Journey Into the North

PLACEHOLDER!
(I am calling a placeholder for Dono when he gets back tonight, as per his request)

*Ursa, aka Podgy*

It was actually pretty quiet. Seraph was running around and that girl -- you know, the weird girl who couldn't speak normally, was running after him. The hormones had finally kicked in, I guessed. That's another thing about humans that is stupid. Hormones. Nearly every stupid activity imaginable as labeled, by humans, as being an act of unbalanced hormones. Or has anyone seen that too?

Alden had fallen back to sleep and was talking to someone. For a minute, I thought he might be talking to a mysterious girl gryphon, giving him a talon massage, but no. He was talking about a shiny medalion.

And otherwise, besides the people bumbling about, it was quiet.

What a stupid group to be in. They didn't even have decent food. Oh sure, they had rabbits and the like, but they only provided enough for a human... not enough for me!

I decided to go out and get some food. Before you have weird ideas about what bears eat, let me get this straight. Bears are omnivorous. Wait... let me say that again. OMNIVOROUS. We don't have to just eat rabbits or deer or whatever. In fact, we love berries and roots and honey. We also don't mind scrounging around wandering travellers' knapsacks when they were not guarding their packs carefully and gorge ourselves on the food...

Hey, I can imagine!

Anyway, so eating food. I lumbered away. Besides, off in the distance I smelled food. And it smelled good.

(Thanks Dano)

"My thanks, Fionnabhair..." I told her, calling her, quite possibly for the first time, by her proper name.

"Jes' don' be gettin' yerself kil't." For a second I thought I detected a hint of concern in her voice...but then it as gone. "Couldn' leave yeh there--woulda bin mah faul' if ye'd been kil't. Git kil't on yer own time." I pushed myself into a sitting position. Even in the darkness, I could see most of her face. The advantage was mine alone, though, as I'm sure she was completely blind. I started to reach out to her take her hand, but stopped before touching her.

My wrist felt like it was on fire; yanking off my gauntlet to check the damage, I grimaced at the sight. The skin of my wrist was an angry red, and much of it was purple as well-- a slight bulge had appeared where one should not have been. I couldn't wield a blade or shield with the injury--I'd have to heal it in due course.

"Seraph? I don' wanna--" she paused, and I waited patiently. Her tone was quiet, earnest, maybe even caring. But, again, the flash of kindness was gone: "I wanna go back. Take me."

"Thank you...for saving my life, Finn." The words left my mouth before I could stop them. I'd already thanked her, true...but I'd hid my feelings. Spoken as a commander, not...something else. A friend? She didn't reply.

I reached out with my gauntleted hand, still holding my other glove in my right hand, and took her hand. She flinched away.

"Jes' lead on--I ain't needin' t'be held like a chil'" It was my turn to flinch at her harshness. I took a deep breath stood up.

"Then stand--we're going back. Both of us."

She stood up as well, and then said "Point me." I pushed on her left shoulder a little, turning her that direction.

"Keep your hand on the wall and walk that way...the fire should come ito view within eighty paces." I kept close to her the entire distance, just to let her know I was still there.

The tracker and the thief sparred a couple more times, with the same end result -- Henry, flatfooted, was defeated by the better skill of Sirloaz.

"My apologies, Sirloaz, would it be okay if I interrupt<" It was Valin who spoke. He had been pensive for a while, mulling over the disappearance of his friend Seraph. "It is just I think I know where Henry can improve."

Sirloaz nodded. "Be my guest."

Valin didn't draw his sword, so Henry sheathed his, panting a little from the practice. His side wasn't burning, but there was a slight itch to it, and he knew he shouldn't overbear it too quickly.

"Henry, what would you say was your greatest talent?" Valin asked.

"Y'mean besides thievery?" Henry smirked.

"Ah, yeah. But what is it your skills as a thief that allows you to do so well, if you see how I mean?"

Henry thought for a moment. "My agility has always got me by."

"Exactly! And here is my point. For everything else in life, you use your speed and agility to succeed -- with that crossbow for example, or for escaping guards, or for pickpocketing unsuspecting people. But as soon as you pick up a sword, you negate that. You stand, permanently on the defensive, your confidence slipping away with the unfamiliar weapon in your hand. Your feet barely move."

"So what are you sayin'?"

"You have all this blistering speed and you forget to use it when you have a sword. When an opponent faces you, you barely move, and they can quickly use this to their advantage. They can plot their attack, knowing the best you will do is parry. If we could make you an agile swordsman, one that dodged and weaved, and then countered with speed, it would make you three times as dangerous, perhaps more. First, there is your footwork. Obviously no-one has ever taught you how to gith with a sword. Second, there is your confidence. We can build that up with time. Once we develop those two, the agility will come through naturally, and maybe one of us won't be forced to save your ass again."

Henry frowned at this last comment, but saw what the elf was saying was wise. "So what do ya propose for now?"

"We shouldn't overtax you. Your wound is still healing and it would be stupid to make you ill through over practise. Maybe later day I can start to teach you your footwork, and you can start to unleash that speed into your swordfighting, so you can turn from a defense to attack in seconds."

Henry nodded.

"Get some rest," Valin said, then walked off.

Maybe it was the after-effects of his... well... whatever he did to Adrian, but when Seraph's hand touched mine, it felt... strange. Like the skin was more sensitive than usual. Kind of a bizarre tingling feeling, really, and I wasn't sure I liked it. It wasn't natural, that's for sure. Once again Adrian's face as he touched Seraph flashed in my mind--funny, I reflected, how a mental image could be so clear when I couldn't even tell Seraph was walking behind me but for the sound of his breathing.

"Ye're stayin'," I said, my voice soft; it didn't feel right to speak too loudly in the cave, with only our footsteps and the occasional gentle clink of Seraph's armor. Before he could speak, I continued. "A' leas' fer a while. Ye can' go far alone, wi' tha' wrist..." I glanced back at where I knew he was, then; I guess I stopped too quickly, because he stumbled into me. I jerked away quickly. Why was my sense of touch so oversensitive? Mus' have sum'fin' to do wi' th' lack o' light... makin' up fer no sight? Yes, that would be it. "Ye need t' set th' bones."

By now, I could see firelight flickering dimly against the distant wall. I hurried onward without waiting to hear his response--or even if he gave one--and willfully shut out his voice. I stumbled a few times on my way back to the first cavern without him to guide me, but frankly, it was worth it. No one before had ever unnerved me as easily as Seraph did. Somehow, though, the infuriating man kept up with me; I thought for a minute he was going to say something else, but instead he just turned away and walked over to Valin.

I exhaled gustily, grateful that he'd left me alone and yet feeling--strange. Again. Sort of like that tingling feeling from earlier, but in the pit of my stomach this time. I hoped I wasn't falling ill... that would not be very convenient. I made my way over to Alden's side, figuring that of everyone in the cavern right now, he would be best to provide company, even if he was currently drowsing with his head bowed over a rather large bag.

"Wheah's Ursa got to?" I asked.

I returned in time to see Valin say something to Henry, then walk back to his bedroll and pack. I grimaced and strode over to him even as he was sitting down. I held my hand out to him and said, "Set this."

"By the gods, Seraph...why can't you just sit still and--" He twisted my wrist viciously, pushing the bone back into place with practiced force. I almost passed out from the pain, but managed to stay on my feet. "--NOT get hurt for once?" he finished. Reaching into his pack, he pulled out a thin coil of silken ribbon--elven, I assumed--and a pair of wooden braces.

"Where do you get this stuff, anyway?" I asked him as he began to place the braces on either side of my wrist.

"Never know when you're going to need a splint," he grunted, concentrating on trying to wrap the wrist and hold the braces in place at the same time. After a moment, he sighed and gave up. He looked around the small camp and his gaze came to rest on the female elf.

"Carmenia--come help me with this," he called softly, not wanting to wake up those who were sleeping. The woman, who was brushing her hair at that moment, looked up at the sound of her name. Noticing my wrist, she jumped to her feet, the brush clattering to the rock floor, and hurried over to us.

"What do you want me to do?' she asked without inquiring to why I was hurt again.

"I assume you know how to wrap a wound..." Valin muttered to her. She nodded, and he said "Good. Use this, and wrap his wrist tightly." She nodded again, but hesitated before touching my bare flesh. After having seeing what I did to Adrian, I was not surprised.

"Go ahead then...he's not going to drain you," Valin said impatiently. She looked up to me. I nodded, but gave no other indication. She took a deep breath and set to work, with Valin holding the braces against my wrist. There was a dull pain as the braces were tightened against my arm, but other than that it wasn't terribly painful. As she neared the end of the wrap, Carmenia stopped suddenly.

"What's wrong? Finish the wrap," Valin told her.

"What's this?" Carmenia whispered, pressing on my palm with her index finger. I knew what she was talking about, but hoped she wouldn't notice.

"Falthyr's mark," I told her, a half truth. "All his Templars are marked with his crest, so we know each other without question. Leave it uncovered."

She muttered an acknowledgment, then tied off the wrap.

"Can you move your wrist at all?" I tried, and couldn't. I shook my head without speaking.

"Good. We'll need to re-wrap it every so often, to make sure it's healing correctly."

"My thanks," I told her, and offered a slight smile. Perhaps there was still hope for the group, after all.

I looked over at Finn. She was staring at me from her place next to Alden, but quickly averted her gaze when I looked over. I was warmed inside by the attention. What was happening to me? When did I get so weak?

Cyrus scoffed "pansy fightin's what it is" as he walked over to Henry and sirloaz sitting against the wall; "gimme a good axe or hammer and ill smear them across the walls. You keep your feeble little thingygummywhats its?"

"Sword" Henry said dryly.

"oy, that." he said merrily while taking a large swig of lorae. "Ey, old man" he said to sirloaz. "You should try some o this" as he waved the flask. Then Cyrus passed Sirloaz the flask. He took the flask not saying a word staring Cyrus in the eyes he took a large drink; settling back to taste the flavor shuddering a little as he swallowed. "Good ain't it?" Cyrus said as he playfully punched sirloaz. Yet he didn't react, he didn't even move. Cyrus just started to chuckle, while Henry approached Sirloaze's prone form.

Opening one of his eye lids and then proceeded to poke him, then suddenly Sirloaz Opened his eyes wide and yelled in Henry's face "BOO!"; startled he fell backwards only to add to Cyrus's mirth. His Stout body shaking hard.

"hahh ahh..." Cyrus finished as he wiped a tear from his eye and looked to take a drink only to realize his flask was gone. "Oy, Henry I thought i told you that you should stop stealin..." he started stopping as he saw Sirloaz had it, and as he took another gulp. "erm... can I have it back?"

"Meh? o sure here ya go buddy" he said tossing the flask to Cyrus missing him by a lot. "When'd you get so tall?" he said standing bracing himself on Henry then collapsing in a fit of giggling.

"what's gotten into him?" Henry asked as he slowly inched away.

"erm.. I say no more alcohol for Sirloaz, the first draft musta knocked him brains loose." as they just stared at him laughing on the floor. "Lets have a little fun shall we?" Cyrus said as he plopped down taking a big swig of his drink and sitting Sirloaz up strait. As Henry tentatively sat down on the other side of Sirloaz, taking the flask from Cyrus and taking another drink, as it erased his fatigue and set his throat on fire.

A ways down in the cave the sound of the trio had reached a few of the others. "what the hell are they doing now?' seraph said as he held his arm.

Alden woke up and stood up, nearly knocking down Finn.

"Be more careful," Alden warned.

It had been a few days since they had entered the caves, but Alden couldn't be sure exactly how many days it had been. He had been sleeping, but had no idea how long.

He checked the patch, to find that the jewel had grown to be about the size of a tennis ball.

I need to talk to Podgy about this... Alden thought, looking towards Ursa, only to find that he was gone.

"Where's Ursa?" he asked.

"Got up and left."

"Where did he go?"

"Who knows, who cares?" Cyrus growled.

Alden growled at Cyrus, before walking over to Seraph.

"Ursa is missing,"

"So?"

"Doesn't that concern you?"

"No. Ursa was never really apart of this group."

"That's it! I'm going to look for Ursa!" Alden said.

"When you find him, go to Sedgeley. We'll be waiting for you there," Seraph said.

Finn came up to him.

"W'en yeh get ta Sedgeley, see mah brot'er. His name's Liam, he's
the smity's apprentice. He's only a few years less than me," she said.

"I will," Alden said.

Alden pulled out the jewel and followed the giant bear tracks out of the cave.

The alcohol burned his throat and momentarily transferred the dullness from his side to his stomach. The effect was satisfying, and he giggled like a child as Sirloaz fell sidewards with laughter. Cyrus' beard was wiggling with amusement.

"Hey, where's birdboy goin'?" Henry asked, his laugter suddenly ending as he watched the Griffon stalk out of the main cavern.

Cyrus shrugged and took enough gulp of the flask. "Summit about the talking bear going off somewhere ... I wasn't really paying attention."

Henry thought it was odd that both had left suddenly. "Guess birds don't really like the indoors."

Sirloaz had managed to raise himself from the ground again. "Wait ... what's with the long faces?"

"Alden 'n Ursa 'ave gone," Henry said tonelessly.

Sirloaz shrugged. "Good riddance! There were far too many animals, or mixed animals in this group already."

Cyrus chuckled. "Can't argue with yer there, laddie."

"Ain't no-one gonna go see where they gone?" Henry asked, even though he didn't really care, he felt somebody should voice the opinion.

Sirloaz shrugged, Cyrus said nothing, so Henry grabbed the flask from the dwarf and drained the firey liquid down his throat once more. And smiled a little.

Carmenia cautiously watched Henry drain the last bit of Dwarfish brew from the bottle.

She shuddered, her hand unconsciously going to her left shoulder. She touched it and started slightly. She was doing it again. But she calmed herself and her mind went back to years and years ago, when she was just a little girl. She ran her fingers over the smooth scar hidden underneath her green sleeve. It marred her silky ivory skin wickedly.

Bruises and small cuts healed, and the scar had healed quite a bit too, but her quiet spirit had never recovered. It was broken, and would remain so for as long as she breathed.

She wiped away a glistening tear that slipped down her cheek. Stealing a quick glance at Henry confirmed her fears. He had drunk just a little bit too much. She moved even farther into the shadows, willing herself to be calm, but inside she was screaming.

Ursa and Alden were gone. As far as I was concerned, it was no real loss--Ursa was a bear that had no care in the world but for itself, and Alden was of no use in the cave. He was a valuable scout in the open...but in here, he was a liability.

Cyrus, Henry, and Sirloaz were enjoying themselves. That was good--joy is always good for morale. Carmenia seemed content knowing that her skills were of use to the party, and had had no further conflict with Valin. Though...I looked around and did not see her among the party. I cursed silently.

Peering carefully into the darkness around the edges of the camp, I could only just make out the outline of the elven woman, huddled in a shadowed area of the the large chamber we were in. I bent over and grabbed my blanket from my pack, then slowly walked over to her and sat down beside her. She shrunk away from my presence and shivered.

I handed the blanket out to her, which she took without question and then covered herself.

"Thank you..." she said to me, her eyes staring straight toward Henry.

"We need to get some sleep. Rest here or nearer to the fire...but know that none of us is a threat to you. Despite what you think, or what you may have seen...these are good men. I will wake you when it is time to depart." I tried to make my voice softer and with less of an edge, but I was never good at sentimentality. I stood up and, with a final glance back at her, went back to my bedroll to finish my evaluation of the party.

Valin seemed to be the most at ease. He had lived over five centuries, and really feared nothing, save the loss of those dearest to him. He was more at home here, in the dark, dismal cave, than he had been in the city bristling with jovial banners and celebrations upon his arrival. Tan'Quin had been oddly silent, however...mostly meditating and poking about the remains of the goblin encampment. Finn...I won't touch that topic. That was the strangest woman I had ever met. Adrian seemed the worse off of the party. His wound had been ill tended to, and his encounter with the powers of Falthyr had been far less than pleasant. I worried for the safety of the party, with him in it.

I sighed. I was confident in the abilities of Finn and Sirloaz to get us through the caverns, but we had no way of knowing what lurked in these caverns.

Sighing again, I decided to make an announcement--whether the party feared me,trusted me, or even thought of me as an ally, someone had to take charge.

"We leave after a short rest--I will wake you, and then we will leave upon repacking. It will be no more than three hours of rest. Make the most of it," I said. I looked around to each of them, meeting their gazes evenly. Cyrus snorted derisively, Henry nodded grimly, and Sirloaz smiled like a fool. Valin smiled encouragingly, glad to see me back in my place, and Cermenia, sitting next to him, nodded. Adrian gave a blank stare, but nodded as well. Finn made no effort to acknowledge I'd spoken. Satisfied with the response, I unbuckled my sword belt and laid it out next to my bed roll. Unsheathing my dagger, though, I held it underneath my arm, for quick access. Even now...I did not trust those that surrounded me. Finn and Valin...exceptions.

I closed my eyes, and, thanks to years of training drilled into my head, was asleep instantly.

Cyrus watched, morose, as the party gradually nodded off. He'd kept up the veneer of happiness, but the truth was that he was mightily upset. Daisy was gone. It was the first time they'd been seperated in more then 50yrs. She was an old (even for the specially bred livestock of the dwarves), bad tempered old biddy but he loved her like no other. And even worse ... a tragedy like no other had befallen him ... he had run out of Lorae,

Overcome, he rested his head in his arms and sobbed a little. Saddened as he was by the calamitous turn of events, he couldnt remain so, at least not for long. Not while underground. Finally returning to the earth's bosom was a feeling, a joy, he had forgotten. All these years he had been fooling himself, a charade exposed only now. Oh he could travel the human world, enjoy its sports and wonders, but he could never be a part of it. This was his true home.

He had found the confines of the underground a chore in his youth, had ignored and rebelled against his parents every wish, the wisdom of which he could see now. He had learnt the basics of the enchantments that ran in his line, his clan of master craftsmen, enough so that his parents had no reason to deny him from leaving when he came of age at 25.

By now his companions were truly asleep or else silent and still, contemplative. Picking up Bright Star from beside him, he brought it up to his face, examining it. As he had thought, his enchantments were fading. He hadnt stayed on to earn the title and respect of Master Craftsmen, so had not learnt the finer art of Melding; that of infusing spellwork with the true nature of metal. And so his enchantments needed to be renewed once in a while. He had known from the weakness of his attack against the priest, that something was wrong.

He lifted his right hand, summoning the power in his blood. AT first there was no change, then the nail on his forefinger began to grow, stretching an inch or more. He poised it, waiting; the nail began to glow first a dull orange then a brilliant, fierce red. His concentration nearly broke when he heard a hiss of alarm.

"Wha' in tha blazin fires o' hell is that?"

"Calm down laddie, just a bit of dwarven magic." Cyrus said placantingly, without looking away from the blade. "Now let me be, I gotta concentrate something fierce for this." He heard rather then saw Henry settle back down.

He brought his blazing nail down, making contact with the blade. A crackle; some sparks shot out to fizzle out harmlessly in his beard. Then it sank into the metal and he began to inscribe the runes. For accuracy, acuity (sharpness), and protection. It was easier then the initial runecasting, as the pathways already existed. Still, sweat beaded his brow and upper lip as he began the lengthier process od adding a new enchantment, newly thought of with the recent battle fresh in his mind. Defense; he wanted no attacking spells to harm him although he'd still have to get Bright Star in the path of the attack to be properly shielded.

Finished, he slumped back against the wall, Brihgt Star gleaming anew in the darkness. After a moment, he heard Henry stir. "Couldya do summit of tha' nature to me own blades? Or me bow?" he whispered.

Cyrus pondered. It was not easy, this magic of his clan, it took much out of the casting dwarf. He could spare some though, what with the restorative power of the earth around him, he felt stronger then ever before. "I aint so good with the woodworking, I could take a look at yer bolts come morning, but for now lemme see those blades."

Two daggers were handed over for his inspection. He tested their weight and edge, then grunted. "Theyre of average make, good balance, but not a quality set of weapons."

"The're fine blades!" henry whispered fiercely, affronted. He'd stolen them from a right respectable merchant!

Cyrus chuckled. He didnt say anything else, merely flicked the dagger blade with his nail. A dull clang sang out. Pulling Bright Star into his lap, he flicked its shining head; a crystal clear chime spliced into the air. "See the difference? Its not perfect laddie, but its got potential. Give me a smithy and a set of tools and I'd fix 'er up for ya." He said, trying to keep his voice down. "Now try and get some sleep, you need yer rest"

"Oh and you don't?"

He sighed. "Being here is rest enough for me." He lay his head back, closing his eyes and digging his toes into the rich cavern floor (he'd taken his boots off). He felt his pores open, his body ready and sending him signals he had nearly forgotten operated. He knew for instance that a deep system of tunnels ranged out beyond their resting spot, from the flow of the air, and from what he could see this mountain fairly groaned with the weight of precious metals.

The question the system of tunnels raised bothered him though. Who had carved it? An unkown splinter of dwarves? Could it possibly be? And if so, what had happened to make them leave for he knew that none remained now? His thoughts were grim as he settled down to wait for the exploration to begin. One way or another he would find the answers he sought.

I was becoming restless; it didn't leave me even when I slept. I didn't like being cooped up like this, practically underground. The floor of the cave felt too hard beneath feet that were used to the pebbly, yielding loam of the mountain forests, and while there was a certain, unexpected aesthetic appeal to firelight dancing on uneven stone walls, I missed the sun and the moon. My internal clock told me it was day again; a glance towards the wall created by the rockslide showed a murky, early morning light filtering in through a chink, corroborating that guess. How long had we been in here? I'd lost track.

I glanced around at my companions; most of them seemed to be asleep, or just rousing, like me. Ursa had disappeared and Alden had followed; that, I regretted. I'd only spoken with Alden once before meeting him in the logger's camp, but he was someone familiar, and I trusted him far more than most of these men. Adrian was propped up against the wall, looking pale and lost in thought; I didn't bother greeting him when he looked my way, because it didn't really seem that he saw me at all. He was too caught up in his own thoughts. Cyrus, Sirloaz, and Henry had been bonding over that awful Lorae of the former's, it looked--a whiff of old alcohol made me wrinkle my nose. All three seemed to be snoring thunderously, too. I remembered my younger brother doing the same thing, the one time we got drunk together on some filched spirits from Da's cabinet; was it a common denominator between all men, this drunken snoring?

Carmenia was still curled up beneath the blanket I'd seen Seraph give her the night before; something cold stabbed in my stomach suddenly, making me sit upright, eyes wide. The feeling ebbed only slowly, but as it didn't grow any worse, I deemed it safe to ignore. Anyway, what did it matter to me if Seraph was sharing his blankets--or his bed, for that matter--with the perfect she-elf? Nothing at all, that was the answer. That cold feeling returned; I felt like I'd been force-fed a snowball that refused to melt. It only worsened when my eyes fell on Seraph, who was still asleep, his face set into a mild sort of frown that almost looked more thoughtful than disapproving.

I shook myself physically and hoisted myself to my feet, brushing dust and pebbles off my clothes, which needed badly washed. I vaguely remembered passing an underground pool not too far from the cavern when I went looking for Seraph.

It seemed Adrian and I weren't the only ones awake. As I passed Tan'Quin on my way out of the cavern, he shifted and opened his eyes, looking up at me. I hesitated, then pressed my thumbnail gently against my bottom lip in the traditional way the mountain folk asked for silence. "Jes' goin' ta clean m'self up," I whispered. "'ll be back."

After a moment, he nodded, then stood quietly and moved over to join Adrian. I heard his voice quietly inquiring after the Paladin's wounds--mental and physical, it seemed--as I wended my way carefully through the darkness.

The pool was where I remembered, and after checking first that I was alone, I waded in and stripped down to my skivvies. For the next twenty minutes or so, as I scrubbed myself and my clothes as best I could without soap, my thoughts were blessedly free of fighting, journeys, or--well, mostly free of frustratingly enigmatic noblemen. Those seemed to be harder to get rid of.

Frankly, I thought, smiling for the first time since I'd left Sedgeley, I was just glad to be clean again. I'd been close to smelling as bad as Henry.

Did you ignore or just not see my post?

Didn't see it... I was still writing. I only posted two minutes after you, if you look. Aside from the fact that I said they were still sleeping, do they really conflict, though? I mean, Finn will return before anyone goes off exploring, and my post seems to be set the morning after yours... and if it's the snoring jibes that got you, I can change those.