Dota
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Post by Dota on Apr 20, 2011 20:25:51 GMT -5
"...I'm well enough. Nothing short of death is going to stop me."
Ede looked on from the doorway as Scarlette turned to answer.
....was that all you wanted to ask, or did you have more in mind?"
Even with their momentary privacy, this was already showing signs of being just as futile as ever. Ede cast aside making conversation in favor of conserving what little patience it seemed Scarlette still possessed. It would be needed for the journey ahead.
"That is all."
Her response was quiet, but not timid. With that, Ede slowly turned from the doorway, walking back down the hall in her flowing robes. She was simply returning to her seat to finish her breakfast.
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Post by Sakabatou on Apr 29, 2011 18:44:22 GMT -5
Doran returned to his work for a moment, his back to Katrin not to ignore her, but to formulate a response. Doran believed himself a man of sound and thorough cognition, but he was not known for being quick of mind. In conversation, as in battle, he acted on either instant instinct or well thought-out approach; fast planning rarely entered the equation.
After a couple of minutes, he answered, speaking loud enough as to be heard over his hammering.
"It is likely to be a long journey, even while avoiding further... distractions such as this month's tarry. Dangerous, as well. Our encounter with the lizardmen will likely pale in comparison to the weeks ahead."
He glanced behind, trying to gauge the reaction in her eyes.
"I will be honest--I have no intention of ever returning here. Our first destination is Târgşor, in Romania, and the Light knows where else beyond. You need make your own choice on how to proceed. Ours will be a difficult journey, but you may continue alongside us if that is your will."
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Post by Trunks on May 6, 2011 10:31:05 GMT -5
Rayne stopped grooming the horse and walked around to where Doran and Katrin were talking.
" Ours will be a difficult journey, but you may continue alongside us if that is your will."
The rogue came around just as Doran was finishing his talk. She was going to attempt to break the barrier between Doran and herself by joking around with him. Let's hope that he didn't swing the cart at her head.
"And you should Katrin. Anyone that can make Doran swear like that would surely be perfect for our little adventure."
In truth Rayne still had absolutely no idea what they were doing or going for, but she was enjoying herself and figured that this would help get her father out.
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Banette
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STILL Obsessed with Ganon After All This Time
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Post by Banette on May 8, 2011 19:08:00 GMT -5
"I will be honest--I have no intention of ever returning here."
Katrin's heart sunk like a stone. If she were to remain here, then she would never see them again... but she felt so rude, inserting herself into their quest.
She tried to mimimize how much of her disappointment showed in her face -- until, of course, she heard Doran's final sentence.
"...Ours will be a difficult journey, but you may continue alongside us if that is your will."
That meant that he was... inviting her, right? Or, at the very least, that he didn't mind her coming along...
"And you should Katrin. Anyone that can make Doran swear like that would surely be perfect for our little adventure."
Neither did Rayne, apparently. And Ede seemed to be all right with Katrin being around -- she hadn't said anything to the contrary, as far as the blonde knew...
With a moment of silence, Katrin sorted out her thoughts.
She would be with people she could trust (and, she hoped, trusted her in turn)... and it wasn't as though she would be a useless weight. She could hunt with Rayne, or keep watch with Doran...
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she spoke up again.
"Then, if you would allow me to..." She smiled sincerely. "I'd be honored to travel with you."
Ede had left, presumably to tend to some other matter, and left Scarlette to her thoughts.
She had told Ede that she were well enough to travel... but exactly how much of that was Scarlette willing to believe herself?
The red-head was fatigued constantly; except, it seemed, at night, when she wanted to sleep most. After the sun set and the others had gone to sleep, she would find herself pacing about, restless and paranoid. And if she forced herself to lay still, her sleep would be filled with nightmares, sinister voices whispering maliciously into her ears...
There was no way she could tell any of them the truth. She wanted to...
No... she needed to find the Sword of Salvation. She needed to see it for herself, to see that she had not wasted her time...
And until then, voices or no, she would keep her... affliction... to herself.
It was the only way.
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Dota
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Post by Dota on May 10, 2011 16:12:08 GMT -5
Ede returned to her meal, using the time she'd set aside for conversation instead to explore her own thoughts about the trip ahead and their destination as well as who would likely be joining.
Her thoughts extended beyond finishing breakfast, and she began to clean up the area while she assessed the situation. She wrapped the excess fruits in a cloth, and left the bundle on the table to be retrieved before departing. Afterwards, she would head to her own room to gather and pack her belongings in anticipation of their departure. Whether that would be this day or tomorrow when the dawn was fresh once more, she was uncertain. That would be up to Doran.
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Post by Sakabatou on May 28, 2011 19:00:28 GMT -5
Doran stood from his work, appraising it; certainly not professional, but he believed it would hold together, as long as he didn't let Rayne drive. He glanced deadpan at the rogue in response to her "joke," then addressed them both.
"It's late enough in the morning now--let's use today to prepare for the journey. We'll leave with the first ray of dawn tomorrow."
Their final day went quickly, at least to Doran. They were able to collect enough food and water to last at least a few days, if they were stingy. It seemed Scarlette would be continuing with them, even if she seemed to distance herself a little more every day. He was relieved, at least, that she seemed to know the way to their destination--reliable maps were not friendly to a frugal budget.
The night was already a few hours old as he sat out back, gazing up at the stars in silent contemplation. Having spent his entire life in his mountain village, it had felt comfortable--right, even--to stay in one place for the month. He cursed himself for what this delay might mean for his kin, but the most powerful emotion he felt at the moment was some small, wistful regret at having to leave their odd group's erstwhile home.
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Post by Trunks on May 31, 2011 10:51:43 GMT -5
Rayne helped out with everything that she could. When night finally fell she excused herself up to bed and slept, and so soundly that a stampede of horses would have to travel right through her room to wake her up. She felt safe. For the first time in a long time she felt safe from anyone or anything with this group of people that she was traveling with.
Rayne woke just before dawn. With all of her gear ready to go she walked out into the cool morning air and waited for the rest of the group to join her.
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Banette
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STILL Obsessed with Ganon After All This Time
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Post by Banette on Jun 3, 2011 22:51:06 GMT -5
The rest of Katrin's day was spent, for the most part, in a content silence. Everyone was getting ready for their journey onward, so she would have to rush to do the same. (In all honesty, she strongly believed that Doran would be against her joining the party. She was happy to be proven wrong.)
She finished packing her belongings around sunset, and decided to turn in for the night, early though it might have been. Her sleep was restful, and when she awoke in the morning, it was as if she were seeing things in a whole new light.
She walked out to join Rayne outside, smiling as she nodded her head in greeting.
"Good morning, Miss Rayne."
-----
The night went by almost at a crawl for Scarlette. Whenever she closed her eyes, that woman's voice breathed into her ear. She could almost feel the coils of that damned whip around her neck once more, choking the life from her slowly...
After countless failed attempts at sleep, she silently attached her rapier to her hip and walked out into the cold night.
Scarlette leaned against the wall of the building, her eyes dulled from fatigue. Over and over, that woman's taunts echoed in her head, gradually consuming all of the red-head's thoughts until her haughty tone was all that she could hear.
Biting back a scream of desperation, Scarlette turned to the wall and slammed one tightly-balled fist against it, then leaned her head against the rough stone.
"Damn it!" She half-sobbed, her voice sounding like that of someone on the verge of tears. "Even now, you mock me...!" She slipped down to her knees, her head falling against her chest as her hands beat futilely at the wall.
She remained like that, lost in the fatigued void of her mind, until she heard the sounds of someone else leaving the inn. It was dawn already -- she had spent the night fighting off her delusions, it seemed. Slowly, silently, she rose to her feet and walked around to the front of the inn, where Rayne -- and now, Katrin -- were waiting for Ede and Doran to exit the inn.
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Dota
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Post by Dota on Jun 4, 2011 21:53:10 GMT -5
Ede awoke to a sky barely even lit by the unseen sun. She might have been the last to rise by a far more significant stretch of time, had Doran not nudged her out of slumber. Initially (still half-asleep), she dismissed him and rolled away. He persisted, and finally Ede sat up groggily. She nodded to him -- a sign that she would gather her things and be down, if he would like to go on ahead. She collected her belongings, most of which had been packed the night before.
As she hefted her bag, Ede took a last look around the room. She had become accustomed to this place. The room was now a familiar and trusted sight when she woke. Her walk down the hall was most likely the last of its kind, though it had easily become a routine. Her last stop was in the area where they ate their meals. She had the small bundle of fruit to grab. Rayne had often brought back pears to feed them at the inn, of which Ede had found she was quite fond of. She pulled out one for the start of her journey, and tucked the rest in her bag (of course, she'd share if anyone asked).
Ede looked back over her shoulder as she walked out into the fresh air of the new morning. The building sat silent and dark, looking as though it would patiently wait for them to return. Leaving it behind, Ede walked over to join the rest of the party. She nodded and exchanged polite morning greetings, then made ready to leave. When it sat unhitched by the inn, Ede had no feeling of uneasiness regarding the cart. However, now that the reality of having to climb in was before her, she felt a knot in her stomach. Still, she managed to climb into it with a mostly-defiant manner, which wasn't really an accomplishment, since the cart wasn't consciously challenging her in the first place.
---
The sun had already reached its zenith and was well on its way back down to the horizon when the group topped a hill that revealed a new town down the other side, off in the distance. It sat right along the road they were traveling, and Ede expected Doran to announce they would be stopping there.
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Post by Sakabatou on Jun 4, 2011 22:30:50 GMT -5
A quiet sigh--disappointment, or relief?--escaped Doran's lips as they topped yet another small hill, sun halfway to setting, and the first village came into view. Mühle was the name he seemed to recall from information-gathering in their last (disastrous) stopover of a month ago. Indeed, he could see a single prominent waterwheel near town center, no doubt powering the village's namesake gristmill.
It was his turn on foot. Rayne sat at the front of the cart, holding the reins, and Ede was beside her. Katrin and Scarlette were somewhat cramped in the storage area with the group's belongings. He motioned to Ede, who, after a moment's hesitation, dismounted the moving cart with a look of forced determination, but a still-impressive amount of grace. The one trait the young woman seemed unable to lose, no matter the squalid conditions she might be forced into, was her regal grace. He led her a few steps away as they walked, speaking softly.
"I do not like asking this of you, but we make poor time. Buying another horse--two if possible--would cut our travel time significantly."
They had agreed early in their layover to halt his pay; he had convinced her that he was hired to guard her during her travels, but stayed at the inn of his own accord. More difficult had been convincing her not to resume the pay with their journey. He insisted that he was traveling as part of the party now. They each had their own reasons and goals (he would admit as much, though say no more), but they looked out for each other while those goals coincided. Her resources would be much better used keeping them fed.
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