Spirits of the Earth

   Easy money.
   Cherno "Ogre" Korchagin walked in front of the passenger carriage, leading the horse along. Shouted for the commoners on the bustling Market Street to make way. Shoved a few of them that weren't paying attention. Other than those few numbskulls, Cherno's bellowing voice, his size, and the big horse-drawn carriage behind him had no trouble in parting the crowd. It was slow-going, certainly, but the hard part was already over. The trip to Hyoite and back, getting the fat man and his girl past Reajh's gate guards—all behind him now. Make the drop-off in the city, collect the coin, celebrate a weeks-long job done with some drinks and gambling.
   Easy money.
   Until the carriage suddenly launched from the street and flew forty feet straight up into the air.


   Cherno had no idea how the job would go when he took it. All he knew was that he hated traveling to Hyoite. Too damn cold. Godforsaken snow slowed everything down. Fucking almost died in a blizzard once. Seemed like a good deal at the time—get warmed up in hell. Afterward, he swore never to take anymore trafficking or smuggling jobs from Hyoite.
   But the money on this job sweet-talked his conviction. Paid it off. Okay, so maybe one more job from Hyoite. Then call it quits with a chest full of gold in his house.
   Two packages to traffic for this job. One rich-looking fat man, and one young girl who blended in with the snow. The fat man introduced himself as "Pritchard". The girl didn't speak, and Pritchard didn't introduce her. Cherno just shrugged it off. Didn't much matter what their names were. One of them was a mage, maybe both, and they needed to get into Reajh. And a fat sack of coin was on the line.
   Even without heavy snowfall, the trip back to Reajh was a hassle. Pritchard ate like a champion's warhorse. Fat fucker plowed right through all of the food stock Cherno had brought in the carriage. Cherno actually had to go hunting when they were in Sirantil. Missed his first few shots, goddamn bows, but he managed to bag a big buck. Venison all around that night. The girl—Pritchard's daughter? Hostage? Who knew?—barely ate anything. Hadn't said anything the whole trip. Just kept giving Cherno these odd looks. Like she was studying him. Something was off about the way she eyed him. Something Cherno just couldn't put a finger on. Unsettled him a couple times.
   At the gates of Reajh, smooth talking the guards was business as usual. Make up some credible story, and as long as the mages in the carriage didn't lose their shit and start flinging magic everywhere, he was in.
   Easy money. Or, at least, it was supposed to be.


   Cherno turned around when the reins slipped from his hand and he heard the horse's frightened neighing. No carriage behind him. The horse's frantic neighing was above him somehow.
   He looked up. Shielded his eyes from the afternoon sun.
   "Oh...fucking...Ansgar..."
   And that's when the entirety of the busy Market Street burst into a full-on panic. Commoners pushed and shoved and shouted and pointed. What they saw in the air just shouldn't have been possible.
   The carriage reached the apex of its flight, flipping round and round a full forty feet in the air above the street. Wood snapped, but a knot of tangled straps bound the horse to the spinning carriage, its pitiful screaming rising and falling in pitch as it spun around wildly along with the vehicle itself.
   Then it started to come back down.
   "Move! Move! Move!" Cherno yelled to the people on the street.
   Cherno had to dive out of the way when the carriage crashed onto the street. The horse smacked hard into the cobblestone street, blood bursting out of its head on impact. The carriage landed upside-down, the glass of both doors blowing outward with a crisp pop. Wood splintered and cracked, and the canopy of the passenger carriage caved in some. More blood leaked out onto the street from inside the broken carriage.
   "Fuck! Fuck!" Cherno scrambled over to the carriage. Ripped the intact pieces of the door off and threw them aside. Looked inside.
   Pritchard was dead. His fat, bloodied body was mangled and twisted against the wreckage of the carriage and the stones of the street.
   But the girl was alive. Curled into a small ball, just enough room for her not to have been crushed by the carriage into the street like Pritchard, she lay there. Her eyes half-open. Blood dripping from her nose. Streaming out of her mouth.
   She looked at him. Past him, really. Said quietly, "Seven times six is forty-two..."
   Then her eyes rolled up into her head. And she lost consciousness.
   Cherno lost all sense of what he was doing for a moment. "What the fuck did you say? Hey! Wake up! Wake...ah shit."
   Cherno reached into the carriage. Scooped up the girl and pulled her out and stood up with her in his arms. He squinted and looked up and down the street. Some of the commoners were staring with wide eyes at the carriage. Wary. Most were still pushing and shoving and trying to get away. The wreckage of the carriage was like the eye of a storm. Devoid of people, with the wall of them pushing to get as far as possible from it.
   Cherno started running with the girl. Had to get to the crowd. Get out of here. Half of Reajh probably saw that damn carriage. The Grand Duke himself probably saw it from his palace. That meant a swarm of guards and maybe even Mordecai would surely be on the way.
   There had to be a way to salvage this mess.

Kraait was passing by in Reajh going to her old home in Matrons Hallow for a but of time to relax in her own place she knew well for a change, since being blind is not always easy, particularly for travelling it really becomes a pain. It would also be nice to see if her father had returned from the accident years before.

She walked down the street eating a cinnimon roll and enjoying the breeze and sounds of birds and peoples converasions. She fells a crowd of people walking away well more like paniking away from a carrage, or what remained of ot judging from the loud crash and large vibration she felt.
And she smelt blood and followed it trying to fimd who was injured.

As the scent gre stronger as she got closer to the smell she broke into a run and ran after it eventually she was able to hear some footsteps and grabbed the persons shoulder tightly, "You smell as though you need a bit of help." She says as she drags him back a bit to get infront of him with a smile, "Dont worry Im friendly."

   Cherno flinched hard when someone touched his shoulder. God damn it, the security had to be tight in Reajh today. He didn't think the guards would show up this quickly.
   He glanced to his shoulder. Followed the arm attached the hand down to a small woman in a mostly black robe. Definitely not a guard. Thank Ansgar for the tiny blessings.
   Cherno narrowed his eyes when she spoke. "I smell...? What?"
   Despite himself, he sniffed twice. Sure, he'd been on the road for a few weeks. Yeah, he had the opportunity to bathe in one of Sirantil's rivers, but time was money. Couldn't be that bad, could it?
   He got back on track as soon as the woman said she was friendly. Again, tiny blessings. He heard some militaristic shouts coming from the far side of the panicked crowds blocking either end of the street.
   Cherno leaned in toward the short woman, raising his voice to be heard over the chaos and commotion. "Yeah! My friend is hurt!" He nodded down to the girl in his arms. "I ain't askin' you to do anything illegal. Just need to get outta here! Quick! You know any nearby apothecaries? Salve-makers? Anything like that?"
   He glanced again down both ways of the street. No armor, no uniforms. Yet. Just the backs of frightened citizens pushing and shoving their way from the scene.
   They needed to get off the street. That much was certain.

Cherno's fears and worries would be well suited, and well timed. T'would not be long before Ansgar's Hand descended upon the square and descend it did. A patrol of heavily armored horseman on an assortment of beasts appeared, at the head of the small group was none other then the Major jerself, Lady Hakon Kilandre- eagle helm ablaze with harsh sunlight as the great white Theocog came to a halt. Rough barking orders sent several riders ripping toward the carriage while the others began to focus upon herding the crowds from the wreckage.

Perhaps both Cherno and Kraait would feel those intense eyes focusing directly upon them, perhaps they could feel the suspicion rising in the Major's chest and notice the flicker of light rippling across the heavily armored woman's legs as she squeezes the beast's flanks, causing the charger to begin to lope slowly toward them. Perhaps, they would know that somehow, some way, the Major could smell guilt like blood in a hot summer's sun.


The explosion was the least of her worries, the perpetrators, alas, were. And the odd group, seeming frozen amongst the hubbub seemed her best bet. She certainly did not take on any airs that she could not back up with some skill, and following a trail like a bloodhound was one of them.
" YOU THREE. STAY WHERE YOU ARE.[/b]" her voice seemed to echo beneath the enchanted helm, ringing out like a lion's roar.

Kraait laugs, "I know something better then those silly salves or or those apothercaries. And in the shape the poor thing is in plus the war your fairly lucky there are still a few magic users here." Kraait is about to walk down the street and freezes when she hears the sound of someone telling them to hault, "Well fuck us." She grabs her banaged arm tightly, "Dude do not use any magic, tell them we are a couple passing through and were ambushed by magic and the girl needs urgent help." She points at the girl, " Which is pretty much the truth, though if things get dicey leave me behind and run, what good is a blind person when they cant see what is in fron of them aftterall?"

She pets the girls hair looking happy, "But until then we need to act like a couple who got ambushed by magic and our adopted daughter needs help. Its the mordechai if I ever felt one and they arent the friendliest ones about." She holds out her arms and motions for the girl wanting to look like a worried blind mother "Is it agreed? My name is Kraait by the way, introduce yourself first then me then her. If you dont know her name come up with one then follow what I said"

   What luck.
   Cherno would've settled for a suitably old grandmother nearby to kiss the girl's forehead and say, 'It's going to be alright' if that was the only option. But not only did the robed woman do him one better than an apothecary/salve-maker, she either knew a magic user or was one herself. Well, looks like it was easy money again. Sure, maybe he'd get half payment for only delivering the girl, but that was good enough. Just cut back the gambling a bit.
   Then he, like the robed woman, froze when he heard the commanding shout for them to halt. A thought crossed Cherno's mind. He really, really needed to stop thinking the phrase, easy money.
   But the robed woman had a plan before Cherno could even start thinking of one. What a smooth-talker. Was she in the business too, and he just never bumped into her before? Maybe. Mr. Winters ran a huge operation in Reajh, and Cherno only knew his one small slice of it.
   Kraait. Her was Kraait. And yup. Never heard of her before. But damn, what a gal. Volunteering to take the fall if things went south? Sure, Cherno didn't want to abandon the girl and escape empty-handed after investing so much time in this one job, but it was better than prison.
   So he handed over the girl to Kraait. Trusted in the spur-of-the-moment plan.
   Then he jogged up to armored woman's six-legged warhorse, waving his arms as if trying to flag her down, looking as distraught as possible. "Ah! Thank Ansgar you're here! Did you see that! I mean, did you fucking see that? A mage! There was a mage!" Cherno took in a big, gulping breath. Bent over. Slapped his hands onto his knees as if exhausted. Then he straightened up again. "It...It happened so fast! My name is Yeltsin, there's my wife Alena, and our daughter..." He choked up. Clap a hand to his mouth for effect. "Our daughter Mora...oh god...she was in the mage's way and he...that damn carriage could've crushed her! But Mora's still hurt bad! We need to get her some help! Please!"

The massive warhorse's gait did not change as Cherno approaches, forcing him to either move aside or be churned into the blackened mud and cobble-stone. The only indication of her listening to the man's pleas were the slightest turn of the white-silver helm toward him, as he finished, the Major seemed to focus back upon the woman and girl standing by," I see. Then you three were within the carriage then," she reasoned vaguely, removing her helm slowly as the Theocog came to a stop- towering high above Krait and 'her daughter', persay.

Despite the beast's appearance, its large silky muzzle bent low, nostrils flaring as warm breath blew over young 'Mora's head, was it attempting to comfort the girl? Its rider, meanwhile, gave no air of warmth, resting the helm upon her hip, a thin frown and eyes as sharp as flint focused hard upon them. Platinum blonde locks were looped back into a strict bun that had begun to loosen and fall about her face, clinging to high cheekbones akin to tiny golden hands.
Dismounting fluidly despite the obvious weight of the armor, the Major alighted upon the ground calmly, there was... A predatory air about her. But nonetheless, she extends a hand toward Kraait and the girl," Come- mount up," she casts those stern eyes in Cherno's direction," There is a military hospital nearby where we will be funneling the wounded, you will be safe there, sir- remain calm." Her low voice sounded no less appallingly commanding without the ringing of the helm.

In truth, this was not the first attack in the past few weeks, merely one of many small ones that had been quelled before the public even realized what was happening. The Major was tired, she could only rest if she left the country but even then, on those so called 'Knowledge Missions', she was often faced with adversaries that she hoped never to face again. All this made her thing retirement would be the better option, but how could she do that alone? No- she would merely fight into her grave and perhaps down to the center of the earth if Ansgar willed her to.

Kraait jumps a bit as the horse sniffed "Mora's" head. It seemed like such a gentle creature she missed being able to see horses they always had made her happy and relaxed.Though she had no idea who the rider was but she had a bad feeling about her and she dismounted from her horse. When she was invited to mount up onto the horse she gladly takes the persons hand after switching "Mora" to her unbandaged left arm and uses her dominate right bandaged arm to take the womans hand.

She had to keep the front up if they were gonna get out of the capital in one piece without ending up as prisoners or dead or worse. So she quckly jumps onto the horse with Mora still in her left hand, "Thank you ma'am." She says with a releaved face before motioning to Cherno then starts to whisper to "Mora" holding her close and stroking her hair with a worried face. Though the worry abiut being questioned when they reached the hospital why she wasnt injured as bad as Mora. "Yeltsin" would probably have been driving the carrige if they managed to stick with the gender roles or what ever silly crap that was.

   Did it work?
   Cherno made way for the six-legged warhorse. Watched its armored rider dismount. Then the rider took off her helm. Oh no. She had her hair in a bun. A bun. Cherno never met a woman who wore her hair in a bun that wasn't dead fucking serious. And half of them also looked like they stood a good chance of besting him in an arm-wrestling contest. In his experience, the big bad bun was big bad news. Almost always meant a tough-as-nails woman who didn't take any shit, because she'd seen plenty of it. Hell, his own mother wore her hair in a bun, and even though she was a full foot shorter than him when he was aged fourteen, he was still scared of what her hands were capable of to the current day.
   The tone of her voice only confirmed it. So this probably got a lot harder.
   What was that? A military hospital? A military hospital? Really? Right into the lion's den?
   Ansgar.
   Help.
   It's fine. Fine. Everything'll be fine. Just play the game. It'll be fine. He'll be drinking and gambling with his bar buddies in no time.
   He nodded to the Major. Said, "Oh, praise Ansgar! Thank you!"
   Cherno mounted the massive Theocog as commanded. Took a moment to admire Kraait and her delicate stroking of the girl's hair. Gal could really put on a show. She just had to be in the business. If not, she was good at...whatever it was that she did for a living, that much was for sure.
   Cherno tried to match the look of worry, peering down at the girl in Kraait's arms. Jeez, the girl looked even more out of place under Reajh's sun than under the overcast, gloomy shit-show constantly hovering over Hyoite. Cherno had never seen someone with skin so white, now that he finally took a good look at her. It just didn't seem all that natural. Was it a sickness? Oh sweet Ansgar, please don't let it be some kind of sickness. He'd certainly have caught it too if it was. Maybe she was born with it. Some kind of defect. Pray to Ansgar that was it. He wasn't getting paid enough to turn into some kind of snow gremlin or whatever.
   His words were a stark contrast to his thoughts.
   "It's gonna be alright," Cherno said to the unconscious girl. Playing his part along with Kraait. "We gotcha, baby girl. Gonna be fine."

(That bun comment actually made me spit up my goddamn coffee xD Cherno better watch the fuck out xDDDD)

The Theocog began to move even before his master did once the girls were settled, only halting when his reigns were tugged sharply- casting a look over his shoulder toward the Major- flared ears angled toward as if to ask why he was stopped. The horse's question remained unanswered as the Major began to lead the great creature in the direction of the military hospital.
Four massive fore-legs began to move in graceful unison, even at a walk, anyone who locked along side the creature would soon be forced into a jog.

" Ensign!" The Major called roughly out to a young man riding what seemed to be a giant boar," I am heading to Saint Agatha's, secure a perimeter and call the Sentinels to the scene. Do it within the hour and you'll receive a day of rest on a day of your choosing."

" Sir yes sir!"

It was clear, the cavalry commander ran a tight ship, and it seemed Cherno and his crew had just been invited aboard. As they moved through the city, their small party was meant by occasional stares and the odd greeting directed toward the Major who would sporadically reply or ignore the individual. Always her gaze remained straight ahead, yet there seemed an unnerving amount of vigilance based upon the way her eyes constantly flickered to and fro.

She was tired, in truth, but no one would ever know. No one could ever know. No one could ever know the reason WHY in fact. So she simply buried it under a stricter mask with an angrier demeanour. No one could know, no one could know.

(That was a great bun comment XD just perfect for me to read when waking up in the morning)

Kraait enjoyed riding the horse, its gentleness soothed her and hopefully soothed Mora, if she did wake up that is. Though she never heard of Saint Agatha, though knowing the military they might have someone check all of them out. She needed to think of some way of convinving them if they do that she was okay and perfectly fine.

Though she needed to keep the act up, sure she miiight be able to blow everyone out of the hostpial into the walls and surrounding area, which would have been extremely dangerous for both her and the demon.

There was only one more thing she could do to make sure that this rouse was really believeable when they arrive at the hospital. She shifted her weight a bit still holding the girl close and grabs her knife then slashes her side deepy, but not so deeply blood would fly everywhere but enough that when they arrive at the hospital blood would have spread through her robe and would begin to splatter everywhere.

Taking s deep breath she quickly cleans the knife and returns it to its proper area, "Ma'am I hope you wont mind me appolojizing for this inconvienence. I cant help but feel responsible since I was the one that wanted to go on a trip to get away from the worries or mages." She hugs Mora and starts to shake taking a deep shakey breath with tears welling up then tells the girl, "Im so sorry my little mouse."

(((  ;D )))

   The military presence of Ansgar's Hand worked wonders to calm the crowds on either end of the street. The panic having downgraded into a general anxious and bewildered atmosphere among the citizenry, departing the Market Street was a much easier task than entering it during the prior chaos.
   Just more bad news for Cherno. Large, hectic crowds were good for a big and obvious guy like him to slip into. And now that was gone, and it was broad daylight, and he was riding a high-ranking military hotshot's horse straight into the hornet's nest, and said monster of a horse could probably run him down and eat him if he tried any funny business.
   Never, ever think easy money again. Ever. Don't even think about not thinking about it. Wait... Well, starting now.
   Kraait did something, but Cherno didn't see what. Decided not to call any unnecessary attention to it. He could only hope it was a sort of ace-up-the-sleeve trick to get them out of this jam, should the need arise.
   Time to get back into character. The worried and consoling father and husband. A hard sell for Cherno. He was pretty lousy at it with Alena—the actual Alena—and Roman.
   "No, no, it's not your fault, honey," he said to Kraait. "How could we have known? Try to do a good thing, help out a man down on his luck with a ride on our way back to Reajh, and then all this mess happens? Couldn't have known." He sighed for effect. "I guess it's true what they say about good deeds."
   Pritchard had to be explained some way. And it wasn't like the fat fuck was alive to contradict the story. So he could go fuck himself in the afterlife. Maybe use some of that eternity to hunt his own damn deer.
   Cherno looked down to the girl in Kraait's arms again. She still hadn't stirred after the hug. The blood from her nose and mouth had settled on her white skin. Started drying. Aside from that, she actually looked peaceful. Lucky her.
   Then a thought occurred to him.
   Cherno had no idea what she was going to say when she woke up.

The sudden smell of fresh blood must have reached the Theocog's nostrils, as the beast's head suddenly jerked back and it utter a low squealing sound, blue eyes briefly rollingg. This was a creature meant to go off at a second's notice in battle, but luckily, before any damage could be done, the Major yanked the huge white head down, wrapping an arm about the muzzle and holding the beast still for a moment as she murmured something- eventually the great destrier seeming to calm and continue its slowly bobbing walk.

The Major did not answer either of them, but her eyes watched the young 'family' closely from then on, her lips curled in the smallest of frowns. Nonetheless, she stopped them at a large building of three levels- it was surprisingly active and few the green-black banners of Connlaoth. The boar snapping in the vague breeze that pushed through the streets. It seemed the hospital was run mainly by clergy members, as nuns and priests rushed to and fro, the war did a number upon the forces even near the capital.

Once again, the Major reaches up, offering her hand to Kraait," Stay close to me, if you all are seperated I would never forgive myself," her words were flat and held no hint of sincerity. But that was the price of selling your soul to the State.

Kraait holds on a bit tighter as the horse acts up a bit but then relaxes then comes to a stop. From what she could hear was that the area was busy with what seemed like flags blwoing in the breeze. Not to mention the amount of talking there was as people rushes to a fro doing their business or going to where they were told to go.

One thing for sure is that she was going to have a fun time in the hospital. She would barely beable to tell where she was with all the walking and talking, not to mention it was new surrooundings. She took the armored lady's hand and jumped off the horse then shifts the girls weight again. After a while she started to get a bit heavy in her arms. She wanted a description of the area, "Yeltsin, can you describe the area for us? I want Mora to know where we are if she can hear us."

   Oh god, the beast was already hungry. If this thing had six legs then how many stomachs did it have? Enough to fit all of Cherno? Maybe a side of Kraait too?
   Fortunately, the beast was no match for the bun. The Major tamed it quickly and got it back on track. When this was all said and done, Cherno figured he'd be owing Ansgar a couple big favors for all the tiny blessings. Some time spent in church seemed apropos. He'd been slacking as of late. So go to church. Listen to some rousing sermons. Donate. Do something good with the money instead of ale and card games. Call it even with the Big Man.
   Cherno's eyes traveled up all three levels of Saint Agatha's. Watched the banners flap in the breeze. His eyes came back down. Watched the busy nuns and priests.
   Well...talk about going to church, right?
   He dismounted from the Theocog when Kraait did. And she had an odd request.
   Wait... was she...? He didn't really get a good look at her eyes back on the Market Street, and he didn't want to stare down into them now. That'd be too conspicuous. Not to mention awkward. She did say describe the area for us.
   Roll with it. Improvise on the fly and you'll get on by.
   He crouched down slightly to her level and said, "This is it, baby girl. Saint Agatha's. It's big. Beautiful. Three whole stories. Stained glass. Flags are blowing in the wind—the Mighty Boar is on the march. Those front doors are huge. Only the most able hands of Connlaothian craftsmanship built this masterpiece. Don't you worry, baby girl, you'll see it soon enough. Soon enough..."
   He glanced to the Major. All-business, that one. He nodded, placing a hand on Kraait's shoulder. Ready to follow the Major inside.
   Well, the character he was pretending to be was ready. Cherno himself would've turned and ran fast enough for his clothes to peel off in the breeze if he had the chance. But that wasn't going to happen.
   Because that Theocog still looked pretty damn hungry to Cherno.

Hakon listened to the description and only then did a hint of a smile appear upon her cherry lips, nonetheless, she motions them both forward, though now she was clearly alert for this apparently 'blind' young lady. She seemed to have no need for assistance from the way she moved with confidence.... Though the truly blind could barely function without direct assistance. Only very few could function without their sight and perhaps- this was one of them.

" I will need you to follow me," she speaks calmly yet firmly, moving forward though she glanced back once to stare them down- there was no room for argument here.

(Does  Cherno have something against horses? XD Just love it how he thinks it could hypothetically eat them all lol)

"Must look pretty nice thank you for telling us that." She blinks trying to picture it. It was such a long time she forgot what some thing looked like. Particularly color which she missed. The only thing in life she could enjoy is hearing, touch and taste even smell. It was boring but can be an adventure at times. "Ma'am I hope you dont mind my asking what is your name? I want Mora to know who helped us when she recovers."
By now the slash she has given herself has bleed quiete a bit and she was starting to feel its effects, but she wanted to act like she didnt know due to the adrenerline, which by now technically should have started to fade from her usually. But man did she feel terrible though, she felt the blood had reached above her knee and spread a good bit above her waist. Damn it seemed like it was deeper then she though. She was happy for the coloring of her roade atleast, it helped hide the blood a good bit.

(((Just against big scary Theocogs)))

   Cherno started forward, following after the Major. He kept his hand on Kraait's shoulder, guiding her along. Sounded like the poor gal would need it. But what if she wasn't blind? Just acted the part so damn good you couldn't tell? Man, that'd be playing the game on a whole other level. Going the extra mile to fool everyone and gain a surprise advantage whenever she needed it. Master-level stuff. Maybe after the drinking and gambling and church donations, he could use whatever was left from the payout to learn a thing or two from her. A few new tricks in his old bag of mischief wouldn't hurt.
   Cherno kept pace with the Major as best he could as they approached the front doors of Saint Agatha's. He didn't want to go too fast, make Kraait trip or something. That'd be an asshole move. Especially if she really was blind. Was she blind? ...Was she? Now he wasn't even sure. Maybe that's what she wanted him and the Major to think. Keep them in a state of confusion. Is she or isn't she?
   Hmm. Master-level indeed.
   Well-played.
   "Yes, I don't think we caught your name." Cherno said, building on Kraait's lead. "I don't know how we'll repay you this kindness, but we'll come up with something."

(Then Cherno at the very least will survive most of his encounters with Theocog as long as he keeps that fear up lol)

" I need nothing that you can give me, dear ones," she responded flatly, not even looking back but seeming to carve a path with her very presence. As they entered the hospital- the scent of herbs and blood was pungent enough to knock an individual over. Nonetheless, the Major continued her movement forward, after a minute's hesitation, she answered," My name is Major Hakon Kilandre, of Ansgar's Hand,"

She didn't know if they had heard of her exploits in the North and the South and literally every where this Kingdom had war. She didn't know if they thought her a murderer or a hero, but either way, she knew this: she needed to give them a room not just for treatment but for the possibility they may have been involved with the explosion.

She stopped a priest, murmuring something to him, receiving a response, nodding shortly and squeezing the man's shoulder before continuing on her way," There is a room avaliable on the third floor, can you make it?"

(At least he would be able to run like the road runner when he would need to XD)

Hakon huh? What a weird but nice name if seemed to give the woman an air of power around her also. It was a lot better then her own name atleast. "Nice to meet you then Major." But the smell of the blood and herbs mixed was definetly enough to make Kraait even more nausous. This would not be a fun time after all.

Kraait touches Moras forehead with the back of her hand not lookingwell at all. She just needed to hang on a bit longer before she can maybe think of a way for them to make their escape. It did not seem like that was going to be possible. "Take care of Mora" She hands the girl to Cherno with a smile as her robe could not hold anymore of the blood without dripping and she gets sick. Damn it! So muddy close I was anle to taste it! As it turned out even her own body had its limited considering what happened to her years ago.

   Cherno held a fist up to his mouth. Coughed into it. Turned his head to one side and coughed some more. The smell inside the hospital was enough to set the hairs of his nose on fire. He could almost taste it, the stinging scent of the herbs and the metallic odor of the blood. It felt like his tongue was trying to jump down his throat and hide. He coughed once more.
   The stench aside, what a relief. She didn't want anything. The money from the job's payout was already looking to be stretched pretty thin. Suited Cherno just fine.
   Major Hakon Kilandre. Sounded important. And important was bad. Meant she had some weight to throw around, strings to pull. Why, oh, why couldn't it have been some old jaded nobody sergeant who had strolled up on the scene back on the Market Street? The kind of guy who just wanted to get through his commitment to the military and cash out at the end? Go retire someplace nice and not give a fuck anymore?
   Then she confered with one of the passing priests in the hall.
   "Third floor? You got it, ma'am, we'll—"
   Kraait spoke. Handed the girl over to Cherno, and he scooped her out of Kraait's arms and into his own. Hey, she didn't look so—
   "Oh shit!" Cherno called out, much more crass than he ought to have been. He couldn't help but jump back a half-step as well as Kraait vomited on the floor.
   He certainly didn't need to fake his surprise for this one. "Hey! Hey! Alena! Oh no, she's hurt too! Hey, honey, can you wal...—We need some more help here!" Cherno lifted the girl in his arms up slightly, indicating his already full hands. "Major, could you help Alena up the stairs? Oh god, that looks bad." Then to Kraait, "Everything's gonna be fine, honey, we're in the right place. Just need to get up to the third floor."

The Major seems only vaguely surprised as Krait externalizes the contents of her stomach and easily reaches forward to steady the woman, cradling the young lady against her armored chest before scooping her up with ease. She couldn't imagine it being particularly comfortable being carried in such away, then again- beggars cannots be choosers so comfort concerns could come much later. Still, her sharp eyes fixed upon Kraait like a hawk upon its prey - lingering for far too long before she nods shortly," Lets go, quickly now." and turns away, beginning to push through the throngs of individuals crowding the hospitals halls.

She, alas, herded Cherno and 'Mora' ahead of her, clearly unwilling to let any of the trio from her sight even for the barest instant. As they reached the winding steps near the back of the building, she looked at Cherno expectantly," Come on now, quickly."

She was dimly aware of what was happening around her since a lot of her strength has been sapped by that point. She wasn't exactly comfortable but she did not care at that point. Damn she could not tell where others were again. Kraait did regret having given herself that gash at that point or so she hoped she would if things worked out either way things were supposed to, that won't change much for her condition.
"Major, treat Mora first okay? I'll be fine for a while longer." Kraait smiles as another wave of nausea hit her hard. That smell was just so strong it irritated her senses so much she wanted to run out of there.

   Cherno couldn't help but stare in that singular moment when the Major picked Kraait up as if she were nothing more than a big fluffy pillow.
   The Major just had to be ripped underneath all that armor. Some kind of super woman. Hauling around all that plate from sun-up to sun-down and sparing the time to exert herself even more. Cherno himself was only good for short and powerful bursts of strength and speed; he always managed to get winded far too easily. Endurance wasn't really his strong suit.
   Hmm. Maybe all that armor the Major wore wasn't to protect her, but instead all the people around her. Keep them from coming in contact with muscles so toned they could break a man in half if she merely bumped into him.
   Note. Don't bump into the Major. Just in case.
   "Okay. This way, Major?"
   Yup. That way. Cherno followed her lead straight through the crowds of clergy and ambulatory wounded to the stairs.
   "Alright. Third floor."
   Cherno started bounding up the stairs two at a time.
   And that stopped immediately when he reached the second floor landing.
   Oh fucking Ansgar, he forgot these were fucking stairs. And now the tiny girl in his arms started to feel like she weighed as much as a dragon who had eaten its entire hoard of gold coins.
   He started up the stairs leading to the third floor. Tried to keep breathing through his nose instead of panting and gulping for air. That also didn't last long.
   Finally. Sweet Ansgar. The third floor landing. Cherno almost forgot why he was even here and under what circumstances. His legs and arms burned, and his chest heaved as if he'd just finished a marathon.
   Hopefully, hopefully...he didn't look too much like a bitch. Maybe a little smidgen of bitch. Just a pinch of bitch, if he were a recipe. To be honest, that was fair. As long as he didn't look like the spittin' image of a big ol' stankin' bitch, he'd be okay with it.
   His breathing getting back to normal, Cherno awaited further directions from the Major.

Slipping past him, the Major moved at a slow walk down the hallways. After years of sweating and toiling under her armor, it was easy to ignore the weight though it never truly left her mind. She began down the hallway, which seemed to be less crowded then the previous levels, rooms scattered here and there.

At the first sign of an askew door, the Major shoved the door wide with her shoulder, revealing a rather neat room occupied by two empty beds- crisp white sheets lay atop the crisp white mattresses. It was as if this particular room had never been touched by the chaos below... A surprised nun looks up," Excuse me, you can't- Oh dear,"

The Major looks the woman dead in the eye but simply nods. Placing Kraait upon the bed as the woman rushes away without another word. She points to the other bed, clearly indicating Cherno to place his burden there

Kraait feels the oft bed and sighs, it was soft and warm like a cloud which was pretty nice and sort of comforting. Though her back would start aching in a few minutes since she did not sleep in a bed often enough to allow her back to adjust but she didn't care she just sat there and dozed looking around her new surroundings.

The smell was not as bad as when they first entered the building but it still bugged her to some extent as another wave of nausea washed over her. Man she wished there was a garbage can or at least something she can vomit in to help prevent a huge mess. Kraait kept a close eye on Mora and Cherno and closing her eyes at times to help herself from vomiting and to keep herself from getting dizzy, which was often.

   Cherno followed after the Major, his body still aching from the stairs.
   She found the room, and the nun inside vacated it. Lucky her.  A brief thought crossed his mind, but he quickly ruled it out. What were the chances that there was priest—hell, he'd settle for a nun—who wore clothing his size? Slim to none. That old ruse didn't seem to be very plausible.
   Still, he had to keep his options open.
   Because this room was starting to feel a little claustrophobic. Who knew how long this ruse could keep going?
   Cherno laid the girl down on the indicated bed, then crouched down next to it.
   Cherno looked to the Major, then gestured his head toward the doorway and the nun who had recently passed through it. "She going to get help? Are there any...I don't know, head doctors or something here? My baby girl hit her head hard. Don't know if a simple salve or tonic will even help. Oh Ansgar...I hope everything's going to be alright."
   He worked off a bit of his own—actual—stress with the last bit.
   How the hell could he possibly get an injured girl and an injured woman out of a place this hustling and bustling? The crowded halls were great for slipping by unnoticed, but every pair of eyes was the wrong type. Not the "mind your own business" or "don't give a fuck" citizen's eyes. They were all the "hey I'm watchin' you, big guy" kind of eyes.
   What a mess he'd gotten himself into.

The Major moved slowly, as if purposefully taking her time. Perhaps she conciously was dragging out the agony in which the trio would suffer in waiting for assistance, perhaps she was simply tired. But her true intentions would become clear in the next several seconds as she suddenly closes the door and places herself firmly before its frame- carefully her armored arms came around and tucked over her chest as she stared them down.

" I suppose you were aware that mages are currently illegal in the capital," she spoke firmly, gravely," So I must ask why your wife so graciously entered the city walls during this time. Then- I shall allow you the help both your women so desperately need."

Her eyes were hard and cold as they focused upon Cherno, there was no joy nor even life upon that stony visage. This was no longer a game, and this no longer a ruse. She had brought them to a provate room for interrogation, that much was clear.

Shit. Her blood ran cold, "I have no idea what your talking about major." She said after finally fighting off the dizziness, "but if you suspect me of using magic then your wrong." Kraait sighs, "It was magic that made me blind as a fuckin' bat and made my father disappear or die. So why would I even thinking of touching it after it ruined my vision and did who knows what to my father?"

It seemed like the major had suspisoions, which Kraait could not blame her for the way she was raised and what she was taught about magic. It was true magicndid tale her vision and who knows what to her father but if that was what they needed to get out of there alive then so be it.

She squeezes her bandaged arm for a tinybit of comfort since the marking underneath it was the final memory of her father.

   Uh oh.
   Closed door? Crossed arms? Death stare? All the necessary ingredients for a bad time; Cherno learned that much from his ex-wife. Difference here being that Alena was never clad in plate armor and had never swung a sword in her life.
   So Cherno quickly started feeling like the shortest person in the room, despite his size.
   He slowly raised his hands up to the level of his shoulders in a surrendering fashion. Maybe the Major was like a bear. No sudden movements, and you'll be fine. No, wait, weren't you supposed to play dead with bears? Would that even work with the Major? Was her visual acuity based on movement?
   ...Maybe save the "play dead" card as the shitty option of last resort.
   Cherno offered a smile that didn't mesh well with the tiny beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He glanced back and forth between Kraait and the Major. "Hey, hey...let's just all calm down for a second. We're all friends here, right?"
   He focused more on Hakon now. "Major Kilandre, I understand. I understand completely, and thank you, by the way, thank you for your outstanding service to our great country. Gotta catch that mage before he hurts anyone else's wife or daughter—or husband! Shoot, that carriage almost crushed me."
   An awkward second passed. "It ain't much, but this is all I know: that man inside our carriage said his name was Pritchard. Said his own carriage was attacked by bandits and only he made it out alive. So me and my wife offered him a ride to Reajh. Now, I don't know what kind of history this Pritchard guy had, but some black-clad mage just came out of the crowd on Market Street toward us. I was out on the street making way for the carriage. Saw him coming. Was about to ask him what his deal was, 'cause I didn't know he was a mage until he locked eyes with Pritchard and cast some spell that sent our carriage flying, and I mean flying, into the air! The mage must've thought the fall would kill Pritchard, so he just slipped back into the crowd while everybody was standing around all dazed and confused like. Well, he was right, 'cause the fall did kill Pritchard, but—thank Ansgar—my wife and daughter were both short and small enough not to be crushed. Jeez...just thinking about it now, if I was in that carriage I wouldn't be here talking to you, Major."
   Cherno took in a breath, then clapped his hands back down to the sides of his legs. "I'm sorry I can't give you a better description of the mage, Major. But, I can assure you, that it was definitely not my lovely wife, Alena. Like she said, messing with magic is nothing but bad news."

" Perhaps if I had been hit on the head a few more times, you would have gotten passed me," she sighs vaguely, tilting her head slightly toward Cherno, then his 'wife'. Her gaze cold and unmoved," You see, theblind tend to be just that. Blind. Unable to see. Those who have no eyes yet continue to see, one can know rather easily they wield some kind of magic- not to mention the reports of a blind girl trundling about this quarter with ease bas finally come to friuitition."

She rests her hand beneath her chin, gazing at the pair, unmoved, uneffected by their protests," As for this Prichard character, he is a wanted man in this region. Mainly for accusations of human trafficking and the buying and selling of sentient organs. We've been searching for him for quite a time nos. it's a shame a carriage delivered justice rather then the Law." Her eyes flicker to Cherno.

" You two wouldn't happen to be transporting your daughter wth him for that benefit, would you?"

Kraait wasn't the one to give up but at this point in their ruse was probably about up. "Well I would't call my self being "unable to see" more like I can feel the vibrations of other beings around me as they walk by to towards me on the street, they always usually breath  good bit louder to me then when I wasn't blind." She holds her side with the gash on it, "It's hard to explain Major but it's the truth. You can choose not to believe us or not but if I could use magic, which I can't, I think you'd have been blown out the window or through the wall right now." Kraait says calmly having to explain her blindness and why she could "see" many times before.

Though the news of the other person in the carriage caught her by surprise and she looked at Cherno's general direction shocked and more shaky, "Dear, we were helping a criminal. A fucking criminal."
By now her blood had seeped onto the bedding she way laying on has spread a good bit considering the time she has spent lying in the bed. She didn't notice it yet since she has been mostly preoccupied with "Mora" and well keeping up the ruse which was about to be turned to ash, she did feel pretty tired and even more light headed so she lays down looking towards the ceiling.

   Reports of a blind girl? And that idiot Pritchard was wanted?
   Stick to the story. That was the only play. Just like a game of cards. Can't back out of a bluff once you're in too deep. Gotta go all-in and win.
   Cherno caught a glance of the blood on Kraait's bed. She seemed to be holding up well enough to explain away the details of her blindness, but still, they were running out of time. He probably owed Kraait an ale or two once this was all over.
   He shared the shock on Kraait's face when he heard the 'news' from the Major. And he raised his hands once again to shoulder level. "We had no idea this Pritchard guy was wanted, Major. And, believe me, we certainly don't want anything to do with that...business you mentioned." Cherno shuddered. Glanced down to Kraait, "Jeez, can you believe that, honey? That asshole might've tried to take our daughter's organs."