The Ebonstryfe Calls (Clyde Sullins)

[Verilian]

The woman cringed at the sound of Clyde's voice, as if she thought he might spew lighting from his very mouth and incinerate her. He could have, if he wanted to, but he did not. When the woman realized this, and realized that he was not planning on killing her, she relaxed slightly. It took a few moments, but slowly she tore her gaze away from her dead husband and looked up at the young mage. "You're.. you're not going to kill me?" At Clyde's no she seemed to relax some more, though it was difficult for her. Slowly she rose to her feet, taking a shaky step away from the body next to her. She turned away from Clyde, looking over the wagon and it's spilled contents. The mule had broken free when the chaos began, but it was standing not far away grazing next to a tree. The wagon was filled with clothes, and enough food for two people to make it comfortably to Ravok. The food was meant for her and her husband.. but he was dead, and she knew it would be too dangerous for her to go alone. The mage was not the ideal choice, and he still might kill her, but it was better than facing the brigands alone. "I.. I am heading to Ravok. We were.. we were supposed to deliver these clothes. ..if you help me, I will split the payout with you." The woman turned back to Clyde. She wasn't sure what she was getting in to, if he would be better or worse than the bandits, but he was her only hope. She didn't know anything about mages, only the horror stories she heard as a child. If those were true, she was surely doomed, but how could they be true when he had just saved her life? She would be dead already, or perhaps a shrew. She didn't want to be a shrew, but it might be better than being raped and killed by bandits. Either way, she didn't really have a choice. If Clyde was willing to escort her to Ravok, she had to let him.

[Clyde Sullins]

Clyde thought it was a bit obvious why she asked if he was going to kill her. But really, would he have put so much energy into saving her, if he did not have a use for her. He had weighed the decision in his head, and it had come out that he was more likely to be succesful with her along, than he was alone. Also, now that he thought of it, it would be easier to ride along in this wagon, than to walk. And he had no idea how to drive a wagon... So that was another mark in her favor. She was company, which meant a bit more safety in numbers. She would be saving him the trouble of walking the entire way back, as he thought he might have to. And now there was talk of money being made. Really, it all could not have worked out better. Why the petch would he kill her? Though he supposed it was a human thing to do, to want some assurance, to at least hear the words that the person did not plan to kill you... If it made her feel better, he would, and so he did say that he was not going to kill her. Clyde picked up one of the spilled garments, and looked at it. He did wonder how foolish they were though, traveling alone, without a caravan, just the two of them? They were practically asking for trouble. "That is fine. I was heading to Ravok, so we are better off going with each other. Though I hope you know how to drive a mule, as I have no idea how. I suppose we should be off then, before something else comes looking. Whether it is more bandits looking for revenge, or something worse. Sitting still is not a good idea. Are you ready to go?" Clyde would take a glance at the dead man, who seemed either to be her husband or brother, or some other attached relationship. But he doubted they had time to dig a grave. And he was not good enough really at earth reimancy to do so with haste. He would help her load up anything dropped, and to corral the mule back, but he did not think they had time for much more.

[Verilian]

And so Clyde had a new traveling companion. Luckily the woman could drive the mule, and oddly enough, it didn't take her long before she became quite chatty. The death of her husband did not seem to weigh so heavily on her soul as it should have, though perhaps there were reasons for it that Clyde didn't know. As it was, the reason they were traveling alone was because they could not afford to hire any guards. Their business in Syliras had failed because the city was too big, and there was more competition than they could handle. A man from Ravok offered to buy all of their wares for five hundred mizas if they would deliver it themselves. Nearly bankrupt, they had no choice but to accept, despite their reservations about coming to Ravok. "I've heard Ravok is an evil place. Nothing like Syliras, or Zeltiva where I grew up. ..but the man did not seem so bad. And he was offering us a chance to start over. We had to take it. I just hope Ravok isn't as bad as they say it is." So now Clyde had a bit of background on the woman. She grew up in Zeltiva, but she moved to Syliras with her husband because it was said to be a profitable place. If you could get yourself established, it was, but they could not. They weren't really Sylirans, per se, but just a husband and wife trying to make it in the world and failing. And now she was alone, save for Clyde and her mule. They traveled until nightfall and then stopped for camp. She only had one tent, but there were warm blankets among the various cloths in the cart, and it wouldn't be so bad to sleep under the stars with the blankets. Clyde was in luck, because the woman could cook. In her food supplies she had several dried meats that when boiled in water and combined with the right seasonings, they softened and made a very flavorful stew. She wasn't very good at making a campfire, but Clyde could easily help with that if he wanted. If not, she would get one going eventually. While the stew cooked the woman was quiet, but as they were eating she paused and stared at Clyde. "How do you do that? ..the fire, and the lightning? I've never seen anything like it."

[Clyde Sullins]

Soon enough they were back on there way, the cart loaded up, and the mule ready. And they rode off. Also soon enough, the woman seemed to be getting out of her shock of losing her husband, and was talking almost non-stop to him. He supposed this was just out of nervousness, and out of a need for human contact after all she had lost. He did not even consider there might be a deeper reason to it. "Ravok is no worse than anywhere else, it just takes a certain kind of person to see it the way it really is. You could focus on the negative no matter where you go, but if you really look at it, Ravok is pretty good and stable, clean, and a good place to live. It is a shelter from the chaos of the world... I am fairly certain I heard someone say that..." Clyde said this, not even realizing that he was repeating things he had heard from members of the black sun, or that he had truly come to believe during his stay there, in the truths of much of what he was saying. "Still though, it is best to be careful, lest someone takes advantage of you. Though that is true anywhere." As they stopped to make camp for the night, Clyde got out his backpack he had carried around for so long. He was not totally unequipped for the outdoors. He had his own tent, a bedroll, even a lamp and some oil for it. he certainly was not equipped to stay outdoors long term, but he had enough to make a sleeping spot for himself. But before setting up, Clyde would first help her gather some firewood, and with a small bit of res, and a whispered "vaknut", lit the tender, and some twigs, and within a few chimes, had a small blaze going, unaided by magic. Then it was the woman's turn to do a bit of magic, as she magically turned some dried meats, into a delicious and edible stew. Quite filling, and especially tasty, considering how hungry using magic made Clyde. He ate voraciously, to replace the spent djed. Then it was question time... Everyone wanted to know the same thing... How did he do what he did? He supposed after the fine meal she had made, she at least deserved in exchange some answers. "Well... It is magic... Though I guess that is a bit vague... I don't totally recall myself... I have been doing it since I was but a little thing. My earliest memories are of using it, training it... But even those are a bit mixed and confusing... Some contradicting... Think of it like an extra limb, that most people cant control. That is my magic... I can exert my will to control that limb, but it is costly. And most people, most can't even feel that limb, or know that it is there."

[Verilian]

The concepts behind magic were a bit much for the simple woman to understand, but she nodded her head anyway. She didn't ask any more questions about his magic, though she continued to talk with him until they were ready for bed. He learned a bit more about the woman that way. Her name was Juiliana, she had a brother and two sisters, but no children. Her late husband was Gregory, and he had a brother as well, but no sisters. Their marriage, while not loveless, was more one of mutual gain than it was a bonding of the hearts. It explained why Juliana seemed to have gotten over his death so quickly, or at least, why she wasn't as mournful as a wife would normally be if her husband had just died. Of course it was hard to say what was a normal reaction, anyway, because wives losing their husbands wasn't something that could have a normal reaction. Eventually the stew was gone, and both were ready to call it a night. Juliana offered to take the first watch, since Clyde was likely tired from his exertions earlier that day. If he argued she would not budge, her logic being that he needed to be refreshed in the case that they were attacked by something in the night. She didn't want him fighting without his rest first. The sounds of the night filled the air as Clyde crawled into his tent. He could hear the woman shuffling around outside, tossing another log onto the fire for warmth, before she went still. Eventually, to the song of crickets, Clyde drifted to sleep. It was a dreamless, peaceful sleep, and despite being alone with only a woman to look out for him, it was perhaps one the easiest he would have the entire journey. Sleep was not meant to be, however. He had no way of knowing how long it had been, though he was not overly groggy when he awoke. It wasn't to the light of day, or to the sound of alarm, but to the sound of movement just outside his tent. The flap of his tent was pulled back, and in his still somewhat blurry vision, he saw the silhouette of a naked woman, outlined by the flickering light of the fire behind her. Juliana was not the most beautiful woman in the world, modestly endowed though not without her flaws, but there was a pristine beauty about her even so. She knelt just inside the opening to his tent, laying a hand on his thigh. Though he couldn't see it in the dark, she was blushing. "Clyde I.. I wanted to thank you for saving me." Juliana leaned down to kiss him and, if he would let her, she would do so much more.

[Clyde Sullins]

Clyde did not even notice that the woman was understanding little of what he said, as she politely nodded and feigned understanding and interest. Really, at times he could be a bit of a talker, and actually kind of enjoyed speaking of magical theory to someone. It was not like she could really use any of it to do magic, not this stuff, so he was not really saying any magical secrets. Besides, he doubted she had the willpower, to do magic. Not everyone could. He had heard of many a person who had died in initiation, simply not able to handle it. Or who had been unable to progress in skill, further than what a novice could do, after going through the trials of initiation. That was one reason teaching someone as a wizard was so hit or miss... Clyde himself was an oddity, having survived so young being roughly brought into magic... Perhaps that was more proof of how powerful he was, his great ability allowing him to one day be a master of djed... After listening to the woman talk some more, he supposed trying to humanize herself in his mind, make it harder for him to detach should the time come for him to choose if she lived, they finally finished eating. And she was a pretty good cook, certainly much better than himself. Clyde only argued once of her taking first watch, giving in to her logic, and his own tiredness... He could use the rest... And she was right, it was more important for him to sleep, than for her. Knowing that the woman was outside to alert him to any danger, more or less the same task that his dog fulfilled, he was able to sleep well, knowing he would be alerted in time to fight, should something arise... Along with that, he was dead tired, and had a full belly... With all of that together, he slept deeply. As he awoke however, the first thing he noted was that it was still night... Had she come to call him, to take a watch, so she could rest? He supposed she did need some sleep, if she was to drive the beast of burden the next day... It took him a moment though, to realize the shape of the woman he had so recently met... And to notice that she was naked... As she knelt down and laid a hand on him, he had a moment of confusion in his mind, before she spoke, and cleared things up... He supposed it was not odd, to want to thank ones savior... A small smile twitched on Clyde's face, as she bent down and kissed him. He brought one hand to the back of her head, twining his fingers in her hair, and returning a kiss back. It had been awhile... And she was certainly pleasant enough to look at... And who was he kidding, it was not so easy to deny the urgings of his flesh... He might as well give in, enjoy the fruit of his labor... Besides, his dog could do the same job of keeping watch, and alert him to any troubles. Or at least, that is what his mind told him. Forgetting in the moment, of the time so recently, that his dog had utterly failed him...

[Verilian]

Clyde's dog had no need to alert him to danger that night. The only sounds other than crickets were that of the two bodies and what they were doing behind the thin flap of the tent. If Clyde thought he had slept well before, he would sleep even better after they were done. He would not wake until the sun was in the sky, and it was to the smell of eggs no less! Yes, eggs, he would soon discover when he exited the tent. Juliana was cooking eggs. The shells were on the ground next to the fire, and if Clyde had any knowledge of eggs, he would realize they were to small to be chicken eggs. She must have found them somewhere. "Oh, Clyde! Good morning! I hope you like eggs, I found a robbin's nest in those bushes over there." The woman stirred the eggs about, scrambling them and breaking them up, before dividing the eggs into equal portions and handing Clyde a plate. There wasn't much, but on the road even a small meal was a blessing. And the eggs themselves were delicious. The rest was rather pleasant. The pair talked casually and they were not assailed by any threats. They made good time, and according to the woman they were almost to Ravok. They had a few more days at most, so long as their luck held out. That night Clyde was treated to another dinner, and later desert in bed, and once again Leth and Syna traded places in peace. In fact, the rest of their trip was entirely peaceful, and soon enough the shimmering surface of Lake Ravok came into view. "We're still a few bells from the Southern Trading Post." Juliana commented. "It will be dark soon, and they won't be ferrying anyone across at night. But we can push on if you like or, she ran her hand lightly up Clyde's thigh, "We could camp one more night."

[Clyde Sullins]

After the nights activities, Clyde slept well. Even more so than before, which he had not thought was possible. And he awoke to the fragrance, of eggs on the air. Ah, what a tasty scent, and one he had not expected to smell... This lady was really spoiling him with her cooking. Which was all the more tasty after the state of the food he had been eating. The rest of the trip went surprisingly well. Perhaps it was to make up for the rude interuption, and the unpleasant meeting before. But the rest of the trip was genuinely good. Even Clyde was beginning to relax, with Ravok in sight. If he had been thinking with his head, he would have said push on. Just before safety, was when they were the most likely to be attacked. Push on. But he was not thinking with his head... Or at least not the one on his shoulders... He had been put at ease, and relaxed, by the peaceful nature of the trip. And the temptation of spending another night was this woman, who was so keen to show her thankfulness for what Clyde had done... He knew it was just because he had saved her life, and rescued her, mixed with fear from his being a mage, that she did so. She had no genuine affection for him. But he could not help giving in to such physical desires. So while a part of him was urging them to push on, till they were safe... The larger part of him was raging for another night of fun, and a slow easy walk into Ravok in the morning, a bit more well rested. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt anything... We can camp for one more night, and go in the morning..." "I suppose it wouldn't hurt anything..." Unfortunately on the list of words so commonly said as last words. Hopefully that would not prove the case... Clyde would move to help set up camp, to ready a fire, and lighting it with a tiny bit of reiancy, and to set up his tent and bedroll, after helping her to get the cart and gear situated.

[Verilian]

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt anything." Such words always spelled disaster, it seemed. Clyde found Juliana to be extra appreciative that night, doing things for him that most civilized women wouldn't do if you paid them. She was quite a woman, in every way. She could cook, she was smart enough to hold a conversation with, and she was a demon in the sack. It was a shame that night would be their last one together, unless of course Clyde asked her to stay with him. It wasn't as if she had a husband anymore, she would need someone to take care of her. As to be expected, that chance never came. Clyde woke later that night to find his tent empty, and though that alone might not have been something to worry about, the voice that sounded outside his tent was. It was a voice he couldn't forget. "Wake up, Clyde. Come on out, we're waiting on you." It was the voice of the woman he met in the forest, the one who killed the party he had been traveling with, and almost killed him. The lady from the Ebonstryfe, who had made him an offer he couldn't refuse.. mostly because if he did, it would likely have ended with him losing his life. When he exited the tent he would indeed see the woman along with a pair of armed men wearing the black of the Ebonstryfe, one of which was holding the naked and struggling Juliana. "I see you picked up a friend along the way, Mr. Sullins. Now, the whole point of this exercise was to see if you could get here alone." Juliana stopped struggling for a moment, locking pleading eyes with Clyde. She knew something he did not, but her mouth had been gagged and whatever it was she could not say it. The moment lasted only a tick before she started struggling again, but the strong Ebonstryfe held her firmly in place. "Lucky for you, there is still a ways left for you to go alone. But there is one problem. This woman, she is from Syliras. Now, we are fairly certain she doesn't have any information worth pulling out of her.. but there is still the little problem of her being here, seeing you, seeing us, and seeing our city. What, my little mage, should we do with her?"

[Clyde Sullins]

Clyde's eyes slid open, he was almost fully awake within a moment... The taste of djed on his tongue, a flavor more delicious than any mundane food could bring... The call of his res echoing in his skull, reverberating, as his body sensed danger and awoke him. This time he had called upon the magic within him unconsciously, the moment he had fully awoken, a small mist of it blowing out as he exhaled... It had been several days now since he had done some real magic... Why not just... Just... But no... He tugged away from the thought, the thought of exiting the tent with a fireball tossed, and a crackling bolt of lightning to the woman's forehead... He took in another breath, and let it out, as he rose and pulled on some pants... This time even less res came out on his exhale... He reined it in, only by convincing himself a opportunity to use his magic would come soon... Pushing the part of his mind down, for now... Though who knew if he could hold it, or for how long... Or what might set him off... Without thinking about it, he grabbed his staff on the way out... If nothing else, for the mental crutch it was, helping to calm him down... To sooth him, and to bring him back to the realm of calm thought, and logic, and not letting his emotions cloud his judgement... And not helping the matter, was the bit of his mind plotting away, a fireball there, a spike of earth in the mans throat... A bit of lightning sprinkled in... Plotting away at the best way to keep him alive, and to neutralize any threats... He pushed that bit of his mind away, though not trampling it down... Letting it carry on, in case it was needed... Focusing the main bit of his attention on more mundane matters... Letting a bit of his aggravation at this woman and her tone filter into his voice, to give it a bit more strength and conviction. "Alone? Did you say that? I do not think that was what you said. You said to get back to Ravok, which I have. You said to use my skills to get back, which I have. Is it my fault, if my magical skills were a bit better at procuring aid than you expected it to be? If I used the very skills you are interested in, to make my journey easier? I see no fault in that." Clyde thought a bit longer on her next words... Clearly the woman expected him to say they should kill her... If it came to that... Well Clyde would do it himself, even if he did not like it... Better he did it, and made it quick and painless... She deserved at least that much... But as his thoughts churned away, his logic slid into place, he came along with his response, which did not see any point in killing the woman, as he assumed this Stryfe did. "Really? What exactly does her being from Syliras have to do with it. Many a worthy person has come to Ravok from Syliras, and turned there back on it after being shunned, after they saw it for the pile of filth and injustice as I did when I left. And I know you know that, surely you do, of my origins. You can hardly blame a person for wanting to leave, and seeking there fortunes elsewhere, in the safety of Ravok... " Clyde deliberately did not look at the woman, he had so recently met... Not wanting to let any emotion surge up, whether from a true attachment, or from a lustful one. "I see no reason she should not come along with us. I am sure she has the skills to be a useful citizen of Ravok. Or she could become a slave, though really, that seems a bit excessive for her being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Better she comes along, to be a useful citizen, who will make Rhysol proud... " Clyde let out another breath, this time carefully applying a small bit of res into it, and flaring it, allowing some sparks to fly off from his exhale once it was clear of his mouth. The small bit of magic was a wonderful tonic to cool his nerves, and the swelling desire to cast them all dead indiscriminately... Plus it looked cool, and was perhaps a bit intimidating... If nothing else, a visible reminder of his nature and power... "I suppose I could kill her if that is what you really want, but it would be a pointless death. I will if I must, but I see no glory for Rhysol in doing so. Perhaps another God, but not him... Though I think a much better alternative is to simply bring her along, and let her be a citizen."