Amareth shakes her head and goes over to a tree. She leans against it, surveying the group of refugees.
Arista shrugs and turns to look at Sadhana after Amareth walks off, "Just keep an eye on her okay? She's been through a lot and I don't want her wondering too far off on her own." Knowing that Sadhana is probably just as angry about the situation as Amareth is, she gives her friends arm a light squeeze, "Everything will be okay. We'll make it through whatever other traps he's laid out for us and cut a bloody path through everything that he throws at us until we reach him. Once we've worn him down I fully intend on letting her hack him to pieces if it makes her feel better. She has every right to be angry and claim her sword herself.......but if anger and pride are the only things driving her, it could mean the difference between living and dying in battle. If she allows her anger to control her.....it could turn out very badly for her. That's what I'm worried about. I don't know.....maybe I'm just overthinking it or worrying too much. I don't know....just keep an eye on her and try to talk to her, if she's willing to listen. I need to go write that letter......I just want to finish this and go home." With that she turns and heads for the Inn.
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Arista wonders into the Inn and once she finds Hylan she approaches him, "Would you happen to know where I can find some parchment and a writing implement? I need to send a message with Rikali for my husband back home."
The bartender pulls out a sheet of parchment, some ink and a quill. "I always keep some handy. You look a little beat up there."
As if noticing her wounds for the first time she sighs, "Yeah...it was a bit of a fight to clear out that area. I guess I've been a little preoccupied lately." She closes her eyes and says a quick and silent prayer while waving her hand across her wounds.
As her wounds heal she thanks him and takes the writing implements and sits down at a table to write.
My Dearest Love,
We are once again back in Siphas after clearing out Vencious's encampment and the way back home. After everyone finishes their noon meal we will be heading out with them all again to the last gate in the encampment to see them on their way to Valwick. I am sending this letter with Rikali who can fill you in on probably anything else you want to know, but some things I wanted to tell you myself.
First, I love you with all my heart and I miss you every single day and night that we are apart. I can't wait until the day that I'm finally back in your arms again.
Secondly, once we have these people on their way we will be headed back to the tower for our hopefully final confrontation with Vencious. I am doing my best to stay safe and keep our child from harm. Everyone is watching me like a hawk....it's a little maddening at times actually, but I know they do it because they care about me and our baby. Hopefully we can be finished up in a week or two and be back on our way home soon.
Finally, please tell all our family back home how much I miss them and that I look forward to seeing all of them again once we return. I heard about what happened to Alethia.....I hope she's okay. Give her a hug for me as well as Elsa and tell them I'll be home soon.
All My Love,
Arista
After she finishes the letter she makes sure the ink is dry and folds it up. She takes the ink and quill back to Hylan, "Thank you again, I need to find Rikali now and give this to her before I forget to."
Hylan nods. "Be safe on your journeys."
Arista finds Rikali with Toni and Magnus outside.
She waves at him as she walks outside, "I'll try, thanks." Seeing Rikali, Toni, and Magnus outside she goes up to them, with a tired yet passable smile on her face.
"Good afternoon you three, how is everything?" She holds out the letter out to Rikali, "Here is the message I was wanting to send him. Could you please make sure that Alethiro gets this? I....I really appreciate it. We got the way clear, so as soon as everyone is done eating we'll head out. We'll accompany everyone to the last gate and see that you are all on your way to safety before we head back for the tower." She covers her mouth as she tries to conceal a yawn that she can't quite hide.
Rikali takes the note from Arista. "You should probably stop early in the evening to rest. That goes for the whole group."
She nods, "Yeah...it's been a really long day. Well the last week or so has really sucked actually. I don't know...all I do know is that I've been gone from home too long, I miss my husband, and we need to hurry up and get this done before I become more of a hindrance than a help on the battlefield. We'll be careful okay? They won't let me overdo it, trust me."
Marcel steps a good ten feet away from Rajni. He makes careful, silent sidesteps, his feet turning more with each one. Then he rushes at her, pulling back his sword at the last moment. "Like that."
Rikali gives Arista a gentle hug. "There's not much more left in your way before you reach the tower. I'm sure you'll be done soon."
"I appreciate all that you've done for us, Arista," Toni says, her mood considerably lighter. "I'll be glad to get out of here."
Yulia finds a shady spot to sit. She sweats profusely. "Ugh, I think this potion is wearing off."
She accepts the gentle hug without complaint, grateful for the contact and support. She returns the hug and nods her head as she tries to keep her hormone driven emotions under control. Looking at Toni she says, "I'm glad to see that you seem to be feeling a little better. I think we're all working together for the same thing really. I told you before we would do anything we could to help you, I meant that. What we do, we do for the good of everyone involved. So...with the children that have been causing problems....I'm sure there are people in Valwick by now that can handle them. There's also a mine there and I'm sure they could always use the extra help if that environment is what they're used to and it helps them to become more productive. Hopefully when we get back home we can help sort things out so that it's a little calmer there as well. I'm sure everything will work out somehow. In fact I think I'll send a note with you for Barclay as well, he's the one in charge of the town now and I need to let him know about the need for sailing training for at least twenty of the refugees that might be interested in rejoining the dark dwarves. I guess I'll head back to the Inn and do that now." She gives Rikali's arm a thankful squeeze and heads back to the Inn to write another note.
Again she asks Hylan for the parchment and writing implements. Sitting down at a table she begins to write.
Dear Barclay,
Sir I am writing to inform you of our progress and some other things that you need to know about.
We are back in Siphas getting ready to lead the refugees through the encampment that we have cleared out today. I realize that by now the town must be overflowing with those coming from all directions seeking shelter from the storms of war. I am sorry that we have to send you some more, but it was unavoidable. Some of them will be quite helpful I think and have some valuable skills. Some of the children that we've acquired from the dark dwarves dungeons have proven to be a bit unruly and will need someone with a firm hand to straighten them out. I'm sure there is at least one or two people like that in town somewhere. The mines may not be a bad idea for some of them since that is the type of work they are used to, others may need to learn how to do things like farming, taking care of livestock, mending clothes, cooking, general cleaning skills. Those types of things...I'm asking that everyone in the community help to acclimate these people to a new way of life as free people now that they are no longer slaves. I have spoken with some of them and they are interested in going back to the dark dwarves via ship. The dark dwarves are going through....some changes and are in need of an escape off of Zahvroma. While I wouldn't ask any of our own people to do this, if about twenty of the refugees from the Dark Dwarf settlement were to learn to sail a ship, then they could sail around the northern tip of the island to the cove in the peninsula there to pick them up. We had left funds there before we left to help with things and if need be we can compensate anyone we need to when we return.
Also, we have picked up someone new who will be travelling with us. She's the daughter of a green dragon and a blade bearer. Her blade was taken from her and she is going with us to reclaim it. There are two others that will be coming to town though, a green dragon by the name of Kelarth and his rider, who happens to be his wife, Filauria. He appears as a male elven person with green hair with a dragon tattoo on his chest, his wife is just an elven woman with silver hair and two scars on her throat where Vencious severed her vocal chords. These are good people that have been put through Hell and I mean to help them. Please do whatever you can for them to make them feel welcome and comfortable. The younger girl Amareth, will be with us until we are finished with Vencious and the tower. Then either she will come back with us, or go her own separate way.
We are getting ready to make our final assault on the tower and will be engaged in battle with Vencious soon, at least that is our hope. As long as nothing else major comes up before then. Wish us luck in our journey and hopefully we will be back home in another week or two. I want to thank you for everything you have done. Both before Godrick's passing, and everything you have taken on since. I know that Godrick picked exactly the right person for the job.
My prayers go out to you and everyone back home every night that you are all kept safe. Be well Sir Barclay, and may we see you again soon.
Sincerely,
Arista Milocathe
Finishing the letter, she lets the ink dry and then folds up the letter and takes the writing things back to Hylan, "Thank you again. I'll probably see you later." She waves to him as she walks back out to where the others are and hands this letter to Rikali as well, "Make sure that Barclay receives that okay? He's a giant of a man, you can't miss him. I included some very important information in that letter. Thank you so much for doing this for me Rikali. It really helps to ease my mind some." She sighs as she tries to catch her breath.
"I'll do anything I can to help," Rikali says as the refugees finish their meal. "We'd better get going."
The trip back to the gate does not take long and Kelarth and Filauria are there, looking much better due to the potions. Gwen says goodbye to Cyna and Sienna briefly, before going back to Jericho and the Caydenites. Orias, Anton, Athena, Mason and Kara walk along with Jerryl, involved in a hushed conversation. Magnus manages to keep the refugees together along with his men. Konstantyná offers an encouraging squeeze of the shoulder to Drago and Yulia. Rikali and Toni wave to the group as they head toward Valwick finally. You finally make you way out of Siphas and back north toward the tower. Your trip is uneventful as the sun begins to set and you decide to stop a short ways before Aquines.
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Sienna casts a spell, summoning a wooden cottage off the side of the road. She grins at the group and holds the door open for everyone. "Better than sleeping on the ground."
Yulia chuckles bitterly. "Even magic can create a better home than I had."
Cyna looks at the cottage with awe. "I should have studied magic."
"To be fair," Sienna says. "This place will disappear in less than a full day."
"Don't worry, you'll have a nice place in Valwick, Yulia," Ylrhea says reassuringly.
Amareth looks to Sadhana, slightly nodding toward the cottage.
Drago took Yulia's hand to give her some measure of comfort, his eyes saying, "I love you."
After wishing everyone a safe trip back to Valwick and giving a few hugs she watches as they walk away and lets out a slight sigh of relief. Arista is quiet the rest of the trip, even when they stop for the night she doesn't say much. As they settle into the cottage she finds a quiet place and settles into her nightly prayers. As she prays quietly to herself she asks for the protection of everyone on their way back to Valwick, protection for themselves as they move forward in their assault on the tower and victory in battle. She prays for all their friends and family back home that they might be kept safe until their return, and for Barclay who is now tasked with the great undertaking of caring for an entire town that keeps growing on almost a weekly basis. She ends her prayer by thanking Sarenrae for all the wonderful people that have been brought in her life, as well as the new life that grows inside of her. She wipes her eyes as she opens them and sits quietly, reflecting on the next stages of things that they must do to make their world a little safer.
Yulia leans against Drago as they walk into the cottage. "I don't know how well I'll do tomorrow."
"You'll do fine. If you focus you should be able to push through the discomfort." He replied putting an arm about her shoulders.
"We shall see, I suppose," Yulia says with a wan smile. Her stomach growls audibly. "I guess we should eat before worrying about that."
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Sienna claps her hands and an ghostly servant begins picking up the pots and pans in the kitchen. "I sure hope this guy can cook. If it's a guy...or something."
He straightens himself, sheathes the two blades and heads back to the barracks.
The unseen servant puts some slightly charred chicken and vegetables on plates for everyone.
"It could be worse, honestly," Yulia says, sitting at the dining table.
"Yeah, it could be," Ylrhea says. "We eat fairly well, I think."
"None of us had to cook. Get over it," Sienna huffs.
For the first time that evening Arista spoke up, "I....I wouldn't mind cooking. It might help take my mind off other things right now. Is there other stuff here I can cook with? I still have some spices and stuff with me."
"Check the kitchen," Sienna says, picking at her meal. "I don't know what this place comes with, just that it's safe and we are served. First time I cast it. It's not bad...is it?"
She shakes her head, "No honey, it's fine. Don't even worry about it. I just....I need to do something." She gets up and goes to the kitchen to look through the pantry and cupboards.
Cyna eats her meal without complaint, she'd concocted much worse in her time.
"How safe?" Cyna asks after a mouthful of chicken.
Finding the meat and vegetables she pulls the spices out of the bag and starts flavoring the meat. Once covered in spices she begins beating the meat to soften it. Once satisfied that it is sufficiently tenderized, she starts peeling vegetables and seasons them as well. Once she has everything ready, she heats a large pan on the stove and puts in some oil and just a little bit of wine before adding the meat, carrots, potatoes, onions, and celery. In another pot she puts water to boil some rice with. She takes her times and thinks about the flavors and things that she's putting together. She's careful as she cooks everything together.
It turns out well enough, not as good as some of the stews she's made, but she's also hyper critical of her cooking since she's practicing for when she goes home to cook for her family. The rice goes well with the meat and vegetables, which are nicely seasoned.
When the meal is ready she goes to the eating area, "It's ready in the kitchen if anyone wants to try some. It's not as good as some things I've made though. I guess my mind is just on other things right now. Cooking just helps me relax and refocus on other things sometimes. It's just an outlet really. Thank you for letting me do it Sienna, I'll clean up the mess."
She takes a plate for herself and puts just a little of the meat, vegetables, and rice on it. Setting aside her own plate, she takes out some other plates and sets them on the counter next to the food in case anyone else wanted to try some.
Sādhanā nods in affirmation to Amareth with a smile. "Go on in. It's a safe place for us to spend the night. Sienna's magic is pretty impressive." she says loud enough for the sorceress to overhear.
Entering the cottage she sits down stretching. "You can understand everything I'm saying right?" she asks.