A journey, a test of ones spirit (what started Whispers)

The night had been bittersweet. Seeing Bry again. She should not have been surprised, but each time she was. She had always been glad to see him...still was...but with time she hoped it would become easier and not crack her heart. The chinks were slow in being mortared. Noone talked about it, not anymore. And, wasn't it ironic that she still wanted to run to him and talk? He had been her friend for so long, for so long they had talked and helped one another see the other side. Now, there were no sides. Words had been reduced to talking of the children and their welfare. And, in the middle of it all...there was BJ. Ironic there too in that they both held on, trying to get back what the other no longer had to give.

Boys voices drifted on that breeze and had her opening her eyes to watch the skipping of stones. And who could do the most skips. Another small smile appearing as the winner whooped and jumped with his joy and talent. Bringing memories and words to mind, she picked up her *pen* and opened her journal.

Barely old enough to call it love. Showing off skipping rocks across the water. Stones. I handed one to you, you put it in your pocket. Said you loved it, said you'd keep it forever, stones. A tiny velvet box, one perfect little rock, a little thing, just a ring, but it says marry me. Stones, we'll build ourselves a home where love's the cornerstone. We'll have children, they'll have children. Till they roll off on their own like stones. Our lives are paved with...birthstones, stepping stones, skipping rocks and dodging lots of sticks and stones and I've been on both sides of throwing stones. Years are like the wind. They're here and gone and then they'll blow away our every trace. All except our names engraved in stones. One by one they mark our passage. Along this winding road we're on. With each turn we take, from the cradle to the grave our lives are paved with stones.

With a soft sigh she leaned her head back and closed her eyes, feeling that warmth once more, now if it were just that easy to warm her heart.

BJ had stayed in the Library...adding his latest thoughts and feelings and experiences to the leatherbound journal she had given him. Just before dawn he had gone to the cliffs to watch the sunrise, the sight never ceasing to amaze him, the changing of colors from deepest blue-black up through the brightest of yellows, almost white, as the sun rose above the horizon. When he returned, he began work on the stalls, and saw that Dancer had been taken out. He worked in silence, knowing Blu needed time alone to think...to figure things out.

She must have fallen asleep. That had to be it, for when she listened she no longer heard the sounds of laughing excited children, or birds that swooped the sky. She opened her eyes and stared at the sky, clouds now were rushing across that sky, a sky that had gone dark. Brooding clouds of gray held the hint of fire as the lightening streaked across the sky. With a sudden jerk she sat up and looked around her.

The soft green grass that she had lain in was now cold and prickly, like shards of glass that sliced at her skin. Carefully, and with as little effort as she could she rose and looked out to the churning sea. Her eyes opening wide as the waves seemed to rise up clear to the clouds and then crash back down with a harsh sound, like laughter, her mind registered.

The breeze now was a violent wind that slapped her hair against her face and took her breath away. With unsteady steps she turned to find Dancer and was driven back by the force of that wind before she could get to her. Dancer's eyes showed a fear that Blu had never seen before. She snorted and then backed away, finally turning and racing off as if the devil was after her. Blu had reached out to try and soothe her but was held fast to the spot where she stood.

It was a dream, it had to be a dream.
She did not hear or see the shadow that fell over her.

It had been three days since anyone had seen Blu. Three days. Her father had gone out twice this day, searching for her. He knew his daughter..knew there were times she had to tend people, sometimes far off into the surrounding countryside. Times she had been called out in the middle of the night when a babe was coming into the world. She tended to her duties, tended to her children and family and friends. He also knew that she was very good about letting someone know of her whereabouts.

He knew she was a strong woman, had had to be given the circumstances of life and what was dealt her. She had changed in the last year, becoming more into herself. He was proud of her and the way she had faced the pain of loss and the diversity of her life, but he also knew she was vulnerable, hiding it inside, knowing it was hard for her to move on, but move on she had...one might say she had been forced to but, Sirth, being a father, believed in fate and destiny and he hoped that this was what had happened and that what was ahead for his daughter would be a wonder...she might not believe it yet but he prayed she would come through this with her heart willing to open once again. For now he let those thoughts leave his mind and the worry replace them. Where could she be?

Shading his eyes from the sun, his gaze followed the road leading to the manor and squinted when he saw a dark figure running towards him. A slow smile lifting the corners of his mouth.

"There ye be!"

Sirth's smile evaporated when the dark figure raced closer. He reached out to grasp Dancer's reins before she could bolt past him. The screech that escaped her was turned into a snort and a push of her head to Sirth, when finally, the quivering, sweating creature realized who had ahold of her. She danced to the side and then in a circle that Sirth had to follow as his hand skimmed over her slickened body, checking for any wounds that she might have. There was nothing.

Another frown marred his still handsome face as he looked down the road, expecting to see his daughter come grumbling along. Blu was an excellent horse woman and Dancer was not one to dump her master off, for any reason, except....another thought crept into his mind as he watched and waited.

The word dream would not nearly be adequate to describe what the healer now faced, for no sooner than she watched her steed thunder off she felt the cold edge of a ragged scimitar blade against the nape of her neck.

"Turn your head, my pretty pretty, and I will snick it off!" the unseen assailant drove home his point by drawing the blade back a fraction of an inch, leaving a jolt of pain to the woman followed by a slow progression of crimson tracing it's way slowly towards the modest curves of her chest. "Down to the grass... real slow like and you may live to see th' morrow." With that the pressure of a boot being applied to her upper back served to put her in motion towards the unfogiving earth.

Dream... no... this was a nightmare in the making.

"Down I say!" the boot upon her back continued to apply pressure in an attempt to lower her to the ground even as another figure could now be seen out of the corner of her eye. A mass of ratty leather and weathered steel... the face hidden behind a grisly close faced helm that looked like a wolf .

There was no doubt, at the moment, that she would obey. Laying down on the ground. "Who are you? What do you want?" There was no tremble in her voice as she turned her head to try and see anything, something from this vantage point.

There was no answer forthcoming as the second figure came forth, producing a length of coarse rope even as his compatriot kept the blade pressed against the woman's throat. Their intent was soon clear as her feet were roughly brought together, the rope coiling about them uncomfortibly as the wolf helmed man began to securely tie her.

"I do not know what you are looking for, but I assure you, you do not want me!"

"Oh we want you alright..." Large, ungainly mailed mitts now grabbed the woman's hands, using another section of rope to bind her tight enough to leave her hands tingling from the restricted circulation. "You're to be the guest of our lord, Midnyt." The muffled voice changed his inflection from inside his helm, a condiscending tone. "He has seen you in his dreams... and will take no other."

She struggled her hands against the bindings and turned her head more to see the wolf faced man. "Who is your Lord?" Just the way he said her given name she was suspicious. Very few called her Midnyt. "This is some kind of sick joke, right? Helg put you up to this, I bet." She thought it was a cruel joke if he had.

The glimmer of hateful eyes could be discerned through the narrow slits of the grisly looking helm as the brute drew his scimitar away from her neck, sliding it languidly down the length of her body to settle the point suggestively at the apex of her thighs. "Oh my sweet thing..... if I were you I would be quite frightful for what he has planned for youuuuuu." The man toyed with her, seemingly enjoying the power he now held over her. " Aye.... tis a joke..." The blade drawing away as a raspy laugh issued forth from both of her captors before the second turned away from the shore to issue a high whistle, summoning something.

Gritting her teeth and with a slight grunt she rolled, of course, it was futile but she had to do something. Maybe she would get lucky enough to roll down the hill, but then what? This definately was not funny and quite a cruel joke.

From beyond the rise her conveyance came forward, which at first looked like a nag of a horse. Once it came closer though, the horrific truth became evident. What shambled forward was something that was long dead, it's hide no more than dried and cracked leather with yellowed bones seen through gaping holes made by rats that had enjoyed a feast long ago.

Dream? Nightmare? Her stomach dropped somewhere in the region of her toes as the hidious *horse* approached. This time she struggled in earnest, the ropes digging into her soft flesh. Alright, not fun. Wake up! "You are not real!"

Even the two figures that stood over her seemed subdued as the skeletal equine closed the distance between them, empty eye sockets set upon the assemblage before it. "Well..." The first spoke up. "No sense in prolonging this, let's get her on it." A nod was seen from the second man before they drew upon their own courage to move to her head and feet respectively, pulling her off the ground roughly and moving her towards that... thing.

Ohhh she wiggled and cursed and struggled wholeheartedly. "Stop it! Do not dare put me on that...thing!"

The wiggling served to make their job difficult as they struggled with the squirming woman even as the crisp clacking of the dead horse's jaw seemed to indicate irritation. "Don't make this any harder on you..." grunting "for we'll lash you to it if you don't settle down!"

"No!" But she did not stop her struggling. Survival was ingrained. "What is he paying you? I will double it, triple it,
even!" She was lucky enough, well in her estimation to catch the side of one man's neck with her feet.

The man's head rocked to the side and she soon found her lower half thudding against the earth. "You bitch!" The man recovered, his armour having protected all but his pride from harm. The man at her hands kept a hold of her, tightening his grip upon her wrists to keep her from moving as the kicked man turned his grisly looking helm upon her... his fists now
clenched in rage.

There was just enough momentum with the man holding her that she was able to kick out and land her feet on the man's chest, it was not enough, she knew and her feet thudded to the ground once more. She was panting with her own rage "Bastard!"

The two men were now clued into her struggles, and skirted her ineffective attacks as he darted his hand forward, his mailed grip locked upon her throat. "Goodnight, my pip!" He sneered from behind his helm as he began to choke her... depriving her of oxygen to keep her conscious.

Any struggles she had left were definately ineffective. There were those bright dots of light swirling before her widened eyes before she tumbled down into the darkness.

To be continued...

((Oh my!))

(This SL was SO much fun!)

Aly had gotten up before dawn, hurried through her morning ablutions, then taking the mists had come to the Royal Ports, where The Raven was anchored a bit offshore. She had noted briefly that Adrian's ship was still birthed there, which meant he was still in Solurius, and she would delve into THAT, when she got back.

She had sent a messenger to her crew, letting them know they would sail on the morning tide, and gave instructions for four other royal navy ships to ready to sail with her as well.

Her sister, Lady Blu, was missing, and on her rounds this day, she would look for clues as to where she had either gone on her own, or been taken. She ordered her flag hoisted above that of the Solurian Navy, white flag, green chevron, black raven, wings spread wide, the talons carrying a cutlass. THIS was who she was, and what she did best.

Bj had said Dancer came home without her, and remnants of sand were found on him. She would NOT have let the horse go home alone, nor leave the children unattended if she had left by her own devices. Someone had taken her, and it was more than likely hired pirates, that did NOT know the Raven held these waters as her own. It would be bad for them when she caught up to them.

The tide came just as the sun was lifting its blazing head over the horizon, and Aly gave the order to weight anchor. "Full sail lads, half main, an' tighten the sheets!" Aly stood on the quarterdeck, next to the helmsman, her stand wide, her wild flame kissed hair blew in the fine Solurian sea breeze. "Foor leagues oot mates. I want just past th' shoals." She looked up to the crows nest and bellowed. "Ana sign o' sail or jack…I want ta know 'boot 't!" Aly knew the other ships would follow her lead. Most were seasoned sailors and would never question her orders, others, did not care for the fact that a woman was in charge, and would balk. It never bothered her and she made it clear in her next words. "Anaone no' h'vin' a likin' ta m' methods, er h've a problem wi' m' orders, c'n get off now. I'll no be h'vin' anaone question me er wha' I do. M' yard is guid an' long, an' I'll no hesitate ta hang th' lot o' ye there by yeer ankles, na' let the birds h've their way." That was all she said on the subject as no one bothered to move to leave the ship. They knew by her reputation as being fair but stern that she would do exactly as she said.

As the small fleet left the inlet every available eye perused the sea, looking for any sign of the missing healer, and what would occur if they indeed found her on another ship.

The breeze had turned warmer as the days had passed, but as was the way of nature so near the waters, by nightfall, it would be too cool to sit upon the cliffs and breathe in the night's air, cool enough to raise the flesh upon ones arms unless there were strong arms to embrace them away. The bodies heat was a wonderous thing.

Blu had been so relaxed that day upon the cliffs, had relished the afternoon's warmth upon her skin. She was no longer warm as she bounced painfully upon the back of that hidious creature, she would have mustered up a bit of pity for it if it had not been such a precarious situation for her. Her eyes remained closed, not only so the men would not yet know she had regained some conciousness, but to help keep the bile down from the painful dizzying ride.

Her wrists stung as the ropes binding her chafed her skin, it was a sudden and odd thought that leaped into her mind...her bracelet, she could not feel it, surely it would be bouncing against the binds? There was no way she could check for it now, no way could she see, not in this position, and wasn't that just a strange thing to think about at a time like this? Maybe not..afterall it was a part of her, some connection to her lost love, a connection to a life where she was at least safe within, a life with friends and family.

Well, she wasn't safe now, she was in big trouble, a trouble that could lead to her demise and that was another thought that niggled at her mind. She tried harder to focus on that simple thought of her bracelet...

He had ducked under the center table of the U and began fishing around and had emerged from behind the counter with a crescent moon bracer designed to go around the wrist and cover it in a C, so all but the inside of the wrist is protected. It is made of maplewood, stained to bring out the natural veins of the wood; and celtic knotwork adorns the outer perimeter. Powdered sapphire, light and dark, forms an impressonistic outline of sky over ocean.

"Perhaps this will do?"

"Oh, Helg, that is...absolutely stunning."

She remembered touching it with a fingertip, and looking up into his eyes. Remembered what the wood had felt like at that first touch.

"It catches the heart."

He had smiled then, that beautiful smile that always made her heart skip a beat.

"That's what I try to accomplish here. The money is more or less a side issue."

She had taken it and had gently slipped it on.

"How much?"

He had rubbed his chin before the negotiations had begun.

"100 gold ; current exchange rate of 2 kisses to 1 gold, I think."

"Hmm, would 175 kisses and 25 pieces of chocolate be acceptable?"

"Hmmm ... how good is this putative chocolate?"

She could not have helped herself so she had leaned over and held a piece of chocolate close to
his lips.

"Try it?"

He had pursed his lips and grabbed the chocolate and chewed. She had leaned in and kissed him.

"Mmmm, good chocolate, but I'm not quite convinced it's worth 5 silver a piece..."

"Hmm, how about 200 kisses and five pieces of chocolate and five pieces of peach candy?"

She had upped the ante.

"Hmmm, how about 150 kisses, 10 pieces of chocolate and a full body massage?"

She had smiled. "Add another 50 kisses and you have yourself a deal."

"160 kisses, 12 pieces of chocolate, a full body massage.." She remembered how he had leaned in and whispered the rest...whispers that had made her blush. "And that's me final offer."

She had only to think a moment before she had said..."Deal."

The breath she now took was hitching in her lungs as a tear slipped down her reddened cheek..that was a long while ago and she now did not even have that simple reminder of a happier time.

She had no way of knowing that that bracelet now caught a glare of the sun's light as it lay amongst the silky blowing grasses where Blu had laid so relaxed...

Ashly had asked just about everyone she had talked to in the last week if they had seen or heard of Blu's whereabouts. Her heart was very heavy with worry for her dearest friend and SIC.

Aiden had assured her that all was being done to search as wide a spread as was possible for Blu but Ashly felt so helpless.
Aiden had insisted she not travel alone and if possible, not to travel at all. Plus, with Blu gone, she did need to stay close to the compound to keep an eye on things. She appreciated Blu so much once she found out what all Blu did in her daily tasks for now she was doing them once again.

Still, Blu was one of her best friends and she could not just sit by and do nothing in the finding the solution to the situation. She thought heavily upon it. Then she quickly took out a piece of parchment and began to write. How could she not have thought of this earlier.

The parchment read:

Greetings Issotta,

I should like to say much to you in giving thanks for your contribution in the "hearing" as of late. Your words of wisdom were accepted in my heart without a second thought. But we shall talk of that when next our paths cross.

I am writing you today to beg your assistance. Issotta, our lovely and very important Blu Helgraz has disappeared without a trace. Some say she was knapped from the beach by pirates and others say it was worse. All I know is that she has not been seen or heard from as much as two weeks now and I am very afraid she has met with a bad fate.

I know your priestess traverse far and wide in their work for the Goddess and I was wondering if you could add the task of asking after Blu to their existing purposes for traveling. I feel the further we can get the message out of her disappearance, the better her chances will be of being seen by someone.

M'lady, I truly write this with a feeling of dread deep within and it scares me to think that when news comes, it may not be what I wish to hear but we have to know. I love her dearly and her absence has touched many hearts to sadness.

Solurius would be forever in your debt if you can grant this request. Please send word back quickly.

With The Highest Respect,
Ashly

She then sealed it with the healers crest and allowed a young messenger to deliver it to the banks of the lake surrounding Avalon, knowing it would find its way to Issotta. After collecting the coinage she offered, he was on his way.

Aiden had mentioned another idea that might help them find her as well and so after making her rounds, Ashly set out to find her queen.

The world was spinning or was that that horrid dream? No, not a dream for when she cracked an blue eye open the ground was swaying beneath her. Her stomach hurt as she was jostled upon that dreadful creature they had tied her to. The steed's, well what was once a steed, jerky steps caused her stomach to roll, but she stiffled a groan. Her mind whirled with thoughts of why? What did they want with her and where were they taking her..a master, did he say? This was a nightmare.

Her perch was hardly comfortable, feeling the cut of the beast's spine and ribs heavily across her middle. The ground beneath was a blanket of detritus, with warped trunks of ancient trees seen out of the corners of her eyes. Off to the left, booted feet of one of the masked attackers could be seen plodding along behind her transportaion.

She did not recognize the landscape. It seemed as dead as the horse. It was little use to go against her bindings, it only made the chafings and wounds that much more raw. She tried to focus, tried to keep her thoughts away from her children and family, it would do no good to give anyone, especially a being that possibly had the means to know such things. Shivering, she turned her head and watched the man's booted feet moving, closed her eyes and struggled to swallow, again swallowing the bile and hoping she did not retch.

The steady, almost mechanical pace of the grisly parody of a steed continued over the uneven ground, the late afternoon sky completely obscured by a canopy of leaves overhead. It would seem the land within the grip of this eldritch forest hadn't seen the light of day for many, many years.
"Keep up, Rath! You lag behind and you'll be caught by the master's wards".

The man barely within her periphery called back which was answered by the sound of quickening steps, bringing the second captor into view.

There was nothing within her stomach for it had been hours since she had eaten, so it was painful to finally retch. Burning her throat, she coughed, trying to give it some relief but she only retched again. She was too stubborn, yet, to ask for water. She wasn't even sure if they would be so kind.

From the lack of action on behalf of the man, it would seem they cared little for her comfort, keeping close to the undead horse only to gain the protective ward splitting magic that it provided. To them, this woman was only one part of some bigger deed that needed to be complete. Time passed, and with every passing minute the air seemed to grow more and more stale, feeling more and more like they were journeying into a long sealed crypt and not deeper into the forest.

The creaking bones of that awful steed dug into her stomach and hip bones, rubbing them raw beneath her skirt, it was somewhat of a blessing when she could drift away to a light doze, but they did not last. Finally, she managed to speak, a croak came first but then she gained her spunk and said quite peevishly. "If I promise to behave, will you let me ride astride this monstrosity?"

"Give it some time, sweet pea, and you will be riding astride some monstrosity soon enough." The man snickered out in a seedy manner, joined by the baudy, yet nervous laugh of his cohort. With that, they made no move to see to her comfort, though the beast she was lashed to clacked it's jaw several times as if it somehow felt it needed to comment on what just transpired.

The fact that they ignored her request, no, said no to her request, irritated her but that comment he made slithered through her like an ominous fortelling of events to come. One not to give up easily she tried again. "You know, if it is a healer he needs, you could have just asked. What is this place?"

"This place will be your home for the rest of your living days, my pip... and I'd venture it'll be your home for some time after too." The chilling comment left little to the imagination given what now transported her. "Be nice, and I hear you may enjoy what is to come." The man ventured further as she only then realized that other than the sound of their plodding gait, there was not a single sound issuing forth from the boughs around them. No bird sang, no breeze rustled a leaf. It was as if the world itself had fallen into a silent slumber.

Drawing in a breath before blowing it out between clenched teeth. The roll through her tummy now was not one of illness but of a frightful future to come. It was hard to really see her surroundings but the eerie silence gave her chills upon her heated skin. If what the man was saying were true then there would be no bargaining with these men. She went as silent as the forest around her.

More time passed, her two living captors falling silent as they had to contend with their own fears of what seemed to lay just beyond their vision. At long last, some other sounds finally reached her ears, the distant clanging of a hammer striking an anvil. The sound grew louder as they continued on until the ringing was intermixed with other sounds of the living. Her view of the detritis beneath her transport's feet gave way to a hard packed path, which in turn turned into the ancient planking of a bridge that led over what seemed to be a stagnant bog. Sunlight, what was left of it anyways, cut down upon the brackish water, giving her some clue as to the time. Night was approaching.

Her head had come up at the sounds, her long raven hair was a hindurance as she tried to see. Anything to give her clues, for if she did manage to survive this she would have to remember. Quickly her mind calculated the time past, hopefully to give her some timetable of how long they had traveled, although this place so near her home, if it was, was nothing she had ever seen before, she would have remembered such a place.

"Ho there! Open the gate, we've brought the offering he needs!" The man called up only after they stopped upon the bridge. This was followed by the creaking sound of a wench and the heavy thud of a gate that rattled the boney steed beneath her. Her journey continued, with the bridge giving way to the shadowy depths of a gate house. More booted feet were seen and the sounds of muttered conversations hinted at several other armored men being present. "Get her off that thing."

"I don't want to go near it"

"Look you sods! We had to lash her to that nightmare. You get her down." The arguing continued as no one seemed to want to take her off the horse.

"Oh for christ sake! Get me down!" She flung her head to send all that silken hair flying, but it only settled over her face once more.

"Where is she from?" Another voice was added to the mix.

"Solurius shore, she's got the aura of a healer... and a strong one too." One of the original captors added.

A pause insued before the newcomer spoke up at last "I'll get her down." It was then that a pair of hands clad in ratty looking leather gauntlets could be seen fumbling with the knots that secured her.

She huffed and for a moment thought about biting him..really hard..but then that would defeat the purpose of getting off this..thing. Instead she sweetly added. "Thank you." One blue eye peeked out through her hair draped over her face.

Much like the other two she had already seen, the man before her was clad in armor that was a grotesque parody of an animal, and all that she could see was the nondescript brown of his eyes beneath the steel and leather mask that looked much like a donkey. Others stood around her, mayhaps eight or ten similarly dressed men. Boars, bears, hawks, crows, and others could be seen in the armor of the others. Beyond them lay the overgrown stoneworks of an outer wall. The one who untied her stepped back after what seemed to be a pause, holding the ropes in his hands.

Her head lowered a moment against the crick that was in it and then lifted it as far as she could to take a good look at the donkey *mask*.

She would remember that mask and the others, it was one way to distinct between them and the eyes, they probably would not realize that their boots were a dead giveaway if ever she tried to identify them, any of them. As noone else made a move she slowly slid backwards and off that steed, her hands were still bound but her feet had been freed. When they hit the ground she was amazed and angry that they were so trembly, one could not run on trembly legs. She had to lean her raised arms against the putrid flesh of the horse until she could retain some strength in wobbly legs. Blood had dried upon her wrists but still oozed from the chafed skin, it was then that her question was answered...her bracelet was gone.

"The sun's nearly down men..... we need to get our arses into the warded circle." One of the men wearing a boar's head helm finally piped up, bringing the others into action. The gate was raised and the men seemed to hurriedly collect some of their things before moving off to the right side of the dismal courtyard, ironically leaving the woman alone as if her importance paled in comparison to being caught here when the sun went down.

Warded circle? Damn..wards were the hardest to undo and she did not have the magic or the smarts to even try. Pushing away from the creature she tried to brush her hair from her face, scrubbing her arms over her face, she took a look around. Then took steps to follow those men. Her feet burned as the feeling came back to them, but she ordered them through sheer will to move, one step at a time.

She was just beyond the gatehouse of what seemed to be an ancient castle, an outer wall protecting a stout tower overgrown with dead vines. The men scurried about as the sunlight waned, moving to the northwest portion of the courtyard where a few squat tents lay in what appeared to be a chalk circle.

Her eyes were looking everywhere, taking in the details, first noting the direction of the sun setting, bearings, she needed bearings. She glanced to the gatehouse and then the circle of tents, in an instant her decision was made, she took off, passing the gatehouse and heading for the drawbridge, her booted feet hit it with a loud pounding as she tried with her teeth to undo the tight knots binding her wrists. Her skirts were a hindurance, but she did not let that stop her, she only hoped she did not end up tripped upon her face.

No man came forth to follow her as her feet thudded against the planking of the bridge that kept her scant inches above the bog, the dark foreboding expanse of woods looming just beyond where the bog gave way to shore. From the depths of those twisted trunks, she got the eerie feeling that something waited with anticipation.

The bridge crossing the stenchy bog was just ahead, even though her lungs were burning she gave a burst of speed across that bridge. Shrugging off the feeling that she was running straight into another horror, her feet jumped over the end of that bridge and she stumbled but kept herself upright.

And so, just as the sun disappeared beneath the horizon, she plunged into the deepening darkness of the woods.

After careful consideration, and finding not so much as a remnant of sail nor hull, on her normal rounds, Aly decided she would take a trek to where she knew Blu came up missing.

She rode to the place she knew Blu liked to frequent with the children. Aly had been with her on several occasions to the very place she tread now. She allowed Lachlan to roam, and told him not to wander to far, as she did not know how long they would be here.

Stepping up to the precipice, Aly gazed out at the beautiful panorama that greeted her. From this vista, one could see, almost, the end of the world.

Turning from the edge, she began a careful perusal of the grounds. She had picked up the children's scent; Rowan had taken to wearing Blu's fragrances it seemed, which brought a slight smile brush her lips for a brief moment. The lass was growing fast indeed, and Blu would have her hands full.

Aly descended to her haunches around some footprints. It was easy to tell the children's from the others. They were men…a few of them from the looks of it. She picked up some of the sand form one print and took in the odor. The man was unclean, so it would easy to tell his scent from Blu's, who like herself, bathed daily. There was a strange animal print too. It resembled that of a horse, yet lacked the clear indention's of the frog. "Strange." Aly said to no one.

Proceeding to get the scent of the other prints, she moved to looking the direction the horse creature headed. As she followed it, she realized the beasties footing was deeper and was leaving more of an impression, which meant it was heavy with burden…most probable her sister.

She continued to track, with Lachlan not to far behind her. She browsed from left to right, looking for any clue this was indeed Blu's attackers that she pursued, and not some other that would keep her from finding her sister.

Something in a small grassy area caught her eye, and Aly moved to retrieve it. She knew what it was the minute it was in her hand. It carried Blu's distinctive aroma. It was her bracelet. The very one Bry had given her at the exchange a year ago. She fisted it, and tied it to her breeches, her emerald eyes narrows to mere slits.

Now at least she knew. Blu had NOT left on her own accord, and now the hunt would begin.

Within the trees the darkness was near impenetrable, with barely perceptable shadows of twisted trunks dissapearing into the gloom.

Even as she kept running her eyes looked from left to right, when she turned back she caught her knee on a trunk that she failed to see and tumbled over it. Rolling into a ball, she came up soon after, ignoring the pain she felt.

Somewhere, beyond her feeble range of vision, something rustled through the detritus, moving quickly from the left side of her to the front. Then.... another sound farther off of something quick bounding over the leaves.

Her breaths were burning in her lungs as she took a moment to get her bearings, a difficult task, if not impossible in the gloom of this dead forest. Her head snapped around at the sound and again when it moved. Once again she lifted her skirts and darted off in the opposite direction of the sound, hopefully so.

Her taking to her feet again brought whatever it was into a parallel course as evidenced by the sound of the rustling of leaves off to her left. Out of the corner of her eye, a shadowy, mishappen form could be seen shambling along with great speed until it veered off out of sight. Soon, however, more sounds of pursuit could be heard, this time from behind and to the right.

It was sudden...she took a deep breath and there was a shimmer and then where the lady had been, there ran the panther. The excelerated speed put her out in front of whomever chased her, the swift paws pushing off and sailing over the trunks and foilage.

Her transformation did serve to put some distance between herself and whatever pursued her, however, with every bound of her muscled panther form, she brought herself into the sights of other shadowy forms that were ahead of her. Each time, her speed kept her safe but this place seemed to be rife with whatever lurked just beyond the range of her sight.

Her sight was keen, as was her ability to scent prey. Even so she knew she was in trouble, but, she was a stubborn woman and would fight. She was a blur as she dug her claws into the side of a barren tree and scrambled up, she was not quite to the top when she jumped from a heavy branch to the next.

THe stench of death periodically assailed her nostrils as whatever lurked out there got caught upwind of her keen senses, revealing that whatever relentlessly pursued her in loose packs was some sort of undead abominations. Below, a small gathering of fast moving, mishappen creatures shadowed her from beneath, skin drawn tight over wirey frames.

As she shifted and sailed to another branch, there was a growl and a crack of sound as it broke under her weight, her claws tried to dig in but missing as she fell through the branches, finally hitting the ground with a hard thud. It was only a moment before she took off again.

A grisly creature with sickly yellow eyes and a black lolling tongue leapt forward and raked at the panther with spindly fingers tipped with oozing black claws, barely missing her haunches as she padded off in a run once more.

Another trunk was coming into view and she looked over a sleek shoulder, as she turned around, she dove under it.

The creatures were unrelenting in their pursuit, neither tiring nor being dissuaded from the pursuit of their quarry. Living flesh was their food, and they continued to shamble their wirey forms over the ground cover at a surprisingly quick pace. Even with her speed and strength, it seemed only a matter of time until she had to turn and fight what seemed to be scores of these "things".

Clawing at the dirt and ruffage that surrounded the trunk til it fell in on top of her, she was as black as that forest and could very well hide amongst it, she closed her eyes and slowed her breathing, although it still hurt like hell, she went still and quiet.

The scent of her very life force drew these creatures much like a moth to a flame, closing in without pause even as she secreted herself from prying eyes. Claws raked against roots as they shambled ever closer, their shattered minds only perceiving the presence of food being nearby.

Her heart was racing, pounding so hard she could even hear it in her ears. She was probably going to die without even knowing who or why.

The scent of death all around her, pairs of demented looking yellow eyes set deeply in contorted features of the ghouls that lurked within this forest. The nearest creatures to her went to leap forward with their oozing claws but suddenly backed away, faces contorted in what best could be described as rage. Soon, the others were driven back, skittering away as if being forced farther from their quarry by something unseen. Her keen sense of hearing picked up something else which approached from behind.

There was not much else she could do, for she was trapped, so she took a breath and squeezed her body out from under that log. She remained as panther just so she could better fight whatever she would have to. There was a low fierce growl as she came to stand before them.

Approaching from behind was another familiar but no less unsettling sight: that being the skeletal form of the undead horse she was lashed to. Apparently, it carried with it a powerful ward that kept these free roaming undead away, and she was not within it's sphere of protection. The huge skull turned an empty eye socket towards the panther, clacking it's visible jawbone against it's skull several times before slowly turning about and heading off in a specific direction.

Within her panther form she groaned at the sight of the creature, the panther looked to the ghouls and then back to the horse. I suppose it was some sort of instinct that drove her now, she chose the less worse of the two and trotted quickly after the horse. Looking over her shoulder with an eye upon the ghoulish creatures. She was not exactly resigned to this fate, but she knew, for now, she walked in someone else's domain.

The animated equine seemed oblivious to everything but the task at hand, which seemed to be to provide an umbrella of protection to the woman-turned-panther as it led her onward. Beyond the sphere of protection, the hungry dead waited in vain. The pace was slow, but eventually a shimmering body of brackish water could be seen in a clearing ahead. The bog was again within sight.

A dark head went up and sniffed the air, scenting the water before it came into sight, there was a huge sigh as she shimmered and once again walked as Blu. Tears shimmered but, by god, she would not shed them.

The light had left the sky, and with it the sounds of the living that manned the walls during that time. The moonlight shone down upon the walls across the expanse of the brackish water, illuminating the bleached yellowish white of sentries of bone that stared out with empty eye sockets. All the while her equine escort continued to skirt the bog, heading for the bridge that would lead her into the castle gates once again.

Butterflies were skittering in her belly as they moved closer, she felt as a soldier might that was being marched to their demise. Her teeth snapped together a moment before she said loudly. "Who the hell are you? Are you too much a coward to show yourself?" She spun in a circle even as she spoke and watched with shimmering blue eyes. "They will miss me! They will find me and when they do, they find you and if I have not destroyed you yet, they will! Do you hear me?" Speaking louder as they went through the gates.

No answer was forthcoming from the fleshless abominations that stared down at her, the harsh clack of cracked hooves upon the planking of the bridge giving way to the more muted sound of the hard packed earth within. There, the beast stopped in the courtyard. Leaving the woman to seemingly do as she wished. Off to the left was those small collection of tents within that warded circle where the helmeted living men now camped... and straight ahead was the central keep with an ancient oaken door slightly ajar. A dim, flickering light issued forth from within.

Her gaze, for a moment, lighted on that small camp and oh how she wished she was within it. Turning back to let her eyes light on the ajar door, she took another deep breath, held her head high and..marched towards it. She did not enter yet, she merely sat down upon the stone step and glared off into the darkness.

Beyond the door a feeble light illuminated the ancient stone walls of the foyer to a main hall that seemed dark and lifeless.

As she sat there, her stomach betrayed her and growled, she kept turning her head and peeking inside the Castle. That saying..damned if you do, damned if you don't kept penetrating her mind.

Within the courtyard the silent undead warders seemed oblivious to her, the empty sockets where eyes once were staring out into the bog. The only other activity she could discern was the glow of lights within the small collection of canvas tents where the daytime human contingent huddled together to endure another night. Within the squat tower, the air seemed stale, as if undisturbed for many years.

Blu looked longingly at the camp lights, wishing for something that would not be forthcoming there. What to do? Making the decision, she rose slowly and turned towards the doors, better to face the enemy.

As if on cue, the door that was slightly ajar soundlessly opened wide, sending a small cloud of dust swirling away upon the floor. Within, just the cold, lifeless stone that led off into the darkness.

Her head was held high and her chin, that stubborn chin, was thrust out as she walked through those doors. She looked confidant but inside she was shaking. "Alright, I am here. You going to show yourself now?"

As soon as she was beyond the portal, it slammed shut, the ancient bolt sliding into place and leaving her with nothing but the feeble light shining down from some of the arrow slits that were not overgrown. Her words echoed in the empty hall, and nothing responded. She seemed utterly alone here in the dark.

"Well...Blu.." Looking around at the dark surroundings. "Minding your own business and look at you now..wherever you are is pretty stinky." She started cautiously forward.

Out of the corner of her eye something seemed to form, but as soon as her gaze fixated upon where she thought it was it dissapeared. Her steps stirred up the dust of what seemed to be a score of years. Ahead lay the ruins of a great table that fronted a fireplace, harkening back to a time when this place was for the living. To the left as well as the right lay doors that had yet to reveal what lay behind them.

A shiver sliced up her spine as she kept her steps moving. The not knowing was working on her. There were all kinds of ways to torture and she feared this one. She looked left and right and chose right and walked a little quicker to that door.

Whatever dogged her out of the corner of her eye continued to persist, disappearing only when her gaze darted towards it. Meanwhile, as she approached the right hand door, it creaked open, sending a cascade of dust fluttering down. Beyond, a tangle of cobwebs as thick as spun cotton extended into pitch black darkness.

Blinking against the dark, it was but a moment when she sneezed and covered her nose, even as she backed away. Ohhh no, she was not going in there.

The other door lay across the room, and for the moment nothing seemed to clue her in as to which way to go.

Turning around she spun a couple times and then lifted her gaze to the high ceiling. "Hellooo? Helg? Sest? Aly? Anybody hear me??" Of course she did not expect an answer but it helped some to at least hear her voice.

Her voice fell upon unhearing, dead stone... or it seemed to be until a ruckus was heard across the room at the front door. A resounding thud rattled the hinges as if something threw itself against the closed portal from outside.

She jumped and then hesitated. Moving slowly back towards the door. "Is someone there?"

Everything seemed to be disjointed in this eerie place as whatever threw itself against the door did not repeat it, leaving her words without answer once more. That, coupled with the "something" lurking in her periphery left her with little to go on.

This was insane. She looked around once more and then shifted her hands to her hips. This place was creepy and she was not going to stay here! She marched to the door and reached for the knob.

The latch upon the door seemed frozen in place as her best effort did not even budge it an inch.

"he comes..." a tiny, sad, and frightened voice seemed to whisper to her from the periphery before her surroundings began to change...the ancient wood of the door she looked at soon began to take on a look of newness... as if the decay was fading away before her eyes. The dim light began to brighten as long abandoned \sconces seemed to have torches materialize in them. The large ruined table was beginning to look whole once more.

Ohhh she put more effort into it, tugging with both hands and a booted foot against the door. She stopped only a moment hearing that voice and then when the surroundings began to change.

The door did not budge as she redoubled her efforts, the scene continuing to change as if she was being transported back in time when this hall was a place for the living. The layers of dust peeled away and tapestries now seemed to grace once empty walls. The scent of roasted meat and spices were gradually permeating the air.

She had seen dark magic, had seen good. Being wed to a powerful wizard had shown her a few things and oh how she wished...she was a bit frantic now in her efforts, even knowing down deep it was of no use. She had to keep her head, had to not let herself be fooled. "Damnit, open you..." Trailing off.

"Is this any way to treat your host?" A seemingly warm voice came from behind the hall now looking as much alive as it must have been centuries ago.

Blinking, she slowly turned and was surprised by what she saw. "Is this anyway to treat a *guest*?"

"Point taken." Before her stood a man in royal blue robes trimmed in gold, thin but not overly so and looking as if he may have seen two score years of living. "Come, then, sit with me for a while over dinner and we will discuss how better to treat you during your visit here." The man smiled, his teeth white and quite straight.

Pushing herself away from the door, she brushed her hair from her face. "May I ask your name?"

"Of course. My name is William. A pleasure to meet you." The figure moved over to the table, pulling out a high backed chair and seating himself at it, gesturing with his arm to another chair a few feet off. "Please, you have had a trying day... sit.. sit."

The man was smooth and not to be trusted. Moving straight and slowly, she skirted around him and gracefully sat at the table. *A fact, I am sure, you took great pleasure in?"

"Hardly, you see, I am a prisoner of this place.... trapped behind these doors as well as behind a veil of time. Cursed to live here without hope for peace until someone like yourself could help me." The man looked at her with stunning blue eyes. "I beg you to help me break the curse that weighs upon my soul."

Lifting a slender brow. "You want me to help you when you have made me a prisoner with you? That is quite bold of you, William, considering I had no wish to be here and was taken against my will."

"Alas.. that is part of the curse. I can only use that which is set outside these walls. Wicked, gruesome things that only have the power to see my will done through force. Please, I beg of you to forgive me for it is truly beyond my control as to how they go about trying to find a rescuer."

She stared at him for long moments, her own blue eyes flashing, assessing. "I do not believe you. You are the one with the control over all that you reside over, I am not such a fool to believe you are not. To me, you are the worst of the wizards. What is it you truly want of me?"

The man scowled, and her disbelief seemed to leave his skin drawn out over his skull as if he was aging. "You must believe me, for I need you to help me break this curse." Around her, the tapestries were dulling in color and the torches began to sputter.

Something niggled at the back of her mind..what was it? Something Helg had told her once. "You lie. I help you and I die, is that the correct assumption?" A quick glance around and then she focused that blue gaze upon his face. "Are you so weak you cannot even maintain the illusions?"

"Of course not... " his voice sounding vaguely disembodied, a tiny red tint to his once stunning blue eyes. "I need you, do you not understand?" What was a warm place continued to melt away as she saw through the carfully woven illusion, the smell of a feast slowly fading to the staleness of a hall that had not seen a living soul for years. William's royal blue robes began to moulder as the man's thin frame shriveled to a more skeletal form. His face, once full of life, now was a macabre mask of death. A leathery animated corpse with two pinpoints of angry red where his eyes once were.

"Need me how?" Blu was very good at maintaining her own facade and keeping her features neutral, inside she was frantically trying to figure a way out.

"I require your love, my sweet.... for in love you will be willing to give me everything that you are....." The table was in ruins once more as the creature stood, it's malevolent gaze fixated upon her form.

She blinked and looked up at him and then suddenly laughed. "Love?" Rising she leaned her hands on the nasty table and stared at him. "There is no such thing! And, I am not fool enough to love again, especially someone like you! I can't help you, so you might as well just let me go!" Each word coming from her was said more loudly and with building anger.

"In time, you will call out to me." The creaking of flesh could be heard as 'it' cracked a grisly smile. "They all call out to me before the end... you will be no different." With that, William turned from her to move towards one of the doors (the right one), which swung open to accept his skeletal form.

"NEVER!" Yelling at his disappearing back.

The door closed as the skeletal form clad in rotting robes was engulfed in the blackness beyond the portal. Once again she was alone.

((For continuity's sake, I'm gonna post here rather than in Interludes and Contemplations, as the two stories now begin to coincide))

::BJ rode to the shore, Knight moving along quickly, sensing the Elf's urgency. There, he chose the grassy area to study...searching, looking for a clue...anything at all they might not have seen before.::

::He found it then...blown beneath a bush, damp with dew, the ink lightly smeared around the edges...he opened the journal to the last page, recognizing Blu's handwriting...reading her thoughts in his own silence.::

::Stones...stones...he wondered where her mind had been wandering that day, riffled through the pages carefully to make certain he had not missed a single note...any idea where she might have gone...nothing.::

::He tucked the journal in a saddlebag, leaping lightly onto the back of the big black stallion...and he turned Knight in a slow circle before heading off seemingly at random...but it was not entirely random...it felt *right*. The sea to his left and behind him...the way he had come behind him...the way before him marked by no one's passage that could be seen, but the Elf could not explain why he had chosen that direction...only that it was where his heart told him to go.::

::They set off at a brisk trot, the Ranger not wanting to miss anything, but still sensing the need for haste.::

It was time. Aly had gotten everything together she needed to aid her in her search for Blu.

She had ordered a force of thirty dragoons to meet in the inner bailey at the cocks crow. They were not taking a wagon, as it would impair the expediency in which she wished to travel. Two pack horses were to be readied an awaiting.

She and Chrum were there promptly before the sun. Their troops were awaiting the order to move out.

As she gave the order, Chrum nodded to her, knowing that she had his total support in this important assignment. He rode beside her as they left the castle gates behind, moving in the direction that Aly had found Blu's bracelet, which was now tied to her sword belt.

Upon the arrival at the place of discovery, she slipped down from Lachlan, her nose to the air, and her eyes narrowed. Bj. Why couldn't he just ride with them? She could sense him everywhere here. She touched Knights hoof prints, noting that he hadn't been gone from this place very long, and was headed in the same direction that Aly caught Blu's scent the last time she was here.

Chrum had the others combing the area for anything that could or rather would lead them to where Blu had been taken. He sat and watched Aly meticulously look over ever leaf, twig and blade of grass.

When she was sure that nothing else would be found here, she easily swung upon Lachaln, nudging him toward the earlier tracks she had found, and now Bj's. Maybe she would catch up with him and he would join them. She knew he needed to help, but he also needed to not hide from, or withhold anything from her either. She loved him, and knew that he loved Blu, but sometimes his stubborn pride got in the way of his common sense. She only hoped that he wouldn't cause her any duress. Right now, she had enough, she looked over to Chrum and tried at a small smile, as they followed the tracks in to the bracken.

((Yep it was voted on and changed but wow it's confusing. Will take some time to get used to. Annnd nope don't need to be told I hate change. ::looking to Aly with a smirk:))

::He was hours out...pausing near a small stream to refill his waterskin, taking the time to eat a small bit of cheese and what was left of his bread. From now on, he'd have to forage for his food, but the Elf was used to eating what he could find, or not eating at all, if that was necessary. BJ would ride for a time, keeping a relatively straight course, pausing once or twice to study the land. He would stop after dusk to rest for a few hours before leading Knight, preferring the cool night and starlight to guide him.::

::BJ did not know where he was going...only that he was. He kept sharp eyes out for any signs, not losing hope.::

Chrum glanced back to Aly as they rode, hoping his own grin, back to her, offered some strength and encouragement, for what certainly must be a trial for her. They had shared few words since they rose, and even fewer since they had taken to the saddle and rode out. When they had stepped out of the castle, Brenna had inquired of his return. All he could do was shrug and look to her with a bit of hope in his eyes. The lass seemed to see, or sense, Chrum's feelings and had patted his arms, adding an admonishion,

"Dun ye wurry un ye wee'uns noooow. Ye go an 'elp Lady MacDraven. "I" wae see that oll staes safe 'ere".

she had smiled at him and stepped back. How had he gotten so lucky to have found this woman, not as a companion, not as a wife, but to tend his children. He had watched her with the near three year olds now, and the lass seemed magical. THAT thought brought a frown to his brow. He wasn't certain how he felt on the matter, if, in fact Brenna WAS some sort of mage or sorceress. A soft tinkling, back along the row of dragoons, broke his thoughts, and Chrum turned Hame away from their easy gait, along side Aly and Lachlan, and nudged his gelding back along the double file of light mounted cavalrymen.

He spotted the offending tack almost immediately and nodded to the young soldier to pull out of rank and join him along side the trail. He sat easy in the saddle a bit and looked to the lad without speaking. The soldier, in turn, looked back a bit bewildered.

"Di ye wish ta see yeself, an ye mates, back ta Solurius safely lad?",

Chrum poised the question quiet. He could hear the tinkle of the mess kit tied to the riders saddle even as they sat relatively still beside the trail. The soldier looked at Chrum as if he might be loosing his mind,

"Of course M'Lord".

Chrum sat and studied him a moment. The young man had all the makings of a fine soldier and cavalryman, firm solid body, though not too heavy and a quick hand by the way he held to his horse's reins. Yes, this lad certainly one Chrum would want by his side when the heat was up. His gaze left the man's face and dropped to the mess kit,

"We settle up suimplace.........an need ta stae unusual soooonds...THAT......::nodding to the mess kit::.........es nae a' natural sooond an' twould b'picked up un t'wind suir 'noooogh",

Chrum paused, letting his words sink in, then went on,

"Tis nae a' maneuver o' trainin' we erre 'boooot 'ere. Tis a' true an' real rescue. I dun thin' Laird Aiden wae b'ta 'appy ifen I dun bring OLL 'is dragoons back 'live an'wae.........aye?"

The soldier nodded and was about securing the noisy tin implements as Chrum finished his brief speech. He reached over and shook the saddle hard when he was done, trying to make more tinny noises. Failing that, Chrum smiled to the lad,

"W'ere in this t'getha. Tis o'import tha' ye oll du well an return safely...aye?"

The young man smiled and turned his horse back to the formation, nudging him back to his spot in the ranks, as Chrum sat a moment, and watched them, thinking of the lessons HE had to learn over the years and the lads HE had buried in unknown fields of death.

Nudging Hame forward, he trotted back to beside Aly and Lachlan, offering her a grin, with a simple explanation,

"A wee gear troooble".

Though Aly would probably protest, it would be time to camp for the night in an hour or so, barring some sudden discovery that would see them riding on. He straightened in the saddle, strectched and looked ahead down the trail.....

When Chrum had told her that one of the lads was having gear trouble, she tried at a smile, but it did not reach those emerald pools. She merely nodded and turned Lachlan around, holding up a hand to halt the company.

"Lads take care. Eyes an' ears must be alert 't all times. I ken no' wha' we're dealin' wi' as o' yet, but I'd bet m' wee pointed ears 'tisna benevolent." She cleared her throat a moment before speaking again, gave Chrum a look, then proceded. "Now woold be th' time feer ana tha' wish ta turn back ta do so. I will no' hauld 't against ye, nor will ye be looked upon as coward. "Tis a dangeroos trek we go on, an' some o' ye may no' return."

Aly glanced from one man to the other, holding their gaze momentarily before finding the next. She saw men who were brave, but frightened, and frightened was what they should be feeling. The evil was in the air. Humans may not sense it, but she did. It was acrid, a decaying smell of death, that did not bode well for some of these men, mayhap not even her.

She looked to Chrum again...her beloved...her stability...her very breath it seemed on ocassion. If she lost him, or Blu, she would never be the same.

Chrum smiled at her, the smile that was always felt like a ripple through her entire being, and she couldn't help but return it, but only for a moment, then her attentions were back on their men seeing that not a single one of them asked to take their leave of this excursion, which made her very proud to be a leader of this particular group of men. "A'right then, we're off. The trail is easa ta follow, feer they've left 't clear. May wha'ev'r Gods ye worship be wi' ye all."

That said she turned Lachlan back around and headed off into the rocky area that the trail led into. They rode for a half an hour, and they came to boulders that seemed to be overturned, which was odd to Aly and she pointed it out to Chrum without a word. The oderiferous eminations that came to her acute sense of smell was that of treachery and death, and when she saw what appeared to be gateway stones, a roll of her eyes could be seen by Chrum. " Bluidy hell."

She slipped easily off of Lachlan, and walked to the stones, laying a hand on one. It was cold and uninviting. Foreboding and evil were the temperate feeling. It was as she ran her hand along the one stone that she saw an inscription which read;

TANTVM QVO AMBVLATIONIS MORTVVM POLLERE OPERARI HIC POTRA

All that was heard after she read it was, "Bluidy hell."

::Morning he arrived at the end of the road, so to speak. Before him was a grouping of stones, set in a circle. Knight snorted and shied from nearing the stones, needing a soothing hand from BJ to calm him. The elf had to agree with the big animal...the place was creepy. He left Knight at a distance from the stones, and neared them cautiously on foot. The elf touched one of the rough stones, not entering the circle. He shuddered beneath his cloak, a chill passing over him as his finger contacted the rock. There was evil feeling in this place, a feeling that permeated the stone, the area, even the very air. The Ranger moved slowly around the outside of the grouping, studying the standing stones carefully. At the end of the rotation, he found something that made him pause. He ran his hand over the carved inscription, ignoring the shiver that passed through him, intrigued. The words were familiar...similar to the words of his own native tongue. He murmured softly, hand tracing each of the words in turn...::

Tantum quo ambulationis mortuum pollere operari hic porta...Only the dead who walk exert influence upon this gate.

::His translation did little to comfort him. If Blu was taken through this portal...this set of stones entered a whole new set of problems into the rescue. BJ moved back to Knight, speaking quietly to the horse.::

There is evil in this place, my friend...ye are right. But the trail ends here...and here is where she must have gone. I cannot open the portal to where she has gone...I fear no living thing can do so. For now...we wait.

::Knight snorted, and a soft neigh. BJ understood, and shook his head slowly.::

No, Knight...we do not have to stay here. There was a good place not far back. From there I can watch the stones, but not be seen.

::He eyed the stallion, as the horse turned to look back at him as if to say 'let's go'. The elf nodded silently, moving beside the stallion with a last look back toward the stones. Sooner or later the portal would activate...he could only hope it was sooner.::

::BJ had been perched in a tree silent...motionless, watching the procession of dragoons. He did not even breathe as Aly passed with Chrum. He was not close to them by any means, perhaps a half-hundred yards distant...but sharp eyes and ears could make out who they were and where they were headed.::

::Once they had passed, he followed them on silent feet, leaving Knight behind at the makeshift camp further behind him than from where his perch had been. He calculated, and decided that they had made good time...::

::He skirted the group, moving to the stones themselves, stepping out of the shadow of one of them silently, still a bit of distance from Aly and her men. He watched Aly with calm eyes, his voice soft, almost sad...::

Ye too...know what this means.

Aly had scented Bj's presence, and knew he would present himself when he was ready, which he did indeed. She nodded to him.

"Aye...I know wha' 't means. Onla th' dead may pass throogh."

Again she looked at him, then she looked at Chrum. This was going to be tricky at best, especially trying to convince Chrum of what she would have to do, and that none of them could pass through with her.

"I suggest we make camp a wee bit away from here, an' ha' a sit down 'boot wha' will h've ta hap'n."

Her orders were followed and camp was made. Now would come the hard task of explaining the plan and how it would have to be expidited. This definately would be the hard part.

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