Preparing to talk to the people of the city.

~she looked down at it.~

"Its a Jade pendent that my mother gave me with a protection spell on it... You don't have to wear it... just have it in a pocket or something. But I would understand if you don't want it. I just thought maybe it be a way of thanking you for everything." ~she softly smiled and hoped as she looked up at him.~

~He took it from her, gently not snatching, and held it up to the light. He had no idea what he was doing by holding it up like that, but he'd seen jewellers in Meriddia do it, so assumed it was just something people did with gems.~

"It's very... " ~He had no idea what it was. ~ "Jadish."
~He turned back to her and smiled, looping it around his sword belt so it looked like part of it.~

"I'll keep it with me, always." ~He actually managed to sound sincere. He ran his fingers through her hair, then turned for his coat.~

"You just keep out of trouble. Sanctuary or no, I don't want to come back and hear tales of you getting involved in trouble. If you do, I might have to... not spank you."
~He smiled to her.~

~she tilted her head at him and softly smiled glad that he took it.~

"I swear no trouble." ~she chuckled at his no spanking.~

"But its not my fault if I end trouble." ~she grabbed her bag and wrapped it around herself.~

~she then moved to him and kissed him hard and lingered a little.~

"Stay safe hon and I will be here in town waiting for you to come back."

~He picked up his coat and turned to leave.~

"You promise me. No trouble." ~His voice held a small amount of gruffness to it as he opened the door and walked out. He clearly wasn't waiting for a reply.~

~she nodded as he left. She sighed. She could tell her father was in town somewhere. She decided to see if he was close enough for a ml.~


ml : "Dad. Where are you at?"

Indis Blake wrote:

~she smiled at him~

"Hmm now that is interesting. He really does care for her more then anyone. Its strange seeing him that way. Yet nice to see."

Artimus nodded to her, then before he had chance to reply, he heard the mindlink.

"Yes, we've got a room at the Brass Dragon."

Looks like lover boy has left her. She's wondering where we are.

He knew she was close by, but didnt know she had a room in the same tavern.

~she shook her head did she just hear him right.~

ml: "Um..what number...am in the room we rented when i was little..."


~oh geez...she wondered why she had felt him before. that would explain it.~

He gave a small laugh and looked at Indis.

She's in the room we got the other day, next door. I'd assumed Tiberious would have taken somewhere a little... nicer.

He walked to the door and unlocked it, then to the wall and knocked on it.

"Next door."

~she laughed and grabbed her bag walking over next door.~

"Hey dad and mom. Oh got something for you." ~she opened her bag and handed him the pictures she made when she was little.~

Artimus smiled as she walked in. There was a glow about her, so he knew he had been right. He glanced at Indis and winked, then took the pictures from his daughter. He looked through each one, noting the angry-looking ones.

What happened here? He held one up, which looked like a picture of a unicorn smeared in blood, with plenty of black all over it.

~she raised an eyebrow~

"Oh that would have been when you got angry about something. I am guessing when erika and louis attacked."

~He headed out of tavern and towards the keep. His recruits were waiting for him. Now was the final test for them. Had they enjoyed themselves too much last night? They all appeared to be fine, which was a good sign. He looked over at the belltower of the keep. It was going to ring any moment now, and he wanted to check if any of them had headaches.~

"Today we ride back to Grorr, where I will tell the academia that you are all ready for your assignments." ~He watched their reactions as this news sunk in.~

"You will be the last group I train, as I am also leaving the academia to return here, by request of the Duke himself."
~The bell rang out, to mark the hour and he watched carefully for any reactions. Three of them appeared to be unaffected.~

"Here I shall be training a new type of guard. Only the very best will be invited to join. Wills, Schwartz and Stone. If you three wish to accompany me back here, you will be most welcome."
~He noted the reactions of those three; the look of horror on their faces as they thought their training was over.~

"This will be unlike anything you've experienced now." ~he smiled~ "Congratulations, all of you. You are now guards, and as such, no longer my students. I give you weeks of hell to ensure those who can survive it, can survive the life of a guard. Now,prepare your horses and mount up."

~He looked at the three he had singled out.~ "I will speak with you on the way."

~He saluted to them and headed for the stables, noting their glances between each other. He wasn't being as rough with them any more. Hadn't they realised yet?~

~He found his large black stead all tendered for and ready to go. He mounted and watched as they did the same, storing their bags and getting ready to ride. Then, as one, they left and headed out on the road to Grorr.~

~During the journey he spoke with each of them. To the three he explained what he hoped to accomplish, and all three seemed interested. To the other four he wished them the best and offered some last bits of personal advice on their fighting styles, and how not to handle their drink. Eventually they reached the city of Grorr.~

~He went to see his commanding officer, and told him about his group, and how he felt they were ready. He then handed in his notice for leaving. Once that was all done he bagan to make moves to have his belongings packed up and sent to Salarain. He spent the rest of the day seeking out or writing to the guards he had personally trained, who he felt could best embrace the methods of his vision. By the end of the day he had recruited 6 more, although he was still waiting on replies from a few more. He spent most of the night in his own bed, before leaving early the next morning with a group of 8 people. One of his three new recruits had declined his offer. The other two had jumped at the chance, once they learnt who else was involved.~

~The early morning ride to Salarain was much nicer than the one from a few days before, mainly because he was riding with people he knew already knew what to do. Yes, this was going to work.~

Artimus gave a small smirk.

Yeah, sorry about that. I shouldn't have let them get the jump on me like that. Still, no harm done in the end.

~she smiled and looked at the pictures.~

"It seems like everyone has been having fun lately." ~as she looked between jade and art.~

~she looked at her mother then father.~

"Do you realize how close you came to dying? with those two. They had you bound so tight and from what was heard they were going to drown you. if it wasn't for the duke and tib you would have been joining mom."

He frowned, then shook his head.

No, you must have misunderstood. They only want to scare me.

Surely that was all they wanted, wasnt it? Not to actually kill him. No, she must have heard wrong. He had it all in control anyway.

~she crossed her arms~

" NO! They were going to wait until dark and throw you in the water. They even had weights on your legs."

Yes, he remembered the things attached to his ankles. His frown deepend and he looked at her.

I'm sure they were only threatening to kill me, to make me leave the city or....

No, it made no sense. He had been alone in the house when they knocked him out. What use would threatening an unconcious man be? He swallowed as he realized she was right.

That was quick thinking on your part to get the Duke. Though, why didn't you get Kharne?

Maybe Kharne had been out.

~she looked at him~

"I didn't get the duke he was walking past when he overheard them. I got Tib... I knew he would have been close to town by that time. I felt your anger and then it stop abruptly. I knew that was trouble and I was little so i couldn't do much."

His frown couldn't get any deeper, but if it could have, it would have. The Duke just happened to be passing by and stopped to.... Hmmm.

Well you had quick thinking in going to Tiberious, but.. what if he had been in on the plan with Louis? They are brothers after all. He turned to Indis And while you said we can trust him, I'm not sure I'd like to put that trust between family.

He looked back to Jade.

But the most important thing is, we're alright. And you're back to normal now.

~she looked at him.~

"Father there are a few things you need to know." ~she ran a hand back thru her pulled back hair.~

~she took a deep breath and then told him.~


"I told Tib about me...and he asked me to live here with him... and I said yes." ~she kinda closed her eyes and fliched alittle waiting for it.~

Artimus's brow was having a real work out today it seemed.

You told him... 'about you'? He sounded a little confused.
You don't mean about the blood?

He wasn't sounding angry, just a little confused mixed with slight panic. he glanced to Indis, giving her a look of 'I hope you can trust him'.

~she sighed~

"Yes I mean about the blood. If am going to be with him here living I thought he needed to know."

Yes, he hadn't forgotten the bit about going to live with him. He was trying not to think about that just now, he was having enough trouble keeping his anger down with her telling him their secret.

You didn't need to tell him, though. He doesn't need to know. Hells, I was with your mother long enough before she finally told me!

He really was trying not to get angry.

Something tickled the back of his mind. Something she had said, about this situation. About them living together, here in the city.

~she glared at him she was getting mad at his tone and you could feel it thru there bond.~

"Its my secret to tell! I can tell who ever the hell I want. I trust him and Love him. And if you can't handle that then fine. I can do this on my own. Like I always have. He will be back soon I will just go and leave you two alone." ~ she went for the door she had been in the best mood and now she just wanted to kill something.~