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Post by Kat on Jun 6, 2007 23:52:32 GMT -5
"No I, uh...Well, yes. I need to talk with you, Lady Kalianne. There are some things...some things I feel that we haven't been able to talk to each other about progressively throughout the time we've known each other."
"I'm listening," Kat pulled up a chair and sat beside his bed, smiling at him. "You can tell me anything." But she was only trying to hide all her worry...all her anxiety...behind a mask of affectionate concern. She didn't want Shino to see her worrying...how paranoid she got whenever she sensed anything wrong.
And she did - just now. The Purple Knight quickly saved her smile before it could slip into a thoughtful frown...
Why do I have the feeling someone's watching? she thought. Am I just being paranoid again?
"Excuse me...Sir Shino," said Kat, standing up from her chair. She was devoid of any magical weapon - or any weapon, for that matter. But there was just something she had to check out. She quickly walked out the door and turned to say, "I'll be back, I promise." Then she was out the door.
* * *
"What are you doing here?" asked Kat. The redheaded maid was standing there, shrinking against the wall. Apparently she had not expected the knight to come out early. "I thought you were cleaning the suits of armor a few corridors down."
Liarre shrugged. "I was. I'm done...is there anything wrong with finishing my duties earlier than expected?"
Kat shook her head. "Of course not. What I would like to know is, what are you doing here, outside Shino's quarters? You don't have anything cleaning supplies, so you probably weren't doing any other chores."
The maid nodded, hanging her head. "No, my lady, I wasn't cleaning." Then she suddenly threw back her head and ripped something off her neck - a six-cornered star-shaped silver pendant with what looked like a shard of obsidian embedded in the center. There were strange markings around it...but Kat was too busy thinking of a spell she could perform with only her bare hands to wonder what they were.
"But I shall mop the floor with you when I'm done, Kalianne Triss!"
The Purple Knight ducked as a sudden jet of silver laced with black blazed over her. She could smell singed hair, and shuddered when she reached up to pat the top of her head. Liarre was now holding the pendant out, and it was glowing with a faint, dark gray light.
"What the heck?" Kat made the next move. She made gestures with her hands as though rolling something into a ball and throwing it towards Liarre - a bolt of violet lightning meant to knock the pendant out of her hands. Unfortunately, the maid was quick - she disappeared, and reappeared behind Kat, who turned around in time and saw her grinning, her hazel eyes burning with malice. Or maybe it was just the magic...
I have to sound the alarm, the Purple Knight thought, stepping in front of Shino's door as another gray blast was aimed toward it. But the magic was stopped instantly as Kat summoned pillars of purple fire that engulfed Liarre's spell before disappearing with it. Tell the Knights that something is wrong...
She raised her right hand in the air to create something that could summon the other knights, but screamed instead as it was scalded by a passing gray, flaming arrow. Had Liarre's aim been more accurate, Kat knew she could have lost a hand.
And I have to tell Shino...tell him to run...in case Liarre's after him...
But she had to weigh her priorities or end up draining herself of power. Kat switched to defensive and ran for the first corridor she knew that had suits of armor - they probably wouldn't mind if she borrowed a mace, or a spear, or better yet, a sword, in case her magic failed - and led Liarre away from Shino's quarters and into a grim parody of a cat-and-mouse game.
"Get back here and fight, you coward!" the maid screeched, taking up the chase.
[shadow=purple,left,300]((From this point on, anyone can control Liarre. ^^))[/shadow]
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Post by zarikrahia on Jun 7, 2007 0:19:58 GMT -5
Zari heard a shout and hurtled out the library, nearly crashing into Lady Kat. 'What in the Name of Krahia's going on?' she inquired, a amber-red nimbus of Fae magic already forming around her right hand. 'Is someone chasing you? Shall I...divert them?'
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Post by Kat on Jun 7, 2007 0:50:10 GMT -5
'Is someone chasing you? Shall I...divert them?'
Kat righted herself after almost colliding with Zari, and reached out for the sword one nearby suit of armor was holding. It was much heavier than her usual longsword, but it would have to do, given the circumstances.
"No - warn everyone that there has been a breach in castle security! One redheaded maid is running around with a - "
"There you are!"
"Just...go!" The Purple Knight shoved Zari along. "I'll hold her off!" Kat charged forward towards a looming Liarre, sword held high - or at least, as high as she could, given its weight. "Come and get me!"
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Post by zarikrahia on Jun 7, 2007 1:15:01 GMT -5
Zari twitched. Then concentrated, feeling for the other knights consciousnesses. Projecting her voice into the minds she could find, she thought 'A redheaded maid is running around with a star-shaped pendant. She's near the library. HELP!' before wheeling to face Liarre. 'Last time a friend told me to go, they died. I'm not letting that happen!' The faint Nimbus around her hand cought fire, surrounding her hands with flame. Kat had few weapons- Leaving her was not a good idea. 'Zaha- Warn the other Knights!'
Zaha arched her back and yowled, then bolted, nearly tripping Ikkin as she did so. Panting, the cat spoke rapidly. 'In one of the corridors near the library- A maid has gone bad. Kat's fighting her, and Zari told me to warn you all. She could be after anyone. Maybe an assasawhatsit.'
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Post by Kat on Jun 7, 2007 1:28:24 GMT -5
Kat brought down her sword hopefully on Liarre's pendant-holding hand, but she teleported behind Kat once again, and this time, she was fast enough to knock the Purple Knight aside with a burst of gray lightning, the sword slipping from her hands and clattering to the floor.
"What the hell are you doing?" demanded Kat. "Zari, I told you to run! I'll be all right! Save yourse - "
Another blast later, she was lying face down on the tiled floor and tasting blood. Her lower lip had been cut, but besides that and a few bruises and cuts here and there, she was fine.
"I was sent here," said Liarre. Her pendant suddenly grew to the size of a knight's shield and deflected lightning that Kat had thrown at her. "My business here is none of your business! I was given orders to take you down, Kalianne Triss, and that is what I shall do!"
"Well...taking me down is going to take a while," said Kat, struggling to her feet, her hands full of purple flames. "And don't hurt the other Knights, that's all I ask, if you're only after me!"
The maid sent gray fire as a counterattack, and the two magical attacks crashed into each other with a huge bang. Liarre was forced back a few steps and tripped, while Kat leaped aside, her back against the wall and beside the suit of armor she had nicked a sword from.
"Depends on whether these wretched warriors you call knights interfere," said Liarre, her pendant shrinking back to regular size and glowing again.
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Post by zarikrahia on Jun 7, 2007 1:32:35 GMT -5
It appeared that Liarre was so distracted she did not notice the slender blonde figure aiming an emerald green dagger at her back. Zari met the girls eyes for a second, then nodded. Holly Ailden threw her dagger, then vanished without a trace, reappearing some miles away. 'One word- Yowch.'
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Post by Kat on Jun 7, 2007 5:06:09 GMT -5
The dagger sailed through - and continued sailing through the air. Liarre was gone in an explosion of gray smoke laced with black, leaving a scorch mark on the floor that was shaped like the six-cornered star pendant she wore. Kat kept her back to the wall as the dagger went past her before finally succumbing to gravity and clattering to the floor.
Confused and drained of magic, the Purple Knight collapsed onto the floor, next to the dagger.
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Post by Dice on Jun 7, 2007 13:20:52 GMT -5
Pyro had stood silently, drained the last dregs of water from her goblet to cool her throat, and left the Great Hall in the direction of the library. That was where Ikkin and Crystal were headed, or so she thought she'd heard them say. The silence of the hour was uncanny, or so the Black Knight thought, recalling times when footsteps had been heard in every hall. She didn't even see any maids or pages running about.
As Zaha's yowling cry split that silence, Pyro was so startled she nearly fell over the suit of armor she was passing. Breaking into a dead run, the Black Knight tried to discern, from the cat's echoes, where help was needed. It sounded like the cat was near the library, and as Pyro doubled her pace, she rounded the corner of the corridor, quite unprepared for the sight that met her eyes.
Quickly ducking out of sight, the Black Knight drew a dagger and poised to strike at the maid who had seconds before been standing over the fallen form of the Purple Knight. Breath came in quick, short gasps, but it seemed in the blink of an eye, the maid had disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
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Post by emmhwal on Jun 7, 2007 15:23:24 GMT -5
Emma looked up sharply, hearing noises from the hallway. She saw Pyro running - and she decided to follow the Black Knight. Maybe she would know where to go, as Emma certainly didn't.
She arrived at the scene of all the hubub, and gasped. Lady Kat was on the floor, and a six cornered star shape on the ground. Zari was standing not very far away, and the smell of smoke filled the corridor. She coughed. "Lady Zari, Lady Pyro? What happened here?"
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Post by zarikrahia on Jun 7, 2007 17:34:26 GMT -5
'A maid. She attacked Kat.' Zari's normally olive skin had turned white. 'Red hair, star pendant. Probably an assasain of some sort.'
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2007 13:34:44 GMT -5
Wolf bolted around the corner, his left hand flying to his right forearm to unlatch his claw for battle. And then he froze. He glanced at his forearm and his mouth fell open, eyes widening in a stupor. He had it no longer. It was gone, and when instinct, necessity had called upon him, he had forgotten about it. And that had made him powerless. He glanced up at the sound of a large explosion as smoke erupted up around Kat, who had now collapsed on the floor.
He should have done something, should have helped defend her.
But, no, he hadn't done a thing. He'd just stood by and let it all happen.
"An assassin?" he sputtered a couple moments later. The smokiness of the air irritated his nostrils and burned his eyes. "Was she really a maid? Maybe she was one of the people I saw enter the castle a few moments ago."
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Post by zhunter on Jun 8, 2007 13:47:24 GMT -5
((With this large a castle I can't seriously believe almost every Knight is aware of this.))
He was feeling unable to stay conscious once again. His hearing faded in and out and the body went numb. Steadying his hand, he managed to control his shaking hand from dropping the fine cup full of hot tea. A weird look came to his companion's face, but Shino wasn't paying attention. A wave of drowsiness washed over him and he hoped that he could stay awake while Kat was here. But she had gotten up and went ot the door.
Kat told him she would be but a moment. Shino really wished to express his feelings to her, but he could wait. Besides...it's a quiet day. Until Lord Wolf calls a Council meeti- A cry of fury? There was nnoise outside the door...it sounded much like a scuffle. Shino, who was now feeling a little bit more revived, sat up on the bed and tried to run for the door. This attempt was failed so he fell to his knees. Infuriated with himself for not being able to even go outside his own door, Shino pounded the floor.
With new resolution to see what was happening outside, the White Knight steadied himself on the chair Kat had been sitting on and reached for the door to prop himself up. Suddenly a telepathic cry pierced his head, and although it was just a simple cry for help, the sound waves felt like a banshee crying in his head. "AGH!" Shino cried out as he fell down once again. Turning the door knob with the driving effort in his body, Shino tried to ignore the noise and came to the scene that had taken place just a moment ago.
A scorch mark on the usually polished stone floors...
Lady Kalianne Triss Lunara lying on the floor looking exhausted...
And a few other Knights standing around speakign rapidly and more shouts...
What was going on? Wait..."Kat!" Shino rushed over to her and checked her for visible wounds. "Are you alright?!" Her face was lightly covered in a sort of soot that came off chimneys, excessive smoke, or a blazing fire residue. A large sword was in her hand and a grim look about her. He hugged her close to him and ran his hand over her hair. "What happened?"
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Post by zarikrahia on Jun 8, 2007 14:48:42 GMT -5
Zari gave Shino an odd look 'I hreard a loud noise and came out of the library and nearly collided with Lady Kalianne. She told me to warn you guys- which Zaha did, by yowling. Then-' Zari twitched 'Someone appeared behind the maid, and threw this dagger at her. She vanished and Lady Kalianne collapsed.' She picked up Holly's dagger and held it up, Its translucent green blade creating a emerald glow on the floor below it. Zari hoped against hope that they wouldn't recognize the quality and make and determine it was a Fae dagger. It was bad enough that a red version of that same dagger hung at her own waist.
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Post by KitClairvoyance on Jun 9, 2007 0:46:30 GMT -5
"Sir Kit... How many new knights did we receive yesterday?"
Kit thought the question was a little odd, yet Tamia's voice carried enough weight for Kit to know that her question was not without a reason. He mentally recalled the recent recruits, and though he didn't know most of them, there couldn't be any more than half a dozen. And certainly they were all in the castle now. So what was it that Tamia saw?
"Not many, a half dozen perhaps.." Kit joined Tamia at the window, his eyes searching the grounds for whatever it was that had disturbed Tamia. It didn't take long for him to find the group that caused Tamia concern. There was something strange about them, the way they walked so purposefully towards the castle. They weren't here by chance.
"They aren't knights."
He closed his eyes, opening his senses to his clairvoyance as he reached out slowly towards the group of travellers. It was a simple technique that he used, giving over his sight to the more powerful abilities that lay within a clairvoyant. He allowed his senses to stretch and sweep over the courtyard, feeling everything before coming in to concentrate on the group of travellers.
A strong sense of power came from the group of four, each of them easily as strong as any one of the knights, if not stronger. Kit didn't like them, his clairvoyance couldn't penetrate far enough into their beings. It was as if his sight became fuzzy every time he tried to look at them. Whoever they were, they apparently intended to keep their identities and purposes hidden for now.
As he pulled back his senses, a strong surge of energy exploded somewhere else in the castle. A fight was unfolding, and judging by the strength of the explosion, Kat was almost definitely involved. He didn't think this incident was in any way related to the group that had just arrived, and the possibility of having something else on their hands apart from the travellers didn't go well with Kit.
Beneath the layers of magical energy, a voice cried out.
"WINTERSTONE!"
At the ghostly cry, Kit lost his hold on his clairvoyance. Like a rubber band stretched, his senses snapped back, the whiplash striking him painfully. The world began to wobble rather dangerously around him. His hand shot out, grabbing the windowsill to steady himself. A trickle of blood flowed from where he had bit his lip a little too hard.
"They definitely aren't knights."
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Post by Tam on Jun 9, 2007 10:11:39 GMT -5
"Not..? Then what...." She started as she pulled her attention away from the window and saw the condition Kit was in. "You're hurt! What just happened -- are you alright?" She felt a quiver of panic and tried to quell it. As usual, she had no idea what was going on and how to stop it.
Still set in her healer's frame of mind, she fumbled for some yarrow Kit could use for his bleeding lip. She froze as a casual glance at the travelers beyond her window detected something else in the courtyard: a small black shape wending its way towards them. It sat in the grass before them, flicking its ears. Oran, she thought murderously, conjuring every terrible curse she could think of in order to describe her feelings towards the feline now. She tensed, then hesitated, struggling to decide where she was most needed.
"Kit... I have to...." She broke off, confused.
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