::Kari sent a sharp glare to Hector as he left, careful to keep her gaze from drifting to Sane. She went to the counter and smiled lightly to Jack, who turned to her:: Alright, Trynn, I apologize for that. What can I do for you?
::She set the sword on the counter:: I need to buy this... ::She turned to her belt and opened the loose leather pouch, only to blush in embarassment. SHe looked back to Jack:: Uh...on second thought...hehe... ::She scratched her head embarassedly::
::He raised an eyebrow:: What's wrong?
::Her face reddened even further:: I hate to ask for this, but could I barter for the sword? I seem to have lost my gold in the river...
::He smiled kindly, pushing the sword toward her:: No need. Think of it as a gift for all the joy you've brought my children.
::Kari was shocked. It was a fine weapon to just be given away. She wasn't sure how to respond:: I...this.... ::She stopped herself from stuttering and picking up the sword, bowing respectfully:: ...Thank you...
::A few moments later, she moved outside, the sword now strapped to her belt. She saw that the bandits were packing up to leave and she began to panic. She spotted Sane among them and thoughts raced through her head:: ...I have to follow them...
*Sane and Hector walk up to Ice who is on his horse giving out orders and words of encourgement to his men. Sane got on top of his horse and scratched his head as he saw Hector run over to his stand and then return with long bundle. Hector looks at Sane and hand the bundel to him. Sane raises an eyebrow and unwraps the budle inside of it was a sword. It's scabbard made of red wood which was rare around these parts. It had knotches in it that were made by a simple carving knife these runnign down one side of the scabbard. Sane drew teh sword out revealing a blade which was masterfully crafted. The handle was wrapped in black leather which has been soaked to shrink it and then dried... A ggold wire wrapped around it in a pattern to keep it in place.*
Saen shakes his head, "Hector I can't use this sword anymore... I promised..."
Hector shrugs, "You don't have to use it Sane... You know that but take it with you... Lying here... It does me no good. You can only weild it since it was bestowed upon you by Negral..."
*Sane sighs and puts the sword back in its scabbard and puts it back in the bundle tieing it to his horses supply bag. Ice looks on not saying anything instead he smiles and nods to them kicking his horse into a trot as the whole group move out the village Sane and Hector staying in the back of the group.*
::Kari rushed to the humans' house near the edge of the village and moved inside to see Olivia playing with the children on the floor:: It's alright, they came peacefully. You can go outside. They're leaving. ::The children stood and ran outside, laughing happily. Olivia stood as Kari rushed around the room, gathering the few things she had left. Olivia watched in confusion:: Trynn...what are you doing?
::She spoke quickly:: I'm sorry, Olivia, but I must leave.
Olivia: Leave? But...why? Why so suddenly?
Kari: I have to follow those bandits.
Olivia: What? Why?
::Kari stopped dead in her tracks, turning to the human woman:: I...I'm not sure...I just have to...Someone who means a lot to me is among them...I have to make sure he doesn't get hurt...
::Olivia smiled in understanding:: I see... How will you follow them? Ben told me they all rode on horseback. How will you keep up?
::Kari smirked:: I have my ways. I'm Elvish, remember?
::She smiled:: Oh yes, of course!
::Kari looked to her clothes:: These clothes...?
::Olivia grinned, shaking her head:: Keep them. They fit you better than they ever did me.
::Kari smiled:: Thanks. I'm sorry to leave so suddenly, but I promise I'll return as soon as I can. I left a parting gift for you and your family there in the corner. ::She gestured to a large weave basket, about four feet tall, in the corner of the room:: My fondest wishes for you all. You've been so kind to me. I shall never forget it.
::With another smile, she rushed out of the house, nearly running into Ben and Lily. Ben was holding the bundle Kari had seen him with back when they first found her at the river. Ben held it up to her:: I found these on the bank yesterday... I think they are yours...
::Kari took the bundle and unwrapped it to find her two Elvish knives and their sheathes. A broad smile crossed her face and she quickly strapped them on, kneeling before the two children:: Thank you. I have to leave, but I'll be back as soon as I can. ::She hugged them and parted, hurrying off after the bandits::
*As Sane a Hector ride behind the rest of the group they talk about things in their past.*
"Hey remember Sane when those gaurds in Helia tried to stop our caracan and you beat the living crap out of them because all we were carrying was bread?" Hector laughs remembering that time.
Sane shakes his head and smiles, "I was a bit rough back then Hector... I've changed since then... Since the time my village... I'm on a quest to find him Hector... Yet I also have a heart... I get sidetracked a lot... you knwo that Hector we both get sidetracked from our duties to man and get into crazy mixed up quests... Like the one we're on now."
Hector laughs, "It'll be like old time buddy... Don't worry I'll keep you safe. Just don't go all satanic on me like you did last time we fought and I got hurt. What exactly happened back then Sane?"
Sane shakes his head and smirks, "I don't know... Negral... He changed something in me when I joined his group... I just don't knwo what... I don't remember any of it... All I remember is opening my eyes and just seeing red... Blood all over the place..." Sane shudders and clears his head.
"Forget I mentioned it Sane I can see it's giving you the willies." Hector mumbles as the continue to ride on.
::Kari followed them from a distance, trailing behind them about a half-mile. Far enough not to be obvious, but close enough to keep a close eye on them. She was glad for her blood-given swiftness. Quick on her feet, she was able to keep up with the horses, even at a gallop::
*Sane shakes his head... He had a bad feeling about this whole attack they were planning. Somthing just wasn't right. He just didn't know what it was yet.*
::Kari followed them as they moved into the forest. This made it much easier for her to follow. She closed in on them and traveled close to the back of the group, moving through the trees from branch to branch::
*Suddenly right before them it emerged like a giant in the middle of an open field the keep came into view. Around the outside stood a stone wall about thwo men high. The towers were protected by archers who looked out onto the open planes to see if anyone approached. As soon as the group of bandits rode up to the castle a bell started to toll. It signaled the arrival of an unexpected group...*
Ice turned to Sane and smiled, "Sane... They'll be sending out a rider to see what we want..."
Sane smiled and looked back at Ice, "We'll show them what we want..."
Hector looks at Sane and grins, "Sane... are you goign to do what I..."
Sane interupts him, "Yes Hector... I am."
Hector looks at Ice, "Don't worry Sane knows what he's doing. Don't try to stop him."
::Kari held back at the edge of the forest and let the bandits move ahead. She silently knocked out a straggler and took his horse, setting him carefully against a tree, well out of view of anyone that might pass by. After making sure he was safe, she mounted his horse, whispering a few words of Elvish to it, and set off after the host of bandits. She had also taken the bandit's scarf and covered the bottom half of her face with it, tying her hair back with a piece of white cloth. She caught up with the group and stopped a few horses away from Sane, though she could still see him quite easily::
*Sure enough like Ice said a rider road up to them. He stops in front of Sane, Ice, and Hector who all smile... Well except for Sane who had a wild look in his eyes and a smirk on his face. Hecotr looks over at Sane and his grin grows wider. The rider sits on his horse looking straight at Sane.*
"What do is your business here?" The rider stammer looking nervous.
Sane smiles, "Nothing of intrest to you mylord, we are here to meet with teh lord of the keep. If you would please relay this message to him we will be greatful."
"What message would that be?" the rider asks.
*Ice looks at Hector who looks at Sane, he reaches behind him and draws the sword Hector had given him at the village with a swing he cuts off the riders head.*
"Hector... Would you do the honors of delivering this to Ice's uncle keep?" Sane says laughing like a maniac... somthing in him had changed...
*Hector nods and rides towards the keep, with Ice smiling.*
::Kari watched in horror as the gentle, harmless Sane she had known and loved turned to the inner-demon that rested within her as well. He was willingly tapping into it for some reason that she could not understand. She had made the mistake long ago of unleashing that demon and doing so had ended in catastophe. She had locked hers away, never to resurface. But why was he purposely unlocking the shadow inside of him? One's inner demon was a wild, uncontrollable lust for blood. What was he doing?!::
*Hector road up to the keep walls and raised the head up high so the archers could see. He looked at Sane and smiled then looking back at the keep he began to yell.*
"You leader will die today! We are here to tak over this stronghold. It has a rightful heir to it and we shall put him back on the throne where he belongs!" Hector drops the head and reers his horse around speeding back to Sane stopping and smiling, "Good enough for ya Sane?"
Sane nods and smiles... Ice looks at him and his grin fades... Sane's eyes had dark circles under them, and his face was paler then before, "Sane? Are you feeling okay?"
Sane looks at Ice and smirks, "I'm feeling just fine Ice. Don't worry about it. It is our time now to take back what is yours... Lead us to the passage way into the keep and make you men lay seige to the gates."
Ice nods and gives out orders, "Sane four people can go into the passage us three are already goign who else?"
Sane looks around a bit and then points to Kari, "You! Come here... What is your name?"
::Kari was caught off-guard when Sane turned and pointed to her. She stumbled in her mind for a name, choosing quickly:: um....Kiah! ::She rode up to them, nervous because she wasn't sure her tattered cape would cover her outfit enough to keep from being recognized by the men, especially Sane. She looked into her love's eyes and found them drowning in bloodthirst. She could barely recognize that they were his. She turned her gaze to the others to escape Sane's:: What do you want with me?
*Sane smirked, she was a female... Hector laughed and looked at Sane who looked at Ice and nodded.*
"You shall acompany us into the keep. From there we shall have two of you open the gates and me and Sane shall take the offensive against the royal gaurd." Ice says a look of fear on his face, he was having second thoughts now that they were actually there. But not only that he was suddenly scared of Sane who had that damned wild look on his face.
Sane paces and then stops, "Damn it are we going inside or what?!"
Hector pats Sane on the back and laughs, "Wait for it Sane you'll get some action in a minute."
Sane nods and looks at the sword again... He had killed many foes with it... Yet he knew he was wrong to use it again... It made him feel almost evil... Yet he could feel the energy in him, he accepted it like he had once before he let the waves wash over him. He liked the feeling it gave him.
::Kari grimaced at Hector's reaction to her gender. It made her sick. Her attention turned back to Sane, who was now pacing in anticipation. His inner demon was pushing him, egging him on, slowly driving him mad. She didn't know how, but she knew she had to stop it when it all was over. By the time they will have taken the keep, Sane's demon would push him over the edge and he would kill everyone he saw, friend or foe::
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