The siege

In late Spring the scouting parties from the king's armies began. By early Summer The watch towers were tracking massive troop movements. By midsummer the city of Arsenal was surrounded and the siege began.

Keygan felt the city was ready, they had been preparing for this very thing since they'd learned of the tragedy at Grandee months earlier. What the king's armies had not learned was that the more powerful Wardens within Arsenal had nearly completed the most massive magical evacuation attempted in over a thousand years. Far to the south off the coast of a different kingdom, in the long abandoned island city of Redoubt, the other wardens were making their new home. The civilians, injured and green recruits had all already evacuated. With them had gone, the books, archives, and magical artifacts that Arsenal had guarded for longer than anyone could remember. Gone was any unnecessary furniture or equipment, food, water, weapons and medical supplies were all that remained.

Most of city was booby-trapped, Keygan and the Warden Captains knew it was destined to fall. The only worry that remained to Keygan was trying to get Jerle to evacuate before the bulwarks here began to fail. Perceptor Hardigan, the former perceptor of the city of Weisslund urged the same, it was clear that Jerle was still not fully recovered from his heart seizure. He would not however admit it to anyone and refused to yield to advice that he evacuate. He argued that if Arsenal fell his duty was to fall with it.

Matters of the heart

(1:02 am Jan 25 2005)

The outskirts of the city were burning. So were the outermost gates. The heart of the city though, the Arsenal it was named for still stood for the moment. Hardigan and Keygan knew that the burning was inevitable, the only way the King's forces could get obstructions out of the path of the colossal siege machines they were building. Both knew the city was in it's last days. A small handful of people remained. Mostly, they lingered here only because Jerle Nidoma did and they would not leave him here.

Berec was the only exception to this, he remained because Keygan remained, and so he did not go. He had only spoken to Commander Stormingbyrne on a few brief occasions. Something inside him told him, there was something special about her, beyond her obvious qualities, and so he trusted his instinct that he should remain close to her. At night she filled his dreams, and their weight held down his heart. It was for that reason she had his complete empathy, though she knew it not, and it was for that reason too that Berec felt it necessary to speak with Commandant Nidoma.

Jerle could barely move about his rooms without his cane now and so when the knocking came at his door he snapped impatiently for whoever it was to just come in. Much easier than admitting to himself what a hard time he'd have getting up to cross the room and open the door. Young Berec came in a serious expression on his face. He had only newly been made a warden and in fact he's not yet chosen an order. Jerle was surprised to see the young man, a though a prankster and at times a practical joker during his training, the youngling typically was not outspoken about anything. Jerle thought perhaps someone had talked the young man into trying to coax him into evacuating.....So his words came as a bit of a shock as they settled on Jerle's ears.

"I'll make no apologies for my bluntness, sir, " he began, "But I feel I can keep quiet no more. I do not fathom how you can stand so aloof from someone who clearly loves you. I once respected you a great deal. Now though, I think you an old fool, perhaps you are losing your mind, I hear it happens to aged men sometimes. Though you do not strike me as senile. You seem to understand your health is failing and that your time grows short, and a senile man most likely wouldn't acknowledge such things. But I truly do not ken why you avoid Commander Stormingbyrne."

Jerle's mouth hung opened in silence for a time before he managed to stammer, "I beg your pardon?"

"Keygan Stormingbyrne, the women who loves you, you may know her...... You keep pushing her away while you tell yourself, you don't want to break her heart. Yet, ironically that is exactly what you are doing." Berec said angrily.

Jerle remained somewhat shocked at this. As quickly as it begun it was over, and the young man abruptly whirled out of the room. His words how ever echoed in the deepest parts of Jerle's heart..

prelude to a fall

2-15-05

It was with a heavy heart that Keygan carried Jerle's dinner tray up to his room that night. She expected as usual he would refuse to see her and tell her to leave the tray. She also knew his time was perhaps as short as the city's was. She did not want him to leave for the next world on such terms with her. She at least wanted to be on speaking terms with the man, even if he could not be amicable with her.

She was very much surprised when she reached the top of the steps tio find him waiting for her in his doorway.
She moved past him in quiet awe as he nodded at her. She set his tray on the table as he stepped into his room and closed the door behind them both.

Below in the courtyard, at his watch post, the weights continued to hold down Berec's heart. Though it fluttered as the door closed behind Keygan and the Commandant.

Jerle offered no argument as he sat down at his meal. He did ask her if she had eaten yet. She told him she had. So he sat quietly and ate till he was comfortably full. Some food remained on his tray, but not enough for him to be chastised about.

Keygan stood warily arms crossed over her chest and Jerle knew the pleas regarding his evacuation were about to begin again. His eyes locked on hers as she was about to speak. He, however, spoke first. "Do you love me?"
The question floored her. She merely nodded unable to speak as his eyes remained locked with hers. "You did nothing wrong." he said softly "Nothing that I should be avoiding you over. That was my own foolishness. I am a tired old man after all, with nothing to offer you."

She looked at him puzzled, than spoke quietly, "Are you saying you also feel something?" her question tiptoed in the silence and at first was only answered by his ragged breathing as he got up from his seat and went to her.

"No more questions," he whispered, "I don't have much time." His eyes remained locked with hers until he kissed her.....

Down with the ship

2-15-05

In the predawn light, Keygan woke to a loud crash, and then cold silence. She could hear yelling in the courtyard below as the final handfull of wardens converged on the evacuation point. Beside her in the bed Jerle's ragged breathing had stopped. He had been sleeping so peacefully when she drifted off. Still it was the best parting she could hope to share with him....Far better to part with him as a lover. She dressed quickly and arranged him so he had some measure of dignity. He had gotten his wish he would not leave his Arsenal. She was racing down the steps with Berec yelling to her from below, as the front gate completely crumpled under the assault of the battering ram. The troopers flooded the courtyard. Before she could turn to head for the back steps an arrow hit her. She heard Berec scream her name one last time as she felt the wardens use their escape spell. Then she fainted.

Theodric

(high noon 2-21-05)

(time for chapter 3)

It had been a long time since Keygan had been so weary. The forced march she'd just endured at the hands of her captors had been a grueling ordeal. She was relieved when they reached Grandee and glad to crawl onto the straw pallet in the city's brig. She surrendered to sleep as soon as her eyelids closed, the door to her cell hadn't even swung closed yet. It was a dreamless sleep that skirted oblivion.

She woke two days later with a shaft of sunlight cutting into the cell through a crack in the wall. An armored soldier and Theodric Jones were standing there talking over her. Her eyes fluttered and she sat up sore and stiff. She was at the moment too curious over Theodric's presence to dwell on the mud and blood caked all over her. She looked up at the two men through matted tangles of hair.

Theodric reached down and took her hand to help to her feet. She rose shakily and he steadied her pulling her against him. His eyes were hard, but not for her. His displeasure seemed meant for the soldier there with him, a high ranking officer of some sort, though Keygan was not familiar with his uniform."She shouldn't have been brought here." he said his voice gravelly and tired sounding. He had lost a great deal of weight in the time since Keygan had seen him last. All of his soft edges had hardened, the small telltales Keygan was beginning to notice indicated a transition from trader to mercenary. He held her still, possessively. Keygan did not completely understand what was going on.

The soldier looked at Theodric calmly and spoke. "She may not be a magic user, but she helped the Wardens marshall their forces at Arsenal, she was second in command there, Theodric. "

"I find that hard to believe General, since she is the only one your troopers managed to capture." Theodric said as he helped Keygan walk.

The soldier, who Theodric had just called "General" was unlocking the cell. Two armed guards stood just outside. The general spoke to them.
"Do not let the prisoner and Mr. Jones out of your sight." he told them. They nodded, then saluted.

Magic

"You may escort her about the compound Mr. Jones, but I suggest you don't forget she is a suspected magic user." The general's words came down the hallway as he passed out of sight. Theodric led her down the corridor and helped her up a flight of steps. She was pretty shaky as they went. Theodric hoped the better part of her trembling was caused by hunger. He took her first to the kitchen area, where they both got food. A simple meal of pea soup with a sparse bit of ham in it and some thick dark rolls with tea to drink. It took them a while to eat, in spite of the fact, they ate in silence while the soldiers watched them. They both seemed deep in their thoughts.

Once the meal was concluded Theodric took her to a small room and persuaded a groom to bring a bathtub and fill it with hot water. While they waited for the tub to be filled Theodric looked over her wound. He had dressed it when she had been brought here, but at first that was the only contact he'd been allowed with her. He believed that much would have been denied him had she not been unconscious at the time.

The troopers regarded her as dangerous, first due to her affiliation with the wardens and secondly because she was a suspected rogue magic user. There were a few sanctioned magic users, Theodric wondered how the king had made up his mind which magic users to give a special dispensation to in light of his proclamation all magic was evil.

The arrow wound was healing, but it had done a lot of damage. He could see why it was so difficult for her to move around now. He had in his haste not seen that the shaft had gone through her leg. He had only treated the entry wound on the outside of her thigh. Not the exit wound. Had he been the one to remove the arrow he would have known, but that had been done before she'd even reached the city. He did what he could, knowing he'd need to re-dress the wounds after she bathed.

The bath finally filled, Theodric convinced the guards to wait outside the door. After all, it was the only door and there were no windows. Keygan thanked him. He took a chair and sat turned away from her while she disrobed.
Once she was submerged she began talking quietly to him.

"You don't believe then, that I can use magic?" she asked him quietly.

He answered in quiet tones."I've known you for a long time and never seen any indications that you could. Are you going to tell me you can? Is that why you were with the wardens?" He wanted know.

"No that's not why I was with them, it's a long story. But I think I can use magic." she confessed in almost a whisper.

He got up and moved closer, modesty forgotten. His heart was racing. Was she dangerous? He found himself wondering. "Have you always known this?" he asked leaning over her from behind as she lathered her hair.

"Hardly, I might have learned how to use it to avoid arrows don't you think? She replied with quiet emphasis. "I'm not even sure I can use it. Recently, however, I can feel when others use it. If it's a magical ability or merely a side affect from being around the wardens I don't know. I was a bit too preoccupied to ask during the siege."

"Troubling news." Theodric said almost to himself. "If they test you for magical abilities and find you have them They'll kill you or worse." He told her.

She rinsed her hair and on resurfacing asked, "What's worse than death?"

He locked his eyes on hers, "A life filled with wishing for death......" he answered.

back to Berec

Their forces now rallying at Redoubt, Berec had come to the attention of his superiors as more and moer refugees poured in. Berec had a knack for bringing order to them. It was too bad for all the solace and comfort new comers took from his example, he could find no solace himself. For two months he'd been hoping for some word about the fate of Keygan Stormingbyrne. No word came though and most presumed she was dead. Berec simply could'nt accept this, and so in spite of his gradual rise through ranks, he knew no happiness.

During the tenth week word came of a group of escaped wardens trapped in the cave systems twenty miles north of Grandee. Berec made sure he was assigned to be part of the rescue party.

Now for Quint

The caves were dank and dripping, the sort of caves formed by the gradual erosion of droplets of condensation. The pillars formed within the caves were striking, but the ever invasive damp had dimmed any majesty they held weeks ago. The men were bickering again. There was little else for them to do during daylight hours. They dare not venture out lest the patrols find them. They hunted and foraged by night in small groups. They were barely subsisting. Starvation kept them from getting any real sleep. What little they ate was only enough to keep starvation at bay long enough to draw out there suffering.

None of them had the strength to range more than several hundred meters from the caves, it certainly hampered their foraging efforts. They were too weak to move quickly and any significant distance as a group. They had been slipping away two by two. Then only Lucius and Cardarot were left able bodied, someone had to look after the others and coordinate the shabby state of affairs here in the caves. Several times Quintinius in fevered delirium from his injuries begged them to flee here while they still could. Neither man would though.

Quintinius lay moaning over the droplets of water that continued to slowly drip onto his face. The others around him were just as miserable, from the cold wet blackness. They were all getting sicker, a hacking cough that invaded their lungs. It weighed them down and sapped their strength till most could not sit up without aid.They were dying in this place, a slow agonizing death.

There was some calamity aside from the usual bickering, in his lucid moments it had Quint's attention.It was an urgent yet quiet conversation. "Lucius, what's happening?" he croaked softly.

Dynamite

(RT !2:30 9-22-05)

Two things began happening at once while Berec and his group reached their goal. The first being, they found the right cave and began to plan on how to get the men out. The second being, the king's guard deciding to dynamite the area to drive the fugitives from the caves. Neither was a complete success. The men were indeed driven out of the caves, those that could walk at any rate.

The first rumbles were distant, yet still caused shaking and pieces of debris. That was the begining of the calamity that Quint and Lucius had felt. If only the men had thought to help their not so mobile comrades, for by the time the blasts were done four men were trapped, and possibly crushed to death in the debris. Berec swore to himself.

From their strategic vantage points in the surrounding hills the king's guard were able to see the movements of Berec's mean and their charges. Which is how two fell immediately to arrows. Berec ordered everyone to take cover on the ridge line. They had no choice, under archer's fire they could not risk trying to dig any survivors out.

At a slow literal crawl the group began to move out of the area. At nightfall they moved on foot. They did not stop until daybreak to rest. Just after dawn theycamped in an abandoned farm, with two archers of their own on guard on the roof top.

Left behind

Just as Quint's answer came the shaking started, little chips of rock fell into opened eyes and he pulled them closed, gritting his teeth. He wasn't sure what was happening and neither were many of the men there on the cave floor with him. He did know enough to think their shelter was collapsing. "Out, get out." he began telling the others around him. He was. In spite of his terrible state. Giving an order and so most moved to obey without thinking. Had he not already been sick, and injured it would have occurred to him to give orders to help the lame. He did not though and so he and two others were left behind. His orders had saved most of the group though, and roused the sleeping men in time.

He lay for a long time believing he'd be dug out and telling the badly crushed man next to him it would be so. Nightfall came though and a pale shaft of moon light shone through the collapsed cave roof onto Quint's face he realized no rescue was coming. He closed his eyes and wished to die. Morning found him cold and awake with his leg crushed and his vision very blurry from his damaged eyes. He had no way on the previous day to get the stone chips from his eyes besides crying, so the chips had damaged his vision for the time they remained in his eyes.

The cold was good for it compelled him to move. He could not sit up, he could curl towards his legs with his trunk though. He did so. Slowly he began to push and shove the rocks from his crushed leg until he could slowly pull it free and crawl around on it, on the ruined cave floor. His two companions were dead. It took him till the following night fall to dig himself a small enough opening to crawl through and make his way to a nearby stream bed. He passed out in the shallow stream on his back.

What testing tells (RT 9-24-05 noon)

Keygan sat in her cell. She always did, she simply sat to an ordinary observer. Theodric realized of coarse she was meditating. She really didn't have much else to do when he wasn't visiting her and his visits were not frequent. Seeing her every other day pushed the bounds of what he should be doing anyway. He was here as one of the hired mercenaries to bolster the city's garrison. The fact that he was trusted enough to be considered senior ranking among the mercenaries wasn't something he was foolish enough to jeopardize.

"Let me in there please." Theodric told the guard in a tired voice.

The guard did so, with a frown. Rumors about Theodric's exact relationship with the warden woman abounded. In another life they may have even proved true. Theodric had loved Keygan for a long time, but he'd come to accept long ago it wasn't mutual. He'd know n that while they traveled together. He had never told her how he felt. It seemed foolish to do so, foolish to dwell on the impossible, still he regarded her as a very dear friend. It was because of these feelings he bore a heavy heart to today.

He knelt in front of her, where she sat in the back of the dimly lit cell. He did not care what the guard saw and he knew they were far enough from the door that their quiet murmurs would be unintelligible to the guards ears.
"I have very grave news." Theodric told her softly. He took her hands in his own while he knelt..

Keygan's hands squeezed Theodric's and her eyes opened to gaze into his own. "I know what you have heard, I have been found to be a magic user. They tested me twice to be sure." she told him softly.

Theodric gave a soft gasp as she told him. "Do you know what they'll do to you?" he asked.

"In three days they will burn me alive on the city heights. They have already sentenced me. You should not come any more, you may compromise your loyalty, it's already in doubt." she said softly to him.

He cried then, because of her bravery in accepting her fate. He cried and rested his face in her lap. The guard watched with a perverse leer on his face. Keygan gave the guard a hard contempt filled glare as she stroked Theodric's hair. "You should go, you are a spectacle to be gossiped of in this state old friend." she warned him. Still he wept bitterly and pushed his face to her stomach. He vowed to himself he would find a way to spirit her away from this fate.

new chapter

( RT 10:56 PM Jun 4 2006)

Keygan lay somewhere dimly aware that every inch of her body hurt horribly. She thrashed about aware that some sort of shroud seemed to entangle her and cut into her aching skin. She tried to speak but only a wretched croak that barely formed words escaped her badly cracked lips.

"Where am I?" the ghost of her voice rasped.

A deep crooning voice simply soothed her. Then she felt a cool hand laid across her forehead before she was asleep once more.
***********************************************************
When she woke again a warm hand was gently rubbing a salve into her badly cracked skin and she had a flicker of memory......A memeory of burning alive.

"How did I get here?" She gurgled hoarsely. Again a soothing voice hushed her.

Then she felt the cool lip of a porcelain cup being gently proffered to her lips. "Drink." the voice urged. She reached to her face first, towards her eyes. "Leave the guaze please. " she was told as her fingers brushed over layers of bandages.

She drank, aware her throat was raw and dry. Then she tried speaking again. "Am I blind?" She managed to hiss the question.

"No but your eyes do need rest, and your eyelids need to heal. " the voice told her. "Just try to cooperate and rest. " He went on in his sing song soothing tone.

Keygan nodded. "Theodric?" she asked weakly.

A loud and sad sigh answered before words came. "He was burned too, only I couldn't get to him in time." The voice admitted sounding rather defeated.

Keygan gave a rasp of a sob and then lay back weakly. "When I am stronger. I expect you to tell me all of it...." She whispered.

Her care taker nodded, but of coarse she could not see it. "Sleep." he said softly before making a gesture in the air above her and resting a hand gently on her forehead. Once more she slept.
****************************************

Korien

(RT 1:22 am June 7th 2006 )

Keygan awoke in grey, soft, light, and was able to sit up and look around. The room she was in was small, clean, and modestly furnished.

She swung her legs slowly over the side of the small, low, wooden bed and felt her legs trembling. She sighed softly. It seemed it had been a while since they'd supported any weight. Her whole body felt somewhat stiff and awkward.

The door was filled with a tall silohouette as she contemplated getting up.

"It's a bit soon for you to be getting up unassisted." Came the now familiar voice.

"At least come close enough to help me up then. Besides, I don't remember actually seeing you yet." she said.

A soft, yet warm and hearty chuckle answered, as her care taker strode closer.

Her vision was clear but her eyes watered the longer she held them opened. The man now standing before her was like something out of a story book, tall, proud, regal, and beautiful, in a masculine way. His rugged chin and smooth features still moved softly with traces of laughter and amusement as he offered her both hands to aid her in rising. Laugh lines at the corners of his eyes hinted he might be older than he seemed in spite of his aura of vitality.

He gave a gentle smile before he answered. "Your stubbornness amuses me." he told her as she rose wobbily.

She was able to stand, though unsteadily, and so just a moment after gaining her feet she sort of tottered into his chest. This prompted more gentle chuckling from him, as he steadied her. He felt deliciously warm sending a tingling wave of sensations through her.

He held her steady in firm yet gentle arms. "I tired to tell you you wouldn't be up to this yet." he said.

She felt him gently scoop her into his arms.

She remembered that conversation hazily now.

"If you told me your name, I've forgotten." she said apologetically.

He smiled down at her beautifully, all warmth and benevolence. "Korien." he said.

It occured to her that this was all very likely a fever dream, but she brought herself to ask somehow, "Are you sure I'm not dead then?"

He laughed heartily at that. "I see you've heard of me then." he said. "I promise you aren't dead."

His warmth and laughter while he carried her so closely made her feel a spreading warmth in her abdomen. "Where are we going?" she asked softly. She let her sore and tired eyelids droop.

"Breakfast." he answered simply.

"Oh." she breathed. She chastized herself, where had she wanted him to carry her?

Keeper of the underworld

Korien set her in a large chair with lots of cushions and then went to get her breakfast. She sat there wondering what breakfast would be. She could'nt smell anything that gave her a clue.

Korien was back shortly bustling around her laying out bowls and mugs. He sat down a hot kettle of tea and then spooned some steamed oats and fruit into her dish. "Cream?" He asked her.

It took her a minute to answer, she found his voice pleasantly distracting.

"Please." She answered. He added a bit to her tea and stirred it.

He only drank some tea himself while he sat with her. "Tell me what exactly happened, I don't know why they were burning you, completely." He said.

"Because I can use magic......or at least I'm aware of it. Magic's been outlawed in more and more places." She said.

He nodded gravely, "I've been away too long and left too many affairs in the world unattended, maybe you'd better tell me what led to all of this." He asked.

She looked up from her meal very curious at his statement. "If I do will you tell me what led to you bringing me here?" she asked.

(RT 6/12/06)