Title: The Dragon Slayers.
Sequel to: Undying Clan.
Series: The Immortals.
Author: David A. Knapton.
Email: belgin_tei@yahoo.co.uk
Archive: Any and All. Just drop me a line.
Spoiler: None in this part.
Rating: In my mind stories involving sex between consenting adults should be rated U but I suppose if I must giving a rating an 18 would fit.
Pairings: Buffy/Faith and Willow/Tara.
FanDom: Crossover BtVs and Highlander with Charmed (1st & 8th stories), the X-Files (3rd story), The Horseclans book series (6th story), and D&D's Forgotten Realms (7th Story).
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters used in this story (just borrowed them) except the D&D characters (Kyn, Sir Mandos, Ty and Gort).
Notes: Set in the Realms before the time of troubles. () = mindspeak. [] = Person mindspeaking.
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The Dragon Slayers
By Belgin Tei
The light vanished as quickly as it appeared, standing in the middle of the clearing were the two he had been sent to help, plus two other young women and a large cat. He had been coming to this clearing everyday at sunrise for the last two weeks, ever since he got here; the Lady Harween had sent him on this his quest of manhood herself.
Kyn rose from the place he always sat when he was here and walked into the clearing striding towards the five in its centre. The cat was the first to sense him turning and letting out a low growl, all four women drew their swords and faced him. Kyn did not slow his pace until he stood about 10 feet from the two his quest required him to aid even if it meant his death.
Bowing and with reverence in his voice he introduced himself to them, "Lady Willow, Lady Tara I have been sent by your sisters to aid you in returning to your home. I am named Kyn."
Buffy and the others stood staring at Kyn who stood at least 7 feet tall and looking like a Conan the barbarian clone.
"What do you mean you were sent by our sisters? Buffy and Faith are our sisters," said Willow pointing to the slayers.
"I do not speak of bloodkin Lady Willow, but sister witches, the rulers of my people. The Lady Harween the head of the order instructed me to come here and aid your return home," explained Kyn.
"How did she know we were coming here?" Asked Tara.
"That I do not know Lady Tara."
"Where are we anyway?" Asked Buffy.
"This World is called Faerun, to the north is The Dragon Sea and the city of Hillsfar, these woods are called the Elven Court they stretch for hundreds of leagues west, south and east. I was instructed to guide you to Shadowdale and the Sage Elminster."
"Why should we want to go to this 'Sage?'" Asked Faith.
"Lady Harween told me that he has the knowledge you will require to get home."
[Willow] (What do you think guys do we trust this 'giant'.)
[Tara] (Well he knows our names so this Harween must have knowledge of us somehow!)
[Faith] (He knows you two but can we trust him?)
[Buffy] (Do we have any other choice. We are strangers here we don't know the way to this Shadowdale and we have no supplies or transport. I vote we trust him.)
[Whitetip] (This cat agrees he does not smell of lies.)
[Faith] (Ok we trust him at least until we know more.)
"Ok guys it's agreed we let Kyn here take us to this Sage," said Willow, the others nodded in agreement. Turning to Kyn with a smile, "So let me introduce the others this is my sister Faith Spencer and Tara's sister Buffy Summers they are both slayers and this is our friend Whitetip he's a prairie cat."
"It is an honour to meet you, any friend of Lady Willow and Lady Tara are friends of mine."
"Yes about this lady thing please can you just call us Willow and Tara," sighed Willow.
"As you command I am here to do as you wish," said Kyn bowing slightly.
"If this Lady Harween knows about us wouldn't it be better to take us to her rather than the Sage?" Asked Willow smiling.
"No she told me Elminster is the only one that can help you return home, besides although it will take us about two months to get to Shadowdale, my homeland is far to the East it took me seven months to get here." Explained Kyn.
"Wow. Why did this Harween send you so far to aid us?" Asked Tara.
"When the men of my people come of age they are sent on 'the quest of manhood', most of these quests are simple, such as kill an enemy of our people or even just walk to the next village! But I am a son of the Warlord, who commands the defenders of our lands, so my quest is much more dangerous as were my two older brothers. If I do not return my name will be honoured but if I return without completing it I will be caste out never able to take a wife."
"I see well we'll just have to make sure you succeed, now how do we get to this Sage 'walk'!" Smiled Buffy.
"Walking is a possibility but since I got here I have watched several groups of merchants pass by, some going north others south. Since the Elves left the Court it is no longer safe so the merchants hire fighters to guard themselves and their goods, so we could travel a day's walk north and try and join one of the caravans going south."
"That sounds better than walking for two months let's go," said Faith.
"As you wish it's this way," said Kyn pointing towards the Northeast.
[Whitetip] (This cat will scout ahead.) Whitetip sprang ahead of the others into the woods.
[Willow] (Be careful, don't attack anything without checking with us first. We don't know if they are friend or foe.)
[Whitetip] (This cat will not attack anything unless his two leg sisters ask him too.)
Kyn looked at the spot Whitetip had disappeared into the surrounding woods, then at the four young women; "Should your cat not stay with us?"
"No he's okay, he's going to scout ahead, he promised not to attack anything without checking back first," smiled Willow.
"You can speak with him and understand his speech," said Kyn, awe in his voice.
"All four of us can 'talk' to him as we can with each other, it's called mindspeak," explained Tara.
As they walked they got to know each other better, they explained what slayers were as well as the four being Immortals sent to the place they knew as home to fight the demons and Kyn told them of the possible dangers they could meet in his world. By midday when they stopped for something to eat they were all more relaxed with each other. Lady Harween had briefed Kyn on the danger in the area, as they were different than in his homeland. Their were bandits as well as orcs and goblins that roamed the woods around the track south and in the middle of the Elven Court was the ruins of Myth Drannor, a great many evil creatures now inhabited the once great city of the elves.
It was getting dark as they approached a wooden palisade around several buildings on top of a hill. Kyn explained that the largest building was the inn where most of the merchants hired people to guard the caravans on the way south.
"You seem to know what you're doing so you do the talking," said Buffy looking at Kyn.
"If you wish," Kyn smiled taking the led as they walked into the common room, there were a few people sat at the tables. A middle aged man sat with two younger versions that could only be his sons, a couple of creature that from Kyn's descriptions had to be a grey bearded dwarf that looked like he was drunk and his companion looked like an elf. She followed them with her eyes as they walked to the bar; there was a hunted look in them that intrigued Tara, who nodded to her before following after Kyn.
After a brief conversation with the innkeeper about any caravans going south they were directed to the three men.
Walking over to the three seated men Kyn stood in front of them with Buffy at his side; "You are going south, we wish to join you as guards, you will pay us each 5 coppers a day and provide us with food."
Buffy looked at Kyn in disbelief he had absolutely no negotiation skill at all; "Kyn I think you should let me talk to these gentlemen." She turned to the older man, "I'm sorry about my friend's lack of tacked," she put on her best 1000 watt smile. "Look there are six of us including my cat friend over there, we understand you are taking goods to Shadowdale. We need to go there as well, if you allow us to come with you we will help protect you and your goods, don't let our looks deceive you we are more than capable of handling anything you may run into."
The elder man looked them all up and down without saying a word before looking back at Buffy. "Very well young lady I'll pay you 3 coppers a day, payable when we get to Shadowdale, but if we lose any of our wagons you will get nothing, do we understand each other."
"Keep your money all we require is transport to Shadowdale as well as food and board while travelling there, and you will not lose any wagons," countered Buffy.
"As you wish, inform the innkeeper that you are to be given rooms and to charge them to me, be ready to leave at dawn tomorrow."
After speaking to the innkeeper Buffy and Kyn rejoined the others for an evening meal before retiring for the night. The next day they waited in the courtyard while the stable hands readied the horses, the merchant only had two spare mounts. So as Buffy and Tara were much better on horseback than the others they took them, while Willow, Faith and Kyn rode shotgun in the wagons with the merchant and his two sons, Whitetip ranged ahead. The sun was just coming over the horizon when they rode out of the yard.
The wagons would make the trip slow, the merchant whose name they learned was Kort and his two sons named Roff and Joff estimated they would make about 15-20 miles a day, until they reached the turn off for Shadowdale from there they would be travelling a less used trail, overgrown etc. which would slow them to about 10 miles a day. It would take ten days to get to the turn off and six to seven weeks from there to get to the Dale.
The journey south to the turn off went quietly mainly because of the mounted patrols that Hillsfar sent out but also because the land was flat and open there was no where for bandits to hide. The only thing they saw that could be said to be unusual happened just before they got to the inn called 'the last elf', which some merchants had built on the road by the turn off to Shadowdale. They were from the various Dales around the southern edge of the Elven court trying to encourage more trade. A couple of well dressed men and six men who looked like guards rode by at a fast trot heading for the inn, most other travellers usually greeted each other but these men just ignored Kort when he called out to them.
It was just before sundown when they rode into the heavily fortified inn which turned out to be more than just the inn, there was a small smithy/coopers shop and a tack shop for repairing equipment. The inn could accommodate several dozen travellers, Kort explained that because winter had only just ended there would be very few travellers at the inn so the price of accommodation would be cheaper and they could have there own rooms. That had pleased Buffy and the others as they had had only one night alone with their girlfriends since arriving on this world.
While Kort went into the inn to order there rooms and a meal, and Roff went to ask the smith to check the horses over the others helped Joff and the stable hands unhitch the horses. As they joined Kort in the common room they noticed the two men and their guards sat in one corner facing the door they constantly surveyed the room as if looking for something or someone.
They had just finished their meal when a Dwarf entered the room via the door leading to the rooms upstairs; he walked over to a table and plopped down on a chair. Turning to a passing serving man and saying in a voice that could probably be heard in the stables across the courtyard, "Bring me some mead."
Tara leaned over and whispered to the others, "Isn't that the dwarf from the inn where we met Kort?"
"I wouldn't know that was the only dwarf I've seen." answered Faith.
"I think you're right Tara he is wearing the same clothes, why?" put in Buffy.
"Well I noticed that those men that passed us on the road seem to be giving off hostile vibes... and know some of them are walking over to him." They all looked over to see one of the well-dressed men and two others approaching the Dwarf.
Buffy and Faith's foresense ability was going off, Buffy whispered to the group, "There's gonna be trouble."
Although Kyn did not have their abilities he also sensed that these people were looking for trouble. He nodded whispering back, "What do we do eight on to one are not honourable odds."
"We wait and see how things go, they may be after him for breaking the law," whispered Kort.
They all watch as the WDM said something to the Dwarf that not even Buffy or Faith could hear, but they had no problem hearing the Dwarf, "And why would I be doing that?"..."I'll not be doing that for Sembian scum," the Dwarf stood, he was no more than four foot six, but even Kyn would have had trouble getting his arms to touch around his waist. "You're in me way scum." The WDM smirked as he went to hit the Dwarf, who knocked his arm to the side then kicked him in the shin the man grabbed his leg hopping on one leg at which time the Dwarf pushed him over knocking him into the two guards. That's when the other men rose and started towards the Dwarf.
"Faith, Kyn lets go even up the odds a bit," said Buffy getting up.
"With you baby," smirked Faith, she loved nothing more than a good fight well except Buffy.
The three of them walked over to stand by the Dwarf as the men came at them. Buffy looked at the Dwarf; "Do you want some help," she said taking up a defensive position on one side, while Faith and Kyn did the same on the other. On seeing the three join the Dwarf the men warily spread out eyeing the group.
"I won't be needin help to handle scum like these," said the Dwarf.
"Maybe but there are eight of them," pointed out Buffy.
"I be able ta count, but maybe you're right, me names Gort by the way."
"Buffy and these are my friends Faith and Kyn."
"We'll be havin the introductions later."
The other well-dressed man eyed the new opponents, dismissing both Buffy and Faith he turned to the more imposing Kyn; "This is not your fight barbarian take your women and walk away."
"Although I am there guide they are not my women I stand with my friends against you. Leave this place now or go to your afterlife," he stated drawing his two-handed sword.
"Well said me over large friend," said Gort.
"There are still more of us than you," growled the WDM.
"Well that's true, but I'll bet Faith and I can take you two down before your friends can react," smirked Buffy indicating both well-dressed men.
"We'll see about that," he snarled as he pulled a throwing knife and threw it in one motion straight at Buffy who moved quicker than any of the men had ever seen, catching the blade between the palms of her hands.
Faith and Kyn sprang at the two well-dressed men. Faith hit hers with a right cross followed by a left forearm, which sent him reeling backwards. Kyn swept the flat side of his sword against his opponent's head with such force it spun him right around and sending him to his knees.
[Willow] (Cat brother we need your help.)
[Whitetip] (Can you open the door cat friend.)
[Tara] (It's done cat brother.) Tara concentrated using her new found ability the doors flow open, a few seconds later Whitetip sprang into the common room roaring.
Meanwhile one of the guards threw a dagger at Buffy's back Willow saw him throw it but she cried out too late. Buffy felt the dagger pierce her back and enter her heart she fell to her knees she turned to look at Faith; "Baby..." she managed to say before the darkness covered her and she fell face down.
Before even Faith or Whitetip could turn on the guard that was responsible, Tara and Willow turned on him the look on their faces turned his blood cold, they instinctively held hands, Tara pointed at him. He started to try and run but found himself rising into the air.
Tara moved him closer, she turned to the others in the room, "This man has given my sister pain, we return the favour," she stated as Willow pointed at the man, "I give you pain," a bolt of blue-white energy leapt from her hand hitting the guard in the chest, he screamed in agony then as the energy stopped with a flick of her wrist Tara throw him into the wall.
"I suggest you pick up you friend and leave before Tara and I become cranky," said Willow turning an icy stare at the other seven men.
At a nod from one of the well dressed men two of the guards went over and picked up their comrade between them, as they all slowly backed out of the room one of the well dressed men turned to Gort. "This isn't over Dwarf tell Ty the bounty is now doubled, she better watch her back."
"Be gone Sembian scum, the Tear does not belong to you," growled Gort.
[Willow] (Cat brother make sure they leave.) Turning to Kyn, "Kyn please go with Whitetip and make sure they all leave."
"As you wish Willow," he turned and followed Whitetip.
After Kyn and Whitetip had left they all turned to Faith who had pulled out the dagger and was now cradling Buffy in her arms.
Gort sighed, "I maybe able to return your friend to you, I have a scroll in my things upstairs, by the grace of Moradin."
"That won't be necessary," smiled Tara leading Willow over to them.
"I have rarely encountered such callousness, do you think so little of your friends?" Stormed Gort turning on Tara.
"No I love my sister very much, no it won't be necessary because there is no need for your scroll my sister will recover in a few minutes."
"What do you mean I know when someone is dead," stated Gort.
"She is dead at the moment but will recover soon," put in Willow.
"No human can return from the dead without the grace of the gods," said Gort.
"Well we aren't entirely human," smiled Faith as she felt Buffy inhale a breath.
Buffy smiled up at Faith, "Have I told you recently that I love you!"
"Not in the last hour or so," Faith said returning the smile.
"Well I do," she continued to smile as Faith helped her up, she turned to look at Gort and their friends, at the looks on their faces Buffy and the other Immortals burst out laughing. After a couple of minutes she wiped her eyes; "We're sorry for laughing but it's always funny to see the look on other peoples faces when they see one of us comeback from the dead."
"What are you?" asked Gort in a normal level voice for the first time since they met him.
"Let's go and sit down and we'll tell you everything," smiled Buffy leading the way back to their table where Kort and his sons sat with a cross between fear and awe on their faces.
"Before you continue I think me young friend Ty should be here," with that he stopped for a moment and with a voice that would have made every drill instructor in every armed force in this or any other world jealous; "Ty get yourself down here."
Faith turned to him with a slightly pained look on her face, after all she and Buffy had slayer hearing, "Do you always shout?"
"Me god gave me me voice my young friend," Gort shrugged.
They waited a couple of minutes before the young woman they recognized from the north entered almost at the same time Kyn entered the common room followed a short time later by Whitetip from outside. The woman they now knew as Ty looked at all the strangers with apprehension as she sought out Gort's eyes asking if it was safe; "They be friends your safe with them Ty."
She nodded and moved over to them but still keeping to the edge of the room coming to a halt by the table, she gave Buffy and Faith the feeling that she was ready to run at a moments notice.
Gort sat as Buffy and the others smiled at Ty trying to make her more at ease, "This is me friend Ty a former member of the thieves guild of Sembia, I be Gort and have the 'onour of being a cleric of Moradin," said Gort.
"My name is Buffy Summers, this is Faith Spencer my girlfriend we are both vampire slayers, her sister Willow Rosenberg and my sister Tara Maclay they are both Witches all four of us are Immortal," they could see the looks on Kort and his sons faces. "We are not from this world, we are trying to get home. This is our friend Kyn who was sent by his people to help us," she pointed to Kyn who stood at the side of Whitetip, as she looked at the two of them she suddenly had the vision of the two running side by side on some plain. She smiled to herself, they would have many adventures together; "And this is our cat brother Whitetip."
"I am Kort a merchant of Shadowdale and these are my sons Roff and Joff," put in Kort.
"What did you do to cause those men to attack you? And what is this Tear you said they would not get," asked Tara, they all turned towards Ty as they heard her suck in a breath.
"The two dandy's are a couple of the leaders of the Sembia thieves guild they are after Ty here because she stole a gem called the Tear of Sembia from the guild..."
"You cannot steal something that does not belong to the person who has it, the Tear belongs to my mothers people not that human scum," Ty interrupted Gort.
"A very fine point me friend," smiled Gort. "Anyway Ty used her connections within the guild to 'remove' it and now plans to return it to her mothers people who now reside in Evermeet, whether being only half elf they will allow her onto the island we will have to see."
"So are they likely to continue to come after you?" Asked Willow.
"Count on it, they have placed a large bounty on Ty's head enough that every bounty hunter and unscrupulous adventurer between Sembia and Westgate will be looking for her," sighed Gort.
"Look why don't you join us, at least until Shadowdale after all they do say that there is safety in numbers," offered Kort.
"We would need to know more about who we are travelling with first," stated Ty.
"Yes you say you four are Immortal but are humans, how is that possible?" Said Gort.
"Well let's see, some 10,000 years ago on the world we were born on, what we know as the powers that be and you call the gods, instructed our parents to send aid to that world to stop it being overrun by demons. They could not go themselves so they sent us as human babies because our parents are Immortal so are we but our human bodies are venerable to temporary damage until the Immortal part repairs it. Anyway on our world we were fighting a creature that was attempting to open a dimensional portal, we defeated him but were drawn into another dimension, when we used the same device to attempt to get home we ended up here."
"So you are agents of the gods?" said Gort.
"Well if you want to put it that way I suppose we are," smiled Buffy.
"Then I must help you, my god would expect no less," said Gort.
"My sons and I also wish to help in anyway we can," said Kort his sons nodding.
"Thank you... All of you," smiled Buffy.
"What now?" asked Willow.
"Well lets get some rest and get an early start tomorrow," suggested Buffy.
"What about those men?" Asked Kyn.
[Whitetip] (They rode off to the west I do not think they will return in this dark, when sun comes again I will scout ahead cat friend.)
[Tara] (That will help, thank you cat brother.)
"Its all right Kyn, Whitetip says that they went west and he will scout ahead of us tomorrow," explained Tara.
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The next day dawned bright and sunny but with that chill you get in early spring. They rode as before but with Gort riding a stout pony and Ty on her own horse; she still eyed them all with apprehension as if expecting them to turn on her at anytime.
Buffy glanced at her before mindspeaking to the others (Guy's I'm worried about Ty she looks like she is ready to bolt at any second.)
[Faith] (She's just like I was when I first met you and the scoobs in Sunnydale, she's hiding something and its eating her up inside.)
[Tara] (What can we do to help her?)
[Willow] (Not much just show her we will be here for her.)
[Faith] (Maybe I could talk to her, explain what I went through.)
[Buffy] (I don't think she will listen, remember sweetie you didn't start opening up to us until we dusted Kakistos. Then of course there was your whole jealous stage when you though I was hitting on Willow.)
[Faith] (You just had to mention that didn't you, well okay I guess we'll wait until she's ready.)
[Tara] (Wait a minute when did Buffy hit on you Willow.)
[Willow] (She just said she didn't it was a misunderstanding. Faith walked in on us when Buffy and I were on her bed just doing the best-friend thing, she had just broken up with Angel and I was consoling her.)
[Tara] (Oh that's ok then.)
They rode on in silence Buffy and Faith using their foresense ability to detect any danger, Whitetip reported that the men from the night before seemed to have ridden far ahead of them.
Nothing untoward happened for the first half of the journey from the inn to Shadowdale then one day in the third week one of the wagons broke a wheel they lost almost half a day while they replaced it with the only spare one they had. What made it worse was that just after they started out again it began to rain, not heavily but drizzle the sort that seems to always make you miserable. By the time they stopped for the night everyone was in Willow's words 'cranky'.
The fight started just after supper, like most fights it started over a little thing and grew out of all proposition. It ended with Willow and Tara running into the forest in different directions both crying and Buffy and Faith glaring at each other across the campfire.
Gort turned to Kyn and Whitetip who sat in confusion at what had happened, "Ah Whitetip I hope yea can be understandin me, you should go keep an eye on Willow." Whitetip gave a quiet growl before running after Willow; "Kyn lad I'm thinkin you should go after Tara, these woods ain't safe these days." Kyn nodded and moved off after Tara.
Gort then turned to Buffy and Faith, "What about you two is there something we should know!"
Buffy turned giving him an angry stare, "What do you mean?"
"Do you and your friends normally squabble over such trivia?"
He saw a confused look cross her face, "No... I mean we've had fights before but not over things like this," She turned and saw Faith blush with embarrassment, which she knew was mirrored on her own face. She turned back to look at Gort, "What does this mean?"
"Well I'm not entirely certain but I think something has placed a spell on us! There are legends about creatures that live in these woods called Woodfey an ancient off shoot of the Elves and Pixies, they are not hostile but they are supposed to love to cause mischief," Gort explained.
"So why did it only effect some of us?" Asked Buffy.
"There could be several reasons, Ty and myself have some natural resistance to the type of spell we're talking about or and this is more likely it only effects those that have some kind of loving relationship like you two, although I'm sure Kyn likes you he doesn't love any of you. As for me and Ty I'm found of her but I don't love her."
"Ok so how do we break this spell?" Asked Faith.
"I don't know but if we capture the Woodfey maybe we can get them to lift it," suggested Gort.
"Right I'll tell Willow and Tara, get them back here," said Buffy.
After the others had returned and it had been explained to them they talked about how to capture the Woodfey.
"What do they look like?" Asked Tara.
"I've never seen one but the description I heard has them at between 2 1/2 and 3 foot tall with green coloured skin and hair they are usually clothed in leaves... oh and they can turn invisible at will," explained Gort.
"Great so how do we fined a creature that can turn invisible?" Said Faith throwing her arms in the air.
"Well as I understand it they cannot use their abilities on animals so your friend Whitetip..." They heard Whitetip growl.
[Tara] (Whitetip please, Gort didn't mean to insult you, he only meant that you can fined this creature that has done this thing to us.)
[Whitetip] (I will help you cat friend but tell the fat one to only address me as Whitetip.)
"Ah Gort, Whitetip said he will help but you are to only call him by his name... Please try to understand that to call Whitetip an animal is the worse insult you can call him," explained Tara.
"And it doesn't please us very much either," put in Willow, "To Tara and I he is more than a friend he is part of us."
Gort looked at them, "I'm sorry, my apologies to all three of you, I did not mean to insult any of you."
"Apology excepted, now how far away would this creature be?" Smiled Willow.
"Well legend has it that they like to observe the mischief, so it would be close but with Whitetip here they won't be to close just in case he was spotted," smiled Gort.
[Willow] (Whitetip will you please sweep the area and bring any small two legs back here.)
[Whitetip] (As you wish cat friend.)
He ran to the north on the hunt as he had many times before, only this time he would not be killing the prey. He dearly wished he could kill the creature that had hurt his friends, but although he did not understand all the things they had talked about he did not need too; he trusted Willow and Tara even more than he had his cat friends in the land of his birth, they wanted it alive.
After a few hundred yards of finding nothing he turned east, he had just crossed the track they had been following when he saw the creature climbing a tree. He sprang at it but the creature was too quick it made it up the tree just before Whitetip got to the base. It stood on a branch half way up the tree laughing down at Whitetip.
[Whitetip] (Cat friends I have the creature that hurt you but I cannot get at him, he is up a tree he is also very fast.)
[Tara] (Watch him closely cat brother we will come and help.)
Ten minutes later they were all standing around the base of the tree, they could see nothing but Whitetip assured them the creature was still there, besides Buffy and Faith could hear it giggling.
"Tara can't you use your powers to bring it to us?" Asked Buffy.
"Only if I can see it sis."
"What about using Whitetip's eyes," suggested Willow.
"It may work though I've never tried using my abilities like that before."
Tara sat cross-legged next to Whitetip, she closed her eyes as happened before everything turned black and white but very sharp. She could now see the strange creature sat with its ankles cross and dangling over the edge of the branch. She reached out with her mind wrapping the creature with her thoughts; slowly she lifted it off the branch, she smiled along with the others as the creature started screeching, when it was about two feet from the ground Tara smiled at it; "Make yourself visible to my friends or I'll feed you to Whitetip here."
Whitetip somehow knew Tara wanted his help so he let out a low roar before licking his mouth.
"Ok ok," they all heard a high pitched voice then the creature appeared in front of them, looking around in fear; "I-I did not mean any h-harm, p-please don't hurt me," it stammered.
"We won't hurt you, just remove the spell," said Willow.
"I can't!"
Both Faith and Buffy took a step towards the creature; "What do you mean you can't?" said Faith between clenched teeth.
"You can either wait until it wears off in about a week or..."
"Or what!" asked Faith, she was beginning to feel angry again like she had with Buffy earlier.
"Or the other way is what you creatures call 'kiss and make up'," he looked around nervously.
Buffy and Faith looked at each other and burst out laughing. Everyone looked at them like they were insane. Wiping her eyes and looking at the others Buffy smiled, "Ah sorry it just struck me as funny," looking at her girlfriend her smile broadened, "I guess Faith thought it funny as well, must be a slayer thing."
"Ah guy's before we sort this out maybe we should question this Woodfey about what is ahead of us," smiled Tara as she looked at Willow.
"Good point Tara," nodded Gort.
The Woodfey sighed, "What do you wish to know."
"Did you see eight humans on horses pass this way?" asked Ty speaking for the first time since they stopped for the night.
"Yes three days ago they met an Ogre and some Orcs about a days ride from here that way," he pointed towards the north.
"Do you know what they are planning?" asked Kort.
"No, I don't stay around the Orcs they smell bad."
"So how many of these Orcs are there?" asked Tara.
"I don't know maybe 50 or 60," the four Immortals exchanged worried looks.
"I see, Tara please let him go," said Gort before turn a stern look at the creature, "If'n we be seein' you again I'll be havin' Whitetip eat you."
"I'll behave I'll leave you alone... Your no fun anyway," said the Woodfey running off into the woods.
Buffy turned to Gort; "Do you think he was lying about how many Orcs we may have to face?"
"He didn't lie his race have no understanding of numbers, if I had asked him how many people were here he would have given a different number each time," explained Gort.
"So how many Orcs are there likely to be?" Asked Willow.
"No more than 20 or so, Lord Mourngrym who commands the Shadowdale militia would have attacked a force as large as 50 Orcs. He is one of the main instigators of this trade route, that number would be a danger to it," explained Kort.
"Right so these men we met at the Inn are probably going to get these Orcs to join in an attack on us," Buffy mused.
"Maybe! But more likely they will use them as a diversion while they move in and try and get Ty and the Tear," said Gort.
"Right if and when the attack happens Kyn help Gort protect Ty, Kort you and your sons help if you can, the rest of us will take on the Ogre and the Orcs then if its possible we will come and help you," said Buffy stepping into the leadership role.
The other three Immortals nodded their agreement, while the others did not look to certain.
"Wouldn't it be better if we all tackled the attacks separately?" Asked Kyn.
"That could be a problem... None of us four can kill a human... Please try and understand we were all taught not to kill while we grew up and then we all found out that we were sent to our world to protect humans. If it comes down to it we will help but will do everything we can not to kill one," explained Willow.
"Now if you gentlemen will excuse us we four have some making up to do," smiled Buffy as hand-in-hand with Faith she started walking to the east, while Willow and Tara walked off towards the south.
"Are you sure it is safe for you to be alone?" Asked Kyn.
"Yeah we're sure," called Faith over her shoulder.
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