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

Birds sang, their praise echoing through the boughs around them and Kailee finally realized that she could hear them closer than normal. Golden eyes turned and scanned the oak and hickory in amazement, wondering how this could be.

"We shouldn't linger here," Tess interrupted as she stood. "I'm sure this pond is popular with the local farmer."

She enjoyed the sounds and finally turned to eye her friend and the guards beyond. "You're right, of course." She rose and soon turned to look beyond the large, green carpeted boulder they had been resting on and began walking.

"Where are you going?"

"There's something I need to see," she informed distractedly as she continued. Followed soon by her entourage they melted into the forest whose vibrant song continued to celebrate and it didn't take long for her to sense the nervousness of a mount approaching with it's rider. A strong, older man in his late fifties, she could sense a familiarity about him somehow which piqued her interest as he continued riding towards them.
Still unseen, Duke Otnel quickly moved to her side as the guards took positions to either side. "My lady," he whispered, "We should be home. Not only for your safety but, also for the secrecy of today's events."

"No. It's okay." She pressed to the rider who soon stopped and dismounted, obviously sensing something odd about his surroundings today. Soon, she emerged through the dense underbrush and his sword sang from it's sheath.

"Back, demon," he yelled as his horse nieghed and kicked, then turned and sprinted from them.

"I'm not come to harm you, sir," she assured as her men's dark armor melted into the surroundings and they prepared to defend their queen. She moved closer as his brown eyes darted around her in preparation. "Actually, I was hoping you could direct me to the Averitt farm."

His attention jerked back to her as she stopped in full view, hands passively to her sides. "How do you know them?"

"I was great friends with Sir Lericanin, Duke of Zariva."

He backed, sword at the ready. "That's not possible, he was a hero of the realm. Someone of his caliber would never ally himself with a servant of darkness."

A smile arced across her face as she felt Tess' anger well. "Actually, sir, it was to his great credit and that of his friends that they accepted me at all. I'm the cause of the Second Dark Age and have been responsible for much evil, it's true. But, never have I harmed men, elves or dwarves that fought alongside us for many years."

The once handsome man eyed her in confusion and his tanned face creased and she could hear his mind sifting through the facts that he had heard. Not all of them true. "You lie. This is some trick. Be away from here for if you intend to take me or threaten this town, I'll not go down easily."

She eyed him for a long moment. "What is your name, sir?"

"Nicholas. Why do you ask?"

"Who was your father?" She asked the grey haired man in leather coat and pants, dark brown and well worn.

"I served the baron of Anderslough for many years in the miltia and now serve the king when he calls. I came here to see my aunt and uncle and their families," he informed, still wary.

"You never knew your father then?"

His brown eyes fell slightly. "My uncle and grandfather raised me in his place. My mother never said."

She nodded sympathetically and realized how common that was. "Is there trouble near here? How close have the enemy gotten?"

"They've been beaten back twice," he proudly stated. "We've chased them back towards Thetford where they cower behind the walls now. The king has sent an army that's besieging that town as we speak."

"I'm glad to hear that. You don't ride with them then?"

"I was wounded and sent home to recover. I should be back to my men soon." He studied her face and the simple travel clothes that she wore, then his eyes fell to the sword on her left hip. "I didn't catch your name."

"Kailee." A name that caught his full attention again.

"You're not alone, are you?"

"No."

He nodded and grinned slyly, then sheathed his sword, the sliding metal sang and interrupted the peace around them. "Why do you seek the lord's farm?"

"I never got to see it myself, other than from a distance. Do you live there now?"

"No," he shook his head. "I do know where it is though," he pointed back over his shoulder. "Not far from here. Come on, I'll take you there."

"Thank you," she smiled as Tess and the dark elves emerged from their places around her which prompted the older man to step back in shock. "Don't worry, they won't harm you. We've not come here for combat."

"Why did you come then?"

She wasn't sure how to answer that initially. "Curiousity. I wanted to see where he grew up. I've seen the homes of most of our friends but, this town has been on my mind lately."

Nicholas nodded and relaxed as he led her through the forest and towards Lericanin's boyhood home. Forest soon gave way to a large orchard where apple trees lined acres in all directions. He soon found his horse and coaxed it back to him, it's nervousness continued as they soon reached the open yard and in view of a two-story wooden home. It's modesty was well cared for as Kailee could watch flashes of a trio of boys harrassed one another and did their best to avoid their mother's correction. Now however, it's quiet stillness worried her.

"Have the owners taken shelter in the town," she asked as they walked towards the front porch.

"I'm not sure, actually. I wouldn't doubt it, even though the enemy is far from here." He walked up to the porch and knocked, making her a bit tentative. Her visit wasn't meant to be intrusive but, that concern was moot now. Soon, the door opened and she saw a woman in her late fifties emerge from the darker interior. She smiled initially when she saw him, a moment that quickly faded as her blue eyes caught his company beyond.

"Good afternoon, ma'am," Kailee quickly tried to calm the situation. "I'm sorry for the intrusion but, I just wished to see the Averitt farm. Are you related?"

It took a moment for her to relax enough not to slam and bar the door as Nicholas backed and eyed Kailee also. "I am," her quivering voice replied quietly. "You're Kailee?"

Taken aback, Kailee grinned. "I am. How do you know my name?"

"I've heard stories, not the bloated ones most minstrels tell," she finally stepped out onto the porch and was soon accompanied by a forty year old man, very solid and with large, tanned hands. She could smell the soot of a forger's fire on both of them as they eyed the eleven dark elves in black armor and the two amazing females before them. "Why would you wish to come here now? Enemies are everywhere and no doubt someone like you would be confused for the wrong side, it's not safe for you here."

"I don't care at this point, but I thank you for your concern. I only hope that my presence here won't put you in danger so, we won't remain long. Like I said, we just wished to see this farm and in some small way, share in it's memory. If only for a short time."

She nodded and smiled. "My father was a great man. I only wished he could've seen his grandchildren," she glanced to the man beside her.

Kailee understood and grinned, then realized this woman was one of Lericanin's daughters. "You're Lina?"

"I am. As a matter of fact, you and I met many years ago when my father and you came to see us. My mother told me after you left and my uncle lay dead, who he was."

Kailee tried her best to remember that day, then soon the small girl sitting near Sarah, the woman that Lericanin's older brother Elmin took in and cared for, came to mind. "He regretted that day for a long time," she informed.

Lina glanced to Nicholas, "Our father was a great man". A comment that initially didn't register with the veteran who eyed her in confusion as she nodded. Soon, the realization hit him like a trebuchet as his brow furrowed.

"What are you saying?"

"Sir Lericanin was our father, Nicholas. I've been meaning to tell you but, your service to the baron and then to the king kept you from Anderslough for so long." A truth that took a long moment for him to accept and Kailee could feel his heart melt at the news of where he belonged finally came to light. He nodded, then glanced to Kailee.

"I'm sorry about how we met at first. I didn't know who you were."

"Don't worry, we get that a lot," Tess finally spoke up in her usual sarcastic tone.

"I can imagine," he nodded, then looked back to Lina. "You said 'he was'. What are you saying?"

"He passed this morning." A truth that Kailee felt quieted the air around them all.

"Oh," Nicholas nodded. He soon looked back to them as Kailee sighed. "Tell me how he died."

Kailee smiled. "I'll tell you how he lived."