George - 2001-04-03
ith a jarring clang of steel on steel the bandit parried Trevor’s blow barely in time. Trevor pressed his attack, locking swords and attempting to push his opponent toward a thicket. He hoped to entangle the legs of the big man in its clutching depths and finish him quickly and escape. Despite his slovenly appearance, the man was solid, presenting Trevor with a challenge. It appeared that shoving the fellow about was beyond the smaller knight’s ability. A voice from his past seemed to speak in his ear. ‘When presented with an opponent larger than yourself, seek to use his own bulk against him. Force him to come after you and strike when he is off balance. No matter what size the enemy, if you take out his legs he will be helpless.’ Trevor’s old mentor’s voice came back to help him as he struggled.
Trevor allowed himself to be manhandled by the brute until the thicket was behind the knight. Feigning pain, Trevor dropped his arms a bit. The giant grinned viciously and attacked, sensing that Trevor was hurt. He swung his sword mightily, missing the nimble Ainsley who had neatly sidestepped the sword slash and pushed his attacker with his boot. The big man was completely off balance and with help from Trevor’s kick he stumbled into the brush and became entangled. It was only for an instant, but that was all Trevor needed. His opponent tried to slash at the knight, but this was easily parried. Trevor riposted and cut across the bandits ribcage and belly, showering blood everywhere. The outlaw died as he fell heavily into the thicket.
Trevor barely had time to recover before the other bandits encircled him. Holding his blood drenched sword in both hands Trevor faced his enemies, determined that he would not fall without exacting a price upon his tormentors. He presented a fierce figure to those around him, his armor spattered with blood and his sweat stained face set in a grim mask with dark hair hanging in his eyes. As Trevor waited for the end, he wondered about Selene. Had she escaped? Was she at this moment being violated by scum? He felt his heart break within him and he knew it was for Selene he sorrowed. He would never find out if she was the one. The one who would be the love of his life.
Sorana - 2001-04-10
he next morning the rain had lessened to a drizzle. The road, however, was a quagmire. When Amber stepped out side of her wagon she knew they would not be traveling that day.
The wagon wheels were completely mired in mud. Amber's shoes squelched as she walked over to where Tarlin and the other members of the caravan were talking with the caravan master.
"How are we supposed to get our wagons to firmer ground?" one merchant was asking. "There _is_ no firmer ground!"
"Even if there was," another added, "there's no way the horses would be able to pull the wagons that far. Especially if it's on the top of a hill."
"My good fellows," the caravan master said, "it will be just as hard to get the wagons moving now as it will later. At least if we get them to higher, less soaked ground the mud won't harden around the wheels as it dries. I'm sure none of you want to have to dig the wheels of all the wagons out just to start moving again."
There was a general mumer of assent from the crowd as they considered what the additional delay would do to their potential sales.
"What do we do first then?" Amber asked.
"Well, someone needs to go find some dry land for the wagons. We also should organize into some groups to get and arrange pieces of wood for levering the wagons out."
"I can go search out a place for the wagons to go," Amber offered.
"Oh no. We couldn't possibly allow a young lady like yourself to go out into this country alone and unprotected. You should stay here, in camp."
"But I wouldn't be alone, I'd have Aubrey with me." At the blank stare of the caravan master she added, "My horse."
"Absolutely not. You must stay here where it's safe. There are plenty of others who can go. Tarlin for example."
Amber did not see how Tarlin would be any better protected outside the camp than she would. It was obvious that there was no arguing with the caravan master though. He had apparently decided that it was his job to protect her from the dangers inherent in traveling. Amber sighed and removed herself from the crowd. There wasn't much point in staying and Aubrey still needed tending to.
Laura - 2001-04-10
"zari! Honey-you're home! YOU'RE hoooooome! " Clefton greeted his only daughter with excitement and a warm hug. The flowers hiding behind Azari's back almost fell out from her hand.
Her father drew away to look at his cherished daughter. Seeing how she was looking at the flowers making sure they looked fine her father graced her cheek with the tip of his index finger.
Pushing her chin up to make eye level contact " You are fine right?" Clefton's stigma in his eyes made his eye balls move back and forth while he looked intently upon Azari . " You are fine are you not?" Azari shrugged as she shook her head. " Yes father I am fine but I am not here to stay." She looked away braking eye contact.
" Well come in sweet heart, tell mom and dad all about your trip and what you did." He lifted Azari up to dismount from her horse. The two walked to the house going inside. Clefton continued talking to Azari " We haven't had any word of your where-abouts, you're mother and I almost started to think that we had lost our daughter." He lectured.
Azari shaking her head " Father I haven't been here more than 5 minutes and you are at my feet trying to give me grief. I am home AM I NOT!?" She reaches out with the flowers to give them to her mother who hasn't said a word to interrupt the conversation. Tears welling up in her eyes Azari knew her mother was more than happy to see her. They went into the dining room to eat their meal and spent the majority talking the whole rest of the day. By night fall, Azari went out of the house to look up at the sky. Memories of Sir Ansley flooded her head and heart.
Then Azari cleared her mind so she could think about going back as her god instructed or was it god? Could she have imagined it all? After all, something like that was not a normal occurrence.
Shrugging unsure if she should stay longer than just a day or not she felt in her heart perplexed and confused at the same time.
Laura - 2001-04-12
lefton asked his daughter if she wanted to go with him to High Tor to pick up some special lumber to repair the footing of the table in their livingroom. Azari accepted the offer with the fondness of her happy memories traveling with her father when she was younger.
Clefton and Azari ate breakfast early and spent the morning getting ready to leave. By the afternoon they had left for High Tor. When they had arrived at High Tor, they stopped in the famous Ainsley Lumber shoppe. When Azari stepped into the lumber shoppe she was rather surprized at the resemblace of Mr. Torrence Ainsley. How much he had looked like Trevor.
Torrence had no idea that Azari knew his son. Clefton and Torrence began conducting their business while Azari and Sherai, Trevor's mother made small conversation.
" Mrs. Ainsley I have met your son while I was traveling not too long ago." You should know that I spent some time getting to know your son. He is a very brave man. He has saved the life of Lady Selene of Aleron several times and I believe that they are both traveling together. I am afraid that I lost track of them when I was taken from a group of thugs barely escaping my own life. I don't know what happened to Trevor because he had disappeared with Selene before that had happened. I am a little worried that he may be in danger but I have no training as a Knight, so I wouldn't be able to help him without getting more help from another Knight. I will keep a prayer vidual for him. I just thought you should know. Well.. looks like my father is almost finished. I should be going now. Azari tried to shush up the conversation as she had no wanted her father to know about her attack from the thugs. " Are you finished now father?"
Azari waited for her father to pay for the lumber. Hoping that Mrs. Ainsley would not say anything.
Copyright (c) 1999-2001 Abigail Laughlin and the members of the Circle of Stone.