Rissterus
Guildsman
????#??? ????????????? ?
Posts: 130
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Post by Rissterus on Mar 18, 2008 16:20:24 GMT -5
Before mounting his horse, Rissterus walked over to Elyira and held the bow and quiver up to her. "Here, take these. I fear you'll be needing them." After she took them, he paused, then turned and returned to his horse. He mounted quickly and turned to look at Oswin and Elyira. "Stay close and ride quickly." His gaze lingered on Oswin as he noted how badly the monk handled his horse. "Please tell me you know how to ride, Oswin." It would be almost laughable if the priest didn't. If there were the case, they were in for trouble.
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Post by Elyiravëra on Mar 18, 2008 19:41:33 GMT -5
Elyiravëra took the bow from Rissterus. She ran her hand along the smooth wood. It was still unstrung and strapped to the quiver, but she could tell it was a decent bow. She didn't know exactly how to respond. She hadn't ever been required to use weapons before, and she wasn't sure if she knew how to use it correctly. "Thank you," she said, looking the Sorcerer in the eye. He paused before leaving as if he was going to reply, but ended up simply returning to his horse. She looked back down at the bow, then placed it behind her saddle with her pack. She didn't have time to get it out yet.
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Post by Oswin on Mar 19, 2008 20:29:21 GMT -5
Oswin tried to stabilize himself on his mount when Rissterus gave the weapon to Elyira. He was just mastering the beast when Rissterus spoke. "Stay close and ride quickly." Oswin looked up to find Rissterus looking at him. He suddenly realized he must look rather ridiculous. His priest's robes weren't meant for the saddle. "Please tell me you know how to ride, Oswin." Oswin's face reddened slightly and he nudged the horse with his heels, causing him to walk towards Rissterus. "I may not be the best horseman in the world, Rissterus, but I can ride," he shot back. His horse took a few steps backwards and Oswin gritted his teeth in frustration. "Still, it's been awhile..." he admitted.
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Rissterus
Guildsman
????#??? ????????????? ?
Posts: 130
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Post by Rissterus on Mar 21, 2008 17:44:05 GMT -5
Rissterus turned his head to hide a smile. "Very well, then. Let's be off." His horse turned towards the road after a quick pull of the reins, and he tapped his heels against the horse's sides, and he began heading down the northwest road.
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Post by Elyiravëra on Mar 22, 2008 14:51:26 GMT -5
Elyiravëra smiled at Rissterus and Oswin's conversation as it took place. When Rissterus began to ride, she bent down to speak into her horse's ear. The mare seemed to understand the Elvish words and began to trot after Rissterus. She looked back over her shoulder to see if Oswin was still coming.
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Post by Oswin on Mar 23, 2008 12:53:13 GMT -5
After a few failed commands, Oswin finally managed to get the horse to follow the others. From there he had reasonably little trouble. Now that they were riding in silence, Oswin's thoughts began to wander. He remembered what Elyira told him last night and wondered if this had anything to do with it. He looked over his shoulder to see the inn was far out of sight.
He tapped his heels against the horse's sides and it trotted past Elyira. It slowed as he came alongside Rissterus, and matched paces wit the Sorcerer's steed. "Tell me," Oswin said in a commanding voice. "Who is 'tracking' us, and why? Does this have anything to do with why we're leaving in such haste?"
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Rissterus
Guildsman
????#??? ????????????? ?
Posts: 130
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Post by Rissterus on Apr 3, 2008 16:42:03 GMT -5
Rissterus slowed his horse, allowing Oswin to ride next to him. He looked silently at Oswin in silent anger. How does he know that? His eyes narrowed, then he looked suddenly back at Elyira. She told him. His head swiveled back to face the road and he began to speak, not looking at either of them.
"The party tracking us is a group of Sorcerers," Rissterus said plainly. At a silent command from his rider, Rissterus' horse quickened its pace. "They have been tracking us ever since we met, perhaps even before." Rissterus continued. "We would already be dead if we had traveled by the road. I thought we had lost them temporarily, but they are much closer than I had thought. And that," he said, turning suddenly to look at Oswin, "is why we are leaving 'in such haste'."
Rissterus looked away. "Now, follow me. We'll be riding hard." He tapped his horse with his heels, urging it to go at an even brisker pace, expecting Oswin and Elyiravëra to speed up as well.
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Post by Oswin on Apr 4, 2008 13:17:29 GMT -5
Oswin stared at Rissterus as he talked, allowing his horse to lead the way. Sorcerers! he thought, alarmed. He kept trying to interrupt but Rissterus' steady flow of speech wouldn't allow it. By the end of the harangue, Oswin was speechless. By the time Oswin thought of something to say, Rissterus had turned from him again. Oswin was about to speak, but the Sorcerer cut him off again. "Now, follow me. We'll be riding hard." Without waiting for either of his companions, he began to ride ahead. Oswin exchanged a worried glance with Elyira, then began to ride after Rissterus. He quickly and quietly mulled over this new information. What are Sorcerers doing chasing us? And why? He didn't say why. He looked back, past Elyira, at where the Inn was. They must be close... He looked back at Rissterus ahead of him. He again accelerated to try to catch up to him. The man had not yet answered his other question: Why?
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Post by Elyiravëra on Apr 6, 2008 19:42:28 GMT -5
When Oswin first began to speak with Rissterus, Elyiravëra rode forwards to listen. Her grip on the reins inadvertently relaxed as Rissterus shot out the explanation at them. Fear gripped her by the time Rissterus was finished. She looked back down the road, then took the reins again and urged her horse after Rissterus.
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Rissterus
Guildsman
????#??? ????????????? ?
Posts: 130
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Post by Rissterus on Apr 6, 2008 19:49:37 GMT -5
Rissterus glanced over at Oswin in annoyance. He was about to ask another question. Could he not see now was not the time for inconsequential questions? Oswin had barely begun to speak when an explosion ripped through the early morning darkness.
Rissterus wheeled his horse around so he could look back down the road. Light was visible beyond the trees in the distance, back where the inn was located. It was not the usual ordinary light of the dawn, however. It was the glow of fire. Billows of black smoke could be seen rising up towards the sky. Rissterus gritted his teeth, staring at the site for half a minute. Finally he turned his horse around again.
"Hurry, we must go now. Speed is of the essence!" He kicked his heels and his horse broke into a gallop down the road.
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Post by Elyiravëra on Apr 6, 2008 20:05:55 GMT -5
Elyiravëra jumped at the sudden noise, looking around from side to side, trying to find the source of the explosion. Rissterus turned his steed around and looked back down the trail the same time as Elyiravëra did. "The inn!" she gasped, eyes wide. The dwelling they had left less than an hour ago was in flames! She watched in horror as smoke rose quickly into the sky. Black smoke, twisting into pools of clouds, dark as coal.
She was suddenly interrupted from her thoughts when Rissterus recovered from the shock of the inn.
"Hurry, we must go now. Speed is of the essence!"
Elyiravëra looked over at him to see him already starting to ride away from the smoke at a gallop. Elyira turned her horse to follow. She was still rather in shock, but she had sense enough to follow Rissterus. He would get them to safety. She passed Oswin, allowing her mare to run full speed after Rissterus.
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Post by Oswin on Apr 7, 2008 12:05:31 GMT -5
"Rissterus," Oswin began. "You have no-" he was cut off when a thunderous noise ripped through the forest. Rissterus wheeled his horse around, causing Oswin's step off the road. After a few tugs on the reins, Oswin managed to turn his horse about as well. He looked over at the glow of fire in the distance, aghast. "Saints!" he breathed in fearful awe. "The inn!" Elyira suddenly gasped. Oswin's face turned from one of surprised shock to horrified dismay. "The inn?" Oswin repeated, suddenly realizing what the source of the flames was. He stared at the rising smoke, knowing he should move, but he couldn't find the will to do so. Whatever has happened there is because of us, he thought. That poor innkeeper is probably dead. And it's our fault. "Carus Deus take vir in vestri servo. May is sileo in pacis," Oswin whispered. 'Dear God, take the man into your keeping. May he rest in peace.'
"Hurry, we must go now. Speed is of the essence!"
Oswin looked over at the Sorcerer who turned his horse about and began to ride. A moment later Elyira also turned and rode hastily after him. Oswin looked once more at the fire and smoke. His face hardened. No, this is Rissterus' fault. Not mine. He turned his horse around, surprised it obeyed him. It wished to clear the area as well, it seemed. His gaze lingered on the sight for several more moments, then he turned his head away, his eyes filled with determination. He rode after his companions.
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Rissterus
Guildsman
????#??? ????????????? ?
Posts: 130
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Post by Rissterus on May 8, 2008 17:34:43 GMT -5
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Back at the Inn... Another ball of flame exploded into the air from inside the burning inn. Another of the innkeeper's fine barrels of rum must've reached the flame. Two Sorcerers cloaked in maroon robes came into sight from around the inn. They approached two other Sorcerers. One held the reins of four horses and the other was mounted on a fifth stallion. "The stables are burning as well, lady" the first one said, kneeling to the figure on horseback. He had a deep oily voice, and from beneath his hood two indigo eyes looked up at the Sorceress. [black]"We have searched the inn, and there are no signs of Rissterus or his companions. They must've left before we arrived,"[/black] the second added. His voice sounded similar to the first's, but more .... lethal sounding. The fifth Sorcerer came into view, coming from the road. [black]"Lady, there are fresh tracks of horses. Three horses,"[/black] he amended. The woman turned her head to look at him. "How long ago?" she asked, her ice blue eyes flashing. [black]"They were made within the hour,"[/black] he replied, smiling cruelly. The Sorceress turned away from him and called, [maroon]"Everyone mount up! They cannot be far away!"[/maroon] [black]"What about the inn?"[/black] the Sorcerer with indigo eyes asked. [maroon] "Leave it to burn,"[/maroon] she ordered, kicking her spurs into her horse's sides. The four other Sorcerers mounted in unison and rode of after her. The five of them formed a "V" as they rode, with the Sorceress at their head. There was a final crash as the inn fell to the ground behind them as they raced after Rissterus, Oswin, and Elyiravëra.
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