Ganig's Story

Eric slowed his horse down when he heard the crash. Eric turned to see one brute of a man charging wildly at some creature, he wasn't quite sure what it was. The creature however was so nimble it harmlessly moved out of the charging man's path and it returned to Aranel. Eric rode up to Aranel and spoke, "What is going on here!?" Eric shouted. "We haven't time to pick quarrels with random strangers!" Eric scolded as he looked at the man. He could easily cleave all their heads in two if he so chooses. Definitely this isn't a man to pick a quarrel with considering he has such a massive frame over all of them. The size of his ax is just as intimidating without him wielding it without trouble. Eric saw Aranel draw her bow and aimed at the man, even though bow and arrows are trusty weapons, Eric worried that an arrow wouldn't be able to stop this man in one shot. "We must think of leading the children away!" "If we provoke him further, I don't want them around to see such a battle!" Eric pleaded as he bit his lip. He already felt responsible for showing them as much death as the Empire.

"NO!" Eric shouted at the top of his lungs. He couldn't make out their figures as easily as he could before but he heard that warrior's cry and feared for the worse. "TURN BACK YOU DAMN HORSE!" Eric shouted at the icy construction but no response was made. Both Ice Horses galloped quickly towards Masen without stopping. Eric considered jumping off the horse, but at the pace they where going it would be dangerous if he wasn't careful. At this speed he could easily break something. He then heard Mina cry. She did not wish to leave the Elf's side but she was holding on to Penna with all of her might. The horses were galloping very fast. "SLOW DOWN YOU DAMN ANIMAL!" Eric shouted in vain at the horse. He then saw the Gates of Masen they where only a few miles from it.

---Imperial Palace---

"Ah yes the great Alexander Leothane, I presume?" Kazaro said with a devious grin. "I have been awaiting your arrival, I trust it wasn't too hard to find me?" Kazaro gave a small chuckle as he looked down upon Alexander. "Ah yes I hoped you would ask that." Kazaro spoke as his eyes circled around his great halls. "I have a mission for you my prominent friend." Kazaro snapped his fingers as Grand Chamberlain Schenzel came towards Alexander and handed him a scroll. "This contains the details of your mission." "I am sure you can read but just I'll state it in case you are listening." Kazaro said coolly. "I would like you to find a couple of fugitives who have a certain piece of my property on them." Kazaro said as he called for a servant and whispered in his ear that he would like some wine. The servant walked off as he turned his attention back to Alexander. "They where last seen at Hansbrook, out in the back lands of my Empire." Kazaro continued to explain. "I would like you to find them if you would," the servant returned and handed him a goblet filled with red wine, "Ah yes now you may leave." Kazaro told the servant as he dismissed him with a careless wave of his hand. "Once you have found them I would like you to remove my property from their possession." Kazaro then took a drink from his goblet as the red remained around his lips. "Then dispose of them." Kazaro said as he gave a wicked smile. His teeth where stained a little from the wine, giving the appearance as if he just drank blood.

---Near Masen----

This could be my chance! Eric thought as he prepared to jump off the horse. Then he heard Mina's crying as he turned to see the kids. What was he thinking? He couldn't leave these kids behind, not so close to the gates where he is sure some guards are stationed at. Finding kids by themselves would be suspicious...aw who was he kidding?! Even if he went with them they where atop of frozen horses riding for Masen! They will be sure to draw suspicious anyways. Perhaps it was best for him to stay with them, maybe he could sneak themselves in. Or at the very least defend the kids if things become sour. Eric couldn't help but look back down the road, he surely hoped Aranel was in tact.

Eric and the kids were relieved of the Ice Horses as he saw them transform into a smaller form making it easier for both and the kids to dismount. Once they did the horses ran off in the direction Aranel was with the brutish man. Eric looked towards the kids and then towards the gates, luckily the horses disappeared before they came to close. "Penna, Mina come to me." He said as he waved his hand over to them. "We are near Masen and I want you to stay close, just in case something terrible happens." Mina walked cautiously towards Eric. She looked all over the place and was nervous of the large wooden gates that separated them from the town. Shouting and crying could be heard over the gates. "I wonder what is going on over there?" Eric whispered to himself. He then looked over to where Aranel was last seen, he hoped nothing serious happened to her. Eric decided to think positively, Perhaps she escaped him with her magic? Eric thought to himself. Maybe she froze the brute and smashed him to pieces or maybe she made a huge ice spear appear and stabbed him. Eric continued to make up scenarios as he cautiously looked towards Masen. He could hear voices. They didn't sound like they where being tortured but rather angry.

Eric was greatly relieved to see Aranel return in one piece. Of course however he didn't like the idea of having a barbarous cutpurse traveling with them. "Greetings." Eric responded in courtesy to Aranel. "Are you sure it to be wise to have such a man accompany us?" Eric asked Aranel a bit skeptical. "I do not exactly trust anyone who loots and pillages for an occupation." Eric said as he shook his head a little in disagreement. he then turned his attention towards the kids, "I mean after all he wanted to use the little girl as bait." Eric said very dryly. "What kind of person does thinks like that?" "When I think of bait, I imagine using scraps of meat left from another animal, not another human being." Eric said as he continued to hear the ruckus made overhead. Eric sighs as he looks back at them, he trusts Aranel, she has proven herself thus far in saving Cecilia and saving them from Ganig. Yet he just doesn't trust Ganig after all he did try to attack them as Aranel puts it.

Eric's wariness of the stranger, Ganig, caught on with Penna. He had threatened his sister. That was a strike. Penna's violet eyes narrowed and he raised an eyebrow, his suspicion evident. He didn't want such a person to travel with him. Or his sister, for that matter. And what about the Fragment, if he discovered it? Would he attempt to steal it? Or harm them in the process? Penna tensed and crossed his arms. He was a thief, after all. Who's to say he wasn't a murderer? Aranel had already proven herself; Penna was sure that she could be trusted, so there was no question. Mina blinked her large eyes, gauging her brother's reaction. When she saw the distrust on his face, she followed suit, puffing her lip out and crossing her arms stubbornly. 

While Penna was deep in thought, a vibration could be felt in his pocket. It was coming from the area he kept the fragment in.

Eric then noticed Aranel trail off and when he caught a glimpse of her he saw the man from earlier. I guess they'll let anyone inside Masen these days. Eric though to himself as he turned back to the others. He said he would trust Aranel's judgement and that is exactly what he'll do. In the meantime he noticed that the young man found Cecilia. "Oh hello again Cecilia." Eric spoke kindly as he gave a smile and a wave. She then commented on their acts of bravery. "Well I wouldn't say it would be that impressive, after all I wasn't sure my ruse would work." Eric gave a comical chuckle. Then he looked down at Penna, he seemed to be very much lost in thought. Before he could return Penna back to Ediean he noticed something wrong with Cecilia as she began to walk off. "Cecilia?" Eric asked concern then he could see someone behind her. "Hey what do you think your doing!?" Eric called at the mysterious man but he wasn't sure he heard him.

Ganig heard a faint but recognizable voice, he looked down and saw the elf. "A request, are you using me so soon? Ah, never mind me. Come, we can talk over there, it looks fairly clear and we can talk without fear of being heard." He pointed to a small clearing right next to some small merchant stalls, sure it wouldn't make them invisible but no one could eavesdrop without being seen. Ganig walked over there, showing where he meant to Ara. He didn't know what was going on, but there was a sort of heaviness in the air. He'd heard of some problems, a lot of problems, stemming in Masen. Either she wanted to talk about that or send him on some errands.

Aranel nodded. "Thank you for these. I will get this back to the others. We have someone we must see before we leave here. Hope to see you after everything is done." She picked up the bag and hurried back toward the others. The bag was rather hefty with all the clothes. She started to look around for the kids first and managed to spot Penna and Mina and went over to them first. Then she began to look around for Eric. "Where in the world is--" She spotted Eric nearby two people who were fight. "What in Orthos is going on!?"