Post by Talwyn on Dec 13, 2010 16:13:34 GMT -5
A flash of lightning illuminated the darkened sky. As the rain drops kept falling, a lone figure, riding a horse, could be seen on the path. Huddling even closer in the all concealing cloak for protection against the vicious winds, the figure patted the horse on its neck. “We’re almost there boy, just a little further okay?” The horse snorted derisively as it glanced at its rider. You said that almost an hour ago.
Yet another flash of lightning drove away the darkness for a few seconds, revealing the rider’s face. A smile could be seen flitting across the young woman’s features. “Oh come now, surely a little wind and rain are of no concern to a stout steed such as yourself. Besides,” She went on with her little, imaginary conversation, “I can see the castle from here.”
Patting the beast once more, her eyes turned serious again as they darted around, never resting on a single spot for more than a second. As they, at long last, crossed the town gates, the clouds started to dissipate and the sun found its way through the cracks.
“Does any of you know if Erin will make it?” The burly man asked his companions as they made their way over the meeting spot. “I don’t know Xaver. We can only hope she will. You know how it goes.” Abigail answered her friends question. “Yeah, but if she ain’t here… well… Miles was too busy to join us.” Maggie chimed in. “I dunno… it’s like we never get together anymore you know Abby?”
Xaver nodded as he agreed. “Yes, exactly! Although I suppose that does leaves more food for us though.” Shaking her head Abigail could only sigh. “Excellent show of priorities there Xaver.” The three of them laughed as they sat down underneath the tree where they always met on this day.
After preparing the food and exchanging some banter, all three of them gazed at the castle gates. “I guess she ain’t coming then.” Xaver said with a hint of disappointment in his voice. “Who’s not coming?” Startled at the familiar voice, they looked up at the tree. “Erin! When did you sneak past us?”
Laughing heartily Erin threw back her cowl and jumped down from the branch she was laying on, landing on her feet lightly. Pointing towards several horses grazing, she grinned. “Actually, Colt and I have been here for two hours now. I just decided a little extra sleep would be nice. Hardly had a chance to sleep for a few days now.”
It was only after she said it, that the others noticed the bags underneath her eyes. “Though to be honest, Colt did most of the work of course. At least I could doze off in the saddle a few times. The poor guy has been walking almost non-stop to get me here in time.”
Sitting down once more, the four of them exchanged stories and laughter as they ate. Erin couldn’t help but feel glad she made it here in time for this day. Seeing her old childhood friends again always made her feel like she had come home.
Maybe it was because the four, or five if one counted Miles, of them grew up together in these very wards. Whatever the reason, castle Aldgate was the only place, aside from the Ranger Stations, where she felt she could drop her guard. As the sun set, and they had finished exchanging tales of their lives Erin yawned as she got up.
“I probably should go find a place to sleep. As great as it is, I’ll probably be on my way again before dawn.” Shaking her head, Abbigail grabbed her friends arm. “I’m sure the Baron has a spare room you could use Erin. Besides, why don’t you stay a day or two longer? The Harvest Feast begins tomorrow after all.” The others nodded their agreement. “Besides, you haven’t even seen Miles yet! You can’t leave without saying at least hello to him. The poor guy was devastated that he had to help the master librarian today.” Looking at her horse, Erin agreed. “Oh alright, Colt has earned some rest anyway.”
Her eyes opened wide as she jumped out of bed and ran for the window. A red glow could be seen from the city, and people were screaming. “A raid? Here?” Without hesitating, Erin put on her clothes in a matter of seconds and grabbed her weapons before running to the battlements.
Grabbing an arrow, she nocked it and scanned the surroundings. Spotting a target, she let go of the string sending the arrow away with a vicious hiss. Mowing down several more bandits this way, a single sound made her duck out of the way as a sword passed but mere inches over her head.
She could see the terror in the bandits eyes as he realized he was facing a Ranger, but before either of them could react, the bandit slumped and fell down as Xaver pulled his blade out of the man’s back. “Thanks Xaver.” Her friend grinned grimly. “Can’t let you have all the fun now can I?”
Turning their gaze back towards the burning city, Xaver asked the very question she wanted to ask as the bandits were overrunning the defenses. “So… what do we do now?” Glancing to her friend, Erin wished she had an answer for him. Never mind the fact the raid was being carried out with much more sophistication then expected from a bandit gang, how in the world did a single gang ever get this much people under it’s banner?
Yet another flash of lightning drove away the darkness for a few seconds, revealing the rider’s face. A smile could be seen flitting across the young woman’s features. “Oh come now, surely a little wind and rain are of no concern to a stout steed such as yourself. Besides,” She went on with her little, imaginary conversation, “I can see the castle from here.”
Patting the beast once more, her eyes turned serious again as they darted around, never resting on a single spot for more than a second. As they, at long last, crossed the town gates, the clouds started to dissipate and the sun found its way through the cracks.
“Does any of you know if Erin will make it?” The burly man asked his companions as they made their way over the meeting spot. “I don’t know Xaver. We can only hope she will. You know how it goes.” Abigail answered her friends question. “Yeah, but if she ain’t here… well… Miles was too busy to join us.” Maggie chimed in. “I dunno… it’s like we never get together anymore you know Abby?”
Xaver nodded as he agreed. “Yes, exactly! Although I suppose that does leaves more food for us though.” Shaking her head Abigail could only sigh. “Excellent show of priorities there Xaver.” The three of them laughed as they sat down underneath the tree where they always met on this day.
After preparing the food and exchanging some banter, all three of them gazed at the castle gates. “I guess she ain’t coming then.” Xaver said with a hint of disappointment in his voice. “Who’s not coming?” Startled at the familiar voice, they looked up at the tree. “Erin! When did you sneak past us?”
Laughing heartily Erin threw back her cowl and jumped down from the branch she was laying on, landing on her feet lightly. Pointing towards several horses grazing, she grinned. “Actually, Colt and I have been here for two hours now. I just decided a little extra sleep would be nice. Hardly had a chance to sleep for a few days now.”
It was only after she said it, that the others noticed the bags underneath her eyes. “Though to be honest, Colt did most of the work of course. At least I could doze off in the saddle a few times. The poor guy has been walking almost non-stop to get me here in time.”
Sitting down once more, the four of them exchanged stories and laughter as they ate. Erin couldn’t help but feel glad she made it here in time for this day. Seeing her old childhood friends again always made her feel like she had come home.
Maybe it was because the four, or five if one counted Miles, of them grew up together in these very wards. Whatever the reason, castle Aldgate was the only place, aside from the Ranger Stations, where she felt she could drop her guard. As the sun set, and they had finished exchanging tales of their lives Erin yawned as she got up.
“I probably should go find a place to sleep. As great as it is, I’ll probably be on my way again before dawn.” Shaking her head, Abbigail grabbed her friends arm. “I’m sure the Baron has a spare room you could use Erin. Besides, why don’t you stay a day or two longer? The Harvest Feast begins tomorrow after all.” The others nodded their agreement. “Besides, you haven’t even seen Miles yet! You can’t leave without saying at least hello to him. The poor guy was devastated that he had to help the master librarian today.” Looking at her horse, Erin agreed. “Oh alright, Colt has earned some rest anyway.”
Her eyes opened wide as she jumped out of bed and ran for the window. A red glow could be seen from the city, and people were screaming. “A raid? Here?” Without hesitating, Erin put on her clothes in a matter of seconds and grabbed her weapons before running to the battlements.
Grabbing an arrow, she nocked it and scanned the surroundings. Spotting a target, she let go of the string sending the arrow away with a vicious hiss. Mowing down several more bandits this way, a single sound made her duck out of the way as a sword passed but mere inches over her head.
She could see the terror in the bandits eyes as he realized he was facing a Ranger, but before either of them could react, the bandit slumped and fell down as Xaver pulled his blade out of the man’s back. “Thanks Xaver.” Her friend grinned grimly. “Can’t let you have all the fun now can I?”
Turning their gaze back towards the burning city, Xaver asked the very question she wanted to ask as the bandits were overrunning the defenses. “So… what do we do now?” Glancing to her friend, Erin wished she had an answer for him. Never mind the fact the raid was being carried out with much more sophistication then expected from a bandit gang, how in the world did a single gang ever get this much people under it’s banner?
' Bloody heck, two jobs and a BUNCH of kerfuffle later, and I'm back AGAIN.