Open Chronicles Alliria

[Dulthir]

Dulthir continued to puff his pipe. He nodded at Elliot's description of the Captain. Maybe this would be better than he originally thought. Ceri nudged him. He heard Karrazark grunt. Dulthir turned to check on his friend. He was keeping up just fine. Dulthir looked to Elliot.
"Well, sounds like he's a good man. But, time will tell."
He looked at the surroundings and noticed the Mage school. Mages. They could be helpful, but, for the most part, he didn't have much use for them. He preferred a good blade, mainly his axe. But, nonetheless, they could be helpful in a pinch. They continued on to the South Market, to meet this Captain Marghast.
Ceridwen Syvis Elliot Aldmar

 

[Elliot Aldmar]

Would you like me to remove my head off your sholder as we approach?

"You can keep it right where it's at, so far as it suits you," Elliot said as Badger trotted down the progressively busier and noisier street. "I'm not concerned with seeming any particular kind of way to anyone."

Not that his fellow mercs would care. Even if they did, that was their problem. If they wanted to make it Elliot or Syvis's problem too, he'd deal with them. But Elliot was a man without pretense. Some of his fellows thought his prowess in battle good, his attitude to be aspired to, but his view on coin foolish and his reflections and meditations ridiculous. But they would not get one part without the others. Elliot carved out no piece of himself for the tacit approval of any man.

Ceridwen had nudged them. Made an avian noise. And Elliot glanced over and while Dulthir replied.

A good man. Good to his men and women of the company, that was accurate. The adjective perhaps crumbled and fell away in other applications. Depending on the contract, they might see.

And the four rode on.

* * * * *​

The street eventually spilled into a large, open city plaza, wherein a veritable maze of vendor stalls and currents of people, flowing like rivers, went this way and that. Hawkers called out their wares to attract potential coin and the crowds were dense here and thin there and in one instance receded like a retreating wave from a beach as an oddly placed funeral procession was making its way through. Elsewhere there was laughing, magicians putting on small displays of magic for the mundane of Alliria and musicians playing the violin or the harp or the flute and entertaining small gatherings and sometimes receiving tips in copper or silver. One man, a clearly skilled artist, was painting rapid and stunningly realistic portraits of people who sat smiling on a stool. And of those people, not just those who sat for portraits but of those throughout the plaza altogether, there were races of all kinds, a highlight of Alliria's cosmopolitan nature. Men and women of common and uncommon peoples alike could be witnessed, close perhaps to a thorough census of Arethil as a whole.

This was the South Market.

And though Badger was literally shoulder-to-leg while trotting through most of it, given the general swell of the near-noon crowds, Elliot knew where to go. The quiet corner.

Elliot led the way through the busy Market and to a corner of the plaza at the far end, this corner formed from two tall buildings that were tenements both. Shrinking shade could be found here from those tenements, as well as some of the early arrivals of the Free Company on their horses. Onager and Perc were among them. The people of the Market gave a silent and wide berth to the mercenaries at this corner of the plaza, as if they all understood on some unspoken level not to get too close.

Elliot rode Badger up to the circle of mercenaries, next to Onager and Perc. Not everyone was here yet, including Captain Marghast, but it was still a bit shy of noon.

"Elliot," said the dwarf.

"Onager."

He eyed Syvis and the other dwarf, who was riding an actual fucking griffin, figure that. "Some new Free Companiers gonna join us today?"

Elliot shifted in the saddle slightly. Got a bit more comfortable for the wait while making an effort not to unduly disturb Syvis. Said, "Depends."

Onager, simply unable to resist, tipped his head toward Dulthir and had to say it, "Nice axe."

Dulthir Syvis Ceridwen

 

[Dulthir]

Dulthir eyed the mercs, carefully. They seemed ok, some were playing dice, others standing around and shooting the shit. Some, not many, but, some, eyed Ceri in a way that Dulthir thought may have to be addressed. But, he'd wait until it absolutely needed to be addressed. The dwarf from the tavern,, the one Elliot called Onager complimented his axe. He nodded toward Onager.
"Thank ye. I made it meself. I was 15. Twas my final test before I was able to become a Master Smith."
Dulthir watched the dwarf, carefully. He didn't offer to let the man hold it. His father told him when he was a wee lad, "Never give up yer weapon willingly. Ye never know who exactly yer giving it ta..."
So, hopefully, he wouldn't ask. Could get uncomfortable, quick.
"So, where's this Cap'n Marghast?"
He looked to Elliot.
Ceridwen Syvis Elliot Aldmar

 

[Syvis]

Syvis cocked an eyebrow at the other dwarf. She had yet to move her head, she was comfortable and the sun was shining on her face, she was warm. Elliot had adjusted a tad, likely gaining comfort himself so she moved her head to look at his side profile slightly before saying lowly "I am not uncomfortable for you am I?" she asked him legitimately concerned for his comfort and well being.

Watching the interaction between the two dwarves was humorous to Syvis, they spoke nice yet they were awkward, like their interaction was making them uncomfortable. She reckoned she herself would be frightened if another elf came riding into the market on a griffin, Ceri and Dulthir made nothing short of a grand entrance.

Syvis' eyes darted around as she assessed the market and its people. Too many fools had their coin for show, it'd be easy to steal from many as they gawked at Ceri, yet Syvis wasn't in need of more coin...yet. Perhaps if she wasn't with the group she might have. Still looking she watched a little boy attempt to sneak up on the girl in her griffin form for a pat. A brave little boy she mused to herself, he might grow up to be an adventurer of great proportions. She watched the little boy lowly chuckling to herself, "I reckon if you asked her nicely she'd give you the attention you're not so slyly seeking young man." Her voice was sweet with a scolding undertone.

 

[Ceridwen]

Emerald eyes, dark against the bright white of her feathers looked around in awe, so many people in such a small area it was a bit distracting. She eyed Elliot Aldmar a little as he was the one who would have to introduce her and Dulth to the group. She turned her head to the other dwarf as he and Dulthir chatted, Ceri only sort of listening as she continued to look around. Her tail lashed from side to side slowly, like that of an annoyed cat, though she herself was not exactly annoyed, more, overwhelmed. She puffed up the feathers adorning her head and neck as people ogled at her and her beak parted slightly as she panted, her sharply angled ears twisting this way and that as she continued to look around.

She noticed the boy coming up behind her, through the corner of her eye, then Syvis spoke, calling the little boy out "I reckon if you asked her nicely she'd give you the attention you're not so slyly seeking young man." she chuckled deep in her breast as she sidestepped slightly, paws making no sound on the ground beneath, claws sheathed. Her flank bumped the kid slightly, giving him more than a touch but not enough to knock him over, flicking her tail to whip him lightly in the face before turning her head nearly 180° to look back at him with a chortle.

"Sanks" she said softly as she moved to nudge Syv lightly, bumping Badger slightly with her shoulder. People had moved to give them a larger space and she took the opportunity to stretch her long wings slightly to the amazed ohhhhs and ahhhhs of the crowd as they waited.

 

[Elliot Aldmar]

Final test before he became a Master Smith. Onager glanced back to Perc and shared a look with him. Smirks each. They'd heard boasting before but nothing quite like that.

Elliot meanwhile answered Syvis. Looked at her as she looked at him. "No, you're not." Far from it. So happened that she was presently the most comfortable part about riding in the saddle. He let the reins sit on Badger's neck and rested his hands on the horn of the saddle, arms still about Syvis's waist, and he took silent appreciation of the moment. He didn't pay much mind to the curious boy and his doings with Ceridwen.

Perc, the quiet one funnily enough, spoke up when Ceridwen--just a griffin so far as he and Onager knew--said something. His tone was mostly flat, but with a small crest of surprise, "Holy shit, that thing can talk."

Then, not long after, Captain Marghast showed and rode into the circle of mounted mercenaries, as if summoned by Dulthir's question. Elliot nevertheless gave a swing of his eyes in response to the dwarf, indicating the tall man in the center of the loose formation. And he was tall, like a full grown orc in size, and surely great reams of cloth and linen were needed for his tabard and gambeson and sizeable stores of metal for his chainmail. He wore a wide-brimmed hat, his beard was groomed neatly and to a fine point at his chin, and the white teeth behind his amicable grin were immaculate.

"Gentlemen," Marghast called out to those gathered. His horse turned round slightly and he gave it a few pats on the neck and it stopped and idled. "Pardon my tardiness, but we do indeed have a contract today. I've finished speaking with Lord June, with whom we are already acquainted, and it seems there's trouble in the June family. If you can believe it."

A round of chuckles and laughter from the Free Companiers. Elliot didn't laugh. His face was stoic, almost grim.

Marghast continued, "In the small hours of the morning, after the mid of night and before the dawn was even close, Alexia June, Peter's most ungrateful daughter, saw fit to stab him as he was preparing to sleep. She thought him dead, and I say to you, gentlemen, that he almost did die, if not for the intervention of a physician earlier this morning. Alexia and several of the House guards, loyal as it would seem more to Alexia's late mother and Peter's late wife than the man himself, took it upon themselves to empty some of the coffers and to set out once again. West, this time. Maybe Liadain will be more generous for their fortunes than Epressa, I imagine was their thoughts of the matter."

Marghast swiveled his head about and looked at each of the mercenaries personally, Dulthir and Ceridwen and Syvis--new faces--included. He continued, "Suffice it to say that Lord June is righteously furious this time. The Free Company's contract is, and I shall quote our friend Peter, to 'bring that fucking girl's head back on a pike.' Our payout, conveniently, is with our target. Lord June has cast his blessing on the Free Company commandeering all of the stolen wealth carried now by Alexia and her rebellious guardsmen retinue."

A question raised. From Yuni, the dark-skinned, sole female (or perhaps once sole female) of the company. "How do we even know that there really is wealth being carried by them?"

Marghast answered in stride. "Firstly, because I trust Peter--he was fair in our last contract and I believe he is fair now. Secondly, because I've seen those coffers and those coffers are empty. Now, even if those coffers held a scant fortune each, we're establishing a certain rapport among the nobility of Alliria and that pays in what seasoned merchants call dividends. Successful contracts beget more contract opportunities which begets more coin than you'll know what to do with."

In closing, Marghast announced, "Gentlemen! We're going to be riding hard, nonstop, through the day and night to catch up to Alexia. I do hope you all have slept well. So take ten minutes. Piss, shit, final purchases, but we're moving out in ten."

As some of the Free Company, duly dismissed and setting out to do one of those three things or perhaps some unspoken fourth option wandered off and a few conferred closely with Marghast, Elliot cast glances to his newfound fellows. To Dulthir. To Ceridwen. To Syvis. His face was a stone but his eyes made his thoughts clear.

He did not like what he had heard.

Dulthir Ceridwen Syvis

 

[Syvis]

Syvis couldn’t help but let out a snicker at everyone’s reactions Ceri. She felt a feathered head boop coming her way so she gave Ceri’s head a little pat. Despite her having the upper half of an eagle the griffin really was like a giant cat. Ceri thanked her and Syvis gave a little nod, “No worries, I’ve your back.”

Syvis had practiced years of looking like she didn’t care about the things she heard, yet when the captain had quoted Peter June her eyes flashed a look of distain and disgust. It wasn’t long ago she was running from her own father, and her sympathies laid with Alexia. She hadn’t noticed until after the fact that she had shrunken in closer to Elliot. She had composed herself mostly, nothing but her eyes had changed but she wasn’t sure if she wished to do this. Yet she’d already put herself here, a job is a job.


“Are you okay with me riding with you, ten minutes is more then enough time for me to steal a horse from the market.” Syvis asked Elliot still curled up beside him. Truthfully she felt a little sick to her stomach. She exhaled through her nose and shoved everything down into that deep dark tiny box where she kept everything she didn’t wish to acknowledge, yet she feared her dreams would be plagued by thoughts she never wished to think again.

Now it was time for Syvis to do what most of her people did before a long journey, bulk up on proteins so in the event she shan’t be able to eat she wouldn’t starve. She sat up a tad and gave Elliot a tap so she might get off Badger. Her coin wasn’t lacking so she planned to buy a fair amount of dried meats. Perhaps she’d share them on the journey perhaps not it really was to be determined.

 

[Dulthir]

Marghast quoted Lord June.
"Bring that fucking girl's head back on a pike..."
Dulthir had no problems taking a life that deserved to be taken. The gods only knew how many his axe had taken in the past decade. But, he would not be party to slaying an innocent girl for her abusive piece of shit father, who, by Marghast's comments, had her mother killed. Dulthir looked to Elliot, and saw that the elf was not fond of this plan either. He lowered his voice, so, hopefully only Elliot, Syvis, and Ceri could hear him.
"Lad, I've no problem taking lives that need taking, but, I'll not be party to this. I dunna murder innocent people. And, judging by yer face, yer not keen on this either. So, I believe I can speak for Ceri, as well as meself, when I say we'll respectfully decline joining yer band of mercs. Question is, are the two of ye staying for this, or coming with us?"
He leaned back, and stroked Ceri's feathers on her head. He would not expose her to this... cowardice. In fact, he was already working on a plan to help the girl. He wasn't saying anything till he knew if the elves were with them or not.
Ceridwen Syvis Elliot Aldmar

 

[Ceridwen]

The captain appeared at the same time as Dulthir was asking where he was. He was a large beast of a man, her eyes watched him closely. He unnerved her slightly and as his eyes locked on hers for only a few moments before moving on, her stomach twisted and she backstepped a little nervously.

Ceri tilted her head, her ears laying back slightly as she listened to the captain man. She turned her head towards Elliot and Syvis quietly, it didn't seem Elliot was to happy about their job either. She turned her head towards Dulthir but said nothing. He spoke though

"Lad, I've no problem taking lives that need taking, but, I'll not be party to this. I dunna murder innocent people. And, judging by yer face, yer not keen on this either. So, I believe I can speak for Ceri, as well as meself, when I say we'll respectfully decline joining yer band of mercs. Question is, are the two of ye staying for this, or coming with us?"

She was fine with Dulthir's choice, she'd stick with him, whatever his choice maybe, he was a good guy and she trusted him. She turned her emerald eyes back to the elves quietly, unsure what they intended on doing. She hoped they all would go together wherever, but she was truly unsure. Her playfulness had now become a notable nervousness as she looked around quietly.
Elliot Aldmar
Syvis
Dulthir

 

[Elliot Aldmar]

Are you okay with me riding with you...?

"I'm alright with it," Elliot said. He didn't bother to keep his voice down for this. Spoke casually. Just a conversation between two mercs, and nothing more. But he had felt Syvis shrink in a touch closer to him when Captain Marghast was outlining the contract. She didn't like it. He didn't like it. And he didn't intend to go through with it.

Neither did Dulthir, and that was good. Ceridwen was as quiet as a pensive, feral griffin, but she'd likely be of the same mind as the dwarf. Elliot turned Badger around and closer alongside Ceridwen and Dulthir to confer with them. Purposefully casual in his demeanor, again. Just Free Companiers talking among themselves, for any inquisitive eyes that might stray their way. Just talking. Nothing more.

"Neither am I going to be party to it," Elliot said, matching the lowered tone of Dulthir this time. "And it seems I've got business left undone with Alexia."

He glanced over his shoulder. Back toward Captain Marghast, who was clearly in a genial and undisturbed mood and who speaking with a few of the men. Then he returned his attention back to Dulthir and Ceridwen and Syvis.

"I'm the one who gave her that dagger," he said. If he hadn't, then he would've had no issue with accepting the contract to bring her head back. In that regard he did part with Dulthir--matters of innocence or its opposite did not deter him. But the giving of the dagger had bought him into Alexia's struggle. She had her chance and she took it and while that was admirable she had failed, and now she was again on the run for her freedom. Elliot had to see this through. For Alexia herself he had not a care. It was adhering to principle that concerned him.

"We've got a ten minute headstart." Elliot took hold of Badger's reins and gave them a light snap and she started at a trot. "Once we're out of sight and out of the Market, we're moving fast as we can."

No sense in alerting Marghast and the others by bolting off right now. Just taking leave, so it would seem, for one reason or another.

Dulthir Syvis Ceridwen

 

[Syvis]

"Praise the gods above." Syvis told the group, she really hadn't wanted to kill the poor girl. She sat up more now, still sure to keep her body language the same. She didn't know this group, and she didn't know if they could read people, and Syvis tried very hard on the daily to be unreadable and unpredictable but sometimes it didn't always work.

Elliot had given Alexia the dagger, peculiar. It came to seem to Syvis that Elliot didn't care for the girl, more for righting his actions, but she didn't know the history of his actions nor the nature, these were just mere assumptions. Her ears remained alert for any sort of strange sounds or conversation whilst maintaining concentration on Elliot and Dulthir outlying a plan, perks of her career choice were wonderfully trained ears; a skill she found to be more and more of use.

Syvis made sure to be out of Elliots way as he grabbed the reins again, he had previously stated that Badger was his longest living steed, which must mean the mare possess some speed. An important thing to take note of.

So far no one seemed to deem the group of four suspect, or if they did they were better than Syvis at concealing it. She put a hand overtop one Elliots arms, she wasn't any good with eloquently placing her words of thanks, yet she hoped her body language would display her gratitude of being removed from such a situation.

Her head lifted from his shoulder as they grew further from the group, she didn't wish to bash her head off of him once they hit a faster pace.

 

[Dulthir]

Dulthir nodded. Whatever his reasons, he and Elliot were on the same page. He leaned down to Ceri.
"Nice and easy. Follow Elliot's lead."
No sense in getting the mercs riled up. He kept an eye on Marghast, making sure he didn't ssuspect anything..
Ceridwen Syvis Elliot Aldmar

 

[Ceridwen]

Ceri chortled slightly and followed Badger quietly keeping the gentle pace with the steed easily as they left, unhurriedly. She was grateful they were not going with this group, just rubbed her the wrong way, likely only because it apparently rubbed her companions the wrong way. She trotted a step behind Badger until they were out of the area enough that when she looked back, she could barely get much glimpse of the group any longer.

“Hold on” She said as she opened her massive wings as they sped up. She tilted her wings and slammed them downwards, which in turn lifted her and Dulthir upwards. She would be able to see and make sure they were not noticed, from the air. With a few more downwards thrusts of her wings she was roughly 10 feet in the air, unused to flying with someone on her back she had to adjust her wing strokes accordingly but it did not take much adjustment and mostly it came naturally. She followed closely behind the elves, keeping herself and Dulthir off the ground. She stopped and turned backwards, hovering for a few moments as she looked back the way they came cautiously before turning and catching up once again to the elves.

Dulthir
Elliot Aldmar
Syvis

 

[Elliot Aldmar]

A slow trot. Weaving away from the remnants of the Free Company in the quiet corner of the Market. The defilade of the tenements slowly coming to conceal the mercenaries from view and in turn conceal the four of them from theirs. Once they cleared the crowded Market, there would be much more open space to break into a gallop. Elliot couldn't push Badger forever at that pace, but now was the critical time. To get far enough ahead of the Free Company such that they would not be observed.

Syvis grabbed Elliot's arm. No. Rather, laid a hand atop it. He took notice of the character of the gesture. What it likely meant. And he'd a moment to ponder how Syvis would regard knowing him, the things he did, the man he was. Her, and Dulthir and Ceridwen also. He had given Alexia the dagger but he had also helped bring her back to her father, and in this latter part he had no qualms nor regrets. He committed to an action, and saw it through. He was not like Dulthir. The word "murder" held no weight to Elliot, and innocence was no shield against killing someone if he set himself to the task. Only this time, the task he had set himself to was helping Alexia find her freedom, and this simply precluded the accepting of the contract presented by Captain Marghast. If it came to it, he would kill the men who were ostensibly his friends: Onager, Perc, a couple others.

Perhaps this would all come out later down the road. Alexia wouldn't be silent on it, and that was okay, she and everyone on Arethil had the freedom to speak their mind. Elliot would handle it when the time came.

The crowds were thinning. The plaza behind them. Almost time to gallop to the gates.

"We're going to need a means of tracking her," Elliot said. Mostly to Syvis. He didn't want to risk yelling so the airborne Ceridwen and Dulthir could hear, but if they did hear, that was good.

The western route from Alliria was fairly narrow for a long stretch, before it opened up into Falwood to the southwest, the Savannah due west, and the coast of the strait northwest. Alexia would likely (hopefully, perhaps) leave a trail of potential witnesses who had seen her and her retinue pass through, or seen her if she stopped in one of the towns along the western roads. This was Elliot's default solution, the old and the reliable.

Syvis Dulthir Ceridwen

 

[Dulthir]

As Ceri took flight, Dulthir tensed slightly. Dwarves weren't meant to fly. He held on tight. He looked down, and Karrazark was keeping pace with them. He was an Iffrean Muc, a war pig. They weren't normal pigs, they were actually quite fast, and very nimble. Something most took for granted. They were low enough for Dulthir to catch Elliot's conversation with Syvis. He leaned in to Ceri.
"A little lower love. Need to talk to Elliot for just a moment."
As she descended slightly, she came up next to Elliot and Syvis. He looked to Elliot.
"If we could get somethin' that belongs to tha lass, Karrazark can track her. He's the best tracker in all the lands. All he needs is a scent."
He left it at that. Elliot said he had given Alexia the dagger, which meant he was involved with the death of her mother, if not the one who killed her. But, that was the past. The only thing that mattered was saving Alexia. Hopefully Elliot had something of hers, but, if he didn't, they could possibly find something along the way.
Ceridwen Syvis Elliot Aldmar

 

[Syvis]

Syvis was a trained tracker, for deer and other wild game but she had never tracked a human before. Dulthir had already offered up the cute little piggies services up regardless. She figured the war swine wasn’t so little but she still found him cute despite the fact.

She removed her hand, wrapping both of them on the horn of the saddle, absorbing the bounces of the gallop with her legs. Syvis made sure to move her head out of Elliots way so her hair didn’t whip him in the face. The wind caught her in the face and she smiled before laughing. Sure they were on the run but Syvis was having fun, the enjoyment of freedom one only got from being atop a moving horse.

She thought back to the contract, the sad part is no matter where her heart laid she would have done it. Syvis had done worse, far worse, yet she’d have forever pitied the poor girls soul. Such is the way of the wind.

 

[Ceridwen]

Ceri flew lower to the ground per Dulthir's request, then decided it would be easier to just run so she landed while he spoke to Elliot. She turned her head occasionally to look behind them but no one was following them that she could see. She remained silent for their journey, letting the men make the decisions, she really didn't care too much about what they planned on doing, she would be loyal to her friends and whatever they decided needed to be done.

She too could scent for a long ways away, being that she was a hunter as well, her sense of smell was substantially greater than that of anyone else in their part, except maybe the swine and the horse, though hers was probably better than the horses since it was not a hunter. As they continued she nuzzled Syvis' leg, hitting Elliot's also slightly. She left her wing's partially open, keeping Dulthir safe from the sides, but also giving him a little more stability on her back. Her lean muscles rippled beneath her pelt as they moved, clenching tightly beneath the dwarf as she was unsaddled, her tail lashing from side to side idly.

She didn't understand what they were going after. She understood they were looking for a woman that attempted to kill her father, but from what she gathered, they werent going after her to punish her, instead they were going after her for another reason. Human-esk issues were too complicted for her bird brain, the fact that she was travelling with 2 elves and a dwarf didn't make the issues any less complicated, it seemed.
Dulthir
Elliot Aldmar
Syvis

 

[Elliot Aldmar]

Ceridwen came back down to the ground, and Dulthir had caught what he had said. Even had a viable solution. Good. That was efficient. And with a scant ten minutes of time ahead of the Free Company, they would need every second.

That stated, the street they were on had thinned of pedestrians, now that the Market crowd was thoroughly behind them. It was also a wide avenue, and Elliot knew that it would eventually lead to the western gate of Alliria and put them on the soil of Liadain. So now was the time to gallop until Badger slowed from exhaustion back into a trot. Elliot drove his heels into Badger's sides and the mare needed no more cue than that to finally break loose into full speed. Syvis, living the truth beneath her earlier joke, held on and leaned forward and kept her hair from flying into his face. Even laughed a cheerful laugh. A sound of pure enjoyment. And it, Elliot found, was a welcome smoothing out of the tension of their situation.

People in the street got the idea quickly. Move, or get trampled. One would be foolish indeed to try a horse or a griffin running at a healthy gallop.

Elliot considered what Dulthir had said. Something that belonged to her. It was unfortunate that he had no such thing. There was his glove, but he had washed it rather thoroughly yesterday. But...there was his other glove. His left. He had held Alexia's arm with it, gripped her head, her hair. Sweat, skin oils, small strands of said hair, something could still be lingering on his left glove, perhaps not too faded to be rendered useless.

Elliot took off his left glove. Reached across the small gap between Badger and Ceridwen to hand it to Dulthir, his arm bouncing in tandem with the galloping horse. "Try this. See if Karrazark can get a scent off of it."

(An Allirian Guardsmen, as Badger and Ceridwen went rushing by, shouted to them as they passed "Slow the hell down!")

And Elliot looked to Ceridwen. Caught her gaze. "Ceridwen. We could use some eyes in the sky when we start getting close. But don't fly too high and tip off the Free Company. You'll have to use your judgment on that."

Grabbing hold of the reins, arms about Syvis's as needed to do so, Elliot settled back into the saddle for the galloping exit from the city. His own hair whipped back from the wind of their speed. He leaned forward some, close to Syvis's ear such that he wouldn't need to raise his voice so much over said wind.

"Syvis. Alexia will not be thrilled to see me. Neither will her guards. I don't know what they will be armed with." Bows. Crossbows. Magic, maybe. But there would inevitably be a tense moment when they were getting close when they would not be able to make their intentions known to Alexia and her retinue. It was uncertain how it all would go down. "Just know that."

He'd do what he could to avoid either of them catching a bolt or an arrow or what else, but still, riding with him would come with a certain amount of danger.

Ceridwen Syvis Dulthir

 

[Syvis]

Ceri was nuzzling her whilst she was on the ground causing Syvis to give her playful little nudges with her leg, the elf had grown quite fond of the griffin. Gods above help whoever hurt her, for they'd have the might of a VERY pissed off elf thrown upon them.

Syvis heard his words and nodded. "Relax, I've seen more peril." She responded. It was complicated to tell if he was nervous or not yet he seemed calm, she also wasn't sure if his statement meant more than a mere statement but she took it as he said it before adding, "I am trained as well as any murderer's son." it was true, her father trained her to be a weapon, more vigorously than most male elves got it in her city. "Who am I allowed to kill?" she asked him finally. Syvis hadn't a clue what rules Elliot wished to place upon her actions.

 

[Dulthir]

Dulthir took the glove. He looked to Elliot.
"I'll get ye another pair later. "
He didn't wait for response from Elliot. He looked down to Karrazark.
"Karrazark!!! Find her."
The leather glove had se weight to it. He flung it towards Karrazark. Karrazark didn't miss a stride. He caught the glove in his mouth. It folded up to his nostrils with the wind. Karrazark snorted it, then swallowed it. Dulthir looked at Elliot and shrugged. Karrazark quickened his pace,, actually getting ahead of Badger and Ceri. Dulthir leaned down to Ceri.
"Alright, love. Take flight. He'll find her."
Ceridwen Syvis Elliot Aldmar

 

[Ceridwen]

"Ceridwen. We could use some eyes in the sky when we start getting close. But don't fly too high and tip off the Free Company. You'll have to use your judgment on that." Ceri nodded at Elliot softly at his words. She turned her head to Dulthir "When we get close, maybe ride Karrazark? I'll be able to move around a little bit better... should we need it."

Ceri watched Karrazark quietly, raising a feathered brow as he gobbled up the glove. She chortled, that wasn't how this worked, as far as she knew anyway. She lifted her wings and slammed down against the ground, lifting herself and Dulthir into the air again. She kept about 15 feet from the ground, following with long strides of her wings, closely.

She took a moment too look around, no one was within her eyesight so she took the opportunity to tilt upwards, with long strong strokes of her wings lifting herself skyward. "Hold on" She yelled to him as they neared 40 feet up. She hovered for a few moments, letting him gather his bearings, her flank hanging loosely. Once he gave his ok she tilted, slamming her wings against her body and careening downwards quickly, her wings opening when they got within 15 feet or so again, evening them out with the ground, gaining with their group quickly once again.

She hoped they’d catch up the their intended quickly so they could have fun once again.
Dulthir
Syvis
Elliot Aldmar

 

[Elliot Aldmar]

So that's what Dulthir meant by getting him another pair. Elliot squinted one eye, expecting the odd pig to eat his glove whole about as much as he expected Syvis to go stepping over him to leave a booth or for Ceridwen to leave the inn as a human and come back in as a griffin. Surprises abound, as the saying went.

But it seemed to work. Karrazark took the lead--certainly fast for a pig--with the vigor of a newfound purpose. Though what was available to them was also available to the Free Company. Captain Marghast might have invest in some hounds before the Company departed, he might not. Maybe he had inside information on where it was that Alexia would, or would probably, be going. But he would have his own way of tracking her.

Syvis was clear on the danger. Comfortable with it. No small fact, that she had--as she herself testified--been trained as a weapon her whole life. As well as any murderer's son, the recent addendum to this testimony. Her nerves would be steeled, and her head cool, if and when they got into it. No typical thief, Syvis.

Who am I allowed to kill?

"Anyone but Alexia. Your discretion."

Perhaps Alexia was more than mere acquaintances with the guards. Friends, or perhaps good friends. Might well have known one or two of them all sixteen years of her life. But the situation would dictate. It was almost guaranteed to be fast, fluid, and brimming with potential violence ready to be realized. Though she and her retinue thought Peter June to be dead, they would likely be on a heightened alert anyway, at least until hundreds and hundreds of miles separated them from Alliria. Maybe Syvis and Dulthir and Elliot and Ceridwen would have to kill some of them. Maybe none. Depended. But that was a bridge to be crossed later. As it stood now, that figurative bridge needed to be caught up to.

Out through the western gate of Alliria they rode, with Alexia distant and unseen to their front and the Free Company, not so distant but as yet unseen, to their rear.

* * * * *​

The day waned on from noon, and the sun descended and with that descent came the blue of the sky leaking away and leaving an orangish red for the evening. Badger was at a trot, having galloped off and on for much of the journey thus far, that bristling energy given away to a tired but steady pace. Ceridwen had checked from the air but there was not yet any sign. Unlikely this early in the pursuit, lest Alexia truly thought her troubles over with the "death" of the her father and that the Allirian Guards wouldn't spare even a cursory search within the immediate vicinity of the city. Karrazark kept up the lead, trotting along at the front, locked on to the scent. The pig hadn't deviated much--or at all, truthfully--from the road. Alexia and her retinue, then, probably had not stopped to rest.

Land-based traders bound to Alliria from elsewhere passed them on occasion. Some offered friendly greetings. Elliot said nothing, offered only the seldom courtesy nod of acknowledgement to some of these carts and wagons going by.

Much of the land to the immediate west of Alliria was cleared for fields and farms, but here in the darkening hour of day they had trees on either side of the dirt road and brilliant shafts of sunlight poking through the trunks directly to their front. Toward the setting sun they rode, and with particular bends in the road this radiance, low on the horizon, shone directly into their eyes and with other bends there was merciful shade or obscuration but soon enough the horizon did claim the greater portion of the sun and their eyes need not suffer its glare any longer. From the north, where the waters of the Strait lay beyond the fields and the trees, a front of clouds was coming their way.

"We're going to ride through the night," Elliot said in announcement. That was the intention of the Free Company, and they had to match or exceed it. "We'll stop once. Enough for both Badger and Karrazark to drink and graze. It'll be short."

Maybe they would catch up to Alexia before the night's end, but it was more likely to be at dawn, or noon-ish of the following day. If Elliot's reckoning panned out, that was, and Alexia's flight wasn't as swift as their pursuing pace.

Syvis Ceridwen Dulthir

 

[Syvis]

So she was allowed to kill anyone but the girl, Syvis didn't take joy in killing yet it was important for someone in her line of life to be well aware of who was off limits. She preferred to maim and debilitate over murder, at least than everyone escaped with their lives. Yet what did these guards expect? Running with Lord June's daughter after an attempted murder, their loyalty was commendable nonetheless, yet foolishly placed. The girl appeared to be foolish as well, any smart person would know should a young girl cut and disguise her hair she'd be far more untraceable, rather then trailing a whole posse of men behind her just so they might take the blow that is meant for her. In the end Syvis predicted much blood shall be shed.

Elliot told the group they'd ride through the night, so she stated to him "You know far more of what we're to face, if you wish to enter reverie or sleep I can take control of Badger." Syvis had yet to look at him, keeping her eyes and face forward as they continued on at a fair pace. Her hand had left the saddle horn a while back to give the mare some pats of affection and motivation.

The mare's mane had come mostly undone from Syvis braids such as Elliot had predicted yet some remained. She whispered lowly to the horse, "I'll have to re-do them later, yeah." it wasn't as if she minded Elliot hearing her speak such a way to the steed but she didn't wish to exclaim her soft spot for the mare aloud. It was to protect her heart should anything happen to Badger, Syvis didn't care for many yet horses had a fond place in her heart due to all the work they put in for little to no reward.

 

[Dulthir]

Karrazark was determined. He had the scent. Ceri suggested riding Karrazark when they seemed closer. He nodded in response. He Karrazark closely. For now, he was the only family he had left. But, Karrazark was no slouch. He'd saved Dulthir's ass more than a time or two. Elliot said they'd ride thru the night,, only stopping for a brief moment for Badger and Karrazark to drink and eat. He looked to Elliot.
"Aye lad. We dwarves can go all night, and them some, if need be."
He chuckled and ran his fingers thru Ceri's feathers. He knew that Elliot was a man of his word. He had a code, tho Dulthir didn't know exactly what that code was, for the most part it seemed honorable. Getting to the girl and protecting her was all that mattered right now. But, keeping Ceri safe had become a top priority to him. He had no doubt he could do both. Maybe it was arrogance, but, he would do both.
Ceridwen Syvis Elliot Aldmar

 

[Ceridwen]

All day and night? Ceri chortled slightly at the thought, but she would do what she needed to. She too would need to drink, and eat something to keep up this pace as she was more or less one of the animals for this trip. This was not a notion that bothered her in the slightest. She had multiple forms for their functions... using them did not bother her. She cooood lightly as Dulthir rubbed his hand through her feathers and her eyes fell closed for a moment as she flew.

As night began creeping in she looked for something to eat... a rat, rabbit, something. She saw nothing, no doubt those travelling before them scared everything off. She landed and opted to run for awhile with the company, giving her wings a break. Her beak was open, allowing her to pant slightly, her sides rising and falling quickly with effort. She was slightly tired, but she could, in theory go for another day or two before their pace had any ill effects on her. But, just cause she could do it, didn't mean it wasn't difficult. She hadn't ever rushed like this to get anywhere so this was all new.

Her sharp talons dug into the earth beneath her as she ran, leaving deep grooves in the ground in their wake as her hind limb propelled her forward. She kept her head high, scanning the area for food for her for when they stop. Her ears were perked forward as she looked and listened but still nothing as the darkness grew. Her sharp eagle eyes saw very well at night, so continuing through the darkness was of no concern for her.
Dulthir
Syvis
Elliot Aldmar