Vengeance of the Heart

[Magus]

“We should get going, they could be here soon.”

Magus nodded, hiding his surprise. He could hardly believe she had just suggested they join forces, considering her paranoia to this point. Was he beginning to gain her trust, then? He looked at her thoughtfully. Was she worthy of his trust? She was a volatile one, completely unpredictable. He remembered the feeling he’d gotten when he cast the detect evil spell last night. He’d felt great evil, but also good within her. As if something drove her to being the way she was, something powerful and more intense than she could or wanted to resist.

The thought lingered in his mind as he absently began to gather up his belongings. Something powerful and more intense than she could or wanted to resist…

Was it just her tragic past…or perhaps something more? The uneasy feeling returned as Magus dwelt on the question without success.

[Azmodan]

“We should get going, they can be here soon.”
As soon as Halya had heard Serena utter that sentence. She was ready to jump on her feet and.. and ... what?.. go off on adventure? Or was it the handsome half-elf? She didn’t quite know right now. But for some reason she felt like she needed to prove something to the mage. “then lets go!” Halya spurted out, and smiled another bright smile.

Magus looked at her and shook his head lightly.. was she not aware of the danger?

But Halya just jumped on her feet, as light as a feather.. and begun to fasten her weapons again. Hoping she did it right... it would be so embarrassing if she did this wrong.. noone would want to travel with a inexperienced child.. and she had just used so much time trying to convince them she was not!.

If she did it wrong, none seemed to notice.. busy with their own preparations for a quick depature.

[Magus]

“Then let’s go!” Halya spurted out, and smiled another bright smile.

Magus looked at her and shook his head lightly…was she not aware of the danger? He considered chiding her for taking the situation too lightly…but as he watched her, cheerfully fastening her weapons as if donning a costume for some festive celebration, his voice faltered. She had never taken the life of a fellow person, had she? He sighed quietly. Well, there was nothing to be done for it. As Serena said, they were all targets now. He didn’t doubt her words, either. He had set off on this adventure with the small but firm hope that the attack on the Inn was some sort of misunderstanding. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized he’d just been deluding himself. Like it or not, a bloody fight now seemed inevitable.

As he thought about what had to be done, he felt a little unsettled. Oddly, what disturbed him wasn’t that he would have to kill, or even that he could die. Cowardice was a natural instinct, nothing to be ashamed of. No, what bothered him was the eager tension building in his body. The thought of killing didn’t bother him. Quite the opposite. It invigorated him. He began to wonder if there was something wrong with him.

Silently he regarded Halya, prettily flamboyant as she prepared to set off on an exciting adventure. He smiled despite himself; he had taken an immediate liking to her, though he was hard pressed to lay a finger on the reason. Her youthful innocence, perhaps? He wondered…if her exuberance was the mark of inexperience, what about his dubious eagerness? He’d killed when necessity compelled him to, and though he avoided taking life when possible, he’d never thought twice about it when he did. What was the mark of experience, then? he thought, bitterly ironic. Apathy? Callousness?

Bloodlust?

These thoughts still fresh in his mind, he glanced at Celestia. She eyed Serena closely. Recalling the other occasions when he had sensed her feelings, he concentrated hard, seeing if he could will the link between them open once again. Nothing. He tried again, with the same result. What was he doing wrong? Puzzled, he decided to try one more time. Relaxing his mind with a meditation technique he’d learned, he opened his mind and gazed at his oddly serious-looking pixie. It was almost imperceptible at first, but gradually he felt Celestia’s mental presence, a faint consciousness that faded in and out as he observed wonderingly. As soon as he concentrated on it, it faded and disappeared. His follow-up attempt was unsuccessful. Oh well. At least he was making progress.

Might as well do it the tried-and-true way, then.

“She still bothers you, huh?” he asked softly, echoing his own thoughts.

Cel turned and nodded, unusually sober. She glanced back at Serena. “It’s cold,” she whispered. She shivered slightly. “Black…cold. Cel doesn’t want to travel with the bad lady. Not at all.”

“Are you alright?” he asked, concerned, momentarily forgetting his question. “You’re not getting sick, are you?”

She shook her head. “No…Cel is fine.” She nestled a little closer to his neck. Her smooth hair tickled against his skin.

“Well…alright.” Distracted, he realized he’d lost his train of thought. Oh well.

“Well, are you coming or not?” Startled, he saw Serena calling to him from the edge of the clearing. Halya stood next to her, looking at him anxiously.

“Oh, my pardon.” How long had he been standing there? He hurried over, chiding himself for being so absentminded. He winced as he heard a series of small gasps from the jolting and slowed down. “Sorry about that…” he apologized ruefully. He heard a small hmph in response.

Just then he looked back in alarm. The others…weren’t they coming?

[Rudar Dimble]

Just when everybody seemed to agree to go with Serena, Gurdio, who had been quiet all day now, stepped forward.

"Why should we go with this woman? Sure her story is a terrible one, but so are many others within these realms. Haven't you heard what she said? Her father has made powerful allies. Do you really think we are the ones to take up arms against such a foe?"

He looked around, waiting for a response.

"A don't know whether I am ready to risk my life to help someone I just met a few minutes ago. I am not even sure if I would risk my life for my own relatives for crying out loud!"

Gurdio made his speech more powerful with some gestures.

"I would be willing to go, IF there would be a reward of some kind in it for me."

He looked Serena straight in the eyes, waiting for an answer, offer or denial, he did not know.

[Magus]

Magus opened his mouth to speak, then thought better of it. He turned to Serena and watched her reaction, his expression curious as he waited to see how this would play out.

[Rob-hin]

Serena turned around and looked at the gnome.
"I would be willing to go, IF there would be a reward of some kind in it for me."

“You’d be WILLING to go?” What was this foolish gnome thinking? “Let’s get one thing straight. I don’t want you near me; I don’t want anything to with the likes of you or your friends! But I can’t reach my father alone, his mercenaries will find and stop me before I’d even come close. The same applies to you.”

Gurdio wasn’t impressed.
“Why should I even want to talk to that no good father of yours? Those mercenaries aren’t even after me!”

In response, Serena let out a sarcastic smirk.
“And if they think I’m on your side…” Gurdio continued. “… we could easily prove them otherwise. Heh, I… euh, we’d probably be rewarded for delivering you to them.”

With her arms crossed in front of her body, Serena listened to Gurdio. She didn’t try to hide the fact that he irritated her to death. “Are you really that stupid? Do you honestly believe that they will let you live?”

She tossed her head back and laughed at the top of her lungs. It was the first time the rest had heard her laugh but it made the hairs on the back of their neck stand up.

“Fool! My father is not what he appears to be. He may not be crude to his people because he needs them, but to his own daughter… Besides, you know nothing of what goes on behind the castle walls.”

“What has this…” Gurdio started, but he was interrupted when Serena continued.
“He won’t stop at anything to find me; to stop me. No witnesses. Not even those who help him, it would mean he has to pay you. Killing you is so much cheaper.”

Gurdio let his gaze slid down and he looked at the ground. Thinking, looking for another way out. Serena noticed this; “So, either you follow me to his keep, you try to capture or even kill me… or you run away. What will it be?”

“I don't think of it as running away. My qualities have a price and if you are not ready to for them, you won't see them. So what will it be?

“Fine.” Serena waived his answer away with a gesture of her hand. “Get yourself killed then I don’t care. They will find you, you know.”

'I know, I know? No I don't know! I don't know your father and I don't know you. The only think I know is that you came up with this ridiculous story. Why would I believe you?”

“Well, then you’d have to just believe my bright blue eyes then, since I can not and will prove anything. Die if you must.” Tired of this argument, Serena then turned away and set course towards her final goal. Her father’s castle.

“Good luck” shouted Gurdio, with a little hesitation in his voice. He wasn't sure whether he had done the right thing...

He looked towards the others, waiting for their reaction. But he was sure of one thing, whatever their decision on the matter might be he wouldn't go with this woman......not as a free mercenary!

***

In the distance, Gurney and Acolytus seemed to have a slight argument.
“What do you mean, you’re leaving?”

“I’m sorry my friend, but I choose life in the wild. I have seen enough death and killing in my life.” Then Acolytus turned away from Gurney, nodded to his trusty four legged friend and started walking. “I’m sorry, goodbye.”

He walked away and didn’t look back.
“But… but.” Gurney sighted. “Damn it!” Confused about what he should do next, he looked at the rest of the group and saw that they were about to set of.

“Hey, wait up for old Gurney!”

As he reached the rest, he could hear on last line of what seemed to be a much heated argument. “Good luck” shouted Gurdio.

“What? Aren’t you coming with us? He looked at the gnome.
“No.” He responded. “Risk is high and payment is low. So I’m leaving.”

Gurney wasn’t about to loose another party member.
“What about the adventure? The good we’ll be doing?

“I will not put my life on the line only for adventure or good, I need the money. I’ve just been robbed remember, I told you about it?”

“I heard the baron is rich beyond your dreams…”Gurney thought out loud. “… and I doubt Serena is after her money. You could make a pretty penny no matter how this ends.”

"Hmm....that makes sense. But she has to promise me to give me at least 7500 gold pieces worth of loot, no matter what we will find in the castle"

“I will guarantee that you get your money. How about that?” Gurney disliked the leaving of the druid and he was not about to loose another party member. He recond that they’d need all the help they could get.

“But if it’s not in the castle, then I will pay you myself. I have my resources. I’m positive it is there though, that and even more. I’ve been there before and the place is covered with gold.”

“So you know it? Why didn't you tell me before? Ah, you might have, but I am not always paying attention. And frankly I don't even care, I do trust YOU on your word, Gurney”

Gurdio looked at Serena.
“So, what are we waiting for? Let's go!”

[Magus]

Magus looked at Gurdio, his face expressionless. He was a little disappointed, though it was hard to tell from his expression. He could hardly fault the guy for having cold feet…but to agree to accompany them, solely on the basis that there was money in it for him? It was so…shameless. What was worse, Gurney had even given his word to pay the gnome himself if the loot was insufficient, and Gurdio had calmly accepted as if he’d expected no less. He acted as if he was a mere bystander to this whole ordeal, when he was just as involved as they all were. They had set out to investigate this matter as a team, and now he wanted to pretend as if nothing had happened? Magus had expected better of him; that was all.

“Like a fox. Cel knew not to trust him.” Magus glanced at her in surprise. She looked back at him, her gaze clearing saying ‘I told you so’.

“Yes, I suppose you’re right.” He breathed a long sigh.

Where was Acolytus, anyway? He looked back just in time to see the druid disappear into the woods. Then he was…leaving? Magus wanted to stop him, but decided to let him go. He didn’t seem like the easily persuaded type, and besides, it was probably best this way. His bristly demeanor reminded him all too well of Serena. From what he could tell, they had more than a bit in common, those two. Not that it would make them get along any better. No, the party didn’t need any more unsociable personalities. It would be unstable enough as it was. He said a silent farewell to Acolytus, the taciturn defender of nature, and turned his back.

They set out soon after. Magus brought up the rear, alone, the contemplative mood having taken him strongly once again. He recalled Gurdio and Serena’s heated exchange.

"I would be willing to go, IF there would be a reward of some kind in it for me.”

“You’d be WILLING to go? Let’s get one thing straight. I don’t want you near me; I don’t want anything to with the likes of you or your friends! But I can’t reach my father alone, his mercenaries will find and stop me before I’d even come close. The same applies to you.”

So they were all just means to an end for her. He knew it was silly to think so…but he had thought that he’d actually connected with her, if only a little. People did say things in anger that they didn’t really mean…but from what little he knew of her, he didn’t doubt she meant it. So, if not for comradery…then what was the point of this whole escapade? To save their skins? To loot the Baron for all he was worth? He should have listened to his intuition at the start of this whole fiasco. He shouldn’t have gotten involved. By now he could have found another inn to rest comfortably until his next job. Why had he thrown it away? Why had he abandoned his peaceful life as a traveling mage to go on some reckless adventure?

He thought about it for a moment. He was bored. That was it. He was tired of living a life of predictable monotony, of sitting in taverns listening to others boast their tall tales and wild accomplishments. Most of all, he wanted to make a difference, if only a small one. He could enchant baubles and remove petty curses all he wanted, but he would never know what was he was missing if he never emerged from his comfortable little box every now and then.

“Master?”

“Hm?” His familiar’s voice startled him back to reality, her deferential tone grabbing his attention. He glanced at her, wondering what was on her mind.

“Why do we travel with these strange people? Why don’t Magus and Cel go off on their own adventure?” Her eyes shined at the prospect.

Magus smiled, chuckling lightly. She c0cked her head, looking a bit puzzled at his reaction. “That would be fun.” He patted her head gently. It was an odd gesture, her head small as it was. He used the tip of his outstretched hand, touching her head as one would a fragile flower, delicately admiring. She smiled back from under his hand adoringly, and for a moment he was genuinely tempted to slip away as Cel suggested. Back here as he was, no doubt they wouldn’t notice his absence for some time…

[Azmodan]

Halya had stepped back from the group. She felt she had no place in this discussion.. her gaze was locked on her feet, as she nervously played with the edge of her sleeve.. maybe she should just disappear into the forest?. Maybe she had no place in this.

[Rob-hin]

Gurney and Gurdio caught up with the rest of the group, who were just a couple feet ahead of them. There Gurney noticed a newcomer, a lovely Elven girl who seemed to be a bit nervous. Then he noticed Magus, he too seemed nervous. Could he have second thoughts about this adventure?

First he walked up to Magus and he swung his arm around Magus’s shoulders. “What do say? Let’s go help that lovely lady there do the right thing.”
Gurney dragged Magus with him towards the new girl. “Hello there! I’m Gurney and I guess you’ll be joining us?” Gurney swung his arm around her too, now he dragged the both of them with him. On his left he held Magus and on his right he held Halya. Unaware that due to this strange position, Gurney’s rapier shifted a little and it pocked Magus in the side somewhat.

“Shall we?” Gurney said with a big smile on his face, and he started walking towards where Serena had disappeared into the forest.

[Rob-hin]

“Where did you place my armour and equipment, also I have been in these parts for some time, but I never met you before why is that? Also how far are we from the village and what happened to me?"

Alinda pointed towards a big wooden chest. “Your stuff is in there.”
She looked a bit disappointed. Perhaps she hoped for Mursalin to thank her or perhaps she hoped that he would stay a bit longer.
“We…” She paused. “My father and I and my little brother and sister live just outside Windspear. It’s not far though, we know what happened there. But I don’t know what happened to you. My little brother and sister found you just a couple of feet from here, you were hurt badly. Unfortunately we had to wait for dad to return from herding his sheep so he could heal you.”

She held her hand in front of her mouth and laughed softly. “If it wasn’t for my little brother and sister, who broke the rule by being out that late, we would have found you.”

[Magus]

Feeling Magus stiffen a bit, Gurney glanced over at him. He suddenly noticed that his rapier was poking uncomfortably into his friend’s side. “Oh, excuse me,” he apologized, smiling ruefully as he released Magus.

“You needn’t apologize,” Magus replied automatically, looking relieved. To tell the truth, his discomfort had been only partly due to the rapier. He watched as Halya stumbled, slipping out of Gurney’s grasp as well. She immediately begged his forgiveness, grinning sheepishly. Magus suppressed a smirk as he recognized the ploy, then looked off into the distance, sighing quietly. So much for slipping away. Oh well, he couldn’t just leave now, especially since he’d been the one who’d suggested they go off on this adventure in the first place. He looked at Cel apologetically. She nodded slowly, understanding. He followed as they resumed walking after Serena, the conversation quiet once again.

“Help her do the right thing…”

Gurney turned as he heard the murmur, and saw Magus regarding him thoughtfully.

“You think she’s doing the right thing, then?” Magus glanced at Serena, his face unreadable.

[Rob-hin]

Gurney’s face clearly showed that his mood shifted. Instead of the smile that he usually wears, a frown came up. “I’m not sure…” He gazed down at his feet as he walked onwards slowly, dragging his feet over the ground a bit.

“I mean, I’m not sure what he did to her, but it must have been pretty bad. I’m not for taking justice into your own hands too easily, but sometimes there is no other way.”

He looked at Magus. “I however, haven’t said that I agree with she’s doing, at least not until I know the whole story.”

Then Gurney stopped and gazed forwards at Serena. “She can’t be all bad… I don’t believe that. So what I meant to say was, we… I will help her do the right thing. Not just for her, but for everyone. If ‘the right thing’ means that I should help her then I will, but if it means that I should stop her then I won’t hesitate to do so.”
He turned to Magus again with a seriousness in his eyes that Magus had not seen before. “Any way possible.”

After getting this out of his system, Gurney sighted and picked up the pass again.
“The mind of a troubled mind…” he muttered.

[Magus]

“I’m glad we are agreed, then.” Magus seemed to brighten a little, though his look was still a bit distant. The half-elf still had a lot on his mind, apparently. Gurney wondered; did this matter with Serena trouble him that much, or was it something else? Gurney couldn’t tell. The mage was sociable as could be at times, and then suddenly he’d close up and distance himself, like he was now. Gurney glanced at the pixie on the mage’s shoulder, thinking with a smile that it’d be a dire day indeed when something got her down. He was all the more shocked when he saw her, staring glumly into the distance. What was with the two of them, anyway? Just by being near, he felt the melancholy seeping into him…

[Rob-hin]

The group set out once again and they were on the road for some days already, all be it in a different formation then before. The druid Acolytus decided that it was best for him to leave while he still could, for he was not spotted by Galuz, the baron’s eyes and ears. Then there was Halya to his place, her motivation and history covered in mist.

Gurney held up a sturdy pass and leads the way most of the time because of this; he is occasionally joined by the mage Magus. They seemed to get along best of the group, not so much because they had grown very fond of each other but perhaps more because of the strange composition of the group.

Neither of them sought the company of Gurdio after the exposure of his motivation that day at the opening. Halya kept mostly to herself, but given time she opens up more and more. She and Magus seem to like each other as well. Cell’s presence helped this too probably.

And then there was Serena, her moods as unpredictable as the weather had been. She could be bright as a sunny day or as dark as a thundercloud, as powerful and out bursting too…

Little had happened the last few days, other then the rain and bad weather which slowed them down significantly. Gurney couldn’t help but wonder if they had better not buy some horses in Umar Hills. Then they would probably be a lot closer to the Baron’s castle then they were now.
All had the feeling that someone followed their every move though, but other then strange sounds in the night, witch could also be caused by a passing animal, and they found no proof of someone following them.

They were alert never there less.

During the some casual conversation between Gurney and Magus, Gurney motioned that they were approaching a pleasant resting place. He mentioned something about getting new supplies for the group and an old friend.

[Azmodan]

Halya had been staying with the group for some time now. and she was getting more at ease, still not willing to tell them why she had joined their quest. Still afraid that she would seem childish and would be ridiquled by the elder members.

She had chosen to stay close to Magus, but this evening she decided to ask a question that had been riding her for some time now. She gently tugged Gurney's sleeve, and looked upon him with a wondering expression. "forgive me for asking Gurney, but why are we walking is such a pace.. are we running towards or from something?" her voice dropped to a whisper.

she had heard the noise that had been following them for days. and since Gurney seemed like the leader of the group, she wanted to somehow make sure that he too had heard it.