True Justice

Zachary watched Adrian, and his two companions carefully. The other man, and the girl, seemed to be quite talkative, and sometimes, above the din of voices, he thought he could hear them. They made no attempt to muffle their conversation. But his attention for them was divided. He was more interested in the words and actions of Adrian. There is something between him and my sister...I must find out what...

His opportunity came when Adrian left, saying something to his friends before departing. Zachary pushed his plate away and got up, ignoring the glare he got from the sailor who's ale mug he had bumped with his plate. He made his way to the table where the other man and woman sat. They appeared to be very interested in each other, and he hated to intrude, but he was curious, and so slipped into the spot Adrian had just occupied. "Hello. I don't mean to intrude." he said, trying his best to mold his voice like that of a Tierrian.

****

Aeryn found herself brought onto the deck just as the wind, and the bit of the rain began to hit the ship. She turned her head away from the stinging drops of water and the gusts. The crewman, with a firm grip on her arm, dragged her away from the below deck doors, and toward the entrance to the Captain's cabin. Since she couldn't see well, due to her golden hair flying into her eyes, she let herself betaken to there. Then, the next thing she knew she was thrust into a dark room.

The doors slammed shut, and she heard a bolt glide across them. She stood quickly and pounded on the doors, but she knew it was useless since no one could hear her above the gale. She then turned about, hands pressed against the oak and glass, eyes scanning the shadowy, shifting interior of Captain Seranoy's cabin.

It looked to be well furnished, with a desk, bed, dresser, all made of finer wood. She took a few hesitant steps forward, toward the desk, and stopped when her fingers felt the wood. There was a candle sitting upon it, with no flame dancing on it's wick. She dearly wished for some light, but that seemed like an impossible wish. She found his chair, and set down in it, straightening her hair once she was settled. The ship swayed back and forth constantly, and she took a deep breath holding a hand to her stomach. She wasn't one for sea sickness, but this only thing so far had been a nightmare. Plus thoughts of that disgusting and repulsive captain did little to ease her nausea. I wish you were here Adrian....

True Justice

"Have a nice evening, too," Shay said to Adrian and waited till he left. Now, unfortunately, Shay felt she could speak a little more freely. Her voice rose as she did so. "My fault? This was my fault? I beg to differ! It's not like you had to pick me up and threaten to throw me overboard. That was your choice, Terence."

True Justice

Terence nodded to Adrian. "Good evening, my friend..." He watched him go and then he turned back to Shay. "Oh, I'm not saying it wasn't my choice. I"m just saying that it was you who caused me to make that choice."

When the other young man came to sit with them, Terence stiffened and sat up. "Evening..." he said, his voice neither friendly or unfriendly. He wasn't happy about being interrupted, but he knew Shay would disagree with him regardless of the newcomer. He almost looked forward to her denial.

True Justice

"You are the only one who has control over your choices, Terence. Not me." She sighed and folded her arms. "That's all I have to say."

For the first time, she noticed that the man had sat down across from them. She'd been so caught up in her arguing that she hadn't noticed that this man had taken Adrian's place. She followed Terence's greeting with a polite nod and a small smile. "Hello."

((OOC: As it has been more than 24 hours since my last post, I'm double posting. ))

Legends of Erandor

Erandor is a land of magic and legends, ruled by a governing council. Justice and peace is their motto, but unrest rises...

Then, like Legends, and shrouded in mystery, the Guardians come. They all have taken up the guantlet of protecting Erandor at all costs. Part of that task is protecting the heir to the throne... whoever he may be. Will the council thwart the plans of the guardians? Can the heir to the throne manage to arise? Whatever happens, the people of Erandor find themselves in the center of something far bigger than they ever imagined.

And so it begins.

~~

Ainsley Roe loved festivals. Full of color, life, and joy, they were some of the most sunshiny parts of her life.
Today was one such time.

Every year the village of Erivale - Ainsley's home - had a festival to celebrate the harvest. In all of Ainsley's 17 years, she couldn't remember a time when she hadn't attended the festival. It was a rather large occasion, and it appeared that the whole village was there. They always were.

Bursts of joy and color surrounded her as she immersed herself in the crowd of people. Several layers of sounds and sights overwhelmed her in the best way possible. Music floated through the air, played by a band comprised of fiddle and flute players. They were playing an upbeat tune, one that made Ainsley want to dance.

She smiled, the hint of a dance making its way into her step as she continued to weave her way through the crowd. Various booths squeezed together on each side of the road, selling all kinds of wares. Ainsley slipped her hand into her pocket, fingering the three gold coins she'd brought to spend. It was her own money she'd earned from her weaving business, and she wanted to buy something to remind her of this marvelous day. As she browsed the shops, nothing caught her eye, so she kept her money in her pocket for now. Money was not something Ainsley spent easily; and she liked to hold onto it as long as she could.

She continued to walk, thinking of her family. They would rejoin her later, she knew; as it was hardly possible for them to stay away from such a grand occasion. Her mother and father were kind and loving, and Ainsley was especially close to her mother. They bonded over household chores and shared deep, meaningful conversations. Her father was strong; a hard worker, and loved his family very much.

And then there was Ellion.

Her older brother by four years, he was distant and headstrong; preferring to be by himself rather than spend time with her. No matter how hard she tried, he wasn't willing to get close to her. And that hurt.

She bit her lip, forcing all thoughts of Ellion from her mind. Instead, her thoughts drifted to Kye, her best friend. They'd always been close, and Kye tended to fill the spot that Ellion didn't care to fill. Ever since Kye's grandmother had died 4 years ago, Ainsley and Kye had become even closer. Kye preferred to spend her free time at the cottage, when she wasn't teaching or baking pies. Kye brought color to Ainsley's life, and some of Ainsley's best memories took place in the kitchen. There, Kye would roll out a pie crust while Mrs. Roe swept and Ainsley sat in the corner with her loom. Ainsley would weave while they discussed anything and everything, and laugh over trivial things.

Even as her thoughts returned to the present, she still couldn't keep from smiling. There could be rain clouds on the horizon, but that didn't matter. Today was beautiful.

Legends of Erandor

Kye dropped the handful of berries into the wooden bucket and rubbed the back of her hand across her forehead, exhaling. She leaned back on her hands, looking up into the morning sky. The sun had been shining for a little over two hours now. She smiled as she thought about what the day might bring. It was the first day of the Erivale Festival, an annual celebration that was looked forward to all year long. When time approached the start of the festival, it was the talk of the town it took place in, as well as the surrounding towns and villages.

Everyone, from the youngest child to the oldest adult, participated. The people of Erivale made sure to have activities of every sort to bring laughter and joy to each person, no matter their stage in life. It was a time when people forgot their hardships and trials of life and just took some time to laugh with their friends and family. The harvesting of crops was over and it would only be a month or two before winter set in. Unpredictable and sometimes sudden, winters in Erandor could be light or they could be harsh. No one really knew what to expect before the snow started falling, so they took their time to celebrate before the people were cooped up inside their locked houses.

Kye grabbed her bucket and stood. She swung it by her side as she walked back to her cottage. She lived alone, in a cottage made from brick. It had two rooms: a kitchen that also served as a living room and a bedroom. It was a small abode, but with just herself living inside, sometimes it seemed abnormally large. When her grandmother was alive, the cottage was snug and comfortable, especially during the winter. However, when her grandmother passed away 4 years ago, she had left 16-year-old Kye alone in the home.

Since then, Kye had flourished into a beautiful woman with an independent spirit and a servant’s heart. For two years, she had served as one of Erivale’s teachers. However, most of the other instructors looked down upon her methods of teaching, but she knew they worked and she didn’t change her ways. So while many of the other students sat in their classes, bored of being told and not shown how to do things, her pupils grew to actually like school and work. Most of the time, her schoolroom was the outside world, but occasionally she took them into her cottage and taught them there. Though it was small, there was enough room to house the children.

Her grandmother had also taught her many medical and cooking recipes and when she wasn’t working, she was perfecting her berry pie or her healing salve recipe. Many times she had been called to a sick person’s bedside to help them. She never turned down a case, even if she put herself at risk.

Turning the rusty knob on the cottage door, Kye stepped in and shut the door behind her. She hung up her coat and took a deep breath, filling her senses with the smell of already baked pies. There were 3 of them sitting on the counter, cooling. The berries she held in her bucket were just an extra bit of food she would contribute to the festival.

Kye set the bucket down and walked toward the bedroom. She changed out of her workclothes into something a bit dressier, did her hair in braids and pinched her cheeks a few times. Squinting, she looked in the mirror and shrugged. That will have to do.

Her heart skipped a beat as she heard a knock on the door. She grinned and quickly walked to the front of the cottage, pulling the door open when she arrived. A young man with dark hair waited on the other side. He smiled, looking as charming as ever. The man’s name was Tristan Loche; he was one of the many woodcutters that lived in Erivale. About a year and a half ago, Kye had met him when one of his good friend’s suffered from an injury. Since then, they had struck up a good friendship which had deepened with time.

“Ready?” he asked, motioning out the door.

Kye nodded as she stepped out the door. “Yes.” She shut the door, but remembered the pies as the door clicked shut. “Oh, the pies…Wait just a minute.”

Kye opened the door again and went to retrieve the pies. She handed two to the young man and she held the third and the bucket. “Now I am.”

Tristan sniffed one of the pies. “This smells delicious. Maybe I’ll keep one of these for myself.”

“No, you will not.” Kye said, shaking her head. “You can have some later, but they have to arrive safely to the pie table for now. You must have patience, Tristan.”
Tristan laughed and said, “Alright, but promise me you’ll save me a piece. I’ll be working the whole day so I probably won’t have time to come by and try these pies until well after the sun sets.”

“I’ll make you your very own tonight, then.” Kye said, glancing at him with a smile.
They melded with the crowd as they got closer to the center of town. At the pie table, they parted ways, with a promise to see each other at the end of the day. Kye helped out at the pie table for as long as she was needed, but once she was free, she went on the hunt for her very good friend, Ainsley.

Kye found Ainsley in the crowd, smiling and talking. With a tap on her shoulder, Kye said, “Found you.”

Legends of Erandor

It was that time once again in Erivale; when the residents wiped away their thoughts of toil and hardship, and surrounded themselves in a week of food, fellowship, and festivities. The harvest festival was always the biggest event in this rural corner of Erandor. Villagers from towns surrounding joined their friends and hosts for a week of drinking, making merry, and playing simple games and having contests. The sights were colorful and entertaining, and the air was also scented with the smell of pies and other delicious desserts. Women danced in the square with their gentlemen, and children hopped along around the musician’s feet. Laughter tinkled, like bells, and bursts of conversation could be heard among the crowds.

Little Erivale, bustling with commoners from afar, was nestled by an expanse of forest, and set, not far, from a mountain rage. Scenic views helped add to the pleasant atmosphere of the event, and bring in a peaceful and delicate light to the nights.

Not everyone was enjoying themselves as much as others though. This festival boasted things for everyone and all ages…but there were a few among the townsfolk who weren’t contented with such happy times; those few could be found hanging around the taverns, in the alleys, or spotted here and their among the strangers. But one of them, not a part of any of these groups, was participating in a brawl outside of one such fore-mentioned establishment. Ellion Roe swiped a hand across his lips as he glowered from his place on the ground. He tasted blood, stinging his tongue with a metallic flavor, from his lip, and took in a breath sharply, head spinning with pain as he stood up again. His opponent was Torin, the nephew of the tavern owner. It was not that he had any long lasting quarrel with this fellow, but right now, they obviously weren’t on the best of terms.

Several shouts went up from the gathered spectators as Ellion rushed forward, lashing out with his right fist for Torin’s face. The fist hit home and Torin Anwae fell back against the wall of the Cavern Tavern. The boy winced as his nose set to bleeding, ignoring this obvious fact he forced himself off the ground.
Torin’s advisory was a full two inches taller than him, and at least thirty pounds heavier, not to mention a lot stronger, as he had just learned. However, he had one advantage; he was a lot faster than Ellion and he planned to use its fullest extent. One strong left punch, followed by a quick right hook ought to put a damper on the farmer’s spirit.

Ellion thought perhaps for a moment he would win this fight; and at least walk away a victor, but as the younger boy returned to his feet, his hopes were sunk and he sighed, setting his jaw and stance, prepared for the next move. He ducked under the left blow, but was caught by the other, and reeled, stumbling back, breathing heavily. His blue eyes flashed with aggravation, and his finger-nails dug mercilessly into his palms. “Torin!” he spat, then made his move, charging, falling back slightly before he came into arms reach, and then coming forward with a burst, lashing out with his right leg to kick Torin.

The kid groaned, the aggravated kick smashed in Torin’s chest and sent him sprawling onto his back. From his position on the ground Torin kicked out Ellion’s legs, and then proceeded to jump on the larger man, using all of his hundred and fifty pounds to his to pin him down "Curse you Ellion!" Torin said, as he smashed his fists into his opponent’s stomach.

Ellion grunted, loudly, as he was hit in the gut, his face twisting into one of disgust and pain. He shook his head, tossing sweaty, sticky hair from his face, and then shoved Torin off, rolling away from him, wincing as he stumbled back up to his full stature. He gritted his teeth, angry, and almost ashamed at the same time for having this start in the first place. The people watching the fight grew silent, wondering if it was over, as both men stalled, but then Ellion heard a voice, and his eyes shot up to stare heatedly at the man whom had spoken. The taunting words rung in his ears and he shouted. “I’ll ram those words down your throat, Alex, when I’m finished with Torin!”

Ellion, new fire in his heart, sprung at Torin, aiming to finish their battle. By this time Torin had barely picked himself off the ground and was caught off guard when Ellion drove him to the dust. However it was just then when someone finally decided to break up the fight. A strong arm grabbed Ellion's shirt collar and pulled him to his feet

"Idiots" Johnathan Anwae muttered to himself.

He then pushed Ellion away from his nephew, before reaching down to help Torin off his feet, the boy in turn ignored the kind gesture and stood up himself "Have it your way" John said and walked away, leaving Torin standing alongside Alex in the middle of a quickly dispersing crowd.

Ellion was caught off guard, not expecting to be stopped, and just stood there for a moment, staring at his younger opponent. He clenched his fists, cast his eyes to the ground, then hurried off into the crowds. His lip was still bleeding, and his nose as well, and he looked a sight indeed, damp and dirty, with disheveled hair and clothes. He pushed his way through the people, trying to find his sister, Ainsley, among them. He knew she was out and about, no doubt having a good time, possibly with Kye.

After much searching he found her, among the nicely dressed, happy, chattering visitors. “Ainsley!” he called, coming along side her and grabbing her arm. “Don’t you think we should go home now?”

((OOC: Fight sequences co-written by narnianerd. Thanks!))

Legends of Erandor

Having noticed that the fight had stalled and with the money finally flowing freely, Alex took it upon himself to keep things going. "Aye! Elion! You fight like your sister!" he shouted over the small crowd from his seat on top of some lumber by the Tavern. That should keep things going for at least five more minutes...

This was Alexander Valon, better known as Alex to most people. Despite his slightly rough personality, Alex was really a good guy. He lived with his father, Patrick Valon, in the cottage next to the family blacksmith shop. His reputation as the town "slightly better than a ruffian" was firmly in-place, though most everyone knew it was mostly for show.... mostly.

With the interference of Mr. Anwae, the fight was clearly over. The small crowd began disbanding, some grumbling about how the fight was just getting good while others bemoaned losing their bets. After paying off some of lads, Alex put the winnings in his shirt pocket and hoped down from his seat to help Torin. "You really should have hit him in the leg, kid. On the plus side, we made 200 tonight." Alex said with a grin as he helped his friend to a table.

"You don't look too hot, Torin... I'll go find Kye and see if she has any herbal remedies for post-fight pain." Alex said as he gave his younger companion a light pat on the shoulder before heading off into the festival to find the local young herbalist.

----------------------------

The lights... the sounds... the smells!

It had been roughly two years since she had been to the Erivale Harvest festival and Elaina had missed it greatly. For the most part, she had been staying close to home in Wescraven helping her Aunt and Uncle with their business. It was a relatively quite living, but Elaina enjoyed helping her Aunt with her herbalist shop and learning the tricks of the trade.

Still, it was wonderful to venture out and return to her second home: Erivale. The village never seemed to change much from year to year, constantly keeping a timeless, homeliness that the bustling Wescraven lacked.

As Elaina wandered the streets and looked over the various venders wares, she spotted a familiar figure meandering through the crowd. With a mischievous smile, Elaina hurried over to the young man and gave him a quick tap on both shoulders. "Hi!"

Alex froze and looked over both his shoulders before finally turning around to see.... Elaina. The one person he really did not want to see at the present time... yet, she was still rather easy on the eyes. Gah! Stop that, Alex! Your don't like her... you don't like her... "Umm, hi. What are you doing in our charming village?"

"Here for the festival, what else?" Elaina said in her best mock cheery voice.

"Oh... I thought you were here to make my life a living nightmare. My mistake..." Alex retorted in his best sarcastic tone, adding a rolling of the eyes for extra effect.

"You still haven't changed, have you?" Elaina said crossing her arms and shaking her head. The herbalist-to-be suddenly noticed Alex looking around as though he was trying to find someone. "Something the matter?"

"Umm... yeah, kindof. Torin got in a fight and I'm looking for Kye to possibly give me some of here herb medicine.. stuff." Alex said as he continued to scan the crowd.

"Good heavens! You two are constantly getting into fights! Come on, show me where Torin is..." Elaina said as she grabbed Alex's hand.

"Wha! Wait. What can you do??" Alex asked obviously caught off guard by this.

"Lucky for you, I always travel with some of my herbs in this satchel..." with that, Elaina tapped the satchel hanging by her waist. "So let me guess... the Cavern Tavern, right?"

Before Alex was able to respond, Elaina began making her way to said establishment. "I'm going to regret this. I just know it...." he muttered before running to catch-up with the girl.

Legends of Erandor

Kye took one look at Ellion and frowned. "Ellion...What have you done? Can't we have just one day where you act like the adult you are?"

She touched his face, examining his wounds. "Split lip...bloody nose. Who was the victim this time? Please tell me it wasn't the baker's son again..." She wiped his blood from her hand onto her apron.

Legends of Erandor

The Festival

Ainsley felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around to see the very familiar face of Kye grinning at her. The moment was short lived, however. Before she could say anything, she felt someone seize her wrist. She struggled to free herself from his grasp... until she realized it was Ellion.

"Go home? We've only just started!" She protested, but stopped short when she saw the blood on his face. She gasped and repeated Kye's question. "Ellion, what have you done?"

Tain Manor

Xeras Tain was extremely bored. There wasn't a council meeting for him to attend today, and he had no other previous engagements. Furthermore, he had nothing to do in his large castle - at least, nothing he had done a thousand times. And word had it that a festival was going on in the town of Erivale. Erivale was not too far from Wescraven, the town where his manor was located, and he was most definitely in the mood for a little amusement. So it was that he summoned his highest and personal favorite servant, Glimril.

Xeras paced in front of the window in his office. His office was located in the highest tower of his castle - a fitting location, considering Xeras' prestigious position in society. He heard the door open and shut quietly. He didn't look in that direction, but instead spoke because he knew his highest servant would be there. Xeras treated the rest of his servants with indifference, but not Glimril. He was a rare find, and Xeras didn't take him lightly... most days.

"Glimril, I'm in the mood for a little fun. I'm going to head down to Erivale and attend the festival there." Xeras stopped pacing and stopped in front of his desk, looking directly at Glimril. "I trust you can handle things while I am away, yes?"

Legends of Erandor

"Please, save your lectures Kye. I've heard them before." Ellion sighed, moving away from her examining touch. "I got into a fight!" he snapped at Ainsley. "That's what I've done. And no, it was with the Tavern Keepers nephew." his light blue eyes burned in Kye's direction. He never really understood the joy they found in the petty pleasures of the festival. He'd always watched Ainsley go about, being greeted, receiving returned smiles. The best he got was a cold look.

Legends of Erandor

Torin barely noticed Alex talking to him; he was walking around in a daze, picking fights with stronger men rarely paid off in the end. Sure you make a few hundred in coinage but you usually ended up with a busted nose, some bruised ribs and a bleeding lip, of which he had all three and more.

When Torin finally shook the blur out of his eyes he saw Alex walking away, hopefully to get help, probably in the form of Kye or one of the other herbalists in town. He eventually found a seat and started to tend to the wounds himself when he saw Alex running his away, in front of him; also making good time was a young woman

Yup, that was Elaina, she had to be here for the festival, Torin should have figured that if she was in a twenty mile radius of Erivale that Alex would 'Bump into her' "Welcome to Erivale, may I offer you a drink?" he asked Elaina. As he held out the rag the he was currently using to catch the blood which was pouring out of his broken nose.

Legends of Erandor

"Thank you kindly, but I believe you are in more need of my services more than I am of yours..." Elaina said with a comforting smile as she sat down next to Torin and began rummaging through her satchel. "Alex, get me a small glass ale and a warm, wet towel."

Alex nodded and disappeared into the tavern. A minute later he return with the needed supplies.

Elaina took the glass and towel from Alex and proceeded to attended to her patient's wounds. Taking a small handful of long, sweet smelling grass, the herbalist placed the grass into the warm towel and tied it into a knot. "Here... put this on your nose. It will ease the pain." After handing the towel to Torin, Elaina mixed three different types of herbs together in the small glass of ale. "I'm afraid this won't taste very pleasant, but it will help your body heal... and hopefully stopped any bleeding."

"Don't worry, Torin. I'm sure the drink is fine. If it isn't, I'll make sure you get a decent burial." Alex said jokingly as he leaned against the taverns door-frame. A swift, stern look from Elaina quickly shut the young blacksmith up.

Legends of Erandor

Theron ran water through his hair, it felt so good after a hard days work. He sat down next to the pool, memories of the first time he was here floating freely in his mind.

Seven years ago almost to the day, Theron had sat up in a large oak tree next to the same pool. He nodded to his comrade who sat next to him, a large parade of horses trotted below. A smug looking man rode amongst them. Theron signaled that this this was there target. His partner dropped out of the tree to get a closer view, he moved smoothly through the shadows to then end of the road.

Theron cradled the crossbow up to his chin, trying to be silent as possible. The target unwillingly entered within range. Theron took a breath and....The memory stopped.

He always tried to forget the end of his assassin stories, but they haunted him more than anything else. He picked up his gear, thinking it was way past time to be leaving. The noise of the festival flooded around him as he walked home.

Home, though not very big, was the only place in the world that brought Theron peace. He stepped across the threshold, his wife was sitting at the table alone. He came up behind her and kissed her on the cheek.

"You're late!" she said, slightly startled.

"Sorry. My help never showed up, and I had to finish the harvesting myself." Theron said, pouring himself stew.

"They didn't show up again! I oughta give them a piece of my mind!"

Theron chuckled, "Now that is something I would like to see! But it's alright. The harvesting is done, and it looks like it's going to be a good year."

His wife gave a smile, "Well that's good to hear." she stretched and gave a yawn, "...Time for bed."

"Alright, I still have to put the horses away. Goodnight dear." Theron said, receiving another kiss from his wife.

As he watched her walk away, he once again began to think; "...Life is better now, than it has ever been." But it could not last.

Legends of Erandor

Erivale Festival

Despite the fact that she didn't frown often, Kye's lips turned downward once again. She pulled a handkerchief from her apron pocket and handed it to Ellion. "Please get yourself cleaned up, or I'll lecture you again..."

~~~

Tain Manor

Aedra shook the water from her hands and dried them on her white dress. The skirt of the dress was cut in an angled pattern around the hem, giving it a slightly tattered appearance. It had been altered to appear old and ruined.

She left the fountain and skipped up the stone walkway towards the manor door. She pulled it open, ran towards the stairs and went all the way to the very top which ended in a long hallway. There was only one set of doors in this hallway and it led to her brother's, Xeras Tain, office.

With a fist, Aedra pounded on the large wooden doors, waiting to be let in.