Run Away!|Talen'sul

[Darastrix]

Amann couldn't remember ever having spent a more uncomfortable winter. It hadn't been the cold or the snow; it was staying in one place for so blasted long. He didn't usually mind wintering in a city, but after his run-in with the Scythe of the Reapers, he'd felt it was in his best interest to stay on good behaviour. Even then, even after he'd heard she'd finally left, Amann had still felt the sensation of being watched, so he was careful not to do anything to attract negative attention. He'd even given thought to auditioning with the guild. Nathan had said he was good enough to get in, and he had to admit that there was something strangely appealing about it. It wasn't the guild that appealed, specifically, but rather the idea of joining anything and following their rules to the letter. It was the novelty, he supposed.

But now the spring thaw had finally begun, and with it came his chance to get as much distance between Talen'sul and himself as possible. New Anarlina was his best bet; they called it the Kingdom of Love, so Amann figured the people would be more willing than most to help a traveler. And the Firegem folk he'd heard about would probably be good marks.

He left at daybreak and made for Anarlina, urging his horse to as fast a pace as he thought was safe. The sooner he was elsewhere, the better.

[Kender Bard]

Amann was not pursued--at least not until he was a candlemark away from Talen'sul. Then, coming down the road on their own horses and riding abreast of one another, were two Reapers.

They didn't wear their temple's raiments openly. Instead they simply chose warm clothes and their armor. One was a man, blonde hair in a topknot but dark of skin, wearing a two-pronged staff like weapon strapped to his back. The other was a woman with red hair and lighter skin. She cradled a crossbow against her chest and rode with one hand on the reigns, guiding the horse mostly with her legs. She hadn't fitted the weapon with a bolt, yet, but she rode with a grim look of determination.

[Darastrix]

Amann glanced back when he heard the sound of hooves behind him and might have rolled his eyes if the situation hadn't seemed dangerous. Now what, highwaymen? For the moment, he was happy to ignore the fact that it would be a bit stupid for a bandit to set after someone this close to Skyheort. He urged his mare to speed up as he called back to his pursuers, "I haven't got anything worth stealing if that's what you're about! Better luck waiting for a caravan!"

[Kender Bard]

The two Reapers didn't deign to respond; they just dug their heels into the flanks of their horses and sped up their pursuit. The woman with the crossbow began to load hers; it was awkward on horseback but she seemed to have practiced at it enough to not risk falling off the horse or dropping her weapon.

"Stop now and it'll go easy on you!" the man shouted.

[Darastrix]

"Forgive an unarmed man's skepticism!" Amann yelled back. Where was a guard outpost or a fellow traveler when one needed them? Maybe he should have stayed in Skyheort.

He didn't speed up any more; he wasn't familiar enough with the road between Talen'sul and Anarlina to want to risk it. He'd always tended to have good luck, though, so he pressed on at a steady pace and hoped that one of their horses might throw a shoe or something.

[Kender Bard]

The two riders exchanged a long look, the man finally giving a small nod to the woman.

"This is your last warning," she called out. "Stop, or we'll be forced to do you harm!"

[Darastrix]

Yes, someone's clearly twisting your arm to make you try to hurt me. That was right up there with 'this hurts me more than it does you' as far as bullshit went, but it didn't make the danger any less real. She might miss, of course, but Amann quickly realised that it wouldn't matter much if she did. He was on a straight path with no side roads that he could see, so he'd only be able to ride in a straight line and let her shoot as many times as it took it hit him. And in the meantime, she might shoot his horse.

That, rather than any thought of what kind of injury he might sustain, prompted Amann to pull on the reins to bring his mount to a gradual halt.

[Kender Bard]

A fraction of the tension went out of the two as they drew their mounts up. The woman didn't put away her crossbow and the man drew his military fork.

"Please dismount," the man ordered.

[Darastrix]

Amann couldn't help a soft snort, though by then, his heart was hammering in his chest. Despite their claims--and really, how much could a person trust the ones who were chasing him and pointing a crossbow his back?--he had the feeling he wouldn't be getting out of this mess in one piece.

"Well, at least you're polite bandits," he commented. The horse picked up on her rider's anxiety and tossed her head before trying to edge away form the strange newcomers. Amann frowned and steadied himself in the saddle to lean forward and murmur quietly for a moment before dismounting.

[Kender Bard]

The woman shifted her crossbow to point at his chest while the man slipped his military fork back in its holdings on his back. Slinging off a small knapsack, he pulled a pair of manacles out. "Wrists out," he instructed. "You're coming with us. In the name of our lord Taed, you are to return to the temple of Athrug and atone for your crimes against the dead. Once done, you will be set free again unless our lord's angel says otherwise."

[Darastrix]

"Oh, not this again," Amann said with a look of disgust. "like I told that woman who came months ago, I've never even been to Athrug. And I certainly wouldn't go all the way out there to steal--what was it again? Oh yes, a ring. Not even plural. A. Ring. Well, have it your way, then." He thrust his hands out at the Reaper. "Waste my time, waste yours, and I hope my thieving double is living like a king by now and in another Force's good graces."

Even if they called his bluff and took him, it was going to be a long trip. There would be chances for escape and he might even talk them to his side. They might be faithful Taedeans, but even the faithful could doubt.

[Kender Bard]

The man looked bored by Amann's rant. Sliding off his own horse, he secured the manacles on Amann and gestured for him to get up on the horse he just dismounted, offering him a hand. "We'll take your mount with us, that way you have a means of travel when you're finished with the temple."

"Presuming Taed doesn't want his blood spilled so he can talk to him himself," the woman said with a leer.

The man shot her a disapproving look. "Don't tease the man, Gilda."

"I don't like liars," she said in a hard voice. "Lie all you want, sir. The angel of Taed has guided Liana to you; that is proof enough for me."

The man rolled his eyes slightly.

[Darastrix]

Ugh, a fanatic. There was no reasoning with her type. The man showed a bit more promise, though. Amann figured he could at least trust him to let him live long enough to get to Athrug, if nothing else. He wasn't so sure about Gilda.

"It must be liberating, not having to think for oneself," he muttered under his breath as he clambered awkwardly into his saddle.

[Kender Bard]

"Quiet," the man says tersely as he mounts up behind Amann. "You have a smart mouth. I'm sure by now someone has told you that it's going to land you in trouble someday."

[Darastrix]

"No, you'd be the first, actually." Amann chose not to add that he was generally polite to people he liked. It was a bit obvious that he wasn't going to be inclined to think well of these two. When the man settled in behind him, Amann tensed and shifted so that he was sitting bolt upright with as little physical contact between them as he could manage.