Private Tales Run, but can’t Hide

[Ademar Acero]

He was on the chase for a runaway that abandoned the Academy not too long ago. This would not be his first time in hunting down a fugitive that had abandoned their post. In fact, he took great pleasure in hunting down these rogue Dreadlords, no matter what rank they were. As always, his orders were to capture, but if it came to it he would kill them. He ever tried to capture them, his first instinct was to kill them upon sight. The proctors would understand, how could they not? Wasn’t the first time nor would it be the last.

Upon horseback he rode, urging his horse to reach at optimal speed to catch up with this fugitive. This only happened a day ago, so he must be close to his target. This would be a task easy for him as the runaway was just a mere Apprentice. They had no chance against him.

Or maybe they did, but that was highly unlikely.

 

[Riley]

Riley was sticking to the back roads. She remembered all the nervous and prideful remarks the night before trials. Everyone remaining in her class were nervous. They knew only half of them would make it. Riley liked to think she made it easier for whoever her opponent was. She fled long before sunrise.

Bunch of moof-milkers.

Sierra had given her a route to follow to get out of Vel Anir. But Riley had no intention of following it. At least, all the way. She didn't want to give up on her country. She fully intended to stay and fight back. Somehow.

What they were doing was wrong.

Bunch of goddamn muppets.

Riley had found a stable on the outskirts of a small town to sleep in with her horse. She just had to make sure she got up before the owners found her. Or anyone else. Body shifted in the straw, hay speckling within her darker, charcoal hair.

 

[Ademar Acero]

He was determined in this hunt, so determined that any nearby small villages he passed by that he would rip any information out of them. Fear was a great motivator for commoners. They would even spill out any moments of embarrassment they experienced in their life. Some folks would have noticed this rogue Dreadlord passing by, maybe even interacted with her.

Eventually he got the information he needed after bruising and attacking those that would give him inadequate information. A lesson for them to remember forever.

Ademar had come across the same town the woman was, but did not know of her whereabouts at all. Again he would resort to his interrogation techniques on the citizens, and he’d start with one family owning a stable with proud horses occupying it. A rough fist knocked the door until he was attended by someone.

“Who the fu-!”

And the man, the head of this household, was silence when he saw the behemoth of Ademar and the sigil he bore on his armor.

“Do you happen to see a woman passing by? She is is young and alone, her hair is brown.”

He let silence sink in, letting the man process it.

“If you are harboring her, you will be punished.”

A fact, not a threat. Empty threats did not suit with him.

“N-no, m’lord. No one in this town hasn’t, it’s dawn of the day. We’d have known this if we knew.”

Not adequate enough.

“Move,” and shoved the man as he trespassed into his house, so that he could conduct his search around the house and property.

 

[Riley]

She'd been taught to be a light sleeper. It's how she'd survived the majority of her training as a hopeful dreadlord. When they'd been dropped off in the wilds to survive for a month, that's how most of the initiates had died - never waking up from a slit throat or sword through the chest.

The shouting got her first.

Hazels snapped open and she pushed herself up, fists rubbing the last visage of sleep from her eyes.

Shouting. A firm voice of authority.

"Fuk," she sprang to her feet. Riley took the reigns of her horse. "C'mon girl," pulling herself up, she straddled the beast of midnight. Heels dug into the sides as the barn door burst open and she came face-to-face with Ademar. She saw that crest on his clothing.

Without waiting, she urged the horse forward, intending to trample the man if he didn't get out of the way.