Sansa does not start at the sound of the banging door from below.
She moves effortlessly to the top rung of the ladder and peers downward (and listens), her long dark hair hanging in the void.
The pitch of her voice is strong for such a petite, young girl, "Who dares enter my Tower?"
There are no sounds below. Surely it must have been the wind. It does seem to be picking up.
Sansa lifts herself upright and, sitting on folded knees, she contemplates the occurrence. The wind is picking up. But thoughts of the unexplainable things which occurred with such regularity scraped across her sense of assurance. They cannot invade this sanctum. In quiet voice she dictates, "Go away."
She becomes aware of her surroundings and the three present in her Tower.
"'Tis nothing but the wind."
Shaking her long-tressed head, she quickly stands and pivots toward Dante, who still had tears brimming in his blue eyes.
"If you return the bad stone to Corvina, will it stop the badness?"
Her relationship with Dante had been tentative at best. Sansa tried to get through to him using her steady voice, to make him lucid enough to give them answers.
At seeing the effect of Garrett's outburst, Elarya shoots him a cold glare before answering Sansa's questions.
"I was more worried about getting bit. What ever venom that thing has is pretty bad at first. I'm feeling better, but I think I'm going to need a night's sleep before I'm okay. The corpse is in a sack next to the forge. Thankfully it was only one. I think I might have had trouble otherwise."
At the loud bang, Elarya jumps and draws her dagger. Her eyes focused on the way down. Even though she lowers her knife at Sansa's insistence that it was only the wind, she keeps an eye on the ladder. Too many strange things have happened today for her to let her guard down.
Jerem is received rather well for such a newcomer. He has a kind of charm, and is quite a handsome man. Most folk listen to his rhetoric about The One, but few take it to heart, and perhaps see him as more of a storyteller, although an intriguing one. He is often seen walking around town asking if he can be of any help, and chatting with anecdotes about his travels or The One. Amara's parents rather like Jerem, and have actually had a meal with him in the previous week. After the experience they spoke about how nice of a host he was, and a rather good cook. Samel would probably have an odd feeling about him, and although he has never said anything directly to Amara about him, his lack of much to say at all would be noticed.
As for Abram, he is a healer, and knows the ways of nature and the animals. He's never performed "miracles" other than helping the sick and wounded, and perhaps being sometimes able to get animals do things they might not ordinarily. I'm thinking Divine magic in this world is more subtle/internal, as opposed to the more obvious and showy/eternal Arcane
Sansa watches Elarya with her drawn dagger. The older girl certainly had swift reflexes, one had to accredit her with that.
That will not help with incorporeal creatures, Sansa muses inwardly, but minds her tongue. I am strange enough without babbling on about ghosts ... and things that go bump in the night.
Sansa relaxes a bit when the weapon is lowered but she notices Elarya's eyes rest on the space above the ladder. She is waiting in case there is real threat. Sansa shrugs, and, if anyone notices the movement, they would have no idea why.
"Has a healer looked at your bites, Elarya?"
Still focused on the sound below, Dante pulls into himself tighter.
"I don't know. I'm sorry."
Carefully, he sets the small etched box down in front of him. Then carefully and with both hands, he places his mask carefully next to it. Adjusting it slightly, so that they are almost exactly parallel, he runs his finger slowly down the dirty mask with one finger. With the other hand, a bit tentative, he touches the box more gingerly. It's obvious that the boy is unsure, and the increasing wind tussles his hair through the open areas of the tower just below the roof.
"Are you sure it's the wind? I have a bad feeling."
** spoiler omitted **
"Havak will go to the graveyard before it gets dark. Need moonsilver for the smith's order." says Havak, before doing heading in the direction of the graveyard.
It was obvious that Erec was timid during the fight with the serpent. While Havak and Amara acted quickly in response to the threat presented with them, Erec only froze. Although the battle was over in less than a minute, it seemed like hours to the smaller boy. He would shiver with each exchange, and he even winced at Amara's cries of frustration over her shots going wide.
When it was over, and the goblin and the archer girl had approached Abram with their findings he slinked further away. He was clearly ashamed. Though he had never performed well in his mock combats with his father and brother, he had always thought that when it came down to it, he would be ready. Shocked and disappointing at his inability, he reddened with shame.He noticed Havak break away, business as usual, unfazed by the strange creature. His admiration for the goblin only grew.
Approaching carefully, looking for some way, any way to make up for his earlier failure, he spoke.
"Um. Do you need any help? Perhaps I could help you search. I have a pretty good eye."
The look on his face was almost pleading, and his fists balled with tension, turning his knuckles white. The second part of his speach could may have only been to himself.
"Please, I know I can help"
"Havak could use more eyes. Come with if you wish." says Havak while walking. "Havak is looking for moonsilver, which is from rocks that have spent many full moons near the dead. Small, shiny, like pieces of gold in a mountain river. Silver color of course, but milky white too."
"Oh good! Yes. Good. I'm very good at picking out details. You wont regret taking me along."
Erec straightened his posture, and becomes somewhat more animated. His tension eased some, but the intensity of purpose still remained.
The wind on the day began to pick up, and his plain brown tunic with sleeves a bit too long moved slightly in the brisk breeze.
"So, to the graveyard then."
He smiled a bit, and after a few minutes of walking, was in much better spirits.
With a small bit of shame still in his voice, he carefully asked about the fight.
"That was a strange creature. You were incredible in the fight, Havak. The way it snapped at you, and you snapped back! You must be quite confident. Did you face many obstacles when you lived with the other goblins?
In his rambling and lecture-like manner Havak says, "Yes. Goblins very....cliquish. Tribal. They don't like what is different, and Havak is blue instead of green; green is normal, blue is not. Plus Havak is smarter than other goblins. Havak was kicked out of the tribe when he was caught with books. Those aren't allowed. When Havak was there he was given last of everything, so he used this crossbow to hunt his own rats and dogs to eat. Hunger is a powerful learning tool."
After some thought, he adds, "Havak would have eaten that snake too, but Havak could tell Amara wanted it for reasons other than food. Havak wasn't really hungry either."
Hearing the anxiety behind Dante's response and seeing him staring toward the ladder, Sansa draws closer to him and watches his motions with the mask and box. He knows Corvina better than any of us, she reflects privately.
When he asks her if she is sure it was simply the wind slamming the door, Sansa does not know how to answer. Am I sure? No. But he seems concerned for other reasons to my own.
Sansa shrugs, lifting her slim shoulders slowly and exaggerated as if to say "I don't know". She takes off her gloves and pockets them. Her concern over her long nails is not important right now. Sansa watches intently.
In his rambling and lecture-like manner Havak says, "Yes. Goblins very....cliquish. Tribal. They don't like what is different, and Havak is blue instead of green; green is normal, blue is not. Plus Havak is smarter than other goblins. Havak was kicked out of the tribe when he was caught with books. Those aren't allowed. When Havak was there he was given last of everything, so he used this crossbow to hunt his own rats and dogs to eat. Hunger is a powerful learning tool."
After some thought, he adds, "Havak would have eaten that snake too, but Havak could tell Amara wanted it for reasons other than food. Havak wasn't really hungry either."
Smiling and watching attentively as they walk, Erec responds
"Yes, I'd heard that goblins were quite tribal. I guess I had only assumed that goblins, because of their stature, would be more accepting, wanting to use every available resource. Obviously, I was wrong. You would have indeed been a great asset to the tribe. If you don't mind my asking, if your former group didn't allow books, how did you come across one?"He winces at the thought of eating the winged serpent.
"It's proably better that you didn't eat it, Havak. If it was poisonous, there's no telling if the flesh was safe." Then, pondering his own statement, "Or is there?"
Havak responds, "In raids, different goblins go after different things. Havak tried to get the books before the others burned them. Poison glands can be cut out, if one knows where to look. Snake meat tastes better than rat or dog, maybe even better than horse. Havak wonders what magic snake meat tastes like.." Havak trails off for a second, thinking.
Havak responds, "In raids, different goblins go after different things. Havak tried to get the books before the others burned them. Poison glands can be cut out, if one knows where to look. Snake meat tastes better than rat or dog, maybe even better than horse. Havak wonders what magic snake meat tastes like.." Havak trails off for a second, thinking.
"Of course. If the creature was magical, It may be good for ingredients."
Then a bit more serious;"Ah, yes. Raids. I suppose that makes sense."
Sansa listens to the wind and the sounds of her Watchtower.
She glides to the other side of the room (which is a short distance from the ladder) and looks out through the open windows, taking in the wind's mannerisms and force.
After a full minute, she turns around carefully and murmurs to the three present and waiting upon her word, "The wind is quieter. Its speed and direction should not have made the door close so forcefully. Dante is right, it isn't the wind."
To Sansa's question, Elarya answers with a curt, "No."
She doesn't take her eyes off the ladder and keeps her dagger out, but it's obvious that something was continuing to bother her, before she finally gives a longer, and friendlier answer.
"No, I haven't had them looked at. They're not bad, about what falling hard into a thorn bush would be like. I'm more worried about how tired I feel. It's like I'm half asleep."
When Sansa mentions it wasn't the wind, the young warrior almost looks at her, almost. She instead manages to keep her eyes on the ladder and says quietly.
"Keep your voices down. I think we may have a visitor."
Sansa is uncannily silent as she moves across the space to stand near Elarya as the older girl takes a turn looking down the trapdoor into the void.
In a voice eerily low, Sansa enquires, "Is anyone going to climb down and investigate?" If no-one volunteers, she will take the initiative. This was her Watchtower afterall, and none were permitted inside in order to harm.
Something seems to spark within Elarya, something she hadn't felt in long time. The anger that had been building whenever Garrett would say or do something that wounded her pride as a warrior, but never manifesting as more than annoyance came bubbling to the fore of her mind. She fixes the boy with a steely gaze, her blue eyes piercing into his very soul.
"And what, pray-tell, are you thinking going down there without a weapon, or armor? I say that there was a snake with wings flying around and you, with naught between your skin and any fangs waiting for you but cloth, and nothing besides your fists for weapons, decide that you're the best person to go look? No. I'm going down there and you're going to make sure that nothing gets those two while I'm gone."
She pulls the axe from her belt and pushes it into Garrett's hands before clambering down the ladder to see what is going on below.
Garret's comment regarding her eyes struck her as interesting and Sansa looked up at him, unblinkingly. If he noticed the change in colour of the left one he did not say so aloud and she was pleased that he did not. He has manners and prudence.
In response, because it was customary, Sansa smiled her peculiar smile and articulated her gratitude, "Thank you, Garrett. The gold and silver suit me", and she unexpectedly winked at the tall boy.
*******
First Garrett, then Elarya, volunteer to descend the ladder to the bottom floor. Then Elarya begins arguing with Garrett. Sansa watches them for a moment and privately muses, Those two will kill each other one day.
Sansa pushes past Garrett with the axe in his hands and bends down, staring through the trapdoor at the descending Elarya,
but cannot see much past the older, armour-clad girl. She groans low and aloud. Turning around swiftly, she announces to the boys, "This is my Tower and I am going down there with Elarya. Stay here if you will, but I will not. Dante, you remain hidden and keep watch!" Sansa's voice is a soft hiss.
Still in his corner and looking down at the little assemblage before him, Dante speaks up, after Elarya has already begun her descent, but before Sansa starts. Picking up the mask and strapping it around his face, he pulls a small knife from his boot.
"Maybe the goblin knows what to do. Havak knows things about magic..." his voice trails off then.
The wind continues to pick up, and seems louder through the windows of the tower. Noone seems to see anything below, although there is a small sliver of sun able to breath through.
The ladder is sturdy, and Elarya is climbing down carefully looking for trouble, dagger at the ready. Just as Sansa puts her foot on the top rung
Something hits the ladder.
Hard.
Sansa lifts her foot off the rung as soon as she feels the vibration, shudder go through the ladder. She moves back from the trapdoor and hisses,
"Be quick then, Dante! Something is definitely below."
Why do they all presume I need to be locked in a tower, away from harm?
Sansa's mismatched eyes dart from Garrett to Dante and back again.
"Do not let them take this place, Garrett. They cannot win." She implies there are multiple intruders but she has no idea what or who is down below with Elarya.
Sansa watches as Garrett tucks the axe in his belt and gives her a consoling smile and readies himself to descend the ladder to meet the source of the noise below.
To Dante, she harshly whispers, "None of your mutterings now, you hear me? I will protect you, but we must stay alive."
Remembering Garrett, she quietly bids him, "Good luck"; her silver eye swirling.
Great, bandits.
Acting like she heard nothing she keeps her eyes peeled for the bandits as she climbs the rest of the way down, dropping the last five feet. She holds the dagger in a reverse grip, allowing her to put more power behind the blade.
"I know you're down here. Surrender and I will show mercy. Fight, and I will not."
Amara looks to Abram for his guidance but smiles at Jerem,
"I could surely show you their former nest but as much as I hate to admit it I do not feel comfortable with just the two of us going." She quickly clarifies in case he thinks she does not trust his intentions, "I am already injured from a fall capturing this creature the first time and wasn't much help with its defeat." She admits this last bit with chagrin. "I do not wish to come across even one other not adequately prepared."
She again looks to Abram as the leader of the community for his thoughts.
She notices with some relief that Erec has already left with Havak. "Perhaps we could ask Garrett or his father to come as well. They are both good with a sword."
Why do they all presume I need to be locked in a tower, away from harm?
Sansa's mismatched eyes dart from Garrett to Dante and back again.
To Dante, she harshly whispers, "None of your mutterings now, you hear me? I will protect you, but we must stay alive."
Dante picks the box up from the floor in front of him, and only bobs back and forth a bit from is seated position against the wall. His eyes shimmer with what could be tears of frustration from behind the mask. His only response, "Yes Sansa."
Elarya and Garrett reach the bottom, and above, for a moment there seems to be nothing happening. The two call out their warnings. A strong smell of ozone fills the air below, and begins rising up.
"Ah. There ye are girlie...thought you could run, didn't you."
"Yes, this one's body is fit. He will serve us well in death."
Amara looks to Abram for his guidance but smiles at Jerem,
"I could surely show you their former nest but as much as I hate to admit it I do not feel comfortable with just the two of us going." She quickly clarifies in case he thinks she does not trust his intentions, "I am already injured from a fall capturing this creature the first time and wasn't much help with its defeat." She admits this last bit with chagrin. "I do not wish to come across even one other not adequately prepared."She again looks to Abram as the leader of the community for his thoughts.
She notices with some relief that Erec has already left with Havak. "Perhaps we could ask Garrett or his father to come as well. They are both good with a sword."
Jerem places his hand on Abram's shoulder, and looks at the man with concern. "The girl is right, friend, perhaps you should find any other help you can. Amara can lead me to where she found the creatures, and I'm sure whoever can help will catch up to us. Have a bit of faith, and We will triumph." Looking to Amara, "Was it far that you found the creature? Would it take much time to find the place again?"
Still looking a bit stunned, Abram nods.
"Yes, on my rounds to warn the folk, I'll see if anyone can help. Perhaps we can end this threat before it becomes a bigger problem."
With that, he takes one of the nearby townsfolk (the other man that was working on the mill) and hurries off.
Elarya stops in shock, suddenly all the bravado is gone. Replaced with fear.
"No."
Tears well up in her eyes as the full force of the memories hits her. The smell of blood and death threaten to overwhelm her. She shakes her head as her visions blurs and swims. She remembered this man, how he slaughtered in cold blood.
"No."
This is what you swore to fight. Are you going to let him kill another? Perhaps Garrett or Sansa, even Dante?
"No."
Are you so scared that you'll let it happen again? Are you a coward? Are you an oathbreaker?
Elarya grits her teeth and her hand tightens around the dagger's hilt.
"Jeg frykter ingenting."
She launches into a charge hoping to drive the dagger into his heart. She looses a wordless scream as she rushes forward.
Dante picks the box up from the floor in front of him, and only bobs back and forth a bit from is seated position against the wall. His eyes shimmer with what could be tears of frustration from behind the mask. His only response, "Yes Sansa."
Sansa watches her masked brother and a shiver of annoyance (and something other) runs through her small frame. Why does he react this way...
"Dante, what about your magic? Do you have spells to aid us against the intruders?"
Sansa listens attentively by the trapdoor. Perhaps a voice or voices will carry up to the Tower and she will hear them and then know what more she can do.
She glances over to her brother, again. Waiting for him to find voice to aid her.
(hit)
(yikes!)
(miss)
Sansa watches her masked brother and a shiver of annoyance (and something other) runs through her small frame. Why does he react this way...
"Dante, what about your magic? Do you have spells to aid us against the intruders?"
Sansa listens attentively by the trapdoor. Perhaps a voice or voices will carry up to the Tower and she will hear them and then know what more she can do.
She glances over to her brother, again. Waiting for him to find voice to aid her.
From below, Sansa can hear the sounds of combat, quick movement on the floors, and Garrett's last warning to the intruders. The smell of ozone is even more intense now, and she can hear a muffled but deep raspy sound on the other side of the closed trapdoor.
Dante finally stands and clasps his hands firmly on the smaller Sansa's shoulders. "Yes, I can give you protection. DDDDrrrrIIkhhhhh VuuuuRRT ReSHHHHHH!", he speaks the words and an eerie resonance, echolike fills the immediate area. When the echo quickly fades, a shimmerng, barely visible outline of blue surrounds Sansa.
Elarya gasps for air as the wind is knocked out of her. Her vision blurs and swims again as she collapses onto her hands and knees. She feels tears burning down her cheeks and sees the leering face of the bandit as the anger is swiftly replaced by fear. A brief flash of what would come fills her head as her vision darkens.
and then all was black.
Elarya gasps for air as the wind is knocked out of her. Her vision blurs and swims again as she collapses onto her hands and knees. She feels tears burning down her cheeks and sees the leering face of the bandit as the anger is swiftly replaced by fear. A brief flash of what would come fills her head as her vision darkens.and then all was black.
Or was it?
Below her, the rasping sound increases in volume. Then with a , something smashes hard into the trap door, splintering it slightly as a few of the boards bend inwards. The force of the blow throws the girl up a few inches from her position over it.
Dante takes several steps back towards the wall and window of the tower, brandishing his knife in a shaky hand.
Rook tries to look busy and distracted while staying within earshot. He perks up at the mention of returning to the forest in search of the nest, then ruffles when Jerem invites himself along. Rook cocks his head to the side staring into the sky with one amber eye judging the time of day.
The unexpected hit against the trapdoor caught Sansa by surprise and she cried out sharply as she was lifted up from her listening place. She manages to swiftly steady herself and looks at the splintered, but still intact trapdoor.
She stands, mismatched eyes blazing, hands raised before her; long, hard nails on the ready to defend herself and her brother, Dante, if necessary, if the intruder gets into the Tower. Mother Celeste had always taught them to be loyal to one another -- and to defend each other against a common enemy.
Instilling as much menace as she can into her voice, she calls out to whatever crashed into the door,
"You have trespassed. Who are you? Speak and I shall grant you some mercy."
Amara is a little disturbed by the fact Jerem does not wish to wait for help,
At least Samel will know where we have gone.
She ensures she has everything and nods to Jerem indicating she is ready. "Try to make as little noise as possible when we reach the forest; I would not like to attract the attention of the other snakes if at all possible." When Jerem isn't looking she steals a glance at Rook, glad he is there.