The grounds house the raw recruits, and horses, and as such are often quite noisome and often very busy. Lomien, when he is not dodging the guards to get out of the city, or not spending time with his wife, will often be found here. Training the new recruits in honing their abilities. The grounds consite of a large feild with carved, stone stables at the entrance housing the majority of the Alliances war horses and chariots.
Ninquelote slowed her horse to a walk. She watched the soldiers as they spared, hopeing beond hope that when the time came to confront Ullari's Dark Army, they would be ready.
Oh Ullari, she though to herself sadly,
why did you betray us? Why could we not continue the way we were, the three of us, the best of friends? She shook her head softly, her long silver hair swaying behind her. It would not do to dwell on what might have been, Ullari was her enemy now, there was no changing that. Ninquelote surveyed the field, wondering if her husband Lomien was here with the troops.
Lomien"No, no like this" Lomien corrected a young fire weilder. "Draw your sword, we'll work with this for now" he said drawing a practice blade
They move so slowly he thought, correcting the recruits moves and form as he saw fit. Finishing the round he called Seriph over "I'll be leaving for one of my trips in the morning, think you can handle wile i'm gone?"
Seriphim "I think so, it should be fine, most of this is just intitial stage training an all" he replyed lightly "What do you want me to say to Nin when she finds out you've gone off
again?" he asked.
Lomien "I'm sure you'll find somthing to tell her, i'll be gone long before she's up so by the time she comes bothering you about it i'll be long gone" he laughed alittle, as he undid his practice armour, hanging it all on its' appropriate mounts "This place could use alittle cleaning, make sure the recruits are better at taking care of their practice gear...some of this stuff is a mess" he remarkes with slight amusment and scorn as he walked over to the stables.
Seriphim "Yes sir" he replied following after Lomien.
Lomien Lomien perused up and down, unsure of which horse he wanted to take "Which do think sereph? Fey wind, Balad, or wind rider?" he asked.
Serephim "I'd say Fey looks like he could use a good ride my lord" He said looking at the dark chestnut stallion "though Balad got a stone in his hoof so he's out, and wind rider has been rather moody as of late" Sereph laughed, turning to Lomien dropping his voice now to a whisper "Really my lord how long, and where to now that we are away from the recruits and servants" as he said this he glanced around
Balakor, keep whach will you, see to it that we are not disturbed or come upon unawares Sereph ordered the prince
yes master came a gutteral reply inside his head.
Lomien "There is no need to release him" Lomien said, cringing ever so slightly inside as he felt the Deamon's spirit wafe by him. "I think i will go back to Telpurion, and at the very least to the woodland side where the elves are, and for how long i do not know" he sighed. "I'll use the usual routes though, the custodes will block any who try to follow though i think i will use the new door i made..the one on secound level outside the Citadel in the old inn, see to it that
no one follows me Sereph" Lomien said to his commander solemnly "and i'm sure you can keep Nin busy enough if she starts asking
to many questions" he teased, knowing Sereph did not like his end of the bargain one bit.
Sereph "Yes sir" he replyed grudgingly, not at all likeing that he'd be stuck trying to divert Ninquelote's attention "I'm guessing you also want me to hand out assignments to the guards in order to keep them away from your new little exit? Why is it that it gets ever harder to move about...oi to much planning for a simple excursion" he grumbled shaking his head.
Lomien "Come now sereph, it can't be
that bad, and yes please reassign the guards accordingly...
though only those near my little exit" he said pulling a pack out and checking it's contents before stowing it in the rafters where he'd retrieve it later.
"And why would the gaurds need reassigned?" Ninquelote asked softly as she lead her horse up by his bridle. She really didn't mind Lomien running off, she just wished that he would tell her first.
Balakor had warned them of her aproach. Lomien turned around to meet her "just figured a change might be nice for them, not to mention there are a new set of visitors taking lodge in the new inn, and it's be nice to have a few extra guards on handd in case a fracass arises..Like last time he thought to himself, also glad that he at least had a reason for rearranging the guard this time.
"Lomien," Ninquelote said laying her hand gently on his arm, "if you are leaving again just tell me, I am not going to stop you. Where are you going this time?"
Gazing into her eyes, not at all wanting to tell her but refusing to lie to her "Along the border forts for a few days the one who gave me this mark has been busy in the north part and i would like to put him to rest, after that i will venture of to telpurion, possibly the woods as i hear the Minotuars are becoming more active than usual at this time of year" he said to her "i'm not sure when i'll leave, and i cant say for sure when i will return" he said solemnly.
Nin's blue eyes clouded with worry, "Who was it? Who gave you your scar? You have never told me, and my memory of that day is still so clouded."
"His name is Gurthar" he said walking her to a terrace "When we attacked the palace of Thorns, he ambushed us on the way to the council Chamber, he knocked you down and tried to erase what i presum would be all of your memories. I attacked him, in my rage i did not see him jump, his sword cut through my helmet and and gave me the gash that i now have, after that the council who had been alerted by the noise attacked, i killed all but a few. Sadly it does not end there though" he sighe, casting a forlorn look in the direction of his ancient home.
"And that is why there is much that I cannot remember." It was not a question, her long white fingers traced the scar on his brow. "Let me go with you? It has been many years since we went away together, and you know that I am capable of helping you."
"Yes, that is why you cannot remember what happened" he said and for that much Gurthar i am glad, because you have spared her those wretched memories of what i had to do in order to escape he thought to himself his face contorting slightly at the very thought. "Nin..why do you want to come, Minotuars are not pleasent, nor will my meeting Gurthar be any sort of reunion" he asked worry in his eyes.
"I know that," She said softly, "but I wish to go with you, I wish to help in any way that I can." She lowered her voice, "I miss you when you go away. Where you go my love, I wish to follow."
"I would rather you stay here, where at least you are safe and i need not worry about you getting hurt again" he sighed, he figured he wasnt going to win this one..it was worth trying though, he did not want her near the Minotuars especially if the reports of what he had heard where true.
"I was not the warior then that I am now," Nin said, "you have taught me well Lomien. You know that I am capable of defending myself. This Gurthar will not be able to harm me without a battle, and the two of us together should be able to defeat him. Let me go with you love."
"If indeed Gurthar is there Nin, one Crusnik is a fight, i have not taught you to fight against a Minotuar, one of whom could rip a man in two, and if the reports are correct they are now marching as a Legion against the wood elves. Nin i want you to be safe, and i don't know about you but a legion of Minotuars doesnt at all sound like safe to me" he said, hopeing that he could dissuade her.
"You will not dissuade me Lomien." Ninquelote smiled, "You should know me better than that by now. Where you go I will follow."
"If you wish my love, at least Seriph will be happy....he no longer has to keep you busy" he smiled "I was planning on leaving in the morning with a some of the Elite custodes...they come in handy as scout...as they can become spirits and then rematerialize when they need to..do you think you could be ready by morning then?" he said I just hope brother that you do not follow your minion with you for i will not spare you as i did back in the Palace he thought to himself, though he made certain to seal this from Nin, not sure of what her reaction would be if she knew.
Ninquelote smiled softly at her husband, "Of course I will be ready, I will prepare my armor. Need I make any arangements, or have you already seen to it?"
"Everything is already taken care of" he said "Seriph and i where actually discusing which of my three horses to take, the guard have been chosen, actually my travel armour is already in a ruck sack in the rafters" he smiled. His travel armour was much lighter and offered no where near the amount of protection that his battle armour afforded, in fact it was similair to Nin's except his had five blades in one gauntlet, and the other was made to withstand a blades impact, with spiked knuckles for offense.
"I had a feeling you had already seen to it." Nin smiled up at Lomien, "Take Fey, he is a reliable mount, and he has been restless. I should see to my own horse, he should be brushed and well-fed if we are to leave in the morning." Ninquelote kissed her husband on the cheek, though she was tall she still had to rise to her toes to reach. Then she turned to head back to the stable.
Lomien smiled whaching her go, he turned to attend to Fey. The young stallion was eager to go "Easy Fey, we don't leave till morning" he scolded the horse. A messanger came running up on horse, quickly dismounting and walking hurredly towards Lomien "My Lord, a word if you please" said the rider grimly "of course" Lomien replied. "My lord northern post was attacked, it has been repulsed but there is now a gap in the line that will take a few days to close" said the rider almost in a whisper so that only Lomien could here. Troubled, and now kicking himself for letting Nin come with him, he turned to the Captain "Tell Sereph to lend you one hundred men, as well as a few cavalry, i myself will be there in a few days time" He said silently as he returned to finish his packing. "Yes sir" the rider gave a smart salute, mounted up and rode off.
Ninquelote watched the messanger go from the entrance to her horse's stall. "What has happened?" She asked, walking over to Lomien once he was gone.
"The border fort where we are heading to...came under attack, and there is a hole in the line" he sighed and i really wish i had said no in the first place...who knows what got through! he thought to himself, as his mind swirling around the myriad of critters that might have gotten through.
"And you are worried what might have slipped past our lines." Nin observed. "I've told you, you need not worry after me."
"I'm just wondering what it was that got through" he said picking up the written reports of what had been encountered "This could get interesting" he mumbled to himself.
"Indeed." Said Ninquelote, returning to her horse, "Again, you need not worry about me my love."
"If you say so" he said, glancing worredly over the reports and at the sketches drawn to Depict what had attacked along the line. Mostly troopers, but what disturbed him most....well Gurthar, you are expecting me then? you can't have her, but as for myself you are more than welcome to try old friend he thought darkly, concieling his thoughts, yet casting a frown upon the movement charts and reports.
Ninquelote watched Lomien, humming softly as she brushed her steed's coat.
Lomien still troubled by the reports, cast a final look at one of the depictions of the creatures attacking before placing them in a container in his saddle bag. Returning with the harness and saddle he looked at Nin "do you think you could leave now, or are you not ready my love?" he asked, having set all his gear strapped onto the back of his saddle.
"Allow me to don my armor and I shall be ready." She said setting the brush down. "Would you be so kind as to saddle Ebony while I do so?" She asked him, stroking her horse's black coat.
"I would be happy to Love" he said. As he saddled and prepped Ebony he reached out to his silent guard Be ready, we march soon, prepair for battle and you are to protect her no matter what is that clear he said tearsly to the Elite Custode guard that he had prepared for their journey. His orders where met whith a stronh psychic Yes my Lord. "Nin, you will finally get to meat the Elite custodes that i have told you about...they are your guard for this trip" he said to her.
"My gaurd?" She smiled, "And you have no need of a gaurd at all, of course." she said, her musical voice ringing with amusement. "I shall be back soon my love." She said turning from the stable, her long silver hair flowing behind her as she headed for The east wing
Lomien, smiling as she walked off began fitting the armour onto his horse.
Forgoing any major peice of armour except a leather shirt with steel plates underneath, and his two guantlets. Mounting his horse, his twenty strong Elite custode guard now joing him as he waited, still not to happy that he was taking his beloved into the fangs of what he was sure was a trap.
Several minutes later Ninquelote returned to the stable, clad in her black dress beneth her chainmail and breastplate. She strode over to Ebony, attached her saddlebags to his saddle, and made sure that her plated gauntlets were on top. "Shall we?" She asked, smiling at Lomien.
"Very well" replyed Lomien, giving Fey a tap with his heel, the Elite guard forming up behind him as they rode off to the Border forts
With a swift movement Ninquelote mounted Ebony, and rode off to the Border forts, keeping pace with Lomien and Fae.
Some time later, a shadow passed over the grounds, seen at a glance and dismissed just as quickly. It vanished into the stables, climbing up the walls and clinging to the ceiling, a rediculously fortunate moment when the stable hands have gone out. Fara Shiva leaned her head down and opened her mandibles, letting her clear venom drip into the feeding trough and drinking water. She resists the urge to eat one; the horses are already unnerved at her presence, and that would only give her away. Her red tailed helmet she discarded a mile out, and wrapped her hair down the neck of her armor to avoid detection. She fled back to her own camp, undetected, and snuck back into Fara's Tent.
From the corner of the stable a weird elf appeared and looked around. Eldur would swear he had felt something in the stable. Something different. But still he wasn't sure of that. He would inform Lomien later. He went back in taking care of his horse.
A few hours later Eldur moved again from the corner of the stable, this time pulling behind him his horse. He took it to drink some water and eat, it was a relaxing day for it today. It had been injured in the training and tomorrow it would be able to return to it with no harm. Eldur was happy about it, this horse had been his only companion from the moment he came to Arda, and the only one he considered close to family excepto from Ninquelótë. He put his hand on its back while it was drinking. Reaching for its mind, he passed to it an image of him taking care of it, along with the feeling of love. The horse seemed peaceful, he never knew if it could understand him being inside its mind. And it was such a simple mind! Eldur often reached for it for it was never troubled. It reached for it again. The only thing there was in was drinking water. And he was drinking water with his long tongue, thirsty after so many hours of his master was doing things on its leg. And the water, it seemed sweeter than other times, like it was not just water. Eldur quickly came out of its mind and pulled it behind. Not giving any attention to the horse's discomfort he came close to the water and looked at it. He could smell it, it was so faint but it was there. It was not certain what it was, but certainly it shouldn't be there. He turned around and quickly called the servants of the stable.
"The water is poisoned" he whispered. "Do not let any other horse drink from it, and find out which horse has already drunk. And get prepared to take care of a lot of horses, I fear the worst" As the servant left, he looked back at his horse. You get often into trouble, aren't you? Let's just hope this is not your last time.
Some time later Eldur looked as the servants took his horse to be burned with the other dead horses. He watched emotionless. Almost half the horses have been poisoned, and only a few saved. It was late since he found out that the food contained poisoned, too. He turned his back and headed to Eldur's rooms
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