Scarlett nodded mutely, not trustioth her fearng herself to speak without revealing both her fear and doubt over the whole situation. She just...just needed to concerntrate. Thats all. She shook her head, thinking of the day she started out here. <i>Always complications</i>, she mused. She was glad she wasn't alone. Well, as far as it meant she wasn't going to be fighting alone. The thought terrified her, so she pushed it away, and concerntrated once again on her riding.

Kandyl frowned. the sound of cavalry still wasn't there, but there was something else. <i>Scouts?</i> he wondered. They weren't going to escape this alive if they just kept running... and Nightshade was relelentless. It was time for a different plan. He sighed, "We can't keep running. We should stop, and fight if we can."
Scarlett frowned at him. "They outnumber us. We'll be surrounded in seconds... I don't need to be a soldier to see that," she added, seeing his expression.

_________________

"The cavalry is not with them," Rane said softly. "From what I can tell, they are some distance back." She paused for a moment as if choosing her next words carefully. "I say we fight," she added with some emphasis.

Darius sighed, already knowing that would be her response. Even when they were mere children Rane had always been headstrong-almost as if she had something to prove. But this time, he could not help but agree with Kandyl and Rane. Running was getting them nowhere. "Perhaps we can use these woods to our advantage and set up an ambush," he mused aloud.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Scarlett didn't say anything, but looked over at Kandyl and the others. When Kandyl's expression remained the same, she shook her head.
"An ambush could give us an advantage," Kandyl voiced quietly, "if it worked." He looked over at Darius and Rane, then nodded.
"I think it could work."

_________________

Kyran, the scout who elected himself leader in Starfire's unconsciousness, smiled. They were getting closer even if they had lost time. He couldn't wait to see the look on Starfire's face when she woke up. They would have done the nasty work for her and all she then needed to do was tell Nightshade that they were no longer a proble. But what if Starfire wanted to take care of them? Should he keep a captive and let her kill him? No,that wouldn't make her feel very good. She'd probably want to kill him after that. They might as well just do the work for her. He urged his horse faster. Maybe he would even get promoted.

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Thanks Nurratiel, *Ennostiel*, PD, and Githoniel

"Alright, then we had best take up positions," Rane said as she glanced at both Kandyl and Darius.

Darius glanced behind him once to gage the position of the riders trailing them. "The scouts will probably be upon us soon," Darius added, hearing the hoofbeats growing steady louder.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

OOC: Finally here is my bio. Sorry it took so long.

Name:: Kaiden (May change the name later, but I wanted to get into this before I get left behind.)
Race:: Elf
Age:: 37
Gender:: Male
Attire:: In the image (except ignore the headdress and put the head below that pic on).
Appearance::


Weapons:: He carries three katanas. Two are identical, with black leather wrapping the handles and a tassel hanging off the end. Glenn uses them in conjunction with each other. The other sword is wrapped in red leather. Two of the katanas, one of each type poke above his shoulder, the tasseled one lower. The other is belted at his right hip. He also carries shruikens and knives on his person at most times.
History:: TBA

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

IC: Kaiden had been listening to the conversation about ambushing their persuers. "If it doesn't work, I doubt we'll care because Nightshade won't take us prisoner again. This time she'll just kill us...painfully."

"I suggest we don't let her try." He twisted in his saddel to look behind them. "Someone will need to continue riding the horses forward lest they suspect a trap. That person will not be me." His tone bespoke the fact that nothing was going to change his mind, he wasn't going to run away from a fight no matter how smart running might be.

_________________
Four Gods wait on the windowsill,
Where once eight Gods did war and will,
And if the Gods themselves may die,
What does that say for you and I?

Now, three Gods wait on the windowsill
Where one God's blood was lately spilled
While black tongues lap at the spreading pool
And build the strength they need to rule.

"Nor will it be me," Darius added his tone hardening, showing that he meant business. He then glanced at Rane, hoping that she would do the task. He knew that she was an able fighter, but she was too willful-a trait that nearly led to her death on more than one occasion, and he did not want to lose her.

Rane caught Darius's look and her mouth hardened in determination. "I have not fled from a battle thus far, nor will I do so now." she said stubbornly. She then gave Darius a challenging look, daring him to stop her. "I can fight." she said evenly, making it clear that she too would not continue to flee.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Scarlett watched the conversation unfold for a while, silently. Kandyl had paused in thought, frowning ever-so-slightly. Scarlett nodded.
"If you're going to do this, I'll go ahead. I'm not going to be terribly useful here." she smiled slightly, then returned her thoughts to the approaching party. Her horse veered off course slightly, but she held him in place, muttering what she hoped was soothing words.
Kandyl looked thoughtful again. "I think we have a plan."

_________________

Kylan slowed; the hoofbeats had stopped. After a few long moments they started up again, but it was only one horse. He slowed his horse to a walk, as did the others. He dearly wished they could just get this finished.

Nightshade and the cavalry were continueing at a walk. She knew her daughter would get whatever it was done.

(Sorry for the short post, I have to go.))

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Thanks Nurratiel, *Ennostiel*, PD, and Githoniel

Scarlett nodded once to the soldiers and with a quick 'Good luck' started off with th other horse's reins in hand. She felt a slightly relief for moving again; but leaving behind the others wasn't really what she'd had in mind. Once again deciding to push away her nerves, she tried to concerntrate.

Kandyl frowned after her before turning to look at the trees and foliage either side of them. There was plenty of cover - this ambush could work. His frown eased a little as he turned back to the others.

_________________

Rane nodded at Kandyl before glancing at both Darius and Glenn. ''Shall we get into position then?" she asked.

Darius scanned their surroundings briefly "We had best ready ourselves. Our trackers now are not far behind." he said as he heard the hoofbeats drawing ever closer.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

OOC: Changed his name to Kaiden.

IC: Kaiden frowned as they stopped. Not exactly what he had in mind; he was thinking of a moving dismount. Which admittedly was a lot more dangerous, and probably a lot stupider; but their presuers would have had no idea that anything happened. Oh well, couldn't have everything your way.

"I'll take the left." Kaiden was already moving into his chosen position, which happened to be a tree. It was much thicker on the side the persuers were approaching from, so they couldn't see him, but as soon as they passed the tree, Kaiden would be able to leap down upon one of them and knock them from the saddel.

OOC: Quick question, do they have weapons? (Other than the fork they used to pick the lock? Or do they not have that?)

_________________
Four Gods wait on the windowsill,
Where once eight Gods did war and will,
And if the Gods themselves may die,
What does that say for you and I?

Now, three Gods wait on the windowsill
Where one God's blood was lately spilled
While black tongues lap at the spreading pool
And build the strength they need to rule.

[[Ahahahaha, I was wondering! Though I'd completely love to see them fight off a cavalry with their beloved fork, I think proper weapons'd be more appropriate. Teehee.]]

Scarlett looked above her. Through the not-so-dense foliage she could see the stars, the North Star shining brightly. Muttering thanks for its appearance, she let it guide her home.

Kandyl took off to the right, hiding behind a dense rhododendron bush. He listened intently, as the hoofbeats became clearer, more deinfed noises.

_________________

((I guess they got weapons when they escaped. It would have been pretty entertaining to see one of them slaying renowned heroes with a dull fork.))

Kylan pushed his horse into a trot. He had a bad feeling, but he just wanted to be able to get this done. He wasn't one that loved suspension. He and the other scouts were coming up to where the captives were. He held his head higher, he could do this, he had never failed before. He passed the tree Kaiden was hiding behind.

((There are about five other scouts not including Starfire))

_________________


Thanks Nurratiel, *Ennostiel*, PD, and Githoniel

The leader passed Kaiden, more wary than he would have liked. But they were committed now, so Kaiden silently drew one of the knives he had stoen from the armoury when they escaped. The fourth scout passed and Kaiden leapt from the tree down on the man's back, stabbing the knife into the seam between neck and helm. Both men tumbled to the ground; Kaiden springing back to his feet, the scout, knife sticking out of his neck, lying in a widening pool of his own blood.

Kaiden had guessed how many people would be in the group, and had missed by two, so now he was standing right in the middle of the scouting party. Deffinitly not where he wanted to be, but he would have to trust his companions to deal with the others behind him. He drew the longsword belted to his hip in a smooth movement, bringing it up to eye level. He hated longswords, but he couldn't find a katana in the armoury with only a quick search; though his unorthodox fighting style would make up for his ineptness with the weapon.

_________________
Four Gods wait on the windowsill,
Where once eight Gods did war and will,
And if the Gods themselves may die,
What does that say for you and I?

Now, three Gods wait on the windowsill
Where one God's blood was lately spilled
While black tongues lap at the spreading pool
And build the strength they need to rule.

Darius and Rane took different positions at the center of the folliage-Darius heading more to the left and Rane to the right. As the group passed them, Rane waited impatiently for the chance to strike. When Kaiden began the assault, Rane's hand tighten around the hilt of her "borrowed" sword. After Kaiden slew the first scout, Rane leapt from where she had been stationed and buried the blade deep within the chest of the scout nearest to her. The scout's eyes widened in surprise as she pulled the blade from his flesh and he crumpled to the ground at her feet, his blood pooling around him.

The third scout gave a cry of fury at the deaths of his two companions and charged first at Rane, thinking her the weaker of the two. With that Darius leapt from his position and raising the sword he had taken when the had escaped, parried the blow. The scout's face contorted in fury as he faced the new threat. Yet, before he could complete his strike, Darius disentangled their blades and buried the sword within his opponent's heart, not even caring when the warrior slumped to the ground at his feet.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!