Tangled Visions, Part One

                                                            Chapter Six

            "No matter how far one travels, no matter where one goes, the first step is the start of every adventure."

            -Sheeva Callister

            It had been a couple of days since Brigit and Mouse had arrived at Farley, and the halfling had been recovering steadily ever since.  Brigit was truly surprised at how fast he had recovered, really.  Within two days he was on his feet again, walking around without help and going where he pleased.  And, Brigit had noted dryly, in half that time his mouth was back in full working order.

            Obviously eating the mush the healers here gave him was good for the halfling.

            He had taken a couple large bags it with him, anyway. 

            The human woman had spent most of her time with Mouse in the Healer's Hall, but she went out occasionally to make sure that their things were in order before they began traveling again.  Shale helped her with that mostly, and, when he was feeling better and the Healers agreed that it was all right, Mouse pitched in as well.

            It was on the third day of their stay in Farley that Mouse said he felt fit to travel again.  Brigit had looked him over once, and decided the halfing was right.  In truth, Mouse looked better than he had when Brigit had first met him.  There was actual weight on him now, and the color was returning to his cheeks.

            Mouse wasn't the only one taking advantage of a couple days of bed rest though.  Brigit had taken the time to clean all her armor, sew the rips and tears in her clothing closed, and mend her traveling goods.  She looked much better for the break as well, even if she was practically itching to get back out on the road again.  Even Shale, who Brigit had found to be one of the most relaxed and laid back men she had ever met, seemed restless.

  They were all ready to travel again.

            It was a fair day when the three started out.  The sky was a little overcast, and the damp air seemed to whisper of rain when the wind blew, but the ground was dry and the temperature good, and so it was a fair day for traveling.  Brigit paused in her work at the carthorse's harness, and watched the sun climb higher into the sky behind the clouds.  She smiled a little at the freshness of the weather.  Goblin turned his ugly head around quickly, catching Brigit unaware and giving her a solid nip on the arm.  She flinched, more at the sound of teeth scraping on metal than in actual pain.  Goblin was a small, decrepit beast, white and flea-bitten and badly shaped, with the temperament of soured milk.  He pulled a cart to match. 

            Brigit frowned, then slapped the white muzzle with her free hand.  The gelding snorted and turned back sulkily.  He flicked his wire-rough tail and glared at the human woman over his shoulder.

            And, apparently, Brigit was the first person Goblin seemed to like in the least.

            "I assume those are love-bites?"

            Brigit turned quickly, and started back in surprise.  Shale was leaning against the doorframe, his arms folded over his chest and his familiar crooked smile etched over his face.  Goblin had become something of a joke between the two humans.  Shale maintained the animal was as rotten at the core as an old apple, and was better off being put to field.  Brigit said that the horse still had some use in him, as long as you didn't let him push you around.

            But it wasn't what Shale had said that had startled Brigit so badly.  It was what he was wearing. 

            Brigit was used to seeing the healer dressed in the white robes of his profession, with the gold symbol of Pelor woven into it somehow.  Well, Shale still had on a small medallion marked with the stern face of the Sun God, but he had exchanged his robes for a suit of well kept plate armor, which he looked far too comfortable in.  Hanging at his side was a heavy mace, tucked into one of the loops in his belt, the head of which disappeared beneath the folds of the brown traveling cloak he was wearing over it all.  The cloak looked suspiciously like the material used to make burlap sacks.  Brigit gaped, openmouthed.  Shale's grin widened, and he pushed off the doorframe and sauntered over to her, his casual grace belying the heaviness of the armor he wore.  He cocked his head a little to one side and raised an eyebrow.

            "I did tell you before, Brigit," he said, the grin never leaving his face, "Not to take me for a sheltered priest."

            It was a couple of seconds before Brigit regained her voice. 

            "Am I to take it, then, Master Healer," she said dubiously, "That you have some skill with that mace of yours?  And in such heavy armor?"

            Shale ran a gauntleted hand over his hair, trying to push it out of his eyes.  Another failed attempt.

            "Would I wear it if I didn't?"

            Brigit shook her head, and turned back to the cart.  Goblin eyed her warily.  "Bur-rar-rum," she muttered under her breath, "What times we live in when even those sworn to heal and protect wield weapons, no?" she glanced at Shale out of the corners of her stormy eyes, and continued to throw supplies into the cart.

            The man was about to respond, when a terrified squeal sounded from the doorway.  The two humans turned to look.

            "Oh?  Es tha' the herse and cart yeh went an' won yerself?"  Mouse squeaked out loudly.  He was standing in the doorway, his pack on his shoulders and his own beaten armor back on his somewhat increased frame again.  A couple of healers hovered in the doorway behind him.  At the sound of the halfling's voice, Goblin laid back his ears and bared his teeth.  He whinnied a challenge and half reared, pawing the air with his dangerous hooves.  Brigit and Shale both stepped back quickly, though the woman grabbed the reins and wrestled the animal back to all fours.

            Mouse paled quite visibly.  Then he glared at Brigit and pointed an accusing finger at her. 

            "Tha's not a herse!  Tha's a demon maskeradin' as one!"  His black eyes flicked to the cart the horse was attached to, then back to Brigit.  "Yeh cinna seriously be expectin' me the ride in bahck o' tha' thin, ken yeh?"  He looked extremely dubious.

            Brigit just looked cross.  She gripped the reins more tightly in her hand.  "Good morning, Mouse.  How nice to see you up and about.  You'll be happy to know I put the rest of your belongings in the cart already.  And yes, as a matter of fact, this is the horse we will be using in our travels."

            "Yeh couldn't eff picked somethin' a it mehr…friendly?!"  Mouse looked lost somewhere between livid and scared witless.

            Brigit was growing visibly more annoyed by the second.  She yanked the reigns a little, and Goblin squealed almost as horribly a Mouse had.  "This is the animal that the smith gave us." She said through pursed lips.

            "Yeh cinna go back an' get another?!"

            "This one will do."

            Mouse looked at Goblin, then back it Brigit as if she was crazy.  "Oh, sure it will…If yeh want yer throat ripped out in the dead o' night!  I've met Orcs mer pleasant the look at than tha' fellow!"

            Brigit's mood was fast souring.

            "His beauty has nothing to do with how well he pulls this cart, Mouse.  And that is all that matters."

             Mouse looked ready to crumble on the spot.  He was paler than he had been in days. 

            "But…eh…Eh…Eh din particularly care fer herses."  He managed to get out finally.  He was whiter than Goblin's flanks at this point.

            The stern frown lines around Brigit's mouth softened a little, and she relaxed her hold on the reigns.

            "Are you…afraid of them?" she asked as gently as her gruff voice could manage.

            Mouse straightened quickly and tossed his head up defiantly.  "Ehm not afraid of them!" he snapped back indignantly, "Eh…Jes din like ehm very much."

            Shale smiled and stepped forward suddenly, before Brigit had a chance to spit something back. 

            "Well, that's very good then, Master Halfling.  Because this horse, Goblin-"

            "Goblin?!"

            "-Likes it when people are afraid of him.  But if you'll just be careful to keep away from anywhere his mouth and hooves are likely to be able to reach, I'm sure you'll be all right."  Shale gestured to the cart's front seat.  "Like here."

            Mouse looked back and forth between Shale and Goblin, undecided.  Then, with a small sigh, he seemed to calm down and headed towards the cart.  He walked around to the back of it and tossed his pack up over his head and managed to just get it over the edge and in.  The he leaned against one of the wheels, pulled on a lock of hair that was hanging into his face, and sighed again.  He shook his head and folded his arms across his chest.

            "I really dinna like herses." He said with his eyes closed.

            Goblin chose that moment to stamp one hoof angrily and toss his jug head up and down belligerently at some unseen aggressor. He bared yellow teeth and whinnied shilly.   Mouse yelped and dove backwards from the cart, choosing the backs of Shale's legs as a good hiding spot.

            Brigit sighed loudly and rolled her eyes.

            "This is going to be a very long ride."

            At that moment, the healers at the doorway parted, and an older man with a stern, ageless look emerged.  He walked purposefully towards the three travelers, white robes billowing out at the heels.

            "Brother Bailey," he said loudly.  His clipped voice made the name sound like an order.

            Shale straightened at the shoulders and turned slowly, taking much more time about the action than was necessary.  He took a couple steps away from the cart, towards the other man. 

            "Brother Squalle," Shale said.  He put his hands together and bowed respectfully to the other man.  The name sounded more like an attempt to placate the other man. 

            "I have heard some very disturbing news from one of the healers here."  His eyes flicked to the suit of armor Shale was wearing.  "Apparently, the informant was correct." 

            Shale sighed a little and straightened.  "Am I to assume that the news concerned me?" His voice sounded a bit strained.

            The older man looked very dour.  "Indeed it did, Brother Bailey."  He folded his arms over his chest. 

            "Should I ask what it was about?"  The politeness in the two men's voices was evaporating as fast as snow in the middle of July. 

            "Perhaps it would be best if I asked you," Brother Squalle snapped, "Because maybe then I could ask you what this madness is all about!"

            The thin layer of calm over the conversation broke.

            "Astrin-" Shale began, but the man cut him off.

            "What are you thinking, going out like this?  Have you lost you mind?!  You are in no condition to go gallivanting all over the countryside in search of a few Raiders!  Have you any idea what kind of danger you're putting yourself in?!"

            "A very clear conception, thank you," Shale answered shortly.

            "Then you must be out of your mind!"  Astrin's dark eyes narrowed.  "Or be motivated by some higher cause the rest of can't understand, right?"

            Shale took a step back, looking stung.  "These people need help!" he said, gesturing to Brigit and Muse, who were standing by the cart, "If I were any other brother-" he began in a harsh whisper.

            "But you are not any other brother, Shalyn!" Astrin snapped back, his voice lowered as well.  He ran a hand over the close cropped gray beard on his chin. 

            "Shale." Shale corrected instantly.  He moved towards Astrin, who backed up, shaking his head.

            "What could possibly have possessed you?!  You, one of the very few level-headed men we have left around here!"  His voice remained just about a whisper, and he leaned towards Shale, as if trying to keep their half shouted conversation private.  "Chasing after Raiders?!  A fool's quest!  And why you would possibly take it into your head to follow after a deranged woman and her only half recovered companion is completely beyond me!  Have you lost your mind?!"

            "My mind is well-kept, Brother Squalle.  If you just would give me a chance to explain-"

            "I cannot allow it!"  He glared daggers at the taller man.  "You came here just a few short months ago asking for shelter and training, and now you're trying to spit it back in our faces!"

            Shale's jaws tightened.  "I go out into the world to help others with my gifts, Astrin!  Can't you see-"

            "Your gifts, Brother Bailey, are only half trained as is!" 

            "You said yourself I the power-" Shale started, indignation making his whispered voice rise sharply.

            "The power," Squalle snapped back, "But not the guidance!  You need time, and experience-"

            "Well, what better way to train myself than by actually using the skills I'm supposed to be trained in!?" Shale said, losing his temper.  His hands were balled into fists. 

            "And what better way to lose your life than by bringing it to the people who want to kill you!?  Are you insane?!" Astrin roared back.

            Brigit dropped the heavy pieces of leather she had been using to tie down the blanket she had draped over their bags. She advanced on the two men quickly, her face set and her blue eyes blazing. The other healers who had gathered outside to watch the spectacle scrambled out of her path. 

            "Master Healer," she said, addressing Astrin with barely contained fury in her voice.  "Do you have a contract with the Brother Shale here?"

            "A what?" Squalle said, pulling his eyes away from Shale's face long enough to glance over at Brigit. 

            "A contract," she repeated irritably, "Something Shale has signed saying he works for you and the rest of the Healer's Hall for a certain amount of time?"

            "Of course not!" Astrin said with a contemptuous look at the human woman.

            "All healers here volunteer their services," Shale explained wearily.

            "Then there is nothing that says Shale must stay here against his wishes!"  Brigit snapped.  She glared back at Astrin.  "So if he wants to leave, Master Healer, you can't stop him."

            "I am his teacher, and head of the Hall here." Squalle snapped back.  "He should listen to my advice."  An acidic glare in Shale's direction.

            "But you also told me long ago to listen to my instincts, Brother Squalle."  Shale said quietly, his eyes closed and his head drooping a little, the anger now gone from his voice.

            "Usually your instincts hold some ounce of sanity, Shale!"  Astrin's voice was cracking.

            "His sanity is not in question!" Brigit snarled, her temper flaring on behalf of Shale's.

            Astrin rounded on her.

            "I do not remember asking your opinion on the subject, Swords-lady!"

            "I did not ask permission to give it!"  She growled back, her rough voice sounding like two large boulders being ground together.

            "All righ', all righ'!  All of yeh!  Harvest Lady take it!" said a new voice from around their kneecaps.  They looked down.  Mouse was standing there, his hands thrown up in the air.  He sighed loudly.  "The threes ef yeh are bickerin' like lil' children, an' it isn't gettin' us anywhere!"  He dropped his hands to his sides.  "Isn't thare any way the three ef yeh can reach an agreement?"

            "Unlikely," Brigit muttered, rolling her eyes.

            Mouse gave her a disdainful look that clearly said "you aren't helping."

            "Frem what Efve herd," he said carefully, "It sounds as if Shale here es free t'leave any time he wants, whether er not yeh approve ef the decision."

            "It's true," Shale said, trying desperately to keep the tense atmosphere from erupting again.  "But I would rather leave with your blessing, Brother," he looked over at Astrin hopefully.

            "You're not going to get it," Squalle said pointedly, and Shale sighed and his face fell a little. 

            There was a tense silence. 

            Everyone was so focused on the argument at hand that they didn't see the shadowy movement behind one corner of the building, or pay attention when Goblin whickered irritably as the weight in the cart increased. 

            Shale stared at Astrin for a couple more seconds, then sighed and shook his head.  "Fine," he said, breaking the silence and startling everyone present.  He shook his head a little, and rested a hand on the top of his mace. "Fine," he repeated resignedly, "It's all right.  You're probably right anyway Astrin.  I'll get myself killed out there."  He met Astrin's gaze steadily.  "I'm still going though." He said flatly, and turned towards the cart without looking back.  He hoisted himself easily up into the front seat, and grabbed the reigns. 

            Brigit stood there for half a second longer, watching Shale's somewhat bent back.  Then she sighed and headed back over to the cart.  She glanced into the cart, saw that all the things were in place under the blanket, and turned towards the horse. 

"I'll take those," Brigit mumbled, and clambered up into the seat next to the tall man. 

            Mouse glanced back at the dumbfounded Squalle once, who was mouthing words to himself and still watching Shale, then sighed and scampered over to the cart as well, careful to avoid Goblin's hooves.  The horse whinnied cantankerously at the added weight of the halfling. 

            They sat that way for a couple of seconds, Brigit fuming, Mouse looking trouble, Goblin looking ready to kill, and Shale sitting with his head in his hands.  Brigit was just about to snap the reigns and tell the animal to get going, when Shale felt a hand on his arm through his armor.  He looked down.

            "I want you checking in with the Healer's posts along the road," Astrin said irritably, "a report once every week, and two if you're late.  That's standard for journeying healers."   There was a pause, and the older man took his hand off Shale's arm and rubbed his chin with it.  He sighed and was silent for a couple of seconds, then glowered at the other man.  "And really, Shale.  Do try not to get yourself killed out there, will you?" He snorted disapprovingly.

            Shale grinned crookedly down at the other man, looking much happier than he had a couple minutes ago.  "I shall try, Brother," he said, amusement in his hazel eyes. 

            Mouse groaned and put a hand over his eyes.  Brigit turned to look over at him. 

            "What?" she asked.

            "All this mushy stuff es makin' meh sick t'my stomach." He muttered.

            Brigit raised an eyebrow.  "Mouse, how can you possibly be thinking about food at a time like this?"

                                                                                    * * * *

            The sun had reached the very peak of the sky by now, and had broken through the clouds sheathing it.  It shone down golden and bright on the Plains below, rivaling the yellow grasses in color.  The wind had picked up as well, and the scent of approaching rain and bad weather had evaporated, leaving the three itinerant companions with a perfect day for traveling on their hands. 

            The Plains were just as vast as when Mouse and Brigit had left them.  The grass seemed taller now though, since they had started riding through it.  It reached high up past the spokes of the cart wheels, brushing against Goblin's flanks and the legs of the humanoids.  They couldn't see the ground below them anymore, and occasionally they'd all start when Goblin would put his hoof too near a groundbird's nest, and the startled animal would take off into the air with a squawk.

            Brigit sighed and rested her head in her hands.  Goblin answered her with an unhappy grunt of his own.  Brigit's eyes flicked to the beast in front of her.  Well, they were probably complaining for different reasons.

            "…So it was a nehr scrape with the frost giants that time, Eh think.  Meh family an' Eh always had lots o' trouble with thare kind, y'know.  They're the reason weh mohved outta the Fangâret Mountains in the ferst place."  Mouse paused in his interminable ramble for a breather.

            Shale nodded and made a small noise to affirm the fact that he had been listening.  "I've heard that the frost giant populations in that area have expanded as of late, though I've never been there before." He said thoughtfully, leaning back a little in his seat.

            Mouse nodded.  "Oh aye.  Most people haven't, y'know.  The Fangârets aren't exactly a nice spot for visiting. Too cold n' dangerous, really." 

            "I've heard that as well."

            "Did Eh tell yeh about the ice elves weh've had up thare?"

            Another forty minute tangent was on its way.  Brigit wondered if she could effectively kill herself on her greatsword.

            "No, I don't believe you mentioned it," Shale said politely, watching Brigit out of the corner of his eye. 

            "Well, that's a long stery, but Eh could tell it to yeh ef yer interested."

            No, the blade was too long.  The short sword maybe?  Or perhaps Goblin wouldn't mind trampling her to death.

            He'd probably be grateful for the chance, actually.

            Stupid horse.

            Shale glanced over at Brigit again, a crooked smile beginning to form on his lips.  "Perhaps the shortened version?"

            Brigit sent Shale a silent thanks.  She could only take so much talk.  Shale, she had noticed over the past hour or so of Mouse's incessant talk, was capable of listening politely to anyone, and anything.  A real politician's skill.  Brigit might have admired him for it, if she hadn't been bored out of her skull.

            Mouse nodded.  "Aye, well, ehts quite long anyway, but ef yer interested…"

            Brigit started to tune Mouse out again, instead focusing on driving the horse in front of her and on the land around them.  It was much faster to travel this way, even on the back of a somewhat decrepit old horse.  Brigit looked at the hills that surrounded them and sighed a little.  Soon this place would change, she thought gloomily, soon there would be Raiders swarming it and then it wouldn't be nearly so pretty.

            Again, Goblin put his hoof too close to a groundbird nest, and the frightened bird flew right up into the gelding's face.  Goblin balked, and the cart slammed into his rump.  The three humanoids were thrown forwards in their seats, and the baggage in the actual cart slammed into the sides of it.  There was a muffled groan from the cart. 

            Shale looked up when Brigit yanked the reigns again and pulled the embittered Goblin to a stop before he had even started moving.  The horse stamped a hoof in disapproval, and Shale sat up straighter in the seat. 

            "Brigit?" he asked.

            Mouse's brow furrowed.  "What es eht?" he asked, taken aback by their sudden stop.

            Brigit shushed both of them, and handed the reigns to Shale.  Her lips were pursed, and her hawk eyes were narrowed slightly.  She cocked her head a little to one side, and Shale realized she was listening hard.  He held the gelding steady.

            Brigit crouched over suddenly, and her hand went to her boot.  With a soft swishing sound, she withdrew the dagger sheathed there.  With a small flick of her wrist, Brigit tossed the weapon up into the air and caught it deftly in one hand.  She turned it sideways, the cruel blade facing outwards.  She put a finger to her lips again, telling the other two to keep quiet.  Shale nodded and watched her somewhat apprehensively, while Mouse turned to watch the hills around them.  What did she hear?  Raiders?

            Brigit leapt lightly from the cart, landing silently.  Her eyes narrowed, and she turned to face the place where their supplies were kept.  Her lips were pressed tightly together.  She walked over to the edge of the cart, and looked into it.  Her grip tightened on her dagger.  Then, with a final glance at the other two, she reached into the cart and pulled back the blanket with a mighty tug.

            Brigit's eyes widened, and her mouth fell open slightly.  Then anger flared up in her face, and she snorted.

            "You!" she cried.  She fumbled with her words loudly, then let out a something akin to a roar.  She propped her foot up on the edge of the cart and sheathed her dagger with a snap.  Brigit reached into the cart with both hands and yanked.  There was a small yelp, and someone tall and blond emerged from the cart, pulled out by the shirt collar.  Brigit practically threw the girl out of the cart, heaving the taller woman right over the edge as if she weighed next to nothing.  The woman stumbled as she landed, but recovered her balance and straightened. 

            Shale blinked.  "Sheeva?"  He said doubtfully.

            Mouse looked confused.  "Who's she?  An' what es she doing hidin' out in the back o' the car'?"

            Brigit glared at the other woman, and the fury in her eyes could have melted rock.

            "That is exactly what I would like to know," she snarled.

            Sheeva rolled her shoulders a little, and looked around at the other three travelers.  Brigit looked furious.  Shale and Mouse looked confused.  Sheeva raised her chin defiantly.

            "I came here to help you," she said.

            There was a short, heavy silence.  Now the other three just looked shocked.  The golden grasses blew wildly around them.  Goblin whickered and pricked his ears forward at the hills.  Brigit was the first to recover. 

            "Absolutely not," she said flatly. 

            "But-"  Sheeva started.

            "No."  Brigit said flatly.

            Sheeva reached into the cart and withdrew a long spear, which was almost as tall as she.  "But I can fight!" she said.

            Brigit scoffed.

            "What in all the Hells is going on here?" Mouse exclaimed, looking totally lost.  "Who es this?" he asked Brigit, pointing to Sheeva.

            "She's a friend of mine.  I know her parents well." Shale said.

            "I met her when you were recovering." Brigit added.

            "And you told me about your mission and I want to help you on it!" Sheeva cut in, gesturing with the hand that wasn't holding the spear.

            "Sheeva, do your parents know you're here?" Shale asked quietly.

            The half-elf lost some of her certainty.  Her emerald eyes flickered.  "No," she said finally, "I…Did not tell them."

            "They're probably worried sick about you by now." Shale said, turning farther around in his seat.  He sighed.

            Sheeva tossed her head again.  "It was my decision to make, Shale.  If I had told my parents, they would have agreed."

            "Then why didn't you?" Brigit snapped.

            Sheeva turned back to the other woman.  "There was not time!"  She sighed a little, then looked at Mouse.  "I did not realize your halfling friend would recover as fast as he did.  I barely made it over here in time."

            "Bur-ra-" Brigit started, then snapped her jaws shut.  Her hands balled into fists at her sides, and she advanced on Sheeva.  The taller girl did not flinch or step back, but met Brigit's eyes levelly.  For a second though, her gaze flickered over the black scar on the woman's tanned face, but she held her ground.  Brigit growled a little.  "Then why did you hide in the cart, if you thought you were within your rights to be here?"  A muscle in her cheek twitched, and she looked ready to pounce on Sheeva and throttle her.

            Sheeva stood up to her full height.  "I knew my parents would let me come, should I ask them, but I was quite positive you would not."

            "Maybe fer good reason," Mouse spoke up suddenly.  Sheeva started and drew her eyes away from Brigit to stare at the halfling.  Mouse shrugged a little.  "Brigit's payin' me the be out here, y'know." He shook his head.  "Nobody in their right mind would wanna come out here t'chase Raiders an' the sort fer any other reason."  He glanced up at Shale.  "No offense," he added hastily.

            "None taken," Shale responded quickly.  "Sheeva…This is dangerous.  You could get killed."

            "But so could you!" Sheeva turned to him, "Shale," she said imploringly, "You know the dangers as well as I, and still you came!"

            "But Sheeva, I'm…It's different."

            "It's very different," Brigit snapped.  "He asked to come and I said yes.  I offered Mouse a job and he said yes.  You, girl, are nothing more than a stow-away."  She muttered something under her breath.  Goblin tossed his head and whinnied loudly.  He pricked his ears towards the fields again, and pawed nervously at the ground in front of him.  He whickered again.

            "Brigit-" Sheeva started again.

            "No," she cut her off.  "No.  You can't stay here and you can't help!  Now, all of us are going to get in the cart and I'm going to drive us all back- AHH!!!"

            Brigit stumbled suddenly, clutching at her leg.  The others turned to look, and Sheeva cried out.  The black shaft of an arrow was sticking out of Brigit's thigh, and blood was beginning to dribble out of the wound.  Brigit snarled a curse, then reached down and grasped the shaft in her fist and yanked.  She cried out at the pain, but the arrow came loose and she dropped it to the ground.  She looked at the arrowhead quickly.

            "Raiders!" she screamed to the others.  "Everyone!  Get down!"

            Shale and Mouse both leapt into the back of the cart without needing to be told twice.  Just as they did, three arrows whizzed through the air and embedded themselves in the spot where they had been sitting.  Brigit stood stock still for half a second, then grabbed Sheeva's hand and dragged her down onto the ground too.  They huddled there, while the crudely made black arrows flew by overhead and stuck into the sides of the cart.  One zipped past Goblin's left flank, and the ugly white horse screamed a challenge and reared up into the air.  He struck with his fore hooves only twice before he came crashing to the ground, two arrows stuck deeply into his neck.  Brigit cursed, and looked around, trying to figure out where her attackers were coming from.  The arrows stopped flying for a second. 

The top of Mouse's scruffy black head appeared over the edge of the cart. 

            "Brigit!" he hissed down to her, "Are yeh all right?"

            She growled something under her breath, and rubbed her injured leg.  She was beginning to lose feeling in it.  "I'll be fine, as long as they keep missing with those volleys."

            Mouse's dark eyes flicked to Sheeva.  "And yeh, half-elf?  Yeh're all right too?"

            She looked up and nodded.  "Fine.  What should we do?"

            Another volley of arrows hailed down on them, and Mouse ducked back into the cart just in time.  He yelped when an arrow stuck in the wood where his face had been seconds ago.  "Sun Lord!" he exclaimed.  Shale made a somewhat disgruntled noise. "Sorry," Mouse apologized quickly.  He peeked over the rim again.  "Brigit?"

            "Still alive, halfling," she called back, and smirked a little. "Their aim is getting worse."

            Mouse glanced down at the arrow in the side of the cart, and then at the dead horse.  "Not by my mark!" he said with a flash of a grin.

            Brigit grimaced at the terrible pun, then pulled herself and Sheeva closer to the cart.  That seemed to wake the poor girl up a little.  She turned to look at Brigit head on.  "Where are they?  Where are those shots coming from?"

            Brigit shook her head.  "I don't know.  Can't tell from this distance."

            Sheeva nodded.  "But they have to stand up to fire down on us.  If we look on the next volley, maybe we can see them."

            Brigit grunted her approval of the idea, and slammed a fist on the side of the cart to get the two men's attentions.  "Mouse!" she hissed up.

            A dark haired head appeared over the side again.

            "Aye, human?"

            "Can you see them from up there?"

            "Neh, an' Ehve been lookin' too.  I cinna find them anywhere."

            "Turn towards me, Mouse," Shale said suddenly.  "I think I see movement over there."

            There were some scuffling sounds from inside the cart.

            "Ooof!" Shale gasped.

            "Sorry," Mouse apologized, "Was that yer stomach?"

            Shale laughed a little.  "A little lower with that dagger of yours, Mouse, and I'd be sterile as Goblin."

            "And if we don't find those Raiders soon, we'll be as dead as him too."  Brigit snapped up at the two.

            "There!" Shale cried, and another volley of arrows came down upon them.  They were closer to their marks this time, and Sheeva scrambled backwards into Brigit as one arrow entrenched itself into the spot her foot had been moments ago. 

            "Gods!" she whispered.

            Brigit smirked and put and arm around her shoulders, pulling her back under the cart.  "Not so keen on helping now, are you?"

            "Did you see them, Mouse?" Shale whispered.

            "Aye!" he called, and Brigit heard the familiar click of his crossbow being loaded.  "Now ehts all aboot timing." He snorted a little.  "I haveta hit them 'afore they hit me."

            "Can you do that?" Shale asked him doubtfully.

            "Hopefully," he said, and there were more scuffling sounds inside the cart.  "Besides," he said casually, and Brigit could almost feel the halfling's grin, "Ehm a lot harder t'hit then they're, if yeh know what Eh mean."

            Another volley, only this time the arrows missed them by several feet.  Brigit wondered grimly how long the Raiders could keep missing.

            There was a twanging sound, and then a whoosh.

            "Yes!" Mouse whooped, "Eh got one!"

            "Get down!" Shale barked, and grabbed the back of the halfling's cloak and pulled him back into the cart with a thump.  Mouse's exclamation of pain and assorted curses were drowned out by the whoosh of a second volley, and the thunk a couple arrows made as they hit the cart.

            "We cannot keep picking them off like that!" Sheeva called up.  "We need to get closer to them!"

            Brigit snorted.  "And how, exactly, do you suggest we do that?!" 

            Apparently, though, there was no need to come up with a plan, because, with a couple of fierce war cries, the whole group of Raiders straightened, and charged down upon them. 

            Mouse cursed again and stood up straight in the cart.  He closed on eye and brought his crossbow up to bear.  Twang.  Thump.  A Raider disappeared beneath the grasses.

            "Get ready!" Brigit roared, and heaved herself to her feet, ignoring the pain that shot up her leg.  She crouched and drew her massive sword.  Beside her, Sheeva rose to her feet.

            "Get in the cart, half-elf!"

            "No!  I can fight!"

            Brigit sneered, then turned back to the charging horde.  "Get ready then," she growled.  A crossbow bolt flew past her ear and her eyes widened in surprise.  Ahead of them, another Raider dropped.

            Brigit was getting her money's worth in the halfling.

            There were at least ten of the Raiders.  A full party.  There had probably been more, but Brigit didn't have time to do the numbers in her head.  The Raiders were on them suddenly, and she just had time to bring her sword up to bear as they crashed down upon the four companions like a hideous wave breaking on a cliff of rocks.  Mouse's crossbow twanged again, and one of the Raiders towards the back dropped with a crossbow bolt sticking out of his throat.  Brigit slashed out with her sword, and caught one Raider in his unprotected side.  Two more advanced on her, and she backed up into the cart so that they couldn't flank her.  Another two came on.  Brigit's lips pursed.  Bad odds now. 

            There was a swift movement to her left, and a bright flash of metal.  Shale appeared out of nowhere, and swung his mace with such strength and grace that, for a second, Brigit stood still and watched, awed.  The blow sent one Raider crashing to the ground, jaw smashed and dislocated.  Two other Raiders turned away from Brigit and towards this new threat.  Shale swung his mace outwards again, not trying to hit anyone in particular, but clearing some room to maneuver in.  An extremely large Raider with black hair and far too many scars came up behind Shale, and brought his axe down on him.  Shale ducked swiftly, bringing his right arm up and blocking the blow with the buckler strapped to his arm.  He swung his mace again, clearing more room.  He clipped the other Raider on the right leg, and the half-orc howled in pain and retreated.  Shale turned, backing up towards Brigit and the cart, getting out of his flanked position.  He caught her staring out of the corner of his eye, and grinned haphazardly.

            "I…" He blocked a blow with his mace, "Did tell you before, miss…"

            Brigit swung her sword and cleaved through the scarred Raider who had come towards them again.

            "I know," she interrupted him, blocking an incoming axe with the blade of her sword, "Not a sheltered priest."

            They exchanged a quick pair of smiles before turning back to the threat at hand.

            With Shale's help, Brigit found it surprisingly easy to hold back the incoming Raiders.  They gained no ground fighting with their backs to the cart and their sides pressed together, but they didn't lose any either.  To an outsider, that might have been considered a draw, but to the two humans, whose only goal was to stay alive here, they were doing a fine job. 

            Brigit and Shale both looked up in surprise when they heard Mouse cry out in rage and fear. 

            "Gerroff me, yeh stinkin' Orc!  Get yer filthy hand offa meh!"  the halfling cried out.  The half orc Raider Shale had clipped earlier with his mace had picked Mouse up in one giant paw and was carrying him off.  Mouse struggled, but couldn't wriggle out of the man's grasp.  In a last desperate attempt to escape, the halfling drew his dagger out of its sheath and stabbed the Raider viciously in the forearm.  The orc howled in pain, and smacked Mouse on the side of his head with his free hand.  Mouse groaned and slumped over in the man's hand, unconscious.

            "Mouse!" Brigit cried, and broke from the side of the cart and ran towards him.            

            "Brigit!  Don't!" Shale cried.  But it was too late.

            A Raider sprang at Brigit on her right, and swung at her with a double headed axe large enough to cleave a man cleanly in two.  And that, obviously, was the Raider's intention.  He swung at Brigit's exposed middle, but the woman turned her blade just in time, blocking the blow with her sword.  Unfortunately though, she hadn't had time to maneuver completely out of harm's way, and the flat of the Raider's blade slammed hard into the woman's leg.  Her injured leg.  With a gasp of pain, Brigit dropped her sword and toppled over onto her back.

            "Brigit!" Shale cried, and tried to run towards her, but the ranks of Raiders closed in around him, blocking all paths to her.  "Brigit!" he screamed again.

            She lay on the ground, trying desperately to catch her breath and ignore the blinding pain in her leg.  Spots of light danced before her eyes, and when her vision finally cleared, she saw the Raider who had knocked her down looming over her, grinning maliciously.  He brought his axe up over his head.

            "Radjgast will be pleased." He told her, and brought the axe down.

            There was a bright flash of green light from behind Brigit's head, and a sharp blast that sounded like a whistle being blown.  Something that looked like an arrow lit up with acid green flames went whizzing over Brigit's head, like a strange shooting star taken from the night sky.  It hit the Raider full in the chest, and he went flying backwards ten feet, landing in a crumpled pile.  The strange ball of energy had made a sizeable crater in his chest.

            Brigit groaned and rolled over onto her stomach, then turned a little and looked behind her to see who had thrown that…that thing.

            Sheeva was standing there, spear in her off hand and her right raised above her head, her perfect lips mouthing words that Brigit couldn't understand or hear.  The hand above her head was glowing a bright acid green, and tiny sparks of light were sparking off her palm.  She was staring up at her glowing hand, but turned and looked down at Brigit.  Sheeva had changed.  Her hair had lifted around her head, floating as if caught in some type of wind, and her eyes were glowing with that same, bright green light that her hand was.  Her face had contorted as well- she was still pretty, but something about her had shifted, as if the lid had been pulled off something dark and ugly and powerful.    

            "What…?" Brigit started, and stopped herself.  Her lips pursed again, and she stumbled awkwardly to her feet, grabbing her sword as she rose. 

            The fighting had stopped momentarily when Sheeva had cast her magic, and now the surviving Raiders looked less sure of themselves. 

            "Grush!" the half orc holding Mouse roared.  "Let's go!"

            He started running, and the others followed quickly. 

            "Mouse!" Brigit cried again, and started to follow, but the Raiders had ducked down beneath the tall grasses of the Plains and were gone.

            Brigit looked around helplessly.  "Mouse!" she called again, "Mouse!"

            There was no answer.

            Shale walked quietly up behind Brigit and put a hand on her shoulder.  She shrugged him off and continued to look wildly around.

            "Brigit," Shale said quietly, and she turned to look at him.  He shook his head and sighed.  "Hold for half a mark, will you?"  He walked over to her again.  "Are you all right?"

            Brigit sighed, and slumped a little.  "I'm fine."

            Shale's brow furrowed.  "The last I saw of you before, that Raider was about to chop you in half."

            Brigit smiled grimly.  "He didn't get the chance.  Sheeva…Did something to him."

            At the sound of her name, the half elf looked up.  She smiled a little.  With the extinguishing of the green light, the lid to the container had been put back on, and Sheeva had returned to her normal self.  She smiled a little. 

            "Magic Missile," she told them.  "That was the spell I used."  She looked down at her right hand.  "I have never used it before.  Worked rather well, did it not?"

            Brigit looked stonier than ever, and her blue eyes darkened.  Shale glanced at her, then back to Sheeva.

            "Are you all right too?" he asked her, looking concerned.  Brigit wondered if the man had seen what had happened to Sheeva's face when she had cast her spell.

            "I am fine," she said.  "But the halfling…Mouse…He has been taken.  What should we do?"

            Shale sheathed his mace.  "Go get him, of course."

            Brigit snorted, getting the other two's attention again.  "But first," she snapped suddenly, "We're going to take you back to Farley." She jerked her chin in Sheeva's direction.

            "What?!"  Sheeva exclaimed, "Why?!"

            "Because this isn't a game, little girl!  Because you can't play!  It's dangerous, and you're going to get hurt!"

            Sheeva looked furious.  "I know that!" she snapped, "I just watched you almost get yourself killed!"

            Brigit snarled.  "Watch your tongue, girl, or I'll cut it out."

            "If I had not been there," Sheeva said, emerald eyes flashing dangerously, "You would be dead."

            Brigit made a feral noise in her throat, and took a menacing step towards the other woman.

            At that point, it would have been impossible to tell who was angrier.  Brigit looked ready to draw her sword on the half-elf, and Sheeva seemed to be considering using the spear in her hand.  They were glaring daggers at each other, and Brigit seemed to have grown a couple inches, because the two were definitely at eye level.  Or maybe Sheeva had shrunk.  Either way, the two were equal.

            Shale stepped forward suddenly, and put a hand on each of there shoulders, half to steady them, and half to keep them from getting too close.

            "Please," he said loudly, "This isn't getting us anywhere."  He looked from one woman to the other.  "Can we please find a solution?  Mouse is still in danger."  Brigit looked over at Shale when he mentioned the halfling's name.  "And bickering isn't getting us anywhere."  Sheeva looked over at him too.

            Shale sighed, and ran a hand through his hair.  He backed off a little, feeling as if he had averted some sort of major disaster.  The wind blew, making the grass around their legs wave wildly.  "Now," Shale said calmly.  "What is to be done?  The Raiders cannot be that far off, but…I don't know how we can find them."

            "That's easy," Brigit said, surprising both the man and the half-elf, "I can track them.  Besides, I know where they're going to take him anyway."  She looked out at the hills around them.  "We can reach the ruins in a day's travel."  She looked down at the cart and fallen horse.  "Faster, if we still had that damned animal."

            "So we know how to find them," Shale said reasonably.  "That's one problem solved." He looked apprehensively at Sheeva.  "Now…we just have this matter left."

            Brigit rounded on the girl again.  "I still say we take her back."  Her hawk eyes narrowed.  "I don't know what she thinks she's doing out here, but I'm not in the mood to humor her."

            "But if we turn around now, we will give the Raiders a substantial head start," Sheeva said.

            "True," Shale said, and Brigit glared at him.  "Brigit," he said wearily, "I'm not taking sides.  Yet.  But I agree that if we turn around now, it's likely that we leave Mouse in more danger than he can handle by himself.  And we still don't know why they took him, instead of just killing him."

            "Precisely," Sheeva said.  "It makes no sense to put someone else's life in danger-"

            "And just what do you think I would be doing if I took you along as well, half-elf?!" Brigit snapped, her fists clenching. 

            "I think I proved back there that I am quite capable of taking care of myself," Sheeva said coolly, then smirked.  "Besides…You might need me to watch your back."  She folded her arms over her chest, and her smirk widened.

            Brigit fumbled with her words loudly, then took another step towards Sheeva.  "If you were anyone else, half-elf," she said, her voice dangerously low in her throat, "I would kill you where you stand."

            For a second, Sheeva seemed to lose her calm, but she regained it quickly and threw back her shoulders a little.

            Shale stepped forward again, and coughed into his hand.  "Then what is to be done?  I say we go and rescue Mouse, without any further delay."

            "I second that," Sheeva said.

            "Your vote doesn't count here," Brigit snarled.

            "Then what, Brigit, do you say?" Shale asked quietly.  He folded his arms over his armored chest. 

            Brigit looked straight into Sheeva's face, studying her.  She didn't say anything.

            The wind blew again, whistling through the grasses, but none of the humans were moved by it.  They all stood stock still, waiting, it seemed, for Brigit's reaction.

            "You owe me your life," Sheeva said finally, breaking the silence, and there was a hint of pleading in her voice.  "Surely that counts for something to you."

            "I would be saving your life by taking you home." Brigit answered her steadily, "And my debts would be repaid."

            "Do you really believe that?" Sheeva asked her in a small voice.

            Silence.

            Sheeva's eyes flicked to Shale, and the man shook his head.  "I'm sorry, Sheeva, but my vote must go with Brigit's.  I'm lost in this wilderness out here."  He sighed.  "I go where she leads."

            Sheeva looked back at Brigit, who was still studying the half-elf's face.  There was another heavy silence.

            "Brigit?" The woman asked finally.

            There was a tense pause, and then Brigit drew her eyes away from Sheeva, and looked out at the hills surrounding them.

            "If we leave now…" She started, and Sheeva's hopes sank visibly.  Brigit glanced at her out of the corner of her eye, but her face was unreadable.  "…We may be able to reach that cliff crest by nightfall."  She pointed to a high ridge that rose sharply out of the rolling hills ahead of them. "From there," she added tersely, "The ruins are a quarter day's travel."

            Sheeva's eyes lit up with excitement, and even Shale smiled a little, though he hid it from Brigit. 

            The woman groaned.  "C'mon," she said, and sheathed her sword, "While the tracks are fresh."

            She turned to go, but let out a cry of pain and sank to her knees.  She looked down at her injured leg and inspected it.  The wound, already serious, had been made worse by all the movement in battle, and then by the hit it had received afterwards.  Apparently, that had been all the damage it could take.  Brigit groaned, and tried to rise to her feet, but her leg crumpled under her again, and she sank back to her knees.

            Shale and Sheeva ran over to her and sat down on the ground beside her.  "What is it?" the half-elf asked her quickly, looking truly concerned. 

            Brigit grimaced.  "My leg.  The arrow…"

            Sheeva hissed under her breath.  "I forgot!" she cried.

            Brigit smiled grimly.  "I didn't."  Then she grimaced in pain as she stretched out the leg.  She looked down at the wound again.  "There's no way I can travel on this," she said heavily.  "Wounds like this take months to recover from."

            "No…" Sheeva whispered.  "But Mouse-"

            "Might not have the rescue we were planning on." Brigit finished for her.

            Sheeva slumped a little.

            Shale sighed suddenly, and shook his head.  He began to take off his gauntlet.  Brigit's brow furrowed.  "What are you doing?" she asked him.

            "Saving us a couple of months," he said grimly.  He removed the gauntlet and put his hand to the wound.  

            A strange, soothing scent filled the air, like incense and lavender being burned.  Shale's hand glowed gold, and Brigit's eyes widened.  The glow spread from his palm to his fingertips, glowing more intensely every second they touched the wound.  Shale's eyes glazed over a little, and he pressed his lips together in concentration.  The gold light spread from his hand to Brigit's wound, and the strange, relaxing scent grew stronger.  Brigit's eyelids fluttered for a second, and when she opened them again, the wound had healed and Shale was putting his gauntlet back on.

            There was another long silence that only the wind dared interrupt.

            "Shale…" Sheeva breathed, "You never told me…"

            "I never told anyone," he said curtly, "Except the healers at the Hall."

            The tall man stood quickly, and offered his newly gloved hand to Brigit again.  "You can stand," he told her, his voice clipped.

            She took his hand and stood awkwardly, and found that she could, in fact, stand.  She looked up at Shale, and her face was troubled.  "Shale…" she said.

            He looked down at her, and his own face was as set and troubled as hers.  Their eyes met, and neither of them smiled.

            Sheeva coughed loudly, breaking the silence with an ice pick.

            The two humans started, and then Brigit grunted and rolled her shoulders.  She turned to face the ridge again.

            "C'mon," she repeated, though she sounded much more resigned this time, "While the tracks are fresh."

            And the three set off at a fast run, disappearing into the grasses the same way the Raiders had.