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Post by Kage Chaos on Jan 21, 2007 13:19:05 GMT -5
After Jael left, Kage turned back to Tagorious, "Looks like we have some more help. We'll meet here in the morning, then?"
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Post by jessimyre on Jan 21, 2007 17:19:50 GMT -5
Jael nodded at the boy lounging outside the barn - basking in the late afternoon sunshine. He returned it and she walked in, down the aisle and noting horses as she went.
"Jael! There's a sight for sore eyes. How are ye me darlin'?" Pian was exiting a large stall, wiping his hands on a rag as he came.
"Well, Pian. And yourself?"
"Ah as well as an old man can be. You're not after a new horse? What happened to the big feller I sold you three seasons back? He should have lasted you for many a year!" Pian answered, throwing a comradely arm about her shoulders.
"Sadly he broke his off fore during a battle. He was tripped by spear mid gallop. There was nothing I could do for the poor creature." Jael answered.
Pian's face fell. "What a shame. He was a damn fine hoss, that 'un. Damn fine. Not to worry, I've got just the boyo for you! Come and see this lad, you'll never want to set foot to stirrup on any other." Pian steered her down the aisle, motioning with his free hand to one of the stable boys.
"Pitru! Bring out the Fox, sharpish now!"
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Post by twilightblade on Jan 23, 2007 11:23:11 GMT -5
Aai trotted easily through town, headed for the horseman's barn that had been reccomended to her by another centaur as treating its horses well and for having the best. She almost felt guilty for not rescuing some poor pony from the clutches of a disreputable dealer, but she couldn't afford either the time or the problems that would bring.
She slowed to a walk as she finally spotted it, ignoring the stares, the hasty signs for a wards against evil, the speculative assessments. At the moment, no one here could threaten her. She was a young, powerful, well-armed centaur, capable of equally defending herself or escaping as needed, even in a town where she could be considered monster, prey, or dangerous stranger.
She waved a hand to the boy outside of the stable yard, headed for the voices inside.
"Hello?"
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Post by jessimyre on Jan 23, 2007 16:05:18 GMT -5
Jael put the well shod hoof of the large, powerful chestnut back on the ground and straightened up as she heard a woman's voice in the entrance of the barn. She turned as she heard Pian's strained whisper.
"Well I'll be damned!"
Despite her usual iron self control, Jael gaped. In all her worldy travels, in her years of exploration and throughout her amazing experiences she'd never in her life seen anything like this.
A young woman's face and upper torso, a horse's body... what magic was this? Jael froze, one hand resting on the unconcerned horse's neck.
Pian walked forward, a half smile on his face.
"My lady." he greeted her cordially with a tone and manners high above anything Jael had ever expected from the crusty old horseman, "It has been a very long time since I have seen one of your people. Greetings."
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Post by twilightblade on Jan 23, 2007 19:18:49 GMT -5
Aai nodded deeply, the closest she could come to the human sign of respect and smiled back, glad that she had come to this place after all.
"Greetings to you also, sir. It has been long since we have needed to come forth, but you are well known for your great courtesy and care of your horses."
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Post by jessimyre on Jan 23, 2007 22:45:07 GMT -5
Pian beamed with pride at the compliment. He walked forward to speak with the centaur maid, ignoring Jael and the curious and disbelieving stares of his stable boys.
"Are ye needing a place to stay for the night? I have the foaling box free, its nice and roomy and I'll get the lads to bed it down fresh for ye." Pian asked, his face wreathed in smiles. "If there's anythin' y' want, anythin' at all, just ask."
Jael stood forgotten, her hand still resting on the big chestnut. Her brain had begun to function again. She still could not believe what she was seeing. However if she and her kind had not had to come forth for many a year, Jael suspected something had driven the centaur out of her home. She stood quietly and waited. It was obvious that Pian held great respect for the centaur race. Her business with him could wait. She had decided to buy the chestnut, now it was just left to settle on a fair price.
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Post by twilightblade on Jan 24, 2007 17:37:58 GMT -5
Aai blushed a little. "Ah...if I would not be imposing? Truely, I can make camp..."
She looked beyond him to where a dark woman stood near a chestnut, obviously waiting for Pian. "Perhaps we could speak of this further?" She smiled. "I can see you have a lady waiting, and it would be a pleasure if I could look around while you speak with her."
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Post by jessimyre on Jan 24, 2007 21:20:00 GMT -5
Moving along a little
The next morning Jael awoke early. She lay abed for a few moments, remembering the strange events of the previous day. She had seen a centur. Pian had been in such good humour that he'd given her a very reasonable price on Fox, her new mount and had also agreed to throw in a night's free livery at the barn, so Jael could pick him up when she and her new companions were ready to leave town. She had been employed by a mystery. She wondered how this new turn of events would pan out. Certainly she'd been very lucky.
She rose and dressed swiftly, keen to get the new day underway. With her swag-roll under one arm and her saddle on her hip, Jael carried her meagre belongings down the the main bar. She paused at the foot of the stairs, glancing around to see if her employers were there before her. She did not see them immediately so she strode to a booth, put down her belongings in the confidence that none would dare steal from her, and went to place her order at the bar.
Three pairs of eyes followed her with looks of disgust or wonder - the only patrons of the tavern up at this early hour. She ignored it all, used to such attention by now, and quietly asked the kitchen girl for a good solid breakfast. Returning to her seat, she gazed around confidently, wondering whether her new companions were early risers.
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Post by blossom on Jan 25, 2007 6:57:25 GMT -5
Rin splashed cold water on her face to wake herself up, then yawned and turned to look into the mirror. She looked more alert now, but her hip length black hair was still a bird's nest of tangles and knots.
She pulled a face at her reflection, then rummaged around in her bag for a brush she had bought during her travels. After several long and painful minutes she managed to drag it through the mess that was her hair.
After several more minutes she had successfully removed most of the tangles. She finished by braiding her hair from the hairline to the base of her neck, where she tied it into a low ponytail with a worn strip of blue leather.
Her hair dealt with, Rin quickly slipped into her breeches and shirt. She sat on the edge of her bed to pull her boots on. She wondered if Kage were awake yet, and if their new acquaintances Jael and Tagorious were wating for them.
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Post by Kage Chaos on Jan 25, 2007 11:01:36 GMT -5
Both Kage and Rin stayed at the thieves' guild hideout for the night.
Kage finished washing his hair, then dried it off and got dressed. He shook his head to rid his hair of any water that might be left, then made sure he had all of his belongings and stepped out of the room, into the main chambers.
He sat at one of the tables and waited patiently for Rin.
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Post by blossom on Jan 25, 2007 13:41:36 GMT -5
Once her boots were on and laced up, Rin threw the rest of her belongings into her pack, which she then slung over her shoulder. She then checked the room once more. Nothing appeared to be lying around, and the room was clean, the bed made and the sheets folded down as her mother had taught her when she was a child. Being a mage is no excuse for untidiness, Rin remembered her saying.
It was with a smile at that memory that Rin left, and headed for the main chambers. She saw Kage waiting for her at one of the tables and slid into the chair opposite him.
"Good morning!" She smiled brightly, letting her pack slide off her shoulder to the ground, but keeping one strap twined around her ankle. They were in a thieves' guild, after all.
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Post by twilightblade on Jan 25, 2007 20:03:33 GMT -5
Aai rose early, thanking Pian for his hosipitality and once more venturing into the town to get a few supplies before returning to the stable to bargain with Pian for a small, quick pony.
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Post by jessimyre on Jan 25, 2007 20:21:32 GMT -5
Jael finished her breakfast quickly, wondering whether to wait for her new companions or to go and pick up her horse first and be prepared to move. After a few minutes, she decided to be prepared so she heaved her gear into a comfortable position to carry and walked back to the bar.
"If anyone comes asking for me, please tell them I have gone to Pian the horsemaster's barn and shall return swiftly if they would wait." she told the kitchen girl. The girl nodded quickly, not daring to look at the black skinned woman. Jael left, picking up her weapons at the door and marched out into the still fairly quiet streets.
Before long she had arrived at Pian's barn and to her satisfaction Fox was already groomed and curried, and was looking content and well fed. Without waiting for a stable boy she led the animal out herself to saddle him - taking a few minutes to get aquainted. Of average height, Jael's eyes could not even peer over the top of the glossy chestnut's back. He was a big horse alright, and powerful if she had any guess.
Within a few short minutes she was saddled, her swag strapped firmly to the back of the saddle and her weapons in place in their holders. She was ready to leave. Turning to find Pian, Jael led the horse up the barn, keen to thank him and to be on her way. She noticed the foaling stall was empty. Perhaps the centaur had already left.
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Post by Kage Chaos on Jan 25, 2007 20:39:41 GMT -5
"G'morning," Kage replied to Rin with a grin, "How'd you sleep?"
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Post by twilightblade on Jan 25, 2007 20:44:58 GMT -5
Aai paid Pian with a smile, thanking him once more for his hospitality. She turned to go, then stopped and looked back.
"Sir, would you know of any who journey into the forest? Toward the Temple of the Silent Breeze?"
She heard someone coming toward them, leading a horse, but she kept her attention on Pian, waiting.
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Post by jessimyre on Jan 25, 2007 21:27:31 GMT -5
"Which forest would that be, darlin'?" Pian asked, "I don't know 'bout no temple round here save the new one built up on high street." Pian scratched his head then turned when he heard Jael walking up behind them.
"How 'bout you, Jael, you heard o' this temple?"
"I have heard of it although never ventured there myself." Jael answered simply.
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Post by blossom on Jan 26, 2007 5:29:01 GMT -5
"I slept quite well, thank you," Rin answered, "Yourself?"
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Post by twilightblade on Jan 26, 2007 15:47:09 GMT -5
Aai sighed. "Well, thank you anyway Sir Pian, Lady Jael." She hesitated. "If not the temple, then perhaps of a man..." She stopped, her voice trailing off, looking back and forth between the two. After a pause, she took a deep breath and plunged on. "A man...looking for a dagger. An Arien dagger."
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Post by jessimyre on Jan 26, 2007 19:06:49 GMT -5
Jael looked puzzled. What the heck was an Arien dagger?
"I do not know of any Arian dagger however my new employers may perhaps know. They are the adventuring sort and seem to know many people living around here." Jael answered.
"Perhaps they can tell you. I go to meet them now."
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Post by twilightblade on Jan 27, 2007 17:15:27 GMT -5
Aai nodded. "If it would not be a bother?"
She smiled back at Pian, with another thank you and turned to go with Jael.
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Post by jessimyre on Jan 27, 2007 18:25:52 GMT -5
"It is no trouble to me, and my companions seem to be quite accepting. I am sure it would cost them nothing to assist you if they can." Jael answered. She felt odd walking Fox beside the centaur maid however both of them ignored stares and outcries of passers by. Jael had seen that the maid was armed and obviously knew how to use her weapons so she doubted they would be seriously attacked.
Together they walked along the street, a path opening up for them as the citizens of Artesan saw them coming and melted out of their way. There was much speculation and hushed comments as they passed from the many people now out on the streets. Some, Jael noticed made quick protective signs with hurried fingers and ducked out of sight. Some stared openly, and some - mostly young women - saw them and their faces lighted up in pure delight.
Seemingly out of nowhere, a rotten apple came hurtling toward the centaur accompanied by a man's voice yelling, "Freaks! Get out of here, go back to where you came from!"
Jael's reflexes took over and the apple was pierced on the end of a dagger which she held in her hand. Deliberately she shook the rotting fruit off and wiped the dagger clean on her thigh as she walked. A sudden hush fell over the onlookers. Women grabbed up their children or hid behind their men. In the same moment she turned and stared directly at the man who had thrown it.
"Do not do that again." She spoke clearly and although her voice was not raised it was clear that everyone in the immediate area had heard her.
They walked on.
"May I ask your name?" Jael asked for the sake of a normal piece of conversation. However shocked she was at seeing a centaur in the flesh, Jael felt a pang of kinship with the creature. There was another who was as feared and perhaps even more so, than herself. People did not like anything very different from themselves.
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Post by Kage Chaos on Jan 27, 2007 22:34:50 GMT -5
"I slept pretty well, too, though it was quite cold," Kage answered Rin.
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Post by blossom on Jan 28, 2007 13:12:43 GMT -5
"Yes, it was," Rin agreed, "I'll have to teach you the heat spell I used. Anyway, should we be going? Jael and Tagorious may already be waiting for us."
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Post by Kage Chaos on Jan 30, 2007 0:43:20 GMT -5
"Yes, let's get going," Kage answered.
Someone please take over Tagorious. Whoever does, make sure to keep him in character.
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Post by twilightblade on Jan 30, 2007 11:30:18 GMT -5
Aai had blinked as the apple came sailing toward her, but her new companion dispatched the incident neatly. She smiled. Jael was a warrior, that was clear enough.
"May I ask your name?" Jael asked her then.
Aai smiled. "Aai. Aai BlackFire." She looked over at the other woman. "And you are Jael?"
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