DuneDain Inn

[AraCelebEarwen]

Olheri had listened carefully to his words, trying to think if there may be a way out, but growing impatient he took hold of her and she flinched as the back of her head hit against the wall. Her eyes fell shut as grief and hunger washed over her; her shoulders fell and her head sank. Slowly raising one hand, she pressed it against his chest. She knew she couldn't push him away but wanted him to at least stop hurting her. When at last she could speak, her voice was no more then a strangely calm whisper. "I swear it."

 

[Daranavo]

He released her, straightened and turned his back to her. "Next, you will have to help me with something here and now. Quite a fair trade for what I would do for you to free your brother. Also, I do not wish to be left holding the bag so to speak when you do get what you want. I will need some sign of truth that you will not do this and leave me to face the hornets after their nest has been disturbed. It must be a convincing sign for I already do not trust you."

 

[AraCelebEarwen]

He missed the slight movement as his back was turned to her. One hand clung to where the little pouch was hidden in her cloak. The one thing she had, she had only spoken a little of it the night before... Bringing out the pouch, she opened it and let the little charm fall into her hand. Holding it tightly to her heart, she tried to think if there might be something else. 'No, I told him about it. He would know if I tried anything else.' Breathing in slowly, she let her closed hand fall before speaking. "Do you remember what I said about that stone you traded?" Saddened eyes looked up to what could be seen of his face; though still shaking, she was starting to clear her thoughts and regain her composure.

 

[Daranavo]

"I do indeed." He said as he turned and faced her now. He looked down to her hands and saw what she was holding. "What of it?"

 

[AraCelebEarwen]

"You remember my saying that I keep the twin then." Slowly, regretfully, Olheri raised her closed hand and forced her fingers to open enough to let the light dance on the silver and green of the little piece.

 

[Daranavo]

Daranavo stroked his beard as he looked at the trinket. "Ah, so it is true, there are more of those stones." He looked up at her and held out his hand. "I think that this will be sufficient to assure your trust. Considering how important it appears to be to you." He let his eyes drift across her form. "However, as for payment, it does not interest me."

 

[AraCelebEarwen]

Olheri couldn't hold back the slight shudder as she held the charm over his waiting hand; her eyes changed green and back to the beep blue in an instant as the she let the stone fall from her grasp. "Every moment wasted could bring my brother closer to death. You have my word I will not betray you, can we not go look for him now?" She didn't care if he had caught the flash of her eyes or not, her mind was set though she wished it could have been another way.

 

[Daranavo]

"We shall leave shortly." He reached into his pocket and at the same time he let go of the trinket, he produced 3 silver coins to her. "Give these to the stable boy and have him ready our horses. Full tack for 5 days." Olheri looked at him as if she wanted to say something. Getting a little annoyed he barked at her as he opened the door and shoved her out of his room. "Well get a move on."

 

[AraCelebEarwen]

Slightly confused but glad to be out of the room, she reached around and pulled up the hood of the cloak and brought her long hair over her shoulder to try hiding the bruise. Walking silently down the hall and into the main room, hunger hit her at the sight and smell of the foods being brought out to other guests. Trying not to draw attention, she forced herself to keep going tell she found her way to the stable and had done what was asked. The coins were paid and the boy ran off to set to work.

Olheri watched only for a little while before wandering back in to look for something to eat. 'If that Daranvo lets my stone out of his grasp...it will be his last mistake about me.' Knowing she would have spoken; her mind clearing further as she had time to breath, Olheri would have said something about this had he not pushed her out.

She took in the scent of the hot bread and pulled a single silver coin out to weigh it in her hand. How much it could buy she didn't know, but hopped it would at least be enough to settle her hunger.

 

[Daranavo]

Daranavo packed his belongings quickly. He came down the stairs and saw her eating. He came up to her and sat down next to her. He set down his bag and helped himself to some of her bread. He spoke in a hushed tone. "That man over there near the bar. Don't look at him. He has been following me I think. I remember seeing him at the last Inn I visited and then again near Sullan's place. I will not have him tailing me any longer. This is where you come in. When I leave for the stable, you will wait until he follows after me. I shall go into the stable and circle back around out the back. I want you to get his attention just outside the stable and I shall do the rest. I won't assume I need to ask you." He coughed once and picked up his bag before he head out the door. After a minute, the man he mentioned at the bar headed out after him.

 

[AraCelebEarwen]

She had listened, her face nearly blank as he left, having taken a good bit of the bread. 'Well. At least he will not be too hungry now...’ She thought in silence; ‘He has seen me act, he knows I could do that much... What have you gotten your self into now?' Olheri leaned on the table, shaking her head and using the motion to see the man out of the corner of her eye. Nothing about him really looked out of place, but only shortly after Daranavo had walked out, the man left whatever he had been drinking and followed through the door.

Careful she got up and walked out after him. He was just ahead and nearly to the stable now. If she was to keep his attention, something would have to be done and done well. Pulling in a deep breath, she caught up to him just as he was about to enter. “Please sir, can you help me?” He turned to see who this could be, his gaze drifting over her and landing on the bruise before being caught by shining blue eyes. Time seemed to creep by as she held her thoughts, waiting. ‘Any time... keep him off guard.’ Taking another step, she stood only a few feet from him now. “I am looking for something... Can you help?”

 

[Daranavo]

The man whirled around and at first, he had a look of alarm on his face. Though, quickly, he settled and gave her a nod. "Ah, well, miss, what is it.." His expression changed. "Wait, I know you. Your he woman who spoke to Sullan." He suinted his eyes and his body language became wary. "What is it you want of me?" Out of the corner of her eye, she could see a shadowy form approach the man from behind.

 

[AraCelebEarwen]

"I was wondering if you could help me." She repeated, her voice clear and eyes not moving from his face. "I am trying to find a dagger, the blade has fine script running along it and there is a blue stone set in the hilt. I had it only a little while ago but can not find it now. Might you have seen it?" No such blade had ever been hers, but having seen something like it she knew it would be better then trying something else.

 

[Daranavo]

At that moment, a blade swished near the man's neck right in front of her. Something warm and wet hit her in the face and stung her eye The man's head arched back and he fell backward. When she wiped her face, she could smell the salty odor of fresh blood. Daranavo stood behind the fallen man and bent down to grab up his cloak. He lifted him at the shoulder and began to drag his body backwards. "Get to your horse, why do you stand there like a statue." He continued toward the treeline near the stables.

 

[AraCelebEarwen]

Just that simple... just that fast. She had helped kill a man... Olheri looked at the blood on her hand, then breathed in and looked up to where Daranavo was dragging the body out of view. No words came to mind and she simply nodded and walked in to find the horses ready to go.

 

[Daranavo]

As Olheri mounted, she saw Gaidon, a large dark brown gelding, begin to move with no sound of call or mark of direction. He moved out the stable door and simply stopped. She saw Daranavo mount him swiftly and take the reigns. He whispered to her, "Olheri, you ready?" before he moved from her sight and she could hear light hoof falls on the ground.

 

[AraCelebEarwen]

Is white rare? Is that alright? I like it, hope it works.

Having easily washed the mess from her hand and mounted a fine, white creature, her fingers ran along the strong, arched neck and brushed through the thick, soft main as she took hold of the rains. "Come Venesse. Let us follow. No showing off though my girl, not now." A small curve came to the edge of her lips and a tiny sparkle lit Olheri's eyes as they moved silently to keep up.

The fresh morning air and light movement tossed the ends of her hair around and she pulled the cloak better around herself. She though about it for a moment but decided to not bother with the hood as it was of no matter at this time. 'At least I may now have some help...'

 

[Daranavo]

They rode single file. Her eyes guided them true upon the road and he did not speak to her except when she slowed down quicker then he could react. "Damnit woman, call a warning lest you have me atop of you...unless that is your intent." Though she could not see him, she knew he had a grin upon his face.

 

[AraCelebEarwen]

They had left so early that it would be a good while before first light. Olheri's eyes had worked over the ground ahead of them, the fading moonlight making it look as though they glowed softly; but now a split in the road had given her a reason to stop.

"I am sorry master," her tone slightly teasing, "but should you not tell me where it is we are going? After all, are you not the one to know where to look?" She shifted her weight in the saddle to look back at him and brushed a stray lock of hair into place behind a slightly pointed ear. Eyes glittered as she waited, the little curve of a smile hidden in the darkness but heard lightly in her voice.

 

[Daranavo]

Daranavo scoffed at her. "Just follow the road until mid-day..I am sure you can manage that, can't you!" With that he slowed and came back in behind her horse, then let her stride ahead and left a few horse lengths between them. He did not wish to get thrown if she stopped again suddenly.

The two rode for hours at a slow gallop. Olheri looked back once in a while to assure herself she was going in the right direction, however, she thought it odd that he would stay behind her. Perhaps he still did not trust her, and to that she could hardly blame him. However, Daranavo's lack of interest to their heading gave her all she needed to keep going.

It had been about an hour when she realized that she had not looked back behind her in some time and the lack of hooves pounding against the soft dirt road suddenly came to her like a thunderbolt to the chest. She looked back behind her once more and saw nothing. Olheri stopped and pulled her horse around. She saw nothing. No horse, no Daranavo. She turned her horse again in indecision. Where did he go? She thought. She waited...and she waited. Several minutes passed and still nothing. At first, she thought, Maybe he fell asleep and fell off his horse? Though the idea of him getting hurt amused her slightly, she remembered that he was an accomplished rider and dismissed that. It was her second thought that came to her that she felt was much more likely. The scoundrel has absconded with my Pendent! Anger filled her mind and she reared her horse back down the road. Hooves thundering into the soft dirt as she headed back toward town.

She rode hard until her horse began to falter and slowed to a walk. Each mile closer to town just made her more angrier and angrier. It was early evening when she arrived. She rode by the Inn first and did not see him. She rode all over town, finally arriving at Sullan's store.