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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Nov 19, 2018 19:25:39 GMT
The townsfolk had really, really bad timing.
It was just as the threat was uttered that Impares finally broke free of the trees to see the hut, seeing the threat literally at the door of his prize. Witch hunters, amateurs, ready to destroy what they could never hope to understand, let alone control. If they thought that a mere slip of a girl, as his prize appeared to be, could be such a threat, it was only a guess what they would make of his own response.
Somehow, even over the murmurs of the crowd, ready to break down the old woman’s door, the sound could be heard. The cold, slithering whine of steel being drawn, as loud as if right next to their ears. Those in the back, more exposed than the rest, turned quickly at the sound, but it was their sudden stillness that caused others to in turn look behind them.
Fortunately for the lot of them, all they saw was a cloaked figure with a drawn sword, a heavy two-handed broadsword that was being held as lightly as a feather in one armored hand. But it wasn’t really the figure that they were staring at with a growing sense of horror. It was that the blade, while sharp enough to reflect the warm glow of the torches, was still heavily stained by those who had fallen before it. Even the reflection of their torches seemed cold once it met that sword, the figure a specter that seemed to confirm every superstition about the forest being haunted.
Then it moved forward a slow, unearthly step. Those closest to Impares gasped and jumped backwards into their friends, finally catching the attention of those by the door, the owner of the heavy hand finally cursing as he looked back. He wasn’t as impressed with the phantom that was already beginning to scatter the group, only just managing to keep his nerve with the eerily smooth step of the stranger. “Oi! Clear out, we’re handlin’ the witch,” he called out, brusquely pushing his way up to the stranger, not even hesitating when he finally realized the sheer height difference between them, as it was a skeletal figure before him despite the sword.
His manner changed the second his feet left the ground, however, shrieking in fright as a second armored glove struck out at his throat, lifting him up with ease to level out their gaze. Impares remained silent for a few moments, letting the man gasp and choke as he clawed fruitlessly at the armored arm, his kicking legs unable to hit anything but empty cloak as he struggled.
“If you want to live,” the voice began, its unearthly hiss dripping malice and pure promise, “You shall leave before I become… inhospitable.”
Some of the men took the figure at his word, already beginning to run off into the distance. However, as much as the man he held captive might have wanted to run, he was still over a foot off the ground…
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Post by Kelathi on Nov 19, 2018 20:22:32 GMT
The girl had been watching the woman at the window, so she noticed when her entire countenance changed. Even with her back to her, there was no mistaking this time what that emotion was. Fear.
The woman spun around, rushing past the girl to grab a bundle of furs that was hanging from a nail in the wall. "We have to go, quickly!" She uttered, as she through the furs over her shoulders, fiddling at the drawstring at her neck as she tried to tie it with fingers that didn't seem to want to cooperate. Then she ran to the back of the room, out through a door, and a slight chill filling the room told the girl that a back-door somewhere had been opened. Curious, the girl turned her gaze towards the window, where the curtain was now pushed a little to the side. She could hear a man shout something, but they seemed slightly further away from the door now, their voices no longer directed at those inside. She stood up, and made her way over to take a peek at what was going on.
"Don't...!" But the woman's cry was too late as she stepped back into the room. The girl had frozen on the spot, and even without sending out her consciousness, she seemed to feel the chill creeping up from the ground, up her bare legs, throughout her entire body and into her very heart. She heard a shriek, and then the hooded creature was grasping the nearest man by the throat, holding his struggling form a good few foot from the ground. Without being able to see the creature's face, it was strange, but she felt she knew the moment his gaze was diverted for a second from the man before him... And met with hers. That stare... It was just an empty pit of darkness, and she wanted to do nothing but curl up into a ball, and to pull herself away. But she couldn't. He had immobilised her with just a look, and try as she might, so could not turn away.
Then she felt herself being pulled away, and she fell backwards, her legs failing her for a moment as she spun round, collapsing into the woman, as if all her strength had left her just from meeting the creature's gaze. "We have to go!" The woman repeated quickly, frantically, but by that point the girl had regained control of her legs, and no sooner had the woman uttered her last word, that she was tearing away from her, as if a switch had very suddenly been flicked. Like a frightened rabbit, she merely bolted, the only thought encompassing her now was to run, and get away from that thing as quickly as she can. She made her way to the back door with ease, and she was thankful to feel the grass beneath her bare feet, instead of the strange, hard floor of the house. She didn't know where she was going, all she wanted to do was to get as far away from the house, and that creature, as possible.
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Nov 19, 2018 20:55:30 GMT
It was a pity that the man had been forgotten in Impares’ grip, for as soon as he met eyes with the young woman, he paused. To see her pulled away… his hand made a fist in frustration.
With a move very like tossing an unwanted sack, he pushed forward with speed now, the crunching sound having broken the last few men’s will to fight. They fled every direction to get away from the robed figure, his sword still drawn, ready to use it against whoever dared to continue to keep his prize from him.
His prize… right now she was weak, the light within her frightened eyes proving faint. He didn’t know everything about her, but he knew she had power. He needed control before she realized that power.
Circling wide, Impares moved in to cut her off, using her lure as a guide. Out of the darkness between the trees he finally emerged, sword at the ready but held behind him, awaiting her frail guardian to challenge him. Rather than try to frighten his prey, however, he slowed his movements down, his words returned to honey as he reached out to her.
“At peace, little one… be not afraid. I seek not to harm, but to protect you.”
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Post by Kelathi on Nov 19, 2018 21:14:32 GMT
She hadn't given the woman another thought since seeing the strange robed creature- he had dominated her thoughts so completely that even as the woman called after her, her shouts of warning fell on deaf ears. For all she could hear was the blood roaring in them, her heart pounding so fast it began to hurt her chest. The feeling of the cool grass beneath her feet kept her quite literally grounded, and she tried to escape back to what she knew, that which was familiar- the forest. It wasn't until she began to feel the coldness again that she finally registered what the woman had shouted at her retreating form.
"It's following you!"
She skidded to a halt. The very forest seemed... Utterly quiet, and every shadow, once familiar and comforting, now seemed strange, foreign and frightening.
But not as frightening as the figure of her pursuer, who was suddenly there before her, melting from the shadows. Instinctively, she tried to take a step back, but again, she found herself unable to, paralysed with fear. Again, she knew not why. It made sense for her to be afraid, after feeling that strange coldness, and seeing him lift that man... But why this all-consuming fear? What was it about him that caused her to feel this way? Like she needed to get away, and yet being completely unable to when pinned by his gaze?
Was it even a he? Or as the woman had shouted... an it?
His tone was at odds to the feeling he gave her. Protect her... From what? A hand, sheathed in armour, reached up towards her, and for some reason, that movement was enough to temporarily break a little of the spell. She flinched away, pulling backwards just a step, but instead of running, she was aware of words leaving her mouth, words she didn't know she knew until they were uttered.
"Who are you?"
Her words were halting, as if tasting each unfamiliar word first before she tried them.
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Nov 19, 2018 22:32:39 GMT
Rather than push forward, Impares showed his immense patience when she flinched, his hands moving to show he meant what he had said. The sword was now gone, both hands extended to the side, palm up, as if to prove he had no means to harm her. Allowing her room now, letting her overcome her fear… for one who was so intent on having her power, he seemed rather comfortable giving her space.
Her question earned a gentle, bemused chuckle, one that challenged his earlier aggression with the villagers. “They call me Impares,” he replied, as if implying they had mutual friends between them, that she should trust him. “My only wish is to protect you from the dangers outside your forest.”
It was difficult to say his tone lied, or that indeed he was. In a way, he was telling the truth. But she had had a glimpse of what he actually was, and that made it too difficult to believe that he was giving the whole truth.
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Post by Kelathi on Nov 19, 2018 23:02:30 GMT
His words gave her pause as she mulled them over. So it was true... She was outside of the forest, that warm and safe cocoon which, until now, had been all she had ever known. The idea caused a lance of fear to strike across her heart then, a different one to the type she felt in the stranger's presence... this one was a fear of uncertainty. Maybe... Maybe she should go with him. He was not like the people they had just left behind, curious as they were, she felt no kinship with them. With... Impares, she felt a strange connection, even if he did terrify her for some, as of yet, unfathomable reason. A connection she had not felt with anything else up to this point, not even the animals from her home.
She still did not know what he meant to protect her from, but she would not find out if she ran from him. He knew about the forest, maybe he knew about her, more than she knew for herself. She didn't even know if she had a name. Maybe he could help answer some of her many questions...
It seemed he was getting closer without even moving, as if sensing her waver, knowing that she was considering going with him. But then, suddenly, she was aware of the presence of another, and she didn't need to turn to know who it was. The woman had followed, she couldn't in good conscience leave the girl to fend on her own. She wasn't sure what she could do to help, but once she saw the robed figure following the young girl... She knew she had to act, despite her fear. "Don't touch her!" Her voice was hardly authoritative, and it wavered a little with fear, but it was enough for the girl to pause, and take another tentative step away from Impares. It was easy to see that the presence of the woman had swayed her somewhat from her decision, and again, the urge to bolt had overcome her just as quickly.
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Nov 20, 2018 0:40:24 GMT
Perhaps it was for the best that Impares had no visible face, no expression to show the growing frustration he felt at seeing the old woman’s influence over the girl, making her shy away yet again. To attack now would only confirm her fears, as she clearly trusted the old cow.
“I would never do anything that she did not wish,” he replied smoothly, somehow keeping his frustration well hidden as he dealt with the woman, not even clenching a fist as his hands remained open, relaxed and inviting. “But I can protect her, from witch hunters and anything beyond.”
The tone remained gentle and calm, but somehow also managed to issue a challenge to the woman; could she protect the girl as well as he?
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Post by Kelathi on Nov 20, 2018 22:25:38 GMT
To say that the girl trusted the woman would be an overstatement. Ever since she had left the forest, which seemed like an age ago now, having unlocked years of memories inside her which seemed to distort time for her in the real world, she had merely floated from one event to another. The woman held sway because the girl was confused. She didn't understand where she was, who these people were, or even who she was, herself. Impares seemed to hold answers, but he frightened her. The woman seemed to confirm that the girl should be frightened, but did not seem to hold answers herself. She felt herself at a crossroads, unable to decide in which direction she should move.
Only a moment had passed, but suddenly she knew what to do. She sent out her consciousness, but instead of reaching towards Impares (that was a mistake she had no wish to make again anytime soon) she sent it straight to the woman...
And found herself enveloped in warmth. An edge of fear, of course, but over-all, and overwhelming in it's intensity, a motherly instinct to protect, so true and pure that it could not be expressed in mere words. In less than a second she read the woman through and through, from the lingering heartache from the child she had lost, the guilt at being unable to protect her, to the hope, reignited by the young woman she saw before her. This woman did not know who she was, but she meant only good for her. The revelation, in all it's intensity, shocked the girl, who pulled out before the woman could sense her intrusion. She knew then which path she had to take. She did not know who either of these strangers were, but in Impares she saw only cold and darkness. It didn't matter what their words said, who claimed to be able to protect her or not- that was not how live things were supposed to feel.
Nothing in her stance had suggested her next action, although it was probably not surprising from the look on her face merely a second before she acted. She turned, and fled towards the woman, whose arms whipped open, as if ready to catch her...
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Nov 21, 2018 2:31:15 GMT
The momentary expression was all Impares needed.
Even as the woman was welcoming the girl into her arms, a shadow descended over her - no, not descended, but rather in a move that neatly mocked her own open arms, the shadow came up and wrapped around her, but her shape did not disappear. Rather, it shifted, twisted and rose… until an all too familiar hood appeared.
The speed of this attack was mere seconds at most, just enough to realize what had happened and begin attempting correction. This was how the gloved hand, no longer armored snaked out to grasp her wrist, firm but ever so slightly loose, just enough to make it comfortable.
Well, just enough to keep it from hurting.
“It is dangerous out here, my dear,” Impares began to speak, as if he hadn’t just disappeared the woman the girl had run towards rather than him. “I would hate to see you harmed, even by those whose… good intentions are misguided…”
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Post by Kelathi on Nov 22, 2018 0:44:55 GMT
The old woman hadn't even had chance to cry out before the darkness engulfed her, lifting her abruptly up and out of reach, and the young girl could only watch in despair and mounting horror. Then the hooded figure was before her again, leaving her no choice and no disillusion as to what he really meant by his calming words, the thinly veiled threat starkly evident in his actions. She hardly heard what he said, the shock of the unfolding events still falling into place. What could she do? To try to run was obviously pointless, and in this case, maybe even fatal for the woman who had tried to protect her. It was no longer a question of convincing the girl to leave with him- she knew now there had never been a choice. She didn’t even attempt to break from his clutches, she had become a statue within his grip.
“Won’t...” she began, in her halting way as she fought to unearth the words she knew, words laced with barely restrained terror. She was surprised she managed to mutter any words at all considering the turmoil within her mind. For a moment it seemed as if she was going to disobey, but it was clear she wasn’t finished, and her meaning soon became apparent. “...run.” Won’t run. Evidently, the message had finally been received, loud and clear. “But... please...” Don’t hurt her. The words failed her for a second, but by the pleading in her eyes, as she, with difficulty, mannaged to drag her doe-like gaze from Impares to the woman’s hardly visible form, it was quite clear what she was asking.
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Nov 22, 2018 18:41:05 GMT
It wasn’t a laugh that escaped him, but a soft chuckle at the pleading eyes. It was not its tone that made it chilling to hear, no implied threat hidden within. It was merely the hollowness, no longer putting on the facade of life.
But he knew he had won this round. His grip, having remained firm but gentle, finally released, letting her prove true to her word before stirring. “I am glad you see reason,” he began, the gloved hand disappearing for a moment within the folds of his robe. “Allow me to show my good will, as you seem… doubtful.”
With a sweep from the opposing side, his arm flung the robe open, the cloak flowing up into the air even as it released the older woman. Ice had begun to form on her hair despite having only been trapped for moments, a cold gust of air accompanying the cloak. But the woman was a rare one indeed - a mortal who would live to tell of what she could see beneath that outer, impenetrable cloak as it folded over the figure’s shoulder, quite ready to reclaim his victim should his prize change her mind now. But only the old woman might recognize the shreds beneath, they outdating many of the towns, never mind the people who dwelled there.
Beneath the shadows, the faded shades of red were still very visible. Stained, ripped robes from centuries before only in part covered the dark chainmail, with only a corner of a very old but legendary crest visible upon his chest. The tail of a stylized dragon circling a weapon, but only a wooden shaft was visible from that side, meaning only one weapon, and only one warrior… one who had made a name on the battlefields of old for not only his skills with the broadsword, but his ruthlessness with the scythe in his other hand…
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Post by Kelathi on Nov 22, 2018 20:30:05 GMT
If the old woman recognised anything about the details she was seeing, she did not so much as mutter a word, mute from the horrific experience, the nightmare she had somehow survived. She swayed a little on her feet, aware that without the black mists' 'support', she'd have clearly collapsed by now. The girl was concerned, but she didn't dare reach out to the woman, lest the robed figure think she was turning back on her word. She turned her back to the woman slowly, hoping to make her intentions clear to the stranger, show that she would leave with him, as promised. Her thoughts were running a mile a minute, every instinct within her telling her to run, but knowing that that would gain nothing. The patterns, although noted somewhere at the back of her mind, did not seem to raise any particular memory for her, or maybe it was just stifled by the fear that still held a vice-like grip on her heart. As she approached the robed figure, her eyes were averted towards the ground, unwilling to meet his gaze. Though she could not clearly make out a face, she felt she could sense when his eyes were watching her. Even so, her chin was raised slightly, trying to at least hide a little of the terror he could clearly see within her.
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Nov 23, 2018 3:59:26 GMT
Impares seemed to recognize the sheer terror in his new charge, and he was perfectly happy to try to set her at ease. The spell would work better that way anyway…
The black robes finally retreated in full from the old woman, the armored shoulder becoming covered once more, now noticeably far narrower with the robe than it had been before. A gloved hand reached out again, but it was not armored this time. And instead of catching hold of her, it slid gently beneath the young woman’s hand, until he put just the barest pressure upon her fingers. Then, he lifted her hand as he bent down, kissing her hand.
Well, it was the gesture, at least… it was difficult to tell if it had been lips that touched her skin, or something harder, but there was no ice, not as the old woman had experienced, or indeed the young woman with her curious mind.
“You need not fear me, little one,” he soothed, returning to the same vocabulary as he had in the forest when faced with a little dormouse. “Your safety, and that of those you come to care for, will be my highest priority.” This seemed directed at the old woman as well, as if indicating that her survival was entirely dependent upon the young woman’s whim. A whim he was clearly more than happy to satisfy.
Did he have plans for his new charge? But of course. Impares was patient, however. And he had waited a long, long time for this moment. He would not ruin it by rushing her off, but would let her lead for a time, until she trusted him.
Then they would fulfill his plans.
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Post by Kelathi on Nov 23, 2018 21:00:49 GMT
The conflict was clear on her face as the robed figure proceeded to speak, his voice so soothing and his actions now suddenly so at odds to what they had been a moment ago. It left her bewildered, so much so that she didn't even flinch as he reached out for her. Meanwhile, the old woman grasped onto the nearest tree, breathing heavily. It felt as if an immense pressure had been lifted. She had no power here, she knew that. She could sense that she was incredibly lucky to have been spared, and she was perfectly aware that it was a mercy that could be withdrawn at any second. With one last look at the retreating figures, she sent a prayer towards the girl, wishing her safety, but knowing in her heart of hearts that prayers would not help her now.
***
"Why do you want to protect me?" The words came much easier all of a sudden, even if they were uttered quietly, hesitantly. It was like things were starting to settle in her mind, instead of a constant barrage of memories and snippets of confusing thoughts, some had begun to set themselves in order enough for her to start remembering how to formulate sentences. He had not reached out to her since the moment he had kissed her hand, and they had been walking side by side, almost as equals. Despite the events that had transpired... She did not feel like a prisoner. It was all very confusing, and the only way to try and ease some some of that confusion was to see if she might get some answers. She still had no idea who he was, apart from a name, which told her nothing, and why he wanted to protect her, or even who or what she needed to be protected from.
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Nov 24, 2018 2:29:22 GMT
Impares had proven to be a quiet guardian, but more than happy to accommodate her whims and so questions, never really voicing his own. Her question earned a tilt of the hood, and a moment’s consideration of the answer. “Why should I not want to protect you?” he asked smoothly, but seemed to guess there was more to her question than just the words used.
“This is a time of witch hunting hysteria. Any who deviate from what others deem normal are at risk of being accused and eliminated. And creatures as special as you, my dear, are prime targets. It is my desire to protect you from harm, particular for such petty reasons as you would hear at a witch trial.” There was a sense in his tone, as if almost reverent, were it not for the fact that he was informing her. In a way, this was a backup; should she begin to remember, he wanted her to see him as happy to serve, rather than the other way around.
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