Fourth Adventure 07: Fort in Ashes, & An Unexpected Visitor

Rory gasped as his jaw went half-slack and his eyes widened at the sight of the woman in the sand. The glimmer on her scales was all he needed to confirm it. Not having heard her introduce herself, he voices his near-starstruck reaction."Guys, that's Fierneceal, the witch-mage from Vesayen...!"

*Tab turns to Rory* "you know this girl?"

Snarg glances back and forth between Rory and Fierneceal several times before responding: "That meanin'?"

Hanuel helps her to her feet, taking her back to the wagon. "Guys, keep heading for the town. I'll leave Dara out with you, so make sure they know what's going on, I'll see if I can help our new friend here."

Fierneceal's head snaps up at the sound of the voice behind the others. She steps forward quickly and squints her eyes, looking for the source of the voice. When she finally finds it, she points and shakes her hand menacingly as she steps forward. "YOU! You were on my ship. You were a stowaway!"

"You're not even supposed to BE HERE! You're supposed to still be on the island, helping get everything back into shape? What on earth possessed you to STOW AWAY ON MY SHIP?!" Fierneceal shouts at the human, now within inches of him and looking more and more angry.

"Rory, she's agitated enough as she is. Fierneceal, please calm down. You're exhausted and hurt."

Higaide stares at Fierneceal for a moment, blinking. "Yes, I was... didn't think I'd see anyone..." he trails off for a second as the thought that's been thundering behind his mind the last few days explodes out, "The island! What happened to Vesayen, is it okay, did you save it?!"

Rory could barely believe it. The Fierneceal, a legend among his kind, was about to put the fury of the gods into Higs. He couldn't imagine meeting her on worse terms.

"hummm guys help the newcomer's i take it you know each other?"

*Kez moves forward to flank Higaide.*

"Whomever you are. These two are our friends. I do not know your circumstances nor how you know of them, but I would advise you to calm yourself before taking aggressive action toward my comrades."

*If you happen to be paying attention Kez has her hind claws flexed in defense.*

Snarg turns to Hanuel with a concerned look, "Eh, I ain't likin' ya bein' out 'ere wit'out no one after she's bein' attacked - ya understandin'? Now ... 'Vesayen'? Stowin' 'board ships? Where's this bein' happenin'?"

"Snarg, I just meant I'd take her in on the cart and you guys keep ahead so she isn't surrounded by strangers. I was hoping to avoid something causing her to be agitated like this."

Fierneceal's eyes grow wide and she gapes at the sight in front of her, not one but two humans. She gasps out breathless, "But there was only one on my ship. How are you both here?"

She takes a step backward and addresses the man who inquired about the island first and foremost. "I think we did. I don't know. There was a thing, and a woman said she'd fix it if we used the artifact, but we used the artifact and now I'm here and I don't know where Flux is. I hope Vesayen is okay."

Fierneceal then turns her head toward the other human, the one she didn't notice at first, the one she didn't realise had been the first to speak. "You, how did you even get here? You weren't on my ship and you weren't on the roster, so how the hell are you here?!"

"Fiernaceal, I know you're worried, but right now isn't the time for questions. We're in the middle of a road, and anything could happen. Lets get to town, and we'll figure it out from there, okay?"

Zeiss listens to the conversation. He then looks at the town that was less than one mile away.

"I will scout out ahead."

On his horse, he goes toward the town.

*Kezrin's hind claw stretches out in front of the newcomer baring her from moving toward Rory. She mutters something in Skittish that no one catches.*

Fierneceal takes another step back, away from the hooked claw of Kezrin. "I - I'm sorry. I'm not going to hurt anyone. I'm just surprised. Yes, yes let's get out of the road and to town, and perhaps I can find Flux and figure out what's going on." She sighs and steps back, allowing herself to be led away.

Fierneceal wrote:Fierneceal then turns her head toward the other human, the one she didn't notice at first, the one she didn't realise had been the first to speak. "You, how did you even get here? You weren't on my ship and you weren't on the roster, so how the hell are you here?!"

Rory was surprised and a bit hurt at this sudden interrogatory demand. He did the only sane thing he felt he had the right to do in that situation: retaliate.

"Yeah, I wasn't on your roster, and no, I didn't take a ride on your ship. I nearly died getting to this gods-forsaken hellhole, and how I did is no concern of yours!"

"You all, head for town. I'll be a few minutes behind with Fierneceal. She needs space to think." Hanuel guided her to the wagon, and waited for the group to head off.

"RORY! We've done this dance before, so back off and get moving!"

Fierneceal turns her head toward the angry man and inclines it a bit in apology. "Again, I'm sorry. This is... a trying time. I'm sorry."

"You're damn right you are," Rory grumbled as he shuffled off to the wagon. He pulled out the white corn bourbon from his pack and took a swig.

Snarg is sitting in the background with a bemused expression, watching the situation unfold.

Hanuel shoos Rory away with the bourbon, before helping Fiernaceal into the wagon, and sending Dara off with the group. "That's Dara, by the way. My Aspect." Hanuel casually mentions, and Dara nod back to the both of them.