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Date Posted: 10:04:06 02/17/03 Mon
Author: Chrysoberyl, Adaron, Delwyn, and other random elves.
Subject: To meet with dragons

The sun had risen to its zenith. No clouds decorated the clear blue sky. A faint breeze had picked up and was filtering with a light rustling through the tops of the leafy trees. The old forest seemed unusually quiet today, mimicking yesterday, and likely the days to come. Creatures stirred at the northern borders, believing the keen eyes of the Fair Folk were oblivious. Yet that was to the north, and for the past two days, Adaron had been at the southern end of the valley that the Elves home. Disturbances at this end were minimal and only the occasion Edan dared to skirt close to hidden Realm and even that had stopped for the last month. The only human life to be seen entering the Realm was that of the young Prince Igon and his Kinsmen, who had turned toward home as soon as he was safe within. They would rest at the small village at the base of the Angrist Mountains, having pushed their horses hard, fearing another sudden blizzard that had become unusually common this winter. Another three days Adaron would stay at this end of the valley, exchanging news with his kindred.


It was such a beautiful day (no surprise there) but she felt the travel bug. One could only walk down to the bridge and lagoon so many times, especially when there was so much more of the landscape to see. Delwyn had secured a horse from the stables and set out on her journey in soft gray breeches, brown boots that came to her knee, and then a green tunic with no shirt under it, though it fit her well enough that she didn't need it. The horse was turned southward to follow the trails to the southern end of the valley at a leisurely lope. After all, she didn't need Talar to take her everywhere now did she? There was something to be said for self-exploration, or rather, exploring the landscape yourself not...never mind. She'd met several elves on the path and had greeted them in a friendly lilting tone. Furthermore, she knew of a human village that lay just beyond the forests, surely it couldn't be that dangerous to get there could it? Delwyn was nearing the edge of the forest...


The edainme had been warned not to wander too far. When she did that last, her life and another’s had been endangered. Yet here she was again, off 'exploring.' She had been seen approaching the southern border when she had still been a goodly distance away. The news had spread and an elf, Loric by name, had been sent to intercept her. And that is just what he did. He watched the young human girl approach him silently as he, standing the direct center of the path. His bow was held in one had, the butt of it resting upon the forest floor. No arrow was nocked. Slowly his hand lifted in a silent gesture of 'Halt.'

She pulled her mare to a stand still and just groaned to herself. I am in so much trouble. she said to herself. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry. I'll head back north now." Please don't let Adaron find out about this she thought quietly to herself.

"No. You will follow me." And without another word the young elf turned without looking back at her. He was sure that she would follow. His bow was replaced in its hold, his arms limp at his side as he strode onward quickly. He led her down the winding path before suddenly veering off of it into the surrounding trees. Now he lightly leapt over fallen logs, nothing that a horse simply couldn’t step over. He ducked under a low branch, an obstacle that the equine would have to skirt around.

She winced and the horse followed along after him patiently, but she couldn't really mask the feeling of impending dread. This was not going to be good, and she could only hope that wherever he was taking her that it wouldn't be to someone she knew--especially not Adaron, for she knew better than anything that he was down on the southern end of the valley, and she knew as well that he would most likely be the one to handle any sort of disturbance, but perhaps she'd be lucky. Maybe Providence would be looking out for her today?

The party of humans had traveled for some time, and though they were all very thoroughly trained in their duties, the masks of 'proper form' started to slip as a few of them joked amongst themselves about how they would relax after so much time on the road. Others were just happy they would have a warm bed to sleep in, and be able to wash away the dust of their travels. The sun was well beyond its zenith as they entered the village, some of the locals stepping out of their homes or shops to greet the newcomers. An influx of new blood, money, news or materials to barter was always welcome. Little could they have realized that something else was approaching as well, though no good tidings could come of this beast. The distant, rhythmic snap of tendons creaking against the wind, the clap of air vibrating thunderously from the beating of bat-like wings soon had many of the people in the streets looking up to the sky in expectation of thunderclouds and perhaps a flash of lightning heralding a storm. Sunlight gleamed on scales of a forest green, dusted with shades of gold, so brightly polished it hurt the eyes to look at directly for too long. It did not take long for the creature to get close enough to clearly see the razor claws tucked against its chest and by the pubic bone, the flaring crest streaking down a long, serpentine neck, whipcord tail trailing a small fan of flesh and bone to guide its flight behind. None other than a fabled dragon, so very rare in this day and age, glimmering golden eyes gleaming with malice and a cruel intent. Many of the villagers, and even a few of the Prince's escort could only stand where they were in the streets, staring up in awe at the terrible grace and beauty of the monster. Others, older warriors more experienced and grizzled from battle, reached for their weapons and ran or directed their horses back towards the forest, just in time to avoid the first deadly stream of fire that trickled from parted jaws and raced up the center of the village's main street to the gratifying sound of screams of pain, terror and disbelief.

The trees before the edan and edhel to form a large ring. Nothing grew within this encircling but grass. A few unstrung bows were leaned up against the dark trunks of trees off to the left. Straight ahead three elves slipped silently from ring. Off to the right stood four Elves. One held thick parchment papers, his blue gaze drawn to the foreign writing that was scribbled onto a new page each day, keeping a record. Loric lifted his hand again, motioning the woman behind him to halt her steed. He then
lightly stepped along the edge of the ring towards the small group. The Elf who had been reading silently over the journals lifted his gaze to his familiar kindred. Strange whispered words trickled from Loric’s mouth, a glance over his shoulder given to the horse and rider. Azure eyes lifted from the other to shift over to the girl. As was his trademark, his facial features were void of expression.

She looked over to Adaron and then winced visibly, lowering her head so he couldn't read her lips which told of how unhappy she now was as she mumbled softly in her native tongue. Couldn't she have been sacrificed to cannibalistic pigs or something rather than brought before Adaron? She sat sans movement upon her mare's back just waiting because she knew what was coming. Why couldn't she have just been allowed to go back to the city? She should have just turned the horse around and gone of her own accord, but of course not, she was a good girl and had followed where the elf had led her to a fate she was beginning to consider worse than death.

His first pass over the village took him over the forest, above the heads of some of those who had been part of the Prince's escort. One or two had the presence of mind to draw their bows, though the arrows simply bounced off the great serpent's hide. The stirring of those wide pinions drove the muscular frame of the dragon upward, far and away out of the reach of any of their ranged weapons. Stronger, steadier flaps kept a gale of wind carrying leaves, mulch and other debris towards the fire that was now spreading amidst the homes and small stores in the streets, keeping him hovering at a point where he had a good vantage of the destruction wrought on his first pass. Several of people that had tried to flee into the forest had broken off and scattered in other directions to avoid the murderous serpent above. A few even ran back towards the fires, something which amused him no end. Before long a leisurely glide was taken to, sweeping over the town once again with another blast of dragon fire, several buildings that withstood the flames collapsing from the force of wind from the beating of his wings. One of the more brave mortals, some older man who had seen a fair share of battle from amongst the escort forced his plunging mount to obey, riding back through the burning streets in the direction of the beast. Sword whirling, he gave a rallying call to the
others to try and get the Prince's men to follow and charge this menace and drive it away, answered only by the echoing, unearthly howl of the dragon itself. That god-awful sound by itself would have sent brave men fleeing, washing over the valley and beyond in a taunting cry of triumph over the puny humans who had little to no hope of stopping this thing that had chosen this day of all to destroy them.

Faintly, for the Elves were some thirty miles from the village, heard a terrible cry borne by the wind. Had it been a gathering of Men, the sound would have slipped by their hearing most assuredly. Without a word, three of the five Elves that were gathered darted into the surrounding forest. The nickering of horses could be heard as animals about thirty feet off were mounted by their Elven companions, before a thundering of hooves sounded. Though all of this sudden, seemingly, chaos, Adaron had strode to the mounted edainme. His right hand lifted, lightly touching the left side of his chest, his head dipping into a light cant of his head in greeting. He straightened fully then, shoulders rolling back, chin lifting. "What brings you this far south?" Still no emotion graced his Fair features. He was dressed in his usual gray tunic, a black belt at his waist that girded the Elven blade at his waist. So dark a brown, nearly black pants covered the lower half of his body. His boots matching. A quiver filled with arrows was strapped to his back, his bow residing there as well.

"Well..." she began, somewhat distracted by the elves that had dashed off into the wood. "I didn't want to stay in the city anymore and I couldn't go north because it wouldn't be safe, and to go east or west would have just run me into the mountains, so I decided to come south and see what there was to be seen," it sounded good enough, right? She looked after the elves, trying to do anything to really regard Adaron after she'd greeted him in a similar fashion his own. "Where are they going so quickly?"

Now that the satisfying scent of charred wood and flesh permeated the air, his approach would be a bit more direct and dramatic. The man that had gone so far as to try and defy the dragon was now spotted and viewed as the best target, as any others that might rally to support him would only make trouble he was not in the mood to deal with. Twisting about in the air with all the effortless grace of a hawk on the hunt, this time he flew in a dangerously low sweep over the town, aiming for the one warrior that dared to face him. The horse he sat astride whinnied in terror and twisted against the bit, intending to run off despite the cursing and sawing of the reins of the rider. There was little either could do to escape the massive jaws that suddenly arced down to clamp around the horse's neck, teeth easily eight inches long digging deep into the flesh of the man's legs and the horse's shoulder and throat as he bit down. The satisfying crack of bone soon sounded, the neck of the gelding broken and the man screaming in pain and anger at the one delivering this undignified death upon him. Nerveless fingers had dropped the short sword as they'd been swept up, the only recourse being a short dagger tucked into the warrior's waistband. It was so very hard to reach for it against the fierce pull of the wind and the crushing pain of his broken legs, knowing he was bleeding to death thanks to the deep bite marks, yet he did try to do so. Unfortunately, the moment trembling fingers closed around the hilt, both horse and rider were dropped from several hundred feet up, flung with minimal effort from the curved fangs lining the dragon's jaw as that massive triangular head swung away to dislodge them from his teeth. Another low, rumbling roar was released from that cavernous throat, daring any others to come from their hiding places and face him, once again hovering above the town as the bodies of the horse and rider smashed through the trees to lay broken and bleeding on the forest floor below.

Slowly the Elf's head turned towards the direction in which his companions had vanished. Close now the sound of galloping hooves came again. This time the steed leapt into the ring to skid to a halt not five feet from Adaron who had not even bee phased by the near collision. The Elf's eyes were wide. With the sound, and the age and wisdom behind their years, and the sight that they had seen, all had been put together. Fear seemed to fill his eyes. "Asca! Adaron....Draedan!" Adaron’s jaw went slack, his own eyes dilating. Loric, behind him, gave a shrill whistle and two white steeds entered the circle of trees, coming to the Elf who had so commanded them. Without a word to Delwyn, Adaron spun on his heel and with a fluid leap he mounted the untacked horse, harshly calling to the other two as the equine sprang from its hind legs from the circle into the forest. "Khila amin!" The other two elves atop the horses raced after, the Edan forgotten.

Hmm. She could have stayed, or she could have followed, and naturally she wanted to follow, so her mare was kicked into action. The brown horse could not keep up with the white steeds of the elves, but she could keep up enough to keep them in sight and not lose them as they raced through the thick wood. Del crouched low to the neck of her horse to dodge any low-hanging branches and holding on desperately when her horse cleared any fallen logs that threatened to dislodge her. She hadn't known what the elves had said, but she got the idea of it from Adaron's reactions.

Soon enough, it was clear that any resistance had faded with the one man who had thought to stand up to him. Most of the able-bodied had fled, or were trapped and dying in the flames that now engulfed a good portion of the town. Very few of the homes remained untouched, and would soon have the flames licking at them as the fires spread from building to building, the collapse of some sending a flurry of sparks to catch on the next, some even spreading into the fields of crops on the outskirts of the buildings near the forest. It was into one of those fields that the dragon alit, wings stooped like a bird of prey diving to capture a rabbit or fox in the deep brush, flaring out only at the last moment to brake his ascent in a spectacular display, hind legs touching down into the soft earth before both fore claws and support finger bones at the tips of his wings settled into the sea of wheat swaying in the breeze he had stirred up. The scents on the air were all too pleasing to him, inhaling deeply of the rich scents of ash and smoke, mingling with fresh blood and charred flesh. Striding slowly forward towards the wreckage of the burning village, nostrils remained flared as he sought prey to feast upon after this expenditure of energy. The backs of his wings scraped against the sides of the buildings, picking up a thin coating of ash, dulling the brilliant sheen of green dusted with gold as he slunk through the narrow streets, forked tongue flickering out to taste the air as amber irises scanned for anything still squirming in the dust. He soon found what he was seeking, a man struggling to get out from beneath a large piece of wood that had fallen across his legs. Pinned beneath the heavy weight, there was little he could do but cry out in fear and try and bring his hands up to shield himself as the serpent's jaws snapped forward to close around his midsection. A quick jerk of that long neck, and the man was freed, though some flesh was torn away in the process. Paying no heed to the screams of pain, or the buildings collapsing around him, the dragon settled in the street and dropped the feebly struggling human between his claws, nipping thin strips of flesh away at a time and lapping up what little blood escaped in the process with all the relish of a child with a sweet.

After the riders had burst through the outer wall of the forest they were on open plains. Here the breeze was stronger, the weather still chill from Winter's frigid spell. Even now there seemed to be no warm days in the coming week. Miles flew beneath the racing legs of the white steeds. Back in the forest an Elven messenger was already on his way to inform the Elven Lord of this disaster. Yet he feared he did not have answers to the questions the Lord would surely be seeking. Over the necks of horses they leaned, giving greater speed to the beasts, the light weight of the Fair Folk also an advantage compared to the weight that the chestnut mare behind them carried. (Not that Del is fat!) Off to the right a hill had formed, and towards the base of its slope the riders thundered. It was there that the group of three Elves split. Adaron and Loric to ascend the hill while the other Edhel suddenly veered his horse to the left with a whispered foreign word. He was to ride to Challerain Keep and enlighten an oblivious King. Now, as the twin steeds galloped up the rise the elves threw their weight towards the head of the steed in a rider's attempt to balance the animal out. The top was reached and the horses were called to a halt, their forelegs straightening, hooves digging into the dirt as the animals stopped on a dime. The mount below Adaron tossed its head anxiously while the other danced to the side. For now even their eyes could see the village before them, still some five miles off. Devastation lay before them. A third of the village had crumpled to ash. Another third yet burned. Screaming voices yet filled the air here and there, those trapped under fallen buildings, or in those that yet burned, their bodies consumed by the flame. Had they been Men, and perhaps their eyes blinded by their will to save these unfortunate souls, they might had raced towards the town. Yet keen their eye sight was, and they knew the dreadful and terrible foe that had caused the ruin of this sleepy village. Keen, their Elven eyes were, and with the massive Draedan yet still within the village, they could not enter to save those that desperately needed their aid.

Delwyn's mare made it up the hill a while after the other steeds had crested it. Shuddering breaths tore from the animal's throat as she tossed her head and then dropped it to sniff at the soil. Del herself was regretting not wearing anything under her tunic, which left her arms bare to the weather that was still wintry outside of Tel'Oira Eldamar. She too was out of breath and from the top of the hill, she could only see smoke rising in the distance, for her eyes were not made to pick out details so far away. Her stomach turned, how far had they ridden in such a short space of time? Her horse was going to get sick she feared, for there were still many miles to ride. She turned to look at Adaron, gauging his features with a look of worry upon her own countenance. "Mani naa ta?" she asked.


Once finished with his gruesome meal, having saved and savored at last the internal organs, the creature felt refreshed and revitalized, remaining where he was for a time to bask in the glow and warmth of the fires and enjoy the destruction he had wrought. Beautiful. Just beautiful. Had he been human, he would have sighed with the simple pleasure of it all. Sickle-curved claws were splayed before him, tongue idly scraping over his fore claws to clean off any blood or other such remains from his latest meal. Rather like a cat cleaning its paws, though no cat ever measured eighty feet from nose to tail-tip.

"A dragon." He stated in response to the female's question. "Come. We ride to the bottom of this hill. There we will leave the horses." As if even the steeds could understand the common tongue as well as any, they leapt forward, half sliding down the hill, the hooves causing ruts in their wake, half galloping. Adaron mind was whirling. A draedan....How long had it been? Over two thousand years since one had even been seen. And here one was, or just one so he thought and so close to Eldamar. Was it aware of the Elvenhome's existence? Would it strike their next? They had reached the dip between the two hills and he softly called his mount to a halt, dismounting in one and the same motion. Loric did likewise and stepped between the two horses, speaking quickly and softly to them, impressing the importance that they stay where they are and not to follow. There was no sense in drawing the attention of the terrible lizard with over three-thousand pounds of horse flesh. Without a look to the woman who had or had not followed the two Elves then turned and raced to quickly gain the rise of the mound.

Her stomach turned at the thought before she urged her mare down the hill. At the bottom she pulled the bit from her horse's mouth to encourage the beast to graze instead of follow them. She ran hard then to catch up with the elves, no, she was not made for this, especially since she'd given up that habit of eating more than she had to. There was no use in calling for them to wait, for she knew they would not, so she just pushed herself until she thought she would faint as she tried to get up that second slope.

Finally the rise of the hill was gained and crouching low the two Elves slowed to a halt. Now they were a mile closer then before when they had stood on the rise of the further hill. Clearer now did their eyes see. Still flames raged over buildings yet standing. They would not last long. At this time, with the dragon still within the small village there was no possible way for the small company to give help to the survivors...or...would be survivors. Loric did chance a small glance behind him to the woman who
struggled up the hill, but his attention was then drawn back to the draedan who now seemed to be entertained, if possible, with another. A man is appeared to Elven eyes.

It was several minutes before she ever caught up to the elves and then collapsed at the top of the hill where they crouched. Good God this had been a wretched, wretched idea. Her breathing was heavy and she honestly thought she would be sick, but her stomach never made a full enough turn for such. "Please tell me you don't intend to go any closer," she managed in between gasps of air.

Eyes narrowed to thin slivers in his angered state, he did not stop to survey and enjoy the wreckage or the bodies of the fallen littering his path. Nor did he think anything of the muted cries for help that dimly registered to his senses as he passed several buildings that had collapsed without totally crushing the inhabitants inside to death. His one goal for now was to take flight and find some place far from this village and settle for the night to brood over how to rid himself of the shadow of a threat the red would present to all his future plans for this particular land. Within minutes, he was soon beyond the last building, and crouched in readiness for flight. Just before tightened muscles could uncoil for him to spring into the air, the sight of movement on a hill not far beyond the village sharply drew his attention. More of the human warriors, regaining their courage for an assault perhaps? But no. While they had horses, the riders did not appear as stocky and ponderous as humans. All the better. He always did have a sweet tooth for Elven flesh.

There was no more sense in laying on the earth, trying to hide from the massive creature. He had seen them. Slowly Adaron’s palms went to the grass below him, pushing down, he gently rose to his feet. Loric too gained his feet, the young Elf’s eyes slowly widening for he foresaw that their end was near with such a sighting. As Adaron stood there, gazing back at the creature who he probably neared in age, he could not figure how they had gone wrong. The horses were at the bottom of the hill, mostly hidden. The wind
blew towards them...But dragons have 'special' skills all their own. Loric slowly took a step back. "He has seen us...." Adaron took a step back with him yet bent enough to get a firm grip on Delwyn’s arm, hauling her to her feet. As azures were fixed upon the dragon, in the distance the thudding of a horses' hooves reached sharp Elven ears. Behind them a white steed, much like the two that waited at the bottom of the hill for their Elven comrades. Loric, unable to take his eyes from the dragon, fear coursing through his veins, did not move. Adaron did turn at the sound of a silver call. On the far hill, was Inor, a messenger from Eldamar. A hand lifted from the far off Elf in greeting, seeing his kindred not far off.

Del was pulled to her feet with a slight shriek, holding to his arm for a moment. She could barely see the form of the dragon, and the messenger was just a spot on the horizon for her, but she knew just enough to be terribly afraid.

One stroke of those powerful wings, coupled with the momentum of using long hind legs to push off the ground soon carried the dragon up into the air, well above the treeline. He was gaining height, rather than eating up the ground distance on them, giving the elves time to mill or flee, whatever they chose to do. The hillside was open enough that they could not all hope to scatter out of the way in time. Much as he had before, once he had gained a sufficient altitude, wings were folded in to his sides and he nosed down in a dive like an acipiter hawk would, hind claws outstretched and fully spread to scoop up his chosen prey. The deadly dive was so quick, it seemed that in the blink of an eye he had dropped from about two hundred feet to ground level, wings snapping outward to brake his fall and struggling slightly with the added weight of his burden as the chosen prey was snatched off the soft turf, tail sweeping in an arc behind giving them all good reason to duck or jump out of the way as it sliced through bushes and trees. Inor's torso was pinned against the horse's back, his steed now thoroughly impaled by the long, curved claws digging into its sides. Blood ran in rivulets, raining down on the other party members as the dragon once again labored into the air carrying its next ill-fated meal with it. This time, he would return to his temporary lair, and remain there until he had chosen how to go about dealing with or around the presence of the red dragon. It complicated things, but like all else, would soon enough be dealt with.

At the sight of the dragon swooping in their direction Adaron’s hand found a firm clamp on the stiff body of Loric and shoved him to the left, the stricken Elf hitting the ground with an audible *thud*. An arm had been thrown about the waist of the edainme as he brought her before him and shoved her to the ground, him falling atop her in an attempt to shield her from the beasts murderous grasp. Low and behold! They were not its victim. Inor had been swept up, the young Elf crying out in pain and surprise. Upon hearing the scream from his kindred, Adaron’s gaze lifted, peering over his back. "Nume! Inor!!" He yelled, leaping to his feet. Within the blink of an eye an arrow was nocked to the Elven bow and sent whirling towards the dragon. Before the arrow was even to mid-flight another was loosed. And another. All in vain. Away the beast flew, and slowly did his arm go limp, the bow falling from nerveless fingers as the Elf dropped to his knees. Watching the massive lizard carry away his longtime friend. His head lolling back so its base rested upon his back, pain etching his features.

The wind had been knocked out of her lungs, but as she recovered she stood, her heart aching for Adaron as he watched his kindred get carried away by the dragon. Delwyn was helpless to ease his pain, she didn't even know where to start and she was terrified to touch him because Elven pain didn't seem to be the type soothed by the touch of another, so she stood silently at his side and finally rested her hand upon his shoulder against her better judgment. She wanted so desperately to offer him comfort but knew not the means.

Loric had finally risen to his feet, his head hanging. His fingers trailed over the tips of blades of grass until the wood of his bow was felt. Absently he picked it up, gripping it until his knuckles were white. Softly the clear melodic voice of Loric lifted, a soft song, in language of the Elves, gliding like liquid over his lips. It was an Elven Dirge. And as Adaron himself found feeling his in legs and started to rise, he joined in Loric’s song. As their song came to an end, behind them, a cry of heartbreak broke the silence. There were others that needed them now. A whistle called and soon both whites steeds were loping up the hill, a chestnut mare as well, for she would follow her species.

Oh her heart ached so for him. Tears stung her eyes as she listened to the elves raise their voices in song and she had to turn her back to make sure they did not fall. She just looked upon the smoke rising from the city, and once her mare was close enough, she mounted the chestnut creature and waited for the elves to do the same.

Hands light upon the white backs of the equines they easily leapt atop. "Even with the wind behind him, Talrin will not reach Challerain Keep until nightfall. Let us see if we are able to aid." And with that they started forward towards the burnt and broken homes of the village before them.

Del kicked into the side of her mare to urge her quickly towards the burning village faster than the elves for once for she was eager to save those that could be saved, but little did she know that there would be none left.

Those that had been gravely injured that might had possibly survived if the Elves had been able to help them when they first arrive. Yet the delaying of the dragon caused even their slow and painful deaths. Scattered families were returning now from the outlying countryside to find the burnt bodies of their loved ones, or no bodies at all and were forced to sit and wait in hopes for missing family members to show up from the countryside...that would never come. All those that had received minor injuries were able to treat them selves. So upon entering the small village, there was little that the Elves could do. Eyes that normally would have gazed up in wonder at the rare seen Fair Folk were too filled with pain and loss to notice the Eld Race.

Tears gathered in her eyes as she looked upon the broken bodies that littered the ground, some of the houses still collapsing. She knelt down beside the body of a dead child that was crushed beneath the weight of a large support beam from the house. His mother's body not far away. How could something like this happen?

The two Elves remained on their mounts. Softly Adaron spoke to Delwyn as she knelt. "We do not know what word was being sent from Eldamar. There is naught we can do here now..." Suddenly Loric slipped from the white steeds back and jogged over to a piece of torn cloth upon the ground. He picked it up, blowing ash from the material. Half turning, he glanced at Adaron before speaking softly. "High King Aurion’s emblem. The kinsmen that escorted the young Prince were yet here....Talrin knows naught this ill news. I shall ride behind him and inform the King." Adaron nodded his head once and with a bound Loric was mounted and turning his horse away from the village, the animal springing forward, eager to clears its nostrils of the stench of burnt flesh.

She drew in a shaky breath and wiped the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand before she stood and looked up to him. "We ride back to Eldamar?" she asked and then mounted her mare almost lifelessly. She was stricken, even the half gypsy had never been witness to so much death at one time, and her heart ached like nothing else for Adaron and his loss. The pain she had witnessed on his face, and the only thing she could think was that she would take all of his pain ten fold unto herself if she could stop him from hurting.

He nodded once to her as he turned his courser back towards the way the had came, moving him into an easy lope.

She nudged her horse to follow him, ignoring the fact that she felt like a popsicle at this point because of the way the wintry wind chilled her bare arms. The mare finally caught up to the white steed, settling into a simple lope alongside the other animal, there was only silence between them, and it weighed heavily on her mind.

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