Time to go home|Squallstorm, Talen'sul

[Northen Light36]

Acqua's been quiet while she and Lya were traveling to Squallstorm, not speaking unless Lya says something or she has to and there's been a strained, worried expression on the girl's face the whole trip. If Lya had been a Mind, though, she might have been aware of the constant mental dialog between Faith and Acqua.

As the Queen and Acqua near the village though, Acqua's expression changes from worry to hatred as she looks down at Mathew's house from a outcrop of rock, watching for any sign of activity in the grounds of the house. "If we need to, how well can you fight?" she asks.

[Kender Bard]

Lya cocked her head in thought. "I've been training since the incident with Mirza," she admitted. "Hand to hand, I'm not very good, but I'm a very good shot, and my Wind powers have been sharpened. If it came down to it, I could hold my own, though not against a three signer."

[Northen Light36]

Acqua nods. "I don't think Mathew will be there, he has to have heard the King's in Sparkstrike by now, but unless he's even dumber then I think he is, he'll have left guards," she replies. "I'm good at hand to hand, but my storm sign is useless and my water abilities are nearly useless against Storms. Well at least we'll be able to cover each other's weaknesses... And hopefully we'll be able to avoid any guards. I can't see anyone in the grounds, so let's try getting closer." Without waiting for the Queen, Acqua heads down towards the house.

[Kender Bard]

Lya follows after, close to Acqua, doing as Valen did and deadening all sounds around them. Her nervousness is obvious, however; she's making a visible effort to restrain from running forward and busting right in. While walking, she removes her longbow and holds it close by.

[Northen Light36]

"Relax!" Acqua hisses, looking at Lya. "If you're tense, you're more likely to make a mistake and get us caught." Creeping closer and hiding in some painfully prickly bushes, Acqua peers up at the house, watching. She'd picked night-time to do this for a reason. Guards tended to use lanterns at night when they felt no reason to hide and that made knowing where they were easier. Acqua nods to herself as she sees three lights in the upstairs windows, one of which is moving along what's probably a hallway, and one light downstairs where she'd last seen her family. Crawling out of the brushes, Acqua makes her way back to Lya. "They're careless. Looks like the guards are upstairs. Follow me closely and let's try and get in and out quickly."

[Kender Bard]

Lya nods, and follows Acqua.

Inside, Alethia is fast asleep, her head resting against Talon's chest, a foot propped against the cradle to indicate she had been rocking the baby before she dozed. Talon seemed asleep, but anyone who's known him for long can spot telltale signs that show he's only faking sleep, keeping a wary vigil on his surroundings with his eyes closed.

[Northen Light36]

"Go to Talon, Faith," Acqua whispers to her pet, keeping her voice so low that even Faith can barely hear it. She purrs softly and pads into the room, making her way silently over to Talon and licking his hand to signal friends are here. Neither she or Acqua are going to risk any of the captives making a sound.

[Kender Bard]

Feeling the rough tongue against his hand, Talon's eyes snap open and he tenses, as if readying for a battle, despite the fact that there isn't anything he could do in his current position. Since the last time Acqua had visited, he'd gained a black eye; a badge from his latest mouth-off to Mathew.

Looking at Faith he smiles widely, and wiggles a little to wake his wife, who gives a little start but otherwise remains quiet. Excitement fills her eyes at the sight of Faith.

[Northen Light36]

Signaling to Lya to follow her, Acqua slips into the room and hurries over to her siblings. "Ready to go home?" she asks in a whisper as she kneels to untie Talon. "Sis, I think the Queen would like to see her daughter. Faith, guard." Understanding Acqua's using their old, brief commands to hide Faith's ability from Lya, the cat doesn't take offense and trots to the doorway, watching for any danger. Acqua touches her water sign and uses just a little healing water on Talon's eye before turning her attention to rubbing feeling back into her brother's arms and legs, aware that he'll be stiff after so long confined.

[Kender Bard]

Talon stretches out, bowing his head deferentially to the Queen. Alethia pulls Talon to his feet and hugs him tightly, glad to embrace him, then hugs Acqua briefly. Lya snatches her baby up, pressing her close to her chest to muffle the initial whimper. Kissing her daughter on the forehead, Lya cradles Luminous then focuses on buoying up Talon and Vortai, well aware that the two wouldn't be in condition to run with them. Alethia, on the other hand, was fine and eager to be gone.

[adris]

Vortai didn't want to argue this time... plus he knew that Mathew had went off so there was no real trouble as long as the superior thief Acqua managed to keep her wits about her. He was in almost no condition to walk though making Lya's efforts a happy relief. Even if one didn't include the several beatings he made sure he recieved over his tenure here, he just hadn't been able to use his legs enough during the incarceration to move the way he wished to. With what strength he had left though he flashed a smile to Lya as thanks for helping him up and also took off the glove covering the hand with his sign. He wasn't about to look around and see if his weapon was anywhere, he would have a new one forged. Freedom is enough of a reward right now, although he was still ready to die fighting for the others if his body let him do so.

[Northen Light36]

Acqua returned her sister's hug then focused back on the job. There would time for celebration once they were all out of here and safe. Slipping over to the door, Acqua watches and listens for any sign of movement. Hearing and seeing nothing, Acqua nods to her companions and leads the way out of the house.

Once they're out of the village, Acqua relaxes enough to lean tiredly against a tree before rumaging in her pack for some dried fruit which she hands out. "I hope everyone's up to a long night. I want to put as much distance between us and this place as possible before they discover they've lost their prisoners."

[Kender Bard]

Alethia just nods and eats the food ravenously. Talon nibbles at his, more tired than anything. "I will try..."

Lya was currently conserving her energy, so left the men to move on their own. "I can carry you both for quite a distance. I think we'll be able to put miles between us and them over the course of the night."

[Northen Light36]

"Good," Acqua replies simply, eatting her share of the food and trying to ignore the beginnings of a exhustion headache.