Recovery cave once more

Well he wasn't actually his son, he just sort of turned up one day. A small child, about 6 or 7 years old, dressed like a guard with a toy sword. Floyd found him and after trying to find his parents, he let him stand guard in the throne room with him.
As time went on we all tried to find out who he belonged to, but no one ever came forward. The child didn't speak much, but he claimed to be an orphan.

He shook his head as he dried off.

I never did find out about his past, but he latched onto Floyd and shadowed him everywhere. I told Floyd not to let him into dangerous situations, but otherwise I was happy for him to use his own judgement on the child.

He shrugged and let Indis start to rebandage his wounds.

The last I heard, he had upgraded to a real sword, although Floyd made sure it was blunt, and had a proper suit made for him.

He was smiling as he reminisced, calmed down now after hs earlier outburst.

~she played with the pendent around her neck running her fingers around it. Running them around the leather piece to the back which felt like a tiny lock. she was going to ask him about it next she saw him. she started to cook she had some potatoes and carrots and cut up pieces of rabbit into a big stew pot and set it on the fire to cook. she sighed alittle and just sat quietly watching the fire and stew.~

~she listened to him as she dressed his wounds.~

"I caught jade watching me from under a cart. I was making sure I was staying in shape she but i saw her watching me from a distance. Then she would make sure not to be in the way. After one practice she asked me. About you. I used to call her my princess. She said that if she was a princess that I was the queen so she asked me where our king was. I told her that you had been away and were fighting to get back to us. *she chuckled* She then said that she would learn to fight and fight to get to you. I told her in time she would learn how to fight just not at that time."

~she smiled as she finished dressing his wounds.~

"There all set love." ~she kissed him~

He kissed her back.

I better go apologise to her. I'm just annoyed that he would put that on her - and that she would accept it! What's next? Her letting him brand her?

Despite his words, he wasn't sounding angry. More bemused. He got dressed again and headed back to the camp, making sure he made plenty of noise to warn her he was coming.

~she looked at him and walked with him~

"I don't think she would let him brand her. Am partly afraid that tib might just hurt her with some other female. We both know how he is. its strange to see him this way."

~she looked in the direction of the lake she heard them coming back. She got up and had her back to them as she checked the stew. The smell of it making her more hungry.~

He walked over to her, noting she was ignoring them. Well, at least she hadn't run away. With the way her hair was, he could see there was indeed a small padlock on her collar. He kept his anger in check for the time being.

Jade, I'm sorry. I just reacted badly when I saw... He put his hand on her shoulder.
I shouldn't have said anything. You're old enough to know better without me bossing you about.

He moved around the fire, sitting down slowly; his leg was feeling better now and he could walk without the stick, but it still hurt at times. He looked across the flames at his daughter, and smiled.

Is that a new look you're going for there? He pointed to the hair.

~she looked at him and smiled as he said he was sorry.~


"I thought I would try up." ~she smiled and stirred the stew some more.~

He had a slight notion whose idea the hair was, but he let it drop for the time being.

It suits you. It brings out the.... he hunted for the right word Elfness of your ears.

He glanced into the pot, taking a depe breath in.

Smells good. Oh, that reminds me. How are you feeling today?

The way he phrased the question, and the way he raised his eyebrow as he asked it, made it obvious he was after more than just an enquiry into her health.

~she chuckled about the elf comment.~

"Am fine. Hands are healed up." ~there was a tone in the fine that would have told him she wasn't completely fine. She was little upset that he had left but knew he took his duty seriously.~

"Stew is just about done. So is there anything you need me to do today or we going to take it easy?"

He could hear the tone in the way she said it, and frowned.

I've got an errand you could run for me, if you feel well enough to travel. If not, it can wait. It's not urgent.

He looked at her.

If you want to talk about it, you know I'm here.

He was keeping his eyes away from that thing around her neck.

~she glanced up at him~

"Yes am well enough to travel. There isn't really anything to talk about. Its just I wish he would have stayed. But duty comes first." ~she tasted the stew. and then put some in a bowl and handed it to her father. Then put some in some for her. and sat back and started to eat.~

"So where am I off too?" ~she said between bites.~

He took the bowl and started to eat.

That's the Tiberious I knew. We all knew what he was doing when he was off duty for the night, but he was always in his bed come morning. We don't know where he went; whether it was Salarain, or a tavern in Meriddia, or even if he had someone on the side. But he was always back next morning sleeping in his own bed.

He took a deep breath, not wanting to say this next bit, but knowing he had to.

You'll just have to accept that is his way. But who knows, you might change him.

~she looked at him as she ate. she had a slightly surge of anger. When he said what he did but knew that he was known for it.~

"Yes I know of how he is with females. I was in grorr for a while and they talked. But I never met him until that day. But am different. usually he only will be with a female once. I think am going for a record." ~she finished eating.~


"Enough about Tib. Where and what am I doing?" ~she was giving him a look to drop it for now.~

He felt that surge of anger. Oh, he hit a spot there. He decided to let her change the subject.

I'd like you to go to Salarain. After all their recent events in that city, he realyl hoped this one would pass without incident.

I've got some food that needs delivering.

The food he had stocked up before his fight clearly wasn't going to last much longer, and he had a plan for it.

~she nodded~

"Good am glad Victor...I mean Azure knows his way there."


"So who am I bring the food too?"

He choked slightly as she used the new name for HIS horse.

Once he recovered, he spoke.
All the rabbits and fish that i stockpiled, We will never eat them all before they spoil. We can keep a little, but the rest... There is a small community of homeless people in the Cape. I always used to keep my eye on them when I was in charge. Not that I suspected them of anything, I kept my eye on them to make sure they were alright. It seems a shame to throw this food out when they would appreciate a meal or two out of it.

He looked at her.

Just, keep it quiet. I don't want.. people.. thinking I'm a soft touch. He was fairly sure she would understand which particular person he was meaning.
He wasn't worried about being seen as a soft touch. he just didn't want anyone else knowing about what he did.

~nodded~

"Sorry about that. it was low of me to do that. But I can get loaded up and head there. The ride will clear my head."

"And I will keep an eye out for any trouble."

~she stood up and walked over to azure bring him closer. Grabbing some of the bags and walking into the back part of the cave grabbing most of the food. Coming out with arm fulls and loading up azure.~

"I think I got them all." ~she looked around as she place the daggers in her boots at her hip and one hidden.~

"I shall be back hopefully by nightfall. If it gets to late I will find somewhere to stay or camp."

Artimus watched her getting ready, feeling a pang inside.

Or.. I could go tomorrow, when I'm better, and you can do some training. I can start you off today and your mother can watch you tomorrow...?

That was a stupid idea, he just didn't like the idea of sending her away. Besides, he didn't have a horse now, did he?

~she looked at him and tilted her head at him~

"I will be fine. And it looks like am doing it and not you so you don't have to appear soft. You can leave that to us females."

~she climbed on top of azure and mumbled~ "... cause parish the thought of a man being compassionate in the open."

" I will be back soon. You just heal." ~she then headed out of the camp.~

"Off to Salarain Azure."

Jade! he called out before he left.

Remember to let THEM know it came from me.

He stood up and watched her leave on his horse. Did Azure have a slight spring in his step today? No.. it must be his paranoia kicking in again...

He sat back down and finished his stew, then looked around his makeshift training area. He could try and improve it a little. He needed something to keep his mind off what was happening.

~she looked at art as they did there exchanges she was just letting them interact.~

"So now what are we going to do?"

Artimus was trying to not let the worry show on his face.

We wait.. and hope she'll be alright. In the meantime, I want to see about putting the last few touches on the training centre here...

He looked at the collection of sticks, targets, ropes and other items he had previously put here. He was trying to put it out of his mind.
But then, she was now marked as belonging to Tiberious. Surely no one would mess with something that belonged to him, would they? Maybe there was an upside to this collar after all.

He started to smile as he looked at Indis.

That sly son of a....

~she raised an eyebrow at him~

"who and what?"

Artimus closed hsi eyes and took a deep breath.

That collar. I'm worried about sending Jade into Cape Salarain. After all, our recent run in that city hasn't been too good. But the collar marks her as Tiberious' property. And surely no one in Salarain is stupid enough to anger Tiberious? They would know - as you or I do - that if one hair on her head was hurt, they would answer to Tiberious.

He had felt a great weight lifted from his chest as he realised this. He felt much happier now.