"I didn' do nothin'!" the man sputtered pitifully. "The rest of us were being captured and tortured! They would ge' me too, so I joined!"

"Tell us all about the creatures that hired you," Knyn said.

Dran shuddered. "Didn' I already say? They aren' human. They're powered by some... thing. Some force. And the kingdom of Aphetma. I heard that's their spawning point." He moaned and sobbed. "There! I've told you everything! Now let me go!"

"Apparently he has," Knyn murmured with a meaningful glance at Orien. He scrutinized Dran's face, then quickly and professionally slit his throat. The man's death gurgle rose up to his mouth, then died.

"Well then," Knyn said, wiping his greatsword and and looking at them all. "Let's say our prince leads us to Aphetma."

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"I suggest we leave now before another troop finds us," Knyn said shortly. "Do you remember the way to your kingdom?"

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Knyn stood and stuck his head both ways out the cavern mouth. The forest was empty, silent save for the constant pattering of the rain. He went back inside, shaking the rain from his hood. He sheathed his greatsword and waited for Orien.

"I'm right behind - "

The sound he heard next made him sorely regret he ever put his weapon away. A ragged breathing hissed from the mouth of the cave, follwed by the quiet sliding of steel against a sword sheath. A score of the undead they had encountered in the town crowded outside. Their voices came out a sibilant whisper, "Take them alive. Do not harm the prince."

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(AHHHH!!!! Sorry I was gone, what with family, friends, an' a bunch of other stuff....*sighs*)

Rumour watches them slit the man's throat, her unblinking eyes regarding them coolly. Suddenly she hears the sound of metal as well, and wonders how she didn't sense the undead earlier. Immediately she disappears, melting into a wisp of black smoke that melds with the cave's darkness....

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For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not die, but have everlasting Life. ~John 3:16~





~The Mercenary A-U Gentlewoman~

[how about they're taken captive?]

Knyn spun like a dancer, immediately cutting one's throat and already going for another's. He let bestial rage seep over him to enhance his reflexes, feinting and dodging. In seconds the undead surrounded him. Cold, a numbing icy sensation such that he had never felt before, clouded his mind. Terror took hold of him, making his sword arm drop limply to his side.

What was happening to him? It was completely unlike him to -

And then they were upon him, jabbing their cursed blades into his gut. He swayed on his feet before dropping to the floor and allowing the ice to claim him.

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(That's what I was planning on, no offense..... since Rumour can disappear, she might as well let them go ahead and get captured, since there were too many anyways, and save them later.... *shrugs* Oh, and your characters can hate her if you want....*grins* She's used to it....lol)

Rumour watches the undead surround the other two from her smoky corner, appearing only as a mist of darkness, no attention needed or given to.....

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For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not die, but have everlasting Life. ~John 3:16~





~The Mercenary A-U Gentlewoman~

[no offense taken. it adds more to the plot and besides she owes them nothing....

Annwyn, tell me if something in my post doesn't go along with your kingdom Aphetma.]

It felt like someone was jabbing his head again and again with needles, then slamming it down with a warhammer. Knyn let out a groan and slumped over, feeling sick. His hand felt for his greatsword and closed over nothing. He experienced a moment's sense of vulnerability, then let his hand drop back down again. He had expected no less.

Where in the name of the gods was he?

His eyes remained closed and he did his best to steady his breathing. He attuned his ears to the sounds around him. Nothing but the steady drip of water and...

Heavy bootfalls neared, followed by the casual jingling of keys. There was a brief pause. A metal door grated against stone. The bootfalls came to a rest beside Knyn's head. A foot, none too gentle, prodded him. He held his breath and didn't move.

"Go fetch King Dimitri," a gruff voice issued commands. "Tell him I have the prisoners he requested."

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[ It's fine, and sorry for not posting, I was in another town for a whole day.]

Orien was sitting against the damp stone walls of their dismal cell, a scowl playing 'pon his unshaven features as he glowered at the hay strewn floor. Rubbing his thumb against his index finger in deep irritated thought, his eyes did not waver from their fixed point, a foot from where Knyn lay. The woman had disappeared just as they attacked, but Orien wasted no time grumbling about her.. he knew that she was do such a thing. It was what he heard next that got his mood in a new level of humiliation.

" Go fetch King Dimitri.."

It was obvious then. His mother was dead. But then he thought for a moment, and a wry smile creased his parched lips. Mockery dripping from his cracked voice, he muttered insanely halfly to himself, and halfly to Knyn.

" Those devils saved us a very long trip..." And with that he broke out in a short laughter.

Shaking his head, and pulling his long shaggy hair back with both hands, he sighed mournfully. It wouldn't be long before his brother would come down to satisfy his critisizing and mocking rant. ..He couldn't wait..

Once he was sure the bootsteps were gone, Knyn turned to flick an incredulous glance at Orien. Had the former prince finally lost his mind? But no, it was just hysteria.... Knyn personally couldn't blame him.

Presently another voice echoed down the bleak halls. "Jailkeep!"

"Eh? I got a name, you know."

"I don't give a d* if you're my mother. Dimitri's got his orders."

"His Royal Majesty, you mean." There was a brief exchange in low voices, and then the other voice called out,

"Take the prisoners to the throne room. His Royal Majesty won't have his satin robes soiled down here in the muck."

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Knyn looked once at the hand and refused it, though strangely grateful to know the former prince was on his side. He climbed to his feet and immediately felt as if the warhammer had smashed his skull open. The needles went deeper, bricking into his mind and causing searing flashes of light to blind him. He closed his eyes while the jailkeep sneered and gaze at him in disgust. Shooting the jailkeep a glare that could have frozen a hot spring to ice, he summoned all his discipline to harness the pain into a small ball of energy - a form of meditation he had learned in his earlier years. Tucking the ball into a corner of his mind, he opened his eyes again. The pain had dulled into a constant throb.

An unceremonial kick in the backside reminded him to get moving. He managed a straight back as the guards paraded him down the torchlit corridors, up a flight of steps, and outside into a tapestried hall.

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Orien followed behind Knyn a couple steps, but was pushed aside into the threshold of a seperate hidden corridor, before Knyn made his way up the steps. Two guards held him at each side, and waited to pursue further until the other captive and jailkeep were out of sight. As the light faded from their handtorches, the guard on his left shoved him gruffly into the smaller corrider.

Once alone, the guards released him, but stood closely, and spoke in a hushed whisper.

" We are your mother's personal assistants, she sent us to take you to her--"

" And what of my companion?" Orien interrupted, brows furrowing.

" We can do nothing for him, he will be taken to his Majesty immediately, but he still expects to see you with him, that is why we must make haste. The King only wishes to view you, perhaps question you a little, but he already made his decision to throw you back into the dungeon for another day. He has been very busy of late, and still pends on your outcome. We will come for you tonight."

" So she's alive, then." Orien asked, a new hope arrising in him. They nodded, but briskly led him out without another word..

Half a moment later, Orien was catching up with Knyn in the Hall, hands bound. The jailkeep at Knyn's sides looked back questioningly, but they merely grunted back.

" This one gave us a little trouble."

To add to a more realistic play, one of them thrust his elbow deep into Orien's chest, making him double over. They laughed, and the jailkeep replied, " The King told us they'd be as such."


[ Eh.. Sorry it's kinda cruddy. Was trying to add more of a plot, but be able to keep up. Hope it works. ]

[it's fine ]

Knyn looked curiously at Orien but quickly averted his gaze so as not to attract attention.

The guards threw open a pair of massive doors.

"Presenting His Majesty, King Dimitri."

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