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| Xeogaming Forums - Story Realm - Second part. |
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GuardianOni Shaman          Since: 09-07-04 From: The dark path Since last post: 5843 days Last activity: 5302 days |
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| This is the 2nd part to "Words not spoken"
-------------------------------------------------------------- Quiet Words of Fear and Hope by: T. Moore Asmond sat at the table, and stared into the mug of ale that sat in front of him. It was the first mug of ale that he had seen in months. But he didn't feel much like drinking. Looking around he looked at a few of the others in his group. Sitting to his left was the cleric, fair lady Layorna. She looked worn out. Her honey-gold hair was tangled, and she still had yet washed the dirt from her face and hands. Her eyes stared out ahead of her on the verge of tears. In front of her was a warm plate of food at which she picked at. She had yet to touch her goblet of wine. Across from her was Leo. The young elf also looked tired. His rich brown hair tied back in a braid that reached just past his shoulders. He was bruised and dirty, and he looked as if he was staring past the table at something far away. Leo had not ordered food, but two mugs of ale. One was in his hands the other was sitting in front of an empty seat at the table, untouched. Leo sat back and drained the last of his tankard of ale, and called for another. The Inn Keep sidled over to the table took Leo's money and started to pour him another drink. He eyed the untouched mug for a moment, but at a look from Leo he left it. They were taking his loss hard. They had all traveled together, risked their lives, and lived together on this quest. To Asmond it was like losing a brother. Asmond eventually pushed away the mug, and sat back in his chair. "We should only take a few days to get back into Darvian," he said to fill the silence. "Then we deliver to the king, and we are done." Leo nodded silently. Layorna blinked up at Asmond. "So... after we came so far together… he... right before the end." Layorna's lip started to tremble and she wasn't able to say anything more. Asmond looked back down at his mug. He wanted to say something wise, something comforting, but he couldn't think of it. He wasn't the right person for this quest. He was too young, the order should have sent someone older and wiser. He didn't even look the part of a wizard. Only twenty nine years of age Asmond didn't even wear robes, he wore a loose fitting shirt, and pants. He carried a staff. But not because he needed it to walk or cast his spells, but because he knew how to use it as a weapon. Asmond shook his head. They should have sent another. Why didn't they? Asmond replayed the scene in his mind. He was called into the chambers of the Elders, the leaders of his order. They charged him with this quest, as a representative of the order. Asmond was too stunned at the time to wonder about why, but now... it seemed strange. Wrong. "They made a mistake in choosing me," he thought to himself bitterly. Asmond's thoughts were interrupted when the doors of the common room opened as Detron walked in. His face and clothes were washed and fresh. He carried his longbow in hand and a full quiver upon his back. Walking up to the table he sat down in one of the empty seats. He looked at the mug sitting next to Leo and called for a mug of ale. The Inn Keep walked over to the table and after taking Detron's money gave him a fresh mug. As he turned away he stopped and again looked at the untouched mug on the table. Looking around at the others . "Ok,” he said. “Normally I don't say anything, but I've been wondering. What is with that one mug you ordered?" "It's for a friend," Leo said quietly. The Keep blinked at the short response. "Are you expecting your friend soon?" "No," said Asmond. The Inn Keep looked around at the group and seemed to understand. He then nodded quietly and left. Asmond watched him go. For a moment, when the man seemed like he was going to take the mug Asmond thought he might have attacked him. It was strange that such a small tribute seemed so important, but he had to think of other things right now. He turned to Detron and asked what he had found. Detron set down the mug after taking a sip of the ale. "I scouted back along our trail," he said and then shook his head. "I found no sign of the orcs, none." Leo's head snapped up to look at Detron. When Detron shook his head to tell him no Leo looked thoughtful. Detron continued in a low voice. "They must not have been able to break down the door yet, if at all. So they are still there trying to tear down that door, or they have given up, and decided to go around. If they decided to go around it will probably take them weeks to get out of the mountains. Either way, I think we have a fairly clear shot to Darvian." Asmond thought about it. "The door had several enchantments on it," he said almost to himself. "One of them may be something that makes it resistant to breaking." He looked up at the others. "I might be able to check." Leo looked up at Asmond. "Check? How?" "I know a divination spell that would allow me to see far away places," Asmond responded. "Why didn't you tell us before," asked Leo. "We can check to see if Jerrin-" "The reason I didn't tell you," Asmond said quickly, "is that I have already cast the spell to see the fate of our friend, but something shrouds my vision, blocking me from viewing his fate. And...," He looked up at Leo, and then at Layorna. "I didn't tell you because I was worried that if I did see his fate that it would be too much to bear." He looked down at the table and his almost full mug of ale. After a moment Leo nodded in understanding. Everyone in their company knew that orcs would eat their victims; and they all knew that they didn't want to see that. Asmond looked around then called for the Inn keep. When the inn keep got to their table Asmond asked for a bowl, and some water. The Keep walked off and returned a few moments later with a bowl in one hand, and a large picture of water in the other. The gruff man set them down and walked away silently. Asmond moved them in front of himself, poured the water into the bowl, and started to chant with his hands making mystic passes over the bowl. After a while an image started to form in the water. It was that of a hallway, but as one would look at it if one was looking down from the ceiling. Moving his hands in a particular way the imaged shifted to mirror Asmond's hands. The view moved so that it showed down the hall. The hall ended in an open doorway to the outside, the exit. Shifting his hands again Asmond caused the view to look the other way, at a very large closed door. The door looked as if it hadn't moved an inch. Asmond again shifted the view. Bringing it so that it look to be about eye level He started an inspection of the door. It looked as solid as ever. Asmond looked up at the others. "Well, it's still closed," he said, not being able to think of anything else to say. Leo opened his mouth, closed it, and then said with determination, "Can you look past the door?" Asmond sighed. Then moving his hands he moved the view past the door. Immediately it appeared as if there was black smoke in the water. Asmond said "This is what happened last time. Something is blocking my view, and I am not powerful enough to break through it." Asmond waved his hands and the image faded into nothingness. "I'm not powerful enough," he repeated. Layorna laid a hand on his wrist, her face full of sympathy. Leo looked sad, and Detron impassive. They sat there for a moment in silence. From up above them came the sound of someone singing. Asmond recognized the beautiful voice as that of Salline, the last member of their group. The song was a lament, low, beautiful, and haunting. Asmond again felt his heart being wrung. He knew how Jerrin had felt toward Salline, and knew that it was probably that which caused him to do what he did. It seemed sadder still that Salline only found out at the end how he felt, and it seemed that she was now trying to sort out her own feelings. Asmond looked down at the bowl. Layorna kept her hand on his wrist for a moment longer then stood. "We have an early start tomorrow," she said with a firm voice. "We must complete our quest." She paused to think of something else to say, letting the song filled the silence. Unable to think of anything else to say Layorna turned and disappeared up the stairs. Looking impassive, Detron shortly followed. Leo sat at the table a moment longer. After a moment Leo looked hard at Asmond. "If you start to doubt your strength, it will falter. Why would they send someone on this quest if they didn't feel that he was powerful enough," he asked. Asmond shrugged, unable to answer. After a while Leo followed the other two up the stairs, but Asmond still sat there thinking. It just didn't seem right to him. As important as this quest was, why did they not send someone wiser, and more powerful. Asmond shook his head. He had grown more powerful over the course of the quest. He now was able to cast spells with greater power and do things that he only dreamed of doing. "That was probably why," he thought to himself. He was just trying to deal with his feelings of loss and failure, but he didn't fail. In a week he will be returning to Darvian and in their return they will save thousands. He didn't fail, but the victory still felt wrong. Asmond shook his head again. Something felt wrong, but he couldn't see why. Asmond shook his head. He just needed time to properly mourn the death of his friend. Standing he walk to the stairs. The lament ended in a heartbreakingly beautiful fashion. Asmond sighed, and walked up stairs. --- The group left early the next morning, the owner of the inn had barley been awake when they paid their bill and left on horses they just bought. He looked at the mug of ale that was left on the table. He had been an adventurer when he was young and foolish and knew what it meant to loose a friend. So he decided to leave it for a while. The inn keeper went around his business, but left the mug sitting where it was. People came and went, and for the rest of the day the mug sat undisturbed. As the keep was getting ready to turn in for the night a young man entered. He looked half starved, and wore a heavily damaged chain shirt. He ordered a plate of food, and the keep couldn't help but give him a little extra. As the man sat down to eat he placed a number of weapons on a chair next to him. So many it surprised the inn keep. With nothing else to do the keep started to talk to the young man. Offering to fetch the town healer after seeing some of the wounds that the man bore. But the stranger declined saying he had a long ways to go yet. The young man asked about buying a horse from anybody. Inn keep told him that a number of people, adventurers by the look of them, had bought nearly every horse in the town. The young man started to ask questions about the group. A few minutes later the young man was on his feet, and replacing his weapons. As he turned to leave the inn keep called out to him, and pointed at the mug of ale. The young man strode over to the table, and after draining the mug he turned and strode quickly from the inn. The inn keeper watched as the young man walked into the night. He hoped that everything would turn out alright. |
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Elara Divine Mamkute Dark Elf Goddess Chaos Imp Penguins Fan Ms. Invisable  Since: 08-15-04 From: Ferelden Since last post: 103 days Last activity: 103 days |
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| Wheee!! It's about time!
Anywho, I really liked the story and how we get a view into Asmond's mind. Write more! |
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WhiteRose Warrior Sailor Delerium Have you ever spent days and days and days making up flavors of ice cream that no ones ever eaten before? Like chicken and telephone ice cream?...Green mouse ice cream was the worst.  Since: 08-17-04 From: The Dreaming Since last post: 4455 days Last activity: 5158 days |
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YAY! Wow, this really a reat story! I just love how you write! Write more!...*hits him* and you made me cry again! But it's a good story  |
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Elara Divine Mamkute Dark Elf Goddess Chaos Imp Penguins Fan Ms. Invisable Since: 08-15-04 From: Ferelden Since last post: 103 days Last activity: 103 days |
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| Yes, I agree. Well, I gave all my comments to you on the phone really. But yeah, I really do look forward to seeing what happens next. |
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