea and Kaefir came to a small clearing with one tree untouched by the fire rocks. Some of the larger tres had been burned in the area, but this one, still stood. It wasn't huge, but large enough to give some cover. They stopped and started to make camp for the night. Suddenly, they both stopped.
"Eli."
"Yes Kae, I heard it. A bow string being pulled back", she whispered.
The next second the girls were faced with two large Ogre soldiers with their weapons drawn on them both. Elinea looked just in time to see one of the soldiers get off an arrow toward her companion.
"Kaefir, DUCK!"
Her companion's reflexes made her move just in time to have the arrow miss her by inches. She fell to the ground, and the Ogre came after her.
Elinea dropped her hands instinctively, and before she really realized just what she was doing, she cast towards the soldier. A large bolt of lightening hit him and knocked him down, but he got up and again went toward Kaefir. The other Ogre made his move on Elinea, but he had put away his weapon. She saw him, but ignored his advance, and cast again on the one attacking her friend. This time, her cast was stronger and caught him next to the only tree in the clearing. The bulk of the cast caught the tree and not the intended target. The tree was complete destroyed, and on fire.
Elinea saw their chance to run. She grabbed Kaefir's hand, and pulling her up, quickly ran off before the Ogres realized what had happened and could get their bearings.
"Commander,are you hurt?"
A smile came on Gerrath's face, "No, Arroc. I'm fine. The best I've been since we started this mission, my friend."
"Commander?"
He turned around and started to remove his armor and toss it randomly on the ground, "Our little Koada'Dal caster has given me my life back, Arroc. As of this time; I am officially dead, killed in the line of duty, Commander Arroc."
Arroc looked at Gerrath with a confused, puzzled look.
"It would take too long to explain it all to you and the Teir'Dal will be here soon. I am sure they sensed that cast and know her last location....here. We've both seen wizards and their casting abilities, Arroc. Now refresh me if I'm wrong. Lightening kills living or once living things. And if strong enough, destroys completely, leaving no trace."
Arroc thought for a moment, "Correct, commander."
"It doesn't destroy metal like fire can, I believe."
"Again, that is true, but Commander....."
"Arroc, I'm dead. Please my friend, back me up. I have to leave before the Teir'Dal get here. You're the commanding officer now, Arroc."
"Yes Commander. Your last orders will be carrried out as you wish, Sir. I will report you as being killed in action. Your last duties were those that the Overlord of Freeport gave you, trying to apprehend the Koada'Dal caster and kill the healer."
He gave Arroc one last handshake, "Someday we will meet somewhere else, and over an ale, will discuss this very incident, my friend."
A brief thoughtful silence followed.
"Yes Sir. Good luck, Sir."
Gerrath, all of his armor now laying discarded on the ground around the destroyed tree, turned and faded off into the scarce brush and out of Arroc's sight.
As Gerrath had predicted, it wasn't long before the Teir'Dal advisors arrived.
Arroc gave his report of Gerrath's death. The advisors, of course, examined all the 'evidence' left behind, or at least all that was left. They decided a report would be made to the Overlord when the sun rose in the morning.
Kaefir and Elinea had been running for a long time. They were both exausted when they finally collapsed, out of breath on the ground. Neither one spoke for awhile. Kaefir finally managed a smile and spoke, "Eli?"
A tired, worried Elinea looked over at her friend and saw the smile on her face.
Kaefir was giggling very softly, trying to control her laughter.
"What is it, Kaefir?", she sighed.
"Eli. You killed a tree." Kaefir replied.
She sighed again, "Mother of All." Elinea's eyes looked up at the dark sky and back at her friend, "I was aiming at the Ogre, Kaefir."
"Maybe, but you killed the tree."
"So my aim is a little off."
"A 'little'?"
"Ok, it's something I'm going to have to work on. I have a feeling you're never going to ever let me forget this. Are you?"
"No."
"Kaefir, hush and go to sleep."
Elinea lay down and put her hand over her closed eyes.
Keafir's quiet giggles stopped, and she too laid down beside her friend, back to back.
"Elinea? One last thing?"
Elinea once more opened her eyes, "Yes Kaefir, what is it?"
"Thank you. For both of the times. I don't think I ever said that for the first time you saved my life."
"You're welcome,Kae. My pleasure. I know you'd do the same for me."
Both the girls stopped talking, the night got quiet. They both fell into a restless sleep on the ground.
Two more days passed. If it was quiet, and they listened, they could hear the water softly breaking on the shoreline of the northern coast. The sound kept them almost running all the time. They barely stopped to eat at all during this two days' time. Daybreak of the third day, found them on the hill overlooking the beach and the safety of the caverns. They put down the packs of supplies and few belongings from home, and stood in a clearing just before coming to the cliff line.
"Eli, we made it."
"Not yet Kae,we still have to get down there and inside, remember?"
"You are such an optimist."
"Just realistic, Kaefir. We've had too many bad surprises on this little trip. I'm not ready to say we're safe just yet. And remember, we're still on Faydwer, and so are the others. We aren't going to be totally safe until either they're gone, or we're gone."
As she spoke these last words, a soft rustling came from the bushes around them. Elinea at first thought it was the coastal breeze kicking up. But as she heard it more, a horrible sense of dread filled her mind. The two girls fell silent, and stood very still.
"Eli."
"I heard it, Kae."
"Eli, we're surrounded."
"Kaefir, on my signal - run."
There was a brief few moments of stillness, and then the group from Freeport came out of the trees around them. The two girls never had a chance to run.
Elinea's hands instinctively went into their now somewhat familiar casting position.
At the same time, she heard a brief struggle and small muffled scream to her left. She turned in time to see Kaefir on the ground with a Troll standing above her and a small, but growing, red spot forming on the ground beside her.
She looked back straight in front of her and saw Zocien coming out of the trees with the other part of the Freeport party, including the five other Teir'Dals. Zocien and Elinea stood and stared for a moment before Zocien spoke.
"You're out numbered, Elinea. You may have a gift, but we're trained and seasoned, you are not."
Kaefir's voice, weak but rebellious, "Take ‘em out, Eli."
A longer period of silence, Elinea did not back down or move and looked the Teir'Dal in the eyes. For a very brief, imperceptibly brief moment, Zocien saw what she had feared she might see. A flash of blue light like a small flame in Elinea's eyes. And for a very brief moment, she thought about backing down and letting them go. But as quickly as she saw it, it was gone, and her fear went away.
"You cast, Elinea. One cast." Zocien nodded over to the Troll standing above Kaefir. Elinea's head turned in time to see the tip of the Troll's sword placed on top of Kaefir's chest above her heart.
"One cast, and your friend dies. Is that what you would like?"
Elinea did not hesitate. She put both hands behind her back.
"Eli, no don't!"
One of the Ogres came behind her and started to tie her hands.
"Kaefir, be quiet. It's over, I'm not going to let them kill you" Elinea commanded.
The Ogre finished and stepped back. Zocien crossed her arms and spoke once more, "Ah, the renowned Koada'Dal sense of loyalty. That,of course, will have to be eliminated."
Kaefir, still spirited, although getting weaker, "Eli, when we get out of this, I really would like first shot at her."
Elinea smiled to herself, "Dear, wonderful, optimistic, Kaefir. What would I do without you?", she thought.
"Oh yes, and that annoying Feir'Dal sense of humor. That will have to go also."
"You have what you came for", Elinea shot back. Her head nodded in Kaefir's direction, "now heal her."
"Of course. That was the original plan. Bring you both back to His Lordship. Alive."
Zocien turned and gave a signal to the armored Teir'Dal beside her.
The dark elf walked in Kaefir's direction.
"No Eli. He's an Inquisitor!"
"Kaefir, just be quiet please. He's a healer; just be still and get it over with."
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D'Lere was finishing his work for the night. “Paperwork, one of the less pleasurable responsibilities", D'Lere thought.
A noise in the darkened office took his attention away abruptly. A figure walked toward him out of the shadows.
"And for what reason do I owe this personal visit?"
"I have good news, my Lord."
Lucan laid down his quill, "Good news for a change? This is a welcome surprise."
"We have the two girls. It wasn't necessary to eliminate our little healer after all. They are on the ship. On their way to you, my Lord."
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It had been two days since the ship from Freeport had left. Gerrath had been hiding since he had created his 'death'. But he had followed the party from a distance out of curiosity. Besides, he had always been taught to keep the enemy in the line of sight. So he was sure now they were gone and it was safe to come out to the shoreline.
Now, he was also free to try and get his own transportation off of Faydwer.
He stopped in the clearing where they had finally taken the girls and stood there. Thinking to himself, until he noticed two small packs partially covered up by dirt and leaves. He picked them both up and opened them. "Nothing of value", he thought. The only strange things that were in them, were two envelopes with what appeared to be elven writing on them.
"Curious, perhaps valuable", he mused. He put the two envelopes back into their respective packs and placed them in his supply belt.
"No use to leave them here. If I meet my young caster once again one day.....", his thoughts traveled off to an uncertain future. He shrugged and started to make camp.
