Fein shook his head when Aloysius spoke. "My days of facing peril and serving the greater good are done. I will be doing all I can to return to my home before I leave this world."
Kaileer winced at the wizard's words. "Aloysius... my place is by my master. If he wishes to return home, I must go with him. Besides, I am too badly wounded to be of much help in the coming battle."
The ranger stood with a bit of difficulty and walked to his pack, taking three objects from it and returned to the wizard's side.
"Perhaps I can be of some help now, though... take this as my gift of trust," he said, giving his shield to the wizard, "Bestow it upon one you trust equaly, it will protect them and they will protect you."
The mage's eyes were clouding with tears as Kaileer announced his plan. He swallowed hard and trited to hold his head high. "Brave one, there is no one I trust as fully as you, but I shall try."
"Take this as my gift of faith," he said, giving the black sword to Aloysius, "I believe you will return it to it's rightful place."
Aloysius closed his eyes momentarily as he reached out for the black sword. "Yes . . Zond," he said softly. "I shall return it if I can, or wreak vengeance upon those who have made the return impossible."
"And take this," he said, holding out an object about as long as the wizard's hand, wrapped in a piece of cloth tied with bowstring, "as my gift of friendship. Our paths will cross again, Aloysius Stargazer."
With that said, he gathered his equipment and went to stand beside the old elf. "I am ready, master."
The mage took the object from Kaileer and ran his hand over the cloth. "B-brave one," he began, a quiver rising in his voice, "you can't possibly begin to know . . ." His statement was cut short as he stopped to compose himself. He took a deep breath and raised his chin in defiance of his emotions.
"And for you, my friend, the spear that was once considered a loan shall now always be considered my gift to you. I know that it shall always strike for light and goodness so long as it is wielded by your able arm.
The mage slowly stepped forward and put a reluctant arm around Kaileer's neck. He then glanced at Fein. "Your student honors you more than you can imagine, sir. He has honored us all." As Aloysius's composure started to break for good, he patted Kaileer on the shoulder and then retreated towards the house.
As the two elves turned to leave, Fein turned back and added, "Perhaps this man would be willing to aid you. He helped me find Kaileer."
The white dog looked warily at Krynen's son Maxim then growled. The boy moved behind his father, causing Kuiper to chuckle, in spite of the mood in the barn.
Jana glared at Kaileer with undiguised contempt. "Coward," she said voicelessly, then coughed as her throat continued to refuse to function. Eyes watering from the pain, she turned and walked away.
Jyothki watched the newcomers curiously. Her expression turned to a pretty frown as Kaileer walked away with the old elf. "I think we will need some more help," she told Etienne. "I may be able to find Oleanne in the woods. I can meet you at Kuiper's or if it takes a little longer, either you or Kuiper can leave trail signs for us to follow." She smiled at the white dog and waited for a reply.
"Take care of yourself, old elf..." the man called to Fein as he left with Kaileer, then noticed that his dog was growling.
"SNOW, quit that, you're making the boy nervous!" he said to his dog. Then scratched behind the large hound's left ear to calm him down.
"Sorry, he's usualy not like this... must be hungry..."
A smile of recognition suddenly crept onto his face.
"You're the people who kidnapped Lord Parlfray's boy aren't you?" His tone didn't sound accusing at all, but rather amuse.
Jyothki moved from Etienne to Aloysious and put a hand hesitantly on his shoulder. "Kaileer follows the path he must," she said softly. "Sometimes there is simply no choice." She turned to leave the mage alone with his thoughts, walking over to Jana. "You do not understand," she said slowly. "Kaileer faces a harder task than fighting an evil priest. He knows that his mentor is going home for the last time. There is nothing he can do to counter the loss he feels. At least you can strike at the person who took your friend, try to save her."
Jana seemed to get most of what Jyothki said. She shook her head, quite clearly failing to see the comparison between Echo and Fein's situations. Anger and betrayal were clearly written upon her features.
The elf woman looked at the salve she had made for Jana. "Keep this on your throat, and perhaps tomorrow you will be able to speak some."
Jana gingerly nodded her thanks. She lifted her hand to take the salve, having to unclench her fist first.
Aloysius returned a few moments after Fein and Kaileer took off towards the west. He seemed a bit somber, but not as emotional as he had been earlier.
"Much yet have we to accomplish," he said. "Let make what preparations we need and depart for Kuiper's. Hopefully, the others shall be arriving there shortly as well. Wish do I that Kaileer were coming with us, but understand do I that none of us entirely dictate our own path. Stargazer shall retire briefly to the barn to study spells, and then I shall be ready to journey."
He glanced at the man with the white dog. "Why are you still here?"
The dog ignored his master's command to stop growling. He made no move toward the boy, however. Maxim's initial look of fear was replaced by one something akin to disappointment and he darted out of the barn. Kuiper shook his head and with a glance at Krynen, went after him. "I'll meet you outside when you're ready to go," he told the group. Krynen sighed heavily and waited for his barn to be vacated.
Etienne cast some healing spells on Jana, improving her wounds and color a bit.
"I almost regret having helped the old elf, it appears I've cost you a companion and, if I understand, you're about to do... something... that might require another blade? The least I can do is offer my services..." he replied, grasping the dog's collar to make sure it didn't go after the boy.
"'Something' . . . " grunted the mage. Aloysius walked off into the barn.
Etienne spent most of his time looking over Jana and the wound to her throat. He paid special attention to the salve that Jyothki had applied to the wound also. "Jyohtki, when we get a bit of time I'd like to spend some of it with you going over the salve you've made for Jana. That is a skill I would like to aquire for myself." He turned his attention back to Jana, then. He whispered quietly to Jana as tended to her.
Upon the man's offer to help he turned and looked at him, "And you are? Pardon my manners but we have been jumped at from every bush we've passed. I'd like to know a little about you, before I turn my back on you in battle. I like my internal organs where they are." He waited for the man's response.
"Of course," the man said with a half grin. "I'm Daelen, this is Snow." he said, giving the collar a little tug to get the hound's attention. "Sit." he he said softly.
Daelen stands over six feet tall, with broad shoulders and powerful limbs. His banded armor and helm appear to be military issue and his armor was obviously made to fit though all insignias or identifying symbols have been removed. A shield is strapped to his backpack and weapons, a longsword, two long daggers and a bullwhip, are obvious on his body. When he removes his helm, you see that his hair is kept short and it appears he hasn't shaved in a few days. His cloak was once red but has faded to a rusty brown and it and his boots are dusty and travel worn.
"I don't have any badges of honor, but as you know I did help a half blind elven ranger find his student, that should earn me some trust. And I can assure you that unless you're intending on hurting helpless women and children, your internal organs are safe with me."
"That had to be painful." he said, nodding to Etienne's boot with the large cut in it.
"Do you speak elven?" Jyothki asked the man as she approached the dog, hand outstretched and humming slightly.
After about an hour, Aloysius returned from the barn, his pack slung over his shoulders and the shield and sword Kaileer had given him in either hand. "Let's depart," he said gruffly. "Kuiper, once we reach thy homestead, how long will it take for us to reach the Hardlow Woods?"
Kuiper was speaking with Maxim and did not reply.
Aloysius then glanced over at Etienne. "How do you and Janathell fare with thine injuries, archer?"
