A visit to see old friends

~He had the manacles opened enough toget his hands out, although he didn't right away, he continued to sit there, watching and waiting.~

~Artimus had taken the bait - he knew his former commanding officer would hear what was being said, and he rightly guessed that he'd go to rescue his horse. With Artimus out of the way for a while, that left just the girl and the thing-that-was-Indis. Two on Two were good odds.~

~Then the thing started to flicker. He saw her trying to speak, but nothing came out. This was an interesting turn of events. If the ghost was having trouble holding it together then that only left the girl. Of course she'd managed to get out of the manacles once - Art must have taught her the same tricks as him. Well that could be rectified the next time.~

~He looked at Erika, and nodded when Jade's back was turned to him, to let her know it was almost time to strike.~

~He pulled his hands out of the manacles and jumped onto Jade's back, to push her to the floor.~

~as the jumped jade Indis was sent back to the library and there was nothing she could do.~

~Jade turn just as her mother faded out and it was too late she saw louis coming at her free of his manacles.~

~she ml without even knowing really.~ "Thanks dad..."


~She tumbled to the floor with louis and she was trying to make her way over to the fireplace again. She need more protection cause this could get ugly really fast. She was kicking at him trying to wiggle her way away from him.~

~she saw Louis spring into action and a smirk came across her face as she moved her arms from behind her and pulled the manacles from behind as Louis struggled with Jade she stood up and grabbed Jade up and wrapped the manacles around her neck choking her.~

"Oh no you are not getting to that fireplace again."

~he had no idea what had happened at the fireplace, but something had. Erika had the right idea though.~

"Strip her off. I don't know what she used to escape last time, but if she's anything like her dad, it's the only way to be sure."

~He pulled out one of her daggers and started to slice her shirt off her back. He was sitting on her, his legs holding hers, and with Erika having her throat he guessed there was little she could do. He cut part of the shirt into strips, then reach round to grab a wrist. He knew she still had the dagger in the boots, and he was sure he'd seen a third appear from somewhere.~

Artimus ran with an urgent haste, pushing past people in the streets. Some of them pushed him back, but he ignored them, his mind focusing on the stables and the man who would be waiting there.

He received the mind link from Jade. A simple Thank You. He wasn't sure what she thanking him for, but he took it anyway and didn't reply.

The stables were closer now, but still out of sight. At least he hadn't heard Louis warn Tiberious that he was on his way. He would have the weapon of surprise in this fight at least....

~she struggled some more trying to kick him off her and swing at erika. She was going down swing. Damn it. She finally decided to stop wearing herself out. as she was seeing if there was a point where she could make a break away from them. They had stripped her of everything she was there in her underwear.~

"So this where you sit here and torture me now." ~she said getting a small release from erikas hold.~

~she held onto jade and saw another dagger and pulled out~

"One you forgot dear." ~she handed it to louis.~

~she looked at jades hair~

"Oh I see how she possible got out of the manacles." ~she took out a hair pin.~

~He finished tying her; her wrists were very securely fastened together behind her back, with the knots out of reach of her fingers. Her ankles also tied together, as were her knees and elbows. Louis was taking no chances this time. He rolled her over onto her back.~

"Check her hair once more, then blindfold her. We don't want her seeing where she's going."

~He knew it wouldn't take Artimus long to realise he had been duped, and Louis didn't intend to be around when he came back.~

"I'll go get a sack to put her in."
~he got up and walked into the kitchen, finding a large potato sack, which he quickly emptied onto the floor and walked back in.~

"Help me get her in here, then we can leave."

Artimus hurried around the corner, still pushing past people. He could see the stables now, and was fairly sure he could see Azure. He released a breath he didn't even know he was holding in.
His pace slowed as he neared, his right hand dropping to the hilt of his rapier.

If Tiberious was waiting for him, he had no doubt their duel would be a right-handed one. He hoped he wouldn't have to kill his old friend, but he might leave him no choice.

He entered the stable, seeing Azure clearly safe at the moment, and no sign of his prey. He spoke to the stablemaster quickly, describing Tiberious. No, he hadn't seen the man.

Art then realized that Tiberious may well be an old friend of the stablemaster, and he might be covering for him. He thanked the man and started to walk away, hand still on hilt ready for action. He knew he would hear Tiberious coming - Tiberious was strong and fought well, but he was slow and loud.

He moved just around the corner of an alleyway, where he could see the entrance to the stables. Maybe he had got here too early, and Tiberious wasn't in the city yet.

All he had to do was wait.

~she nodded to Louis and checked Jades hair again then found a piece of material and blindfolded her eyes.~


~she pushed her in to the potato sack and couldn't help but kick her a few times in the process~

~she wiggled her nose and then grabbed it putting it back in place. and shaking her head~

"Where we going to take her?"

~she was man handled into the sack she tried to struggle out of it but this time he had tied her up good. Damn Father abandoning her.... "I should have known...and where the hell did mom go. she must be attached to father some how. So I guess am on my own....again..." She thought to herself.

~she was making noises as erika kicked her~

~He grabbed a piece of paper and wrote something hurriedly on in, then turned back to Erika and the sack.~

"We're going to Draco. Take our little prize to someone who will appreciate her."

~He winked at her and grinned, then picked up the sack, putting in on his shoulder.~

"Now, you keep quiet and this will all be over quicker than you'll know it. Make it hard, and we'll make it hard for you."

~He carried her out of the house, through the back door, and to where their horses were. He put the sack on the front of the horse, making sure she was balanced, then mounted and started off down the road, one hand on his prize to make sure she wouldn't fall off.~

~They started off out of the city, and down one of the paths, moving at a fast pace~

~ml to her father~ "If you care at all... it seems am being hauled to Draco..but I doubt you do so I will just deal with it. so just forget about me."

~she went quietly and was listening to things around her so she could place where she was going with them. her face hurt where erika had landed that punch and not to sure but it felt like bruised ribs too from the kicks.~

~she nodded and smirked as she understood louis and followed him out and got on to her horse and followed him out.~

Artimus remained poised, watching the stables when he received the mind link.

He was just about to reply when he realized something had gone wrong. He frowned. Had Louis NOT made an error... Dammit! Why wasn't Indis helping..... he looked down at the pendant. Double Dammit! Louis had played him alright.

He ran out of the alleyway and back to the stables, paying the stablemaster quickly and mounting Azure.

The palamino bolted with Artimus on his back, charging through the south gate and onto the road to Meriddia.

Art's mind raced. Jade sounded frustrated. That earlier thank you must have been sarcasm, and now she thinks i care more for my horse than her!
But how could he let her know he was on his way without tipping Louis off?

"Dammit Artimus, think!"

~The horses ran at a fast gallop, and as the miles started to pass, Louis realised it wouldn't be long before Artimus was starting to catch them up.~

~He hoped his ruse of telling her the wrong location worked, so Art would be headed on the wrong road. Regardless he continued to push the horses, keeping one hand on the sack in front of him.~