Elysian Embers

Chapter 2. Aura Emuete and Alberic Baldred

Alberic Baldred

Alberic stopped his pulling behind the equine in front of him and was temporarily dragged behind it. He could have sworn he had heard something call out. He looked around quickly as he regained his footing, but there was no one in sight. It had been fuzzy so he quickly passed it off as the heat of mid-day playing tricks on his mind. Then he felt a nudge as if something were pushing into his mind. A cold sweat started to film over him as he slowed the steed to a stop. He had heard it again, the voice this time he could distinctly make out the shout of

~Hey!~

There were no ‘ifs’ ‘ands’ or ‘buts’ about it. Was this what possession was like? He wondered before the voice came to him once more.

~Listen OAF!~ Then came, ~Let me out of here!~

How he was supposed to find this voice was a mystery to Alberic. His throat went dry as he tried to ask it how to find it. The reigns dropped from his hands just as the horse reared back and started to race away in fear. In his mind, he tried to answer though he knew not how to. He could feel the nudging of his mind again as if the one in question were searching for his answers.

He heard a voice from farther ask it where they could find the voice and then the mysterious being answered to them both.

~The Adila Mountains.~

It took him almost the whole day to catch his steed and when he did he made haste to grab his father’s old broadsword and pack his few belongings. He did not know if he would ‘Free’ this voice but he did know that he wanted to find it and see what it saw in such a lowly farmer like himself. Donned in the simple clothes he always wore, a forest green tunic, dark tan pants, brown leather boots & long gloves, young Baldred was off and riding by the next sunrise. He would only be stopping for food and rest until he reached the next town, Sutterdam, which was a good three to four days away. There he would he would let his horse rest, then enjoy a heated meal and drink, then a good nights rest in a warm bed.

Aura Emuete

Aura was in an abandoned alleyway between two courtyard houses. She took her profession normally under the cover of night, but there was something she was not able to resist about that old crone’s house. Her knives were stored in their proper places, two in their holders on her hips and two hidden in her boots. They had to be, she could not carry them and her ill-gotten gains. There was still danger of being caught if she was not careful and she needed to get to her guild before hand.

At fifteen she was close to being thrown out of said guild. Not because she was bad, but because she had already surpassed the master thief as far as skill and technique went. Earning her his title, she was also a woman doing what normally ran as man’s work. The bag she held nearly tumbled from her hands as Aura stopped dead in her tracks. Something was calling out to her.

~Hey!~ She blinked. Her eyes darted about warily, this was not funny, not in the least. Had she been caught?

~Listen to me you OAF!~ Well, that was certainly rude she WAS NOT an oaf.

~Let me out!~ Just how was she supposed to find it? She did not even know who or what ‘It’ was. She felt something digging about in her mind and she shook her head vigorously. In her mind, she tried to push this invasion out only to have herself question it.

"How the hell am I supposed to find this thing?"

~The Adila Mountains~ Was the voice’s answer.

She began to move again when she felt the being leave her mind. Looking about she realized it was now dark and thought it best if she began moving and in a hurry.

When she arrived in the guild, she dumped her loot- save for a purse of gold coins. If Purge caught her and found the coins on her there would be hell to pay. Her luck just did not seem to be holding up tonight, as that is exactly what happened. He left her with one ultimatum to fight him or die. The ensuing tussle she won even getting the purse of coins back. Then she ran, she was not a coward by any means she simply did not have time to deal with the moron who was once her senior. Her fingers moved swiftly to grab any food she could carry with her. Extra clothes were packed in case they were needed. She was going to take this journey for one reason and one alone. The chance there might be treasure. Taking once last glance behind her to the ramshackle home that was hers, she took off into the night taking the paths less traveled. Her journey would be taken by night to the village of Rothendaul. Here she would spend a day or two re-supplying and maybe buying a bow and arrows and some spices to cure meat.