Azi sighed at her sister as she entered. Just last night Lexi had asked her about D'vena, and Azi made her swear she wouldn't ask anyone about her again, until Azi was able to explain it all herself. And Lexi swore, but now here she was, standing boldly in front of Crispian, swearing to stand by Azi.


It was strange, Azi had always been a loyal and steadfast friend, and save her father and Ascot, she had never really felt that loyalty from any other. She almost scolded Lexi for following her, almost told her to go back to Pappa, but her sister's eyes flashed with excitement and determination as Crispian agreed to let her stay. Azi reminded herself of the trials that Lexi had already faced, and decided it was best to let it go.


She smiled at Crispian as he spoke, then drew her sword and kissed the hilt. She held it before her, point to the floor, and dropped to one knee. Her voice rang clear and steady in the little room.


"May the Almighty give us all of the strength we shall need. May He guide each of us, our blades and our hearts," she looked at each of them solemly. With a gesture of blessing over Crispian, Tobyas, Jashen, her own sister, she continued, "and grant us a swift victory over D'vena, and all who come to her aid." She looked pointedly at Crispian.


"So." Her lips curved in a sly grin, "Are we going to do this now, or aren't we?"


Edit: (/e beats down the typo monster)

"'A witch'"... that was all Azi told her about D'Vena. Asking for more she got a cold stare, and Azi made her swear that she'd ask no more of her. She had kept that promise, she did not ask of her, she did not need to. When she said the name in front of Azi the other night she froze in fear. The look in her eyes told Lexi all she needed to know about D'Vena... the look in her eyes were almost the same look that Lexi had when the whispered name Basaia came to her ears. But her nightmare was gone and her sister's was not. Lexi looked about the room, seeing her sister clad in plate and her in her smithing robe... she felt out of place, but she did not care. She was here, with her sister, and she would protect her sister.

((OOC Bump, could this really be getting to the end!? And only 15 pages long.. just a quick tale was it Crisp? ))

(grins at Toorc) This is the reader's digest version!

 

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Crispian looked over their faces, serious and grave. Not one of them had as many seasons as he in their profession. Azi had been close as a wizard, but was still such a young paladin. Apolexia, almost unrivaled as a smith in the Realm, was very much untried as a mercenary. Jashen, having walked away from his mercenary career, was now a neophyte infiltrator. And Tobyas, earnest cleric who would not be able to call him back to life if there was need.


“Yes, friends, we do it tonight. We should meet again in two hours time, at the Church. There are some tasks to do and take care of first, though.” He quickly laid out what he wanted each to do, moving from person to person with trusting eyes meeting his. Each accept their commands and charges with ease. They were all now galvanized that there would be some action, some assault on this dread woman.


They dispersed through the back entrance to the hall, letting no one know that they were leaving. Azi went directly about her task, while Apolexia sought out the public forge, which was never banked. Under her robe, she had secreted Crispian’s personal sword. A new edge of it he wanted. Lexi was nervous that he had entrusted her with this task.


Jashen and Tobyas headed toward the church, but then split company. Toby was about convincing Nekolia to aid their cause, and Jashen was to observe D’Vena’s lair and then meet them at the church.

 

-----signature-----

Lexi sat at the forge, sharpening Crispian's blade. She was happy Crispian asked her to do this, for now if Azi saw her working the forge she would have an excuse why. Only two hours... not enough time to travel to Benowyc, a place she needed to be at for her craft. Normally she would've left, but she would not leave her sister to face such a threat alone. She had gone along and trained the day before, so she knew how to handle her daggers at least moderatly well... almost cutting off a finger when she fought her first enemy, a pagan druid known as a filidh. She sat down and began to work on the helms she had acquired, waiting for time to pass...

You won't get a bump from me Pontiff!


<stops and goes silent, realizing what he's done, then disappears into ths shadows>

 

-----signature-----

/bump

Azi considered the task before her. It would not be easy to obtain what Crispian asked for. Only the church would have a reliquary of the specifications he asked for, and candles with green, blue, yellow, and red glass would not be easy to come by so late in the day. Holy water and wax candles were easy enough. She pondered the others as she moved through the sleepy streets of Camelot.

 

-----signature-----

Tobyas again mounted the steps to the small chamber were Nekolia lived. The old man had offered aid once before, but how would he feel about being asked for assistance? He only hoped he could convince the old man. He knocked on the door and waited patiently for the answer. He was nervous, he had to admit.


“Come, boy,” the voice called from within. It was uncanny how this man seemed to know what senses could not reveal. With some trepidation, Tobyas turned the handle and entered. “I had a feeling you would come back to me,” the old man said in that thin and reedy voice as milk-filmed eyes met Tobyas’s gaze. “You are about destroying her, aren’t you?”


Tobyas nodded. “Aye, we are,” he said quietly. There was something unsettling about this man, the way he guessed or knew things before Toby could speak of them. “She has hurt some of us badly, and the only way to end it is to kill her.” He did not feel very clerical speaking of killing someone like this, but they knew it was what needed to happen.


Nekolia sighed, a rattled sort of sound. “She was once my greatest pupil, with so much promise.” His gaze wandered to a shelf of bound tomes. “She would train with the Academy teachers and I would tutor her for refinement of her skill. She had such a wonderful touch, so light and guiding. Not at all like what it has become.” A single tear rolled down his pale cheek. He raised a spotted and veined hand to wipe it away. “You seek my aid.”


It was a statement, and Tobyas knew he need not answer. “Yes, we do,” he said, just the same. He felt badly for this old man, a one-time teacher now reduced to a prison-like solitude and his own memories. “If you are able, we would ask it.”


Nekolia let his blind gaze pass over the room. His silence stretched on. “You shall have it, young man.” He rose and groped for a worn staff. “I would ask, though, that you help me change into my proper robe.” He tapped his way to a chest and lifted the lid. Inside, under a plainish cloak, were the magnificent robes of a Master Sorcerer. Not the thread bare, stained robe he wore now.


Without any pretense to modesty, the old man undid the ties of his robe and let if fall into a pool of fabric at his feet. He stepped out of it and waited. Tobyas, feeling incredibly self-conscious, lifted the robe from the chest and rolled it up so that he could slip it over Nekolia’s head. It fell in a perfect draping over his body. He no longer seemed frail or old. The power of a master in his art radiated from him.


After fastening the other pieces of the cloth body armor in place, Tobyas led Nekolia from the room. The old man pulled the door shut and turned a key in the lock. He held the key out toward Toby. “Take this, and give it to the next to take my post, when he does. I shall not return here again.” He spoke so calmly, so plainly resolved to the fact that this battle would kill him. Toby was shaken, but did as the old man bid him. He slid the key into his coin purse.


“How will I know your successor?” he asked as they made their way out of the building.


“You know him already,” Nekolia said as he put his hand on Tobyas’ shoulder and followed him.


The puzzlement settled on Toby at whom the old man meant.