Matt Stanza had been walking along with RhoHolla quietly for some time. Considering what she had said about the distance they still had to travel, he was thankful that she had taken enough care of him that he could handle the journey fairly well by foot. This wasn’t the first time he’d traveled across a Sith World in such a manner, but it had certainly been under much different circumstances.

On Khar Delba, when they had gone after the Nar Kelba, and later when Terrin had brought them back to find Galen. And here, when they had lived in the capital city of Princhatka, before its civilization had been awoken.

Matt wondered if RhoHolla had any idea of the fact that, until not that long ago, her species hadn’t lived for 4,000 years. Considering what she had said…or at least implied…about her station he doubted very much that she had been deemed worthy enough to know anything about it, unless her unknown teacher had said something of it to her.

He frowned at that. It wasn’t fair. If the Sith wanted to come back as the benevolent rulers they once were, they needed treat those of their own better than this. Eventually, they would find out one way or another, unless they were left sequestered on the Sith Worlds forever. And with some things that Matt was at least once aware of that were coming down the spacelanes, that wasn’t a very reasonable idea. They would never be prepared for what was incoming if they didn’t know what time they were in…
He pursed his lips then, turning fractionally to look at her as he continued to move. “I’ve been told your peoples were great rulers of the galaxy once,” he said then. “My comrades and I have been working alongside Lord Aelvedaar and Graysith for some time. When I left from Khar Delba, something had blocked all magicks from being used. I know this is not hte case now...”

Here he trailed a moment, recalling how RhoHolla had been able to shield them from prying eyes and ears as she took him from the dungeons, "...but it's strange that it has taken this long for anyone to come after me. I'm hoping nothing ill has befallen them."

[ 01-23-2019 08:32 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Matt Stanza ]

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It could be that they themselves had been captured, but only recently escaped. It could have been they had been told a falsehood, and had been sent off on a wild goose chase, only to now return. It could be they had problems with their ship, or had been detained elsewhere, or had decided that finding Matt wasn't the highest on their list of priorities because something of greater import had happened, but whatever that could have been was now addressed...

Or even worse: it could have been that Dark Lord Aelvedaar had changed his mind, and redacted the Writ.

But...

She slid her eyes to the human marching so steadily at her side, noting with a modicum of pride how well he was able to keep up with her pace, slow that it might be by Sith standards. After all, it wasn't that long ago that she had taken him from beneath the very noses of his gaolers, and brought him to safety in the Temple of her God.

"While it seems to you they have been possibly detained on Khar Delba, even though the Writ was decreed," she finally said, deciding that of all possible answers she could give the simplest one was more than likely the best, "The fact is that the Bearers of the Writ were probably sent on their way immediately after they received it."

Suddenly she stopped dead in her tracks, turned to regard Matt more closely.
"You don't realize what happened back there, do you?"

How long had it been since she'd rescued him from within the bowels of the Temple? On the one hand, it seemed like it had been a long time...but on the other...

He shook his slightly, somehow knowing that RhoHolla was aware of what he was doing even as she continued to move. "No" he answered simply. "Honestly, the days have been blurring by for me long before you found me and took me away," he admitted. "Still, I'm familiar with great magicks that exist here in this place, with your people."

--------------------

"It is not just our magick, but it is His. Great S'slaan, to whom we owe our everything and our all.

"For He creates all that is, and the blood in our veins, and the magick in our blood. He is the holder of Life, and of Death and Madness and Despair. But most of all He is the Holder of Time."

Now her head turned Matt's way.

"It has been but a day since I brought you out of the dungeons, and but hours since the Writ of Abeyance was decreed. Enough time for those holding the Writ to travel here from Khar Delba, which I am told is not far away. They may in fact be here even as I speak."

Now she stopped, looking Matt earnestly in the eye.

"I hope and pray to S'slaan that they are here! For only then will our plan work, that being I came upon you and am now bringing you back to your imprisonment...

"Which of course will be to your rescue instead."

“Well here goes nothing,” he said.

Yeah, that's the understatement of the century, pal...

Then he began walking and led them out of the transport and onto a cobblestone walkway, one lined with artfully pruned trees and shrubs. Every so often there would be a greelwood bench. And in spaces where there were no trees or shrubbery, statues stood of what looked to be Sith warriors. These often were adorned with various weaponry or simply had ornate robes, looking quite regal. All were brought to life with various colors, precious gems, and remarkable detail.

Jasyn noted, somewhat ashamedly, that although the artful plantlife wasn't there when he'd been in Prinnchatka in the past, that he really didn't even remember the statues or benches that were most certainly there then.

That's because you were drunk 99% of the time, you idiot, came the mental rejoinder. Just like you'd really like to be right now...

Frowning to himself at this, Jasyn made a mental note to apologize to Terrin, Galen, Matt, and hell, maybe even that Jedi brother of Stargazer's, for being plastered and useless so often--that was, if he ever saw any of them again.

Someday, hopefully. He missed the team. The friendship.

Leaving these thoughts behind, Jasyn forced himself to focus, and realized that the Great Temple of the Warriors was now in sight. As they continued their approach, it grew larger and larger, a grand stepped pyramid, rising at least 250 feet upwards. Knowing that with their approach they were most likely gaining attention, Jasyn glanced to his two peers, pausing a moment...and with a nod steeled himself,clutching the Writ of Abeyance in front of himself as though it were his lifeline, and began walking once more, making his final approach to the steps of the Temple...

...and beginning to walk up them. Jasyn suspected very much that if they did make it all the way to the top where the courtyard was, they wouldn't make it much further before they were intercepted by a Warrior or two...

...or for that matter, more.

[ 01-25-2019 10:08 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jasyn Lancaster ]

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"If the bearers of the Writ are any of those people that I think they might be, they will get here as soon as possible."

Pausing then, Matt considered the other portion of what RhoHolla had said, about her only having taken him from the dungeons of the Temple a mere day ago. His grasp on time had clearly been disturbed, either by his injuries, the Temple of S'slaan, or both...

...but the fact that he had come through within only a day's time to such improved health after being beaten and having bones broken was astounding. Granted, he still had bruises and pains here and there....

...but still, this amount of restoration in a day?

Matt shook himself from such curious thoughts as they continued to move onward towards the Temple. His mind shifted to their destination, to the Temple where he and others had lived for some time before the Sith had returned. They'd spent both good days--when they had been reunited together and Galen had found her daughter at last--to dark days where they had all been separated and things had taken a turn for the worst, eventually leading to Terrin's death. Thankfully, again through the magicks and other things at the Sith's disposal, that had been rectified.

And while they had all tried to escape this place, and the Sith, and return to normal life in one way or another, here they all were again. The Fates were probably collectively laughing at them, trying fruitlessly to lead lives of their own choosing, only to end up right back here where they had been once more.

And if Jasyn was one of the ones here once agian, he was probably really wishing he could get a hold of some Sith Brandy. This place always unnerved him so...

Unable to help it, a bemused grin pulled at one corner of Matt's mouth before he quickly let it fade away.

"They will be here, one way or another," Matt reiterated regarding the bearers of the Writ. "And we will get through this one way or another too."

--------------------

But never mind the doors, or the grand widow's walk that was above them now, no doubt with Sith Warriors keeping an eye on their Temple. For what Jasyn had been anticipating all along was also in fact the case: the Temple door itself was guarded by Warriors.

Cazun might be reevaluating never taking another drop of Sith brandy again after this...

So, approaching both the doors to the Temple and the warriors there, Jasyn then stopped before them, knowing K'kihl and Cazun would do likewise. He stretched out the Writ that he held in his hand then, again stating simply. "I am Jasyn Lancaster of Eagle Enterprises, sent by Dark Lord Aelvedaar from Khar Delba with this Writ of Abeyance to find Matt Stanza and Panthar Dantares."

Then he fell silent and simply waited.

[ 01-26-2019 06:31 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jasyn Lancaster ]

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But then, a Writ from a Dark Lord would bolster anyone's courage.

The other, who watched their approach with something of a bit calmer mein, merely extended his clawed hand, and waited. His eyes never left Jasyn's pair. For a heartbeat they stood thus before a waggle of sharp claws prompted the human to deposit the precious Writ in his palm. His fingers closed carefully about it, and he let his pewter eyes drop to the writing Lord Aelvedaar's magicks had scrolled in such elegant script upon it.

It didn't take him long to read. Lifting his gaze from the Writ only to drop it into Jasyn's once again, he nodded once, then turned. Barking an order to his partner to remain where he was, he then made a peculiar motion with his free hand, the action reflected in the blade of the intensely lethal-looking sword he wore at his side, ending with his hand facing the door, palm out and fingers splayed.

The massive double doors oiled open without so much as a squeak to betray the movement.

He did not bother to turn back to the two humans and Verpine. "Follow me," was all he said, and without bothering to see if they followed proceeded to enter into the Great Temple of the Warrior Clan of the Sith.

Down the long Pillared Great Hall he went, his stride long enough that anyone not Sith would be hard pressed not to trot to keep up with him. Passing side corridors leading to soldiers' barracks, he headed straight as a Sith-flung spear until he came to the back wall. There stood yet another set of double doors, massive and dark with age, covered with runes and sigils and jewels.

He opened these in the same manner as he had the prior set, now leading them into a narrower corridor or hallway, but one with vaulted ceiling and ancient, stone walls covered here and there with mosses that seemed to writhe of their own accord, the floor tough slate-like flagstone, torch-bearing sconces lighting the way. They moved along this long corridor for some time before he stopped at yet a third set of double doors. These were not bejeweled, but no less impressive for the weight of the ages their darkly oiled wood carried.

"This is the Great Dining Hall. I shall inform the Major Domo of your arrival, and will be back to take you to him at his leisure.

"Food and drink is at your service. I shall return."

After making certain the three had indeed entered the Dining Hall, he then closed the doors and headed off, Writ of Abeyance clutched firmly in his hand.

He had remained silent.

That silence was maintained, easy enough for the fear which iced his veins to the point where he thought if he tried to so much as even whisper his jaw would crack and fall off of his face, through their second confrontation with Sith Warriors, their lengthy trek through the darkly shadowed and pillared foyer through which they'd been led, and continued to the point where he wondered if he'd ever speak again on this little jaunt when they left the former Hall for the flame-flickered corridor leading from its far end.

But the Dining Hall was an entirely different matter.

His still parched throat and suddenly growling stomach reminded him that he hadn't had anything to eat for some while, and only a small glass of water aboard ship. So he just stood a moment next to Jasyn and K'kihl, letting his sight drink in these friendlier surroundings.

At the wall far to the right of them stood an immense stone fireplace. Tables with comfortable-looking chairs, large though they might be, beckoned to the patronage to come rest, eat, drink and be merry. A huge fire underscored the implication with it's flickering crackle.

He turned away from that, looked ahead. There, against that wall was a gigantic buffet. Serving girls hastened to and fro, taking partially emptied trays and replacing them with heaping ones, and to all appearances seeming to assure that this welcoming table was eternally provisioned for whoever would come in at whatever time to partake of it.

Off to one side of the buffet was a single but massive dark-wooded door, open. Coming from beyond it was laughter and the clink of glasses. From what he could see that interior held just the right amount of soft, dim lighting to make it easier for the clientele within to forget the troubles of the day and just...

Relax.

All in all the Great Dining Hall went a looooong way toward making Cazun remember that he'd thrown his lot in with his new friends because, oh yeah, life was a bit boring and it was time for a little adventure, right?

Right.

He gave Jasyn a nudge.

"Yeah, I've been here before," he answered. Then he turned and looked at the buffet and scanned it, his own stomach rumbling a bit as he took in the sights and smelled the aroma of fresh breads, meats, and other various and sundry deliciousness. And there, at the end of the buffet, Jasyn's eyes fell on the most beautiful thing he was certain he had ever seen: clear bottles filled with the most gorgeous and heady liquor he'd ever tasted in his life.

Brandy, you're a fine girl...

"Let's get some grub," he announced to his comrades then, the grin on his face becoming impossibly more lopsided before he cocked his head towards the inviting buffet, raising and eyebrow before turning to lead the way. Taking a plate, he filled it up fairly liberally as Cazun beside him did much the same. K'kihl, staying with them, might have been getting something, Jasyn wasn't really sure.

Hey, what the Bloody Hell do Verpine eat anyway?

But Jasyn made certain to stop at the bar, getting a goblet of Sith Brandy, practically licking his lips as he poured. He wondered if Cazun would do the same...

...and vowed to himself to not go completely overboard, as much as he would really like to.

Maybe once they finally rescued Matt...

Jasyn collected his plate, the goblet of brandy, and headed to a nice little table along with his peers. He took a bite of food, then another....

...and then reached for the brandy, taking a nice, slow swig.

Ahhhh....

Then he finally refocused on Cazun and K'kihl. "So the Major Domo will speak with us at his leisure," he said, pretty much repeating what the Warrior had said to them. "This could take a while..."

--------------------

Just beneath the great Dark Lords were their Major Domos, occupying a position one could relate as being a Number One to a Captain, a First Mate aboardship. It was a proud position to hold, and only those Sith coming from the best of bloodlines were even considered as being possible for the role.

This Major Domo, strangely enough, for all his fearful mein was something of a flutter-budget. Being second only to the Great Dark Lord - or his Lady! - he was accustomed to receiving orders to then turn about and, exuding the greatest airs of hauteur that he could, would then proceed to command in turn, to delegate and assign, and in general to simply make said orders so.

Coming up with the order to begin with was something that was not quite his forte, and was displayed by the way he now paced back and forth in front of the waiting guard, fussing a bit with his robes and inspecting his claws and in general acting like the flibberty-gibbet he otherwise managed to keep successfully squelched.

He stopped pacing and turned to the guard.

"Who did you say is seeking audience again? And are you certain the Writ they have with them is genuine?"

The guard merely tilted his head downward. This was a good thing, for he couldn't help but hold contempt for the fussing Sith who occupied the role he himself had worked so long in seeking. True, while it was a rare enough occurrence that both the Dark Lord AND Lady would be off-planet at the same time, as protocol demanded one of them remain behind for the sake of the populace, the fact remained that when this happened the Major Domo was supposed to pick up the reins and move the bantha smoothly along without so much as the tiniest hitch.

This one couldn't pick his own nose...

The guard stiffened further, battling within himself to squelch the disdain that was yearning to break free, and at last managed a reply in a voice that at least approximated normal.

"Yes, my lord. The Writ is genuine, scrolled by Dark Lord Aelvedaar himself.

"What do you decree should be done with the three strangers?"

The Major Domo whirled, robes skirling about him as he began pacing faster this time.

What to do? What to do! What would Dark Lord Roan have done? Lady Graysith? Allow the strangers safe passage afforded by the Writ? Give them whatever assistance said Writ demanded? Was K'eel Doba back on speaking terms with the Sorcerer Clan again? Hadn't they broken away, to declare themselves totally self-governed now?

But the Writ of a Dark Lord was not to be denied. To do so would be to run the risk of outright war between the Clans, and even though the Armorers dwelled now on K'eel Doba there was rumor that many of them weren't quite as... satisfied as they'd been before the Dark Jedi came and they had to flee to safety on the world of the Warriors.

A war between the sister worlds K'eel Doba and Khar Delba was one thing less to be desired; but to harbor even the possibility of having to deal with a civil war at the same time...

Probabilities played tag with possibilities in his head. Possibilities chased after potentialities. Round and round and round they went, making him pace faster and faster until he simply could not stand any of it and brought himself up short.

As much as he didn't like it, he had to make a choice.

He sighed heavily.

..Jasyn got to his feet, looking to Cazun and K'kihl...he hadn't gotten anything, to Jasyn's knowledge.

Sheesh, what does that guy eat?

Jasyn was admittedly feeling a little more at ease with being on the Warrior world and a little less insecure. He was by no means inebriated, however. And when it came to their current circumstances and the presence of Sith brandy...

..that was an accomplishment. So, nodding to his peers, the Writ of Abeyance in his hand, Jasyn Lancaster turned to the Warrior with a respectful nod, following his long-strided steps down several corridors before being brought into a room where they were brought to another Sith, one wearing royal robes...

...and turned away from them, at least for the moment. Jasyn waited patiently until the Major Domo turned at length to them, almost looking a bit unnerved and very un-Warrior-like.

Jasyn pursed his lips a bit.

Hmmmm.

"I am Jasyn Lancaster, of Eagle Enterprises. I was sent with this Writ of Abeyance from Dark Lord Aelvedaar, to find one Matt Stanza and one Panthar Dantares."

Saying nothing other than that, Jasyn held the Writ in his hand out to the Major Domo, and waited.

[ 02-08-2019 08:49 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jasyn Lancaster ]

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They were being respectful, he begrudged them that!

"Very well, the Dark Lord commands it, and so shall it be. Come with me."

With that he fluttered off the dias upon which he had been standing, not daring to seat himself on the royal throne sitting upon it after all, and headed toward the doors through which the three had just entered. Hurrying along, he headed past the door to the Great Dining Hall, came to the large and richly appointed double doors through which the guard had led the men, and flung them open. The Writ crinkled in his hand as he gave those doors a push, almost in emphasis of the fact that for once he had an order to delegate, and delegating orders was the thing he did best.

Entering the Grand Foyer, he hastened amidst the pillars, soon coming to the side corridor which led to the barracks of the Warriors. Rather than turn in that direction, he headed in complete opposition to it, now threading through the pillars until upon reaching the side wall he came to another large door, but one much more simple in design.

Not even bothering to knock, he flung it open and stood in its frame, clapping his hands to call forth the Captains and Majors of the Warriors that they would see to the implementation of the Writ themselves. The sheer alacrity of the Warriors would have given a Mandalorian pause; his clap had scarce the time to strike one distant wall and echo back when a good number of burly, weaponed Sith arrayed themselves in front of him, each according to rank.

Now the Major Domo was in his element. Holding himself proudly, he made a great show of straightening out the Writ, and with eyes pompously closed appeared to then read:

"Let all Sith cease and desist in what they are doing, and join together in seeking the whereabouts of the Sith called Panthar Dantares and human Matt Stanza. This decreed by the Dark Lord of Sorcerers, Aelvedaar."

His not quite rote memorization didn't matter in the slightest. All that was of importance was that the order had been given, and would now spread throughout not only the Temple but the city of Phrinnchatka and into the outlands as well, and would do so very quickly.

The Warrior elite turned en masse to depart and implement this outflow, all except for one. He came up to the Major Domo, bowed his horned head and planted his orange eyes upon the stones of the floor.

"My Lord, it is of my knowledge that one of these personages, the one by the name of Matt Stanza, has been imprisoned in our dungeons, placed there before the Dark Lady left to go offworld," he said simply, falling silent then as he waited to be told what to do.

The Major Domo didn't disappoint him. Fluffing himself up like a preening pigeon, he spoke down his nose to the Warrior.

"Go fetch this one, and if he is injured... see to his wounds. Take him to the Grand Dining Hall; we will all await his arrival with open arms, and revel in that we have found the first one missing in so miraculously short a time!"

With that he waved off the Warrior, and stepped out himself, now fully strutting, the two humans and Verpine being forced to trot themselves as he led them back to the very place they had so recently left.

...and Jasyn's very good friend. As they followed the Major Domo, his stride quite long, the looming success in finding Matt gave wings to Jasyn's feet, allowing him to keep up. The only thing that gave him a good pause however, was that the Warrior had just said something regarding Matt being imprisoned and injuries.

Oh kriffing hell, Matt, ole' buddy, I'm so sorry we haaven't gotten to you sooner.
I sure as Hell hope you haven't been injured in any way...

He frowned then, his step slowing for but a moment before he picked up his pace once more, and they reentered the Dining Hall with the Major Domo's lead. Jasyn couldn't stand not going back to his abandoned brandy, picking up the goblet once more.

Soon now, he'd be sharing one a drink with his long lost commrade, now found...

[ 02-08-2019 10:06 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jasyn Lancaster ]

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RhoHalla knew, of course. Every Sith working within the Great Temple of the Warriors knew the way, as did most of the city dwellers in Phrinnchatka. For these Sith were first and foremost the ones to visit the temple with burnt and blood offerings, seeking the aid of their fierce god when the Time of Hunts came upon them. This was their way; the outlanders living in the countryside had less proclivity to hang onto the warrior ways, taking to farming to thus feed the populace of K'eel Doba. In addition this was where the remainder of the Armorer Clan lived, preferring the simple country life in which to build their forges and work their magicks, creating the weapons used by their fiercer brothers.

They had come out of the foothills some time ago, with RhoHalla quickening the pace faster yet. As they moved through the country, covering the ground at a 6 kmh clip, she had taken to use the Art of Subtle Being to cover them, thus preventing any potential wasting of time too precious to do so in being stopped and questioned by the occasional passers-by. She knew that travelling at this rate would get them to Phrinnchatka in the space of 5 hours; with concern flooding her rusty eyes, she broke the companionable silence they had fallen into.

"How are you faring, Matt?" she asked, not one bit breathless, feeling she could increase the pace by at least another 5 kmh to reach what she found to be a brisk walk for herself. However, just because she could speed along, Sith endurance being what it was, she knew it was impossible for the human to endure it, even if he was capable of reaching it to begin with. She did not want to wind him, or risk a relapse due to becoming overly fatigued, but she knew time was of the essence and felt to her very soul that they needed to get to the city as quickly as possible.

She chewed briefly on her lip, thinking. Then went on.

"I do not feel you will be in any dire danger when we reach the Temple, Matt. For you see, you have your friends who are carrying the Writ. In the worst case you will be placed back into the dungeons, but the gaolers will not physically harm you right away. They would prefer you suffer the anticipation of it; I think you will be left alone for at least a couple standard hours, if this should be the case."

She paused again, now swerving slightly as a particularly burly Sith approached them hauling a wagon full of various and sundry paraphernalia. He didn't feel so much of a whisper of their presence as he hastened on past, soon dwindling to a speck in the distance behind them. After moving themselves a little to one side, RhoHalla turned her thoughts to her own predicament, wondering if she should burden Matt with her thoughts, wondering if what she was turning round and round in her head was indeed calm assessment of what in all probability would happen, or merely wishful thinking.

"As for me, well... if your friends are there when we arrive, all should be well. I can keep us hidden until we have climbed the stairs of the Temple and come to the guards at the entrance; in fact, I should find a hidden place to drop the little magick I am employing now, so as not to have us suddenly pop into being in front of people.

"We can then join the general flow of whoever is out and about this..." She cast an eye upward, noting the current position of the sun. "...afternoon, for although it is somewhat early morning now, it will be several hours later when we do finally reach Phrinnchatka."

Now she herself wasted a few precious seconds by stopping their brisk pace, turning to Matt to look him straight in the eye.

"We don't know when your friends will be there. If they arrive before we do, all is well and good. You are protected; you shall protect me.

She hoped.

"If they are not, you will more than likely be imprisoned again, but certainly not for very long. I on the other hand may not fare so well; thus I will announce I was out on an errand for a minor Lord and while doing so found you and overcame you to bring you back to the Major Domo."

So far she knew this story would hold up; there was absolutely no doubt in her mind that if push came to shove and the two of them, she and Matt, had to come to blows she would come up on the winning side. That was a simple fact of Sith physiology being far superior to human's, and Matt of course had no weaponry.

"In this event, I wish I could blacken your eye or bloody you a bit, just to promote the ruse, but I do not wish to do so. I think I could best you and keep you unbroken."

A smile broadened her features, then she continued.

"Do not worry about me if we return in this manner. The means of your escape from the dungeons shall remain a mystery, and I shall do nothing to change that. Even if I were somehow suspected, it is common knowledge that the Major Domo does not have much stomach to issue orders, unless he has been given them to issue to begin with.

"So..." she finished, now turning back to the road ahead, smiling to see more and more dwelling places popping up here and there in the distance. "I do not think there is anything to fear. We only need to get to Phrinnchatka; there you may rest, one way or another, and will soon be in the companionship of your friends.

...but I will be fine," Matt added, hoping to allay any concerns she had. "I look forward to introducing you to my companions," he then said, shifting slightly to cast a green-eyed gaze in RhoHolla's direction. Then, wondering once more if one of those companions that would be potentially waiting for him with said Writ was Jasyn, Matt's lip turned up in a momentary lopsided smile. "I hope you are as fond of Sith brandy as some of my friends are of it."

He paused a moment, recalling how Jasyn took to Sith brandy, often drinking way more than he should.

All right pal, if I get back, and you're one of the ones here or coming here now, I'll keep my trap shut while you drink if and when we get past this!

"And if my friends are not here yet, I think your plan to tell them that you found me and overtook me is the best one; perhaps it is the most logical one regardless of whether they are here or not. After all, I was in the dungeons, and I had been beaten. Since it's really only been a day since you found me, someone may question my apparent health, other than being winded from the trip from the Temple of S'slaan to Prinnchatka."

He quieted, looking at RhoHolla again as they continued to walk, arching an eyebrow. He knew she really didn't want to, but he also knew for them to pull this off it might be necessary. "I think you should do it."

He fell silent then, still keeping up, but managing to continue to cast a meaningful green-eyed gaze in RhoHolla's general direction despite the persistent pace and any fatigue that might be threatening to impede his own progress.

[ 02-10-2019 03:14 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Matt Stanza ]

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Could she really do this? After all the healing she had helped with, all the prayers and offerings to Sla'an, could she now turn about-face and literally reverse all the good she had done?

She drew in a breath, knowing the answer as surely as she knew her own heart.

She had to get away from this world, this life...

Quickly then so as to take him by some semblance of surprise she struck, the movement as quick and unstoppable as the invisible attack of a dianoga. One clawed hand shot out, grasping him by the throat, digging in and drawing blood as they raked the tender flesh there. Her rusty eyes darkened, taking on the hue of a dying ember as with a small grunt she flung his body around, that hand that had stuck him flashing to a wrist which she twisted, up and behind his back.

She didn't even hear the crack as it broke.

Continuing, she now let a foot flash out, swiping him from his feet to fall on his face with a thud. The sight of puffs of dust flying up from the road for no apparent reason would undoubtedly have brought on incredulous stares from any Sith passing by, but as luck would have it, other than the one who had passed them with his wagon there were none. She smiled the smile of a tuk'ata being Blood-bonded, kicked him once as hard as she could in the ribs, and let forth a growl as the snap of one cracking came to her ears.

She finished the job by rolling him over with her foot, and then lashing down to blacken an eye, making certain to leave a few more fairly deep scratches on the hard plane of his cheek as she did.

Finally, slowly, the sounds of his panting, of his stifled cries and grunts broke through the blood-lust, sliding into her ears and telling her softly to just stop now...

She did. Even more slowly her own breathing subsided, her eyes lightened up to their normal brilliant ochre and sense returned to her with the sudden awareness that he was on the ground bleeding, while she stood over him like a warrioress.

A hand flashed to her mouth, regret and remorse filled her eyes. Gulping, she held out a hand to help him gain his feet, relieved to see that once there he didn't so much as sway but stood quietly, cradling his injured wrist in his other hand.

"I'm- I'm sorry, Matt. Truly I am. But this must look believable.

"Oh, Sla'an take me to hell for what I've done. For surely if your friends are there when we reach the Temple I will be imprisoned at their request for trying to kill you!"

Utterly forgotten were her very own words spoken mere moments ago, words agreed to by this man. All she could see was the pain and injury she brought upon his barely healed body.

”No,” he said simply, yet quite meaningfully. “If they are already here, then you found me like this and I told you who I was so you answered the Writ. If not, you found me and overtook me, then realized there was a search out for a human and brought me in. I will have no harm come to you; I am certainly alive only because you found me to begin with.”

Saying nothing more Matt simply looked into RhoHolla’s rusty eyes with his green ones, willing her to trust what he was saying.

[ 02-11-2019 04:19 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Matt Stanza ]

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Compromising on a sniffle, she merely nodded her thanks, let a sigh of relief escape her and waved a hand to the path.

"Come," she said simply. "We must hasten as quickly as we can. There are kilometers to travel, I would certainly like to make it to the Temple by mid-afternoon."

...at least mostly. They might have walked for a few minutes, maybe a bit longer than that, before it really dawned on him the reason he was able to keep up at all.

RhoHolla had slowed down.

Matt frowned a bit at this as they continued; not for the fact that she was slowing down to meet his needs but for the fact that she had to at all. He made a face to himself at this, having enough self-awareness despite his pain to want to keep at it regardless. Still, he knew he was pulling their pace back, possibly significantly. With a little cock of his head, he did take a moment to wonder which of them was more eager to make it to the Temple...

...him or her. She continued pushing on, but not nearly at the rate she had been, occasionally looking back to assess how he was doing...

...and it was then that Matt realized that she really wanted to help him. He knew deep down she was still feeling badly for what she had to do.

As well as he knew deep down that he really didn't want her to feel that way.

It was then that he reached out a hand to her shoulder, gently pulling her to a stop. He wanted more than anything for her to be able to help him without it coming from a sense of remorse, but rather from what he knew was truly within her; what he had seen in her from the beginning when she had chosen to risk her own self to save him: that she truly just wanted to help him.

He cocked his head a bit at her, arching an eyebrow slightly, letting his green eyes fall into her rusty pair once more. "I am slowing us down," he said simply, his voice gentle. "Perhaps if you give me a little assistance we can keep the pace and still make it to the Temple by mid-afternoon...."

[ 02-11-2019 08:28 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Matt Stanza ]

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She slowed a fraction, allowing Matt to come up immediately beside her. Realizing, however, that the side he presented to her was the one with the broken rib, she hastened around him, and carefully snugged his body against her left side, his injured rib well away from her. Carefully holding Matt in this position she turned and breathed the Warming Breath on the rest of his body, hoping that this small ministration would loosen his sore muscles and allow him to move more easily. She knew that once overtaxed, she could apply a Cooling Breath as a sort of icing therapy, and by her alternating both he would be able to keep up a somewhat faster pace than his injuries would warrant.

She managed the briefest of smiles, and let her gaze slide sideways into his.

"There," she said simply, now quickening their pace the slightest bit. "If we can keep this up, we should come into the outer part of Phrinnchatka in a couple standard hours. Once close to the Temple we will find a place to hide for a moment, that I can drop the shielding magic I have placed around us.

"We are safely hidden from the sight of others, but we must be careful not to make too much noise as we travel into the city. Remember, there are warriors here, and their eyesight and hearing is exquisite."

“We will be cautious,” he said simply, and unnecessarily. And then, looking sideways at her once more, his brilliant green eyes falling into her rusty pair, he finished with, “And thank you.”

Saying nothing more than that, they continued on their way with RhoHolla taking obvious great care to ensure she was not overtaxing him, continually lending her support. Deep down within, Matt made a promise to indeed make certain RhoHolla understood just how much he appreciated all that she had done and was continuing to do for him, starting with getting her away from what was clearly a life of servanthood and under appreciation...and perhaps that was putting it lightly.

She deserved so much better than that.

As they continued along, he would occasionally look her way with a slight nod or smile, hoping to reinforce in her a sense of value and self-worth not merely based on what she was doing for him, but simply for what was within her, and who she clearly was...

...a friend.

[ 02-17-2019 01:30 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Matt Stanza ]

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It was as if someone knew...

The tiniest of frowns crossed her features, then her face smoothed.

It is merely... coincidence. Happenstance. Perhaps these are simply the two easiest magical spells to teach from afar; perhaps all others need more personal connection between the student and the teacher.

Satisfied with that she merely smiled, nodding a little to see how Matt was able to keep up the pace once more without seeming to be under any undue duress.

The kilometers vanished behind them, and soon the wilderness around them was supplanted by homes and farms as they drew closer and closer to the city of Phrinnchatka proper. More and more Sith traversed the roadway upon which they trod; she was careful to move them silently off to the side, to give oncoming Sith easy opportunity to pass them by without being the slightest bit aware of their presence. Her estimate of the human male grew in leaps and bounds: he could be as quiet as a hunting tuk'ata when the need arose.

Finally the dusty road segued into cobbled pavement, the simple homes started being replaced by more modernistic buildings, and by poles bearing fire-sconces lit at dusk to light the way for those who had business in Phrinnchatka after dark. Her eyes darted about; finally she found a place meeting her approval. There, off to one side, a little walkway led through a pretty garden full of flowers and shrubs and trees similar to willows, with slender branches hanging down to the ground. She led Matt to the largest of the trees having the longest, trailing branches of greatest density, and once ascertaining that there were no big eyes to see the slight movement of said branches with no apparent means providing said movement, led Matt into their shadowy embrace. There she lifted the concealment spell, and gave the man a once-over with a carefully scrutinizing eye.

"You look terrible," she finally announced, letting her eyes drop to the ground for a moment. Then she peeped up through her lashes at him.

"I hope you can act in a manner reflecting your outward appearance. We do not have far to go now to finally reach the Temple proper, and we must look believable.

"Are you ready?"

...but then he saw the look in her eye and sobered. Taking a deep breath then to collect himself, he winced as a stab of pain shot up his side where there was undoubtedly at least one broken rib. “I don’t think acting in a manner reflecting my outward appearance is going to be of any great difficulty,” he then said, steeling himself, once more cradling the arm with the broken wrist with his other.

RhoHolla simply nodded then turned, motioning him to come along. While she was unaware of it, Matt knew the steps they were about to take very well. And while one of his eyes-probably now good and black- was partially swollen shut, he kept a keen awareness of all that was going on around them as they began to walk down a particular cobblestone path. Again he slowed her down, unable to keep up with her pace. Again she pushed onward, forcing him to stay on the move despite his injuries—as she very well should.

Keeping his wits about himself, ignoring any pain as best as he could, Matt continued onward. The poles around them became more and more frequent as they travelled the path towards the Temple. Although the journey became increasingly taxing for Matt, they at length began to see the towering Temple, and at length approached steps that Matt new rose upward to the apex and courtyard leading to the main Temple.

He took another few deep breaths, forcing himself to ignore the stabs of pain in his side, forcing himself not to think of the long, steep, staircase before them.

Kriffing hell, this was not going to be pleasant...

Pushing that darkening thought aside, Matt began to climb to the best of his abiility, his pain and fatigue be damned.

[ 02-24-2019 02:30 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Matt Stanza ]

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"I'm afraid that to make this believable I must ask you to endure yet more pain," she apologized under her breath before grabbing him by the arm that was cradling the injured one. With that she began hauling quickly up the stairs, pulling on the arm as she went, wincing to herself to think what he must be feeling but knowing that the act they would soon have to put on for the benefit of the Temple guards would have to be the greatest performance of their lives.

Matt said nothing, more than likely trying to conserve his fading strength, but merely puffed along beside her, sometimes falling back the tiniest bit to then be yanked up to flank her fully once again. His feet moved as quickly as humanly possible, but yet he slid upon occasion, one time crashing down upon a knee. RhoHalla merely yanked him to his feet at that, driving him mercilessly onward.

She knew he didn't need to put on an act at all once they gained the top stair and headed toward the ornate entrance to the Temple proper, where two hulking Sith watched their approach with blatant amusement in their eyes. Whether it was the sight of a serving girl bringing a human in dire straits up to them, or the fact that said serving girl was acting as fierce and uncompromising as would any full-fledged warrior, RhoHalla couldn't determine. But they did allow the pair to approach them without any exceedingly outward attempt to stop them, other than their typical crossing of spears before the door to bar them entry.

RhoHalla didn't give them time to confront them further.

"See what I have discovered while following Dark Lord Aelvedaar's Writ of Abeyance!" she declared boldly. Truth be known, she had been more than a little worried about explaining just why she, a mere serving girl, would be outside the Temple itself; the Writ was global, and gave all Sith lenience in turn for their assistance.

She shook Matt's arm, feeling the tremors coursing through it, her only reaction being the clenching of her teeth as she stoically stood their ground before the two guardians of the door.

They shot each other a look, then returned that look to her. Thinking quickly she improvised on their plan a bit.

"This one would not speak his name no matter how hard I tried to obtain it." The guards now took more careful note of Matt's bedraggled condition, of his bruises, the places where RhoHalla had slashed him and which now had re-opened to ooze bright red blood. Beneath that blood his skin was the color of old alabaster.

Their lips lifted a bit in simultaneous grins, exposing great fangs as RhoHalla finished with another outburst.

"I believe this may be the man being sought after by the Great Dark Lord Aelvedaar himself. By rights I demand freedom to take him to the Major Domo for..."

She paused just the tiniest bit.

"Inspection."

The guards knew the rules and regs and protocols. Indeed this was within RhoHalla's rights, serving girl though she might be. After shooting each other simultaneous affirmation, the elder guard turned to the door and raising his hand repeated the mystical runes he had drawn in the very air while earlier on this very day allowed yet another strange group into the Temple proper.

"Follow me," he said even as the doors whispered open, revealing the shadows of the Great Foyer within, lined with their myriad, signature pillars. Saying no more he turned and led the way.

RhoHalla gave Matt's arm a tiny, gentle squeeze and stepped forward, hauling the injured man along like he was yesterday's dirty laundry. The shadows grew even darker around them then, signalling the closing of the only entrance into or exit out of the Great Temple of Warriors of the Sith.