There are 4 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. [DL-N]Bits and Pieces
From: "Edward Murray" <elm.murray@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
2. [USS-Calypso]Mystery Thickens
From: "Edward Murray" <elm.murray@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
3. [WEB] Surprise Invitations
From: Christopher Ackney <christopher.ackney@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
4. [DL-J] In Time of War
From: "Katrina Gischer" <kgischer@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
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Message: 1
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 2004 10:25:33 -0700
From: "Edward Murray" <elm.murray@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: [DL-N]Bits and Pieces
[Day 5 morning]
[At the Med Center]
Pearl was playing with the children of the warren as Jale kept busy in
the
med center. The white dragon had become something of a baby sitter in
the
warren. His bond mate had been struggling with the loss of the
egglings. One
would almost think they were his children as hard as he took the loss
of
each one. The white dragon was delighted that Freya stood by his side
to
reassure him and support him when the events unfolded.
Though Jale was not the dragon healer he couldn't help but want to see
the
egglings survive since he was one of the healers that helped bring
them into
the world. He would question Z'ak hours on end about possible remedies
but
none sounded plausible. His thoughts were interrupted as he finished
a
bandaging on K'alp a rider from Alpha wing who had found horse racing
and
drinking were a dangerous combination.
**Hey buddy you seemed to be needed** Pearl mind spoke to Jale.
*Oh and who could possibly need me now* Jale replied and let Freya
finish
the rest as he went to get his med bag.
**It seems they found a skeleton out where the searchlings were going
to
plant today**
"*A skeleton!*" Jale spoke out loud as well as mentally, earning him
the
stares of all those in the med center. *I can't help something already
dead*
**Of course not silly, but I think they want your help in determining
how he
died**
*Ok I'm on my way*
"What is it?" Freya asked.
Jale thought for a moment wondering if he should say anything more
then
shrugged, "they found a skeleton while trying to plant there asking me
to
take a look."
"Interesting," Freya took off her apron and the med bag from Jale.
"After
you."
Taken back a bit Jale blinked then grinned slightly.
**Now why don't you smile around anyone else I wonder**
*Shush you!*
Pearl answered his mind with mirthful laughter. As the healer and
assistant
went out to see what the searchlings had found. His mind going over
many
scenarios he looked to Freya. "I imagine you know all the searchlings,
if
some of them are shook up with the ordeal they may need your assurance
that
all is ok."
"Got it, don't let them bother the healer while he is working." She
patted
his arm in a friendly gesture.
When they arrived much of the skeleton had been dug out, someone had
the
foresight to make sure the skeleton wasn't hurt during the processes.
The
skeleton seemed intact there were no broken bones though there were
places
he was not so sure about. The stress on the bones could have been
caused by
the burying of the body. 'Oh lord why was he doing this?' He thought
to
himself. 'I'm a healer not some dark visage of some story told around
a camp
fire.' Pulling back the remnants of clothing he found that the body of
the
skeleton was that of a female for it had one less rib bone.
A small crowd had gathered as Jale looked up all eyes turned to see
what he
had to say. "Firstly the body is a female, secondly not sure how she
died
but it would have happened before the snow because it is all bone and
if it
had died after the cold would have preserved much of the body."
{Tag back to Chris and anyone else who wants too play with it not sure
where
you were going Chris so hope this works for you}
[Evening]
It was late once again as Jale wondered what ever happened to the
time. He
stepped out of the med center to get a little air. It was a beautiful
evening nearly half a moon sparked in the cloudless night. The healer
marveled at the stars like friends that were always there keeping
watch on
him.
A soft foot step told him he was not alone, but by the fragrance he
knew it
was Freya. "Evening Freya."
"Evening Jale, nice night is it not?" she asked.
"Very, after studying a skeleton all day I half worried that it would
be a
more spooky night."
Freya laughed, "I know what you mean."
"I think I'll take a walk and enjoy the night for a bit." Jale said as
he
started out.
"Mind if I join you?" She asked.
"It would please me to have you walk with me." The healer had grown to
enjoy
her near him to the point he missed her when she was away. A part of
his
mind though told him to end this fancy for it was too dangerous. Those
he
cared about would only end up hurt.
{Tag Carina any ideas for moonlight walk}
[Snip]
Day 6 late afternoon.
Woodlenn walks in to the med center to see Jale.
"Hello Jale." The completely hooded figure said.
Jale seemed shocked that this man who he never met before knew his
name, but
then again he is well known to the warren. So maybe not.
"What can I do for ya?" The thin man asked.
"Well I need to see Jen. I know she's sick, but she is the only one
that can
help me."
[End Snip]
His eyes narrowed slightly not sure what to think of the man, or was
he
indeed a man. There were many rumors about Woodlenn all of which Pearl
was
only to happy to supply him with. Jale swore the dragon had two pass
times
one to play with the children the second to keep current on all the
gossip.
Nothing travels faster then dragon gossip.
"Jeneve isn't staying in the med center she is in her apartment. I
would
suggest talking with Breezy. The wingleader keeps pretty close tabs on
the
Warrenlady from what I've seen." Jale replied.
"Oh?" With that Woodlenn turned and started out the door stopping at
the
last minute he turns back. "Thanks."
[Tag back to Jim, Carina and Tree]
Submitted by
Edward Murray
AKA
Jale Healer and rider of Pearl
[This message contained attachments]
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Message: 2
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 2004 11:04:07 -0700
From: "Edward Murray" <elm.murray@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: [USS-Calypso]Mystery Thickens
*After briefing*
Ensign Conner was a bit taken back by the TAC officer she was very
fascinating. Collecting his thoughts and getting them off the zebra
stripes
of the LT. "Hmm not sure what you can do." The Ensign looked around
then
back to Freda, "Lt I am a little worried that the Romulans may have
gotten
here first and monkeyed with some of the ancient ones toys. The
problem is
much of it was so top secret I don't have a list of what they were
working
on. Most my reports say it was that they were simply logging
information for
historical reference. But call it what you will I'm a scientist at
heart and
I know even I would be under a lot of pressure not to want to
investigate
what I found."
Freda nodded and took a copy of Conner's findings saying that she
would look
into it. Then she was off.
*Later*
Sajin Conner was both excited and nervous this would be his first away
team
and he didn't want to let any one down. He checked himself and double
checked to make sure he had everything he needed. They even issued him
a
weapon which only reminded him that he needed to spend time in the
practice
range which he had not done in awhile. On his belt was also an
invention of
his own which he hoped to use.
*After beam down*
A quiver ran up Ensign Conner's spine, he wasn't sure if it was the
transportation or the place. At number ones request he got to work on
the
door. Lue worked on the controls as Sajin studied his readings. "Sir
everyone in the room is." The door slid open just as he was about to
finish
his sentence.
The bodies lay motionless about six inches off the ground.
{Tag back ok what now}
Submitted by
Edward Murray
AKA
Ensign Sajin Conner Science officer
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Message: 3
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 2004 14:17:30 -0400
From: Christopher Ackney <christopher.ackney@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: [WEB] Surprise Invitations
Scene: April 21, morning
It had been a quiet few days since the night at Wyrmwood. Vic had
returned
to the table after a while, and handed back Shikyo's pendant, much to
her
surprise. Vic was quiet the rest of the night, and the two of them
left soon
after Fi got called in to work.
Shikyo felt terrible for letting her pendant get snatched so easily.
She
didn't feel a thing when that girl had bumped into her. But Vic
wouldn't
talk about how she got it back, and to tell the truth, Shikyo was a
bit
afraid to bring up the topic. At the same time, though, she felt as if
she
were walking on egg shells. She almost wished that Vic would get mad
at her,
just to break the tension. She had tried to tell Vic that it wasn't
her
fault; that she had a little too much to drink and was distracted by
the
girl's fast-talk. Vic had simply nodded.
So she tried to keep out of the way the next day, keeping a low
profile so
as to not upset Vic ... and that seemed to work a little too well. Vic
was
so lost in thought that Shikyo wasn't sure that Vic knew she was
there.
The following day, Shikyo thought to do the opposite, and tried to be
as
attentive and affectionate as she could. She couldn't help but feel a
little
hurt at being mildly rebuffed by Vic. Even putting on her sexiest
vinyl
outfit (at least she thought so) failed to illicit more than a few
comments.
Finally, after staying awake the whole night, alone with her thoughts
despite having Vic beside her, she could stand it no longer. She
brought Vic
a fresh cup of coffee in the morning, and knelt down on the bed as Vic
stretched and revived herself.
"Vic," she said, her voice cracking slightly, "Do you still love me?"
Blinking, Vic looked over at her, sipping her coffee. Where had that
come
from? She wracked her brain trying to think if she'd said or done
anything
unusually harsh in the past few days to have set Shikyo off like that.
Not
coming up with anything, she held out her arm, urging Shikyo closer.
"What a
silly question. Of course I love you, girl. Why are you asking?"
Shikyo curled up in Vic's arms, eyes blinking furiously to fight away
the
tears that seemed to come from nowhere. Shikyo relished the warmth of
Vic's
closeness.
"I don't know." She said in a quiet voice. "I ... you just seem so
distant
since you got my pendant back. I thought you were mad at me for
letting that
girl take it away."
"No, no, not mad." She stroked Shikyo's hair, pulling her close and
dropping
a light kiss on the top of her head. "Distracted, maybe. I'm trying to
figure it out, the whole thing was peculiar. The kind of peculiar that
comes
back to haunt you, if you know what I mean." She sighed. "I just have
that
storm warning feeling."
Shikyo cooed softly and ran her fingers up and down Vic's leg
absently.
"Maybe you could tell me what you're thinking about. I mean, I don't
think
I'll have any answers, but maybe talking about it will help you figure
it
all out."
"If I had anything concrete to go on I wouldn't have been so wrapped
up in
it." She rested her cheek against Shikyo's hair. "There were lots of
people
there with much more expensive jewelry than your pendant. Quite a few
were
drunker than you, as well, and not being... kept watch over." She
sighed,
shaking her head. "Which means she didn't take your pendant to hock.
Which
means there's another reason. Which makes it suspicious."
Shikyo shifted her head to gaze up at Vic. "But why me?" She asked
with a
frown. "Though I guess if you knew that, it wouldn't be such a
mystery,
would it?" With a sigh, she rested her head on Vic's shoulder.
Shikyo stopped her caress when a thought came to her, and she looked
back
up. "Maybe it wasn't me she was after. Maybe it was to get your
attention."
"That's scarcely any less confusing. It merely shifts the question
from 'why
you' to 'why me'. It could just as easily be something specific about
the
necklace. Or some bizarre prank. Or a really weird ritual. Hell, maybe
she
WAS just trying to get one or the other of us to follow her for some
utterly
mundane and carnal reason." She grinned.
Shikyo jerked up. "You wouldn't, would ...!" She began, then saw that
Vic
had been kidding her. Shikyo pouted and leaned back against Vic.
"You're
mean, teasing me like that." She sighed after a moment. "I guess I can
see
why you have been so distracted. It doesn't make sense, does it?"
Another
pause. "There isn't anything special about the pendant, is there?"
Vic gave her a light swat on the rear. "Don't be ludicrous." She bit
her
lip. "It's an attractive piece of jewelry. I've never Sensed anything
from
it, or I wouldn't have bought it, but I got it at a flea market in
Boca
Raton, so who knows what its actual provenance is."
"Oh, I don't know." Shikyo said with an exasperated sigh. "Now I'll be
thinking about it all day too."
"You did ask." Vic smirked.
Shikyo pouted again, but it soon faded. "At least you're not mad at
me." She
reached up and ran a finger along Vic's cheek.
The moment was broken, however, by the door buzzer sounding. Shikyo
scowled
in the direction of the door.
Pulling on dressing gowns, the two went downstairs to answer the door.
It
was an hour before they opened their studio, so it seemed unlikely to
be a
customer.
Llewelyn smiled at them as the door opened. She was a tall woman, thin
and
graceful, and moved almost as if she didn't touch the ground.
"Victoria,
Shikyo, blessed be this fine morning."
"I've told you and told you, -Winifred-, it's Vic. Call me 'Victoria'
again
and I'll show your entire coven just what it says on your driver's
license."
She smirked, just a little sourly. It was an old argument. "D'you want
coffee, or are you insisting on some revolting herbal blend this
week?"
"My, you're in a fine mood today, I see. Did I interrupt something,
perhaps?
And coffee will be fine, though just with milk."
"I'll get it." Shikyo said. "Another cup for you?" She asked Vic as
she
turned towards the coffeepot.
"Ugh. Bring the pot, I think, love. And perhaps a saucer for our
guest's
milk."
"Thank you." Llewelyn smiled again. "I had thought this might interest
the
two of you, but it seems that a cousin of mine gave me some
invitations to a
charity event for this Friday. He doesn't know anyone else who might
want to
go, so passed them on to me."
Shikyo returned with the pot and knelt down on the floor, then began
pouring
out the coffees.
Vic tilted her head, taking the coffee with a faint relieved sigh.
"So, now I have these tickets, and I thought of you and Shikyo. Now
before
you go saying that it's not your thing or something, they're for a
charity
company called Isis. I've done a little research, and it seems they do
some
good stuff, and haven't just appropriated the Goddess' name as a
marketing
ploy. Thank you." She said the last to Shikyo, taking the offered cup.
"What sort of charity event, and what precisely is this 'good stuff'
these
people do?"
Llewelyn sipped her coffee. "Well, right now they're big on trying to
return
artifacts back to Egypt that were taken during the big archaelogical
digs
years back. You know, King Tut and all that. They also put money into
women's legal defense funds, shelters and environmental charities. But
it
wasn't really until the new director came on board that they really
started
to do these kind of things. As for the thing this Friday, I think it's
a
general smooze fest, really. But I'm sure there'll be a few like
minded
people to ourselves, and I know Shikyo will love the fact that it has
an
Egyptian theme to it."
Vic struggled not to roll her eyes at the 'like minded' comment.
Llewelyn's
ritual tastes seemed to be drawn from the tomes put out by the
publisher
with which she shared a name.
Skikyo's eyes lit up at the thought of a chance to dress up, and she
glanced
up at Vic with an excited look.
Smiling a bit at her pleased expression, Vic slid an arm around
Shikyo's
waist. "Egyptian seems to be very in just now. Are there some large
groups
doing Khemetic work that I haven't heard about?"
Llewelyn looked up from her cup and shrugged. "Nothing I've heard of.
But
then, New York's a big city. But I don't think any of the organized
groups
are into it specifically."
"Can we go, Vic? We don't have anything else planned." Shikyo asked,
leaning
in to Vic, trying on her best puppy-dog eyes.
"Hmmm." Vic raised an eyebrow at Llewelyn. "Charity event, you say. Is
this
one of these ridiculously expensive to get into gatherings?"
Llewelyn shrugged. "I don't know. Just got the invitations." She dug
into
her purse and pulled out a set of four envelopes, and continued to
speak as
she looked at the contents. "I imagine there'll be more than a few
celebrities and politicians ... it is a fund-raiser, after all. Yes,
an
annual fund-raiser for the city museum, in conjunction with the
opening show
of the opera season. Hmm, I guess there will be a lot of big names
there
after all. But still, the invitation does say it's all inclusive, and
that
Egyptian garb is 'encouraged'." She looked up and grinned. "A chance
to rub
elbows with the rich and famous."
"Rich and famous? I suppose that means I'll have to behave and not
punch
anyone even if they clearly deserve it?" Vic laughed. "Very well," she
sighed. "I know you like to dress up."
"We can go?" Shikyo exclaimed, an excited smile breaking out on her
face.
She jumped up and gave Vic a tight hug and a kiss. "Thank you!"
She skipped over to Llewelyn and hugged her as well, barely giving her
time
to set her cup down. "Thanks for the tickets! You're the best." Shikyo
said
happily, squeezing Llewelyn until the woman could hardly breath.
A thought came to Shikyo, and she straightened back up. "Hmm, I'll
have to
buy some new clothes. I wonder where I should start ..."
NRPG: Looks like the witches are coming too ... provided Shikyo can
find
something to wear ;)
Jointly submitted:
Atalanta Pendragonne, aka Vic
and
Chris Ackney, aka Shikyo
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Message: 4
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 2004 21:37:37 -0700
From: "Katrina Gischer" <kgischer@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: [DL-J] In Time of War
Day 1
Early morning
[snip]
She put her hands on Gus' shoulders. "We need half of Alpha Wing here
to hold the warren," she said. "I need you to take other half - and
however many warrenfolk you can, armed with whatever - and hold that
road open. Can you do it?"
[end snip]
"Aint much choice," Gus said with a half-grin. She jerked her head at
Ce'lot and the two of them stepped aside for a hurried consultation.
In moments they had split the wing with Gus reluctantly ceding the
Wing's sole combat medic, Ailill to Ce'lot under the condition that he
had to take G'ret. Nothing much was said as Gus quietly assigned
Belerade to her half of the wing. There was trouble enough today
without worrying over their domestic wrangle.
True to their training, the Wing was indeed ready in the five minutes
alert status called for. It took what unjoined were coming with them
only two minutes more to gear up and be sorted onto various dragons
for the port to the battleground. Gus spent the entire time pacing,
her nerves well past full alert. The usual pre-heist....er, pre-JOB
jitters were normal and understandable and she packed them away with
practised ease.
The stomach-churning dread was new - and much harder to simply shut in
a box to be opened later (MUCH later). The sight of 20,000 heavily
armed and hostile kataani in the Warren's bay and the news that she
would lead half the wing against another 7,000 brought with it the
undeniable prospect of bloodshed. How many of her riders would she
lead into death THIS time?
Gus swallowed hard and forcibly shoved her emotions into a corner of
her mind. Tara was counting on her and she was NOT going to let her
down. Not this time.
Jaw clenched, she swung aboard Loki and directed her strike team
airborne. In moments they had landed part way along the mountain road
- the one that Tara wanted held "at all costs". Gus wasn't sure why -
it didn't make much sense to her for the sea-folk to head so far
inland to flank them when they'd achieve it just hitting the warren
from land and sea at the same time, but Tara wanted it done, it'd get
done. Besides, this way the kataani couldn't see her - them - while
she set up...whatever it was she was setting up.
She sent up Rusa and Gar'th, the Wing's best patrollers as high as
they could go to find out what the sea-folk had arranged and looked
around. The pass through the mountain was narrow here - even half the
Wing could array in a circle and had adapted their formation as best
as they could and were ranged several deep around where Gus had
dismounted. Jerram had, of course, managed a spot at her side and
stood next to her, leaning close to her ear to offer his advice.
"This isn't a bad spot, nice and narrow to funnel them. Of course,
you'll want to set up to protect the road to the warren, too. You
probably haven't read it, but the great General Adelric wrote - who
incidentally was my -"
Gus tuned out as Jerram continued a non-stop lecture on some dusty old
writings and glanced around to get her bearings. She hadn't done as
many patrols since she became Wingleader, but she recognized the place
well enough. The narrow pass got even narrower about a mile east
before widening as it left the mountains and headed for Hasharon. A
sudden memory swept forth, of a single - admittedly maddened - sailor
holding off an entire squad of Grouty's men before someone had downed
him with an amazing bow-shot.
As Jerram continued - still! - to prattle on about how obviously she
was going to organize this fight, Gus sent a quick message via Loki
for the dragons to stay in constant contact - and not incidentally
remember that SHE was giving the orders and not Jerram. Then she spun
on her heel and pointing her finger selected out ten riders who hadn't
yet settled their unjoined passengers down.
"You, fly to the main road - get maybe a mile from this junction. Set
up across the road. Nothin'," Gus's voice went flat and harsh, "and I
do mean NOTHIN' - no caravan, no trader, no sea-folk, not even Grouty
- gets past ya without I say so, got me? If the kataani see ya
settin' up, all the better but make clear yer just the FIRST wave. If
we can scare 'em away, all the better."
The riders selected blinked but nodded and lifted back into the air,
disappearing once they were high enough to 'port safely. Gus nodded
sharply and spun on her heel to point at a new group of ten.
"You go back about a mile on this road to where it narrows. Unjoined
start making a barricade, rockfalls, anythin' t' keep anythin' from
goin' up the road. I want Mely and Jonas to stay and help with the
barricade itself. You," she spun and pointed to the last ten
unjoined," will stay right here and make like yer holdin' the road
right here - but if they come up and it gets t' real fightin', then
pull back and lead 'em into the others. We can hold 'em there a lot
longer'n on the main road."
She turned back center to address everyone, having Loki broadcast as
she spoke, "I want them dragons in CONSTANT CONTACT. I dunno if the
sea-folk are gonna come through here, but Tara wants this junction
held. If they go straight fer the Warren, then we're gonna strafe the
hell outta them - in front o' 'em t' start, if they scare off and run
away, perfect, but -"
"What do you mean? Why not just wipe them all out after what they did
to Kali?"
Gus stifled a sigh as she saw who had spoken - well demanded really.
Ewen and Kali had only recently declared themselves as mates. He was
glaring angrily - and there was something eerily reminiscent of Tanys
in his eyes that made Gus's stomach churn even worse. She forced her
voice to a steady, calm, and above all commanding tone.
"I got three reasons for ya'. First, in case ya can't count, there's
thousands o' them and less'n a hunnert of us. Second, I don't wanna
lose no more riders, one was too many. And THIRD, them kataani aint
goin' nowhere. They're gonna be out under them waves offshore o' the
Warren for ages and I don't wanna be fightin' 'em ferever. More we can
scare off instead o' killin', more chance Tara's got o' makin' some
kinda treaty fer later." Gus took a deep breath and tried to funnel
sincerity into her next words - why it was so much harder to do when
she wasn't lyin', she'd never understand, but.... "I aint gonna lie t'
ya'. Ya can do the math - folks is gonna die. Tara told us to hold
this junction at all costs - and with so many of them and not so many
o' us, its easy t' see that's gonna be a high cost." Suddenly, Gus
grinned wryly. "But at least I can tell ya, aint nothin' I know
better than getting somethin' pricey fer free."
A round of laughter greeted that statement and Gus tasted acid.
Ythfaru help her, they TRUSTED her? She shoved that worry aside for
later and spoke further. "Ok, go where I sent ya. Those I aint sent
nowhere, HIDE. We know these damn mountains well enough, we fly over
'em on every damned patrol. Them sea-folk don't. And its a lot
easier to pick someone's....ah, I mean hit someone, if he don't know
where yer at."
<Morwen says that the bad ones look like this,> and here Loki showed
her what the enemy's deployment looked like - at least through dragon
eyes. <And that they've sent some on alone, maybe scouts like they
are? And that she and Alarch have found good hiding spots up high with
a good view.>
Gus nodded, knowing Loki would hear her approval even if she said
nothing. <Tell them good job.>
Both she and Loki moved while she thought to a small hollow near the
road. The rock that made up one side of the hollow was big enough to
hide even Seydor's clumsy butt.
<I'll tell him you said so.>
<DO. Maybe he'll learn t' hide proper.>
Loki snorted a draconic giggle as Seydor glared at her, but for a
wonder actually DID hide all of himself. Loki flowed into the
shadows, leaving only a darker area than the sun's angle allowed to
suggest his presence. Gus, too, drew into the darkness of the ditch,
dragging Jerram's head down when he tried to peer over the edge.
"Hidin', remember?" she hissed.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing," he whispered back. "It
isn't really conventional tactics and I know that -"
Rolling her eyes, Gus firmly placed her hand over his mouth to shut
him up. The feel of his lips against her flesh was a distraction, but
it was the only pleasant feeling since the sun had come up with the
enemy today.
A rustle brought all her senses to full alert. Two kataani moved
furtively through the brush and rocks alongside the road. They were
watching intently, though to Gus's eye they seemed to be trying to
keep from getting found more than trying to FIND anything. She
dismissed the thought - what did she know about real armies anyway? -
but her hand shifted to the hilt of her sword. Irrationally, the feel
of the despised weapon was a comfort. She breathed a silent prayer to
Ythfaru for luck and almost immediately cursed as the scouts stumbled
- quite literally, apparently unused to shifting rocks and land
gravity - into her hiding place.
Jerram's sword was out and into the neck of one with a movement Gus
absently marvelled at, even as she launched herself forward, sword
undrawn to tackle the other. The kataani was indeed unused to dry
land, but he was substantially larger and stronger than his opponent.
Fortunately for Gus, she'd never yet fought anyone who WASN'T. Her
tackle had taken him to the ground face first and she'd followed it
immediately with a lock on his right elbow. Hoping to all six gods
that he spoke something other than just kataani, she hissed directly
into his ear.
"If ya move, yer arm breaks, so hold still, dammit."
It didn't work.
Whether he indeed spoke only kataani or simply ignored her words, the
scout tried to twist out of her grip and indeed there was the
sickeningly familiar sound of bones parting and a hastily muffled yelp
of pain. A shifting of weight behind her told Gus that Jerram had
moved to her side.
"Take off my belt," she gasped, struggling to hold down the writhing
man beneath her, "and bind his legs. Reckon a prisoner or two might
come in useful, right?"
At least she thought Jerram had mentioned something about prisoners in
his long-winded blather on tactics.
"My name is Radaas," the man beneath her spat suddenly in heavily
accented warren speech. "And I am a scout in the army of the
kataani."
Gus leaned back, letting Jerram bind the prisoner and frowned. "Don't
they usually call 'em the Emperor's army or suchlike," she thought
aloud. She wouldn't actually go so far as to ASK Jerram, but....
To her surprise, the man - now face upright - blanched slightly. Gus
blinked several times processing this strange reaction. At length,
when Jerram had bound the man's hands and gagged him for good measure
and still stood in between the now helpless prisoner and Gus, she
whispered for Jerram's ear alone. "I think he's one o' Oga's."
"Aren't they all," he whispered back.
Gus shrugged, unable to answer. No doubt he was right, and
yet....well, something didn't feel...right. She rolled her eyes at
herself. Of COURSE it didn't feel right, she was leading an army.
How much more not right COULD it be?
The dragons reported the other scouts returning to the main body of
the kataani army and identified some possible leaders. A tall
green-skinned man with what looked - through draconic eyes at least -
to be more "sparkly bits" to his armor was arguing with a shorter
stockier white haired man. The shorter one kept pointing south, but
bowed to the other.
"If we're lucky, there's some dissension in the ranks," Jerram
muttered.
Gus nodded agreement, her hand resting again on her sword hilt,
unaware that her hand kept sliding into such a resting place.
Her eyes had also noted from the dragon's relay that the army was
towing along several....well to her they looked like some weird cross
between a crossbow and a catapult, though they might look extra
strange being made out of shell instead of wood. The "arrows" or
"bolts" their crews carried were as large as spears - hell, she'd seen
smaller whaling harpoons. No question those'd put a plenty big enough
dent in a dragon. Of course, they didn't seem to be loaded at the
moment......
<Loki, tell Magnus, Otis, Roan, Gird, Ivar and Rex,> she rattled off
the names of the six biggest dragons with her, <and their riders to go
sit on them bow-like thin's. Don't want none o' the dragons takin' a
shot from one. Port in right on top, squash 'em good and port back
out afore any hand-held spears get poked in dragon or rider.>
The order was passed along instantaneously and with a faint "whoop"
from somewhere higher in the mountains, the chosen dragons took off.
A heartbeat later there was a barely audible "crunch" and the VERY
audible sounds of dismay from the kataani. Gus turned to Jerram and
they shared a brief grin.
<Oh, that's done it. Gar'th and Alarch say the army is moving now
into the mountain road.>
"Heading this way," Gus muttered. She had to have taken out those
things, didn't she? But it hadn't scared off the opponent - and now
real bloodshed was inevitable. They could still strafe the kataani as
they came up. Quick ports in and out, less risk for the riders that
way. But once the army made it far enough to hit even the first of
their lines, it'd be too narrow.
She gave the order for hit and run strafing and made to mount up for
her own turn, only to find Jerram dragging her back down. "The
general leads from the BACK, remember?"
"We had a deal on not hoverin', remember?" Gus countered, but stayed
down. She had Loki remind those guarding the warren road to stay
alert, the kataani could break up their army just as she'd done. Gus
chose not to pass along that they were all dead if that happened.
The kataani pushed forward, and Gus could see them now with her own
eyes. They were clearly taking losses from the sudden blasts of flame
that they couldn't predict nor avoid. It didn't seem to have any
effect on their leader though - he kept ordering them forward. There
were still way too many of them.
With a heavy heart for the blood she was about to spill, Gus ordered
the dragons in the hills above the army to loosen rocks and send them
rolling down on the enemy. Those closest to the first line were to
help them get back as needed, everyone else was to fall into formation
behind the REAL defenses.
In what seemed like the blink of an eye, the army had fallen upon the
first line. Gus couldn't quite suppress a wince as the sounds of
fighting rose to her ears. A few shouts of "For Kali!" carried on the
slight morning breeze. The sudden keen that announced the death of a
rider and dragon pair split the air and Gus swallowed hard against
tears.
<Ewen and Magnus tried to strafe in too tight a space,> Loki reported
in a subdued and tear-filled mindvoice. <They couldn't port back
out.>
Swearing under her breath, Gus cursed herself for a fool. She
should've seen that once that actual fighting started, the riders
would be too hungry for vengeance to fight SMART, no matter how much
Gus tried to protect them. The loss of ANY rider - or at least dragon
- was an agony to the entire warren and Kali had been warren-bred,
well known and well liked. It was stupid, damned stupid of Gus to
think that her lame-ass speech about making it all cost LESS would
keep folks like Ewen from acting stupid out of hurt. Didn't ANY of
them know how to push the fear and hurt and anger aside as an energy
source instead of a distraction?
"Fall back, fall back," she muttered as the noises continued for what
seemed to her to be FAR too long - but she would afterwards discover
hadn't even been five minutes. Finally, the dragons reported the
survivors safe behind the barricade and Aggie had insisted the
Wingleader should ALSO be there. Gus glowered suspiciously at Jerram,
but Seydor indignantly denied that he had ANYTHING to do with such a
plea.
It was true though, and Gus stepped out of her hollow intending on
mounting up in a clear space, but was halted in her tracks by the
slaughter that displayed itself. She'd heard the sounds, known what
they meant, had FELT that keen rip through her, hell, she'd seen what
was left in Hsina's wake, but this....
She walked slowly along the road, counting bodies, naming them
wherever she could. There were surprisingly few she could name. The
sea-folk were taking terrible losses and from the reports, were
continuing to do so. Hands limp at her sides Gus closed her eyes for
a moment, sickened by what lay in front of her. At that moment there
was a shifting of rock and her head snapped up.
Two of those that scouting had suggested were sub-lieutenants of some
sort (Gus understand the term Jerram had used to mean somethin' sorta
like Win'seconds, she thought) stood there, with what looked to be
sort of an honor guard around them. They all had weapons at the ready
and a steady, dry-eyed look that made Gus's nerves twitch at the
certainty of trouble.
Jerram already had his sword ready and was engaged before Gus had
fully taken in the scene. The shorter stockier fellow - the one who'd
argued with what must be the real leader earlier - made no move,
clearly sizing up the situation, but his counterpart stepped forward
toward Gus, letting the guards keep Jerram too busy to aid.
Gus drew her sword, with that familiarly hollow feeling of forgetting
ALL her training just when she needed it and hoped that it wasn't true
this time. She'd no sooner levelled her sword in position when the
kataani's foot twisted oddly against a pebble and he lurched off
balance. Jerram's training was indeed remembered in Gus's muscles if
not her mind and with such an opening she couldn't miss.
The shock as the heart beat against - no AROUND - her sword nearly
made Gus lose her grip on the sword and she twisted to keep from
dropping the blade. Off-balance and skewered, the kataani's face was
mere inches from hers and she made the mistake of meeting his eyes
just as the life drained from them with the blood from his body.
Appalled and with a sudden terrified thought of "now you're REALLY in
for it", Gus yanked her sword free and stepped back. The body
collapsed in on itself, slowly crumpling to the ground and she felt a
tear trace a hot course down her face.
Colonel Natimbi rocked back on his heels. Colonel Edisard was the
foremost swordsman in his majesty Toru's (long be the life Ythfaru
granted) armies. And this mere stripling - surely the Landers were
not fully grown at such a paltry size? - downed him with one stroke?
Mind momentarily on fire against these heathens who dared hold hostage
the gods' chosen, he forced himself to take a deep breath and force
the emotions into a channel for fuel to raise his sword, but not
control it. He stepped forward, determined to take down this
barbarian youth. His first ferocious stroke was barely - and somewhat
clumsily - parried, but the youth dodged backward with surprising
speed and grace. Not surprising, Natimbi chided himself, he'd just
taken down Edisard after all. He began to move in more cautiously,
studying his opponent and playing to his celebrated patience in a
swordfight. No enemy was without weakness, he just had to fight well
enough long enough to find it and exploit it.
The ring of swords snapped Gus out of her guilt-ridden reverie and she
dodged hastily backwards, cursing her clumsiness and lack of speed.
She settled into her defensive position and forced down all emotion.
Defeating the last opponent had been sheer luck - whether good or bad,
she'd let the gods decide - but this one was too careful to slip on a
loose pebble and FAR better with a sword than she was. Unable to stop
herself, she glanced briefly sideways, but while Jerram faced three of
the honor guard, he seemed safe enough. The barest breath of
inattention was costly as the seaman in front of her caught it and
leapt forward. She dodged, but not quite fast enough and the trailing
edge of the blow caught her arm. With the pain, she forced herself to
focus, narrowing the world down to just her and the man who wanted to
hurt her. It was a familiar enough focus to ease the litany of horror
to a dull roar.
Natimbi felt a grim satisfaction. First blood to him indeed. He
stepped forward to exploit the blow, but was met with a solid parry.
The lad must be in pain, the trace of a tear on the tender cheek
proved it. Bah, he couldn't even be old enough to SHAVE. The sword
dance continued and Natimbi was forced to a measure of respect. Too
young and too slight for a proper soldier, but fought steadily despite
a freely bleeding arm. Fought defensively only, but that wasn't
necessarily a weakness.
Or was it? A realization grew upon Natimbi as he met his opponent's
startlingly dark blue eyes - and where HAD he seen such eyes before? -
to find appalling pain. He was startled by such depth of hurt in one
who was so young and his sword tip wavered slightly.
Gus saw the opening, but couldn't bring herself to use it. How many
people did she have to kill? Cursing herself, she forced herself back
to attention. "At all costs" Tara had said. Jaw clenched, Gus
shifted her grip on her sword. So be it.
Natimbi stepped back abruptly as he saw the indecision and the new
resolve. "You do not wish to kill me," he stated.
"Want gots nothin' t' do with it," Gus returned harshly. How in hell
had her father managed to get through so many fights without killing?
Holding back tears, she promised that she'd practice even harder with
Jerram after this - if she was only better with the damn sword, maybe
she could use it for something other than killing.
"You weep for Edisard, not for your arm." Natimbi backed up again,
sword ready to defend, but he would not attack, not until he
understood what was going on. Sentari had already insisted on
disregarding General Nakamo's orders to push south against the vile
Warren, insisting that the force up in the hills HAD to be defeated
first - and certainly the riders of dragons and those who served them
fought well and fiercely - but if this one felt like the others, was
that true? He...no SHE - Natimbi cursed himself for a blind fool for
not seeing that earlier - was no vile killer.
Gus shook her head. In the middle o' tryin' t' skewer me and he
notices ONE damned tear? she wondered. And so what? He stopped
fightin'? There could be only one reason. "I don't weep," she spat
back. "And I don't need yer pity. Dorlon take yer heart, ya've
killed enough o' my riders, ya can fight proper with me."
Her riders? Natimbi parried a savage cut to his sword arm and stepped
back again. THIS was their leader? And she used the Demon's name? In
a proper curse, no less? "The gods will call me home when they will.
I have been a soldier in the Emperor's army for twenty years and I am
sorry for those I am forced to kill. But I will kill a thousand
riders to save my Emperor from captivity."
This time it was Gus's turn to parry a violent strike and step back.
"Captivity? What the hell are ya on about? He left the Warren over a
month ago. Only one o' yer folk with us that aint a rider is the
Princess and I expect she's hidin' somewhere safe until the fightin's
over."
Natimbi frowned. Could this heathen speak truth? He shook his head,
chagrinned that he had even entertained such a thought when a shift of
stones behind him alerted him to danger. The tall mustached one had
finished off the Puali guards and now aimed his sword at Natimbi's
back.
"Jerram, HOLD." Gus stepped forward. Something wasn't right - and
she'd bet everything she owned on a FAIR game that Oga had something
to do with it - and this kataani might have the answers. "I wanna
hear what he's gotta say."
Natimbi raised his eyebrows. Yes, he could see why such a stripling
was a leader. "We are told that your Warrenlady holds our Emperor and
his daughter, Kiyomi, hostage. Our highest general leads the forces
through the waves against the sea."
"Right. We don't." Gus frowned. "Ya call it the Emperor's army -
not the kataani army?"
"But of course," Natimbi responded sharply. "The Emperor IS the
kataani, without him we are nothing. He is Ythfaru's chosen, the
god's blessing on our people."
Gus nodded sharply. Ha. So was the imprisoned scout not loyal or just
stupid? She privately thought that what she'd seen of Toru, Ythfaru's
blessing had run a little thin, but .... "Go get that prisoner,
Jerram. NOW."
The hollow they'd hidden in - and left their tied-up captive in - was
a few steps away, it didn't take long. Gus grinned viciously. "Ok,
Radaas. Tell me yer rank again?"
"I am scout in the Emperor's - may Ythfaru bless him - army." Radaas
was pale, shaking and very obviously nervous.
"Radaas is one of the finest scouts," Natimbi confirmed. "Brigadier
Sentari favors him greatly."
"Sentari's yer leader? The one who's ignoring HIS leader's orders?"
Gus asked sweetly.
"He is not ignoring him," Natimbi defended. "He merely moved against
a hostile force before they attacked." With a growing sense of
disquiet, Natimbi realized that the first horrifying blasts of flame
against the army had landed oddly short, merely sending the army
reeling back. Retreating until a white-faced Sentari had ordered them
forward, his own Puali guard throwing a javelin just shy of a hulking
brown-speckled beast. A surprised Sentari.
"Oh surely not," the shaken kataani breathed.
"So," Gus said, leaning artfully close to Radaas's broken arm, "how
long's Sentari been workin' fer Oga?"
"Ever since - Uh, I mean always. Since ...since... since Oga has been
the Emperor's most trusted advisor, I mean."
Gus grinned at Jerram. "Toldja he was Oga's."
"I didn't disagree," Jerram countered. "I only said they ALL were."
Gus shook her head and pointed to Natimbi. "He aint. HE is loyal to
their Emperor."
"Of course I am," Natimbi said, denying Sentari's apparent treason in
desperation.
Gus nodded. "Yup, but Oga AINT. He's tried t' off the Princess once
already." She cocked her head up the road where the sounds of
fighting were continuing. "And yer folk is gettin' killed fer
nothin'. Maybe ya should call him off until this is straightened
out?"
Natimbi eyed the girl uneasily. Her words made sense - sadly far TOO
much sense - and it was clear that Sentari's pet, Radaas, was badly
scared - and not by battle. "How can I trust you," he asked bluntly.
"Well, I could give ya a blood oath I aint lyin'," Gus responded, a
little startled by the question. "But we're too far from the sea for
the waves t' carry my promise t' Ythfaru. What WOULD ya take?"
Natimbi felt his jaw drop. She knew the right rituals? And clearly
from her face believed? He'd been told - and by Oga, he now thought
sourly - that all the Warren folk were heathens. What else had he
been lied to about? He held out his blessing vial and upended it in
the dirt with an inward prayer to Ythfaru for guidance. "It's his
water, he will hear."
The challenge was clear. Gus shrugged. At least she WAS telling the
truth. She held up her sword and stiffly lifted her - suddenly VERY
painful - right arm to grasp the blade and twist it along her palm.
The drops fell neatly into the small saline puddle at her feet. "I
send my blood to Ythfaru in token of my pledge that my words are true.
Let Dorlon feast on my bones if I lie."
Natimbi nodded and drew his pearl-encrusted horn from his belt. With
a deep breath, he blew to long low notes on it, followed by three
short high notes. Gus, startled and alarmed, raised her sword, as did
Jerram. "Keep him," he muttered, jerking his head at Radaas. I will
pull my men back and speak with General Nakamo."
With a spin, he sheathed his sword and pulled himself to attention.
"I am Colonel Natimbi of the First Regiment of Sentari's Brigade.
Will you honor me with your name?"
"Gus, rider of Loki, Alpha Wingleader of Jasra Warren," she responded
numbly.
"Gus, rider of Loki, we will meet again. I pray Ythfaru grant that it
not be over crossed swords."
Gus nodded to Natimbi. "Yeah, that works for me, too."
<My rider, Aggie says the kataani are retreating, do they follow?>
<NO. Tell Mely to hold them back. Um, I think we just won.>
A little bewildered by how fast things had changed, Gus sheathed her
sword and swung aboard Loki. "If they're leavin'," she suggested to
Jerram, "we should get outta the way."
{Ok, Tags to anyone who wants to say their piece....}
___________________________________________________________
Submitted by:
Katrina as Gus/Loki (and Natimbi)
with special thanks to my very own General Staff....
NRPG: Just a reminder, if you want to create one of the Alpha Wing
riders or even one of the unjoined who are fighting, feel free.
Summary - An anxious and out-of-her-element Gus leads half of Alpha
Wing against Brigadier Sentari's kataani. She splits into three
groups and sets a trap for the kataani which they very unluckily fall
into. At length, appalled by the carnage, Gus comes to a...tentative
detente with the (ultra loyal and so VERY not Oga's) Colonel Natimbi -
Sentari's second in command - and he pulls the kataani forces back.
[Tune in next week for the next thrilling installment, same dragon
time, same dragon channel....]
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