A Prayer for the Road that Leads

[Trippy Hare]

Barax and Nura left Saparte the next morning without incident, though his parents gave them both plenty of well-intentioned teasing. Barax had decided to sleep on the floor and give Nura the bed, as it struck him as unfair otherwise. Breakfast consisted of omelets, made with fresh eggs and some of the leftover vegetables from the night before. Kya packed them a fair number of potatoes, and a whole bonnieberry pie, which she had carefully wrapped in a hat box to keep it from getting crushed. "Don't be a stranger, lass," Corben said, giving Nura a hug. "And you- lighten up, will ye? Life isnae as serious as ye like te think," he added, giving Barax a firm handshake- before pulling him in for a hug. "ye aren't too old te give yer old man a hug, boy."

Kya burst into tears as the sight of them, and pulled Corben and Barax in for a soppy hug. "Oh, don't worry dear, I wouldnae want ye te feel left out," she added wistfully, before giving Nura a hug as well. "Ye come back anytime, alright?"

The day had dawned bright and cloudless, and quickly grew intensely hot. As Barax was not entirely sure where the plantation was, he kept about half a pace behind Nura for the day's travels. They had passed several loaded wagons as they marched- none of which seemed to take notice of them in the least. "See? It's working. And besides, it would be better- given the purpose of our journey- if passerby didn't know what brings us here. Word travels fast, and it wouldn't do any good if the men at the plantation knew a woman- with a full writ from the King and a Templar at her side- were on her way," Barax said, chuckling softly. Nura was wearing Maya's forgotten dress- much to her own chagrin. She had protested at first, but Barax had remained firmly resolute on this matter, much to his own amazement.

In the end, he had resorted to phrasing it as an order, and Nura had relented. Even still, he had reassured her that the best way to ensure their safety was to be as visible as possible, as nobody would question them if they had a plausible appearance. "Even Ma had agreed that dress looked better on you then in the closet," he added, unsure of just how far to press the issue. On the one hand, he'd definitively won the argument- on the other, he had to resort to acting the part of the jailer, which he despised doing. "If it would put you at ease, perhaps we can stop in Cormorac later, and ask her in person."

Nura shot him a look, then reminded him that it was Tara who lived in Cormorac, not Maya. Barax chuckled, "Oh, that's right. It gets hard to keep track sometimes."

***

"I did as you asked, my Lord. But there were none worthy of bringing here. The townspeople speak of a Templar, who intervened in the assault and felled the attackers before they could do any real harm," Calasi whispered, gazing up at the impassive face of the Lich with a gleam in her eyes and a knot in her throat. She did not like failing him, especially in such a simple task as bringing to him the unjustly taken. She could feel his presence in her mind- a presence that carried a faint trace of disappointment. A question formed itself wordlessly and shapelessly into her thoughts. "No, my Lord. The filth who saw fit to attack the innocent rot where they lay. I would not desecrate these halls with their worthless remnants."

The Lich nodded his approval, but spoke not a word. There was no need, as his mind was linked to hers- and to all the others, to whom he had bestowed a second life. Most remained here, in the festering ruins that served as his capital. But some had enough of their own thoughts that they could leave- and these few provided him with insight into the goings on of the outside world. In turn, he provided them with direction- there was much work to be done, and with so few outside his walls, he would need them to be diligent in their duties.

Calasi was an exception, in so many ways. To her, the Lich had assigned the task of collecting the innocent victims of violent crimes, so that he might give them a chance at justice, or vengeance, or whatever they sought to call it. The ebb and flow of the essence of life pulsed through the very Earth itself- and the Lich, even here in his corrupted capital, could read that pulse. It was how he knew where the innocents lost were, and how he knew where to dispatch Calasi.

Yet, she had returned with surprising news- a Templar had somehow appeared at the precise time necessary to avert tragedy. Templars made the Lich uneasy- he could not read them, nor had he any minions strong enough to face them. He had dispatched a few spies to study the Templars, and ascertain their strengths and weaknesses- but most troubling of all, these adepts had vanished from his mind-link. That meant they had been destroyed, and there were precious few things that could truly destroy the work of his undead hands.

"This does not bode well,"[/b] said a presence that filled her mind. It had no sound, and no voice, for the Lich seldom spoke. His mind-link was far more effective than mere words- though to Calasi, his mind had a smooth, deep quality. It reminded her of hearing the waves crash against the shore- inexorable and eternal. "It is unsettling, that the eyes of the eternal should fail to see the arrival of a metal encased mortal."

Calasi nodded, though she could not understand what the Lich truly meant. The extent of his abilities was a mystery, one she did not care to ever see answered. The thought of seeing him angry filled her with an icy dread, much as the thought of seeing him pleased filled her withered heart with a strange warmth.

"Perhaps it was mere chance that he strayed across my path- but perhaps not. I must know for certain- and you shall be my instrument. Go, find the Templar, and return when you know all that he knows. Above all, do not let yourself be seen- I can ill afford another failure."

Calasi bowed, wordlessly agreeing to her master's command. A circle of yellow light drew itself around her, and a moment later she had vanished. The Lich trusted in her skill as a tracker, since he himself could not sense the presence of metal-encased Templars. He had sent her back to the village- the one that the pulse of the earth had told him would come under heavy attack by rogues, yet had been spared that fate. A split second later, Calasi's thoughts entered his mind-link, assuring she had arrived safely.

The Lich acknowledged, before shifting his attentions elsewhere. He had much to do, too much to spend all his time focused on her. Calasi was a very capable woman, and did not need his supervision. Confident in his lieutenant's capacity to complete the task at hand, the Lich left her to her work, and cut the mind-link.

***

Barax and Nura set up their camp a few hours' march away from the next village. Though it was a bit of an irritation, he could not help but think of the first town they had come across- had they pushed forward and stayed in the village that night, they would not have been there to fight off the bandits the next day. Barax was not a particularly superstitious man, but neither did he simply ignore the precedent set so early in their travels. As Nura had said, they were not pressed for time, so it did not matter much when they arrived.

After finishing maintenance on his armor, Barax set out to gather fuel for the campfire. Some of the seasonal ponds had dried in the sun, leaving flotsam in their wake. This flotsam tended to burn rather well, and was light enough to carry easily. Happy with his find, Barax headed back to camp. He was looking forward to devouring the pie his mother had given them- yet when he arrived, he found Nura eating from a satchel full of blackberries, that she must have picked in Saparte and somehow kept safe from getting crushed. Her horse kept nuzzling at her insistently, which usually made Nura feed her a blackberry. Barax grinned- watching her and her horse, it almost seemed plausible that she could talk to animals. He wasn't entirely sure if he believed that or not, but sometimes it seemed likely enough.

"I don't suppose I could have some, too?" Barax asked playfully. "Though I'm not sure it would be appropriate to nuzzle for it."

[Deva]

Deva was not angry, just.......less than happy, thanks to a rather skilled Templar. However, considering the caliber of bandits he just fought, maybe they were just terrible fighters, he didn't really care, he just knew that things didn't turn out the way they were supposed to.

As he peered at the massacre from a nearby rooftop, his hair suddenly stood on end, something evil was here, something...not living.

Clenching his fists for what he felt was an inevitable conflict, Deva was confused when that feeling he got just vanished. Whatever was there, wasn't anymore, but it still made him feel uneasy.

Setting his eyes back on the deceased, his mind went into tracker mode. The location and direction of the bodies, their positions, the collateral damage. All of this was taken into account so Deva could discover where his new prey were headed.

After a few minutes, he had his answer, but he had to let the clan know his plan of action. Holding his left arm out Deva put his thumb and the index finger of his right hand in his mouth, then he blew, producing a sharp and loud whistle.

Waiting a few moments, his sharps eyes caught sight of a brown speck against the blue sky, his pet falcon Talon spotted him and dove, leveling out and slowing down in time to land gently on his masters arm.

Gently rubbing his pet on the head, Deva pulled out the small piece of parchment he'd written his report on. Talon held still as Deva put the parchment in the leather pouch on his back, then nudged for a treat.

Pulling out a piece of dry jerky, Deva held it for Talon to take. Once he did, he whispered in his ear as he always did, "fly true my friend", then he threw him into the air, knowing that his message would be delivered in short order.

Once he was sure Talon was on his way, Deva jumped off of the roof, then he began the hunt, taking off at full speed, following the trail that the Templar and the girl left behind.

You could tell how good someone was at their job from their ability to improvise, Deva was an assassin, an assassin whose mission was to stop the group of bandit's that the Templar had decimated.

Since he could no longer fulfill his primary objective, Deva decided to follow the duo, for now he would make no moves, aggressive or otherwise, but he would follow until he caught up with them, then he would keep up with them until he got further orders.

Once he was on the trail, Deva broke into a trot, he would catch up with his quarry soon enough, and when he did, he would watch and wait.

[VecaVjestica]

Nura tried to reason with Barax, but when the morning came, she was wearing the beautiful green dress his sister left behind (an unwanted gift Nura wasn't allowed to choose whether she would accept it or not - especially when his mother saw her in it, and promptly decided that Nura should complete the outfit with a pair of green deerskin boots and a green ribbon snood net, both of which were obviously bought to match the dress). She tried not to show how much all this bothered her - loosing a fight, being forced to take someone else's clothes without their direct permission, and knowing that the dress will be completely ruined by constant horse-riding in less than a week. But at least she had one small pleasure – Barax was the one who slept on the floor while she had an entire double bed to herself. She woke up perfectly rested and absolutely starving.

Even though she woke up at dawn, washed her face and teeth and got dressed very quickly, she found Kya already in the kitchen, making breakfast. She bid the woman a good morning and immediately began helping her. Barax's mother protested, but Nura knew she was satisfied to see her so helpful and also skilled around the kitchen, all because she was under the impression that she was her son's wife-to-be. The men were up by the time the food was ready, as if they were afraid to appear sooner in case Kya had some work for them to do. Corben joked around, making Barax uncomfortable again, much to Nura's pleasure, and she was many time complimented on her looks by both of his parents, who nudged at winked at their son at the same time.

Finally, they bid their goodbyes and were on their way. She was a little sad to leave Corben and Kya. They were the kind of people one couldn't not like, albeit a little difficult and pushy, but none of that was ill-intentioned and was actually very endearing. They packed them full of various provisions, an old hat-box with a bonnieberry pie carefully wrapped inside amongst them, and Nura used the remaining free space in the box to pack the blackberries she picked the evening before in there too, so they wouldn't squish up in her bag.

They traveled in relative silence, the heat of the day intensifying with each hour. As she suspected, the dress helped Nura suffer the heat well, but she still didn't like having to wear it, not in the circumstances. And Barax sure didn't help her feel better with his smart-ass comments. "See? It's working. And besides, it would be better- given the purpose of our journey- if passerby didn't know what brings us here. Word travels fast, and it wouldn't do any good if the men at the plantation knew a woman- with a full writ from the King and a Templar at her side- were on her way," he told her after they had passed a wagon caravan. Nura bit her lower lip and said nothing. "Even Ma had agreed that dress looked better on you then in the closet," he kept rambling on, "If it would put you at ease, perhaps we can stop in Cormorac later, and ask her in person."

Nura gave Barax a look that would make even a much larger man freeze and replied sternly: "Tara lives in Cormorac, not Maya." His mother made a point of telling Nura all about his family because she thought she too will become a part of it, and Nura remembered much of it, even though she mostly listened to it with half an ear. Barax merely chuckled to his mistake and replied: "Oh, that's right. It gets hard to keep track sometimes." Nura frowned: "Of course it does. After all, they're only your sisters." They didn't talk much after that, and she was quite pleased with that.

The evening came and they stopped to set up camp for the night. If her memory served her well - and it usually did - they were only about two or three hours away from the next village. It was hard for her to make an assessment because her mother and she usually traveled on foot or, if they were lucky enough to win the mercy of the drivers, in the back of large carts that transported wood, hay and other cargo. Barax went out to search for firewood while Nura prepared a pit, cleaned and diced a few potatoes, onions and carrots which she then in the small kettle they carried with them together with water and two large chunks of the spicy veal sausage Kya had packed for them. She also took out and dusted off the blankets they'll use that night, and when she was done with work, she cleaned up and finally allowed herself to sit down and rest a while.

Deciding she's in a mood for a light and fresh snack, Nura took the handkerchief in which the blackberries were wrapped in from the hat-box and happily munched away. The blackberries were not so fresh after a hot day such as this, but they were delicious and satisfied both her sweet-tooth and her thirst. Shine, however, decided fresh grass wasn't enough and that she too wanted some of what her mistress was having. She kept bugging Nura, both with her thoughts and with her muzzle, caressing her cheek and neck as she was asking for a treat. Nura chuckled and giggled, and gave the mare a blueberry every now and then, playing around and teasing the horse.

"I don't suppose I could have some, too?" Barax asked playfully, appearing out of nowhere with his arms full of firewood, "Though I'm not sure it would be appropriate to nuzzle for it." Nura turned back to Shine and fed her another berry as she replied: "No, but it would be amusing to see how far you'd be willing to go for a blackberry." Of course she didn't intend to eat all the fruit on her own, but she was currently holding a grudge against the Templar, who not only ordered her around but was, from the looks of it, developing quite an attitude. She stood up and tied Shine to one of the lower branches of a nearby tree before starting a fire ad putting their dinner above it to cook. She took one of the two wooden bowls they had, put a bit more than a half of the remaining blackberries in it and handed it to Barax.

"I think we will be at the plantation in about two days, maybe three at this pace," she told him as she ate her half, "I hope we get there in the evening. The son of a bitch always made a show of sharing dinner with his workers in the great hall, like Lords used to do in the olden days, bragging that he respects the customs...only we would eat turnip, potatoes and carrots merely cooked in salted water, goat bacon and bread that had became stale since last evening, when it was baked, and drank diluted kvass, while he sat at the head table and feasted himself on roast pork, golden sesame buns fresh out of the oven and drank Dubica wine. He usually invites guests - politicians, judges, rich merchants...I'd love to walk in there, with you behind me in your armor and the letter from the King in my hand, and give him the death he deserves!" A cold fire burned in her eyes, a flame of vengeance and blood thirst one could barely believe existed within her...but it did.

[Trippy Hare]

"No, but it would be amusing to see how far you'd be willing to go for a blackberry," Nura replied cheekily. Barax could tell she was still a little peeved at him for the previous night's argument, but at least she wasn't yelling. He'd had quite enough of bickering, and simply wanted to finish the task he had been assigned. The problem was, there was no established period of time- his orders didn't carry an expiration date, so it was possible he would have to guard Nura for the rest of his days. Barax could feel his heart sink at the prospect- given the strange behavior of the king these days, it seemed likely. Barax found himself wistfully longing for the days before the Corps had been effectively bought by the king- when it was little more than a few social outcasts driving machines designed by raving lunatics.

Nura handed him a wooden bowl, with a large portion of slightly soggy blackberries in it. The day's heat hadn't spoiled them, though it had certainly taken a toll. This was one of the main reasons they were so poorly suited to travel- and it also meant that by tomorrow, they'd be inedible. With so perfect an excuse, Barax devoured the proffered fruits messily and enthusiastically. He was hot and tired and thirsty, and the juicy berries helped slake his thirst. "Thank you," he said, through a mouthful of berries. The sweetness of the fruit only served to make him keenly aware of his hunger, but luckily Nura was already in the process of cooking. Barax was pleasantly surprised at the fare- he hadn't known about the veal sausage. He made a mental note to send his parents a letter as soon as possible, thanking them for it. "I feel a little guilty," he confessed, after eating some of the stew. "Had I known Ma would sneak us some veal, I'd have left her some gold. I'll have to send them a parcel when we get to town."

They ate quietly, exchanging minor trivialities about the quality of Nura's cooking, the pleasant weather, things of that nature. Barax mentioned purchasing some supplies in case of inclement weather, which could be stored in his armor's cargo compartment so as to spare Shine the extra burden. "Hopefully we won't need it for some time, but just in case. It would be better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. Which reminds me, with all the excitement in the last village, I forgot to buy any medicinal supplies," Barax said, chiding himself. "On the other hand, I would feel terrible if after buying our supplies, we left their apothecary understocked. Maybe we should just get bandages, and trust in your abilities for everything else?" he asked her. It still struck him as odd that she would have this 'talent', which as far as he knew was completely unheard of among Terrans. He found it hard to understand why anybody could see such a skill as a bad thing- flourishing gardens, quickly recovering from injuries or illnesses, and healthy livestock all seemed like blessings to him. Either he gave people more credit than they deserved, or there was some ulterior motive behind the abuse leveled at her during her life.

As if reading his mind, Nura began discussing the more unsavory side of their current mission. "I think we will be at the plantation in about two days, maybe three at this pace. I hope we get there in the evening," she began. Barax noted the rising hostility in her voice- he'd only known her a short time, but he already recognized the thinly-veiled anger. He had known at the outset that their travels to this plantation would likely involve murderous justice, but he had never really thought about it before. Now, he found himself wondering how they would achieve it. What if this man had children? Could he orphan a child, could he punish them for their father's crimes? This was different than the bandits he'd killed earlier- that was the field of battle, and he had been the only thing standing between them and innocent lives. This... this was premeditated, this was planned out. It made him feel dirty.

"The son of a bitch always made a show of sharing dinner with his workers in the great hall, like Lords used to do in the olden days, bragging that he respects the customs...only we would eat turnip, potatoes and carrots merely cooked in salted water, goat bacon and bread that had became stale since last evening, when it was baked, and drank diluted kvass. While he sat at the head table and feasted himself on roast pork, golden sesame buns fresh out of the oven and drank Dubica wine."

Dubica wine... that sounded very familiar to him. The name, Dubica, was also the name of the village where his sister Carisa lived. He had never been there himself, but he had heard his mother talking about it. She had gone to help care for Carisa during her pregnancy, and had returned with rather outlandish stories regarding the vineyards. If this man they were hunting had access to Dubica wine, there was a slim chance he had connections in Dubica itself. Though slim, Barax had the inkling that this lead may prove useful. He'd mention it later- at the moment, Nura was venting a hostility like he'd never seen. It was rather frightening- and for a moment, Barax could understand why people thought her a witch.

"He usually invites guests - politicians, judges, rich merchants...I'd love to walk in there, with you behind me in your armor and the letter from the King in my hand, and give him the death he deserves!"[/color]

"As satisfying as that would be, it might be better to exercise a little caution. We wouldn't want any innocent lives jeopardized, like other servants or such. And as impressive as my armor is, he would surely know we were coming before we arrived, as I am nowhere near silent in it.," Barax said thoughfully. "What if- and this is only a suggestion- what if he were to invite us to one of these dinners? If he invites wealthy merchants, perhaps we could convince him that you are wealthy and influential. He then invites you in- I insist on accompanying you, of course- and thus he would be more concerned with looking impressive than with any sort of defense. He lowers his guard, perhaps encouraged by wine, and that is when we strike," Barax said, gesturing every action. "If he doesn't know we are a threat until he is drunk and helpless, there's much less chance of anyone else being hurt when we capture him. What do you think?"

[Deva]

After traveling a distance that would leave lesser men on the brink of consciousness, Deva was just beginning to break a sweat, and good thing too, if he wasn't as conditioned as he was, he would never be able to perform his job correctly, and that would not be a good thing for him or the other Oberon.

As he continued down the painfully obvious trail left by the Templar suit, his nose began to pick up signs that he was close, oil, steam, metal, pie....pie? He was apparently coming up on someone's home, and soon enough, a small house appeared over the hill.

Approaching the home, he pulled his hood up to keep his face concealed, he also pulled out a small pin that he got from one of his assignments, the seal of the royal messenger. Attaching the pin to his cape, he walked up to the door, and knocked, hoping for an answer.

As he waited, he thought of what he could say to be convincing, and since he knew the Templar and the girl had been here, he had to make up something about them.

Then he had it, the perfect speech in his head, as soon as the door opened, he would act royal, paying no attention to what the residents had to say, stating his business, then politely but with authority, get the whereabouts of the pair, it was a perfect plan.

(Sorry for the length)

[VecaVjestica]

OOC - It's OK, honey, don't worry about it *hugs*

"Thank you," Barax said and began to stuff his mouth on the berries. Nura paid no attention to him. By the time she ate away her own portion, the water in the kettle came to a boil and, soon enough, the stew was cooked and they ate up. She made enough for four portions, having breakfast in mind as well. "I feel a little guilty," Barax commented as they ate, "Had I known Ma would sneak us some veal, I'd have left her some gold. I'll have to send them a parcel when we get to town." Nura waved her head. "I already tried. She won’t take the money," she told him, "But I was thinking - if we buy something for them...for the house or for them personally, and send it to them, than they won’t be able to say no."

They chatted along during dinner, mostly the everyday small-talk stuff, up until the part when Barax began talking about their medical provisions. Nura never got ill, so she brought the plants she did for pleasure more than for actual emergency. Still Barax didn’t have her luck when it came to physical constitution, and she wasn’t able to heal herself of injuries like she should do to others, so maybe stocking up wouldn’t be such a bad idea. "You’re right, it would be smart to have some medical supplies on us, but there’s no rush," she told Barax, "It’s not like every town and village we come into will be under attack." She was terribly wrong, of course, but she didn’t know that a the moment.

She was hardly surprised by Barax’s reaction to her little fantasy. She didn’t quite expect that look in his eye, the one that said you’re a monster, but the whole let’s be reasonable tirade – yes, that part was not at all surprising. "I wonder if you would be so prudent if it was your mother he killed," Nura replied bitterly. She picked up their empty bowls and dirty spoons, and covered the pot with the stew leftovers before she began pouring the water from a flask and washing the dishes. "Don’t worry, Templar," she told him, if only to put his mind at ease, "Just because I have a wild, dramatic imagination, it doesn’t mean that I don’t know what is the smart thing to do. I wouldn’t risk him getting away for anything in the world. We will do exactly what the King said – take the letter to the judges and let them see the orders trough. He will see me at the trial. He will see me at the gallows. He’ll know why he’s dieing and who made it happen. That’s enough for me."

She wiped the dishes dry and packed them to save them from dust and bugs. She did all this "housework" without a fuss, taking it on as her duty on this journey, not so much because she was the female but more because Barax didn’t really strike her as the guy who knew his way around the campfire. He grew up in a comfortable home full of women to do all those things men considered trifles, but which are, in fact, the reason their homes are comfortable. What did he know about which kind of acorns, roots or berries are eatable and in which form, how to cook a meal when you have no dishes and you can’t make a spit, or how to store the food so animals wouldn’t bother you at night while looking for it? Besides, what reason would she have to make their travels more of a drag then they already were? "Pie?" she asked Barax when she was done. She wasn’t really hungry any more, but a thin slice of that delicious treat would fit her perfectly right now.

[Trippy Hare]

Nightfall slowly spread over the quiet, sleepy town of Saparte. Kya had gone to bed early, leaving Corben the task of throwing out the trash, closing the shutters, and other end-of-day trivialities. Kya had been somewhat listless all day- which Corben blamed on Barax's departure. He was the only one, of their seven children, to ever visit regularly. Sure, he could say he was helping out around the house- but the truth was, Kya hated to see him go, and Corben felt a little disheartened by it, too. His relationship with his only son had been strained for years, but they were finally getting along- too bad Barax was gone more often than not, and his own life was reaching an inglorious end.

A knock at the door startled Corben out of his self-pitying thoughts. "Who in the world-" he began, sliding the eye-bolt of his door open. Whoever was there was a very large individual- muscular build, tall. He was wearing what looked like a sigil of the Wael house, but Corben couldn't tell for sure, and the rest of the stranger's attire was obscured. There didn't seem to be anyone else besides this one man. "It's a bit late for house calls, sir," Corben said, talking loudly enough so his voice would carry outside, while his door remained firmly shut. He was tempted to go get his sword from above the mantel, but that would require turning his back to the door- not an appealing prospect. There was certainly something suspicious going on, but for the time being, it'd have to remain in the realm of intrigue instead of action. "There's an inn near the village square if ye seek lodging. If not, I must ask that ye be quick with yer business. I'm an old man, and it's near me bedtime."

He could be wrong, of course. It was possible that this visit was entirely innocent in nature, and it was only his feeble old mind playing tricks on him. Still- instinct had served him well in the army, and his instincts were telling him to be careful now. Then, a chilling thought spilled through him like ice-water along his spine. Could this unnerving stranger have anything to do with his son's surprise visit- and rapid departure?

***

"I already tried. She won’t take the money," Nura told him. Barax was a little surprised that she had taken the initiative- though he was not at all surprised by his mother's reaction. "But I was thinking - if we buy something for them...for the house or for them personally, and send it to them, than they won’t be able to say no."

"That's a good idea, and would certainly help ease my conscience," he said. If he sent money, she would refuse- so he'd have to figure out some other gift to send to his parents, something they would use. Since he couldn't think of anything for the time being, he let the thought pass out of his head. There were more important matters to attend to anyway.

"You’re right, it would be smart to have some medical supplies on us, but there’s no rush. It’s not like every town and village we come into will be under attack," Nura commented. Barax couldn't help but quickly stifle a laugh. His luck may have its bad moments, but that was surely impossible. Especially as word got out about the last town, the one he'd managed to defend. Lowlifes and petty criminals would want to avoid an encounter with a Templar, no doubt. Barax nodded in agreement as Nura talked- she was right, there really wasn't any hurry. It wasn't as though they had to finish the task at hand before the end of the season or anything. They had no timeline at all. What they would do after they apprehended this man remained to be seen. Or even discussed.

"I wonder if you would be so prudent if it was your mother he killed," Nura said bitterly. She had a very valid point- Barax knew for a fact that were their roles reversed, his thirst for vengeance would easily outweigh his rational mind.

"No, I wouldn't. You have every right in the world to be angry, I can't stop that, nor would I want to. But even still, killing him would only prematurely end his retribution. That isn't justice, it's just vengeance," Barax said, trying not to sound like he was chastising or criticizing her. "And I know you would feel terrible if an innocent servant was caught in the midst of the fighting, once the adrenaline and the bloodthirst wears off. Maybe I'm just being naive, but you certainly don't come across as callous or indifferent," he added, though it didn't sound nearly as clear as it had in his head.

"Don’t worry, Templar. Just because I have a wild, dramatic imagination, it doesn’t mean that I don’t know what is the smart thing to do. I wouldn’t risk him getting away for anything in the world. We will do exactly what the King said – take the letter to the judges and let them see the orders trough. He will see me at the trial. He will see me at the gallows. He’ll know why he’s dieing and who made it happen. That’s enough for me."

"Oh," Barax said, stunned. "So, you were imagining that? It certainly seemed like you were sincere. Perhaps I haven't known you long enough to know when you are acting disingenuous," he said, in a slightly puzzled tone. "I haven't had enough interactions with people to spot when they are being serious and when they are speaking out of a need to comfort themselves. So since I misunderstood what you meant, I apologize. I am also glad you weren't being serious about that. Though I wish I had known, so I wouldn't have made firmly planted my foot in mouth for going on a tirade about 'the proper way' to make the arrest. Perhaps we are simply catching each other off guard, and the problem will resolve itself the more we interact."

[Deva]

"I know full well the time, and while I do apologize for calling upon you at this late hour, my task is urgent and cannot wait. I am the royal messenger, and I have a message to be delivered, however it seems I'm too late and must continue my journey.

The Templar and the girl, you wouldn't know where they were headed would you? My lord sometimes forgets to properly inform me of my entire mission." As he spoke, he looked around, feigning curiosity, but in reality he was learning about this place.

It wasn't an overly large home, but it was big enough for several people to live there at once, had been here a long time, and it's occupants were in their golden years.

More than likely they were one of the pair's parents, although which he couldn't say. Looking at the elderly man through the eye slot, Deva's nose twitched, he smelled fear, he smelled confusion, indecision, and he also smelled....pie?

Deva realized that even though his story seemed valid, any sign of him not being properly informed could be seen as suspicious, so to keep the man's mind focused on giving him information, he spoke again before he could respond, hurriedly trying to get his answer.

"Good sir, I must insist that if you know the whereabouts of the Templar and the girl, or where they're going, please tell me, the longer I wait, the harder my job becomes, the angrier my lord gets, and the more of a tongue thrashing they will get. So please, I respectfully ask that you give me what information you possess, so that I can be on my way, and you can go back to your own business."

Now as he waited for an answer, his ears perked up, he heard the flapping of powerful wings, a pouch against the win, then the cry of a falcon, the cry of his falcon. Talon had returned with a message from the Clan.

As the bird of prey dove toward him, Deva held his arm out for him to land upon. When he felt the familiar weight, he nuzzled his friend's head with his finger, then fed him a treat. He would wait to read the note till he got what he came for.

[VecaVjestica]

Nura honestly didn’t know what to think of Barax sometimes...well, more like all the time, but that was besides the point. The man jumped from timid to forward, from meek to rowdy, from obedient to spiteful, from a peacemaker to a man looking for a fight. She had no idea when to expect from him next, or how he’ll react to her words and actions. The King had paired two worst possible people in the worst possible way when he made this arrangement. He was her jailer, there was no other description of his job that was true, and both Nura and Barax despised that fact. Maybe that was why they kept being wary of each other. They weren’t able to open up and trust each other, despite knowing there was no other way for them to go. They had to cooperate, or face living in hell, because she wouldn’t risk her life trying to escape and he would never disobey his King.

But Barax’s opinion of her character, based purely on not knowing her, angered Nura. How could he think she was so cruel, so inconsiderate that she would risk the lives of innocent people just to satisfy her thirst for the blood of those who wronged her loved ones? Did he really think she was such a monster? Oh, yes, Nura could be cruel and cold and calculated, but people who don’t deserve it will never feel the ice of her wrath cutting trough them. If she were a man, she’d be a very dangerous one, the one who resembled a bear – not in size, or power, but in temperament: quiet and unassuming in peace, terrible and unstoppable in fury.

She looked at Barax for a few moments before she replied to his speeches, thinking well about what she is going to say. She wanted to say the right things and in the right way, not cause more tension between them. "You did what you thought necessary and said what you thought needed to be said. Never apologize for that to anyone," she finally said. She held back the harsh, cutting thoughts she had after hearing both of his little rants, especially the first one. She didn’t want to fight with him. It happened, yes, but she didn’t want it, and she knew that they had to find a way to stop it from happening so often, or the time they had to spend together will truly make them start jumping at each others throats – literally.

"I suppose both of us just...assume too much about the other," she spoke again a moment later, "Which is to be expected from two strangers forced to spend time together the way we were. Let’s hope time will cure us of it. I don’t like how we bicker all the time. It’s tiring...not to mention impractical. We’re going to be together for a long time, Templar. We’re a husband and wife in nearly all ways, and there’s nothing we can do about it but try and live together the best we can." She smiled bitterly before adding: "After all, the King will relieve you of this service sooner or later. There’s no need for us to live in misery until that day comes."

She smile again, more genuinely this time, and asked regarding the question she asked earlier, which he either didn’t hear or has tuned out while thought King had paired him up with a homicidal maniac: "Now...since you haven’t replied my question, should I assume you don’t want any pie?"

[Trippy Hare]

"I know full well the time, and while I do apologize for calling upon you at this late hour, my task is urgent and cannot wait. I am the royal messenger, and I have a message to be delivered, however it seems I'm too late and must continue my journey. The Templar and the girl, you wouldn't know where they were headed would you? My lord sometimes forgets to properly inform me of my entire mission." the man said, sounding hurried. Corben could feel the wheels in his head turning more than they had in years- it wasn't an entirely pleasant feeling. Still, when this man spoke of being ill-informed by his superiors, Corben immediately understood- he'd been under such circumstances many times. Most times, actually.

This stranger was in a hurry, it seemed, as he started up again before Corben could reply. "Good sir, I must insist that if you know the whereabouts of the Templar and the girl, or where they're going, please tell me, the longer I wait, the harder my job becomes, the angrier my lord gets, and the more of a tongue thrashing they will get. So please, I respectfully ask that you give me what information you possess, so that I can be on my way, and you can go back to your own business."

Corben still felt uneasy- though the mannerisms and tone of the stranger certainly gave credence to his claim of being a messenger, Corben found it odd that this messenger spoke as though Barax was somehow in trouble- if he had been, Corben would most certainly have gotten it out of him. Then again, given the way bureaucracies worked, it was certainly possible that Barax had been given a set of orders that contradicted another set of orders. Corben hated politicians and politically-inclined commanders, but he understood how they worked. Much though he didn't like it, he would cooperate- it would be better for himself and for Barry, after all.

"Ach, well, I cannae be sure where they are, but I have a pretty fair idea where they are going. I think she said something about a plantation to the west, or maybe to the north. No, wait, it was west. started with an 'S', I think. Surrey, maybe? Or Sorrow. Or something like that. I cannae remember exactly, though. Old age makes recalling things difficult," Corben offered in an apologetic tone. Truth was, he himself wasn't sure he knew where they had been heading- between being half asleep, the beer he'd had with dinner, and the nightcap of whiskey he usually drank to help him sleep, the details were a bit fuzzy. "Sorry I cannae be of more use. Was there anything else ye needed te know?"

***

"You did what you thought necessary and said what you thought needed to be said. Never apologize for that to anyone," Nura told Barax, but he thought it seemed a little forced. He didn't understand what she meant, but that was nothing new. Nura was proving to be a very puzzling woman- so unlike his sisters, and yet eerily similar. Perhaps all women were complicated, and he just hadn't dealt with enough of them outside his own family for long enough to notice.

"I suppose both of us just...assume too much about the other. Which is to be expected from two strangers forced to spend time together the way we were. Let’s hope time will cure us of it. I don’t like how we bicker all the time. It’s tiring...not to mention impractical. We’re going to be together for a long time, Templar," she added, vocalizing some of his same concerns.

Barax nodded, stroking his chin thoughtfully. She didn't like the bickering either, and her suggestion that it was due to their rather unceremonious pairing made a lot of sense. Perhaps, then, it really was just a matter of familiarity, that they lacked for the time being but could eventually reach.

"We’re a husband and wife in nearly all ways, and there’s nothing we can do about it but try and live together the best we can. After all, the King will relieve you of this service sooner or later. There’s no need for us to live in misery until that day come,." she added, a moment later.

Barax blushed hotly- it had been embarrassing enough when his parents had thought the two of them were married, and now Nura was saying they more or less were. His first instinct was to immediately get defensive and oppositional- but he held back for just a moment, and pondered over it. Both Nura and his parents saw something in the way they interacted that was reminiscent of a married couple, while he was almost completely clueless as to what it could be. He had never actually courted anyone, so he had no experience of what sort of behavior being a couple entailed- well, other than the lewd ones, anyway.

That brought back the words his Da had said to him just last night- "So if a lass let ye catch a peek, she knew full well ye were watching." His Da had obviously meant that Nura had wanted Barax to see her naked, but that couldn't possibly have been the case that one time. He thought about the bath in the barn- she had been clothed then, yes, but he had not, and she had gone so far as to actually touch him. That seemed pretty suggestive. Maybe there was some kind of subtlety to their interactions that he was simply too dense to pick up on.

"Now...since you haven’t replied my question, should I assume you don’t want any pie?"

Barax startled a little as Nura's question cut into his train of thought. "Sorry, I was just lost in my own thoughts. This has been quite the complicated week. I'm still not entirely sure what to make of it all," he explained apologetically. "Though to tell the truth, it's also been, in an odd sort of way, exciting. Like an adventure. Part of my mind is overwhelmed by all the changes, and another part is eager to see what will happen next."

Barax smiled sheepishly. "Maybe I'm just thinking too much. If Da were here, he'd probably insist on fixing that problem with drink- though I think pie would work far more effectively," he said, trying to make a joke. "I must not have been paying attention when you asked earlier, but yes- I would love some pie."

[Deva]

"No sir, that information is satisfactory, and I thank you for it, you have made my job a great deal easier, and helped me immeasurably. And I must say, while sometimes the royalty may forget those who help them, I don't, take this as a token of my appreciation and gratitude."

Reaching into a pocket, he pulled out a bag full of gold coins. He had more money than he would ever spend, it came with the territory, and since this man had helped him, he deserved a reward.

"Take it with my thanks." Before the man could respond, Deva put the bag in his hand, closed his hand around it, and left. Walking off briskly into the night, he finally got far enough away from the house that he felt safe opening the letter from the clan.

He read the letter, and he wasn't surprised, it was the same thing he would have done. They wanted him to make contact with the two, and get information, that was it, and that is what he would do. Feeding his faithful companion some dried meat, he sent his reply off with him.

Now that he had a heading, he could get going. For where he was going, it was too dangerous to fly, so he had to keep it on the ground, that wasn't really a problem for him, just sort of an annoyance.

Taking off at a full run heading west, he had a feeling he would be there in a bit, but it would take a while of full speed to catch up with them, all in a days work.

[VecaVjestica]

Nura didn’t miss the flush of bright red that covered not only Barax’s face, but her neck and ears too when she mentioned that their relationship resembled a marriage. It was an amusing sight, though she didn’t really understand why he reacted that way. Indeed, except for the some more...intimate aspects of marriage, Barax and Nure were pretty much just like a husband and wife: they were forced to live together, she cooked for him, he provided her with protection, they shared their money and board, and they had to stay together even more strictly than married couples, for the two of them weren’t joined by wows but orders for the High King of Waeleden himself – orders that, it they disobey them, could lead so consequences such as a death sentence or a life in prison. The were, indeed, each other’s proverbial ball and chain.

But even though some part of her wanted to keep teasing Barax about it, Nura decided to have mercy on the poor man. They had a long journey, and they were both tired. They needed some rest to gain strength for tomorrows etape or their travel towards the Sureeta Dawn. So when Barax finally realized she had been talking to him and replied in an apologetically tone: "Sorry, I was just lost in my own thoughts. This has been quite the complicated week. I'm still not entirely sure what to make of it all. Though to tell the truth, it's also been, in an odd sort of way, exciting. Like an adventure. Part of my mind is overwhelmed by all the changes, and another part is eager to see what will happen next," Nura just smiled to him and said: "In my experience, monotony is far better than adventure...but I can see your point of view."

"Maybe I'm just thinking too much. If Da were here, he'd probably insist on fixing that problem with drink- though I think pie would work far more effectively," he added, joking around with a sheepish grin on his face – something very out of character for Barax, but also very refreshing, "I must not have been paying attention when you asked earlier, but yes- I would love some pie." Nura nodded and cut them a slice each without comment. It wasn’t necessary anyway. They ate in silence and, after a bit more small-talk, went to sleep.

The next few days were pretty much uneventful, but that’s how Nura preferred them anyway. In fact, it seamed when there was no unnecessary excitement around that Barax and she got along a lot better. He told her some stories of when he was a kid and she told him the more amusing of her stories as well. She avoided the bitter, painful memories. She didn’t like remembering them, and she was sure Barax wouldn’t enjoy listening to them either. Things were just better this way. Less complicated. Easier.

They were approaching the plantation day by day and finally were able to see the grand silos’ and storage towers that Sureeta Dawn was known for in the distance. Nura’s heart danced. This plantation was one of those she visited several times with her mother, seeking work and a place to stay for a while. It wasn’t one of the more lovable places, thanks to it’s jerk of the owner and manager, but she had friends there...or at least people that were as close to friends as she was able to have.

But there was something odd. As hard as she tried, Nura couldn’t see any people around the plantation walls, something that was definitively out of place for a place that was not only an agricultural center but also a center of food and goods commerce. "Barax," she turned to her companion with worry in her voice, "You can see things better than me from that armor. Can you see anybody out there? Any people, carts, horses? Anybody at all?" She was suddenly frightened. Sureeta Dawn always resembled a beehive in the peak of summer, crawling with activity all year long and in every moment of the day except late at night. To see it so calm, so peaceful...it was strange. Did they close it? Did her enemy leave it? She hoped to gods that was not the case. Nura waited to avenge her mother’s death, she just couldn’t bare the thought that the man she hunted could get away just like that, when she was so close to achieving her goal.

[Trippy Hare]

The next three days proved to be wonderfully uneventful, when compared to how their journey typically unfolded. Perhaps he was imagining things, but it also seemed that he and Nura were getting along rather well, too. They hadn't argued over anything, which was unusual in and of itself. Perhaps they were finally getting along, such as it was. Nura even had a few stories to tell- amusing ones at that. Barax was a little surprised, as Nura had never really talked about herself very much. And when she did, the story was always sort of bleak. To hear her talk about childhood moments they way they were supposed to be- with amusing misadventures and exciting discoveries made in an effort to alleviate boredom- brought a smile to his face.

Barax made a few story contributions, as well. Though he spent much of his childhood being ill, his sisters had often come to him with stories of their own adventures, which was about as exciting as his childhood got. Even still, there were a few good anecdotes, and a few cases where one of his sisters would try to pull a prank on him, and he'd find a way to turn the tables. All these reminiscences made him actually miss them, enough to be tempted to do as his mother suggested, and pay his sisters a visit. Though to see all of them would take quite some time, given how far away from each other they'd moved. Perhaps, when this whole plantation business was settled, he would start the attempt.

The whole business with the plantation owner made Barax deeply uneasy. If this man was so well connected as to escape prosecution for blatant crimes, it didn't seem likely that he would just come along quietly. And if he did, what judge would convict him now, if none had even seen fit to arrest him before? It seemed more and more likely that there would be a fight- and though Barax enjoyed using his armor, he always thought of himself as a protector. Starting a fight just felt unsettling, righteous though it may be.

As they approached the plantation, he could see the tall silos on the property. It seemed prosperous at first- there were several outbuildings visible, including a few cottages and a stable. Yet, as the approached, it almost looked empty. He couldn't see anything moving about, though admittedly his eyesight was not the best, even with glasses. "Barax, you can see things better than me from that armor. Can you see anybody out there? Any people, carts, horses? Anybody at all?" Nura asked, her voice thick with worry. Something was decidedly not right here.

"No, I don't see anything. The buildings all look to be in good condition, and there's nothing overgrown as such. I don't think it's abandoned. Maybe it's just closed for the day?" Barax said, though such a reason didn't seem plausible. Plantations- at least the few he'd seen- were never quiet. The nature of the business necessitated that there always be staff available, to prune and inspect the crops, or bag grain in the silos, or any other number of tasks. Even on holidays, there was much to be done- and today was not a holiday, as far as he knew. "We'd better check it out," he suggested.

They approached the perimeter fence somewhat warily- there was still no sign of inhabitants, but the evidence of their handiwork was everywhere. The stables had horses, as evidenced by their whinnying, the water troughs outside had clean, blue water in them. Bales of hay sat neatly stacked against one wall, and wisps of smoke emanated from the chimney of the main house and a couple of the cottages, as well. So people were here, somewhere.

"Nura, you know these grounds well. Is there anywhere the staff might gather, in case of storms or emergencies? Like a cellar or something? Maybe someone spotted us on approach, and thought we were-" Barax began, but he was rudely interrupted by an arrow clanging against his armor, right near the shoulder. "Get behind me!" he shouted, crouching and raising his shield. Two more arrows struck against it, doing little more than making noise.

Barax couldn't see where the arrows had come from, but based on where they had struck, he was fairly certain they came from the main house. He didn't see any movement- but part of his field of vision was blocked by his shield, which he dare not raise, as it was currently shielding Nura more than himself. Another arrow struck him, clanging loudly, somewhere to his right. There was a cottage in that direction, probably a servant's quarters. "Is it possible he knew you were coming?" Barax asked, somewhat stunned. As far as he could tell, nobody knew where they were going, other than his parents. They were not gossiping types, so they wouldn't have told anyone.

"We mean you no harm," Barax called out towards the house, his voice somewhat obscured by the clang of two or three more arrows. "Lower your weapons immediately, or I shall be forced to return fire!" He paused, giving whoever was in there a chance to consider. Apparently, they didn't see the merit in his offer, as a few more arrows bounced off his armor. Barax sighed in frustration. He was in no danger, but so long as Nura was here too, he couldn't move, as doing so would put her in danger. That left him with just the one option- returning fire.

"I am a representative of his majesty, King Waeleth the Third! Cease fire immediately!" he called out. Attacking the king's messengers was an act of treason, after all. Barax hoped the threat of committing such a grave offense was enough to persuade them, but this too failed. "So be it," he replied, his tone firm. He could not move his shield very far, as it protected Nura, but the little he could move it would allow him to bring his bolt launcher to bear on the house. He fired a bolt through each visible window, shattering them easily. He could hear shouts from inside, no doubt his attackers had ducked or sought cover. This gave him a brief window. "Stay close to me, Nura," Barax said as quietly as he could. "I'm going to try to get closer to the house so I can actually see who is attacking us."

[Trippy Hare]

There was a curious scent that traveled with the odd pair, a scent she had not personally witnessed in a very long time. Living things in their wake seemed somehow more alive- a trait she was well accustomed to noticing, due to her conspicuous lack thereof. Calasi made a mental note of it- and thus, wordlessly informed her master of what she had noticed. He did not respond, but he rarely ever did.

There was another scent amongst them- one she could not readily place. It was unlike anything she had encountered before, and yet, almost familiar. This too was transmitted to her master, via the Link she shared with him. Again, no response, save a twinge of irritation. She was supposed to be tracking the Templar and his companion, not idly musing about strange scents. Calasi pressed on, following in the rather uneventful wake of her quarry. They were an odd pair- often, the sound of their bickering carried far enough for her to hear the tension in their voices, even if she could not hear the words. Lately, ever since they had left the last village, there was a heavy silence- this was almost as hostile as their arguing openly had been.

Calasi was always cautious to the point of paranoia when following them, keeping no closer than a hundred meters. Just from observation, Calasi could tell that the woman was more skilled with animals than was readily apparent- her horse never startled, or protested, or misbehaved. It was strange to see, given how poorly Terrans in general were as riders- or anything else, at that. The Templar was another story entirely- from the very few times she had seen the man himself, he did not give the impression of being particularly skilled at anything.

Four nights out across the steppes had not done much to change her impressions of them- though she noted that they seemed to get along better. She had edged close enough to glean snippets of conversation, including their names- the Templar was called 'barracks', possibly a military nickname, and the woman was 'Nura'. With a surprisingly sharp pang of sorrow, Calasi realized that Nura's hair color was remarkably like hers had been, while she was alive. It was strange to her that she should feel so strong an emotion, when it pertained to her previous existence. It made her deeply curious about Nura, almost as though it was Nura who had triggered it.

A sudden and intense sense of urgency filled her mind- the Lich had made contact, in a manner of speaking. Initially, Calasi was afraid- his presence had come on the heels of a bizarre emotional response, so much so that she thought the two events were related.

Fortunately, such was not the case. He had a mission of mercy that needed her attention- a village, about a day's march away, was in the throes of insurrection. A group of slaves and servants had seized the plantation to which they had been tied, and her task was to collect the remains of the innocents lost in the struggle. There were none so far, but the Lich could sense the inexorable approach of Death, and she was to meet it there.

As Calasi sped off through the chill night air, it occurred to her that perhaps the Templar- and the intriguing woman who accompanied him- were heading to the same village. And if there had not yet been casualties, perhaps the Templar would be the catalyst that would create them.

How curious.

[Deva]

He'd been booking it for a few hours straight, and his full speed was enough to inspire awe at anyone who saw him rushing past. He was covered in a fine sheen of sweat, but he was still capable of maintaining this speed for as long as necessary, and from what his senses were telling him, it wasn't all that long.

Even without flying, Deva was fast, and unlike the Templar and the girl, he wasn't restricted to main roads, he could go anywhere his legs allowed, which was pretty much anywhere besides the sky. Continuing to trudge on, his nose started to pick up the scent of oil and metal, and it was much much stronger than before.

He was close, he knew that much, now he just had to close in on his prey. As he journeyed ever closer, he began to pick up more scents, like people, they were somewhere populated, not heavily, but there were people there. Finally he had arrived, and as he broke through the treeline a few hundred yards away, he saw arrows sailing toward the Templar, and the result was unsurprising, they did absolutely no damage.

He laughed at the attempt, but he had to respect their courage, attacking a Templar with nothing but arrows took guts. His eyes saw the huge bolts that were shot out of it's arm and into the windows of the house. Then he heard screams, although he wasn't sure if they were screams of pain, alarm, or whatever else. Moving closer, he decided on a course of action.

It seemed they only had arrows, but they very well could have something that could take the Templar down, or maybe a lucky shot would catch the girl. He couldn't let them get hurt, at least not before he got the information he sought. He probably wouldn't let them get hurt afterward either, but he needed that info.

He also didn't want to completely demolish the house, so things would have to get up close, personal, and visceral. Making sure the hidden blades and the crossbow on his gauntlets were working properly, he decided to take the fight to them.

Running forward at full speed, he angled his descent down the slight slope so that he would be behind the Templar. He was still unnoticed by the time he leaped through the air, onto the Templar's shoulders, and off. Sailing through the air, he maneuvered so he would easily land through the now open window. Once he made it through, he popped up and punched the knife wielder hiding next to window.

He easily knocked him out, probably breaking a few ribs in the process, then he threw his unconscious body out of the window. Now that he was inside, he extended the blade on each gauntlet, he was armed to the teeth, more so than most in his profession, but it paid to be prepared.

At the moment, he had a pair of twin Dao swords sharing a single scabbard on his hip, a pair of Hook swords crossing his back, and a Butterfly sword/knife on each hip.

However, in this enclosed space, he figured the arm blades were more than enough, anything else was too much work to use with almost no maneuverability. And if range came into question, there were small housings that held a number of traditional assassin tools that could be shot out at great velocity and accuracy.

Including arrow bolts, poison darts, and capsules filled with anything from sleeping glass to acid. Looking around, there was no one else in this room, they must have retreated further in when the Templar opened fire, they weren't that foolish it seemed. As he slowly made his way through the room, he decided to give them some hope. "If you don't want to be injured, or worse, killed, I suggest you drop your weapons so we can talk, otherwise you risk your own life."

(I can't decide on the gauntlet blade style, which one do you think I should go with???)

Predator Style

Simple (Imagine it more streamlined)