Conversations 2
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1999 18:44:02 EDT
authors: Kit, Stana
********
The man was terribly pale, his violet hair brilliant atop his head, and
lying limp against the poor excuse for a pillow. Without a word, Stana
dabbed the blood- already beginning to clot- from the man's neck.
Audion
shivered at every touch. While applying steady pressure, she fished
into her
belt pouch for the packet of herbs that the healers had given to her
for
this. Mixing them briskly into the
salve in her hand, she applied it underneath the bandage and re-wrapped
it firmly.

A healer could have fixed this seamlessly in a moment- but her patient
would have to deal. She stepped back and surveyed her handiwork. As she
did, Stana heard a whisper of cloth beside her.

Stana cast a glance at Lyr, who stood protectively to the side of the
bed. From the easy and ready manner in which he helt the hilt of his
sword, it was clear whom he was protecting. Her eyes fell on the red
stained tunic.

"You're injured?" she asked.

Lyr looked down, following her gaze briefly, then shook his head.

"Strip," she ordered with clinical precision, not believing his manly
denial for a second. Lyr blushed, casting a swift look at the gaurd
still at the ready near the door, and obeyed.

The Earth elemental took the remainder of the salve and after washing
off the worst of the gore, spread it on liberally. It was a nasty wound
to be sure, and didnt look like it would stop bleeding without help.

"You need stitches." She told him severely.

"Its not bad." he objected. "I've worse." Even as he said those words,
he realized it sounded like he was boasting. Too late to back down he
plunged on "Really, its not as bad as it looks."

She was about to argue, but shrugged. Probably he was right, and if
not, then she wouldnt have to tell him so.

>***
Lyr waited until the Earth Chosen finished tying off the dressing, and
shot a look towards the Guardian- who seemed more antsy than usual. If
a
Unicorn could be said to look worn out- this one certainly did. He
noticed that the Alicorn had been only hastily cleaned after the battle
on the
green, and did not envy the soliders who had died on that horn.

With the gentle touch of a courtier and champion, R'kelnin guided
Stana away by elbow from the bed and towards the door. Clip seemed
eager to leave, as well. "But- I should stay and-"

"You should rest. There's no more to be done here. You've handled
things well. Your health is of great importance, Chosen." Stana paused
at the
door, frowning slightly before nodding.  Lyr watched a moment longer,
waiting
to hear her footsteps disappear. Strange- he didn't hear the Unicorn
climbing
the steps. Lyr closed the door and bolted it. There would be no more
interruptions until he had gotten all the information he wanted.

Audion relaxed visably once the Earth Chosen withdrew from the chamber.

"What was that about?" the General demanded, the pleasantry dropping
from his face and voice. Drawing near once more, he reclaimed his seat.
The scrape of the chair against the stone, and then Lyr was once more
within Audion's sight

"You know I am an Elementalist, General. Whether or not you understand
what that means, you must realize I am very sensitive to those bearing
great power." Audion could see the intense eyes. "By now you have seen
the Chosen in action, yes? Do you doubt that they contain such power?"

"Not at all," R'Kelnin replied. "What are you doing here in S'kae, and
what is your involvement with the Chosen?"

Audion shared the other man's gaze for a moment before replying, "I am
here to serve the Chosen.  Lands other then S'Kae hold ballads in their
honor, of which I play a part.  I'm not a single guardian, like the
unicorn,
but rather a guide for all of them.  A node, if you will.  My quest is
also
to keep them from the Sixth Army, and whomever may lead them."

"The Chosen have returned from the Aethyr with the Prophecy of the
Chosen,
written during the Great Rending, and sealed within the Aethyr for the
one
thousand or so years since.  The Prophecy mentions no Murderer-Guardian
to
protect them."

Audion watched the other man's face intently before replying.
"Tashisei's
legends are all well and good- I would do wrong to mock them. And yet
my
Ancestors were direct decendants from the Rending, the only
Elementalists to
escape persecution. They told of a day when all would unite, when we
would
once more take our part as servants to the elder gods."

Lyr leaned back with a thoughtful expression on his face.  The man's
spoken
intentions seemed to mirror his own- yet words were not enough to risk
the
Chosen's lives on. Not to a man that was accused of disregarding the
value of
his men's lives.

Audion continued on a previous vein, and brushed a sweat-stained lock
from
his forehead. "Commander Lieh was to rendesvous with another regiment.
At the
time,
she was searching for the Water Chosen.  She captured me long enough to
use my services to diffuse one of the greatest Water Temples on this
continent."

"How did you escape?"

"As I said- she is a commander worthy of praise, and honest to her
word. In return for my help, I was granted freedom. That is when she
asked me to join her company.  She also mentioned that there would be
more
tasks
of the same, after she dealt with some 'Murdoch'."

Lyr nodded as Audion continued. "I had not expected her to come to
S'kae so quickly- but the Water Chosen led her here as surely as the
power of
the others led me. The Chosen give off incredible power- the more so
when
they are together.  They are like a star, guiding those who are
searching to
them...."

Audion saw the furrow of R'Kelnin's brow. An army on his doorstep, and
the Chosen sitting like a lighthouse in the castle, guiding enemies
into their arms.

"I could aid the chosen, if you allow me my rings and to take my place
at their side.  It is my gift to lessen their auras, then they could
not
be easily followed."

R'Kelnin seemed to ponder the idea, but his countenance did not change.
 His thirst for knowlege was not satiated. His desire for reasons to
trust this man were few. And his reasons to throw him back in his cell
were many.

Audion's lips curled in a sardonic grin. "The commander's army is odd.
I am not a mage- and do not know what magics they possess.  The armor I
have described. It seems to weak, but looks are often deceptive. They
fight
mainly with swords, as you have found out- and with pikes.  From what I
saw, she had almost 300 with her then. I wager the sect she was joining
with would be larger, from the way she spoke.  I would estimate her
number
to be more vast by now, she's cunning and would know better then to
attack a capital with such puny numbers.  Of course, my tactical
knowlege is
of
foreign practicality....

"Her troops are impeccably trained. I would say like dogs at a command,
and their morale is impressive.  I had assumed on sight that they were
from the military strength of your area, and from the look of your
troops,
General, I think I was right. "

Lyr's eyes darkened at the insult.  Thoughts of the gatehouse, and the
scout
flooded to his mind.  "You have no right-"

"I have every right, General.  You fight to keep the Chosen safe, yet
you and yours know nothing of the enemy!  You're not prepared, that is
apparent, to deal with magical foes or normal ones!  The attack just
proves it.
From where I come from you'd be disembowled for your incompetance."

A sudden, harsh smile twisted the general's lips, and his hand moved
away from the sword on his hip. "Id enjoy having you try it. I dont
bait easily, and always at your risk."

Audion's eyes flashed dangerously, but his expression remained
statuesque, "If
your have a information web, they should be working in conjunction with
any
mages you have to discern that which you need to know.  You need to
re-evaluate your castle defense, as your spredding you troops too thin!
 Either
leave the castle as a decoy, because it is too large for the defenses
that
were built into it, or start using a militia if you have one!   In
addition,
a castle of this age should have magical properties capable of a better
defense if only you'd tap them."

Lyr stood, his anger rising, but kept  a calm outward appearance, "You
had a nice view from your cell to make such judgements. It is not S'kae
that is the subject here, Audion, it is you and the chosen."

"Which directly relate to the defenses of the castle, 'General
R'Kelnin'.  I
offer you my aid," Audion stood as well, but far more unstably, "Give
me my water ring, the band of seashell and sapphire, and choose a elite

guard who may receive what benefit I can give....then go if you'll not
free me.
But keep the chosen safe and waste no more time!"

Audion looked directly into the General's eyes with a expression of
honesty. He had no reason to offer this to the general, the whole of
the magic
that he had gained from the spring.  Something, however, told him it
was for
the better.  A spell of water, to increase the senses of the troops and
form  a delicate shield about them....it wasn't much, but it would
increase
their effectiveness.

Lyr squared his shoulders, his face colored with indignation. "The Army
of  Steel needs no magic.  By ancient pact The Army of Steel fights
with
sword, with might, with tactics. We need nothing of sorcery."

Audion's eyes flashed. "Then you'd better start showing some of those
tactics, some of that might," he said acidly.

Lyr's fist tightened convulsively around the hilt of his sword. He
imagined the singing of the blade, his mouth dry-. In his mind he saw
again the remains of his troops lying in the green. ::Traitor in Skae's
midst:: a voice whispered.  With a snarl, he jerked his head sideways,
eyes closed. "Sit... down.." he managed.

Realizing when was enough, the elementalist did.

"You will get your ring," the General said roughly, "But you are hereby
charged, on your life and honor, to guard the Chosen. They come to harm
in your keeping, by you or another, and your life is mine."

Audion looked into the General's eyes, and smiled.

"On second thought... " Lyr said, the cunning slant of his eyes
shielded by
long lashes, "I think I'll keep the rings. I must return above, and see
to
other matters now. You may mull over this:  S'kae lives and breathes
for the
Chosen. Attacking them is attacking us. I find it difficult to accept
that
one prophecized to aid the Chosen would attack their people so.  How
you will
convince me you are worthy of my trust, how you will attone for the
lives of
S'kae's men, whom you took into your hands?  Look at me closely. I may
be
green," Lyr said firmly, the tone and tight smile conveying his victory
over
this personal battle, "but my life and honor are for the Chosen. My
best, my
all, is all for them."

Lyr turned briskly and strode to the doorway, and turned before
grasping the
handle. "Prove to me that you can say the same."

The bright sliver of light from the well-lit hall spilled into the
chamber,
slashing across Audion's seated frame, before winking out with the soft
click
of the door.

Followed by the smack of the pillow against the far wall.