A small nuance alerted Mordev of some other presence, and he whipped around, hand on the hilts of his kukris with a death grip. He glimpsed a flash of a feminine face framed with auburn before the apparition flickered from sight. One of the Kiani? He hadn't returned since the first time he'd dropped the Kiani off five years ago, but he did remember a girl possessing invisibility - however that hardly constituted the fact that all his muscles were on edge and his balance was already shifted to battle stance.

Disgusted at his own jumpyness, especially after he'd witnessed an army practically at the city's gates, he eased himself into a more relaxed posture. Glancing back at Sielio and wondering if the King had spotted it as well, he moved towards the door.

_________________

Rhaeryn, of course, had instantly vanished into thin air. She muttered a curse and went off to return the book. Perhaps she'd catch a bit more on the way back - and after all, she had a right to know, didn't she? As one of the Kiani she'd have a prime role in the upcoming battle, if there was one.

_________________

((ARG! Behind!! Oh well, I'll catch up...))

Suakii debated with herself if she should nod or shake her head. Yes, she thought they were ready for battle, but not for Genrik.

"I don't know... But I have a feeling that he knows how old we are, and all that... But, he dosn't know what our powers are. We have to be carefull..." To emphesise her point, she gently picked up a flower, which froze under her icy touch. It then vanished in a quick burst of flame. "As long as we are around strangers, that is." She said, a dangerous smirk dancing on her lips.

_________________
You may (or may not) know me elsewhere as Elfpen

(where exactly is the palace where they are being held?)

Five years of waiting. Everya had spent five years listening to traders and villagers. Their talk was not helpful most times Everya dared to venture into a pub of sorts. But finally after waiting for years of news of hope reached the local pub. Everya was cradling a mug of mead when several weary traders staggered into the pub. They ordered their drinks and were talking in an excited frenzie. She didn't catch most of the words but several words reached her ears.
"The Ignae-Kiani! They have been discovered...

Fully trained...

Being held at the palace!

Everya stood up ubruptly and swept out of the pub. She began to walk briskly back towards her home, her nerves got the best of her and she began to sprint. What ever the Ignae-Kiani were planning, she wanted to be apart of it. The thought of her dead brother and broken family motivated her.
She reached her small house breathing heavily. She grabbed her sword nd her bow. She quickly packed some provisions and hurried to town to find means of transportation.

_________________
<center>

[font=Times New Roman]
Hello, I'm Amoniel
[/font]</center>

(just got back! wow... lots of reading to do! will post asap, but i'm really exhausted)

EDIT:
(Ok, I'll take a stab at jumping in. If you all don't like it, please tell me and I can edit. LDM, I'm assuming that it's reasonable for our characters to know each other, since mine was a former mercenary. They may or may not be on the best of terms oh, drama.)


The years had taken their toll on Arielle Merced. She was leaner now, and more jaded than of old. Her appearance and skills had, if anything, grown more striking, but the increasing tight-fistedness of a country preparing for war had not done much for her livelihood. And when worse came to worse, she had nothing to fall back on but her experience and her loyalties.

Which explained a good deal about her position now - at the end of a palace guard's spearpoint. She stared down the shaft boldly, her glance skewering the man controlling the business end of the weapon. "Let me pass, I say! I bring urgent news of an enemy encampment!"

"And how do I know the truth of what you'll be telling?" The guard was hostile, to say the least. "The King's officials are busy men, not to be troubled with the likes of your fairy stories, woman."

"The light and dark and four winds bear me witness," she replied, invoking the ancient oath. "Gods strike me if I lie. Besides," she added, throwing in a disarming smile for good measure, "the King will be glad to see me. He always was." Shoving the spear aside, she pushed past into the more private section of the palace, striding down the main hall. A trace of the smile lingered about her lips. Sielio, the boy-king. Seven years ago, she had been one of the top mercenaries in the business, and in high demand because she was a woman. When matters of importance needed to be conducted in secrecy, women were far less likely to be noticed than men. Sielio and his advisors had commissioned her more than a few times.

Thrusting open the doors of the audience chamber, Arielle made straight for the young man, sinking to one knee. "My lord king, I bring news of great import." Even though her head was bowed, she was unable to keep her eyes from wandering about the room, making note of its occupants. "An enemy encampment, not twenty miles distant ..." Her voice trailed off as she recognized Mordev. She was silent for a moment, then added, "But you may have already had word of this."

_________________


<center>Nothing but the Rain</center>

Aivon grimaced as Rhaeryn vanished from his sight. On the well-swept stone floor there was no way he could follow her if she was invisible. He was about to head towards the Library when a woman strode down the corridor and swept into the chamber that his ward had been listening at.

He winced. It was just a good thing she didn't run into Rhaeryn, if the lass is still there he thought. That would probably have made neither woman happy.

Deciding it was useless waiting for Rhaeryn to show herself, he walked along the hall until he was just out of sight around the doorway of the audience chamber--he couldn't see in, but neither could they see him, and he could listen from here.

_________________

Rhaeryn too heard the woman's footsteps behind her. She entered the vast library and laid the book down on a table - to anyone watching it would have seemed to appear from thin air. Having done so, Rhae battled inwardly for a moment.

I'll hear about it tomorrow, she decided reluctantly. I shouldn't listen at doors - Mother would be appalled. Rhaeryn's invisible self grinned. She hadn't seen her adoptive mother for five years, yet somehow her presence still occasionally gave Rhaeryn's conscience a twinge.

Now visible again and taking the stone steps up to her room two by two, Rhaeryn stopped in surprise to hear Sila and Suakii talking. Had they heard of the impending battle as well?

_________________

Grrr. I don't want to do another storyline post until someone who's got a character inside the room does something.

_________________

"Ten minutes too late," Mordev commented, silver eyes flitting to the arrival. He did well to hide his scowl, for he did indeed possess a grudging respect for the former female mercenary.

A pity, really, how they couldn't be friends. The last time the two of them had parted ways had been seven years ago. He'd left her to die at the clutches of orcs, but not before she'd handed him over to Rhiosim. [Valera tell me if you have a problem with this] To tell the truth, the Rhiosim torture chambers hadn't improved their companionship one bit.

He bowed once more to King Sielio. Trusting that Sielio would have enough sense to do whatever military lords did to their defenses before a battle, he swept out of the audience hall. He knew his task, as it'd been five years ago when he'd scoured the world looking for the Kiani. Once again he must bring them together and warn them of the oncoming threat.

_________________

EDIT: do not mind, i posted a revised post...

_________________
<center>

[font=Times New Roman]
Hello, I'm Amoniel
[/font]</center>

"My apologies," Arielle snapped at Mordev's retreating back. She'd never thought to see him alive again. That last mission had very nearly been a complete disaster - salvagable only by a betrayal of the man to the enemy. She'd done it without qualms, according to the philosophy of king before friends.

He must have extraordinary resilience to have survived the Rhiosim torturers. And how he must hate her!

However, personal issues must be thrown aside. "My lord, I offer you my services." She touched the dirk at her side, still kneeling. "Freely."

_________________


<center>Nothing but the Rain</center>

Aivon raised his eyebrows at the tension that was practically physical--he couldn't see those in the chamber, but he could certainly here them, and their tones were giving him a lot of things to think about. Obviously Mordev and the woman had known each other before. Also obvious was the fact that they were not on the best of terms with each other.

Realizing that there was not much more he would likely gain from eavesdropping than the fact that Genrik was finally making his move, Aivon headed off towards the Library--Rhaeryn would likely have gone there to drop the book off, and it was also likely that she would not feel a need to be invisible now that she was no longer eavesdropping.

_________________

Sila grinned back at Suakii. She heard footsteps outside the door. She furrowed her brow in puzzlement and walked towards the door. She opened and found Rhaeryn standing not far away. Sila let out a relieved sigh. "Hello, Rhaeryn," she said with a smile, "Are you off to the library as usual?"

_________________
I'm back!

(could I play a gaurd or can someone play one for me? thanks!)

_________________
<center>

[font=Times New Roman]
Hello, I'm Amoniel
[/font]</center>

Rhaeryn, who had actually been on the point of going to bed, stopped in mid-step and grinned. "No, I've already been," she responded, and the hesitated. "There's a messenger to Sielio - I think it's that man who told us we were Kiani, five years ago."

_________________

Suakii seemed interested as her younger sister explained.

"Mordev? I havn't seen him in a while... I wonder what he's up to these days..." Her brow furrowed, "Did he say what for, Rhaeryn?"

((Amoniel: Yes, you can play a guard, and if you like, I'll play him for you. But I don't really don't know what you want him to do, so...))

_________________
You may (or may not) know me elsewhere as Elfpen