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[Amunet]

10th, Spring, 516 av
18th bell
2 days west southwest of Riverfall,
Cochise Wasiche thicket grove

(( Cochise Wasiche are very thorny sparsely grown thorny shrubs. They make great walls and often have to be tended to by the Watch to keep the run free of them. Injuries from clearing this sort of brush is not pleasant as they tend to spring back if hacked on by machetes quite often. They are usually fairly drought resistant and hardy shrubs that can grow 6 to 13 foot tall. Great cover for birds and other small animals to make their homes where the thorns deter predators. Thorns can range from half an inch to 3.5 inches. Blooms in the spring white - yellowish white flowers. Purple black Berries in the summer that are attractive to birds of all kinds. An arid variety at south grows smaller and is toxic than its taller and more amicable cousin in the temperate regions of Cyphrus))

Amunet had been escorted by the watch till she got close enough to Riverfall in the last twenty four hours to make it on her own. The Watch had to attend to some anomaly in the web. They advised her to keep going in a certain direction and they would find her soon as they worked out the issue. The healer promised to stay on the course as her and Shetanae kept riding in the prescribed direction. According to the note it couldn’t be too far. She pulled the mare up to a stop as the area was full of wasiches and tall grass.

The girl dismounted her strider as the strider kept close to her elbow. Her brow furrowed as she moved through the turns in the thicket. Silent foot falls behind her goes unnoticed as she is focused on finding this camp that needed her help. “Well, it has to be somewhere, shetanae.”

The redheaded girl walked along carefully but with purpose. There were turns and twists to this path that was a bit confusing and she wondered if she should continue before getting too lost. She looked behind her as she pursed her lips. “Maybe we should turn around and get out of this thicket. Before we get lost. “ The girl said to her horse.

As she and the horse turned to round the darker and tall corner of grass and wasiche entwined, a rope went wizzing by and onto Shetanae’s head as the horse made a startled shriek. Amunet’s head turned as a hand went out with a cloth covering her nose and mouth. She screamed and struggled as strong arms had to tighten extra hard. The girl flailed and was stronger than what she looked as she breathed the wetness on the cloth in with each intake of breath. It took a few chimes but the struggle became less and less till she slumped in the arms that held her so tightly. Pratal smiled as the little wild healer was in his arms without too much of a fight but he liked the fight in her. Sadly he would not be able to break that fight out of her. That would be to someone else and solve one of his problems. Two more ropes was put around her strider as he gave the signal to bring the horse back in more at the thicket.

They moved more into the thicket as there was a tree there that was the designated place. His payment would be dropped at a location elsewhere as he hoisted the unconscious red head to the tree and tied her there. The legs and torso were tied to the trunk and the arms were outstretched along limbs. This should keep her out of trouble till her buyers would find her. The man knowing this feisty girl took little chances and made sure she was not going to go anywhere.

Shetanae reared and fought her captors as the strong tall mare was being difficult to subdue. As docile as she is with Amunet, even the experienced handlers of striders was having a hard time with the mare. She settled down a bit when she saw her rider with her head lolled down. Her hooves pranced nervously as three pairs of arms tried to keep her in line. She snorted neighed out a thunderous challenging call as Pratal looked at the mare. She would have to be taken with. The mare could not be allowed free. The mare would produce good war striders if the rumors of her lineage were correct.

Pratal splashed a bit of water onto the girl’s face to wake her up. He wanted her to know it was him who had the last reposte in this little battle of theirs. The vengeful man wanted her to know that she cannot outsmart and cannot stand up to a man’s domain. He will not have his authority questioned in public again and she will set the example. Even if he had to make others disappear for the same, the people would learn that he was the natural leader for Endrykas. They had to learn order and discipline. Amunet roused from the drug induced state. Her eyes blinked groggily. She couldn’t move as she looked side to side to see what predicament she was in. Her eyes fell on Pratal and her strider restrained by three others. “Pratal, what have you done?” She said breathily as her voice was lost in strength being robbed by the drug that still coursed through her.

The back of one finger lightly trailed from her temple to her jaw as he looked down at her startled expression. His voice was quiet as she spoke in her ear. “You present at once a delicious promise of potential and a lot of problems. Given your status and how you will not give into my offer, I must do what must be done for Endrykas. To ensure that order and discipline is assured.” He said to her as he smiled. “You are a highly sought after commodity my dear. The deal was a very lucrative one and it gets you out of my hair. I told you that you would pay for your insolence.”

He backed away with a wicked smile and a chuckle. Amunet screamed at him as fury and rage burned through what groggy was left in a surge that had her pulling and jerking at the ropes hard. “PRATAL!!!”

“Not exactly how I wanted you screaming my name but that will have to do.” He said with a flip of his hand in a dismissive manner. “I will take good care of your brother, never you worry my dear.” In an equal flippant tone that had finality to it as if that too was already done.

“NO!!!!” She struggled more as the ropes dug in painfully as she didn’t care. “You will not touch my brother. You leave him be.”

“I said this before, he comes from good family stock. Be a shame to waste that talent. I will finally have a glypher in the Pavilion and raise Turningleaf as the leader of the Ruby Clan. Endrykas will see us as the examples and obvious leaders to see Endrykas through to further success. Your denial and refusal to accept my offer was a temporary setback, but this will remedy that issue. Be well, my dear.” With that he turned around and said nothing more as he was satisfied with the results of this day’s deal. He mounted his strider to begin moving towards the payment drop off. He took some time to move the djed thread from this grove so that the girl would not be found so soon.

Amunet struggled and fought for several chimes till she was left sobbing, hanging there with no options but to wallow in her feelings till her fate was determined. She looked up into the sky to beg and plead to every god she could name: Zulrav, Yahal, caiyha, syna, Leth, rak’keli, wysar, and others. “Please, protect my brother, Drak, PLEASE!!. If my life must be forfeit for his to go on, please take it. TAKE IT!! “ she sobbed and screamed the last out into the sky.

The men had to work to pull the mare with them till she trotted along for a few miles. It was when they relaxed when they thought the mare had gotten the hint that they were in for a rude awakening. With no warning, the mare stopped and put her rump on the ground and jerked back. All three ropes jerked out of their hands and just about jerked their shoulders out of the sockets. It took but moments for the mare to spin on her haunches and high tail it back the way she came. The mare was on her way back to her rider. It took several chimes as the night fell and she found the opening to the thicket. She smelled the opening with flared nostrils. She didn’t smell or sense a predator. She moved carefully into the thicket trotting through some spots and smelling her way through to find her rider.

As if to mock the red head or in some oblique answer her, the skies poured open and it started raining with lightning peeling around her. it was cold. The next day wasn’t any kinder as the cold and rain continued to hit her and her strider stood by her moving from the tree to the beginning of the thicket as if in hopes of someone finding this spot. Amunet wasn’t sure when she passed out but her head lolled to the side and even the nuzzle of her strider’s lips would not wake her.

A day’s ride to the north of the wasiche thicket grove lay the remains of three fools from Kenash who were supposed to claim their prize. They never made it as the pride of night lions in that area fed well that day on man flesh and horse flesh. Pratal found his payment drop and made his way back to Endrykas without any delay and his alibi seemingly concrete as to his where he had been. The search for their precious lost Healer starts as Pratal offers a hand. His game may very cleverly steer them away from the grove location till five days after she became missing. It was as if her presence in the web had been misplaced. Many questions lay to the Drykas of what happened. The girl was usually easy to find in the web.

[Nayato]

oocPM me if anything needs to be changed

Nayato looked like he was fully capable of handling trouble, for which reason trouble generally gave him a wide berth on the Kabrin Road. His entire body was clad in the rattling metal of full plate armor,which held largely etched at the center of its chest piece the crest of the Syliran Knighthood. However, that noble sigil of the Windoak would prove to be far less effective now that he rode far south of Riverfall with equally noble intention of patrolling the Sea of Grass.

As well clad in armor as he was, Nayato had also fully armed himself for such an expedition out into the grasslands. His shoulder bore the weight of a full quiver of arrows which had enough space to carry the short bow that previously belonged to his father. The bow was his best weapon, and he was ready to use it at the first sign of danger. His gauntlet covered hands, curled lightly about the thick leather reins, his eyes glancing around as he road his brown sun bleached Eyktolian Desertbred towards no place in particular. Ser Cagus Brimholt, to which Nayato squired, road along side him clad in the full gleaming armored regalia of a true knight. "We should have made camp earlier." The city loving knight practically huffed out in annoyance.

Nayato glanced towards the darkening sky. "Riverfall and the grass sea are still new to me, and I've found no reason to its weather. Only days ago before we began this patrol, frogs seemed to take over Riverfall city proper. We should be happy that it is not raining frogs." The light snow and rain that trickled down their armor didn't come unexpected, the tangy smell of rain gave them warning enough, and even Nayato had made note of the ominous color of the sky that morning, but that was little consolation considering the lightning in the sky. Tsutla suddenly lifted, rearing up as the mare stood on its hind legs. Nayato had to clamp his legs to the horses sides and lean forward to avoid falling out of the saddled. His legs were still sore from the previous day's travel, and this sudden burst of action reminded him of the soreness.

He loosened his legs once the mare calmed down, pulling at the reigns to regain some amount of control. It was then that Nayato noticed what had spooked his horse. Both Nayato and Ser Cagus waited. In silence, the nervous pawing and snorting of their mounts the only sound within hearing. Nayato shifted his weight cautiously, as he flung one leg over his saddle to dismount the horse. His right hand raised to draw his bow as his left pulled and nocked an arrow. "Caution, Nayato. What could have done this could still be close." The knight spoke before also dismounting and drawing a blade.

On the ground laid the bodies of three men. Each with a figure nearing Nayato's height, a male who was clearly decades past his prime. The mans hair hung in patches on wrinkled skin, folds of loose flesh hanging from his bones. As Nayato approached the bodies, he kept an eye out for danger in the grass. He knelled down over one of the bodies using the tip of the arrow to examine its injuries. The man's skin was shredded, not merely in a single area, but all over the body. Fang marks, sharpened claws, bones snapped and protruding from open wounds. Of the three bodies, the one Nayato examined had been the only one that still had a whole face and its arms attached. Arms shredded to the bone at its forearms, but attached.

"These men were mauled and... eaten. This is the hunting ground of a wild pack of..." Nayato glanced over a claw mark to take note of their feline pattern. "Lions?" Ser Cagus muttered. “This could be the prides hunting ground. Lets find out what we can about these men before scavengers arrive.” The knight began to search the other bodies for clues as to who they were.

Nayato put the arrow back into his quiver as he checked the body. He lifted its bloody hand only to find that there was a brand on its palm. ""This one has a brand, his skin reads 'FB'?" Ser Cagus glanced towards him slowly, utterly cautious. The knights gladius sword probing a bloody track on the ground. "A Kenash freeborn, looks like they found themselves a long way from the road." Nayato laid the dead man's arm down and stood up, taking note of what the senior knight was doing. "Looks like they were all heading south when they were attacked. There could be more alive, or injured in that direction? "

Ser Cagus was already on his horse before Nayato could even finish speaking. "Mount up." The Squire caught the mans eyes just before the knight closed the visor on his helmet. Nayato grabbed the reins of his own horse and mounted. “Neck appeared to be first” he muttered. “Killed almost instantly.” He squeezed his knees against Tsutla's sides, leaning forward in the saddle as he loosened the reigns. Giving the horse the freedom to run as it entered into a jagged canter, racing off to the south as he followed behind the knights. "Crow Brother, Lord of eagles, help me protect those who cannot protect themselves. Be as their own brother and keep them safe as you have me." He prayed to himself.

Nayato had a hard time keeping up with Ser Cagus as they rode. The squire never regretted his lack of riding ability more than at that moment as he anchored the knight to slow to his pace before cupping his legs against the mares side and willing the horse forward. They were forced to stop once they reached a large thorny grove. "We've been ridding all night and seen nothing." The knight spoken in a hurried tone with blood pumping from the fast ride.

Nayato looked over the grove with some trepidation."We missed something, maybe they are..." The Chaktawe's voice caught as he saw a horse exit from a small portion of the high grove. "Was that's a strider?" Ser Cagus questioned as the man watched Nayato dismount from his horse. He approached the horse slowly, with hands raised into the air.

The horses seemed terrified, but no more than was reasonable under the circumstances. The mare bucked at him as he drew close. Forcing him to back away as he lifted the visor on his helmet so the creature could see his eyes. "Calm, calm." He spoke in a low soothing tone. The multiple rope burn marks on the horse's neck did not escape his notice, obviously the beast was worried about it own survival and he did not want to agitate it further. "Shhh, you are safe now. Let me help you." Nayato moved an inch at a time, slowly stroking his hand down the horses nose. "Why are you out here alone? Where is your rider?" His hand continuing to softly stroke down its face.

The horse motioned its head towards the entrance of the thicket, beckoning the squire forward as Nayato glanced back to Ser Cagus. His hand pulling the Khopesh sword from its sheath as he turned forward to enter the grove. The Knight quickly following his eager to help squire. Upon seeing the tree bound woman, Nayato felt his heart skip a beat as adrenaline poured into his bloodstream like a tidal wave: from rage to the guilty, from danger, from concern for her life.

The woman was a mere shadow of life tied bound a tree. "Wake up, I need you to wake up. You are safe now. He didn't know if she was dead or not, but used his Khopesh to cut away the ropes that bound her arms. Then he carefully wrapped her arm over his shoulders to keep her from falling as he cut the ropes that bound her legs and torso. He sheathed his sword to free his hand and placed his forearm behind the bend of her knees to bride-carry her out of the thicket.

After laying her softly onto the ground, he stood up to grab his coat from his horses saddle bag and folded it up to rest it under her head like a pillow. He then removed his helmet to get a better look at her as he stood crouched by her side. "Wake up, can you hear me? I need you to wake up" Nayato shook her as gently as he could by her shoulder. He then removed his gauntlet to run his fingers along her cheek in attempt to wake her. "We need to get her back to the city." Ser Cagus spoke as the man petted the horse to keep the woman's Strider calm after it saw its rider carried limp from the grove.

[Amunet]

Shetanae didn’t like her rider like this. Amunet usually wakes with a nibble of her muzzle on the face. The strider tolerated the stroking from the steel clad knight as the other steel clad male was taking her rider down. The mare was not lost to fear as to not realize help when its there. These males did smell funny with all of the metal on them. She pawed the ground nervously as her companion was settled on the ground and the young male was trying to wake her up. Darkness had fallen and the dark coat of the mare blended into the surrounding blackness. The mare nickered towards Amunet softly as the bond between Strider and Drykas was a unique phenomenon.

The blackness was safe as the young healer was wrapped up in it. Rather it was the Gods, fates or her body’s self defense to the physical delima had her wrapped in the velvet coating of darkness. This changed as she was shifted. What was that? Was it metal? The sensation of being carried was surreal and it seemed impossible. Then there was softness beneath her head that created a change. The air was different as these factors slowly unwrapped the velvet darkness that encased her consciousness. Nayato will find the side of the face his fingers stroke on held the opalescent winged serpent mark of Rak’keli as it shimmered in the darkness. The mare pulled her head from the stroking hands of the knight. She moved carefully to her rider her head going down in the opposite side of where Nayato was knelt to the red head.

The mare’s muzzle lipped the girl’s other cheek gently. There was a stronger intake of air that changed the shallow barely there breathing to an attempt at some form of consciousness. The eyes slit open and blinked as the weight of them was like her eyelids trying to carry stone. Things were blury and it hurt to move a little bit. Her arms felt like they were better off torn out of the socket. She became aware of the ground she laid on first and the nuzzle of the mare second. The stroke of the finger then had her trying to bolt up in the realization she was not alone. The sharper intake of breath with the startled eyes that even in the darkened light, in close quarters it could be seen they were light sky blue. Within those sky blue was a gold star burst or sun burst pattern.

The bolt up failed miserably as her muscles decided that was a bad idea and screamed at her. The grace of her goddess helps with a lot of things but it had its limits. She was alive but she was sore from left hanging on the tree. Were these her captors? Stark fear replaced the startled expression as the horses muzzle came up to avoid the flailing arms from the failed bolt to arise from her position. It landed her right back on her back looking at her suspected captors. Yet, Shetanae was calm. She wouldn’t be calm if these men meant either of them harm. She tried to speak but it also failed as she tried to clear her throat. She looked into those black eyes that did little to settle her nerves. The finger that was on her cheek was gentle as those frightened eyes softened. Questions circled her head: what day was it? Where was she? What was to happen to her? “Who are you?” came a soft raspy voice as her throat decided to work.

[Nayato]

Nayato regarded her silently for a moment as he allowed his gaze to flicker from her for a very brief moment to the darkened surroundings. He could sense the movement of possible threats through his fingers, and was still very aware of the possibility of imminent dangers. The Senor knight seemed to leave Nayato to tend to the woman as the man stood guard. “The sensible thing to do would be to camp and wait for morning.” Ser Cagus spoke as the man’s eyes wandered from the grasslands in general back onto the woman after her sudden burst of movement.

Nayato had spent enough time with the Horseclans of Cyphrus when their moving roamed close Ahnatep in his past. And it had been evident in the way the Strider cared for the woman that they were ‘bonded’. However, he couldn’t shake the odd fact that she did not have any Windmarks. He took a moment to examine the small mount of exposed skin that he could see. The fact that she wore so much clothing aided his disbelief in her being a Drykas.

He wondered if she was uncomfortable with herself, the position she had in her society, or was some strange anomaly. The ideas fascinated him to no end. But what truly caught his attention even after she had spoken to him was the mark of a winged serpent on her cheek. “Why would a Drykas not have windmarks? Or does that small serpent suffice” He spoke aloud to himself. "Is this woman even truly Drykas? "

His ebony eyes locked with her sky blue pool and her gaze caused him to return his focus back to the task at hand. "I do not feel confident moving her until we know that she can survive the journey … Ser, can you hand me the waterskin in my saddlebag.” He asked, not bothering to look towards his patron once his attention returned to the woman.

"My name is Nayato of the Kalanue tribe. I am a Squire within the Order of the Syliran Knight. And that is Ser Cagus Brimholt, a knight of the order, and my mentor. For now, we shall keep you safe." The Knight quickly retrieved the waterskin from the saddle bag then handed it to Nayato; slightly proud in his squire for being so protective. The Squire used his free hand to softly lift the back of Amunet's head to help her drink some water. Placing the end of the waterskin to her lips. "This should help sooth your voice."

Ser Cagus stood by Nayato with a raised eyebrow. "That symbol on her cheek? It means she has been touched by Rak'keli, Goddess of Healing ." As Nayato waited for the woman to drink, he asked her two questions. "When you are able to speak, I'd like to know your name? And if you are able to heal yourself?"

[Amunet]

He didn’t seem aggressive. The very dark eyes almost black eye regarded her with concern. The fear that they were captors she was sold to was fresh on her mind, yet she was no longer bound. Black? She had seen Stark black eyes before. The Choktawe seemed to speak his thoughts as he seemed to know some of the Drykas habits. As feeling was coming back to her arms and legs so was the pain and discomfort. The other steel clad man was standing by speaking of a camp.

“Yes. Camp. Fire” She croaked in a raspy voice. “Fire, Must. “ She wasn’t sure she could impress upon them that fire keeps predators away. Especially the Glassbeaks, which hunted in packs. She breathed in a little more quickly as it seemed the Choktawe knew some of the Drykas ways. The red head managed to furrow her brow as she took the water from him and drank. The urge to drink as much as possible was strong as she forced herself to slow down. “Lost windmarks to Gods. “ She did not possess enough energy or the eloquent common at the time to tell the whole story and hoped those words would be enough.

They had introduced themselves as Syliran Knights. In summer, the syliran traders would venter to Emdrykas. They would get all sorts of stories about the grand Knights of Sylir. Her brother would bug about them every summer. Here she was staring in the face of such persons. Did Pratal sell her to the Knights? These questions flowed as Ser Cagus pointed out her mark of her Goddess, Rak’keli. Her eyes grew fearful as she continued to drink the water provided.

“Amunet Shimmerstone, Doctor, Healer of River Flower. “ She looked those dark unsettling eyes set into a kind face as she swallowed hard. “Yes. Need time, food, rest. Those anxious light blue eyes looked into Nayato’s eyes and had to ask. “You, captors?” She had to know her fate. She had to know what she had to look forward to. Though she has heard some stories of the knights, she was unfamiliar with their laws, rotes and vows. For all she knew the Knights were just other men, only clad in steel. It was probably a mixed blessing out here in the Sea of Grass.

She would try and sit up as she looked how dark it was getting. “We must make fire, soon, very soon.” The water helped but her arms were so sore and so bruised by the ropes and hanging that getting herself up was a trial of its own. “This, Shetanae,” The girl motioned to the strider mare, introducing her as if another person. The mare bent her neck down towards her rider. Not that it mattered if these men in steel were her captors. She feard for the mare more than herself, yet the mare was not tense or showing signs of distress with these men. It was perplexing as Pratal’s last words were she was to be sold to a secret contact. “How much Pratal pay?” She asked bravely. If she was going to get into trouble, see if pushing some buttons would produce answers. If they strike out, they were not that noble. If they didn’t, then she would apologize. Her fear and anxiety drove her questions right now and rationality was not in control.

[Nayato]

Nayato winced inside in sympathy. This woman, this 'Fallen' was so evidently damaged in spirit, but not soul. His morale would be shaken if something that connected him to his people, like his obsidian eyes, were taken from him by the gods for any reason. However, he'd not give up the will to live either. It was a painful thing to watch simply because he could do nothing for her in that regard. He was patient with her, making sure that she was fully comforted before gently placing her head down onto the folded coat.

Nayato had spent a lifetime in the desert as a wilderness guide for those foolish enough to wander the Burning Lands and he was rarely surprised that fire would always be needed to keep what lurked in the dark away. Equally, it could also be a beacon. Given that Ser Cagus had already mentioned setting up camp, Amunet's added suggestion drove him into action.

He didn't initially answer any of her questions. He only narrated what he was doing. He walked over to his horse to dig around into his saddle bags. He removed his tent and walked around the area to find the best spot to pitch the tent. From what he could see, the best area was close to the thorny grove of shrubs. Placing the back of the tent to it would make sure that no large predator could sneak up on them. Or rather, not without making a lot of noise disturbing the plants.

Nayato looked up into the sky, taking note of where the Moon was in the sky. He then glanced in four directions. "There is east.. there is west. The city is back towards where we came so... " He stood facing towards the south. "This is south. You probably know this. But a southward tent will catch the morning light first. The light will both wake you like a rooster and warm the tent faster. Though, take care not to set your tent downwind of any campfire. You wouldn't want smoke to fill your tent."

Everything he addressed with the same calculated precision. In survival, miscalculation meant death, and a loss of concentration meant underestimating what lurked in the dark; patience and precision were his allies. He began the process of setting up his tent with practiced hand. Only needing a few chimes of a bell before it was fully erect. It was a large four person tent that he lined with his bedroll.

With all of that done, he gathered as much dry branches and fire wood from the thicket grove as he could. The metal gauntlets he wore made gathering the thorny vegetation easy. Taking his own advice, he made sure to place everything he gathered in a stacked pile so that the tent would be upwind from the smoke. And using holding his flint in one hand, struck it against the steel to cause spark embers to land on the grass he had gathered to use a tender. The vegetation started to smoke before it erupted into a large flame.

He returned to Amunet and crouched by her side. "I do not know who Pratal is. And If I did, I would never take money from him. Slavery is illegal in Syliras. So, as a squire of Syliras. I would never support slavery. Ser Cagus felt a swelling of pride in his squire, as the Knight stood on guard duty.

Nayato slid his arm under her legs, his free hand under her back. Then lifted her up. “I would like to know how you lost your windmarks to Gods. “ He asked with an endless wonder in his tone. He just couldn't help himself. It was such a mystery that he needed to know. He carried her into the tent to lay her down onto the bedroll. Then walked back over to his saddlebag to get his backpack before also picking up the waterskin and returning to the tent.

Nayato pulled out a two pound sack full of soft cheese. He used the cheese to make soulmist, but found it to be the only food he had on hand to give her. He sat down next to her while taking off his gauntlets . "Here, you can eat some of this." He held out about four ounces of cheese in his hand. Just like he had done when he helped her drink the water, he lifted her head slightly with one hand and pressed the food against her lips to help her eat.

"If you are still unable to move in the morning, I'll go hunting for more food. But if you are able to travel. We will make for Riverfall."

[Amunet]

He was kind. With each passing moment, she relaxed more and more. He seemed easy to talk to which was a relief and a little concerning. Paranoia bred from trauma turned something simple into something it wasn’t. The girl shook her head and chided herself for such foolishness. The girl nodded as he said little tricks and tips of setting up camp. As he was in motion, the desire to get up and do something was strong. The girl managed to elbow herself up for a brief moment. This gave her some idea of her weakened state and how much she had recovered. She wasn’t moving well and her body fought with her desire to get up. There was a groan as she settled back down on the coat a bit out of breath. Ser Cagus bid her to rest. The girl was not used to resting while others worked.

Before Narato scooped her up, she was trying to request her strider be untacked as her pack and yvas bag was on the yvas. He was so focused and so driven that this became a bit impossible. Her weight was a little over 110 pounds and shouldn’t pose much of a challenge for a knight surely. “I heard stories of the knights from the Syliran merchants growing up.”

“I would like to know how you lost your windmarks to Gods. “

No one had asked her the question before and as many times she had the story carefully in her mind, this question startled her for a moment or two. The bewildered expression of someone actually wanting to know that and he wasn’t Drykas. “I will tell you, but I need my strider untacked. There are healing supplies and provisions. “ The girl said by way of offering if they needed something she had.

She did indeed find it difficult to move but the water gave her a little energy. “I am Drykas. It would take more than this to keep me off Shetanae. I might need help getting on her tomorrow but I can ride.” She said with a determination and fire passion. She couldn’t believe someone would think a Drykas was unable to ride. Ser Cagus had nodded as he approached the mare. Shetanae crabbed stepped. Amunet’s silken pavi eased the nervous horse. The strider was still very much concerned of her rider. The strider was right there by the tent flap rather Nayato and Ser Cagus was comfortable with it or not. Rather it took one or both Ser Cagus and Nayato, the strider was eased of the nerves and she was untack her and bring her bags in the tent.

The soft cheese hit her nose as her stomach did a dance. Amunet had to force herself from not gorging and eat slowly to consume what was offered. The girl drank more than she ate. Once completed she then started to recount how she lost her windmarks. Her body was more comfortable as the warmth of the tent lulled her to a more relaxed state. “Our people found caves with drawings on it. The elders say stay away. I was on my way back home when I saw this very old man. He went around a tree away from the way home. I thought that I should go after the old man as the elderly shouldn’t be out alone. I followed him as he disappeared. There was this strange tree and strange markings on the ground. “

Her brow furrowed as she sought to find words for this. “It was like three circles within each other around this tree. Anyway the tree had writing on it and I read what was there. Then the old man I saw before came up and gave me items to help me through getting out of where I was at. See the strange thing was my horse had disappeared. The old man ended up being Haiku. He has been dead for hundreds of years. His spirit was guarding or guiding this place. I don’t know really. It was hard to tell but I went forward. “

The girl paused a moment to take a drink of water before continuing. “There was drawings on the walls of a lot of types, I came across rare fungi for healing and rooms of broken pottery and other items. That was before I ended up going down some stairs and then falling into a pool of water. It was the pool of water was blessed by the gods. It glowed blue. I met up with two other Drykas. When we got out, I noticed that none of my windmarks remained only this mark. “ Her hand trace the mark of healing by Rak’keli. “Its like one set of marks was replaced by a more important one.” Amunet wasn't sure that she was speaking well or conveying the story well enough as there was many parts she didn't understand of the whole ordeal. Her eyes found those black eyes that listened to her story.