Heroes Die Young

Isolda Dye

The girl seemed like she could not know the most advanced forms of healing. It took Isolda most of her life to figure out how to get things right and there are things that even she doesn't know, despite being an advanced healer. Melody had stormed off, said that she was fine with her level of healing. Am I really that bad with people? She shook her head, the girl was young, and was reckless. It would take time for her to understand the world, then Isolda hoped that the girl would come to accept the world as it was.

Perhaps if Isolda were simply to explain to Melody what she meant, then it would be alright. She liked the girl, so far it was the only person she could relate to. In addition she would have to avoid that warrior, Alistair, she found herself getting nervous, she suspected this was the urge of sin trying to get her to go against her vows.

Shaking her head she ran after Melody, she gently set her hand on the girls shoulder. This was a touch that said; 'I'm not mad at you, but it's time to calm down now'. A slight smile formed on her lips, this touch was used on her so many times. She gently spun the girl around, she didn't face much resistance from the girl. "I'm sorry. I did not mean to say that your level of healing is less then adequate, I am just saying for the amount of time you have been taught, there are likely to be many injuries or infections, or poisons that are well above your skill level in healing." She paused for a breath. "It is a short time, and the fact that you're even capable of coming on a trip like this is remarkable, however I was merely offering to fill in gaps in your knowledge, not offend."

She stopped speaking, she felt uncomfortable. A soft soothing tone, yet very serious and didn't allow much room for argument. Melody seemed a little off with the way Isolda had just spoken to her. As a follow up to what she had said she looked the girl directly in the eye, her face showing compassion, love, as well as seriousness.

Melony

"no it is I who is sorry. I let my anger and immaturity get the best of me. I would enjoy that thank you. But for now, go, get to know the others in the group." I really wanted to get her away from me before I started acting inappropriately. She smiled and slowed pace. I hoped off of Charles wagon and looked up at him.
"Leaving me already?" He never even took his eyes off the map. I saw that hired sword, what did Charles call him? Alistair, that's it. I decided it would be best to just avoid him. I saw three men riding and talking together, one of them looked very grim. He interested me just by his appearance. I walked over beside them.
"Hello." The grimmer one and the elderly one looked over.

Valentine

It’d been so long since he had been out and the vast array of colour erupting from all around was disconcerting. He did his best to ignore it, but there was no green, yet he knew they were surrounded by it. Trying to use his staff as walking stick he tried to clear his mind.

No one must know he was a Mage who had trouble telling some colours apart. The singing was a happy relief but it was ended to soon.

These dizzy spells weren’t uncommon, he just couldn’t get used to fact, that colours weren’t right.

Stumbling again an older man stopped by him, he turned to thank him, “Thank you Sir, I’m okay I swear.”

The man shook his head, “Walk with us, I think you got a secret desperate to tell.”

**Thanks, everyone!

Jorin

The back of Jorin's neck was tingling. He could feel Garrett watching him, no doubt because of Jorin's rough words to the man. Jorin gritted his teeth. That mercenary was putting him on edge. Jorin needed to control himself. He knew from experience that nervousness stood out more than any recognizable face. Jorin needed to relax, or things would all begin to fall to pieces around him.

Suddenly, the cart was bumped, jerking Jorin from his thoughts.

"Sorry! I didn't see you there!"

Jorin looked up quickly, glaring out at the culprit. Jorin snorted. He was a scrawny boy riding a very sad-looking horse indeed. Jorin opened his mouth to say something, but Master Garrett beat him to it.

"Not a problem, lad," he said gently. "Is everything all right?"

Jorin paused to quietly look over towards Garrett. What was he doing? Blinking, Jorin adjusted his hood and concentrated on driving the horses. If Garrett wanted to make small talk with bumbling boys, it wasn't Jorin's place to stop him.

But Garrett's next words pounded into Jorin's ears with startling force.

"How would you like to keep us company?"

Jorin's eyes widened. Garrett was going too far. He knew nothing about the boy. Jorin's mind reeled long enough for the boy to thank Master Garrett and say yes. "Master Garrett," said Jorin quickly. "are you sure about this? I think we'd be just fine on our own."

"Now, now, Jorin, the lad's just fine," Master Garrett said, patting Jorin's shoulder. "He might be a nice companion for us, hm? I rather think so." Jorin looked up to stare at the man now riding beside them. Their eyes met briefly, and Jorin looked away.

"Very well," Jorin muttered. But if Garrett was going to start asking people to join them, Jorin would keep a very sharp eye out. Speaking of which, Jorin spotted a young girl making a beeline toward the cart. Jorin's hands twitched on the reigns, fighting the impulse to steer away from her. Jorin looked away from the girl, hoping to deter her from -

"Hello," she said brightly. Jorin and Garrett looked at her. Garrett chuckled.

"Good day to you as well, lass," replied Garrett. Jorin could hear Garrett begin to say something else when the cart was once again bumped. Frustrated, Jorin brought the cart into a violent stop and looked around to the side of the cart. Another man, this one stumbling and looking very, very confused. Garrett reached out to grasp the man's hand. The man looked up at Garrett.

"Thank you Sir, I’m okay I swear.”

Garrett shook his head, “Walk with us, I think you've got a secret desperate to tell.” The man nodded thankfully and climbed into the cart beside Garrett. Jorin rolled his eyes. At this rate, Garrett will have brought the entire expedition to their side!

Isolda Dye

Her attempt to explain seemed to get through until the girl encouraged her to go off and speak to someone else. She left the girl and walked towards the middle of the group. She looked around only to see filth, corruption, and scum around her. All people she would have to protect from deaths cold embrace, however during their health they would be a problem to deal with. She was very suspicious of everyone.

A man walked up to her from behind, she couldn't identify him as anyone she wanted to talk to. "Hello there ba--" She spun around, punched the guy in the nose, and kicked him in the groin. She scowled at him and pushed him away from her. "Act like that and your death will be filled with joy! You are filth that walks the lands, and I will pray for god to lay a curse on your being!" The man was doubled over, he inched away.

A few people that stood in the nearby area looked at her, they were quite surprised at how she acted. Her hands clenched in tight fists. She glared at them. It was alright for any one of them to act in that way, but if the priestess stood up for herself it was a bad thing. "Worthless.... WORTHLESS!" She had never seen anyone act so vile before, it was a surprise, and she didn't understand.

She changed her mind about walking where she would be safe from attack, she wanted to walk towards the front of the group. People were already moving out. She didn't walk in the very front, this would give people the impression that she was leading. Instead she walked along the side of a wagon, she heard people talking. Someone mentioned the name of Garrett in their conversation. She didn't bother to listen to them, she was simply there to heal, not to listen, or care for them.

Alistair

The light was waning and with no city boundary in sight, I knew that Charles had predicted correctly. I was waiting for him to make the announcement or at least call out that we were stopping but onward he pressed. I cleared my throat and leaned in. Maybe he didn't realise just how long it would take to set up camp and how important the last embers of light were.

"Might be a good time to lead the party away from the trail," I suggested. He looked up at me with a good natured smile.

"Oh, good, can't see a thing in this light." He began to steer his wagon into the woodland and I started riding up and down the rows, calling out the news. It quietened my urge to throttle the young bumpkin. Had he just woken up one morning and decided he wanted to lead a quest? Bloody stupid idea.

"Bring the wagons round in a ring. Any tents should be pitched inside that. At least six to a fire everyone! Horses to the picket line!" While the drivers sorted their wagons out, I tied the picket line and gave Sabre a careful brush down and a fond pat. Then I walked around the camp but most people seemed to know what they were about and we soon had a huddle of cooking fires. At one, a female bard was singing and I couldn't help but overhear her as I showed one young man why everything about his tent was wrong.

"You need to pitch it facing this way," I explained. "And these two poles are the wrong way around." I gritted my teeth and grumbled under my breath. Something about foolish boys who thought they could make themselves a success by signing up with any quest passing through. We'd never be short of those at least. We'd be picking them up and dropping them off in every town along the way.

This was no work for a mercenary. I threw the bard a few coppers and then hunted out the other hired guards around their fires. There were six or seven and most of them said they were being paid to protect individual wagons, not the whole party. I gave them a speech and waved my sword around a bit. It did wonders and I soon had a nice cluster of men willing to watch the perimeter. I divided the night into three parts and assigned mercenaries to groups. A Bryce Walker offered to lead the first watch and wake me for the second. I agreed.

Now. Time to get me a belly of supper and a look at that map.

Tom

"Bring the wagons round in a ring. Any tents should be pitched inside that. At least six to a fire everyone! Horses to the picket line!"

Alistair's voice rose loud and clear, and I noticed that we were heading to the cluster of trees that lined the road.

Everything was confusion as people found their own little spots to set up their campsites; the occasional squabble broke out over a prime piece of land, and I sighed. There were far too many people here for my liking, so after I tied Chester to the picket line, untacked him and gave him a quick grooming, I wandered away from the main group and found a nice, shady little corner.

"Of course," I muttered to myself. "Didn't think to bring a tent, did you?"

I rummaged through the pack and found my blanket; that was it. I cast around the circle of wagons, searching for someone whom I wouldn't mind asking for a favor...that would last for the rest of this journey. The old man, Garrett, seemed nice enough, but his son, or whoever the grim young man was, didn't like me, so I discarded that idea. Leif was no option; not with that...thing. No, definitely not Leif.

Charlie! I was sure he wouldn't mind sharing a tent with me. With that thought, I rose and worked my way around the enclosure towards Charlie's tent. Just as I reached it, I saw Alistair striding purposefully towards the tent; without a second thought, I ducked behind it and lay on the ground. I'm not sure why I did so; I only knew that I didn't want to be seen by the burly leader, who wouldn't have forgotten my insult in a hurry.

He slapped a hand on the tent's flap and called out, "Charles! Can I come in?"

"Oh, oh yes!" Charlie's flustered voice replied. I could hear motion and rustling as Charlie scrambled around inside, no doubt making it look neater. Alistair ducked into the tent and I lay very still. I could have gotten up right then and there and slipped away, with none being the wiser--but something made me stay.

"Charles," Alistair's voice said wearily, "I'd like to talk with you about that map."

"O-of course, sir!"

Alistair's tone turned quite a bit lower and I had to strain to hear what he said. "This is a serious quest, not some fool's errand. And I don't know where the hell you came from or how you got a hold of the map, but I do know that you are no professional, and if you can't shape up then I'll take the map and you can go on your merry own way!"

Charles

Sighing, I observed the scene around me. I was beginning to wonder if this whole quest thing was a good idea. I mean, come on, I hardly knew what I was doing. I could tell that Alistair knew that too, not that he said anything to me. It would have been much easier if he was the one with the map. At least I was improving though... sort of.

"Where do we put this?" A voice interrupted my thoughts.

Standing in front of me was one of the group members, Valentine. In his hands was a long, thin pole. He still seemed to be sorting out his tent. As Valentine asked me the question, I looked at the pole carefully. How was I supposed to know where it went...? It had taken me ages to put up my own tent. God, I was useless.

"You put it there!" I heard a voice call behind me.

Turning around, I saw Jorin pointing at Valentine's tent, specifically at one point. Great, another person who knew what they were doing better than me. It was rather ironic really how the most useless person was the one with the map.

"Uh, yeah," I nodded in agreement with Jorin. "it goes there."

I couldn't help but notice Alistair looking at me, rolling his eyes. Valentine thanked both Jorin and I, even though I had done nothing, and continued pitching his tent. Seconds later, I noticed Alistair walking over to my tent. Great.

Suddenly, there was a slapping sound on the tent's flap, "Charles! Can I come in?"

"Oh, oh yes!" I answered quickly.

As quickly as I could, I tried tidying the contents of my tent. I wanted to look somewhat decent. Not that tidying my tent made a difference, he'd probably noticed the fact that I was a complete idiot. It didn't take many people long to realise that. After a few seconds, Alistair was in the tent with me.

"Charles," Alistair didn't sound too happy, "I'd like to talk with you about that map."

"O-of course, sir!" I replied.

Maybe he hadn't noticed the fact that I had no idea what I was doing? Maybe...?

"This is a serious quest, not some fool's errand. And I don't know where the hell you came from or how you got a hold of the map, but I do know that you are no professional, and if you can't shape up then I'll take the map and you can go on your merry own way!" He whispered rather aggressively.

Yeah... he'd noticed.

Jorin

Jorin watched the campfire blankly as Valentine finished pitching his tent. Garrett had insisted that Valentine pitched his tent by them. Jorin was forced to silently disapprove.

Garrett stirred the stew that was cooking on the campfire. Jorin turned his gaze on Garrett, watching him. Garrett had always been a good cook, and had jumped at the chance of making stew that night. Garrett tasted a bit of stew, nodded, and motioned for Jorin to get bowls and utensils. Jorin jumped up and rummaged among the bags in the cart.

"Come, lad, sit with us for dinner," said Garrett pleasantly. "I insist." Jorin winced.

"Well, I - Thank you, sir. That's very kind of you," replied Valentine. Jorin pulled out the bowls and turned to hand them to Garrett. Garrett thanked Jorin before turning his attention on Valentine again.

"Nonsense, lad. You weren't feeling well today. A good, strong bowl of stew can work miracles on an ailing soul. Here you go," said Garrett, chuckling. He handed Valentine a bowl. Valentine accepted it, smiling at Garrett. Garrett handed Jorin another bowl and served himself. Garrett sat beside Jorin with a sigh.

"Now, then," said Garrett after he had eaten some stew. "You seem like a good boy. How did you get yourself mixed up in all of this fountain nonsense?"

Jorin looked up sharply. Valentine's answer could prove interesting.

Valentine

“Well it’s quite complicated. See I don’t range from these parts, I’m a country boy. And was born to a family of Blacksmiths – my secondary skill is Smithing if you ever need weapons repaired I can sure try.”

“Take your time.” the old man said.

Sitting himself down on a previous tree he sighed, “Well after I learned the major fundamentals of my family work. It was found I had an innate ability to channel magic. And village being small and narrow-minded ostracized me. Magic is greatly known throughout world but people still fear it. I thought at one point in my life I’d marry and take over my Father’s business.”

The old man frowned, “I may make use of your skills sometime. But you’re neglecting the important facts.”

Valentine didn’t understand how this guy could even know this. The story didn’t hint anything, “Well my parents sent me to Mage School to learn the arts much easier, those were interesting times, but hardly important it’s when I left.

At sixteen I began to dabble and I found colours not showing up right in the text. Many a time mixed wrong herbs. One time I just woke up and could no longer see Green or Red they’d gone from my vision I instead could only see a rather selective pallet of colour.”

“Now this is the part you weren’t mentioning.” He chuckled.

“I can’t stand no more seeing a fully variety of colours I hope that Fountain I don’t know will let me go back before vision became like this.”

“Interesting. Well my name is Garret and my scowling Protégé is Jorin.”

Isolda Dye

She had calmed down from her earlier encounter with a male by now. She could tell he hadn't, every so often he would cast a glare at her, his nose was obviously broken. Someone laying behind a tent, this tent belonged to Alistar and Charlie she believed. She walked over to him, she opened her pack and laid her blanket out beside this young man. She had heard some chatter, "People call you Tom, right?" He looked a little nervous, but nodded. "Yes." She sat down and took off her packs. One obviously had food, but she kept it shut at all times.

She looked at him with a soft smile. "I have enough food for the both of us, at least for tonight, would you like some?" She was hardly any older then him, but he looked younger, and arrogant, at least slightly as did all youth. "Oh! I'm Isolda, nice to meet you." He seemed a tad bit awkward, but smiled anyways. "Nice to meet you too." She looked him over for any injuries, as had become habit from working in a church for so long. All, I broke my leg this, and I cut off my arm that, and hey excuse me if you have time I'm dead. She shook her head, he seemed to be alright.

"Would you like some food?" She asked again, she was very impatient when it came to someone she offered something to not answer.

Alistair

"This is a serious quest, not some fool's errand. And I don't know where the hell you came from or how you got a hold of the map, but I do know that you are no professional, and if you can't shape up then I'll take the map and you can go on your merry own way!" I tried to sound all scary and shit, hell, he was barely a man, but the smarter part of me realised that intimidating him wasn't going to work.

"Uh maybe-" Ogre's breath! Was he still not getting it?

"Not maybe, never- look, I don't want to lead this escapade, honestly I don't. But you've got to look the part. Those guys out there-" I paused and lowered my voice. I wouldn't be overly surprised to find someone eavesdropping on us. I certainly wouldn't put it past that Jorin character. "There will be attempts to steal the map. We've got to keep them on their feet, keep them guessing about you because if they think it's going to be easy they'll be in here so quick-" I paused again to clear my thoughts and leaned back, pressing a hand into my face. I'd never felt so frustrated this early on in a mission. In my younger, more flighty days I'd have packed up and left them to it.

"Steady on, I don't think anyone would actually steal the map. Would they?" Charles look at me with big, friendly eyes and I felt cheated. How had anyone managed to grow up so bloody naive? I realised then that I was going to be the sole defense for the map.

"Leave that to me," I told him.

"Okay so we're uh... we're good now?" His voice crumbled to a squeak at the end. We were far from good. We were most defineately screwed.

"Yeah, we're good," I told him. "Have you eaten yet?"

"No, well I haven't uh... had the opportunity to-"

"Yikes man, straighten up! I'm not about to chop the head off my employer am I?" I tried to joke. I don't think it went down too well. "Look, why don't you go out there and have some food, listen to a little entertainment: there's a bard at one of the fires." I stood up, urging him to also and gave him a hearty clap on the back. The map lay spread on the table between us. "I'll stay here and plan the best route for tomorrow," I added. There was a tense pause. This was it. The test of trust between a party leader and his hired sword.

Charles

"I'll stay here and plan the best route for tomorrow," Alistair said, smiling slightly.

I felt like a complete idiot. I felt more than naive, that was for sure. What if I was being naive now though...? What if I left for an hour, came back, and found that the map was gone, along with Alistair? Or maybe I was just over-thinking things? Alistair seemed like a genuinely nice man, even if he was a bit crabby at times. What if that was just an act though? Okay, Charlie. Just stop thinking. That would be best, I thought to myself. Ah well, I was naive, after all. Besides, I didn't really care all that much about this fountain thing.

"Okay," I headed towards the door of the tent. "I'll see you later."

Alistair nodded at me and smiled as I spoke. No, he wouldn't steal the map and leave. He would never admit it, but I think that he rather liked the company of people. Well, he liked bossing them about, anyway.

"Call me Charlie, by the way." I said, turning back around to face him. "Charles is too... eurgh."

I heard Alistair laugh as I left the tent. If he wanted to steal the map, then so be it. It wasn't as if it bothered me all that much. Besides, there was something I didn't like about that map. To begin with, the way I found it was hardly normal. I hadn't told him how I'd found it yet. I didn't really want to, I had a bad feeling about it. Alistair may have known a lot more about how to read the map, but I knew a lot more about the map itself. There was something suspicious about that thing, I just didn't know what.

As I headed towards where the other group members were, I thought about the map more carefully. I wasn't going to tell Alistair about my suspicions, not yet. I was going to figure them out myself before mentioning it to anyone else. I may not have been good at many things and I may not have known much, but when it came it anything supernatural, I knew a heck of a lot. I was born into a family of supernatural obsessives, after all.

Jorin

“Interesting," replied Garret. "Well my name is Garret and my scowling Protégé is Jorin.”

Jorin looked away from the campfire, squinting toward the group leader's tent. Jorin still intended to steal himself a glance at the map later tonight. Jorin was about to turn back to the group when he spotted the group leader himself coming out of his tent. Jori narrowed his eyes, spying an opportunity to look at the map.

Jorin quickly gulped down the remainder of his stew. He splashed some water on his bowl to clean it, and stowed it away in the wagon. Garrett had stopped talking to Valentine for a moment to watch him. Jorin gave Garrett a tight smile.

"I'm going for a walk," Jorin said quickly. "I'll be back in a little while."

Garrett nodded, and turned back to Valentine. Jorin tugged his hood over his head and slipped into the shadows of the camp that the campfires couldn't reach. He crept toward the tent quickly, pushing back his hood as he slipped through the tent's opening.

Only to see a haunched figure sitting over the map, spread out on a table. Alistair Bennett. Jorin froze as he glanced over his shoulder.

Master Garrett

Garrett watched as Jorin disappeared into the darkness. He sighed, and turned back to Valentine. The boy looked uncomfortable. Garrett gave him a warm smile.

"Don't mind Jorin. He's had a rough time of it, recently."

Valentine looked curiously, but hesitated in asking the obvious question. Garret smiled again. "I'm sick, you see?" Garrett continued. "The same sickness claimed his mother's life many years ago. Jorin is hoping to find the cure in the fountain."

"And he doesn't want to see his father fall to the same fate?" Valetine replied sympathetically. Garrett laughed.

"Jorin's father? Me?" he chuckled. "Oh, no, lad. Jorin never knew his father. I found Jorin wandering the streets a few months after his mother died and took the boy in. He'd gotten himself into quite a mess, if I understand correctly. But Jorin's a good boy. He just has a hard time with people."

Valentine ate some of his stew quietly. Garrett watched him for a moment before continuing. "I'm all that Jorin has had for quite some time now. And to him, my death is not an option. I've tried to convince him otherwise, but - " Garrett trailed off sadly.

Valentine grasped Garrett's shoulder. "He cares for you, Master Garrett. That's all." Garrett smiled at him again, patting Valentine's hand.

"You're a good lad," Garrett replied. "I just wonder if Jorin has ever learned how to let go."

MELONY

I joined the others around the fire were the bard was. I regretted not remembering to bring a tent, but sleeping out under the stars would just add to the adventure right? We were all laughing and singing, i looked over and saw that jorin character go into Charles' tent, he froze at the entrance. I wondered what all that was about. Oh well. I stood up but fell back on my bottom and started laughing with the rest of the group, it must be the fatigue setting in, everything seemed funnier when you were tired. Someone tripped over me and i gasped, my side would be bruised but that person would have just fallen on their face! I looked over, couldn't see who it was.
"I'm so terribly sorry!"

*could be anyone*