AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Well the heroine is off on her own her knight has been picked up hmm.. where is this leading and what could be happening? Well I know but I can't tell you that.
Now a few points were brought to my attention that I believe some of you could be wondering about. First, yes the last chapter was slightly morbid but i wanted to demonstrate why THE ABYSS is feared by so many. And Second I know Tory's injury sounds fatal but I couldn't kill off my heroine this early in the story i have atleast 10 more chapters to go through.
Once again Thank you for all my loyal readers I LOVE REVIEWS!!
DISCLAIMER:
Now Tomoera Peirce writes books that are all published and in nice bound books (w/o scroll bars) and also gets paid for her imagination. Me on the other hand I have many spelling mistakes before I send my chapters to xxTunstall Chickxx, my fics have scroll bars and the only type of payment I recieve for my imagination is the inspiring and encouraging reviews i receive from all of you. So I AM NOT TOMOERA PIERCE.
The columns of riders rode at a trot down the weathered dirt trail, in the back were two wagons filled with supplies and a third carrying Dom, fast asleep, and Alan staring up into the sky intent on his thoughts.
"Alan?" the lioness came up beside the wagon.
"Hi ma" he gave a small smile
"Are you alright Alan?" Alanna looked worried.
"Physically sore, mentally-- well confused. Do you know who healed me?"
"I have an idea why?" Alanna moved her mount closer to the wagon so no one would eavesdrop.
"I think I -sensed- Tory around me when I was unconscious and I thought it was her who healed me but when I woke she was no where to be found."
A smile curled up on the red headed woman's lips, "You sensed her."
"I know I don't understand it either, but what happened when you got there I didn't hear any fighting."
her reply was simple, "There wasn't any and I thought it was Tory too."
Alan's eyes jerked up to his mother," What do you mean?"
"When we got there every man was dead and all but one was still in his bed, I also looked and found traces of turquoise healing in yours and Dom's essence but I don't understand how you knew who it belonged to."
"I'm lost" Alan's eyes went back up to stare at the sky.
"Oh and there was one more thing in you but not Dom" Alanna said with some mischief.
"What's that"
"A small but powerful protection spell."
Alan couldn't reply. Kary called from up ahead, "Sir Alanna you need to see this!" she was holding up a make shift bandage that was blood soaked...
Tory was leaning against a tree with her good shoulder, going through a hidden pocket in her cloak. NO, no, no, no, i couldn't have been that careless. She was looking for the bandage she removed earlier but it was gone and in it's place was a large rip in the pocket. It's okay she thought frantically trying to reassure herself no one is looking for me. My essence won't stick to anything that comes off of me.
She stumbled down to a river where she scooped some water up to rinse her mouth in one hand and removed her shirt which was barely clinging to her due to the large slash in it's back. She dunked a handkerchief in the river and wrung it out over her cut to wash out the dirt and blood but it still stung and she couldn't heal herself because of how much had to be done for Alan. She tore off from the knee down of her breeches to make another bandage for her shoulder clenching her teeth as she worked. Now both her breeches and shirt were ripped to be used to bind her bleeding wound.
Tory was getting irritated by her slow pace she wasn't even attempting to be careful now just trying to beat the Riders back to Corus. She grabbed her mounts reins and began tying her shirt laces as she shoved past a tree branch only to have it swing back and slap across her shoulders. Pain shot through her as she choked back a yelp, her eyes rolled back as she fell forward, passed out, onto the ground. Her mount was spooked by the sound of wood on flesh and took off leaving tory Sprawled out on the ground with blood soaking into the binding on her back.
"Let me go look for her!" Alan almost yelled laying in a tent talking to his mother.
"No" was Alanna's flat reply.
"She's probably hurt. Please send someone."
" I can't let anyone else know much about her or we risk her life" Alanna looked away from her son avoiding his eyes.
"What aren't you telling me" he knew his mom was hiding something.
"Nothing Alan now go back to sleep you need rest."
"What aren't you telling me?" he repeated
She couldn't lie to her son any more he deserved to know, "When she fought the camps commanding officer he took a chip of bone out of her shoulder blade and an axe blade was covered in blood I'm assuming it's her's because it had no essence the same with the bandage they found today."
"You MUST send Someone, you said Leena and Kary know about her right, send them." Alan was pleading now and his mother couldn't look him in the eye.
"Listen Alan, I've doubled the amount of scouts we send out telling them to watch for any sign of people but not to kill them--but Alan shes good, really good. if she doesn't want to be found no one will find her. I'm sorry Alan."
"PLEASE let me go." he was begging
"NO now this is the end of it you aren't going. Good night." She stalked off out of the tent frustrated, I want to let him go but I can't. I want to send someone but it will do no good, I KNOW no one will even come close to find her. Alanna walked over to Kary"Any news?" she asked but kary just shook her head.
The camp was asleep except for the watch, his hazel eyes flicked around looking for any sign of movement. Alan crept out of the tent using the shadows to stay hidden until he got to the outlying forest near the camp.I'll be back by morning with the lass and I'll be able to just say I was returning the favor if anyone asks. Great mother where could she be. His thoughts were interrupted as a male Rider stepped out from behind a tree, "I found him" the man called out obviously not to Alan.
"What is the meaning of this I am Sir Alan of Pirate's Swoop heir to the Barony Pirate's Swoop and son of the king's champion the Lioness and I order you to stand down!" Alan managed to pull off the arrogant noble attitude in his tone.
"Sorry Sir Alan but I have orders from the Lioness herself to bring you back." two other riders joined this one.
"I doubt--" Alan was cut off by two of the Riders picking him up under the arms and the third grabbing his kicking ankles. They were carrying him back to camp, "I WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS! PUT ME DOWN THIS INSTANCE!"
"Oh hush Alan What do you think you're doing." Alanna interrupted her son's yells and thrashing.
"I was going for a midnight stroll when these- these--"
"Knock it off Alan You ARE NOT leaving."
"BUT MA!"
"NO! Now drink this." she handed him a mug of tea which he drank.
"What was that for?" he asked still being suspended in mid air by the Riders.
"To make you sleep" He shot an angry glare at his mother who continued, "You wouldn't want all of her healing wasted now would you?" The uncertainty of the three Rider men was obvious at the mention of 'her' but Alan knew what his mother was speaking of and quieted as the tea began to take affect.
"Bring him to his bed please" Alanna asked the riders as she turned and rubbed her temples, Thank Mithros that was a strong healing otherwise those three would be the ones needing a healing. What am I going to do with him?
A man with a shaven head, dark eyes, stubble still on his chin, and scars that showed in his eyebrows and top lip sat at a large desk in the middle of a large room that was lit with lamps pale glows. The walls were almost bare of decor but maps of near by realms hung about. A large tapestry hung behind the desk, a large hawk with outstretched wings perched on a mountain top was embroidered in dark green on the black field of the fabric.
Another man came in with short cropped red hair and saluted.
"General Medorus Sir the Runner from Tortall has returned."
"And?" the man looked up from his work
"He was disposed of properly and well-- the news he bore was grave sir."
"How grave?" the man didn't look surprised.
"Well sir our men got there the same time as tortall's but we stayed back and spyed a bit Sir. Three squads were killed we over heard discussion from the commanding knight say that one person was the cause of death for over two squads but the rest died in battle against the squad they attacked."
"What about Captain Creggs"
"He was killed as well, Sir."
"Damn it! he said he knew what she was was capable of, he said he helped teach that little wench I needed him to report to me directly. You're dismissed Bronston!" The man saluted turned on his heel and left General Markus Medorus.
The general stared at the tapestry his eyes narrowed as he spoke to the empty room, "Well I guess the accusations are correct Abyss or have you gone back to Torrianne now. No matter you will have a visitor soon enough that will take care of you before you can cause anymore harm."his voice was deadly as he spoke in a low whisper and he let his mouth curve into an evil smile at this.
A/N: Now i have the next chapter wrote and edited so let's put it this way the time of posting depends on how many reviews I can get and how quickly they come. Not trying to pressure any one though. :)