private The Fall of Andalasia ~Book 1~

[Shadow Dancer 111]

@@Torrent505, I knew there were five courses of action I could take four would be satisfying as hell, I imagined killing him, but shortsighted the last one would be to just leave and let him keep the money. I just decided on the final idea and prepared to leave the inn.

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

The hostess was taking the tinkerers order, wondering where her canker sore of a husband was.

 

Whisper gasped "We are not thieves! We didn't know thatman had money!"

-----

 

Tulla stopped at a line of trees and then began climbing aone. She made it up like a cat and pursed her fingers against her mouth, calling out like a bird.

[Torrent505 370]

@@Shadow Dancer, @@RunsWithSquirlz, @@Flying Ace,

 

The old man looked between Dresden and Whisper, "What's so special about her? You say you paid him but you say you didn't know he had t'a money... You all keep lying to me more and more. You want to stay in my inn I want some truth from you!"

 

Clarke thanked the woman for the room and head up the stairs to find his room. At the top he stared at the argument taking place, but mostly he stared at Whisper's face, adjusting his goggles lenses in curiosity.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@@RunsWithSquirlz,

 

Unable to climb while carrying the cripple, Robert simply looked up and watched as Tulla rapidly ascended the tree and called out. "Does that actually work? He responds to bird calls? Such a strange animal. A magnificent and noble creature, certainly, but strange." 

[Flying Ace 142]

@@Shadow Dancer, @@RunsWithSquirlz, @@Flying Ace,

 

The old man looked between Dresden and Whisper, "What's so special about her? You say you paid him but you say you didn't know he had t'a money... You all keep lying to me more and more. You want to stay in my inn I want some truth from you!"

 

Clarke thanked the woman for the room and head up the stairs to find his room. At the top he stared at the argument taking place, but mostly he stared at Whisper's face, adjusting his goggles lenses in curiosity.

 

Dresden still smiled though it looked...forced? "That's because we weren't suppose to pay him until we got there but I thought I would pay him anyway, you know to get friendly with him." Dresden glanced at Whisper, "And the reason I want her to stay more than anyone else is because I would feel awful if anything bad happened...aside from the bandits."

[Sekel 694]

Helena didn't bother looking up the tree as she knew Tulla had everything covered but still, she kept a lookout behind them. "You think a Chimera is magnificent? It's just a bunch of different animal parts stuck together and given life ... now that I think about it ... it probably is ... amazing." Helena thought out loud as she kept a lookout.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@@Dji,

 

He shrugged. "I don't know about chimaera's in general, but Tugg is pretty great. He saved my life twice yesterday. I think he deserves to be called magnificent. Although I'll admit the idea of a chimaera is kind of gross the way you explain it." He chuckled. "And you can relax, you know. I don't think anybody is going to sneak up on us here."

[Sekel 694]

@@Alex Kennedy

Helena shrugged. "I'm just naturally tense, given my way of life." She held up a hunting knife and inspected. "This yours? Don't know how it ended up in my hand ..." Helena mused and gave a small chuckle. She idly played with it as she would a crossbow bolt but dit didn't really matter if the pointy end didn't stick in her.

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

A call rang throughout the forest, louder and longer than most of the birds, Tulla smiled as she stretchedacross the branch.

 

"Chimeras are mutts. And this is my special one. I found him when he was just a cub, snared in a trap. He was badly hurt but the young princess healed him, 3xcept for his wings they were too damaged."

-------

 

Whisper looked down at her hands, feeling stupid for not holding her tongue. Her eyes shifted up to meet Clarkes and she moved closer to Dresden. It was the man with the strange cart.

 

The crotchety old man huffed "I hate musicians. You best all be gone by tonight or ill report you all. Even your whore" He shoved past Clarke on the way down, grumbling to himself. Yet he was glad he had a purse full of coin.

 

"Dresden?" Her voice was shaky with hurt "Would you do a favor for me?"

Edited July 27, 2014 by RunsWithSquirlz

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@@Dji,@@RunsWithSquirlz,

 

Robert nodded. "Yeah, it's my old hunting knife. It looks a lot more natural in your hands than it does in mine, though. If you want it badly enough to steal it off my belt, you can have it. Or were you reaching for something else down there?" He laughed and made a face that showed he was just teasing, and looked back up at Tulla as she spoke. "That's... actually a really sweet story. Were you always so good with animals?"

[Flying Ace 142]

@@RunsWithSquirlz, @@Torrent505

Dresden waited for the old man to leave then let his smile fall, "Whore huh? Just give me five minuets and I'll show him some manners." Dresden muttered to himself with a hint of anger but it quickly dissapeared when Whisper asked him a favor. "Well, sure Whisper what do you need?" Dresden asked only giving a glance at the strange man.

[Shadow Dancer 111]

@@RunsWithSquirlz, I hid away what I felt about his comment, the hood and cowl helped physically hide my anger, "Lets get ready to leave, this hell hole. Once the others comeback we need to be on the road anyway." ' age will catch up to the bastard eventually.' I thought to myself

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

Whisper quickly unlatched a small emerald earring, it was her last piece of jewelry "Head into the market to sell this at its highest price. It should be more than enough for supllies and horses to the next town. Could you do this for me? Zaddion will stay here with me. I think you should bring Indicus with you. I dont want you being robbed."

-----

 

"Since I was orphaned and taken into the castle, I spent alot of my time in the stables. Sometimes I think creatures are the only thing I relate to." Tulla swung a leg back and forth patiently waiting for Tugg.

[Sekel 694]

@@Alex Kennedy, @@RunsWithSquirlz

"Nah. Wasn't reaching for something else. If I wanted to, you would know about it. As for this knife ... I got my own dagger. You can have it back." Helena said with a smirk and placed the knife back in it's place on his belt. She looked up at Tulla and heard what she said about being in a stable. "You think creatures are the only things you relate to ...?" Helena asked curiously.

[Flying Ace 142]

@@RunsWithSquirlz, @@Shadow Dancer

Dresden looked at her for a second then gently took the earring out of her hand, "Alright, if that's what you want...Oh, before I forget." Dresden leaned in, "Don't let what that old man said bother you start smiling to sow you don't let anything like that affect you." Dresden quickly backed up and turned to Indicus, "Well, I guess were going shopping want to make sure I don't get robbed right?"

[Shadow Dancer 111]

@@Flying Ace, "It seems that way." I replied, and walked down the stairs. "Well come on lets go before the old bastard tells the town we are thief's, and what ever other nonsense he sputters out these small towns trust their elders a bit too much." I continued, now thinking on helping Dresden find a buyer and making sure some thief dose not steal the money or the gem.

Edited July 27, 2014 by Shadow Dancer

[Torrent505 370]

@@Shadow Dancer, @@RunsWithSquirlz, @@Flying Ace,

 

Clarke fiddled with his goggle more while focused on Whisper's face; his mind was racing with all the information he was taking in. This group had more money than they should, the girl wore fine jewelry, they were claiming to be musicians, they were focused on seeing that the girl remained comfortable or at least that she remained protected... the pieces certainly fit the puzzling picture that he was seeing but for something so sensitive he needed to be certain...

 

He fingered the activation rune on his goggle, a bright flash filled the corridor and a small pulse of light magic came from the particular lenses. He have an Illian curse and yanked the goggles of to start adjusting them, it was all an act as he apologize profusely to them, "I'm sorry, so sorry. An invention of mine to shine light to see at night it acts up sometimes, so sorry. Ex-excuse me." He turned and rushed back down the stairs. A piece of parchment with black ink smeared across it to form Whisper's face slid from a crevice in the cart and Clarke rushed to catch it. Fiddling with the other compartments in the cart he looked for the small recreations of royal portraits he kept so he might identify correctly and not be mistaken in exactly a moment like this... He swore she was the spitting image of the Andalasian Princess.

Edited July 27, 2014 by Torrent505

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@@RunsWithSquirlz,@@Dji,

 

Robert shook his head. "Don't sell yourself short, Tulla. Just because you're good with animals doesn't mean you can't be good with people as well. The princess clearly puts great trust in you, and for as briefly as I've known you, I think you're a good friend. But I do understand what you mean, and you certainly have proven to be pretty amazing at handling creatures so far." He sighed as they waited. "I hope Tugg doesn't keep us waiting too much longer. As much as I enjoy spending time with you two lovely ladies, we shouldn't be away from the others for two long if we can avoid it."

[Flying Ace 142]

@@RunsWithSquirlz, @@Shadow Dancer, @@Torrent505,

Dresden blinked rapidly at the flash of light, "Agh, what was that?!" Dresden rubbed his eyes as Clarke apologized, "Oh no don't worry about it; it's not like I needed my eyes anyway." Dresden walked down the stairs, "We're be back with supplies so don't do anything fun without us." Dresden called over his shoulder as he walked out the door.

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

Whisper rubbed her eyes, the capture taking her unaware. When she regained herself the strange man had gotten away.

 

""May the Ancients keep you safe!" she managed to yell back to Dresden and Indicus.

-------

 

Not soon after, Tugg lumbered into thier view. When he was close enoigh, Tulla swung and landed on his back, scratching his mane "Good boy, Tugg"

 

He gurgled in content, slowly blinking his greeting to Robert and Helena.

Edited July 27, 2014 by RunsWithSquirlz

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@@RunsWithSquirlz,@@Dji,

 

"Tugg!" Robert ran over and joined Tulla in scratching his mane, balancing Helena delicately in an arm and a half. "It's good to see you again, buddy. I never really got to thank you for saving my life. In fact, I'm not sure I really properly thanked Tulla, either." He turned to Tulla and looked serious for a moment. "Thank you for yesterday. Both of you." He turned and began walking back towards town. "But enough of all that. We should get back to the others."

[Sekel 694]

@@Alex Kennedy, @@RunsWithSquirlz

Helena looked at Tugg lumbering towards them as Robert finished speaking. "Speak of the devil ... look who showed up." Helena said, nodding her head in return to Tugg's blink. When she saw Robert begin to head back to the village, she looped her arms around his neck for stability reasons.

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

It wasnt a strange sight to see someone walking or riding in on a dragon or otherwise; the townsfolk paid them no mind as Tulla walked ahead. She smiled to herself, being thanked felt great. She did save someones life; and Tulla would continue doing so until her own ended.

[Torrent505 370]

Clarke looked between the drying inked parchment and the small painted portrait of Andalasia's royal family, the resemblance was uncanny, Princess Whisper. Hmmmm still one does not simply confront royalty, especially if the suspect royalty was trying to be descreet; there had to be a reason her party was hiding like this or it was a shockingly similar coincidence and Clarke rarely believed coincidence.

 

He stored the pictures again and went back inside, he order some oatmeal and sat at a table to eat, he would keep an eye out for her and on the rest of her party. He would get to the bottom of this little puzzle.

[Shadow Dancer 111]

@@RunsWithSquirlz, I was amused by what the princess said, never have believed in the ancients or any Gods I liked to believe that I controlled my own actions and was not some pawn in the "gods" chess game. (Chess just randomly became cannon LOL) So I continued on acting as guard for Dresden.