laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

Sceva led them for the next eight days through snow filled forests which soon had to be done on foot and in single file, cutting a long trench through the drifts that reached their waists at certain points. He stopped as they reached the southernmost Ovoca River that cut through the Dender Swamp from its origins somewhere deep in the Black Mountains. Once finding a place to ford, they continued on until noon when he stopped them again. Lisa noted the tense moment as they sent Calista to reconnoiter the walled ruin before them whose walls were green from ivy and age. She soon returned and informed them of the wounded orcs within, laying inside the remains of ten buildings, long abandoned. Alister soon took in a squad consisting of Justyn, Kevin and Arthur who systematically finished the orcs suffering, then burned the bodies.
As the rest joined them within the old compound that nature had long reclaimed, Justyn handed Lericanin a small leather pouch.

"I found this underneath one of them's arm."

Lericanin nodded,then opened it to count out a large sum of bronze and silver along with three necklaces and two small rubies. No doubt booty from their attacks on the elven borders to their south.

Continuing on, they soon reached a quiet hide within the pine whose trunks rose high into the air. Lisa relaxed as their horses beat out spots to gain grass and plants to feed from.

"Halt, who goes there," Victor called out, bow aimed back down the way they had come.

"Hold. I'm Raymond, a friend." The mature male voice prompted all to arm themselves and move to the eastern perimeter of their campsite.

"What are you doing out here," Lericanin challenged.

"I've been looking for Alister of Carbost," he mentioned as Lisa moved to get a look at the tall, worn man whose leather armor told volumes in itself.

"Why," Alister moved to stand near Victor's side.

"I've heard bards sing about the group. Once my unit of Frontiersmen had disbanded after a fierce battle near Glencoe, I sought you out in hopes of offering my sword to your cause."

"You alone," Lericanin asked.

"Yes, just me and my horse."

Lisa noticed the group soon relax as she tried to gain anything from their newest visitor, but found that his mind was blank. He had been well trained and as a member of an elite order, that wasn't too far fetched.

Alister motioned and he soon led his horse into the camp as she sat near the base of a nearby tree and noticed Lericanin move to her side and crouch as the others kept a wary eye on the rider.

"You sense anything about him?"

"Nothing at all."

He nodded, "Alright".

Lericanin returned to his own pack as Raymond untied a large sack from his saddle and carried it to a spot near the fire as Gunnar resumed cooking dinner. Tanned fingers untied the woolen sack and he pulled out a round, orange fruit that he began peeling. "I found these in a grove near Fort William some time ago, you're all welcome to them. Might even be a good seasoning to the meat."

"Alright," Alister nodded as he grabbed one himself, then handed a few to Gunnar who set them in the snow near the fire. Alandria soon joined her and peeled the fruit, then offered her a slice.

"No, thank you," Lisa stated as she quietly listened to their new guest speak of his military career along the highway that joined the duke's northern home in Ashton to Fort William, even trading some stories with Gunnar about his home in Kalmar. He joined Calista as she went to gather some wild roots and berries for their dinner and returned in time to join them as Gunnar added the ingredients to the concoction.

Soon, the group gathered for prayer as individuals had been harrassed by demons for the past two months when they attempted to get their requests through. As she had since she joined them, Calista disrobed and set out her stones around her and recited her own chants. Once Raymond had finished on the outskirts of their circle, he approached her and crouched.

"Like to try some blueberries," he held out several in his hand.

"No, thank you."

He nodded politely, "Suit yourself. Don't know what you're missing, these are fairly expensive in a market." He popped them into his own mouth and smiled. "You've been quiet tonight. You shy?"

Lisa nodded, "Very".

He grinned as he turned to the others who now returned to their packs as Alandria returned. "None of them have cured you of that yet?"

"What are you really doing here," she asked as her heartbeat accelerated.

He eyed her and sat down nearby. "I came to help in your endeavors. It's nice not having to listen to any knights or sergeants telling me where to go. Out here, we do what we want, when we want. That's true freedom, being able to take the fight to the enemy directly without being told to. You don't get any satisfaction knowing that you're not held to another's bye or leave?"

"This group is much closer than a military unit, but we still hold responsibility to one another. You should learn that if you want to stay with us," she informed as Alandria sat down on the opposite side.

Grinning, he rubbed a stubbled chin. "I see why you're alone now. Independent, I like that. They're lucky to ride with you. But, no doubt, one day you'll make some man very happy."

"That's not a priority right now and the last thing on my mind."

"Sorry, I've been on the road a long time. I've forgotten the manners that my mother taught me some time ago." He produced a small book from his jacket pocket, laid back and began reading.

After moving her own backpack away from the intrusive fighter, she soon went to sleep beside Alandria as they both tried to keep the younger Ranger warm.

Relaxed, Lisa found her dreams interrupted as a large hand grabbed her, grappling her waist and her eyes opened to complete darkness that she could feel. Immediately, she tried to revert to her mist form and found the attempts with magic were stifled somehow as the hand pulled her through a doorway that her feet hit as screams from Selyria and Gunnar for assistance cut through the thick, black veil and was soon shut out as the unseen door closed and she was greeted by new smells and a presence.

"You'll make a wonderful gift, darling," the deep, male voice stated from her left. "After I'm through with you."

As the darkness dissipated, the hand gripped tighter and she found her vision narrow as she then blacked out.