A tidy neet tent, the size of a large suite in an inn. In one corner there are crates upon crates as Gurthar is fond of imports, ranging from fine wines to food stuffs, to the occasional weapon or even animal. Opposite is a tidy cot, with a fur blanket an pillow. Towards the entrance sits a nice desk...a memento from Telpurion. This is littered with ink wells and quill pens
Gurthar set the chest containing Rayne in a corner, undoing the ropes "will you be all right until i...oh no, sorry i didn't have time to check" he said sorrowfully "Here you need to staunch these wounds...they will smell the blood" he said franitcly drying her wound up and bandaging it "Stay here and stay hidden" he said firmly.
Rayne just sat there as Gurthar bandaged her leg, she normally would not have let a man touch her, but she did not even move, she was essentially stunned.
Gurthar looked at her, sensing her unease "I'm sorry that i have to touch you legs....i know that makes you uncomfortable, but i think you would rather that than bleed to death" he said. "Rayne, i need you to come to, i need you to focus. If they come in here, even if they bring me you are not to move from your hiding place, or make a sound do you understand?" he said earnestly.
Rayne just nodded, she was a little offended that he seemed to think that she was completely out of it. She was very aware of everything around her, but her mind felt numb.
Gurthar placed her back in the box, this time it was well padded an smelt of fine wine. An hour later, a bloodied and battered Gurthar was hauled into the tent by two tormentors "Wher is she?" one asked with a slur, and crack from its' cane.
By this time Rayne was herself again, and quickly growing impatient with hiding, but she forced herself to stay put.
Hanging Gurthar from the top of the center pole of the tent the leader asked him "Where is she? the woman, we grow bored of you" he said wickedly. Gurthar looked at him "I told you she is in Telp..." his answer cut off by a punch and a lash.
Rayne flinched at the sounds outside her hiding place, but refused to move.
Gurthar was cast aside into the crates "Pah, we have no use for you...come along we will go in search of other prey" the leader said to his follower. Gurthar slumped up against the tent pole "You're safe" he said quietly between gasps.
Rayne emerged slowly, due to her stiff knees, from her hiding place, "How dare they?" her voice was quiet, but her eyes flared, "You are Ullari's most trusted captain, how dare they treat you so? And how dare they speak so of me?"
"Be careful with your assumned rights Rayne" Gurthar said softly "You are in Ullari's army...that means you are his to use as he see's fit reguardless of rank or importance" Gurthar said, staggering up to sit on a box of crates.
Ullari walked in, slightly surprised to see Rayne standing there, a slight smile crossing his lips.
Rayne began to answer Gurthar, but saw Ullari enter. "My lord," she said, bowing her head low, "what brings you here?"
"You" he replied evily to Rayne. Gurthar stood infront of Ullari "My lord you are not yourself you...silence Gurthar!" Ullari cut him short "And just how are you going to stop me?" he sneered at Gurthar. "I was hoping you would not make me do this my lord...please, cool off before you do somthing that you will regret" Gurthar spoke tensely, stepping in front of Rayne alittle "You are not yourself Ullari and you
will regret doing this to her later!"
Rayne placed her hand on Gurthar's shoulder, then moved around him, "My lord," she said, her voice taking an unusual soft quality, "what are you doing? I have ever been naught but your faithful servant. Why do you seek me with such intentions, whatever your intentions may be?"
"Because Rayne....you are payment for the Dark elve's alliance with me...now they did request you be pierced by this guantlet...so im sorry Rayne...so be it" he said bringing high his taloned gauntlet. The deadly piece froze inches from her stomach. Ullari looked at Gurthar in horror an amazment "Gurthar!...w-
w-what are you doing?!" he demanded, realizing that Gurthar controlled him completely. "I can't let you do this" Gurthar replied cooly. Ullari sneered at him "What? you want her for yourself?" he jabbed at him. An odd smile creased his face as he spoke "Not in the way you think. Ullari, she is your captain, and she trusts you...you want to just throw that away?...find somone else...there are many who would gladly take her place" Gurthar asked even toned.
Rayne took an involuntary step back, bewildered. Payment? Why would Ullari give her away? She had always served him faithfully, why would he do this?
Ullari glared at Gurthar "Release your hold on me! or else...or else what?!" Gurthar growled "What has gotten into you! look at you, you swore you would never side with the Dark elves, and now you would give your captain away? one whom need i remind you, you practically raised and who trusts you no matter what. Get ahold of yourself!" Ullari tensed at the chiding "As your lord and leader Gurthar i am ordering you to release me..now!" he roared. Gurthar bowed his head an released him...though not before turning off his control over spirits.
"Gurthar," Rayne said quietly, "release him, I shall do my lords bidding." she looked down at her hands in front of her, her eyes no longer blazed, but were a dull red, almost black. If the fiery tempered Rayne ever looked meek, it was now.
Gurthar looked at her, shocked "Rayne...no, i can talk him out of it. Believe me you'll wish yourself dead when they are through with you....and that is a mercy they will not grant you!" he whispered to her so only she could hear him.
Ullari smiled cruely at her "Well then it would seem that you have made up your mind" he said bringing his gauntlet crashing down on Gurthar, staring at it as it deflected into a poll. Gurthar had his black sword out, red runes blazing against Ullari's neck as he moved over to his ear "What has become of you? She trusts you Ullari! If she does not live...so help me i will kill you one hundred times over, and infinetly more painful than what she endured!" he spoke so only Ullari could hear him. Turning to Gurthar "and why does she matter to you? hmm..reminiscent of somone else perhaps? She is mine Gurthar....and is expendable, i will use her as i see fit...come Rayne" He said calously.
Rayne flinched noticeably at Ullari's words, she had never been so arrogant as to believe that she was in-expendable, but to hear him speak so coldly of her cut her worse than the lash. She had grown up by Ullari's side, and now she was being traded off like rabble. She stood there, her eyes down.
Ullari, easing away from Gurthar walked over to Rayne "Come along you, can't keep them waiting all night long, you can colect her at the back of the mess hall in oh...four hours Gurthar" Ullari said cooly, the Gauntlet digging into her back as he led her off to the Dark army mess hall Gurthar whached her go, inward misery almost consuming him...this was not the first time this had happened.
Rayne cringed from Ullari's touch, something she had never done before, but she allowed him to take her to the mess hall.
As Gurthar slept, Rayne burst into his tent, one of Ullari's robes clutched about her. She flew to his side, shaking his shoulder, "Gurthar, wake up, Ullari has been poisoned!" she said, half in a panic, and tears in her eyes.
Gurthar rolled lazily over. Seeing her in naught but a robe however made him shoot up "Whoah what th...what?" he asked completely shocked and emarassed as he only had long pants on....his scars, some of which more brutal than any could imagine clearly visible on his body. Shaking himself awake and sitting up he looked at her "What happened? calm down Rayne..." he said softly.
"There is no time, Ullari has been poisoned." she exclaimed, grabbing his arm and pulling him toward the tent's opening.
Gurthar nodded sleepily as he headed off to Ullari's tent
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