Arvanya runs to Auryel's side as the stag falls, it's dying breaths releasing from its body in wispy clouds. She examines the gashes on his neck, fretting now that her kapenia scarf can do little for his wounds. "Dans in seara asta sub luna" she coos in a sing-song voice, her hands again glowing a pale blue as she runs them gently through his coat.
At first she wants to protest at Freyja's comment. She knows that fey cannot be trusted, but torture is another matter entirely. Then she thinks of what they've done to Auryel and the others. "Let us hope we do not encounter other danger. I cannot bind wounds forever. My abilities are limited."
________
Evelina looks a little uncomfortable, as Freyja ties up the fey. "Uh, how many of those things are we planning on bringing with us?" Looking down sadly at the stag, "...an' I think if anybody here got used against his will, it was probably that guy..."
Not wanting to question Freyja too much, Evelina just shrugs and walks over to check that Auryel and Arvana are doing alright. "That's still pretty impressive that you and Astrid can heal at all..." she muses in response to Arvanya's concern, "I always thought you had to be a priest to heal people like that..."
Freyja complements the group. Well fought my friends. I promise I can do more than just sing in combat and hope to show some swordplay soon. You all are so efficient at dispatching the enemy that, well, the best I have been able to manage is to offer myself as a target. Are we ready to press on?
"...an' I think if anybody here got used against his will, it was probably that guy..."
"That's still pretty impressive that you and Astrid can heal at all..." she muses in response to Arvanya's concern, "I always thought you had to be a priest to heal people like that..."
Arvanya looks almost embarrased. "Priest? No, not I. It is only, ah...trick I learn as little girl. I used to mend wings of birds and rabbit paws. My mama, she was real magician, you see. Harrow reader. Very common among Varisians."
She also thinks of her childhood friend Talia, a true witch, and how she has helped Arvanya honed her own set of "tricks." But she does not mention this. This recent fear of evil witchcraft might prejudice them all in the eyes of the villagers, or even her newfound friends. Would anyone call her own abilities witchcraft? Is she herself a witch? She has been called this word before, but she has never bothered with the label, only deciding it generally best not to boast her use of magic.
"You may be right about poor animal," she says woefully, reaching down and carressing it gently on the muzzle. "I would make use of its body, but I fear it is tainted by evil magic. It may be controlled by the same dark force controlling these fey, eh?"
Evelina looks a little uncomfortable, as Freyja ties up the fey. "Uh, how many of those things are we planning on bringing with us?" Looking down sadly at the stag, "...an' I think if anybody here got used against his will, it was probably that guy..."
"Yess, we will have quite a collection soon. But it may be worthwhile if we can glean information from them. From what I know of Fey, many can speak with animalss, but I do not think Atomiess command them against their will. It iss a majestic beast. Might it be saved, Freyja? Patch it up and leave it to heal?"
Arvanya gulps nervously, self-conscious now that the others are watching. She leans down and whispers in the stag's ear. "trezește- și crească din nou."
"Seems like there is a whole lot of stuff I don't really understand about how magic works..." Evelina gets a guilty look and laughs nervously. "Madame Beaucroft always said I was too curious and that I was going to annoy people with my dumb questions...but I always figured, how am I supposed to stop being dumb if I don't ask..." Sighing, she add "Well, we should probably get moving again."
Promptly forgetting any kind of resolution to ask less questions, Evelina become talkative on the road once more, grilling Arvanya seemingly endlessly about growing up in Varisia. "So...tell me about harrow reading? Do you know how to do a reading? I hear there are all sorts of stories associated with the cards? Do you know any? What's Varisia like...?"
You walk for another hour in the snow trail and at each additional step it becomes harder and harder to move forward thanks to the diminished visibility of the end of the day... it will be night really soon.
I am no woodswoman but I have traveled enough to know the value of finding a good campsite. We must tend to our steed and ourselves. It will be dark soon I think. We should begin to look for a place. Maybe off the trail at least a stone's throw? Can we find some thicket or bluff where the wind will not be so bad? And do we dare a fire? Freyja looks tired and cold and the idea of not having a fire seems to dampen her spirits some but she knows that there are enemy about. Maybe all the real enemy are ahead of us and not hunting us? she proposes but without strong conviction.
When the discussion eventually turns to watches she offers My eyes are unusually sharp at night and my hearing good. I will gladly take a middle watch.
Fire will drive away as many enemies as it draws - I believe it worth the risk. And we know not yet that anything truly hunts us - merely that whatever took the Lady has left behind distractions for anyone who might pursue. Astrid replies distractedly, already searching for a sheltered place to set up camp. We need somewhere with a rise facing against the wind - to block it, and to keep snow from piling up. Perhaps we can build such a structure from the snow, if we cannot find one. Ground flat enough we can lie without the blood gathering in heads or feet...pine boughs, we need pine boughs gathered to keep the cold of the snow away and keep bedrolls dry...
I will take the final watch, as the sun rises. I am accustomed to exercises and prayers in the mornings - I will be rising early regardless. And without the hangover today, thankfully.
"Yes, fire will drive wild animals away...assuming animal is wild. More cunning creatures will be drawn to it. Still, we may need a fire if the night is cold." She thinks of those nights in the wilderness, not so long ago, when the children huddled together beneath the trees. In those early days, they relied on each other's body heat to keep warm through the night. They relied on Auryel to lie with them. Without him, would any of them be alive today?
Yes, the cold could be a killer.
"Light the fire," she says summarily. "I will help set up camp."
Out of her element when it comes to matters of camping and survival, Evelina just nods and agrees for a lot during the conversation. She does pipe up though on the fire, "Yeah, I don't much like the idea of sleeping in the snow without any kind of fire." Looking down at her near empty pack, she remarks, "I'm not exactly travelling heavy on the warm stuff..." When the conversation turns to taking watch, Evelina shrugs and says, "I can take whatever shift." Hopefully these women are easier to keep track of then sheep...
As the others set up camp, Evelina occasionally offers to hold stuff or run and grab something from someone's bag, but mostly just tries to stay out of the way. Wandering around the perimeter of the camp, as if patrolling, she absent mindedly hums something that sounds vaguely like last battle song Freyja had sung.
Blaze blinks yellow eyes at each of the women as they fuss over the nightly preparations. She was unused to such worrisome planning. "I alwayss dare a fire." She said, smiling slightly. In truth, she doubted she could sleep without one. She tilted her head to the side curiously considering what Freyja has said. "My eyess see much in darkness too... but what iss a watch? And how do you take it'ss middle?" Having never had friends to look out for her before, the concept of a lookout is alien to her.
"There iss one of the canvass dwellingss here in Shiny'ss pack. Iss thiss what you mean, Astrid?"
Blaze helps to gather the wood and prepare the fire, always first on her mind. Though she does listen to Astrid's advice about the pine boughs, laying down the green, fragrant needles to form a barrier between her bedroll and the snow.
Once the firewood is gathered and set up, she kneels down next to it and extends her hand toward the spot and a spark jumps forth from her palm and kindles the wood into a healthy fire. She reaches into it with both hands, allowing the flames to lick at her bare hands for a moment before settling back and gazing into it. "How iss our fey collection faring? Will they waken soon?"
Blaze settles down close to the fire, gazing into it as she thinks about the events of the day. The image of Arvanya lovingly cradling and bandaging Auryel appears frozen before her minds eye and she pulls out her bundle of leather and begins to work on committing it onto the surface of one corner. The look of caring concern on the Varisian woman's face, her dark hair spilling down over her shoulders, framing her face. The look of complete trust in Auryel's eyes as he gazes up at her. She focused on their faces, not including the wolf's wound to serve as a reminder of pain.
Explaining to Blaze Freyja says A watch is a period of time when you are responsible for the safety of the camp. I recommend 4 three hour watches. During your watch you must not sleep and remain aware for any threats to the camp. You keep the fire going as well. I recommend pacing the perimeter of the camp at times to help stay alert and stay more aware of surroundings.
Busying herself with the camp preparations Freyja voices You know i am more concerned with out pony than ourselves. We have a tent and the fire and cold weather gear and warm blankets. What can we do for our noble steed?
As the preparations for the camp are made Freyja will check on the two prisoners. Depending on how hurt these two are they could wake any time during the night. I wish we had some cold iron wire to bind them with, but that might be torture for these fey and I would not willingly torture them. I guess it falls to the person on watch to also watch the fey. Lets put each inside a sack. They can easily be carried that way and any movement of the sack should alert us.
Blaze nods, understanding now about the watch. "I see. I will keep the watch to the best of my ability. Remember that the fey can tun invisible and other trickss. Do not be fooled."
She smiles as Freyja mentions the pony. "I thought of thiss before we left." She pulls out the nice heavy winter blanket and drapes it over Shiny, for a look at it's fit and then removes it again. She makes a few strategic cuts and then puts it back on the pony, tying the slack so it will stay on without impeding her movement.
"There. That will help keep the wind off her."
Trying to find a way to contribute, Evelina starts looking for extra firewood around camp. Approaching Astrid with her findings, she speaks timidly. "I, uh...found some stuff...some wood. I thought maybe it would...uh, we could burn it...you know....for the fire..." Sheepishly placing a pile of twigs at Astrid's feet, that are mostly too small to be of any use, Evelina pauses, as if not sure whether to retreat or say something else. Working up her courage, she add, "...and uh...I just wanted to say thanks again...for the bear." Looking at the ground, she continues, "I feel like I maybe wasn't as appreciative as I could have been before. Because...well...that's not the kind of stuff I usually wear...but, I don't really have any blankets or anything....so I really do appreciate having it...and...well, I'll leave you alone now..."
As Evelina wanders aimlessly around camp, mostly having given up on finding ways to help, she notices Freyja standing nearby. Wandering over, she remarks, "So...first day, huh? How do you think we did, boss lady?" Without pausing to wait for a response, Evelina keeps rambling, "I think we did pretty good...I mean except for the fact that we haven't found her yet....and Auryel kept getting hurt... that was really bad...and those fey know we are coming...and I really wanted to believe that stag could actually talk and just wanted to be friends..." Evelina looks as if she is contemplating for only the briefest second, before she shrugs and gives Freyja a big grin. "But, I still think did great!"
Clasping Evelina on the shoulder Freyja encourages Ya, we did great. We must be on the trail or the enemy would stop throwing stuff at us. And while we are cold we are better equipped than when we started. And we have two prisoners that might give us some information in the morning. Glancing up at the stars she notes Astrid says its not going to get much colder. My hope is for a quiet night and an early morning of pursuit.
"So...tell me about harrow reading? Do you know how to do a reading? I hear there are all sorts of stories associated with the cards? Do you know any? What's Varisia like...?"
Arvanya can't hide the smile that spreads over her lips as the boisterous girl jabbers on with questions about the past. But the answers don't come easy to her, and she feels almost reluctant to disclose the details of her life to strangers.
Maybe talking to strangers isn't the problem, she thinks warily. Maybe I just don't like to relive the memories."Harrow reading is ancient and powerful ritual," she says dramatically, her green eyes flashing. "None can say from where this power draws, but wise women say that it is drawn from moonlight, and full moon is best moon for telling fortunes."
"Each card belong to a person, and each person to a card. You have one, I have one. And while more than one person might belong to same card, each of us finds something...unique in its power. But I...I am not storyteller, or harrower. That was my mother, and her mother before her. I fear I am given not this gift. But maybe others..."
As Blaze sets the fire to life, Arvanya busies herself helping Astrid to set up the tent, lay out bedding, and secure a perimeter. She tasks Auryel to guard for the time being, then makes her way toward the fire, where Freyja's musical voice floats like embers, and a pair of eerie, yellow eyes glisten in their wake.
At first, Astrid barely seems to notice Evelina's mumbles; or at least, her expression changes hardly at all at the stumbling apology and thankful words. The hulking woman continues to work at building the fire (Evelina's twigs finding a place as kindling to encourage the spark to grow), but as the young girl turns to go, Astrid's slightly gravelly voice lurches forth. Walk around some more before bed - jump a few times, even. You'll warm up, and that warmth will stay with you beneath the furs.
For a moment, she hesitates. Or we can spar for a few minutes, to get the blood flowing. You wiggle too much when you fight - even using a light blade such as yours, you should stay centered, let your stance give your blows strength. Turn yourself sideways to your foe; then, you are a smaller target. Though you are a small enough target as it is.
Evelina beams brightly when Freyja clasps her shoulder and reassures her that they are doing well. "Oh, phew! I'm glad. I do have to confess something, though...I've never really done something like this before...I mean fight against things that actually wanted me dead. It's pretty terrifying at times, but sort of exciting too." Looking uncharacteristically serious for a moment, she adds, "I'm just glad I'm not slowing the group down, like everyone always told me I would..." Smiling once more, she looks at Freyja gratefully. "I dunno what moment of temporary insanity made you think I was a good person to invite along...but I just want you to know it means a lot to me."
"Wow! I never heard that before about the cards being tied to people. There was a kid I grew up with who had an harrow deck. He said his grandma was in Varisia, but I'm not sure that was true, since she never came for him or anything...but he never used it like you said. I think he mostly used it to scare the other kids...like tell 'em the cards said crows were gonna eat their eyes out. But, whatever. I wonder what my card would be?" Thinking for a moment, she laughs, "If I remember there's a card called 'The Idiot'...so probably that one..."
Evelina nods at Astrid's advice, "Oh? Uh...yeah. That's a good idea." However, just as she looks ready to start hopping away, she hears Astrid's second suggestion and turns around with a look of disbelief. Slowly processing the offer and convincing herself she heard Astrid correctly, a smile starts to spread across her face. "Yeah, I wanna spar!"
Evelina, proves receptive to some of Astrid's advice, noticeably making an effort to try to keep her body sideways, even if it feels a little awkward at first. However, other criticisms seems to bounce off of her, without seeming to make much of an impact. "Wiggling? Nah, nah. I'm not wiggling, silly. That's called style!" she says with a laugh. During the sparring match Evelina's lack of formal training is fairly obvious. Still, she moves very quickly and is a surprisingly good improviser, with a particular skill for catching attackers of guard and then striking during that moment of weakness. By the time the spar is at its end, Evelina is both warmed up and thoroughly worn out and ready for bed. She thanks Astrid, yawns loudly and begins heading to the tent to clean off the days travels and get ready for bed.
As Blaze sets the fire to life, Arvanya busies herself helping Astrid to set up the tent, lay out bedding, and secure a perimeter. She tasks Auryel to guard for the time being, then makes her way toward the fire, where Freyja's musical voice floats like embers, and a pair of eerie, yellow eyes glisten in their wake.
Before settling down on her bedroll to eat and work, she gives the pony her feed, but never having tended one before she is unsure how much to give. She asks Freyja and Arvanya for help.
Blaze is distracted somewhat from her work by the sparring match between Astrid and Evelina. Little bear and big bear... they are an interesting pair. She takes an occasional bite of her rations, wishing they had meat instead.
Astrid is able to find a pretty good place to set up camp, surrounded by trees which would protected them from the wind and most of the snow, and with a somewhat flat ground. Blaze and Evelina managed to find a couple pine boughs and twigs to keep the fire burning but not enough dry firewood, having to use the ones they brought from town.
When Blaze and Freyja take a look at the captive faeries they notice that both of them still live and are completely stable... they could wake at any moment but the amount of damage they sustained could also mean that they could also take a couple days before waking up.
The night is still cold but around the small fire you feel almost comfortable, even if that constant sensation of being watched is always there... perhaps there are malevolent faeries around or perhaps this whole 'early winter' is the responsible for this eerie feeling. After the sparring between Evelina and Astrid, and the meager meal consisting of hard bread, and dried sausages, you get ready to sleep.
Your watches pass without any noteworthy occurrence. There is always the sound of bats and owls from time to time but the fire manages to keep most of the animals away from you.
Arvanya is more than surprised by the piece of leather. "Blaze, that is...that's most beautiful thing I ever see!". She takes the strange girl by the shoulders and gives her a hug. A honest, genuine embrace like one she would share with her closest friend.
The gesture is unexpected, to be sure, but Arvanya is simultaneously filled with joy, sadness, and guilt. She had not expected such a gift from Blaze because, because...
Because it suggests compassion and humanity.
It's this thought that overshadows the others, for it reminds Arvanya of the presupposition she has been holding about this creature. But after seeing the way she tends to Shiny, and how she regards her companions, now she is quite sure she can trust her. I will think of a way to pay her in kind. To prove to both of us that I am not a slave to prejudices.
Exhausted from the day's travels, Evelina is more that happy to turn in for the night, wrapping herself up in the bear furs so that the creature's former head is able to serve as a pillow. While she falls quickly into a deep sleep, her is still spinning through the events of the day. In her dreams she is trapped inside Lady Argentea's carriage. She screams to be let out, but the others have already left her behind. Slowly the bodies of the guards begin to rise up and grapple her too unsettled and breathing heavily, she assesses her surroundings. Everyone's still here. I'm still here. Just my mind playing tricks. Checking to make sure she didn't disturb anyone, she lies back down again.
When someone tries wakes her just a few hours later, her whole body fights in protest. "Urgmh...five more...zzzzzzzzz". Eventually shaken awake, Evelina climbs groggily out of the tent. As her brain slowly starts to wake up, she notices Blaze also standing watch and remembers the awkwardness of the morning. Hovering around sheepishly, she seems to open her mouth several times, as if about to speak, only to remain silent. Finally working up her courage, she lets out a stream of apology, like a far too long held breath.
"I just wanted to say, I'm really, really sorry about what I said this morning...and I really didn't mean anything by it. I swear, I really didn't. I just don't know anything about magic. The only kid at the orphanage who studied some magic always said sorcerers were dumb and dangerous, so I didn't want to call you that...and I definitely didn't want to call you a witch, since everyone says they cook kids and stuff like that...and you are way to nice to be some kind of mean witch lady...so I went with wizard because I thought they were just supposed to be bookish or something and you're sort of quiet. I didn't know that it meant anything bad! I really didn't. I just thought it was great and was really glad you saved me from that zombie..." Looking down at the ground, she says quietly, "I really am sorry. I'll make it up to you if I can...just please don't be mad at me...."
Tying each fey into its own sack Freyja makes sure that each has air holes She then nestles them close to her to both see them warm and to make sure if they begin to stir that they will wake her, Before sleep overtakes her she explains. These creatures seem to have been converted to the cold. Maybe my body heat can help covert them back.
Arvanya is more than surprised by the piece of leather. "Blaze, that is...that's most beautiful thing I ever see!". She takes the strange girl by the shoulders and gives her a hug. A honest, genuine embrace like one she would share with her closest friend.
Blaze is startled and stiffens under the sudden embrace. It takes her a moment to realize that this is not the possessive capture of someone bent on control, but is instead a gesture of warmth and emotion. She tries to relax some into the hug, but does so awkwardly and with too much patting on her back. When Arvanya releases her, she notices a wild look in the tiefling's yellow eyes that brings to mind the look of a nervous, spooked horse. Though she had known safety and kindness for a time, physical affection was a concept still quite alien to her.
She swallows to moisten her ruined throat which had gone alarmingly dry and her cheeks feel unusually hot, her blue-grey skin now flushed in a pale lavender blush. "Thank you. But the beauty iss here." She rasps, touching the huntress lightly upon her chest. "And here." She strokes the snow-white fur of Auryel's head. "I merely marked down what I saw." She bows her head, reverent, "I wass thankful to witnesss it."
Before she finishes the piece, she heats the tip of the dagger again, using the fire from her own hand and she burns a word into the leather beneath the image of Arvanya and Auryel, entitling it, Devotion.
And then she sleeps.
Blaze heard the little one stir with unsettled dreams and felt a pang of guilt. Evelina had started the day off with a spring in her step and a song in her heart and somehow the events of the day had stolen them from her. Perhaps it was seeing the butchered, frozen men, or the dead who walk, or the white wyrm or even the tricky fey who'd had their hearts skewered with the icy shard of malice. But somehow she suspected it was not any of these things... the girl had fire in her heart, that much was clear.
The tiefling goes through a mental checklist of the things Freyja had told her. Fire burning, check. She feeds the fire to be sure it will not go out soon, watching the sparks flutter into the air as she drops the quartered log. As she is scanning the distance as far as she can see, Evelina purges her apology and Blaze sighs deeply, hanging her head in shame. "Come, little bear. We walk the perimeter like Freyja sayss and I will explain." She puts a hand on her shoulder, partly to comfort the child and partly to guide her through areas she cannot see as well as the yellow eyed tiefling.
She does not wear her cloak now, and her tail swishes through the air like a disconcerted cat's would, to and fro, with quick movements. "You are an orphan... thiss I did not know. I don't think it would surprise you to learn that I am one too..." She catches the girl's eye, knowing that her own will be easy to see, glowing like embers in the gloom. "You did not mean to give offence and so I must not take any. But you are confused, thiss iss not something that would bother most. So I will explain. I am not like most, in many wayss, but in thiss especially." She stopped their walk in view of Shiny, sleeping happily upon his feet. "Look at Shiny there, he iss a good pony, iss he not? He helps uss and we take care of him in return. But what if I say to you that I have a powerful spell here that will help you even more. It will make you invulnerable to harm. Thiss will help you very much, yess? And you can have it, so long as you are willing to go over there and pluck out Shiny'ss big brown eye. Would you do it? Shiny hass two eyess, after all, he doess not need them both..." She cocked her head, gazing at Evelina expectantly for a moment, letting her example sink in. But she does not wait for an answer...
"Thiss iss a question a wizard must ask himself, when he findss a powerful spell in a dusty old tome. A lot of spellss are not so bad as thiss, they use a bit of plant or mushroom, a piece of stone, a handful of colored sand. But otherss are more terrible and powerful than you wish to dream. Blood and bits of creaturess who are just as blamelesss as dear Shiny. A devil'ss blood can be used to heal without bothering to appeal to the godss. And tiefling blood might just work too, in a pinch, if you do not happen to have any spare devilss lying about. And when people will buy such thingss, then otherss will sell them. And make sure that they keep a steady supply close to hand. After all, it'ss just a little blood... a few scaless... she will make more, in time. And when no one lovess her, no one caress if she bleedss." She had begun to speak in the third person, trying to distance herself from the events of the story, but despite herself, her eyes shimmer in the firelight with tears. One escapes down her cheek as she meets Evelina's eyes again. "It iss well, little bear. By the grace of the Flame, I am free now. But I would not be mistaken for one such as that." She gives the girl's shoulder a final squeeze and returns to the fire, wiping her tears and flinging them into the flames which flare up with an angry hiss.
Astrid wakes to Freyja gently shaking her shoulder; her unnatural bulk strains the ties on her bedroll, and she has to struggle against the close-fitting opening for a moment before she manages to kick her way free. Adding to the problem is the peculiar bedclothes she wears - a coat made of small pieces of hardened leather, sewn overlapping each other in imitation of scale mail. The coat carries a peculiar smell, at least for the untidy trapper: the faint scent of a flowery perfume...
Coat worked good, she half-grunts to Freyja as the singer scoots back under her covers. Astrid had been caught asleep by a bobcat a few nights before; she'd managed to best it (and bring the hide back to Heldren), but the light leather jerkin she usually wore for some protection while she slept had been shredded, and in the bustle of figuring out their departure she'd forgotten to pick up another. She'd grabbed one of the chestpieces she'd found beneath the trapped chest to replace it, but Freyja had pressed the leather-scale coat into her hands instead - the layers made better protection than metal studs, she'd insisted.
And as Astrid picked up the heavy, cobbled-together skins she normally favored for protection, she had to agree. In fact, this leather-scale might even do as well as the hides...and it's lighter, easier to walk with...couldn't've beat the price on the hides, but if Freyja likes that fancy chain better this might not be a bad way to go. And so her morning exercises put not only herself, but her new armor to the test. Running circles around the camp, climbing one of the nearby trees, fighting with sword, spear, and claw using a tall sapling as an ersatz training dummy...
By the time the sun begins to peek over the horizon, Astrid's face is flushed patchy red with exertion, and the formerly neat and clean armor bears several new scuffs and water marks. Catching her breath, she kneels to rekindle the fire from low coals to a merry blaze for cooking and grabs the tin cups everyone had used the night before. Scooping snow into the vessels, she begins to nestle them next to the fire...and then tenses to action, her claws raking in front of her almost before she realizes what the problem is - a sharp tang in the air, almost like a strange mix of camphor, sweat, and the feel of a spark of static. Faeries! Her head twitches back and forth wildly, and after a few moments her gaze locks onto the sentinel pine standing nearby...
...but if anything is there, it hides just out of the fire's light, remaining out of sight even to Astrid's keen eyes. Still, even as the smell diminishes she remains on her guard, peeking constantly into the woods surrounding. When everyone rises, they find their cup filled with steaming water, pine sprigs put in to scent and flavor the warm drink. But Astrid barely pays attention to the cups or the fire - her gaze is locked on the forest, her claws rattling against the tin cup as she taps its side nervously. Faeries. I smelled them. They're gone now, but if it was the ones who took the Lady they know we're here.
As the morning sun peeks shyly between the calico tree trunks of Border Wood, Arvanya watches and savors the way the light plays off of the morning mist, dispersing it through the fog to create a gentle glow that reflects off of the frost-covered wood. How can evil live here?
She woke to a steaming cup--a welcome luxury on this cold morning. She brushes the snow and rime from Auryel's coat, then secures her armor and weapons. Her bow, of course, was never far from her side. She checks the string for signs of fraying before applying a fien layer of wax. It takes additional effort this morning because the cold has rendered the wax nearly solid. Finally, she seeks a nearby tree and clambors awkwardly up its trunk, pulling herself up onto a low-hanging bough and resting her back against the tree. She watches the others similarly preparing for the day's journey.
"Faeries. I smelled them. They're gone now, but if it was the ones who took the Lady they know we're here."
"Yes, drawn by fire. If magic has turn them away from it, perhaps they remember and long for it. Or even hate it. No matter, is better this way. Who is predator and who is prey now, eh? Let them come for us. We are not frightened hens. We are tigers!" She laughs despite the darker implications of her statement.
She realizes, especially after last night, that she is really beginning to trust these women. And what's more, she genuinely likes them.
Evelina looks relieved, as Blaze's tone doesn't seem angry, but gentle and patient. She follows her around the perimeter, listening quietly and intently. When Blaze refers to her as an orphan, Evelina just nods in confirmation, breaking eye contact to look at her feet, as she kicks a clump of snow towards the fire. However, her eyes shoot back up to Blaze's, full of empathy and understanding, when Blaze explains that she is an orphan too.
Continuing to listen, Evelina's eyes fill with horror at the thought of harming Shiny. She opens her mouth, ready to protest, but falls silent again as Blaze continues. By the time the story is finished, Evelina also has tears running down her cheeks. A silence fills the camp, as she tries to make sense of what she was told. Realization finally strikes her heart with a painful blow. "Blaze...?" she says, as she looks at he woman with tearful eyes, "Did...did something like that happen to you? Not sure what to say, Evelina just steps forward abruptly and throws her arms around Blaze. I'm so sorry…" she repeats, her voice breaking, as she holds the woman in a tight embrace. "I'm so sorry…"
Evelina proves even harder to wake up come morning time, rolling over to cover her head from the noise of the waking camp. Finally dragging herself up, she begins a rather long process of getting cleaned up and dressed for the day. Walking out of the tent, she gratefully accepts a mug with a big yawn. "Faeries? Did they do anything?" she asks, nervously, "Maybe they were nice faeries...?"
Evelina looks relieved, as Blaze's tone doesn't seem angry, but gentle and patient. She follows her around the perimeter, listening quietly and intently. When Blaze refers to her as an orphan, Evelina just nods in confirmation, breaking eye contact to look at her feet, as she kicks a clump of snow towards the fire. However, her eyes shoot back up to Blaze's, full of empathy and understanding, when Blaze explains that she is an orphan too.
Continuing to listen, Evelina's eyes fill with horror at the thought of harming Shiny. She opens her mouth, ready to protest, but falls silent again as Blaze continues. By the time the story is finished, Evelina also has tears running down her cheeks. A silence fills the camp, as she tries to make sense of what she was told. Realization finally strikes her heart with a painful blow. "Blaze...?" she says, as she looks at he woman with tearful eyes, "Did...did something like that happen to you? Not sure what to say, Evelina just steps forward abruptly and throws her arms around Blaze. I'm so sorry…" she repeats, her voice breaking, as she holds the woman in a tight embrace. "I'm so sorry…"
Blaze simply nods once in answer to the question, not trusting her voice to hold steady in a reply. She is again surprised to find herself being held, but perhaps not so shocked as before. She returns this embrace more easily, stroking the girl's wavy hair away from her wet face. "It iss well. Shhh... It iss well. It wass a long time ago. The Fire made me strong and set me free and it hass protected me ever since. And by my hand, It will protect you too now." She drew back a bit and reached around with her tail to tip up Evelina's chin as she wiped away her tears with one hand. "No more of thiss now. Thingss will sneak up upon uss for sure! Come, we keep the watch and you will tell me a happy story. I like your storiess, little Evie."
Blaze awakens easily and shakes the fresh snow from her blanket and her hair. She takes the hot cup and sips it as she stretches and limbers up her muscles. "Thank you, Astrid. So you can smell the fey? Hmm... Perhaps they can detect each other and came seeking our guestss. Speaking of which, have they yet roused?" She asks as she tugs on her tail, creating a sound like stretching leather.
The morning is as cold as the day before and the snow hasn't stopped to fall... if anything else it seems that it worsened a bit. Thanks to Blaze's skills in creating a pony blanket, Shinny have endured the night pretty well, even if it seems eager to move and warm himself. With the light of the day you are able to find a couple wolf tracks around your camp but none of them came were too close. Drips of blood can be seen among them and they lead towards where you fought against the atomie and the elk.
When Freyja opens the sack to check on your prisoners, she is received with a cold spit hitting her cheek, just below her left eye. The atomie is still unconscious but sprite is awake, even if still wounded and weakened... weakened but still hostile. Astrid's bonds seem to be holding the faery pretty well though. "Mwncïod brwnt! Gadewch i mi am ddim ar unwaith! Rwy'n curse chi! Yr wyf yn dyblu curse chi i gyd! Efallai y bydd eich wombs edwino a byddwch yn gwaedu drwy eich holl orifices ... Bydd eich llygaid toddi, eich tafodau blas ddim ond lludw, a phob byddwch yn clywed yn y sgrech y rhai annwyl i chi!" The sprite tries to spit once more but she misses.
Freyja listens the the discussion on Harrowing with interest and some fear. It is no small thing to peek into your own fate and not something a northerner would want to do in general if they were in their right mind. Of course she had heard of the ritual, but in all her travels had never seen it performed. She wondered at the variety of magics across the lands. Harrowing seemed specifically Varisian and seemed to be more geared to individuals. She more preferred the auguries of the north like the casting of bones and the reading of entrails and the flights of birds that could predict weal or woe of an action for the entire clan and she said so. In the north we say is not meat to look too closely into your own destiny. Better to trust to luck and know that your fate is written down in the strings of the great skein. Few are the mortals that can look past the veil and understand what they see so I think it is best not to look. She nods her head a her own wisdom as if to say that nothing else needs to be said about that subject.
Freyja sleeps fitfully this first night on the trail. She cradles the bags that contains the prisoners next to her trying to keep them warm and to help ensure any movements from the tiny fey would wake her.On her watch she paced the camp, checking hourly on her captives. She tried to remain as alert as she could and her unusual vision helped her pierce the night. She felt the cold but less so that most would have. Yet she had nothing to compare it to. And after checking on the captives a third time she settled back against a large oak whose branches grew mostly on the opposite side of her and she watched the world turn above her. The air was clear and the stars bright and the sight of them helped her reflect inward.
She considered each of her traveling companions and was glad that each was with her. She thought of Blaze and all her power and her need to belong to a group that would accept her. Freyja hoped there group could be that to her. She considered Evelina, so fragile and yet so eager to please. That one needed confidence and Freyja could give it to her over time if given the chance. She has the makings of a great swordswoman I think. Certainly she will be better than me if give the chance. She thought of Arvanya and her wolf Auryel. They brought so much to the team. Arvanya was at home in the woods and could track. And Auryel was both loyal and brave. Arvanya is our backbone I think. She is strong in the right places but I must never take her for granted. and finally she thinks of the other northwoman. Astrid was not beautify to look upon and she carried what many would consider a curse as a gift. The woman had true wisdom and a large measure of it for her age. Yet Freyja sensed that she was more fragile than she let on and that the friendship of the group would mean more to her than perhaps even Evelina in the long run. Freyja was sure that she could trust all of these women and that warmed her heart. She stood and went to wake Astrid for her watch but hesitated for a moment to watch the large woman sleep. No one was going to ever consider her a thing of beauty but perhaps, looking at her like this, some might concur with Freyja that she was majestic.
"Right. Right. Sorry. How'd you end up comforting me about this anyway?" Evelina says with a nervous chuckle. Wiping off her face with her sleeve, she continues, "...and you're right. We aren't really keeping watch are we? This always seems to happen...I get distracted somehow..." Laughing as she remembers some of her past jobs, she gives Blaze a huge grin. "You want to hear a story? Let me tell you about the time I tried being a shepherd..."
Walking over next to Freyja, Evelina remarks casually. "I think it might be awake..." Tossing her a rag to clean off her cheek, she continues, "You know what this little squeaker is trying to say?"
Freyja laughs good-naturedly at the sprite and his antics then responds Felly ffyrnig! Os oeddech mor fawr â ni wyf yn siŵr y byddai eich ferosity fod mor fawr ag arth grizzley. Ond nid ydych mor fawr. Ac rydych yn fy garcharor. Ac rydym wedi haearn oer. Hoffech chi weld? Mae gennym hefyd blaidd llwglyd iawn sydd â diddordeb yn yr hyn sydd gennyf dan bag hwn. Rydym wedi cadw chi yn fyw am reswm. Rydym am gael gwybodaeth am y rheswm pam eich bod wedi ymosod ni a beth sydd wedi happend i chi i drawsnewid chi i greadur yr oerni. Os gallwch chi ddweud wrthym y pethau hyn ac rydym yn credu i chi, a gallwch yn addo peidio â aflonyddu ni ymhellach, yna gallwch ei ennill eich rhyddid. A ydych yn dymuno i fod yn rhydd?
So fierce! If you were as large as us I am sure your ferosity would be as great as a grizzley bear. But you are not so large. And you are my prisoner. And we have cold iron. Would you like to see it? We also have a very hungry wolf that is interested in what I have in this bag. We have kept you alive for a reason. We want information about why you have attacked us and what has happened to you to transform you to a creature of the cold. If you can tell us these things and we believe you, and you can promise not to harass us further then you can earn your freedom. Do you wish to be free?
At the new hullabaloo inside, Astrid bursts through the tent's flap, taking in the scene of Freyja hunched over the bound creatures. Without a word, she draws one of the cold iron knives from Heldren and holds it to the fey's throat, letting out an almost bestial growl. Tell it I have ways of making defiance very unpleasant, she grumbles, flexing her hand to show off the claw-like nails at the fingertips and keeping the dagger's point trained on the sprite.
The faery curses Freyja a bit more before stopping. "Good, I ansverr yourr questions and you frree me, agrreed? No tricks! You give me your word?" The faery smiles malevolently, speaking in Taldan for the first time, even if with a clear northern accent.
And you agree not to try to harm or harass us directly or through others. Even though you tried to harm us, we have no wish to hard the fey. We would rather be your friends. But before you answer our questions, be warned. We can tell if you speak the truth or not.
We would know why you attacked us. What has happened to transform you and if you would like to be transformed back. And anything you know about who has taken the lady and what we might face in getting her back. And if you would agree to help us we would even return your weapons.
Blaze moves close, opening her hand to reveal a flame flickering there. She cocks her head to the side, regarding the creature with cold detachment. "Yess, we will give our word. But yourss must be truth. Else it will be from the material plane that you are freed. So no trickss from you either, feyling."
We'll know if he lies..? How? Oh! I get it! We're lying!
Never one to miss out on a chance to be theatrical, Evelina pulls out her rapier and draws a circle around the creature with an intricate spiral like pattern at the center. Moving next to Freyja she whispers, just loud enough so that she knows the faery can hear her, "I did what you said before. It's all set up..."
Arvanya isn't sure what to make of four grown women huddled around a canvas sack, threatening a fey-thing.
"Yes," she joins with Evelina operatically. "All is ready. Blades are heated. Where is specimen?"
The sprite changes his challenging behavior once Blaze approaches with the flickering flame. "Surre, big-ones, I'll tell you de trruth but you keep firre away and den frree me. Ve attacked you because you arre trrespasserrs... ve vere sent to scout forr dangerr and you arre dangerr!"
"Ve helped to attack de woman but only because ve vere told to do so... ve helped de humans from de lodge and dey arre de ones who have dis lady I think..." You notice a clear disdain when he speaks about humans. "Oh, and you vant to know vhat trransforrmed us? You silly girrl, you know nothing... ve have a sliverr of ice pierrcing ourr hearrts by de Vite Vitches but ve've CHOSEN dis, it is an honorr you fools. Ve've chosen dis glory and you'll neverr be able to reverrse it! You silly silly silly fools... now frree me! You prromised." He eyes you with a maddening conviction when he talks about the White Witches.
While he is not technically lying, he is clearly hiding information.
Arvanya smiles, confident that the little feyling has been terrified into submission and absolute honesty.
"Yes, we are danger, but only to those who seek to harm us, as you have done. Tell us more about this lodge...Who are those other humans who have our Lady?"
You have told half of what we asked and still I need your vow to not harm or harass us, or to help others to do so. What lodge do you speak of and where is it? Are the humans you helped headed back to it or to some other place? And what threats are there between here and the lady we seek?
If it even has the wit to understand more about our quarry, it will speak not. Save your breath. We need to move out.
The sprite grows impatient. "De men frrom de lodge! I do not know de lodge name... de lodge nearr de brridge! Dey arre bandits and rraiderrs and sleep inside de lodge, dis is all I know orr carre... it is too cold for you pink-monkeys so I doubt de men did not go back to it. You'll find only ice and cold frrom here to de lodge and fine, I'll not harrm orr do anything to you, not help anyone... you have firre and we do not like firre, now frree me!"
Evelina begins losing interest in the interrogation, wandering around camp as Freyja asks her questions. Agreeing with Astrid, she remark, "Yeah, can't we just go? We're already like a day behind..."
However, Evelina does look up again when the sprite mentions a lodge by the bridge. She offhandedly remarks, "High Sentinel Lodge is nearby...and I am pretty sure its near a bridge. I had a fling with a guy from Zimar, who said his uncle used to work as a guard there, since the High Sentinels are mostly off fighting bandits these days. Said he was gonna take me there, but then it turned out he was engaged to some girl in Demgazi...So, yeah, that didn't work out..." Evelina gives a shrug, "But it supposedly isn't all that well guarded. Maybe whoever took Lady Argentea took it over or something..."
Blaze's eyes fill with sorrow as she processes what the sprite is saying. "You went into the pit, then? Changed by Fey'ss End? Go then. And tell your kind to stay far away. Any cold-blighted fey who come near me will feel the Fire'ss embrace." She says it simply, not a threat... simply a promise.
You have honored your bargain Sprite and now we shall honor ours. Know that now all humans are your enemies. Remember your promise to us. With those final words Frejya releases the bonds on the creature and lets it fly free.
Freja then looks to the others. I and glad you know of this place Evelina. Let us break camp and go there.