"It was in the robe of Tashtego's assailiant, whomever that was," he said quietly. "And Hecathia thought it important enough to steal, which annoyed Arcalan enough for her to kill someone."


He sighed. "I am tired of her, and tired of this. Since neither of them are going anywhere it seems, I have decided to."

 

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Azi frowned. Something was very wrong here. This was not the Crispian she knew, to resign himself so easily and leave the guild in the hands of those who would destroy it. Suddenly, she was not worried, or concerned, but angry. No, furious. Her fist clenched around the key and she stared at Crispian with a look that would have even suprised herself.


"ou are Seneschal, and a leader, and you would leave your loyal family behind this way? When they need your strength most of all? That is not the Crispian I know." Her nostrils flared as her lips tightened with anger. "Get them gone from the League, remove thier names from the roster! You have the power to do that! If you abandon all that you have worked so hard for, then they will have won. Don't you see? You are the heart of the League, and in getting you gone, they have succeeded.." Her eyes narrowed at her effort to keep her voice down.

He smiled down at her. One of the few people he could do that to. His voice was calm as he replied. "Who will they hate if I am gone, hm? They are so concerned about deciet, they fear to fall out of practice." He lifted the key from Azi's hand. "And they'll come after this, I am sure." He looked north with a smirk. "I am sure."


He laughed suddenly. "Did you think I really thought I could hide? I am the shortest blond knight in the realm, saving you, my friend." His smile spread more. "Besides, Arcalan will want to be in control of this," he held up a small leather pouch, "sooner or later."


He dropped it into a pouch and closed it. "Then she can come find me. And I have a surprise or two in store if she does."


He smiled a wicked little smile. "So, care to hunt?"

 

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Abandoning her plated armour, her blade Penitent and the thin, silvered tiara which rested for many years upon the crown of her head, Anikka Winterborne stepped from her chambers and gave Drusse a gentle smile.


Anikka began to softly speak, "Woman, you have eased a great burden off my shoulders. For many a winter, I have bore watch over these lands, over these peoples...my cousin, I now hand my gilted throne to you."


Drusse, the woman of Barfog, gave a disconcerted smile as she looked towards her predecessor with sympathy and remorse. She had long aided the Baroness in her times of need; as a trusted consort, as a friend, as a loyal follower and as a cousin. Many a time had Drusse stood in for Anikka within Camelot's courts; their faces so alike that not even their Uncle Ulfwych could tell the difference at times.


Though Drusse knew Anikka would do this....and she was prepared to take the mantle of leadership.


Anikka, wiping a single tear from the crease of her eye, she passed a final look to her cousin, to her lands and to Swanton.


Anikka left a commoner, to never hold the throne again and to start anew in Albion.

The figure took Ilara threw the darkness. Once a safe distance away, he set her down. Ilara looked at the strange figure, now coming to out of her sleep. "Who are you?" she asked.


Giving a bow, he spoke: "Ah, Lady Ilara, you are not an easy one to track I see." the cloaked figure replied.


"Ilara, my name is Hecathia Daiga."


"Daiga... funny, your last name is that of my master's, cept backwards..." smiling at her.


"our... master's?"


"es, my master Leonidas Agiad, your father I do believe. I have been searching for you for a long long time... over ten years now."


"ou knew my father?"


"es young Mistress. My name is Dannindas. I was your father's main man, till he was murdered that one night."


"es... my sister Tlara..."


Dannindas waved a hand in dismissal. "That is in the past Mistress. I came to find you, hoping you would take your rightful place as heir over our lands. We need you to lead our men in combat, against the Greek uprising. It has been difficult since your father passed."


"I cannot leave, I have business here."


"Business here Mistress?"


"es, there is one of whom I was helping. My road to power is here, in Camelot! Not in my homelands of Greece!"


The figure looked at his young Mistress. Kneeling down, he took out his sword and offered it to her. "Mistress, I control a small group. Not as grand as your army in Greece, for we are under attack by the rebellious slaves... but I offer you my and thier services." as he gestured to ten men cloaked behind her. "Just tell us what to do, and it shall be done Mistress."


Ilara scratched her chin, sitting down for the pain on her leg was forcing her to, she continued to speak to Dannindas. "Very well, but we must move quickly. Send out a note to an Arcalan Hemlos, alert her to your presence. You will obey any order she gives. I must go into hiding for now, tell her where I am, and I await word. You have a scroll on you?"


"I do Mistress" handing Ilara a scroll.


Ilara quickly wrote a message to Arcalan, informing her of the situation and her failure to complete her task. Wrapping up the scroll, she gave it to Dannindas. "Give this to your best man, and hurry, we are losing time."


Dannindas nodded, walking over to one of his men, he gave him the scroll, and he disappeared. "Now... Dannindas, let us go, it is not safe here."

OOC:

"I liek Jellybeans" to this


/end thread.

OOC: Oh NO you don't, my friend! Intregue flows both ways! Maybe Arcalan needs to worry about Crispian going Turtle on her for a change there!


/ooc off

 

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(no message)

Azi smiled, still unsure whether that had been Crispian's intent all along, or whther he had just thought of it.


"I shall be glad of a hunt, I haven't been out since before feast day." She pulled her helm from her pack and set it on top of her head, nodding toward the south. Azi welcomed the warmth of the sun on her back as the two made thier way down the steep slope toward the lake.


"Crispian, I wonder if you know.. What do you suppose that key opens? What would Lexi have that would be so important to them?"

He looked serious for a moment. " I don't know. But Arcalan will come looking soon, I am sure."

 

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