The War of Old Europe

Three cloaked figures stalked quietly, but steadily out of the shadowsd of an alley near the Town Hall. The outer two were garbed in brown, whilst the middle one was cloaked in a silky black. Their hoods covered their faces, and only their eyes were visible. Alastair's glowed brightly as he took the lead, Friedrich and Sebastian on either side of him.
They followed the cloaked woman, who was striding angrily towards the stables. Alastair quickened his pace, trying to reach the stables before the woman. He noticed that the crowds of peasats hurried away from the woman as she strode by, and thought, It seems I'm not the only one who's feared in this land...
"Friedrich, Sebastian-take to the rooftops!" He whispered harshly. "Do not let her get to the stables ere you do." The two men followed his commands, as they always had and always would. Their loyalty was stunning, but not without reason. Alastair had led them in and out of trouble more than once.
He hurried along, keeping the woman in view, until they reached the stables. The woman turned in, and Alastair quickly followed.
Friedrich and Sebastian were positioned in the loft at the top of the stables, on the opposite side of the woman. At Alastair's command, they jumped down in front of her.
The woman gasped, and turned about, staring hard into Alastair's eyes. "What news of Germany has come to the attention of Xayna of Stonehenge?" He asked, in a harsh voice, then grinned to reassure the frightened Xayna.

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Sera gazed up at the woman as she leaped upon the step and announced her departure. I do not remember this woman...but everyone seems to hate her. I wonder why that is... Her dark eyes blinked once as she studied her openly. Her eyes... Black lashes lowered as her gaze softened. Much pain... I do not fear her.

Lifting her gaze again, she watched the woman head towards the stables, determination in her stride. Her own horse was on the outskirts of the village. He didn't like people much: always got spooked easily. She doubted anyone would be able to get within ten feet of him, let alone catch him. Her sharp ears picked up foosteps and she glanced around. People were shuffling around on all sides, but this sound was different.

The girl lifted an eyebrow. What - ? She thought, spotting three cloaked figures. They moved quietly, but their appearance alone drew attention to themselves. Two of them took to the roof while the third, cloaked in black, hurried after the woman heading towards the stable. Black Lady... What interest does he have in her? She sighed softly. I may regret this later..she thought, as she walked slowly towards the stable. -but it's not like I have anything better to do... Plus, those three looked like trouble. The villagers eyed her warily, as they did every stranger. She raised an eyebrow as one man growled at her, a huge scowl on his face. He was staring right at her throat. She averted her gaze and slipped closer to the stable. Oooo, I wonder what he was looking at... A harsh voice caught her attention as she neared the entrance. Her foosteps, nearly silent, came to a halt and she closed her eyes and listened.

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One day this will pass, God will see us ALL through!

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Xayna had not noticed she was being followed until it was too late and the two cloaked forms dropped down in front of her. Instintively she whirled to run, only to find herself facing a third. When the third's voice reached her, a trace of recognization snapped through her. He threw back his hood and Xayna almost smiled...almost.
"Alastair! You bloody fool! Why must ye walk around spooking people like that!" Xayna growled, a trace of anger in her tone.
But Alastair shot her a boyish grin and she couldn't stay mad long. It had been a good year since she had last seen him. Knowing how much he hated hugs, she embraced him and then stepped back, her eyes and face going solemn.
"What news, Alastair? Where is Heinrich?"
The grin dropped from Alastair's face and Xayna's stomach twisted. SHe knew before he said anything, knew by the dark angry fury dancing in her friend's eyes, by the clenched jaw and fists...Heinrich was no more. Though she hadn't known the man as well as Alastair had, she still felt a sweeping sorrow taking over her soul. She bowed her head in memory to the man who had taught both her and Alastair the true meaning of life.

((BTW, Baywater can be in Ireland. As can Stonehenge. I like Ireland. lol.))

Alastair frowned at the mention of his old mentor, Heinrich. He stared at Xayna, as she bowed her in head in respect for the dead. As he stood there, his mind flicked back to the specs of memory from when it all started; when his life truly began. It had been nearly three years ago, when he and Xayna had formed the band of outlaws and hated men. They had begun as a peaceful group, dwelling, hunting, and thriving in the forest, until the day that the King's men came, and assailed their home. Alastair had led in the defense. Many had died. That was when Xayna, and nearly forty others left the group, and Alastair went on to lead it to war against corruption. Open war...

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Sera opened her eyes and blinked as the woman, now identified as Xayna, addressed the cloaked man by name. Hmm..should let them be. She lifted a bare foot and stepped back away from the stables, then turned and continued walking. The girl actually envied the two; they seemed to have a few friends left in the world. Her eyes closed again as she remembered her father's face: black and blue, lip bleeding, bright blue eyes, lifeless yet staring straight up at her. She wiped away the image and walked slowly out of town, head lowered slightly.

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One day this will pass, God will see us ALL through!

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Xayna raised her head at last and let the pain recede. Poor Heinrich. At least he was with God now. Her dark eyes flashed back up to Alastair, seeing in his face the anger and cold distance that had marked his face the day she left, three years hence. Once she had known this man. Once they had been good friends. Now, at times, she felt like she didn't even know him anymore. She sighed, feeling a little melancholy, and spoke, moving on to other matters.
"So, you know of the King's call for the fourteen? Tell me, have you heard anymore about what the quest is then the parchment tells us?"

"Aye," Alastair said, looking about somewhat nervously. "but that can wait. I cannot stay here. I am..." He paused. "...Wanted. My father seeks my head. He has promised baronage to any who bring it to him.
"Come, Matthias awaits us on the outside of town. He has horses. You need place no price on your head for theft." He walked out of the stables, and on to the outskirts of Baywater.

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Xayna started to follow Alastair, but then hesitated, a little irritated by his manner and the way they had parted in the past. He stopped when she did.
"Alastair..." she paused, looking for words for something that was wordless, "I don't...want to be indebted to you. I want to...go this alone. We parted badly before, and I'm not holding a grudge..but...I need to do this on my own...I'm sorry, old friend. Good luck with your father, he's a mighty stubborn man."
She gave a sad smile to the boy...nay, the man she had known so long, and then turned back towards the town. She wandered aimlessly for a bit, vision clouded by deep thought. She watched not where she went and suddenly bumped into a young man. Looking up she discovered it was the very man that had asked her to read the declaration at the Town Hall. An idea sparked into her head.
"Say, my friend, have you a horse ye would be willing to sell? I cannot pay much, but I would swear to bring it, or sufficient payment back to thee."

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Unsinkable ships sink
Unbreakable walls break
Sometimes the things you think could never happen
Happen just like that
Unbendable steel bends
If the fury of the wind is unstoppable
I’ve learned to never underestimate the impossible

Sera reached the edge of the village, which entered into a small meadow. She looked around and, spotting her horse, smiled and whistled sharply. The tall brown horse turned and lifted its head, then galloped over to her. She patted his neck, then clicked her tongue and walked off towards the road. Her plan was to follow the road to where her uncle's house used to stand. It had been dark last time she'd passed it, so she didn't knock on the door, but this time she planned on doing so. Once she reached the road, she turned and hopped up onto the horse's back. She nudged him gently with her foot and he began walking down the path.

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One day this will pass, God will see us ALL through!

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Vern stared at the woman. Was she crazy? Thinking that a peasant could own a horse? And he, still under his fathers roof and not even come of age yet? His skin prickled slightly as anger and shame welled in him at his lowlyness. But perhaps she didn't know, perhaps being always secluded from the rest, she didn't know how things worked for peasants.

Straitening his shoulders, Vern looked her in the eyes, his own a mixture of scorn, anger, and misery. Though not all, if any, of the emotion directed at or for her. His voice had a rough edge to it. 'I canna be ownen an 'orse of my own. 'ow could I? Being only a mere peasant?'

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"A poet dead is revered, a poet in the next room is a joke."
~Unknown

"Snowflakes are like tiny pieces of pure quiet."
~Pasquale