The tracks the elf had been following became more apparent, and this was a good thing... for the tracker. Araerris kciked her mounted into a collected canter, stopping a moment as they found a place their prey had stopped to camp. The ashes from the fire were cold, but there. Now she was only hours away from him. She followed the trail for some time, and soon came to the top of the hill.

In the valley stood two people that looked to be in their teens, two men standing, and an old man on the ground. One of the men, with his back to her, was the man she looked for. Carefully she took out her bow and knocked an arrow, pulled it back, and aimed for the back of Gareion's head...

_________________

(}--{)Imagination Inspires Ideas -Zandain(}--{)
Married Cloud Strife 9/17/08

Risaya watched the whole exchange from her hiding place in private astonishment. Her mind was screaming at her to leave. No one had seen her, and she could be on her way as if she knew nothing. That would be best. She didn't need to be involved in this. But her legs refused to move. She couldn't turn away from the dramatic and exciting scene laid out before her.

It was then that Risaya saw her, an elvish rider with a bow. The arrow knocked in that bow was aimed for the head of one of the people in the farm yard below, the man who, Risaya had learned from what she overheard, was named Gareion.

Before Risaya really realized what she was doing, she was on her feet. "Hey!" she yelled in warning, loud enough for the group below to hear. She didn't know if she was making a mistake by warning the man or not. She guessed she would find out.

_________________
I'm back!

Gareion turned towards the sound with his sword already revealed, but as his head turned he spotted the archer and cursed loudly. He pushed the two siblings towards the farmhouse, he ignored Darkos who followed and Knyn whatever he was doing.

"Run to the farmhouse!"

He ordered the two siblings as the archer was apparently ready to shoot yet this could be his lucky day, he could easily turn this as a proof that the two were in mortal danger.

_________________

Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

Rivhon did as ordered without problem, running toward the house on his long legs with ease. Looking back to make sure his sister was not being held back, he tossed his head over his shoulder....

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

Rhiannon caught a glimpse of the archer, arrow notched, before Gareion shoved her in the general direction of the farmhouse and she stumbled after Rivhon. Catching her balance, she flew after her brother with nary a glance over her shoulder. "Rivhon!" she gasped, catching up. "Somehow I don't think this man is particularly safe to be around!"

_________________

Rivhon nodded, adding his dry agreement,

"I was beginning to think that way a while back, but now my suspicions are comfirmed by the archers that are after us!" He then rushed into the house, fetching his bow and quiver secruing them to his back, and then hurridly tossed Rhiannon's sword to her.

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

Rhiannon slung her quiver, her bow unstrung and inserted within the arrows, onto her back and fastened the sheath of her short sword to her belt. "Riv..." she began uncertainly, using her old nickname for him, "should we go, really? Somehow I think it might be better to leave on our own now, while they're busy. It seems...dangerous...to go with them."

_________________

"Stupid order"

Gareion muttered before he reached the farmhouse and entered watching as the two siblings were discussing, Darkos came after them and gazed at the archer.

"Only one"

Darkos muttered as Gareion looked at the back door.

"I am not waiting to fight that one, we are not staying here, let us take the backdoor and we can disappear into the closest woods with ease... Darkos mind lending a hand and honouring the scholars for once?"

Darkos gazed quietly at Gareion before sighing, Darkos tookout his own bow and quivver, he equipped himself with them and gazed at the siblings.

"Rhiannon, Rhivon I believe you should go with Gareion. I know it might not sound good and coming from me, but the blunt fact is that it`s not him thats being chased ultimately. It is the secrets he knows and you are a part of it all for what I have come to learn, with him his secret is safe and so are you....

Don`t worry about the archer, knowing the scholars there is an agent around here somewhere besides Gareion..."

Indeed that was true, a brown robed figure sneaked into sight from the rocky hill side and stopped to stare at the archer. The man`s hands made quick moves, but apparently to no effect all tough his mouth seemed to be moving at the same time. Then he shouted.

"Knight of the order, cease your quest and turn back for it is only death that you can find on your path!"

_________________

Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

Rivhon looked from his sister, to the man whom he called father, and then back. Walking over to his sister qietly, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and slowly ushered her out of the house toward where the men were.

"Its going to be fine, Rhiannon. I'm sure of it." He continued coaxing her to follow him as he decided that resistance was just going to make things worse, and that it would help no one. Least of all them.

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

Rhiannon cast a glance up at him, but said nothing. She retrieved her staff from its corner, and reached up to squeeze Rivhon's hand - the one that rested on her shoulder - before looking at the group of men. "Father..." she began, and stopped. "Er...Darkos. We have agreed to accompany you - but as Rivhon said, you must tell us what is going on. As soon as possible."

_________________

Arrearis loosened an arrow the moment the theif spoke up, but missed. She kept shooting, but always missing her target, though on purpose, none could tell. When they were all in the farmhouse, she stopped, and rode forward till a robed man topped a hill and called to her.
"I cannot! I must take back what was taken to my order! That or the man named Gerion must die." she turned to the house speaking loudly.
"Those of you who have met the ex-Paladin, you have chosen to trust is a thief, a murderer, and a betrayer. Trust him if you wish, but that may just as well be your downfall!"

_________________

(}--{)Imagination Inspires Ideas -Zandain(}--{)
Married Cloud Strife 9/17/08

Gareion grinned as the knight shouted the accusations, which of course were not true when you came to think of it. Taking an item buried outside a tomb was not a crime yet apparently the grandmasters of the order were aware that it was something far more important.

"She lies, the order only wants what they think is theirs when it is not"

Meanwhile Darkos gazed quietly at the siblings.

"As soon as possible I shall tell you what I know and Gareion as well, but for now we must bring the knight down unless we receive some aid..."

Meanwhile the robed man was standing closer to Arrearis and this time he did not appear as forgiving as before, his hands moved quietly and he was about to blast the knight away with a spell or worse.

_________________

Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

Knyn lounged quietly in the shadows, his hand resting on the hilt of his shortsword. His roving gaze went from the encounter with the archer to the two siblings, who still appeared torn between their own ignorance and confusion at the speed at which events were flashing by.

Gareion seemed occupied with the elven knight, so Knyn moved closer to Rhiannon and Rivhon and asked quietly, "You truly know nothing of your past?"

_________________

"No," answered Rhiannon immediately, surveying Knyn. "I did not even know I was anything other than the daughter of a farmer until half an hour ago." She paused. "I suppose you, too, know more about me than I do myself?"

_________________

Knyn shrugged. "I know little save for what the legends and our paladin friend connote at." Yet he did know that some ancient prophecy, some rumored apocalypse centered around the two siblings. "I'm coming with you," he added, deadpan.

_________________

"You don't say," was Rhiannon's reply to this, her tone slightly frosty.

_________________