/agrees with Heline

Landric hurried across the road and up Thrennoadae's front steps, pausing as always to admire the lion sculptures that guarded the entrance. He set the Book of Vows down and off to the side, the linen bookmark marking yet another passage for the lady to consider -- this one he'd found in the Highlands and it had just enough nature references that it just might work for her. Landric stood up and smiled.


He turned and hopped off the stoop with one motion, bumping right into -- of all people -- Predian's brother, who had just come running around the garden corner. Landric never gave much thought to Predian's brother, except on those occasions when their paths crossed.


The two clerics backed up and eyed each other for a second.


"Good day to you, Kaidric" said Landric.


"Landric" said Kaidric with a slight bow of his head.


There was an awkward pause as Landric had the usual "Oh my God how he has changed" thoughts which drowned out all attempts to think of something polite to say. When he realized how long the pause had become, Landric cleared his throat and said "Well" as he started to cast spells upon Kaidric, calling down the Archangel's Power and Dexterity and Holy Guard upon him.


Before the aura of his final cast had faded, Landric realized that he'd probably not done the right thing. He tried to fix things by blurting out "ou'll smite faster now!" which sounded better in his head than it did out loud.


Landric just gave up, blurting out "I think I'm late!" as he ran across the path in a beeline to his front door, practically breaking it down in an effort to get inside quickly.


/OOC BUMP I need to know more of the story! I am more than a little concerned.

Another /bump back up..

/awaits more of the tale with much concern

(Posted as conceived by both Pred & I)


***


“OCH! That hurt.. bugger it,” came the growl from the cleric as a stubborn bit of wire sunk into her thumb. Grumbling to herself, she pulled the offended digit up, and sucked on it, tasting a hint of blood. With a muttered oath, she kicked away the chain, letting it land on the other bench. All about her, bits of metal, wire and leather pieces were strewn as she was practicing her skills in armor crafting. Pushing a few stray locks of hair back behind her ears, she rubbed her thumb against her old blouse, sighing as yet another stain was added to the material. “Good thing I ne’er wear this anywhere.” She chuckled as she poked her fingers through the holes in the kilt.


Pulling a piece back to her lap, she brought out the heavy iron pliers and started to work on the chain links when she heard the knock at the door. “Come in,” she called out, eyes intent on the sleeves. She could see the door open and shut, and a pair of booted feet in the corner of her eye as she said, “Just ha’e a seat hon, be with ye in a moment.” The feet moved over, and then she heard Kaidric’s voice.


“Hello sister.”


A soft chill set into her into her spine, grasping hold of her. The flesh of her shoulders crept as she lifted her gaze up to meet his. “Hello Kaidric,” she forced out. His dark brown eyes were not waiting for hers though, as they shifted up and down her figure under its mismatched clothing. She resisted the urge to cross her arms over her chest as she added, “What is it ye need?”


“My armor needs repaired, I was hoping you could help.”


“Aye, I can do that.. Just remo’e it and put it there on the bench. I’ll.. um.. call ye ta come get it when its done…” She knew she didn’t want him lingering around, not the way he’d been acting lately.


“No, that’s alright. I can wait.”


Inwardly she shivered, and yet outwardly she forced herself to nod. Laying down the bit she was working on, she moved over to her supply cabinet, and started to pull out the bits of arcanium she’d need to repair his armor. Behind her, she could hear him moving and shifting as he shed the heavy chain.


“You know, my brother is a lucky man, twice over in fact,” he said, his eyes roaming her backside. The thin, well-worn kilt barely hid the curves of her hips as she bent and moved gathering the items she needed.


His tunic clinked to the ground, and he shifted to unfasten the arms, his eyes still roaming her figure. The long golden hair was bound up in a quick braid, and his fingers suddenly itched to wrap themselves in it.


“Bah.. Pred and I are in lo’e.. hes the lo’e o’ m’life,” she said softly, hoping to guide the conversation to her husband to be.


“Yes, but you are a prize worthy of a better man than my brother,” he replied, and another bit of chain dropped to the floor. Her fear grew as she fumbled a bit with the items, causing one container to spill. Long thin wires went scattered across the shelf as she tried to pick them up. The sound of more chain hitting the floor behind her thudded through her with each impact on the wooden boards of the floor.


“Kaidric, perhaps this is a bad time…” she began to say, as she turned around. A scream froze in her throat as he stood directly in front of her. One of his hands lifted, catching her neck in his powerful grip, closing off her air before the sound could even hiss forth. The items in her hands tumbled carelessly to the floor as he pushed her back against the shelf.


“No sister, now is the perfect time,” and his other hand lifted. Her blue eyes grew wide with fright as he clasped the soft material of her blouse, and ripped it hard with downwards, exposing the soft fullness of her breasts. She began to thrash at him, as he leaned in, and his lips closed about her nipple.


With a scream, she sat bolt upright in bed, sweat pouring off her as she struggled for air. Hands flailing as she pushed and shoved at Predian as he woke and tried to comfort her from her nightmare. With shaking, shuddering sobs, she finally realized it was a horrible dream, a nightmare and she clung to Predian as he cooed softly to her, rocking her gently. He had no inkling of what the dream was, only that it had frightened her terribly. Eventually, she drifted back to sleep, held tightly by her love as he kissed her temple softly. The dream faded from her memory, as many dreams did.


**


Several houses away, tucked neatly back against the hill of Rylestone, Rhalm woke with a start as she heard Kaidric thrashing upstairs in his bed. She crept to the stairs, with thoughts of waking him out of it, when she heard his moans.


Unable to make out what he said, she slipped up the stairs, and found him thrashing and moaning to himself, naked except for the bedsheets that were twisted about his thighs.


Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she moved back to her bed, firmly bolting the door of her bedchamber as she went.

She was kneeling in the garden, wearing just an old smock, hair haphazardly thrown into some braid and wrapped up out of her way. A smudge of dirt smeared one cheek yet she was humming happily to herself as she was content in replanting a particular flower bed. “Twas too much yellow,” she muttered to herself again, bringing out a few blue and violet pansies to add to the design she was working. It was the shape of a Celtic knot, and she was pleased with how it was coming.


“Hello Threnn.”


She turned and grinned over at Redhame, gesturing with her shoulder to the nearby bench.


“Morning there,” Threnn replied, “How are ye taday?”


“I’m fine, I suppose.”


Threnn nodded and continued her planting, knowing Red would speak as she wanted. The crotchety friar had warmed up to her a lot over the past weeks, and she truly was enjoying her company, though it could be frustrating at times. She was a lover of perfection, as much as Threnn herself was. And perfection was not an easy master.


“I hate to be the one to tell you this,” she suddenly blurted out to Threnn. The words caught her, and she turned to gaze up at Redhame. “But there is something wrong with Predian.”


“What… do ye mean?”


“You don’t hear him wheezing for breath during each fight, even though Milric’s chanting away for our endurance. You don’t see him flinch and try to hide it. You don’t notice the weakness of his blows and the pain etched on his face. I can’t help but see it, and there is something wrong.”


Threnn grew silent, dirt covered fingers falling to her knees. What could be wrong? Her heart began to hammer in her chest, full of worry.


Redhame sighed a bit, and leaned over to comfort Threnn, “I’m sorry Threnn, but maybe whatever it is can be fixed.” But the cleric’s mind was already distracted with what it might be, what could be wrong, and how she would cure it.


“Aye.. I think I need ta go clean up.. Thank ye Red… thank ye..” she threw the words over her shoulder as she wandered up her porch and into the house. Redhame nodded, understanding and more than a bit concerned herself. She glanced at Threnn’s unfinished work, the flowers that would wilt and die if left in their current state and grumbled to herself.


“Silly woman,” she muttered as she knelt and carefully moved the plants to a bit of shade so they’d keep. She stared at the bed a few moments longer, then looked at the house Threnn had disappeared into. With a loud ‘hmph’ she knelt down and finished out the pattern the cleric had been working on, and added a touch of her own. The brilliant red pansies didn’t look TOO out of place. Dusting off her hands on her thighs, she walked back to her own home in Rylestone, chuckling to herself.

<cheers wildly>


Well done, excellent writing you two.

<whistles through his teeth>


Amazing writing you two! KEEP IT UP!

"I'm sorry Predian, we cannot help you." The Archwizard stated matter of factly.


"There must be something. My family has extensive resources; I can get anything that is needed." Quickly losing hope in a cure, the friar replied.


"Predian, our resources here at Lethantis are vast, but they only cover the legitamate arts; Sorcerery, Wizardry and the ancient magics. The ailment you have is not of nature, which is why your druidic wife could not cure it of her daughter. It is not within the knowledge of the church or of true magic. It's dark. Not covered by our texts here."


"It must be covered somewhere. You are telling me it cannot be beaten, but even a fierce savage has weakness."


"It's not covered by our texts here...but there are other sources of magic. Dark magic, such that is wielded by shaman; or closer to home, by cabalists. You have one such cabalist in your own guild, a twisted soul by the name of Dartel."


The wizard handed Predian a slip of paper, with the name Dartel written on it as well as a few points of reference for the cabalist to research. Predian gladly took it and headed back to his guild hall, in search of Dartel.


He did not have a strong relationship with the odd Cabalist. Predian never trusted dark magics and always suspected the worst of Dartel. Still, he was an ally and fought for Albion, so in that he was redeemed.


After a few hours journey, Predian arrived. Only Rharan, his trusted officer and noble paladin, occupied the hall. Word was spreading that Norse forces had penetrated Hadrian's Wall. Without so much as a word, Predian and Rharan nodded at each other and headed out to try to help.


The trip from Sauvage to Hadrian's was a treacherous one, but one intensely familiar to the two friends. They took a route east of Boldiam to avoid roaming bands of enemies. As they neared Erasleigh, Predian turned to Rharan, "Rharan..." His voice faded. His body slowly stumbled forward, dropping his weight onto his knees, then falling face forward into the ground, his body was no longer moving.

Morning Bump!!!