((Currently invited to this quest are: Willam, Noah, Robyn, Janlarek, and Chelsea Added: Yammling, Josarya, Artis, Saria, Natalie and Graham... As well as anyone else who would like to introduce a character. GB and Marjorie will be acting as co-DMs for this quest.))

It is late morning now, most of the fog has burned off and the full light of day is peaking out of the storm clouds overhead. Winter is not quite there yet, but it is coming on fast.

As he walked out Willam turned and gave the door a pointed look, and in a threatening tone he said, "Not a word about witch direction I go."

With that Willam made for the tree line, quickly blending into the shadows. He picked a well concealed spot and then stood still as stone waiting for his pray to make their exit.

When they were well away from the tavern, she turned to Noah. "Be VERY careful of what you say around him. He's been hounding my trail for quite a while. I haven't managed to lose him yet."

[This takes place a few towns away.]

Yammling road hard threw a little town, the rain was just starting to come down in light sprinkles that he knew would break and give way to heavy rain by noon, but he paid it no attention. He and his servant Josarya had been riding hard for several weeks in search of Robyn They had been stopping only once a night to rest the horses and take turns at sleep... He carried tidings from his Lord and information that he knew she would need and he knew that she would be in danger wherever she went... especially if she was alone as all appearances had led him to believe thus far.

Suddenly Yammling pulled his steed to a halt in front of a shabby looking tavern. He knew the horse that was tied before it. It, it was *her* horse. Caught off guard his servant quickly came to a stop beside him. "What is it master?"

Yammling silenced his with a slight gesture of his hand as he looked about. This was not the sort of place he would be glad to fine Her Majesty. But then his horror intensified as he saw a man exit the inn and begin reading the horse to ride.

"Good sir," he said, bringing his horse up beside him, "might I ask how you came across this horse?"

"Won it from a pretty lady in a game of cards," he answered with a smirk.

"Is the lady still here?" he asked.

"She weren’t never here," he chuckled, "it was a while back... I don't rightly recall where abouts exactly."

Yammling sighed. "Very well," he said and then gestured to his servant again and they were off and riding up the road out of town again.

((Ok... well none of your charaters get ta know this... but I thought I'd put in a little teaser post, lol.))

'I wonder who *he* is?' Willam thought from his vantage point. He would wait until they walked off a bit further before he began to follow. He knew that Robyn was one of the half elven, and he had no desire to let her know he was following. 'Anouther bounty hunter?' he thought to himself, churning with anger, 'that will *not* due. These two... they are *mine*.'

((LOL Willam is *verry* territorial and possesive. XD))

“Yes, Jelra. I’m sorry if I said anything wrong,” said Noah apologetically.

Just then, Mercury flew down and landed on Noah’s shoulder.

“There you are,” said Noah stroking his feathers.

'Yes apologize to the little princess,' Willam thought, 'wrapped around her finger already... she will be your greatest weakness for me to exploit.'

Just then, Mercury flew down and landed on Noah’s shoulder.

“There you are,” said Noah stroking his feathers.

'Hell sent beast!' Willam thought annoyedly, 'the only one of them who has a clue is the damn bird!'

'Hunter. Preditor,' the demon in him whispered consperitorally, 'not unlike you... the bird deserves more respect than either of them.' A smile slipped over Willam's lips and then was gone.

'Indeed,' he thought, 'the bird at least has no desire to become pray... perhaps he is more intellagent than them as well.' He would have laughed if he wasn't buisy listening and staying perfectly still and silent at the moment.

((Oh, and I just thought I'd make this clear fo ya'll... when the demon in Willam speaks to him it's not out loud... it's totally in his head... so it's not like he's having a golum moment talking to himself out loud, lol. All such conversations are in the privicy of his onwn head. rotfl XD XP))

Willam would have been rolling in laughter if he wasn't buisy being a statue. 'Fight me, my lilac princess?' he thought, 'Oh, how sweet to spill your blood while you attempted to cross blades with me.'

The demon in him smiled. 'Oh, to taste blood that runs with fear of death... and strength of fight,' it whispered to him, 'you know how sweet a taste that is... You should take her now.'

'No not now,' Willam said tighening his mental leash on the demon, 'she is worthless to me dead... or at least she is so far... perhaps after we've collected the bounty on her... then we could taste her blood.'

((Hehehe... for not doing anything Willam is sure getting a lot of posts in. XD XP))

Posted this in the wrong thread by accadent... it was meant to go here.))

They were headed for the south gate out of the town, and then... To Everwood.

He moved slowly then, taking pains to keep to any shadow and cover he could, and even more pains to keep his movement silent. Willam was in his element now tracking, stalking his pray... He could do this for days... months and never tire of it.

((BTW SG... don't forget to tell us if that bird of Noah's does anything... Willam is more likely to react to it than anything Robyn and Noah do... lol, he has more respect for the bird than either of them. XD XP))

Mercury took off from Noah’s shoulder, and soared high in the air, following them from above.

((Hmmm... They're heading towards the largest forest on the continent, but they haven't reached it YET. The trees at this town are just part of a little local forest. They should be out of these woods by nightfall. But yes, the trees should provide cover, for the most part.))

They were passing though a wood full of trees shedding there bright leaves. Sun light shined in though the thinning foliage above and a chill wind swept down the path before them.

She turned to Noah, and found that he was walking behind her by a few steps. She stopped and waited for him to catch up to her. "It's lovely, isn't it?" she asked, Emerald eyes sparkling.

((That's okay, SG. When we get somewhere that needs more description, I'll do it. That description works pretty well for now, though.))

"Now," said Janlarek, showing Chelsea the disk, "There are two glowing arrows, you see? The green one shows which direction she's headed in. The red one shows where she is in relation to us. Both of them are pointed in front of us right now, which means she's in front of us, and heading forward. If the green arrow turns into a dot. It means that she's standing still."

She paused for a moment, and her ears gained the faintest hint of pink. "To tell you the truth, I've only been there once in my lifetime, when I was young... I might not remember the way, though I know where it is. Maps are often different than the actual place."

Chelsea felt nervous about his reaction. In truth, her natural instinct was to make a plan of action that didn't include fighting, even though she knew how when it came to it. Being a thief, she had always avoided those situations. Now, hanging around Janlarek, she would have to change, because for him, all plans of action included fighting. She didn't feel confident, was the problem and when she didn't feel confident about a plan she wouldn’t do it. When your not confident, something small might scare you and you would react the wrong way. But since Janlarek was obviously confident, she probably could rely on him to make the right choice. The choice that didn't include her doing something she felt she couldn't do. But then there is also over confidence and Chelsea also remembered the demon.

All of the pockets he has are filled with all sorts of unusual and surprising things, heehee. He tries to be prepared for anything.))

“I have faith in you, My Lady,” said Noah, now walking by her side.

High above them, Mercury was soaring in a swift air currant. He had been staying pretty close to Noah and Robyn, watching them travel in and out of the thin foliage of the trees, but now he broke away from them, circling the woodlands in search of food.

Robyn gave a soft smile at that, but made no reply. He was following her lead... She hoped that she would not lead him astray.

They walked in silence for a little while longer, then Robyn, deciding that she should say something, said "Tell me more about yourself..." in a soft and curious tone.

“Well, there’s not much to tell,” said Noah, “I was born in Kifra, the capital of Kesla, as the second son of the head of the palace stables. I grew up there, and then became a palace guard when I was 15, and then was promoted to a body guard, when I was 19. I got fired and you know that story, and left Kifra for the first time and eventually made my way here,” finished Noah, looking at Robyn. “What about you, Your Majesty?” he asked.

(( Willam must be really still, if he’s not going to be noticed be a falcon who can find a rabbit in the roadside brush, from several feet in the air. Can I have Mercury see Willam?))

"My Aunt had my mother assassinated when she was still pregnant with me," she muttered. "It was only by a lucky chance I survived in the first place. Lady Carnella wanted her son to be king... She tried to snare my father in her net, back before he married my mother. She married my uncle instead, and while my mother remained barren, all was fine. She raised my cousin... Fargnul... putting into his head that he was destined to be king someday. Which he was, until my mother concieved."

Her face tightened. "She was always kind to me... Like a mother. I think she felt remorse for what she had done. I never told my father."

((There you are. A nice little slice of her family history, lol. Fargnul's the oldest of her three cousins, so he got the brunt of that ambition. Her other two cousins are actually like siblings to her.))

Janlarek kept walking with Chelsea at his side, idly humming to himself.

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