Dragevio laid on a small ridge overlooking a small camp of which he suspected to be of the bandits, after all, the only tracks he found after storming out of the village when he learned they grabbed another girl lead into this valley.
He had been chasing them for more then a week now, from since he found the first woman.
At first he didn't know why her case had grabbed him and didn't let go, he had seen the kind of crime, and worse, before at the Nemedian Borders. She was hanged by her arms and legs, and later nailed, to a tree after being brutally abused and then her assaulters, he had found five pairs of footprints at the scenes, one pair belonging to the victim, would take turn striking her with swords and clubs until she passed away.
Later he had learned why he took such personal grief and anger to this woman, he had talked about it to Master Kyanth and Miss Pere, she reminded him of Kaja, his little sister. Unwillingly he smiled at the thought of Kaja and how she always teased him, how she pouted and played innocent until he gave in to her wishes. He missed her and his family. He sighed at the memories when Hwin let out a soft neigh and pulled him back to the here and now.

He squinted his eyes as he tried to find evidence of the girl they had kidnapped today. He had to!
He already found three other women, including the first, since he found of the crimes. Getting closer and closer to their tail he had pushed him and Hwin to their limits, desperately trying to catch up and prevent them from thieving another soul unrighteous, he had failed twice before and he wouldn't let them take this girl as well, he had to!
Last night just before sunset he had found their camp of the night before and shortly after he found the third victim. He buried her right there and gave her the necessary rituals and chimes to his best abilities. After an uneasy night of sleep he searched for her belongings and found them. The bandits had not even taken the trouble of hiding them as they had done with the previous woman. They grew careless and for this fact Dragevio's blood boiled with an even more intense fire of hate towards them.
From her he added a decorated hairpin and a hairbrush to the pool. With a handkerchief and a soap for washing clothes dug up from the second woman and an eating knife marked with ownership and a simple ring saved from the ashes of a fire from the first girl he hoped to have enough belongings to track down their families, but first he had to take revenge for those woman.
He had already asked Miss Pere to search for the family from the first girl as he had left her possessions in his room when he changed into his leather riding outfit to give chase.
He was ripped from his thoughts once more by a sound, but this time it was a quickly smothered scream from a girl, he growled with hate as he descended from his vantage point, he knew enough.

Stirring his cup he looked into the campfire and as he did his mind wandered to events to come and those whom had past.
He grinned an let out a low chuckle as he thought what he was going to do about the little wench they picked up before nightfall.
It was his turn again to do with the girl as he pleased, he drank the last bit from his cup and grunted at the thoughts of getting up and get some more drink to pour from Kallos' skin, he sighed and stood up smacking his lips at the thought of having the fleshes of a woman all to himself in the morning.
He picked up the skin and looked to the tied up and smothered girl who was crying softly.
He walked over to her and punted her in her side, "Oi! Wench!", He could see her eyes glitter in the light of the fire, all big from fear, "We are going to enjoy tomorrow aren't we?", he grinned and lowered his face until it was close to hers, he could smell her and her fear clearly, it was so nice to smell such a scared, young woman. He knew he had to wait till the morrow. but a little kiss on her scared lips wouldn't hurt anyone and it would also tell her what they were planning with that little slut. He chuckled lowly, well, half the story anyway. He looked her in her eyes as he put down his cup and the skin running his hands over her body, making her squirm with fear and bringing new tears of desperation to her already red eyes.
"Don't worry little girl, the real fun has to wait one more night, but for now you have to settle for a kiss", he removed the band and muzzle from her mouth, she didn't hesitate and screamed out only to be smothered by a rough kiss of him, followed by a hard slap and being smothered once more.
He walked back to the campfire with a satisfied grin on his face. Kallos and Kyrillos looked envious at him as he got the first girl who seemed to resist in a while.
He sat down pouring his cup with much theater and a wide grin, raising the cup to the two man opposite of him and watched the both of them looking away from him, weak, pathetic bastards, their jealous.
Setting the cup to his lips he heard the sound of feet running. He looked around and saw the flash of a blade before he felt it's sting. It was only then he heard the words said by the warrior.
"Jag hoppas du har bett dina böner till Erlik, avskum! För du kommer att möta honom!"
He wondered about the strange and alien words as he sank to his knees, his life slipping away from him.

He ran to the camp unnoticed as there seemed to be no guard, the lack of it only fueled his rage further, they felt safe even when they performed such disgusting deeds.
When he saw one of the murderers stand up he quickly stroked him down while sending him off to Erlik, the god of death, his god.
The second one was desperately reaching for his sword when he suddenly missed a hand to reach for it and a second strike hit him on the back of his neck ending his miserable life before he could wonder why he was missing his hand.
The third man had found his sword in the mean time and proved to be quite capable with it, unfortunately for him he lacked the swiftness of the warrior he faced and he to fell to his knees when the blade of his opponent found a way past his defenses.

Dragevio looked around for the fourth criminal, he had wet his blade in the blood of three of them, until he heard the clack of a crossbow being readied. He turned around to slay the wield of it, but he was to late.
In slow motion he saw the man aim and shoot the bolt with a loud twang, he tried to dodge it but knew he failed when he felt his left shoulder being ripped backwards and then the overwhelming pain came.

Dareios carefully walked over to the warrior whom had slain his brothers, his dagger drawn to stab the man should he move.
He trembled more as he came closer, this man had slain his more experienced brothers in moments and almost vomited when he saw Kyrillos' hand laying a few feet away from were it should be.
His attention snapped back to the stranger as he seemed to awaken and Dareios moved closer.
He let out a yell and stormed the man with his dagger high above his head, he had reached the man and was about to bring down his dagger when he felt a sharp pain, dropping his dagger he looked down to see the stranger's sword sticking out his guts. Panicking he grabbed the sword and tried to tug it out with hands that quickly lost their grip and strength.
So this is how dying feels like...

Dragevio looked at the man grasping his sword and felt a terrible slumber coming over him, he tried to stay awake but it was to no avail. He slowly gave in to the black abyss as it called him.

Catyda came into the room with the fresh bucket of cold water as requested by the townhealer, Mercepheus. She found him dozed off, she sniggered, Poor man, he has been awake since that warrior rescued me.
Silently she took one of the sheets nearby and covered him and was about to turn away when he woke up.
"Oh, I m-me-must have f-fah-fallen asl-slu-sleep", he stuttered, smoothing his wrinkled clothes, "Di-di-did you get the wa-wa-water?"
Catyda nodded and noted that his stutter was worse then normal, probably because the lack of sleep, she set her hand on her hips and tried to look like she was in charge, "You must get some sleep Mercepheus! It has been three days now, I can take care of him for a few hours!", she gestured to the warrior, "It's not like he's going anywhere real soon."
Mercepheus looked straight back at her, clearly thinking of an answer, his tone was caring as always but there was a slight edge to it, as if he didn't like the tone, "Y-y-you know I c-c-can't d-d-do that! H-h-he's still in gu-gu-gu-grave danger, he c-c-could fall back any se-se-second!"
She sighed, "He could, but he has also survived his wounds despite what you have said!"
Mercepheus nodded slowly, studying the strange man laying in the bed, "It is a mi-mi-miracle that he su-su-survived it, m-m-maybe that bu-bu-bracelet has somete-t-thing to do w-w-with it?"

Catyda looked at the man who saved her life and ran her eyes over his bandaged left shoulder down to his wrist where that strange bracelet was. They tried to take it off like everything else he had on him, but even with two strong man they didn't get it to budge, perhaps it was the bracelet that took care of his miracle? She wondered and when she turned back to Mercepheus she saw he had stood up and was standing in the doorway.
"You t-ta-take c-cu-care of him? W-wa-wake me up if th-tu-there is something", he nodded and went to his room.
Catyda sighed and looked to the warrior, she picked up the bucket and set it down aside him, dipping a clean rag in it and started cleaning his sweaty body.

Mercepheus watched the blond woman stroke the warriors cheek gently, a smile playing on her scarred lips. Trying to suppress a yawn, "I-i'll have Caty-y-da bring you w-wh-what you need, now I wi-will t-te-try to talk some sense into your f-fr-friends, and then I can hopefully r-re-resume my sleep you all disturbed", smiling to Pere.
The blond woman frowns and nods. "I'm sorry for waking you and bringing you trouble but I had to find Drago."
He waved her excuse away, "I-i am a healer, if it w-w-wasn't you lot it w-w-would have been some farmer w-who had w-wr-wrestled with his bull"
Pere winks at Mercepheus, "Well you better hurry and calm the guards and my friends down or the shaman will make a bull attack seem like a gentle lover's kiss"
Mercepheus nods and walks to the door, carefully closing it behind him catching a glimpse of the woman strokes Drago's cheek gently, catching her bottom lip in her teeth and chewing


Catyda walked away from the guards and the two strangers on her way to sneak to the door and try to listen in on Mercepheus and the woman, leaning against the door she put her ear to stretch and hear sounds through the door, but it was no use.
She could make out that there was indeed some talk going on but not what they said. She sighed and leaned against the wall asides the door, sinking into her memories about that night in the camp the healer came out.
"How is he? is he alright?", she hanged to the healers lips.
"H-he is f-fine Catyda", Mercepheus nodded slowly, "The w-wo-woman is also staying w-wi-with him"
"What?!", Catyda exclaimed, "She just barges in and get's a side at the bed! I had to beg you of getting that spot!"
Mercepheus raised his hands in a soothing gesture, "N-now Catyda...r-re-relax, she says she is the w-wo-woman of the w-wa-warrior"
Catyda's mouth fell open in unbelief, "She cannot be! She is far to old for him! It is not true!"
"T-true or not, she is st-sta-staying with him. Go get some b-bl-blankets and a ch-cha-chair for her, w-wi-will you?"
Puffing out her cheeks she looked like she could go into a fit any minute, Mercepheus seemed to hold his breath and released it when Catyda turned around and marched off to get the items, he shook his head and walked over to the commotion outside.

Catyda just couldn't believe it, she had to beg Mercepheus to let her stay near the handsome stranger and even promise to help him with his job until he was healed and that...that COW! just shows up a few days later, lashes her eyebrows a few times and gets a seat near him!
A seat next to his bed! Even she had to sleep in another room! It's not fair! the stupid cow!
She readied the chair fast and with anger, throwing each item harder on the chair, as if she wanted the chair to break under her anger and the sheets. then she dragged the heavy chair towards the door and when she lifts it she looses her balance and bumps hard into the doorpost, she let out a loud curse, not caring whether or not anyone heard her.
It's all that cow's fault! It all is!
She opened the door, still cursing in herself and drag-lifts the heavy chair walking into the room backwards and let's the chair come down in the corner furthest from the bed. She then noticed she forgot the pillows and walks out again to get them, not noticing how the woman grabbed the warrior's hand.
Catyda had to search for the pillows as she couldn't remember where she had put them a few days before, muttering she walked into the room again, playing with the thought of throwing the pillows at the cow.
Looking up to see where the woman is she spots her holding the warriors hand in a way only lovers would do, NO! NO! It can't be! IT JUST CAN'T BE! He is for me! FOR ME!, with tears welling up in her eyes she drops the pillows on the ground and runs out to her own room, falling on her bed crying in her pillow.

When Catyda is cooled down, she sits up on her bed and shame takes control of her, I must have made a big ass out of myself! storming out just like that... and he isn't mine, I want to, but he is her's..., Catyda sniffled a bit and looked outside. Oh no! it's time he get's his dipping bath! and i guess I owe an apology to that co...woman.
She stands next to the door and bites her lip, sentences running through her head as to what to say, she opens the door carefully and sees the woman sitting next to him. Taking a few deep breathes to calm herself she walks in and walks to the chair, avoiding to look at the couple on the bed.
Sitting down she starts to sort out the sheets on the chair until the woman sits up more and murmurs something, tensing her ears she can make out she almost got him killed when he rescued her, she nodded to her, still avoiding eye contact, "He...he did"
The woman now shifts her weight to the side of the bed, letting his hand go, "You seem attached to him"
Taking a few more breathes to withhold her anger she sighs, "He rescued me, and this is what I can do to repay him"
"So your driven by gratitude?", the woman stretched.
Catyda nods, looking through the window at the now sky filling moon, trying to hide some new tears from the woman by biting her lip again.
The woman slipped onto the wooden floorboards, she could hear them creak, even under her slight weight, "I wonder how far you'd go in your 'gratitude' to Drago? When he wakes...", Pere crossed her arms.
Catyda looked at the woman squinting her eyes in anger at her, How can she say that! How can that cow say that!, her voice filled with anger and her tears were now freely running, "I didn't do anything if you want to know! I took care of him when he was wounded, when Mercepheus was sleeping! But I didn't do anything dishonourable!"
The woman gestures with her hand, swatting her words away, "It's a bit hard to do dishonourable things when the man is out cold."
She couldn't belief her ears, was that woman really implying what she thought? Her thoughts wandered a bit and she thought of his body she had cleaned many times before, his strong muscles and firm lines, she blushed a deep crimson, "I-i don't know what you are talking about, b-but I meant kissing him or such!", she avoided eye contact once more, staring at the mighty interesting wooden floor boards.
The woman casually resumed, "A kiss isn't indecent you know. Certainly not as much as other things you could do to show your gratitude", she looked down at Drago with a slight sigh, "Of course all the fun things would involve him being awake"
Catyda's blush deepened, knowing well what the woman was on about, "W-what do you mean?", then she remembers this is supposedly his wife, "A-and are you really....", she couldn't finish the sentence as her voice breaks and her tears run once more.
The woman tilts her head and rolls her eyes, "I mean repaying his kindness for saving you with sexual favours. If you want to there's no shame in it, and there's no one to hear you apart from me and Drago", she glanced down at him, "and he's in no condition to hear you confess anything"
Catyda looks up in unbelief, her cheeks as deep crimson as they could ever turn, confusion clearly on her face, "I-i Don't know what your talking about.... and I cannot do such a thing...not with his wife standing next to him!"
The dark eyes of the woman go wide and then she bursts out in musical laughter, "Wife? Wife? Oh dear....no, no, no."
Catyda looks at Pere in total unbelief, her eyes widened and her mouth half open, blinking furiously to keep both her tears out and thoughts of what is and was, "B-but you...he....", shakes her head and the tears start to roll.
Sighing the blond woman moves across the room, her feet padding closer, until she stands near Catyda, "Me and Drago are friends, good close friends. Nothing more.", she shrugged, "and even if we were sleeping together it wouldn't matter. I'm not the marrying type"
The young girl's shoulders shake from her long, silent takes of breath between her tears, but this time she is not crying out of sadness, but more of happiness. When she notices Pere standing next to her she hugs her tightly and manages to stutter a Thank you in between the tears
Pere looks surprised and raises an eyebrow, patting the girl on the shoulder, "If you want Drago, he's all yours. But....you don't even know him you know."
Still holding on to Pere she nods and sighs, "I know.. but I saw him and....and...", produces a faint smile as she looks to Pere then blushes heavily again and looks away to the sleeping man
Pere frowns slightly, "This is what I mean. About how far will you go for gratitude.", she also looks over to Drago and her tone is firm, "You love the brave and strange rescuer, not the Drago I know"
She sighs and looks back to Pere, a certain stubbornness in her eyes, "Then I have to convince him", let's go of Pere and wipes her tears
There's a stubbornness to Pere's own gaze, but also a flicker in her dark eyes, one corner of her mouth twitching up, "Convince him? Convince him of what?"

"That...that he is for me", looks to Drago again, "I bet his eyes are a dark tint of brown..."
Pere has to struggle to not burst out laughing, containing herself until she can speak in a serious tone, "You're not in love with him. You know nothing about him."
Catyda looks at Pere squinting her eyes, seemingly getting ready for another outburst, then she sighs, "Perhaps you are right, I do barely know him.... but he is so handsome!"
The woman looks at the unconscious man and nods, shrugging, "He is. And a good man too, far too good for me.", she turns back to the girl, "But you can't go losing your heart to a stranger you know, even a handsome one."
Catyda sets her hands on her hips, "And how often is it that you take care of a stranger that has rescued you?"

Before the blond woman could retort a shifting in the sheets can be heard, and a soft murmur follows closely, spinning around, she rushes to his bedside, fast and eager, "Drago? You little fool! Drago?"
The girl looks to Drago as if stung, then she relaxes, "Oh...he's at it again...", walking over she produces a rag to clear the sweat, "He has done this more, and then falls back into his slumber"
Pere holds her head close to him, trying to make out any words in his murmur, "Drago....."
the murmur stops and he seems to fall back to his slumber, though his movements remain, "I don't think he can hear you", Catyda smiled sadly and sighs, "but he always stopped moving after the murmur"
Pere leaned forward and slips her arms around Drago's neck, careful not to disturb his shoulder, "Have you ever made out what he's murmuring about?"
Shakes her head, "no, never.... but the healer says it's not even in our language, it's like as in that camp..", looks outside to the small part of the moon that can be seen now, "He stormed in and shouted something in a strange language"
Pere frowns and keeps hugging him, "Strange language? What did it sound like? Northern tones?"
Catyda shrugged, "I don't know, perhaps Merce could help you, he knows far more then me"
The woman frowned, "He's sleeping now isn't he?", lets go and steps back slightly, "I'd really like to know what he was saying...."
The warrior shoots up shouting, "Hjälp mig, mor!" and falls back to pillow, sweating and trembling, again unconscious.
Both woman jump back, "Ah!", then slowly come closer, one trembling and careful, the other slowly and shaking her head "Is he...is he awake?"
"No, no he's not awake. Is that the same language he's been speaking in?"
The girl starts to uncertainly wiping the sweat from his forehead, frowning, "It sounds the same I think"
Sighing and shaking her head, "I think I recognize the tones as Aesir, which would make sense, but the words....I don't speak it any more than you do"
"They would make sense? but he looks Aquilonian.."
"I bet you'd say I do too", Pere winks at her, "He has....mixed heritage.", frowns and fiddles with something in her belt pouch, seemingly in thought.
Catyda looks at Pere closely, "Your not an Aquilonian?", then looks to Drago, "You sure you are right?"
A soft and musical laughter, "He's got his roots firmly up north, in the snowy wastes.", a small pause, her dark eyes fixed on the warrior's face, "I wonder what he's saying. We need some one who can speak the language."

After a moment, the blond woman still in thought, "What did he say again... Jolp mik, mor or something?"
When no reply comes she looks to Pere, "Miss?"
A gestures with her hand, shushing her is her answer and Catyda start to splutter but then turns her attention on taking care of the stranger again
The woman looks up and frowns, "It could mean 'help me, something'. That's a close a translation as I could get for now"
Catyda frowns deeply at the woman, "but how? You didn't speak his language?!"
Pere moves closer and touches Drago's face, murmuring, "Help me mother....", with her gaze still not fully in the room, "Can you remember anything more about what he's been saying in his language? Or is it the same, 'help me mother'?"
Catyda shakes her head, "I found it strange but didn't really pay attention to it", a slight blush comes to her face as she doesn't remember any of the words.
"It's all right, it's hard to remember words in other languages anyway.", sighs touching his cheek and frowning slightly, "I wonder...."
After a pause the woman jumped off the bed, "I might have to leave now"
"What? but you..."
"His spirit might be walking on a different plane to us. He needs a guide to help him home"
Catyda got confused by this woman, she didn't make any sense, first she didn't know what it means, then she knows suddenly...and now, "A guide? his spirit walking?... but...", she didn't get the time to wonder to much, the woman turned around and checked her belt, striding to the door she talked to her, "You keep him safe till i return. He.... he's being kept alive by outside forces but he needs some special help. I know where to get that help I hope", she frowned and looked at the warrior,"I'm going to follow his instructions I hope"
She frowned deeply as well, "but...", she looked at the mysterious warrior then to the woman and nodded, "Go! May Mithra watch over you", the woman sighed, her hand on the door handle, "I don't think it's Mithra I need somehow....", Catyda's frown deepened, "then who?"
"I'm not sure yet but I'm hoping to find out.", she walked out the door but looked back in after a moment, a grin on her face, "Take care of him now Cat and I hope to be back soon with help"
How dare she! I am Catyda! not some feline little pet!, "DON'T CALL ME CAT!", she sighed, remembering where she was and what was at stake, "just hurry up"


The guard captain let his horse walk slowly towards the workers, even though it was a regular patrol he and his man were alert in this Pict-ridden region, he saw his lieutenant talking to one of his lord's farmers when he heard a whistle from the scouts, someone was coming, he whistled a high pitched sound to acknowledge the message.
He turned his horse to continue their patrol, now also on the look out for the arriving guest, spotting her when he looked back.
She came closer with a smile on her face, he noted that she was rather small, had a scar over her lips and shot blond hair, he also noted she had the dust of several days of riding on her.
"Excuse me sir guard"
He carefully answered, "Yes Miss?"
She tried to charm him, unfortunately for her he had to learn the pays of falling for such a trick a bit to good, "I'm looking for the main house, where the Vicinti family live. Can you point me in the right way please"
He withhold a chuckle, so she was searching for his lord, well, she was in the right place, but he surely didn't trust her, "That won't do you any good out here, and I cannot point you I'm afraid", he called for Vallab and Gris, his second-in-command and the promising new recruit, "However, guiding you I can, what would be your business?"
She leaned back and shrugged, running a hand through her dusty hair, "I have news of Dragevio. I take it that name means something to you?"
By the gods! She new the young lord! and seeing he wasn't here it couldn't be good, he looked to Vallab and saw the same worry in his eyes and he nodded to him to let him know he was thinking the same, "And what kind of information would that be?"
She seemed to be a bit agitated by his question, "It's for the ears of his family and not yours. It's very private.", so she misunderstood me but she also doesn't trust me, it must be urgent, he raised his eyebrows and nodded, "Be it good or bad of nature?"
She frowned, probably in confusion, "Bad..maybe", he grunted silently and nodded to Vallab, gesturing a command to the rest of the four-man patrol, he turned his horse, "Follow me Miss", he urged his horse to a fast ride, he almost forgot the whistle the scouts the all clear as they rode off.
They rode to the end of the farmland, into what seemed a small forest on the end but actually was a plantation planted just after Drago left, he liked it still when they came out of the plantation and saw the farm. The farm was surrounded by a thick wall, capable of holding back even the kings troops for a few days, until their siege weapons were ready, and most certainly able to keep those picts out until the black Legion arrived to wipe them all out.
But hopefully they would never have to light the fire in the special build tower. The main house was pulled out entirely from stone now, having replaced the small bit of wood the winter before this one and had the new plaster covered it before the last summer, giving it a look able to compete with the houses of the rich nobles in Tarantia. He looked at the building what was going to be the new barracks, they were bursting out of the old one with 25 payed for, and loyal, swords.
He whistled on the same high pitched frequency when they neared the heavy gate, entering the big courtyard between all the buildings. He spotted Miss Kaja and rode towards her, slowing his horse and coming to a halt before her, as always she only raised her eyebrow and let out a grin before she looked towards their guest, a frown on her face as she judged the woman.
"Miss Kaja, Where is Lord Valamer?", he struggled with his restless horse, still warm from the ride and willing to go for another Leuga's of full out running, a fine full-blood it was.
"I believe he was in his study, along with the Senechel of Schondara", ah yes, the Senechel was meeting today, Miss Kaja nodded to the woman, "And who might that be?", she studied the woman up and down now, "You've been in a long trip it seems"
"I have been on a long trip indeed. Right from a little village some ways south of here"
He kept quiet as Kaja questioned the lady, she had this sense about folk he missed, so he let her talk, "Then what could be so important to ride from there to here all alone through these dangerous lands?"
The woman leaned back a seemed to chew her lip a bit and frowned, "I'm sorry but I bring some bad news about your older brother.", So she knew a bit about the family as well, he had a hard time to not staring with renewed interest to this woman. Just who was she that she knew so much about Drago? At the least she was a good friend of him, or else he wouldn't let anything out about his family, that much he knew about the young lord
Miss Kaja grinned at hearing that her brother was in trouble, as she always did, but even so her eyes remained deadly serious and did not match her grin, "And what did the off do this time?", the other woman laughed slightly answering to Kaja, "Got himself into a spot of bother. I've already spent the trip from that village to here trying to think of new names to call him"
"That so?", Kaja sniggered and shook her head but he could see her brains working at full speed as she thought of all the things that could have happened to him, she she looked up he could see she was keeping up appearance and the worry was showing if you knew her, "Any good ones among them?"
The woman frowned with a flair of theatrical drama behind it, "Meat headed foolish empty head was perhaps my longest", she looked around, even a bit worried she said a wrong thing and continued, "But much as I hate to cut short this play time I really need to see your elders about him", Kaja nodded firmly, "I gathered as much, but I can't let a stranger just barge in for a mere tale. Do you have any proof of him what he holds dearest?"
The woman frowned and after a short moment she reached for her belt, sliding her hand under a flap and pulled out Drago's necklace, given to him by his grandmother when he gathered proof for being a man, something he wouldn't part with easily, Kaja reached out for the necklace, seemingly seemed to study it, even though she recognized all the runes and the strange metal it was made of before he did most likely, "This is certainly his, and he wouldn't give it to just anyone... now, you know he's my older brother, so you certainly must know our grandmothers name...", a smart question befitting her reputation, anyone could have prayed it from his cold hands, but this question was only known to those who really knew him.
The woman nodded, "Yes Drago called her Nana when we spoke.", Kaja nodded and ignored the hand of the woman held out for the necklace, "Very well", Kaja gestured to the two guards to go away and to Vallab to find her mother and grandmother, she then nodded to him to follow, "Follow me Miss", she turned on her heels and walked into the building with an air of authority.
Sliding of her horse gracefully she followed Kaja towards the study of the Lord Valamer. He closed the small train of people, carefully studying the woman in front of him.

He was listening to the Senechal pleading for a donation to Schondara to feed the populace and of getting a stock back until the ships and wagons from Tarantia and Poitain would arrive, he was about to agree to the request, it could never hurt to owe a favor to Aquilonia, or in the least to the Senechal, who was very influential and loved, unlike the previous one his son had escorted, when there was a loud knock on the door, he quickly apologized to the Senechal and called for the knocker to come in.
His oldest daughter Kaja came in, with her a strange woman and the captain of the guard, "Senechal, father", Kaja made a reverence which looked weird with her in her riding pants, but she was following protocol as she was taught to, no one could blame him for not teaching his children important lessons, even when he still wasn't sure of ever gaining a noble title, she continued, "Father, I have to ask you to ask the Senechal to interrupt the meeting, there is news about Dragevio, and I'm afraid it's not to good"
At hearing the name of his son and seeing the worry in her eyes he agreed to her, "Very well, we were almost done here. Senechal, if you would excuse us, this is important matter I am afraid. I will make sure the town get's the supplies by the end of the week", the Senechel was pleased to hear his willingness and thank and wished them strength with the news that was coming, for he was no fool and knew that Valamer wouldn't interrupt a meeting without a very good reason.
When the Senechal was escorted by a called servant he turned his attention to the strange woman, "Now miss, I hold that you have proven to speak the truth as my daughter led you in. But I am afraid I'm not a very trusting man, would you leave your weapons with my Captain? I do hope your honourable enough to even give him any hidden weapons should you carry them", while talking he gestured to Baain, his captain, who had closed the doors after the Senechal.
The woman looked at him and sighed and rolled her eyes, "Oh I do so hate it when people play the honour card on me. I'm really not that good at honour", she then continued to pull out her various weapons throwing them carelessly to Baain, who caught them gracefully as he had done more often, he thought she had give all of her weapons so Valamer asked, "Alright, now what is this news about my son?"
The woman held up a finger in response and draw another feeble looking weapon, nonetheless deadly in skilled hands, from her boot and reached inside her top to pull another weapon like it, both of them thrown at Baain who studied them, and the woman, with interest she looked up, now done, "I think that's my honour sorted"
He was surprised, the last two weapons would have been easily kept hidden but she choose to reveal them to prove she was honourable enough to do so. And for some reason he felt that were really all the weapons she carried, she stretched out and winked to Baain, "Care to check my honour with a little body search?", he grinned at her request, and he was sure Baain would be happy to do so, but he longed for the news of his son and waved her teasing request away, "If you did that then I believe you have no other weapons on you, now spit it out", he saw a hint of disappointment on Baain's face, but he felt that would be cleared if he was lucky enough.
She sighed and turned serious, none of the previous teasing tones in her voice, she bit her lip and leaned against his desk, "Drago's in trouble. Big trouble. He's...hurt, badly. He done a foolish thing and now he's hurt and I'm trying to get help.", why wasn't he surprised to hear this news? Drago always had been rash, even despite his calm and thinking nature, but the military had helped to get that out of his system, or at the least he thought so, he was clearly wrong, he saw that Kaja was clearly worried now and burning with questions, he held up his hand to stop her from spitting her questions, "What did he do exactly and how bad is he?"
The stranger continued to nibble her lip, "He discovered a gang of men who were traveling and", she glanced at Kaja, clearly holding back details, "killing women. He tracked them, alone, and seems to have found their camp. He took on all four alone and single handed", that sounded like Drago indeed, the boy always had the honour of ten man burning in his chest, and rashness, and stubbornness, of a kicking mule.
Kaja was faster then he anticipated this time and spit her question before he could stop her, "Drago would never chase a bunch of bandits for just killing women... they must have at the least raped them and done something horrible to them before he does a stupid thing like that", she was right, even with all that honour he also had the presence of mind to not waste chasing some bandits, he awaited the woman's answer, "
You don't want details of what they were doing to these women. Enough to say when Drago found the first one and told me of her...he was in such a state as I rarely see men", he nodded slowly, the woman was right to hold the details, if it could upset a trained warrior and resident to this Pict land so much then it would surely rip his daughter apart, he nodded slowly before answering, "Then it is indeed not for Kaja's ears to hear, no matter what she says. I take it he didn't come out of the skirmish without some severe wounds?"
He watched the stranger as she ran her hand through her dusty hair, "He almost died. It seems he was injured in his shoulder, blood lost... Luckily there was a girl with the band and she ran to get help, otherwise he wouldn't still be alive now", he saw Kaja finally giving in to her grief and worries as she found the seat were the Senechal sat and started to cry, he to was shaken, but also thankful of the girl that apparently saved his son's life, "But you wouldn't be here just to tell us about it...", she shook her head, "Drago lives but he's in a bad way. He cant be woken, though he's tended to day and night by a healer and the girl he saved. He was also seen by a shaman who couldn't help him.", a shaman couldn't help him? Would she really be here for...
He gestured to Baain to find his wife and mother, the captain already figured that and left immediately only to reappear shortly after with them, his wife looked to him in worry as she had spotted her daughter crying before she rushed to her. His mother, as always, seemed to remain her calm and her eyes demanded an explanation, even though she would probably expected it all after wards.
Valamer explained shortly to the new arrivals what the woman was doing here and what his son was up to, Yefa, his wife, started to young his daughter, slowly shaking her head in unbelief that this could happen to her son, the brave, strong warrior.
His mother, Nana, simply stepped towards the woman and laid her hand on her shoulder, and she gazed deep into the woman's eyes, who seemed to be uneased by it, he couldn't stop the shiver as he could guess which look she gave her, hearing her ask, "Child.. tell me, did young Drago say anything?"
"Yes, he said a few things. When he attacked, and in his sleep, he murmurs and even cried out when I was there. I...I can't repeat word for word what he said but I spoke with someone who identified it as Aesir...", she looked down, away from the still gazing old woman, "..they translated it for me too, what he yelled in his dreams", his mother asked her to speak up in a way only she could and the poor woman continued, "He cried out 'help me mother' in his fevered dreams"
Valamer bit in his lips upon hearing the words, the words of a dying warrior, and saw new tears by his wife and daughter and a sad look from his captain, only his mother seemed to be unnerved by this grim news, she seemed to study the woman and nodded before proceeding, "So his soul is trapped in the dreamworld, on the brink of perishing but withhold by some force... and you are here for the southern Shaman could not walk his path...", so she knew this much, Drago really must have trusted her, his mother continued,"he needs an Aesir shaman. Tell me child, why did you come here, and don't try to hide a thing!"
The woman seemed to gain a bit of her courage by the self assured words of his mother, her dark eyes serious, "I was told by the shaman that his spirit walked away from his body. I knew I had to get help and Drago had told me of his Aesir heritage before and how he hides it. I knew that if anyone could help it would be you, she nodded in respect to the old woman, I doubt he even would tell her that, so she must have figured it out.
Nana acknowledged the woman and pondered, "So young Drago trusts you with our secret", she looked around to the others then back to the stranger, "I do hope you know how to keep one yourself, for I am not to grateful when my family is found out. but you were wise to come here", the woman seemed to be agitated by his mother's harsh words, even he found that, but it was her way, she wasn't a grateful one, but her past made her what she is, the woman replied, "You dare to imply I'd betray Drago?"
His mother remained calm and looked back, "No, I imply you'd betray us, for it is not his secret alone, and we would all suffer if it came out! But for now I need to prepare, the young fool needs a guide home", she turned around and gestures to the two still upset woman and walks out, leaving the stranger behind as if she wasn't there.
He sighed, "Forgive my mother, she can be.. firm at times, it's our Aesir blood", he frowned, studied her, "Would you sleep here tonight and wait 'till the ritual is completed?", the woman turned around, seemingly not furious at all, but seemingly tired by the journey,"Please. I've been on the road now for days, first tracking Drago, then tracking his family."
He clapped his hands twice and speaks to the servant who appeared, "The miss here is our special guest, treat her as family!", looks to the woman, "I hope you wouldn't mind if we kept your weapons for now? You can be assured that no one in their right mind would attack this home", he looked at her and she
gestured with a hand, seemingly too weary to argue, "At any other time I would make a fuss but you're Drago's family and I trust him so I trust you", he nodded and she walked off. He only needed a few words for his captain and called for his sons to explain their brother's faith, he leaned back and thought about it all as he waited for them.

((second update, I was impatient, enjoy!))


It had been a while since she had last flown here, secretly she missed soaring through the skies, but at her age there was, as always, a price to pay for this freedom.
Below her there wa a road filled with people from all kinds of ages, but all unmistakenbly Aesir.
The mass moves forwards slowly, as those on the fron were judged and gained entryto valhalla or a darker faith...
Finally she saw what she had been searching for in this dead world, a young warrior seemed to be held back by two spirits.
Descending towards the warrior she noticed two things, the first being the bracelet the warrior wore around his left wrist, it shined with remarkable brightness in this dark place, the second that the spirits didn't seem to be spirits at all.
No matter how she looked at them she only concluded they weren't spirits... but what were they then? It could be hardly a demon, they wouldn't do a mere thing as keeping someone alive, no, they would make sure the spirit they were after would have been rejected for glorious Valhalla so they could torture it.
Landing on a branch of a nearby dead tree which, along with it's brothers and sisters, filled the landscape and saw that one of the 'spirits', she wouldn't know how else to describe these beings, looking up to her raven appearance as she held the warrior in place.
So they are aware... no point in hiding then, she flew down to the ground and assumed her normal posture and appearance as a tall Aesir warriorwoman, strong and stout, with eyes that hold great wisdom.
Now the male figure turned around to her, a question on his face.
She knew what it wanted to ask and she raised her arms to make a peaceful gesture and greeting, "Fear not, I came to guide this lost spirit back to where he should be."
The male figure nodded and stepped aside, the female squinted here eyes and stepped aside more reluctantly.
As soon as they did the warrior made attempts to return to the mass, she stepped forward and prevented him from doing so, he looked up with no real self awareness in his eyes, she grabbed his arm and called out to him, "Lille Krigare, hear your shaman! It is not your time or place to feast in the halls of our befabled Valhalla. Come and let us return to greater deeds to boast about!"
The warrior stopped his tries and his sluggish and drone-like movement, he turned to the shaman and kneeled before her, seemingly aware of who and what, "Korp, thank you for coming for this simple warrior. I will heed and come after you"
Satisfied she turned her attention to the two figures once more, "Thank you from not letting him feast in Vallhalla's halls", the male figure simply nodded in acknowledgement, the female made a curtsey before they both vanished.
The shaman shook her head and gestured to the warrior, "Come Lille Krigare, let's get you to were you should be"


Catyda was nodding off to sleep again, it had been two days since the woman had left in a rush, leaving her friends in anger, Mercepheus had trouble calming the woman down. She looked to the moon as she blinked to stay awake, nights like these were sometimes so boring, her thoughts and view wandered back to the warrior sleeping peacefully on the bed asides her, the only improvement there was, was that he stopped his irregular mumbling and shifting around.
She guessed it was an improvement, but it could also spell worse. She sighed and ran her finger down the small, blonde beard he had growing as he wasn't shaved in over a week now, she find it kind of cute, but the thin hair he had on his skull, just as blonde as his beard, she didn't like, it made him look like a newborn child, she plucked the frail hairs and pictured a ribbon in his hairs. She giggled in herself when he began moving again, but this time differently
He normally would move wildly, but now he moved more like someone about to wake up, she jumped up, knocking her chair over and grabbed his right hand, her other hand reaching over to the lap she had and carefully tapped his forehead.
He started to mumble things, she leaned closer to hear what he was saying, it sounded like 'Tack, Korp', she frowned at him and looked at him as he opened his eyes slowly, the dim light seemingly being to much still to bear for him, he tried to speak but much more then some growling out of his unused throat there didn't seem to come, she smiled and reached frantically for watercan she used herself, not able to pull her eyes from his lightbrown ones, his seemed to be filled with a question, hers with hope and naïvity.
She carefully let him drink some, it was then he learned of his wound, a cry could be heard when he found the hard way he couldn't use his arm as he was used to. She managed to calm him and help him to some water, hearing Mercepheus stumbling in, "H-He's aw-wake!", Catyda looked back to Mercepheus with tears in her eyes and a big smile on her face.

He watched as his friends left his the room to make ready for their night, he then counted to ten, furiously hanging on to his concentration, when no head popped around the door he let himself fall back to pillow, burying his face in it to smother his cries of pain.
For some reason his wound caused him loads of pain all the time, pain he could ignore for a small time as was taught. But afterwards he'd always either pass out or, as now, cried from the pain. But he kept it hidden for his friends, mainly because he didn't want to be seen as a weak person, one who's healing wound made him cry like a small child.
When the pain finally ebbed away he turned around on his back, the sleep not far away now, and sighed.
He wished this pain would go with the healing of the wound. But the words of Mercepheus, the healer, still rang in his head, or better said the last part of it. It could be a permanent wound, it could not heal to what it was before.
And the tears were renewed as he thought what it would mean to him. He would stay cripple, most likely not able to lift a shield, or anything heavy, without either causing him pain or disabling him for a while until his wound would heal again, and he would be a rather useless warrior, not able to stand in a line with a shield to protect his friends.
He suddenly felt a pair of arms around him, she was crying along with him and he opened his eyes to see Catyda's reddish brown hair and hearing her mumbled I'm sorry he pulled her closer to himself whispering that it wasn't her fault.
She shook her head that she wouldn't believe it, she was like this since she found out that his wound was worse then it looked at first glance, feeling down that she had caused it, even though he would do it all over again to save her.
When she finally stopped her crying he kissed her hair until she looked up and he smiled at her and told her she shouldn't be such a silly girl and that he would gladly do it all over again, her tears ran again, but now there was a smile accompanying them.
She then buried her face into his chest once more, but now with a tight hug, and she whispered some words to him, but those were aimed at deaf-man's ears as he had sunken to his sleep, finally giving in to it.

Catyda opened her eyes and looked to the man on the bed, the smile he caused wouldn't come of her face, surely it wasn't a confession of love, but he did say he would rescue her again gladly, that had to count for something, she confessed a thing of her own but he had fallen back into his usual slumber.
She also knew he hid his pain for all, trying to keep the posture of the strong warrior he looked, but she had seen through it, the little whimpers when he thought no one could see him, the tired look in his eyes when he had to hide it for extended periods of time, and of course she had seen him cry, he had done that from the second night he was awake, the night Mercepheus told him that his wound could be worse then it looked, she sneaked into his room last night, but before that she would listen to his door and later opened it a small bit, just enough to see him, it was then she felt down because he laid there for her, if she just wouldn't have been cau....no, no more of that thinking! he said it himself, she couldn't help it and he would do it all over again.
When she heard some stumbling she quickly kissed the past out warrior on his cheek before she rushed off and pretended to be busy tidying the mess of last night, when the door opened it turned out to be the head of the guards, he held a small bundle of various possessions and when he laid them out on the dresser she could see them better, some were clearly of a woman, others man, of the latter ones there were most, there were multiple swords, all blood stained once, but clean now, and other items where Aquilonian, but mostly from another culture, one she didn't know.
The guard smiled and here and with a hushed voice he told her that these were all the items they had found in the camp, having no use for them they decided to clean them, should they need it, and take them to the man who saved them. He brought them here at this time and not later because they had to patrol the town, and he would bring the items himself, with a hope of finding the warrior awake. But luck was not with him so he just laid them out and tell Catyda which was what, the most curious items were those of the woman, likely from the once the warrior failed to save in time and a small book, turning out to be a diary, if one could read it, for it was written in the Argosian language, the guards had a hard time finding out which language it was and a passing by merchant pointed it out when they some some similar markings on his steeds supports.
Catyda picked the small, blue covered booklet and quickly skipped through the pages, the writing seemed to get sloppier after a while, and she could only guess it was of haste.
The captain said his goodbyes as he heard a horse cry outside, a sign his men were getting restless as well as the horses, leaving Catyda with the things and the sleeping man.

Running her eyes once more over the items she couldn't help but to pick up the short looking sword and swing it a bit, finding it remarkably balanced in her hands, then, the closest thing she knew was a fisherman's knife, used for the netting, not these swords.
A chuckle came from behind her along with a few words, "So you enjoy swinging daggers around?", from the fright she'd almost dropped the dagger and didn't know how fast to put it back between the other items on the dresser and turned around to see the warrior on the side of his bed.
"Where do they come from, and bring that dagger to me will you?"
"I...uh...sure....he captain brought them just now"
"Surely he did, thank you, hm... this one looks familiar, but where.."
"The camp, the captain held on to them and brought them in just now, along with various items of women and a book written in Argosian"
"Ah, my stuff, I had left them with Hwin and.... how's my horse doing? I forgot about her!", he tried to get up but soon reached for his wound, cursing softly in both Aquilonian and that other strange language he spoke before. She quickly grabbed him and tried to ease him a bit, telling him she would go see the horse, even though she had no clue how it looked like or what to do when she actually found that.... Hwin of his.