Jashen had been very busy at work that day, so it was not that ignored Arcalan's greeting, just that he was hard pressed for the time to reply when he wanted to due to some issues arising with those who worked under him and could not format a simple Excel report for the Guild Vice President who REALLY wanted it that day, by 5 PM.


Sorry RL and Online collided there.


/bump

 

-----signature-----

/bump cuz I'm back..

/bump cause lexi is thrilled to see azi back =)))

WOOHOO !

Me Fair Lady Azaeli is back!! <big smile>


<I guess consider this a bumpeth>


<hey Lexi, is this sig ok...ye said ye wanted somethin there >

Jashen smiled cautiously at Arcalan and bowed slightly. His leather armor was still taking some getting used to, but he was still very adept with the twin blades he carried.


"Madame Seneschal," he said in a neutral tone. "I was a bit surprised to recieve word you wished me to accompany you into Lyn Barfog. I pray that I may be of some service?"

 

-----signature-----

"I hope so" she smiled.. how could anyone think Crispian and he were twins? The resemblance was slight at best, and Jashen had taken the basic features and gotten the best deal with them. Compared to him Crispian was perhaps of the same mother, but sired by a Kobold.

"We're to set off to discover a little more about where Apolexia came from.. quite a web of lies she's been spinning for us. I want to put an end to it, and since Crispian and I are on much better terms these days I didn't think you'd object to a little company?" she raised an eyebrow.


Horses were not wise given the terrain so they had to move by foot. As they walked Arcalan made pleasent conversation about the League and the fine weather. Jashen remained a little distant, and she was aware of the ice between them.


The eyes of King Smugluk of the goblins looked down upon them from his fortress, but as a war party prepared to swoop upon these humans he stayed them with a gesture.. "Look at tha' one!" he motioned at the Cabalist "She's tha' one what Tepok was tarking to. Eh lads let 'em pass. It's not worf tha' trubble"


The two passed below without incident wandering into the long valley that led to Llyn Barfog.

Arcalan turned to Jashen as it grew dark and said "There's an old guard tower upon that hill, I cleared it's former occupants out myself, after they terrorised the people of this region. We could make camp up there perhaps? In the morning we can seek the one called Basaia and Lexi's cousin Anni. I don't know if there will be trouble with them, but let's not go into this blindly eh?"


As they reached the tower she produced a bottle of the wine she'd brought. "Care for some while the golem gets the fire going and sets up camp?"

Jashen smiled lazily. Arcalan was a cagey one, indeed. He hoped she would continue her practice of wantonly disregarding the depth of bond between twins, as she seemed want to do.


"Aye, some wine would be good," he said quietly, setting down his packs and instinctively checking his weapons. He had found that life was not really that different from mercenary to infiltrator, although he did miss his short bow.


"So, what is it with you and Lexi, anyhow?" he asked, settling against his pack and accept the offered wine. "I know she's about as mature as a ten-year old, and has that nasty temper habit, but why does she irk you so?"


His keen gray eyes missed very little of anything and he had catalogued quite a bit today already. More of this puzzle was constantly coming to the foreground and filling in information he already had. He sipped at the wine, having waited until Arcalan had some first, and waited.

 

-----signature-----

"I honestly don't know Jashen. I think it's because she is so very defiant.. a bit like me. She won't back down, but nor will I. I grew up a slave, I grew from harsh hands and beatings, and I defied them always. Lexi has talent, but even when I stretch the hand of friendship" she ignored the slight look of disbelief that passed over Jashen's face "she bites." She sipped her wine and thought some more. She felt honestly that now all their fights were behind them she was closer to Jashen. SHe liked him better now.. perhaps because they were no longer opposed? Hmm, much like Lexi...bah, no, she wasn't like that spoilt little brat at all.

"If we can reign her temper in and get her to grow up a little she could be a fine addition to the League. As she stands she's a drain, a burden and a hassel. You never know what she'll do next. I think in Barfog we'll uncover more about her, and besides all that I don't like being lied to." she smiled and looked away shyly, discarding an odd thought that just popped into her head. This was certainly a potent wine.. perhaps she should be sparing with it.

A voice called to her in the back of her mind, a cold empty voice, but she pushed it away. She could do the Master's bidding tommorow, but not now.. she just wanted a little time as a League member with a friend. She smiled and turned back to Jashen "Why did you come out here Jashen? I mean, what are you really thinking about all this" she gestured with a tad less grace than an Avalonian should have and almost swept the bottle over the edge of the wall. The fire blazed warmly and the sim stood flickering red in the firelight, a velvet blueblack sky behind it, with only tiny points of light, like gems, to break the vast silky horizon.

Jashen chuckled as Arcalan spoke. He wondered if *she* even believed all the twists she put on topics. "Why did I come out here?" He thought for a moment as he sipped at the wine.


"Well, I guess the first reason," he speculated, looking out to the night sky, "is Crispian. He still doesn't fully trust you, and you know I'll be telling him everything that happens, right?" His grinned widened a bit at the mock shock that Arcalan managed.


"Secondly, well, you can only do so much in the swamps. I've heard about Barfog, but never have been out here. Cris has been, ya know. Quite a few times now. He even brought back a ruby goblet that he gave me." He smiled again.


"I guess, last of all, to find out more about Lexi. It seems she has so much, I dunno, anger, pain, rage-- all tied up inside. And in someone that young...it's sad, really." He threw back the last of the wine and refilled his cup. "I thought it was bad growing up as orphans, ya know. I mean, Auntie Mir is a wonderful woman, and I love her like a mother, but there was always that doubt...What were mom and da like, ya see. I thought that was a hurtful way to grow up. Then I met Toby, and Lexi. I realize now there are much worse way to be grow up."


"And now you, with a sad past you hide away from everyone." He sipped at his wine again. "I suspect you're mean outwardly in part due to that."

 

-----signature-----

She managed a look of real shock "Mean?!" she pouted first so he could see the expression then turned on her heel and grinned with her back to him. "Jashen Pontiff, you really know how to pay a lady compliments!" she couldn't supress the giggly quality her voice seemed to have adopted since that third glass.

"Well, I never expect Crispian to trust me. He thinks I'm mean too it seems. I keep my past to myself because, well, it's the past. I don't think people would enjoy hearing my story, and I don't think I'd enjoy dragging it all up again. it's not who I am ... anymore.. anyway" she gazed off into the night and tried to picture what father had looked like again. The only image that came to her head with her Master's face.. but it was framed in a childhood memory, as though he'd been there, in place of her father.. she turned to Jashen again.

"We won't be able to hunt much I'm afraid, we don't have a lot of time, but I'll be glad to show you the Afanc and a few choice spots to hunt in should you return another day." she sighed "That is if Crispian doesn't bring you back up here. I suppose you'd prefer him to show you" she sulked "Well that's alright with me. We'll not have far to go tommorow, but the gods only know where this Basaia is... he could be dead by now for aught we know."