Training the People

~she nodded~

" I know dad. I love you too. "

~she watched him leave then turned and walked back to there part of the keep. She entered the door still holding the rapier. As soon as the door shut she lost it. She dropped to her knees and started crying and the Rapier fell to the floor.~

He turned the horse and rode off to meet his destiny.

~He had moved to the office while Jade was out talking to the pip-squeak, but he heard her coming up the stairs and enter the main room. He walked through and found her kneeling on the floor crying. With three large strides he was at her side, and squatted down to hold her. What had that bastard done now?~

"Hey. It's alright. I'm here now. I'll beat him up for you if you want."

~she wrapped her arms around him and tried to get ahold of herself.~

"He is.. gone off.. somewhere...left..." ~she pointed to the rapier of his on the floor.Her sobbing between talking.~

"Can't go after him... swore no one wouldn't...he is going unarmed...sent mom to the library...he wouldn't say where."

~she looked up at tib with tears still in her eyes. and she took a deep breath. and cleared her throat.~


"Sorry... I just..." ~she was trying to pull it together. She knew Tib was one for all the emotions.~

~He held her tight as he tried to ork out what she was saying between sobs.~

"Where has he gone? Did he give any hint?"

~Damn that man for not listening to the Duke. He was safe in this city. If louis or Erika were to find out he was out there somewhere unarmed, he would be in trouble. He glanced at the rapier she indicated. He couldn't remember a time when Artimus was without that. He realised right there that something serious was happening.~

~She was alittle more in control~

"He didn't or would tell me. I have a feeling mom might know more but he sent her back to the library but doesn't want anyone to look for him. It scares me cause I don't think he ever has been with out his sword...I will have to put it with moms sword..." ~she wrapped her arms around him again she loved feeling him wrapped around her. Its like he could make everything better~

~He held her while he tried to think what the hell that mad man was doing now.~

"No, I don't think he has. And why did he send Indis away? Surely she could have gone with him?"

~she shook her head no.~

"He said it would be dangerous for her. She asked to go she didn't want to bother us. She wasn't happy about this as much as I was. If we need to talk to her we can call her by the necklace you have."

~He nodded to her.~

"I think we should."

~He didn't add that it might help keep her calm. There again, if she was in as bad a state as Jade was, could he be doing with two women like it?~

~He walked over to where his swordbelt was hanging, and touched the necklace that was still attached to it.~

~she misted in her arms crossed as she had been thinking. She turned and saw jade and Tib~

"She tell you? " ~the one time she was greatful she couldn't show much emotion~

~she pulled herself up off the floor taking the rapier up and moving over to some of there things that had been delivered. she pulled out a long box. and she opened it and her mothers sword was inside it. She held onto the rapier and just looked at it as more tears ran down her face.~

~He watched as she appeared.~

"She said he's gone off to do something stupid, but she doesn't know what, or where."

~He indicated one of the chairs in the room, and sat down himself. He folded his hands together and raised them to his chin.~

"Did he give any hint where he might be going?"

~she set the rapier down then moved to stand against the chair tib sat in she need to just be near him for right now. She wiped her face and started to calm down as they started to talk.~

~she sat down in the chair.~

"The only thing he was saying that there was an army on the island that if he did things right might help us against this other one. And that whereever it was its dangerous for me.. which would lead me to think of somewhere with necromancers or people who can see ghosts or the supernatural. You know this island better then the rest of us. Any ideas.. we can't go for him...but just to know about where he is...and he said he would be sending Azure back once he got where he was going."

~He glanced up over the back of the chair at Jade.~

"He took your horse?"
~He didn't sound angry or mad, quite the opposite.~

"Any reason he needed Azure? Couldn't any horse do?"

~He knew the attachment you could get to a horse, any maybe there was a reason why he wouldn't just commandeer one from the stables. He was alos trying ot think of anywhere on the island where people could see ghosts - which also had an army.~

"The only army I can think of, apart from the Aegis military, is Icehold. But that doesn't make any sense. The paladins might be able to sense your presence and consider you 'Unholy', thus trying to kill you. But why would Artimus think he can turn them against their king?"

~she looked down at him~

"Said he needed a horse he could trust."

~she then moved to sit down by his feet and leaned against his legs~

~she listened~

"I don't think it was icehold. you know i was thinking back to some old conversionations with him..what about Marloc or maybe the pirates? he said it would be better if he went unarmed...I just don't know."

~He took a deep breath in. Marloc was dangerous; who knew what was happening there since Rensain left. As for the pirates. It pained him to realise he hadn't thought of them.~

"The pirates?" ~he fell silent for a moment as he thought. "Yes, that would fit the critieria of an army. But most of them would want his head! Going unarmed is just asking for trouble!"

~he fell silent once again, thinking of the pirat situation. A small smirk came onto his face.~

"Of course, if he was going to Del Fuaco, he wouldn't need a horse. He'd need a boat. And a disguise. But if he could get there, then there is one man among them who would help him. If he could find him. Jack Razorwind. He helped us once before, and although he remains a pirate, Artimus and he always seemed to get on well."

~It was risky. VERY risky. But it could be done.~

~she nodded~

"Well I know before he was wanting to move the three of us to Marloc.. or was thinking about so we could hide out there. But he would need a horse to get to the waterfront thus him saying he would send back the horse. But why wouldn't of he just used the boat in town here."

~he sat in deep thought for a while, thinking things through. His right hand was stroking Jade's hair as she sat at his feet like an obediant puppy. Finally he looked over at Indis.~

"Did he speak to anyone else, or do anything strange?"

~The trouble with Artimus was that he was also doing strange things.~

~she nodded no~

"The only other person he had talked to besides us three is willow."

~she sighed~

"Have you heard if she is ok?"

~she leaned against him move as his hand moved thru her hair. He was making her relax. Just being there. As she listened to them talk and think. She closed her eyes for a while.~

~tho indis seemed fine her emotions where all over and she would flicker at somethings. She smiled as she noticed jade close her eyes but that made her shift for a moment into the form she last was in for a few moments. which was when she had been in grorr....when she tricked tib...they both needed a release that night...after she shifted back she realized... and stood up and walked over to a window acting like she was thinking... she was glad jade didn't see... but now tib saw..what she did...~

~He was lost in thought, trying to work out what exactly Artimu was up to. His hand stroked through jade's hair, when he caught sight of Indis change form. His hand stopped and clenched into a fist, pulling her hair tight. Indy changed bakc and moved away, but he had seen it. She knew. She had been spying on him!~

~He let go of her hair and stood up.~

"I think I need some air."
~His tone was tough and serious once more, that tone Jade hated. He walked over and picked up his sword belt, then started towards the door, putting the belt on.~

~she watched him leave. then looked over to jade.~

"Are you going to be ok for a moment.?"

~she saw jade nod as she got up and sat in the chair that tib left.~


~she went invisible and followed tib. and spoke softly.~

" Am sorry...I didn't want you to find out like that..but my emotions got the best of me. It was my fault..."