The heart of Clearjink
The next morning started off with a golden hue to the sky. The silvery moon was still out but in the corner of the sky and the clouds were pink. The fresh air blew across Naday's face, and woke her to this site. There were cracks and sizzles but other wise nothing but the birds, while the smell of wild boar was being cooked. Naday sat up to see Shyton and Lauralay roasting a boar that Lauralay had apparently caught.
"Is that Breakfast?" asked Naday "For it looks very tasty."
"Yes, it's almost done. Roll up your bag and pack it on your horse." Said Lauralay.
When the boar was done cooking they had eaten it; it was roasted perfectly, though Naday didn't prefer to eat animals. They all packed up and saddled up on their horses. Nothing was left to prove that a group of young adventurers had been there at all.
The road seamed like a never-ending adventure, that the only thing that changed was the trees. Even the sky seamed to not move like them. The constant trotting of the hoof beats sent a rhythmic tempo that lead Lauralay to start to hum, which lead her to sing bar songs, which Shyton wasn't shy to start in. But Naday didn't sing, she never learned the songs, in towns Naday preferred to look around and gain information, that and she was kind of young to be served in a pub.
In the distance of the afternoon horizon they could see the glittering castle of Clearjink. The tall towers where like celestial building that actually reached the sky. The ground became more traveled and the trees weren't as tall or gnarled.
"Now, this is why us hobbits leave our towns, to see the beauty and structures of every one else's." Shyton spoke to him self.
They approached the heart of Clearjink, a couple of soldiers where posted around for safety of the people, and a couple of people walked along the streets getting chores done before the twilight hours so they then could be home with loved ones. Apparently Clearjink was made mainly of humans, which wasn't so bad for they didn't mind elves, hobbits, dwarves, or gnomes coming near them.
They were almost at the castle when they came along a large crowed of soldiers, and people. They were all crowed around someone or something. They had to dismount their horses and push their way through the crowd to see what was happening. A bird was on the ground, it must have been shot down - buy a guard for it was the same type of arrows the soldiers had - but not only was the bird stone cold lying dead, it had a note attached to it. A soldier came forward and picked it up.
The man took his time reading it silently, then he looked at the man who was peering over his shoulder to read the note to, and the first man handed the second man the note. "Take this to the Lord." The second man nodded and turned and ran down closer to the castle and wasn't stopped. He then vanished into the distance.
The first man noticing the turned to the crowed and spoke, "Men, women, and children; I know you all fear for the lord and lady's daughter, but try not to, for they shall rescue her, now please go back to your own privet affairs." The crowed dispersed.
Apparently Lauralay and Naday where thinking the same thing, for when Naday had stepped forward to speak, Lauralay was already talking. "Your lord and lady's child is in trouble?"
The man was about to say you mean our lord and lady, but then he turned to see the elven woman. "Yes, why do you make it your business milady?"
Lauralay hated formal titles, but she luckily put up with it. "My friends and I," she said gesturing to Naday and Shyton, "Are always interested in helping the needy for justice, and please call me Lauralay."
The man glared at her as if trying to see into her sole, as if he could see what she was thinking, as if he could see her intent. "Well, Lauralay, as long as we are being informal my name is Nehdrin, and I am one of the lord's most trusted men. And if you and your young friends are willing to help his daughter, then come with me."
Lauralay looked back as if to say, 'are you both game?' but with the look on Naday and Shyton's face she didn't have to look back for long. They began to walk, following Nehdrin, bringing their horses.
Lauralay was so glad that she could finally have a part in an actual battle that meant something. Though there was no shore evidence that there would be a battle, but what other reason would the lord have not sent out his nights to save his daughter?
They first had to pass through a main gate, which was guarded by more soldiers then they had seen the whole time they were there. Each soldier had a suit of armor on that was shiny enough to blind someone, and each one's swords was sharp and very well taken care of. They then had to cross an inner moat. The castle was much bigger and more glamorous closer up. The arches that stood over they path they were walking up seamed silver, and the path was carved from fine stones. Flowers were spread all over the field, making an array of colors all blending into what seamed like an oil painting. Nehdrin made a solider take their horses and tend to them.
They then reached the grand wooden doors that had a silver ring to knock at (but it was mainly used for decoration.)
"We are here," said Nehdrin, "The lord and lady will ask much of you so be prepared to take on a hard task, but if you would like you can turn back now."
Lauralay wasn't ready to give up on a great adventure, when she had been waiting so long for. "Do you not want us to help your lord?" she asked keenly, she knew he wanted them to help.
"I just wanted to warn you." He said kindly, "We know not who is his daughter's captures."
"You will soon enough, after we get started." Said Lauralay in her usual cocky way.
Nehdrin opened the magnificent doors, and gestured for them to walk in ahead of him first, as a gentleman would do. Naday and Lauralay walked in first; Shyton walked in reluctant to leave some one he didn't know very well at his backside. But it wasn't that way for long for then Nehdrin walked ahead of the girls and led the way.
It almost seamed like a Labyrinth, if you didn't know your way around you were bound to get lost is the halls the branched off in every way. There were no windows, only candles and torches along the walls.
They must have been walking for almost Fifteen minutes before he stopped and turned to them. "You do know how to properly address a Lord and a Lady, am I correct." He whispered with little doubt.
"With respect?" Naday said with all of the doubt in her mind coming out.
Nehdrin just looked at her as if he had gotten them into something they couldn't handle. Then Shyton broke the silence "Of course I know how to speak to the higher class, with dignity, truth, and proper language exactly how you would talk to any one."
Nehdrin looked as though he hoped Shyton would do all of the speaking, but he knew otherwise. So he just led them into a grand throne room. Three magnificent thrones sat in the center of attention. Two thrones were occupied, one by a tall dark man with green eyes, a blonde woman with gold like eyes sat in the other. The third was empty.
"Lord Sarnin, I am shore you received the letter that Daren brought you." Nahdrin said. The Man in the throne merely nodded, and the won beside him sobbed. "Though that is only in part why I am here." He said as he looked back at Lauralay. "I have brought worriers to save you daughter."
The man sat up straight to examine the three adventurers, while the woman went wide-eyed in hope. She spoke, "You will save Taliya?" she asked hopefully.
"We would help you in any way possible." Said Lauralay
"They seam a bit on the young side, are they shore you can take on such a task, Nehdrin of the Ritdas?" Asked the Lord. Lauralay thought she was being ignored and pouted a but.
To Naday it now made sense, Nehdrin can see there intent, he was a Paladin a very high one too. The Ritdas are an ancient Order that remain neutral to keep the balance. Most of their ways are mysterious, and unknown. Lauralay paid no mind to the title, but Shyton may have been putting the pieces together.
"They seam to be good for the job." Said Nehdrin.
Sarnin sighed and slumped a bit back down into his chair. "I suppose you would like a reward for you kind deeds? Well if in fact you do manage to save my daughter," he said doubtfully "You shall receive 300 gold pieces to spilt amongst yourselves."
Lauralay was surprised at the high amount. "That shall suffice, but where is your daughter, Taliya was her name?"
"Yes, Taliya," sobbed the woman, "She was captured by bandits and carried away to some where of the southern path. Please save her."
Nehdrin felt for the woman, "Save your strength Lady Faria."
"Nehdrin, show our guests to the dinning hall, let them have their fill, then send them on their way." Said Sarnin.
"Yes, my lord." Nehdrin bowed and led the three out of the throne room.
Nothing more was talked about as the walked through the stone halls, to the dinning hall. The smell of baked food made the three's stomachs turn. They hadn't eaten since earlier that morning. And though they weren't the one's who were doing all the work during that time, (their horses had) they had still develop an appetite.
As the air became richer they hadn't really a need to follow Nehdrin because they could follow their nose. The light in the hall was dim and it didn't seem too cheery of an atmosphere supposedly because of the missing princess.
They had eaten a quick lunch, and mostly in an eerie silence. It didn't matter much though, what would there have been to talk about? They all had their fill and stood up to leave.
Nehdrin had told them which road they were to take and were the men are suspected to be. No one really cared what the young ones where going to do because few thought they could accomplish this task.
After they walked though the stone halls once more, they left the castle doors. The fresh air was a shock, almost as shock-full as seeing the lord out side in front of them on the steps of the castle.
"Are you children sure you can take on this task?" asked lord Sarnin.
"We are not children!" thought Lauralay. "Yes, we can take care of ourselves, Lord."
"As long as you're sure. Good bye," Said Lord Sarnin. The three, Lauralay Shyton and Naday walked down the steps, bowing their heads to lord Sarnin. They walked down the steps seeing the solider that took their horses bring them to them. They mounted and road off. The king whispered to himself, "most likely forever."
The next morning started off with a golden hue to the sky. The silvery moon was still out but in the corner of the sky and the clouds were pink. The fresh air blew across Naday's face, and woke her to this site. There were cracks and sizzles but other wise nothing but the birds, while the smell of wild boar was being cooked. Naday sat up to see Shyton and Lauralay roasting a boar that Lauralay had apparently caught.
"Is that Breakfast?" asked Naday "For it looks very tasty."
"Yes, it's almost done. Roll up your bag and pack it on your horse." Said Lauralay.
When the boar was done cooking they had eaten it; it was roasted perfectly, though Naday didn't prefer to eat animals. They all packed up and saddled up on their horses. Nothing was left to prove that a group of young adventurers had been there at all.
The road seamed like a never-ending adventure, that the only thing that changed was the trees. Even the sky seamed to not move like them. The constant trotting of the hoof beats sent a rhythmic tempo that lead Lauralay to start to hum, which lead her to sing bar songs, which Shyton wasn't shy to start in. But Naday didn't sing, she never learned the songs, in towns Naday preferred to look around and gain information, that and she was kind of young to be served in a pub.
In the distance of the afternoon horizon they could see the glittering castle of Clearjink. The tall towers where like celestial building that actually reached the sky. The ground became more traveled and the trees weren't as tall or gnarled.
"Now, this is why us hobbits leave our towns, to see the beauty and structures of every one else's." Shyton spoke to him self.
They approached the heart of Clearjink, a couple of soldiers where posted around for safety of the people, and a couple of people walked along the streets getting chores done before the twilight hours so they then could be home with loved ones. Apparently Clearjink was made mainly of humans, which wasn't so bad for they didn't mind elves, hobbits, dwarves, or gnomes coming near them.
They were almost at the castle when they came along a large crowed of soldiers, and people. They were all crowed around someone or something. They had to dismount their horses and push their way through the crowd to see what was happening. A bird was on the ground, it must have been shot down - buy a guard for it was the same type of arrows the soldiers had - but not only was the bird stone cold lying dead, it had a note attached to it. A soldier came forward and picked it up.
The man took his time reading it silently, then he looked at the man who was peering over his shoulder to read the note to, and the first man handed the second man the note. "Take this to the Lord." The second man nodded and turned and ran down closer to the castle and wasn't stopped. He then vanished into the distance.
The first man noticing the turned to the crowed and spoke, "Men, women, and children; I know you all fear for the lord and lady's daughter, but try not to, for they shall rescue her, now please go back to your own privet affairs." The crowed dispersed.
Apparently Lauralay and Naday where thinking the same thing, for when Naday had stepped forward to speak, Lauralay was already talking. "Your lord and lady's child is in trouble?"
The man was about to say you mean our lord and lady, but then he turned to see the elven woman. "Yes, why do you make it your business milady?"
Lauralay hated formal titles, but she luckily put up with it. "My friends and I," she said gesturing to Naday and Shyton, "Are always interested in helping the needy for justice, and please call me Lauralay."
The man glared at her as if trying to see into her sole, as if he could see what she was thinking, as if he could see her intent. "Well, Lauralay, as long as we are being informal my name is Nehdrin, and I am one of the lord's most trusted men. And if you and your young friends are willing to help his daughter, then come with me."
Lauralay looked back as if to say, 'are you both game?' but with the look on Naday and Shyton's face she didn't have to look back for long. They began to walk, following Nehdrin, bringing their horses.
Lauralay was so glad that she could finally have a part in an actual battle that meant something. Though there was no shore evidence that there would be a battle, but what other reason would the lord have not sent out his nights to save his daughter?
They first had to pass through a main gate, which was guarded by more soldiers then they had seen the whole time they were there. Each soldier had a suit of armor on that was shiny enough to blind someone, and each one's swords was sharp and very well taken care of. They then had to cross an inner moat. The castle was much bigger and more glamorous closer up. The arches that stood over they path they were walking up seamed silver, and the path was carved from fine stones. Flowers were spread all over the field, making an array of colors all blending into what seamed like an oil painting. Nehdrin made a solider take their horses and tend to them.
They then reached the grand wooden doors that had a silver ring to knock at (but it was mainly used for decoration.)
"We are here," said Nehdrin, "The lord and lady will ask much of you so be prepared to take on a hard task, but if you would like you can turn back now."
Lauralay wasn't ready to give up on a great adventure, when she had been waiting so long for. "Do you not want us to help your lord?" she asked keenly, she knew he wanted them to help.
"I just wanted to warn you." He said kindly, "We know not who is his daughter's captures."
"You will soon enough, after we get started." Said Lauralay in her usual cocky way.
Nehdrin opened the magnificent doors, and gestured for them to walk in ahead of him first, as a gentleman would do. Naday and Lauralay walked in first; Shyton walked in reluctant to leave some one he didn't know very well at his backside. But it wasn't that way for long for then Nehdrin walked ahead of the girls and led the way.
It almost seamed like a Labyrinth, if you didn't know your way around you were bound to get lost is the halls the branched off in every way. There were no windows, only candles and torches along the walls.
They must have been walking for almost Fifteen minutes before he stopped and turned to them. "You do know how to properly address a Lord and a Lady, am I correct." He whispered with little doubt.
"With respect?" Naday said with all of the doubt in her mind coming out.
Nehdrin just looked at her as if he had gotten them into something they couldn't handle. Then Shyton broke the silence "Of course I know how to speak to the higher class, with dignity, truth, and proper language exactly how you would talk to any one."
Nehdrin looked as though he hoped Shyton would do all of the speaking, but he knew otherwise. So he just led them into a grand throne room. Three magnificent thrones sat in the center of attention. Two thrones were occupied, one by a tall dark man with green eyes, a blonde woman with gold like eyes sat in the other. The third was empty.
"Lord Sarnin, I am shore you received the letter that Daren brought you." Nahdrin said. The Man in the throne merely nodded, and the won beside him sobbed. "Though that is only in part why I am here." He said as he looked back at Lauralay. "I have brought worriers to save you daughter."
The man sat up straight to examine the three adventurers, while the woman went wide-eyed in hope. She spoke, "You will save Taliya?" she asked hopefully.
"We would help you in any way possible." Said Lauralay
"They seam a bit on the young side, are they shore you can take on such a task, Nehdrin of the Ritdas?" Asked the Lord. Lauralay thought she was being ignored and pouted a but.
To Naday it now made sense, Nehdrin can see there intent, he was a Paladin a very high one too. The Ritdas are an ancient Order that remain neutral to keep the balance. Most of their ways are mysterious, and unknown. Lauralay paid no mind to the title, but Shyton may have been putting the pieces together.
"They seam to be good for the job." Said Nehdrin.
Sarnin sighed and slumped a bit back down into his chair. "I suppose you would like a reward for you kind deeds? Well if in fact you do manage to save my daughter," he said doubtfully "You shall receive 300 gold pieces to spilt amongst yourselves."
Lauralay was surprised at the high amount. "That shall suffice, but where is your daughter, Taliya was her name?"
"Yes, Taliya," sobbed the woman, "She was captured by bandits and carried away to some where of the southern path. Please save her."
Nehdrin felt for the woman, "Save your strength Lady Faria."
"Nehdrin, show our guests to the dinning hall, let them have their fill, then send them on their way." Said Sarnin.
"Yes, my lord." Nehdrin bowed and led the three out of the throne room.
Nothing more was talked about as the walked through the stone halls, to the dinning hall. The smell of baked food made the three's stomachs turn. They hadn't eaten since earlier that morning. And though they weren't the one's who were doing all the work during that time, (their horses had) they had still develop an appetite.
As the air became richer they hadn't really a need to follow Nehdrin because they could follow their nose. The light in the hall was dim and it didn't seem too cheery of an atmosphere supposedly because of the missing princess.
They had eaten a quick lunch, and mostly in an eerie silence. It didn't matter much though, what would there have been to talk about? They all had their fill and stood up to leave.
Nehdrin had told them which road they were to take and were the men are suspected to be. No one really cared what the young ones where going to do because few thought they could accomplish this task.
After they walked though the stone halls once more, they left the castle doors. The fresh air was a shock, almost as shock-full as seeing the lord out side in front of them on the steps of the castle.
"Are you children sure you can take on this task?" asked lord Sarnin.
"We are not children!" thought Lauralay. "Yes, we can take care of ourselves, Lord."
"As long as you're sure. Good bye," Said Lord Sarnin. The three, Lauralay Shyton and Naday walked down the steps, bowing their heads to lord Sarnin. They walked down the steps seeing the solider that took their horses bring them to them. They mounted and road off. The king whispered to himself, "most likely forever."