Crispian stalked through the east gate of Camelot much like a storm blowing ashore. His dark expression and hand on hilt moved most people away from him as he walked to the stable man, handing him silver and swinging into the saddle.


"Who does she think she is? Not my mother!" he thought, urging the horse faster and faster as he thundered over the Cotswold gate bridge. Careening through the village, he felt so much resentment rising up toward Mirashta Wynter. He recalled clearly how she doted on Jashen's every little cut or scrape, but Crispian's? Not likely.


"ou need to grow up stronger than he does Crispian," she would say, her eyes glazing slightly. "There is more for you to do sooner."


Bah! What Avalonian muggle that was! He jumped at the West Down, handing the reigns off, and stalked across the plains toward the barrows.


Lara was standing near the entrance, with Hel. Her eyes danced with a wicked mirth. "Care to join us huntin, tin man, or are you too drunk?" she chided.


Crispian threw her a dark look, settling helm on head. "Never that drunk, woman," he snapped.


She laughed. "Fine then, come along if you can!" She entered the Tomb, her lithe form moving with a grace and style most men noticed and women envied. Crispian came behind Hel as he entered.


The Barrows were dark as ever and the gibbering of the damned filled the air. Downward they went, gathering to them Esis and Quott, an old friend to Crispian.


"Is the sot ready?" Lara asked archly.


Crispian just nodded. The Vigilant Soul rushed to meet Esis' shot and Crispian met it with his sword and shield, catching the first blow as he slashed down into the things body. His sword bit deep and true even as the spells flew from Hel and Quott's hands.


As the creature died, he heard the shriek of pain in his mind and gasped. "One of D'vena's," he said aloud.


"What did you say?" Lara barked at him.


He shrugged. "That one was damned by D'Vena," he said casually, not sure how he even knew that.


"Don't say that name," she ordered. Crispian thought to challenge, but something in her manner forbid it.


"Whatever, bring the next!" he barked. Thusly it went for some time, and Crispian fell into bouts of silence and drinking.


After one nasty battle, Esis sat next to the young warrior and smacked his shoulder. "Thanks for blocking that claw slash!" the young saracen said.


"Too cute to let you die," Crispian said offhandly, not even catching the phrase.


"He's married," Lara snapped, "and I ever hear of you interferin with a marriage, you'll dance on my blades." Her voice had dropped to a low hiss.


"The Married and the Dead," Crispian said offhandly, "never touch either. You have no worries."


They fought more, and Crispian drank more. One cask became empty, but he produced another from his heavy pack.


"Don't ye think ye've had enough?" Lara asked, no mirth on her face at all.


"No," he said crossly. Hel sighed heavily of a sudden, and Crispian turned on him. "Whats bothering you?"


"Wife and home," the caster replied.


"Is that all?" Crispian asked, sitting against the wall. "Have we time for a tale?" he asked, looking about. The others nodded, and Lara leaned in closer.


"ou worry about love? And She laughs. She laughs at it all. We love and strive, and she laughs." He grimly finished the tankard. A snarl was on his lips almost.


"Let's kill more," he declared, drawing sword and setting shield, but he felt flat inside.


The death and mayhem continued. Crispian did not even notice when his blows became erratic, his swing a little wide. The mages, Hel and Quott, worked hard to cover the gaps, shooting alarmed looks at Lara when she unstealthed to glare at him.


"Enough of this," she pronounced. "Time for me to seek some sleep." She looked at Crispian, "And for you to find somewhere else to drink," she said as she turned to the others.


"Can we make to the door?" Esis asked, feeling light and delighted from the belt he had acquired from the Vigilant souls.


"Aye, if SHE can find it," Crispian muttered. "Why did we have no cleric with us tonight?" he asked, head swaying slightly. "Damn church, and damn Tobyas," he continued, shutting up when Lara cuffed his helmed.


"If ye can still follow, come on," she ordered and they set off.


Outside, the night was clear. The stars danced. "I'm off to the Downs," Lara commented, taking in the others with a sweep of her eyes. "Any others?"


Crispian settled to the ground, patting it. "Here. I shleep here," he muttered, and slumped passed out on the ground.


_____________


And The Laughter rose in volume. "Close, so close," it hissed.

 

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The two guards leaned against the wall. The prisoner was in a foul mood today, cackling and cursing in turns. The darts hit them both at the same time, right at the nape of the neck. The powerful potion coating the darts put them both to sleep instantly. Ayslyn stepped out of the shadows and walked down the hall, whistling merrily.


The prisoner's head jerked up. She had grown used to the sounds of the dungeon, but she hadn't heard anyone whistling.


"I've been a wild rover for many's the year

I've spent all me money on whiskey and beer

But now I'm returning with gold in great store

And I never will play the wild rover no more


And it's No, Nay, never,

No, nay never no more

Will I play the wild rover,

No never no more "


A face peered into the cell. "Evening there M'lady," Ayslyn quiped. D'vena gaped at him. She heard a jingling of keys and the door opened. Ayslyn slipped into the room and closed the door. He twirled a ring of keys around his forefinger and looked hard at the woman on the floor. "We need to talk."


"I have nothing to say to the likes of thee." she spat at him. She eyed the keys closely. Her fingers curled into claws. She prepared to cast a spell that would bind him to where he stood now. Suddenly bands of force wrapped around her arms, pinning them to her body. She was lifted from the floor. She looked up. Ayslyn stood there, his posture fit for a lord, and he was surrounded by a brilliant white light.


"ou have much to say to me," his voice boomed unnaturaly, filling the room with sound. "ou will tell me all of what you have done to young Crispian, and what you plot against the others." Waves of sound buffeted her, and she still couldn't break free of whatever held her.


"ou can not break the spell."


"Nonsense," he grinned impishly, "That which can be done, can be undone. Now TALK!" He held up one hand and began to make a fist with it. The bands around her chest began to tighten and constrict. It only took her a moment before she told him everything.


"Right then. Good talking with you." he smiled as he opened the door and then locked it behind him. The force holding her up vanished and she dropped unceramoniusly to the floor.


Ayslyn removed the darts from the guards, and poured something down each of their throats. "Sorry about that lads. Needed to chat with the lady. You'll wake in a few moments." And with that, he was gone.


********


Alec looked up as Ayslyn came into the room. "Everything go as planed?" he asked with a grin.


Ayslyn smiled broadly, "up." He removed a necklace, the glow about him vanished. "Love that thing. Loud voice and an aura work wonders when you need to loosen tongues." He removed a ring from his finger and handed it back to Alec. "And that worked beautifully. You should have seen the look on her face when I picked her up." They both laughed.


Alec tossed the necklace into the air and caught it as it descended. "Sometimes, the old tricks work the best." They both grinned and stepped out into the Tir.

 

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D'Vena shook with rage. How DARE he! An Elf! Of all things!


She stomped about her cell muttering under her breath, the occasional giggle escaping her like some demented adolescent.


"Fiat Fiat Lux" she said, fingers all a wiggle and light diffused above her. She smiled. Yes, it came back.


"In Loco Mea Jashenus Pontiffix," she stabbed the ground with a finger. "Fiat!"


And in a terrible surge, the world wrenched and she was in a tavern, with a comely girl upon her lap.


She stood, dumping the girl to the ground and rose.


With a smirk, she walked into the night.

Alec tossed a srcying crystal to Ayslyn as they walked. "It appears as though we have annoyed her." He grinned.


Ayslyn peered into the crystal and chuckled. "It does at that. She's not as entertaining as Rose was." Alec gave a short bark of laughter. "This is good though. She was already half mad. Now that she is angry enough, hopefully she will begin to make mistakes. Lets bide a bit. We wouldn't want to do anything stupid. Remeber the hags?"


Alec snickered. "ou're an evil evil man Ayslyn. Here's hoping I never get on your bad side."


Ayslyn grinned at him. "No worries there my friend." He tossed the crytal in the air and chuckled as he plucked it back.

 

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Crispian groaned, clutching his head as he rolled to his knees, then stood up. The world took a tip but he remained upright. He also kept this stomach down.


Elves, Aunts and Taverns. God, what was going on? He stumbled a few steps, fell, and got up again. Slowly, he made his way to West Downs.


Master Gerol scowled at his plea for healing. "ou're a drunkard and I have no cure," he snarled at Crispian.


Miserable, Crispian shuffled to the stables and found a clean enough stall, falling asleep again against the far wall. He did not even notice when Tannir appeared, placing a clean blanket over him and order some simple food stuff be placed at hand.

 

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A hard night’s sleep in armor made Crispian stiff when he awoke. The basket of foods Tannir had arranged broke his fast, but he thought not about the squire. He took horse again to the south, thinking to be safe there, or at least alone.


Cornwall was a worn place to him, so the Retreat was his thought. Arienne was a member of the League, so he thought to impose on the Lord’s hospitality, knight to knight of course. Dismounting at the road, he followed the carefully laid path across on the sodden ground. Musing to the trial that had been here some time ago, he grinned.


Jathon being tried, and Arguyle testifying. Bold, and AH that pig farmer! What a bragart! That loud mouthed commoner!


So absorbed in thought was he, that he almost walked into a small knot of people at the bridge. “Hail Cousin,” Lynis called, smacking Crispian back. With a start, Crispian pulled up.


“Lynis! Hail,” he said, gathering his wits quickly. “And Achou!” Seeing the young Saracen surprised Crispian a bit.


“And two member Leaguers, Kayspon, a minstrel, and Tobyas, a cleric of the church.” Lynis motioned to include the two standing near to them.


Crispian marshalled up his best manner and bowed to each, smiling. “Greetings Brother Kayspon, and Brother,” he stopped, looking into green-hazel eyes he had seen once before, the glint of coppery hair peaking out from under a small leather cap, “Tobyas, is it?”


Tobyas met his look, feeling his heart speed. He had only come south the day before to hunt, and here he came face to face with the young Lord. He bowed, “Aye, it is.”


Lynis smiled, pleased that Crispian had finally been pinned into doing some Seneschal duties again. “We are off to clear the lake shore of quicksands. Seems they have popped up again,” he said, stroking his blond gotee. Tobyas noticed that next to each other, Crispian was indeed short, barely coming to Lynis’ shoulder. And he looked much younger than his accolades.


“Hmm? Hunting? Well, good luck to you,” Crispian said, bowing to each again and headed quickly for the tower.

 

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Laraleloth watched the scene with interest. From the shadows she watched the meeting between Crispian and his guild mates. She had not missed the look that had been shared between the cleric and Crispian. It was slightly reassuring to see. Lara had followed the arms man after leaving the Barrows. Keeping in shadow so as not to be seen in his rare sober moments. She shook her head. His fighting had shown flashes of brilliance before the drink had weighed down his movements. She had been unusually harsh with him hating to see such skill sullied by drink. Furious when his inebriation had threatened the safety of her friends Heladus and Kelvyn. Thinking of Kelvyn made her smile to herself. Not that he needed any protecting.


Turning her attention back to Crispian she wondered what was wrong with him. He almost had the demeanour of a charmed sorcerers pet at times, at others surly and terrified, and of course drunk. She wasn’t sure which of these three was the real Crispian or if any of them were. Regardless, he needed help, which was obvious. Hoping she wasn’t in over her head; Lara settled down to see where he went next.

Crispian crossed the causeway to the Retreat and paused on the steps. It would be easy to head up. He was known to the Lord, but something stopped him. Abribald had a reputation for hating the Shadow Guild professions and for some reason that bothered Crispian greatly. Finally, he turned and descended the stairs, crossing the large clearing toward Outlaw's Landing.


Looking out over the water was a new venue for him, and Crispian indulged it. The cool soothing wash of the waves into the shore distracted him even as he bought some wine. The Marsh Wine was sweet but palatable. He vaguely recalled having good taste in wines.


The bustling activity of the people at the landing was pleasant to watch. Some of the shoremen were handsome, in their way. After two glasses of wine, he paused, then bought three bottles and went to sit on the shore, changing first into plain breeches and a tunic, walking barefoot and looking more like a farmer lad than a warrior with 41 campaings behind him and leader of a Guild of 100 souls.


He watched the morning wain into afternoon, sipping at the wine with a fair steadiness. Hints of green and copper in the scenery made him think of Tobyas, and hints of gold or blue made him think of the League.


Steadily, the wine went down, and Crispian was napping on the sands by late afternoon.

 

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Lara unstealthed beside the sleeping Crispian. Shaking her head at him silently she surveyed the scene.


Grinning mischievously she decided to teach him a lesson. She picked up his armour and wandered off down the beach to wait.

(*snerk* Yer evil lass. evil.)

 

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