Alathea holds Kodokura in her arms for a long moment, then reluctantly releases him, retaining only his hand in hers as she looks about. With one last suspicious look to Litheene, she pulls Kodokura along after her as she follows Ryland to the farmhouse.
Fia groans slightly, but otherwise is too exhausted to protest as she is scooped up and carried off. Ryland had not gone a dozen steps before she was dozing in the wolfbrother's arms.
Vala groans as she slowly stirs from slumber and blinks.She isn't quite sure what all is going on and shivers a bit."Were are we"
At Vala's question, Alathea looks around at her surroundings. Finding nothing familiar to tell her where she is, she replies, "I don't know. But we aren't in that horrible place anymore. That is enough for me, yes?"
The massive form of Rhoekk slips from the cave's exit, silently, and as smooth as a shadow. Settling into a crouch, his white-limbed bow still in hand, he casts an eye about.
"I am still learning the wetlands, but I have seen most of them, from what you call 'the Spine,' as far as Tarabon..."
"These mountains look significantly lower than those marking the way to the three fold land; still tall, and gripped by mist that seems as though it might never fade..." Rhoekk turns his head, looking up and down the range from one end to the other. "The mountains of Mist I would wager, though whether on the Andoran side or closer to Arad Doman might require a bit more perspective to go on."
"Either way, as long as we're out of that filthy tunnel complex and no longer being swarmed by experimental Shadowspawn, I'd say that things are looking up," Ryvin says. She winces at the arrow. "Speaking of things looking up... Could someone get this thing out of me and spot me some healing? I'd rather not keep this little souvenir of the past."
"I've been meaning to ask you about something, seeing as you're a great scholar," she mutters, careful not to be overheard. What do you think the meaning might be of the phrase 'Suli sur'aman'e'lanfe- '?"[/b]
Alathea nods curtly at Ryvin's request. "Of course. I apologize for not remembering, but it's been an unusual day, yes?" Reluctantly letting go of Kodokura, she approaches Ryvin. At the other woman's nod of readiness, she pulls the arrow from her shoulder as quickly but as gently as she can manage, then immediately draws upon saidar to knit the wound closed.
Ryvin closes her eyes and hisses softly at the pain, but does not otherwise show any discomfort.
"Thank you," she says, twisting her shoulder around to loosen it up. "That hit the spot. So. We're in this world's version of the Mountains of Mist and we've got a farmhouse in front of us. How far is it to Tar Valon, the Oath Rod and the Dragon Reborn from here?"
Rubbing his eyes, Amorial is shocked to see a number of familiar faces approaching him.
Gently he strides through the barn doors to peer at the group.
"My friends! The Pattern has seen fit to join us together yet again!" Amorial approaches the group with a broad grin.
Finally reacting to something, kodokura turns and begins to run towards Amorial, A loud belly laugh echoing throughout the wild field.
AMORIAL! so glad to see you!!!
Running up to amorial he wraps his arms around the large ogier.
Amorial! I am healed! No longer severed! see!
holding out his hand, kodokura looks at the surrounding rock wall. A rock suddenly breaks free and flies to his out to his hand.
See?
even as you watch, the stone that he holds in his hand suddenly cracks and breaks apart, turning to dust and filtering to nothing. The grass and dirt he stands upon disintegrates and erodes away rapidly, causing him to sink several inches into the dirt.
"Amorial!" Ryvin roars, delighted to see the Ogier.
Then the very land decays beneath Kodokura and she yells: "Stop it! Kodokura, quickly - release the Power!"
To the others, she makes a warding gesture.
"Everyone stop for a moment! We need to be very careful here; if any use of the One Power can decay the land like this in this Shadow of the Wheel, then we don't want to channel before we're back down on firm ground! Ripping the land apart beneath us in the mountains is just asking for a grisly death, not just for us but also for anyone else who gets caught in the resulting avalanche!"
no ryvin. no. its me kodokura says bleakly, his depression returning.
i was hoping that this curse didnt follow me to this world, but it has. when we got separated, some of us went to the world where Saidar was tainted. While there, a strange effect occurred with me. objects around me started to age rapidly, or disintegrate totally, as the ground and this rock did just now. Only, it happened only in times of extreme distress on my part. Yet now, it seems that even if i channel, it occurs. well, perhaps it was a fluke, but id rather not risk it to testing.
lowering his head, kodokura turns and walks away towards Alathea.
we must speak, my love he says to alathea, his voice sounding depressed.
Strangely silent while they approach the farm house, Keelix holds his great blade in such a way as to be resting and yet able to make it ready at a moment's notice.
He walks quietly near Ryvin, eyes never still, and occasionally breathing deeply to take in the scents of this place. He casts his mind out, seeking the touch of the wolves.
Ryland spins around towards the others and speaks in a low growl. "By the light I think you people are addle brained! Fia needs help and you stand here as we did not just escape the last nightmare? Blood and ashes what is wrong with you people?
Vala gets to her feet and smiles as she looks at Amorial."Amorial its good to see you again" She says as she looks to the structure and than the others.
"I think we should all bunk down in the building, I am weary and unaccustomed to such rigors on my body. If we can I would love to relax in there while we have others do some reconnaissance in this new land. we can also heal up and swap tales." Vala says as she looks to the others a little weary of all that had happened not only to her group but to the others.
a loud, powerful voice bellows from somewhere in the near vicinity.
it calls again, a male voice, getting closer.
the voice bellows as the overgrown grape vines shiver and move, shaking ripe grapes to the ground.
A shape, large, black, imposing, emerges from the dense foliage. a final surge pushes the body into the wheat field.
Your first instinct is to think that this is a trolloc, with its oddly shaped head and beady red eyes, yet caution halts your action as you see that this thing is no trolloc.
You see an ogier, larger than amorial, its arms more muscular, veins pertruding from its skin, and legs the size of trees. but its not his musculature that keeps your attention.
Its his armor. Black and red plate armor , with matching helmet, its visage is eery to perceive, as if death itself has manifested and is coming for you.
Seeing you all standing there in the field, the Ogier immediately drops into a guarded stance. where there was no sword in hand, now a large blade, much larger than what a normal man can wield appears in his hand. But, there is something glittering upon its blade, 3 exact images at equal intervals, yet too far away to make out clearly.
scanning the group, his eyes fall upon Ryland.
the ogier begins to stride forward towards ryland.
"You are a Seanchan Ogier," Ryvin says, her voice thin and terrible as she puts her hand on the hilt of her longsword. In the eyes of other women who can channel, a white aura shot through with red sparks springs to life around her. To Kodokura, there will be no such sign -- but he may easily feel the tell-tale goosebumps.
"You hardly deserve to live. But if you turn around and leave now, I may allow it. We do not have any Seanchan nobility with us, nor do we want any. Leave."
Without even looking behind her, the Ebou Dari growls: "Amorial. Take care of Fiallain, if you would."
"Burn me! What bloody now? Listen, you big ox, I do not know who you are talking about and I really do not give a steaming pile of dung about her or you right now! Let me help my friend and we can fight afterwards with all I have seen I do not have time for this!" Ryland continues to carry Via towards the farm house turning his back on the large ogier.
Alathea gasps as Kodokura breaks into a run towards Amorial, but smiles at the joy in his every moment--a joy that had been all but dead for almost as long as she'd known him. But her happiness is cut short at the odd disintegration that manifests about him. At his return, she replies, "Of course, my Heart, we will speak at length, yes? But let us wait until we can speak away from interruption."
Alathea pulls away from Kodokura at Ryland's call and hurries over to his side. As he lowers Fiallain to the ground, she takes the woman's head into her hands and weaves threads of Spirit around her. "I will do what I can for her, yes? But I think that above all, she needs rest to recover."
Alathea hears the shouts of the stranger as she releases Fiallain from her weave, and looks up in alarm. Edging back towards Kodokura, she watches in apprehension as the Ogier crashes into their clearing. But while Ryvin prepares to attack she remains still, but she holds saidar at the ready in case things turn sour.
your threads penetrate into fia's body. the further along you push, the more you discover. Her body, while healthy, is exhausted. it's as if she has overchanneled for days on end. yet, the more you delve, you discover a strangeness upon her body. an oddity. Youve only felt it a few times before, but its been with male channelers. Its a taint, and while not as strong as the men who channel, hers is present, but seems to focus upon her left eye.
the Ogier shouts at the group.
He takes a few guarded steps forward, in better view now, those with a sharp eye can see the black of the monstrous Ogier's armor is actually a very dark green, and the three marks on the single edged blade that looks quite large enough to cleave a horse in two, are shimmering silver Herons.
The Ogier's face is covered by a metal mask lavishly inscribed with depictions of strange animals and trees.
"Tend to your wounded then, but do not try to flee." The booming voice resides to a low rumble. "I will have words with you bandit, and if the lady Zira is not returned to me, I will cut you and all of yours down in the name of the Empress, may she live forever."
As the others look to the lone structure, Rhoekk keeps a wary eye cast outwards, watching that no ambush catches them from behind. When the massive ogier bursts from the brush, he vanishes into the grass and scrub himself, his otherwise hulking form melting away like a natural forest beast.
He moves swiftly and silently, circling round the position of the new threat, checking for any allies it might have that remain hidden, and then if not finding any, moving up behind the armoured beast to flank and take down the creature from behind, if needed.
Edit:
Hearing the ogier speak, and thus far hold off his attack, Rhoekk readies his weapons for an attack, but remains silent and hidden within the brush just a quick dash behind the massive warrior.
as you slink about in the shadows and brush of the natural surroundings, your eyes snap back and forth, picking up the minutest of details. As you pass by an opening in the rock wall, your eyes fall upon a single thread of silk, clinging to a sharp rock. Your eyes dart to the ground and there, in the dirt, is the soft imprint of not one, but two feet. someone traveled here, within the last day, but not within the last couple minutes.
Rhoekk pauses briefly by the tracks to snatch the thread and size up the footprints; Human? Ogier? Tollock? Could they belong to the ogier's missing mistress?
Rhoekk lingers no longer, finishing his circuitous route and gets into position.
Ryland puts Via down and watches as Alathea helps the wish woman. "Will she be OK?"
The boarderlander turns towards the ogier and shakes his head. "You are wool headed arnt you. Did you just say you killed me by your own hand, and now I stand before you the very next day? If that is true then you should run away far from here."
The massive Ogier levels his blade at the approaching human. "I'd rather die than flee from my duties. I am a Gardener and a captain in the Ever Victorious Army, it is you who should flee from here. But not before you tell me what you've done with the High lady."
The wolf brothers golden eyes narrow as he begins to growl. "Listen to me Gardiner, I have never seen you before you tore through that grove like an enraged trolloc. I have been through to much bloody fighting with things I bairly can understand to have to deal with you right now. So you bloddy well better listen to me when I tell you this one last time. I have no bloddy idea who you are looking for and I have had a very bad day and have more to worry about than you! So bugger off!"
Alathea nods to affirm her opinion of Fiallain's well-being. "She will be well. She is exhausted, and she has drawn too deeply on the One Power, yes? But with enough rest, she will recover."
The now perturbed Ogier lets out what could only be called a roar. And then he speaks, "Your wounded is tended to, hand over the lady, or help me to find her path if you are truly innocent as you claim. Or I take from you, your lives in the name of the Empire." he states rather calmly for a beast that just roared very loudly.
It is obvious that he is in a dismayed and agitated state and you are all secondary to his duty of finding the high lady.
Once in position behind the belligerent giant, Rhoekk eyed the warrior from head to toe, trying to size up the creature, and look for any vulnerability or sign of weakness that might be exploited.
"An aggressive and hostile Alantin? Legends speak warning of raising their ire, but to see one wearing armour, and grasping a ... a ... a sword!"
Ryland shakes his head and throws his arms into the air at the ogier. "Take off that helmet so you can see and hear me you fornicating lumux! Do you see who you are looking for around here? Do you think I have this lady hidden in my ruck sack? Blood and ashes! Do you speak my language? I will speak slowly so you can understand! I! Do! Not! Know! What! You! Are! Going! On! About! Go! Bugger! A! Trolloc!"
It is obviouse to all that the Boarderlander's grip on sanity is starting to slip.
Vala looks back and forth between the verbal sparring. Her hand grips her sword.
"Silence, you two.I know not this Zira, but as far as I know she is not here. Ryland go watch over Fia" Vala says trying to stand as authoritative as possible.
Keelix steps up beside Ryland and speaks very quietly knowing that Ryland's ears can easily hear his quiet voice, "Brother, your emotions are making a tense situation worse. Your lady will be okay, and her well-being will be enhanced by this crazy Ogier not attacking us. Please go see to her."
Keelix will not force the issue, but he will try to step forward so he is partly in front of Ryland, and he speaks to Vala briefly, but in a voice pitched to be heard by the Gardener, "This Ogier is not one who will take kindly to orders from those he does not know, I think. Reason and calm will do more than hostility and commands, I think."
He finally addresses the Ogier, "I know not what has happened to your High Lady, but I assure you that none of these here have taken her. If you will relax your threatening posture somewhat, we may be willing to speak with you and, perhaps, help you discover what has befallen her."
Ryland..." Fia's voice, unusually thin and reedy, nonetheless cuts through as the apprentice sits up. Exhausted and red-rimmed eyes sweep the clearing. "What is going on here?"
Ryland exposes his teeth as he snarls at the giant seeming to not hear his fellow wolfbrother. He then yelps at the sound of Fia's voice and turns and lopes to her side. "Are you well? You collapsed after we left the tunnel then that goat fathered lummox showed up ranting about having already killed me yesterday. Are you OK? Do you need water?"
The woodsman throws his pack to the ground grabbing a water skin and handing it to the Aiel before throwing his pack towards the ogier. "Have a look you woolheaded idiot! Your lady is not in there either!"