Chapter Eight

Stealth was Los' middle name. Dropping to the ground he realized that once again he was covered with mud. He had just spent the previous day looking for ways to get clean and now here he was with his last pair of clothing, crawling in the muck, trying to save the necks of the very people that did not seem to trust him. No matter.

While crawling through the grass, he followed the sound of the voices. As the grass started to thin, he quickly dropped to his belly and crawled inch by inch until he could see what is going on.

What he saw were men with guns, five with pistols, three with rifles. There was a man sitting inside of the wagon, bound and gagged, squirming for help. Serena had two guns, one against her temple, the other on her side. He could not see Alouen or Millie. He also see that Bitey had been disarmed, and that Blaize had come to a standstill with guns pointing at everyone.

The brief moment of fright caused a few of the gunmen to turn, two men turned with their pistols and saw Kamis lying on the ground wailing. They both walked up to Kamis, giving their back to the high grass that Los was hiding inside of. The other five men just looked over but quickly brought their gaze around back at the man and monster who were in front of them.

Jocyn sighed. "What the is all this? Boy," he yelled at Blaize. "You best tell your little friends here that we will shoot." Jocyn's voice was not as sure this time around.

Jocyn turned to see Serena taking his man to town in the back of the wagon. He was speechless but his taking his eyes off the men in front of him left only four men with guns on the men in front. As Serena kissed the man in the back of the wagon and muffled his screams of pain as the poison was sinking in, she bumped into the bound and gagged man causing him to topple over on top of her. She now found herself sandwiched between two men. The man on the bottom ceased to move. The man on top of her moved a lot pinning her to the floor of the wagon. Jocyn cursed for his man to get up, not knowing he was already dead, but assuming he was motionless with ecstasy.

Mort walked over the hill and Jocyn did not see him, until Marcus called out. "Hey pa, there's another one!" Sounding baffled, which was not hard to do, he continued. "Pa, they are coming out of everywhere."

Jocyn turned around again. "Great Creator of all that is evil, now where did you come from?"

As Alouen reached out, she saw her life flash before her. She remembered days long past. She screamed and did not know if she screamed out loud or just in her head. But she did not care, they all seemed the same to her. She released the power she had inside and felt and explosion of energy. Her body raged with a burning fire and she felt herself levitate. With all the power she could muster she lashed out with just about all the power that exists inside of her. She felt the darkness find her again, and it traveled the waves of energy towards her. She can see it, it moves like a floating gelatenous blob, but it's still far away. Just when she felt like she'd been using the power forever she tried to cut off its use, but it's impossible, she had opened up too much energy and the black blob gets closer. The laughter starts up again, and she began to scream. As it gets closer you felt her life ending, and suddenly she was swarmed by the darkness.......

Alouen screams which causes everyone to turn around, but the blast of energy sent her captors flying through the air and landing in the mud. Millie and her captor also fly through the air. They both land by rocks and knock their heads against them, both of the lie motionless, unconscious it appears.

Everyone else's eyes widen as Alouen begins to levitate. Everyone starts to shoot but the bullets seem to bounce off and fly in all directions. The wind has picked up and the ground is rumbling. Soon mud starts to fly through the air, and the grassy area where Los is hiding begins to explode, shooting grass and mud into the air. The wind gets stronger, knocking both Blaize and Bitey over, and Marcus as well. Vines start to rip through the ground shooting around crazily. Alouen is now levitated in the air and convulsing. Her eyes are open but are now bright red.

No one knows what to do, as the ground starts to open up between the group and the wagon. Two of Jocyn's men fall into the crack and disappear. The ground closes up again, but then opens. Everyone starts to tumble and soon a ball of electricity has surrounded Alouen. With people taking cover from the mud, the exploding grassy area, and the crazy vines, no one stops to see which guns are pointed at whom, because they too are trying to get away from the weather witch. Suddenly the ball of electricity shoots out in all directions and with a loud thunderclap, Alouen is gone. She is no longer levitating, and there is no sign of her. The wind has stopped, the vines stop growing and turn brown. The earth has stopped shaking, and everything returns to normal. The men with guns are scattered on the ground, guns on hand, but not pointed at the heores.

As Bitey and Blaize get up, they are the first to notice that Alouen is no longer with them, but has disappeared, and they still don't know what happened...

Los was startled back as the grass before him practically exploded. He scuttled back still on all fours, barely witnessing the weather witches form levitating up. The people scrambled. The one who was giving the orders remained standing with two big sticks... somehow these sticks brought fear to the others. Pistols, rifles Los knew the names of these things but couldn't remember what they did. Los wasted no time moving around from the exploding grass. The one who was in charge was facing away, to the left. The magic cleared, the witch was gone. Los knew something real... really bad had happened if the witch could teleport naturally she would have done it before... But he had to think of the victory before he puzzled over her. He scurried around in the grass, the air cleared. He moved, breaking into a sprint as soon as he broke the cover of grass. He moved like the wind, dashing for all he was worth, though he had moved as far behind the man as the grass would allow he still could be noticed. Though he moved as stealthily as he possibly could at that speed on that ground he was bound to make a noise. Los had a single tanto drawn a single blade for the man's throat.

Mort watches as Alouen unleashes the raw power upon the helpless fools. Their own efforts to stop their deaths only adding to the choas and confusion made by this single person.

He cannot help but be impressed by the destructive power that was just released. Not so much as to watch in awe, but to adjust his mind about Los being the most dangerous to his person.

A large crack in the in the ground snakes its way towards Mort. He watches it slowly change its mind and snake off in another direction.

He just looks up in time to see a screaming mage disappear. He looks around to see what the others think of this random event.

As the world began twisting under him, Bitey clawed his way forward. The Prophetess had waited for an opportune time and was now unleashing her power on these wicked folk. He grabbed his swords from the wagon; that was better. Now it was time for... justice. He went for their elder, the old man.

With the explosion of magic over, and the quiet settling in again, except for the grunts and groans of people trying to get up. Los starts his full speed run, and bursts through the grass. With seventeen yards to run, he was counting on his lucky stars to make it through. He was about ten yards away from the wagon by the time people noticed he was running, since they were more concerned about getting up and situated from the fall in the mud. Jocyn was gathering his wits and happened to see Los running at him full speed. He was able to fire one rifle which blasted the ground by Los. As he readied the second rifle, Los was in the air, and landed on the wagon, with knife drawn to Jocyn's neck.

As Bitey grasped his swords which has been blown a little under the wagon, he heard a gun blast, which made him move that much faster. Rolling out from under the wagon, and looking up at Jocyn he saw that Los was already there with blade at Jocyn's neck. Going up to the two he also held a blade to the man's stomach and smiled. Jocyn began to mumble incoherently, and shake, he knew this was not good.

Seeing Los, Bitey smirked... This one again... Bitey wondered which Los it would be this time, the incompetent Los, the mumbling Los, the almost sane Los, or the soldier Los. Not that it really mattered. He slapped the weapons out of the man's hands and attempted to put the man between himself and the slack-jawed idiot brigade. He kept his swords trained on the man's sensitive parts. "Now, fellows, let's try this once more. You 'boys' put your weapons down, or we start taking pieces." He looks at the assembled group. "Do it!" He tries to direct Blaize with his hand to give reprisal to any dissenters without giving them any ideas, but only manages to nick his newfound captive.

"Now, we haven't been introduced. I am Sir Bitey, Emissary of the Imp Queen, Knight of the One Realm. You are my prisoners. If you surrender now, it will go better for you. Resist, and I can't promise that you won't be killed slowly and painfully."

Serena cursed as she struggled to get the man off of her.

"GET OFF ME YOU FAT OAF!!!"

She heaved and grunted until he was finally off her. With a sigh she looked down at her work. He was dead. It worked. Sort of....

She threw back the curtains of the wagon and smiled at first, until she saw the scene before her.

"WHAT THE?!?!?!? What on Tarnak happened out here?"

She climbed out of the wagon to find Bitey with his sword between the leader's legs. She smiled at his deviousness for doing so.

Alouen and Mille. Are they safe? She began to search around. She didn't see any sign of Alouen, only Mille lying still on the ground.

"MILLE?!?!" She ran over to the girl. She felt for a pulse and found one.

"Mille? Are you alright? Wake up!!"

She shook the girl gently. Not getting a response, she gently picked her up and carried her in her arms over towards Bitey.

"Guys? What happened out here? Where's Alouen? And what happened to Mille?"

She shot an evil glare at the wagon leader.

"Are YOU responsible for this? If you are so help you god I'll make you fear women....."

After the blast of magic, Blaize had fallen, though fortunately he had done so close to his weapon. He rearmed himself in time to see both Los and Bitey capture the leader and hold him at knife point. He saw Bitey motion for him to do something, though he didn't quite know what it was, so he did the best he could come up with. "The man (imp actually) said drop your weapons!!"

Los let Bitey do the talking, Bitey was better at it and he wasn't really coherent after remembering what those sticks did. His voice semed completely monotone and pretty pissed as he spoke to the man's ear, keeping the tanto against his neck. "Listen to the man... Tell your boys to drop their weapons, or you're gonna be happy when the last piece we take is your head." Los moved the knife assertively, but didn't cut in just yet. Los glanced over the roof of the carriage, for rope some way to bind these scum while somebody with a solid mind decided what to do.

"I saw what happend," Mort states blankly towards Serena. "The lady used her power to defeat the enemies but in turn was spirited away in some form of light. I do not know if this is the norm but given the cicumstance, I think not."

Viva and Kobie heard the distant thunder and looked up. They wondered where the thunder came from since the skies were already clearing up.

Looking at each other, each nodded as they decided that they have to get closer to the scene, and watch what happens. It would be bad if anyone got hurt and they didn't know about it.

Kobie shivered as she thought back to the thunder. For some reason, she couldn't get the image of her brief flash of insight out of her mind. The thunder, open land, Viva... She shook herself to banish the thought for her mind. Who knows what kind of darkness that thought would bring. Maybe I should read the aura of everybody to see if anything else would happen... she thought, worried that something bad may happen.

Viva smiled as he moved stealthily through the grass. This was what he was born and trained to do his whole life. His heart became calmer as he brushed silently through the tall grass and towards everyone else, hoping the element of surprise is still on his side.

Jocyn started to shiver and shake. He had been disarmed, and now had a blade at all his special places. Behind him he heard the seductress getting up off of his man. He could also hear the muffled sounds of the man that had been bound and gagged. He sighed heavily, fearing this was the end.

At the request of these he shouted for his boys to lower their weapons.

"Boys, do as these nice folk say. Drop 'dem weapons and gather round."

Edwin and Marcus looked at Jocyn and dropped their jaws. They both hesitatingly dropped their weapons along with the other men and gathered around the wagon. The man that was unconscious was left where he was, since he did not pose a threat.

Jocyn heard the seductress call out a name and start to cry, he figured it was the girl that was with the weather witch. He cursed himself for not shooting when he had the chance. Edwin bit his lower lip. Never had he been taken for a spin like this and he would not let it happen.

Without weapon in hand he charged Blaize. Lost in anger, embarassment, and hatred, he ran for the man with swords, everyone else just watched. As he reached Blaize, the swordsman cut him down with a stab to the chest, and another to his gut. Edwin gurgled as his lungs filled with blood. The red froth foamed from his mouth as he fell to the ground. Convulsing and taking in his last breath, Edwin was dead.

Jocyn teared up and wanted to go out to his son, but with blades on his body, he was not going to move anytime soon.

"We give up," Jocyn said fighting back tears. His nephew Marcus looked at him, stood by his side and nodded in agreement, it was the only way to survive.

"Take what you want, look in the wagon, take whatever you need, and leave us. But we will not go with you as prisoners. If you wish to rob us, the so be it, but ya'll never gonna git us to go with ya."

Jocyn figured a band this large was not looking at being slowed down by extra men, he also figured that since they were oddly put together, they were obviously running away from something.

Jocyn looked around, to his right Bitey with swords, to his left Los with dagger to throat. He swallowed hard and started telling his story.

"We're coming from the City of Inventions. They would not let us in, so we circled their city, wondering if there was anyway we could make it in, maybe buy some of their goods. They only wish to talk to their own kind, which is why the city is walled in. With all doors sealed, we decided to try the next town, Camea, but on the way we found this man." He motioned back with his head, to the man that was bound and gagged.

"He was an inventor on his way back to the city and we waylaid him. We found these here guns, as well as some food, this wagon, and some horses. We figured that if we took this guy to Camea with us, it would take him forever to get back to his city and by that time we would be long gone from Camea, in case they were going to send anything after us."

Jocyn started to tear up. "My boy, why'd you have to kill my boy?"

Viva and Kobie start off at a dead run to the hill, they were trying to cover fifty yards just before the hill. If they were going to surprise they did not need to be seen as of yet. The mud was sloshing around at their feet and a spraying up to their knees. This day would be a hard day for travelling if anything else.

Dropping to the ground right before they covered the hill, they stopped and listened. They only heard a few voices, some screams, but nothing that would signify battle. They could risk looking over the hill, but surely someone would see them poke their head over the horizon. Still, it was not worth the chance...or was it?

Viva and Kobie are within hearing distance of what has transpired. They do not hear the story Jocyn is saying, only catch bits and pieces:

....City of Inventions....waylaid...these guns....kill my boy...

They are able to hear Blaize cut one of the men down. But other than that, nothing else is discernable.

"Hold him..." Bitey said to Los. He scampered to the others, kicking the discarded weapons to a central pile before Los could change his mind, keeping both swords held menacingly at the ready. He looked to the dead man at Blaize's feet, thinking of his own nephews. A bloody end to a violent life. What a price... Humans are definitely more trouble than they are worth. "On your knees, hands behind your heads. We don't want to repeat that scene." Now the question remained of what to do with these criminals. As Emissary, he felt justified in pronouncing and carrying out sentence as needed. But this was a matter for the ones wronged and there were prior claims. "Is there rope? Tie them. You may not wish to be prisoners, but you should have thought about that before becoming filthy thieves. For now, you are our unwanted, undesirable guests, if you like."

Bitey looked the man over in the wagon, looking for weapons in case it was a ruse. Satisfied, he released the man, noting one of the gang still on the floor. "Are you all right mister?" he asked, keeping one eye on the newly freed man while crouching to check the fallen man. He seemed... dead. Better and better, he thought, Everything falls apart without an imp present. To the man, softly, "These brigands have confessed their robbery and kidnapping. Their fate is in your hands."

Kamis pulled himself to his knees and then again to his feet. His ruse had only succeeded in drawing the attention of two armed men. If only I was at full strength...My sword would have found your throats before you drew your next breath. But his sword was unusable at the moment, a result of those damn acidic creatures. Kamis cursed under his breath. Why couldn't I have stumbled upon a band of bards? Or white mages? All this combat isn't good for my recovery.

The soldier limped over to the back of the wagon. It had been quite a show that woman had put on. She was obviously the most powerful member of the group. A pity that her trick had resulted in her disappearance. Oh well. Kamis looked inside and saw a bound and gagged man sitting beside a dead peasant. Serena must have killed him. And without anyone else noticing too. Kamis was beginning to like this woman more and more. Beautiful and deadly, just the way he liked them. Hearing the wagon leader's comment, Kamis smiled. What a novel idea. Let's see what you brain-dead yokels have in the way of traveling supplies. Ignoring the tied-up man for now, Kamis began rummaging around.

Bitey noticed his former patient's looting. "Hello there, I do not believe we have met, formally. I am Sir Bitey, Emissary of the Imp Kingdom, Defender of the Throne. This is the property of that man, recently liberated by the efforts of myself and these good folks." He nods back towards the others. "And who might you be?"

Kamis looked through the items and smiled. There were a lot of useful things to be had here. First and foremost was the portable blacksmith kit. The soldier quickly picked it up and put it in the inside pocket of his cape. I will return it once my weapon has been restored. Kamis also grabbed one of the closed backpacks and a strange-looking weapon the peasants had been using. Satisfied that he hadn't taken anything too valuable from the man, Kamis offered a mailed hand to Serena. "I trust you are unhurt, m'lady?" As he was waiting for the woman to take his offered hand, Kamis turned toward the knightly imp. He'd seen imps before, or at least he thought he had, but none that were so formal. Bitey seemed a proper soldier who followed the rules of conduct during battle. Kamis could relate. "Well met, Sir Bitey. I am Kamis. Any other information will have to wait until I can introduce myself properly to the others. I don't like to repeat myself."

"I don't like to repeat myself either. *Ahem* These items remain the property of that man. That man remains the owner of these items. You are wounded, so perhaps you aren't thinking very clearly. Yes, that must be it. Perhaps you should return those. Perhaps he will be inclined to reward you after you so nobly climbed into his cart to help him."

Kamis gave Bitey a friendly smile, though it was obvious he was not used to taking orders...and didn't quite like it. Something hard glinted behind his eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it came. He gave the imp a low bow, never breaking eye contact.

"But of course, Sir Bitey. I am no common thief such as those filthy brigands. Allow me to explain myself." He removed the blacksmith kit from his pocket. "I fully intend to return this after my weapon has been repaired. My weapon which, if you remember, was damaged in defense of you and your comrades. I'm sure our noble inventor would have no objections to me borrowing it for a few moments." "In the meantime," Kamis pulled out the pistol, rotating it in his hands. "I will require some sort of weapon to protect myself, since your group seems to attract trouble. This device will serve until Soultear is fixed. Perhaps I may even ask to purchase it after an explanation of its function." Kamis took the backpack and threw it back in the wagon. He gave Bitey another smile. "That.....was unnecessary, I'll admit. Though it is hard to travel when you have nothing to carry supplies in. So you see, Sir Bitey, how quick you are to judge? I am a soldier, not a thief. I seek only to ensure my survival. I did not intend to take anything that was not due me."

"And yet you almost did. It would seem that there is a fine line between common soldier and thief. But no harm is done. If you have need of something, you may ask. You may be unused to asking for things, but you will find it often pays in unexpected ways. And it may keep one's head on one's shoulders." Bitey turns smartly and leaves the wagon.

The bound and gagged man, feels that he is free and attempts to stand up but collapses again. Using Bitey as a crutch, he starts to stand up again.

"My dear sir, I am ever so sorry for this. It seems my legs are cramping from sitting down for so long. I think I've been in that chair for well over two weeks." Leaning over to Bitey so he could whisper. "They only let me out to use the bathroom."

Standing back up he holds onto the wagon now and starts to make his descent. His clothing marks him more then just a regular wagoneer, and more then a traveller. His long robe billowed in the wind, and his clothing underneath was not bad either. Colorful cotten shirt, with breeches and knee high black boots. He almost looked like an entertainer. Jumping down the man's glasses almost fall off. Pushing them back up the bridge of his nose he runs his hands through his brown hair and starts to smile as he sees his captors now captured.

"I thank all of you, I really do. My name is Cyrus, I am Lead Inventor for the Horizon Guild. I bow to you for your efforts to rescue me." Cyrus bows and smiles. Again pushing his hair back and adjusting his glasses.

He notices the dead man for the first time and starts to feel a wave of nausea move over him. He had never seen a dead body, and he thought the man in the wagon was only knocked unconscience. But the blood in the mud, collecting in the pulls of water, turning them red. He had to look away. "No more blood shed, let them go, but they go on foot. This is my wagon, and my horses and my belongings. There is enough death in this world that we do not need to make more." Cyrus turned to face Bitey who was standing on the wagon.

"Let them suffer the loss of their friend, so that they will think twice before taking advantage of a helping hand." Cyrus looked at Jocyn and pointed. "You sir are a very bad man, and if I were like those that live outside the walls of my city I would beat you myself, but alas, you will no have to live with the death your man. You will now remember what can happen if you do this again."

Cyrus jumps down, tears in his eyes. Now he remembers why he never leaves the city, so much outside the walls that bring so much sadness. The world is not ready for what lies inside the walls, they will only use what they find to ruin, conquer, and kill. Cyrus had always hoped what the elders said was untrue, but now, with his own eyes, he saw it was true.

Still were it not for these valiant warriors he would still be held captive. They seemed honorable enough, and they did save his life, he did owe them some sort of gratitude.

Turning back to face the people, he spoke. "Hail fair warriors, again I thank you for saving me. Whereabouts are you headed?"

A civil human. Now I've seen everything, Bitey thought to himself, feeling how tired he really was now. Apologetically, "One moment, please," he shows his open palm to Cyrus. He runs over to Mille's resting place... "Guardian Mille, it is early yet for resting." He nudges her, gently. "Are you injured? Should I retrieve the medical kit?" Next time, he would definitely bring a field medic.

He scowls at the assembled prisoners. Cyrus had left the job to him, after all. He still holds both blades, and he begins to walk in front of them. "Sit still. For theft, I should take your dominant hands. For use of unlawful weaponry, the first two fingers of the opposite hand." He steps around them menacingly, putting his sword point to anyone who moves. "For kidnapping, you should be marked as criminals, losing the left ear. The price of attempted rape: castration. For insulting an Emissary, I think I would take the tongue or nose... or maybe the other ear. You all should be a heap of torsos" He approaches Jocyn. "The loss of your son is regrettable. But he has paid for your lives. The man you have wronged wants nothing of you, and I will not befoul my blades in your dirty blood. You will turn over your ill-gotten goods, and you will leave my presence when I decide to send you away." He turns away from them. "Blaize, you also have claim, as do both Alouen and Mille." He glowers at the men. "Take what you wish, do what you will. They are yours."

Viva and Kobie, seeing nothing, but hearing nothing either, decided to take a peek at the camp.

Viva sheathed his swords, but kept a hand behind his back and holding a Tanto, he cautiously walked up to the wagon. "Anyone here?"

Kobie followed carefully behind him, watching the area behind Viva. As backup, she was supposed to watch his back, and she was fulfilling her duty.

Without the leader Los had nowhere to put the Tanto other than back in its sheath. He slowly clambered down the side of the carriage, and walked over to the piece of ground that got blasted. Wiping the mud from his newfound clothing he examined the grounds wound. "This is the cost of power..." He mumbles realizing that if he had been just a few seconds slower that wound would have been him. Nobody had noticed him, other than Bitey. He was sure at least a few had seen him. Blaize had cut a captured man down. Los did not approve. Cutting down an unarmed man was cowardly, It showed lack of lack of what he valued highly. Restraint. It showed the will of a murderer, not a warrior.

Sollos aproved, It aproved greatly. It asked for them all to be gutted for a festival of carnage. Sollos wasn't getting a say in the matter though.

Los walked around to the front of the gathering looking at Bitey's pile of boom-sticks. Still trying to wipe this fresh mud from his clothes. These things could make strong weapons... these guns but they were loud... and smelly... and awkward. They were not for him. These clothes were made for somebody who considered themselves too good for the working class, they were nowhere near as durable as his garb. Los took his headband off, wiping some tears away with it. Letting his ears get some air, the ears he normaly hid for fear of half-breed persucution. Something he never had to worry about at home.

Home.

Los was standing before the pile, of weapons. Ancient eyes watching history repeat. People were self destructive... Everybody... They longed for the power when the power corrupts... his childhood was a happier place, this is where he longed to be. How long ago was it. He had lost track of the counting. Every winter passed... Every summer... There was no spring... or autumn for him anymore. He was ancient, older than the wood these carts were made from. For this split second he knew it. Then he welcomed back the fog to hide his past.

Los walked over to Bitey, standing tall like a solid man, no hesitation or bikering in his mind. The voices silenced for just that moment and made whole again.

"Take care of them, they are like children without parents." His voice was slow and sad but whole. "I can't anymore... I'm going home." Los ran a hand through his hair, though muddied it stood back up again. "...." Los couldnt find the words of parting in the fog. So he simply began to walk.

Inside Los began to fracture again, becoming parts of the whole rather than the whole of a part. He had already forgotton what bound them together for this time.

Los starts to walk away from the group. He has said what he had to say, and now it's time to move on. He had been with this band long enough, and the draw to come home was even greater. As he topped the hill he looked back one last time. Nodding, he started to walk over the hill and disappeared, if anything, he would stop by the old camp, pick up anything if need be and continue on. His sense of direction was pulling him north.

Los walks though the camp, stopping at the old cart to take some of the meat that had been cooked last night. Already eating it as he walked, knowing that he didnt need it but being comforted by it all the same. Los' whole remembered that he didn't eat very often... only part knew that he didn't need too.

Los continued walking, trying to get as far as he can during the daylight hours.

Blaize looked down at the body beside his feet, I didn't have to kill the guy. I mean, sure him and his family or whatever tried to kill my friends and me, but he was unarmed. I could've slashed at his leg or his shoulder maybe. , look at me, it's not like I've never killed a man before, & it won't be last either. Not by a long shot. Blaize looked up as he listened to Bitey tell him he had free reign to do with them what he pleased. , I'm too tired and sore to do anything. He walked away from the corpse as he spoke, "I've already done all I'm going to do. Just let 'em leave for all I care." He found himself walking towards the prisoner who he had heard say that he was from the city of Inventions and introduced himself. "I am Blaize Qadan. I understand you come from the City of Inventions, my associates and I are headed there ourselves. Perhaps we could travel together, I'm sure no one wants another band of thieves to find us unprepared, do we?" Blaize pondered the irony of the situation, God, half of us are thieves ourselves. , I lived with the leader of the friggin' Thieve's Guild for almost ten years. Funny I should propose we help protect this guy from other thieves. He almost laughed at the thought, but restrained himself.

Bitey looked over the situation, trying desperately to make some sort of order, both of the physical world and of his mental state. In a moment of perfect clarity he realized what had to be done. First things first, though. "Mister Blaize, I know the day has been trying, but before you wander off, I have a service I require of you. Before that, however, please check Guardian Mille. And keep a watch on those... men."

Bitey approached Cyrus. He bowed low and tapped his cap. "I am sorry we could not meet under more... fortunate circumstances." He measures his words carefully, almost reciting. "I am Sir Bitey, Emissary of the Imp Queen. Our society is one of industry. For ages now, we have sought to rebuild our Golden Age of Technology that was lost when some of our own kind rebelled and destroyed our peace. The glory of the kingdom has been a fraction of what it was. But we have not been unsuccessful in rebuilding our nation and we have not been idle. Now I am sent forth to ally our kingdom with others of like mind, building towards a new golden age. I was going to the City of Bertosh, which I believe you called the City of Inventions, with such intentions. I must settle for this brief contact, as someone of great importance has been spirited away this very moment and I cannot leave her behind. However, in the name of harmony, I would see you safely home. I will return if I am able, and otherwise I will choose trustworthy companions for you. On your end, I may require some few things of yours, and I make sure that they are returned or you are compensated, if I am able." He again bows, looking around for Blaize.

"Come, Blaize..." He shouts, making his way to the old cart.

Walking over to where the cart is Mort stops to look at the now unconcious Mille. Turning towards Serena Mort says, "You asked what hade happend to a person named 'Alouen' just now, and considering how everyone has been fussing over her I assume you mean the mage. Just after she had compleated the spell a flash of light engulfed her and she disappeared. Considering the choas that occured I dowt that this was the the norm. Does either yourself, or this person know any reason as to why this would happen?"

Slyde heared the loud boom and had to calm his horse so that it would not rear up. "Shhh, its alright..." Now what....? Slyde thought as he pushed his beast towards the roadway. Upon making it there, Slyde saw a group of man all tied up, damage across the road, Aluoen's handy work no doubt. and a new face in the crowd. "What happened here? One minute I'm out trying to find a way to cut Aluoen off at the road, the next there is a boom and all the action is over. So is everyone alright? Anyone need help?"

Slyde dismounts his horse and ties its reins to the new cart. Walking over to the new man, Slyde gives a bow and greets the man eye to eye. Thrusting his hand forward, Slyde begins, "Greetings, I am Slyde. I travel here with my companions, who by the looks of things, shown there handy work without me. Forgive me for not appearing sooner. Now is there anything here that I can help you with? You appear that you are in great need. And what is the deal with all those guys back there?" Slyde turns to face everyone in the middle of the road, "What's going on here!?"

Slyde's exclamation drew Bitey's attention. He turned, saying, "If you would wait for a moment, Sir Slyde, all will be made clear. I am only one imp, and I cannot be expected to resolve everything all at once." Bitey looked at Mort in passing. The man seemed lonely. What a shame.

"Alright, I apologize for my outburst." Slyde said once he felt his composure come back to him, "Why don't you tell me everything from the top. That is if you can do so now, if not, I will help anyway possible, just tell me what to do. And once everything is done, then tell me. Which ever is best at this point in time."

"Follow me, matters are grave..."

"Very well, if that be the best course of action." Slyde replies as he follows the imp knight.