Spirits of the Earth

OOC: This thread is open, however, please PM me with permission if interested in joining and I'll let you know if your idea works with what I've been plotting~ This thread is a very important thread, laced into the mage wars in Connlaoth (read more about this via in the link in my signature)... (It's sort of a time jump) from what has been beginning to happen, and something rising out of the mess of it. (So this takes place well after things have been getting messy. ANd please note, no other threads are even this far along in the war~). Please also read the character Katahnia's profile, too, before inquiring to join :3 thanks.

And without any further ramblings.. XD, I present a thread where a hero is needed to help save the 'wanna be' savior of the mages as she dangles, soaked in blood, from an ice, cold, chandelier.

Looks like I've already got a bite XD

-----------

It had been a long, cruel road, and time had hardly been kind to her. So much had transpired, so much working against her, seeming to want to crush the spirit of the woman rising against the world. It was a time when Connlaoth was in despair, fear plaguing the people and tricking them into believing everything their new Grand Duke had fed them. And they believed it, all of them, or so it seemed. So it was that in which made the journey even more perilous than before.

She had to work against the men that didn't know better, where she had preached the words on the street, the innocence of her people, and how repressing them, sending them North to the cruel mage camps, was damning their souls.

Equality.. Peace.. These words Katahnia had once preached seemed like something to laugh about as she remained hanging in her cold tomb, blood staining her cracked lips, and the rest of the blood finally beginning to dry and clot over the wounds of her body. But she had been soaked in it, whip lashes leaving risen welts across her back, opening bubbling wounds which stained her clothing and flesh red with her own blood, which had since collected upon the floor, staining the chilled stone flooring beneath her in the abandoned castle in which she now remained. But they wanted her alive, to suffer as cruelly as possible for all that she stood for before the loss of blood and cold would take her. So they left her for dead, hanging upside down, her wrists and body bound in ropes, well within the bowels of an ancient and forgotten castle, laying within the forests of the tall mountain peeks of the Kilanthros. And they left her hanging from the frozen diamonds of an unlit and spider web-frosted chandelier.

It was a cruel fate to remain there, and as she hung, tears burned within her eyes at the memories this presented to her- of that time so long ago when her family had been attacked, and what all of this suffering had meant to her, and at that time in the long forgotten past, she had taken homage within a casing of crystal. She even recalled when she had been free, awakening to love and new hope. She had even ridden as far north to her family's duchy, only to find a cruel twist of fate tearing everything she held dear apart. Now she had a child to fight for, one she had to give away to be cared for, in fear her daughter might be killed as she fought the mage wars.

But now as she hung upside down, bleeding and possibly dying, she regretted nothing, except failing to be there for her daughter when she would be grown, as a single, slow rolling tear froze against her cheek. SHe was too weak to seal herself now, and was already feeling the biting cold of the arctic cast a layer of frost in her blood stained, blonde hair and clothing, and her lips and fingers bluing, skin turning white as snow as her breath came out in white wisps as she stared out into the vast emptiness of the forgotten castle. Her would be tomb.

Little did she know this was just the start of something more, just another step in the long journey towards a fight where she would strive towards the freedom of the mages, the halting of the iron fist within the laws, and at least bring the people of Connlaoth back to a sense of humanity. Mages and magic users were but people... how could they not see? All they saw was an enemy, and the fear that had drove them all mad. Now, with the mages symbol of hope, a woman who had been rallying them and spitting out words of peace... now that she was subdued, the Grand Duke could continue on with his repressive laws without incident, and the world might continue on without her- leaving her as a forgotten ghost within it's history... a history that had only just begun.

With his crudely made bow, Conall waited though his arms quivered in anticipation of a meal that was long past due. The young man was very thin, almost starving but he had just enough on him to keep himself sustained. But the hunger was maddening and his patience was on thin ice. He needed to eat and already his patience had snapped multiple times and the snow hares he'd encountered had easily evaded his arrows.

Conall put another arrow to the bow string and drew it taut, eyeing the hare that was several feet away from where he stood. The hare rose up, looking around and wiggling its little nose, perhaps sniffing the air. Conall had little understanding of wild animals so he could only guess. "Got you this time, you little bastard." He growled and closed one eye, lining up his arrow with the target. He took a deep breath then released the bowstring. He held his breath and...

It hit a snow bank. The hare was now bounding across the snow, fleeing from its clumsy hunter.

"Damn it!"

How long had he been at this? Hours and his marksmanship had gone straight to the abyss.

He was so angry that he felt the urge to throw his bow. He almost did , but then thought better of it and kicked up snow fitfully with his boot. "You imbecile," he chastised himself quite loudly, " ,at this rate I may as well dig my own grave right here in the snow and be done with it!"

He sighed and shook his head, "I'm tired and moody," he explained to no one in particular, quite in the habit of talking to himself to ward away the loneliness that months or perhaps even a year of isolation had forced him to become intimate with.

"I just need to calm down and try again," he told himself, taking another deep breath and trudging forward to retrieve his arrow. He eyed the tracks, thankful that they were clear and followed them, determined to have a hare stew by sunset.

The tracks led his steps up the mountain and to a place , an elevation that he never dared to venture before because the higher one climbed, the more cold and unforgiving the winds would be.

Conall was not among the sturdiest of men, but arguably stronger than he had been once. This world had forced him to change because it had been the only way to endure...and it made him just strong enough to brace the winds and climb though he pondered how effective his bow would be in a climate like this and it didn't escape his mind that there may have been far more dangerous predators than himself up in crown of the world.

The winds were blowing so fiercly now that they lifted the snow from the earth , blowing it in his face and shrouding the air making visibility almost zero. Conall halted in his steps. He could no longer see the rabbit tracks. He could hardly see his boots. He sighed, knowing full well how stupid he'd been for endeavoring to climb so high.

He was ready to turn around and trudge back down the mountain when something caught his eye. Faintly through the icy mists he thought he saw a formation – no, it was too perfectly shaped to be part of the mountain. A building perhaps? Up here?

"Interesting, " , he said aloud though he couldn't even hear himself above the howling winds, " I wonder if someone lives there." It didn't seem likely and for all he knew he was hallucinating. Again. "I really should go home..." He half-turned to look back down the mountain but then turned back and proceeded towards the unknown.

The closer he drew , the more solid the formation became and now it loomed over him , casting an enormous shadow over him as he stood under it and looked up in awe.

"A castle? " Conall was bewildered. That was the last thing he'd expect to find in a land of barbarians. He shook his head and noted the state it was in. It was collapsed in some places , stone crumbled to the earth and buried in snow, holes in the walls and a no light in the windows. More unnerving was the doors themselves were ajar, but held only slightly open and stopped by a mound of snow that had built up around it.

Conall considered his options, "There might be food in there, shelter, perhaps some supplies I could use. Worst case scenario, there's something living in there that will try to kill me. " He'd already made up his mind before he'd said this , however. " I'll take my chances, " he muttered and moved closer to the doors.

The opening looked narrow . Had he been healthier, he probably wouldn't have fit at all but being as thin as he was, he was able to squeeze in.

It was nearly as cold inside as it was outside , but the walls were mostly intact and did a fair job of keeping the wind and its chill out save for through the entrance. Conall stood in the doorway, looking around with bow in hand and an arrow drawn to the string. He trembled a bit, nervous and uncertain of what he'd find in here.

There were signs that there had been life here once but the tables and chairs were overturned , furniture knocked over and scattered hapazardly about the icy stone floor. Icy cobwebs and dust clung to almost everything. The place seemed wholly abandoned.

What had happened here?

Conall took a cautious step forward, looking around him nervously in every direction as though he expected a wild animal to leap out at him at any moment.

A small part of him hoped there was someone here as terrible as that wish may have been . At least then he could stop talking to himself. For he feared he may have already been slightly mad...

"H-hello?" He called out into the gloom, his voice sounding much louder than he anticipated. It rang off the stone and echoed a few times back at him, "Is anyone here?"

He passed through the main hall , ascending a set of broken stairs and crossing a hall, coming into what may have been a throne room or a ballroom...it was a large room though as poor and dark as the conditions were...he wasn't even sure what to make of it all. 

As he moved, his eyes were on the lookout for something he could take home with him. Something he could use. Ansgar's beard, he hoped there was food somewhere in here!

He crossed into the middle of the large room , passing directly beneath the chandelier though not once looking up. "I come in pea-"

A pale stream of daylight filtered through the duty window, dimly illuminating the floor under him and yet he didn't notice the icy floor slicked with crimson until ...

"W-woah!"

He slipped and fell, landing on his back and only fortunate enough to have his head well-padded by a warm hood made of furs and animal hides. Though he lay there for a while, staring upward in a daze. "Should have been more careful." He mumbled.

Laying there, staring up and looking at nothing in particular, he noticed something. An odd silhouette that he assumed to be a chandelier and something else that appeared awfully humanoid hanging from it.

"Oh Ansgar...suicide? " He swallowed hard, not anticipating that whoever was dangling from that chandelier was actually alive. "Poor bastard."

ooc: lol, he slipped in blood. What a nubcakes.

Profile will be up soon. Don't get yer panties in a twist.

She was coming in and out of consciousness now, and would have lulled back away to a white-washed world had she not heard the commotion below. Slowly, her green eyes opened, which was painful as they had nearly frozen shut. Ice clung to her blood caked lashes as she peered out into the world, but saw nothing. Though more sounds below her drew her eyes to peer down. And she saw a figure, a man. Her lips opened to move, but again, it was painful, her skin so frigid, so cold. ANd as her lips move, but it was as if her breath had been choked out of her, and even her vocal cords had become frozen. But then as she continued to awaken, she felt blood seep out from her nose, warm and wet, before it dripped down her face, slipping off from her lips and splattering onto the man's face down below.

And then at that motion, her lips froze open, and she found herself barely able to breath out the words, "Help." And again.. "Help me... please." Though even she wasn't sure if she could be saved at this point. She couldn't even feel the rest of her body and her mind ached with use.

Hearing a voice calling out for help, Conall sat up and looked in the direction of the distressed plea. Directly above him he saw the silhouette move slightly. "Alive! " He gasped and staggered to his feet, slipping a little on the ice and blood , nearly losing his balance again. He felt something warm on his face and touched a hand there, drawing it back slowly and holding it up before his eyes to see , "Blood...? Oh maker..." He breathed , horrified. Something was very wrong here, but he'd save his pondering for later. The stranger above him needed help!

"Hold on, I'll help you down!" He called up into the gloom and then looked around the room, desperately searching for some method to reach the stranger. But he saw nothing he could use , nothing he could climb to get to them. Somehow, he'd have to probably knock her from her place. "I –I cannot see you. Are you bound? "

He went over to one of the large windows and pulled back the long, dusty silk curtains, allowing more light to penetrate the room oppressed by shadow . He moved as quickly as he could, stepping carefully round upturned furniture and statues, fallen paintings and long dead and withered plants and their smashed pots to reach the other six large windows and open their curtains as well.

The darkness took flight, leaving Conall nearly blinded by the light. It took him a few moments to adjust before he looked up again to have a better look at the stranger. He'd figured it was a lady...the voice gave that away though...one could never be sure as a young lad could sound equally fair. This wasn't the case however.

She was dangling from a chandelier and she didn't look to be in healthy shape. He couldn't catch every detail but he'd noted the blood he'd cleaned from his face and could put two and two together. Someone must have left her for dead. He shuddered. Even his own fate hadn't been quite so cruel.

"Just hang on a little longer, Miss!" He called up to her, "I need to figure out how to get you down from there! I'll be right back!" He left the throne room running, stumbling through the dark and yanking curtains apart, lighting up the castle as he went. He searched every room he came across and formulated a plan as he moved. One could only pray that it would actually work.

He returned multiple times, carrying blankets , sheets, linens, pillows and all manner of soft material that he could find. It felt as though it may have taken an eternity as he threw them in the room then would go running back out once more.

On his final few trips, he came through the door, grunting and dragging mattresses from queen and king sized beds into the room. The effort, he thought , nearly killed him but at long last he lined up the mattresses , pulling them up , one on top of the other. He took a moment to catch his breath before continuing his work, padding the stacked mattresses with the pillows and blankets. When he was done, he stood back and picked up his bow,  placing an arrow to the string and pulling it back. "I'm going to shoot you down! Try not to panic!"

He took aim, closing one eye and sighting the rope that held her dangling from the chandelier like a fly caught in a spider's web and held his breath.

The arrow missed , narrowly missing the rope , the arrow's head only slightly severing the rope. He cursed and removed another bow from his quiver, took aim, took a deeper breath to calm his nerves and fired again. This time , it was a direct hit. The rope gave way and the woman fell.
He watched her fall and prayed. 

ooc: I hope that made sense because there were a lot of distractions in the background while writing this. xD

Katahnia landed onto the pile of blankets, a mattress, and sheets. Though she made no noise on contact, her body did, and for the longest time she simply lay there, her eyes staring up dizzily at the chandelier above. Everything seemed to dance, coming in and out of focus all the while her body was trembling from the pain.. and from the cold.

"Thank the maker," Conall breathed when he saw the woman had landed as he'd hoped, seeming –well, not dead or harmed any worse than she already was. He hurried over to her and pulled himself up onto the mattresses. Kneeling beside her, he looked down at her to survey what manner of trauma she'd been through, "God..." it was awful. The woman- perhaps even a girl , for she seemed a bit younger than himself, had all the signs of torture about her. Bruises, cuts, blood, scars. Some fresh, some not so.

And her attire was not appropriate for this weather...he was amazed she hadn't frozen to death.

"Do not fear, miss," He told her as gently and reached over her, pulling some blankets and sheets out from underneath her and carefully wrapping her up snugly in them, "this should take off a bit of the chill. "

He removed his glove and felt her forehead. She might have been too numb to feel how hot it was against her skin, but he certainly felt her deathly chill as he drew his hand away and hastily put his glove back on. "I need to make a fire, " he told her, "or we're both going to freeze to death here. Do you know where I might find some flint? "

His words barely registered to her. She kept hearing it, almost as if it was faded.. distant..
Though it was only at his last set of words did his face start coming into focus, haggard and weary from the weather. This land was harsh, and unkind. Though a worried, caring face was welcome.
She smiled, feelign the cuts all over her lips and the strained muscle there. But she said nothing, feeling the world fall away to dark.

OOC: SHe's so helpful XD

Ooc: I wouldn't call this mature, but it's R rated material. This post is kinda violent and contains quite a bit of heavy swearing that may offend some readers except the two people posting in this thread because, clearly, we're amoral androids from Sector L and we're going to android.

Warning! This is kind of unnecessarily long but Spice's fault. xD
Ic:
She fainted and for a moment he was horrified. Had Ansgar made his claim on her poor damned soul? He shook his head and promptly removed his glove to pass his hand over her face and nose. He needed to ascertain for certain that she had passed into the mists or if she was breathing.

Ah. Good. She has simply passed out, likely from unconsciousness. Drawing his hand back, he hastily replaced his glove then released a relieved sigh.

He bent over her, pulling a dagger from his belt. He pulled the blankets back and cut the ropes binding her, something he mentally scolded himself for not having the brains to do before he'd wrapped her up in warmth. He replaced the blankets, tucking her in snugly and then he sat back and sheathed his dagger, casting her a fleeting and sympathetic glance.

"Rest well, miss. Ansgar knows that you probably deserve it." He muttered softly to himself as he slipped off the mattresses and exited what he now assumed to be a throne room.

As he stood in the doorway , he heard something. He readied his bow, instincts warning him that trouble had shown up.

"What the hell was that noise? You don't think there's someone living here, do you?"

"Don't be stupid! This place has been abandoned for decades. There ain't no one here. Might be a wild animal or somethin' though or more likely , that bitch makin' a fuss."

"Maybe it's a ghos-"

Two men came walking down one of the halls to the right towards him. Conall cursed his own stupidity and readied his bow as one of the men pointed at him, " See! I TOLD ya I heard someone!"

"YOU! " The other man pointed at him, "Drop your weapon! "

Conall eyed both men critically, but said nothing and certainly wasn't about to lower his bow. He kept it trained on the bossy man. The pair of them were clad in dark leathers and armed to the teeth. They bore a vicious and untrained composure to them that told him these men were not honorable. They weren't in uniform either which hinted to the possibility of them being mercenaries and most definitely assassins. How charming.

Now it was clear to him what he had to do. The girl was a stranger , but these people were downright shady. Mercenaries or no this whole situation reeked of something sinister.

"Hey, barbarian! What's the matter? Don't speak common or are you deaf? I said droooraugh-"

The man gargled incoherently, blood spilling from his lips as he clutched for the arrow piercing his throat and fell face first to the stone.
"Bastard! You're a dead man!" The other mercenary howled and charged at him. Conall hastily drew another bow from his quiver and put another arrow to the bowstring , but it wasn't fast enough. His opponent crashed into him, tackling him into the wall.

Conall grunted as the back of his skull struck the wall. The impact left him in a daze while his opponent proceeded to beat him black and blue to the point of collapsing on hands and knees.

The mercenary grabbed him by the collar and lifted him slightly up off the ground and leaning forward, down so that their faces were close enough that Conall could smell the man's breath. God! It smelled like something had crawled in the bastard's mouth and DIED. The man drew a knife , " I'll give you a nice hole in your throat just like you did to my brother over there. Heh."

Conall's hand found something on the ground. Cold , light, sharp. He gripped it , feeling its edge cut slice through his glove and flesh. He nearly dropped it from shock of pain , but he held on. He needed to or he'd be dead otherwise. Then, brought it up fast against the left side of his foe's head.

The man screeched and stumbled back , grabbing at the large shard of broken glass protruding from just below his earlobe. "FUCK YOU! DIE ,YOU MOTHERFUCKER!" He spat in his rage and threw the his knife at the man. Conall ungracefully rolled out of the way, narrowly evading death but not escaping injury. 

"Fuck...!" The man's movements slowed as he was losing a considerable amount of blood from the wound under his ear. He stumbled around a bit and took two steps towards Conall , but stopped quite suddenly and fell over. "...hope...you...f-freeze with that...whore..." He managed to spit out before he died.
Conall sat still for a moment, heart racing and mind asking incessantly if there were more than just these two men to be concerned about. He trembled, weak from hunger and exhaustion , but fear pushed his body into overdrive and supplied him with the adrenaline he needed to keep going. He scrambled up to his feet, grabbing his bow . He approached the man he'd just killed and searched his body, stripping him of anything he could use and needed. He did the same to the other man as well. He left their bodies where they were and continued on his way.

Ooc: Speeding things up here because I took too long with this stupid fight.

Ic:

He continued his search without much incident, gathering the materials he immediately needed. It was nearly an hour and a half later when he returned where he'd left the lady unconscious.

He set his newly acquired pack down (courtesy of one of the dead mercenaries ) and dumped the contents on the floor, grabbing the flint rock and a dagger. He hurried off to find something to burn.

He returned multiple times with armloads of dusty old books he'd found in what he presumed to be a library or study and piled them up in one of the corners of the rooms. He found a couple of wooden chairs and smashed them against the walls, breaking them into more easily burnable pieces and tossed them into the ever growing pile.

He had a nice , sizable fire going soon enough but he couldn't rest there. He trudged tiredly back over to where the woman was resting and pulled her down, off the mattress and into his arms. He carried her over to set her down near the fire and then went back to gather some pillows and blankets, making her a bed which he set her upon and tucked her in. He left her there to walk across the room and gather up his belongings, stuffing them into the pack and then trudging back over to the fire to sit down across from the stranger whose life he'd possibly saved.

Conall sat there for a moment, staring at her. Not thinking, not really seeing her. He considered waking her. He had no idea how long she had been here. If she had eaten and how badly she needed medical treatment. Or if she was parched or...or...

But he was tired. And hungry. Sore too. He hadn't come out of the fight entirely unscathed, but at the worst he was just banged up and bruised a tad. He set his pack down in his lap and started rummaging through it, pulling out strip of dried and salted meat wrapped in paper. Also courtesy of the now two dead mercenaries.

He munched on the jerky quietly. He'd find something for the nameless woman later. If she ever wore up.

She awoke to the crackling sounds of a fire. Her eyes felt heavy, even stiff, but the fire and blankets had drawn warmth back to her flesh. Though she ached all over, she was still alive, and in the moment, she had no idea where she was or what had happened. Her visions was foggy, fading in and out of focus before she let out a soft noise and tried to move a hand. Though it didn't come without a price. It hurt, as did every part of her as she let out another noise, one of pain as she flinched and lowered her hand down again. And as she spoke, her throat, parched and sore, cut raggedly into her breath, forcing her to cough several times against her will. It hurt so much, sent a jolt through her body that awoken sharp tears into her eyes.

It was only then she noticed another person. Were they trying to help her? Either way she had no real choice but to ask in a meek, cracking voice, "W..water."
Because that's what she so desperately needed.

A voice woke him from his light slumber. He stirred, sat up abruptly and stared over at the woman for a few moments as though he weren't certain what to make of her . He hadn't quite caught what she'd said, but her voice sounded cracked, similar to what one might expect from someone whom was dehydrated.

Speaking not a word he tugged the water skin free from belt loop and stood up, walking over to where she lay. He knelt down before her and, not once looking at her looked down at the canteen as he unscrewed the lid. He looked at her now.

His face was shadowed as his back was to the fire and his expression, under the full and somewhat wild red beard he was sporting didn't help much either. He said nothing to her , hardly meeting her eye as he slipped his hand gently under his hand and popped her head up slowly , slowly and holding it just elevated so that he could offer the bottle to her lips and help her drink so the water would go down with little effort on her part.

He was careful not to give her too much, removing it after she'd had a couple swallows. "Let me know when you've had enough." He told her quietly, his youthful voice belying a face that looked like it might have belonged to a thirty-year-old man.  "There's plenty."

Katahnia drank as much as she could, having her fill only after she began to cough and sputter out some that dribbled down from her cracked lips. Though it felt soothing as she pressed her lips together, staring at him, her eyes still watery as she managed to crack a smile.
"Thank you," she managed to speak, and tiredly closed her eyes again.

For a brief moment she recalled the fight.
Steel drawn and kissing to steel. The sword Cauwyn had gotten her had been light, and the heavy steel of the men's blades eventually cracked it in half. She had to run, magic only aiding her so far before she had been trapped...

Her eyes returned to the present as she opened them, peering up curiously at the bearded man above her. He looked like no killer. He must have found her here on his own.. wherever here was. She glacned around, taking in the ice, the cold, and the frozen cobwebs adoring the abandonned place. It was only when she lifted a hand and noticed the blood that had soaked her skin that she recalled the torture-

Barbed whips and punches, knives and swords..
they seemed to relish in the fact she was bleeding well to death. And they had done more, so much more worse, cruel and vile things to her. Hot tears bubbled within her eyes. Blinking, they rolled down her cheeks.
Then she recalled being left for dead, hanging upside down by the chandelier she now peered up at that hung in haunting beauty against the ceiling above.

He stared at her when she thanked him as if he found her manners unexpected. He shook his head, "Y-you're welcome." He wouldn't say it wasn't any trouble, because it was. A LOT of trouble that he could have evaded if he'd left her to die. Unfortunately, he hadn't forgotten his sense of morality out here. Yet.
"I am Conall, "  he introduced himself. A first name was enough. He doubted that anyone out here would know who he was even if he told them, but one could never be too careful, " and you've been hurt rather badly. I have some medical knowledge . If I have your consent, I could help to some extent. " He spoke in a very cultured tone. Polite , far too-well educated to be mistaken for a barbarian. His accent was...very Connlaothian, but thicker than what was common in the North or the central region of the continent. In fact, the accent may have been exclusive to one particular region, but only a native of the country itself would have picked up on that.

"I have some questions, but they can wait for now. However, I should inform you that I encountered two men while I was exploring this castle. They gave me no choice. I killed them. " His manner was so frank, so factual. There was no remorse in his tone nor in his heart. He paused for a moment and reached into his coat pocket. He pulled out an old, dirty kerchief that had certainly seen better days and poured a little water on it. He then used that to clean her face with it, lightly.

"I know not how many there are. I'm hoping there was only the two, but I've a feeling there may be more. With any good fortune, I may be able to handle them myself." He stopped himself, clearing some dirt from her nose. " Forgive me, I'm not normally this garrulous. It's just been ...some time since I've talked to someone other than myself."

Part of him wished he'd kept that last statement to himself. It made him sound like a creepy hermit or a madman. "I didn't catch your name, miss?"

At his name, she peered up into his eyes, studying his face. Then listened to his words, studying those too. And at his last statement, she smiled. She was thankful for all he had done. No doubt the men had been there for her, probably part of the band of men who had left her for dead. There was a lot of frankness in his voice, and a lot of rattling, but she didn't mind. Her eyes softened though, closing as he worked at cleaning her face and she simply informed him her name, since his was so generously given.
"Katahnia."

Then after a moment, she opened her eyes again.
"Might I have more water to drink?" And even in so few a words, one might note the hint of aristocracy in their tone.

They were sharp, intelligent green eyes. Much like a predatory bird's , a hawk's or a falcon's, they scrutinized everything he looked at including her. Were his facial hair not so thick, she might have seen that he wore a rather cold , indifferent expression- something that his parents, particularly his father had taught him to wear at court. Hide one's emotions, guard one's intentions. Never let one's guard down around anyone. Connlaothian court was dangerous, cutthroat , unforgiving. And he hadn't entirely heeded his father's advice. He made a slip , took a chance at playing honorably...

and he lost the game. His opponents tore him apart, but they made the mistake of leaving it there.

He snapped out of his thoughts , hearing the lady speak her name. "Katahnia?" Was that name familiar to him? He couldn't place it so probably not, "Indeed. 'Tis a pleasure to meet your acquaintance though I regret the unfortunate circumstances in which you find yourself." The ice in his tone broke for but a moment, softening just enough to express what may have been genuine concern. From him , it certainly was, but those that knew so little of him might not have been so sure.

When she requested water he nodded. She needed it more than he did and, well, there was plenty of snow to melt and make water from. Food would be the issue, but he wouldn't worry until she asked. For now, he helped her drink again , but frowned at her eagerness. "Not so fast. You'll make yourself ill."

She had backed off from the water, swallowing down what was still left in her throat and looked back up at him, staring for a time before saying softly again, "Thank you." Then glancing around, she tried to move, but felt dizzy and sunk back into the bed of blankets and clothe. In doing so, she felt a few clotting wound tear open on her back and forced tears to prickle in her eyes. She blinked them away, and tried to calm herself, to make sense of what had happened. Then she recalled what he said.. about killing two men.

"I'm sorry.." she said after a time. She peered up at him. "Those men you killed. They were probably coming back to finish me."
Or to watch her suffer until she died.

Conall shrugged and waved a dismissive hand. She might have seen the deep , bleeding gash in his hand that he didn't seem as concerned about as he probably should have been, "I overheard some of their conversation. They were certainly here to see you dead. There's nothing to be sorry for. They were rabid dogs and I put them down. They will visit no more of their depravities on any soul." 

He had not missed the fact that she was trying to move , "I would see you off to a healer were it possible, but there's no one near here for miles that I'm aware of. If you would permit me to examine your wounds..." He was thankful for his beard because it hid most of the flush on his face. It was awkward for him because there was still apart of him that was very much a gentleman. Such a thing was highly inappropriate and that coupled with the fact that he had little medical experience or knowledge of a female body....

Well, what if he did something wrong? But a woman couldn't be TOO different than a man, right? They were both humans and had the same basic shape. And shared mostly the same parts. How hard could it possibly be? He'd treated some soldiers before...nothing too serious though.

Oh Ansgar...

He wasn't going to show how nervous he felt though. He didn't wish to cause her alarm. That's all he needed. A panicking woman.
"Or perhaps I presume too much. It just seems- well, there's so much...blood. It looks bad , but it's difficult to say. " He explained, feeling awkward and all too very uncomfortable. He WISHED there was a doctor or someone else here better suited to do THIS. But there wasn't. He'd treated his own wounds before , but he didn't think his had been this bad.

He moved away from her and started fumbling through his pack, searching for his recently procured med kit. At least those dead goons had been good for something!

Katahnia groaned. Her entire body ached. Though she smiled despite it.
"Don't.. don't worry.  I just need to rest..." and she closed her eyes and drew in a careful breath.  "Out here.. in... in Hyoite?" her voice rose at the question. "There can't be many civilizations.. towns.." she forced herself to smile a little more, despite their predicament. "It's one of the few things I heard them say as they dragged me off there." Then she closed her eyes again tiredly. "I.. I can heal myself.. if.. if I have enough strength. I just.... rest..." and her voice faded away.

Though she assured him that she could heal herself, he didn't feel so sure. She was well enough to communicate , but she could hardly move and he didn't know the extent of her injuries. Did she understand the extent of her injuries? She knew her own body and its limits, surely. She wouldn't deny some form of medical attention if she truly needed it. Unless she wasn't in the right state of mind.

She hadn't told him to help her, but she hadn't told him not to either. It frustrated him that he had no definite answer from her. If he did nothing and her condition worsened, he wasn't sure that he could live with himself. But if he took matters into his own hands and it turned out that he was panicking more than necessary, how silly would that look?

To hell with it! Better to look the fool and be paranoid than to ignore a potentially serious problem.

"Heal yourself? How? " His words were so doubtful. He didn't even consider that she may have been with magical ability. "Don't be ...a fool. You can't even move." He rummaged through his pack some more and returned with some bandages and a healing salve.  "I'll clean the wounds and..."

She had passed out, it seemed.

He tried not to panic. She'd be fine. He could do this.

He could do this.

Where to begin?

He hesitated, unsure.

Undressing her was a start. The way he struggled with that endeavor made it apparent that he was a novice. Whatever embarrassment and discomfort he felt however vanished when his eyes examined her body.

"Ansgar..." He could hardly breathe, his eyes widening with utter horror. He shook his head and immediately went to work with cleaning her wounds. And there were so many. On her back, on her arms and legs...

Now it truly sunk in. This woman would have been dead if he hadn't shown up.

Once the wounds were cleaned as best he could manage, he applied healing salve and stitched close wounds where it was needed. Hard part done, he bandaged her up and covered her in blankets again.

Her bloody clothing he cast aside. He'd need to find her something clean to wear. There might have been something around the castle, but he'd check later. He needed to sit for a moment and...

Minutes later, he was snoring.

She awoke hours later, still feeling groggy, and in pain, but she could move just a little, albeit stiffly. She had enough energy now to turn her head, the fire's going low and making her shiver. IT was then she noted the snoring and turned to Conall as she sat up, the blankets slipping off her form, exposing her naked body and it was only then she noticed the bandages.

She stared down at her skin for a time in disbelief; not because this man had aided her, but because of how many wounds she had sustained. MOving forward, she lifted the blanket back up and wrapped it around her body, then turned to a pile of make shift kindling Conall must've procured while she had been sleeping. She used this moment and a bit of her strength to put some more in the fire, before laying down beside it and enjoying it's growing warmth.

The snoring stopped abruptly and Conall woke with a start, grabbing for his newly acquired dagger at his belt and brandishing it at....

Katahnia?

His arm trembled and he lowered the weapon, his momentarily wild and fearful expression quickly shifting to one of embarrassment. "Apologies. Old habits... "
He put the dagger away and sat up stiffly. He felt heavy with ache.   He studied the woman now and realized that she had moved to be closer to the fire. Part of him was happy for her because it must have meant that she was feeling a little stronger , but the other part of him was concerned, "How are you...feeling? Apologies I- your wounds were quite serious and I- it goes against my nature not to lend aid where I am able to. "

He was quiet for a moment, but then he added,"I've cleaned and stitched as much as I can, but I am no doctor. I advise you not strain yourself overmuch. It could tear something open. My stitch-work leaves something to be desired."

OOC:

Quote from: Paradox on June 10, 2013, 02:30:30 PM
My stitch-work leaves something to be desired."

She like, looks like a quilt when she wakes up XD

----------------

Katahnia sat up, eyes going cross at the sight of the dagger, though at his apology, her expression softened. "No need."
Then as he went on to talk about his work on her, she glanced down at herself, blushing slightly, before looking over at him with a sheepish smile.
"Thank you."s he replied carefully, taking the moment to study his face. "And I am feeling.. much better than before. Before I felt like death." And she laughed lightly about it, though winced because even the subtle laughter hurt. Then as he went on about his work, she smiled again.
"Do not worry yourself. I can heal myself with time." And her eyes went back to the fire, the orange glow casting over her green eyes.

He smiled nervously at her 'death' comment , but wasn't amused. She likely hadn't been aware of how true that statement was since she hadn't encouraged his aid.

Her next comment, however, made him curious and, perhaps, slightly suspicious of her." You're a healer?" And by that, he didn't mean anything beyond the normal,  conventional herbalist.

Were Ansgar to have a most cruel sense of humor, it would turn out that this woman was a MAGE. That thought made Conall feel uneasy. He had limited positive experiences with mages. Very limited indeed.

"Just...tell me if there is anything I could do to help and I will see it done. Assuming it's within my ability..." He now realized , "Ah. You must be hungry. I found..." He went to searching through his bag and offered her an apple. "It's not much, but I didn't think you'd find dry, salted pork very appealing at present. " 

Katahnia stared down at the apple and smiled.
"I... I'm not sure I could eat, although I am famished." She looked down at the fire and drew in a careful breath, keeping a hand resting over her stomach. "Maybe... after some more water. I'm still so very thirst. But my stomach hurts. Though it seems just about everything hurts." She had taken the apple, and although she tried to smile, even that hurt.

She glanced over at Conall, studying his face a moment again before asking.. "So.. Conall.. that's your name, right? Where are you from?" she tried to sit up more comfortably. "Your accent sounds familiar. Are you Connloathian?"

Conall shrugged, "Save it for when you're hungry then. I'm afraid there's not much else until I find it or kill it." He tossed her his waterskin, noting that it was nearly empty. "I'll fetch some snow in a moment. I need to sit for bit."

He closed his eyes for a moment, " It's understandable." He'd been a prisoner of war and was no stranger to torture, physical or mental. Though he'd heard that there were far worse nightmares visited upon those prisoners that were female. That he couldn't entirely picture though he'd been forced to watch unspeakable things.

He elevated a bushy brow at her inquiry of his origin. He couldn't entirely mask the surprise that displayed subtly in his eyes, " You know the accent? I'm impressed. There are few that can place it as Connlaothian. I'm from a place called Ardal. Assuming there's anything left of Ardal now..."

He shook his head, "What of you, Katahnia? From where do you hail? "

"I suppose you could say I belong to Connloath now," she informed him with a weak smile. "The road is my home, as my duchy no longer exists either, though it fell years before this war had taken root. I suppose one could say, it was the first to fall of many." she sighed, finally taking in more water, but realizing he said that was it on the rations, she made sure to drink it slow, and not all of it, in case he wanted some. Handing back the water skin, she wiped the excess from her lips. "Thanks." She gave him a warm smile and stared down at his clothing. Some of it stained with blood, other parts, from the ice. "So you're not a native to these mountains?" Though she already knew the answer, she grew quiet, debating if it would be wise to inquire as to how he came to be at this location. Thank the Gods he did either way. If it were not for him, she would be dead.

ooc: Hope this makes sense.

ic:

The manner in which she stated such things so casually. It caused an unexpected reaction in him. "WHAT?!" He shouted and shot up, standing, his expression incredulous as his tone.

Was she SERIOUS or insane? But he suddenly realize the loss of his composure and felt incredibly foolish. "What do you mean WIPED out!? I... oh.. ah..." He immediately sat back down and forced his composure but popped back up again, "WIPED out? Are you MAD? I did not- this is...I ...was not – how can you speak of it so CASUALLY!? " He sat back down, but he looked like he'd just been slapped.

He'd never heard of such a ...

No. Wait. Yes, yes he had, "But I thought...no. That was a rumor, was it not? You cannot be- but no...you seem- why would anyone idly make up such things? So it IS true, isn't it? House Harmond DID fall. I always wondered and yet...I never questioned. I just swallowed the lies? But they were heathens. Traitors...or were they? " He was talking to himself now . "How could I not know of this? Although it was small...I don't even think I ever met anyone from ..."

He shook his head and laughed, " Am I a native? Nay, though  I may as well be now. I don't know...how long have I been here? Days? Weeks? Months? Perhaps a year? Everything starts to blend together..." Now he seemed to be rambling almost as though he'd lost his mind. " You are perhaps wondering why I am here? That, is a ...long story that I don't think you're quite ready to believe. Suffice it  to say that I won't harm you and that you're the first person who will know that I am not dead."

Katahnia hadn't realized the man would be able to guess her origins. Most did not. Then again, most she had run into were not nobleman. ANd her head was spinning at his accusations, not able to catch all of it, though she had heard most. She was surprised he was so edgy on the subject, so flabbergasted by it, though she supposed it was to be expected if he knew and believed her true origins, that she was actually one of the nobles, THEE only noble to survive on her bloodline.. besides her cousins and uncle from afar, in the small duchy of Turgall.

"It.. it happened ages ago," she said, keeping a soft smile upon her lips as she stare at him tiredly. "It was devastating. Forgive me if I can't seem to express more emotion towards it I... it's one of the reasons I am here now."

She thought over what else he said, but could not truthfully give him any answers.
"My family's duchy fell, though the reasons behind it are still shrouded in mystery. It is presumed,  as far as I'm concerned, that connections lay within those of the family line in the duchy of Allar.. though.. "she sighed and stared away. "There is no real proof, only more riddles. Though I saw some of the men.. recognized them. Though it was still hard to believe, hard to swallow. Even now I doubt it, despite having some of the facts and seeing it with my own two eyes. Though forgive me, I am tired, and it hurts to speak."


Then at his last claim not to reveal himself, she only warmed in her smiles.
"That is alright. We have only but met. But I am glad you are alive. If not for you, I'd surely be dead."

Conall nodded, "I'm relieved I could be of service in time. At least something good came out of my being stranded here. I didn't think I'd see another person..for quite a long while. " He didn't want to be too morose.

"I...er. I'm – forgive me. I am i sorry for your loss. " He knew not what else to say because he hardly knew her.

He went on to say, "So it is Kathania Harmond , then?" He stroked his long, unruly red beard thoughtfully. He far much looked like a wild mountain man than the noble that he sounded like. He seemed hardly surprised when she implicated that Allar might have been responsible for her plight.  "And you think House Allarick might have a hand in House Harmond's fall? It's not that I couldn't accept that..I... just couldn't think of a reason as to why aside from the accusations made against you which would mean..." He licked his lips," But it matters not to me. Mages, not mages. I won't cast any illusions over what I believe in, however I never supported the madness that escalated in his little bloody crusade."

He scooped up the waterskin and drained it of what little water was left. There was but a swallow.  " It's really not that difficult to believe that Allar would stoop so low. Their Duke has always been a cold, calculating, and vicious bastard. He'd step on anyone to satisfy his own selfish ambitions and smile while he's doing it. I relish the day someone puts a knife to his black heart and..." He shook his head and calmed himself , " Apologies. I got carried away. " He crossed his arms over his chest, " So , Lady Harmond, what do you intend to do once you are healed?"

He had a feeling that she had some crazy, suicidal intentions of returning to Connlaoth. Well, he shouldn't judge since he'd been planning the same thing.

Katahnia listened to his words in silent, saying nothing, only digesting. Then when he asked her intentions once she was healed, she only smiled.
"Return to Connlaoth."
She wasn't trusting enough to tell this man about her child, or any other minute details. She, being Katahnia Harmond, as he had guessed, meant little to her. Protecting her child, those she cared for, those she loved, and the innocents being repressed and mistreated...

It was almost too much to bear.
Then she studied him a moment. "I suppose you will not?"

"A foolish , yet admirable decision. Brave, indeed and for that you have my respect."  He glanced down at his wounded hand that he'd forgotten earlier in all the excitement , Probably should take care of this soon.

He shook his head at her inquiry , "I wouldn't know where to go or what to do.  My whole life is in Connlaoth, in Ardal. To be of the Ardalir-it means everything to me. Something I didn't fully realize until it was cut out of my life. I spent so much time preoccupied with the politics that I didn't stop to consider why I cared so much..."

He removed his glove from his injured hand and frowned as he studied it. It had healed over, the blood dried over the gash. "Spending time here alone has been somewhat of an enlightening experience, I suppose. I didn't feel quite so much...conviction in my role. I just fell into place because it was expected of me and did what I could to hold things together. There was little passion for ...anything. I cared, but not nearly as much as I should have. Had it been so then perhaps...things may have been different , but then again....perhaps not. I don't think I was alone. "

Katahnia nodded to him sagely.
"It is sometimes hard to see the truth until it's taken away. Sometimes hard to see over our own blindfolds." She smiled a bit, and it was only as he was examining it did she notice the gash on his hand. Had he hurt it on account of her?
"Can I see it?" she inquired, her voice still soft and strained. "Your wound."

"Indeed it is. Oddly, I find myself somewhat thankful. It may serve for a better purpose in times to come. " He nodded, sounding thoughtful. He couldn't be so arrogant to claim that Ardal needed him. Perhaps someone else would rise in his place, but there was always the concern that there may not have been someone with enough weight behind them to stand up to the monster that Ardal now answered to.

There would be rebellion, but it was likely very ugly now. Many people had died and many more would. Many of them innocent. Mages and not alike. People who wanted nothing to do with it. People that just wanted to live simple, quiet lives...

No. He certainly couldn't turn his back on that.

He moved to sit closer to her, but not too close and held up his hand for her to see with the palm spread out , "This? It's nothing. Just a cut. " Well, that was a bit of an understatement but he wasn't going to die from it. "I don't think there's any glass in there. "

Katahnia studied the hand for a while. Glass? Was that how he had cut it? Though she had noted some in the debris, she hadn't given much thought to the world around her. Though who could blame her?

And although she knew it would be stupid, and she should reserve her strength for herself, it was the least she could do to help him- so she pressed the palm o fher hand against his.
"Here, just hold still." And a soft, warm golden light emitted from the palm of her hand. Within minutes, the wound would, tickle, prickle, and the skin would crawl back together and mesh into a tiny scar. ANd as the light faded, her eye lids hung low as she pulled her hand slowly away from his.

"There. It shouldn't bother you any longer." She gave a smile, but no sooner had she said it did she collapse back onto her make shift bed.

He could only stare. He'd seen magic before and he knew a great deal more about it than he had when he had first assumed leadership...but he was still not entirely without old views. He was still quite a firm believer in his God.

And this practice...though seeming harmless...it was still wrong.

Blasphemy.

He gasped, eyes growing wide with fear. His instincts were to jerk away from her. To not let her touch him with her cursed taint. But something held him still, calm. He assured himself that he was strong. He feared nothing. Not mages, not magic...

Ansgar would protect him.

He watched his wound mend before his wide, green eyes. He hardly was aware of how stupid he looked. His mouth hung slightly ajar. When it was finished and she collapsed he wasn't sure how to feel.

"Mage!? You're a mage!" He sounded conflicted. Shocked, angry , surprised...everything rolled into one nice, tight little package of ..what the hell! But had he not suspected this before? Even so, it was all so very...

Conall stared at his hand. It had not caused him harm , it seemed. His wound was...gone and there were hardly any traces of pain left in it as he clenched and unclenched his fist, testing it.  It wasn't a big deal. Right? There seemed to be no malevolence in the action...but it was difficult for him to simply accept the idea that any type of magic wasn't wicked in some manner.

It disturbed him more that he wasn't sure how to feel about it. Were he more like his predacessor, it would have been simple.

"Why did you- !? That wasn't neccessary! Magic is- and you..." Which bothered him more? That she had used a forbidden art or that it seemed to have worn her out in the process? Perhaps some of both.

"I could have treated myself , you..." He bit his tongue. It wasn't very gentlemanly of him to speak so. "You... you..." He pointed at her, arm trembling. Why was he so upset? "I was fine! I can handle a little pain, but you're not in any condition to be doing....THAT!"

Or was she? He was no mage and wasn't entirely sure how it worked.

"Don't- DO NOT do that again!" He exclaimed, appearing somewhat more animated than usual in his exasperation.

ooc: lulz

Katahnia lay there for a time, listening to his exasperations with a tired smile. She couldn't open her eyes, and didn't speak for a long while after he had gone silent.

"It.. it was the right thing to do. My magic.. it... it will only come to help me if I am stronger. But you.. that cut was small. It was, the least.. the least I could do to.. to help." she said between tiring breaths. She slowly opened an eye and looked up at his appalled face. "I am sorry." And she meant it. "I hadn't meant to scare or harm you." ANd her smile widened only a little as she turned away, her eyes so tired and heavy. "It.. it's funny to think someone can be so afraid of something that can help them. But .." she took a moment to swallow. "I understand. We're facing a war now in our country over it. And even I, who possess magic, know it can be wicked."

"Right thing to do? No, it was foolish!  " Conall chastised her, hissing through his teeth. "You're putting a strain on yourself, are you not? When I found you, you weren't even aware of how serious your injuries WERE! You think they're any less critical now?! For all you know , the stress could kill you!"

He might have been being over dramatic? He had no idea.

Concerned, angry , confused. How to feel? He was so conflicted.

"I am most certainly not afraid!" He was insulted that she'd suggest that, but she was right.

Deep down he knew this.

She did too.

He stood there, puffed up like an enraged pufferfish for a moment until he realized how foolish he seemed.

He glowered at her and then, deflated as he sighed and stared at his hand. More gently now, he spoke,"What is it called? Restoration energy? I know so little." He wouldn't pretend he knew more than he actually did about it. "Healing magic, in simple terms I believe. I have seen its uses and yet it still fills my heart with such disquiet. All magic does. It is...not my faith alone that inspires such anxiety, but what I have seen..."

He'd rather not think about it. " Forgive me, it is ...difficult. My dealings with mages have been predominantly unpleasant ones. In spite of that, I...appreciate your...help. I cannot fault your intentions even if I disprove of the methods used to achieve them. It is...not quite so malevolent as so many other things I've come to know, however. It's ...strange. I am uncertain of what to make of it. It was- it felt...so gentle. But I don't know..I was taught to believe it is no different. Yet...oh Ansgar forgive me for entertaining such borderline
blasphemous perceptions. " He chuckled.  Oh indeed . He was probably going straight to purgatory for thinking this way.

"What... I mean to say is... I thank you." He finished, quite awkwardly. "But you really needn't have risked that at the cost of your well-being " Though she may have spared him from an infection...

He stared over at her , curiously. "We are not in Connlaoth anymore and I'd rather ...well, I don't consider you...an enemy of mine lest you give me a reason to believe in otherwise. I do believe I've more than enough enemies as it is. I wouldn't suggest that we are allies either, but I...despite my anxieties I wish no ill on you or any mage for that matter. Not...all of them. That is..not in my nature.  That is not how my people live. "

Katahnia smiled up at him, barely keeping her eyes open and feeling dizzy. But she took in everything he said with ease, as if drinking his words down like a cup of soup.
"Connlaoth is old in it's way, but so is magic." she tried to sit up, made a breath of pain, before furrowing her brows and easing herself back down, still clutching the blankets around her nude form.

"Yes... to your statement about allies.. it seems anyone can be friends in a place like this." her eyes looked up at him, sparkling in the cold dark. "And everyone wants to create enemies from shadows. I am sorry to have startled you." And she grew silent a moment, staring down as her eyes lids became heavy again. "I'm sorry to have you worry so it's just.." and it was then she felt a prickle of blood drip down from her nose and blinked after having touched it and looked down at her fingers, revealing the warm redness of blood there.
She tried to quickly brush it away before he would notice.

Whatever it was she'd meant to say, something caused her pause. Conall frowned, concern rising within him. "Are you alright?" It felt like such a foolish question though given the hell she'd likely been through. He moved closer to her and ...then , for whatever reason, decided to become uncomfortable about her lack of appropriate attire. How easy it was to fall into the old , silly habits. He turned his eyes away with a slight and clear discomforted frown on his face.

"Perhaps you'd appreciate if I found you something to uh...wear. " His face was turning as bright as freshly picked cherry.

I pick the most ridiculous times to feel uncomfortable.

Kathania shook her head, then nodded it.
"No... no.." she sniffed back as much blood as she could. It seemed, after dabbing her nose off on the blanket, that the blood was waning. She turned back to him, some of the blood still staining her nose as she smiled.
"Though some clothing would help to keep me warm. I think the wounds are clotting enough that clothing should not rip them open."

"We're about the same height,  " he observed, but he was considerably heavier than her, possessing the usual stocky and muscled build of his people but not quite so much as the usual soldier, " I think you might fit some of my clothing. It's clean. Well, cleaner than yours at any rate. I can borrow some attire from one of those curs I put down. " He wouldn't suggest that she suffer wearing the vestments of her former captors. He didn't like the idea of wearing their clothing either, " Just a temporary arrangement until I find or make something more appropriate. I may even be able to mend your previous clothing. I am running low on thread though. Hm. "

He stood up , still feeling heavy with exhaustion but that was something that wouldn't leave him without a decent meal in his stomach and a fair night's rest. Both things he hadn't had in... he couldn't recall. A long while. Too long.

"Rest, " He told her firmly, his tone almost commanding. He was accustomed to telling other people what to do, naturally. "Er...please?" He added, aware that his tone was a little...unnecessary. "I shall return as soon as I can. Have you need of me, just call. I shant be far."

He left her alone shortly after, exiting the throneroom to navigate the expansive, empty halls and winding his way back to where he'd killed two men. He stared at the bodies, feeling cold and numb inside. He kicked one of the bodies over onto its back with a boot and looked at the face. The man was younger than he was. That was an unsettling thought to him.

He knelt beside the body and stripped it entirely. The clothing would fit him well enough though it might have been better fitting on Katahnia.

He removed the layered furs and animal hides, stripping down to the simple grey woolen tunic and breeches he'd been left in. He shivered. Perhaps it would have been wiser to undress where it was warmer, but there was NO way he was going to do THAT in front of a lady. Not that he was paranoid about her looking. It was just...not proper. Well, whatever. Too late to mull over that now. He finished stripping quickly and slipped into dead lad's clothing then pulled his furs and hides over that, scooped up his clothing and brought it back for Katahnia.

"This might help, for the moment." He said as he rejoined her , taking a seat by the fire.

ooc: she could be sleeping, but I didn't want to assume anything. xD

Katahnia had nearly slipped off to slumber, but when Conall returned, his voice roused her. Opening her eyes, she smiled tiredly up at him and sat up, the blanket nearly slipping off, but her hand caught it. She held it in place and nodded.
"Thank you."
She stared down at the clothing, opening her mouth to speak,but the looked up at him, pressing her lips together. She contemplated where she ought to change. It would not be proper to do so infront of a gentleman. Clearing her throat, she nodding to him.
"Would you mind turning around? I'll try to be quick when I dress."

He gave her a funny look, "Oh! Yes. Of course. I-I wasn't intending to watch." Well, he didn't need to keep talking about it. He blushed awkwardly under his beard and turned his back on her promptly.

It still felt rather inappropriate standing there while she was...

Which was silly of him to be feeling , really, because he'd already seen when he'd been tending her wounds. And it wasn't as though he entertained any perverted thoughts. But under dire circumstances, that would have been highly selfish and inappropriate...

"I'll fetch some water. " He walked out, glad he had an excuse to leave the room that didn't make him appear quite so silly.

Katahnia waited to drop the cloth until he left, smiling after his retreating form.
Then slowly, she peeled the blankets away, and winced. Her body was sore all over. The cuts ached and some of the clotting wounds began to burst, new trickles of blood seeping from the wounds. She took a moment to dab at the ones sh could reach and see. No use staining the new clothing, already, ubt after a time, she abandoned such a futile mission and began to pull on the leather and fur clothing. It smelled of the musk of men, sweating heavy from wear in the arctic. But she was happy after she was tightening up the strings downt he front and along the pants, happy to be in something insulated that could keep her warm. Then when she was through, she released a breath, her entire body still aching, mroe wounds still cracking open before she eased herself once again down near the fire and waited for Conall to return.

Several minutes passed before he returned, bearing a helmet he'd borrowed from a suit of armor. He'd taken his time. He expected that in her condition that such a simple thing would have been a chore. He would have helped her if asked, but was polite enough to let her determine what her limits were.

The helmet was filled to the top with fresh snow. He set it by the fire to melt and sat down across from her. His eyes appraised her in newly acquired attire, "Hm. Seems to be a decent fit. Forgive me, I haven't the chance to clean it as often as I would have liked. "

Or myself. Ugh. 

Katahnia smiled up at him warmly as she smoothed a hand down the clothes.
"Yes, it fits well. It's comfortable. And warm." Though she tried to mask a wince, she gave a nod in his direction. "Do you need any help?"

"Indeed? I confess to being surprised that I wasn't left in rags after..." He stopped himself and forced a smile. He wouldn't talk about that. Perhaps another time, if ever. It wasn't only painful to reflect on,but he'd already talked of himself quite a bit. He blinked when she asked him if there was something she could do to help.

"Me? I ...well-" He was so used to doing everything himself for the past several months that he really couldn't think of anything he needed that he couldn't do himself. Well, there were many things he couldn't do but he doubted she could do them in her condition either. "I- I don't know. You..healed my hand already. You should be resting."

Why wasn't she ?

"What we really need is food. Something that doesn't seem to be what we'll find here.  I...am-I haven't eaten in days. I'll be fine though. I had some jerky." He lied. He was barely fine now, but she wouldn't notice that. Yet. "I need to find a way to shut the main doors to cut off much of the chill and then I need to...I need to hunt for food, furs...because we couldn't stay here. Long. The men I killed are probably expected to report their deed done to someone and when that doesn't happen...that someone will probably know there was interference in their plan. I doubt either of us wishes to be here when that happens."

Assuming they went through such troubles.."That really depends on how badly they wish you dead. "

He shook his head , " Really, it is enough for me having someone to talk to. I've been alone for awhile. I'm usually never this...garrulous but I'm just...grateful not to be rambling to someone other than myself for once. " He lowered his head, somewhat embarrassed.

Katahnia smiled.
"Well, I am glad I am able to at least help you keep company, though I fear my mind is in a tired state, I am not much one now for talking." She gave another tired smile.

"I suppose I do not seem very helpful in my condition, though I might be capable to help replenish our water by tending to the fires while you scout for the rest. Though.. I must warn you, if there wer e only a few men, surely there will be more. And they might come before morning." She looked at him most seriously. It would not be wise to stick around. She tried to sit up, but flinched, letting out a cry of pain as he gripped at her side, feeli na deep wound rip open.

"We.. we need to get out of here, and fast, if we can. Lest the ... the other men come back to finish the job." And then they'd both be dead for that. But in her condition, she came to realize, she was just too weak. There was no way she'd be able to walk out of here, and now she had already said something to up the bar and strike more cords of fear. "Food may have to wait, unless.. unless we can find some on the dead bodies." She frowned at the idea.

 "Two. I killed two, "He informed her softly, " and I had considered the likelihood of more even if I did think that was an irrational number hired to deal with just one woman. Apologies. I mean no insult."

He shook his head at her suggestion of leaving , "Katahnia,  there is nothing you or I can do to escape them or keep them from coming. Running is not an option. You can hardly sit up on your own. I very much doubt, no offense, that you would be capable of outrunning trained killers. I certainly couldn't. " He had no illusions of his own abilities.

"Nay. They will come here and we- I will have to deal with them. However many there might be. Surely , there aren't many more? "He looked at her , pointedly.

Katahnia pressed her lips together.
"There were well over a dozen." She stared down at the ground, her eyes going distant as she went silent. "They were heavily armed and had horses. If any more were to come, we might be able to hear them but..." she pressed her lips together again. "I still feel terrible. I know I am weak but... It feels as if we are sitting ducks. And the day light is waning." She peered up at the stained glass, where long shadows were casting inside from the setting sun. "I'd hate to think if those men were to come back when we sleep." and she shifted uncomfortably. "Though it might take me over a day to recover my strength. I could,a t that time, heal myself, and make it possible for me to travel. But you... you do not.. not need to stay here. The dangers might be too much. I would feel dredful if you had to succumb to any more ill-fated moments because of me." she stared down at the ground. "I'm sure it wasn't easy to kill those two men."

Conall felt slightly insulted that she'd think two men were so much trouble for him. She wasn't wrong , of course, but he was frustrated with himself for being more the gentleman than the soldier. A gentleman was ....rather useless in this scenario. Come to think of it, one soldier against ten wouldn't fair much better.

"A dozen? Maker, that's excessive. Why go through so much trouble when they could have seen you hang and be done with it? Nevermind. It matters little. "

He shook his head when she suggested that he didn't have to stay, "True, but if I was that kind of man, I wouldn't have bothered to help you in the first place unless I wanted something from you." He made a face and then realized that she might have been offended, "Apologies. It's not that I don't think you're ....but I would not- you know." Now, he felt more foolish. Why WOULD she know? "What am I saying? We just met." He was babbling now, and feeling foolish. He cleared his throat, " Anyway, um...my point is that I won't leave you. I do not fear death."

He didn't. He used to , but why should he? His whole life was a ticking time bomb. He could die at any moment . Or so the doctors said...

Sometimes he wondered if they might have been...wrong. He'd never know that though. The thought of just...suddenly stopping...that was far worse a fate than this. Certain death. To stand with courage and conviction. Yes. That was how he wanted to go.

"We still have an advantage , assuming they're not even aware that I'm here. Yet. I have a bow and I still have strength. Perhaps we can prepare . There must be...perhaps there's a place in this castle where we could find a more advantageous position. Are there no cellars? No underground passages? If we could hole up, hide somewhere or at least find a more defensible place to make our stand...so that the opposition couldn't attack in unison...then it would be a great deal easier to fend them off. "

He considered the possibilities and frowned at her, " Do you think...you could? I ...don't want you to make things worse on yourself. Maybe I could...try to support you or...I could carry you though , be there a need to. "

"I do agree though. Here in this...room....it is far too open. We're easy prey here and we should find something better. Likely as soon as possible. " He added with a nod.

Katahnia only smiled at his verbal fumblings.
"I understand." she bowed her head. "You sound every bit a gentleman I expect you to be. Were you a merchant, or nobleman before you were cast out here?" She was mildly curious of this, but at his other questions, she bit her lip as she frowned. "Perhaps.. I might be able to move some, though I haven't tried to stand just yet I.." she hesitated, then thought it over. "Perhaps a tower. We could go to the tower. We'd have a whole view of the valley outside. That way, if the men were coming, we would know it and have the advantage and chance at a surprise." Though she sighed, realizing she ought to reserve her strength.. just in case, and leaned in more towards the fire as she thought it over, her body, nestled once again in the blankets and make shift bed.

"You flatter me. After all that time she spent tailoring me to be the proper Lord, I dare say that my mother would  have been rather proud to hear a Lady such a thing about my manner, " Conall chuckled, " a nobleman indeed. Or , rather, was.'Tis a complicated matter," but then he shook his head and smirked , " Heh.  When is it not?  "

She proposed seeking a tower and he stroked his bearded chin thoughtfully, "A promising suggestion. The vantage point would be beneficial though if they have a mind to enter before we see them coming, we're trapped, but the staircases are narrow, I think. It wouldn't allow more than one man to come up at a time. Yes. That might work ."

"When you're ready, let me help you. Tell me what you need. Someone to lean on, or carry you. I can do either.  " He started gathering his things , shoving them into his pack.

Katahnia nodded. She was exhausted, but she knew there wasn't much time.
"I... I might be able to manage. But should we scout the tower first? I mean, to say that it is stable and available for us to use." She gave a soft, tired chuckle. "THough I doubt even bats would roost in this type of climate." she sighed, a breath coming out in a trail of white puffs.  "Why don't you go check it out. I can stay here and put out the fire and pack the remainder of your things."

"You're right, although I'm not very keen on leaving you alone here. I imagine that your death is their primary objective. They don't get paid if you're alive, yes? They'll see to that first before chasing after one man. Lest I find them first and give them a reason to."

He couldn't handle ten men alone. At least, he didn't think he could. The last two had not been so easy.

Would ten men really gave chase to one? If there were any brains among them then the force would likely be split up and sent in search of the girl and for other potential threats. Only two or four would likely be needed to overwhelm someone like him.

"I can only pray they wouldn't come so soon, but if that doesn't end up the case... " He pulled a dagger from his belt and offered it to her. It was made of fine steel and the pommel was ornate with uncommon design. It would have fetched a fine price at market, one could assume. "This has served me well for many years. It foiled an assassin or two. I know it's not much, but it's better than leaving you completely unarmed. It gives more of a fighting chance...unless you think you could use my bow..."

Did she have any experience with archery? Though even if she did...she probably didn't have the strength left in her body to use it. 

Katahnia smiled weakly.
"I do not think a dagger or a bow and arrow would do me well in my state. I doubt I could knock an arrow in my state." Though she smiled despite that. "But I'll take the dagger if it pleases you." And she nodded to him. "And I'll be fine. I have.. other ways to stop men if they happen to come." And she smiled a little more when she added, "I suppose one thing I could do well is play dead. But please, do not fret yourself. We haven't much time. I would assist you if I could. But if you'd rather forgo scouting it first, we could just both go to the tower now, together."

"You...don't have any...sort of magic that could ah...protect you?" He inquired, hesitantly. He wasn't comfortable with asking about it. It made him feel so...immoral. "I shouldn't even be suggesting this, but better that than...well, sometimes one must do what one must to survive,  I suppose." He finished lamely. "Perhaps my weapon is useless , but you are right in assuming that I would feel more at ease if you held onto it. It may serve you better than you suspect, or it might not. It's better than leaving you completely unarmed."

The suggestion of her playing dead, he liked that, "That's not a bad idea although I don't know how they think, but your being on the ground, cleaned up and with different clothing would have struck me as highly suspicious, "he sighed, "or I'm over-thinking things. Anything at this point is worth a try. "
He grabbed his bow and started on his way, " I'll see what I can find. I'll return for you shortly. Try to stay out of trouble."

Not that he expected she'd intentionally find any. Before he left he tossed a glance over his shoulder, " I am of House Shanley. "

They were probably going to die anyway. Someone might well have known the truth.

Before she could say anything in response to that, he was gone.
~

He moved as swiftly as his legs would carry him, tired as they were. Exiting the decrepit castle, he crossed the courtyard and made his way to one of the watchtowers which appeared to be in an even worse state. It was leaning a bit precariously to the left and had a few gaping holes in the stone.

"That looks...problematic," Conall frowned as he drew near the door and reached for the door's handle. He tugged on it . The handle twisted but the door itself wouldn't budge. "Oh come on!" He grunted and tugged harder , but it was stuck fast. Most likely, it was frozen in place like most everything else.

"Perhaps there's another way in, " he didn't think so but he checked anyhow, circling around the tower and ....no. He had been right. There was only one way in. The windows were far too high up to enter through. The door was the only way in.

"Maybe I should find another place," He sighed and kicked the door out of frustration once, twice, thrice. Not expecting it to break in for him as it did, but more or less to vent his frustrations. He blinked when it gave way to his booted fury and cautiously poked his head inside.

There were no bats. He breathed a sigh of relief and pushed his way inside. It was dark, but there was just enough light filtering in through the building's holes and cracks to shed just enough light. He could see the ground covered in dust and bones. "This doesn't look good. What happened here, I wonder? "

Perhaps the place had been attacked and people had died in here? But why here? He hadn't noticed many bodies inside the castle itself and that was a little...disturbing. He moved up the steps which were partly broken in places , but even as he stepped over the gaps ,nothing crumbled and gave way beneath his weight. He found his way to the top with little incident.
Scouting accomplished, he returned to Katahnia.

"There were no bats, " he informed her upon his arrival, "there were a lot of cobwebs and ...skeletons. Human ones. The way they were laying , it looks like people just...died in there. I searched the entire tower. It was clear. A little...decrepit but clear. I think it's usable. "

Katahnia sat up more erect, smiling at Conall when he returned. She gave a nod to his words. "The fire is mostly out, I used snow to snuff out the remaining ashes, and with time, that smoke should fade. Hopefully before anyone comes back here that could smell it or detect it at a distance. However, that brings up a good question if we want to risk starting a fire in the tower. I suppose we could just bring extra blankets and stick close. They say the body produces a lot of it's own warmth, so if we stick together, we should be fine to survive the night."

Then she gestured to the packs and supplies nearby. "And everything should be together." Drawing ina breath, she turned back to him, eyes studying his. "I think I have enough strength to walk. I could carry the supplies, but i'm afraid once I'm in the tower, I might be useless after that." And that was being optimistic. Hopefully she could make it up there at all on her own... if not, Conall might have to carry her.

"Eventually, we probably won't have much choice ,but I think we could survive for a time without one." His face darkened with a blush at the thought of being within a close proximity of a woman. "I suppose so. I-I don't really know – about that, but you're probably right." He felt a bit awkward and so he added with a bit of humor, "If all else fails, we could just use my beard." He gave it a tug and chuckled then went over to collect his bag from the floor.He grabbed a blanket and folded it until it was as small and compact as he could possibly make it before cramming it into his bag. He grabbed a couple more. Pillows were nice but not necessary. If need be, he supposed he could have been used as a pillow. He was quite accustomed to doing without them.

He went over to stand in front of her and lean forward, extending his hand out in offering, "I don't have much here and I'd prefer to travel as light as possible. You need not carry a thing.Only try to do what you feel is within your limits. I mean that. If you don't have the strength, that's fine. I'll help you. I'm amazed that you've even recovered this quickly.  "

Katahnia smiled and slowly got to her feet.
"I should at least try." And she nodded to him, but when she went to move to pick up the pack of supplies, she was able to do that, but once she was righted, she lost her balance. And with a noise, she stumbled backwards, crashing and falling into Conall, who was already burdened with the weight of too many other things, and soon the pair were ont he floor, Katahnia in a heap above him. Now it was her turn to blush.
"Oh, I!" her face was beet red. "Goodness, I.. I'm sorry Lord Shanely. I had a bit of a dizzy spell back there and lost.. lost my balance."

Conall nodded, understanding. Respecting that even. He let her take the first steps on her own though when her legs started to wobble and he was shifting his position to help her, he wasn't swift enough. Her back crashed into his chest and he tipped over, landing heavily on his back with Katahnia on top of him.

He lay there in a daze for a moment and thanked Ansgar that she hadn't broken his back. But it was likely to smart...for days. "No, I probably should have anticipated this. It's alright. " He turned his head aside to hide his own embarrassment. He wasn't accustomed to this manner of ...well, whatever one were to call it. Contact? It was all innocent in nature, but it still made him feel awkward.

"Here, let's get you - well, let's get back on our feet, shall we?" He sat up stiffly. "...just a moment . Ah..."

Oh yes. His back definitely earned itself a fresh new bruise. Probably a big one!

He stood up and hooked his arm under hers, lifting her as slowly and gently as possible and then moved her arm so it was about his shoulders. "Now, two things. First, never call me Lord Shanley. That is way too formal for a situation like this. You may call me Conall. Secondly, you need to lean on me. If I feel you losing your step, I'm going to carry you. "

He'd never carried a person before but it couldn't be too hard. He'd seen men do it all the time!


How hard could it be?

Katahnia gave him a sympathetic smile.
"Alright, Conall," she said, pressing her lips together as she smiled. Then with a nod, she leaned into him as the pair began to make their way out into the cold courtyard, and then up the winding, crumbling spiraling stairs of the watch tower. Her eyes examined the bones upon the ground, and after mis-stepping ontop of one, she gasped and fell once again against Conall, but thankfully this time she was already leaning against him as she clutched onto him for support. Her heart was racing in her chest as she sighed. "By the Gods.." she frowned. "You were right. There are a lot of bones here." And she studied them. "Old bones. I wonder how long ago the fight in this tower was?"

Or.. what for.

Conall shrugged, " I'd like to think old enough so that whatever trouble found them may be long away from this place. Though it was a curious thing that I found no human remains inside the castle itself. It would have made a better fortification for a siege than a tower like this." He looked down at her, still feeling uncomfortable to have someone clinging to him like so. It wasn't necessarily a bad feeling, he considered, but it felt ...strange because of its newness. Similar to the feelings he'd had when his mother was near but not. This was a strange woman and perhaps this was why it felt ....sort of peculiar, awkward.

And he wasn't used to being relied on like this. He didn't take pleasure in Katahnia's misfortune ,but it was nice to know that he could actually physically do something for someone rather than issue orders for someone else to do such things for him. Not that he was much of an idle Duke...Conall rather preferred to do most things for himself whenever he had the opportunity.

Just below the top of the tower there was a small space that was large enough to accommodate them and perhaps another two people. Above them was the roof and a hatch door that led to the very top of the tower, and to their left the stairs narrowly wound back down. Conall helped Katahnia to ease herself down and sit leaning against the tower's wall. He removed his pack and opened it up, taking out the blanket and wrapping her in it tightly. He took the helmet out that still had snow in it, partially melted by the fire's warmth and set that down next to her along with his dagger and some dried fish. "In case you get hungry. I'll be back. I need to barricade the door with something. " He informed her and left her side, running down the stairs to deal with the door.

He righted the door as best he could and shoved a large weapon shelving rack infront of it. There wasn't much else to use . Had there been anything, it must have been taken long ago by thieves. Only the bones remained.

He went back up the stairs and took a seat for a moment. He looked about ready to fall over from exhaustion. So hungry...he eyed the fish but said nothing about that. He would have let her have it if she were hungry enough. "I'll get up top in a moment . I just need to...sit. For a moment."

He felt worse than he looked.

Although weak and exhausted herself, Katahnia was no fool.
"You should stay here and rest. I can keep watch while you do. After all, you've been doing most of the work here, I feel guilty."

Conall shook his head and smiled, "No. I'll be fine. I just want to-" he yawned and settled back against the wall, closing his eyes. "just ....rest for...a moment." He felt himself slipping away so quickly. He shouldn't have allowed himself a reprieve. Because he found himself losing against one of the most basic needs of the body.

His mind shut down and he blacked out, his body slumping forward and over until his torso collapsed over poor Kat and his face smashed up against her chest.

Had he been conscious he would have been mortified.

Despite the awkwardness of the position, Katahnia smirked. It was nice having him close. She wrapped the blanket around him and shared his warmth, shivering as she settled in for a long, cold watch. It was still daylight, but the sun was already beginning to set. Conall had barely been asleep a few hours when she noticed movement against the trees. Straining her eyes against the dusk-approaching shadows, she left Conall's side to peer out more easily from the tower window. And it was as she feared. There was a group of men on horse back heading straight their way. Sucking in a breath, she turned back around to Conall and gently shook him.

"Lord Shanely.. wake up."s he pressed, and kept on shaking him. "There are men approaching." And she held her breath, sucking in her lower lip. "Men on horse back, coming straight this way."

He resisted his awakening at first, pushing her hand away from him and mumbling something about giving him another hour. Just one more. He was warm and comfortable and...the damned woman kept shaking him.

"Mother, stop it. I'll be ready for the corona-" He was shaken abruptly into full wakefulness now. His eyes shot open, blood-shot and green, with great dark rings beneath them. They widened a bit and focused on a soft, but only slightly familiar face. "Kahtahnia? Ansgar! I fell asleep?! Why didn't you- "

She interrupted him , her tone urgent. He shot up suddenly and went over to one of the narrow windows to look outside. "There they are," he watched about half their number dismount and head inside the castle. "I think I could easily take out a couple of them from here, but that'll alert them to our location. On the other hand, it leaves us less to deal with...either way, they'll come here and find us eventually. If I could thin their numbers before they get here, it might give us a better chance, don't you think?"

Katahnia pressed her lips together, thinking it over. "Maybe not.. what if we set a foil?" she said, setting her hand upon his. "What if we fired from this tower, but another one of us hid in the other?" She gestured to the opposing side of the courtyard. "That way, as the men come in aiming to storm the tower, the second one of us could flank them at their rear."
Though her suggestion held strength, the women leaning against the window did not.
"I could stay here." she suggested. "I know how to use a bow. I could draw them to the tower and... well, you could flank them from behind. It's either that, or we wait.. perhaps they might not ever check this tower?"
Though even she knew better than to think their luck could come to that.

"Yes, but the distance between the two towers is...quite a distance.  I need something closer than that. Ah. I think I have it. " He pointed out the abandoned horse stables located at midpoint betwixt the tower itself and the castle. "If I keep close to the buildings and move quickly, they probably won't notice me. "

"If you're confident enough with your aim, " Conall didn't want to sound skeptical , but he couldn't help himself. He came from a people who did not let their women entertain such activities. Men were the warriors, the hunters. To think that a woman would engage in such an activity, even archery...well, it was..unorthodox. Not that he thought women were incapable or that they shouldn't practice such a fine art. As an archer himself, he rather enjoyed the sport and it was too fine a thing not to be enjoyed by anyone who developed a passion for it. He felt the same for quite a few other activities that he practiced.

"I know the options are limited. Just understand , I merely express my concern. A bow is best left in the hands of a skilled archer. If you are, "he slid the quiver from his shoulder and held it up along with his bow, " take it. I trust your decision."

Not that he had much choice. "I only have thirteen arrows left. So make them count."

ooc: Feel free to skip ahead a bit? xD Just pausing in case you wanted to add something.

Katahnia smiled.
"I should be fine. I've learned a thing or two about archery from my father, and.. from .." she hesitated over the word. "A friend." She peered out into the shadows and pressed her chapped lips together. "I'll make them count."


Snow had begun to fall as they were moving into position, and her body began to sweat. Now that the men were off their horses, they travelled a lot slower. But she held off, practicing her aim and steadying her arm. She felt sore all over, but had enough strength to make this work. She just hoped she could use some of her reserve energies on magic, but even that was uncertain. THirteen arrows...
Yes, they had to count.

As the men neared the wall, she knew she had only a few more seconds before they'd be out of range. So taking careful aim, she drew back her arm, and let loose a breath, along with the arrow. the first shot sunk into it's mark, startling the horse she shot on the leg. The men didn't knwo what to make of it, not realizing there was an arrow just yet. So as they worked at calming the horse, she drew in another breath, knocked another arrow and took aim.
This time the arrow hit the man closet to the horse that had found out about the arrow. He had just opened his lips to warn the others when the arrow Katahnia shot came through the back of his head and out through his mouth.

One down. Nine to go.

The man crumpled over, and soon the others were aware what was going on. This time, she meant business. Drawing the bow back and steadying the arrow, she whispered and incantation and the arrow began to glow red with fire. Letting lose the arrow, it sunk into one of the men at the back, and he cried out, his body quickly alighting in flame.

One now injured, hopefully scorching to death.. leaving eight.. and the rest were moving in fast. And she still had ten arrows left.

He dropped out the window, hitting the snow in a tumble. He looked up to see where the enemy was just in time to see one of the horses panic, rearing up into the air and throwing of its rider. The man landed in the snow and when he rose to stand , an arrow hit him in the head moments later. He fell again. This time, he wouldn't get back up.

"Wow. Not bad." He mouthed the words.

Maybe he'd end eating his own doubt , but now their enemy was alert and one of the men pointed at the tower , yelling, "Archer in the tower! Over there!"
Conall waited only a few moments more for the men to turn their attentions to the tower. He ran, keeping himself crouched low and circled around to the stables. They'd need to pass his position to reach the tower and so he waited, with dagger gripped so tightly in hand.

He heard them draw nearer. They were moving quickly, "Split up! We're easier targets clumped together like this, you idiots! Use the buildings as cover and get out of their line of sight!"

The men were passing his position and Conall tensed, getting ready to strike when one man screamed. Perhaps another arrow had found its mark? Didn't matter. The panic and confusion served him. He charged out from his hiding place and saw that one of the men had caught fire. He almost lost his nerve, but barreled into one of the startled mercenaries ,slashing his opponent's unprotected throat. The mercenary went down face first in the snow and Conall knew he couldn't hesitate now that he had the attention of at least four men.
Conall whirled around in time to see a man running at him. He narrowly sidestepped a sword's thrust aimed for his gut, and slashed out with his own dagger. The blade sliced into the mercenary's sword shoulder and he snarled , bashing his head forward into Conall's. The noble saw stars, and staggered back and another man came at him, slashing at his back with an axe. Conall spun around and threw his dagger. It hit the axe-wieldier between the eyes and the man fell over , dead.

"Come now, is that the best you can do? Pathetic!" Conall shouted purposefully to draw attention to himself as much as possible. He could distract them and Kat would have a clear shot . However, he was aware that a handful of men had continued moving toward the tower, ignoring him completely because they were far enough away.

Moving into position at the other window, she spotted four men rushing after Conall. Steadying the bow,s he drew back another arrow, taking careful aim. SHe knew she had some time to spare before any men would be able to trek up the towers spiraling staircase. Keeping herself calm, her eyes focused, she let loose another arrow, but it only sunk into the snow beside the man's feet... all the while a second arrow joined it, but this one lodged into Conall's leg.

Her eyes widened and she looked around. Who was the other archer? Then she noticed a man at the wall. Hidden well. She grit her teeth and took aim, all the while she began to hear men rushing up the steps, echoing her way. Her heart beat was beating inside her ears, but she tried to calm herself, drawing in a breath and aimed. It would be tricky, but she had to get him. Another arrow went sailing..
Another miss. Nd this time, the other archer disappeared into the shadows.

The arrow that pierced his thigh made him somewhat. He looked around for the archer but didn't see him. He could only pray Katahnia would deal with them because he still had three men within his immediate range to contend with . He bent quickly to grab for the fallen axe-wielder's weapon. It felt heavy and awkward in his hands. He wasn't trained with such a weapon nor had he ever used one to harvest lumber. He lifted the weapon just in time to deflect a slicing sword though with the axe-head.

"Stand down, " his current opponent growled and , "you're outnumbered."
"I think not. I won't be talked down just so it makes my death more convenient for you. You want to get paid? Then work for it!"

Conall swung the axe in a horizontal arc, but his movements with the weapon were slow and clumsy. His opponent easily evaded and stepped in the moment the axe arm left Conall open. His sword cut down vertically, but Conall dropped the axe and narrowly evaded the danger of losing an arm. It still found his right shoulder .

Conall's left arm shot out, catching the man hard across the jaw and sending his head whipping back from the impact. The mercenary lost grip on his weapon and the sword fell, landing point first into the snow. Conall went to grab for the hilt, but now another mercenary had closed in on him with sword slicing in, likely aiming to decapitate. Conall ducked that but lost his balance, falling on his back.

The swordsman closed in and moved to stab down. Desperate, Conall grabbed a fistful of hard snow (more like ice ) and flung it at the man's face. It did the trick , causing the man to hesitate and grab at his stinging eye with his free hand. Conall kicked the man between the legs then kicked again with his good leg, boot connecting with the man's torso and sending him staggering back.
Conall rolled back up to his feet and grabbed up the abandoned sword, narrowly missing an arrow that pierced the snow beside the weapon. "Come on , Katahnia. "

OOC: Ok, six men left. They can do this 8D
---------

The sounds of footsteps were getting closer. They were already half way there as Katahnia's eyes cleaved through the shadow, heart racing. The archer wasn't stupid, where had he gone? And with a frown, she realized she had to abandon her mission on him to tend the men rushing her way. Three of them had taken watch, one remaining at the bottom of the tower, hand on his daggers, the other two, armed and ready. The one in the front had his cross bow out, ready to penetrate, while the one behind him carried a short, curved sword at the ready against his arm.

But the men weren't the only one's ready, Katahnia made sure to remain behind the doorway, arrow already knocked. Though she had set up blankets to amke it appear as if someone was still at the window, so when the foot steps were nearly upon her she pulled back her arm, held in a breath, and the moment a man raced in past her- she let loose.
He choked out his breath, stumbling down to the floor and grabbed a hold of his gut around the arrow, all the while his partner stumbled over him, but caught himself right quick and gave one turn to Kathania, cutting the sword towards her head.

Two men down, but not quite out. One man was left standing and three, at least, had bypassed him. Conall considered running after them but he knew that his leg wouldn't allow him to reach them in time....not before the ones behind got to him. He could not risk leaving his back exposed . She'd have to take care of herself or hold out for as long as it took him to settled with these three.

Conall tested the sword. It was a light enough weapon . Not quite the sort he was accustomed to. He preferred a rapier, but this was light enough and graceful enough to compliment his own fluid , quick-moving combat style. And the man approaching him seemed to understand this as he approached with a great deal more caution than the others had.

Conall eyed the approaching man then noticed the downed swordsman rising to his feet, slowly. Conall turned and plunged the sword down , piercing through the man's chest . The man gasped and  collapsed back down onto the snow, dead.

As he was pulling his sword free, the last mercenary standing made his move, thrusting for Conall's unprotected back which Conall narrowly evaded by throwing himself into a forward roll that had him tumbling sloppily over a corpse and as his boots made contact with the snow again and he forced himself to stand up, he turned in time to parry the next attack as his foe lunged for him. They exchanged one blow after blow, their swordsmanship much like the art of dance. Both swordsman were quite skilled and determined to beat one another through skill rather than deceitful tactics. Or so it seemed.

The archer appeared again and took aim. It struck its target through, hitting Conall in the back close to the shoulder blade. Had Conall not been moving so much , it would have been a headshot.

Conall nearly lost his grip on his sword , a shock of pain thrilling through him. He shook himself and parried another attack.

I'd really appreciate it if she'd kill that archer before I become a walking pincushion!

Clutching onto the bow, Katahnia ducked beneath his attack and made a dash for the steps, but found herself stumbling halfway down, her legs buckling and soon she was on her knees. ANd the sworded man just behind her. But he hadn't been prepared for her to fall, so when he rounded the bend, Katahnia put all of her efforts into her hands and pushed herself in his direction, and at just hte right moment, her body collided with his legs, and the man tripped over her, and went tumbling down the steps. Gritting her teeth, the cracking noises he made.. surely he could not survive. Panting, she looked up the steps and pressed herself against the wall. SHould she go back up there, or down below, to see how Connall was fairing? Her heart was racing a million miles a minute, and before she could decide, she had a cross-bow aimed at her head.

Their dance seemed to have no end, though Conall felt himself tiring out. The other man felt it too and pressed forward with renewed vigor. Conall could now barely keep up with the man's offensive. His legs ached, his back, his side...he was tired , hungry....he tried to focus but it was gradually becoming more difficult.

He parried again.

"Not bad," the mercenary grinned at him, not speaking the words but Conall was sure the man was confident in his victory, " not bad for an old man."
"Old man?! " Conall felt insulted. Did he really look THAT old? He was aware that he looked a bit...wild , but old? OLD!
Smug bastard.

"It's been fun, pops, but I'm starting to get bored now. Maybe I'll have a go with the little slut before I spread her open and make her bleed all over the-"
Conall found an opening in the man's offensive and took a chance. He shifted feinted low then slashed high, blade sweeping in a blinding upward arc that took the other man's head clean off.

"Old man...the nerve." Conall spat on the mercenary's head as it hit the snow and rolled by. The body fell seconds after.

He turned to look back over his shoulder, wondering how Katahnia was holding up. He  ran for the tower, slightly limping. He found the door he had barricaded forced open, the shelving that had been blocking it torn aside. Well, so much for THAT.

"Ansgar! I hope I'm not too late!" He entered the tower, hurried up the steps. He nearly tripped over the body of a man that lay in a broken heap midway there and continued up...

Nearing the top of the steps he encountered the bowman that now had Kathania cornered. "Take another step and I'll shoot the bitch. Right through her pretty little skull."

Conall didn't slow his charge and with sword leading, he thrust the blade through the man's back. It sliced right through like a knife through warm butter, bursting out the front of his chest in a spray of blood that splashed the front of Katahnia.

The bowman stared at Katahnia with wide, disbelieving eyes. His trembling lips uttered but one word in a shuddering, bloody breath, "Damn." He collapsed to his knees and then slid to the floor , leaning against the wall with his eyes forever wide open.

"Are you alright?" Conall yanked the bloody blade from the dead man's chest (ooc: OH HO HO HO! See what I did there?) and glanced over at her. "Apologies. A few managed to slip past me. I think there might be a couple left somewhere, but I didn't see them...."

Maybe they ran off with their tail between their legs?  Or....they were around and rethinking their strategy.

There was a laugh down below the pair, before Katahnia even had a chance to reply.

"You make my job too easy," said a man, eye patch over one eye, bastard sword in had and a crossbow casually pointed at the both of them. "Now.." he gestured with a nod up of his head. "Weapons down and follow me, nice and easy like out of hte tower."

Katahnia glanced over to Conall, and apologie in her eyes. It seemed the man lurking in the shadows had found them, with his bow string slung over his back. Or, it was just another lucky bastard out of hte group. Though this one seemed to be apart their age, with wild dark hair and beard and a mean smile on his lips.

But then as she stared at Conall, she got an idea, and her eyes pleaded with him. Yes,.. she ahd a plan. If they got out of hte tower, she migh tbe able to use some of her magic, but in here..
Even Conall might fry to death.

"Come up and try your luck, coward!" Conall taunted the man. "This tower is too narrow for you to take more potshots at me from where you stand. Looks like you're going to have to face me as a man should. Face to face. If you're lacking a real weapon, I'll wait. Feel free to procure a sword from the corpses of your friends outside."

"You wanna play it that way, eh? That's fine. I got all night, asshole. You and the bitch can freeze up there and the moment you fall asleep, I'll cut off your fucking heads and mount 'em on my wall after I collect my reward. OR, you could come down like a good little dog and maybe I'll spare you."

Conall met Katahia's eyes. What could they do? The other man was probably better rested and capable of a little patience. "He's just a man. " Conall said in a low voice to her as he laid down his sword and held up his empty hands.
Yes. Just a man who had the upper hand in this situation,for the time being.
"Hurry up before I change my mind!"

Conall took the first couple steps. "I'll go first. "He told her gently and then in a louder voice, "You win. I'm coming down." He limped down the stairs and held out his hands to show he carried nothing. He was searched roughly anyway. He had no other weapons and the man roughly shoved him aside. "Don't go anywhere or she dies. "

You were going to kill her before anyway. Conall did as he was told, knowing that the man wasn't bluffing.

"Get down here, bitch!" The merc snapped at Katahnia.

Katahnia slowly stood to rise, pressing her weight against the wall and moving slowly, step by step down the staircase, wincing the entire way. At least by now she could walk, despite how she had been found barely a few hours ago where she was barely alive. Was it even half a day ago since? She couldn't tell, and byt he time she made it to the end of the tower staircase, it was almost night time outside, the evening sun being short.

A wind from the east picked up, fluttering a cold chill from the darkness of where it came. She kept her green eyes upon the man with the crossbow, and glnced to his sword, then over at Conall, but she said nothing. She was barely a few feet out when the map snapped up his weapon, and simply shot Katahnia in the gut without reserve. Her eyes went wide. The attackw as wholly unexpected. And then the cross bow then snapped at her face.

"And now time to die, bitch." But before he had a chance to fire, she ducke dout of hte way just in time, the second bolt whizzing through her hair as she whispered a word, and grabbed onto the man and held tight to his clothes, and suddenly, they lit up in flames.

The man let out a scream, Katahnia dropped to the floor, and he began to flail his arms about. Wincing, Katahnia clutched onto her wound, only able to look up with one eye..
God there as so much blood.
She was breathing heavy. Had he hit a lung?
She had to act fast, she felt herself fading away..
No, no no..s he couldn't die here..
She couldn't leave her daughter not to know her mother..... her daughter, her child.

She had to make it, she had to survive.
And with a scream, she snapped the bolt in half, then threw it aside, herbody tensing, trembling before she grabbed the other end, and ewith a grunt, pushed it through, before she spilled over into the snow, blood oozing out beneath her, staining what was once white, red.

He shot her. No hesitation. Just shot her. "NO!" Conall cried out, ready to lash out at the man. What did it matter now? He knew he was next. He was ready to lunge at the man who had killed Katahnia, but moments after the mercenary made his declaration of finishing her off, his clothing went up in a blaze and he ran past Conall, shrieking in agony and flailing about. Conall stared at Katahnia wide-eyed. Had she...? What other explanation was there? None. Yet again his fear of magic was only reinforced by this horrifying instance.

The burning man threw his body into the snow, rolling around in it to douse the flames but it did little good. After a good few seconds more, the flames consumed him and left little more than a blackened corpse.

Conall shook his fear off and went over to his injured companion, "Katahnia?! " Ansgar ! She didn't look so good. He had to treat her injuries. Immediately. "Hold on. I'll be right back." He went back to the tower, running as fast as he could manage back up the tower to collect his pack. He wasn't gone longer than a couple minutes. Returning to her side, he knelt down and gathered her up into his arms. Not without feeling a considerable amount of pain, but he forced his mind away from that to other things.

He carried her back to the castle , returning to the room he'd found her in before and laid her down near the quenched fire. He frantically dumped the contents out of his pack onto the floor and grabbed his medical kit. He was running low. There wasn't enough for the two of them.

He lifted her tunic to reveal the wound. He removed his furs and , tore off one of his sleeves from his shirt. He used that to press against the wound, soaking up the blood. And there was a lot of that. Once the cloth was thoroughly soaked he tore away his other sleeve and used that, pressing it over the bloodied one. He removed a glove from one hand and pressed his fingers to her neck, feeling for the pulse and for her breath. He wasn't sure if he was even taking all of the proper steps to treat an arrow wound. He's only ever seen such a procedure performed a handful of times. Most of them when he was younger and his brother had accidentally shot another boy while hunting.

Ooc: I'll let you decide how bad off she is. XD
 

Katahnia knew the wounds were bad, and could barely utter a sound due to the pain. By the time she was taken back to the castle, she was barely conscious, though when he began to work on her wounds, her eyes slowly opened and she stared at him through blonde lashes. Then... saying nothing but a single breath, she pressed a hand to her open wound.

"It.. it's b-bad,"s he sputtered out, even talking exhorted much effort that hurt her greatly. She was shaking, blood still bubblig from her wound from behind the make shift bandage. She shook her head "I.. I can heal myself, but I'll be asleep. for many days please.." and here, she gripped onto his arm.

"I have a child. She's up North. In Bellkrath," her eyes wavered. "If something happens.. please.. go to the duchy in Turgall, I.. er.." she doubled over in the pain. "Inquire about me, the servants know who I am. If I die.. please.. tell the child I had loved her, even though I had barely known her.. and if I live.."S he winced again. "Please see ove rmy body as I sleep." THen she faltered again. "Her father.. he.. his name is Cauwyn." She smiled weakly in recollection of his name. "We were to marry." But hse left out the rest.

ad before he could protest, a powerful bright light emanated from her hand, and she felt as if hse were in ecstasy, smiling at the blinding light before she faded away, dreaming of nothing but white.

"Don't talk like that!" How many times had he heard speeches similar to this one? How many times had he seen a life slip away before his eyes? Family, friends, strangers...he'd seen more than enough. He'd listened to her though. So she had family ? Child and a lover.  She was...younger than he was , but he shouldn't have been so surprised. He was  the late one in that department.

Of course he'd make the journey and deliver the news  if...but he wouldn't accept the loss of her. He'd fought too hard to just give up now. He shook his head,  " You're not going to die," He told her, "you were shot in the abdomen. There are far worse places to take an arrow," he kept the pressure applied directly to the wound. " All I need do is halt the bleeding. Just give me a moment..."

When she tried to heal herself, he wanted to smack her but she passed out before any magic could begin to take any real affect. Though it may have aided in cutting back some of the blood flow. The light flared up then blinked out just as quickly. "Katahnia? " She didn't respond. He felt her pulse again and was relieved to feel the beat of her heart through the veins, and feel her shallow breathing. There was still hope but time was not his ally. He would need to work swiftly. Not just for her, but also for himself.

It took time, but he managed to stop the bleeding and when he finished applying the healing salve and wrapping her torso up with material torn from his pant leg, he sat back and assessed his own wounds. He took a deep breath and...took care of the arrow wounds first.  Then the shoulder...

It wasn't the best work. He was no medic, but it would have to do. He'd used nearly everything he had up on Katahnia.   He wrapped her up snugly in blankets and when his work was finished he stood up with the intention of looting the corpses and scouting the castle grounds for more trouble had there been any , but he collapsed and blacked out. 

When he woke up again, it was daylight. Conall sat up stiffly from his place on the floor. He remained still, feeling a bit less tired than before but cold. Ansgar! He'd forgotten to wrap himself up. He was only lucky nothing had frozen and fallen off!

He looked over his shoulder to find Kat lying there, still bundled up. She looked so still. Was she dead? He went over to her to check. No. Just sleeping. He felt her forehead and then felt his throat. It felt so dry and scratchy. Thirsty.
He left Katahnia's side and grabbed up his furs and drew them over himself, heading out into the courtyard to gather whatever he could from the corpses and reclaim his bow. He returned little more than a half of an hour later , but made multiple trips.

Looting the corpses supplied him with fresh clothing, weapons, packs containing some food,  alcohol,  Connlaothian coin, even a map. Medical materials even. However , the supplies were probably good enough for a week at best.  And...there were horses. A few hadn't bolted, the injured horse Kat had shot being one of them. Conall calmed them and brought with him, securing them in the abandoned stable before he returned to the castle.

He got a fire going again and allowed himself some time for rest , watching over his sleeping companion as she'd requested. He stared at what little food there was left. He needed to eat. So did she, but if he had no energy left to hunt for either of them....they'd both starve. Conall grabbed the dried, salted fish and ate it. Katahnia might have to do without if she woke before he'd managed to catch a hare or ptarmigan.  He considered eating the apple he'd offered Kat earlier as well, but decided to save it.

Meal concluded, he went back to sleep again for a few hours more. Woke up, checked on his charge and went back to sleep again.

Days went by and their supplies dwindled. Kat woke a few times, briefly, and Conall saw to her needs. Whatever they might have been and without complaint.

This pattern continued for little over a week and as Katahnia started feeling better, Conall found himself feeling...worse though tried not to let it show. Like a typical male, he was stubborn when it came to such things.

Now nine days had come and gone and Conall was counting the last of the food that morning. Katahnia was asleep and he was mulling over leaving to try his luck with hunting when he thought he heard her stirring...

He looked across at her and waited. She might need something before he left.


ooc: Tried to summarize. u.u So we're now at about a week and a half after the fight.

Katahnia sat up, stretching out her tired frigid bones. She hadn't a clue as to what had happened, ad gasped a moment to see the beard-faced stranger, but then released another breath of relief when she recalled who it was.

"Oh.. Lord Shanley.. how long was I asleep?"

For it was hard for her to discern, she barely remembered waking up those few times, to relieve herself, or for some water on her own parched throat, but barely any food. The apple, and a few nibbles here or there, but that was it. She appeared so terribly thin and pale in the fire's glow as she looked at him, pressing her lips together and trying to recall her dreams.

"Has anything happened when I was out?" She was really clueless righ tnow.

He spoke in an inflection that weighed heavily with fatigue, " It's good to see that you're up. " He offered her a weary smile. And were his tone lost on her,  she'd see the exhaustion in half-lidded green, blood-shot eyes displayed so plainly.

"You've been indisposed for about seven days, possibly a few more than that. I think I may have closed my eyes at times for longer than I had intended. " He stifled a yawn with his hand. "The good news is that it's been quiet since you were last aware of the circumstances and that I was able to mend your wounds. I counted ten bodies and stripped them of all that I could. We've acquired some supplies that I think will come in handy, but, "he handed her an apple," now for the bad news.  I'll be frank. Our food supply is very low. I've been rationing it , but it's not going to last us another week. I need to hunt, but I couldn't leave you alone before."

He stroked his beard thoughtfully," I imagine that you're eager to return to Bellkrath or Turgall as soon as you're able. Since I was intending to find my way back to Connlaoth anyway, I could accompany you for awhile if you like. My destination is further south , but I suspect I might make a stop in Uthlyn to see a friend. That being said, I won't be going out of my way ."

"No, not Turgall," she lamented. "There's.. complications there. I.. there's not exactly one place I would be accepted. Though the mage resistance has limited fortresses, I will probably seek them out to see who might need my help. I've already made a voice for myself now, I can't abandon a cause I've already begun. Though even still.." She smiled up athim. "It's time I think you rest and let me tend to the camp. Forgive me for saying this, Lord Shanely, but you look like shit."

His eyes widened at her words.

He stared at her.

And stared.

His mouth hung slightly ajar and he just looked classically stupid. He felt it for a moment, at a loss for words. He looked somewhat mortified.

He wasn't accustomed to such ...language. Granted, the other prisoners he'd spent time with in the mines...they employed such offensive words but but this woman wasn't one of THEM.

This woman had been a noble once? My what...a mouth she had! He recovered from the initial shock and closed his lips and gave a short laugh, "Well, that was..." Wow. Nobody talked to him like this knowing who he was. Except someone he'd known as a lad and they- well, were long gone. He blinked twice. Stupidly.

"How incredibly forward of you. I really look THAT bad, do I? I do feel a bit under the weather, I suppose." This was a massive understatement. He felt like, well, he didn't like to use such terminology ,but yes. Shit would be an accurate adjective. Vulgar, but accurate.

Katahnia chuckled and sat up.
"You could say that," she stated, tucking her hair away from her face and took a look at the world all around her, wearing a smile she could not erase.
"It seems so.. tranquil here.. peaceful almost. Beautiful.." as she spoke, light puffs of white breath cam eout between her lips before she glanced back at him.
"Do not worry. I will tend to the place while you are sleeping. You deserve a good rest, and perhaps I can see what I can come up wiht for food."

Attempting to rise, she felt her limbs sore from misuse, but other than that, she felt enough strength to get around. She smiled at this. It was good to be able to feel close to normal again.
Especially after all that had happened.

"I suppose I did let myself go a little bit," he admitted, staring down at his beard and when she mentioned something about beautiful...he was still admiring his beard. "Indeed." Yes, it was magnificent...and how it would have been all the envy of his brothers. Hell, even his father couldn't grow something this manly.

But he looked up and oh...

She meant...

Right. Of course. He grinned a bit sheepishly as Katahnia was too busy admiring the view.

Oh how vain of him.

"Rest? But...I – are you sure? I'm not really that ," he yawned again, "tired. I'm just..." His body wanted to give in. He'd hardly had any sleep at all since he'd met her. "Alright, but only for a few minutes. Wake me up if I...sleep too long. " He settled down by the fire and fell asleep.

If Katahnia let him be, he'd be out for more than twelve hours and when he stirred again, he felt horrible. Hot and clammy with a dry and scratchy throat and a stuffed up nose. Conall sat up stiffly and rubbed his eyes, "I slept too long. " He croaked.

Katahnia smiled when he had awoken. The camp had been rearranged since he had last been awake, her bed had since moved closer to his, more supplies to fuel the fire had been collected and...
"I'm glad you slept. It has been many hours. You needed it." Her smile widened.
"And, oh!" Her eyes brightened as she gestured towards the door.

"I set up a trap outside, in hopes to perhaps catch some animal for food, though I must admit I am no master huntsman, so my trap might have been flimsy at best, btu I had found some, althought hey were rusty, in the dungeon and had to fix them as best I could to get them to work." She sighed then turned to him.

" It might do us some good to try and hunt with whatever bow ad arrows we have. I tried to see what I could scout nearby, but I did not want to leave you alone for long, so once you are more awake and have had some water," and she gestured to a bowl nearby him. "We ought to set out to see what we can find, and do so before the sun sets. If not, we'll have to wait until the next marrow."

Conall stared at her for a moment, saying nothing but listening to what she had to say. He looked around, noting the cleanliness that had replaced his formerly chaotic setup. His hands went immediately for the water bowl and seized it, arms trembling a bit as he lifted the bowl to his lips and drank deeply, careful just enough not to spill. When he'd had his fill, there wasn't much left.

"Thank you," He said at last, his voice sounding stronger than previously though he still sounded as though another long nap would have done him a world of good.

"You said you found some traps?" He looked at her curiously, "That could be helpful. I could have a look at them . I used to hunt with my father some though I won't claim myself any expert on the matter either. " Mother hadn't been very keen on that because of his health but father insisted and no one ever went against what father wanted. That was madness.

"I also picked up a few things from ...well , before now I was - a slave in the mines out here. I managed to escape with some prisoners. They taught me how to survive out here. Were it not for them, I'd probably have died months ago. " He rose to stand , but felt a wave of nausea and dizziness overwhelm his senses. He sat back down, looking a little paler than before.

"Forgive me. I don't know if I'll be of much use right now," He looked and sounded remorseful.

Katahnia only then noticed the paleness of his skin.
"Are you not well, Lord Shanely.. your face.. you look so pale. ANd your skin seems clammy. Why don't you sit down again. I can make us more water."

There was a question.

It may have been a cold or an illness brought on by days of improper diet and sleep.

It also may have been the work of the condition he'd suffered since childhood. The symptoms were not so different than influenza of the worst sort.

Was it wise to share such knowledge? Would it frighten her as it had others? Perhaps he'd wait and see. That seemed logical. This could be a minor thing, healed with food and rest. If it truly got unbearable, he wouldn't be able to hide it. Out here, he couldn't just excuse himself and leave a room or go home. They were stuck together for now and for a great deal of time.

"No," he managed, "I'm not. " He hated admitting his weakness but it was plain as day and only a fool resisted the body's needs. He sat down and turned his head from her view to wipe some mucus from his dripping nose with his glove. It was a repulsive thing to do in front of a Lady but it couldn't be helped.

Katahnia's frown deepened.
"Please.. sit down and get some rest. You've been through much,a nd though you've slept most of hte day, more sleep can not hurt. Your body needs time to repair itself." Then she paused to consider. "How are your injuries?" and her green eyes sought to his.

ooc: Read the end of my post again. He IS sitting down. lol

ic:

Conall shrugged, " I am no medic, but they seem to be mending well enough. The arrows I took struck less vital places. The only issue was my shoulder, but the blade didn't cut deeply enough to expose bone. I cleaned it and layered it with some healing salve. " He looked uncomfortable . "I suppose you're the healer though and you probably know better than I do about such things. " 

He went quiet for awhile and looked down at his boots uncomfortably.

Katahnia smiled.
"Yes, but you look ill." ANd her smile grew. "If you'd like, I think I am well enough I could try to heal you some more."

Conall scooted away from her, frightened that she'd use magic again. "N-no. That's really not necessary." She'd used it enough and then the circumstances had been life or death. He could, he supposed, look the other way on such occasions ,but now? No. It was wrong.

Though if she meant healing the normal way, the RIGHT way, then he was fine with that. "Unless you were intending to use some medical supplies?" He didn't want to offend her by outright saying "As long as you don't use magic, I'm comfortable with it". She could turn him into human torch in the blink of an eye!

Katahnia stared at him with a smile.
"Such the Connlaothian man," she said with a sigh. "I meant no disrespect, but I did mean to use my magics. My parents had taught me how to use them since I was young, so I've been healing things as long as I can remember." She gave a soft laugh and a sigh however, as she shook her head. "Do we even have medical supplies? And should we even use them if my magic is at our disposal? I'd hate to waste precious resources in a place like this when our journey ahead of us will be long. But if you are so afraid and content to suffer, then I will not press it."
She sighed,t his time with a frown. "My only aim is to help. You've already helped me enough already." ANd she smiled, though it did not reach her eyes. It was sad to think her only friend out here might be afraid of her; and someone not with the cause...

"No! No magic!" Conall snapped, adamantly despite a very good point that she made, but she spoke words of laziness and temptation.   "Just because it's more convenient , that doesn't make it right."

Oh indeed, the Ansgarism was strong in this one.

Her words hadn't been entirely lost on him though. Conall was paranoid, this was true, but he wasn't such a fool. He understood where they would be if she used up all the medical supplies on him and when it came to helping her...he'd be useless. 

What ...was...he...thinking!? It was blasphemy!

Ansgar, forgive me for my treacherous thoughts.

"A man does not fear to suffer a little pain, " Conall replied, acting a little haughtier than was normal for him. His body didn't agree with that and he felt a sudden wave of dizziness take over him.

And then he did the most manly thing ever.

He passed out.

He woke up a couple hours later, bolting upright in his bedroll, "Fire!" He'd had a nightmare about Katahnia burning him alive and Ansgar looking down on him angrily and saying "Burn the heathen" . Of course the dream, bad as it was, made no sense whatsoever. Still , it made Conall increasingly paranoid as he looked around, sweating profusely and expecting to be torched again at any moment.

"Ah..." and his sudden movements caused him to double over. He threw off the blankets. He felt so ....hot. Maybe it was time for a walk. He stood up...
Wait. No he didn't. He wanted to , but his body wouldn't follow his mental command. He wasn't going anywhere.

Katahnia had fallen asleep beside him, and it was dark when Lord Shanley awoke, and when he awoke making such noise, it startled her. Gasping, she sat up, staring over at him with wide eyes before sighing and wiping hte sleep from her face.

"Lord Shanely?" and she hesitated to move closer to him. "Are you alright?" And she hesitated again, before moving a hand forward to feel his forehead. "YOu look feverish." Then she gasped. "And you feel feverish too!" and she frowned with worry.

"I might be ill," Conall replied with a voice that was hoarse and cracking, clearly in semi-denial about his condition as if he were hoping his denial might cure him.

"Or your hand is really, really cold. I feel so hot. If I didn't know any better, I'd compare the feeling with being burned alive. Miss Harmond, could I have some water, please? "His throat was so dry and tight.The water would do him good.

Katahnia frowned,but nodded at his request, handing him a fresh batch of water that had been melted.
"Here, drink as much as you'd like." She tucked her hair aside. "I can go get some more if we need it. But you should really let me help you. I might be able to tone down your fever at least. I hate to see you suffer after all you've done for me."

Conall gulped the water down greedily and choked on it when she suggested helping him. He assumed that she intended to use magic and he wasn't keen on that at all.

However, she had good intentions and he had to admit to himself that he had no idea if they'd ever luck out finding decent medical supplies again. They needed to conserve until more were found and he wasn't going to let himself die . No, he had been fighting too hard and too long to let his life end this way.
If he had to sin a little to save himself and , more importantly, his people , so be it . He'd let his soul be damned.

He was quiet for a moment, "Very well," he relented with a heavy sigh. Although he wondered if he ought to tell her that her magic might not work. If it didn't, he'd have little choice but to explain.

Katahnia offered him a small smile in return.
A hand rested against his shoulder as her eyes sought his.
"Thank you." And she paused, eyes wavering before adding, "For trusting me."
Then she moved to position herself infront of him, resting a gentle hand upon his forehead.
"This will not hurt, but you might feel warmer for but a moment." And she closed her eyes, focusing in deep, as a soft flash of light cascaded out from between her fingers, where they remained pressed lightly to his head. And soon the light went from white to gold, and he'd feel a warmth wash over him, before the fever might be carried away.

Hesitating, she slowly with drew her hand after the light had long since faded. She studied his face."How do you feel?"

Conall nodded, saying nothing. He held his breath and closed his eyes. She wasn't going to melt his face. But he'd heard stories of mage spells going awry and doing horrible things. Wonderful! Now I'm thinking about it! Thanks for making yourself even more paranoid than you already were. Thank you SO much! You're welcome. That's what I'm here for. 

Just as Katahnia had said, he felt the warmth of magic flow through him. It was gentle, soothing but it still felt weird to him. Like an unwanted touch almost. He shuddered and tried not to think of whether or not he'd be forgiven in the afterlife for allowing such a thing to course through his veins.

And when the warm, tingling sensation had subsided he opened his eyes to stare at her. He blinked twice , looking confused and then  suddenly uncomfortable. The heat returned along with the discomfort and pain.

He looked down , feeling somewhat guilty, " I don't think it worked.  I appreciate the effort though..." He sighed, "I was hoping that I wouldn't have to discuss this with anyone ,but I have a condition, more specifically, an illness. Since childhood, my parents searched for a cure - well, had other people search for them, but there isn't one. I don't think they ever explored magical remedies...because, well...you know. It seems magic doesn't work either . I had been hoping that this was merely a cold. Apologies. " 

Katahnia sighed through a frown.
"It would appear not."S he felt his head, the fever still there and her frown deepened.
"Just like Cauwyn.."s he silently laughed at that and shook her head. "It seems you posses some sort of fluke repellent to magic. Are you sure you're not mordecai?" she asked, chuckling softly before turning away. That would be her luck, trying to heal a moredcai.

"Mordecai? " Conall laughed and waved a hand dismissively, although it took more effort than he would have liked and caused him more pain than necessary. "Me? Oh, I wish.  It certainly would have come in handy when dealing with The Obsidian Mantle. They'd actually have to find more creative ways to torture me aside from magical electrocution. Or maybe it doesn't work that way. I won't claim to understand things I have so little comprehension for.  "

Mordecai indeed. Though it wasn't entirely impossible but wouldn't he have known? Wouldn't anyone? Surely, the doctors ? He shrugged, "In all honesty Kahtahnia, I know not but I don't think so. Do all Mordecai feel ill like this? That would be ....horrible. "

He didn't wish to insult her but he had to suggest, "I admit that the doctors never could give my illness a name. All I ever heard was that it's rare and incurable and it would kill me before I reached my prime. Which...didn't happen ,as you can see. For a time, I thought they were full of it but the sickness always returns, crushing my insides like a vice and sending waves of nausea and agony through my blood- it almost burns like an internal forge. There were times it was so bad that I could hardly move. No, I don't think I am what you are suggesting.  "

And were he mistaken...

he had been born with the worst form of it. Or one of them. 

Katahnia smiled, although sadly.
"I'm sorry I was not able to help. It seems my magics will be of no use to you." and she sighed. "Perhaps we ought not to waste any more supplies on me then? I can heal myself, so I'll use my magics to heal myself in the future to keep the use of supplies low."

Then she thought over his question and smiled again, though it didn't reach her eyes.
"I am not well versed in all of the intimate details of the mordecai, so I couldn't say. I am sorry I am no more help than that." And as he pressed on about his illness, she pressed her lips together, listening to him in silence.

"I'm sorry to hear that."s he said, placing a hand upon his shoulder. "I've never heard of a mordecai becoming ill over his magic, though I have heard mages..." but she let her thought drift off, realizing hte idea might horrifying him as she smiled and tried to change the subject.

"BUt it seemed you were well before, perhaps it comes in waves, like the moon or tides?"

"Do not be, "Conall didn't seem dismayed or disappointed. He spoke in a very matter-of-fact tone, " It is as Ansgar wills." Though why Ansgar would think he was suited to suffer, Conall couldn't imagine what the purpose of it was. He shrugged, "I...suppose I won't disagree with the use of ....your abilities. I don't like it, but the situation demands for it. I'd be a fool to deny that. If you can tend your own wounds with ...magic , then do but don't put a strain on yourself just to conserve supplies. Those supplies exist to be used . We'll find more eventually. "

Well, he couldn't be too sure but they'd have to soon and he was attempting to remain positive about things.

He looked up at her and frowned, " A mage...me? I highly doubt... well, there used to be magic blood in the Shanley bloodline , but that was a very long time ago. Not since the founding of Ardal itself, even. Since that time, the magic was bred out of the bloodline. No, my being a mage is impossible. " It was a horrifying idea to him, indeed.

He nodded when she changed the subject, " Yes, it does. There are times where I may go weeks feeling fine and then it comes. When it does,  I have to hide myself from most people and I'd have to ...make excuses for my disappearances- ah , that is my council would do so. I was going to come out and just speak the truth, and they advised against it like my father before me did. They said no one would take a sickly duke seriously and, well, they're probably right . Even so, I fight rumors and accusations concerning these disappearances of mine. "

"That sounds horrible," Katahnia said with a frown. "And please, I mean no offense, but for them to force such judgement themselves.."S he shook her head. "Though they migh tbe right. THere are those cruel enough to take advantage of another, purely because they are ill or different. It's why the whole of Connlaoth is turning quickly into a blood bath." She shook her head again as she sighed.

"No one understands that the more you suppress people, the more you deny them the freedoms they deserve, you only set yourself up to fall. People can only take so much, and while people with magics living in Connlaoth are aware of the laws.. to simply change them because of one unproven incident over the loss of hte last Grand Duke is unforgivable."

"In a sense, I suppose it was. More than anything, it would limit me in what I could do, where I'd go or who I'd see. It was a lot worse when my parents were alive Asgar rest their souls. They meant well , but their paranoia – this fear of death taking me from them at any moment drove them to such extremes. Sadly, they couldn't agree with what to do with me. Father thought he could toughen me up with military training, you know...beat the weakness out of me. " He smirked at that, "And mother wanted to keep me indoors, thinking that would protect me from most germs. I think if it wasn't for the fact that everyone knew I was the eldest son and named heir, my parents might have made me disappear entirely. I hate to think that they were ashamed of my condition, but I think they were a little disappointed. Especially father. They had this idea of what I should have been and I , unfortunately, couldn't live up to that. "

He tilted his head, " There were those who felt as you did. You might be surprised at how many of us nobles were not comfortable with the new Grand Duke's laws. Though I suspect many held their tongues, afraid of challenging his authority and wanting to believe in his promises. I think Calent honestly believed that his way was right. I think he still does. He is the type. And I remember warning him, but my words fell on deaf ears. Even as the refugees fleeing from his laws and his camps came pouring into my duchy. " He sighed and rubbed his temples, "Mages and not. I had not the food and shelter to accommodate them, but I couldn't force them away. I really couldn't blame them for running. Unfortunately, my tolerance was not well –received. I wouldn't punish those people and so here I am. I was beaten, stripped, shaved, paraded around in public as my own murderer while people threw rotten produce at me, and then I was sent away to live the rest of my life as a slave in the mines. I imagine that many who held their tongues wanted to avoid this manner of fate. Oddly, I cannot say that I would have held my tongue had I known this would happen. Though I certainly would have kept a better eye on certain individuals within my very council . Ah well, I'll give them a pleasant surprise when I meet with them again, mark my words. " 

Katahnia took in everything he said carefully as she set her jaw.
THe man had been through quite the ordeal, and she herself knew the full force of what the laws did against those who opposed it. And she just wanted them to drop the camps, drop the persecution, and if anything, at least get things back to the way they had once been..
and then she could go from there, but she knew it was a long and arduous journey if those things were ever to be.

"Yes, the laws are terrible, and I'm sorry you've had to suffer so. But it's nice to know there are still friends in high places who ..er.. well, had tried to help." She smiled at him, but it was more out of nerves before she moved a hand forward, lightly touching his cheek.

"You are a hero in your own right," her eyes stared back at him affectionately. "So many run and flee, yet you stood your ground." Her smile grew." Thank you." And she lightly kissed his cheek, then drawing back to where she had been sitting, her smile broadened.
"And who knows, maybe if we're lucky and survive this, the pair of us can return to reek havok once again. And... perhaps we can find a way to make them listen to our words, one political battle at a time."

"I was one of the lucky ones. It would have been worse for me if one of my relations hadn't begged to keep me out of a dungeon and if the Grand Duke hadn't decided to be so generous and show some 'mercy'. I probably would have been tortured to death. The mines were a harsh place, but at least we were fed , clothed and sheltered and not beaten unless we were disobedient. I wasn't bad that often, " He offered a weary smile.

He blushed at her kiss and shook his head at being called a hero , "Me? No ,not really. That is a title that belongs to my father.  I'm just the fool who tried to do what he thought is right. All I wanted to do was to keep the peace. I suppose I should have fought harder but I honestly didn't expect ....things to escalate like this. I didn't think that Allarick and his supporters would go this far.  "


He nodded and smiled, "We'll survive this. I have a good feeling about that. And I've no doubt that if I rise from the dead, that'll stir quite a fuss. It'll make Allarick regret that he didn't see me hang as he probably would have liked. And it won't be me that he'll be concerned about so much as the people he lied to about my fate. But that won't be an easy task in itself . No doubt I have many enemies that would try to kill me before I could make my presence known. I'd have to be cautious and wait for the right moment.   "

Katahnia smiled at his words, feeling confident despite their predicament.
"Yes, against all odds, I believe we can conquer this." and her eyes shined in that moment, adoringly looking into his as she blushed as well, finding, only then... he seemed oddly familiar.

"This might sound strange but.. you seem.. familiar, as if we've met before.." and her eyes tried to search his, but her memories were clouded. "Though I have met many on the road, I suppose that is to be expected. Forgive me."

Then at his latter question, she frowned. "So it would seem. It seems the new Grand Duke is not calculating for a lot of things, and his judgement is poor at best. TO make a people suffer for but one instance of extremist action is unforgivable. That would be like them going against Angsar himself.. "s he rolled her eyes. "Heaven forbid he had ever failed at his mission those many centuries ago." But then she sighed, and turned away from him, shame faced. "Ah, forgive me again, I speak irrationally myself. It just upsets me so Connlaoth has come to this. If only it could have been avoided.. if only there was a way to restore the peace.. to at least.. at least bring it back to how it was, whihc.. " she laughed sadly over it. "Was a far, far better time than this."

Conall stared back at her and at her question, he gave her a slight shrug, "Perhaps you know me by reputation? I don't mean to sound arrogant, but I was very well-known among the aristocracy. My reputation grew considerably after Allarick was named the new Grand Duke," he flashed her what might have been a charming , roguish grin, "After all, I was among the most vocal of his opposition. Not the most, mind. I knew when to hold my tongue. Most of the time. " His grin grew even more.

He studied her face at her outburst and smiled gently, " Don't apologize for speaking how you feel. Whether or not I agree with it, I would rather that someone be true to the self than disguise their intent for sake of manipulating my sensibilities to something more favorable. " He nodded, " I will confess that the ways that were weren't perfect, but I prefer them over what has replaced it."


"Whether I like it or not, there is magic everywhere in this world. Nations like Serendipity and Adela - they embrace it . Perhaps, in time, so will we. But that time is not in my lifetime or yours, perhaps not even in the time of our children or theirs...but perhaps one day people will view things differently and they will learn not to fear , but to respect and tolerate. I could only pray that when that time comes,  the people will never reach a point where they allow magics to govern their lives again. There are many things mages take for-granted because it's easier to just utter a spell, you know? And in taking those shortcuts...well, the consequences are quite damaging.  " He frowned, "And I suppose there are some...types of magic that don't seem to be of a malicious nature at all. I...can see the uses of healing magic, but I still prefer to do things the old fashioned way whenever possible. Ansgar , forgive me."He shook his head, feeling guilty over saying as much. He couldn't help himself. It was the manner in which he'd been brought up.

"But what about you, Miss Harmond? Here you are are, braving the wilds and trained assassins. You've left behind your betrothed and a child for what seems to be a long, hard battle uphill with no end is sight. You've lost a lot,and you stand to lose a lot more if you fail than I do. You could have fled the country and lived a peaceful life with your family in Serendipity, but you choose to stay and fight. If anyone is the hero here, it's certainly not me. I don't think if I had any family left to worry about that I could...that I'd have that kind of strength."

Unless that family happened to be victims, trapped in one of those camps.

OOC:I don't think Katahnia mentioned her last name, did she? Either way, if he knew her as Miss Harmond, he would probably recall her cousin, the other Miss Harmond, I'm sure <3
unless Kella was so easily forgettable *snicker*
so not sure if you'd want to edit your last post or not but yeah XD figured I'd point that out :T
then again, you'd think SHE would remember HIM
THough I guess it'd be understandable they'd both have mental hiccups considering what has happened XD
-------------

Katahnia's smile faltered as he tried to point out she was a hero.
"I wasn't betrothed, though I probably would have married that fool.." her smile became sad as she cast her eyes upon the ground. "And my child.." a breath caught in her throat, at the pain of having to abandon her for suhc a mission, it actually drawing some tears to her eyes.
"BUt yes.. I have given up a lot. More than you can ever know." Though perhaps he did? It was a shame most of her former kingdom's history had been snuffed out and barely mentioned or even recalled to anyone, even the noble families she had once befriended in that time long ago.

Though at his last statement, her green eyes then lifted to his, and they were still wavering with tears.
"No family? You haven't even a wife or child of your own?" He seemed well past marrying age, you know... considering his station.

ooc: It was intentional. He remembers who she is, but won't say it. He's funny like that. I wanted to see if her player would pick up on that without my spelling it out. LOL

ic:

Uh oh. He'd said something wrong. She looked about ready to cry. Conall felt slightly rotten, "Apologies. I ought to think my words through more carefully. I didn't mean to upset you ,but I mean..."

He blinked at her question and nodded, "No. No family. I am alone, but I am used to it by now. Much of what I have lost was lost a long time ago. I have had ample time to mourn. Were it not for the war, I probably would have married someone." Perhaps. There was no short list of potential brides, but very few actually were appealing. He had no grand expectations. No plan to find a fairytale romance or the "perfect wife" , but he wasn't going to just settle either. Ardal needed a strong leadership and were something to happen to him, his wife would rule in his stead....OR there would be a steward. And likely not one of his choosing. There'd be a fight over his seat and that was something the duchy didn't need .

"My line is nearly broken, you see. So I had to be careful with whom I chose to marry. I had to weed out the undesirables , the families with less than noble agendas. If I were to die before I produced an heir or that heir became of age, my wife would rule in my stead. I had to make sure that whomever I married was competent enough and cares enough about my country to be trusted with something so important. That was...a little impossible for me to focus on at the time. "

Although, at this rate, who knew when this madness would end? He wasn't getting any younger. He'd have to marry soon if there was any hope of preserving House Shanley at all.

He sighed, "But that is an excuse. Somewhat logical but just an excuse. The truth is, that I was- I am afraid. "

OOC: Her rper is slow pfff
plus I assumed YOU made a typo when you did not XD nyaaah
---------------

Katahnia smiled towards him, tears slowly beginning to subside.
"Marriage is a dangerous game, especially if you are a man of means.." then she began to think back to it.. a certain ball, a certain location...
but she shook it off. Surely it couldn't have been... what had his name been? Where had he been from again? The duke who had been so smitten with Kella the last and first ball Kella were ever to properly attend? Now who knew what had become of her cousin- some says she had been kidnapped, others, run away... Blaith...

Even she feared her cousin. Something had become wrong with him. Had he killed her?
This whole place was messed up. She stared down, feeling the tears returned as she used a hand to brush them away, keeping her face averted of his so he wouldn't see. There was no need for more apologies that were not due.

"Political ones, indeed." He felt his body tremble with physical strain and masked his pain quite well. Years of practice made it seem as though there were hardly a thing wrong, but his eyes subtly hinted at his suffering which he often silenced. He eased himself back down, resting his head on the ground. "The women I actually liked were out of my reach, unfortunately. Such is the way of things, I suppose." He closed his eyes and added, "Your pardon, I...think I've tired myself out."

He lay there quietly , and left alone long enough he'd drift off to sleep again.

When he woke again, it was night. His body felt sore and weak but he was feeling better than earlier that day. Idly, he wondered if Katahnia had tried to use magic again.

ooc: I'll let you decide if she's sleeping or not. 

When he'd awaken, Katahnia would be no where in sight. As he slumbered, she had attempted to heal him again, but grew frustrated when she believed it hadn't worked..
but still.. it appeared as if he had slept better because of it.
But she, despite feeling tired herself, could not sleep, and while he slept, she tended to the fire, and eventually, began to make rounds around the castle, keeping her eyes and ears open to every sight and every sound. Every shadow could be something, every faint glimmer in the snow..
but she knew as soon as they were well enough, they'd have to leave this place for good.

Looking around, he discovered that Katahnia wasn't there. He wasn't worried though. She was likely somewhere inside, possibly exploring the castle or . There wasn't a whole lot to do here other than chatter and he'd been a horrible , unconscious conversationalist.

He sat there quietly and sighed, reaching for the bowl of water she'd been kind enough to leave him . He drank deeply, a little water spilling down his jaw and streaming down his long beard. When he was finished, he picked himself up and found his bow resting by the fire and slung it and the quiver over his shoulder and left the room.

He wandered the castle at a lazy , unhurried pace. He was looking for her. Just to ascertain that all was well. It took some time, but he found her on the second floor in a room that appeared to look as though it might have belonged to children. He carefully stepped around an upturned crib and stepped on a stuffed bear that let out a loud, somewhat obnoxious squeak under his boot.

"Whoops..." He bent to pick it up and stared at it as though he'd never seen one before in his life. It was the weirdest toy for a child he'd ever seen, but perhaps his father had been the odd one, insisting that EVERYTHING be something related to horses or weapons. Even for his sisters. Yeah. He was beginning to suspect it was father who was weird...

"Er...pardon, " she had her back to him , "Katahnia? "

Katahnia smiled, though she barely turned his way when he spoke her name.

"It seemed a family once lived here," she spoke, her words careful and soft, almost solemn as she drew in a careful breath, eyes glancing to the wall where a family portrait once stood, but was now covered in ice, which had distorted most of the paints on what had once been a beautiful painting. The family evne looked beautiful, lovely blonde hair and green eyes- almost like her own.

She had recalled that fateful morning, it had been like any other day before they were suddenly attacked. She had been singing and dancing wtih her mother, enjoying some afternoon tea, and was about ready to help with the chores when the flamed arrows came...
and there had been so much blood....

Before the moon had risen, the entire town had been destroyed, and she, dragged down into the basement of the castle where she used her last bits of strength to guard herself away into a crystal prison when she had awaken several years later to her home, forgotten,a nd in ruins.
And several decades had passed...

Blinking back a tear, she lowered herself to her knees, a hand idly tracing over the air just above the painting.
"They seemed like a loving family. I wonder what sort of story is behind this place." She hesitated, staring at their faces, so warm and smiling. "I wonder how it happened to fall."

Conall shrugged, "The family may have fled while their soldiers gave their lives . I haven't seen enough remains about to suspect that everyone died here. They were probably besieged by barbarians. Raiders, perhaps? Natives who might have felt these people had no claim to the area. Or ...I find it strange there's a castle here of all places and it appears very...well, the architecture isn't terribly old. It's strangely familiar to me though I cannot place why. Mayhaps I've seen it in a book. Yes, that's probably it. " 

He moved over to one of the closets and opened it, suspecting it to be empty or possibly filled with clothing for young children. Seeing two small skeletons huddled together was certainly not what he expected.  He shut it immediately, slamming it and pressed his back against the door. He wasn't going to tell her about that or perhaps she'd already seen it?  "Just some cobwebs and...spiders. I hate spiders." He lied, keeping his tone smooth, calm but there was a very subtle hint of disturbance and it was particularly apparent in his eyes because he wouldn't look directly at her if she cared to look his way.

"Um...you really ought to rest. I can keep watch. I'm feeling a lot better." Another lie, but this time he did it flawlessly with no hint of nervousness or deception. He wasn't going to tell her that it could be several days before he was feeling any better. She'd probably insist on him resting which....was probably the wise idea ,but he was stubborn , proud and all of this lying around made him feel guilty.

Katahnia kept quiet, not even turning as Conall ventured to the closet. Her eyes were still fixated on the painting before she sighed after a time. She looked weary. She only nodded to what he suggested before turning towards him.
"Yes, perhaps so. But we ought not to linger here much longer. We need our strength and it would do well if we were to rest. Perhaps we can venture out in the morning?"
Since lingering in the tundra was hardly wise, and supplies were quickly getting low.
Oh, what she wouldn't give for a hot bath right about now.

Conall nodded, "I was thinking the same thing. We'll go hunting tomorrow if the weather permits. I know a good place. " He moved over to her and took her by the arm, "But we'll speak more of that in the morning. You're coming with me. Now. You need to sleep." He was hardly the sort to be so commanding , but he could see that she was pushing her limits even more than he was pushing his.

"If you're having trouble sleeping I could tell you a bedtime story or sing you a lullaby. " That was meant as humor. Stories he knew , but singing songs? Well,the only songs he knew were war marching tunes which...he supposed could put people to sleep? "Or I could just talk about myself..." He chuckled, "That usually puts everyone to sleep. " Firmly yet gently, he guided her away back to their sleeping area and only released her when they were near the fire once more.

He turned away, his back facing her and grimaced, his muscles tensing with pain. He felt feverish and nauseated but he managed to compose himself before moving to sit down on his makeshift bed.

Katahnia had been quiet during the time he helped her back to their sleeping quarters. She felt weak and tired, but not too tired not to make a playful jab about a bed time story, or a song. Once she was seated in the bedding, she sighed,exhausted, before looking up at him.

"Come, I'll tend to the fire before we rest. We'll have a long day ahead of us if we wish to leave this place."
She shivered, white puffs came fluttering out from her lips as she looked around the place.
"As beautiful as it is here, I don't think I'll miss it one bit." ANd she smiled over at Conall.
Then, a mean, but playful grin graced her lips as she looked him over.
"So what sort of stories do you have about yourself, my duke?" she said, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "I'm sure you have all sorts of adventurous tales in which to share."

He laughed. Oh. Wait. She was serious?

He knew he shouldn't have said anything. Now he might actually have to make good on one or the other. Well, better a story than a song, he supposed.

"Adventurous? " He laughed heartily and it hurt him to do so , but oddly it was an unpleasantly pleasant sort of pain. He shook his head when his humor had subsided just enough, "Well, I don't know about that. I thought I offered to put you asleep or do boring stories keep you awake at night? Be that the case, I ought hold my tongue and spare you of such a cruelty. "He kept his inflection so serious that he might have fooled her, were it not for the twinkle of humor in his eyes.

He frowned, "Although I'm curious to know what makes you imagine that anything about me or around me could be described as such? "

Kathania laughed.
"Well, for starters, you and I are stuck hopelessly in some abandoned Hyoite castle left for dead." ANd she tilted her head, raised her brows at him and smiled enough to almost show her teeth. Then she gave a shrug, seeing if he had a good retort to that.

"Ah. You got me there," He admitted, "Although my reason for being here involved an empty stomach and an elusive hare..." Hm. Well, he supposed THAT could count as an adventure of sorts. Mother used to say that life itself was adventure never-ending. Be that the case, he always had wanted to exchange his crappy adventures for something more...well, something that was actually exhilarating and fun. Weren't adventures supposed to be like that? Fun? The type one actually wanted to share with their loved ones when they grew wrinkled. The sort one could look back on and laugh about then say, "Ah yes. THOSE were the days..."

He couldn't rightfully say that he was ever going to look back on being betrayed, tortured, exiled, starved, lost and alone as the type of story that any child would delight in hearing. No. His tale was somewhat dark....

"I suppose I have one I could humor you with. Since you like Allarick so much, I could tell you about the time I challenged him to an archery match. It's not a terribly exciting tale, I fear." But he was smiling because no, it wasn't exciting but it was funny.

To him.

"Oh?" Katahnia raised her brows. "Who ever said I was found of such a man?" Katahnia teased, but nestled herself down into the blankets for the story. "Go on." she said, tucking back her smile, but it was still glittering in her eyes.
"Entice me with your glorious archery tale of you, versus the illustrious Grand Duke of Connlaoth."

"This was long before that, " Conall replied with a grin, "It was before I was duke even. I was ....sixteen or seventeen and Allarick was paying a visit to Ardal for my father's birthday. It was merely a courtesy visit to maintain plesant relations with the neighboring duchies, of course . Allar and Ardal have....always had tentative relations because we're so...different. Ah, but I digress. " He paused and waved a hand to dismiss his own ramblings, " Where was I ? Right. My father loved to throw grand parties that....involved a lot of uh....rambunctious activities. Most of Northerners with a few exceptions had refused , claiming that such festivities were vulgar and barbaric, but that was my father. "He chuckled. "He liked his beers, his ales, his whiskey and rum. He liked his bonfires and circle group dances and drunken singing , and contests..."

The moment the archery contest was announced and Allarick had stepped up to present himself as a contestant, Conall did as well. Conall always participated in such events. Archery was a strong point of his, but  Calent's participation certainly had fueled his motivations for competing so eagerly. Calent was so good at many things that Conall was, well, quite average in and Conall wouldn't have been bothered were it not for the fact that Calent liked to rub Shanley's nose in how much better he was.

Someone had to drag that stuffy Allarian off of his high-horse. And Conall was determined to humble him somewhat by defeating the snobby young Lord at something he knew he was very good at.

Participating in the contest were dozens other men.

However, one young lady about Conall's age took the spot beside him with a bow in hand.

"Aislin ? What are you doing?" Conall asked his frizzy-haired companion. She was a rural lass, a farmer's daughter and in most circles she had no place here but she also happened to be the daughter of his father's horse keeper and this was among one of the most honored of positions a commoner could have in Ardal because horses were so important to the people...

So the other nobles had to tolerate her company. Of course, she was made to dress...decently but her clothing was not a flowy dress. The Ardalir were very traditional wearing leather, furs and wool or simple light cotton vestments ...whatever was practical for the climate.

Aislin grinned, "What does it look like I'm doing, hay-for-brains? I'm competing.

"Don't be absurd," a voice on Conall's right replied cooly, "women are not allowed to compete."

"Ho?Will you get a load of Mister Fancy-Pants?" Aislin laughed. "No women, says he! Ha! What's the matter , prissy boy? Afraid I'll out-shoot the both of ye?"

Conall shook his head and chuckling he said, " Oh she's fine.  I really wouldn't call her a lady. " 

"Conall!" Aislin said sharply, "You watch your mouth, boy or I'm tellin' yer ma. That's NO way to speak to a girl and I AM a girl even if you're too BLIND to notice that! It's a wonder they're lettin' ye compete!"

Conall made a face at her, "I'm not afraid of her. "

"Oh please, you hide every time she shouts your full name with THE VOICE."

In their banter, Calent was completely ignored. He probably had rolled his eyes or muttered something snobbish, as he always did. Or just suffered them in silence.

"Oi! Aislin, darlin'! What are ya doin'!?" Ainemire Shanley, Lord of Ardal and the judge of this competition came stomping over to the archer's line.

"I'm competing, sir. " Aislin declared proudly, puffing out her very narrow and very flat sixteen-year old chest.

"Ach! Ye silly wildflower! " Ainemire considered the rebellious lass like a second daughter. Which mean she got away with a LOT. Quite frequently. More than any of his blood. Especially the male children. It wasn't fair sometimes.

"Ha! Hear that, Fany-pants? I'm competin'! " She did performed the most ridiculous but graceful little jig in her spot.

"Just try to go easy on them , girl, "Ainmire said sternly but with a huge grin splitting his great, long red beard.

Aislin saluted, "Yes sir! You have me word!" And then she pulled a face at Conall. "Ready to cry, Connie?"

"Stop calling me that!"

"Connie! " She grinned wickedly at him and she'd probably say that embarrassing nickname fifty million times or until he went crazy.

Calent made a comment about how children shouldn't be allowed to blah blah...Conall rolled his eyes. What a killjoy.

Now came the time for silence as , one by one, each contestant took aim and shot their targets one by one. Calent, of course, got a perfect hit on his. Now it was his turn and he took a deep breath and raised his bow...and fell deep into focus. He was confident in his skill and he knew that his arrow would strike true....

But what he didn't expect was for Aislin to mock sneeze. The sound startled him when it shouldn't have and he gave a start and the arrow went flying....

And....everyone watched it soar high . WAY above and WAY PAST its target. It hit a candle that hung above and toppled it down into ....

Lady Driscoll's ridiculously tall bee hive hair styled which, at first, didn't seem so bad until...

somehow, her hair caught on FIRE. And the plump , snooty noblewoman leaped up from her seat and gave a squeal. Her equally plump and piggish husband also leaped up with her in unison and tried to put out the flames with her fan, not realizing that fanning the flames was only fueling the burn.

And Conall stood there , staring in disbelief.

"Nice shot, "Calent remarked, flatly.

Aislin was laughing. SO was his father.

And his mother rose from her seat and she did NOT look happy. What? Why was she glaring at HIM!?

"Conall Shanley! "

Conall flinched visibly. His mother was scary when angry but oh no! He was NOT taking any blame for Lady Driscoll's hair THIS time! He pointed at Aislin. "It was HER! She broke my concentration!"

And his friend adopted a very innocent look, appearing as adorable as a young girl with rosy cheeks, dimples, freckles and wild frizzy red hair could. And damn those big green doe-like eyes of hers and those PERFECT white teeth.

Of COURSE mother was on HER side and bought it. "Ah haven't the foggiest o' ideas about what he's talkin' about Mrs. S. All I did was sneeze. Not me fault if he losses his groove so easily. " The farm girl shrugged and then grinned. It was , to Conall, a very EVIL grin.

"ON PURPOSE!" Conall protested."Mother, she's lying through her-"

"We will discuss this after dinner, young man."

Why was it always dead silence when mother spoke? It was like Ansgar himself had silenced the world so she could speak and sound so scary and authoritative.

"Oh and for the love of pete, will SOMEONE please put out Lady Driscoll's flaming hair?" Lady Shanley collapsed back in her seat and sighed.

"I'll do it!" A young Tinstall volunteered and ,without hesitation, he slapped the wig off the woman's head, and stamped on it.

Lady Driscoll wailed and claimed her ruined wig.

Aislin giggled and Conall glared at her.

Their friendship was so over. Again. For like the a three hundredth  and thirty seventh time since it had ever been forged. 

Tale of misadventure concluded, Conall sat back , reflecting on how many times he'd terrorized Lady Driscoll and her poor, but very durable wig.

Katahnia chuckled, laughing even to the point she had snorted through her nose.
"Gods... Tinstall.."s he shook her head.. her eyes shining with tears that she moved a hand to wipe away. And it was only in that moment her face fell in recollection as she turned suddenly to Duke Shanley.
And the name.. the face, albeit a bit hairy, finally all clicked into place as she gasped, her entire face paling.

"YOU! Your-Your..." and her lips fell open, gaping like a fish. "Your Duke Shanley!" And she spoke as she finally got it.
"You were there at the night.. at the b-ball when.." her eyes wavered as she shook her head.
And then she was laughing, tossing her head back. "Gods, now I feel terrible for not recognizigin you." Then she peered over at the scruffed and frizzled beard he now dawned.
"Though to be fair, no one would recognize you now looking like that." ANd she chuckled, but thenr ealized her rudeness and shook her head, "That is to say.. you look positively like some sorto f wild mountain man that I would ont have considered you were the Duke Shanley I met those so many years ago."
She shook her head, peering into his face. "Gods.. it's been so long since then."

"I am indeed, "Conall smiled and offered a slight but courtly bow, " You're right and I take no offense. I was...much better looking back then. " He was not a conceited man, but it WAS true. "I sort of let myself go out here....just a little." A little was quite the understatement, but it wasn't as though he had the means or tools to maintain his old, clean and meticulously groomed self. He had fabulous hair once and a fabulous beard. He missed that. Just a bit.

"You do remember me then? " He was pleased and it showed in his grin, "I thought that might not be..." He shook his head, "It's quite alright, I didn't even recognize you at first either. You were..." He went quiet for a bit and then shook his head again and continued, " It was when you feeling better and you uh...this might sound a little odd, but your laugh triggered my memory. " He shrugged. "Despite your injuries, you look as radiant as ever, m'lady. "

Well, it was the truth! She looked great and he looked....

Wild man was such a tame and kind way of putting things.

"It is curious that we should meet again and here of all places, don't you think?"

"Well, I should think it would be curious to meet anyone here of all places!" Katahnia spoke, but the words came out louder than she had intended, though she had been fighting off her gaping expression this entire time (and a burning blush, as well). Her eyes were still wide in disbelief as she shook her head. "I am just sorry that it had been so. I rather enjoyed your company at the ball. It's a pity the world seems to have turned into a variable of hell." And she sighed, looking down at the crackling flames of the fire.
"To think... so much has happened..." She pressed her lips together, uncertain if she ought to tell him, but figured he'd eventually ask. "Blaith... my cousin he... something has become of him, and I fear my cousin Kella might be lost. I have no idea where she has gone, if she .. she hasn't already been killed in this mess, but Blaith has never been himself since that night at the party."

She enjoyed my company? He elevated a brow.

He went quiet though when she spoke of the Turgalls.

"I know- well, I sensed something was...off. I was never welcome in Turgall after that , but I don't understand why. I don't think I did anything to offend them. But Lord Turgall seems to...have had this irrational hatred towards me ever since. I've tried to make amends , but I might as well try making an alliance with Allarick instead." Something that seemed far more likely than quelling whatever demon had possessed Lord Turgall.

He ran a hand through his long red beard whose length and thickness now rivaled that of his late father. Except his did not look anywhere near as impressive. He licked his chapped lips nervously. Of course he had been concerned for Kella, but he was sure that she was fine at least. "He wouldn't hurt her, " and he was sure he knew that, but he truly had no idea what was wrong. Had he known, he would have been horrified. "He might be keeping her hidden for...some reason. " Though he couldn't imagine why.

"I meant to go back....and see you- er all of you, that is. I was worried, but I was swept up in- well, you might have heard what happened in the South. I really shouldn't have been at that party....I was in the middle of negotiating a cease-fire  agreement between the Obsidian Mantle and the Order of the Shield- oh, forgive me. These groups are...not familiar to you, perhaps? "

Katahnia forced herself to smile.
"I wish I could believe that. I do not know what has become of my cousin, but he's turned into a different man. I fear the worst. Perhaps some sort of psychotic break, but it doens't look good." She shuffled uneasily, not wanting to mention she too, had almost suffered under the same circumstances that had driven Kella away. The way Blaith had looked at her, tried to touch her... Gods...
She blinked back a few tears, repressing the memory. It still made her skin crawl to this day. And she found herself releasing a breath she didn't know she had held. And for it, she was only half listening to him. She shook her head.
"I only know the bare minimum of such talk.. I.. I am sorry." She lowered her gaze to the floor, sighing.

"Ansgar's breath, " Conall couldn't imagine the extend of the man's madness ,but he'd seen glimpses of it and it reminded him of- it was familiar but....it was hard to match Blaith with such a frightening mood. But, he supposed  , he couldn't know. He had never really known Lord Turgall at all. "But..."

He stopped himself and nodded, thinking of his uncle. Of the way the man had just...gone from being one of the only adults in his youth whom he thought he could confide in. A man who seemed gentle and understanding.....turn in a single night....

and slaughter everyone who supposedly meant "everything to him". His uncle had been insane. He told himself that. It was the only thing that gave him comfort because he couldn't accept that the man had pretended to care and actually believed and took delight in mass murder.

But what drove men like Lord Turgall and Corridon to just snap like that? To turn against the people they loved and destroy them?

Had Kella been hurt? Katahnia seemed certain. Had Katahnia? Maybe there were things she knew left unspoken? He looked over at her and moved closer."Nevermind that." He meant about the Mantle and the Shield. That was a conversation for another time. He hesitated a moment and....put an arm around her and drew her into a comforting hug . Something he'd rarely done.

When Conall's arms came around her, she flinched back out of instinct, and perhaps for more reasons than she had shown and looked up at his eyes, fear and uncertainty wavering in her before she flushed, embarrassedly and down cast her gaze.

"I er.. I'm s-sorry, Duke Shanely, I... er.." and she only smiled then, though it was an uneasy one as she looked up at him sheepishly. "I.. the embrace it was. er.. that is to say, I was taken off guard." And hse lowered her gaze one more, tucking in her lower lip beneath her top teeth. Drawing in a breath after she composed herself, she gave a more genuine smile this time as she looked up at him.

"You.. you were telling me a story, I believe?" she said, raising her brows, and hoping changing hte subject would get the awkwardness to subside.

Her reaction was not what he anticipated. It reminded him, strangely, of Kella who had reminded him of an abused puppy a little. He frowned , appearing concerned. Was she afraid of him? Or did she think he was trying to...? And he certainly wasn't trying to do THAT. He blinked, thinking. "Apologies. I thought- you looked like you could have used one. I've seen other people...embrace. I don't engage in such things that involve this manner of contact often. I might have- well, sometimes my grip is rather firm. I must have squeezed too hard."

That made sense to him. He wasn't practiced with such things.

She changed the subject and he turned away from her with a grave expression on his face which also translated to his tone, " Another story? Hrm. I don't know if you're worthy of TWO stories in a single evening. Frankly, I think you owe me one now. It's only fair.  "

She wanted to protest his words, but truthfully, she had needed the hug, but was so jarred from the last assault the men had done unto her... such cruel and unspeakable things that, it had all but made her forget there had been another time when men could be nice. ANd men could be sweet. ANd men could be just as caring as Duke Shanley.

She didn't want to admit it, and for the longest time, had denied it, but she did posses some string of emotions towards the Duke who was so very close to her right now. Yes.. it was strange indeed that hte pair of them find themselves in such a situation together. The only other person she might have wished to endure this with, was Cauwyn. And even those memories made her flinch at her feelings she had been harboring for Duke SHanley, and for Cauwyn's memory, she tucked them away.

Gods, he still didn't know she had been with child.. that they had a daughter..
was he even alive?

So when the conversation came back to her, she kept her eyes down cast.

"I'm afraid no happy stories come to mind." And she forced herself to smile. But only a little. "Perhaps we ought to call it a night? I am dreadfully tired."

"As you wish," Conall moved away from her and moved collapsed into his bedroll, he lay on his side with his back facing her , " Goodnight, Miss Harmond,"he closed his eyes and sleep found him easily. In truth, he'd been exhausted and was somewhat grateful that she let him off the hook with storytelling even if the night had ended on a somber note.

Sleep was fitful only because his condition wasn't forgiving. He slept an hour, he woke and in pain. He was quiet about it even though there were moments that, in such a weakened and agonizing state, he wanted to cry or scream. He had as a child. All the time. He wasn't sure at what point he learned to internalize everything. Perhaps that had been part of mother's training him to mask emotions as every noble should....

But now he didn't wish to wake Kahtania because it would have been cruel. She couldn't do anything for him and that would probably bother her.

He would lie there , just staring feverishly at the ceiling and waiting for the pain to subside before drifting off to sleep.

When morning came, he'd had maybe four hours of sleep at the most, maybe less. He was awake before she was and he looked tired, but he was up and packing his things in silence. He hadn't noticed that she was awake yet, busy rolling up his sleeping bag and pulling his pack onto his back. He's prepare one of the horses he'd managed to calm and coax inside with the few apples he'd found in the mercenary's bags.

He was about to leave the room and let Katahnia sleep in when he heard her stirring and  he half-turned to find her sitting up. "Morning." He said with a tired smile. "I was just getting everything ready." He explained.

Katahnia was surprised when she had awoken, Conall was already ready and rearing to go. And she felt like lead, she was still so tired, not being used to such a cold environment was taking a toll on her.
So at his words, she simply nodded and began to clean up her area, sighing as she stared at the fire that they would have to snuff out soon.

"I suppose we'll have to travel south, for North I'd fear it'd only be colder, and I doubt we'd find much more civilizations livelier than this." And she gestured around to the deserted castle, giving one last glimpse up towards the chandelier she had been bound. She bit her teeth into her lower lip,  repressing a sigh, that she did anyways when she looked back to Conall. "I suppose now is as good a time as any. What all needs to be packed before we can head out? It seems you've done a lot of the work yourself."

Noting the weariness in her expression, Conall had second thoughts about leaving for a moment, but he shook his head, freeing his mind of the idea. They weren't going to find any decent supplies up here, " All you need is yourself and your bed roll. I took the liberty of packing the rest myself." He held something in his hand and tossed it lightly to her, "Catch." She either did or it hit the floor and he added, "For the road." It was an apple. "Just don't show it to the horses. They've already had theirs today." 

And that was another thing to be concerned about. There were three horses and two people. The third horse would have to be left behind or...

There was also a concern for the lack of feed. One way or the other, all three of them weren't going to last long. The mercenaries hadn't packed enough and likely because they weren't expecting to be here indefinitely.

"I found a map inside one of the packs of your deceased would-be executioners, " He informed her, "it details the Southern half of Hyoite and Northern Connlaoth. They were even kind enough to mark out the castle's location. However, I need to take a detour down the eastern side of the mountain here and make a stop home- er at the place that I was living in momentarily. I have some things there that I think will be quite useful to me. They're necessary for proving who I am. "

He waited while she packed her things, " One more thing, Miss Harmond. You cannot keep calling me Duke Shanley , lord, your grace or any other title that implies my noble heritage. Not even here in Hyoite. There are eyes and ears in places that even I couldn't imagine. When we step out of this castle, I'm Conall from that moment forth until I am prepared to reclaim Ardal."

Katahnia grabbed the apple, blinking as she looked down at it, then smirked over at him, clearly impressed. But then as he went on, informing her of what he'd like to do, she nodded her head. "There are some places we ought to be wary of on our way down south. I know... the mage camps reside just due south of here, but not all locations are known. There were quite a number of people taken up this way." She sighed. But then as he went on about his name sake, she grinned.

"And I suppose it doesn't matter what you call me, though if this were another place or time, I might be demanding that you do the same. For now, it doesn't matter. The Connlaothians have their own name for me." And she gave a roll of her eyes and moved away from him as she studied the trio of horses. "Looks like we've got plenty of horses, though we'll have to tether the extra one to one of ours."
ANd as she turned away from the horses, she began to crunch into the apple. It tasted sweet. Cold, but sweet, and was definitely something she needed right now. She was famished.

"I wonder if they're located near the mines I was sent to," Conall pondered aloud at her mention of the mage camps. He said no more on the matter. There was a place he wanted to avoid because they'd kill him on sight because his escape meant they were going to soon find themselves in hot water with the Grand Duke if and when the man learned that Conall was no longer there and was alive.

"I'll try to make an effort to be a bit less formal. I'll just call you Katahnia. That would be the informal way of addressing you, correct? " He shrugged at the mention of what other 'Connlaothians' called her. "For a moment you made it sound like you're not one of us. Though of late, I cannot say that I don't blame you." He afforded her a sympathetic look and then turned from her and went over to the horses.

"I'll have to think of what to do with the extra eventually. Traveling would be a bit slowed and I hardly have enough to sustain two horses and two people..."

Maybe the camps would have supplies...

Or they might luck out and find natives to trade with? A horse or two would fetch a rather fine price and these horses were quite hearty beasts.

He let the chestnut steed sniff his hand and nuzzle it before he obliged the creature, petting it. "You remind me of home a little." He told the horse who merely stared back at him. He gave the beast a gentle pat and then tethered her twin to her. He gestured to the other horse, "That one is the least feisty.He's a bit of a...well, a little more pig than horse though so I'd finish that apple before getting anywhere near him. "

The stallion's head shot up so suddenly and its head whipped around to look directly at Conall. It was...almost a little eerie and all-too-human.  The beast let out a snort (that ,to Conall, sounded awfully close to a sound of indignation) and then resumed being an oblivious horse. Or so it seemed.

Conall began loading the horse that was tethered to his with what he'd managed to scrounge up from the dead men, from the castle . It wasn't much, but it would sustain them for a few days more. When he was finished, he turned to see if she was ready.

Katahnia chuckled as she ate her apple. "I had a horse like him," she said, admiring the stallion as she dared to get near it, apple in hand. "He had a bit of an attitude, though not really towards me. Towards my er.. friend," she said, hesitating over the phrasing on what to call Cauwyn now. It seemed improper to say lover, but that's what he was.

As Katahnia continued munching on her apple, the stallion kept his eyes upon it, and just as Katahnia was sinking her teeth in for another bite, the horse moved forward, trotting a few feet before it moved it's mouth forward and bit the apple clean out from Katahnia's mouth.

Katahnia only stared in wide eyed shock as the horse gave a few happy whinnies to let her know he was quite pleased with his newly acquired meal. Blinking, Katahnia's lips twitched into a smile until she began to laugh. "I see what you mean! He's quite the audacious one, isn't he?" SHe wrinkled her nose at the horse, petting his long nose and cooed playfully at him as she smiled.
"Well, I suppose there went breakfast," she said witha  shrug. "Are we ready to head off soon? It's wise we travel in daylight. It will offer us some semblance of heat."

"I don't think you should..."Conall started to warn her. He saw the apple, he saw the horse and he saw the gleam in its eye and knew what fate would befall the apple.

It never stood a chance. The stallion moved in and snatched it away from the woman like an expertly schooled thief. Well, the silly beast belonged to vagabonds. It was little wonder where it had picked up its naughty behavior.

Conall stifled his laughter with a gloved hand and shook his head.It was a quiet sound, possibly not noticeable. Mother had taught him to repress obnoxious outbursts of mirth. It took him but a moment to compose himself, "Audacious, indeed, " he shook his head at her cooing, " and you really ought naught encourage him. He's also a tad bit clever for his own good."

The stallion seemed to stand a little taller and looked QUITE pleased with himself. He was beaming, in fact.

Indeed. That horse was FAR too intelligent for its own good.

At her words concerning traveling, the duke of Ardal nodded, " That was the plan." He turned away and went over to the chestnut horse though as he proceeded to pull himself up into the saddle ,he paused and looked over at her , "Oh. Uh...I suppose you might need some assistance with mounting?"

ooc: *tries to not think immature thoughts* 

Katahnia gave the horse a playful glare, before actually mounting that stallion with no effort at all. She grinned back to Conall even putting her nose up to the air before stating, "I think I can manage on my own."A nd with a gentle kick to the horse's side, she made him trot in full circles around the duke.

"Last one to that broken pine tree finds our next meal?" she offered, then wtih a wicked grin she gave an even harder kick to her horse's side, and the stallion beneath her let out a noise and stormed across the snowy tundra, kicking up snow into Conall's face as Katahnia's laughter echoed behind her in the valley.

ooc: It should be "Ice-cold Chandelier" omg... you better change it because that comma seriously annoys me. I WILL POKE OUT YOUR EYES!

ic:

Conall pulled himself into the saddle with a little more difficulty, but given his physical condition it was understandable. He did his best to make it seem casual rather than a strain. Settling into the saddle, he caught a glance of the look she gave him and looked down at his own horse when she made circles around them.

He tilted his head slightly and elevated a brow at her challenge. Oh? A race?  He was prepared to accept and confident that he would win but then....she just took off!. "Ahck!" If he wasn't awake before, he was certainly awake now! He lifted his arms to shield his eyes from the blast of snow that was kicked up in his face. "Hey!  You can't do that! That's cheating!" He called after her, trying not to laugh. Really, the audacity of this woman...

He looked down,"Can you believe her?" He asked the mare beneath him who seemed to roll her eyes at him and then snorted. "W-woah! I – Hey!" He clutched tightly to the reigns, sensing the beast's muscles tense beneath him.

Uh oh. She was going to charge! "No! Wait a moment...woah!"

The mare shot forward, galloping after the stallion. She had an extremely competitive nature and she was NOT going to be shown up! Unfortunately for her rider, she didn't exactly care if he managed to remain on the saddle or not.

The horse tethered to the mare slowed her down, but only a bit. She'd drag her companion if she had to!

Maybe he should have given Katahnia THIS horse instead!

As the two continued their race, and Katahnia and her stallion neared the broken pine off to the other end of the valley, she turned around to smile back at Conall with a laugh, one that echoed across the valley and alerted a few eyes that now watched them from the shadows...

OOC:
YOU GET A SHORT POST FOR THAT COMMENT DX

also I have no idea what shadowy eyes are watching them... BUT THERE BE EYES! *shakes fist*

He caught up to her moments later and pulled his mare abreast of her and shot a mock-glare of disapproval as she sat there grinning, likely basking in the glory of her ill-earned victory. "Since I happen to be a gentleman, I will graciously concede defeat despite your cheeky tactics. However, the next time you shant be so lucky." He said with good humor, challenge flickering in his green eyes.

His mare snorted, glaring daggers at the stallion. She had lost! She would never forgive him! She was the fastest horse in all the...blah blah blah...

"Who said anything about cheeky tactics? It's not my fault you're a slower rider," Katahnia taunted as she turned her stallion around and began to trot off, the horse giving an extra rise in each step it took, it's tail lifted it a bit higher, and even it's chin was raised an inch or two higher than was necessary.

"Slow?" Conall pulled a face at her back and he made an odd sound that wasn't commonly heard in public but it was something he'd picked up from his childhood partner in crime. , "Pffffff. Hardly, I was close. I would have won , but...I let you have this small victory because it was the gentlemanly thing to do even if you DID cheat."

The mare he was riding snorted and rolled her eyes comically. Conall nudged her gently in the side with his boot. Silly beast!

He urged his mare forward at an unhurried pace, trotting along a fair ways behind her, "So , you know where you're going?" He grinned.  At the very least, she'd heard him mention that he wished to travel down the eastern side of the mountains. From there, however, he doubted that she'd know where to find anything else. He was no expect tracker but he'd spent enough time in the area that he could find his way back the way he'd originally come from .   

"All I know is we need to head south," she replied simply, the stallion still taking light, playful steps inside the snow, tail still raised high, and well, so was his chin. "And get as far away from these frigid, cold mountains!" Katahnia then added with a shiver before smiling over her shoulder back to Conall.
"Why do you ask? Are you saying you'd like to lead?" and her tone was quite teasing as she pressed her boots into the side of her horse, urging him to move even faster.

"Not so much my wanting, but rather that I should," Conall replied in earnest. He shrugged, "Of course , it would be refreshing to allow someone else the honor. I'm perfectly comfortable back here, thank you. "

Once they reached the foot of the mountain, he could take point. 

He didn't mind watching her behind back. Nope. Not at all. It was a gentlemanly thing to do! You know, just in case wild beasts or savages were to attack or something!

Katahnia kept her head turned back to him, a grin upon her lips and her horse still trotting with finesse.
"Yes, back there," she began to say, turning around to face forward as she added, "behind a woman." Then she paused to add, "Where you belong."

"It's not such a bad place to be," and whatever else he had on his mind he wouldn't say because it wasn't every gentlemanly! He afforded a glance back over his shoulder at the castle he'd found her in, watching it get smaller and smaller as they made their way down the narrow mountain path that wound its way down and around the mountain.

They passed under some evergreens and Conall stretched his arm out above his head, catching a small pinecone in his hand. He held it in his palm for a moment and then smirked. His thoughts were not very gentlemanly! He threw the pinecone as hard as he could at a snow-laden branch that Kat was passing under. The impact had the desired effect , sending snow cascading down onto her. It wasn't much , but it amused him. Greatly. The pinecone bounced off the branch, bounced off the stallion's rear and hit the snow rolling.

The mare rolled her eyes again and shook her head this time. Her rider, clearly, was an overgrown child.   

Katahnia gasped, as did her horse, when the snow was suddenly avalanching all over them. She pressed her boots against the horse's side, rushing away from the tree's falling snow, before turning hte horse right around and glaring daggers back at Conall. Though she was glaring at him, there was a sparkle of mirth inside her eyes.

"D-Duke Shanley! To think such a man as you would resort to such petty means! Knocking snow onto a poor, unsuspecting woman!" she chastized. "Of course you know what this means?"
And her lips curled at the end as she snatched her own pinecone, and hurled it at the tree above him.

"This means war!"

Adopting the most over-the-top look of innocence (because he knew that she knew he was bs'ing ) , Conall fluttered his eyelashes and replied innocently , " Your pardon, but I haven't the slightest idea what you're insinuating. A gentleman like myself would NEVER commit such acts against a Lady. Clearly, the branch was weighed heavily by snow and you just happened to be passing under it when it chose to unburden itself-"

Lame defense was lame.

His eyes widened when they noted she'd grabbed a pinecone herself. He held up his hands in a gesture to plactate her mock-wrath, "Now, now, Miss Harmond. Let's not resort to violence." But he saw the gleam in her eyes and he narrowed his , "You wouldn't DARE!"

Dare she did. The pinecone went sailing high. It struck a large branch above him, but ....

only a small clump of snow hit his left shoulder. He looked down at it , then back up and over at her and smirked, "Ha! That's it? Well, I suppose you'd better start waving a white flag becau-"

Suddenly the branch gave way, dumping all of the snow it held down onto Conall and the mare. Of course, most of it fell on him and by the time he was done with his snowy shower, his beard was completely white.   

Katahnia was beside herself with laughter, shaking her head at the white beard Conall now possessed. Pressing her weight into the horse's side, she guided the stallion forward as she approached the snow-covered duke with a play grin of arrogance, and even shared a mock expression of false sympathy.
"Aww, the snow has added a lot of years to your face, Conall,"s he teased. "Here, let me help you," ands eh moved to yank a pine cone from a nearby branch and aimed to toss it clean at his beard to knock the silly amount of snow off of it.

Though her aim had the desired affect, the pinecone itself landed in his great wild beard , becoming tangled up in his fiery hair.  " Help me? Indeed! Decorating my facial hair...is this some manner of wild fashion you picked up from Uthlyn? Taking beauty tips from Lady Driscoll , mayhaps?"

Hopefully that wasn't going to be too much of a pain to remove.

Conall grabbed some snow from his shoulder, formed it into a ball and...aimed to throw it at her when something struck him in the back of the head. It was the pinecone Kat had thrown before the one that had nestled itself into his beard. Shortly after it was accompanied by two more.

"War it is!" He threw the snowball at her.

Katahnia let out a scream, and couldn't dodge the snowball fast enough upon horse back as it smashed into her arm, getting puffs of snow in her face. She shook it off, and did the only thing she could think of..
and she grabbed onto the nearby branch of pine tree hanging over top of Conall and shook it WITH FURY so that ALL of the snow on it, (adn even on the branches higher above it) began to let loose snow). And her as her plan worked, some of it back fired as she gasped out when the powdery snow fell and a back draft of the chilling white stuff came her way.

He tried to hold it in, but he couldn't . He laughed at her. At her girly scream. "Ha! You're not so tough or smug now, are you?"

Uh oh! Maybe he shouldn't have insulted her...

but now it was too late!

"It was a just a bit of fun. Have mercy!"

There would be none for him! He knew this as she seized hold of the branch above them and shook it with all the FURY. ALL OF IT!

"Kat- gah! No! You're going to- " He was the first victim to be showered and he gasped. It was COLD! He started to glare at her but then he grinned broadly because she too suffered from her own actions.

Then he did the most mature thing ever. He pointed at her hair (which was now as white as his beard) and laughed. "Nice going, Granny Harmond. "

Katahnia blinked once the pine-tree had already settled and finished releasing it's snow and looked down at her hair. She laughed, but hid it well behind a gasp.

"Duke Shanley, that is hardly appropriate humor for a man or your station!" she lectured, all the while she was gathering the snow upon her shoulders  and balling it up, before throwing it clean at his face with  a broad grin.

Conall ducked in the saddle and pulled a face at her , sticking out his tongue out at her. Not like a gentleman,"Haha! Missed!"

At her words, he gave a hearty laugh," You speak as though that matters out here, " He then grinned almost wolfishly at her and then added, " And YOU are hardly one to talk! Your actions are scarcely becoming of a Lady, Miss Harmond.A lady takes her snow showers with dignity! " He wagged a finger at her scolding , mocking his own mother.

"I'll show you who missed!" and she moved to grab yet another pine cone, and this time, she threw a pine cone at his beard and laughed.

OOC: They're totally like five year olds XD

Another pine cone stuck in his beard, "You are terrible! What are you? Five?" He plucked the freshly acquired pine cone from his beard. It was a tiny thing, a baby. And he threw it back at her ,aiming for her torso.

"And how dare you defile my beard! I'll have you know that doing such is one of the highest forms of treason in Ardal! Honestly, I should have you arrested.Just look at the damage you've caused! This is no way to treat your rescuer!  "

His beard was a disaster without her help. He REALLY needed to cut it someday. It would be painful for him to part with such glorious and manly facial hair but it was a necessary evil to tangle-free hair and the end of split ends. He could let it grow back and then he'd care for it properly...and his beard would be the envy of all Connlaoth....

ooc: They are. x3

Katahnia only laughed as the small pine cone bounced harmlessly away.
"I'd like to see you try. You have no authority out here, snow-beard," she teased, and grabbed another baby pine cone and threw it at his beard again.

He caught the pine-cone deftly in hand and raised a brow at her, "Indeed? I've a feeling it wouldn't make much difference if I had any authority here. You're about as audacious as your equine cohort."

She really was. He hadn't forgotten her behavior the first time he'd met her and he was sure he didn't even have much clue about how bold she was. Full of surprises, this woman.

He shook his head and had a mind to fling her failed missile at her when he noticed something small and feathery dart out across their path some few hundred feet away from where they stood. "Don't move, "he said softly and drew his bow from his back and slid an arrow from the quiver. It looked like he was aiming the bow directly at Katahnia as he nocked the arrow to his bowstring and drew it back tightly. Closing an eye, he lined the sight up with his target ,angling his bow slightly down and to the left of Kat and....he released, letting the arrow fly. It zipped past her shoulder and struck a tree not far behind her. "There's your reward. Lunch."  A small white bird was pinned to the trunk. It was hardly a meal for two. It was hardly a meal for one. He lowered the bow, frowning. "Hm. I suppose I can forage for some roots and herbs..."

When he caught the pine cone she shouted back, "You wouldn't dare!" but when he lifted up the bow and arrow, she went queasy and white, her green eyes widening as he pointed the damn thing clean at her.

"C-Conall. What on earth are you doing? It was just all in good-" And then she screamed as the arrow let loose, sailing mere inches from her shoulder. She was frozen for a moment, heart in her throat when the arrow hadn't sunk into her, and blinked and peered over to where it had hit it's mark as white feathers were beginning to settle back down into the snow.

Her heart was now racing a mile a minute, but she still managed to smile as she tucked back her hair.
"Very impressive, my duke. But you could have given me a heart attack."

Conall stared at her, his expression somewhat disbelieving, "You did not sincerely believe that I was going to shoot you?" After all the trouble he'd gone through saving her life? Surely, she did not think him so mad? He shook his head and offered her a smile, " Apologies for causing you such alarm. I assume my archery horror story led you to believe I'd miss my target?" He teased, " Don't worry. I rarely miss and I'd never harm a lady. "

He dismounted and walked over to the tree. He tore the arrow free from the bark and picked up the slain bird which was slightly larger than his hand could hold. "Cooking, on the other hand, is not my forte."


 

Katahnia dismounted as well, drawing the horse's reins into her hands as she gave a shake of her head.
"One can not be too certain when dealing with a duke in these trying times," she teased and approached him to inspect the catch. "It looks like a very good catch indeed. It would serve well over a dark wine sauce and pota-berry spice. Too bad we have neither." And despite that, she still smiled as she shrugged. "Come on, Conall. Let's travel to a more open field and make a fire and cook this thing. And since you were so skilled with your arrow, I'll take on the responsibilities to see the thing gets cooked well and through."
And with that, she turned from him and began to walk away.
"There's a nice outcropping of boulders over there. Perhaps that would make a good place for a fire?" And she hoped a safe one as she lead her horse onward, only to find herself stepping ontop of something htat made her boots slip. And when she looked down to see what it was, a crusty, frozen hand was jutting out from beneath the snow.

Katahnia's eyes widened as her breath caught within her throat, becomign startled as both she and her horse backed away from it.
"Gods..."s he said, realizing what it was as she placed a hand upon her chest and turned away, shaking her head. "That thing startled me." And she frowned, peering over at it. "It looks.. like a human hand." And although it disturbed her, she was curious as to who just so happened to make their grave out here in the snow. MOving forward, she unburied the thing, and found herself staring back in wide-eyed shock as she recognized the dead and frost-burned face.

"Oh my god.." a hand cupped over her mouth. "It's Mursh."

Conall shouldered his bow and followed after her. When she paused and looked down, he moved to stand beside her . He heard her gasp and looked over his shoulder at her, "What's wrong?" Then his eyes fell upon the frozen hand, but it didn't seem to have the same affect on him. When she went to dig up whomever had died there , Conall started to open his mouth to protest until her efforts revealed a face. The sight  silenced him, sobered him . And when she spoke again he stared at her, "You are acquainted with this poor soul?" He inquired gently.

"He.." Katahnia began softly, still unable to believe it. "He helped me." she frowned. "A lot." Shaking her head, she sighed. "ANd to think, he's died all the way out here." ANd she paused a moment to inspect his clothing, and noticed a mark sewn upon it. She dug her teeth into her lower lip.
"He bares the crest of a mage." Though she knew he himself, was no mage. "Though last I heard, he was heading north to investigate the camps." She sighed. "He must have been taken into them. I could see him claiming to be a mage just to get access." and she shook her head, smiling sadly down upon him. "And to think.. he died all the way out here.."

Conall was silent for a long while, contemplating what Katahnia revealed. Of course, he was familiar with stories like these. In Ardal, the Order of the Shield had employed some extremely questionable tactics. Like zealots, they marched about on a crusade to rid the streets of mages, grabbing them up and "holding them for question". Really, anyone who dared to oppose them became a target of accusation. People vanished and never returned. The Order claimed to have released the "pure" , but Conall had eventually seen through their blatant and fanatical lies.

Resting a chin in his hand and frowning, he knelt down before the dead man and looked up at Kat, "I...am sorry. Perhaps we ought to give him a proper burial?" He offered. He didn't know the man , but he meant something to Katahnia. It seemed cruel to leave the body as it was. 

"I would like that, but what realistic means could we provide?" Kat said. Mursh was also a rather large man, and even between the two of them, he would be difficult to move.
"We haven't the shovels to dig up the earth,a nd what earth there is is covered in many feet of sow." Sighing, she shook her head. "Unless we.... we burn the body, and set his ashes free into the world."

The Duke of Ardal shrugged, "I'd dig a grave with my hands. I've done it before." He replied solemnly, thinking of his family, of Aislin and many more. He sighed, " Though it would be time-consuming. Unfortunately , we shouldn't tarry out here in the open for long. " He stood up and turned to look at her, " He is- was your friend. I'll leave the decision to you."

Katahnia was silent for a long time. She knew they couldn't stay here for long, and had they just continued any other way, they might not have ever found Mursh's body.
"Perhaps.. if we bury him with some... some semblance of a grave, I'd feel better."

"We could take the body with us, " ,Conall suggested, "my cabin isn't far from here and I have tools that I stol- er borrowed from the mines I was imprisoned in. I could wrap the body with a blanket though it'll be a little awkward securing it to the second horse since he's stiff , but it'd be manageable if I were to walk with the horses rather than ride them. "

He held up a hand to quiet her if she had any protest to the idea, "It won't be much trouble. Please, I would like to help."

Katahnia turned to Conall, looking him over in silence for a time before smiling softly and nodding her head.
"Yes, I would very much like that." It wasn't like they weren't heading that way south, anyway. Then she moved to help him wrap the body, and once that was done, she silently whispered a prayer to him and made a marking gesture across her chest before turning to Conall.
"Come, let's get him onto the horse and be out of here."
There was no telling when another round of men might come by to check on her body, only to find her no longer hanging from that damn chandelier...

The body was draped across the saddle of the mare he'd been riding since the horse tethered behind her was already fairly weighed down by their supplies. Conall took the reigns of the mare and walked beside the horse slowly, making certain that the body wouldn't slip off. It wasn't a simple task though he'd used a bit of rope to secure the body in place.

They walked along the flat, icy , almost barren expanse for another hour and a half or so. Conall made small talk on occasion just to break the unbearable silence. One such topic was about his dancing, " I think I've improved, " he was said , sounding almost proud of himself , " people don't run off the dance floor anymore when they see me coming. That's a good thing , right?" He spied a familiar rectangular shape ahead that sat alone just on the edge of some dense woodland that swept up like a comforting blanket along another mountain. "Ah. There. See? I told you it wasn't far from here."

Fifteen to twenty more minutes of walking brought them to their destination. At the edge of the woodland was a small cabin that looked just hardly big enough to comfortably accommodate two people.  To the left there were two flat stone slabs in the ground with crude marks upon them. They were short prayers in Connlaothian though parts of the slabs were hidden by snow and frost.

"I came across this place months ago. The people inside were...they had passed away." He shook his head.

Conall pointed to the trees behind , " I think we ought to tie the horses back there to some trees. The cover will provide a shield them from the wind. " He led her there and the horses were secured before he unpacked everything . The supplies were carried inside the cabin first. Conall returned a second time for Mursh's corpse. With Kahtahnia's assistance, he carried the man over to the graves of the anonymous cabin owners and set down beside them.

"I suppose here would be alright? At least he won't be alone." He turned away and started back for the cabin , " We'll get to that in a moment.  I need to sit for a little while inside.  "

He pushed his way inside and stepped aside to let her in first. The cabin only had two rooms. A main room with hearth and two chairs before it and a small bedroom with a single bed that obviously fit two little old people. But there were a lot of things cluttered about the floor , things Conall had managed to salvage from the places he'd wandered to or been.

"Sorry for the mess. Mind your step, " he told her as he closed the door behind her and carefully stepped over everything to make his way to a chair by the hearth. He sunk back into the seat and sighed . It was quite comfortable. Well, more comfortable than anything he'd felt in days.

He closed his eyes and sighed almost contentedly, "Feels good on these sore bones. Oh...pardon. " He opened his eyes and gestured to the other chair, "Make yourself comfortable. There's a bed in the other room if you wanted to take a nap first."     

Katahnia was exhausted. The walk had been long, and she was still mourning over Mursh's death. Though she had only known him briefly, he had been such a help to her when things had just begun..
when she had become a part of the Free Folk, began to vocalize herself and to reach out to the people, making a name for herself. So as they entered into the cabin, she shivered and removed her gloves, ignoring Conall's suggestion to sit as she worked at tending a fire.
"I'll relax once I get us a fire going. My fingers are freezing," and she went to work, fussing over the flint and hatchet before eventually, after a few quick strikes, he got a flame.
Tending to the fire, she fed it very carefully, letting it grow off of smaller timber and wood chips and dried leaves collected upon the floor in the corners, before gradually adding a few pieces of wood nearby on the floor to get it some girth to it's flames.
Once she was satisfied, she sighed and leaned back, just letting herself rest upon the floor as she sat before the hearth, watching the flames in silence.

He nodded wearily, thinking that he would have made the fire himself if he weren't so weak from his condition, the lack of sleep, of food...

The moment he sunk into that chair, he shed his guise and let his true state show. He looked tired, pained. Yet there was still much for him to do before he could allow sleep to overcome him.

He took a small moment while Katahnia made the fire to gather what little strength he had left in his body before he quietly pulled himself up out of his chair and trudged out the door with a pick and a shovel.

Digging a grave deep enough in this climate took some time. The snow was, thankfully, soft and easy to get through but the soil was hard and had an almost rocky quality to it. It did not yield to him easily, but this did not deter him. He kept digging and hacking at the earth until he stood in a hole that was nearly as tall as he was and double the width.

He was unsure of how long he'd been digging , but by the time he was done it was late afternoon and he felt thoroughly numbed by the cold but not numb enough to feel how sore his muscles were or how hungry he was.

Sighing, he reached up to pull himself out of the hole but halfway up his muscles gave out and he fell backwards, the shovel's head smashing into his nose. He lay there in the grave on his back and staring up above, feeling dazed.

"Ow."

ooc: The least she could do is cook the bloody bird. lulz. Lazy woman!

OOC: Lolz

-----------

And cook the bird she did, as Conall had left (and seeing as there was only enough supplies for one person to dig) she resigned herself to cooking as she had promised, and once all of the feathers were plucked clean from the bird, she basted it in a pot with some snow-water and well..
there was not much of anything else ot provide the meat with any flavor. Placing that over top of the fire, she tucked back her blonde hair and thought she heard something outside.
Stepping out into the snow, her eyes went wide as an arrow was sunk into the door frame, just inches from her nose.
Her eyes went cross and before she knew it, a man stepped out from behind the trees, reloading his cross bow.

"Just stay right where you are, missy," the man said gruffly, and slowly, Katahnia raised her hands in a sign of defeat. Thankfully, it appeared neither noticed the man who had fallen into the grave.... yet.

Knocking the shovel aside with a hand, Conall rose again and tried to pull himself out of the hole again, this time jumping up as he grabbed onto the edge of earth and digging the toe of his boot into frozen soil, hoping that would give him the boost he'd need to get clear.Unfortunately, his strength failed him again and he fell back down with an ,"Oof!" and what he presumed would be a very large bruise on his back (in the next a few days!).   

He stood up again though this time not as quickly and he reached high as he could, waving his hand about above the hole , "Er...Katahania? Could you give me a little help here?"  He called out as loud as he could, completely unaware that his companion was being held at crossbow point by a stranger.

The man with the crossbow yelped and gave a start. Seeing a hand flailing about from beyond the grave, he panicked and he fired at it! "Stay down , you wretched undead abomination!"

Sssshnk! It was a direct hit!

"OH GOD! MY HAND! "

ooc: lol....sad.

Katahnia was just as terrified as the man was, and jumped when the man fired the crossbow, eyes going wide as it sunk into Conall's hand. But while the man was frozen and appalled to hear the 'assumed it was a zombie' screaming in pain, Katahnia wasted no time in grabbing the nearby shovel and nailing the crossbower in the head.
And with a loud clang, the man went down.

Standing there, she tossed the shovel aside with a frustrated groan and turned to Conall, quickly approaching the grave. "Are you alright?" she said, then cringed at the sight of his hand.. and all the blood.

In response, he cried out in anguish because it made him feel better. Just a little.

"I was shot! In the hand! " Conall exclaimed, seeming as though he couldn't believe such a thing were possible. He knew she hadn't shot him, but who had? He didn't think of himself first, "Who shot me? Did you...take care of them ? Are you ...you're not hurt , are you? " He looked up, searching for signs of injury. Well, she at least seemed fine. "At least the bolt went through clean." He held it up to show her his bloody glove.

He held out his other hand, "This is ....embarrassing for me to admit ,but I don't...I cannot- " he blushed , "Could you help me to ...get out of here? I just need a little- if you could just help pull me up, then I'd be grateful. "

"I.. I can see that," she said, smiling despite the situation before frowning and shaking her head.
"There was some man. I.. I don't know if he was one of our enemies but when I opened the door to the cabin he was there, pointing his crossbow at my face. " She gestured over to his fallen body, the one he wouldn't be able to see before she frowned and looked back at him.

"We'll have to get that out and have it treated," she said while gesturing to the bolt sticking out of his hand.  And at his request for her to help him get out, she nodded.
"Yes, here.." and she crouched down, offering out her hand, though as she tried to pull him out, she let out a yelp and  lost her footing, falling clean ontop of him, in the muddy, snowy grave.

"Thank you," he sighed and took her hand, but something went wrong and the pair of them tumbled down into the hole though not before clunking foreheads together.

He lay there on his back with Katahnia sprawled out over him. It felt somewhat awkward to be this close to her and perhaps his quiet attraction to her made it feel even more so. There were other feelings he felt as well, the baser signs of physical attractions which he prayed would not end up betraying him. Such things were more difficult to control , however.

He hid his face with his uninjured hand and blushed furiously, his skin feeling hotter than the hearth's fire. "Apologies. I must have pulled too hard. Are you alright?" He didn't move because GOD did his back HURT!

At least it made him forget about his hand. Which had been shot!

ooc: Team Awkward-Failz! GOooooo!

It was awkward, indeed, and their faces and bodies landed in quite the compromising position; and so he wasn't the only one that was blushing, for she too, had developed a small crush on the Duke back during the party... and felt her heart beat now well into her ears, and it heated them too, giving her entire face (ears included) a cherry-red blush.

"Oh, n-no! I'm the one who should be sorry!" she said, scrambling to get off of him as she gasped and noticed he must still be in pain. "Goodness, your hand. Does it hurt badly?" Then looking around to the mess tehy were in she sighed. "We'll have to climb out of here together." And then she looked back towards him and asked, "Will you need my help?" and she brushed her hair out of her face, smearing mud from her mittens across her forehead and hair.

He was relieved when she moved off of him for numerous reasons and one of those reasons being physical stress. He looked down at his hand when she inquired about it ," Yes." But then his eyes widened and he reflexively jerked away from her ," B-but I'll be FINE! I don't need it to be healed." He didn't want her using magic on him AGAIN. And , like a frightened child that would tell his mother , "NO TOUCHEE!" Conall stuffed his bloody hand under his armpit and hid it from view. "See? All better? Now..."

He looked at her when she mentioned helping him out, "Perhaps if you give me a boost then I could pull you out." He noticed the mud smearing her features and was trying his best not to laugh.

Katahnia frowned as he stuffed the hand away.
"You shouldn't put so much stress on it. We still need to get the bolt out. But it might be wise to keep it in until we've gotten ourselves out of this place."A nd she sighed again, looking around for a stable spot to climb, but everything looked like snow and mud and crumbly rocks.
She raked another hand through her hair and rubbed a hand at her nose, smearing more dirt.
"Come on, let's try this way, shall we?" and she moved and tested the walls, and once she had better footing she offered out her hand. "Here, let me help you. I can pull you up to where I am and hten support you so you can climb out. Do you think you can manage that?" she wasn't sure the extent of his injuries, but seeing him jerk away so fast to protect his hand, she assumed he might be able to manage this.

Hopefully.

"Yeah," He replied with a nod.

He took her hand and stepped up beside her and looked over . "Are you sure about this?" Up he went with her support and he managed to pull himself out of the hole and helped her out of it , only offering his good hand. Once they were free of the grave , Conall picked up the shovel stumbled over to where the fallen man was and nudged him over onto his back with his boot. He frowned, " He's not dead  , is he?"

Quite suddenly, the man shot up and pointed at Conall and shrieked, ZOMBIE!"

"Gah!" Conall also freaked out and smacked the man upside the head with the shovel. The man slumped over face first in the snow.

Startled, Katahnia found herself clinging onto Conall's arm. Her heart, now in her throat, was pumping heavily within her ears, even long after the man was subdued and lay, appearing dead as a door nail in the snow. Though lucky him, he was merely knocked unconscious witha  shovel.
Sighing, she finally let go of the tight hold on Conall's arm.

"Gods, that frightened me," she said with a frown, and walked over to the man, examining him before peering over at Conall. "What ought we to do with him? We still have no idea who he is, or what he wants."

"Zombie?" Conall looked at her, " Do I really look that bad?" He regarded the unconscious man now and shook his head, " We've got some rope that we could tie him up with. " He moved over to the man and took his legs, "Grab his arms and we'll secure him over there near the horses . " With her help they dragged the man over to a couple trees away from where the horses were secured and Conall eased Mursh's body out of the saddle of the horse he'd been set on and rested him on the snow. He took the rope he'd used his corpse to tie their new captive to the tree tightly. He'd learned quite a bit from the prisoners he'd escaped with from the mines . Their new friend wasn't going anywhere.

Conall stepped back , "We'll leave him there for now. I..." He looked down at his hand, " should take care of this now."

Katahnia assisted as best as she could, but despite Conall's question she sighed and pouted over at the man.
"But should we really keep him tied up here in the snow? What if he freezes to death?"

Conall stared at her for a moment, " No, I don't intend to unless he proves to be difficult. We need to deal with one thing at a time, however. Stay here and question him if you like. I'll take care of my wound, " He went over to the horses and freed up his pack and carried it back to the cabin.

   

Katahnia hesitated before she turned to Conall.
"No, you're right. We need to deal with your hand." and she placed a hand upon his shoulder. "I did offer to help you, after all. Come.. we also need to tend to the fire before it gets too low and we'll need to collect more wood. But your hand..."S e frowned, sighing. "I just wish I could help more than help you yank the thing out and wrap it." She sighed again, but then followed him quietly into the house. She quickly placed a few more logs onto the hearth before turning around to Conall, concern clear upon her face.

"Where shall we do this?"s he asked, having already procured a small bowl with water, some clothe- one for wrapping, one for cleaning up the blood, and a loose piece of leather for him to bite on when they yanked the thing out. She wondered if they had thread, but figured to ask once Conall found a good place to get situated. He would be the one suffering, after all.

He tossed the pack on the floor and nodded at it, "Medical supplies in there."

Conall found a seat and held out his bloody hand, glaring at the crossbow bolt protruding from it. He took a couple deep breaths and mentally prepared himself for what he knew would be an excruciating sort of pain. He looked up at her, "Alright. Let's get this over with."

Katahnia went through the pack and pulled out the ointment (for what was left) and a needle and thread, though they were getting low. She suspected a lot of her wounds had consumed alot of the thread. But she wouldn't need much, thankfully. Preparing the thread and needle, she set those aside and turned to Conall, handing him the leather.

"Put this between your teeth. It'll help keep you from breaking them when you scream," and though she smiled, it wa sa nervous one as she drew in a breath to steady her nerves as she looked at the bolt. She gripped her hand around it...
"On three?"

And then she began to count, gently tapping her foot...
"One.... Two..." And then she yanked it out quick as lightning "Three..."she siad through a half wince as she threw the damn thing into the fire, then was quick to apply the clean clothed over the wound, applying pressure and wrapping it up quick.

"That's a lot of blood,.." she commented, leaning in real close to examine the clothe that was quickly turning red. "It needs more pressure." and she sucked in another breath and applied more pressure of her own hands, keeping a tight grip upon his as she did so, not realizing her face was but a foot away from his, though more focused onhis hand than their close proximity.

He took the strip of leather from her and placed it in his mouth as he'd been instructed to and then nodded at her and lowered his eyes to his hand. He'd thought of closing them, but not knowing when it was going to happen made him feel even more anxious than simply watching. He took another deep breath and waited.

On three his eyes bulged and his face turned bright red, muscles drawn tight as his anguished scream blasted against the leather which muffled the sound and prevented himself from biting clean through his tongue. A couple tears accompanied that nearly unbearable pain.

But just as soon as it hurt like hell...the pain subsided a bit now that the crossbow's bolt had been drawn out.

And now he was concerned about the damage. He wouldn't be able to grip things properly for awhile.

"Ansgar's beard!" He hissed and spat the leather out of his mouth once his hand had been wrapped.He stared at it and nodded at her comment. There was a lot of blood, yes. Thankfully, the worst part was over.

"Thank you..." He was aware of how near she was to him and tried to focus his mind on something else. He lowered his eyes from her face and stared at his wounded hand which was clasped between hers.  "Thank you." He repeated because he didn't know what else to say and he was certainly grateful to have her do that for him rather than be left to do it alone.

She simply nodded at his thanks.
"It will take some time for this to clot, but it will with time, don't worry," and as she raised her head, she nearly knocked her forehead off of his chin, and it was only then she noticed... with a short burst of laughter she could not contain. "There's a pine cone in your beard!"
And then she covered her mouth, trying not to laugh again as she reached forward. "I'm s-sorry,"s he said through a light giggle, and kept one hand upon his wound, the other one reahcing forward, "Here, let me help you get it out.." and even as she tried, the damn thing seemed stuck in there, even as she stuck out her tongue and furrowed her brows and breathed angrily through her nose...
"Wow, it's stuck in their pretty good!" she added with a laugh. She shook he rhead and focused back on his hand, but sitll smiled, her cheeks lightly flushed. "I'll have to tend to that later. ANd maybe help you give that wild beard of yours a trim."

He shot her a glare that could have silenced most. It wasn't a very friendly look, but his expression softened when she mentioned the pine cone. Oh! He looked down! How could he have forgotten about that!? "Oh for the love of ...." Then his gaze shot back to her, "Yes, indeed. The very same you so inappropriately threw at my person.  " Naturally, he was entirely innocent in all of this and spoke in a tone that suggested that he believed as much.

She tried to extract it but it was so tangled up in there (frankly the entire beard itself was a disaster area, a tangled mess!) but it was all to no avail and he yelped because she ended up yanking on it. "Careful! The beard is fragile!" He nursed his aching chin. 

Then at her suggestion of a trim he stared at her incredulously as though she had said one of the MOST offensive things he'd ever heard.

A trim!?

TRIM HIS BEARD?

She wanted to TRIM his beard?!

LIES.

Most women really meant by THAT was that she wanted to .....

CUT IT! 

He drew back a bit in horror, the expression encompassing his entire person. "NEVER!" He exclaimed.


ooc: lolz.

Katahnia made a face and slapped his arm hard.
"Stop moving! I need to keep my hands here to put pressure on the wound or it'll never clot."
and witha shake of her head, she forced his hand still, then added, grinning wickedly as she dropped her gaze away to hide it, "But you must realize, your beard is so far gone... we might have to shave it all off."

"Sorry," he blushed, mildly embarrassed by his behavior and forgetting the seriousness of the situation. Though when she mentioned his beard again his eyes went wide again and he gasped indignantly, "You wouldn't DARE! I will NOT be made a hairless-faced GIRL like Calent Allarick, thank you !" Really! The nerve she had for even suggesting such a terrible thing!

ooc: Nuuu! Not teh beard! ;-; Evil Kat trolling again.

Katahnia blinked and looked up at him most serious.
"But you know Grand Duke Allarrick has a beard now, don't you?"

"WHAT!?" Conall almost forgot himself and was about to grab her shoulder and shake her , but he remembered at the last moment he was supposed to keep his hand still. He narrowed his eyes at her dangerously, "'Tis a cruel joke, you tell. "

Calent with a beard. Yeah right. He'd never been able to grow anything proper or anything as glorious as his. He stroked his tangled fiery mess fondly, "Mine's better." 

Well, not right now but it had been! Once!

Katahnia smirked.
"I don't lie, but I'd have to say yours is far more impressive." and she pressed a little bit harder into the wound, and then blew some of her hair away from her eyes before turning to him.
"I hope I'm not hurting you. It's just... the bolt went all the way through." she shook her head. "I bet it still hurts something fierce. But we'll get you stitched up here soon. In fact, I should probably do that now. I'm not sure what good all this pressure is doing on an open wound." ANd she shook her head, not believing she had forgotten that minor detail. (or maybe a major.. detail)
But apparently the pair had beards for brains.

"Why thank you," Conall was quite proud of his facial hair.He looked down at his wounded hand and then looked back up at her, meeting her gaze. He offered her a gentle smile and replied truthfully,  "I'm alright. You make me forget I'm in pain- er I mean talking to you distracts me from thinking about it , that is." 


ooc: The tiny posts!

Katahnia smiled at his words.
"Here, can you hold this? I'll get the needle and thread," and she moved away once she knew Conall had a secure pressured grip on his wound and took up the needle. Smoothing out the trail of thread, she instructed him to put his hand forward, palm side up and slowly helped him remove the bindings.

It was still bleeding, and she sighed as the blood got in the way, but wasted no time in stitching him up. And once the palm was completed, she turned his hand over and sealed up the other side. And she had just enough string to do it.
"There!" she said, sighing triumphantly and looked up at him with a smile.
"That ought to do it. Now let's see, where did I put the ointment.."a nd when she noticed it at Conall's side she went to reach it, but accidentally conked heads with him as she winced.

Conall followed instruction without complaint, his demeanor seeming less nervous than it previously had been. He focused his eyes on her face now which,admittedly, was a better idea than focusing on the would itself. Inwardly, he chastised himself for not thinking about this beforehand. Oh well!

Stitching done he lowered his gaze to admire her work, "Well done, Miss Harmond. " He said with a slight nod and a small, but warm and appreciative smile.

Now she was looking for ointment, "Ointment.  I thought it was-" They moved forward at the same time and their skulls resounded off one another with a glorious 'clunk!'

He saw several images of The Grand Duke and his phony beard dancing around his head while pointing in his general direction and laughing at him. Conall shook his head to rid himself of the annoying images he saw in his daze of stupor , "Sorry. Are you alright?"

Rubbing at her fore head (which might bruise- really,.. seriously, he had a hard head!), she looked over at him as some of her blonde bangs fell over her eyes.
"Y-Yes, I'm fine." And she took up the ointment. "S-sorry,"s he said, and clumsily opened the jar, dropping the lid with a sigh. She could get it later. She looked over at him and smiled.
"Here, give me your hand," and once she had it, she stared down at the wound, blushing as she began to smooth on the ointment. "It might burn a little.. here.." she said, after applying it on one side and pursed her lips, blowing cool air over it a few times before repeating the same process on his palm.

"Are you sure? " He asked, appearing concerned, " I know my head is kind of...hard." He chuckled.

He shook his head and suppressed a smile at her awkwardness. It was somewhat adorable though he wondered how in or out of character that was for someone like her. She usually seemed quite confident and skilled in whatever she did. To be fair though, he really knew her not.

He held out his hand for her to put the ointment on, " I could have done this part my-arrrgh! He should have been prepared by her warning. "Ansgar's beard! It does burn!" Fortunately , the burning sensation subsided somewhat when she blew on the ointment. "Oh my...wow. Pardon my outburst. I was not prepared." The color of embarrassment painted his visage.

Katahnia chuckled after she released her hold upon his hand. "It is quite alright." But then she took his hand up agian, raising a brow and staring down at the wound as she inspected it. Then she looked to him. "Would you like me to wrap it? It would be good to keep the wound clean."

"Indeed, I'd appreciate that, " Conall replied with a nod. His mind then turned to the other things that would need to be done before nightfall. They had a man to interrogate, Kathania's friend to bury, a dinner to cook or eat...oh....

He sniffed, only now noticing that she had been cooking, "That smells good. You were cooking while I was outside?" He hadn't expected that.

Katahnia replied to his nod with a nod of her own, and gently went to work at wrapping his hand. Once it was firmly secure, she lifted her gaze up to his, her eyes sparkling, a subtle blush to her cheek as she smirked.
"Yes, did you think I was in here taking a nap?" she teased. "Though the thing isn't seasoned, the bird might be about finished now." And she moved over to check it, testing the meat. "Ah, yes.. seems the bird is done. Are you ready to eat?"s he asked, pulling her blonde hair away from her face as she smiled, standing over the broiling pot of water that steamed up mouth watering aromas of cooked bird. Seasonings be damned, it smelled heavenly.

"No," Conall said slowly, keeping his tone quite serious, "I thought you might be devising a strategy for taking your revenge against me since I won the battle of the pine cones." The mirth shimmering in his eyes betrayed him  , however.

Conall shrugged at her words when she went to check on their meal, "Believe me, this is a royal cuisine compared to what I've made or eaten for the last several months. Or perhaps within the entirety of my life." He could not cook anything well. At all.

He chuckled, "You don't have to ask me whether or not I'm ready. I would have eaten the thing raw, feathers and all had I not the company." A jest, of course, about eating it with feathers. Raw on the other hand....well, sometimes....in the beginning....

It had been repulsive and unsanitary ,but one did what one had to in order to survive.   

Katahnia smiled proudly.
"Well, I've learned a thing or two from my parents. And from... a friend.." She blushed and looked away. Recalling Cauwyn.. was still painful, even to this day. She would have to try to send another letter to him once she returned to Connlaoth. Angsar, she hoped he was still alive, if only for her to at least apologize to him.

"One good thing about how this bird is prepared," she began, clearing her throat and clearing away those thoughts. "Is that we can drink the waters. They'll be watery, but will taste heavenly none the less. And will, well... do well to warm our bellies." She added, giving him a dimpled smile. "Come.. let us sit together and take this moment to eat. Then perhaps we can wake up our friend outside for questioning."

 He quirked a brow when she mentioned 'a friend' without providing a name. He thought he had an idea of who she might have meant though he couldn't comprehend why she'd avoid his name. Perhaps speaking the name brought some sort of emotional pain? Yes, perhaps.

Nodding, he added with a blush, "Unfortunately, I did not acquire any proper tools to dine with. To put it bluntly, I hope you don't mind having to eat like a barbarian. "

Katahnia smiled at him.
"I am just glad to eat." and she took his hand, squeezing it lightly (the uninjured one XP ) and looked into his eyes. "And to be alive. Come, let us pray before we eat." And she bowed her head, still holding his hand as she threaded her fingers with his, squeezing it light.

"To the Great Gods above, to those of flesh here on earth, we thank thee for what breath we have, for what life you give to us, and the food to fuel us ahead. We honor you through strife and error, and yearn to be good, to do good, as you have shown us in the ways. For this, we wish our food to be blessed and let it nourish us. Blessed be"
And she raised her head, smiling at him before gestering to the pot.
"Let's eat?"

"That's a good attitude to have, "Conall replied in agreement with her. He joined her in prayer, respectfully silent with his head bowed. However , when he heard her pray to 'Gods' rather than Ansgar, his eye popped open briefly to regard her curiously. Well, she was a mage after all with what he assumed to be some fairly different views than his own.

It stood to reason that she placed little to no stock in Ansgarism. He tried not to let his narrow mind feel offense , though he felt a pang of sympathy for her. Lately Ansgar's children had not been a very noble or accurate representation of what he felt what they should be. Rightfully, people were fearful but unfairly they misdirected their fears and made others suffer. He squeezed her hand back and mentally offered a short prayer to his God.

He opened his eyes and nodded at her words, but noticed...

"Indeed but first,Katahnia, may I have my hand back please?"

Katahnia laughed and let go.
"Sorry, I must have been so deeply devoted to my prayer,"s he joked, giving him a quick smirk before tucking back her smile as she blushed.
Then glancing down tot he food, she looked from the pot, then up to him.
"So... do you want the honors to taste it first?"

"Don't mind if I do," Conall grinned and slipped out of his chair. He moved over to the hearth and bent over the pot,  lifting the lid off it and pausing to take a deep breath of the simmering meat and broth. (ooc- if it wasn't a soup before IT IS NOW . *lazy ftw!* ) "Ah.." As he sighed and straightened back up...

Something dropped into the pot with a 'sploosh'.And Conall had felt something moving in his beard. "Uh oh..." He looked down and saw the pine cone floating there in the broth. "Um..." He replaced the lid on the plot and blushed furiously, "Maybe the cook should have the first taste?"   

Katahnia stared at him, her mouth gaping open. She had seen the whole thing.
"CONALL!" she shouted, slapping him on the arm. "Did that pine cone in your beard just fall out!?" And yes.. she was smiling, but her mouth was still hanging open in disbelief. She shook her head.
"I knew it! First thing we'll have to do before the sun sets is trim that beard!"

Conall tried not to laugh, but when she smacked his arm he cracked up. He laughed even harder when she went to check the pot, "Look on the bright side, we now have our seasoning."

When she mentioned trimming his beard however, all the mirth was gone and his laughter died abruptly in his throat. "You most certainly will NOT! I see the look of deception in your eye, Miss! Oh I am on to your schemes. 'Trim my beard' , she says?  Hah! LIES! I don't think so! That's a woman's code word for 'operation butcher'!  "

Katahnia stared down at the floating pine cone, then over at Conall.
"Then don't sleep tonight if you care so much for your knotted beard."

Conall narrowed his eyes at her, "You would dare threaten ME? " He looked at her, then the pine cone , then at his beard, then back to the pine cone and finally to her . "Oh just you TRY it. I can go without sleep for days, weeks even. You'll never get me. And then YOU will fall asleep and , oh I don't know," He gave a shrug with an expression and inflection radiating mock innocence, "something might 'accidentally' find itself tangled up....in your precious golden locks."

Katahnia rolled her eyes at his pathetic attempts to threaten her and reached down, plucked the pine cone from the hot water and tossed it.... right at his beard.

"Katahnia what-!?" She was...going to throw THAT at him!? "What are you DOING!?" He tried to slap the thing away ,but her sinister efforts succeeded and the damned thing stuck fast to his beard once more.  He glowered at her, "Oh that's REAL mature . "

He plucked it out and threw it back at her. Like a gentleman! Sort of.

And the pine cone war ensued! Back and forth it sailed until....

"Enough! I surrender!" Conall held up his arms to shield himself in case Katahnia decided to throw it at him anyway. She probably would since she was sneaky like that. "We're getting off track here. We should eat the meal you were so gracious to make before it gets cold."

He moved away to collect a couple of wooden bowls. He handed her one and took the large wooden serving spoon and dipped it in the broth, using it to fill both bowls halfway. He was careful not to spill a drop. "There you go."

Bowls filled he took his seat in the chair and waited for her to sit in the one opposite of him. He raised his bowl as if to toast and then tilted it to his lips and drank it, trying to do so in a slow and elegant manner that his mother had taught him to do. Not that she had taught him to drink his broth.

He lowered his bowl for just a moment and watched to see if Kat was paying any attention. Nope. She was too busy making a pig of herself. Perfect. He fought hard not to let the laughter that was begging to escape him betray him before he carried through with his plan.

Bracing his index finger against his thumb, Conall lowered his good hand to the broth and....then pushed his index forward in a flicking motion and launching a small splash of his meal at Katahnia. The warm fluid hit her neck and when she might have went to look his way he pretended to be preoccupied with sipping from his bowl . Noticing her eyes on him he looked up at her innocently and then pointed, "Looks like you spilled some of your meal. " Then he grinned at her which completely demolished his innocence. 


ooc: Changed the post. Probably good to move it along a bit plus...another idea occurred to me. lulz

Katahnia was still glowing from their playful little pine cone battle, a smug smile about her face as she took a seat upon the floor and sipped away at her soup. Despite what he thought,s he did it with the finesse of a princess, though when he flicked his soup broth at her, she had been in mid -drink and gasped, staring back at him. But she hadn't seen him ACTUALLY do it, but stared at him, slack jawed none the less.

"You.."s he said, smiling and narrowing her gaze at him as she wiped off the dribble of broth on her neck, shaking her head. "Think you're so clever, huh? Just you wait.." she siad, and daintily lifted her bowl of soup back to her lips and stared away, nose to the air as she continued to drink the warm broth.

Conall's expression fell back into something quite serious, " I don't know what you're talking about. I've done nothing other than enjoy this meal and your company." He was laughing on the inside and his eyes were alight, seeming to say , 'Nyah nyah! No you can't get me!'  He finished draining his bowl and set it down, "I can't help it if your table manners are a bit...rusty."   

"I'll show you table manners!"s he growled at his pomp and threw the pine cone right at his nose. "I know you did that to me, Conall! Stop being such a child!" But even as she yelled at him, she still managed a laugh.

The pine cone bounced off his nose and hit the floor rolling. Conall elevated a brow at her, "Now, Katahnia, I thought we agreed to start acting our age. Throwing things at me and accusing me of things I certainly didn't do doesn't make me the childish one. " It was fairly obvious what he was implying!

Katahnia set her bowl down.
"That's it, the beard is coming off!" and with a playful laugh, she lunged at him. "Give me your dagger!"s he shouted, fondling at his pockets in attempts to get his sheathed blade. "Come on, we'll trim that beard here and now!" she threatened, keeping him pinned to the ground beneath her. "I'll show YOU childish! I'm going to shave that entire beard off so your face is as smooth as a child's!"

She took him completely by surprise! Too shocked for words , he crumpled beneath her and lay there for a moment.He started laughing so hard that his face was about as red as his beard. He grabbed for her wrists and wrestled them away from his waist.  He grinned up at her and then stuck out his tongue. "It's called a stiletto , not dagger and you're never going to find it! Hah!" He kept it tucked away snugly in the interior breast pocket of his woolen tunic. She wouldn't reach in there. "The beard stays and I win."   

He was lying somewhat, of course. He carried a few daggers on his person along with that stiletto. One in the boot, one in a sheath on his right thigh and one on his left hip near to his back. She had quite a selection to choose from if she knew where to look!

Once Katahnia got one of her hands free, she groped all over against his side.
"I don't believe you! I saw you use other daggers before!"

"You're blind! Obviously, " He smacked her hands away, laughing harder because she found a couple weak spots and he was not going to let her walk away with the knowledge that he might have been ticklish under his ribs, "you need to wear glasses!" THAT was a secret that only mother knew about and he intended to keep it that way!

"It's little wonder that you spill food on on yourself, really."

Kathania's lips fell open. She might have been smiling, a little bit...
But he was NOT going to get away with this!
"I'll show you not to hit a girl!"she said, offended he would smack her hand away as she simply sat down upon his chest and hmphed! He'd have to think twice about moving, since now all of her weight was upon him, weighing him down and.. well, maybe hurting his ribs...

Conall made the most dramatic of gasping sounds, "Oh...God...can't...breathe....weight crushing....my lungs." He flailed his arms ,their motions only enhancing his animated performance. "Sweatin' like....a pig...I'm gonna....die...Kat...needs...to ....lay off....the...sweet rolls..." He made a final , over-the-top gasp and then went still, his head lolling to the side and eyes rolling up into the back of his head and his tongue sticking out.

Kat looked down at Conall, quirking a brow at him.
"Good, that means I can just sit here all day if you're dead." She stated, then proceeded to recline back on him, using his entire body as a bed.

ooc: I fear for Connlaoth's future. I really do. >.>

ic:

His arms came up around her suddenly, squeezing her against him, "Zombie Conall rises from the dead! The undead abomination hungers for but one thing! The brains of the blond beard-assassin! Raaaargh....! Will our daring heroine escape the clutches this rotting rotter!?  Or will her brains be sucked from their very eye-sockets !? All shall be revealed in the final act ! "

Worst zombie impression ever. He hadn't read too many of those silly horror stories anyhow!

Katahnia's eyes went wide as she suddenly let loose a kick an da scream, knocking over BOTH bowls of their soup in the process as she wriggled and writhed within his grasp, the very notion of him holding her making her ticklish as all hell, especially since his voice was now blaring in her ears in his lame as a duck zombie voice.
"C-Conall! St-STOP!" she screamed, squirming some more before the pair were suddenly bashing heads...
again.


OOC: LOL
Just thnk if they end up ever having children or something |8*
special with a capital S

Though she kicked and begged, he was not going to release her. "Zombie Conall does not understand request. He shall feast on BRAINSSSS! If only Katahnia could reach her sole hope, the HOLY PINE CONE GRENADE! Unfortunately, the grenade lies far from reach and she is dooooooooooooooomed D0000ooooomed!!! "He started choking on laughter , but continued his antics, poking her sides, "But oh! What's this!? Zombie Conall doesn't have any eyes! He can't see where his victim's brains are! Maybe they're HERE!"  He tickled his sides unmercifully.

BECAUSE SHE WAS EVIL AND IT WAS TIME FOR PAYBACK!


FOR THE BEARD!   

ooc: >.> Seriously, I think his parents should have let him outside more often.

"CONALL!" she snapped, whirling around and squealing at the barrage of tickling pokes at her side and soon found herself frontwards facing him instead of back, and gasped as she landed upon him in a most compromising position...
sinc eher face landed upon his, a sloppy (but not really a kiss) kiss (ok her lips sort of just fell onto his.. or near them) landed as their noises bumped, bodies bumped, and it was just all around chaos as they suddenly were entangling limbs. ANd it was only when she found her voice, did she scream, "C-Conall!" ad her face was far redder than a tomato as she simply stared back at him in wide eyed shock.

It was only in that awkward moment of horrified silence did there come an estranged groan from outside.

"Somebody.. anybody... is someone out there to help me!?" It was the man's voice they had tied up from earlier...

The humor was snuffed out all at once, replaced by an incredible brand of awkward. His body froze up completely , paralyzed with an odd and uncomfortable blend of fear, shame and...feelings that he knew he shouldn't have been having but couldn't help. His face was flushed even hotter and darker than hers.

He stared up at her wide-eyed and confused. He felt an urge to make it a proper kiss though he knew how wrong and selfish that act would have been.

Fortunately, their moment of awkwardness was interrupted by the voice of the man who he assumed was very same they'd tied up earlier. "Ah...well, it seems our friend is awake now." He hastily untangled himself from her and hurried out the door and over to the tree where the mysterious crossbowman sat tied, working on composing himself as he walked.

He paused several feet away from the 'captive'  ,"Now that you're awake, perhaps you'd be so kind as to explain why you tried to shoot my friend?"

The man growled back at them, wild, black hair hanging over his face.
"How am I to know who is and who is not an enemy?" He fought against his restrains, veins bulging within his neck. "There is no one you can trust in Hyoite, in the mountains of the wild."

Katahnia had followed Conall outside, a frown now sagging upon her lips. She knew what he meant better than he could imagine, and the healing gashes on her face, the bruises there of, were proof of that.

"So far, we are only as much as your enemy as you press. You threatened us first before any sort of reason. So we did what we must in order to survive."

The man stopped fighting against his restrains as he looked over at the pair.

"You sound too civilized to be from around these parts,' he sneered. "Where are the pair of you from?"

Katahnia's expression softened, but only a little. "Connlaoth." was all she said.

Conall watched and listened, silent during the short exchange between Katahnia and the strange man.

"And if we were 'savage' natives would you be less inclined to negotiate with us? " He shook his head and took a step closer, " I am Conall of Connlaoth. That's all you need know for the moment.  But you are finished asking questions right now. I have some for you and you will answer them without protestation or you can sit here until the frost takes you. Understand? I will not negotiate with someone who threatened our lives without any provocation."  His tone and expression were quite serious.

"Now then, we'll start with something simple. Who are you and where are you from? "     

The man growled at the pair, but who was he to fight it.
"So the two of you are from Connlaoth too?" he sneered. "Then the pair of you are either terribly lucky or terribly unfortunate. I just came from one of the mage camps. Horrible, despicable things. And I'm glad I made it out alive... the others...t hey were not so fortunate. We tried to plan an escape, but they were all over us like wolves. There, you happy now? You have my story, and as far as my name.." his eyes narrowed upon the pair.

"You can just call me Joshua. ANd if you're hunters, you'd better shoot me now.I 'd rather die swiftly than from this god damn cold."

"Kill you?" Katahnia shook her head and approached. "But we have hardly any reason, unless you tried to harm us. Which, "She reminded him. "You did."

The man looked up at her, raising his brows."So what of it? The Kilanthro mountains are a harsh place, harsher than most. And more dangerous now that Connlaothian soldiers and mordecai are traipsing all through it." He wrinkled his nose.

"But you siad you came from the mage camps..." Katahnia pressed.

"Yes, what of them?"

She frowned. "Were you from there? As a captive I mean?"

The man went quiet for a while. "Though I do not wear the mark on me, I am a mage. One of water, if you can believe it. So appropriate in a place of snow," he said with a sneer. Then he eyed the pair of them. "I've never seen either of you before. What's your game?"

Katahnia went silent for a while, uncertain how to answer before revealing, "I am Katahnia Harmond." The man's eyes lit up. "I was sent here to die, far north, at a long deserted castle in Hyoite."

"Gods be damned.." the man breathed. "You're the Katahnia? The lady of our revolution?"

Katahnia blushed a little.
"I'd hardly give myself such credit, and if it weren't for the man beside me, I'd be dead."

If hte man could make a mark, he surely would towards Conall.
"And what of you, sir? Are you a mage as well?"

Conall was yet again quiet for the duration of the verbal exchange between Katahnia and Joshua. Katahnia was some sort of figurehead for the mage revolution? Well, this kept getting more interesting.

"No. I am , believe it or not , a simple man escaped from the Kilanthros Mines Prison. " He smiled wearily, "I'm sure you are familiar with it. It is an underground hell where people get sent to for so much as looking funny at the Grand Duke. " He studied Joshua for a long time with cold, hard eyes and then nodded, " A word of advice, Joshua, one does not feel out for potential alliances by shooting a man before he gets to know him. You are ..." He unsheathed the dagger from his thigh sheath and held it up before his eye as he walked over to the captive, "fortunate that you and I...." he knelt down in front of Joshua and the dagger flashed....

It looked like Conall was going to stab the man, but he didn't , " Are not the same. Were I a lesser man, I probably would have killed you sooner for shooting me." He showed the man his hand then moved around the behind him and...untied the bindings.

"Do not betray my trust. I won't be forgiving a second time. "

Joshua tensed, but once the ropes were cut, heblinked and looked over at Conall as Katahnia stood beside him. But he bowed to both humbly.
"I.. apologize for earlier," he said, clearing his throat and looking at the pair. "You both seem as bad off as I. Do you have supplies?"

Katahnia looked towards Conall, then back to Joshua as she tucked her hair behind her ears.

"We have a little... are you hungry? There's not much soup left but perhaps-"
and the man held his hand up to stop her.

"I had caught a rabbit recently. We can share it with whatever soup you might have if you wish. It's the least I can do."
Katahnia turned towards Conall, her eyes alit, but she dare not say a word, giving him the final say.  He had saved her life after all, and she already knew his view on mages. she did not want t make him more uncomfortable than he already was.

ooc: Conall didn't cut the ropes. Waste of good rope. >> He drew the dagger just for a bit of intimidation. ;P

ic:

Conall narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Joshua when the man inquired about supplies. He frowned a bit when Katahnia answered. Though he supposed it hardly mattered, for now that Joshua was free he would soon see what they had anyway.

Though he felt slightly uncomfortable with their newest guest, it wasn't necessarily because the man was a mage (though this was somewhat of a concern as well.) " You're welcome to join us inside by the fire, but first we have a bit of solemn business to attend to. " He looked over in the direction of Mursh's corpse, "I hate to press the matter, but we need to bury that man before it gets too dark. "

OOC: D'oh!

----------


Joshua's eyes followed over to the corpse, and as he approached, his eyes widened at the sight.
"Mursh..." He shook his head, marking a symbol across him. "Angsar protect his soul." he whispered.

Katahnia remained silent a moment, not knowing what else to say except affording him a small smile before turning back towards Conall.
"Come, your hand is injured. Joshua and I could handle this." And she gestured to the other mage and he nodded.

"Yes, I... Iwould not mind burying a friend," and in silence, both he nad Katahnia moved to lift the body, before resting it within the grave.

The other man reacted in a manner that suggested that the fallen was someone he was familiar with . Katahnia had called Mursh a friend, someone whom had helped her a great deal. Perhaps the man had touched more lives than Conall knew? Conall had known people like this before and held great admiration for them.

He said nothing and nodded. Though it didn't show quite as clearly, the duke was exhausted. Even if he wanted to help- he looked down at his hand and tried to make a fist, but he winced and quit a quarter through the motion. Of course he knew better than to try, the arrow had torn his hand up pretty good.

He followed them quietly and remained silent, allowing them to offer their parting words before offering something of his own. He cleared his throat and recited:

"Don't think of him as gone away
his journey's just begun,
life holds so many facets
this earth is only one.

Just think of him as resting
from the sorrows and the tears
in a place of warmth and comfort
where there are no days and years.

Think how he must be wishing
that we could know today
how nothing but our sadness
can really pass away.

And think of him as living
in the hearts of those he touched...
for nothing loved is ever lost
and he was loved so much."


"May you find eternal peace and security as you walk by Ansgar's side, Mursh." Conall finished and turned away, allowing Katahnia and Joshua to cover the grave.


ooc: The poem in italics is copyright of Ellen Brenneman.

Kathania placed a hand upon Conall's shoulder, light tears held within her eyes. Though the touch was brief, the air of grief was apparent, even the stranger was solemn. So in quiet they buried the body until there was nothing left of him but dirt and snow.

Standing before the grave, Katahnia's eyes remained upon the pile of dirt for a long while, before she softly began to sing, singing the song of the gone.

"The earth is hot and unforgiving, and winters chill means to kill; but people they are ever strong, and will never die so there's no darkness to fear. For in this life we have but many, things to take  with us when we die. So be proud, be true, be friendly, and in the next life you may never die."

"Seek the sun, and moon and stars, look towards the endless heavens above. See the mountains gracing through, and know this is just one life we pass through."

"The earth is hot and unforgiving, and winters chill means to kill; but people they are ever strong, and through our faith, we can never be wrong. SO be proud, stay true to your heart, and keep the kindness near, and may it never part."

"In the end of days and times, we each pass on, our fate untwines; but if you are steadfast, an honorable sort, in the end, you will find your new start."

Bowing her head down, she made a motion of prayer.
"May you rest easy in your grave, Mursh."
ANd Joshua bowed to, having grown quiet as she sung, the song still resounding and hanging about airily against the trees.

"Shall we go in for a meal now then?" Joshua spoke after a time, knowing someone had to be the one to break the silence.

"Indeed," Conall agreed, "though I must caution you that it'll feel a little crowded. It's hardly enough space to fit two comfortably." His hand briefly rested on Katahnia's shoulder lightly as he passed by, but the weight of his touch was fleeting as he continued moving back to the cabin.

"Don't mind the mess either, " he said said as he pushed open the door and gestured for them to enter first, "I haven't entertained any company until quite recently.

The soup antics had only made the mess slightly worse. He nodded over to the fire and the pot, "Have at it, then. "

He closed the door behind them and started trying to clean the room up as best as he could. "I'm curious to know how you managed to escape these mage camps? Are they nearby? You mentioned something about hunters...and I can only assume that you're being tracked down for escaping. By mordecai, perhaps?"

He hoped not. He didn't desire to get tangled up in such problems though he may not have any choice in the matter.

Joshua sighed but thought nothing of the soup stains. He went about pulling out the wrapped rabbit from his bag and Katahnia offered to help him get it over a spit for the fire. He worked as he talked.
"Unfortunately, yes, I am being hunted by mordecai and trackers. A few of us managed to escape, though most were not so lucky. I'm hoping since it's been a few days they'll give up on me, but who's to say I'll even survive in a place like this." and he gestured towards te only window int he cabin. "This place is nightmare. Cold as hell during the day, and you freeze your beard and balls off at night." Then to Katahnia he bowed is head. "Pardon the language." Katahnia just smiled and shook it off. Sighing, he continued, "It's why they chose to put the camps up here. Not many would care to trek so far into the mountains. Unless you're from Hyoite, ad even that land is at least flatter and more at sea level, so it gets a bit more heat if you can believe that, then you're a glutton for punishment. The winds here are terrible from the north and offer no sanctuary to the weary. It's a frozen hell."

"They might relent. It depends on who you are or who is chasing you, " Conall shook his head and picked up the empty soup bowls, setting them down near fireplace, " I have known some to be rather persistent and fanatical in their duties.  Logically speaking, they wouldn't be concerned. You are far from home and , no offense, highly unlikely to survive a trip back home alone." He shrugged, " Oh Hyoite isn't so terrible once you grow accustomed to its harsher environment and you adapt , learn to survive. Though I can rightfully say from personal experience that  being here alone is a little trying on one's sanity. "

He nodded, "Indeed. It's the perfect location for hiding dirty little secrets that the Grand Duke doesn't want the people to learn of. I had heard rumors of camps in the North . I just didn't realize that they were this far. Come to think of it, perhaps that's what became of the mage prisoners that were identified and removed to some undisclosed location. I wasn't sure what had become of them. Some said they were executed though I doubted it. The Warden of the prison would simply kill troublemakers or beat us within inches of our lives. "

The duke appeared thoughtful, "Perhaps the camps and mines are within reasonable proximity of one another. Not necessarily close , but close enough. You said they were in the mountains. Hrm. The mines aren't very far from here. About....two day's steady travel on foot heading southwest along the Kilanthros. "

Katahnia frowned, taking in the information solemnly. As much as she wanted to help the mages there, they were but three, and who knew if either would ever want to pull off something so crazy as to try to 'infultrate' a mage camp. But to know so many were suffering...
She drew in a careful breath and tried to swallow it all down.

"Then we should head south east."

Joshua lifted his head, looking over at her as he nodded.
"Yes, we ought to avoid the mage camps at all costs. If we value our lives." And he laughed about hte mention of the Grand Duke and his 'secrets' and 'vanity' over mages. Then to the rabbit he looked at it, lightly poking it with a stick. "The rabbit seems about done. A little rare, but it'll add to the flavor." nd he took a seat and gestured to the rest. "Come, let us enjoy the food now while we can. If you wish, I would not mind accompanying either of you south. It has been... quite the trying stay in these mountains and by myself, I understand what you said more than you can know, Conall." He siad, gesturing to the duke. "Being a lone out here makes you go crazy. If even for a few days."

"Indeed, unfortunately we do not posses the manpower to effectively liberate those wrongfully imprisoned, "He glanced sideways at Katahnia, not knowing exactly what she may have been thinking about all of this but guessing that she wasn't entirely pleased. He knew he was right , however, and though he wouldn't say it allowed he was certain that Katahnia knew why he wasn't so eager to throw his life away so recklessly.

He opened one of the packs he'd stolen from the mercenaries and removed a scroll of parchment from it, unrolling it and revealing a map of Connlaoth and the southern quarter of Hyoite. He held it out for the others to observe and pointed to locations as he spoke, "Hellvion is probably the safest entry point. I have some allies there , but it's a little out of the way from where we are. It might better to enter through Bellkrath first, which....could take us close to the mines and the camps but out here we should be able to see them well before we encounter them and evade them fairly easily on horseback. If we  hug the western border enough, we probably won't run into much trouble though that's entirely depending on how many camps there are and how spread out their locations might be. I had heard most of them were somewhere between Allar and Hellvion,  though I know that Melora- er.. the Duchess of Hellvion wasn't particularly in favor of having mage camps in her region. That's not to say that the Grand Duke didn't force her to change her mind. It would make sense that most of them would be here in Hyoite and not too far in because it'd be a hassle to supply any military outposts guarding these camps otherwise. "

He rolled up the map and nodded, "Yes, now's a nice time to break for a meal. " He waited until the other two had served themselves before he accepted his portion the the rabbit.

Katahnia remained silent for most of the meal. As much as she knew they were out numbered, inside that blonde-haired head of hers, she was ever calculating something, anything to help those suffering. So internally she was at war with herself, despite her already knowing nothing would become of it. It would be silly to die now when she could formulate a plan once she was backk on her feet. They were but three survivors, not an army, and she drew in a careful breath as she peered over at the group.

Joshua still had his face in his meal, and Conall, she noticed, ate careful, due to his injury. SHe gave a small smile in his direction before moved on to finish her own. She was famished. After all, half of their 'would be' soup from earlier was ont he floor,a nd a bit on their clothing. SHe again, smiled at the memory, flushing lightly. The soup, what remained, tasted good, especially with soft chunks of bird broiled through it, and a dash of pine cone. And the rabbit also tasted like heaven.

Once they were finished, they gathered their things and cleaned up the place as quick as they could, and Joshua was impressed they had three horses.

"Well, as terrible as it is to say, I'm glad the men hadn't finished you off, Lady Katahnia. THough I'm sure you suffered greatly, the people back in Connlaoth will be moved to know you have survived."

Katahnia nodded sagely, keeping close to her stallion that sniffed lightly at her side.
"And I can not wait to get back to help those who suffer so. These are terrible times we live in. To think how radical the laws have become..."

"ANd how radical the entire land has become," Joshua agreed with a shake of his head. He peered up at the sky. "I'd hate to say this, but if we aim to get going, there's only about three hours of daylight. Not a lot of time to travel, but enough time to make some grounds. Do we have supplies to make a camp? To build a fire? If not, we should fill up with what we can while we're resting here, and move swiftly as far south as we can. Hellvion.." he stared at the map over Conall's shoulder now.  "It's pretty far west, though I think Hellvion is safer than Bellkrath. It would be wise to come down that direction. Hellvion is one of the least touched duchies from the war. I know for a fact Duchess Melora is not a supporter of mages, however, she is a vain woman and wants nothing to do with mage camps if she can help it. She sees it as a pox on her land." He rolled his eyes. "Not many mages live there to begin with, but wouldn't she be surprised t know there's our own safe house there as well? Not to mention the ruined city beneath Uthlyn. Those safe havens have been a god send."

"And we have the Free FOlk to thank for that. So many people have risked their lives already, so many people have died..."

Joshua placed a hand upon Katahnia's shoulder, offering her a smile.

"And Connlaoth won't defeat us. Mages are as natural born as your hair color. Just because those without the power are fearful and remain in ignorance to understand us, does not mean we do not have a place here. But come, what have we decided? I'm itching to move. We shan't linger less we risk exposing this place, or ourselves."

Conall was silent through the entire exchange betwixt the two mages, his mare trotting slightly behind them . He didn't glean very much he wasn't already familiar with aside from talk of these other mage undercities. So the Obsidian Mantle were not the only ones hiding underground. How expansive was this world underneath Connlaoth? This bit of news was...disconcerting though it certainly explained how the Mantle managed to travel so effectively and swiftly without being seen. For now, he'd ignore this but once Connlaoth was restored to its natural stability, these underground cities would need to be explored and mapped for future reference and probably monitored for national security's sake.

"Just out of curiosity, how do you expect victory if all you have is a handful of dissident mages and the Free Folk? No offense, but you're going to need a far more powerful backing from someone with considerable political influence, military prowess and substantial affluence. In order to change Connlaoth, someone on nearly equal level with Calent Allarick must challenge him and those who support him . Before that even, they must persuade the majority of the other duchies to turn against the current Grand Duke. You need to find someone with the courage, charisma and tenacity to do that.  You need someone with the ability to unite the majority of the people and honor the common interests. Someone who actually cares to listen and know what the people want.... If you could find someone of that caliber, then well, then you have someone who could lead a real rebellion. You will never succeed without the support of the aristocracy, this I believe, " Conall shrugged, "but I am no mage and I am no one of great importance. I'm just rather observant. " 

His eyes turned southwest, "We have enough supplies to last us through the border crossing unless the weather doesn't work in our favor which is highly possible. I've everything transportable already packed. I always kept myself prepared in the event that I had to leave quickly for whatever reason, more likely than not if one of the soldiers from the mines ever wandered their way over here. I caused quite a bit of a stir with my escape, you see. And though I did try to be discreet about that, the Warden got in the way.  My fellow escapees and I had little choice but to kill him so I imagine that there may be some seeking to punish us for what we did. I know they were hunting me, but that was months ago. I broke off from my fellow prisoners though because I had no intention of making Hyoite a permanent residence. They all likely think me dead by now.  Even so, only a fool would assume that he was safe , yes? One can never let one's guard down. "

He paused to consider the next course of action, "I say we ride southwest for the mountains. There's better cover there and if we ride hard enough, then we could reach them possibly before nightfall.  With the tree cover to guard from the winds, we could better pitch a tent. I have one with me made of animal hides and furs but it'll be rather cramped inside. I didn't make the thing with the intention of sheltering more than myself. And sadly, the men that were after Miss Harmond didn't have anything adequate for this climate. I'm surprised that they didn't freeze to death, but I'd venture to guess that they may have stopped at makeshift outposts that were likely constructed around the same time as those camps out here. Anyway, we've wasted enough time chattering. Let's be off , shall we? "

Wasting no more time, they rode swiftly as the horses could manage, traveling southwest and reaching the foot of the Kilanthros though not by the schedule that Conall predicted. His estimation was off by little over a half of an hour preceding dark.  The horses were drawn together and secured with rope to the sturdy evergreen trees. An area was cleared for fire which Conall worked on since it was about the only thing his injured hand could do without causing it further grief. With a fire going, Conall unpacked his bags , handing Katahnia and Joshua the materials necessary for setting up the tent. Since they already had experience with such things, he left them to that while he sharpened his daggers with a whetstone.

Ooc: >> Fell asleep a couple times while writing this . Lemme know in messenger if I need to amend anything. I moved things ahead just a wee bit. X3

Btw...they should find the hotsprings and SHOULD be chased by nekkid guards no matter how little sense that would make ho ho ho!

With the tent erected, the group now gathered around the fire. It's warmth gave them comfort, but also made Katahnia uneasy. If they were heading past the mage camps, they'd have to be careful no one spotted the smoke from their camp. Though as she suspected, there ought to be others camping, wouldn't there? But as her eyes glanced across the glittering, snow-covered tree tops, she saw not a single curl of smoke. They must not be close enough yet. Which was good for the nightwatch, but terrible on one's nerves. How far would they have to travel? It was hard to judge, but even now, as her mind worried over thousands of things, she thought back to Conall's speech.

Someone to lead the masses.. against the Grand Duke. To vy for change...
She.. she had tried, but he was right, even though he didn't know it. She tried to be that voice, but what is the voice of one girl against an entire nation? Even if this woman had once been of nobility and should hve surely died several decades ago... women held no power, even if she was a symbol of hope to those under the fall.

Katahnia drew in a careful breath. Joshua had left the pair to hunt. He offered to do so in order to show his thanks. Hunting at night was his forte, or so he claimed. And he left no room for argument. Katahnia simply nodded, watching as the other man left as she sunk her top teeth into her lower lips and stared out solemnly at the world, her eyes drifting away into deep though as the glow of the fire danced warmly across her features.
It was then, when she noticed movement, she blinked and turned towards Conall, only to notice something familiar wedged into his beard. She covered her lips with her hand to stifle her laughter before leaning foward and reaching for it, plucking it clean out.

"I'm not sure how it managed to get back there, but the pinecone has returned to your beard." she lifted it up so he could see it, her eyes shining before she set it aside.

"Conall.." she then began after a time, her eyes lowered as she swept her hair away from her face. "What you were talking about earlier..." She grew quiet before lifting her gaze. "You were right. We are fighting a losing battle, and we haven't a single political figure to back us up. The Grand Duke has all of the power, and we are powerless against him. We can only stand strong, but it can only last so long. We only ask for peace... nothing more at this point. Just to find some resolve. This war it..." she lowered her gaze, fresh tears sparkling across the surface. "So many innocent people have been slaughtered.." her lips trembled as a few hot tears trailed down her cheeks. "So many homes torn apart... so many people frozen and starved to death... so many hung for no reason. I just.. I pray for hope.."s he said, drawing in a breath to try to collect herself, to steel herself as she brushed away her tears against her sleeve.

"I know I am but a woman, even as the daughter of a former duke, and that my voice will never hold a presence in the chamber of dukes, but Gods.. if only they would listen instead of giving in to their fears.... they're slaughtering their own people, and in some cases, pitting families against themselves. It's horrible."
She raked a hand through her hair, and paused, leaning down and staring back at the fire.

"Though I suppose you alreadyknow that," she said, gravely. Her frown deepened as she looked up at him. "Considering you were hardly a mage and you... you still were on their list to be killed." Her eyes tried to search his, but she remained silent, not knowing what the right words were to say. It was a delicate subject, and she did not wish to pry, so instead, she laughd at herself as more tears rolled down her cheeks and turned away, wiping them off again on her sleeve.

Conall sat beside the fire quietly, simply staring at it with a contemplative expression. He heard Katahnia's approach and looked up at her when she leaned over him to extract the pine cone from his beard. When she held it up before his eye, he blushed and shrugged. In all honesty, he'd forgotten. Maybe Katahnia was right . Maybe a shave was necessary if this was going to keep happening!

The mood of the conversation suddenly shifted to something far more solemn and Conall listened, holding his tongue and never letting his gaze wander from her. She had his rapt attention.

When she finished, he rose from his seat and drew her into a gentle embrace, "I am listening to you, am I not?  I know I am only one Duke...heh, but that's start, right? Do not let my pessimistic words discourage you. I was offering council from a different perspective though I probably could have phrased things a little more gently, "he sighed, " You may be a woman, and your House may have fallen but your words have more power than you know, Kahtania Harmond. All you have to do is know who to speak to and how to speak them. My mother taught me that. "

He let her go and reached up to brush away some tears from her eyes, " This war is far from over and, I assure you, that when I've reclaimed my home,  I will do everything within my power to see that those whom have wronged Connlaoth and its people meet the with the consequence that their offenses merit. I cannot say who would rise in Allarick's place nor could I say how things will be after the conflict is laid to rest. I suspect the wounds the country has sustained will take some years to heal and the recovery won't be easy as so many would demand, but I promise not to rest or to give up until , at the very least things are restored to their natural order.  I wish I could promise more than that, but I cannot and I will not . I'm not cruel like that."

He shook his head, "There are other nobles who probably would stand behind me in this. Duchess Melora is one of them. The only problem is that I cannot begin to seek any manner of support from her if I cannot prove myself worthy.  I have to take Ardal myself. That's just how she is. She wouldn't dare turn because it's too dangerous. I have to show her that I'm capable which is not going to be any small task,  but earning her favor would certainly be more than worth the trouble. I don't know how I'm going to accomplish it  yet , but I'm thinking. I've been thinking about it every night since I was sent to the mines. "

ooc: Way less emo than what I was going to originally post! Phew!

Katahnia tensed at first beneath his embrace, feeling embarrassed in the moment as both her eyes and cheeks were red and hot with tears. But she found herself comforted and staring back at him in silence as she listened to him speak, a smile slowly drawing across her lips.

"Thank you," she whispered softly, drawing in a steady breath. "The path we walk is not easy, but perhaps as we head south into Connlaoth, we could stop by the duchy of Hellvion to speak with Duchess Melora, though I am... quite surprised to hear you speak about a woman in command? Does she have a husband?" she inquired, raising her brows. "It's something to hear indeed, a woman ruling..."

"It is no trouble, my friend, " Conall replied with a slight nod and then added with a small smile,"Oh, indeed. Lord Avelon is very much alive and well. He's just..." Conall wasn't quite sure how to sum up that relationship, " Well, I suppose it's sort of like the relationship my parents had. My mother ran the country while father played soldier and made political appearances whenever it was necessary. Although I don't know if that's the case with Lord Avelon. I think he likes to hunt a lot , but whatever the case may be I have met the man only a few times."

He shook his head, " Melora very independent, and intelligent. She knows how to manipulate men to get whatever she wants. She's also rather ambitious. I hear she offered her daughter Aella's hand to Calent Allarick and was greatly affronted when she found out that he was engaged to Lady Kathryn Chandos of Higheart.  She doesn't take rejection very well either so even if Allarick currently holds her 'loyalty' , she likely gives it to him begrudgingly because she wants a stake in Reajh. I suspect that she would happily turn against him given the opportunity just to spite him.  "

He shrugged, " I'm not sure how I would approach her and convince her of who I am.  She thinks I'm dead and, well, I don't look much like myself these days."

ooc: Keallach free weekend? I lied.   

Katahnia smiled.
"Oh.. now I think I might remember hearing about her. I might have met her once or twice,.. perhaps right after we had met." And she turned away, hiding her smile and a soft blush as she recalled the dance. It felt so long ago...
so very, very long ago.

Drawing ina  breath, she sighed and smiled as she turned back to look at him.
"It's nice hearing about a strong woman in Connlaoth. That sort of thing is about as unheard of as a mage given freedom." Then at his last question, she flattened her lips to consider.
"Perhaps we'll have to convince her, and all of Connlaoth, you are alive."

Conall shook his head, " Unheard of, perhaps. Though that doesn't mean powerful female figures exist. Women have different ways of obtaining power and exercising it because the laws are written in favor of men.  There's a saying that behind every strong man, there's usually a strong woman.  Or, mother would say, behind every strong man there's usually an even stronger woman telling him how to run the house or when to lace his boots, " he chuckled and shook his head again.

Mages ,on the other hand, was not a subject he could humor her with . They both understood that was a dire situation.

At her suggestion of convincing Melora of his identity he looked a bit surprised, " We? You would help? Help me? You would help me ?" He blinked again as though he found the words difficult to believe. "Really? But- well, that's -" He fumbled awkwardly over his words, not quite sure what to say or even what to think. 


ooc: Derp!

"What? Why are you mumbling?" she asked with a laugh. SHe shook her head. "Of course I'm serious. Why wouldn't I be? Aren't you the one telling me I need to find strong connections in order to have the country hear me? What better way than through a duke reborn through his death?"

"Well, yes. I did, but I meant... not me! I'm just- I thought- but I'm not strong. There are other men , other dukes with a lot more influence than I. I'm just Conall Shanley , the Duke - former Duke of Ardal." Though perhaps she may have been right.He may have been the only one willing to be the first to listen to her. He ran a hand over his beard , " Not that I certainly wouldn't try to be every bit worthy of your confidence. I just- no, never-mind. Thank you. I would be deeply honored to have your support."

He look turned thought, "I cannot say how difficult it will be convincing Melora of who I am. I have no money, no family heirlooms. I suppose I have my face and voice but I'm not so sure that would be enough for her. "

ooc: lol .

"Well, are there other family members we could seek out? Council men, other nobles?" Katahnia inquired. "There must be a way to restore you to your rightful place. Even if... if it's not something that would amount to the cause, this is just wrong. To think, the Grand Duke was able to get rid of you wihtout so much as a flinch." She sighed hotly, growing angry nad looked away, only then realizing she had been yelling. "Sorry. I just.. get so angry sometimes over what has become of the world."

He shrunk back a bit from the volume of her angry tone, but offered her a polite smile whens she apologized for her mood , " Don't be. I know I may not seem like it, but I am nearly upset as you are. "

" Anyway, I put myself in this position with my defiance. Sometimes I wonder if I should have done as I was commanded. Either way, those people were damned and now I may have damned Ardal as well, "he sighed.

He considered what ties he had, "  I have some family, yes. I...don't really know my mother's side very well. House Aeron. They weren't happy with mother's marriage to my father and stopped coming to visit when I was seven or eight. I saw Lord Aeron once about seven years ago, but I don't think he'd recognize me today.  My father's side...House Shanley is...mostly wiped out with the exception of my aunt and her her children though I suspect that since I had her husband hanged for treason, I don't think asking them for help is an option. "

He paused to consider his options some more, " I know nearly every noble house in Ardal or I did. I have no idea who Calent put in my place or what they've done to the duchy. Outside of Ardal, there are the Delgrins in Uthlyn and an  Essyrni merchant from Reajh, Artair . There's the Driscolls from Bellkrath but ...I .." He looked sheepishly at her and blushed," Lady Driscoll and I have ....a history of mishaps. Some of which you're aware of..."

"You think Lady Driscoll would be so petty as to deny you your title over her hair?"
THough the question came out serious, and she meant it.
Shaking her head, she sighed.
"I'm sorry if I'm asking too much it just.." she sighed again.
"So much is at stake, so much has happened that I... I just don't know anymore. Perhaps I should worry about this after we get back to Connlaoth. Who knows what happened since we had both been gone."

Conall shook his head, "You speak as though you're surprised, but are you not familiar with how paranoid , petty and childish people can be? Petty indeed, especially the privileged class of society. Lady Driscoll is no exception to that rule. "

He nodded, agreeing with her, " No, you need not worry. 'Tis not too much to ask of me for it is all a rather relevant concern. I only wish I could provide you with a more suitable answer, but until I reach Connlaoth and assess the state of things then I'm afraid I can only venture to guess what I would do or whom I would meet with. Assuming that we do indeed reach Hellvion first, then Melora is probably the best person to start with. And she will either think I'm a stark-raving lunatic or she might see me as an opportunity. I just...pray that if it were the latter that she don't get any marriage proposal ideas into her head."

Katahnia raised her brows at him.
"But you are a political man, would not a marriage to her daughter be welcomed? It could be the key to securing you a position back into Connlaoth, even if your duchy has fallen."

"Indeed. From a political standpoint, most certainly. The union would be rather  beneficial to Hellvion, to Ardal, and, " Conall sighed, "I suppose that's all that really matters. It's not as though..." He stopped himself quite suddenly and shook his head, "nevermind. It's not important. You're right."


ooc: hah. EMOooo!

Kathania listened to him quietly, and missed the reason behind his stutter, but did not ignore his melancholy.
"What's wrong? Is the duchess's daughter not someone you'd consider as a wife? It is a shame, the sort of arrangement one makes when they have status in the world. One has to think about political gain rather than heart, or even, in some cases, to worry about scandal." She shook her head. "Had I grown up and the duchy I had once been a part of survived well... I'd be old right now, for starters, but... well... I don't know. My parents never believed in arranged marriages. They were very against the book. My mother inspire a lot of that out of my father."S he sighed, smiling thoughtfully at the idea. "And I guess he did the same to her. Though... there was a time I would have considered marrying out of love I... well, we're not talking about me now are we? But, I had considered marrying my cousin Blaith." She frowned. "Though had there not been a strain with the man I had been seeing, the father of my child I... well.... I suppose that's that. We live in a different world and love is not so freely given when one things of marriages and unions. But I would have married him had he asked."

 "There's nothing wrong with her at all," Conall replied, feeling flustered and regretting he'd ever brought this topic up, " Aella is a sweet girl and I'm sure she'd make a good wife for someone worthy of her, but I don't suspect that I could love her as well as she likely deserves." He shrugged, " And perhaps if I didn't have feelings invested ...somewhere else, I'd have no reservations at all about entering such an engagement. It would be a very beneficial union for the Hellvion and Ardal and would solidify an alliance , but it's difficult for me to ignore how I feel, let alone suppress it. I've had to suppress so many things my whole life – I can't be myself most of the time and I've come accept that although it would have been nice if I could have made one selfish decision. "


ooc: Waaaaah! 

"Oh," Katahnia said, almost silently. Her face went red. "I didn't realize you had a girl. I bet she misses you." She smiled. "You are sweet. It only makes sense for you to find someone. Perhaps when we get back I'll help you look for her." And she afforded him a warm smile.

Now it was his face to flush as bright as a cherry and feel extremely awkward, " Wh-what? N-no! I don't- I meant...only that I had strong uh...feelings for a lady. But you see, I haven't told her.  " He looked away, looking nervous but not nearly as much as he felt.   

And I never will.

"Oh!" Katahnia's face had become redder. "I'm er- s-sorry, I just assumed, I mean I, that is to say, I suppose it wasn't too terribly rude of me, was it? But I do, apologize. But oh? So there is a girl..." and her eyes narrowed upon him playfully. "She wouldn't happen to have blonde hair and baby blue eyes and be a certain cousin of mine, would she?" she bated. SHe couldn't help it. Despite the awkward moment, she couldn't help but tease. "I do recall a certain night at the party where you danced with her an awful lot. She seemed to like you, you know." Then she grew quiet realizing.. for all she knew, Kella was dead.

"Not really, it's more of a compliment than an insult, " he replied , frowning a bit and that frown only deepened when he noticed that familiar look on her face. Uh oh. She was going to torment him again.

Me and my big mouth.

"Wha-? K-kella!? I er...we just danced! For ...awhile . She was teaching me to waltz because I think she might have felt sorry for me . That's all. It was just a friendly um...thing." He certainly liked Kella Harmond. She was gentle, sweet, and quite beautiful , but ....he hardly knew her. Though he would have felt terrible for admitting the truth which only he likely knew. It just wasn't appropriate given the circumstances.

He felt a pang of guilt , pulling at his heartstrings. Poor Kella! He prayed to Ansgar that she was alright.

He shook his head at Katahnia, "And you danced with me quite a while longer than that, but that doesn't mean that we're an item. I also recall you being just mean then as you are now except , thankfully, there were no pine cones back then available for you to throw at my person."

He crossed his arms, " I'm not telling you who it is. You'll just torment me even more with that knowledge. " Probably not. The truth might have surprised her and might not have been something she'd want to hear , or so he'd assume.

"Oh, really?" she said, her grin growing wide, curling at the ends like a cat's.
"How come I hardly believe you? Were you leading my cousin on? Why, I'd have to say I never thought of you to be coy with the ladies, Duke Shanley.."

"Duke Shanley!?"

Katahnia jumped clean out of her skin, giving a scream and turning around.
"Joshua!? How long were you there!?" Her heart was beating so fast... GODS, what had she just done! She knew he wanted to keep his identity a secret, and Joshua, despite being a mage, was still barely an acquaintance and could not be trusted so easily. She bit into  her fingernails.

"Just long enough to over hear that!" he said, pointing an accusing finger at the man. "I'll have your head on a spike if I could you vile, wretched-"

"JOSHUA, STOP!" she commanded, grabbing him by the arms. "Please, calm yourself. His identity is meant to be a secret. I'm sorry if it has upset you but I.." she sighed and peered over at Conall with a frown and a look of apology.
"I... well, he had been in the same mess as I, and were it not for him, I wouldn't be alive, and lest I remind you, without him, we woudl not have someone so noble to lead us right now."

Joshua scowled.
"We don't need him." he sneered. "Not with you around. Don't you understand? So many people see you as the  voice of the revolution! ANd him? He's a GOD DAMN FUCKING DUKE! One of the enemy!"

"There are many voices of the revolution.." Kat began solemnly, then turned to Shanely. "And until we remove ourself from our prejudices, we might not ever find peace in our home."

Joshua, unnerved by this, simply slammed the rabbits he killed onto the floor.
"Well," he said with an angered sniff, "I ain't cooking." And he glared over at the duke. "Let's let pretty boy here handle it for a change. I'm going out for a walk. Call me in when it's ready."
And with that, he stormed out.

For a moment, Kathania stood there with her mouth gaping open, before she sighed and turned towards Conall.
"I... I'm sorry for that." she said, speaking softly and staring down at her wringing hands through long lashes.

 "I would never! A gentleman does not toy with a woman's heart," Conall exclaimed and then shook his head and was about to remind her not to address him by title again because the last thing he needed was Joshua knowing...
Shit! He heard the man repeat his name. Too late!

He half-turned in time to see Joshua step out from behind one of the trees. Conall stood his ground as the seemingly irate mage approached them. When the other man spat aggressive words at him and pointed an accusing finger at his face, Conall's usually kind expression turned as cold as the tundra.

"Try it and see how far you get. " The duke growled softly and his hand shot for the dagger sheathed at his hip. He knew it was likely worthless in a fight against a mage, but Conall was not going to cower in fear. He'd throw the bloody thing and hope the blade struck the bastard in the throat.

The words that followed stung a little. And it took every ounce of his patience and restraint for him to hold his tongue.  He was aware that there were plenty of people who didn't know him and presumed to . Some hated him as much as they hated Calent because they just assumed that because the laws were what they were that all of the nobility just approved of what was happening.
Joshua was one of the ignorant and it wasn't likely that he could simply be reasoned with . He'd have to prove himself to more than just the aristocracy, of course.  Conall sighed, watching Joshua storm away.

He looked at Katahnia then , " I suppose I could cook , but I don't think he realizes that it would be a small form of torture," he said with mild humor and then sighed once more , shaking his head, " This will be interesting. If he decides to be a problem...we'll have to deal with him. "

There was so much tension here, Katahnia could not stand it. ANd despite Conall trying to make a jest, she turned away from him.
"Perhaps I should go get him and talk some sense?" she said, moving away.

Conall caught her by the wrist and kept her from continuing, "Thank you, but you should probably give him a little time to...cool off. His emotions are on the edge. He's been alone for days , on the run from , well, you know. He's probably afraid that I'd betray the both of you and turn you in to one of those camps at the first chance I got.He doesn't know me and he's ignorant of the reality behind the war's politics. If you think you can talk him down now, I won't stop because I know he won't hurt you. He holds enough respect for you. "

Kathania turned to him, her green eyes catching to his. At his words, she visibly pouted, though it flattened more into a frown.
"I'll at least go see where he went,"s he said softly, and slowly slipped her hand from his, staring down at it awkwardly for a moment before looking up, then stepping away. The truth of the matter was she needed a walk. Her head was clouded and well, a brisk walk behidn the trees where Joshua had disappeared to sufficed well. By the time she made it tot he other side, however, the man was no where to be seen, as Katahnia folded her arms across her chest and shivered. It was so damn cold here, it made Connlaoth winters seem like nothing.

"Very well but don't stay too far from camp," Conal replied quietly with a nod , watching her leave. Though after a moment , he realized something only a moment after he lost sight of her when she vanished beyond a copse of trees. "Katahnia! Wait!" He followed her footprints in the snow , finding her. "If you're going to venture far from the fire, at least take this with you." He removed the fur 'poncho' from his shoulders and gave it to her. " It'll keep you warmer."
He looked around. Where the hell had Joshua gone?

"Just put that over your shoulders. I'll get back to the fire and see about those rabbits." He turned and trudged back to camp.

Katahnia was startled when Conall came flying out from behind the row of trees, and blinked when he placed the fur coat across her shoulders. SHe stared down at it, her fingers trailing across it as her cheeks lightly blushed.
"Thank you," she spoke softly, then when he went to move she called over to him. "Wait," and found herself stumbling to a halt at his side. She didn't know what she was going to say or do, but well... finding something inside the fur coat pocket, her eye sparkled a little and she found more confidence as she moved near to him.
"Here.." she said,  placing a pine cone in his hand. "In case you get lonely while I'm away." she teased, her grin growing wider.
THen she laughed and stepped away, her hands gently moving away from his.
"I shan't be long. Plus it would be wise for one of us to scout anyways, would it not? And I'm sure you'll be fine wiht the rabbit." she said, her smile growing as she continued to walk backwards and away from him.

Conall was surprised when she pulled out a pine cone from the poncho and deposited it into his palm. He blinked, " How did that get in there? I didn't even feel it. " He narrowed his eyes suspiciously at her as he watched her retreated, taking backward steps. "This is your doing, isn't it? " She had a grin on her face like a Cheshire cat. Oh indeed! She was guilty as charged.

Fine! He'd play along then. "Isn't that sweet of you for thinking about me? I'll name it in your honor. It does kind of resemble you a bit in the face, except this Katahnia is nicer and doesn't want to shave my beard or throw things at it.  "

As an afterthought , he added, "Scouting would be good. Do you have a weapon other than magic? In case...well , in the unlikely but possible event that there may be Mordecai..."

It felt strange speaking of them as though they were enemies, especially for him. He shook his head. Katahnia was his friend though and he knew that any moredecai that tried to harm her, no matter how close to God they were, would die by his hand.

If she did not, he would present her with his bow and quiver of arrows, and one of the many daggers he wore on his person at all times.

He then left her and returned to camp and set to skinning the two rabbits and separating the meat from the bones. Then, filling a pot with snow, he set that to the flames , waiting for it to melt and boil before he added the meat to the water and rummaged in his pack for some herbs he'd collected from the mountains when he and Katahnia had initially met. 

She accepted the knife, saying thanks to him as her eyes lingered upon his before he left. For a while, she remained there quietly before turning away and drawing in a breath, only to find Joshua stepping out from behind the brush, and striking a rock across her head. She crumpled into the snow, and he moved forward, quiet as the windless day and headed towards the camp. He had taken the knife Conall had given to Katahnia, and silently apologized to her for what he had done, and was about to do..

but he had to protect her.. He had to protect all mages. No one should suffer as he had. NO ONE!
And as Conall was bent over tending to the rabbits, he leaped upon him, shouting out and trying to draw the knife across his throat.

Conall stirred the herbs into the stew for a while and then brought the spoon to his lips for a taste test . "Hm.  It's still kind of bland. I'm missing something..." He stood there contemplating what ingredients he had that he could use to enhance the flavor and didn't hear Joshua approaching, but noticed a shadow fall over him. It was too large to be Katahnia's shadow. "Joshua? "

There came no verbal reply and that unnerved him a little. He started to straighten up and turn around, but he didn't move quickly enough . Joshua leaped at him with a yell and landed on his back. One of Conall's knees buckled completely under the other man's weight.He gasped, seeing the flash of his own knife before his eye . The man was trying to cut his throat! Conall grabbed his arm and tried to force it away , but Joshua was stronger. The blade drew closer to his throat and Conall, in his desperation, drew the man's arm closer and bit Joshua's arm with all the force his jaws could muster.

Bitter and warm , Joshua's blood filled Conall's mouth. It was a sickening to him, but Conall did not relent until...

Joshua howled and dropped the knife. It fell to the snow and Conall kicked it spinning away with his boot then threw his head back, smashing it into the other man's face and he jerked his right arm back, elbowing the other man sharply in the ribs. Joshua staggered and Conall broke free. He spun around ,  spat out a mouthful of Joshua's blood and called out to him , "Joshua! What is the meaning of this!?"

A foolish question, he thought. This man wanted to see him dead. He was mad! It was probably better to finish the poor fool though Conall would rather try to talk the man down first.

"You will not destroy our revolution!" Joshua howled. "All of Connlaoth's nobles must fall for what they have done! Ignorant bastard!" And he lunged at Conall again, making a heavy gesture as if to back hand him, but he was still several feet when he did this. but then his face fell, and angrily he tried back handing him fro ma distance again.

"Angsar our Savior.. you're a mordecai!" he shouted in disgust, realizing his powers failed in the man's presence... and not realizing there was a group of mordecai patrolling the area, looking for him just on the other side of the grove of trees. They hadn't noticed Katahnia's body yet, but it was the smoke that caught their attention, and the cries of the sudden battle in the snow. And as Joshua threw himself at Conall, four horses with men in glittering armor rounded the bend, crossbows and spears in arms  as they moved and tore around them in the snow, encircling them.

"Throw your hands up in surrender!" the mordecai leader demanded. "Do it now or you're dead!"

Joshua's face grew red hot with anger. "This is your fault!" he wailed, grabbing onto the fallen knife and lunging at Conall again- only for the men to let loose their crossbows, and all of the bolts were trained and sunk into Joshua's back. The man's eyes widened a moment, before he slumped over, collapsing in a bloodied heap ontop of Conall. And the mordecai were quick to dismount their horses and moved over towards the pair.

THey yanked Joshua off of Conall.

"This one's dead."

"What about the other?"

Conall rolled his eyes at the madman's declaration , "For the love of Ansgar's burning beard, of course I won't , you imbecile! LOOK at me and THINK about this for a moment! " 

He watched the man making odd gestures with his hands as though he may have been casting a spell and Conall tensed up and shouted, " Joshua! " But nothing followed. There was no spell, no magic. Thank Ansgar for that!
But then the man accused his failures for his being mordecai! What?

"This is getting ridiculous. I am NOT a mordecai; you're just a delirious.  " And then it occurred to him that Katahnia wasn't in sight, "Wait. Where is Kat-"
He heard the horse hooves first and lifted his head up , straining his ear, "Can you hear tha-"

Joshua slugged him, his arm coming up swift and strong with a powerful left hook , fist smashing Conall just below the jaw. Conall retaliated with a punch of his own, right to the gut, "Someone's coming , fool! We need to stop!" Though every time Conall tried to walk away, Joshua attacked him , forcing the duke to defend himself or get pummeled black and blue.

The horses drew nearer and Conall knew it was too late as they thundered out from behind the copse and circled them.

When commanded to , Conall raised his hands. There was no fighting four men without Joshua's help. His eyes looked over at the man, pleading for him to stop fighting, pleading for him to set aside his differences so that they could escape this damnable situation. But Joshua wasn't strong enough to cast his hatred aside and made to attack Conall again.
"Joshua, no!"

It was futile. He knew it even before he heard the clicking of the crossbow triggers and heard the bolts strike the angry mage 's body.  He gave a despaird gasp as the corpse fell on him, and he caught the body in his arms, holding it up.

"Joshua?"

Joshua was still.

Now the mordecai had their attention on him. He released Josha's corpse and let it topple to the snow. He held up his hands, " Please, I'm just a native-"
Two mordecai dismounted and approached him. One of the men grabbed him roughly and searched him bodily, "This one is Connloathian for sure, but he's not marked. "

"I'm not a mage..." Conall began.

The second mordecai struck him a heavy blow to the back of the head, "Silence! You will speak only when commanded to, understand?"

"Y-yes, sir." Conall winced and nodded.

The man searching him rolled back his sleeve, exposing his arm and the brand on it. "What's this ? A prisoner from the Kilanthro's mines? Well, well. Mage or not, you're still a damned criminal!" He rammed his iron fist into the duke's gut. Conall doubled over in pain. It almost felt as though the blow had broken something. Possibly a rib.

"We're taking him with us. Search the area and be wary. There's bound to be more of the wretched filth. " The leader of the group barked the command and the two remaining mounted mordecai took off.

"It's just the two of us, " Conall insisted, lying.

The lead Mordecai punched him again, "I said be silent, churl! You will know to hold your tongue in the presence of your betters lest I decide to cut your snake-like tongue free from blasphemous mouth! " 

Together , the two Mordecai facing Conall restrained him and had his arms pulled behind his back, hands shackled together.

"JUst the two of you... and a rat," one man stated, dragging Katahnia out from behind the trees. Her body was limp in the man's arm, and she was still as death. But then the man confirmed, "Looks like this girl's still alive, and recovering from quite a series of wounds. Probably another escaped prisoner like our hairy friend over there," and he gestured to Conall.

"Bind her up as wella nd toss her onto the back of the horses. The man can walk." their leader said, and moved to tie Conall's shackles and leashed them to the back of his own horse, where there, Katahnia was draped over the side, unconscious a light bit of blood running down her temple.

He prayed, beseeching Ansgar to protect Katahnia and keep her hidden from these men who possessed borderline heinous conduct.  If his cooperation spared her from their cruelty, he would go with them though he knew not what would happen to either of them after this. Would Kahtania survive on her own? Where were these men going to take him? Back to the mines? Oh God...he'd be executed for sure!  He was only fortunate that these weren't soldiers from there or he'd be slain on sight.

It was less than half of an hour later that the two missing mordecai returned with one of them carrying the limp form of Kahtania in his arms. He saw the wounds on her still body and shrieked with rage, "YOU BASTARDS!" 

Unthinking, he was about to start towards the man who he ASSUMED had murdered his friend. In that moment, nothing mattered anymore. He knew he was going to die anyways and better to POSSIBLY take out the monster that had killed her then to let him walk away while he was carted off to the mines to face final judgment.

Immediately the other three mordecai readied their weapons to strike the enraged man down, but Conall froze quite suddenly when he heard that she was alive. "Alive? Ansgar be thanked..." Though he wished his God would have been a little more generous than this. Perhaps there was a lesson to be learned in all of this. Conall breathed a sigh, " I'm sorry. I thought she was dead."

The leader struck him anyways, " Another outburst like that and you'll join your friend there." He roughly grabbed Conall's face and forced him to look down at Joshua's corpse.

Oddly, Conall felt a twinge of guilt and nausea assault his senses. Joshua's death had been his own fault, he knew this but he couldn't help but feel as though he could have handled the situation better and all of this could have been avoided. Maybe he should have told Joshua the truth at first meeting? Maybe not. Joshua seemed to have a deep-rooted hatred for the nobility. It was likely that no matter what he'd done that Joshua would have tried to kill him.

"Sorry. It won't happen again, sir." Conall replied in a voice that was loud enough to hear but small enough to come across as obedient. Abusive captors like these didn't tolerate mouthy, defiant prisoners, he imagined. The mines sure as hell hadn't and he'd learned that VERY quickly.   

He didn't resist when he was leashed to the horse and he walked as fast as he could to keep up with the horse that dragged him along. His eyes were on Kahtania the whole time. He prayed she hadn't been hurt as badly as it looked.

It was a long, cold march to the mage camps; and the entire time, Katahnia remained silent. And snow had began to fall at the beginning of the trek, and was near blinding at one point as a storm set in. It almost appeared as if the men had lost their way, but when the skies began to clear, the rim of the clouds hued in orange, the snow faded away to reveal the tall, stone walls stretching across and snaking around the encampments in the valley below. Little was there to mark the destination, but painted vividly on the sides of the stone was the mark of the mage in red; and on tall poles flapped the bold colors of Connloath.

They were here, at the mage camps. It was only then Katahnia stirred as the men began to make an uneasy trek down the mountain side. She made a noise, barely audible at first as her eyes opened, staring lazily back at a snow-clad Conall, her body becoming lulled by the rocking motion of the horse.

Snowflakes clung to her eye lashes, and throughout her hair. And as she turned to observe what had happened, she noticed the mark of the mordecai on the man behind her and suddenly let out a sharp cry.

The horses were alerted, one bucking up and spilling it's rider and as the hrose dashed off, it nearly trampled Conall in it's wake. The horse Kathania was on bucked as well, knocking her off, but she was held on by the ropes as she dangled off it's side, screaming out as the ropes cut into her arm, hanging onto her painfully as the mordecai rider calmed the beast.

Jerking on the reins, he turned around, yanked out his whip and cracked the woman, then cracked the horse, then cracked the air infront of Conall.
He leaped off the horse, keeping an angered grip upon it's reins as he whirled aorund to Katania, kicking her over then yanking her up by her hair.

Katahnia let out a gasp, her hot breaths coming out in pained puffs throughout the air. And as the man held her, he drew out his blade, and Kathania saw it, eyes going wide as her breath hitched within her throat.

Conall stared up at the tall, frost-crusted stone walls that loomed up ominously before them. He felt the same old fear tingle in his spine as when he'd first arrived in the mines though this place wasn't , surprisingly as daunting despite the ruthlessness of the Mordecai. He could be grateful for two things : the first thing being that he wouldn't be underground and the second thing being that he wouldn't be locked up in  with a cell  full of murderers, thieves, rapists and Ansgar knew what else! Even so, this was still NOT a place that he imagined would be a pleasant experience for him and if it weren't for Kahtahnia being there, he would have tried to escape.

Who knew what they'd do to her if he tried to leave? But Ansgar only knew what would be if he didn't do anything at all. His mind was racing with all of the possibilities of what could happen here. He honestly had no idea but he knew none of the outcomes were going to be good. The people who were taken away- they never came back. Or so he'd heard. It was the very reason why he refused to turn the refugees away from his duchy.  He wasn't about to send hundreds of seemingly innocent families to be damned.

His dismal contemplation was disturbed by a shrill voice that cut through the howl of the chill wind. The sound spooked at least two of the horses and one of the bolted forward, heedless of the man that stood directly in its warpath. Conall turned just in time to see the beast thundering towards him, it's large black eyes wide with fright. He flattened himself against the horse that he was tied to and, thankfully its rider was able to keep it calm.

He heard Kahtahnia scream and he started toward her. The whip cracked before his eye and he froze, and he hated himself for his hesitation and his fear. He watched the rider with the whip dismount and go over to her and winced when the man kicked her. Anger flared up in him which quickly chilled to an icy fear when the man seized a fistful of her hair and held her throat up, exposed as he drew a blade.

"STOP!" Conall shouted at the man, " Stop it! Can't you see she's already suffered enough!? I beseech you! Mordecai are meant to protect people, not bully them! Show some mercy, for Ansgar's sake!"

The man released Kahatahnia and let her fall back into the snow. He whirled around on Conall, his eyes glinting with lethal promise, "Hold your tongue unless you desire to accept her punishment."

Conall spat, " I fear not the threat of an ignominious beast who would strike an injured and unarmed lady in a fit of childish rage. If that is all that it takes to spare her additional pain, then come over here and do your worst, by all means."

The man holding Kahtahnia released her, letting her fall face down in the snow. He trudged over to where Conall stood with brutal promise in his piercing sapphire glare.  "Get the witch back on the horse and get her situated behind the walls . Irving and I will deal with this one. "

While the other two men took Katahnia away , the remaining two beat Conall until he was sore all over and bloody. And when they were finished with him, they picked him up and dragged him through the snow into the camp since he was too sore to walk.

"We don't know if she's a mage," one soldier said.

"Look at those wounds. I'd be surprised if she wasn't."

"You don't suppose she might be..."

"I don't think anyone could escape. And I haven't seen her before, and I've been stationed here at the camps the last two years."

Katahnia had been dragged away, now bound to a chair inside a soltaire room with barely any light within it. A crowd of guards and mordecai were all around her, and she could faintly hear the arctic winds coming from above. She peered up towards the ceiling. The building she was in looked half finished, there being no finished connection between the walls and the ceiling, allowing for the light to com ein, and also whatever winds had gotten past the fortress wall. And it was cold here inside, int he shade, with no fire, and the men's breath were turning white as they spoke.

They moved to approach her, seeing how she'd come around again before their leader, the man that had captured and beaten her before, looked down at her with a narrow gaze.
"So.. are you ready to talk?"


Elsewhere...

Conall had been taken away, tossed into an over crowded cell. The woman, they had promised, would join him later. SHe was to be questioned first, considering she was awake and a bit more stable looking then he. They had heard enough of Conall's tongue when he tried to protest their attacks,a nd it seemed he wanted to protect this woman. But why?

SO he was left a bleeding mess upon the floor, and the dirty mage families within backed away a moment, giving him space before one woman stepped forward and began to help him as best as she could.

"Get me some fresh snow, Tilde, and see if you and Hana can't melt some." Then to another woman nearby, she gestured. "Come, help me rip up some clothe and bind his wounds. I know the food is scarce and another mouth to feed will be consequential, but we have to stick together. We can't just let him lay here and bleed out to death."

Not when there was still hope to be had.

Ooc : A solitaire room? Are they going to play card games with Kahtahnia until she confesses ?  :'D

Ic:

Conall was only half-aware of his surroundings. One his eyes were swollen so badly from injury that one had been forced closed temporarily. He had blood all over him, running from various nasty cuts that had been freshly marked in his dirty flesh. These wounds were especially prominent on his face. "K-kat..."Conall managed to spit out only a fraction of his friend's name through swollen, bleeding and trembling lips.  He tried to move, but his body shuddered and gave out beneath him and he released a half-choked sob, feeling hopelessly frustrated with the situation.

He felt hands on him, but couldn't see much. He struggled feebly.

"Hold still. We're trying to help you and you're only making your wounds worse ," an elder woman's voice spoke to him . Stern  , but not unkind.

He stopped and went still, turning his head to look to the side. Through his one good, half-lidded eye he saw several pairs of legs. Filthy, tattered rags they wore. Other prisoners like himself. "Wh-wheeerrrre..." He slurred lazily through his tongue, "she?"

"Your friend? The men that brought you here are holding your friend in solitary confinement for now. I think they intend to interrogate you both. She was in better shape than you are...." A man told him.

Conall winced and tried to move again , ...mus...go..." He dragged himself along the icy ground, one hand after another, leaving a trail of smeared blood behind him.

He felt something holding him down , keeping him from moving further and he made a frustrated choking sound, " ...re...lease....me... I..."  He choked another half-sob. It was quite a pathetic sight.

ooc: D: Man, that is sad...

THis time a man held him down, and it was a man's voice that spoke.
"You ain't going anywhere like that. And especially not in a place like this. Use that last good eye of yours to look around, sir. You'd be in the mage camps."


----

"What is there to be said?" Kat pressed, and she knew the men were growing angry.

"We've been through a lot of shit today, and yours won't be one of them if we can help it. Now talk, or we'll kill you now," the leader said, drawing out a blade and letting it glint off the faint lighting that filtered into the room.

Kat's eyes went large as she swallowed the knot within her throat.

"What do you want to know?" she asked, hesitating as a breath hitched within her throat as the men drew near. He placed a hand on her chair and leaned closely over her.

"Tell us everything.." he said, the blade now pointed at her gut. "Or I'll start low, then work my way up to your pretty little face." Then he poked the blade against her, so she coudl feel how sharp it was. "Now...." he grunted. "Talk. Who are you, who were the two men with you, and why are you out here, in the Kilanthros?"

"I....I don't...care if I were in the ....the...Fell itself. L-let me...go!" Conall snarled and thrashed underneath his restrainer feebly. Of course, the man restraining him didn't listen and Conall made another pathetic sobbing noises. His body shuddered again and 'relaxed'. He had , physically, no fight left in him. 

He felt someone grabbing his wrist and holding it up, " I recognize this mark. It's a brand they give prisoners from the Kilanthros Mines Prison. My cousin is in there. " Another man quipped.

"Isn't that where criminals are sent ? You know, the bad kinds?" A younger woman inquired, scowling at Conall.

"I ....did...nothing...wrong." Conall replied quietly. Only the closest to him could hear him.

"That's what they all say," the skeptical woman retorted.

"Give the poor bastard a break," the man whom had mentioned the mines before snapped at her. 

"Yes, but.." the woman tried to press.

"But nothing," the man snapped. "If anything, Connlaothians see us as a lot more wretched then them." He shook his head. "You, sir, must be the most unluckiest of men to have been there, and then oh so graciously brought to us, here. But I digress, it seems you've got a fighter's spirit. Perhaps that's why they drug your sorry ass here." Then he paused to consider.. "Say.. who is your friend anyway? And what did the pair of you do?"

Obviously something was going down, for all of the guards were on high alert.

Conall couldn't even lift his head to see the man who spoke out in his defense, even if he did so without knowing a thing, "Friend...Kat." He couldn't manage her whole name, "I...Conall. We...met in...mountains. I don't...know her... well. I escaped...from ... mines. I..."he coughed, expelling a small amount of blood that had trickled down into his throat from his split lower lip, "We...were...just...going home."

It was partially a lie , but he didn't have the energy to share the whole of his story. Even if he had, how many people here would react as Joshua had and tried to kill him? Or how many of them would think him mad for claiming to be a man who was supposedly dead.

The woman from earlier stepped forward, the one who had tended to his wounds.
"Come now, he's too strained for this. Hold your tongues and let him be." Sighing,s he knelt beside him and offered him the bowl of water the two children had got.
"Here, drink this. Perhaps it will sooth a bit of your woes." She offered him a slight smile. "It's the least we can do." Then upon hearing his name, her smile grew. "You can call me Lana. The large man is Drake, and well I'm sure when you come around to it, you can meet the rest."

"Th-than..ksss, " Conall managed to say, but he stared at the offered bowl as he lie there on the ground. He couldn't move at all to accept it. How embarrassing. "I'm...afraid I don't have much strength left in me. They...were...a bit rough."

His thoughts shifted to Kahtahnia. She was being interrogated? Why? Did they suspect her of something? What would they do to her if she wouldn't or didn't have any answers for them that they sought?

He prayed to Ansgar that she wouldn't meet the same fate or even worse than Joshua had. 

Almost an hour had passed before the guards returned and opened the cell. The other mages crowded near, but none of them daring to get near the opening of the door. They all knew what happened if they tried something funny, and enough of them had the scars to prove it. So when Katahnia was brought back she was thrown into the cell without much thought.

She fell face first in the dirt, ad remained there a moment before turning to Conall. She had a bruise on her lips that was bleeding, but other than that, it was hard to tell how else she faired, but once she saw his condition, she gasped.
"Conall..."
And she didn't have any more time to speak to him than that, for he was next, and the men picked him up roughly and began to drag him away.

"On your feet, scum, " one of the men who had come to collect him snarled , grabbing a fistful of the back of his thick tunic and lifting him up. Conall could hardly raise his head to look at the guard through his swollen eye. His legs buckled under him and he collapsed to the floor. He was kicked in the side sharply by the pointed toe of a steel boot, "I said get UP!"

Conall would have tried if he could, but he just lay there until another guard showed up and took one of his arms, " Calm down, Henry. Can't you see the poor slob isn't even in a state to piss himself? "

The guard named 'Henry' spat and grabbed the other arm, "I'd kill him if the Captain didn't want to question him."

Together, they pulled Conall up to his feet and dragged-walked him away.

Conall lost all sense of what was going on or where he was being taken to. A couple times he stumbled, and Henry would yell explicit remarks at him which he wasn't really hearing. His head felt...murky, sort of. He couldn't focus. He was tired and hungry and so sore....

When the journey came to an end he found himself in a cold, dark room. The room was square, made of solid rock and stone with no windows and the only light source coming from a couple candles that rested on a lone rectangular table that stood in the room's center. At the table were two chairs, one on each side. One of those chairs was occupied by a man in heavy armor. Conall recognized the decorative armor of a Captain when he saw it.

Henry and the other nameless guard pushed Conall into the room and slammed the door shut behind him. Conall collapsed to his knees on the floor, dizzy and weak. He couldn't make it across the room to sit where he knew he was expected to. The man rose, " I heard from my men that your'e a troublemaker from the Kilanthros Mines. "

Conall lifted his head to glare icily at the man,  but he said nothing.

"Silence is not your ally," The Captain said slowly, circling around Conall like a hungry vulture, " you know, few men  escape from that prison alive. It's heavily guarded and with good reason. It's home to some of Connlaoth's most notorious villains. So, I must ask who you are."

Again, Conall simply glared and said nothing.

The Captain sighed, "Don't make me ask again. "

"You wouldn't believe....if I told...you." Conall managed.

Them Captain grabbed him by the arm, walked him over to the table and sat him down in one of the chairs before taking a seat in the other on the opposite side of the table. Looking at Conall, he leaned forward and rested an elbow on the table, " Who is that woman you were with? Why are you so keen on protecting her? "

Conall lifted his head and gave a short , derisive laugh, "Sh-she is....a f-friend."

"What else?"

Conall coughed, flecks of blood splattering on the table's wooden surface, " Tha-that's m-my reason."

"Who is she?"

"My friend..."Conall repeated.

The man slammed his fists down on the table and growled, " A NAME! I want her name!"

 

"By the Gods, no! Don't hurt him!" Katahnia shouted, throwing herself at the guards in attempts to keep them away. Back handed, Kathania fell to the floor and went still. But soon was looking over, just in time for them to close the bars to their cage.
"C-Conall!"s he shouted, rushing after him as she latched ontot he bars, crying against them before slipping to her knees. She pressed her forehead then, tried to watch where they were taking them.
As expected, it was to the same, dark room.

 "I don't know. I never asked. I met her little more than a week ago," he wished the man would leave him be and let him rest. He was too tired for this nonsense.

"I don't believe you."

Conall sighed.

"But, we'll skip that for now. And you? What is your name?"
"Conall."

"Surname?"

"O'Reilley."

"Conall O'Reilley," The captain repeated and narrowed his eyes at him, " Where are you from prior to your imprisonment in the mines?"
"I am from Ardal."

"I thought I recognized the accent. So , are you going to tell me why you were sent to these mines, Conall O'Reilley?"

Conall did not miss the hint of contempt in the man's tone when he spoke his phony surname. Conall shook his head, " I was in there by mistake. I am innocent."

"Cut the crap, "

"It's not crap. It's true. "

"Really? Who framed you then? Who's the real criminal?"
"Calent Allarick."

The Captain shot up from the table , "I've had enough of your blasphemous lies!"

Fifteen minutes later Conall was dragged back to the holding cell and tossed in roughly with the others. He looked in even worse shape than when he'd first arrived with a whole new slew of fresh wounds covering his body which had been stripped down to a single layer. His woolen tunic was torn and soaked thoroughly in several places with his blood. Conall collapsed , face down on the icy floor. He didn't move.

"It's best to stay back and draw less attention to yourself, " Lana said from the corner. "That way is best if you want them to leave you and your friend alone. Once they're done getting information from ye, they'll either kill you or leave you to rot along with the rest of us."

Katahnia's eyes stung wtih tears, those of which she blinked back before turning to face the other prisoners. Lana saw the tears and smiled.

"I'm Lana, Lana Gimble."

Katahnia nodded.

"You can call me Kat."

Lana nodded and moved to step nearer to the new girl, unlike the others, who still remained rigid and off to one side of their cell.

"Well, hello, Kat. It's nice to meet you, though a shame we couldn't have met on other terms."

Katahnia nodded, brushing some tears away. Lana frowned.

"Cheer up, there are worse places you could be, love."

"Worse places?" Katahnia smiled, shaking her head as a few tears slipped down her cheeks.

"Yes, you could have always been a prisoner of the church."

"The church?" Kat repeated.

It was then Conall was brought back in, tossed inside the cell like nothing more than a sack of potatoes.

"Conall!" she rushed to his side, scrambling to be beside him as her eyes grew wet with tears.
"You there, girl," he said, narrowing his gaze upon her. She looked up at him, her lips trembling before she set her jaw, eyes aflame, but vision blurred by tears.

"You bastard," she said, getting to her feet and going after him, but Lana held her back. The guard simply rolled his eyes and shut the door.

"Come morning, we'll be taking you elsewhere, woman. We have.... some more questions." And although by now the celldoor had been closed andd Katahnia finaly released from Lana, Kat slowly approached the cell door, staring back at the guard who seemed to be giving her a testy stare through the bars. And she did the only thing she could think of- and she spat onto his face.


The man stood there a moment, raising his leather glove to smear it off his cheek. Then he smirked over at her, staring back into her eyes that flared wildly.

"Oh, we'll have fun questioning you.." then he walked away.

Katahnia remained, trembling, and when Lana touched her shoulder, she tore away, then dropped over to Conall's side, hot tears bubbling forth.
"Conall? Conall please.." she spoke, gingerly shaking his shoulder. "Gods... Conall.." and she covered a hand over her lips as tears began to stream down her face as she wept over his unconscious form.

It may have been a few hours before Conall regained consciousness again, he opened his one good eye and made a small noise which sounded like a coughing gasp. His wounds had been cleaned up a little, but there had been little that could have been done with him. The guards hardly seemed to give a damn whether their feisty new prisoner lived or died.

And he'd been given quite a brutal beating for being so audacious. The Captain promised he'd be seeing the Mines again soon enough! 

He tried to push himself up to sit, but his body gave out and he rolled over onto his back, staring up at the ceiling blearily,"Wh....where...?"

"Hey, he's awake." Drake crouched down beside the the duke, " how are you feeling, buddy?"

Conall coughed, his voice hoarse, "Wh-where's...Kat...?" He looked around, bleary-eyed and disoriented.

He'd hear a noise scratch upon the floor from behind him.
"I'm right here," and when he'd turn to look at her, she threw her arms around him, clinging to him tight as she buried her face into his shoulder and grew quiet. She knew he was wounded, but gods was it ever good to hold him and just know he was alive.
"Gods.." she breathed before a few sobs. "I'm glad you're awake. I feared you might not live through the night."

Conall turned his head to look her way and he winced when she embraced him. His body ached , but it wasn't an unpleasant feeling. It felt nice to know that he wasn't alone in this hell.  He forced himself to smile though even that simple change in expression physically drained him more than it should have, " I thought I ...was...gone too, but ...Ansgar protects...me."  He dragged an arm along the ground and touched her elbow lightly with a finger, " ...thought ...you might have been...too. I prayed. Didn't tell them...anything. They- will....probably kill me soon or ....worse. S-send me...back there."

He shifted his head a bit to better look at her, "Did they...hurt you?" She didn't look as bad , physically, as he was. But there were other ways to cause damage that weren't so easily seen. And those forms of punishment were far worse than what he was suffering from right now.

More tears fell down from her eyes as he spoke. Gods, he was so pitiable. They had done a number on him yet somehow... somehow she had come out with only a few wounds. She didn't know why the men had been kinder towards her. Was it because she was a woman? What were they hoping to find? The questions they asked her had her going in circles, and when she had slipped up on a question.. it was then they decided to stop prodding her, and go for the man. Now seeing her mistake,s he could never forgive herself as she took his hand, guiding it to her mouth and kiss his fingers soft.
"Gods.. Conall..." she spoke, pressing his hand to her cheek. "I'm so sorry.." and her voice came out in barely a whisper.

And if only her magics coudl work here, but Angsar be damned! She could't heal him even if she wanted to, and found herself beginning so sob.

"Don't...be. It...it's ...alright. I...was...a little...audacious. Had I ...kept my tongue in check...I would have been...better. But I...don't regret, I think the first time...they might have-I was scared for you...had to...do something to distract them. I...don't mind. It doesn't hurt as ...bad as it looks. " He was lying through his teeth , of course. It hurt like hell.  He chuckled, but the sound ended up choking in the end with a fit of uncontrollable coughing. "They...asked...about you, about me...heh. Didn't ...like...my....answers."

He closed his eye and shuddered, "Terrible to ....say, but...I'm glad to be ....here with...you."

After he was done speaking, her entire body was shaking. She was crying, her body wracked with sobs that it was almost impossible to breath. Once she settled down,s he pressed her face against his hand and just let hot tears spill onto it until the wave of emotions went past and part of her finally calmed. Lifting her head, her lips still trembled as she looked at him.

"Gods.. Conall..." She moved her other hand forward now, the first now holding his hand, keeping it on her lap, while she moved to brush a hand though his hair, moving it out from his face.

"Maybe you should have at least told them something..." and a tear slipped down her cheek. "And perhaps spare yourself some of this."

"I did tell...something...about ....me. They...don't believe my words...no matter what I say. " He laughed weakly and it ended in more coughing. "Makes...me...wonder why they ...bother."

Drake had politely given the pair the space they needed to converse , but hearing Conall cough so fitfully he'd gone to retrieve the water bowl that Conall had failed to drink from earlier. Now he offered it to Kahtahnia. "Here. See if you can get him to drink this."

Kathania smiled, more tears slipping out from her eyes, and when the bowl was offered, she smiled over at Drake, then laid down to be more at Conall's level. She rested the bowl near to him.
"Here... you should try to drink something." ANd she coaxed it even closer. "You sound so terribly parched." Then she paused to consider.. "Do you.. need me to help you?" It seemed his limbs were worthless, and he didn't deserve to drink like a dog.

"Here.." she moved and scooped him gently, so that his head was resting on her lap. "I'll tilt the bowl gently, just drink nice and slow, ok?" She tried to smile. "I don't need you choking on this when I'm trying to help." Her lame attempt at a joke to lighten the mood, but hten she went ahead, resting her hands against his cheeks, and tipped the bowl, hoping he'd take some down.

He nodded, the gesture so slight that it nearly wasn't noticeable. Had he just enough strength, he would have made the effort himself but he was as helpless as a newborn.

With his head resting now in her lap , he opened his one good eye and looked at her and then at the bowl she readied before him. "Okay,"came his quiet reply and he drank ,slowly as she aided the water to his parched lips. Had his throat not been so sore and tight, he would have drank more greedily , but as it was it hurt to swallow down what little he managed to consume. At the end he couldn't hold back his coughing anymore, choking on water and spraying it all over himself.

"Thank you.I feel a little better." Conall said after recovering from his fit in a voice that was slightly stronger than it previously had been, sounding a bit less hoarse.

Katahnia set the bowl side, and gently moved a sleeve over his mouth, wiping away the spilled waters.
"That's good to hear. I'm glad I could at least bring you some comfort." She tried to smile for him, but it didn't reach her eyes. She moved a hand forward, gently cupping his face.
"Is there anything else I can do for you? Would you like more water? Perhaps I could remove some of my layers and give you a more comfortable bed for you to rest?"

"A new pair of arms and legs would be nice," Conall chuckled at his lame humor , wincing afterwards from the pain brought by such effort. With a little more effort, which he knew he shouldn't have been wasting on the gesture, he raised an arm and rested his left hand, his wounded hand over hers ."Thank you, but ...you ought to keep those layers on. They'll keep you warm. I'd appreciate a little more water though, if you don't mind."


ooc: No, Conall. You're supposed to say YES! *facepalms* xD 

OOC: TAKE IT ALL OFF! ALL OF IT!
--------

Kathania nodded and handed the bowl off to Tilde. The young girl smiled, understanding Kat and Conall seemed to need a moment as they were pretty bad, so her and her younger sister Hana rushed off to go melt some more snow.

Turning back to Conall, she smiled and crouched down beside him again, resting a hand now over his.
"They girls should be back with the water..." and as she stared at his face, she wondered. "What... did they ask you anyways? What was worth all of this?" It was hard to believe they just wanted a name...
Then again, did the mage camp guards know she was up here? It was hard to tell, but they were obviously sniffing around for something.

ooc: Yes, and freeze to death. xD

ic:

"They seemed very interested in knowing who you are. I told them I didn't know. We only met a week ago in the mountains, " He sighed, " I think they know I lied or they just assume. It seemed as though they were expecting a very specific piece of information, but they wouldn't bother to ask if they knew. No, they suspect there's something special about you, but they don't know what and they want me to confirm it." He  chuckled, "And then the Captain asked me why I was in prison. " He turned his head to look directly at her through his one eye and he actually smiled, "I told him Calent Allarick and he lost his temper. Truth or lies, these men won't show me an ounce of mercy. I'm scum to them. I wonder...how differently I'd be treated if they knew..."

He lowered his gaze, " Joshua ...I'm sorry, Kat. He tried to... kill me while you were away. He hated me ...so much.  I heard them- heard them coming. Tried to warn him. Tried to make him stop, but he wanted....me dead. He kept trying to- so they shot him. He's gone. "

Katahnia went quiet, her eyes staring back at him for a good long while as she digested what he had to say.  A few tears prickled to the surface of her eyes before she sighed, smiled, then nodded at him.

"I see. Well, there is nothing that can be said or done. I knew he was... unstable. It's why I worried that he had gone off." She glanced away, thinking again over what he said earlier then looked back at him, smiling.

"I wonder if my real identity is such a big deal," and her eyes studied him again. "As well as your own. Do you think they'd believe you?" she said, leaning in closer so no one else could hear. "Of who you really are even if you said it?"

Conall frowned, " It seemed to be a pretty big deal to Joshua. He spoke as though....- but , we should be careful of what we say here. I don't honestly know, but either way I doubt that things are going to end very well here. We have to get out or one of us will die, if not both of us. "

He closed his eye and smirked, "I doubt that they'll believe the truth. I think they want to believe that I died betrayed. It just fuels their fear and supplies them with a potent excuse for turning against mages, it supports all of their actions, all of the sins they've committed. " He told her softly. "And Ansgar forbid that their savior, Allarick, might be misleading them. To suggest that they've blindly placed their faith in a madman consumed by prejudice and ambition- that a man whom is supposed to be so close to God has less than honorable intentions? They would sooner call me a blasphemer even if they were beginning to feel the slightest sense of doubt towards their decisions. Men in general do not like admitting to their mistakes.   " 

"Neither do women," she replied, about 'admitting to mistakes' with a smile. She kept her eyes upon his, pressing her lips together before she reached a hand out, keeping it over his.
"We'll get through this. We'll find a way. You survived the mines, didn't you? And I.." she chuckled softly. "Well, I was saved after being strung from a chandelier in an abandoned castle in hopes that I'd die." She gave a playful roll of her eyes. "Look how well it's done for them."
Leaning closer to him, she tucked back some of her hair.

"Even if you tell them who you are... you might be a wanted criminal. Who's to say the entire country might not be against you now... or was the Grand Duke more secretive when he disposed of you? Forgive me if I do not recall."

"I'd shave my beard for a miracle ...." Conall wasn't so sure that the Captain wasn't going to let him live to see nightfall. He thought better of his declaration though, "But I'd grow it back." He added. No way he'd go beardless for long. EVER.

He frowned, "Hrm. I doubt that. Were it so, my fate would have been different. Traitors are exposed before the nation and they die properly in public as an example or they're stripped of title and exiled. I was arrested in secret and hidden from public eye. A mage was hung for my murder and I was sent north, never to be seen or heard from again. "

Katahnia grew quiet. It was a sad fact to learn that so much treachery, so many lies were used towards the Grand Duke's end goal to be rid of mages.

"Were you so dangerous?" but then she laughed softly, squeezing his hand. "Never mind, I guess so. Perhaps we ought to keep our identities even a secret from ourselves... say..... what sort of story would they believe?" she said, raising her eyes to meet his.
"What if we pretended to be lovers? They say great things can be accomplished through feats of love." She smirked at the idea. "Though.. the story behind it, I do not know. Perhaps I was your wife trying to help you escape from the mines, or a lost sister, wrongfully accused as a mage or...."
she laughed sadly at herself.
"LOok at me, getting all caught up in the details." She grew quiet. "But we have to think of what we want to say." She returned to her eyes to his again. "They plan to question me again in the morning."

Conall blushed at the suggestion. "L-lovers? I don't...know. I-I suppose they might be more inclined to accept that. The Captain seemed to think that our relationship was something along those lines. I'm not sure if we could pass as siblings. We hardly look anything alike. Cousins perhaps. I just said you were my friend and left it at that. As far as they know, I am Conall O'Reilley. Just a prisoner.  "

He frowned, "I could say that I am farmer from Ardal and that  my family had fallen on hard times because of the tax increases.  Out of desperation to provide for them, I offered lodgings and work to refugee mages. I knew what I was doing was wrong, but I didn't care because my family's survival meant more to me. When the Grand Duke's forces came to collect these mages, I was difficult and I was arrested as well and sent to the mines to work off my debt and contemplate my sins. Perhaps you are my family or perhaps you were one of the refugees come to liberate me from my prison.   "

"Yes... perhaps that might work. Perhaps you were my husband?" she said, searching his eyes. "And... I traveled north, hoping to rescue you, and perhaps a group of men thought I was someone else as well? It wouldn't be hard to perhaps pull off that tail, or as you suggested, you had saved my life back in Ardal, and we could go with that excuse."


By now, Lana decided to approach the pair of them cautiously, clearing her throat as she inquired.
"Is there anything I can get for the two of you? I know the meal of the day will be served soon. I just thought you should know." And she offered a polite grin. "Allarian stew." She rolled her eyes. "Tastes about as good a pig sty, perhaps smells even worse. But you're welcome to hvae some. They give us barely enough rations to begin wtih, but we try to be polite and share, so that at least everyone gets a little bit. It's better than nothing, I suppose."

"The former is probably a better option because it doesn't imply that either of us are mages. I don't believe there is a way of knowing what you are without the mark . You cannot use your abilities here either at any rate so I don't have to warn you about hiding them. If you volunteer that you're a mage...there's no telling what they'll do to you. I've heard the church does...terrible things- "

Lana approached them then with an offer of food. His throat was so swollen that he wasn't sure if he could manage much. "Sounds lovely. I suppose I'll try some...though I don't know if I'll be able to hold it down."

"I'll get you some," Drake had approached as well already with a bowl in his large hands. He offered it to Kat, "Here. I'm not all that hungry anyways. I'm kinda sick of this shit to be honest, but you guys look like you could use a lukwarm meal in your bellies. "

ooc: It tastes so bad that he's eager to get rid of it. xD

Katahnia smiled up at Drake. "Thank you."
And Lana nodded to the pair. "I'll leave you two to eat." And she moved towards the group to get some food for herself.
Staring down at the bowl of gruel, Kathania lifted the bowl up to her nose and wrinkled it.

"They weren't kidding, this stuff smells awful," she said with a tired laugh. "It even looks like shit.." she said, moving the bowl about a bit to watch the thick, grey substance slowly ooze from one side of the bowl to the other. She shook her head and peered over at Conall.
"Pardon my language," she giggled and blushed. "Would you like some?"

Conall frowned at her, "You make it sound so appealing...." He sniffed and then pulled a face of disgust , "Ugh...wha-what is THAT? I've smelled horse manure that doesn't stink THAT bad. You can't be serious? Is that...the food? It smells almost like raw sewage."

Did he really want to risk eating THAT? It was probably better that they  starve!

"You try it first. I'll wait a couple hours to see how that goes and if you die, I'll know it's toxic." It was difficult to say whether he was joking or not.

Kathania rolled her eyes and set the bowl aside.
"I could hardly eat. My stomach is in too tight of a knot. Perhaps we can save it for later, when.. you know.. " she smirked at him, eyes sparkling while her cheeks dimpled. "When we're desperate."

"Well, I cannot speak for you, but I'd rather eat dirt, " Conall replied with a frown. His expression shifted to something suddenly thoughtful, "By the way, if I am asked...what should I call you? "

Katahnia giggled.
"Well, even here, dirt is in short supply, so you might have to settle for this."S he said, picking up the bowl and waving it past his nose. But at his question, she set it down as her face grew long.
"Kat... I'm sure the name is common enough that hopefully they won't make a connection. Though... if they ask, we could say it's a pet name." She smiled a little. "I do like cats, and they are adorable, so if we were playing the role as lovers, it could have become my silly nick name."

Conall lifted a thick brow, "Is it? I haven't met too many Kats before. Er...not cats as in the ...you know. Felines. There's a lot of those in Ardal which is rather nice because it keeps the rodent population down, but I digress. So, Kat you are then. It sounds rather informal, but I can get used to that. No problem. I've needed to work on toning down my diction anyway. I need to sound a little more rustic to pass myself off as a farmer, yes? And less like...a noble. " 

Easier said than done, but he  had some idea of who he could have based his speech by. All he had to think of was what Aislin would have said. She had been quite a vulgar girl when his parents weren't watching. Actually, she'd been somewhat vulgar even when they HAD been watching. 

Katahnia wrinkled her nose.
"I don't know if you could pull off being a farmer." She rolled her eyes. "You seem... too refined. You should have said a shop owner, or something with more.. finesse."

Conall blushed, "I couldn't help it. I was desperate and just said the first thing that came to mind so they wouldn't beat me any bloodier. I do know about farming though. My best friend lived on a farm and if that fails, I could always claim being a horse breeder. I know more about horses, but then again no soul in Ardal doesn't know about them. "

Kathania smiled.
"Horses huh? I do recall a certain ball we attended where you had gone on for nearly an hour about them.." She teased, giving him a troll like grin. "So I think I'm well versed in how well you like them."

"It wasn't an hour," Conall started to correct her but then he remembered he HAD gone on about it for some time, " Was it? I was so nervous that I just kept talking. Hm. Indeed and you're also familiar with how well I dance which is knowledge that you are MORE than welcome to keep to yourself, thank you."

He added as an afterthought, "And could you stop looking at me like that, please? That's the same look you gave me last time you had evil schemes running amok in your twisted mind. It's a little...creepy." 

"Looking at you like what?" she teased, moving closer to him and sticking up her nose, her face but mere inches from his and her eye lids half lidded as her grin, albeit smaller, still carried the same, almost sinister look about it. "And I do remember all of those dances quite fondly." ANd her eyes dazzled at the memory. "Thankfully my toes hadn't gotten too severely injured. But I'm not sure if I can say the same for what you did to my cousin."

OOC: lol he's all injured and still, she trolls him

From this angle, he could see straight up her nose which was not the most attractive thing , "I think I see some blockage in your nasal passages. Sorry 'dear', but as much as I care about you, I'm not cleaning them out for you."

Oh God. She still remembered. "I was hoping that you'd forget the part where I was terrible and maybe insert a newer, more flattering image of my abilities that reflect how graceful and skilled I was. " He blushed at the mention of injured toes and Kella. "Poor girl. I tried hard to spare her from that agony. Her bravery was most impressive."

Katahnia raised her brows at his booger comment.
"Ha,ha, Conall. Very funny." She only put her nose up further. But then at his last comment, about his dancing, she giggled.
"Do not worry, that image of you dancing is forever burned into my heart, eyes, and in my toes. But Kella, yes... and she had quite the crush on you... It's a shame though. She could never have married you, though. Even if she wanted to."

"Did she?  Well, that's refreshing to hear. In all honestly, I was worried that she had walked or limped away from that whole experience with the impression that I may have been creepy."  He smiled a little , but then frowned, "I regret missing the last dance you know, but I...well, after that incident with the balcony and- I'm sorry if I had offended you then. My illness...flared up and I had to retire for the night. I could hardly move..."

He hadn't considered asking for Kella's hand though he certainly liked her.  Though perhaps in time, had he been able to know her properly...even though his interests were in her elder, oblivious and teasing cousin. He looked curiously with his one good eye at Kat, " Who says I was seeking her hand? Even so, I am curious to know what makes you say such. Does it have something to do with her illness or is she promised ?"

"Oh? So you weren't interested? How scandalous of you to lead her on so by choosing to participate in so many dances!" she teased. But then she grew much more serious, her smile fading away at his inquiry. "Yes, in part her illness." She moved uncomfortably beside him. "Conall... you should probably know this, but Kella is a mage."

Had he been told this when he'd met her, he probably might have reacted in a  way that was more expected. However, knowing that Kahtahnia was a mage , he found himself not so surprised. In fact, it made a little more sense. " Blaith is as well, is he not? Was that why he was so...protective? I just assumed it had been because Kella was so fragile. But, that hardly matters. I could marry a mage. It's not really...it wouldn't sit well with some, but there is no sin in it unless , of course the mage embraces their taint- Ansgar,  I'm sorry. How narrow of me.   " He looked embarrassed for a moment, " There's something you're not telling me, isn't there?" 

Katahnia drew in a careful breath.
"Yes, they both are mages." And her eyes wavered before she added, "And both of their powers can kill just by touch."

"Wh-whaat?!" Conall blurted a little too loudly that it caused some of the other prisoners to look their way. He tried to calm himself and forced his voice to quiet, "That's...that's not- how? Why wasn't I...? " Fortunately, he was a gentleman and kept his hands to himself. Had he been like Claust...

So that was why she covered up so much? He'd figured her to simply be modest. So there'd been more to it than that.

"So that's why ...oh God. That's...horrible. I can't even...fathom..."

Now everything made sense, "I had no idea...I just thought it might have been like me, but perhaps slightly worse. Poor girl...Blaith even. "

Katahnia cringed when his voice rose. Thankfully, the guards at the other end of the hall only glared back at them, shouting, "Keep it down in there."

Katahnia's eyes raised to look up into Conall's face as she sighed.
"It had been kept a secret. It was... a terrible magic to have, and still is. Both of them, if they touch you, not only can steal your power if your a mage, but your life energies as well. The magics only came to fruition when they bad both come of age, and well, it was a terrible shock. I had never heard of such magics before. It is quite rare, and to think, both twins posses it."
Her voice was low, and she spoke softly, these words only meant for Conall's ears.

"But yes, that is why she dressed the way she had. And... well, you can see the complications it would bring if she were to wed. It's why, when I was found by my Uncle, to bring me back into society, marrying Blaith would secure me not only a place among the nobles, but also protect both he and Kella, as well as myself. If any one found out who I actually was and what duchy... and of my child, and now, with my name becoming a figure in a war.... well, there was quite a lot of good reasons to consider the union."

She grew quiet a moment before drawing in a careful breath.

"But something had become of Blaith, and I'm not exactly sure what. But all I know is Kella has gone missing, and Blaith seems rather torn over it. But.. to be honest, the way Blaith had been acting the last time I was with him frightened me. He couldn't be reasoned with and I.. well, I left before Kella vanished. We were just about to announce an engagement my engagement to Blaith that week. But I knew I couldn't marry him. It was.... far too uncomfortable to be around him anymore. We had a big fight and well.... so I left."

Katahnia kept her eyes upon the ground, growing silent, her mind still crawling over the incident.
"I wish I hadn't left. Part of me fears... Blaith killed her."

"So that's why my visits were all rejected, " Conall wouldn't say it , but he was relieved that he wasn't the one whom had done something wrong. He took no pleasure in knowing that there was something very wrong with Blaith though or that it had caused Kella or Kahtahnia any amount of grief.

"Kat, I am so sorry, " he sat up, the effort was slow and painful but he managed it. " but she might still be out there somewhere. One can only pray. Maybe...we might find her. You never know. After all, we did find each other without even looking. " He placed a comforting touch lightly on her arm, " I wonder if...if I was really Mordecai. Do you think that ...  ?Maybe I could confront Blaith myself? Maybe try to talk to him and find out what's happened. "

He winced, "Ugh...I probably shouldn't have moved. I can't stand lying down though. I've done enough of it."

He looked thoughtfully at her, "You know, had I known I ...would have offered to help. I mean, with my illness...I doubt that I could- even were it not so, you seem like good people and it wasn't as though I had many offers- well, many reasonable offers. "

"Here, lean against me," she said, scooting closer to him and positioning herself so that his shoulder could lean against hers. "And don't be. Don't apologize." She smiled up at him softly. "It wasn't your fault." Then at his offer, she shook her head.

"It's too late for those sorts of things now. Besides, my Uncle never would have approved anyone enough to allow them to get close to know the twins' secret. So even if you had wanted to marry Kella, he would have turned you down in order to protect her, no matter how saintly and charming you might try to appear." she added the last part with an unheard chuckle.

"But that does beg an interesting question. You are well past marriageable age. How come you never found a wife since last we met?"

He leaned against her. He had little choice as he'd used up all of his energy just to sit up. "Yeah. I understand. Though it is a shame because I certainly understand the importance of such secrets being kept. Hm...saintly? Me? Yeah right." He chuckled, " Though I thank you for the compliment. I certainly wasn't trying to be who I was when you met me. I am just...myself. It's a bit exhausting to have to put on an act all the time, you know? I have to do that enough when dealing with - well, nearly the whole court. " He sighed.

He blushed when the conversation turned to his marital status, " I...don't know. It's only been a year, has it not?  I just haven't really met any women that are genuinely interested in more than my station. Let alone someone I could actually relate to. I told you before. I'm not going to marry a- your pardon, but I will not marry into a family of leeches that will suck my duchy dry at the very moment of my passing. "

"It feels much longer than that," Katahnia replied, then gave a sigh. The she nodded to his comment about 'leeches ' and raised her eyes to meet his. "That's a shame. Anyone woman ought to find you a good catch, considering how well your beard houses pine cones," she teased. "THough I suppose the position you hold would attract the sort of women who are looking for power and position, rather than good husband or lover matieral. It'st he unfortunate circumstances of being the nobility. Most marriages are often arranged, and most of the time in benefit to the families. And if they are not arranged, well, then the man or woman is normally acting as a huntress.. " She chuckled. "To find the best suitable match of man, money and power."

"You think so? " He didn't miss her teasing and nudged her arm lightly with his and then he sighed, " I don't know...I suppose it's a little unfair to not accept any of the blame myself. It's just embarrassing to say at my age..." He sighed again, "Oh very well. Alright, I admit to being a little...nervous around women. As funny and pathetic as it sounds, I'm not entirely sure how one ought to act . I know how to be a gentleman. I just don't know how to be...more than that. That's the other half of my problem.  "

Katahnia laughed, though she tried to repress it and it came out as something short of a snort. Her eyes then went wide, and she giggled again. Shaking her head, she finally was able to get over her small fit of laughter as she drew in a breath, waving a fan at her face to cool herself off.
"Oh, Conall, heavens, you did not need to admit to that. It was painfully clear at the ball! Though, oh! Do forgive me, how terribly rude I must sound! I am sorry, and you, in such a state?" she said, but even as she tried to steel off her emotions to become more serious, she found herself chortling again.

He glared at her, looking clearly embarrassed and perhaps slightly affronted by her amusement. It hadn't occurred to him how obvious his inexperience or awkwardness was though had he paused to consider his behavior when compared with others, he might have known better. He couldn't help himself though , "Oh! It's NOT that funny!" He puffed up like an offended puffer-fish and, had he the strength, he probably would have grabbed some of that stinky stew and thrown it at her face because that's how mature (and angry!) he was. "You're- you are SO  ...mean! "

Why was she laughing at him? Because she was EVIL! That's why!

Meanest fake wife. EVER.

He was seriously regretting their pretend wedding that never actually happened right now. FOR REALS.



ooc : lol. Captain obvious right there. xD

And at his out burst, Katahnia still continued to giggle, and was almost unable to contain it, her entire face red.
"Oh.. Gods... C-Conall.. please, I really didn't mean offense I.." but ..
she was still laughing.

"I'm so glad that you find my humiliations to be so amusing. Keep laughing, please. I hope you expire from the hilarity. It would teach you a lesson, wouldn't it? And then I'll take this bowl of Allarian sludge and dump on your....face and stick pine cones over your eyes. For no other reason than because you're not being very nice. " Clearly, he failed in the department of threats and insults as well.

"Stop laughing! I command you! " He growled , clearly frustrated but too tired to sound as upset as he felt. It sounded more humorous and just a little bit sad. 

Unfortunately for Conall, his threats only aided in her laughs, and soon she was snorting again as she tried to cover her mouth. The very mental image of what he said was just too much, so she doubled over, trying to save face but well...
the other cellmates were already looking their way.

It was then Lana approached the pair, a sweet smile upon her lips.
"I am glad to see you two laughing. It seems you've already accepted your fate here?" she asked, raising her brows and smiling, since, despite their situation, it had been a while since anyone could consider laughing. "Might I inquire what's so humorous?"

Katahina was too red faced to do it, as she tried to keep back the laughs, but it only brought forth tears as she covered her lips. She simply pointed to Conall. Let him explain it.

Conall looked at Lana and , quite seriously he declared, " Nay, it is simply that she's a madwoman who delights at my misfortunes. She's tormented me since the moment we met.  She's quite evil and sadly, I'm stuck with her. Probably for eternity. Feed me that sludge and kill me now. Trust me, you'd probably be doing me a great service."

"I'd say feed it to her , but I think it would fuel her demonic energies somehow." He shot a glare at Kahtahnia and growled, " What part of stop laughing escapes you, woman!?"   

ooc : They probably think they're both insane lol....

Lana smiled, and Katahnia, well, she was still laughing, and it was only then Lana asked the question.
"Oh, so you two are lovers then?"

Conall face-palmed and sighed a tad bit more dramatically than he intended,  " Oh Ansgar, nevermind! I'll just strangle myself with my own beard. "

He uncovered his face and looked at Lana , "Lovers? I haven't the slightest clue where you'd get that idea. This relationship is far from loving. It's absolutely deranged! "

Then to the red-faced Kahtahnia he said, "Don't neglect breathing,dear. "

Maybe she really WOULD die from laughing.

"Seriously, Kat. It is not THAT funny."

She really needed to stop laughing. He wished he had the strength to kick her.

He then said to Lana with a sigh, " I do apologize on her behalf. She 's quite immature for her...age. " He shot another warning glare at Kat that said , 'STOP LAUGHING AT ME, DAMN IT!'

Lana's lips fell into an 'o' shape as she watched the pair.

"I see, well, former lovers anyways. I just wanted to see what all of the commotion was about.."

And it was only then Katahnia was finally able to calm herself down from her laughing fit. She wiped a few tears away.
"Oh, Gods, I'm sorry, I really am. I don't know what's come over me. I suppose it's been a long few days."

And Lana simpyl stared at the pair, befre Katahnia suddenly added.
"But yes, we were former lovers. But then I found out, get this, he was in love wiht my cousin." She faked a gasp. "But even worse, when we tried to make amends,  he trampled on my toes one too many times that we just had broken up. Seriously, my toes could no longer take the abuse.. and Now, sadly,"he said, drawing ina  dramatic breath.
"I'm out here to rescue his sorry ass from his unlucky spell of trouble. Seems like his toe trampling travesty has infected my heroism, unfortunately, and has lead us up here. Quite the scandalous tale, I tell you, but I digress, I do kid, in part, but oh, to think; what terrible manners of me! You won't hate me too badly now, Conall, will you?A fter all, it seems you're stuck with me now in this camp. And oh.. "she giggled again. "Do you think the soldiers might buy such a tale?"

Lana was shaking her head.
"YOu two... have quite the strange kindship. But if I didn't know better, former lovers or not, I thinkt he flame is still alive."

Katahnia blushed but waved it off.
"I doubt it, either way, he's refusing to eat his porridge, so I suppose unless another person here might want it.. why, I would hardly like it to go to waste."

Lana nodded and took it up. "I'm sure I can find someone to take it. But are you sure you do not want anything, sir?" she said, turning back to Conall who was quite red faced, and also, an unruly mess of scrape and bruises.. and overgrown hair and beard. And.. he sort of looked quite sore, even underneath all of that.
Perhaps.. they weren't lovers, though she had known a couple like that. She'd be surprised if they weren't. Apparently, for a relationship like that, the sex was pretty good. Maybe that's why he was so down?

OOC: just.. lols!

"I apologize if we might be frightening the children. We seem to be like this all the time ..." Conall added after Kahtahnia 'apologized'. He wasn't buying it! She was NOT sorry and the glare he shot her made his sentiments quite apparent.

Conall shook his head at her 'story' , " Ugh. You make us sound like we're characters that jumped straight out of one of those cheap, sleazy 'romance' novels from Uthlyn that cost about five coppers. What was that author's name again? Nevermind. She's a horrid 'writer' whose name is worth being purged from my memory!  That's all I've to say on the matter! " 

He looked at Lana and shook his head, " There is no flame! There's nothing but pine cones and shame! " And , perhaps, aggrieved footsies.

Nodding, he did not protest to the Allarian sludge being taken away. He'd starved before. He'd avoid stomaching that grotesque meal for as long as he could get away with it!

Conall sighed, forcing himself to calm down. He would NOT forget this though nor would he forgive! He'd have revenge! Oh indeed! (though he had no one to blame for this little awkward fiasco but himself!) "Thank you , kindly, but no. Perhaps I may...later , but I appreciate the offer. I'm grateful for the water alone, truly. "

Though he knew he would have to eat sooner or later to build his strength. What little his bruised and bloodied mess of a body could muster from it.

 

Lana nodded to them.
"Would you like more water then? Or you, miss, is there anything we can get for you?"

Katahnia shook her head, finally able to compose herself as her laughter was all but shut away.
"No, but thank you," she said, bowing her head. "You are being too kind."

"One has to in order to survive a place like this," Lana said with a simple shrug. "It is only in my nature. Though I just wish I could do more."

"As do I," Katahnia said, placing a hand upon her shoulder. "As do I. But you've done enough already, Perhaps we should be shown how to procure our own water? So we do not have to keep bothering you."

"Oh, it is no bother at all. We've all become accustomed to certain jobs around here, and the children don't mind helping make the water. Here, I'll go get you some more. I'm sure you could use that more than the sludge" And she sighed trough a smile.
"It's good to see such faces after so long. I can feel your pleasant spirits affecting the others. It's.. nice. It almost gives us a sense of peace, if not hope, to see others laughing so." And then she bowed. "I shall return soon."

Katahnia dipped her head. "Thank you." Then turned to Conall after Lana departed, and sighed.
"Don't you give me that look."

"Don't give you THAT look? I beg your pardon? You've the audacity to issue such a command and expect me to follow it after I asked you to stop laughing at me? And you exploded with hysterics making everyone in this cell think we're stark-raving mad? I think not, my lady. I shall afford you 'that look' to all my heart's content because I know not what other look would otherwise so adequately compliment my present state of mind. " And to make his point, he stared at her with THAT expression , but did so in a slightly more exaggerated manner.

"This is precisely why I keep things to myself. You'll just make fun of me. You're evil like Aislin was. You poke at all of my weaknesses. Not one merciful bone in your body. At all. You really ought be ashamed of yourself. " He appeared suddenly tired, "Maybe we could pass ourselves off as insane. That'd be wholly believable, I suspect."

Katahnia rolled her eyes, still smiling, but obviously not feeling threatened by his look. But then her expressions softened a little as she sighed.
"Perhaps.." she said, glancing intot he hallway towards where the guards were glaring back over at the pair of them, one of them seeming just about ready to get up to deal with all of the noise. Katahnia returned her gaze to Conall.

"If it offends you so, I do apologize. I... it was.. perhaps just a rare moment where, things have become just to bad for us, all I could think to do was laugh." She looked down at her boots then, then over at him. "How are you feeling now? Your face look so sore Your poor eye, it's all swollen." ANd she leaned forward to cup is cheek, trying to take a look at it hwen Lana returned.

"Here, I brought that-"

And Katahnia, startled, leaped nearly out of her skina d bumped foreheads with Conall. Swearing under her breath, she turned to Lana, her face now red.

"Oh! Thank you, Lana, for the water."

And the woman just stared at the pair of them skeptically. Yeah, she wasn't buying they weren't lovers - or something to that affect.

Conall lowered his gaze and sighed, " Oh, I'll survive. My pride certainly didn't , but I shall. At least something good comes from the damage. I made people laugh...even if it is at my expense. " He frowned slightly, but then he shook his head. "I'm not really terribly cross with you though you're not making me feel any less uncomfortable than I was. I'm just slightly ashamed of myself for my...naiveté . I think myself so mature, dare to call myself a man and yet bumble over such topics like a clueless little boy."

He considered how he felt, " Strangely, in scolding you for your antics, I'd been distracted from my own physical grievances. "

Well, he soon wouldn't forget ! Lana returned, startled Kahtahnia and foreheads did collide! Kahtahnia swore and Conall saw many many little pine cones spinning around his vision.

"Where am I? And why is the room spinning? And Kat has a twin? Oh Ansgar...my cranium. " He rubbed his smarting forehead.

"Oh, it couldn't have hurt you too badly, lest your implying I have a hard head," she teased.

Lana shook her head. "I'll leave you two be. If you wish, you can always come over to joint he rest of us, but I'll leave you two to have your space. You seem to need it."

Katahnia opened her lips to say something, but what was there to say? She was speechless for once, and simply let out a breath of hot air before nodding towards Lana.
"Er.. thank you."

Should she have said that? Either way, she peered back over towards Conall.
"But seriously.. does it hurt? I mean, you might have given me a lump on the head for it.."

OOC: hahahaha! She's so mean to him 8D

He'd bee so preoccupied with 'bickering' with Kahtahnia that he had , quite rudely, forgotten Lana's presence. He blushed , "Ah. Pardon my rudeness. Thank you, Lana. I -we appreciate it . "

And when she moved away he whispered to Kat, "We need space? What do you suppose she meant by that?"He honestly had no idea. 

When she asked him how his head was more seriously he countered, and humorously, "No wonder we're former lovers. You're so insensitive to my injuries," Conall rubbed his forehead with a hand. And then he pulled a face at her when she accused him of giving her head a lump, " That's no lump. It's a pine cone. Mini Kat. I might have somehow managed to glue her to your forehead while you were unconscious.  "

ooc:

You were post 900! FEEL SPECIAL, but not really.  ;)

100 posts til 1k. Hot damn!

OOC: HO NOES. I should slow down on making my replies. Don't want you to burn holes in your feet! egofingers!


jk! <3
--------------------

"Ha, ha, very funny Conall," she said with a shake of her head. "Pine cones aside, you look pretty Gods awful." She was still shaking her head when she sighed. "But in all seriousness, I am sorry for all of this. Though I suppose the pair of us both have rotten luck, and perhaps us winding up in the mage camps wasn't avoidable. Though I suppose it could be worse..." And she forced him a smile. "We could be dead."

Conall's shrug was the slightest of gestures, hardly noticeable, " Stranger and far worse things have happened to me before, if you can believe that. Things do seem rather grim now though and our fate- or , at least mine seems quite certain. I will die if I don't leave this place ,which leads me to thinking that we ought to go and make some friends here if we want to change that."

He wouldn't know where to begin convincing these people to organize a 'jail break' . He – no , he and Kat would need to earn these people's trust somehow. But who knew how much time there was for that and who knew how much these people were willing to sacrifice for their freedom? He had a feeling the price for leaving (and likely by force) was going to be steep. This was war after all.

Then he thought about it, " I would join them, but I think I wasted whatever energy reserves I had to sit up. Perhaps you ought to leave me here and speak with them. I should probably rest and build what little strength I can for whatever lies ahead."





ooc:

(http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff38/AshwolfAlpha/40112181_zpsa3e92bee.jpg)

OOC: I FINALLY FIGURED OUT WHAT TO POST
and I still avoided talking to the other cell mates!
BWAHAHAHAHA
*Success*
------------

"I would join them as well, but I can't very well abandon you in such a state,"s he replied with a frown. "Are you sure there's nothing I can do to comfort you? Get you more water? Find a pinecone?" and she smiled at her last comment and jest.

"But I know what you mean..." she lowered her eyes from his, her fingers fondling down the corners of her furr trimmed jacket. "If we are going to consider ever escaping from a place like this, it would be wise for us to see what information the others might have to share with us. I'm sure they've considered the same thing, and who knows, we might be at an advantage since we were recently outside. But I don't know.."s he sighed and looked up at him. "I can't ever say I've done something like this before. All I know is, I've been quite lucky to have made it this far still alive. I'm not sure if I told you, or if you've figured it out, but I should have been dead decades ago."

With one swollen eye, Conall regarded his friend thoughtfully, " Thank you, but I think I've had enough to drink for the moment and, well, I'm sorry to say that they've beaten me to a point that even this hard, cold ground feels inviting." He offered her a smile, "But since you're so enthralled with my irresistible charisma, I won't make any cruel attempts to drive you away."

He nodded at her final statement, "Heh. You're not the only one." They both seemed to have been through hell and he couldn't know what she'd been through for the last few decades...

Wait. What? 

"D-decades?" He blinked. She looked so young! Younger than him and he was little over two decades old! She barely looked older than a teenager! Early twenties, but certainly no older! No. He MUST have not been listening! "Oh. I...er. I beg your pardon, but I must have misheard. Decades?"

Either that or she was mad. That was also a perfectly legitimate possibility. 

OOC: wow so I can't sleep ;_;
so you get a half-awake- tired-cranky reply 8D
------------------

Katahnia smiled when he stuttered.
"I don't suppose you'd know about the Duchy of Harmond.." she paused, twisting her lips a bit before looking down at the ground. "No, I suppose not. I'm sure all traces of it have been destroyed."

Conall shook his head,"You mentioned it in passing before when I found you out here. However , it really had not sunk in how long ago this had happened. The name was familiar to me . I believe I read of it somewhere , but not in any history book sanctioned by the church. N-not that I read any sacrilegious materials! I-I presume it was a fictional amusement, " his expression was curious now, "but you speak in such a peculiar manner and this piques my interest. Would you care to enlighten me- that is to say, would you...tell me what you're implying, precisely?"   

ooc: Yummy!My favorite kinds of posts. *noms*

Katahnia sighed before drawing in a careful breath.
"Long ago, my parents had been friends of the Allarian line. They were so close the ruler of Allar divided a portion of his lane to my family and allowed us to create our own line of nobles. However, when my father died, my mother remarried a man from Serendipity, and she found herself partial to mages and when the line attempted to smooth over the laws to allow mages more freedoms, the Duke of Allar found out. That was Calent's father. He wiped out the entire duchy. Nothing is left but ruins."

"Yes, you mentioned some of this as well, but before you said you weren't sure whether House Allarick was responsible or not , "Conall replied ,appearing to look as confused as he felt.

"If this happened in the time of Calent's father, then that wasn't very long ago. The thing that baffles me is that you said that you ought have been dead decades ago. Surely, by that you meant two decades ago or possibly three. Three is sort of pushing it, but uh...some people age very well and you look...great. Though I would have thought that I'd heard of it at least were that the case. I pride myself in knowing my history and geography, but –you did say it was a rather small duchy and perhaps not so well-know. I suppose it's entirely possible that I missed it somewhere in my studies..." 

Of course he was not a fool. He knew that wherever magic was involved, that far more peculiar things were possible. Some beings lived to be hundreds or thousands of years old and still managed to preserve eternal youth and physical vitality. Such things were so unnatural and very much a perverse defiance to Ansgar's will. But Conall stubbornly did NOT want to believe that magic was involved here. He would not assume it.

OOC: Thinking about this history hurts my brain D:

---------

"Well, when Calent's father was in ruling, I can barely recall Calent's age. I think he was a mere child. Either way, it doesn't matter now does it? I was spared because of my magic. I sealed myself in a crystal and it more or less put my life on pause while I was preserved within. When I was.. awakened, the wounds I sustained from the raid were as fresh as they had been on the day of the attack. And when I should have died, I somehow persevered."
she smiled sadly at that and looked away, growing quiet.

Conall blinked, not quite sure how to respond to it. His first instinct was to chuckle and tell her to stop teasing him, but then he wanted to grab her by the shoulders and tell her how impossible it was. But when he considered that magic was involved, he knew that there was no argument that he could make to refute her claim. It WAS possible whether he liked it or not. 

Magic! He should have known! He frowned, considering what all of it meant.

"I...see. " And this was all that he found himself capable of saying for a whole two minutes. His mind was feeling a bit...confused even if he kept telling himself 'it's magic' . It was still unnatural for her to be as OLD as she was suggesting and look...

But in the end, he supposed that he would just have to trust her. After all, had she not been doing the same for him?

"So you're implying that you would have been my mother's age if this had not happened. No, that's not right. You'd be..."

Dead. Yes. He really need not point this out. "My apologies for my stupidity. This is just a little...I'm not sure what to make of it, really , but um. Thank you...for trusting me with that knowledge, I suppose? "

Curious. He wondered what that must have been like. Was it like taking a long nap and waking up about twenty some odd years later?

"Well, for the record, I am glad you're not dead." He offered a bit lamely, but at least it was the truth. He'd probably still have been alone sitting in his cabin. Safe, most likely, but probably mad and no closer to going home than he had been months before.

ooc: Hard for me too since I don't know any dates. xD

 

OOC: Dates are for LOSERS lol

--------------

Katahnia gave a lame smile in reply.
"Do not worry about it. It is what it is," she told him, placing a hand gently upon his shoulder. "For now, we can only try to survive. I don't know why I'm telling you all of this. Perhaps I'm afraid we'll be dead before morning." She gave another sad smile and shake of her head before drawing in a careful breath "Come, if you'd like to rest, now would be a good time to do it. It would also be a god time to talk to our other cell mates, to see if we can't get any information out of them in regards to this place, the guard shifts and what sort of fate is instore for all of us."


The night proved uneventful, if not, bitter cold and difficult to sleep in. Katahnia found herself watching Conall slip in and out of consciousness before Lana approached her again.

"So, if I might inquire, where are the two of you from?"

Katahnia looked up and pressed her lips together before sighing.
"We're both from Connlaoth."

Lana nodded, "That much I knew, but I meant before they brought you in here. They seemed to be making a lot of fuss since the pair of you two arrived..." and she her thoughts drift off as she stared down at Conall's sleeping form.  "Are either of you even mages?" Katahnia's brows raised at the question. "I.. do not mean to offend, it's just that.. neither of you seem to bare the mark and well, I couldn't help but over here a thing or two about some sort of prison escape." she sighed, "Not that we mind sharing a prison with criminals I just.. oh, do forgive me! I do not meant to be rude!"

Katahnia smiled warmly at Lana, placing a hand upon her shoulder.
"Do not apologize. I should be the one apologizing to you, Lana, considering we've been here for nearly half a day and neither myself or Conall have really properly spoken with any of you."

"It's alright," Lana said with a smile. "It's nice to have a pair so vibrant join us. Things have become rather grey in it's complacency."

Katahnia nodded. Yes, in a place like this, it would be difficult to find much to smile about, she wagered.
"Well, if you must know, I'm the only mage out of the pair of us. Not that it would do any of us good out here."

Lana nodded while Katahnia shrugged.

"Yes, the majority of us are mages, but some came, claiming to be a mage but was not just to stay witht heir children. It's a pity. The weather is so harsh up here and they treat us like animals, normally the children and elderly die within the first year. It's horrible. And they just dump the bodies out back."

Katahnia felt her stomach grow cold.
"That's terrible!"

Lana nodded, before sighing and staring down at her lap.
"BUt there's not much we can do..."

"Has anyone tried to escape?" she whispered. Lana looked up.

"It's always ended in death."

Katahnia's stomach grew colder, her expression more solemn. That's when Lana smiled.

"Do not worry. I'm sure this war can't last forever." Though it was evident there was uncertainty in her voice.

"I'm sure you're right. The country is in just a big scare over a mage being able to kill someone. As if men killing men with weapons isn't scary enough, the fact a mage somehow did it to a prominent political figure.." it was here Katahnia bit her tongue, then drew in a careful breath before releasing it. "I'm sorry.."

"Don't be...." and Lana studied Kathania curiously for a long time. "Just so you know... I know who you are." And Lana afforded a small smile to Katahnia as her lip's fell open. "I saw you speak at the capital that one day they tried to run you off. I was always hoping your voice would reacht he masses." And there was a sadness to her tone as she stared at Katahnia, her 'hero' that was now trapped inside the camps. It seemed the one beacon of light within the darkness was so close to being snuffed out. But then after a time, Lana asked, "Do the guards know?"
And Katahnia simply answered in a whisper, "No."

It was confirmed a handful of others knew Katahnia's identity, but even those that knew kept it to themselves. Katahnia asked they keep it that way, it meant less of a reason to give the guards to hang her. Lana agreed,a nd left Katahnia to rest for the night, though it was difficult for her to find a comfortable spot on the cold, hard ground, ad eventually nestled in behind Conall, shivering as she tried to sleep.

Conall nodded at her words and replied softly, "I understand. " His eye closed again when she mentioned resting. His mind was restless, his thoughts a desperate blur.He wanted to be of more use in this situation right now,  but his body was to weak from exhaustion that he had little choice, but to surrender to sleep.

As Katahnia had observed, Conall slept lightly. Nearly every little sound woke him up and ,if he could move, he'd probably have tossed and turned in his sleep. However, by the time Lana approached, Conall was snoring loudly. It hardly complemented a man of his refinement.

He heard not a bit of the conversation that had transpired between the women.

He woke up feeling rather warm. He opened his eye and sat up stiffly, regretting the action as soon as he'd moved. Though less painful than yesterday, his whole body remained in dreadful shape.

"Morning," he heard the large man, Drake, say. He turned his vision in the direction of the man's voice and saw Drake was sitting across the holding cell and looking directly at him, "You sleep okay?"

Conall had felt something warm pressed up against him and curiously had to look down to see Katahnia snuggled close-by. He had grown accustomed to this by now though since they'd met again in Hyoite. He had to forget his propriety and accept many things that would have once made him die a seriously mortified death. He had to stop thinking like a noble in order to survive out here.

"Indeed." Conall replied , turning his gaze back to the man. Then he thought better of his words, realizing that in order to fit in with the common people he would need to make a better effort to sound like one of them. "I did, thank you."

Drake grinned broadly, "I'll bet you did."

Conall cleared his throat and changed the subject, "Drake, correct?"
The other man nodded.

"This is rather embarrassing for me to admit, but I'm feeling quite famished. I don't suppose you might have any of that Allarian Sludge left?"
"Sorry, friend. The guards took everything away. They don't give us long to eat. We got a few more hours before breakfast though. "

Conall nodded, accepting the answer. He had a feeling that might have been the case. "Do you have any water?"

"That I have, " he got up and brought a small wooden bowl over to the man. He sat down next to Conall and watched the younger man drink,  "You... look kind of familiar."

Conall lowered the half-drained bowl from his lips and shook his head, " I get that a lot."

Drake studied his face long and hard, " You kind of look like Ainmire Shanley."

Conall made a face. He loathed the idea of looking like his father though there was a lot of truth in those claims and never had they been more true than now. He changed the subject, "You're from Ardal?"

Duke shook his head, "Nah. I'm from Orchy, but I've been to Ardal lots of  times. Used to trade there."

"Merchant?"

Drake grinned and puffed out his chest proudly, " You're looking at the finest cooper in Connlaoth."

Conall smirked, pondering the legitimacy of such a claim but dared not to  challenge it. For he didn't personally know any of the coopers in Ardal. "A barrel maker? That's a fine profession.  "

"Damn right it is. "

"And are you...a mage?"

"Me? Nah. "

Conall blinked , "Then why are you...?"

"Here?" Drake shook his head, " I got family here, you know? My mom's a mage. I couldn't let her be taken here alone. "

"That's noble of you."

"And what about you? Are you ...?"

"Me? No, no. "

"But your woman is. How do you feel about that?"

Conall blinked, "My...woman?"

"Yeah. Kat."

"I- well, she's...Kat." Conall replied awkwardly.

Drake grinned, "That's a good way of looking at it. "

"I suppose it is. "

Lana stirred from her sleep and went over to join them now, " Conall, you're looking better. I'm surprised to see you up this early though, in all honesty." She sat down next to the two men.

Conall shrugged and offered a weak smile, " That makes two of us then.  I was sure they'd kill me. "

"We never really had the opportunity to speak before, Conall. What brings you to our humble little prison?"

Conall shook his head, "It's a long story and I'm not sure you'd believe me if I told you." 

Lana smirked, "Try me."

"I think it's better for everyone that the entirety of my story waits for a better time. For now, suffice it to say that yes. It is true that I am indeed from the Kilanthros Mines and yes...I have committed some...necessary evils that make me a wanted man. I just – I cannot die. There are people at home who depend on me. If I were to settle for what the will of the law had for me...those people will suffer. " He looked directly, meaningfully at the pair now. "I intend to fight these men to the death because either way I will die. I apologize if my actions cause you any grief but...I have no choice. "

The pair grew quiet, Drake nodding sagely after a time.

"A revolt is what your aim is, is it?" Drake questioned with a rub to his beard. He looked to Lana, who said nothing, only smiled.

"Seems like Kat has rubbed off on ya with that kind of spark," she remarked, her eyes glittering at the comment. "But do not take it the wrong way," she added, lowering her voice. "Not many know her true identity." And then even lower, she added, "But don't worry, we'll keep it that way. So not many will."

"I suppose that you could call it that, " Conall said with a nod. Lana said Katahnia was rubbing off on him. Perhaps she was just a little, but not in the manner that these two may have suspected. Conall had always been a fighter. It was a prominent trait in the blood of nearly every Shanley.

Conall gave the pair of them a strange look, " I'm sorry. I don't follow you."

Drake looked at Lana and then back at Conall, " You know who she is, don't you?"

"Of course," Conall partially lied. He knew some things, of course, but he couldn't honestly say that he KNEW her anymore than she knew him. "You two know her? "

Drake nodded, "Yeah. She's the voice of the oppressed." He said quietly.

"Ah. I see. Thank you. I would appreciate it if you kept that to yourselves."

"Rise and shine, scum!" A quartet of Mordecai arrived at the cell bearing trays of the same old sludge that had been served the night before. While one of the soldiers fumbled with the keys, another man marched up to the bars with his eyes glued on Conall . He smiled nastily at the man and pointed at him, "This meal will be your last, O'Reilley. Enjoy!"

Conall stood up.

"Conall! " Lana gasped in alarm, worried that the man would do something rash that would get him killed. Instantly.

Ignoring Lana, Conall walked over to the bars slowly and stood just an inch out of the man's reach, his demeanor icy as he'd been taught to behave not only at court but as a prisoner of war. The antagonizer made a gesture across his throat to indicate beheading and Conall merely raised an eyebrow and inquired, "Afraid to come in here, are you?"

The soldier's face tightened with rage,"I'm not afraid of you, scum."

Conall smirked and leaned forward, " I think you are. I did give you quite a thrashing before you cried for your friends to pull me off of you. "

"You fu-" He started for the door , but one of his comrades held him back and shook his head.

The other two soldiers stepped into the cell now and began distributing the food.

Conall turned his back on the angered Mordecai and went over to wake the sleeping Katahnia. He knelt down next to her and put a hand lightly on her shoulder, " You're not going to sleep all day, are you? Food's here and I know you've been so looking forward to it. I know I have. "

One of the soldiers handed Conall a bowl and then walked away. The cell door slammed closed and the prisoners were left alone to enjoy their sludge.

Katahnia made a noise, just a mere breath as she stretched out against the cold, stone floor. She noticed Conall over her, and as his words sunk in, she smirked. Sitting up, she must have looked a charming mess, for her blonde hair was a askew and cast all about her face. With wild ends, catching the faint light of the sun that came in through the window so far above them, she seemed just about as bad off as Conall and his epically untamed beard.

Stifling a yawn, she moved her back, which was sore from sleeping before rising to join him to collect her own bowl of sludge. Peering up at Conall through a layer of her hair that veiled over one green eye, she smirked and clicked her wooden bowl against his.
"Bon apetite."

The pair had taken a seat int he corner, though this time a bit more closer to Lana, Drake and company as she tried out her sludge. She was famished, but even this time around she was making a face as she looked over at Conall, forcing herself to swallow some down.
"If I thought yesterday's gruel was bad, today's seems even better," she said in a sarcastic tease, a light laughter evident in her eyes, but she remained quiet, tired as she was and went to eat of her soupy sludge. Studying Conall for a moment, she caught a look upon his face and asked, "So did you sleep alright?" THen inquired, with another blink, "What?"

Was something on her face? Cause a spiddle blotch of gruel had collected just at the edge of her chin, and she hadn't noticed (or felt it) at all.

Conall offered her a lopsided grin and then went on to say teasingly, " Good morning , sunshine! My, aren't we looking dressed for success today?" He chuckled and moved away just a bit to give her some space as she sat up. For all his tease, he thought she appeared quite beautiful. Though , really, her hair was a disaster. And she had the audacity to insult his beard!

Their wooden bowls clacked together , "Haha! Indeed." He ate his food quickly not simply because he was famished but also because he was convinced this swill was worse than whatever rats scourged up from the city's trash.

He looked up when Katahnia when she inquired about how he slept. He nodded, "Oh yes. You were rather ...er...warm." 

And soft, and smelled nice -well, nicer than most things here, but he figured that he probably should keep THAT to himself. 

He watched Kat eat for a few moments and considered asking her how she'd slept , but as she set her bowl down he found himself staring at the glob of pasty goop stuck to her chin like a messy little soulpatch. Conall's eyes widened a bit and a smile lit up his weary features. He was trying hard to contain his laughter , but it spilled out of him like a flood of uncontrollable merriment. It only took the guards three times to tell him to shut up before he controlled himself and pointed to her chin, " That's not quite how you grow a beard, Kat. "  He dipped his hand in his bowl and then flicked some more food at her face. A few flecks splattered on her cheeks ,"There we go. That looking much better. Got some sideburns. Now we just need to work on the moustache. "

ooc: So mature.

Katahnia touched the gruel on her chin and gasped, then when he splattered her with more, she gasped again and looked at him with wide eyes.
"C-Conall!" and without hesitation, she took a handful of the sludge, and smeared it all up in his beard.

OOC: ALL UP IN IT, ALL OF IT

BIC:

And giving him a triumphant smile and laugh, she slid her fingers down it.
"There, now your beard ought to be soft from it's gruel-slime bath." And her grin widened as she lifted a single finger to her lips, and then another, slowly and provocatively, licking the slimy goop off.

MOAR OOC:
Yeah, this thread can get so special XD
TAKE THAT, CONALL'S BEARD

Ooc: And somehow there ends up being a pinecone in all of this....kidding.

Ic:   

"No ! Not the source of my power!" Conall gasped as his beard was defiled, slicked in the wicked and repulsive muck.

It was that ridiculous outburst from Conall that drew quite a few eyes their way. More than half of those glances looked incredulously at the pair whom were acting more like children instead of adults.

And how odd, Drake though, that a man who knew he was condemned to death this day could still find it so easy to laugh. Did he take his situation seriously at all? He thought back to the conversation he had shared with Conall and Lana not so very long ago and he had seen a very different side of this man, this 'Conall O'Reilley' . There was no doubt in his mind that Conall meant everything he'd said. There had been such a raw honesty and passion in his eyes that wasn't common in most people. Drake grinned.

Conall wasn't at all surprised that Katahnia had retaliated. He just never knew what manner she'd choose to do so. He liked her unpredictable cheekiness. It was amusing and somewhat thrilling. However, he wasn't quite anticipating her to finish her gloating with such a provocative gesture. Like any typically young and inexperienced male would, he stared at her like a brain-dead imbecile and dropped his bowl into his lap, spilling the remaining contents over himself.

"Blast!"  He looked down. What a mess! Then he looked up at her , "I see your wickedness knows no limits," he informed her quite earnestly, "shame on you for picking on poor , injured man and his innocent beard."

Katahnia giggled.
"I'm sorry, your beard does look rather poor..." she said, tucking back a smile as a wicked sparkle was cast against her eyes. Then she did the unthinkable, and was quick to empty some of the food in her bowl before placing it ontop of his head, like a hat.
"There, now your hair is matching," she said, her giggles growing worse and worse.

"Pray tell , how am I going to get this out ? I do not suspect that I'll be given a bath before the noose goes around my neck," Conall gasped as she put the bowl of mostly eaten sludge atop his head. It stuck to his hair and rolled down. It was a slimy , cold sensation that made his skin crawl. "Gross! " His eyes shot towards her uncontrollable giggling. "So that's how it's going to be? Very well. Two can play at that game. I crown thee..."

And Katahnia probably would have figured out what was going to happen next as he took his bowl of partially eaten Allarian stew, scooped some of the contents from his lap back into the bowl and then dumped it over her head as he planted the bowl atop her dumb blond head.

"The High Queen of Muck! Supreme ruler of the Kingdom of Slime! Bow to your grimy sovereign, peasants! " He called out to the rest of the cell with an almost crazed hilarity in his inflection. 

ooc: They both have gone insane. That's the only logical conclusion I could reach.

Katahnia gasped, laughing so hard as the gruel ran down her hair, that her entire stomach hurt.
"C-Conall!"s he shouted, then laughe and dragged her fingers through it, bfore smashing her slime covered hands upon his face, then smearing it down and down, ensuring his face was well covered.

"And you shall be my high king!"s he stated proudly, jutting out her chin as she grinned, then made a motion to tap each shoulder as if knighting him with her gruel-laced hands.

Conall gasped and wiped the stew clean from underneath his eyes. He shot her what could only be described as a "fiendish glare" and tackled her ,thrusting his muck covered hands in her face and smearing the as much of it on her face as he could. On her lips, her throat , and even on her eyelids. "Look at you. You're looking particularly ravishing , your highness! Would like some complimentary , muck brows to go with that magnificent beard of yours?" He gave her some anyways. "Oh...I do believe we're missing something here though! Maybe a mustache. I think that'd look rather regal." He painted her one right under her nose or tried to. He MIGHT have accidentally covered her nose with the stuff too. 

"Uh...maybe we should stop them." Drake looked at Lana , seeming not sure what to make of this.

"Get him Kat! !"

"Lana! Haha! Don't encourage them!"

Kathania gasped, hardly believing what Conall just did. And with her jaw still open,s he stared at him in raw disbelief. Then at Lana's words, a grin tugged at her lips as she laughed and lunged herself against him.
"Oh yeah? How about we share your greul beard with my own?" And just to out do him, she grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and yanked him forward, smashing her muck covered lips against his.

So mean, so mean.

ic:

Conall was looking rather pleased with himself, " I don't like to gloat, but I win this time. I think that makes the score now Conall 3, Kat 0. " Of course, he was pulling numbers out of his ass, but he liked to rub his 'victory' in her face. It made it that much sweeter. Sweet revenge for his beard! Besides, those other times she'd won, he'd let her. Because, you know, he was a gentleman. Nevermind that gloating was not a very gentlemanly thing to do!

"Just give up, Kat.  You can't win against me. I always get the better-"

"Get him, Kat!"

He was tackled! "What are you doing!? You should be ashamed of yourself! " He cried dramatically, "Unhand me, this instant! This is SO undignified! We are farm-folk , not tawdry nobles! Gah!"

He wrestled with her a little, but he was laughing so hard that his resistance was ,really, quite pathetic, " Someone's a sore loser!"

In the end though she broke through his defenses and , quite unexpectedly for him, their lips met. What in the name of Ansgar's Holy Beard was she doing!? His eyes were wide , confused and he felt his skin burn with what he presumed was his embarrassment. Normally, Conall was the contemplative sort. Had his brain been functioning properly right now he might have assumed that this was just an act they were putting on for everyone else to make them believe that they were something.

Trouble was Conall really couldn't think of anything except for two things. The first of those things being that he really disliked this Allarian stew and in the extremely unlikely event that he were Grand Duke, he'd ban it from EVER being served in the country (yes, even to criminals) again. FOREVER. And the second thing being that he liked the sensations that thrilled through him whenever she touched him.

So , he kissed her. If he was going to die in a few hours anyway, why the hell not?

So they shared a kiss!
A first kiss, probably to be their only kiss, one laced and tasted of disgusting gruel. But much to her surprise, her troll-worthy kiss turned into something more, and the heat to her cheeks and flutter to her heart surprised her as well when she found Conall kissing back.

Lana's hand went over her lips to hide her smile, and blush, while Drake only stared, his own cheeks heating as well. Then Lana realized the pair were smiling as she pinched Drake's arm.

"Come on, seems they need a minute," Lana said, grinning much like Katahnia had been when she was epically trolling the man she was now epically kissing back.

And why the hell not? They both could very well die in that moment, and it had been... only Angsar knew how long since she had shared a kiss with a man...
so when he kissed back, so did she, as she breathed hotly through her nose and clung to his clothing-

Though the kiss was powerful, it did not deter Katahnia from her initial intentions. So she could enjoy a kiss AND seek more revenge...
as she purposely (though also inadvertently) dropped the remaining gruel right onto his lap- the bowl landing face down on his crotch.

Her reciprocation surprised him more, but he wasn't about to reject it. Even if in the back of his mind, a tiny voice in his head was telling him that what he was doing was wrong. It wasn't simply because she was a magic-user, but she promised. Not that such a promise could be honored if both of them wound up dead here which could very well happen.

He blocked the voice out and savored the moment. He really hadn't kissed a woman with this much passion since, well, Aislin. And that had been....far too long ago.

And as he closed one good eye and his strong arms slipped around her...
Something dropped into his lap. He gasped against her lips and opened his eye, narrowing it at her. There was a challenging glint in his green gaze. She thought she'd won, did she? Well, she'd better think again! His arms closed around her and he pulled her right sitting on his lap. So she'd get that nasty slop on her clothes too!

Hah! Take that!

Katahnia's eyes went as wide as saucers as she was suddenly drawn into his gruel coated lap.
"C-Conall!" she shouted, and that was loud enough to draw the attention of the guards. And their approached and reaction made Katahnia swear.

"What the fuck are you two doing in there!?" the one guard shouted.

"Pull the two of them out. They've been causing a ruckus for too long."
And soon the door was thrown open and the men advancing upon them. And before Katahnia could protest, one man grabbed her roughly by the arms and yanked her away from Conall, while three others were working on subduing him.

"Come on, girly," the man said as he fought against her to drag her away. "If you wanted a good time,t here's plenty of good soldiers here you could please."
And it was at that comment Katahnia's eyes turned to the man dragging her away, and she slappe dhim- hard, right across the face.

"How dare you!"

But her reactions were not without repercussions as the man back handed her hard across the face.
"Shut up. You're our prisoner, girl. Now get to walking. Perhaps we ought to hang you, too!" he said, shaking her before dragging her back to her feet.

WARNING! Language and violence! Read at your own discretion.

"Kat! Get your damned hands off her , you bastards!" Conall fought as hard as he could, but he was no match for the strength of three trained Mordecai in his condition. Even had he been in prime shape , he probably wouldn't have been able to break free. It would have been one hell of a fight though! "Don't hurt her, please. We weren't causing any trouble , but if you have to punish someone , then punish me. She doesn't des-"

"Oh we'll take GOOD care of her, " One of the soldiers restraining him smirked and licked his lips lewdly, "Real good care of her. Won't we boys?"

Bluff or not , Conall hardly cared. With a scream of rage, he threw the soldiers off of him and lunged at the vulgar Mordecai. He managed to knock the man down and pin him to the ground. Straddling him, he wrapped his fingers around the man's throat and proceeded to choke him.

It took a good ten seconds to tear the man off. Had he been given a bit longer, with the force that his hands were crushing the other's windpipe, he probably would have killed the bastard.

A punch to the face sent him falling over onto his back. Then a steel-toed boot smashed into his ribs, blowing the breath out of him and causing him to double over and grunt in .

"Foolish churl, stand up."

He was kicked again, this time in the shoulder.

"I SAID STAND UP!"

Another kick to the face, bloodying the nose. It hurt like hell. He would be lucky if it wasn't broken.

Someone seized him by the hair and drug him out of the cell. It slammed shut behind him and as one soldier locked the door the other two took turns kicking Conall. In the back, in the groin, in the face- wherever they could score a hit in. Conall couldn't even curl his body defensively to protect himself.

In the background , someone, a child, was crying.

"That's enough!" A new voice commanded. The Captain's. "Thought I taught you fools better than this. Bring this sack of pig-feed to the interrogation room on the double or I'll cut your rations in half and give it to the prisoners! Clock's ticking, ladies. Get moving!"

Conall was hauled up to his feet and led away.

A few minutes later he was back in the same dark room with the same Captain again. "You really should reign your men in , Captain. I've never in my life seen such lack of respect for human life or discipline in soldiers. Hardly befitting of God's soldiers, wouldn't you say?"

"You have a very bold tongue, Conall O'Reilley. You're a farmer. What the hell do you know about Mordecai?"

"I know enough to know that they're supposed to protect innocent people rather than terrorize and murder them. The prisoners told me something interesting, Captain. I hear you like to kill children. "

"I did not !"

"Liar! I could smell the death that permeates in this shit hole from the moment that I arrived! I could see how thin your prisoners are and how poorly you treat them. You're starving them! Women, elderly, children. God, children! You monster! Mage camp? This is more like the gallows! Allarick sends people here to rot and die! And you know something , I used to think he was the lowest, cruelest son of a bitch in Connlaoth , but you...You're even WORSE than that because where Allarick is a fucking psychopath , you KNOW it's wrong. I can see the guilt reflecting in your eyes as you look at me right now. Your words are caught on your stuttering tongue because , deep down you KNOW that I'm right. But you just follow orders like a good little dog, don't you? Don't you Captain? Too cowardly to do the right thing. You sit here and you watch them  die. Mages, not mages. Doesn't matter. You don't even think about it because it's easier that way for you. The blood of hundreds of innocents is on your hands all to keep Connlaoth safe. Yes, we must keep our people safe from those evil little children, musn't we? You are not Mordecai. You just masquerade as one. You're a fucking disgrace- "

The Captain's fist smashing into his face knocked him tumbling out of his chair to the floor and silenced him.   

Katahnia didn't fair much better than the others, but the only female on duty took over- and dragged Katahnia to the bathing house to wash her down and provide her with new clothes. Though the clothing smelled rotten, it was better than nothing nad she was thankful to be dressed against after remaining naked, cold and wet when she was scrubbed down and bathed.
But even in a time like this, Katahnia still had her manners, so when a new pair of gloves were offered to her from the woman, and boots, she hung her head.
"Thank you."

The woman snorted and at the sounds coming fromt he next room,Katahnia's gaze rose-
Conall was giving a mouthful, and she couldn't help but smile-
but the sudden cut of his words made her lips tremble..
and when the door creaked open, she turned around just as the woman vanished, with three male guards looming outside the door.


It didn't matter what Conall was spitting at the Captain, his men were dogs, and he knew it. But they had to be, and having been cooped up in these god-awful arctic prisons made them itch. And Katahnia was their method to scratch. Though they hadn't made it through the door, and Katahnia only took a few steps before suddenly- the entire world exploded.


Fire.. smoke, it was everywhere; and her ears were ringing, and she was seeing double. Coughing, she was choking on smoke, and the rubble from the building weighed her down, nearly crushing her beneath it's weight. What had just happened!? What was going on!?
And in a rush, she saw a blur, some movements, and the screaming of men and steel knocking to steel....

His words had the desired affect , of course. The Captain lost his temper and took it out on a man whom had done nothing wrong except being right. His kicks were merciless and much more ruthless than the ones Conall had received from his men. These were kicks filled with passion. Guilt, anger, denial. "I don't have a choice, damn you!" Why was he justifying himself to a criminal? Some lowly farmer from the south who knew nothing. Why did he even believe this bastard's story anyway? It stank! This man was just a damned heathen trying to get under his skin.

"I'll silence you for good, " he drew his sword, "hold still. One clean strike and it'll be over. Count yourself fortunate , churl. " He raised the sword and readie for the killing blow then...

What could only be counted as an explosion rocked the building, throwing the armored Mordecai off-balance and stumbling back into a wall. "Shit! What the hell was that?"

He glanced over at O'Reilley's lifeless body and then snarled , leaving the room to rush outside.  The moment he left the door, a man in a dark robe met him there , a sword in hand with a blade that seemed to be forged in ever-burning flames. Magical enchantments. Shit! The Captain readied his own blade.

After waiting a couple minutes, Conall slowly, painfully forced himself to his feet. Every little movement he made hurt. A lot, but the smell of smoke and the sounds of screams...and death. A lot of death. It served as great motivator for finding the strength to rise and , well, escape.

He staggered over to the door where the Captain had left through moments before. He stumbled outside and the first thing he noticed were the fires consuming anything that could be burned. Buildings, supplies, people...

Conall was careful not to trip over the Captain's corpse which he found a few steps just outside the door.

This isn't good. I should find Katahnia. He knelt down stiffly and found the keyring attactched to the man's belt. He claimed the man's sword as well and hurried along his way. Most of the people running about were Mordecai and he didn't bother with them , moving as quickly as he could and weaving his way through the chaos , searching for Katahnia.

Maybe Lana and the others will know where she was taken.

He decided to make his way to the holding cells first. Upon arriving he was met by a single guard. "What are you doing here? You're-"

Conall surged forward and brought the blade of the Captain's sword to his throat, "I suggest you get out of my way if you value your life. Quickly."

The guard nodded and fled, probably to get some friends who probably wouldn't come because something or someone was keeping them quite preoccupied. With keys in hand, he began unlocking the cells.

"What's going on out there?"

"Are we under attack? "

"Who the hell would attack Mordecai?"

"Do you think it's radicals?"

"Conall, you're alive! " Lana was the first prisoner out. She hugged him.

"Lana, we don't have a lot of time. This place is under attack."

"By who?"

"I don't know. There's a lot of fire and an explosion. I need to find Katahnia. I was taken to the interrogation room .Do you know of any places a guard might take a woman... to..."

Lana nodded, "Follow me!" She grabbed his hand and pulled him along.

"Wait for me!" Drake called after them and ran behind to catch up.

There was a halo of light ghosting around his body, ribboning through rainbows of colors as Kathania laid there on the floor, staring up at his form. Smoke billowed behind him, his weapons and armor in flames as those blue eyes stared down at her with an unfamiliar ice, but a familiar shape and face set within. Curiously, Katahnia tilted her head as she looked up at her cousin, her lips parting as she spoke his name.

"Blaith?"

The man, who stood like a savage, beastily soldier, kept his head tilted as he looked down at her bleeding form, numbed from all of the wreckage strewn on top of her, but he didn't move to reach her.

"Blaith?" she repeated the words again, her voice soft, and croaky, and the rest of her hearing nearly deafened  from the explosion but a moment before. She tried to move her body, and weakly sat up, and it was only after a moment did a flicker of recognition pass through Blaith's pale eyes.

"Kat?"

Katahhia released a relieved breath, her eyes welling up with tears as she struggled to her feet and threw herself into the man's arm, careful of the smoldering flames of his weapons. For a moment, Blaith didn't hug back, but Katahnia didn't care as she sobbed away into his shoulder and clung to him so very tight.

And she smelled of fresh soap.. with soft blonde hair tickling at his face-
a fragment of memories stolen from another bubbled up to the surface, and before Blaith knew what he was doing, words purred from his lips as he grabbed her by her cheeks and their lips crashed together with need....

And in that moment, not only did surprise take hold of Katahnia, but something else as well; as she felt some force within her being pulled, being sucked out- as if the man was drinking from her body from a kiss; and the sensation left her tingling, tickling and stunned.



And back int he hallway Lana and the others ran fast.
"She'd be down here! In this room.." though as she paused before it to catch her breath, she noticed there was a bolt across the door. Drake didn't hesitate as he moved forward to help her lift it, but the moment the door was opened and the pair rushed in-
"Kat!"
They stopped dead in their tracks, wide eyed as she was being kissed by a man in flaming armor.
And in the moment, something bubbled to the surface as Blaith returned tohimself, tearing his lips away from Katahnia as he held his blazing sword near to her as he glared back at the group who approached.

"Stand down or I'll cut her throat..." he growled, eyes narrowing viciously upon them as he took a single step back upon the crumbles of stony debris, all the while Katahnia felt light headed, the world swimming around her again like a carousel, with music that wasn't there, with a light headed, dizzy sensation, and colors haloing everything. Blood was pouring down quickly from her face, and as she turned to observe the group at the door, they were nothing more than a fuzzy vision of ghosts.

He couldn't believe his eyes.

Blaith? What is he doing here? And what was he doing to Katahnia?

"Katahnia!" He surged forward , prepared to meet Blaith head on armed with nothing more than an ordinary sword. When Blaith raised his searing blade and threatened the woman's life, that halted Conall dead in his tracks. He stared at Blaith in disbelief. He had never truly known the man, but the man he'd met years ago had seemed like an entirely different person and not the sort to threaten his own kin.

"Please, don't hurt her any further. I yield." He dropped the sword and held up his hands to show that he was unarmed.

"Bastard!" Drake started to move forward but Conall threw out a restraining arm to block his path.

"No! He's dangerous even without the enchantments. Trust me."

Drake looked at Conall and then glared at Blaith. He snarled, but backed off.

"There's also madness in his eyes, " Lana observed quietly. "Be careful."

"Are you with the people attacking this place?" Conall inquired, "Look, we don't want any trouble. If you'd just let us go, we'd be more than happy to stay out of your way."

It all happened so fast, and the world around her was swimming- but the smell and burning sensations piercing her flesh came through and broke her from her moment of surprise as she cried out, her clothing suddenly on fire, as was her hair, which, despite being wet, still smoked.

"B-Blaith!" she shouted, even witht he sword at her throat. "Blaith please stop! You're burning me!" she siad, tears in her eyes.

The familiar voice brought him back to the presence, and before he realized what he was doing, he dropped Katahnia, and she fell to her knees, gasping and crying out as she attempted to pat herself down from the flames that were scorching at her flesh.

He was ignored and Katahnia was set to flames. Something in Conall snapped and he recollected his weapon from the ground and charged at the man. He closed the gap between them with surprising speed considering the injuries that he'd sustained.

"On your guard, coward!" Undaunted, Conall parried the burning blade ,and stepped between Blaith and Katahnia, forming a defensive barrier for the woman. "If you want her, you'll have to get through me!"

"Come on! Let's help Kat while he's distracted!" Lana called to Drake as she ran over to the woman. The pair proceeded to pat the flames out as quickly as possible.

Blaith smacked Conall's blade aside and stood at the defensive, peering back at the man as his eyes narrowed and something creeped within the back of his mind. He tilted his head curiously, his eyes, wild, almost deranged as he asked...
"Do I know you?"

And then Katahnia, terrified, knew no better as she blurted out, "It's Shanley! Duke Conall Shanley." And as Lana and Drake were trying to hold her back, the pair of them gasped as Katahnia broke their hold and she rushed to Conall's side. "Our friend..."s he reminded, placing a hand upon Blaith's arm, around where theflames were flickering.

For a moment, Blaith's eyes cut into the pair of them before he lowered his blade and laughed.
"A duke? A duke in this hell hole? No wonder all of Connlaoth is in Hell."
He looked Conall over and gave a sneer. "Drop your blade. I'm not here to fight the prisoners."

"I'm no one of consequence," Conall replied flatly , recovering from parry and holding his stolen sword at the ready with a trembling arm. He was sorely outmatched here and he knew it, but he refused to back down. His father had taught him to show no fear, but the fear in Conall showed quite plainly as did the determination.

But then Katahnia had to open her big mouth and reveal his idenity . Again.

Oh shit. Conall thought, concerned what the others would think of him. Concerned that Blaith would remember him and not look upon him very favorably.

When he was told to drop the weapon, he shook his head, "No. I don't trust you. I begged you not to hurt Katahnia and you've done it anyway. Ansgar only knows whether or not you intend to honor your words. This sword stays in my hand and I will remain between you and these innocent people. We have no reason to fight each other , do we? You go your way, and we'll go ours. "

He didn't expect Blaith to agree. Prideful men were always difficult to negotiate with. "I told you before. We don't want any trouble. "

ooc: Feel free to kick his ass if you want. lol

Blaith stared at Conall for a good long while, before suddenly knocking him hard across the face. Grabbing onto Kathania's hand, he dragged his cousin along behind him before glaring back at the other two.

"I'm here to take this place and burn it to the ground. I suggest you all run while you can." And before Katahnia had a chance to protest, Blaith dragged her back to his side and disappeared down the smoke filled hall.

Normally, he probably would have detected an incoming fist, but as dizzy and weak as he was feeling and with only one eye to see with- Conall didn't identify the impending punch until it was a split second away from his nose. His head jerked back and he stumbled back into Drake, blood streaming from his nostrils.

Drake caught Conall in his strong arms and righted the man on his feet, " You okay?"

Conall wiped the blood from his nose and nodded in spite of the pain and dizziness.  He couldn't focus on himself right now. He was concerned about Blaith. About what the man's purpose was here and what he'd do to Katahnia.

As soon as Blaith left the room, the door shut behind him. Lana ran to the door, but not before the trio heard the telltale click of a lock.  "Damn! He's locked us in!" Lana tried the door knob , but it held fast. And not long after she made that declaration, the doorknob grew incredibly hot and fire licked hungrily at the door. She backed away hastily. "I guess we'll need another way out..."

Drake looked around , "Uh...I hate to say this guys, but I don't think there is one!"

Conall shook his head, "The door is made of wood. We'll break through it. " He handed the sword to Drake. "Hack through."

"Yes, my Lord!" Drake went over to the door and proceeded to hack at it, striking as hard and quickly as he could, coughing as more and more smoke came into the room.

Conall sighed, "Please don't call me that. "

Drake whooped as the final strike at the door broke open a sizable hole that was large enough to squeeze through. He poked his head through and saw Blaith's form retreating down the hall. He backed out and then turned to his companions and gestured to the pair of them, "Hurry up! Coast is clear!" He gave the sword to Conall who seemed to have more experience with war than the cobbler did.

Conall went first followed by Lana . Drake followed at the rear. Conall moved quickly down the hall, jogging because it was the fastest speed his body could handle.

The whole place was in a panic. Smoke twisted and writhed just feet above the ground as it rolled around like an untamed serpent while coiling it's way through the narrow halls. The sounds of men shouting  could be heard off near the ends by the southern wall where the attacked was now focused, and a few gun shots could be heard before suddenly- there was a loud BOOM- and the entire south entrance wall fell.


Katahnia had witnessed the entire act and had been subdued by fear as she watched it all as Blaith dragged her along, but when her wits returned about her, she struggled within his grasp and suddenly slapped a hand across his face.

"Blaith Harmond, what is the matter with you!? What is going on here? Tell me.." and her eyes pleaded with him. "Please.."

The pair were positioned just outside the southern gate as it was set ablaze, rubble from the wall littered everywhere. Blaith's eyes traced the outcome as his men were cornering soldier and guard after soldier and guard, and slaughtered each and every one of them.

Then he turned to face Katahnia, who's eyes were large and wavering. His gaze didn't soften as his looks went stern.
"We're here to start a revolution," and he grabbed her gruffly by the wrist again and added smartly, "Just like you."

At his words, Katahnia slapped him again, but this time, Blaith was getting angry as he growled through his nose and pulled her close.

"Blaith, what has become of you!?" she said, her eyes flickering wildly. "You don't look or sound like the same man..."

His blue eyes narrowed icily upon her, ashis grip tightened so much it made her hurt as she dropped to one knee.

"Bl-blaith, you're hurting me!" she protested, peering up at him in fear as his armor's flames reflected within his eyes.

"That's because, my dear cousin, I am not the same man you thought. Not forget what you've seen here today or I'll have you killed."
And Katahnia fell silent as her face went ghostly white.
And a second later, Blaith was dragging her to her feet. "And whether you like it or not, you're coming with me."
And his lips twitched into a cold smile, "Or did you forget we're supposed to get married?"

Conall wasn't a stranger to battle. It wasn't difficult for him to shut out the screams , the shots, the clashing of steel , and focus on what was in front of him. Were this Ardal, he would have known precisely what to do. He would have rallied his men and pushed out these invaders. But this was not Ardal , he was no longer a duke, and the only men he had were the two people behind him. Two ordinary people with no formal military training whatsoever.

Our chances of survival seem...slightly above improbable. Conall thought as he hurried down the smoking hall.

There was an explosion then that shook the entire building and nearly caused the running trio to lose their balance.

"What he hell was that!?" Drake gasped.

"It sounded like an explosion, "Conall shouted above the battle's din."It felt like it came from the south."

"Shit! Where do they get that kinda stuff? I thought only the army had that kinda -"

"Stolen, most likely OR it's magic. I hear mages can create something called mana bombs."

"Shit!" Drake snarled as another explosion rocked the building, causing the section of hallway behind them to collapse in on itself. Had the explosion occurred ten seconds earlier, they would have been crushed to death.

"Well, we're not going back the way we came from."

"Why would we want to?" Lana frowned.

"There they are up ahead, "Conall pointed Blaith and Katahnia out. They were standing just outside the doorway that ended the hall and led out of the building. 

"Uh...but who is that other guy? Creeping up behind them?" Drake pointed to an armored man slipping out of one of the rooms that lined the hall and slowly advancing behind the mage with his sword raised for a killing blow.

"An imbecile." Conall sighed, not all that enthusiastic about helping an enemy but Blaith had Katahnia with him and if that bastard were to be cut down, he knew that Kat would likely follow him shortly after.  Conall cried out , "Blaith! Behind you!"

The Mordecai advancing on the man's unprotected back swore and lunged at the man with sword drawn, knowing that either way he was probably going to die. Might as well at least try to take a damned heathen out with him!

Blaith heard the voice and looked Conall's way with a steeled glare, before tearing his sword powerfully across the air and ramming it into the man's side. With the mordecai temporarily wounded and tripping over his own two feet, Blaith took the moment to jam the sword clean through the man's torso, and Katahnia's eyes widened as she gasped, backing away a few steps in fear as she listened to the man breath his last breath before Blaith kicked him off the end of his bloodied blade and he fell over, bleeding onto the frozen ground.

Before Anyone had a chance to react, Blaith snatched onto Katahnia's wrist again and began to drag her off.

"Blaith- what are you doing!? Why are you dragging me away like this!? Why are you even here!?"

And then he paused just a moment, at the top of a pile of rubble as he glanced down at Katahnia, his mind whirling, mixing the love inside him for his blonde haired sister with the betrothal to his blonde haired cousin as he growled softly, "To find Kella.." And his eyes only softened hten, before they cut into back towards the others like steel. "And to bring these mage camps down. If I find her here... all of Connlaoth will burn."

And finding herself stunned again, Katahnia was dragged off at his side into a swell of on coming smoke.

"I'm going after them," Conall informed Lana and Drake, "thank you for following me this far, my friends. I'm sorry that I wasn't entirely honest about..."

"It's cool." Drake replied with a shrug. "Really not a good time to get mad about that anyway. You need to save your girl. I'd go with you, man ,but I gotta find my mother and help any others that I can. Didn't think shit would get this bad..."

Conall nodded, understanding, "Take care."

"You too, Duke Shanley. Don't die and maybe we'll see each other again some day, eh? Funny, you're one first nobles I haven't wanted to sock in the face."

"...thanks. " That was a compliment , right?

Drake laughed and moved past, making his way towards the holding cells where he'd left his mother in the care of a couple he'd befriended during his time imprisoned there.

To Conall's surprise, Lana lingered behind, looking unsure. "Aren't you going with him?"

"My loved ones are gone and you shouldn't go alone."

Conall shook his head, " I appreciate your concern but the others need you. "

"I'm going with you whether you like it or not. You can't do this alone. Please. I'm not helpless once we're clear of the Mordecai."

Conall nodded slightly , "But you said..."

"I know. And I wasn't lying. Here , we have no magic."

"Very well. I don't have any more time to argue with you and I'm not going to turn down offered help where it's given. Let us make haste then!"

They pressed on, leaving the building and following after Blaith who, in his armor , was not all that difficult to spot. 

All around them fires consumed nearly everything and the heat was so intense that it was melting the snow surrounding the immediate area. Bodies of prisoners, Mordecai and a few of the robed fanatics littered the ground. Conall noted that more than a few children lie among the dead.

Behind him , he heard Lana gasp. Hopefully she could control her emotions and continue on or else he'd have to simply leave her behind with Drake and whatever survivors who managed to walk away from this.

"Keep your eyes peeled for a weapon!" Conall shouted.

Lana nodded. "I really don't know how to use one."

"Well, you're going to have to learn pretty quickly!"

Lana paused to collect a sword from one of the slain Mordecai and gave it a test swing as she moved. It was heavy and awkward in her hand. She could do this, she reassured herself. She had to. "Never thought I'd end up fighting other mages." She mused.

"And I never thought I'd be fighting Mordecai."

"Fair enough!"

It was true, Blaith Harmond stuck out like a sore thumb, with his armor roaring in yellow flames against the blackened skies. Katahnia looked skyward, her eyes welling upa nd stinging with tears. It was so difficult to breath here,t hough as she lagged behind, Blaith's strong arm pulled her closer, and she found herself stumbling against his armor, and burning herself as she dropped to her knees.

And just at that moment,t he smoke began to fade, and a man pointed a gun directly at Blaith's head.
"Stay right where you are..."
It was the Captain, or so she thought, but upon further scrutiny, it must've been the man beneath him, or his brother-f or he looked alike but did not wear the appropriate markings. Katahnia bit nervously into her lower lips, her head still swirling, her skin red from burns as the smoke continued to roll past, but it did not deter the man from readying his flint-lock gun.

"Reckless fool!" Conall snarled, seeing that yet again Blaith had left his back exposed and one of the Mordecai had a rifle pointed right at Blaith's head. Something in his gut told him that NO magic Blaith possessed was going to stop a bullet. Not at such a close range. But he hardly knew all types of magics and could have been mistaken quite easily. 

"Look who's talking! " Lana smirked.

Conall had no argument for that. He was chasing after mages with no real backup and no real defense against them. Really, Lana made a good point. He was the fool. And what was he doing it for? One person? A friend.

Was that really such a bad reason even if it was a tad bit selfish?

They were closing in when one of the robed fighters stepped out in front of them and held up a staff, pointing it at them. Something told Conall that it'd probably be a very good idea not to be lined up in its sight. "Move aside!" He jumped aside and Lana mimicked him and not a moment too soon as a stream of flames shot out from the enchanted weapon . Conall charged at the mage who cursed and raised the staff in time to deflect the duke's sword. They exchanged a few blows and Conall wasn't looking to be faring well. 

While the two were preoccupied, Lana slipped around behind the mage.

Conall was surprised when a blade plunged through the mage's chest. The mage stared wide-eyed at Conall, "Damned...woman..." he gasped and collapsed face-down and died.

Lana stood over the slain man, appearing visibly shaken.

"Lana, pull yourself together!"

"That's the first time I..."

Conall went over to her and touched her shoulder, "You can't afford to fall apart right now. Be strong, friend."

The woman took a deep breath and nodded. It took a couple strong yanks, but she managed to rip the blade free from the slain man's back. The repulsed look on her face made him feel bad for her. This war made good people do terrible things...

ooc: I will leave the gunman up to you unless you want to prolong that and let Conall kill him. >>

A gun man.. how irritable...
Blaith simply sneered at the man, his eyes as cold as ice as he looked down the barrel..
but then something changed, he felt the air become... different.
And that's when he knew..
the last mordecai on guard here had fallen.

His expression quickly became dark, and the arctic air, even more frigid than before. Katahnia felt her own hands ice up from Blaiths' touch as her eyes widened as she looked over at him.
"Blaith- what are you doing- you can't-"

And not a second later, he waved his hand as the gun fired-
and the bullet froze in place- nad a moment later, the icy powers waved from Blaith's hand began to creep upa nd up the gun man's body, his eyes widening as he started to shout- but became frozen in place.... completely incased in ice.


Katahnia felt her legs give way at the sight, but in the same breath, realized.. her own powers were returning... and before she knew what she was doing, her hand lit up in a blaze of fire and she knocked Blaith clean across the skull.

"You idiot! What has gotten into you!? If it's for Kella... then ask yourself, ...Why .. why would Kella be here!? What would dragging me around accomplish!? Have you truly gone mad!? Are the rumors true as to what has become of you!?"

And suddenly Blaith's dark eyes turned towards her, and his hand shot out, grabbing onto her flaming wrist, which began to freeze...t he flames going out, and she let out a sharp cry, realizing...
Blaith was trying to turn her into a frozen statue, too!

Conall heard a gunshot ring out and assumed that the man holding Blaith at gunpoint had fired. He expected Blaith to be dead, but instead it seemed magic protected him, freezing the bullet and encasing the gunman in a thick , icy shell.

"Ansgar..."How the hell was he supposed to confront something like that? 

Lana stood behind him, equally frozen in intimidation and awe.

Surely, not all of the Mordecai were dead.

When Blaith began freezing Katahnia, however, Conall broke out into a run. He grabbed the man's arm and forced it away from Katahnia , ignoring the searing pain that burned his head. A wave of illness washed through him and with it a surge of magical negating energy that made his stomach lurch and give him such a powerful urge to vomit. His touch, however halted the ice. Blocked the magic and he wasn't aware of that. He could only think of stopping this man from doing something unthinkable,  "How could you do this? She's your cousin!" Conall growled and shoved Blaith a step back.

At Conall's irrational action,t he only thing Blaith could do to retaliate was to sock the man back int he face, leaving Katahnia gasping as she caught Conall in her arms.

"I came here on a mission," he growled at the pair of them. "I'm looking for Kella, and I'll blow up every mage camp from here to the ocean if I have to." And before either of them could stop him, he gave a whistle for his horse and shouted out to his men. "Keep looking for her! And if she's not int he lower holding cells, blow them up!" his voice bellowed.

Katahnia watched in horror, shivering beside Conall as the winds carried in fluffy, cold flakes of snow.
"Gods.." she whimpered. "What's wrong with him?"

"Insanity, " Conall replied , pressing a hand to his the multiple injuries he'd sustained to the face.He felt around his face to ascertain that nothing was broken and turned around to face Katahnia. "In all honesty I was certain that he was going to kill me." He studied the burns on her skin, "We should probably do something about your injuries but first..."

He looked back towards the holding cell and hoped that Drake and the rest of the prisoners had done the smart thing and got the hell out of there.

"I wonder if the others made it out ..."

"Many didn't." Lana reminded him flatly.

Conall looked remorseful, but said nothing and simply shook his head.

"I saw burn marks on some of the children. Why?"

Conall shook his head. He had no answers for that, "We should try to find Drake and see if we can help him. He felt the strength leave him and he collapsed back into Katahnia's arms.

"Are you alright?" Lana asked, alarmed.

"I just feel a little dizzy from that blow to my head, " he lied smoothly. "I'll be fine."

"We should probably avoid this Blaith, "Lana suggested, "He might not be so generous as to let us walk away alive next time."

Conall nodded, "You two...go ahead. There are others that need help. I...need a moment to rest here."

"Are you sur-"

"Go!" Conall snapped at her irritably.

Lana exchanged glances with Katahnia and then reluctantly started to move away.

Worry over came her like a fever, and she supported him with all of her strength, but when he tried to get her to leave, her face scrunched up in anger as she shook her head.
"What are you,a fool? I will absolutely NOT leave you here, Conall!" she spat. "We're in this together,"she said, her eyes flaming as they looked into his. "And we're going to see this through." And hse took his hand, squeezing it lightly. "There's no way you can walk in this condition." And she called over to Lana. "I'll help him out of here!"

Conall be damned! She wasn't about to listen to him and leave his sorry ass behind!

Lana nodded, "Alright. I'll be back as soon as I can!" She took off running.

"Leave me behind? Why are women so dramatic about everything? " Conall winced and shook his head with a sigh, "I meant to say you should leave me here for the moment. I don't think I'll be bothered further so long as I stay out of the way." Then again, one could never trust the actions or words of an unstable man. Who was to say that Blaith wouldn't get a wild hair up his ass, return and fry his sorry ass?

"Your concern for me is touching, but if Blaith's men are headed towards the holding cells and there are people still there...do you really think they'll be spared? They don't seem past killing innocent children who get in the way. "

Was there really anything they could do if something went wrong?  He wasn't even sure what kind of mage Lana was or if her ability would be enough to protect herself. "You wouldn't let Lana go alone , would you? " 

He looked her in the eyes briefly and sighed then lowered his gaze, knowing what the answer to the question was going to be. "Ansgar, woman! You're so....damn stubborn!" He growled, frustrated with her. "I told you both. I'm fi-" A fit of violent coughing exposed that lie rather quickly. 

Kathania remained silent at his side, and after a time, she pulled him in close to embrace him.
"Conall.." she spoke, the winds howling around them in the broken, lonely cell. "You're not alone anymore. Let me help you.." she said, lifting her gaze as her eyes were filled with hot tears. "I am aware my cousin is unstable... and that something horrible had happened here... but we have to keep moving on, we have to keep pressing through...." And she moved a hand to push his hair from his face before holding him gently. "Gods.. I wish I could help you.." and then as she wiped her tears away off ont he backs of her hands, she inquired, hoarsely, "Are you ok?"
And as she studied him, her lips trembled from fear and the cold.

Conall let the sword fall from his grasp and leaned against her for support. He embraced her , but there was little strength in his arms. When she asked him if he was okay, he shook his head. No. In so many ways no. He wasn't. Thinking that only made him hug her a little more tightly. "I was powerless to do anything for them and for you. If only..."He sagged a little in her arms, feeling his body grow heavier, " If only I wasn't so...tired. I could fight harder I...." He shook his head," Wishful thinking. I'm only one person. The results would have been dire either way . Forgive me. I'm just ...you're right, you're right. Move forward. That's all we can do. "

He simply wished that he could have done more than that.


He pulled back to regard her now, "What about you? " He was afraid to touch her the places where she'd been burned. "There must be medical supplies around here somewhere."

Kathania lifted her head, tears still forming in her eyes, and some, carried away by the wind. She shook her head.
"I want to be rid of this place.." And down to her wounds,s he frowned, smoothing a hand gently over the raw skin. "I'll be fine." And then lower still, she added, "I'll live. Let's just leave.." and she held him again, " Please.."

Conall leaned his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. He was exhausted, but he agreed. The sooner they were gone from this place, the better. "Agreed." Though the question lingered in the back of his mind whether or not Blaith was going to just let them go like that. It all seemed a little too easy for his tastes, but they couldn't lose much from trying to run. "As soon as Lana comes back, we'll go."

Lana returned little over ten minutes later with five other people . Three young men , an elder woman and a child. "These are...the only people I could find. " The woman reported quietly. Before either of them could ask , she answered, "Drake is dead. They killed him. The ones who attacked,  " Her voice quaked with profound sorrow.

"Lana..."

Lana shook her head, "Don't be sorry. I don't blame you for this and you shouldn't blame yourself. Those bastards murdered him. Just promise me you'll make them pay one day."

Conall held his tongue for a moment. He couldn't make a promise like that. It wasn't THAT simple, but he simply nodded to please her. Telling her no when she was this emotional would only make things worse.

"Where will we go?" One of the men asked.

"We should grab some supplies." Another man suggested.

"Good idea, "Conall replied tiredly ,"I'll..." he tried to move away from Katahnia , but in doing so he lost his balance and hit the ground, landing hard on his knees. He made a quiet but agonoized gasping sound and gnashed his teeth together.

Look who is being the stubborn fool now. He mentally chastised himself.

"Conall, listen to Katahnia and stay put. " Lana told him with a frown, "Let us handle this. You've done enough for now." She turned to the three young men, "You three come with me. The rest of you wait here with Conall and Katahnia."

"Nana, where's mama?" The child, a girl of no older than perhaps seven or eight asked the elder woman.

The old woman put a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder, "She's with Ansgar, now, my child."

"Does that mean ...I don't get to see her ever ?"

"No, dear. It just means it'll be a while, but don't worry. You will see her again when Ansgar comes for you."

"Why can't he come now?"

"It's just not your time, dear. Hush now. Don't worry about it. Nana is here to look after you." She hugged the girl to her tightly.

It was just too much to take in..
Drake,a nd now this..
and her and Conall could have been added to the list, or worse...
She recalled the look her cousin had given her.. and had seen it only once before...
She grit her teeth and held onto Conall, remaining steadfast and at his side as she sat on her knees beside him.

"Just rest... reserve your strength," she told him softly, a hand smoothing against his back. "We're going to need it for the journey ahead."
Or, for what plan awaited them when Blaith might return...
She didn't think he'd let her go so easily.. not after what he had said to her...

About marriage, and then the kiss...
Blinking back a few tears, her mind went to Kella...
If Blaith hadn't killed her...
that meant she might still be alive. But did he honestly believe she might end up here?

Glancing around, Katahnia said a silent prayer, wishing for her cousin's safety.. and for Blaith to come to his senses. It wasn't completely uncommon for those who had loved ones pass to lose their mental stability... but this?
It made a cold feeling inside her belly, and she shivered as she leaned in closely to Conall.

"I'm so glad you're here..."
She knew it might not sound like something he'd want ot hear, but Conall's presence gave her strength whent he world was other wise going crazy around her, but no sooner had the words been uttered did she hear the young child gasp as she lifted her head and saw Blaith and his men looking down at them.

It did seem somewhat of a terrible thing to say, but Conall understood what she meant by that. He simply moved his scarred hand, the one he'd burnt grabbing Blaith with and rested it over hers. "Katahnia ...I..." He wanted to say more than what came out, "I feel the same way." There. That wasn't too bold, right?  He squeezed her hand lightly and the action wasn't without some pain.
Hearing the child gasp, he looked up but knew it was bad news before his green eyes settled on Blaith.

Damn it! He should have just spit it out . He imagined he was going to be dead in a moment.

"Well, " Conall glared up defiantly at the man, "you didn't find Kella, did you? Killing those women and children didn't help your search?" He spat.
"Insolent fool!" One of the mages made a gesture with his hands but then looked suddenly confused , "What the hell!? I thought we thought we killed them all!"

"Weird. Some more must be on the way cause my magic was working earlier. "Another mage replied.

"So , what are you going to do with us?" Conall spoke directly to Blaith. Looking the mad man in the eyes directly unnerved him. Only one other person had THAT sort of effect on him.

Blaith shuffled uneasily as he looked around at the remaining prisoners. Then, his lips twitched, half growing into a sneer,t hen raising into a smile.

"Get yourselves some horses. We're going back to the heart of Connlaoth."
And Katahnia's eyes went wide as she peered over at Conall with uncertainty, all the while Blaith laughed and looked towards his men.

"We'll need to resupply and replan.." then he looked over at the pair of them again, his eyes falling hungrily upon his cousin. "If more mordecai are coming... we need to prepare."
And without so much as another word, Blaith walked away.

He was no fool, this was the artic...
They would be lucky if they'd survive the journey back...
and as Katahnia peered at the skies, she noted dark storm clouds rolling in as she crept closer to Conall's side, tears frozen at the corners of her eyes.

Conall wasn't as concerned for himself as he was for Katahnia. He did not miss the lewd manner that Blaith's eyes practically undressed the woman or the fearful and uncomfortable reaction from Katahnia. In spite of his unease, he forced himself to retain a calm, somewhat icy facade that many nobles wore. Conall liked to call it "the Calent face" . He said nothing while Blaith babbled on about his 'plans'.

Well, he certainly hasn't planned very well if he came all the way out here only to have to return to Connlaoth to re-stock. You'd think he'd take supplies from these camps. The soldiers don't survive out here without support. He hasn't brought many people with him either unless there are more standing by elsewhere.

Seeing the tears in Katahnia's eyes nearly broke his heart. He squeezed her hand weakly, "It'll be alright," He assured her quietly despite being uncertain of the outcome of this situation himself, "we'll survive this." 

"I respect you a great deal in spite of our obvious differences in political and religious creed and I consider you a dear friend.  I - that is not a title that I grant superfluously." He went quiet for a moment, and by his expression it was clear that he was thinking of something more to say, "I think you've opened my eyes a bit to a couple things. Thank you for that; I mean it." Another pause, this time longer. "There's ...something I've wanted to tell you since around the time we met Joshua." He leaned in close and whispered something in her ear.

Three simple words.

~

Lana and the three men she'd taken with her had salvaged about as much from the ruins as they could when one of them spotted Blaith and his men approaching. Despite Lana's warning, two of the men decided foolishly to try and take Blaith on , confident that with the element of surprise and their magics that they would be victorious; Blaith's men made killing them look easier than breathing.

Lana and the remaining man, a teenager really, back away slowly.

OOC: Three simple words: Pine cone beard

-------------------


A lightning mage- and one who focused on stunting magic, had come after Blaith in a fury. Unfortunately for them both, they were no match for Blaith. Had he been successfully stunned, it might have been the end of Blaith Harmond and his obsessive raids; ones that were only beginning to rise, and Duke Shanley had every right to question how well thought out Blaith's methods were. But one thing was clear, and it had brought him this far-
He wanted revenge. He wanted his sister back; and he would stop at nothing to gain the upper hand.

Internally, his mental stability was writhing, strangled behind layers collected swiftly over the past several years, and the new magics absorbed within him. Now, Blaith Harmond stood, hand placed tightly to the arm of the attacker, and the stunting mage went down, gurgling as his life was sucked from his body, in twelve terrifying moments of death. Then, as his eyes rolled back, the other mage's lightning cracked and whipped Blaith form-
For he would have finished the job in mere moments had there just been one. Now, recoiling from the burn of lightning and from the absorption of life and magic, Blaith steadied himself uneasily, wobbling over his boots as he shook his head, then turned just in time to grabt he other mages arm-
and that was the end. As lightning tore over him, it began to become swallowed deep inside him, and as his grip intensified,t he other mage cried out in pain as his life force slipped away, and he turned into a lifeless heap at his touch.

Dropping the grip, Blaith stared down at the charred body as fragments of the lightning hissed across his skin. A light dribble of blood ran down his nose, and everyone simply stared back at him in horror.

Ooc:
No.It's much more sexier than that.

Beard in pinecone.

Ic:
A long silence followed, then , one of Blaith's men spoke, " What should we do about those two, boss?"

Lana stood stock-still, staring at the bodies of her companions in disbelief. They had been so young. It seemed perverted that anyone could kill them in such a ruthless manner. This man in the blazing armor was almost as bad as the Mordecai were, she thought. Almost, but she really had no idea. "You monster!" She spat venomously.

"Shut it, bitch!" Another one of the mages stepped forward and punched her across the jaw ; the blow was heavy and it sent Lana sprawling in the snow.

"I say we tie them up and leave them here to rot. Let the wolves have them. "

"Kill them. We shouldn't leave survivors."

"If she is a mage, we ought to show her some mercy." One of the few women among them reasoned. "What is the point of attacking these camps in the name of arcane liberation if we murder our own kind?"

"Why do we let women join us? "

"Fuck off, Derik. I could turn into a pile of ash before you had time to piss your pants. "

"Bitch, I'd like to see you try!"

"Shut up, the both of you!" 

One of the mages, a man named Gavin, approached Blaith nervously, "Sir? Are you alright?"  Gavin was one of the new recruits and wholly devoted to the cause...fanatical even, but he wasn't quite familiar with Blaith's unusual moods and perhaps more foolishly bold than the other mages. He did not cower or shrink back like a frightened dog for he believed that he had nothing to fear in being a believer. The others cowered simply because they doubted the cause. But not Gavin. Mages were superior and they would triumph under Blaith's leadership.

"And what about this Duke ? " Derik was saying.

"If he really is a Duke then he'll probably be trouble.  " The female mage replied with a scowl.

It was their questioning of Duke Shanley that brought Blaith back to the present, and for a moment, the milky-white layer that had momentarily covered his eyes had faded. He paused a moment, his face unreadable as he took in Shanley and his cousin who cowered at his side. For a moment, he had a softness held in his eyes as he drew in a long breath through his nose.

"Unfortunately, they both know my identity...." He set his jaw, eyes never flinching, even as a sense of sadness could be seen. "We'll have to kill them both."

"Is that really necessary?" The female mage inquired. She was no stranger to murder, but the more innocents she had been ordered to kill, the more hesitant and vocal she had become. She was beginning to believe that Blaith was the worst thing that happened to the cause, but she was just smart enough to have held her tongue on those thoughts for this long. She wasn't sure how much longer her sanity could take it. And , she thought, being female made her extremely cautious. Fortunately, she wasn't pretty. Half her body had been burned away , leaving nothing but ugly, twisted flesh. She was fully covered so no one could see much save for the charred flesh near her eye, "My Lord, I don't object to killing the men, but the women pose no threat surely. Especially not the elder woman and the child. Are we not fighting against this for sake of our people? What is the point if we kill everyone?"

"They should all die equally, Beryl." Derik sneered. "Or do you not believe in gender equality?"

"That is not why. One man is a Duke, the other is a mage whose friends tried to kill us and he would have tried the same,  but the women have done no wrong and neither has the child. What does it say about us if we just kill them for no reason at all?"

"Only because you killed our friends and loved ones, murderers!" The young man remaining with Lana spat.

Beryl looked as though she'd been slapped and lowered her gaze in shame because she knew this to be true. But there was little she could do about it. She wanted out. Had wanted out of this mess years ago, but she couldn't leave. Once you were in, you were in for life. The only way out was death.

"I'll finish them." Gavin volunteered with an enthusiasm that was unnerving.

Knowing that the situation was desperate and that his life as well as Katahnia's was dangling by a rather thin thread , Conall spoke up, " If you kill me, you're an even bigger fool than Allarick. Use your head, Blaith. Even if I wanted to expose you, who would listen? I'm dead, remember? Why would I betray someone who just saved my life and might be persuaded to verify who I am? "

He shrugged, "I don't know, that seems a rather...foolish choice of action for me. But not just for me, but for you as well. You evidently oppose Calent and your list of allies, I imagine, is rather slight. You know that I am one of Allarick's most ardent of adversaries. 'Tis no secret to anyone , really.  Individually, neither of us can take him down ,but perhaps together...we stand a better chance." He held out his hand which was bloodied and scarred from the torture, "I want to stop this war and I want to see Allarick and his sycophants pay for the transgressions they've committed against our people. I want to help you find your sister. What say you?"   

ooc: Post fixed. Let me know if this doesn't work for you.

A series of emotions wrung through Blaith, easily transcribed within his eyes. The wildness, though, at the end, seemed to fade away, and something more recognizable came out as he pressed his lips together and stared directly into Conall's gaze, rather than through him. Too many points struck home, and he looked from Conall to Katahnia, then eventually back to Conall again.

"He's right." His voice came out gruff as he righted his shoulders. "He is one of the few against... Allarrick." He turned away, staring down at his arm for a moment and held it, as if it were tender, or in pain, before lifting his blue eyes back to him... then to his cousin.

"No one knows what has become of Kella, I'm sure you've heard.." he began. "And if she's not in these camps, I fear what might have happened to her. The stink of the government is as pungent as a skunk, and holds no bonds as it leaks into the bowels of the church. I've heard... quite a number of horror stories; and if she is not here...." he said, beginning to crack his shoulder with a slow roll. "I'd hate to think that'd we'd have to take on Angsar... next."

He looked Conall over again before slowly nodding his head.
"I do not know how well we can trust you, but, from what you say, even I'm no fool to see that it is clear; that few are true friends against this country in hopes to right it's own mistakes in the ideals of a new reconstruction." Blaith smiled subtly, though it was hollowed and forced. "Too bad they're all idiots and too afraid to listen. Too bad they're all idiots and do not understand the need for change."

"But we understand," came her voice, softly, from the darkness. Blaith's eyes registered the familiarity as he turned to take in his cousin. She dared to take a step nearer to him, until she was not but a few inches away as she looked up into his gaze. "Do not think of us as your enemy Blaith. We are relations, cousins, and we are bound by blood. Was it not your father who brought me back into society, after knowing full well what I was and what it could mean? I am indebted to your blood line forever, Gods rest your father's soul."

Blaith's eyes fell at her last comment, and slowly he nodded and moved to reglove his arms before stepping forward and pulling Katahnia into an awkward embrace. Tears clung to the corners of his eyes as he held her, but his expression remained hollowed as he stared through the ground as he held onto her tight.

"We will find Kella," Katahnia whispered. "She is not lost. She is a smart girl. Perhaps she had fled south? But only time will tell." And then she put her arms around him, wrapping him up int a more proper hug as she cried into his shoulder, Blaith's gloved hands slowly brushing through her blonde locks. "Oh, Blaith, what madness this world has become. If only the dukes could understand what their fear has initiated... if only they realized their mistakes."

She's probably hiding from the monster that you have become. I can only pray that's the case and that she is well, but it is unlikely that we will ever know the truth.

His sharp green gaze flickered sideways briefly to Katahnia before returning to look fully upon Blaith as he listened to the man speak. Conall could only thank Ansgar that the man seemed , for the moment, a bit less crazed and a little more human. The man was still very much a vessel for insanity. Conall could still see the madness in Lord Harmond's eyes and hear it echo in his words.

When Katahnia left his side, he started to open his mouth to protest but hastily shut his mouth and simply watched, his stomach twisting in worried knots over her. He wanted to grab her by the arm and pull her away, but he remained where he was and quietly watched the exchange between cousins and every second Conall felt on edge because he was expecting the unstable bastard to suffer a psychotic episode and burn what was left of her face.

Blaith still hadn't apologized to her for that and that made Conall's blood boil.

"Perhaps there is a way to sway a few of them. You just have to think of the right thing to say." Conall stroked his beard with a hand, "It's true that many don't care about mage issues because they're ignorant to them. Now, as you know , appealing to zealots is futile but not every follower of Ansgarism is a zealot. Those whom are not blinded by their passion can be reasoned with though. If you appeal to other interests and offer them protection and better incentives for turning against Allarick, then you can manipulate them in a manner that plays better to your favor. You break up the alliance and it robs Allarick of power, making him an easier target. If you cannot sway any of the great houses, then there are always many more ambitious lesser houses to turn to." 

As an afterthought, he added in a tone that was just barely neutral, "Katahnia requires medical attention. You did burn her, remember? "

ooc: Great last post, btw!

It took Blaith some time to digest fully this situation, especially since he was.returning more to himself. The look in his eyes continued to.soften as his face twisted in thought over the exiled duke's suggestion.
"Yes, there is much to consider in the way of politics, but were you not there on that day to see.how easily the other duke's were swayed by Allarrick's vehement thoughts? Like moths to his flames he'd draw them to his side, and a duke like me.could scarcely cut a.word in."

He have Conall a once over before turning regretfully to his cousin.
"I am.sorry, Kat. These... Have been most trying times. We can see to her wounds, but quickly." And his eyes went towards the sky as he observed, "There is only so much day light. We must move fast."


Once  Katahnia was seen to, supplies were scavenged, and the survivors accessed. It seems a truce had been won, and as her wounds were bound up.tight, Katahnia stole a warm glance and smile towards Conall, her eyes.speaking volumes were her lips could not.


Ooc: hope this post is ok! Doing it.on my phone with my dog sleeping across my chest, lol.

"A pity that I wasn't , but the timing was rather questionable wasn't it? I wonder how many put two and two together. That it was quite convenient that a mage would murder me of all people on a day that I likely would have spoken out against our precious Grand Duke quite loudly.  No , I'm afraid that I was a tad bit preoccupied with being betrayed and sent to a living hell ."

Conall shook his head and shrugged slightly, "No. I was not present for when the war 'officially' started. However, I was around for all the propaganda and the building paranoia within the country. I cannot say that I knew precisely what would pass , but  Allarick did not garner near unanimous support from the great houses in a single speech. He's been working on this for years . Unfortunately, I placed a little too much faith in people and 'common sense'. " He shook his head, feeling a lot more guilty than he sounded. "But regrets and acceptance do little to serve us now or the good people. You may not be able to reach anyone the first time you speak, but like I said, " He spat out some blood in the snow, "Alignments are shifting all the time and the friends Calent once thought he had, might not be so favorable towards him anymore because it's impossible for him to please everyone. I think finding out who those disgruntled parties are is worth pursuing more so than a more violent course of action. Bloodshed will come in the future, most likely, and it has already been so more than I care for but that doesn't mean it is the only way to get things done.  Of course, I cannot tell you how to run your campaign. If you wish for violence, I cannot and will not stand in your way so long as you leave Ardal and her allies alone."

He sat by quietly while Blaith and his men scrounged for supplies and attended to Katahnia. Though they failed to treat him, he dared not to complain about it. He knew he'd already tested enough waters today and was simply fortunate enough to be spared. As they were departing from the camp that lay in smoldering ruins, he exchanged a brief glance with Katahnia. He nodded very slightly to acknowledge that look she gave him, but could not wear a smile on his busted, bloodied lips. His one good eye held a soft, green gaze that reflected his concern.

Lana and the three other survivors followed behind them. Lana's expression was cold and somewhat bitter every time it focused on Conall, but she was silent the entire time.

As the day wore on, Conall collapsed face first in the snow an hour before the party reached their selected camping site.

"What a pain in the ass. We should just leave him here to die, " Gavin volunteered.

However, the female mage, Beryl was already trying to lift the unconscious duke out of the snow. "Someone help me here, please."

Ooc: time shift!! You can assume they've traveled some, then made camp.


It was only natural Katahnia helped, and soon Conall was resting in a make shift bed.near the fire.side. For hours she looked after him in silence as the orange flames from the fire danced off his form. It was here her cousin approached her and voiced his concern.

"You know, you really ought to be sleeping. Tomorrow will be a long day. These lands are not easily traveled."

Kathania smiled at her cousin tiredly.
"I am aware. I just wish to.stay up just a bit longer."

Blaith went quiet as he studied her before nodding.

"Seems you've taken a fancy to the Duke of Ardal..." And as Katahnia turned and gaped at her cousin, he smirked and added, "Not.that I didn't already know that. Both you and Kella had.become quite smitten with him." Katahnia continued to stare.

"Blaith I..."

"Don't worry about it." And he chuckled softly. "I was.jealous at.first but that was before I realized something..."

"You? Jealous?" Katahnia inquired with a short chuckle. "What ever for?" But.the serious look on Blaith's face had her.smile fading.

"Because I realized I loved Kella, and that her heart would belong to.someone else." The two went quiet for a time before Blaith turned to her with a short smile. "I know its not.right, since she is my sister, so at first I was confused. But she and I are cut.from.the same mold... And who better to protect her than the brother who loves her?" Again, there was more silence as Katahnia pressed her lips together in thought.

"Kella does love you-"

Blaith cut her off with a laugh.

"Then why does she run from me?" Katahnia closed her lips and looked questionably.at her cousin. "Does she not realize how I care for her? That I strive for a nee direction so.that.mages like us will not have to hide away from the world and there can be peace?"

"So Kella has run from you?" Katahnia questioned. Blaith turned towards her, a frantic look in his eyes before he turned away and shook his head. "Then what is it? Blaith say something..." And it looked as if her blue eyed cousin were about to.cry. "Blaith.." but just like that, he was gone.


Ooc:  phew! All this was typed on.my phone @_@

The sound of Blaith's voice, or rather, the strain in it when he spoke of his sister had woken the light-sleeping duke of Ardal. However , wisely, Conall chose to feign sleeping until the man had departed. Now his good eye fluttered open and he stared up at Katahnia. Still groggy, he wasn't aware of how much time had passed or even what time of day it was.

"Apologies.I held up as long as I could." He told her quietly.  He couldn't move much. His body was tired, heavy. "How long have I been...out?"

And then he panicked ,"What happened to Lana and the other survivors!?" He shot up halfway in bed and then gasped out painfully and collapsed back down and cursed through his teeth. "Brilliant, Shanley, brilliant. By all means, injure yourself to further uselessness. "

((such a long post , I have made! ))

Katahnia turned to Conall when he awoke, but at his sudden reactions, she gasped and moved in closer to his side.
"Do not strain yourself. You've been out for half a day," she pressed, her eyes meeting his as she rested a hand upon his shoulder. "You need your rest, Conall. Please.. remain still. Let me get you something to drink." And once a water skin was produced, she handed it over to him once she opened it. "Here, drink as much as you'd like." Then after a moment, she brushed some loose strands of hair from her face and went quiet.

"The others are alright. They're asleep," and she gestured towards a small, make shift tent to their left. "I let them have the tent for the night. There is only one for us and the others to share. We have to travel light if we are to travel fast..." A repeated phrase from Blaith himself, and as she said it, her eyes went soft and distant, and sad, as she looked down at the blue, nighttime snow.

He accepted the water skin and brought it shakily to his lips. He drank deep, but slow and was careful not to spill a drop in haste. When he'd had his fill he handed it back to her and offered her a weak smile, "Thank you."

At the mention of the others being alright, Conall's shoulders lowered, the tenseness in his body visibly relaxing a bit as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He nodded, looking and sounding relieved, "Thank Ansgar. I was so sure..." He stopped himself and noted the look on her face. "What's wrong?"

Despite herself, at the inquiry, she suddenly let out a sob. Tears sparkled in her eyes and were quick to roll down her cheeks, and before she knew it, she was throwing her arms around him and burying her face into his neck.

"Gods... Conall.." she whispered, holding him tight. "I thought we would all be killed."

He grunted softly when she threw her arms around him. She wasn't all that rough, but his muscles were tender from the Mordecai's interrogation. He endured the embrace though because despite the pain, it did feel nice. He could scarcely recall the last time he'd been like this with anyone. Aislin had been the last and that had been ...ten or eleven years at least.  For all their love, his family had been wary of physical contact with him. And, well, outside the family one didn't simply hug a duke. That was improper. Fortunately, it hardly mattered here.

He nodded at her words because she voiced the fears that had been constantly racing in the back of his mind and his heart. "I took a gamble. I hope Lana and the others can forgive me. I didn't want to surrender like this, but unlike with the Mordecai, there is hope in this situation. If we play our cards right, we may actually see Connlaoth again. But it's a dangerous game and we're standing on a rather precarious edge. One wrong word or move and ...it'll send us over it."

He sounded and looked troubled. " He hurt you and if he can do that to someone he loves ..." He lowered his voice even more, "I know he's your cousin and I know you still care for him , but everything I say and do will always be with you and the others in mind. "

Katahnia just let herself lean into him, melting in the moment and just needing to feel the comforting warmth of another. But it still also begged the question of what he had said to her earlier.. but she was too afraid to bring that up just yet. Had he meant it? And what was to become of them once this whole ordeal was over? He was right.. and they had to be careful...

"Blaith is unstable. I fear it is his power is corrupting him. It is the only thing I can think of that would break him so. His... magic abilities were always unique and carefully guarded after an incident with Kella and a stable boy in her youth. But that was a long time ago.. and since then, much has happened."

Pressing her lips together, she chewed over a few thoughts.
"At least for now, we are safe," she said quietly, remaining contently nestled against his form. "We will just have to take each unknown wave as it comes and test the water. The best thing we can do.. is pray." And here she took his hand unknowingly, and clung to it tight. She needed this moment more than anything, lest she break down and start crying again.

Conall stared at her hand for a moment , feeling his cheeks heat under his unruly beard. He nodded his head slightly,but knew not what to say. Kathania knew the man better than he. He was silent for a moment, content to feel her heartbeat against his chest. He sighed softly, "I don't really know him , but when I met him he seemed different. There was passion and darkness, but it was not blind. Men like Klaust brought it out of him and I could sympathize. I was an older brother once."

He thought about it for a moment, "Speaking of Klaust, it was a little curious that he disappeared right after the Delgrin's party . He was far too arrogant for that. He wasn't afraid of me at all as though he knew he was untouchable and Blaith confirmed that. Said the bastard had Allarian upper echelons in his pocket. "  He sounded neither troubled nor pleased by this fact. Men like Klaust were sick like Vesrick and ,really, Connlaoth was better without them. Too bad Vesrick was still around. Probably stuffing his fat face and feasting on everyone else's misery. "I'm not insinuating that Blaith had something to do with it, but after that night he treated me like I was no different than Klaust and I never understood. I suspected I was always missing something...and I suppose your theory makes sense though I know so little about how magic works. "

She said they were safe and his expression clearly displayed his doubt. "I wish I could believe in that. " She may or may not have heard the doubt in his voice or seen the hint of fear reflecting in his green eye. "But you're right about one thing. We can only move forward and hope we survive to see the next day. "

As much as he wanted to hold her, he was also afraid to. "Are you sure this alright? Us...like this? N-not that I mind. He- I mean you were supposed to..." He cleared his throat. "I heard at the party back then that you two were..."

 

Her heart skipped a beat at his question. Keeping a breath held in, she eventually lifted her gaze to his. Her eyes held curious, saddened tears as she tried to read him.
"The idea was that I was to wed Blaith to keep he and his sister out of the harm of Connlaothian society, to help mask away the sort of powers they possess... their magic.." she began to say, slowly shaking her head, "Is none that I have ever seen nor heard of. It's almost like.. something dark, something sinister, something not right. For you see, their magic steals things... like life, other powers.. other thoughts.." and here as she explained it, she kept her voice low so that only he might be able to hear it.  And her eyes kept upon his as she continued to press the issue. "I almost wonder if the twins had been cursed." But who was she to say? She.. also purposely avoided the initial question, for even she knew not how to answer.

He did not miss the fact  that she avoided his question. He searched her eyes curiously, feelings of uncertainty and doubt teased his heartstrings. Should he press the matter a bit harder or leave things where they were? Vague? Uncertain? Did she dodge the question because she was trying to do the polite thing and spare his feelings , was she not sure of what to say or was she afraid?  Or, as he felt, perhaps it might be a combination of the last two. 

He pushed that string of confusing and maddening thoughts aside and chose to act as though he hadn't noticed her blatant verbal dodging.If she didn't wish to speak of it, he would be a gentleman and respect her privacy but maybe she wanted him to be nosy? Women, his mother had always loved to remind him, were complicated and emotional beings.

"And Kella suffers from the same thing. Perhaps it might be a curse, "Conall said softly, "but I've always been told that curses only have as much power as you choose to give them. " He shook his head, "My uncle said that once." He smiled slightly and shook his head, "I meant that in a spiritual sense, of course."  He shrugged, "Some people are born with hardships in their lives. Some suffer a little, others endure a lifetime of challenges. Some like to say that it's Ansgar's way of testing our faith and that wicked are those that fall to their test and fall prey to hardship," he shook his head," but I don't think it works that way."

He went quiet for a few moments again and then inquired, "Do you think I'm a man of my word?"

Katahnia was still lamenting over what had happened to her cousin. Their reality had become broken, their world- turned upside down. And little did she know Blaith was solely responsible for this war. It was at Conall's last question that broke her from her thoughts that her eyes lifted to meet his and sparkled curiously as she raised her brows.

"Yes," she said, without an ounce of doubt in her words.

"I'm flattered. " He smiled weakly and  met her gaze. He went quiet for a good minute or two and then broke the silence with a soft sigh, "I ...what I said to you – what I whispered to you, I want you to know that I uh...it's true. Forgive me if I was too bold and that it wasn't exactly the most appropriate moment to express such feelings. I just didn't think I'd have another chance." He shook his head, " I have no expectations for reciprocation. I just ...-I wanted you to know."

For a long while Katahnia stared at.him while many emotions wavered inside her eyes. She wanted to.scream and tell him yes, that she felt that way to.  But she also feared what it meant, and if it were even possible for the pair of.them to ever have a chance. But before she could speak a word, Lana approached to.see.if.they were alright.

"We had all been praying for you," she told Conall in earnest. "It's just good to.see.you awake."

He waited quietly, watching her reaction and his stomach tightening in agonizing knots over what she might have said. She wouldn't be cruel to him , he knew that but part of him was worried that his words might offend or upset her. But she simply stared at him, her eyes swimming with several emotions that Conall tried to read. She looked about ready to say something and he held his breath but then....

Lana came and whatever Katahnia was going to say would have to wait. Damn it, Lana!

Conall forced himself to smile at the woman, nevertheless. " It's good to see you too, Lana." He was surprised that the woman seemed to be in better spirits. He'd been so sure that she would have been furious with him. "Uh...thank you for all your help, by the way. I owe you. "

Lana smirked, "I'm not  interrupting something, am I? "

"Yes- no! No, hahaha...we were just talking..." Conall chuckled nervously.

Lana's smirk grew broader,"Ohhh. I get it. 'Talking'. Riiiight."

Conall blinked. He knew that tone. He blinked once more stupidly, "I- I beg your pardon?"

"It's okay. I'll leave in a moment so you can finish 'talking'. " She winked at them. "Just don't talk too loud, if you know what I mean. The kid is asleep."

((oh Lana. You perv. )) 

OOC:

Quote from: Paradox on October 20, 2013, 08:37:55 PM
Lana came and whatever Katahnia was going to say would have to wait. Damn it, Lana!

Looool
X3

--------------

As Lana disappeared, Katahnia couldn't help herself but giggle lightly herself, despite the heated blush upon her face.
"Yes, we were evidently just talking," she said, a smile upon her lips as her eyes took him in with warm mirth. Though after a moment, she drew in a breath and tore her eyes away from him, tucking in her lower lip as she felt her own nerves tighten within her belly as she thought back to the question he had asked, to his admittance back at the camp... and what it would mean for them if she too, admitted what she truly felt.

What ? Where are you going? You interrupt us at the worst possible moment and now you're leaving!? You might as well stay because she's not going to say anything now! Conall glowered and stared daggers after Lana. He shook his head and met Katahnia's gaze briefly before she looked away. Her expression seemed ...uncertain? Uncomfortable , perhaps?

Am I the one making her uncomfortable?

"Thank you for taking care of me, Katahnia. " He told her softly, "You should ought get some rest now though. Blaith will probably push us hard tomorrow, I suspect. Mayhaps the young fellow might not mind switching places with you. I'm sure it's warmer in the tent." He yawned and let his eyelids close partially. "Or would you like to stick around and hear a bedtime story?" He chuckled. He could think of a couple! "I promise that none of them involve pinecones. " 

Stupid Lana!

Katahnia lifted her gaze to smile at him warmly, her eyes wavering as she took him in.
"Or pine cones stuck in your beard," she said, chuckling lightly. Drawing in a breath, she shook her head at his words and rubbed at her temple.
"I am exhausted, but not sure I can just lay down and sleep. ANd I most certainly would not leave you in the care of another in your condition," she said, looking him over with a frown.

Conall laughed at the beard comment a little too hard to the point that it caused tears of anguish to roll from his eyes. Ironically it felt good and bad at the same time. Good for the spirit, bad for the body. He took a moment to recover, not wanting to make much fuss over something small. Katahnia was already stressed enough as it was. "No, no. That is a unique experience familiar only to us. It would be quite silly to tell you a story that you already know, wouldn't it?" He offered her a fond smile.

He went quiet for a moment and then adopted a thoughtful look. Her concern was touching but , perhaps there was something else bothering her. There must have been many things bothering her. He wouldn't press her, he decided. Not right now when the mood was peaceful enough. "Very well, if that is your wish then I certainly won't refuse your company. But, do humor me. What manner of story would you like to hear? I will have you know that I'm rather skilled storyteller. I had a ninety -three percent success rate of putting women to sleep at social gatherings whenever I talk. Some of those ladies were in desperate need of a nap too. "   

Katahnia smiled at the memory, and as he went on to inform her about his expertise in making ladies bored, she gave a closed lipped smile and nudged him with her arm.
"I'm sure you'e not that bad," she said, giving him a playfully mean leer. "After all, you'd simply have to shave your beard in order to gain their interest again. You did look rather dashing when you were more... groomed."
Yeah, she went there. Teasing him was too damn fun not to.

Conall gasped at her blasphemous suggestion. Shave the beard? How could she!? What a horrible, evil woman! The answer was oh so clear. "NEVER!" 

Lana stuck her head out of her tent and looked at the pair with a worried expression.

"We're fine." Conall assured her.

Lana shook her head at them and disappeared back into her tent.

Conall blushed at her teasing. Really? She thought he looked good? No . Wait! Damn her! She was doing this on purpose! Well, he was not going to let her win! He made a face at Katahnia. "Nice try, Miss Harmond , but I see right through your flattery. Quite frankly, I think you want it gone because you might have, " he shrugged slightly, "Oh , I don't know. Slight beard envy."

At his come back, the ends of Katahnia's lips simply curled.
"Oh? Is that what you think?" And she looked away from him, trying to most obviously stifle a laugh.

Conall quirked a brow at her an set his lips into a hard thin line,"Yes, in fact the evidence collected from various experiences makes it quite clear, really." Conall boasted, "On numerous occasions, you've threatened my beard and assaulted it. Clearly , you feel intimidated by it's unruly yet exotic luster. "

Unruly yet exotic luster? That sounded ridiculously intelligent.

Conall smirked, "It's okay, Miss Harmond. I'm here for you if you need to make a confession. I promise not to tell a soul. Maybe if it makes you feel better, I might cut off a quarter of it and let you have a beard of your very own. "

That's just kind of gross... He still was laughing on the inside at the absurdity regardless.

Katahnia was trying to fight off a laugh, but at his words, her mouth kept falling more open and open until she was positively GAPING at him and his words, and suddenly her hand struck out and gave a playful pull on his beard.

"Gods, Conall!" ANd then she was doubled over from laughter, unable to contain it anymore as she held onto her sides and laughed and laughed.
"Gods, that has to be the single most ridiculous thing you could have ever said!" And then with a more playful laugh, she added, "And to think, I thought you might have been serious when you were confessing your love for me!" And she jutted her chin out smartly at him. She could't help it. It was cruel... but hey.. he asked for it!
Offering her croppings of his beard!? How gross!
"Clearly you were just in love with your beard!"
FOR REALZ

He gasped when she yanked on his beard. "Don't pull it! It's fragile!" It wasn't as easy as it looked to keep a straight face while making an exclamation like that even when he'd spent years with his mother practicing how to maintain a neutral expression and tone in all situations.

For a moment he appeared to look as though he had just been slapped. Focusing simply on what she said opposed to the context, what she said was considerably harsh. It stung him just a little that she would joke about something that he had been fairly serious about when she really had yet to formally acknowledge it. But he was sure that she didn't mean it like that. Surely she didn't consider his feelings a joke.

He pretended not to take offense and continued to smirk at her, "You haven't known me long enough to make a claim like that. " Wait. That made it sound worse! "I mean... not that I've ever said anything absurd before. My words are most certainly not ridiculous. Look, just now you tried to steal it from me. Katahnia, I am surprised at you, really. If you wanted a beard so badly, you just had to ask. I'd be more than happy to share it with you because true love is sharing one's beard with unfortunate beardless."

Well, here she had been about to apologize, realizing her joke might have been a bit too low of a blow.



But then he said that.

And all she could do was stare at him, her mouth gaping, her eyes wide and her expression conveying only what her voiceless response could not.
And then a moment later, she exploded into a smile and a laugh and tossed her head back.
"Clearly! Your affections for me are most genuine and proven worthy for me to respond to after such a noble gesture as that! If you were to continue to pursue such handsome tongues with me, perhaps we are on a path to an engagement!"
And she said it so well, so poised for her joke, that, if one were not careful, they might miss the sparkle of laughter within her eyes.

Conall sat up and dared to move closer to her so that their faces were inches apart. He studied her face with an expression that was almost convincingly serious, " Had I known such words would have won your affections seven years ago, I would offered much sooner." He almost looked and sounded convincing , but his voice cracked slightly with the suggestiveness of humor and his expression was fighting to remain impassive. It wasn't working. His lips kept curling up into a smile. "I suppose we're only so fortunate that no other man has thought of making the same proposal. Because you wouldn't wish for an inadequate beard."   

It was just too much to bear! And where Conall was able to keep (mostly) his straight face, Katahnia could not! And in her moment and fit of laughter,s he shook her head and threw her arms around him suddenly and kissed him long and hard upon the lips.
"And was it seven years you've waited for something like that?" she asked, her eyes a bit half lidded and teasing, though her tone, actually a bit more serious and breathy. "For your beard was not quite so handsome back then, so forgive me for not being able to resist.."
And though she joked, her cheeks flushed. It was.. the only excuse really for such a bold action on her part!

He froze up, eye widening and lips gasping against hers because she took him off-guard completely. The intensity of her kiss was ultimately matched and when they parted he stared at her, face flushed and breathless.

He nodded and leaned his forehead against hers smiling gently and his quiet voice a soft,warm breath on her neck , "Indeed.Something to that affect."

He briefly lowered his gaze from hers and adopted a pensive expression, "Forgive you?  I don't know. Perhaps I could if you could pardon me now for being incapable of resisting your lips."

Katahnia giggled and.couldn't resist her come back, "So it really HAS been seven years?"And she gave a soft and playful batting of her lashes.

Conall momentarily narrowed his eye suspiciously at her, as if he suspected that she were up to something because she usually was. He shook his head, "Seven more than I could bear," he admitted, "but such a wait is worth it. I would gladly have endured seven more or a lifetime.  " 

Katahnia stared at him, her lips falling open, her cheeks heating to a blush before she dropped her gaze and laughed at his remark.
"Truly, a man of romantics," she said, smirking as she looked up at him through a mess of her hair. Her bangs had grown far too long and settled over most of her eyes.
"But it begs a lot of.. questions," she began to say, her eyes now softening to a more saddened look, and a sad look of curiosity.
"If you really do have feelings for me, Conall, do you realize the consequence?"
For she wasn't a pure woman anymore, and was technically promised to another....
Finding herself falling in love again... well, it was a complex situation in itself. Not to mention she had a daughter out there that she rarely ever saw, and that very idea always ate away at her... the guilt ever strong.

Conall's smile wavered and his expression shifted to something a little more solemn. It was , to him, apparent now that she fancied him as well. Half of him was excited by this revelation where the other half was nervous. This wasn't some fairy tale where a prince declared his love for a woman and they rode off into the sunset to be married and live happily ever after. Life was far more complicated than that.

He nodded in agreement at her words. "I know there's a lot to consider. I've spent hours agonizing over the consequences we'd both face if we were to purse a romantic relationship ," He said softly, knowing that if IF they chose to explore a relationship together that there would be a lot that they would need to discuss, " that was why I tried to keep my feelings to myself.  I thought that maybe it was just a passing fancy. It happens to young people , yes? I found you rather attractive when I met you , but I was what? Eighteen? What did I know about love?" He laughed and shrugged, " And, well, there was your marriage. It would have been highly inappropriate to pursue you. I suppose it still is." She had mentioned there was another man in her life before and that she would have married him. And, of course, there was that engagement to Blaith.

He shook his head," Every moment I've been with you, my affections have only grown stronger. Though I must confess that I wasn't sure what I was feeling precisely until a few hours ago when my face was covered in that slop. " He gave a short laugh at that disgusting but endearing memory. "I know what I feel is something more than a base attraction and it's been driving me mad  to the point that the pain in my heart is excruciating. I just needed to confess. It is enough for me that you know how I feel. " There was longing for something more, but he'd known that she was somewhat off-limits to some extent and he didn't want to accept it, but knew that he might have to.
   

Katahnia's eyes wavered at his words. She remained silent the entire time, taking each bit in for what it was worth. She knew how he was feeling, for the same doubts, worries and concerns had plagued her. ANd she wasn't sure what to say, but for now, she moved her hand forward, entwined her fingers with his and gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

"We are.. against the world," she began to say, a smile quivering upon her lips as the corners of her eyes threatened with tears. "But it is during this strain when we begin to realize what in life we might lose through hesitation." And she moved a hand forward to pull his hair away from his eyes.
"I think... that if it were to be presumed right, that it could be something wonderful," she said, but as she did so, tears began to slip down from her eyes and trickled slowly down her cheeks.

"It's just the world. I fear them not." That, of course, was not entirely true. One would have had to have been an utter fool not to be afraid, but one would also have to be doubly so the fool for hesitating and allowing that fear to rule them and turn them away from whatever it was that they were passionate about. 

With his free hand , he lightly touched her face with his fingertips and wiped away some tears, "I think what we already have is quite wonderful on its own." Perhaps it could get better from here? He didn't know. This was a foreign territory for him and he was certain that all the romantic plays he'd seen were not an accurate depiction of what real romance was about. "And..I am loathe to jeopardize that. I hold you only in the highest esteem, Katahnia. I mean that. We'll just take things slowly, at whatever speed is comfortable for you, and see where it leads us, alright?"  He squeezed her hand lightly and then dared to lean in and kiss her lightly on the cheek.

Inwardly, he wanted to lose himself in his passion for her and taste her lips again, but he kept reminding himself that he was a gentleman and a son of Ansgar. He had self-control. Barely. 

Katahnia felt her heart flutter over his words, and then soared at his actions as he leaned in to kiss her cheek. More tears fell down as she turned into him, her lips meeting softly against his, hesitant at first before she leaned in and kissed him more fully. And then again her lips came to meet his, her hands moving to wrap around him to hold him tight, her breath becoming lost in the moment.

Never for a moment forgetting everything his mother had taught him, Conall met her kiss halfway, pressing his lips to hers tenderly. He smiled nervously at her hesitance and waited patiently for her to decide upon how to proceed. Now she turned to him and he leaned in again and shared another kiss with her that was a bit longer and more passionate than the first. However , when Katahnia pulled him into her tight embrace, Conall let out as gasp against her lips and she could feel him flinch in her arms. Though she was hardly manhandling him, the fact remained that his body was still pretty sore from being interrogated by the Mordecai.

Conall drew his lips away just enough to speak, "Is this part of the healing process, Miss Harmond?" He teased in spite of the pain, "I'd say I think that it's working." 

Kathania gave a half-lidded, half tugging grin at his comment as she peered up into his face.
"Perhaps so... though for all you know this is part of my magics," she said, smirking devilishly and grabbing onto his clothing and pulling him to her again as her lips crashed once again to his.

The kiss was brief because he couldn't resist a laugh at her tease, "Oh ? Is that why you're so eager to take care of me?Magic, you say," and his smile grew," I like this kind of magic. There ought to be more of it in Ardal." It was true! Although it did sound slightly blasphemous and just a tad bit naughty, he hardly cared. Ansgar, forgive me but her lips are divine.He stole another brief kiss from her and smirked, "Perhaps I should allow myself to be injured more often then."

((He was going to say something dirtier than that but then I remembered this is not an  M thread and I don't want the creepers reading it!))

Kathania gasped at his words and lightly hit him on the shoulder.
"Conall! What a horrible thing to say!" Though as she chastised him, she was still smiling.
"Really, maybe these magics are too much for you?" she said, sticking her nose to the air and turning away from him, pretending to give him the cold shoulder.

((wth. I posted this and it didn't go through the first time. :/ ))

"Miss Harmond, you forget your manners! It's a serious offense to turn your back on a duke when he's speaking to you!" He sounded genuinely offended, but if she could have seen the look on his face , she would have seen that he was barely managing to stop himself from laughing at his foolishness. "Giving me the cold shoulder, are you ?Well, now you can do it. Literally! " He scooped up some fresh snow in his hand and threw it at the back of her shoulder.

(( Maturity is overrated!)) 
 

Katahnia's eyes.went wide as the snow ball hit her.
"Conall!"but then a stirring from Blaith's tent reminded her of the delicacy of the situation, so instead of retaliating, her eyes simply gave him an imploring look as she placed a hand over his.
"We'll.have time for antics later..." And her eyes kept.to his. "We should try to rest while we can..."
Now, of all.times, she did not wish to.awaken her cousin.

He'd gotten carried away again. Conall blushed and nodded, "A fair point, my apologies." He squeezed her hand gently and glanced back over his shoulder at Blaith's tent with a slight frown, his mood sobering. Ansgar, he was a reckless fool! There was no telling what Blaith would do if he knew about this. He had to be more careful from this point on though he figured there may not be that many more opportunities to be alone with her if Blaith still intended to marry her.

Seeing that no one had come out, he leaned forward and stole a quick kiss and then slowly settled back down in bed with a sigh. "Good night, Katahnia." That said, he closed his eye and tried to drift off to sleep.

~

The next morning , just an hour before light , Conall felt himself being shaken roughly to the point that his shoulder ached . Conall grunted and sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He felt sore and exhausted.

"Wake up and get moving. We don't have all day, your highness, " Gavin sneered at the duke and shoved a luke-warm bowl of stew into his hands. "Five minutes to eat that and get your lazy ass ready or we'll leave it behind to freeze."

Conall accepted the bowl, "Charming fellow, isn't he?" He muttered under his breath. Shaking his head, he proceeded to eat.  Lana, the old woman , the child and the young man sat around the fire with him while the female mage, Beryl stood guard as Blaith and his men packed up their supplies.

"You know who I am, but I never did catch your names." Conall looked at the elder woman in particular.

The old woman smiled, "I am Adria and this," she put an arm about the little girl seated next to her, "this is Cicilia. "

The girl was staring at Conall (more specifically, she was staring at his beard).

Conall smiled warmly at the child, "Hello, Cicilia. Nice to meet you."

"Your beard looks like a bird nest!" The girl blurted out.

Conall choked on his stew.

"Cicilia!" Adria scolded, "That isn't a nice thing to say!"

"But it's true! There are lots of knots and tangles! He needs a brush! "

"I-forgive her, my Lord. She's a child." The old woman apologized, blushing furiously. 

Conall managed to swallow his meal down and shook his head laughing heartily, " It's alright, she is quite right. My hair is a mess. "

Katahnia was already awake by the time Conall had the stew handed to him. She was restless and had approached Blaith the moment he had awaken. Too tired and groggy to deal with her, he just let her pass, whatever it was she was bothering him about, and it wasn't until Conall was half way done with his stew did she return.

"They say it's a few days travel down the southern pass. Unfortunately, this will bring us into Belkrath, who are avid supporters of the war. There are even a few mage camps directly in this duchy that were constructed before the ones in the mountains were erected, and a lot of the newer mordecai recruits tend to be focused here."

Shaking her head, she sat beside Conall and stared pensively at the fire, the colors rolling across her face.
"In short, it just means a lot of fast travel- and travel we'll have to be doubly cautious of... considering the only ones traveling through this pass are soldiers and mordecai.. and more mages they are taking tot he camps."

By now, Cicillia had still taken a fancy to Conall's beard, and after a moment when things grew quiet, she drew out a small brush she had been harboring and approached him and offered  it to him sheepishly.

"Here.. for your beard," she said, whispering into his ear.

Katahnia didn't miss it (though she had missed the exchange earlier) as she laughed softly, but stifled it behind a closed smile.

"Yes, he could use a brush," she said with a smile, her eyes sparkling at the child. "Though then again, we all could."

It was then Gavin returned to inform them, "Alright, all of you on your feet. We head towards the pass and should be there within the hour. The instructions are simple, you stay quiet and remain quiet,a nd anyone that breaks it.. well.." he gave a laugh through a sneer. "We'll break your legs and leave you for the animals."
Or the frost.. whichever got them first.

Conall nodded, listening intently as he finished his stew. He knew of Belkrath being aligned with the Grand Duke. No surprise that hadn't changed in his absence. He didn't approve of the route choice, but that wasn't his call to make and he wasn't stupid enough to challenge Blaith on every little thing.

He turned to look at her , frowning when she mentioned traveling quickly. He shook his head, but didn't speak his concerns. Kat knew , so did the others. But Blaith and his people didn't care.  These people had been starved, beaten and Blaith expected them to keep pace? He glanced at the Cicilia. The girl wouldn't make it unless someone carried her. He glanced at Lana, and then then at the old woman, Adira.

"I don't doubt it. I think we'll have to help each other when necessary. I won't leave anyone behind." He said calmly and set his empty bowl down.  He  didn't say he wasn't confident that he had the strength for the trip. It didn't matter. They had no choice and he would have to try. 

He noticed that Cicillia had left her seat and made her way around the fire to her. The girl looked a little nervous as she held out the brush to him and told him that it was for his beard.

"Thank you, "Conall accepted it from her with a smile , "Lady Cicilia, you are most kind. " He bowed his head politely in thanks.

The girl blushed and giggled at Katahnia's comment.

Conall whipped his head around to shoot a mock glare, "Indeed, Miss Harmond! I suspect that you-"

Gavin's arrival cut short their conversation, barking orders and making threats.

And when he was finished, Conall leaned in close to Katahnia and whispered, "Charming , lad. "  But didn't risk saying much more than that.

The trek through the mountains was quick and spent largely in silence, but that was an hour that took longer than Conall would have liked. Though he'd slept half the day, he felt as though he hadn't slept at all and kept stumbling over his feet. Only once did he fall to his knees and was helped up by the other mage camp survivors.

At long last, they reached the pass and Gavin ordered Conall and the survivors to take a break while he moved to join Blaith and the other mages. As usual, the female mage, Beryl, was left to guard them.

Conall's legs buckled underneath him and he sat on the ground, closing his eye and making the most of the brief reprieve.

"Conall- "Lana stopped herself, reminding herself that she was speaking to a duke, "Lord Shanley, she amended, "are you alright?"

Conall shook his head ,"Please dispense with the formalities, Lana. You are a friend and we stand on ceremony for no one, least of all me." He held up a hand , "I'm fine." He lied, but it would do no good telling them how weak or ill he felt because Blaith would not give them a break. 

Once Blaith was out of sight, Katahnia felt herself releasing a held breath before she turned to Conall and gasped as he fell t his knees. Immediately at his side (for she had been helping Cecilia for most of the walk as Conall assured her he'd be fine on his own..) She frowned at him with an 'I told you so' gaze.

"Here, just take your breath while you can," she told him with an irritable sigh as she fussed over a waterskina nd realized- they were almost out. Blinking back her thought,s he handed the skin to him.
"Here, have a drink and reserve your strength. We're in Connlaoth now."

Conall met that gaze and frowned, his expression clearly saying, " Yes, I know. No need to rub it in. " Then he nodded at her words. He was home, but those words brought him very little comfort when he considered what this truly meant now.  "Now the real journey begins." He said quietly.

When offered the water , he shoved her hand away and replied stubbornly, "Save it for yourself and the others. "

"I'm not thirsty!" Cicilia pipped up. "You can drink my share!"

"Conall.." Katahnia pressed with a forced laugh. "Need I remind you..." she said, looking around. "You just collapsed." She moved closer to him, handing the water skin to him once again and as she did so, she rested her hand over his as their eyes met. "And need I remind you we can get more as we move on. I'll let Blaith know, though I'm sure even they are low on supplies."

"There's lots of snow," Cicilia offered, "You can make water with snow. Did you know that?" She looked quite proud that she had told the adults this.

Conall nodded at the child and accepted the water skin from Katahnia, "I can't argue with that point." He felt her hand move over his and he met her gaze with a weak smile. He lifted the water skin to his lips and proceeded to drink.

"Are you in love?"Cicilia blurted.

Conall's face went whiter than the snow and he choked.

"That's what the prince and princess do in my book, " the eight year old explained, " They hold hands and they kiss."

"Uh...we-we're  friends. Good friends, so I suppose that counts as - well, see it's not quite like that, young lady." Conall chuckled nervously. It was probably better not to try and explain. Actually probably good to just drop the subject in case it got around to Blaith. He hastily preoccupied himself with drinking some more water.

"Why not?"

"Hush, Cilicia. You're making Lord Shanley blush." Adira chided her little charge.

"Oh," Cicilia noted how Conall's face had gone from white to bright pinkish red, "I'm sorry Mister Duke."

Conall finished drinking and shook his head, "No, no . It's quite alright. Quite alright." 

"Yes, no need to apologize, little one," Katahnia informed her as she mussed up her hair. "Besides, we're not in love. Just going to get married," she said, tossing Cicilia a wink and then a trolling grin to her new 'lover'.

Cicilia was all giggles as he turned to Adira. Adira then gave Katahnia and Conall a look as she shook her head.
"Adira, does that mean Lady Kat will become a princess if she marries a duke?"

"No, a duchess dear," Adira corrected as she stroked a finger down the young girl's nose.

The girl stared up at her and rubbed at her eyes, replying with a wide mouthed, "Oh." Blinking, she looked back towards the pair and wiped some snot dripping from her nose before grinning and asking, "Can I come to the wedding?"

And Adira responded, "Cicilia!"

And Katahnia laughed.
"Well, if we actually do get married some day, I'll be sure to invite you.You'll be one of the first guests on my list." And at the girl's questioning gaze, Kat informed her, "And I was joking earlier. You just keep to reading your books."

Cicilia gave a blink. "But I lost my book. When they took me to the camp's, they took it from me." And she looked down sadly at her feet.

At first Conall found himself nodding in agreement as Katahnia set the child straight on the status of their relationship. Wait. What? Conall's face flushed a darker shade of red, "Miss Harmond! Honestly, it is highly inappropriate to toy -" He was ready to scold her about toying with a child's mind like that when he caught her grin and also remembered that there WAS a young child present. He bit his tongue and amended his tone, "Miss Harmond, " he said in more friendly manner and with a smile , "you are quite the tease. Well played, well played indeed. "

He turned to Cicilia who looked absoloutely confused. Adults were so weird! "Perhaps, Miss Harmond might be able to persuade them to relinquish said book to you IF you agree to behave like a proper lady for the remaineder of the trip, hm?"

Cicilia blinked and stared at Conall, her expression wrinkling with concern, "But Mister Duke Conall..."

Conall couldn't help but smile at the way she fumbled over addressing him. Kids could be adorable like that sometimes!   

"I don't know how. " She looked to Katahnia.

"Well, that's no trouble at all. Just don't look to her for advice. "

Cicilia frowned at him and then gasped when she realized what he was implying, " That's not a very nice thing to say!"

Their moment was short lived when Blaith returned, a few men at his side.
"There's a small city, due west of here. If we travel quick, we can get there before night fall, resupply... and then, well, that should be the end of our journey. You can all figure out your own ways home from there." And then, as he looked around to the lot of them, he gave a slight, sneer of a smile and reminded them, "Welcome back to Connlaoth." And wasn't it a bloody nice country?

Catching his cousin's eyes, who were glaring back at him, he stared back at her questionably before approaching her and.. Conall.
"What is that look for, dear cousin?" he asked smartly, and Katahnia set her jaw.

"You know what, Blaith. You still treat the people you freed like animals. They're not cattle, but humans."

Blaith rolled his eyes, "I'm well aware of that, but it's been tiring to drag them along. Besides, they'd do better on their own."

"With what provisions, Blaith? Are you forgetting they have nothing? No sort of money, supplies or food to see them through? It's still cold up here, in Northern Belkrath, and though it might be warmer further south in the country, there are still women and children..."

Blaith's sigh cut through her words as Katahnia grew repulsed, and silent.

"Dear cousin, I know you want to save all of Connlaoth, but this is a bloody war..."

"Yes, but not a massacre, Blaith. You forget, these people are on your side."

It only surprised Conall that Blaith was seemingly turning everyone loose, including himself. Surely, it couldn't be so easy. It seemed rather odd after the conversation they'd had the other day.

"What if I assumed responsibility for them ? "  Conall interjected, turning his gaze on Blaith ,  " I have nowhere to go and I have quite a bit of catching up to do with the current events. I know the area fair enough. I could probably figure out a way to get them home safely or at least find a place for them to settle into for awhile so they might recuperate from the hardships they've endured. "

"No," Blaith cut in - cutting both him a look that both startled and surprised Katahnia.

"Baith?"

"No... you can't have them come with you," he began to explain, his eyes going from his cousin's back to Conall. "Because you both are coming with me."

Inwardly, Conall was surprised and irritated, but he chose to wait and listen to what Lord Harmond had to say before letting his protest be voiced. He forced his expression to its usual "noble impassiveness" and quirked a brow curiously at the duke of Turgall.

What in Ansgar's name is his problem now?

And then Blaith declared that Conall was going with him. This didn't surprise him, actually and were he Blaith he would have declared the same. It was best to keep your allies close and your enemies closer. Blaith didn't consider him an ally despite their pleasantries. I am to be held on a tight leash? No surprise there.

Conall put a hand lightly on Katahnia's arm, " Then I suppose it is best that we part ways. I'm sure they're eager to be home. At least allow us to say goodbye." If they even have homes or families to return to.

He knew that he was in no position to challenge the man because, in a way , he needed him. For now. 

Blaith didn't miss the hold on Katahnia's arm- and as jealousy held onto him tightly, he simply nodded.

"You have ten minutes. I'll alert the men. Then we press on."
And as Blaith turned to leave, Katahnia shot Conall a look, one that asked a thousand questions that couldn't come off her tongue quick enough, so she resorted to simply blurting,
"So you're just going to accept this?" But then, as her temper cooled,s eh sighed irrtably and shook her head. "Though I suppose we haven't much choice." She glanced after Blaith, as her cousin stole a look back towards them. And it made her shiver all the more. "I don't like that look Blaith gives me sometimes," she murmured. "There's a madness to him that we've seen- and it seemed to have faded during our journey south but now I... I can't help but worry of it's coming back. Or... when it will.." and instinctively she moved to step nearer to Conall, but her eyes were glued to Blaith.

Conall met her gaze , his impassiveness melting into something a little more human, "And what would you have me do," his voice tensed to the point of nearly snapping , but he shook his head, " believe me, if I had any sort of choice in the matter I would take care of them myself. Ansgar knows that I owe them as much and more."

He relaxed , however , when she cooled down. At her observations about Blaith, he nodded. "His eyes are unsettling and his mood is quite unstable. Trust that when I agreed with him, I wasn't doing it for him or us. I honestly think that the further Lana, Cicillia and Adira are from him, the better off they'll be."

Katahnia nodded her head in agreement, and when Blaith wasn't looking, she leaned in closely to his side and buried her head into his neck.
"Gods.. Conall... what is to become of them? Of us?" she shook her head, not liking this as she drew in a careful breath, though he would be able to easily hear her fighting off tears.
"Come.."s he said, lifting herself from his shoulders as she brushed away a few tears. "Let us say our goodbyes."

What is to become of us? There's never any way of knowing that. Life is full of uncertainties and never more so than now when we're at the whim of madmen. 

He put a comforting arm around Katahina and held her tight, but never letting his gaze leave Blaith. If the man caught them being too friendly with one another, he didn't imagine it would bode well. Already , they were testing the waters.

"We'll be fine," Conall assured her quietly, "Ansgar will protect us." Sometimes his faith wavered though because no amount of prayers and devotion to his God seemed to do much. It was as though Ansgar had completely turned his back on Connlaoth and was allowing his own children to burn in their own sins. He shook his head, his thoughts brought back to the present by Katahnia's next words. He simply nodded and walked with her over to where Lana, Cicilia, Adira and the young man, whose name he had come to find out was Boyd.

"Hello Mister Duke." Cicilia greeted.

"Hello, Lady Cicilia, " Conall replied warmly.

"We heard." Lana informed him, " So, I guess this is farewell then."

Conall nodded, "Unfortunately, it's for the best. I'd recommend sticking together for a time. I wish I could recommend to you a safe direction to travel. I haven't been home in a year, maybe more. I'm sorry , but these men cannot be reasoned with."

Lana put a hand on his shoulder, her expression soft and her gaze understanding, "You did what you could, Lord Shanley, and we will never forget that. Thank you."

"Can I still come to your wedding? " Cicillia blurted. Apparently, Katahnia's earlier jest sailed way over the child's head.

"Cicilia!" Adira chided .

Conall's face went white as a sheet and his head snapped around to look back over his shoulder to see if anyone was listening, namely Blaith.

"You can keep my brush, but you better use my brush so you can be a pretty husband!" Cicilia beamed.

Conall's gaze returned to the girl and then he looked over at Katahina , "Pretty husband? What are they teaching girls these days?"

Katahnia laughed, but even she was still uneasy in the moment as she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder and then moved forward to kneel before Cicilia.
"Don't worry, when we get married, you won't just be invited, Cicilia, but you can be the flower girl."

And Cicilia's eyes grew as wide as saucers, though by the tone in Katahnia's voice- there was no ounce of joking there.

"Really?" and as Katahnia nodded, the young girl threw her arms around her and hugged her tight, then rushed over to Adira, "Did you hear that? I get to be a flower girl in their wedding!" And as she tugged excitedly on Adira's dress, she paused a moment to inquire, "What's a flower girl?"

Conall opened his mouth to say something ,but snapped it shut . It would have been cruel to crush a little girl's happiness. But, really, it wasn't appropriate to lie about such things! In spite of it all, a smile pulled reluctantly at his lips and he chuckled when Cicillia asked what a flower girl was.

"I suppose, " Conall said quite seriously, " that you have quite a bit of research to do then, young lady. And I recommend consulting Lana or Adira about the matter and not the books with the pretty husbands in them."

"I like my books," Cicillia giggled," You should have long pretty golden hair and long eyelashes and big white teeth that sparkle like diamonds and pretty clothes with emeralds and rubies and sapphires! And a white horse!"

Conall pouted, " I don't have any of those things. Well, we do have white horses ,but mine is brown."

"That's because you don't have a fairy mom."

"I beg your pardon, a...what? " Conall stared at the girl and looked utterly confused, "I...uh..suppose that makes sense." It really didn't , but he doubted that Cicillia could explain it to him!



Really, what were they teaching girls these days?

Katahnia smiled and moved forward to hug Adira then, then Lana, saying goodbye to her took the longest.
"I don't know how to thank you. You've helped us so muhc, I don' tknow how we would have survived without you."

Lana only smirked and stated, "You can repay me by inviting me to the wedding,.." and she gave both of them a playful grin. "But you all take care of yourselves, you here? There's a war going on... we are all lucky we've survived this far- nobles or not."

Katahnia flattened her lips and nodded.
"Yes, and each breath we take, a gift." She took Lana by the hand and squeezed it. "Take care, my friend. And may all the Gods smile down upon us in blessing."

And Lana curtsied to that. "May we all be blessed by our own Gods."

Boyd held out his hand and grinned at Conall, " It was an honor meeting you, Duke Shanley.  I always thought you nobles were all the same, but you're alright. "

Conall reached forward and gripped the man's hand firmly and shook it, " Thank you."

Adira approached him next, crushing him in a hug, "May Ansgar guard your steps. Take good care of yourself, dearie. "

"And you as well."

Cicillia gave him a hug next ,"Don't forget your promise! You can't pick another flower girl! Okay? "

Conall smiled down at her,  "Oh ,I don't suspect that Miss Harmond would allow it. You need not fret. "He patted her on the shoulder lightly.

Last of all Lana finished her farewell to Kat and then approached the man and hugged him tightly, "I get to go home and tell everyone how I got to hug a Duke," Lana teased.

Conall blushed, "I think it may be in your best interest to not talk about me. It could bring you some trouble."

"It was a jest," Lana chuckled and released him from the hug. She took a step back and smiled at him fondly, "Farewell, Conall Shanley. Perhaps we'll meet again." 

Then she stepped forward, moving in close and whispered something in Conall's ear which made his face blush the darkest shade of red and left him speechless. She stepped away and grinned devilishly at him. 

Farewells aside, the group moved westward in silence, leaving the Kilanthros far behind. When the group reached the city at last, they parted with Lana and the surviving mage camp refugees following her one way and Blaith , his men, Katahnia and Conall going in another.

While Blaith's men left to collect supplies, Conall approached Blaith, "So what is the plan? Katahnia and I- we don't exactly appear ...normal. To put it bluntly, we both look like we escaped fresh out of a prison and that could draw some undesirable attention."
 

Blaith looked the pair over.
"We can get the two of you cleaned up, but no one would question you if you were a pair of servants."

"Servants!?" Katahnia could have hit her cousin. "Really- is that what you'd-"

"Calm down, Kat," Blaith said with a laugh. "Besides, I'm a duke. You'd have to look better than that." And he looked the two over with a shake of his head. "We'll get the pair of you cleaned up once we get more properly situated in town, though we don't want to seem too conspicuous, so it might be wise to remain traveling 'rough' until we get out of Belkrath. After all, I really have no business here, but perhaps if we made a trip to Hellvion before heading south, but that seems out of the way." He shrugged at the thought before sighing. "You know.. you two are being quite the burdens.."

"Yes, well, sometimes family does that," Katahnia cut in, surprised to find her cousin smirking back. It was almost as if he was his old self again...
maybe he wasn't all lost?

"We look a little more like slaves and less like servants, but fair enough, " Conall had been treated worse in prison and in the mage camp. He smiled a little at Katahnia's bold outburst.Sometimes the woman knew no fear and that was a quality that he admired even when those outbursts could possibly get them into trouble.

Conall turned to Katahnia when Blaith mentioned her having to look better than what she was. He dare not speak his mind though he thought she hardly looked bad at all. Not that he'd forgotten what she looked like cleaned up and dressed to impress high society.

He chuckled quietly at the further exchange betwixt the cousins and let his eyes wander to the south, his eyes settling on nothing in particular and silently praying for Lana and the other's safety.

(( And that's a wrap! I guess we'll start a new thread in Connlaoth since that's where they are now. ))