Battle and Glory

Azmodai2 · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Azmodai2** on Tue May 01, 2007 6:09 pm

Arkhann listened to Icienne’s reply calmly, but the idea of one of his men being her brother made him wonder. He had not reacted… positively to her presence. He considered the man, by all counts he was a good soldier, reasonably experienced. Perhaps… yes, magic. He was either resentful, frightened or both of her decision to embrace the Arcane. That was probably the cause of the animosity he had seen. Most could not understand why someone would choose such a course, and even fewer still accepted those who did, especially those born of the Tower. Too many a dark tale had come out of that gloomy place to have any Tower mages looked upon as friendly and honored guests. He had met few battle mages, they were seldom and far between in the Valmorgen Army, but he had still managed to acquaint himself with a few. Aloof and dark men, they hardly spoke and when they did the words were trite and blunt. Only one had come out of the Tower, so far as he knew, and that might not even be the honest truth. Arkhann didn’t understand the ways of that ancient and mysterious establishment and perhaps some mages used it to give themselves a presence. In fact it was that item on the ’resume’ that had guaranteed Vardak’s position of leadership. Still, a great help in serious battles, Grand Magistrate Vardak and his apprentices were a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.

He looked over his shoulder at Icienne and gave her a warm smile. He studied her flawless skin, elegant face, down her neck… he forced himself to face ahead again, reverting his attention back to studying the woods. “I see… I was not aware you had relatives in the village. I will not pry, you may keep your secrets.” He glanced over to make sure Selik was still following then checked the road to make sure it was still clear. He pulled a travel-wafer out of a small pouch on the saddle and popped it into his mouth, munching a bit before swallowing. “I hate military food…” He grabbed another wafer and offered it to Icienne, “they’re not much for taste but they fill you up.” He smiled at her again, but this time made sure he kept his eyes square with hers. He needn’t any distractions this close to an enemy party, no matter how beautiful that distraction happened to be.

Selik · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Selik** on Wed May 02, 2007 11:35 am

Selik was quiet the whole journey.
He looked unsure about something. Not knowing what he was unsure of , but never the less , still unsure.
He had a bad feeling in his gut. He smiled to himself and thought
"Maybe it was all the strong ales from last night".
He shrugged out of it and looked up at the sky. Still early.
He glanced at Arkhann , and a wide smile spread across his face.
"Arkhann?" He then gazed at Icienne seeing she was looking his way. "Actually nevermind , i`ll tell you another time.."
He urged his horse on , stroking its mane , and his grin grew thinner , then disappeared.
And the warm feeling of a battle drew ever near to him...

PunkRockinHobbit · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **PunkRockinHobbit** on Wed May 02, 2007 11:28 pm

Icienne turned her face upwards to the canopy of leaves above them, her hood sliding back from her forehead a bit, fully exposing her face again. The clouds overhead were breaking, and rays of sunlight were beginning to cut through the canopy above, falling like miniature spotlights here and there around them. The forest was quiet... an uncomfortable silence that fell over the trio like a shadow. The shadow of death. There should have been the chirping of birds, the twittering of squirrels and the rustling of things unseen in the leaves, but it was silent. The Orc camp was undoubtably close.

Those icy orbs fell upon Arkhann as he spoke to her, and her lips curled into a half-grin. "I was unaware as well," she said lamely, her voice seeming to her ears to boom in the unnatural silence. She unconsciously held tighter to Arkhann, watching his eyes travel over her momentarily before he abrubtly turned around again. As he peered ahead, she took in his broad shoulders, his soft hair swishing this way and that with the movements of the warhorse...

It was then Arkhann offered her the wafer, and she politely declined. "My drink is the only nourishment I require. I do not partake of food the way you do, not anymore." Her eyes delved into his, searching, scanning... for what, she was unsure. Weakness? Fear? No, she had looked for these things upon first meeting him. Now, she searched for something deeper, something she couldn't define.

Selik spoke then, and Icienne turned her gaze upon him, almost as if she was only just now aware that he was with them. She studied him closely, feeling the cold dread that lingered within him, torturing him. Plagued by his past... she thought, continuing to watch him as he rode forward.

It was in this moment a sudden rustle in the trees to her left caused her head to snap around, her eyes narrowed, her blood pumping. She clinged to Arkhann, recalling to the forefront of her memory all of her battle spells and incantations. More likely than not, two or three Orc scouts were cocking arrows into bowstrings, preparing to take them down.

It was time to awaken the bloodthirsty warrior in all of them.

Azmodai2 · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Azmodai2** on Thu May 03, 2007 12:58 am

He mused for a moment over her concise response. It seemed like a soft point and he did not wish to earn her animosity. He nodded as she denied the food he had offered. “Yes, that’s right, the drink you fool,” he thought to himself. He let her probe his eyes again but just gave her a warm smile. Such unique eyes she had, icy, cold but beautiful and bright, as if an azure light burned within them. Such a contrast in color to his own, which were a bright hazel-green. He had made men quail under his glare and made them shine when he smiled upon them, yet she seemed like she could turn a man’s heart to ice with a glance or set it on fire with a smile. He turned forward again and ate the wafer he had offered her. He rolled his shoulders a bit and adjusted his grip on the reigns.

Then he heard it, the snap-crack of a twig breaking. To his left, 10 o’clock, 35 feet at most. He didn’t look, just listened. The slight jingle of chain-mail, the stretch of a bowstring… he counted five. That left eight more in the main party, at least. His grip tightened on his sword and threw a warning glance at Selik. Then he heard it, the twang of a released arrow. He felt it speeding towards him… his left armpit, two inches beneath the main plaited, that was its target. He concentrated, 10 feet, 7 feet, 3 feet.. SNAP. His sword cleared the scabbard in a millisecond, gripped tightly in his right hand, slashing sideways towards the arrow faster then the blink of an eye. It impacted the arrow lengthways, slicing it clean in half, sending the two splintered sides around him and Icienne harmlessly. He reigned the horse hard left, cut the ties to the spare and charged it through the trees towards one of the Orcs. “Selik watch your left! Two at your 9, Icienne, we’ll be on them in three seconds, there’ll be two on either side and one under Daran’s hooves, I hope you have something ready!” As he charged another arrow sped towards them, head on, straight for his heart, he brought his sword up and swept it aside in one fluid motion, sending it careening off into the underbrush, a third arrow twanged off Daran’s barding and stuck six inches into a tree. “They must be using high tensile bows… but where would they get that material..?” he thought to himself. He brought his sword high as they came within 15 feet of the Orcs.

PunkRockinHobbit · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **PunkRockinHobbit** on Thu May 03, 2007 1:29 am

Icienne tensed behnd Arkhann, letting him go, keeping her balance behind him upon the massive back of Daran. Already an spell was upon her lips, which moved soundlessly as Arkhann batted away the arrows that threatened to end his life. As they rode forward, her voice began to rise, resonating in deep tones around her. The air seemed to crackle, and as they closed in on the Orcs, in one fluid motion, she propelled herself from the horse. Her hood fell back and her silky obsidian locks cascaded down her back, billowing behind her as she moved.

Icienne's feet landed with a dull thud on the ground to the left of Arkhann and Daran, her voice echoing in the forest as she completed the spell. A loud crack, a blinding flash, and a wave of fire issued forth from the mage, crashing over the two Orcs that rushed her, charring them to ashes where they stood. An unnatural wind whipped around Icienne as her power surged, and that flawless skin became paper-thin. Every vein traced random purple paths over her face and hands. And her eyes burned crimson with ferocity, giving her the appearance of an ethereal demon, possessed by one thought alone: kill.

Selik · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Selik** on Thu May 03, 2007 10:07 am

As soon as he saw the notched arrows fly from the bows of the orcs , Selik slipped off his horse and rolled along the dirt, drawing his broadsword and axe.
He knelt on the floor , sword in right hand , axe in the left.
He looked the orc archer dead in its cold black-ish eyes.
He launched his small but lethal war axe at the orcs forehead and it connected with a sickening thud , dropping the creature in an instant.
He looked up at Arkhann and smiled , then dived forward to retrieve his axe. He hastily picked it up and waved his sword through the air , taunting the other orcs.
"C`mon Arkhann , show me what you can do..."
Before he could finish his words an orc with a brutal war-axe crashed down onto him.
Orc may have been powerful , but they are very slow.
A fatal weakness in battle. Selik paried the huge axe but using his blade and his axe. The orc growled and some rancid spittle flew onto Selik`s face.
Selik snarled back , and thrust his foot to the gut of the orc , sending it billowing backwards. He wiped his face of the bile and looked back to se Arkhann and Icienne. They were coping just fine.
The orc had regained its balance and again swung its battleaxe forward.
Selik lunged forward piercing his blade through the chest of the orc splintering its weak chainmail.
He pushed the blade deep and heard the bones of its spine and ribcage crack. He was face to face with the beast.
And it truly was a beast. Warts and cuts , scrapes and bruises littered its face.
He spat in the eyes of the orc , then swiftly pulled his blade out of the orcs chest and swiped at its head.
A second later that same head was rolling away in a pool of blood on the floor...

Azmodai2 · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Azmodai2** on Sat May 05, 2007 12:07 am

Daranâ€™s thundering hooves came down on the Orc, one slamming into its skull crushing it, the other punching through the light chain mail piercing the putrid black-green skin of the beast. Arkhann reigned Daran back and the huge warhorse wrenched its hooves free of the fallen Orc. He spurred over to Icienne and in one smooth motion leaned down, grabbed her around the waist and set her in front of him, he yelled over his shoulder to Selik, â€œMount up thereâ€™s more! Follow me!â€

Selik · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Selik** on Sat May 05, 2007 6:08 am

He rode his horse fast , towards the orc encampment.
He arrived to see Arkhann surrounded by orcs.
He urged his horse on faster, galloping with speed towards the orcs
Selik , mounted the horse , in an attack position.
Two beastly orcs noticed selik riding and raised their cleavers high , ready to strike.
He smirked at them and dived off his horse , dagger and axe in hand.
He flew at one orc and sliced a long gash across its thick green throat.
The orc , stammered around , gasping for air.
Selik calmly walked up to it , headbutted it sqaure in the face.
He laughed. The orc dropped like a bag of bricks. Its life slowly washed away in the pool of blood streaming from its neck.
He turned to face the other orc. He swung his axe and dagger in the air, taunting and threatening the terrified orc.
"I`ve never seen a scared orc before..." he grimaced and dived forward swinging his axe wildly.
Sweat was just about , dripping from his forehead.
This was just a taste of battle , and he liked it.
The orc parried Selik`s axe but a bad price.
The cleaver had shattered , and by the looks of it the blade had been made of poorly crafted metal.
The orc let out a soft whimpering sound. He plunged his long dagger into the orcs gut , hearing a gurgling sound as it pierced several organs.
Just as he had done this , he swung his axe deep into the orcs skull.
It fell in a heap.
He turned to face Arkhann , and noticed a small-ish orc wielding two axes , one in each hand , raise them high to strike arkhann from behind.
At an instant , he drew his bow and notched a sharp steel arrow.
"this better strike , its target" he whispered.
He let the arrow fly and the noise whistled through the air.
THWACK. Direct the the back of the orcs head.
He smiled to himself and slung his bow across his back , running forward to join Arkhann and Icienne.

PunkRockinHobbit · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **PunkRockinHobbit** on Sat May 05, 2007 9:16 am

The air seemed to hum as it vibrated around Icienne, the power pulsing inside her shimmering around her like waves of heat radiating from a fire. She was flexing her hands, another spell on her lips, when Arkhann rode up behind her and swept her off her feet, his arm deftly around her stomach. She was about to struggle, but when she looked down and saw that strong, gauntleted hand around her thin waist, she clasped on to it, the thrill of battle overcoming her.

As Arkhann released her and dismounted, so too did Icienne leap from Daran's back, her hair billowing behind her in much the same manner as Arkhann's cloak. Her voice echoed in the trees around them, deep and lethal. The Orcs were preferring to fight Arkhann and Selik, warriors that used methods they understood; few were volunteering to approach the mage. But that did not mean she wasn't getting her share of the killing done.

Her voice was a continuous stream of spells and incantations, leaving Orc after Orc in a bloody heap at the feet of the mage. Her hair was whipping around her again, and she looked frightening to any that might have been able to sustain a glance her way.

An Orc archer, young but skilled with a bow, was laying in wait in the bushes just beyond the skirmish. He was watching Icienne, noting the way she was taking out his friends so easily. So he cocked an arrow in his bowstring and pulled back, aiming for the pale space between her crimson eyes. It was in that moment, however, one of the Orcs Selik had just cut down crashed into the bush, pushing the archer's aim off-center, and the arrow sliced through the air and grazed Icienne's right cheek. A thin crimson line formed on the pale flesh, and Icienne turned her eyes in the direction of the archer, a terrible smile twisting her features.

Icienne's voice continued to resonate as she cast a spell upon the Orc archer, her eyes focused upon him with unwavering clarity. As the final words of the spell were spoken, the Orc screamed in agony. Its flesh was beginning to bubble and blister, and then melt away from its body. Icienne was melting the Orc where it stood. She watched until she could no longer see any traces of flesh upon its person, then she turned her focus back upon the battle.

Her cheek was burning like fire.

Azmodai2 · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Azmodai2** on Sat May 05, 2007 11:03 pm

Four more, simple, they were nothing. They were always nothing, battle was just a dance., and he was an excellent dancer. He stepped forward, his blade out front now. Another step and he was on the nearest Orc, it swiped with its blade but Arkhann calmly parried, then hit the hilt sending the blade spinning out of the Orcs hand. The creature reached for a dagger but Arkhann simply ran him through with sword. The Orc stayed pinned on the blade, blood gurgling from its mouth and running down its thick knobby chin. He kicked the Orc off his blade and ran lightly towards the next Orc, he brought his blade up and knocked the monsters feeble attempt at a black out of the way before plunging the point of his sword into its neck. He spun severing half the neck as he brought his blade free, as he finished his spin his blade impacted steel. It was the second to last Orc, obviously the second-in-command. Arkhann gave another lunge, but this was deflected also. Well, well, an Orc that could actually fight, what a surprise. Arkhann smiled an stared the Orc straight in its beady little eyes. He feinted left, lunged right. Blocked. Feint low lunge right. Block. Feint left, feint high, stab hard center. Impact. He drove the blade hard forward but the Orc stepped back and wrenched himself free. Smarter then the average Orc too. Arkhann stepped to again and brought his sword hard towards the Orcs legs, the fiend didnâ€™t have enough time to put up a defense and blade bit hard into its thigh, passing through leather, skin, muscle before severing the bone clear in half and making its trip out the other side. The leg flew off, blood spurting in thin red lines. Arkhann stood over the fallen Orc, looked it in the eyes then drove his sword down into its forehead.

He stood, shaking the blood off his blade. He turned to face the rest of the group, picking out Selik, standing over the bodies of two Orcs. He looked and found Icienne, the bubbling remains of a scout and the scorched bodies of two more. He smiled and nodded at them before turning to face the Orc leader who had simply stood there and watch his comrades get slaughtered. The Orc let out a hideous cackle and drew two swords. The blades were notched and chipped, stained with blood and caked with the remains of organs. The leader easily stood 8 feet tall, human skulls dangling form his belt and his enormous bicep muscles were pierced with needles and rings. His face was similarly adorned and his hair had been shaved off. He shook and let out a bestial roar, raising his arms high. This was going to be even more fun.

Selik · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Selik** on Sun May 06, 2007 6:36 am

Selik sheathed his dagger and axe and walked calmly next to Arkhann.
He looked at the brute of an orc. This actually MIGHT be a challenge.
He sirked to himself and drew his broadsword.
It was still dripping with blood. He lifted the sword and held it at arms length , pointing the tip of the blade at the orc.
The suddenly barged forward swinging its two deadly blades.
Just as the orc lunged forward , Selik had dived to its left , spinning his blade and slicing quickly across its calf. Blood dripped from the wound , but the orc did nothing. The orc tunred and planted a foot square in Selik`s chest. It knocked him back.
He shook off the pain and leapt back up.
"Big Ugly Bastard!" he swung his broadsword forward towards the chest of the orc , it parried but not completely. Selik aimed for its chest , the parry caused his blade to cut across his left shoulder.
The orc let out a fearsome roar , and felt his wound. It looked at its bloodtsained hands then licked the blood.
Seliks eyes widened at this. He rolled around the behind of the orc and leapt backwards.
He drew his bow and nothced an arrow , aiming for the back of the orcs thick skull....

PunkRockinHobbit · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **PunkRockinHobbit** on Sun May 06, 2007 12:05 pm

Dizziness.

Icienne staggered a bit as the Orc bubbled and sputtered into a blob of nothing. Her gaze shifted to Arkhann and Selik, and the one Orc left for them to battle, the obvious commander of the raiding party. Her cheek was continuing to burn, and that same burning sensation was beginning to creep into her bloodstream. It was in this moment Icienne realized that the arrow tip that had grazed her cheek had been poisoned.

Disorientation.

She moved forward a few paces, looking like a drunkard as the poison moved swiftly. The world around her was beginning to blur a bit, like a haze had settled over the battle. Arkhann was fighting with the huge Orc, trying different angles and approaches to get a hit on the Orc, and coming up empty every time. Selik managed to slice into his shoulder, but the Orc, in total defiance of fear, licked his own blood from his hands, causing Selik's eyes to widen.

Icienne's eyes returned to their icy shade, and the unnatural wind around her died. Her flesh became less papery, more like the supple pale flesh that had given her the ethereal presence in the tavern, which seemed a world away to her now. But she appeared sickly, on the verge of vomiting. Dropping to her knees, she delved into her mind, trying to recall her training...

Ichlaz led Icienne into a sparsely furnished room, circular in its design, lit by torches lining the wall. In the center of the room was a table with various vials containing all sorts of wicked-looking liquids.

"Today we will be studying the use of poisons and their effects upon the body. I will give you a dose of each poison and teach you the ways to counteract it, and going even further, I will teach you how to utilize that poison against your enemy. It is a test of grace under pressure, and how quickly you learn. If you fail, you die."

Ichlaz picked up a vial and turned to face Icienne, holding the vial up and swirling the liquid around a bit. "This is a weapon poison commonly used among Orcs and brutish humans. It burns like white hot coal around the entrance point, and this feeling will consume you as the poison works its way through your bloodstream. It shuts down your organs one by one, until you are a useless blob, upon which your heart will stop and you will die. Now, if you are ready, Apprentice..."

Determination.

Icienne blinked hard, a spell forming on her lips. Her voice was much weaker, but it still oozed the power that she needed to complete the spell and ultimately save her own life. As the spell weaved its way from her mouth, a black mist began to form, oozing from every pore in her body as it generated from within her. At the last word and a sweeping motion with her arms, Icienne sent the mist snaking from her body to encapsulate the Orc. In an instant, as Selik was notching his arrow into the bow, the mist seeped into his body, transferring the poison from Icienne to the Orc. He roared as the white-hot fire consumed him.

Drained.

A sigh escaped the mage, and her body crumpled beneath her. Her left cheek made contact with the dirt, her eyes glittered in complete, uninhibited exhaustion as the wall dropped completely around her, leaving her emotions vulnerable for anyone to dig into her eyes and see. Her gaze moved to Arkhann, and she tried to speak, but she simply did not have the energy left.

In her eyes, she appeared to be the frightened young woman back in the tower, needing so much, yet gettng so little. Innocence, even niavety, an intense longing for a friend. For Arkhann.

Azmodai2 · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Azmodai2** on Mon May 07, 2007 12:47 am

He saw a light mist form around the huge Orc leader, thinking it another attack he braced himself, prepared for the worst. He held his word in guard and stared the roaring Orc down. Then he noticed the pain in its eyes, it wasnâ€™t preparing to attack it was about to die. Arkhann smirked as he recognized the affects of the Orcish poison, he didnâ€™t bother to consider how it had interred itself in the Orcâ€™s hulking form. He drove forward hard, taking the opportunity presented by the flaming sensation inside the Orcâ€™s veins. He noticed Selik had notched an arrow and was aiming for the Orcâ€™s head. He nodded to him and came in low, driving his sword up into the beastâ€™s belly, it pierced a thick plate of steel, slamming into the beastâ€˜s gut. He slammed the blade upward and gutted it, blood and organs spewing out of the gaping wound, vital body parts severed in half. His sword stopped at the ribcage with a sickening thud. The Orc looked down in surprise and astonishment, as if it couldnâ€˜t even acknowledge that it was going to die. Death was preposterous to most Orcs, it didnâ€™t exist to the biggest ones. To Tarâ€™gul it was his to command, simply another toy to sue in his eventual conquest of the human world. He saw the arrow leave the bow, fly through the air, whistling towards its target and impact the back of the Orcâ€™s enormous head, slamming straight through till it protruded from its front. Arkhann yanked his sword free then in one swipe decapitated the Orc.

He wiped his blade on the stained tunic of the creature then turned to look for Icienne. He finally spied her almost limp on the ground. As he ran over to her he threw off his gauntlets and took her up in his arms, cradling her. He stared her in the eyes and now easily saw the woman beneath, beautiful and calm. She had lost her icy exterior, and she seemed almost laid bare before him. He reached out to her with his eyes, trying to take in as much as he could He smiled and held her closer. â€œAre you alright? You look exhausted.â€

PunkRockinHobbit · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **PunkRockinHobbit** on Mon May 07, 2007 1:30 am

Icienne lay there in a crumpled heap watching Arkhann and Selik deliver the mortal wounds to the Orc now suffering from the poison that had originally inflicted herself. The disgusting squelch of organs being severed reached her ears, but she paid it no mind. The twang of Selik's bow quickly followed, accompanied by the soft whoosh of Arkhann's sword slicing though the air, and then the Orc's neck. It was like a lethal symphony, missing only the undertones of her magic to make the music complete.

I need rest, she thought to herself, sighing heavily as she lay there taking in the destruction of the Orc, her eyes growing a bit dull. The dirt and dust next to her mouth shifted a bit as the air left her body, and at a glance, she appeared dead. But she was far from it. Her body was going through a voluntary partial shutdown to reserve energy that would possibly be needed for a spell of defense, a teleportation out of harm's way or a protective barrier around herself and her companions. The level of restriction on her bodily functions was similar to that which the body experiences in a deep sleep: slowing of the heart rate, slower breathing; if her eyes had not been open and alert, she would have certainly appeared to have been in a deep sleep.

The cut upon her cheek still glistened crimson from her blood, a small rivulet now dried upon her skin. Arkhann and Selik had desposed of the Orc, now lying maimed upon the ground, its head a few feet away, the face forever frozen in pain and disbelief. The trio had escaped relatively unscathed, save Icienne's severe state of weakness.

She heard the rattle of Arkhann's armor growing closer, and in a moment, the thud of his gauntlets hitting the ground. He was at her side, scooping her up in his arms and looking down upon her. The warmth of his hands was soothing, and for a moment she could do nothing but gaze up into those hazel-green eyes.

Her voice was meek, soft, uninhibited by any harshness, or icy chill. She was simply Icienne right now, simply a woman, simply enjoying this time in the conquering hero's strong arms.

"I am exhausted... I need my drink as soon as possible. There is no water source nearby, so I suggest we make haste to Valmorgen Keep. May that Orc suffer an eternity in the Abyss for poisoning me."

She continued to gaze into Arkhann's eyes, searching them, looking over his face now, down his neck, over his shoulders, scanning him with her sleepy-looking eyes. "Are you alright Arkhann?" she whispered, taking in his strong masculine scent, letting it surround her like a welcome smell of home, letting it comfort her, letting his strong arms and warm smile comfort her. She felt overwhelmingly safe, safer in this momet than she had ever felt in her life.

Selik · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Selik** on Mon May 07, 2007 12:46 pm

He looked at the oozing orc blood , surrounding them and the orc.
He walked up to the orcs decaptiated head and ripped out his arrow.
It was dripping in thick blood.He blew the blood , to make it clot and dry. Quite a nice souvenier. He laughed looking at the darkened arrow head.
He then booted the still body and walked to join Arkhann and Icienne.
"Will she be okay?" he asked , fearing for his friend.
He`d never seen orcs use poison. The WERE getting smarter.
But not smart enough other wise they wouldn`t have touched us.
He lifted his hood over his face and looked into the sky.
He felt cold rain start to slowly drip onto his face.
"Rain." He walked to his horse , it had never moved from the spot he left it in.
He liked this horse , it was obedient.
"I think we should make for the keep..."He leapt upon his horse and waited for Arkhann and Icienne to mount...

Azmodai2 · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Azmodai2** on Mon May 07, 2007 11:23 pm

Arkhann smiled down at Icienne. He let himself take in her beauty fully this time. Her fragile structure, her lithe and well-formed body. Her exquisite face and her incredible eyes. It was always the eyes that drew him, they seemed to capture him and hold him ina dream-like trance. He held her there, enjoying the closeness of their bodies, even if separated by her robes and his armor. His hand ran over her side again and he pulled her a little closer. The top of her robe had come open slightly and it was easier to see what was quite obviously an elegant and beautiful body, hidden underneath the garb of her profession. He let his eyes drift down slowly then caught himself, it was impolite to gaze upon a lady in such a way without her consent. He realized she had asked him something and snapped himself out of his thought process. â€œYes Iâ€™m quite alright, allow me to worry about you. We must make haste, you are weak and we need to get back to the keep.â€

PunkRockinHobbit · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **PunkRockinHobbit** on Tue May 08, 2007 12:39 am

Icienne felt the gaze of Arkhann drifting over her body briefly, and she felt oddly exposed, yet deeply thrilled at the thought of it. Things were happening inside of her she had never before eperienced, moreso now than before, when she and Arkhann had first shared that closeness mounted upon the back of the warhorse riding through the village in the pelting rain. A new fire was being kindled deep within her, a fire no amount of training could put out, a fire that threatened to overtake and utterly consume everything that had been Icienne up to this point.

In the thralls of battle, the trio had not noticed that more rain clouds had gathered overhead, and they were now shedding their tears upon them. It felt refreshing, soothing to the mage, almost as soothing as the touch of the warrior. This was not the hard, pummeling rain they had experienced the night before. This rain was softer, more forgiving, gentle against the flesh.

Icienne allowed herself to be scooped up into Arkhann' arms and set upon the back of Daran. Considering the state her body was in currently, what choice did she have? She teetered for a moment upon the saddle, but swiftly Arkhann was behind her, supporting her, his strong arms around her waist as he commanded the horse with the reigns. She leaned against him, allowing her head to rest slightly agaist his, unable to hold it up for very long at a time. She brought her arms to rest over his, her hands dangling near his wrists.

Arkhann's breath cascaded over Icienne's neck, and an unknown tingling sensation ceized her, stoking that fire that was growing within her. Despite her weakness, she chuckled softly at his words. "Die? Oh no, I am not going to die, Lord Commandant." Icienne turned her head to face him, her lips mere centimeters from his. Her eyes swept down to those lips before her eyes moved back up to capture his. Amusement mingled with desire was prominent in her icy orbs. "Are you trying to flatter me, sir?" It was barely more than a whisper, but within it, Arkhann would be able to hear so much.

Selik · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Selik** on Tue May 08, 2007 10:26 am

Selik was riding fast , keeping up with Arkhanns horse much easier than he had imagined. He smiled to himself again.
He looked down at the steel arrow tied to his sword belt.
He shook his head , laughing softly.
He was impressed by his companions fighting styles. Arkhann was a great fighter and Icienne was just as good a mage.
The orcs stodd no chance. His hood was soaked and matted down onto his scalp. Rain was seeping through , dripping onto his nose.
He shook himself like a dog , watching the tiny droplets of rain emerge from his saoked cloak and hood.
He rubbed the horses man .
"Poor thing , keep going we`re nearly there.." he patted its head and gripped the horse tighter , eager to arrive at the keep....

Azmodai2 · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Azmodai2** on Wed May 09, 2007 12:18 am

Arkhann let one of his arms drift around Icienneâ€™s waist. He ahd left his gauntlets off, a rarity for him, in order to better keep hold of her. She gave him assurance she would not die, and he smiled, content for the moment that she was safe. The poison must have acted quickly to weaken her so, and especially toa ffect the Orc. They used poison often but normally none so potent. Perhaps it was an assassination party caught off-guardâ€¦

They slowed to bit of a fast trot as they came nearer to the Keep and they passed a few outposts, which acknowledged them with simple salutes. She turned to face him and he almost felt her lips brush against his. He longed to lean but a few centimeters forward and connect them. She spoke so quietly as to be almost inaudible, but he heard her well enough and could read her eyes. He smiled, â€œAm I trying to flatter you? Why of course I am! I have a beautiful woman right here in my arms, it would be impolite not to tell her just how gorgeous she is.â€

Selik · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Selik** on Wed May 09, 2007 9:43 am

Selik noticed the two , sharing there....how do you say..."Moment" and shook his head smiling.
He looked around the towering keep and glanced inside.
A hearty fire roared and there was a bar and a long passage way, with a wooden sign posting `Armoury and Weapons`.
He slid off his horse patted its head and tied it to the stables outside the open doors of the keep.
"Arkhann? Does this place have good ale?" he laughed and offered his arm out his arm out , gesturing for his two friends to go first...
"Ladies first" he grinned and winked at them both , then started laughing , the rain still beating down on his cloak....

Battle and Glory

a topic in Fantasy Roleplay, a part of the RPG forum.

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