King and Country

[poohlive]

Garret slowly walked his, and Mansard's horses towards the river. The few that had gone ahead were setting up camp. Garret looked up, the sun was about to set, and night was no time to be riding in these woods.
Garret lowered his head. This was not going how he had planned. In one day, he had lost all his arrows, killed innocent dwarves, (even though most of the bodies on the war field were orc's, Garret inspected the bodies and some were, in fact, dwarves) betrayed Glorianna, then failed to protect her from an obvious ambush, finally above all, it seemed that just when he was about to make a new friend with Vixen she started to hate him.
The river came into focus after Garret had passed a large bush. He put the two horses up with the rest, and sat down by the fire. He rested his head on his hands, hoping that this day would be forgotten, and also that the next would be better.
Something dug into his thigh, it was the ocra stone that his master had given him before he left. "The ocra stone," he heard his master say, "just rub it, and you can hear anyone's mind within eyesight of you."
Garret held it in his hands, toying over the thought.
"No," he said to himself, no one deserves to have their thoughts looked over, especially not in this group. Garret put it back in his pocket.
The last few rays of the sun were still visible over the horizon, but Garret could see it was getting dark.
His head resting back in his hands, Garret looked at the fire. He seemed hypnotized by it's glare, almost as if it were doing a dance, the dance of fire. Garret chuckled.
A voice came from behind him, "Is this seat taken?"

 

[Roland Gilliad]

Roland: i had decided to check up on garret because ever scince the attack he had looked shaken and upset...
"Are you ok buddy?" i sat down next to him with a thump.
"if its arrows your worried about i have a good supply of them for just in case things. if its Glorianna you are worried about...." i sighed a little
"there was nothing you could have done.I barely made it to her in time to stop her from being killed. even now she is injured. i disinfected it and bandeged it up a bit but i still am working it over in my mind if i could have stopped the wound. i figured out it was inevitable. I discovered the orcs at the last possible second and only then with shaddowfaxs speed was i able to ave her.." i patted him on the back a few times and smiled."Its ok, you caught vixen off guard and took her off balance. she gets a little edgy if you do that so give her some time and i promise you will be in her good graces again.now if you will excuse me i must return to glorianna to make sure the wound is stopped bleeding. come to me tomorrow and i can give you a new quiver of arrows." i walked back towards camp

 

[Morgoth]

"Hey", Lokken said to Garret," what's wrong, don't worry, Glorianna'll be fine, I'll make sure of that, you see, as we speak, I'm concocting a potion with some of the holy water, it took me a lot of gold to buy that, let me tell you, but gold is no where as precious as a frind's life", Lokken continued and walked off towards camp, suddenly he turned around," would you like to join me? It looks like it's about to rain", Lokken asked.

 

[Lady_Aline]

Later, as all the troup sat by the fire, it was finally silent. It was night, the stars gleaming softly in the velvet navy sky. The night was silent, eerie. Not even an owl seemed out hunting on this night.
Rothrar sat with the royals, keeping an eye on the slumbering form of Marietta. Every so often she twitched. Rothrar knew she would awake screaming soon, the horror of today's actions replaying itself behind her closed lids, as if torturing her. Pierce merely looked gaunt, staring into the fire broodily.
"I don't understand," Pierce mumbled. He did not think he spoke outloud.
"What, boy?" Rothrar cleaned his sword absently.
He sighed, rubbing a hand over his tired eyes. He could not sleep. "This is a peace mission. Why did this happen? We are... what we did... we're no worse then Kuathrians. We're killers. I'm a killer..." his eyes drifted off into the distance. Rothrar knew that what he saw was similar to what was going on in his mind.
"But we defended ourselves, your majesty. Would you have let those orcs kill you?" Roland looked up from his position from the fire. Rothrar thought he was asleep.
"He does have a point, Roland. Who is worse? Us or them?" Added Garret, who was whittling away at a piece of firewood.
"I'm not here to preach ethics. I'm here to defend you," Vixen said grumpily, wincing as she sat down a little too heavily. She almost growled at Pierce. "If you cannot stomach war, boy, leave with your tail between your legs back to your father. But you bloody well sort out your ethics before you even consider getting back on your horse and joining us." Vixen pointed a finger at him, emphasising her words. Pierce was too tired to argue. Roland put a restraining arm on her shoulder. Rothrar got up, his sword in his hand.
"Learn to reign your tongue, woman. Or I'll cut it out. Speak ill of the royal family again and you leave us. Dead, if I have my way." Rothrar met Vixen's stare. She stared back, equally angry, although she regretted her words.
"You're an assassin, aren't you?" A dazed Marietta was awake, bee stung lips parting softly, blond hair falling over one side of her face. "Gods, she's beautful," thought Garret. "But untouchable. She will not even look at me. I'm off no status..." resisting the temptation to sigh, he willfully forced images in his head of Princess Marietta kissing him.
"Your point?" Asked Vixen, in answer to Marietta's question. Now it was her brother's turn to calm her down.
"Think before you speak, sister dear..." He whispered. Vixen rubbed her eyes irritably. She was tired- as were they all.
"Yes. I am. I kill for commission."
"Do you feel regrets killing any of your, er, "commissions," Vixen?" Pierce could see where this conversation was leading and grabbed his sister's shoulder and squeezed.
"No. I don't know them. Why should I feel regrets?" Roland and Val looked somewhere else to look.
"But these people you kill- and they are people, not "commissions," and they have families. Do you even think what your actions lead to? It's people like you that make attempts on my life. I will meet scu-"
"MARIETTA!" Shouted Pierce. "You're royalty. Get over yourself. Of course assassination attempts will be made on you." The atmosphere was colder then the night air.
"In defense of my sister, the people she has assassinated have been scum, as you so politely put it. I don't think she has killed children, or innocents. Have you?" Val raised his eyebrows at Vixen. She tightened her jaw and looked away, trying not to quench her primal anger.
"Can we not talk about this? I'm not in the mood," and she stalked off, angry. Very angry. But more at herself...
"I suggest we all stop talking and start trying to sleep," added Rothrar. "We are all tired. This is why we are arguing. Good night, people. we will talk more in the morning." Rothrar turned his back on everyone. Roland stalked off to find Vixen, but Val pulled him back down.
"Leave her. Let her stew."
The glories of war replaced the realism of what happened. The warriors did not feel so mighty now.

 

[Jonas]

Mansard, looking Vixen over, gently places a hand on her shoulder. "Mount and follow me I know a place near here where we can lose this fever." Vixen nods and together they ride down to the river. They hear the sound of white water. The small man smiles. "Hear it, come on!"
"Come where?" Vixen still had an edge.
"Trust me my dear, you'll enjoy this."

They come to a clearing where the river branches, creating a small arc running parrel the river. The stream was only 10 or so foot wide and not very deep, but it was fast moving, bubbling white water.

"Come on let's swim," Mansard jumps from his horse, laughing, throwing off his clothes as he jumps into the stream completely submerging. Popping his head back up above water he spits a stream at Vixen.
"Mouse! Really, I mean ..." Vixen, begining to smile, steps off her mount and walks up the stream.
"Hey the waters not cold come on."
"What the hell Vixen strips quickly her back to the man and jumps in the stream. The water was cool, but refreshing, she began to unwind.

"Vixen," Mansard spoke with sincerity I've never seen anything as lovely as your behind."
"Mouse, maybe your right about that small man walking on three leg thing." The pair laughed like children. For a time they forgot the bloodshed and horrors that filled their world.

 

[ShyGoddess]

Glorianna:

She listened to the exchange without comment. She knew how Marietta felt about assasins, but it was something she lived with as royalty. Vixen stormed off without looking back. Glori went to her cousin, knowing she was still a young, innocent girl in so many ways. She sat beside her.

"I know what's troubling you, pippen." she said using the name she had come up with the day Marietta was born.

Marietta's eyes were full of confusion. "Why does she kill for profit? Doesn't she know what it does to those people's families? Doesn't she..."

"Shhh...I don't know why Vixen does what she does. She's the only one who could tell you that."

"But I know you hate war and violence and blood, ever since your father and mother were killed..."

"Please don't talk about that now," Glori's voice was a whisper. She didn't want anyone to know how much those memories still hurt. She didn't notice Valdor's ears prick up at their conversation.

"But..."

"No. Lay down and go to sleep. We have a long day tomorrow." She kissed her cousins forhead and walked off in the opposite direction Vixen had went. She needed to be alone with her thoughts. She needed to come to terms with her parents death once and for all.

 

[Jonas]

Mansard listens to the exchange as he stirs his stew pot. He never felt it his place or anyone elses place to sit in judgement of another's values. He wanted to say something, but felt wiser letting the moment pass.

Filling a bowl of stew, he retreats to his tent.

 

[poohlive]

"No," Garret smiled, looking at Lokken, " I think I am going to hit the hay for tonight."
Lokken shrugged his shoulders, and gave him a suit yourself type of gaze.
Garret looked back at Roland. He never liked mages, something not right about them. How they could make just about anything appear and disappear, it was too easy. Sometimes people had to do things for themselves. Just like some times Garret had to do things for himself.
Roland had promised him a quiver of arrows. Bah, Garret spit on the ground, knowing the thought of it had given him a bad taste. He didn't need anyone's help, he could get his own arrows.
Garret slowly walked over to his horse, hoping no one would see him leave. Everyone seemed pretty occupied by there own problems, Garret was sure no one would notice him gone.
He ducked behind a large bush, and was on his way back to the war field.
He didn't know why he never thought of it before, but there was a lot of arrows on that field, including some of his own.
Garret went to work, with his quiver in hand, he scooped up any arrow that seemed still worthy. Most weren't, orc's didn't know how to make a decent arrow. Some of them seemed all right though.
His quiver was soon full, close to 60 in all. Garret, finally feeling his own strength leave him, was ready to go to bed.
Garret started back when there was a rustling in the bushes. Quickly, Garret took out his broadsword, waiting for whatever it was to come out.
"Oh please be a bunny, why can't it ever be a bunny," Garret pleaded with himself. It wasn't a bunny.
The dwarf came out into view, there were storm clouds overhead, but the moon wasn't covered yet. Garret could see him clearly.
He didn't know if this thing was a dwarf or an orc. Garret wasn't taking any chances though, he advanced.
"You idiots, what are you doing," the voice belonged to Glorianna. He remember how she had yelled at him for killing them. He stopped, dead in his tracks. Should he kill, and be safe? He didn't know, this was so confusing.
"Damn diplomatic journey," he thought to himself. The dwarf, having a sword of his own out, didn't budge either.
A full minute passed, then two. Garret stayed steady, his aching mucles feeling the pain. The dwarf, unfortunately did not move either.
"Look," Garret said, trying to take a diplomatic feel to this, for Glorianna's sake, "My name is Garret. I have no wish to harm you. I am here alone..."
No use telling him about the others, or where the camp was, just in case
"on a diplomatic mission. My only wish is to pass."
The dwarf did not move, "My name is Eldan. I too, only wish too pass, and pay respects to my friends. I suggest we both lower our swords, and coninue on our ways."
Garret turned it over, wondering if he was telling the truth or not. Diplomatically, he was. Garret lowered his sword.
"All right. I will not stop you."Garret bowed, "May your travels be plentiful."
The dwarf bowed as well, lowering his weapon. Garret side stepped, and went off into the forest.
He did not go straight to the camp, making sure that if anyone was following him, he would be taken in the opposite direction. Slowly Garret climbed a tree, making sure he wasn't seen. He went from branch to branch not making a sound. Soon he was back at camp.
With the days adventures done, and the clouds overhead about to rain upon them, Garret put the quiver back in his saddle. He took out a blanket, found a nice place under a tree, not too far away from the fire, and went to sleep.
"What a night," he thought as his mind drifted off.

 

[Roland Gilliad]

Roland: as i sat in my personal tent i was in deep thought.. i wonder if i still have that scrying glass...i rummeged through my pack and found it carefully wraped. i remembered when me and vixen first met. she hid her beuety with such care and precision. I knew why she did what she did...i had done it to at a time..when i worked for many people and political leaders...i was never caught..i was good at what i did...i decided to see if i could talk to sith.. i came out of my tent to find only a few people still awake...luckily sith was still alert...i found he had been nominated for the first watch. i walked over to him and sat down next to him...
"Hey sith how are you feeling? Man what a crazy first day..Not even mikba was as bad as this..."we laughed a little bit about the mikba episode...we damned came near to destroying each other. i still remember that battle. the battle when the transformation process started.. i guess scince the next watch wasent due for several hours i guessed it was time to start asking a few questions about...my new race as a snakeman....

 

[Morgoth]

Lokken sat calmly with the royals thinking about the butchery. As he worshipped the God Belial, he stepped out in the clearing, and for the first time in many years, opened up his cloak to reveal a scarred and burned left arm, covered in gold." Ah, it is still visible, after that accident many years ago, I still have it, the scar of Life, as it is known", he thought aloud, looking ofer his half golden and scarred arm." Well, I do believe, I haven't sacrificed to Belial in quite a long while", Lokken said. He found a hiding orc and sacrificed it in the clearing, letting the blood spill on his arm. Suddenly he heard a noise in the bushes." Who's there", he asked, forgetting to conceal his long hidden arm. Quickly he pulled out his mace, Grond.

 

[Moneytalks]

Vixen knew exactly what she needed. She needed not to think about the princesses words. "Don't you ever think about them? They have families..."

"Damn!!!" She hissed. She hadn't made a tent. She rarely afforded herself such luxuries. She usually just rolled out her bedding and slept whatever the weather. She watched Mansard enter his tent with a bowl of stew and remembered that physique from their swim in the rive. Damn, he was built fine, perfectly in proportion despite his height.

She rolled up her bedding and put it away. She hoped she wouldn't need it tonight. Seeing as everybody else was asleep she slipped into Mansard's tent. It appeared he had been expecting her. "Lovely fox... come to me... " he beckoned as he saw her silhouette. Vixen slipped under the covers and felt his strong arms pull her close. She sighed letting the feel of his hands on her body clear her mind of her turmoil.

... Valdor considered the snippet of conversation he had managed to overhear between Glorianna and the princess. The more he knew, the more he wanted to know... lovely Glorianna, what strength what beauty, he thought to himself. He carefully cleaned the blood from his own sword. He hadn't killed many, his sister had been well into the thick of it by the time he and Glorianna had arrived on the scene. He hadn't really ever seen his sister kill before, certainly not in battle. Her technique made her true profession very clear. He still remembered the day she had told him of it, almost in spite, that she killed for money. He shuddered at the memory. Somewhere along the line, his sweet little sister had gone hard, the fact that he didn't know why tormented him even as he saw she was more than capable of fending for herself. He hoped one day she might find happiness.

"Just as you have Val?" He heard a little voice ask in his head. He smiled as he recalled Glorianna's speech asking their forgiveness. She was such an amazing woman he thought to himself just before he let himself drift off to sleep. His sword still in his hand ready for any surprises.

 

[Morgoth]

Lokken quickly chanted a spell and appeared next to the human. It appeared to be...(lift off and place a character here somebody, please, looking at you all with big, black eyes)

 

[Jonas]

Mansard keep reminding himself, "Don't get to attachted to her, she's a free spirit. She'll never settle down. Just enjoy the moment." He rose and walked to the refreshment table. His tent, a gift of the Grey One, was enchanted. The inside being 4 times again as large at the tent appeared from the outside. When erected it contained sleeping pillows, low tables, his spare clothing and weapons. All folded up to a normal size for travel. Mansard didn't understand how it worked, but he appreciated it's comforts. "A little like Vixen," he thought.

He pours a cup of wine, offers it to Vixen. She sits up.
"Thanks, you travel in stlye," looking around the tent as she sipped the wine, "Using magic, it doesn't seem you."
"I'm not really using magic, I'm just allowing it to use me." Mansard lay back on the pillows scattered about the bedding. "Rest well tonight. Tomorrow again I fear we may need violence." Smiling to Vixen, "Of course ONLY as the last resort! Just east of here is a good place to cross the river. We can make it to the foothills by dark. If I can contact that warlord fellow we might save some time and lives." The small man jumps up. "I almost forgot...it's my watch!"

Dressed in fresh colthing, now whereing an armored vest, the small man marched out of the tent. He winks at Vixen as he exits.
"Wake me for my shift Mouse, maybe I will sleep."
"That I will my dear." He had one thing in common with this woman, their work.

[Edited by Jonas on 07-28-2000 at 05:52 AM]

 

[Sith]

Rorthrar

The paladin was standing in the field of death, as he thought of it, where the battle had taken place. All those dead bodies where sickening. He was making sure the spirits of the dead rested forever, and went to meet their gods, whomever they where. He didn't want any vengeful orcish ghost roaming in moonless nights his country. He had finished with one side of the field when he saw someone moving in the other. It was Lokken. He saw how he sacrificed one of the dead orcs to his dark god. Well, even if it went to the god of death, it meant a ghost less. He waited for the dark one to finish his ritual and then he went to consecrate that part of the field. Lokken teleported to his side.

 

[Sith]

Sith

"So you want to know about us at last..." began in a slightly incriminating tone Sith. "In our last adventure I explained a lot of us to you, but then you where young and didn't listen. We have two or three interesting differences with other races. First of all, pour brains are three-layered, so mental magics affect us less, as they can only get to our outer brain, the one that makes us more similar to humans, but our reptilian brain is protected from then. We can shed our skin... and, if it is really needed, we can shed a lot of skin, making it seem we have died, leaving an empty husk behind us. Our skin gives us a slight protection... We don't mind heat as much as humans, but cold affects us more." He said as if reading from a list.
"Well, about our history, we came from Atlantis, who sank in the sea long time ago. We are a peaceful race, but humans have been afraid of us almost always, and many bad things that happened to them caused by themselves they've blamed on us."
"And before I forget, we don't usually call humans 'Human' with a despective tone, like I used on you on our last adventure." Thus said he smiles and waits to see if his friend has more specific questions.

 

[Roland Gilliad]

Roland: this seemed good but..
"I do have one or two little questions for ya.
1.Do i get the venom fingers too?
2.any big weaknesses other than cold should i know about?
OOC:what is morgoths problem in the arabian nights thread?
IC:4.any other major things that may come in handy at times?"

 

[Moneytalks]

Finally after an intense hour or so of lustful, passionate delight Vixen watched Mansard leave for his watch. She stretched on the luxurious bed and began to wonder if sleeping out in the weather was such a good thing after all. She yawned, finally feeling her body relax enough to sleep.

During her rest she dreamt of the faces of the people she had killed. The look in their faces as the life spilled out of them. Being an assassin was much harder than being a soldier, soldiers rarely saw the death, in the heat of battle they just charged into the fray. Assassins had a much more intimate knowledge of their victims. She woke with a start. Sweat beading on her forehead. She frowned. Breathing carefully. She guessed she had been sleeping for a couple of hours at best. Probably almost time for her watch.

She shook the remaining images from her dream from her head and resolutely pulled her hair back into a ponytail. She slipped on her vest and leather pants and checked that all her knives were in place. She stepped out of Mansard's tent and saw her brother lying peacefully, his sword ready in his hand. She had missed him, but his presence was proving a little irritating, he brought with him memories from her past she had long thought forgotten. She sighed softly to herself and went to her pack. She grabbed her water skin and drank from it. She saw Garret and thought she should apologise for her abruptness, then changed her mind, she'd do it in the morning she thought.

She waited in the camp for those on watch to finish so she could take her turn.

 

[ShyGoddess]

Glorianna:

She didn't return to camp after her walk, instead she sat by the little river, looking at the moon. She didn't think anyone would miss her, they were all sleeping, and she needed to be alone.

Before her mother had died, she had promised that, if she should not return to her, she would always be watching from her perch on the moon, and Glori had believed her. When she had nightmares or was frightened, she had looked to the moon, knowing her mother would be there waiting for her.

She clutched her amulet to her chest and spoke up to the sky. "Oh mother. What am I going to do? I'm not ready to be a diplomat. I thought I was, but what if I can't stop the war? What if people die? It will be all my fault!"

She felt a silvery tear trickle down her cheek. She brushed it away, but more just popped up to take it's place. Glorianna cried for the first time since her parents death.

 

[Morgoth]

"What are you doing Paladin? You have seen the Scar of Life, have'nt you, the one that sentences you to be killable, but never to die of age, a robber was melting a statue of the Life God, you see, but when I tried to stop him, the metal poured on my arm. I am sorry that you have seen it", he said putting his mace away.

OOC: Read the Arabian Nights, Roland you little bitch.

 

[Lady_Aline]

OOC: I'm adding another dimension to a character that some of you might not like. I say to those people don't be ignorant.

Pierce, who still could not sleep, sat instead and observed. He was good at observing. No one usually recognised a scruffy blond haired boy who made himself as mouse-like as possible, surveying all arould him like the world did not involve him. He observed Vixen entering Mansard's tent. He also observed a smug looking Mansard leave the tent with a wide, I-just-got-laid grin on his face. Pierce laughed outright, then as any normal teenage boy would react, felt a stab of jealousy.
"Lucky bastard," he muttered. Then the guilt started again. He was royalty; it was his duty not to water down precious royal seed with bastards; it was not right to THINK about lusting over his current desires.
His father drummed it into his head that "if you find the right woman, you don't need whores." It was also his royal duty (as heir to the throne) to marry some foreign princess and spawn out a batch of royal brood, to strengthen his position as King.
Duty to the throne made his guilt worsen. His father wanted him to find a "right girl," but he- he... well, he thought thoughts that would make his father seeth and his mother cry out "but he was always such a nice boy!" In defense. Pierce did not want to marry. He was not attracted to women full stop, and that sickened him- sickened at the fact that he was attracted to men. It was improper; indecent. He was not "right." He was not fit to be heir... and Pierce felt these thoughts everyday of his life, wanting to change the way he is. But his body will not let him; he cannot change the fact that he is homosexual.
Pierce liked women- sometimes. He hated the way they shriek and fluster. And the way they bitch and gossip- something Marietta was prone to. He did not despise them; he tolerated them. But he preferred male company. His mother always remarked that he was a proper "man's man," adept at any weapon, excellent at horse riding and a skilled tracker. Trying so hard to be as straight as possible... no one knew his secret... except his squire, Terros, who was taking his exams (to become a paladin) and could not join his prince in the peace mission. Terros was his best friend- but was straight (and famously so... Whom Terros was "seeing" was usally the staple diet of the court gossip.) He excepted Pierce for who he is, and cannot see the problem on what his sexual preference will cause if he was to come out.
"Piercey-boy, can't see your problem. Did you know that in the Dark Times all Paladins where homo? I mean, they thought it dishonourable or something to sleep with someone of lower status then them. Mid you, back in the dark ages we were just as bad as the Kuathrians and complete babarians..." Funny now Pierce heard his friend's words. Then he remembered something. Getting up, he walked to his saddle bags and pulled out a wrapped package with a letter that was labelled: "do not open until it is Piercey-boy's b'day." Well, technically it was morning, so Pierce opened the letter. It read...

Hello matey!
Happy birthday you old tart. Got this from Gerter the head chef. (you knew he was a raging queen, didn't you?) Anyways, he says that there's some sort of secret society of old queers (no offence mate, his words not mine) and that they all have a special badge and and everything. (Wonder if it's a pretty shade of pink... oh why do I feel you're gonna hit me for saying that.) So here's something to show that you're a homo; it looks like a rune stone to me, pretty inconspicious. So here you go; where it and get hit on by blokes. Have fun. And no, don't tell me what you got up to, I don't want to know.
From Terros. (Who is juuuuust about to -hopefully- get his leg over the Countess de Serta. Lucky me.)

Pierce opened the parcel and pulled out the innocent looking necklace. It did look like a rune stone- two stick figures with their hands crossed, like they're sparring. Hesistantly, Pierce put it on. What harm could it come to? Prince Pierce, heir to the throne, will be offically sixteen tommorow.

 

[Morgoth]

"Ah, I knew someone would see it someday", Lokken said to the Paladin," I guess your the first", he continued."Well", the paladin asked," what's so bad about it?""Oh, you don't know what it's like to leave all of your friends and family for dead, to tell people your thousands of years old".

 

[Sith]

Rorthrar

"Nope. I don't know that, but it sound like a very powerful curse to me. The mind of someone who lives so long has to have many painful and dark hidden passages. I do feel it ironic, and please don't take offence, that a servant of the Death God wears the mark of the Life God. Maybe that is why my head is not humming any time you are near, as it would with a normal 'evil' follower of the Death God." As he was speaking he started consecrating the rest of the field, laying the orc spirits to sleep.

 

[Sith]

Sith

"Well, Roland, about the poison, yes, you should have it, but I think you haven't had enough time to get it to standard strenght. And now you are inmune to it." Sith paused for a moment, pondering the questions, tapping his chin with his finger. "About weaknesses, well, when we change skin we are weaker, of course. And as I said, don't fight directly a cold mage..."

 

[Morgoth]

"Well, I suppose I must get back to camp, and would you one day pay a visit to my country, I know it sounds disagreeable, but we would be honored?" Lokken asked.

 

[Moneytalks]

Vixen started her usual ritual of doing the rounds before her shift as look-out. She prowled around the outskirts of their camp and thought she heard something. Quietly she moved deeper into the trees until she came to the river she had swum in earlier with Mansard. Glorianna sat by the water with her head bowed, shoulders trembling. Crying? Vixen thought.

She wasn't sure what to do. She had felt a natural friendship blossom between them back at the palace, but Vixen wasn't sure Glori would want her to intrude on her solitude. She bit her lip indecisively and thought about her brother. He would want her to comfort her. Even she could see that he was starting to care for her. Vixen had to admit she could understand why. This was a woman with amazing grace and intelligence.

Sighing, not sure she was fit for this role of comforter, she stepped forward carefully making noise with her steps so that she wouldn't scare the girl to death. She noticed Glori hurriedly wipe at her eyes to hide the tears. Vixen smiled at this show of strength. "Glori?.. Glori, can I talk to you for a minute?"