Missions(Houdiniderek & Silvarn)

[jada]

Narvas came back to wake Lyndi up. He kicked her lightly in the side as she slept at the base of a tree. She stirred a little but remained sound asleep for the most part. She kicked her hard now. She was his slave for a year and she would obey.

"Ouch!" she cried, feeling his foot hit her hard in the side. She rolled over and sat up. She help her shide softly. She was definatly going to bruise. "Mind not kicking so hard?!" She shouted at him.

"Beautiful," He said softly reaching down and takeing her hands. He pulled her up off the ground so she was standing in front of him. "You are mine and you will do as I wish, I wanted you to wake so I made you awaken."

The way he said it, just softly, sweetly, made Lyndi want to hit him so bad. No, not hit him, tear him to pieces was more like it. He spoke to her like she was his lover.

"I may have to do anything you want me too for a year, but that doesn't mean you couldn't be nicer about things, and that doesn't include the way you talk to me. For example, I AM NOT GOING TO STAND YOU CALLING ME BEAUTIFUL! and saying it like I'm your lover, ugh get real!" Lyndi spat at him.

"I will make you another deal... I will stop calling you beautiful, and stop talking to you in that way and I will be a little nicer, if you work with me, meaning you refrain from yelling all the time, and you do what I say without comment."

"Never! I would like to be able to speak freely, thank you very much."

"That unfortunatly for you is not your choice to make." He smiled darkly at her.

"I'm not makeing any deals with you, end of disscussion," She snapped.

"Fine beautiful, then you will just have to deal with my torments." He said softly again.

Lyndi rolled her eyes and pulled away from him," Ok so what was the big deal in wakeing me up, I thought I was being rewarded?"

"You were, and now your reward is over, it's time for you to get back to work."

She glared at him with pure hatered. Now she knew why Silvarn had been trying to kill him, and why he wanted to run away so bad, no body would want to be in his presence. Before Narvas even asked Lyndi shifted and started trying to find Silvarn's scent. Although she was out of luck. his scent had fadded with time and she could tell he had gotten away fast his scent was hardly there, and soon enough it was gone. She couldn't follow the scent anymore. He had run so fast that the scent had never been thick enough to stick to anything for long.

Lyndi shifted back into her elven form,"He's long gone, I've lost his scent."

"Don't lie to me, he was so close about two hours ago and he just disappeared?!"

"Yeah he can run amazingly fast his scent didn't stick on anything. I can't-"

*smack*

Tears welled in Lyndi's eyes and she kneeled down on the ground holding her now red cheek. The tears spilled over and she bit her lip as she could feel the sting.

Narvas's face was red with anger and he had taken it out on Lyndi by smacking her," Stupid girl! You will find him, and you won't rest or eat until you do!"

"But I don't know when I'll find him again! I may not even be able to find his scent for days!" She cried. She started to cry harder and she covered her whole face. No food and sleep? She wouldn't live much longer. She just hopped the same wouldn't happen to her friends.

"Your own problem beautiful."

Lyndi pushed herself off the ground and wipped her tears away as best she could. she shifted into a wolf again, maybe she could find Kerodi and he could help. Maybe she could go back to the Inn and follow his scent. Eventually she would run into Silvarn. Besides, she sent Silvarn to go find Kerodi. She raced away back towards the inn.

About an hour later she was almost to the Inn she could see it, just a few more steps and she would be out of the forest in the tiny village.

*Buzzz

she collapsed on the ground as a shock wave was sent through her. She cruled up in a ball and waited for the pain to pass.

"I told you the braclet would zap you if you got to far away from me. Now beautiful, stay close and I will reward you." Narvas said almost laughing.

She growled in annoyance at him and pushed herself slowly back up. She stayed close to him, all she could think about was a possible reward. She prayed it was food, he had to give her food. She had to find Kerodi's scent, it was her ony chance. She sniffed around and finally caught it at the stable next to the inn. He had taken a horse, and it headed west towards Tamasha Village. She got a good scent of the exact horse and looked up to Narvas. She hid in the corner of the stable and shifted into her elven form," I think he is headed towards Tamasha."

"Then my beautiful, let's head the ourselves. You will be my mount." She ordered her.

She shifted into a brown horse. He stole a sadle and reins and secureed them on her. She tried to object by bucking a little and he got a whip out. She backed away from him and he tucked it under his arm,"I won't use it if you cooperate."

Lyndi stood still and let him saddle her, then he climbed up and wheeled her around,"Complete control over you feels wonderful." he smiled to himself and Lyndi's hatred grew.

He kicked her hard in the side and she winced but took off at a full gallop. It was harder for her to follow Kerodi and his horses scent in this form but it wasn't impossible. She sighed and pressed on, this was going to be a long journey.

[HoudiniDerek]

Kerodi had rode the horse hard through the first day. The first night found him camped on the banks of the Lonea again and eating a cold meal, he slept for a few hours. He knew the horse was tired, but would have to go on for the long trek. Maybe that three day ride could be shortened to two. He was already farther along than he could have imagined, which was good from his perspective.

He awoke a few hours after laying down and prepared the horse to ride hard again. He slapped the reins to the horse and took off once again, the miles flying out behind him and his billowing robes.

***************************

In the early hours of the next morning, Kerodi and the horse walked into Tamasha. The horse had been game the whole way and had at least dog trotted most of the night...and the previous day with only a couple hours of rest. Kerodi stopped at a stable on the near side of town and arranged the horse to be boarded there.

He walked through the buzzing metropolis and went to a small lady who was selling muffins from a stand. He bought one and inquired politely where one might find a house for sale. She pointed obliquely and Kerodi tossed her another coin for the information.

Three hours later, the innkeepers new life was arranged and word had been left at the stable. Kerodi was feeling exhausted. He had been awake the past few days on pure grit alone...hardly using any magic, knowing he would need it in the journey ahead. He went to the small inn on this side of town, ordered a meal and ate. Maybe the food would restore the energy and would allow him to move on beyond Tamasha today.

After eating, he went and bought some more supplies, Kerodi went to a stable on the far side of town. It was nearing midafternoon by the time he arrived. A dark black stallion snorted in welcome. Kerodi walked over and patted him on the mane.

"I see you are well taken care of, Onyx. Probably hoped to never see me again, right?" Kerodi laughed heartily and led Onyx out of his corral. He saddled him and loaded his gear. He was back early, but the stable owner would not care...he had made a good sum off of the caring for the horse.

Kerodi climbed into the saddle and walked Onyx into the street. They were on the edge of town and the Ularian Ridge was looming to the left; the Selkia to the right. "We have a hard ride ahead of us old friend. We will be riding fast and hard for several days." Kerodi walked Onyx to the edge of town.

He looked around, realizing that being with Silvarn and Lyndi had been nice, but hopefully there would be time later...if they lived that long. Kerodi saw that there were several hours before dark. He started Onyx galloping hard down the path...headed northeast.

"Oh and Onyx, Sansrin will meet us somewhere on the way!" Kerodi called to the smoothly striding horse. Onyx snorted, Kerodi laughed, and they continued to ride. Hours later, they were miles from Tamasha.

[Silvarn]

The man winced as the wood frame of the house splintered slightly beneath his head. He opened his eyes unwillingly, fearful of that feral face before him.

"You know something, and you are not telling me!" the grey-clad stranger snarled.

"Nor shall you ever find out, you beast!" the man shot back.

"Is that so? Well, I have my methods." the stranger let the man drop to the floor, clutching his neck in agony. The gred-robe walked over to one of the clucking hens nearby. He grabbed the chicken, holding it by the legs, and he flared with light blue light. He slapped the other hand against the hen's body and, with one final squack, it erupted into a flurry of fleathers, leaving behind a nicely-breaded meal.

"I can do the same to you," the grey one threatened. He turned to the man, his palm radiating red light, smelling strongly of boiling oil.

The man gasped as it came within an inch of his face. "He hid it! I swear I don't know where! I swear, I swear!"

"On what?" the grey one growled.

"On, on...oh, please don't kill me like that!"

"Oh...? Then, how about this?" The grey one touched two fingers to his forehead, glaring at the other man.

"N-n-NO! Not that! By whatever gods there are, make it stop! AAAGH!!"

"Tell me where he hid it, and I shall consider it."

"In grotto somewhere near Blaze Mountain, now stop!"

He is lying, you realize this. a sneering voice echoed in the grey one's mind.

"That you for your cooperation." the grey one let the man drop to the floor in a quivering pile. "I was jsut trying to give you enough time."

All I got were some mental images. Nothing much to go by, but it is a start. And it is definitely not around any sort of a volcano.

"You're as bad as he is, stranger." the man, one hand clutching his throat, the other his head.

"What did you say?" the grey one's face went livid, his eyes blazing with ire.

"I said, you are the same as Navras. A monster!" the man yelled.

The grey one's lip twitched, then with the speed of a thunderclap, he dashed at the other man and kicked him through the wooden wall and into a particularly busy street, occupied mainly with horses. The grey one slipped quietly through a back door before the clamor on the street discovered him.

[jada]

Lyndi had galloped all day and night, not stopping for anything. By the time they reached the edge of the forest to Tamasha, Narvas pulled on the reins and let Lyndi stop. He climbed off and removed the saddle and reins.

Lyndi shifted into her elven form and collapsed. She barley caught herself and even then she let her arms fold in so she could just lay on the ground.

"Sorry beautiful, I probably should have let you have a break. Sleep now and eat when you awaken, you deserve it." He had his usual soft, sweet tone.

She was quickly overcome by sleep.

***

She awoke about noon, and sat up slowly. She yawned and stretched. Narvas had been watching her, but he seemed far away in deep thought almost. Seeing her wake up snapped him back into reality.

"Nice sleep beautiful?"

"Ugh! Sure..." She rolled her eyes and looked away.

He of course came over and grabbed her arms and pulled her so she was standing up. She swayed and he tightened his grip on her arms. "I'll have to remeber to feed you and let you rest next time. I really can't have you so weak, it just won't due."

"I'm SO glad there is going to be a next time..." She said sarcastically.

"I do own you for a year, don't forget that beautiful."

"Yeah, right. Can I get some food now?" she said rolling her eyes again. She was his slave but she wasn't going to make things easy for him.

He narrowed his eyes and her and released his grip. Lyndi hadn't expected that and she fell back to the ground rather hard. She hadn't realised he was supporting her weight.

Her body ached from the long hard ride. No horse had ever gone faster, although it was different for her because she wasn't just a horse, she had more power.

Narvas reached in the side poket on the saddle and brought out a small thing of food. He set it down in front of Lyndi,"eat up beautiful."

"Can you at least be more creative? about calling me beautiful. You can't call me lovely or darling or something every once in a while?"

"No because lovely would refer to me as think of you in a loveing and careing way, and darling would almost be as if we were married, and I think of you in neither way, so I think beautiful works." He gave a cruel smile.

"I'm SO glad I'm not your type." she said bittrerly

Now it was his turn to roll his eyes. "Eat and sleep some more, as soon as you are fit to go again we will keep moveing. We must find Silvarn, and he will not escape my clutches this time."

Lyndi scarfed down her food, and sleep came easily. Once she was rested she shifted back into a horse and was saddled again. Narvas clibed on her and she trotted into Tamasha. She could deffinatly smell Kerodi. She knew his scent well now. It was stronger and freasher, he had left here abotu a day ago which meant she was catching up. There was no sign of Silvarn though. Lyndi followed Kerodi's scent all through town and ended up by a stable at the southern end of town. She neighed to a few other horses and figured out the Kerodi had come by here, and he picked up a black stallion. She walked around a bit and memorized the stallions scent and soon enough Lyndi was leaveing Tamasha behind.

They hadn't gone too far when Narvas pulled on the reins to slow Lyndi down. She halted and he jumped off. He patted her mane,"You have done well today. You need some rest because we will travel hard tommorrow. Besides I can tell you are still not quite recovered from yesterday. He pulled off the reins and Saddle. Lyndi shifted into her elven form. She turned away from Narvas. She was grateful he was being nicer to her, but deep down it scarred her. She knew he was pure evil, and evil was never nice unless they had something planned. That thought made Lyndi jumped back to earlier that day, Narvas had been deep in thought...what about? She let it slide away and consentrated on finding a soft spot to sleep.

Lyndi curled up next to a tree. She closed her eyes but she wasn't fully alseep yet when she felt a warm coat slide over her. She opened her eyes slightly and saw Narvas standing over her. He had taken off his long over robe and layed it on Lyndi. "Why...?" She asked softly, she was so tired.

"Shh, sleep beautiful." He wispered.

Then Lyndi's world fadded.

[HoudiniDerek]

Kerodi was nuzzled awake by Onyx only an hour or so after laying down to grab some sleep. Kerodi opened his eyes and patted the stallion's mane. "I doubt you were doing that to see if I was dead," Kerodi grumbled goodnaturedly as he sat up. "What is it, boy?"

Onyx snorted and shook his head up towards the sky. Kerodi looked and saw that a giant winged creature was winging towards him quickly, coming from the glare of the moonlight. Kerodi stood up and brushed off his robes. "Thanks, Onyx," he murmered, walking to the edge of the small clearing they had stopped to rest on.

The bird landed gracefully in front of Kerodi, ignoring Onyx who snorted with displeasure. The bird walked resplendently over to Kerodi and nodded its head. It was a large toucan...found only in the deepest parts of the Selkia. Kerodi had met this tribe one day with Sansrin when he had been exploring the bogs in the farthest most reaches. Kerodi nodded back and waited.

The bird accepted the nod and dropped a scroll at Kerodi's feet. Kerodi picked it up and the bird took flight again, flying back the way it had come. Kerodi whipped open the scroll and read it...his face intense with excitement. A few moments later, it dropped into a scowl. He folded the scroll back up and whistled to Onyx.

"How do you feel about getting hot under the collar with me, old fella?" Kerodi asked dryly. Kerodi climbed into the saddle and they raced away to the northeast again. It had been a week since he had left Tamasha....

[Silvarn]

Silvarn pressed his fingertips lightly together in front of his face. The inn's other patrons passed by in an incomprehensible blur, their faces and business unimportant, irrelevant.

He had some clues as to where the the Tome lay hidden. The first time he had found it, he needed another to help him in the correct direction. Namely, revealing the entrance to the Temple of the Twisted Mirror. In this escapade, nothing had changed.

I think Navras should lose points for his lack of originality. Scorcahr suddenly interjected.

"Oh? And why is that?" Silvarn mumbled to his hands.

He always keeps the Tome in dark, gloomy, foreboding places. Kind of like your personality.

"Thank you for comparing me to that monster. Again."

So...are we going to get this started so we can finish before harvest?

"Not yet. Let me think for a little while longer."

It had been nearly three months since his escape from Navras and Lyndi's enslavement by the same entity that had once enslaved him.

Silvarn absent-mindedly brushed a clump of his silver hair from his like-colored eyes. His train of thought kept running into dead-ends. Why was Navras not dead? Why was he, himself, not dead? Why would Navras send him careening through the universe, only to meet with him here, in Valear? What was it about Valear that was so special?

Silvarn's mind-paths finally condensed into one. He had to learn the lore of this world, how it was different from all the different planes he had visited. To do that, he needed Kerodi's help, as he seemed to be knowledgeable on the subject. But, if he abandoned his search for the Tome now, there would be no stopping the Twisted Mirror in a chance encounter.

The first thing he had to was find the bloody Tome and figure out how to lock it again. That way, Navras would be unable to access the Tome's secrets and be significantly weakened. Perhaps enough so that Silvarn would be able to fend him off. Hopefully.

[HoudiniDerek]

Kerodi poured water over the dregs of his fire and whistled to Onyx. The horse trotted over, still munching on some grass from the edge of the forest. Kerodi looked much older and more worn for the wear, but his eyes still showed the determination he often felt when frustrated or baulked by things he did not understand.

Kerodi hitched up his knapsack and climbed into the saddle. Onyx shook his head and started to canter away towards the mountains that were finally within reach. As Onyx trotted along, Kerodi thought back to the adventures of the last few weeks and wondered where Lyndi and Silvarn were at the moment.

He had been about a week outside of Tamasha when the toucans had visited him. A couple of days later, he had met up with one of the trolls of the Ularian Ridge. Another scroll; more bad news. He had also been concerned that he had heard nothing from Lyndi and Silvarn. Hopefully they were still together, but you could never be sure.

Kerodi had deviated from his original course. He had no idea what Navras was like or what might happen, but trying to randomize his destination and intent might be best. He had ridden into the Ularian Ridge: his home for the last several years. He knew most of the trails and had ridden them all. He had started using them, no matter where they were going. Several times he reused trails. It was not that he was worried about being followed, but sometimes caution is the better part of valor.

They had been in the Ularian Ridge the better part of a month. It had been a week since he was supposed to have met up with Lyndi and Silvarn in Tamasha. Hopefully, they had realized he would not be there and gone into hiding. Maybe they would check back...they might try to find him. Either way, Kerodi would not be heading back that way for quite some time.


He had spent the last week riding in and out of the Selkia, working slowly to get towards the rim of mountains that surrounded Blaze Mountain...the home of the ruins where Kerodi had told Silvarn they should look first. Blaze Mountain had always been an unknown to most people. Kerodi knew that people lived there, but it was very rare at times...even under the best circumstances and strongest of magics. It would be here that the magic would be strongest to help Silvarn...here or in the Desert to the north of Tamasha.

Kerodi looked at the mountains growing ever closer and knew that it would take another couple of weeks to get that far. Onyx seemed to be in good shape and that would help. Sansrin had not returned, but Kerodi was not worried yet. He had had the hardest job to date...but that was likely to change. Thinking of Sansrin, Kerodi shielded his eyes and searched the sky. Nothing. Frowning, Kerodi urged Onyx into a run and they raced towards the mountains in the distance.

[jada]

When she awoke her stomach growled. She could feel how empty it was because it was painful. Surprisingly she could smell food. She sat up and next to her Narvas sat on a blanket with a large offering of food in front of him. He smiled at her,"Come eat beautiful."

She eyed him suspiciously but she didn't refuse his offer. She sat across from him and selfishly grabbed food and ate everything she could.

"Did I not promise to be nicer?" he questioned her.

Lyndi stopped showing her face with food for a moment," Yes you did, but I still don't have to trust everything you do."

"You know I could easily make your life a living hell? Like I did for Silvarn. I undestand why he is running, I am a cruel person, but I am giving you kindness, and you still look at me in that certian way, that defying way. I don't understand why, and I don't care, but know that if you continue to do it, you will be living in hell." His voice changed to a threatening tone.

Lyndi looked down. Her spirit was shot down. She was going to have to do things by his rules. What he said really made Lyndi think about how much power he had. She started eating again, slower now.

Narvas ignored her and stood up. He slowly circled the blanket she sat on. His mind was somewhere else, plotting.

Lyndi ate until she could eat no more. She layed back and streched out on the blanket and sighed. He stomach felt odd being full for the first time in a few days.

Lyndi felt herself drifting into sleep as she felt the warmth of a cloak spread over her. She smiled at the warmth and quickly melted into sleep.

Narvas saw her smile and had to smile a little himself. She was a beautiful girl, too bad she wasn't going to live past the next year. She would make a wonderful assistant, but she would never compare to his power and she could be quite useless at times.

Narvas let her drop in his head, he needed to get down to more important things. He needed to find Silvarn, to stop him from gaining more power and to enslave him again. he was a very intertaining fellow. Narvas was also concentraiting on this other "friend" Lyndi had mentioned. Who were they? Where are they now? What are they doing? These questions laughed at Narvas, and spat in his face. He scowled at the ground which he was staring at.

Naravas needed a plan. He had a simple plan before inorder to recapture Silvarn, but the more he thought about it the more Silvarn may not care for the girl or he may know what Narvas was already planning.

The plan was the Narvas would threaten to kill her unless Silvarn traded his life as a slave for her life to live, but Silvarn may see through Narvas or he may not care so much for the girl, either way she was just a piece of the game he could afford to lose. She didn't matter much as of now. Narvas still needed to find his tome before Silvarn did. He knew Silvarn was looking for it, because Silvarn knows it's the only way to stop Narvas.

Narvas was a little nervous, Silvarn was a smart fellow, it wouldn't take him long to figure out where the tome was, getting there would take time. Narvas only had time counting against him, and soon enough the odds wouldn't be in his favor anymore...

[Silvarn]

I really do not see the point in books. Scorcahr whined.

"Oh? And why is that?"

If something is not important enough to be remembered in your skull, then it is better you have forgotten it.

"I see."

You really do not care about my opinion at all, do you?

"Not in the slightest."

Then the feeling is mutual.

"Any luck on the librarian?"

She may be old and dusty like these books, but I can hardly tell the difference between her and the dead cat in the corner.

"There is nothing in these books about that Tome. Absolutely nothing. Not even strange medical records. Apparently, insanity is more difficult to come by in Valear than in Creation."

I doubt that. Scorcahr snickered.

"You do not dare. Leave that poor old woman alone. She reminds me of Biddy."

That old hag? Bah, whatever. I will go torture the small children at the work table.

"Have at it."

Silvarn threw the book down on the table with a bit of disgust as he felt Scorcahr's presence leave his mind. Not a single clue other than the deranged man's pictoral mental snapshots. The images were scattered, unorganized. Silvarn had spent countless hours trying to find each location, trying to sort them into a coherent pattern. Try as he might, though, to solution presented itself.

He rose and replaced the book into its vacancy on the shelf. He exited the library and returned to the inn to turn in early. The unconscious had a miraculous talent of working on problems, even during slumber.

[HoudiniDerek]

Kerodi warmed his hands over the smokeless fire he had built in a small copse of aspen at the base of Blaze Mountain...right on the fringe of the Selkia. He had heard from all of his contacts in the various parts of Valear except one...and this contact was likely to be the hardest to find. Kerodi knew that Sansrin would do the best he could, but he also knew there was no guarantee.

Kerodi watched Onyx for a few moments and then turned his attention to the scrolls he had collected. He had sent Sansrin out to all of his friends and allies in the land...asking them to send their oldest tomes and references about Valear to him. He had told them that there was no need to worry...and they had believed him. After all, what are friends for?

After having read the varying accounts, Kerodi was not so certain that they should have trusted him. Most of the lore he knew and he had explored the different accounts over the years. The scroll from the toucans had contained some new knowledge, but was not confirmed by any of the others. Could it be trusted?

Kerodi let his eyes gaze skyward again. Tomorrow, he would be riding Onyx onto Blaze Mountain. He needed Sansrin to return some time before that happened. Blaze Mountain was endless and treacherous...even more so to some degree than the Ularian Ridge...and the Ridge was much more massive overall.

"Where are you, Sansrin?" Kerodi muttered to himself. He arranged his knapsack behind his head and laid down to get some sleep. Tomorrow would come soon enough...but in the three months he had been gone from the other two...would it be soon enough to help?

***************************

Sansrin winged down to a bluff overlooking the Selkia Forest. He had just completed his mission a couple of days ago and had gone looking. As usual, Kerodi was not where he had thought he would be at the time. Sansrin had backtracked to Tamasha and found that Onyx was gone. From there, Sansrin had flown to the home in the Ularian Ridge and rested...to no avail.

Now, Sansrin was on one of the highest bluffs of the Blaze Mountain and was looking below. Far below, at the base of one of the peaks, was a twinkling fire. Sansrin's eyes picked it out immediately. Tired, but determined, Sansrin left his perch and slowly began to spiral down to the fire below.

[jada]

(sorry this is short. I have a question too. When do we want them all to meet up again?O and how do you spell the bad guys name? because I think I'm still spelling ti wrong.)

Lyndi woke up slowly. She for some unknown reason just remebered the blue stone with a funny mark on it Kerodi had given her. It was the last time she had seen him, but he had said he didn't want to split up and if she was in danger to break the stone.

Lyndi had to think. How could she warn Kerodi when Narvas was looking for him too? Narvas would surely catch onto her if they came anywhere near Kerodi. Tracking him was getting tireing, his horse could really move!

And then it hit Lyndi, "Maybe I can crack the stone and leave a note, after all it will only lead Kerodi to the stone not me. Then I can lead Narvas away and Kerodi would still be safe." She thought to herself. She sighed happily, not that it was a happy thought, but at least she was helping her friends, she would keep Narvas occupied long enough for them to find the power they needed to destroy him. Now she had to leave her plan behind in a note so Kerodi would know what she had planned...

[HoudiniDerek]

Kerodi heard Onyx snort and sat upright, bringing his staff protectively in front of him. His sharp eyes picked out the dark shape of Onyx on the far side of the clearing, tail lazily swatting at flies that dared to invade his space. Confused, Kerodi looked up and saw that a dark shape was winging in and out of the shadows of the mountain that the moon was creating.

Standing, Kerodi whistled and watched happily as the dark form became a hurtling bullet towards the ground. The dark shape pulled up at the level of the treetops and descended, landing on the ground by the fire. Sansrin folded his wings and bobbed his head politely.

Onyx grunted and Sansrin shrieked in his ear-splitting way; the animosity between them quite real at times. Kerodi sighed and signaled for them to both be quiet. They could enjoy their fake fighting later. Kerodi bowed to Sansrin and Sansrin dropped a scroll at Kerodi's feet.

Slowly, Kerodi picked it up and unrolled it. This was the scroll he had been waiting on since he had dispatched Sansrin a couple of months ago. It was from the one person who knew Blaze Mountain and its history better than anyone alive: Kimara Severn.

Kimara Severn was an old hermit that lived on the peak of Blaze Mountain. Much like Kerodi, Kimara Severn had traveled widely, but it was said that Kimara knew more than any man or woman alive because Kimara had been there from the start. Kerodi was not sure how much of it was true, but Sansrin had been designated to work with Kerodi by the old hermit years ago...and Sansrin had done so ever since.

Kerodi was relieved that Sansrin had found Kimara. Kimara did not look male or female so everyone refered to Kimara as Kimara rather than he or she because no one knew. Kerodi knew that this history would be accurate, even if he was unable to comprehend the language of it. Kerodi also knew that it was useless to go in search of Kimara. Kimara would find you if so inclined.

Kerodi looked at the scroll. It was a very ancient dialect, one he had not seen before...or at least not for some time. That would make it harder. Kerodi probably had a cipher in his lodging, but to get it and translate it might take another month, especially being careful not to run afoul of Navras. Luckily, Navras did not know about him...hopefully.

Kerodi had some information and he needed to translate it. It might help Silvarn and Valear...but should he translate first or find them? He had periodically checked his identical rune stone, but Lyndi had not broken hers yet. It was well that she had not because he had no idea how much help he might be depending on the trouble. He had not done a more in-depth search to see where her and Silvarn were because he had not needed to know.

Now he wondered if he should. It would take some energy, but he could rest tonight and decide his course of action tomorrow. He pondered it while looking at the scroll again. He decided to wait to make any decisions until morning. He thanked Sansrin and asked him to be readily available for the next few weeks. Sansrin bobbed his head in acknowledgment, shrieked at Onyx, and flew to perch in one of the surrounding trees. Onyx merely grunted and continued grazing. Kerodi smiled and lay back down to sleep.

[jada]

Lyndi had found a small village thanks to her nose. She transformed from a fox back into her elven form.

"Find anything beautiful?" Narvas asked.

"I think he stopped here," Lyndi lied. She could feel the braclet sting her arm with the lie but she let it sting and didn't let the pain show, as long as it didn't show, Narvas was clueless to her lies.

"Is he here now?"

"No, he's definatly gone but I can ask which way he was headed, and maybe...we can stay at the inn for a night?"

"Yes, go on, I'll be there...later." Narvas walked off back into the forest. Lyndi let him go and took off for the town.

All she could think of was WARN KERODI. She slipped into the inn, which was also part Tavern. Lyndi went straight for the counter. A young man greeted her with a smile,"Hello can I help you?"

"If you can find me parchment and a pen" She smilied back.

"I can do anything for someone as beautiful as you."

Lyndi had nothing to say, she just blushed. He was pretty handsom, but she had no room for a relationship right now, and she didn't want to put other people in danger. He disappeared for a few minutes and came back with what she asked for.

"Thanks."

"No problem. Can I ask your name?"

"You can ask it but I won't tell." She teased him. Lyndi left the counter and went to a lone table in the corner of the Tavern. She wrote Kerodi everything her needed to know:

Kerodi,

I'm so sorry, just shortly after I left you Narvas found me, I'm his slave now, but I keep decieveing him and finding ways around his words, I'm not sure how long I can hold him off, but he knows that someone is helping me and Silvarn, but he doesn't know it's you. It could be anyone, I told him I was tracking you and in truth I was, but I think I'm going to lead him far away now, someplace where he will have no clues as to where to find you or Silvarn, I'm so sorry for becomming his slave, I thought I was helping and he tricked me, please stay safe and forgive me, and p.s. Silvarn is ok, I'm not sure where he's at I had to distract Narvas, he came close to catching Silvarn, but like I said he is safe and somewhere that I don't know. Be safe.

Lyndi


Lyndi folded up her letter, and headed back to the counter. The young man smiled at her," decide to tell me your name?"

"If you do me a favor?"

"anything for your name."

"Follow me."
Lyndi lead him to the back of the inn where she showed him her letter. She didn't let him read it.

"So what it's a letter? What's your favor?"

"I need you to make sure my friend gets this. It's very important and no one must read it or my life is at stake. I figured I could trust you because, well you seem like you like me so I assume you want me to live."

"Of course, I'll give it to your friend, who is he and what's he look like."

"make sure his name is Kerodi and to test to see if it's him ask him who Sansrin is. The awnser is his bird."

"Ok, funny way to find a fellow, but I'll do it. and now can I have your name."

"Lyndi"

"It's beautiful like you."

Lyndi sighed. Narvas had completely ruined the word.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"No someone else did. I'm sorry I have to go. Take care and don't read that letter or let anyone know you have it except my friend, or my life is at stake."

"Promise." He grabbed her hand just before she could get away, and pulled it up to his lips and kissed it lightly. "Be safe, and don't forget about me?"

"Never, your kindness it too great." she smilied at him. She almost forgot..."One more thing..." She took out the stone Kerodi had given her and cracked it in half," here, give this to Kerodi when you find him, he'll know it was really me you talked to. Thanks again." Then she disappeared into the forest.

[HoudiniDerek]

Kerodi stiffly got down from the back of Onyx and stretched his back and legs. He had chosen to ride extra hard the last two days in order to reach his cabin in good time. As he stretched, he thought back over the last month. He was glad Sansrin was back to help him at times and that made it easier. He knew that Onyx did not care for the bird at times, but they were helpful to him so they kept their peace...most of the time.

He had decided to try and find the cipher first and then do the in-depth search for Lyndi and Silvarn. The stone had not glowed and that was helpful in making his decision. He unfurled his knapsack and unsaddled Onyx and fed him and stuff at the stable out back. He wanted Onyx to be ready once he had translated the scroll from Kimara.

Sansrin shrieked and headed into the sparse forest above Kerod's place. He would be resting too in case he was needed again. Kerodi smiled and headed inside, his knapsack on his back. He opened the cabin...and noted with satisfaction that only a small layer of dust was on his table. Everything else had not become musty either. The high altitude helped with that and Kerodi was glad. He dropped the knapsack on the table...a slight puff of dust raising.

Sitting on the bed, Kerodi lay back and slept. Maybe tomorrow would put him more in the mood to search his library for the cipher. Right now, he just needed sleep. His mind, comfortable in the cabin, mellowed easily and he went to sleep quickly.

******************************

Kerodi awoke early the next morning, amazed he had slept for nearly thirteen hours. He washed and did some laundry from his knapsack while his morning meal was cooking. He greeted Onyx and Sansrin and headed inside. It was hard to believe from here that there was such a being as Navras running rampant in Valear.

After breakfast, Kerodi opened his library door, which was guarded by some old spells he had been taught. It took him a while and it was nearing noon by the time he emerged again, carrying an old book that was still looking new although it was probably one of the first books ever written in Valear.

He had stumbled across it years ago in a set of ruins in Blaze Mountain. Kimara had confirmed it for him and said that while the language was old, it was still very accurate for something written at the time. Kerodi dusted it off and headed to the table, which was now dusted. Kerodi pulled out the scroll and sat down.

Opening the scroll, he took a deep breath and opened the book. The languages were similar, but not exactly the same. Sighing, Kerodi realized that this might take a while. This was a very archaic form of what appeared to be the elvin language of Loreina. The language was extinct overall, but Kerodi knew that Kimara probably spoke it or at least understood it. It had been years since Kerodi had learned to cipher it so this would make it hard.

Kerodi sat back and was glad that he was at home. It would be much easier to cipher it at his own pace and in his own home than it would have been traipsing about Valear anyway. Shaking his head and ruffling his hair, Kerodi sat forward and prepared to start the ciphering.

At that moment, the rune stone in his pocket began to glow brightly and burn against the inside of his thigh. "Ugh," Kerodi groaned. He should have known.

**********************

Half an hour later, Kerodi had resealed his magic vault, including the Kimara scroll inside it. He had repacked his knapsack and grabbed some food to eat. He had apologized to Onyx and whistled to Sansrin. He would use the simple method of finding the stone at the moment: The touch technique.

He worked his personal magic so that he would lose mass and Sansrin could carry him. Night was falling so Kerodi explained how to follow the stone in the dark to Sansrin. Sansrin shrieked understanding as Kerodi climbed aboard. Kerodi put the rune stone in Sansrin's beak and off they took. The moon was before him as he flew south out of the Ularian Ridge back towards the extensive canopy of the Selkia Forest.I don't care when we all meet up again. The time frame is the same as Silvarn's now. 3 months have passed. Once we decide to meet up again or where, we can work on concluding this thread so we can start another. Does that work for both of you? We can always PM each other these ideas too. ;) -

[jada]

Lyndi ran back into the forest. Where Navras was waiting.

"Beautiful what took you so long? Plotting my defeat?"

"Maybe." Lyndi mumbled bitterly.

Navras glared at her and Lyndi looked away. She transformed into a horse without a word and Navras swung up onto her back. Lynd had to ride quick and hard to get far away from here, Kerodi would be comming. She galloped away deeper into the forest. She had to come up with a way to keep Navras sidetracked.