Crystan: Dawn of War

As Chaos follows behind the others, he observes their interaction.

......How the hell am I going to get the Aelin council to l listen to me. I couldn't even get the council in my home city to listen half the time. Aging fools believe you need to be over a hundred to have anything smart to say. They won't look down on me once the upheavel begins.....

 

If Elryn had been Aelin he would have blushed. "I-I would rather her not be angry with me for a journey all the way to Sard. But other than that I don't care."

 

Aida looks at Chaos.
"Where are you from?" Aida asked, "What village?"
Aida stares deeply at Chaos, he doesn't seem as young as he put off. Aida doesn't like that. It makes him feel dummer then what he wants to feel. Would that make Aida, the dumb, naive, jealous, and selfish baby of the group? Aida groaned, why did these turn out this way?
Why didn't Hawk choose Bell for something like this? Why was it him?
He kept asking this question and he knew for a fact he wasn't going to get an answer.
"Do you know anyone famous?"

 

Turning towards Aida, Chaos says "I come from The City of Aegis. Its in the northern part of the Aelin kingdom, near the border with the Erissi. As for famous people, my dad is one of the lords of the city, so I know the other lords and the council members of Aegis. What about you? You seem young to be a priest." in his normal calm demeanor. He always seems so calm, and when he looks at someone, it seems like he's looking through them, rather than at them.

 

"Ah, greetings again Rani. It is my pleasure to be your traveling companion for this fine adventure we seemed to have gotten ourselves into."

He shifted his stance, and she nodded at him politely.

"Did you enjoy the free entertainment this morning?" I asked her with a smirk. "Caught me with my pants down, or off, if I do say so."

She let out a low chuckle, “Well, it certainly was entertaining. You’re definitely a talented man.”

She couldn’t help but feel that came out dirtier then she wanted, but she let it slide.

“How did you manage to catch the soldier?”

“As Hawk told you, my name’s Raymus. I’m bringing you to Maeril because Hawk is my closest friend, and I respect his judgments. If he says there’s going to be war, there’s going to be war. However, unlike Hawk, I hold no secrets or mysteries. I’m a soldier. And I will be as long as I can still hold this.” He motioned to the greatsword slung on his back.

“If we go to Maeril as individuals, this mission will fail. We have to go as a united team. We work together, everybody contributes, and maybe this thing has a chance of getting done. You have any questions, you can ask ‘em as we walk. It’s a long way to Maeril and I’d rather not be late.” He stepped forward, holding himself high.

She couldn’t help but feel the respect from him. He was definitely a great soldier, one she could only dream of becoming as strong. She took a few steps forward and went to his side. Her steps came out more in hops. She was antsy to get started.

“Then, shouldn’t we get going?”

 

"That's cool I guess," Aida said.
I hate this guy, he is a lord's son, Aida said, He's so calm I hate him even more.
"Oh well the village I come from its an old crummy thing, and the priest are just as old," Aida said.
Chew on that, I'm not suppose to talk about the seven prodigies home, which is located in an ancient ruin of our most and closest ancestors, Aida said.
Aida liked lying to this guy. It was fun, unlike lying to the other people this is actually something he wanted to do.
"But being a lord's son must have his upsides," Aida said sounding as impressed as he could.
I hate you, hate you, hate you, life is probably easy for you and not only that, but you get to make rules, Aida thought.

 

"I-I would rather her not be angry with me for a journey all the way to Sard. But other than that I don't care." Elryn responded.

That confirmed it in Hoden's mind, clearly the Solan had some sort of attraction to the Alarin. He didn't mention anything about it though. Preferring not to put his friend in an awkward position.

He didn't blame the Solan, Piesca was an attractive girl, but for now they should concentrate on getting to Sard.

 

"Not really. I spend most of my time alone reading in the library. It beats having to enteract with the sons of other politicians who love throwing their family names around to impress people." says Chaos.

.......If this guy wants to play a game of one upsmanship, he can do it on his one. I'm not here to try to impress people.......

 

"I'm sure it would be a lot more fun if you hung out with them," Aida said.
Or at least let go some of your pressure from being a loner, Aida thought, I can't shake how much I hate him.
"Did you have anyone around?" Aida said, "You know a friend."

 

"There is my tutor, and my books. That is all I needed for the time being. So, why did you decide to see join up with Hawk? I'm sure it must have taken a lot to get you away from your village." says Chaos.

.......This guy seems a little immature, but if I can get him to tell the truth, he won't be that bad of a traveling companion......

 

Elryn quickly changed the subject and asked Hoden "Do you have a girl back home?"

 

"Do you have a girl back home?" Elryn asked curiously.

The question sank into Hoden like a serrated blade, "No, not anymore." he replied, hoping that Elryn would not be too picky on the subject. Hoden looked at the ground while remembering his old memories of home back in Nyrissi.

"Did you?" he returned the inquiry.

 

"Did you?"

"Once, but that was before I..." He interrupted himself mid-sentence. "Nevermind."

 

Raymus

Rani fell into step next to Raymus, and he looked at her again. There was an eagerness in her step that surprised him, and a sort of playfulness in her manner that made him smile.

"What made you decide to answer Hawk's call?" He asked her.

 

Hoden's eyes narrowed as Elryn cut off his sentence. Ending it with, "Nevermind."

It appeared that they both shared a common ground in terms of a secretive past.

 

"What made you decide to answer Hawk's call?" He asked her.

Rani wasn’t sure how to answer at first. Why had she come? Why had she left simple happiness?

“Anything out of the ordinary tends to be exciting.” She said, “I was looking for something new. I’m not one that stays in the same place for long.”

She couldn’t help but look him over. He was older then her, and she couldn’t help but smile. He almost reminded her of the Tavern owner she’d worked for the past few years. He had that same stance, the stance only a soldier could own.

“What about you, what made you follow your friend?”

 

When Piesca made it to the front of the building, Hawk had gone to the charred trees, looking down as he stood with Hoden and Elryn. She had a few moments so she jogged back inside the tavern and asked the Bartender about crossbow bolts. He traded her more bolts for a tiger's eye gem and a little of the money she had with her.

Then she ran back to where a tall cat-man stood, a team member, and was waiting when Hawk walked toward her. The Hoden and the Solan followed not far behind him and she could see the wolf worrying at something on the ground.

She stowed the bolts, adjusted her pack and bow, and unplaited her hair, running her fingers through the long strands before carelessly tying it back in a long ponytail.

"Let's go." Hawk didn't waste words or time but simply began to walk and Piesca fell into step beside him.

 

I had blushed when she had asked me about how I had managed to capture the soldier. I now walked slightly behind the group, the small cuts I had recived had finally stopped bleeding. Finally after a bit of walking I shook off my momentary relapse from my normal cheerful self.

I caught up with Rani, and decided to enter the conversation. "So you're in this for the same reason I am?" I mentioned and looked over at the group leader, and waited for his awnser to the question.

 

Raymus

Raymus sighed. He could just say it was because Hawk had asked him to. It was true, but that wasn't the real reason. He told her the full truth.

"I come from Silara, a very proud nation. To be a soldier there is to be a hero, or it was. Now, though, our pride has caused us to think we are superior. Its not unlike the attitude that a lot of races have developed. Over the past ten years, Silara changed from being a nation of heroes to a nation of bullies. Any little thing our leaders can do to assert their dominance will happen." He paused, shaking his head.

"I couldn't stay a part of that anymore. I left, and went in search of Hawk, who was a much wiser man than I. Turned out he found me. He told me what was going on, asked me to help, and I accepted. I want to be on the right side of whatever comes...if there is a right side."

He turned back to her and gave her a smile.

"But, we'll have worries enough before too long! What did you do before coming here?"

 

She felt a greater respect for the man. He knew what he was doing, and she could tell the beauty inside him was great. He would be a great ally, and possibly a friend.

"But, we'll have worries enough before too long! What did you do before coming here?"

She laughed, and returned the smile, “I’m nothing great like you, or Sharp here.” She said pointing to her fellow comrade, “I was a barmaid for a few years. Before that, an acrobat, of a sort. Nothing worthwhile like you. It’s my dream to be able to fight like a proper soldier.”

 

Raymus

His grin widened. And he gave a bit of a chuckle.

"If all were soldiers, nothing would get done but parades and drills!" He looked at her.

"Don't be ashamed of what you are." A bit of a silence passed between them. Raymus felt it a little awkward having just uttered something bordering on the profound. He filled the silence again.

"But, if you want to learn to fight, I could teach you. In fact, I'll let you in on a secret." He leaned a little closer to her.

"I taught Hawk how to use a sword."

 

I stayed close behind the two, and let out a long sigh, as I looked over at my alternative comunications choise, he didn't look too chatty. I didn't really need someone to talk to, I'm good at finding things to entertain myself. I watched the scene as we passed. I enjoyed the views of new locations, the world always seemed to have some new suprise to show you if you just knew how to look. "How far of a walk is it again?" I asked even though I'm sure it had been put out before.

 

She let out a laugh and gave him a wide smile.

“I would like that very much.”

 

I laughed lightly to myself over hearing her getting another man to promise to teach her how to fight. I couldn't resist I got beside her and had to ask. "So, do you want to use an ax or a sword?" I asked, hoping she'd remember that she'd asked me to teach her how to use an ax. "Both have their strong points, I'm sure you'd agree, Raymus." I said and then sighed and admited. "Though I think a short sword might fit you best, give you better use of your flexibility and speed."

 

Raymus

Raymus laughed inside. Apparently, he had some competitions for the lady's attentions. It was okay, he decided. Sharp could have her if he wanted her. Raymus had nothing real to offer a woman anyway.

"Whatever weapon she feels is easiest to use is the one that's best for her! A handaxe, or something similar can be used just as swiftly as a short sword. Then again, she might take a liking to something more exotic! I'd have no clue how to swing a Mahri-crafted blade, and don't even get me started on fencing!" He laughed heartily.

"And to answer your question, Sharp, it'll be a day's walk until we reach a village called Saereth, where I've arranged for some horses for us. After that, it'll be another few days to Maeril."