Ettrian Rescues Kathena

Ettrian: There was a moment when he forgot to think of her and his routine actually took on some normalcy. But, now and then, she would creep into his thoughts, usually when he lay quietly for reverie.

Ettrian: But, this night his dreams were troublesome. It had  been three days - or more - and she had not returned. A rumor had reached him earlier that her mission had failed and that she was in trouble. He tried to push it from his mind, but his heart was beating rapidly. He jerked up from the bed where he lay.

Ettrian: His bare chest was washed in sweat, the sweat beading up on his flesh. He sighed, heavily. "No, it is not....not my responsibility. SHE is not my responsibility.'

Ettrian in  Reverie

Ettrian: He reached for a goblet of thick red wine and as he raised it to his lips, his body began to tremble and he jerked upright as the wine stained his chest a deep red, flowing down like blood.

Ettrian: He began to shake harder and thoughts of her touch, her kiss crashed through him as the wine soaked into him like blood.

Ettrian: Quickly, he slid his boots on and next his tunic came crashing over his head soaking up the luscious red wine. He strapped his sword belt around his narrow hips and just as quickly threw his bow and quiver over his shoulder, "I must be crazy," he mumbled. "This is...." and before the last word touched his breath, he was running toward the stables. A hand reached for the mane and he whispered, "Let's go, to the woods" he whispered in a shaky shallow voice. The white steed melted from the elven city as it raced downward toward the forests of Calenhad.

Ettrian: The elf and the horse were one as they moved in sync through the forest. Heavy brush and limbs crashed into the horse, into him. But they were one and moved as swiftly as a bird in flight.

Ettrian: When he came to the narrow bridge that led toward the Underdark, the horse reared up, it neighed letting its hooves dig into the soft soil. "Onward," the elf whispered as he leaned along the contours of the animals back. "Onward," he said again and the pair rushed over the bridge, making their way along the bank of the river, heading to Falcon's Edge.

Kathena Mavendorf: Rob paces a bit looking like is usual, impatient self. Gabe sits calmly in a chair. "Look I already sent for Andraste. She should be her before lunch time. I'm sure she will have word from the boss as to what he wants us to do with her." Gabe tells Rob reassuring him. Rob nods and sits, crossing his arms in front. "I've only met her the once before when she hired me. I hope she's a bit less, ummmm, scary than then. I truly thought she's cut off my head." Rob chuckles remembering the incident.  Gabe laughs loudly. "Yes well yer shouldn't have tried to touch her arse! She did wield a mighty big sword, and she's quicker than ye think." Rob grins widely. "It was worth it."

Kathena Mavendorf: The morning dew is fresh upon Kathena's skin. She'd been unconscious the entire night, ever since Gabe squeezed her neck so hard that for once Kathena thought she'd not make it through. She's not yet opened her eyes, but can hear the men talking in hushed tones to each other. The throbbing headache had kicked in and make it difficult for her to concentrate. She lay still for a minute letting her mind calm a bit before trying to move.

Kathena Mavendorf: Rob paces a bit looking like is usual, impatient self. Gabe sits calmly in a chair. "Look I already sent for Andraste. She should be her before lunch time. I'm sure she will have word from the boss as to what he wants us to do with her." Gabe tells Rob reassuring him. Rob nods and sits, crossing his arms in front. "I've only met her the once before when she hired me. I hope she's a bit less, ummmm, scary than then. I truly thought she's cut off my head." Rob chuckles remembering the incident.  Gabe laughs loudly. "Yes well yer shouldn't have tried to touch her arse! She did wield a mighty big sword, and she's quicker than ye think." Rob grins widely. "It was worth it."

Kathena Mavendorf: Kathena stirs and moans as her head throbs and her throat is very painful at the moment. She struggles a bit but gets herself sitting up. "Would ya look who's awake?! If it ain't our own personal torture doll." Rob says while grinning from ear to ear, obviously very amused. She blinks a few times, adjusting to the light and trying to focus clearly on the two men. Gabe approaches the cage, looking quite imposing and dangerous. He smiled at her admiring the collection of bruises he'd slowly created on her. His hands had used her skin as a canvas, and with each strike, he'd painted her skin in shades of purple and blue.

Kathena Mavendorf: "Sleep well princess?" Gabe says almost chuckling. Kathena tries to call him a rather nasty name, but her voice breaks badly and the pain doesn't let her get the word out. Her hand softly covering her throat as she tries in vein to sooth the pain. Gabe sees her struggle and starts to laugh at the pathetic sound that comes out of her mouth. He then sits back down.

Kathena Mavendorf: Rob watches her for a moment then questions his partner. "Gabe, what if Andraste wants to talk to her? She's can't even get a word out right now." Gabe looks at him and grins. I'm sure she can figure out how to make her squeal all on her own. After all, she's the boss' favorite from what I hear." They both chuckle for a moment. Kathena sits in the back of the cage looking exhausted, broken, in pain and weak, but she listens intently, so her efforts aren't in vain.

Kathena Mavendorf: "Let's get something to eat before Andraste arrives." Gabe says as he stands to leave. Rob nods and follows him back into the inn, leaving Kathena alone in her cage.

Ettrian: He rode northward, the horse and the elf moving as one. As he neared the stone pathway that led  cross the river toward the inn, he slid off the horse with an elf's ease. He whispered to the horse, "Stay among the trees until I call for you," Ettrian whispered as he lay his cheek to the horse in a parting gesture.

Ettrian: He moved forward, heeding her lesson, "Stay in the shadows. Think like a human..."

Kathena Mavendorf: Gabe returned to keep watch. He glances at her briefly then sits and continues to drink his coffee.

Ettrian: As he neared the inn, his senses felt the warning, the fear crept into him and her spilt blood raced through his nostrils like a flame. He dropped behind a rock, looking across the river's depths and almost choked when he saw her there, caged like an animal. His keen eyesight into in the cuts, the bruises and he clenched his fist as he looked at the male in the chair.

Ettrian Sees Kat Caged

Ettrian: With ease, with quiet, he unbuckled his sword belt. He removed his bow and quiver. He stepped in the water still cool from winter's passing. He let his body sink into the water and swam, hand over hand, until he reached the further shore.

Kathena Mavendorf stairs at the cup of coffee. Her throat is on fire and hasn't had anything to drink in over a day now. Gabe notices her stare and chuckles. "Oh no little one. This coffee is just for me." He takes another sip.

Gabee Teases Kat

Ettrian: With an elf's, a ranger's ease he pushed his palms into the moist bank and pushed his body upward to end postured like a wild animal.

Ettrian: His eyes went directly to Kat, they felt both sadness and anger and putting his fingers to his lips in hopes she would not set off an alarm for the seated man, he moved forward, toward the man.

Kathena Mavendorf locks her eyes on Ettrian and tries to keep Gabe from looking at him. She drops a hand by her side and tries to motion Ettrian to go away, without success.

Ettrian: Crouched, his knees bent, he sees her hand move. He pauses a moment and moves forward until his breath is close enough to be felt by the man. One arm moved swiftly to bind the man's throat, the other gave balance to the one. His eyes cut directly to Kathena.

Kathena Mavendorf looks horrified, and gasps loudly as Ettrian moves so quickly that she doesn't have time to control her reaction.

Kathena Mavendorf's eyes wide with fear for a moment, she looks around to make sure Rob isn't coming around the corner at any second.

Jaekob Faolan: With a quick twist of the arm, he could hear the bones break. He could feel the life flow from the man as he fell from the chair and crumpled to the ground.

Kathena Mavendorf tries to speak, but only a crackling whisper comes out. "Ettrian, run! Rob will return soon!"

Kathena Mavendorf is terrified for him. She knows if Rob returns Ettrian will have no element of surprise and will face a rather violent man.

Ettrian moves quickly to the cage, shaking at the bars, "I will...Oh Kat my sweet. I will set you free." And he looks around, "Where are the keys?" he asks still jerking at the bars as if they would magically open.

Kathena Mavendorf rolls her eyes and pulls a pin from her hair. She picks the lock in less than 5 seconds and steps out of the cage.

Kathena Mavendorf: Just then she hears Rob's voice yelling at someone coming up the path. "There's the love of me life!" He chuckles loudly. Kathena looks terrified, but not for herself, but Ettrian.

Kathena Mavendorf: "Go!" she strains to say to him.

Kathena and Ettrian

Ettrian looks at her wide-eyed, shooting her a cold stare, "Just like that?" he says a bit loudly. "Just like that and you are free." And he moves quickly when he hears the voice of yet another man. Putting fingers to his lips, he lets out a loud whistle and just as quickly the horse seems to fly over the walking stone. The elf grabs Kat and flings her over the horse. And grabbing the horse's mane, he says loudly, "Home, my friend." And the horse swiftly turns and crashes over the river's walking stones.

Kathena Mavendorf shrugs at the question. Of course she could open the lock! She's been picking locks since she was four. She could have left at any time, give the right distraction, but she was getting much more information by staying inside the cage. She feels light as a feather as he picks her up. She can feel the strength of the horse as it carries them both swiftly from there.

Kathena Mavendorf: Rob hears the whistle and turns immediately to see a horse with two riders take off. He then notices his partner on the ground. "Damn it!"

Kathena Mavendorf: He runs towards Gabe and the cage and finds him dead, and the gypsy gone. He stands looking at the woods in the distance and feels Andraste close in behind him. He slowly turns to face her. "I....I can explain." She hit him hard across the face and pushes him into the cage, locking it behind him. "I'm sure you will." She says in a calm voice then sits in the chair.