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Post by cree8ivone on Sept 19, 2005 14:38:04 GMT -5
Griogar questioned, "Rhakar? What do you ken of this man?"
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Post by Dred on Sept 20, 2005 7:55:03 GMT -5
Rhakar glanced at the gathered faces before settling on that of Griogar. Forgive me. This man belongs to a rival clan some distance from here. I came across them years ago when they were relatively small but their hunger for dominance hasn't diminished at all if they are reaching us here.
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Post by cree8ivone on Sept 28, 2005 7:34:24 GMT -5
"There is only one clan that has truly been a 'rival' to all in Caledon," Griogar replied to Rhakar. Then turning to the stranger, "My father has had many problems with Clan Campbell. Are you sent from the Campbells to steal from us?"
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Post by Dred on Oct 19, 2005 15:45:00 GMT -5
The stranger clamped his mouth shut refusing to answer any questions as he repeatedly looked towards the woods.
Rhakar glanced towards the woods in time to catch the slight movement in the shadows moments before he heard the twang of a bow being releasesd. Cover. Shouting loudly to all present he pulled the stranger down to the ground and rolled to the side before jumping back to his feet, drawing his sword and rushing off in the direction from which he saw figures moving back into the woods.
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Post by DanTheMan on Oct 20, 2005 13:00:29 GMT -5
Maccus heard the warning from Rhakar and fell to the ground, but scrambled over to Rhakar's side to help out as needed.
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Post by karenee on Jan 20, 2006 19:10:56 GMT -5
Kaie, meanwhile, lay on the raft and silently paddled closer, wondering how she could help. In the shadows of the forest she, too, saw the armed men lurking. What could they want? Just then one saw her and gave a shout. "That's the one!" With a splash, several of the men jumped into the shallow water and pulled her off the raft. "Wait! No! What are you doing?" Unthinking, Kaie spoke in English, but in the growing shouts from the village, she hoped it wasn't noticed. The man who held her gave her a strange look, but then they were on dry ground and she decided to try for freedom. Hoping those self defense classes would work even in this new world, she made her move. Leaving her initial captor doubled over, she made a mad dash to the village center, and the friends who now seemed to be battling their way toward her. Kaie was born in Albion and taken back to the modern day by a group of researchers when they found her as a child, wandering in the woods near a burnt out cottage. Just to give you an idea of where to take this. |
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Post by Dred on Jan 20, 2006 20:54:45 GMT -5
Hearing the cry coming from the lake, he pointed at several men and then after the fleeing figures before dashing off at a full sprint towards the lake. Seeing the figures trying to hold Kaie and her managing to escape, he ran to cut off their approach cutting down two men as four more halted, circling him. Speaking in English to Kaie as he heard her shout, Get away. I'll take care of them.
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Post by karenee on Jan 21, 2006 12:01:08 GMT -5
Kaie managed to dodge one man, attempting to circle around where Rhakar occupied several of the attackers. The villagers ran forward as a group to overwhelm the rest. Just as Kaie began to think she had escaped, someone clamped an arm around her. When she felt a brief sharp pain at her throat, she stopped struggling. Would he really kill her?
"Get back!" The man holding her roared. "All we want is the girl! Noone has died yet, and you want to keep it that way, I think."
Everyone turned to face him and the attackers backed away from the villagers to group themselves around Kaie. Rhakar, and several of the others made as if to attack, but Kaie saw another group of soldiers behind them, holding torches.
"Stop!" She screamed at them. Then pulled carefully from the grasp of the man who had caught her. "Look, if I go with you will you leave this village alone?"
"They stole you from your father and you protect them? For twenty years our Chief, Ap Bearach, has been seeking you, and you have betrayed his care and concern by giving loyalty to another?"
Kaie stared at him. "My father? He is dead! Isn't he?"
"Ah, they have lied to you!" He gestured toward the soldiers.
"No! Wait! These are innocent! I have left those who took me and only moved here recently. Please do not harm them. I wish to meet my father. Truly, I do!"
"Very well." The man sneered for a moment, but waved the approaching men back and announced, "We will leave at once!"
"But my things!" Kaie protested as they led her into the forest.
Around her, the soldiers laughed. "Just like a woman!"
"Don't strain my patience!" The leader growled.
With a sigh, Kaie fell silent and followed along, hoping her father would be a kinder man than his soldiers.
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Post by Dred on Jan 23, 2006 9:21:29 GMT -5
Rhakar watched everything take place wondering if letting her go was the right thing to do. He decided that since she went willingly, there was little he could do for the moment but perhaps send one who could follow at a distance.
Gesturing at several of the men who followed him, he brought them closer together. Cyfnach, I want you to follow that group. Take care that they don't see you and if you sense any trouble heading your direction, return here and let us know.
With that, the man departed at a trot, weaving deeper into the woods as Rhakar turned back to the villagers. We must trust in the One to guide how things move from here.
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Post by karenee on Feb 13, 2006 17:06:09 GMT -5
After three days of travel, Kaie reflected that she would have been wiser to turn around and go back the first day. Considering the manners of the men surrounding her, she might not like her father much.
They topped yet another ridge and she sighed with relief at the thought of going down for a change. She had considered herself in good shape, but these men were untiring! Her father probably wouldn't be too impressed with her, either. She gritted her teeth, tried not to think about her aching muscles and hurried forward.
"There it is!" One of the soldiers pointed to a fortified settlement below.
Several of the men turned to grin at her before charging down the hill with yells of greeting. The people below broke from the evident routine of their tasks to the welcome turmoil of an unexpected arrival.
Where was her father? Heart pounding, Kaie hurried down the hill. Finally her questions would be answered!
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Post by Dred on Feb 13, 2006 17:19:41 GMT -5
Staying in the shadows the trees provided, Cyfnach watched and waited. He saw a great deal in the surrounding countryside that would need to be told to those at the village. In his mind, he read the lay of the land, the advantageous locations for travel as well as attack and defense.
As the group rushed down the hill to the cheers of the populace, he sat back against the tree to wait for dark.
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Post by debinoxford on Feb 16, 2006 0:00:44 GMT -5
Rhian had followed the captors of Kaie since their departure. She hadn't even told her father where she was going. She often went away to hunt for herbs and medicines in the woods for days at a time, so her absence would not be missed for some time. She felt that if Cyfnach found her this far from the village she would incur his wrath, but she could not restrain herself. After the following party left to track Kaie, Rhian ran back to the farm to grab a few items before leaving to follow them. Seeing the party stop near the settlement, Rhian settled herself far enough away to keep watch on the warriors without being seen, a gracious tip she had learned as a child when she wanted to keep away from her nagging siblings and needy parents who always had something for her to do.
She would sit and wait as long as she had to in order to see what would happen in regards to Kaie.
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Post by Dred on Feb 16, 2006 9:08:23 GMT -5
Tilting his head to the side and listening closely, he watched the cook fires sending their smoke up to mix in the sky. He stood and stretched before nodding to one of the men with him. Walking away a short distance into the thicker woods, he moved with the silence of the trackers he worked with and doubled back to approach Rhian from behind. Moving quickly and cautiously, he stopped several paces from her and whispered her name. Rhian.
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Post by debinoxford on Feb 16, 2006 16:25:19 GMT -5
She jumped nearly a mile at the sound of her name behind her. Turning and facing the man she sighed with a little relief at realizing who it was.
How did you know i was here? Rhian stamped her foot in indignation only found in a young woman. You aren't going to send me back, are you? Her eyes begged him not to send her back to the village. She had worked so hard to follow them all this way and didn't want to be sent home like a child.
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Post by Dred on Feb 16, 2006 21:27:15 GMT -5
Glancing ahead at the smoke from the fires and then back at Rhian, he shook his head. Lowering his voice, he approached and knelt next to her. I heard you step on a twig several miles back and spotted you several times since then. I had wondered if anyone would follow us.
No. I shall not send you back. You shall remain with us. You did very well to make it this far without being spotted by anyone else. I will have one condition from you though. If I tell you to leave and return to the village, I want you to do that. I will do so only if things go very badly for us here. Do you agree?
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