Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2013 10:23:45 GMT -5
Amber had thought that she was doing something nice when she offered to leave. She had believed that this would allow Rekka and her aunt some time to catch up. Amber didn't think that Rekka would want to leave with her! Still she could understand if Rekka did not feel comfortable with staying there by herself.
"Is she leaving just because I am leaving? Maybe she wants to stay longer?" She thought to herself. It was impossible for Amber to tell if Rekka wanted to leave out of need of not wanting to be alone, or if she was really ready to leave. Not being a mind reader, Amber did not know Rekka's thoughts.
Stuck between two opposing thoughts of saying that they could stay longer or going through with leaving, Amber tried to read Rekka's body language. She just couldn't tell! "You sure you want to leave? You can always stay longer if you wish?" Amber asked. If Rekka was ready to leave then Amber would go ahead and leave. If she wanted to stay she would stay. She waited to see Rekka's answer.
|
|
|
Post by Sprow on Oct 28, 2013 17:24:25 GMT -5
Rekka didn't like the idea of staying by herself. Where she was happy to find family, she wasn't comfortable being there alone. She knew that she shouldn't feel this way but she did. It was because her aunt and cousin were like strangers to her still. Once she got to spend more time with them, she knew that she would get over that feeling but not immediately. As Amber gave pause, asking her if she was sure, Rekka nodded her head. It wouldn't be right for her either to just simply let Amber go by herself. Even though they were in a seemingly more peaceful place, Rekka didn't think it a good idea for either of the two of them to wander off alone. Bartimaeus could likely handle himself but even that was risky. There was no telling what kind of trouble might befall them. Rekka didn't trust their track record so far.
"I'm sure, I can visit another time. Besides, we've spent a lot of time just trying to find you. It's late in the day. I'll come over tomorrow and hang out." Rekka had given her aunt a hug then, which she had returned. It seemed a bit awkward but her aunt accepted Rekka from the look of things. A warm smile was on her face before she went to fetch something from the kitchen and returned with it, handing it to Rekka.
"At least take some cookies. I'll see you tomorrow."
With that, they exited the home and parted ways with Rekka's aunt but certainly not her cousin. Already, he had been waiting perched upon the top of the overhang over the entrance leading into the house. When the pair of girls were now out where he could see them, he spoke.
"Leaving so soon?" Ryo inquired with what sounded half curiosity and half sarcasm. He was not an easy person to get along with.
"Yes, we are."
"Then, if you want since I showed you, I can help guide you back?" Ryo offered. Depending on their choice, Ryo would likely accompany them anyway.
(OOC: Feel free to control them.)
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2013 20:48:42 GMT -5
Exiting the Ito's household, Amber was surprised to find Ryo waiting for them on top of the overhang. Just how had he managed to get up there? Amber could only shake her head in slight disapproval of the ordeal. This kid! Listening to him, Amber wondered if there was an alternative motive behind his wanting to take them back. She was still reluctant to trust Rekka's cousin. Given the circumstances though it was hardly a surprise.
Deciding to give him a shot to prove her wrong Amber responded, "Sure Ryo. That would be very kind of you."
Honestly they probably didn't need Ryo to show them the way back. Even though this was their first time on this world, Amber was pretty confident in her ability of memorizing the way they came. "Can never be too careful though." She thought.
The sun was already hidden among a sky of orange, blue, red, and yellow. Add the variety of dark gray clouds to the mix though and it gave an eerie feeling within Amber as Ryo led them back the way they came.
"I wonder what that bard has gotten himself into this time?" Amber said aloud to Rekka. Just yesterday they had returned from their trip to find him drunk! Hopefully they would not be encountering the same thing tonight.
|
|
|
Post by Sprow on Oct 29, 2013 23:45:34 GMT -5
Rekka had been surprised to see her cousin, Ryo, there as well. As he jumped off the overhang without a care, Rekka wondered why he was helping them. Was it just because they were family? It wasn't easy to read him. He seemed gruff but there were parts of him that were seemingly kind. If it were a ruse though, it wasn't easy to tell. Amber, she knew, didn't trust him and for good reason. Amber didn't like him and Rekka couldn't blame her. Regardless, Amber appeared to be giving Ryo a chance to prove her wrong by stating that it was kind of him to show them back.
"Yes, thanks, Ryo."
Ryo merely nodded and casually walked ahead of them with his hands in his pockets. Not once did he glance over his shoulder to make sure they were keeping up with him. It seemed like he knew they would be able to anyway. As they went, Rekka was able to take notice of the sky above too. It was clearly getting close to nightfall. Good thing Rekka didn't let Amber go by herself, Rekka wouldn't have liked letting her friend go alone in this. Rekka certainly wouldn't have liked walking through this either at night.
"Hopefully not drunk out of his mind again..." Rekka trailed off, glancing over her shoulder. Bartimaeus had a habit of popping up whenever they were talking about him sometimes. "Maybe, though I highly doubt it, he might be curious what his kid actually looks like? Doubtful, knowing him, he's probably at that hotsprings." Rekka shook her head a bit at this. The bard was a lecher.
Ryo, as they went, did glance over his shoulder at them with a questioning look but he didn't pry, just simply lead them onward.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2013 23:02:17 GMT -5
Rekka was right in thinking that the bard had a tendency to show up at all of the oddest times. Whether or not this was their natural fate or circumstance is impossible to tell. Perhaps it was the creator's ((*cough Loki*)) way of making things miserable for Amber and company. However this time there was no sudden appearance of the bard. At least Amber didn't see him.
"I'd rather have him stay at the hot springs than deal with that bard drunk!" Just imagining the kind of trouble that Bartimaeus would give them in such a situation made Amber's skin crawl. Nope she definitely did not want to deal with such a situation!
As Ryo led them through the city, it seemed to take a shorter amount of time to return to the inn. "I thought we were much farther..." Amber commented. They had yet to eat since they had declined the offer of staying for dinner. Amber thought about stopping at the bakery as they had passed it, but in the end she had not said anything. Meals were included as part of the price for staying at the inn. There was no need to spend the extra munny.
With Ryo getting them to the inn safely Amber felt a little bit better about the trouble maker. "Thank you Ryo. It was kind of you to walk us back." She told him. Amber would forget his foolish actions when they had first met so long as he didn't do it again.
Wanting to give Rekka a moment to say goodbye to Ryo by herself, Amber placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm going to head inside and ask Judy to make two plates for us. Thanks again Ryo." With that Amber headed inside. She would have two plates ready for Rekka when she followed.
|
|
|
Post by Sprow on Nov 2, 2013 23:31:17 GMT -5
Rekka, for once, was relieved that Bartimaeus didn't show up. He had the oddest times to appear out of nowhere. As Amber spoke, Rekka gave a shrug. Honestly, wherever that bard went, Rekka just hoped trouble wouldn't come their way. It would be nice for them to not encounter anymore problems along the way. The loss of their team members and Infusca hadn't exactly left Rekka entirely. Now and then, she found herself worrying for Amber and Bartimaeus while also feeling depressed over what had happened though she hadn't shown it.
As the three of them went through the streets of town, Rekka had also thought it seemed farther away as well. "Maybe it's because he knows some shortcuts that we might have missed?" Rekka said with a shrug. Ryo didn't look back at them as he casually walked ahead like he had before.
"You must've gone the long way around...at least now you know..." Ryo hadn't said anything after that. It seemed like he only spoke when necessary. Still distant but helpful at the very least. If Rekka had more time, she'd like to try and get to know her aunt and cousin a bit better. She wanted to see what similarities they might have other than appearances. After all, who wouldn't be curious?
When they had finally arrived at the inn, Rekka watched as Amber thanked Ryo for bringing them here. She gave a nod of agreement to what Amber said. "Yes, thanks for helping us. See you in a bit, Amber!" Ryo merely nodded his head as Amber bid them farewell, heading inside to leave the two alone. Rekka wondered if Ryo had anything to say. For a short moment, the two of them just stood there, looking back at one another. Ryo's brows seemed furrowed slightly as if he were scrutinizing Rekka. Then, after a time, he finally broke the silence between them.
"...I know I shouldn't pry but...how did you..?" Ryo trailed off, pointing to Rekka's head. There was no mistaking what he meant. Rekka knew perfectly well what he was indicating. It was her eyepatch.
"Well...it's not something I like to remember...I got it from an attack, let's leave it at that." Ryo seemed to nod in agreement, accepting what she had said. If anything, he was mildly curious of her. Maybe there would be some kind of breakthrough with him? "So um...why did you...do what you did?" Rekka questioned Ryo awkwardly. Ryo furrowed a brow before seeming to catch on what she meant.
"You mean... from when we bumped into each other? I stole stuff from those guys, they were picking on an elderly man who didn't have a lot of munny. I gave what I stole to the old man." Rekka's eyebrows rose a bit at that. Ryo apparently had stolen from someone but it seemed under honest motives. "Anyway, I should head home...mom'll get upset if I stay out too long. Night, Rekka. Nice meeting you." With that, the two parted ways. Watching her cousin leave, Rekka finally entered the inn. As she made her way over, she glanced around her. A head of blond hair alerted her to where Amber now sat. Already, there were plates of food ready just as Amber had promised.
Smiling, Rekka went over and took a seat opposite of her best friend. "Well, you were right...Ryo did do something underhanded...but it was justified. Those men had picked on an elderly man with not much munny." She had said this conversationally as she looked at the plates before them. "Wow, this looks good." She began to eat then.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2013 23:57:04 GMT -5
Walking inside it did not take long to track down the innkeeper. She was busy by the bar, helping a busy bartender prepare drinks. The place was a bit more crowded than it had been last night. Additionally the servers were busy running plates of food from the kitchen to the patrons siting at the tables. Amber had arrived right at dinner time. What good luck! Taking a seat facing the door so that she could see Rekka when she came in, Amber waited for the food.
A young woman, probably no older than Amber, dressed in the same revealing outfit as yesterday placed two plates of food at the table that Amber sat at. Rekka arrived not long after. As Amber began to eat she listened to her friend. It seemed that Ryo was not as much of a devil as she had thought. He had stolen the money for good purpose.
"I'm glad I gave him a second chance." She thought.
The food that they were served was chicken in a sweet sauce that Amber had never had before, white rice, a side of mixed vegetables, and these odd rolls that were not made of bread and had a bunch of different things inside. Never having had an egg roll before, it was an interesting experience when Amber bit into it. "This food is quite different I have to admit. I like it though." Having never been to this world before Amber hadn't experienced rice or the egg roll before.
As she chewed Amber wondered what Rekka made of their experience so far. They had come here to find her aunt. Well they had found her. What did she think? Was she what Rekka had imagined her to be? Was she satisfied? Amber wanted to ask Rekka these questions, but she felt it would be prying. Amber and Rekka had gotten close out of necessity of what had happened. They got along fine, and Amber would count Rekka as a friend. However it was a different thing to pry into a person's feelings. At least that was how Amber felt about it.
Conversation was flowing from the different tables around them. Rekka was about to say something when Amber noticed a man rush into the place. Such a thing would have gone by unnoticed, but Amber had a reflex where she picked up on sudden movements. Chasing criminals around Cornelia had taught her to pick up on people who were distressed, and this man was clearly that. Breathing heavily he leaned on the door way and pronounced in a loud voice, "Someone's killed the King!"
At once every conversation died as this newcomer captured the attention of the room. Judy, working behind the bar stepped forward. "What do you mean someone's killed the king?!"
People left their seats as they began to crowd around the man. Amber found herself right along with the group. They had just seen the king two days ago. Was he really dead?!
"I heard it straight from Baker whose brother works in the palace. He was attacked in his quarters. He says it might not just be the king either. They said the queen was stabbed during the attack!"
"Who did it?!" Someone from the crowd asked.
The man shrugged. "No one knows! They're searching the entire castle looking for anyone whose seen something." Those around them continued to drill the man with questions, but Amber stopped listening. She couldn't believe it! They had just seen the king! Who would kill him? Not only that but what did this mean for going home. Amber's face was filled with worry. She glanced at Rekka and indicated that they take a seat back at the table.
Moving back, Amber took a seat back down.
|
|
|
Post by Sprow on Nov 8, 2013 22:41:09 GMT -5
As Amber mentioned the food, Rekka gave a nod in agreement. "Yeah, it's different but really good." As she said that, Rekka took another bite of it. She wasn't sure what she had but it was delicious. It had felt almost like a while since last they ate. Conversation milled around them but Rekka didn't seem to pay them any mind. Her mind was stuck back on how she met her cousin and her aunt. It wasn't that she was disappointed or anything, it's just she didn't know what to make of them. They felt like strangers but...not. It was a strange feeling.
Suddenly, Amber looked up and so had Rekka. She picked up on when Amber picked up on something. She wasn't as in tune as Amber was to her instincts just yet but something felt off. Following her friend's gaze, she spotted someone running into the Inn's lobby. Judging by the way that they looked, they were distressed about something. Finally, they exclaimed in a loud voice that someone had killed the king. Rekka's eye widened when she had heard that. That couldn't be true, could it?
All conversations and voices ceased as everyone turned toward the voice. Judy approached the man then, asking what he meant by it. Apparently the king had been killed in his quarters and it wasn't certain if it was just the king because the queen had been stabbed in the attack as well. During the whole thing, Rekka and Amber had walked over to get a better look at the man and to better hear him with this terrifying news. As another person asked who it was, the man claimed that they didn't know who and left.
Rekka brought her gaze over to Amber, clearly distressed by the news. Amber indicated that they should sit down. Uneasily, Reka followed her friend's lead and sat down. "The king...dead?! W-Why us? Why can't we catch a break?"
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2013 23:22:52 GMT -5
Conversation around them continued, but Amber drowned out the voiced around her to listen to Rekka. She was right. Why couldn't they ever go somewhere without all hell breaking loose. "I swear someone is doing this to us on purpose!" At least Amber would like to think so. She wanted someone to blame for all their misfortune!
"What do we do now?" Amber asked aloud. She really didn't have a clue! They were supposed to go back to the king tomorrow! Now he was dead. Amber knew that her thoughts were being slightly selfish, but still... They were finally going to go home! Now who knew what was to happen.
They could stay and wait. If the queen survived she would be the acting ruler. She had been present when they had presented the letter to the Wilder Family. Could the king have already prepared the messenger and the representative? Perhaps things were all set and they just didn't know it!
"They have the entire castle on lock down!" Amber heard the man informing all who listened. "There letting no one in or out, apparently the killer was stabbed in the attack. There searching the castle like hounds."
"If there not letting anyone in or out how do you know all of this?!" Someone from the crowd asked.
Amber turned to the group and saw the man pull out a walkie talkie. "Communication my friends!"
This wasn't good news for Amber. It meant that they weren't getting inside the castle. "Um... Your Amber and Rekka right?" Glancing to her right, Amber spotted one of the server standing at there table. "Judy says to follow me." Tilting her head to Rekka with a confused look and a raised eyebrow, Amber rose. What was this about?
Following the young woman, she led them through the crowd and towards a door next to the bar. As they approached, Amber could see that it was the kitchen. Following the woman inside, Amber stepped into a busy kitchen. There were about four different tables, two large stoves, and a bunch of workers dressed in aprons working on all sorts of food. A large man with a cheif's hat and a large spoon was drilling other workers in aprons like a drill sargent.
Amber also spotted other serves running to and fro as they carried finished plates of food out. There wasn't too much time to watch though. Amber followed the woman as she led them through the kitchen and to a closed door. There was a window on the door, but it was painted black to hide whatever lay inside. The woman knocked on the door. A few moments later Judy poked her head out. "Thank you Kaylee. That will be all." Judy waited for Kaylee to turn and leave before stepping out. She did not open the door wide enough for them to see what was inside.
"Come in the two of you and quick!" She told them. Opening the door just wide enough for them to slide in horizantally, Amber followed. All of this was starting to get really fishy. Just what was so secret that they had to be ushered in like this!
Stepping inside Amber and Rekka would find themselves in a single square room. It was an office room with a tall table and safe underneath it. There was a board on the wall with a bunch of different documents pinned to it. However Amber noticed none of it. Her eyes fell on Bartimaeus. He was leaning against the wall in a sitting position. His shirt was off and there was white bandages around his lower abdomen. The white bandages were stained in a single spot with blood where Amber just knew there was a wound there.
Eyes wide, Amber could just stare! Before she could even say anything Bartimaeus spoke, "I swear it wasn't me! I didn't kill the king! Yes the queen stabbed me, and I stabbed her back because she did. But I didn't kill the king! You guys have to believe me!"
|
|
|
Post by Sprow on Nov 9, 2013 22:51:25 GMT -5
Rekka wasn't sure if sthe things happening to them were on purpose. Unless, of course, there had been some sort of spell that granted a group of people such rotten luck? Right now, she was despaired that the king was dead. Their chances of getting home were pretty much shot. The queen, if she even survived, might not even be able to send them home like her husband intended. That was even if the queen managed to survive the whole incident.
When Amber what should they do now, Rekka just shook her head before clasping it with her hands. "I don't know!" she whined. Really, she hadn't a clue what they should do now. She had pretty much used what Julian had given them to get here, their only chance of finding a means home. Well, so much for that!
As the two sat there, a conversation made Rekka lift her head for a brief moment before she lowered it again. Yes, the castle would be in lock down. The queen would not allow them entry if she was worried for her life. Their time to head home would likely be at a much later time, if at all. Who was to say the queen's injury wasn't serious? There wasn't even a chance the queen would live so there might never be a chance for them to go home.
Then, a voice called out to them. Blinking, Rekka lifted her head again, releasing it to peer up at what looked to be one of the waitresses here. "Um...yeah, that would be us." Rekka was confused but she was polite in her response. The maid told them that Judy told her to have them follow her. Confusedly, Rekka rose in unison with Amber. She mirrored the look on Amber's face before they followed the servant through a door leading into what looked to be the kitchens.
Rekka didn't have much time to look at all the hustle and bustle. They were going much too fast for her to keep track of everything going on around them. It wasn't long before they reached what looked to be yet another door. Through this one, Judy poked her head out of and told Kaylee, the servant that lead them there that it was fine. As Kaylee left, Judy ushered them in. Stepping inside, Rekka took a good look at the room around them. It looked like some sort of case history room or whatever given the fact there was a bulletin with a lot of documents on it. It seemed like it, anyway.
Then, she took notice of the figure sitting against the wall wrapped in some bandages. Only then did she realize it was the bard, Bartimaeus. Rekka took a moment for realization to hit her. Before she could question him about his wound, Bartimaeus spoke in what sounded like a hurried voice. He had, apparently, stabbed the queen only because she had stabbed him first. He followed up claiming that he hadn't killed the king and that they had to believe him.
"Wh-WHAT?! YOU DID WHAT?!" Rekka couldn't help but shout. After all, he had stabbed royalty, even if he might not have killed the king. Surely, their heads would be the price to pay for such a thing.
"What were you doing there in the first place?! What caused her to stab you? ...Just WHAT else are we going to find out about you?" Rekka pointed at him angrily once she had gotten over her shock and surprise. "First we find out you're not just some bard but one that can sing powerful spells or whatever! Second, we learn of your...affair with a queen from another world and you were the teacher of the princes there. Third, we learn of you fathering a child and running away like a damn coward! NOW THIS! Who...are...you...really? Is there anything else we should know about? Do you even know how to not get yourself into trouble like a reckless teenager?!"
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2013 19:59:08 GMT -5
Bartimaeus was absolutely stunned from Rekka's reaction. This was the first time that he and Amber had seen Rekka really get upset about something. It stunned Bartimaeus into silence. He almost forgot about the pain from the stab wound underneath the medical wrap. Amber, although slightly surprised by how direct Rekka was, did not disapprove of her questioning. Bartimaeus had gotten them into one troubled incident after another. They deserved an answer.
The look of shock on Bartimaeus's face turned to a cool demeanor. Bartimaeus forced himself off the floor. He struggled as he did so, clutching his side with one hand. He used the large counter top to force himself to a stand.
"Out of the way." He said to Rekka. Amber just looked at Bartimaeus. What the heck was he doing? He was injured he shouldn't be moving.
Judy stepped forward. "What are you doing? You shouldn't be moving that wound will open up and I'll have to restitch it."
Bartimaeus's cold complexion did not change. Instead of saying anything he began to hum. It was a haunting tune, one that Amber did not recognize before. Judy though seemed to. "Stop!" She screamed.
A red light erupted around Bartimaeus. Stepping back Amber glanced at Judy and Rekka confused. Was Baritmaeus about to attack them? She thought that they were friends.
The red light that surrounded the bard stayed the dark red color until his hands flew forward. Expecting something to come charging at them from such an action, Amber summoned her axe to her hand and held it defensively in front of her. However, there was not a need to. When Bartmaeus extended his hands in a thrust he flew backward as if a gust of wind had forced him back. As he raced towards the back wall the red light glowed around him as his body became translucent and he raced through the wall like a ghost.
Amber just blinked. What had just happened? She didn't even know what to say. "Bartimaeus! You idiot!" Judy had run after him, pounding her fist on the wall he had passed through.
|
|
|
Post by Sprow on Nov 11, 2013 20:50:25 GMT -5
Rekka was honestly surprised with herself. Usually, she was more held back but she just went off the edge hearing that he had been the one that stabbed the queen. She didn't know what to think. No doubt, they would be in trouble if anyone knew what he looked like. Just what had he been doing there anyway? It made no sense to her for Bartimaeus to be anywhere near the queen unless she mistook him for her husband's murderer. If that were the case then they'd really be in for trouble. Rekka wasn't even sure to do at this point. All she knew was that Amber and she deserved an answer finally. After all, who wouldn't question someone after this sort of thing?
The look on the bard's face though went from shocked to stunned to...well, something clearly unhappy. It hadn't been the first time that Rekka had gotten upset. She had, after all, gotten upset when they were going to leave Infusca. Unfortunately, that rescue mission had ended in failure. It was a lucky thing though that Rekka hadn't gotten angry enough to flare up this time, though.
All they could do was watch as Bartimaeus suddenly forced himself up off the floor. "What are yo-?" Rekka didn't get to finish that sentence since Bartimaeus told her to get out of the way. Well, it was obvious to her that whatever she had said had angered him. What part of it though, Rekka could only guess but it likely had been hurtful. Enough so where the bard didn't care how hurt he was right now to get away from them. It wasn't characteristic of Bartimaeus to get angry. Well, not in this sort of fashion. Actually, Rekka didn't think that she had ever seen him get angry before. It was unsettling, actually, to see him get angry. Maybe she had overdone it? Scratch that, she did overdo it. That thought occurred to her as she uncertainly took a step back.
As Rekka did so, Judy asked Bartimaeus what he was doing and that he shouldn't be moving. Rekka right now was just speechless. She certainly had gone overboard. Now, he was mad and was about to seemingly attack them it seemed. The bard chose to not answer Judy's question as he began to hum. Rekka wasn't sure what that meant but she knew that whenever he was doing anything related to singing or even remotely humming that it meant he was going to use his odd bard powers. Sure enough, Judy screamed at him to stop.
A red light had suddenly sprung up around Bartimaeus. Rekka wasn't sure what to say as she started to step back further. Was he really going to attack them? Had he been an enemy all along? It didn't seem right but then again, they didn't know much about him. So, how should they know? As the bard stood there, the light remained that way before finally, he shot his hands up. In doing so, whatever he did, had escalated him toward the far wall. As he went flying toward it, Bartimaeus had suddenly become translucent and went right through the wall!
Judy had ran after him, Rekka too stunned right now to register what had happened before he had finally left them. No doubt, he was upset. After what she had said, it was justifiable. Now, the bard was gone, most likely escaping to lord only knows. On top of it, he was likely the top suspect if the queen mistook him for her husband's murderer. Then again, Bartimaeus being the one who stabbed the queen didn't leave him in a very good standing anyway with the locals if they found out.
"I...er...overdid it...didn't I?" Rekka finally managed to say, the realization of what had happened hitting her. Her anger, in that moment, had made her lash out a little too much. Now, they would probably have to try to run out and find him. Rekka looked to Amber wondering what they should do. Her moment of anger seemed to have diminished. Just like flames, it went out just as fast. Now, she felt guilty about the way she had gone about it.
"What should we do? Even if he didn't do it, his stabbing the queen's not a good thing either. Either way, he's wanted if they figure out his identity." Still, trying to find Bartimaeus, someone who was used to hiding wouldn't be easy to find. They might not even be able to find him unless he wanted to be found. Just what were they going to do now?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2013 20:48:07 GMT -5
Bartimaeus raced through the wall and out of the inn. As he made it through the brick wall, the red glow dropped, his body became physical. He hit the ground hard, skidding along until he finally came to a stop. Bartimaeus had overdone it now! The bard felt the stitches that Judy had used to close the wound rip open.
Biting his lip he then clenched his side while he let out a number of different swear words. Curse the two of them! Bartimaeus had gone out of his way a number of times now to help both Rekka and Amber on their journey, and this was how they repaid him? Yelling at him and berating him for his past? Who were they to do so? They didn't even know him!
A throb in his side, brought Bartimaeus's mind back to his current situation. He had over done it with that. Using such a technique in his state was very risky, but he had been upset. He had acted without thinking in order to flee the scene. "Bah!" He said as he tried to force himself up. Without something to help him up though, Bartimaeus only managed to stand for a moment before he felt like his torso was going to rip in half. He crashed right back to the ground.
"Hey that's him!" A voice shouted from down behind him. Glancing back Bartimaeus spotted three armed guards sprinting towards him. Damn! It seemed that they had healed the queen enough to inform the guards that he had escaped through the window! This totally sucked! He hadn't even killed the king! He had come upon the scene to find the king in his bed chamber with a dagger in his chest. What had been even more surprising was that it was the same dagger he had given Prince Julian before they had left the Enchanted Domain. He had withdrawn the dagger out of the king's chest and simply stared at it confused.
He hadn't seen the queen enter. She must have seen him toying the knife between his hands confused because she charged for him with her own dagger raised. If Bartimaeus hadn't been a soldier he would not have sensed the danger. Still it was only a matter of seconds. He just manged to dodger a downward stab, but as a result she fell into him. Crashing to the floor she stabbed him in the side. Bartimaeus reacted instantly, taking his own dagger and stabbing it outward. There had been no thinking, just reacting. The queen had just stabbed him in the side. She had missed the vitals. He, on the other hand, had stabbed her in the stomach.
It had taken the same technique he had used to escape from Rekka and Amber to flee the castle. Using magic required his own stamina to create it. Add that stab wound and he was absolutely drained. "This is what I get for returning to this damned world!" Bartimaeus didn't have much stanima left, but if he was captured he knew that would be it. As they charged towards him, he began to hum once more.
--------------
Back in the room, Amber was shaking her head. Judy had it right. Bartimaeus was an idiot. Rekka had come off ruff, but she had every right to say what she did. They deserved to know the person who they were traveling with. "You did not say anything that I wouldn't have. I think we might have just caught him off guard. You don't raise your voice that often." Amber responded.
While they had seen Rekka get upset before, normally it required something pretty big for her to change her usual cool demeanor. At least that was what Amber thought. Rekka always seemed to have a handle on her emotions, unlike Amber. At times Amber had let the situations get the best of her. Rekka typically seemed cool and collected. That was why Amber was slightly surprised as well when Rekka had turned on Bartimaeus. It was normally Amber who was berating the bard.
Judy turned towards them and offered her opinion to Rekka as well. "Don't worry dear. He's being a baby. This is how he always is. He may be in his forties, but he still acts like a teenager. He was hurt by what you said, so he ran away."
Nodding along, Amber couldn't help but agree with what Judy was saying. That made sense given everything they had experienced with the bard. "We better go find him before someone else does. They're patrolling the streets searching for anyone suspicious."
Following Judy, Amber asked her. "Who is he really? Why does he act like this?"
Instead of taking them back through the front she headed farther into the kitchen and towards a door that led to a back alley. "I don't know much of his past. All I know is what we all know. He was the squire of Red Wilder III before the war and was the youngest person to ever be promoted to knighthood at age of fifteen during it. He earned the name the Singing Knight during the war and became one of the five personal body guards when Red Wilder III became Supreme General. After the war he threw away his knighthood and disappeared. Two years later he suddenly shows up here when I was still a server. He was only twenty-one when I met him."
As Judy held the door for them to enter the alley way she said to Rekka and Amber, "And mentally he hasn't aged since."
|
|
|
Post by Sprow on Nov 12, 2013 23:32:56 GMT -5
Rekka sighed aloud as the bard clearly got away from them. If he was mistaken for the killer, they would need to find Bartimaeus. Even if she had gotten upset with him in a flash, she didn't want actual harm to befall him. He was, after all, still a friend. At least she had been honest with him when she blew up. However, she could've probably worded it better without it being so insulting. Then again, as she looked back on it, she wasn't sure how else she could say it without it sounding worse. Oh well, the cat was out of the bag now.
When Amber spoke to her about what she had done, Rekka wasn't sure what to say to that. Had she become more short tempered because of her fire affinity? 'Could it mean I might lose control of my powers and become wild?' Rekka dreaded the thought. After all, her powers were dangerous. Fire was not something one could let run rampant. Was it effecting her? Was she a walking time bomb? All of these things swirled through her head but she did her best to not show it effecting her. She didn't want to worry Amber.
"I...yeah, I didn't mean to blow up like that...I just...I was caught up in the moment."
Rekka brought her attention over to Judy when she spoke. How she shouldn't worry and that was how the bard tended to act. He was, as Judy put it, a teenager in mind rather than adult. Well, Rekka had certainly nailed that one on the head. Unfortunately, the truth was painful for the bard to hear. It was then that Judy stated that they should try to find Bartimaeus. The soldiers would likely be outside looking for anyone suspicious. Rekka simply nodded in agreement and followed Judy's lead along with Amber. As they walked, Amber questioned Judy about who Bartimaeus was. Even Judy wasn't certain except what was commonly known.
"Huh, didn't know he was any of those things. I don't think he ever told us..." Rekka trailed off as she looked over at Amber then. No, Rekka couldn't remember if the bard had told them anything about that. "Well, that does explain the magical singing and him knowing how to fight."
As Judy held the door open for them, Rekka stepped out into the alley way. "Not to mention the times he has saved our butts a few times..." Rekka trailed off, feeling another sense of guilt. She could've been nicer about it. "So which way? Do we split up?" Rekka suggested. It could make searching easier.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2013 23:02:18 GMT -5
Amber liked the idea of splitting up. They could cover more ground that way. Judy seemed to like the idea as was evidenced by her response. "I believe that would be the best. Who knows how far that singing of his took him. Let's do this. I know a couple of places around here that he used to go to. I will check those. Rekka there is an old abandoned home in the poorer sections of the city. It is between two regular buildings, you can't miss it."
As she described the building, Amber realized that she was talking about the home where Rekka's cousin had taken them earlier. It was those kids hideout! Amber glanced at Rekka. Would she be alright going on her own? "Have confidence in your friends." Amber told herself. Rekka would be fine. She was not the same woman that Amber had met back in Cornelia. She had grown throughout their journey.
Unaware of what Amber was thinking, Judy continued. "Amber check the market place. He use to hang out the alleys there. Be careful of soldiers though."
Nodding, Amber became serious. She would do her best to find Bartimaeus. She'd make sure he got back to the inn all right, was healed, and then she'd kick his but for being such an idiot! "Stay safe." Amber told Rekka, and with that she headed towards the market district.
--------------
As the soldiers scurried the town, a portal ripped open in front of the royal estate. Out of the portal stepped a tall figure draped in a black robe with the symbol of the Empire etched on the back. This figure was tall, seven feet to be exact. The hood he wore hid his hair from view, but those who stood in front of him would spot his face within the hood of the robe. A skinny, pale, middle aged man with silver hair and a silver goatee seemingly glanced up at the armored wall in front of him. Given that he was fifty feet or so away from the gates and the nearest guards stationed there, no one could see that his eyes were completely white. His face was void of emotion and facial features. Truly he looked more like someone who was entirely brain dead. And he would have been if Lakari did not occupy his mind and control his body.
As the portal closed behind him, the man began to walk towards the gate. It was time for the destruction to begin.
|
|
|
Post by Sprow on Nov 16, 2013 18:18:05 GMT -5
Rekka looked over at Judy as she spoke. It seemed they were all in agreement here. The idea of splitting up seemed like a good idea. They certainly could cover more ground that way. As Judy spoke to them, Rekka heard her say that Reka should inspect the abandoned home in the slums. It sounded a lot like the one that Rekka and Amber had seen. Could that be the one then? It had to be. She didn't think there was another anywhere else. She might as well try it.
As Rekka gave Judy a nod, she was prepared to go into the slums. Yes, by herself seemed like a bad idea but it was that or an injured friend could risk ending up dead. Having already been there once, Rekka guessed that she could manage. If worse came to worse, she could always scare people away by flaring up. Hopefully, things wouldn't have to come to that. Maybe people would recognize her from earlier because of her cousin? Maybe Ryo was hanging around there too? Whatever the case, hopefully it'll be a positive aspect and not a negative one.
"I'll be right on it."
Rekka waited for things to get sorted out though before she went. How was Amber in all of this? Amber was to check the marketplace's alleys. She seemed fine with the idea. In fact, she didn't seem to question Rekka on whether or not she would be alright. As Amber told her to stay safe, Rekka gave her a nod too. "Don't worry, after what we've been through...things can't get any worse, right?" Rekka had no idea that she had just jinxed them.
"See you in a little bit! Hopefully we can track him down!" With that, Rekka turned on her heel and ran down the street for the area where she remembered the slums to be. Neither of them knew just what trouble they were in store for.
'Where did that slippery old man go?' Rekka thought as she tried to look around as she went. It was harder for her to search an area with her single eye. After all, she couldn't see on one side with her peripheral vision since there was no eye there to do so with.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2013 19:25:41 GMT -5
Amber had just arrived in the market district when it began. There was no thunder or lightning. She didn't even notice that the dark clouds that surrounded the walls of the great city had blanketed the city in its shadow. It was easy to mistake the dark clouds overhead as night come early.
No thunder or lightning warned them that it was beginning. There were no drums, no trumpet calls, no pounding of hooves. Amber hadn't a clue what was about to occur. One moment she was glancing around for Bartmaeus and the next she was tracing the line of a large burning meteor as it fell from the sky. Being the closest to the palace estate, Amber had the best view probably of both Judy and Rekka as the burning meteor crashed into the estate. Her mouth hung open agape as a tremble from the impact raced across the city causing the ground to shake.
Smoke hung around where the meteor had hit, hiding whatever was left of the palace from Amber's view. As she glanced slowly skyward her eyes grew even wider. If her mouth could have dropped to the floor at that moment it surely would have. Even though the clouds hid their view, Amber could see the small red dots scattered across the clouds that blanketed the entire city. The red lights were all slowly growing bigger at different rates s the meteors above them began to fall closer to the earth!
|
|
|
Post by Sprow on Nov 16, 2013 20:33:20 GMT -5
Rekka hadn't noticed anything during her run toward the slums. She was surprised that she could even remember where she was going. Maybe it was because the memory was still fresh in her mind? As she went, all she noticed was that it seemed to be getting darker. 'I better find him soon, if I'm going to find him. Nightfall's nearly upon us,' she thought as she ran, not aware of what was about to happen.
By the time the first meteor hit the palace, Rekka had just made it to the spot where she was suppose to be. When she got there, however, the ground began to shake. Rekka didn't even see the meteor that had fallen. So when the earth shook, she thought an earthquake was taking place. "Oh no! What a rotten time to have an earthquake!" Rekka exclaimed as she staggered. Luckily for her, she was outside of any buildings and not even near something that could fall on her. Unfortunately, things couldn't be said the same for the other people in the area. Rekka shielded her eye so as to not see the fate of those that had been so unfortunate.
Regaining her standing, Rekka looked around at the wreckage. If Bartimaeus had been in that abandoned home, he would've been very unlucky. "Oh my gosh, all of these people!" Rekka said aloud. An elderly man had his leg stuck under a large piece of debris. Two of the children that she had seen earlier were trying desperately to help get it off of him. Hurrying over, Rekka called out to them. "Let me try!" Rekka called. The two kids paused as the elderly man looked up at her. It was clear that he was in a lot of pain. No doubt, his brittle bones in his leg must have broken.
As she reached them, Rekka bent down and grabbed a hold of the debris as she made sure to be on the side where the old man was. All the while, she was careful to make sure the nearby rubble didn't threaten to topple over onto them. As she did so, she could hear a faint whistling sound gradually growing louder. In fact, there were multiple whistling sounds coming from above! Rekka ignored them for the time being since she wanted to help those she could but it eventually grew difficult to ignore. Lifting the piece of debris off the elder's leg, he thanked her and pulled himself out from under it. He couldn't get onto his feet though and what happened next, Rekka had no control over.
This time, Rekka realized what was happening as she looked up toward the sound. When she did, her eye widened with horror. Meteors were falling from the sky! "Oh no!" was all that she could say before one landed right near where she and the others were. It didn't hit her or had been so close to actually kill her but the impact it made with the ground had been enough to send her reeling several feet away. Thankfully, only open ground had been what she landed on and not something sharp or something that could break her back. When she landed though she was in a world of pain.
"Oow!" Rekka groaned before pushing herself up off the ground, dizzily looking around. The old man lay still. The two children she saw also weren't moving. As she staggered over to them, more quakes happened, forcing Rekka to sit back down. The world around her was spinning. "What's...happening?" Rekka groaned as she tried to look all around her. It was pure chaos, that's the only way to describe the scenery around her. Buildings were falling or on fire, people were screaming and some were even soundless, laying still. Either they were dead or unconscious, Rekka couldn't tell.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2013 21:38:15 GMT -5
Judy prided herself on being prepared. When fire had threatened to take her inn she had been prepared, escorting her girls and workers out of the inn while she grabbed the long hose she had bought long ago. It had been as simple as connecting it to her water line. While the fire from about a month ago had not actually reached her inn, she was at least prepared if it had. Heck she even had some weapons stashed in a shack in case the city was attacked by heartless or some sort! She had tried to think of every possible catastrophe in order to prepare for it. But she never considered meteors. Who would have guessed that the sky would rain balls of rock and fire. Her hose couldn't stop that!
When the meteor struck the palace, Judy had been looking around for Bartimaeus. She had found the blood stains in the alley behind the inn, but they suddenly disappeared. No doubt Bartimaeus had used his ability again to run away even farther. Seriously that man had caused her nothing but trouble! Many of her friends questioned why she continued to help him.
How could she explain herself to them? Bartimaeus was... Well he was someone special to her. He might be a reckless cheating idiot, but he always put others before himself. That was what had made her fall for him in the first place! Judy remembered the first time that she had met the bard. She was still a server then... Server... that was the term she had used to describe her profession to Amber and Rekka. She did serve, but she served a lot more than food back in those days. Back then this had still been a brothel. Judy had saved up all the money she could until at last she had enough to buy this place from the pig who owned it. She had rescued her friends and together they turned this place around for the better.
Bartimaeus had saved her from an experience that would have no doubt killed her. Tomas was a brute of a man, large, hard, fierce, and full of rage. His personality often took the women leaving them bruised and near death. When Judy had attempted to have him arrested, the owner of the inn, Poyle, was furious. He sent her to the floor wearing nothing but her own skin with the message that she was to do whatever those who had gathered for drinks that night for free. With no choice, she did as she was told, and there she found Tomas waiting with a large grin.
Judy remembered his maniacal laughter as she began screaming. That was when he appeared. He did not look at all like a knight. He wore a worn cape that wrapped around him like a snake. He was short, standing at barely six feet and only slightly muscled. "Leave her alone." Tomas just laughed in response. He was a giant compared to Bartimaeus.
"Move out of the way boy!" He told the bard and punched him in the face. Bartimaeus took the hit straight in the jaw as it knocked him to the floor. "Now where we..." Tomas said as he took a step forward towards her.
"I thought... I said to leave her alone." Bartimaeus was standing now, and for the first time Judy saw his face. He was young, probably near her age. Blood hung from the corner of his lip where Tomas had smacked him across the face.
Getting angry, Tomas turned towards Bartimaeus. "You just don't learn." He said as he punched again. This time the attack did not go through. Instead, Bartimaeus met the oncoming attack with a dagger, stabbing it into the man's hand. Kicking at his feet, the young Bartimaeus tripped Tomas to the floor. The poor man could only stare at the dagger in his hand as he let out a scream of his own.
Bartimaeus walked over to Tomas and pulled the dagger out of the man's fist, which caused a louder scream from the brute. "Listen next time." Bartimaeus said very calmly. As Bartimaeus turned towards her, she took a step back afraid of him. Was he going to harm her too? Was this why he had attacked Tomas, because he wanted her?
"Sorry about that. Here." Taking off his cape, Bartimaeus tossed it to her.
Catching it, Judy looked at him surprised. He wanted her to cover up? "What's this?! You! You harmed my patron! Get away from her! Ike!" Poyle had appeared. Ike the door guard, trotted in and came to a stop at the scene. He drew his weapon.
Bartimaeus turned to the Poyle and pulled off the satchel that hung on a belt on his waist. Tossing it to Poyle he said, "Here. This should cover whatever the patron paid and any damages." And with that he left. Poyle was furious but he wasn't an idiot. This wasn't Judy's fault. And the munny that the young man had given him had made his face light up like no tomorrow.
The young man began to become a regular patron at the bar in the brothel. At first he showed up to make sure that Tomas did not return, and indeed he didn't. Knowing that the man had munny and that he had saved Judy, Poyle had her work the floor more. There she began to learn more about the man who had saved her. At some point she fell for him, and their relationship turned romantic. He encouraged her to save her munny to buy the inn.
Judy owed a lot to Bartimaeus. Even though they were not together, she still cared about him. The bard had given her the courage to change this place. She had transformed the place from a brothel to an inn. It was her hard work come to fruit. This was her home, the place she had built herself for all of her friends and one day she hoped family.
So it was that she could only fall to her knees when she reached the inn. She was a couple of blocks down when the first tremble occurred from the meteor striking the palace. Spotting the red in the sky, she ran towards the inn. As the meteors fell she could only scream in horror as she reached where the inn should be. Instead she found only a crater. All the while the earth continued to strike and meteors continued to fall from the sky.
-------------------
As the meteors fell, Amber ran. The city had quickly become a war zone. Explosions of meteors of various sizes struck homes, causing fires, destruction, death, fear, and panic. All the while she could only think of her friends. Amber had to find Bartimaeus and Rekka!
Knowing that Rekka was in the slums, she headed down the market place towards the slums. Around her the people were in chaos. Some tried to rescue their love ones, while others ran looking for shelter of any kind. But where does one find shelter in such a situation?
A meteor suddenly struck the ground in front of her about fifty feet ahead, causing her to be thrown backward from the shock wave caused by the falling rock of death. It tossed Amber backwards and into a home. Feeling pain all over the body, Amber struggled to clear her vision. Smoke hugged the area around her, caused from the destruction. She could see flames in the distance as they slithered like snakes along the ground catching anything that might feed them.
It was in this moment that Amber realized she couldn't feel her legs. Glancing behind her she realized that the house had fallen on top of her.
|
|
|
Post by Sprow on Nov 16, 2013 22:07:10 GMT -5
'Man, I'm so dizzy right now!' Rekka thought as she stayed put for the time being. Allowing herself to rest for those short moments, the continuous screams were what forced her to shake her head. Regaining her composure, Rekka got to her feet again and finally reached where the children and the old man were. From the looks of it, as she tried to check for vitals, they were all dead. Unlike her, they had hit something hard. The children must have hit each other in the blast.
"Damn it!" Rekka growled before looking around. Everything was all in a tizzy. People were running all over the place. Those that cared for their loved ones were searching for them or running with them for some kind of shelter. Considering what she had just witnessed, Rekka doubted there was any sort of shelter that could save anyone from something like that. Were they all going to die? Maybe not if they could get off the world in time but Rekka had to find the others.
"BARTIMAEUS! AMBER! JUDY!" Rekka screamed. Considering all the screams around her, she doubted anyone could even hear her in this din. That's partly what frightened her as she ran. She couldn't see well out of one eye so from time to time, she had found herself bumping into people as sh ran, sometimes knocking them off their feet or her getting knocked off her own. It hurt a bit, getting bumped around but she couldn't stop to try and recover a little from the hard bumps she received. She had to find her friends! On tp of it, what about her family?
"Geez, do I always have to babysit you?" came a voice to her blind side. A voice she easily recognized.
"Ryo!" Rekka exclaimed. Ryo let out an exasperated sigh before he pulled her to her feet.
"I'll stay on your blind side, now let's get moving!" Ryo growled. He sounded grumpy and even frightened a bit. What of his mother? They didn't have time to think on it though since Ryo had urged her onward. The pair of them fled through the street.
"D-Did you see Bartimaeus or Amber?" Reka had asked him.
"Who's Bartimaeus?" Ryo had asked her. Rekka just shook her head. Bartimaeus wasn't someone that when you met them, didn't stand out.
"Never mind, you would've known who I spoke of if you did." The air of them ran on, dodging people on the street, sometimes forced to barrel through a panicked crowd as more meteors fell from the sky. It really looked like the apocalypse from Rekka's viewpoint. Her heart leapt for any sign of any of her friends and even her aunt. Ryo didn't seem to say anything. He was oddly quiet as they ran.
------------------------------------------
It was at that moment when another portal had opened up. This time though, it had been Damien who stepped through it. The young man's eyes widened with shock and horror at what met his eyes. Everywhere, people were screaming and meteors were falling from the sky! "What the-?!" Damien exclaimed.
"Damien...what's the-HOLY-!" Aiden exclaimed as he exited the portal after Damien. The sight that met his eyes rendered him speechless. "Oh no...m-my...I HAVE TO SEE MY BROTHER!" With that, Aiden took off at top speed. Since his abilities had changed when he had been changed he was swifter of foot.
"Wait! AIDEN!" Damien called after him but the young dragoon ran in search for his brother amidst the chaos. Before long, he was gone in a sea of heads! "DAMN IT!" Damien shouted. "Just what the hell is happening here?!" Damien looked all around, suddenly scared too. Remy and her husband, Brayden were in this!
|
|