Dragons and Magic II: The Hunt for DreamWeaver

[LittleSprite2]

Idrial wondered only a little at her companions abrupt departure from the camp, but agreed they needed to return to there own fire's. She turned to Ona asking if she too were ready to return to there camp, and thanking Dolomas once again arose and moved twards there own encampment.

upon entering it she was glad to see that the others of there party had faired well and had little if no trouble while the rest of them had been away in Dolomas's encampment.

She wanted to speak with O'Bonn and the others to ask them why they had sent no word back that all was well, but new that they all needed some rest before pressing on and offered to take first watch after filling the others in on what had transpired with Dolomas and what information they had discovered.

As she stood watch she wondered if she were truly incharge of anything.. she would not make anyone stay should they choose to leave but she also knew that they needed to start working together, and speaking to each other or they would end up devided, and that was something they could not afford.

Thinking back on Dolomas's information tho at lest now they had a good place to start, but what of the directions given by the matriarch would it vear them from there corse... yes they needed to slay Dream Weaver but they could not ignore wha was going on around them Boar's Back sounded as tho it was on there way and perhaps they might find the necromancer or the item they were seeking there, or not. So many twists and turns in the path ahead...

Idrial looked to the stars for a moment and prayed for guidance, and the strenght to lead she had started out searching for her brother and found Rhys.. she would not change her corse even if she could she had sworn to do what was needed to save Rhys and she would do so even if it ment her death..

Perhaps she would ask the others when they woke that if any of them should survive this quest and she not live that they continue to search out her brother and tell him of her fate, and ask them as well if they have anyone they wish to be let know of there fates should they not survive and ether she or someone else of there party do so.

Idrial knew one of the others would come to take her place shortly as guard but for now she contiued to scan the darkness and keep watch, truly she wanted to share her thoughts with O'Bonn or one of the others but she would not... at least not yet perhaps she would share her thoughts with one of them at another time.

 

[Dracona]

Ona had nodded to Dolomas and silently followed her companions back to their camp. As she lay in her bedroll her mind turned over what they had been told. So much senseless death, but worse…no peace for the dead. With their bodies used to carry out some evil purpose against their will were their souls trapped in some limbo? Were they aware and tormented? Or had they been able to move on and leave their bodies behind?

Knowing she would need to be alert the next day Ona willed herself to sleep, shutting her mind down. She knew that when time came for her to keep watch she would be called.

 

[AmenRa]

From the start of this quest, O'Bonn knew, forces were lining against them. When M'Rhun, his father, had sent him to find the man-child Rhys, O'Bonn had been warned of the dark forces that would seek to destroy him.

It had been pre-ordained by whatever gods now ruled that O'Bonn and his companions would seek out the darkness and face it.

O'Bonn sighed as he looked around the camp. Idrial, the half-blood, of both Elf and Man. Her petite form hid both strength and stealth, of mind and heart, and a smile that could melt the Great Glacier. He had seen her walk silently away into the darkness beyond the fire, knowing she would guard them for a while with bow and sword. He had caught a glimpse of her before she departed, and he could tell she had something hidden within her. O'Bonn sighed again. He would not sleep much this night.

O'Bonn's stealth was not close to that of an Elven ranger of the woods, but he made little noise as he approached Idrial's position on the perimeter. When he was near, he called to her in Elvish.

"Milady," he said, "speak to me." He approached her and took his face in her hands, and gazed down at her with his large, amber eyes. "What burdens thee?"

 

[LittleSprite2]

Idrial had barly heard O'Bonn's approch for his feet were silent due to his warriors training. Save for a slight russle of cloth which was all that gave him away. She was greatful that he had not come upon her completly before speaking and was wise enough not to startle her.

She watched as he drew nearer to her and smiled softly as he took her face in his hands and spoke to her, His golden eyes showed his concern. Taking his hands in hers she motioned for him to sit with her.. as she too spoke in the elven toung.

There is much on my mind, O'Bonn much indeed... I fear if we do not start speaking more to each other and working more together we will end up devided...and our mission will fail before it is even begun Rhys is depending on me, on us... she stopped speaking for a moment wanting to give him a chance to share his thoughts with her before continuing sitting here with him remeinded her of another night when they had first met and they had shared a cup of tea, and decided to ask him if he would find her brother should she not make it.

There is another matter i wish to speak with you about.. i know i have not earned the right to ask for we have not known each other long, but is there anyone you want to be informend of your death should ether of us fall... She smied slightly immagining the stir a half breed like her would cause entering an elven city, but for O'Bonn and the others of there group she would do so if necessary.

Before i found Rhys i was in search of my brother... What i wish to ask is that if i shoud not survive this quest, and you live would you find him and tell him of my fate... His name is Garret MoonBrook..I do not know if he will care one way or another or if he even still lives for we have not seen eachother in a long time but....

Idrial stopped talking she hated to think about these things but they were the thoughts that had been on her mind the most, and she had to wonder if she ever would have spoken had O'Bonn not asked her. She waited watching O'Bonn and the way some of the light from the fire played across his features, thinking he truly was hansome, and would make any elven maid proud to be his..

 

[AmenRa]

O'Bonn smiled his small smile, then held Idrial's hands in his own against his heart.

"Should you fall in battle, and I live, I will find your brother," he told her. "I will search for him until I come upon him, be it through this murky place or the fires of hell. To you now, I swear this oath," he said, looking into her eyes.

"And should death find me," he began, "then I would ask you to go to the Great Northern Lands, and climb the steps of the Great Palace, and there go before my father and give to him my bow, and to my mother give my helm."

"But," he said, "let us not speak of these things, for the stars have not yet written our fate." O'Bonn leaned close to Idrial, his face inches away from hers, her breath but a whisper upon his skin. "As for the other, I agree. We must all fight this battle as one or we will perish, and with us everything that we hold dear. I will be your strength and counsel in the ways of war, but it has fallen upon you to lead us in this task. You have but to command me, My Lady."

 

[LittleSprite2]

Feeling O'Bonn take her hands in his Idrial met his golden eyes with her amber ones greatful that he would find her brother should she fall.., and she would do as he asked should he not live. He was right tho it was up to her to lead them and she was glad he was there at her side..

It took her a moment as he drew closer Idrail couldnt help wondering if he would kiss her or pull away, and wether or not she should let him go if he pulled back. She knew she was supposed to be watching there surroundings for danger but with him this close to her she was finding it hard to think of anything else.. that was dangerous... she knew that but..

I accept your oath and vow to do as you have asked as well.. she wisperd against his lips before kissing him herself, if it was unwanted then she would apologize after but she would be damned if she let him back away now, and not know the truth of how ether of them felt..

 

[AmenRa]

O'Bonn held Idrial's face as their lips touched. He held the kiss for as long as he dared, and when he pulled slightly away, he gazed once again into her eyes with a slight smile.

O'Bonn then stepped back at arm's length, and untucked his bow from his back. "You should sleep now," he said to her, "as we have a taskful journey before us come morning." O'Bonn then turned to look around the woods, settling himself into a watchful pose. He then glanced over his shoulder at Idrial, and with a smile said, "Go now, I will keep watch."

 

[LittleSprite2]

Idrial smiled as O'Bonn told her that she should go and sleep, he had helped releave her worries for the time being, and she now new that he returned her feelings.

She watched as he turned and faced the woods it seemed strange that they could find some small happiness in these dark times but she would not throw it away ether, tho they would both have to be carful not to let what they felt distract them from what must be done.

She stood and scaned the trees enjoying his company a moment longer, when he turned and told her to go now and rest she nodded and closed her eyes a moment shutting down her night vision before turning to face the camp.

She moved quietly so as not to wake the others and lay down on her own pallet. The memory of O'Bonn's lips against hers and his smile after keeping her warm.

 

[rengadeirishman]

Cormac was sitting behind a bush, having inadvertently intruded on O'Bonn and Idrial. So he hung back, until Idrial left. It was then he made his move toward O'Bonn. "Friend O'Bonn, Would you prefer i take the watch? As it is our first camp together."

 

[Mantra]

Khan

There was the sound of heavy, clumsy movement coming through the forest in the direction of the ruined village. The undead were pressing forward through the foliage.

"We must away." came the hidden voice. "You will be bound and blindfolded, without weapons if you are to come with us. If not, we shall leave you to your...friends... out there."

"Agree or no?"

 

[Mantra]

Draken

The young woman's mouth formed into an 'O' as Draken mocked her.

"Ooh, I think you're a bad man!" she said, seemingly nonplused at the taunt nor the weapon being directed at her. "You'd better leave now. I'll let you go if you promise to turn yourself in. " And with that, she actually stamped her foot, pointing away.

 

[Wolfsister]

Tiana's Entry Post:

*POSTED BY MANTRA*​

It had only been two weeks since her family, her home village, and everything in it, had been killed. 'Killed' wasn't a good word for it, 'massacared' was a better word really. They had been ripped apart, slaughtered in the worst possible ways Tiana could have imagined. Worse than that, even in her blackest nightmares, she could never have imagined...never even wished on her worst enemy... some of those...things, which had happened to them. Tiana herself had no idea what had happened, she was there, with her father...and the others when they were going to,.. they were... her dress had been ripped open and she was being held down...and then.... nothing. She had woken up in a hot, steaming bath amid a scene of utter carnage, in a dead hamlet.

She shivered as she lay in the straw, trying to escape the cold and sleep. Sleep was not easy for her as she often saw the eyes of her mother, staring from her severed head as it lay on the floor of their cottage in her sleep. Pleading, accusing, horrified. Her father no longer had eyes to stare with, nor a face to hold them in but...
'damn them all anyway..' Whispered a tiny voice in her head. 'they did not love you, how could they let that happen to you... they got what they deserved...they deserved to suffer, like they made us suffer... to hell with them all...'

Tiana nodded her head absently, forcing the tears away. Not knowing what else to do, she had scrabbled together what little she had and made to flee, but something had made her stop, to search the town before leaving, something that knew that she needed more than just an extra travel cloak and some bread. She had sought out other trinkets, checked cellars and pockets, discovering one grim and revolting scene after another. Finally going numb to the scenes after emptying her stomach once or twice. In the end, she had a stout backpack of hearty foodstuffs, a few bits of jewelry, some coins, a good dagger and...a monocle. The monocle was a simple looking glass set in a gold wire frame. It coild be clipped to one's shirt by a silvery chain, but unlike the jewelry, Tiana understood that the monocle was not to the traded nor bartered away, that it was special...somehow.

A horse was not to had, as all the livestock had gone the same way as their owners, so Tiana had begun walking. Nine days later found her in the city of Trennau, trying to eek an existance from a place she did not understand, from people who couldn't care less about another vagabond in the streets. There there was Tylar. Tylar seemed to be the male version of herself in some ways. A true street urchen, Tylar had grown to manhood, even though he was two years younger than Tiana, in the streets of Trennau, begging, lurking and stealing to live. The two wayward spirits had bonded together out of nessesity if for no other reason. Tylar did his best to teach Tiana how to survive on the streets, who to look for as an easy mark and stay alive doing it.

"Hey Tia," came a voice from somewhere outside for Tia's head. Tylar had crept around to the horse stall she had been using for a bed. "You OK? You're wimpering in your sleep again."

 

[Jedi_Khan]

There was the sound of heavy, clumsy movement coming through the forest in the direction of the ruined village. The undead were pressing forward through the foliage.

"We must away." came the hidden voice. "You will be bound and blindfolded, without weapons if you are to come with us. If not, we shall leave you to your...friends... out there."

"Agree or no?"

Khan finally moved, but only enough to tilt his head slightly in the direction of the approaching zombies.

Khan silently considered the demands of the elves, knowing full well that the zombies were probably about a fifty yards back, hidden by the dense underbrush. Khan could deal with being bound and blindfolded, but he didn't particularly like the idea of being weaponless. He hoped that the elves wouldn't leave behind what he had brought with him, namely his sword, shield, and helm. Whether or not they took back the gold and silver, he didn't care. Finally making his decision, he spoke.

"I agree, on the condition that what is rightfully mine is brought along as well. I will not leave behind my sword, shield and helm, all three dating back centuries and are of more value than half the gold plundered from your village," said Khan. "If you will not bring with you what I have laid down, then leave me and I will delay the undead for as long as I can."

Khan fell silent again, and remained kneeling, listening for both the elves' reply and the noisy approach of the undead. He honestly hoped that the elves would be kind enough to bring along his sword, shield, and helm, when they took him with them. The sword alone was worth nearly three times Khan's weight in gold; at least, by his approximation.

 

[Bladesman]

"Ooh, I think you're a bad man! You'd better leave now. I'll let you go if you promise to turn yourself in."

Draken grinned under his cloak and pushed the hood back so that his drow features were exposed to the candle light. His eyes, caught by the candle light gleamed golden as it was night. Her gasp was loud enough that it could have been heard from outside the cabin. He laughed quietly. "Sadly for you, I am not about to take you up on your offer to let me go. Instead your life is the price required for power."

The enchanted dagger slipped into his left hand as he spun. The blade sliced into her throat and her blood coated the dagger blade. Draken's mind was immediately wondering how the deal would work since the old woman was dead.

 

[Mantra]

Khan

"So be it." the voice answered.

Khan only caught a glimpse of movement and a flash of green and brown before a hood of some sort popped over his head. His hands were jerked behind his back and secured, none too gently. He was then hauled to his feet by at least two sets of hands and hustled away, nearly stumbling over unseen roots or invisible branches occasionally slapping him as he passed by.

Khan was unsure how long he was moving, an hour perhaps and Khan did not think they were moving in a straight line either. As they moved, there was discussion around him. The elves spoke a dialect of elvish that Khan had great difficulty following. They seemed to be conflicted about what to do with him and something about someone they considered important, but there was little else Khan could distinguish.

Finally Khan was set down upon the ground and the guiding hands left him. He blinked at the sudden light as the hood was pulled away. His vision cleared quickly and Khan looked up to see four of the fair moon elves standing about him. Two stood in the trees before him, their bows nocked and drawn towards him. The other two were some ten feet before him, both wore light leather and cloth of brown and green which faded their shaped into the forest around them. The nearest kept one hand on the hilt of a scimitar and silver rings of mail peeked beneath his green and brown clothing. His blue eyes looked down at Khan harshly and with unforgiving malice. Still, it was the other which drew Khan's breath from his body.

She was a Moon elf, of that there was no doubt, but where the elves around her could be called 'beautiful', she was absolutly radiant. Slender as all her kind, her figure seemed accented by the clothing she wore. Honey blond hair cascaded from her head like a halo, falling in a wave to the small of her back. Her skin was ivory white and flawless and her eyes were sharp, piercing and sky blue. She was quite possibly the most beautiful creature Khan had seen in many ages, eve as her red lips frowned down at him while her arms crossed across her torso.

"So," she said, her voice like the singing of birds as the words danced from her lips. "My loyalists tell me that you were captured in the act of plundering our ancestral home, but that you were freed from the grasp of the dead puppeteers and begged my people to help you."

"Speak your tale quickly. I have little time for thieves and beggars."

 

[Mantra]

Draken

"Sadly for you, I am not about to take you up on your offer to let me go. Instead your life is the price required for power."

The enchanted dagger slipped into his left hand as he spun. The blade zipped unerringly towards the young woman's throat as he lunged. Draken's mind was immediately wondering how the deal would work since the old woman was dead.

Unfortunately, Draken didn't have time to consider such things for long.

In a split second responce, the woman's right arm flew up, grabbing Draken's wrist as his arm and blade were knocked aside and up. She turned and twisted, forcing Draken's arm to suddenly become ridged, there was a sharp pop and Draken grimmaced in pain as his wrist broke.. The knife fell from nervless fingers and the woman's foot swept it towards the far wall as she continued to pivot. Draken was suddenly dragged off balance with suprising strength and tumbled over the woman's hip, slamming down onto the table with a crash. The table gave way under Draken's weight, dropping him to the floor and sending the preparation's for the evening meal flying in all directions.

The elf moved, rolling and scrambling away as the woman's foot arced through the air, her heel smashing wood to splinters where his skull had been only seconds before. He stood, only to hear a hight pitched 'Hiy-YAH!' from behind him. Pain lanced through his whole body as he felt both her feet plow into his back. His mail shirt absorbed some of the damage, but the massive rabbit kick propelled him bodilly and headlong into the opposite wall.

He hit the wall and rolled, avoiding the woman's follow up as her fists pounded at the wall, narrowly missing him as he rolled away.

Damn this girl was fast...

 

[AmenRa]

O'Bonn bowed his head to Cormac.

"With your companions, you will no doubt see much more than even elven eyes," he told the warrior. "I will return, yet I fear sleep shall not find me, for the Fay do seem restless this night. Their voices call to me, surely as they must touch the animal spirits that dwell within you. The coming days and our journy to the swamp will test us as sure as the finest steel."

O'Bonn clasped Cormac's shoulder and then walked towards the camp. He quietly lay down upon his bedroll, snaking a hand across the ground and touching Idrial's hair ever so lightly. He then looked to the stars, and stuffed his folded cloak under his head as he shut his eyes.

 

[Dracona]

“You are a killer………” Ona heard the voice come to her from the mists she struggled to find her way through. It seemed to surround her, come at her from every angle, almost to soft to be heard then loud enough to pick up certain words. The words Phalanx had spoken to her before the journey had begun.

Her sleeping body stirred restlessly and she tossed her head from side to side in denial. Small tufts of grass near Ona began to curl and turn brown as if seared by a scorching sun.

“……killed many and often……” Cries rose up, echoing through the fog, voices calling out for retribution. The souls of all those she had killed. So many voices in the dark and mist.

“...taken great pleasure in this killing…..” A shape loomed out of the mist, cloaked in darkness. All that could be seen were the hands, reaching out for her, fingers curling and beckoning her to come closer. The voices of the dead grew louder, but now almost as if warning her away.

“Come back…” the figure whispered. “Come back and set me free…”

The voice chilled Ona to the bone, and she took a step back from the advancing form. There was something terribly familiar about it.

“You can’t deny me…” the voice had grown stronger, the arms reaching out for her more visible, turning slightly displaying the inner forearm. Ona froze, unable to move as she glanced down at her own forearms which were uncharacteristically bare. The same marks marred her pale flesh as those on the arms reaching for her. The dagger with the striking snake curled round it.

The figure gave a low menacing chuckle and reached to push back the hood of shadows. Ona gasped as she looked into her own blue within blue eyes and saw them begin to take on an silvery glow.

“You’re a killer.” Her own voice taunted her. "You’re a killer and you always will be….and you’re sooo good at it. You can’t keep me locked away forever you know. You’ll remember everything soon and then I will be free again….and I will kill. Maybe these whom you now call friend. How sweet it will be to have their blood on our hands.”

Ona looked quickly down at her hands and to her horror saw they were covered with blood. It lay thick on her arms and dripped from her fingertips. The mist began to clear and she looked up from her bloody hands to see the bodies of her companions lying broken and bleeding and burned on the ground around her.

Sinking to her knees Ona sobbed and tried to wipe the blood from her hands and arms. As she did she saw the tattooed marks and in a sudden surge of anger began to claw at them determined to see them gone. She wouldn’t…not ever. Innocent blood would never be spilled by or because of her ever again.

The same evil laugh echoed softly through the retreating mist……”we’ll see.”

Ona gasped and sat bolt upright on her pallet. Her breath came harsh and ragged, seeming loud in the quiet of the night. Frantically she looked around, her hand automatically going out to smother a faintly smoking clump of grass. She saw the shapes of the others in the dim light of pre-dawn and listened intently trying to hear their breathing or any sign that would reassure her of what she already knew. It had just been a dream, a horrible nightmare. That was all.

As she forced herself to relax she looked down at the leather bands covering her forearms and traced the scorch marks her fingernails had left in them. She knew that she would never consciously do anything to endanger anyone in this party, but what if her inability to always control her talents somehow caused something bad to happen. Her hand strayed to the small pouch on her belt that held the parting gift from those at the Keep. Wasn’t that what the crystals were for, to help her focus and gain more control?

She would need to discover what they could do.....soon.

 

[Jedi_Khan]

"So be it." the voice answered.

Khan only caught a glimpse of movement and a flash of green and brown before a hood of some sort popped over his head. His hands were jerked behind his back and secured, none too gently. He was then hauled to his feet by at least two sets of hands and hustled away, nearly stumbling over unseen roots or invisible branches occasionally slapping him as he passed by.

Khan was unsure how long he was moving, an hour perhaps and Khan did not think they were moving in a straight line either. As they moved, there was discussion around him. The elves spoke a dialect of elvish that Khan had great difficulty following. They seemed to be conflicted about what to do with him and something about someone they considered important, but there was little else Khan could distinguish.

Finally Khan was set down upon the ground and the guiding hands left him. He blinked at the sudden light as the hood was pulled away. His vision cleared quickly and Khan looked up to see four of the fair moon elves standing about him. Two stood in the trees before him, their bows nocked and drawn towards him. The other two were some ten feet before him, both wore light leather and cloth of brown and green which faded their shaped into the forest around them. The nearest kept one hand on the hilt of a scimitar and silver rings of mail peeked beneath his green and brown clothing. His blue eyes looked down at Khan harshly and with unforgiving malice. Still, it was the other which drew Khan's breath from his body.

She was a Moon elf, of that there was no doubt, but where the elves around her could be called 'beautiful', she was absolutly radiant. Slender as all her kind, her figure seemed accented by the clothing she wore. Honey blond hair cascaded from her head like a halo, falling in a wave to the small of her back. Her skin was ivory white and flawless and her eyes were sharp, piercing and sky blue. She was quite possibly the most beautiful creature Khan had seen in many ages, eve as her red lips frowned down at him while her arms crossed across her torso.

"So," she said, her voice like the singing of birds as the words danced from her lips. "My loyalists tell me that you were captured in the act of plundering our ancestral home, but that you were freed from the grasp of the dead puppeteers and begged my people to help you."

"Speak your tale quickly. I have little time for thieves and beggars."

Khan was a little distracted by the woman's beauty, but he was more concerned about whether or not the elves had honored the agreement and brought his things with them. Plus, being so old, he doesn't have much interest in the female form. But he had to admit, the woman was down right gorgeous.

"I don't believe we have been formally introduced, miss," said Khan in elvish, as he moved to get into a more dignified pose. "I am Khan of the Shishu people, faithful servants and guardians of the Mori dragons. And you are...?"

He waited a bit for the woman to answer, and whether she did or not, he continued a moment later. "If you do not believe who I am, look at my sword, shield and helm. Those are what identify me."

"And as for what your men tell you," continued Khan. "Do not be so quick to believe biased information. I was not captured; I came willingly. I was not plundering from your people; I was plundering from the plunders. I was not freed from the grasp of the zombies; I was send them back to the grave. And I did not beg; I asked."

He fell silent as he awaited the elven woman's response.

 

[Bladesman]

"By the Abyss!" Draken's curse was full of venom as he leapt out of the way of the girl's fists. He groaned to himself, why did he have to tangle with a monk. Why was his luck like this. Couldn't a job be straight forward for once? He shook his head and dodged again, lashing out quickly with his scimitar, slicing a gash in the back of one of her knees near the tendons but due to their rapid movements, he couldn't tell for sure.

 

[AmenRa]

O'Bonn's dream..

In his dream, O'Bonn saw the Great Palace. It's polished steps of elfstone shown under a mid-day's sun. He stopped his horse in front of them, aided by a palace guard, all dressed in red and silver. O'Bonn himself wore the silvered steel plate armor, adorned with golden elven script, and capped by a red cloak that flowed behind him as he walked. In his dream, O'Bonn wondered why he was dressed so formally, but he climbed the steps of the Great Palace nonetheless.

Inside, the familiar smells and sights of home came to him. And there, dressed in blue silk and fur was his mother, who came to him, and touched his face. And he saw a tear in her eye, and when he went to ask her why, she only bowed her head and cast her eyes towards the throne.

And there, upon the throne, sat M'Rhun, ruler of the Great Northern Lands, King of the Elves. M'Rhun the Mighty, M'Rhun the Wise, were some of the names that he went by, but to O'Bonn, he was called 'father'.

Before him O'Bonn did kneel, and when he raised his head, O'Bonn saw anger and sadness in his father's face. Looking around him, the walls and floor of the Great Palace had disappeared, replaced by burning fields. Bodies littered the fields, as far as he could see, burning, crying, dying. Elves, humans, centaurs, even dragons. He recognized the fields, once fertile land that surrounded the Great Palace. Now, nothing but a smoldering graveyard.

O'Bonn felt himself lifted to his feet, his fathers fists clenched in the clasps of his cloak. M'Rhun's face was but a breath from his son's, and his voice boomed in O'Bonn's ears...

"Look well, my son, for this shall come to pass if you fail!"

O'Bonn woke. He opened his amber eyes, taking in the sight of Idrial's sleeping form near him. He smelled the smoldering fire, and heard the quiet sighing of the horses.

The dream was clear. The Fay had spoken to him. They must not fail.

 

[rengadeirishman]

Cormac nodded as O'Bonn walked away. He lit his pipe and sat, sending Eoghain and Conchobar out around the perimeter. All was quiet. There was nothing to fear. There he sat, staring out into the blackness. His body still, but his mind moving free.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Idraial woke feeling O'Bonn's restless movements next to her and sat up slowly, she looked around for some sort of danger or sounds which would have woken him.

Cormac was on watch his companions out and about guarding them as well, they gave no warning of danger... She was turning back to ask O'Bonn what troubled him when. Ona Jearked up right awake and looking at the smoldering ground around her. Idrial didnt sence any other danger but could see the fear on Ona's expression. Are the two of you alright?, Ona are you hurt at all? she asked and waited for there responces

 

[Dracona]

Ona wrapped her arms around her knees and pulled them close to her chest. Her body was trembling, but not from the predawn chill. Idrial's soft words came to her and she glanced at her with troubled eyes before turning her face away.

"I am unharmed, lady. I am sorry if I disturbed you." Ona kept her voice whisper soft knowing that Idrial's keen ears would still hear her clearly. Looking around the campsite she took note of Cormac standing watch. How long had she slept?

Rising quietly she slipped into the dark and approached the horses. Something had been preying on her mind since their meeting with Dolomas and his group. Bardo lifted his head and expelled a wuffling breath in greating. Ona smiled and ran her hands over his long face. For so long he had been her only friend but the time had come for their paths to take different directions. She would not take him further into the unknown and put him in more danger.

She reached for her dagger and stood for a moment with one hand resting on the little donkey's neck. A finger thick tendril of her hair worked its way free of her braid and she cut it off with one swift pass of the sharp blade. With nimble fingers she plaited the strand of hair into Bardo's stiff mane concentrating and embedding her message into this piece of herself. She would send her friend to Dolomas and when he touched the lock of her hair he would receive her request that he take Bardo with them and if they should pass near the Keep to send him on to the stable boy Ona had met there. Either way she was sure he would be safer than travelling with her. He was not a brave creature, after all.

Giving him a final scratch behind his ears she laid her forehead against his giving him a clear picture of Dolomas. Then she gave him a firm pat on the rump and sent him off toward the other camp. The little donkey gave a long suffering sigh and slowly trudged off through the trees.

Ona stayed there in the darkness for a few moments longer then made her way back around the camp to approach Cormac.

"I will sleep no more this night and there are still a few hours before full dawn." She said softly, "I will keep watch if you would like to rest."

 

[AmenRa]

O'Bonn was about to answer Idrial when Ona sat up. The High Warrior eyed her curiously as she stood and walked off towards where their mounts were kept.

Turning back to Idrial, O'Bonn spoke to her. "It was a dream," he told her, taking her hand in his, "and a foretelling of the fate of this world should we fail in our task."

O'Bonn looked up to the sky. "Dawn is yet to break," he said, "but I, too, can not sleep any more this night." He stood and pulled his pack up with him, and he rummaged around in it and brought forth a small tin. "If you were to heat water, I would make tea," he smiled.