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KnightLord Zero Vice Captain
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 Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 11:49 pm
Ancelot was paralyzed with fear. The woman that stood before him was the murderer of his village, and of his mother. His emotions were running wild inside him, he couldn't control the trears coming down his cheeks. "Its her." He said quietly to himself. He couldn't move, he didn't even know that Cain was talking to her. He was stricken with fear. He dropped to his knees, his lance fell infront of him.
The only thing that woke him from his trance, was when Cain told to him to get away. He shook his head. He didn't know what to do. He wanted to help Cain, but he couldn't. If he did he would only get in his way. So Ancelot quickly grabbed his lance, and mounted Ashra. "Alright Cain, I'll wait for you in there!" Ancelot yelled out. He then nudged Ashra to go. His heart filled with guilt not being able to do anything to help Cain. Once he got to the clearing, he dismounted Ashra and fell to his knees once agian.
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 12:28 am
Twenty minutes later the woman appeared with Kadar following her, Kadar was carrying the lance and packed, she was holding Cain his collar. "Praying wont do you any good." She said coldly tossing Cain down in front of him; Cain was unconscious. "He ripped my favourite cloak with that lance of his, burned a hole right through it." As per her usual she seemed pissed. "Before you get all, 'you killed him I will have revenge!' Don't be stupid. If he was dead, there wouldn't be a body." She made that sound like common knowledge and he should have known. For something that was dead, she made a heavy thump sound as she dismounted.
"You should be dead, I should kill you right now. Time as you know or should know by now is not linear, it does not go straight. It is full of forks of twists and turns and stuff." She was busy unpacking Kadar, who didn't seem to mind her. He was busy sniffing her pockets. "Oh here now stop that." She pulled a mint from the pocket he was sniffing and her mount came over. "Fine one for you too Shadow." She pulled out a second and soon both Crons were crunching away. "It's a pity you've only met the living me, after I died give or take two thousand, three hundred years I actually became a softy." She was actually breaking camp for the pair it seems.
It wasn't long before there was another fire and a kettle of tea. Agwyn was sitting on a rock paying Ancelot little mind. "I have decided, that I wont be killing you." She poured herself a cup of tea and was not being a host in the least, leaving him to pour his own. "After I took Cain out, which was after his first attack, I decided to read the book and see just what your future held." She was glaring at the tea now, like it had done her a personal injustice.
"You had a family... You gave it all up to help my daughter to stop me." Shadow was nudging her back. "I was so obsessed by the lust for power, I forgot what was important; Silvia and my first husband paid for that. The centuries that passed as a Seeker only made me bitter and more hateful. Then one day I met a man, despite being what I am he loved me dearly." She sipped the tea. "Our life was fraught with war and death. Just before my death that made Cain the Keeper of the book and my home, my mate was killed. For over three years I was without him, I grew bitter again. When the final battle came; myself, my daughter and my friend were attacked. I was not going to allow the death of either of them and so I died killing our opponent.
Again she went back to the tea for a long minute. "My mate, who I didn't know was watching for his chance, lost his mind. He would later attack and attempt to kill my friend and his wife. I have yet to return to my time to sort this out. But I must before his bitterness causes the fourth war." She finished the tea. "Though in life I hated my daughter in death I understand I was a bad parent. Allowing you to live, means a bit of an easier road to my death for her. It is not much, but it is something I can do."
She got up and stretched, her bones cracking a little. "I have seen what Cain wishes for your place to stay will look like. I will make it undetectable for my living self to find it. There you will be safe until Cain must return to his proper time. For the fourth war will come and the remaining Seekers will be needed." She walked over to Shadow and pulled herself into the saddle. "Cain will be fine, though I doubt he'll wake until nightfall. I took more from him then I meant." She then looked to the mane of Shadow. "I don't remember all the people I've killed, there's too many. If it means anything to you, I am sorry for taking her from you so soon." She shifted into a crouch and Shadow was gone, galloping into the woods, soon they could not be heard.
"Is she gone yet?" Cain said when he heard the silence. "So, you had tea with Death herself and an apology! My you've been busy haven't you." He himself cracked a bit as he sat up. "Just to clear on something, I let her beat me. I could have beaten her if I wanted to, I just needed her to go built the fortress." Kadar coughed several times behind him. "Shut up you I could have. Pity she took the book, I must admit it was useful." He settled upon the rock looking quite pleased with himself.
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KnightLord Zero Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 1:10 am
Ancelot's tears finally stopped. He no longer was afraid of her. In fact he pitied her in a way. When she spoke to him she sounded sad and caring. "This can't be the same woman. It looks like her, but it can't be her." Ancelot thought to himself. "She has grown somewhat kinder. Its hard to believe though." Then Ancelot heard her apologize to him, when he heard her say that tears began to run down his cheeks. She sounded sincere, she meant what she said. So when she began to leave Ancelot looked down at the ground.
He then looked down and saw a unconscious Cain. but once she left he could see can rise up. "Yes she's gone."What a busy day for me huh? I'm surprised, I'm just really surprised. "She told me that she took you out in one blow. Ancelot began to luagh.
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 1:24 am
"I could do the same to you ya know." Cain huffed before pouring a cup of tea. "I always liked her tea, I know its laced with booze but, its so good!" Kadar coughed again. "I could totally take him out in one shot, I just wouldn't because that's unsportsmanlike." He sipped the tea. "I was acting, I needed her to go build us the fortress. If not, I knew there was no way I could keep her living self away." Kadar, from behind Cain's back nodded. "Stop that you." Cain pulled out a mint and tossed it to him, for a few moments there was only the sound of crunching.
"I'm pretty sure she knew she had me," Cain admitted. "I know she is getting old though, this death made her soft. She wasn't that soft previously, you would have had to fight for your life and I've never heard her apologize unless it was to her mate. Strange, I wonder if that means when I get back to the future the Council might get stuff accomplished. Nah." He chuckled, returning to the tea.
"When you're done, I think we should get to that spar before I go scare us up some more dinner. Whatcha say? I'll even use a stick so you cannot possibly get hurt when I win." He looked to Kadar. "Go get the stick would you? I liked that stick." The Cron snorted and trotted off. "Good boy!" Cain yelled after him.
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KnightLord Zero Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 9:53 pm
"Alright Cain, lets have a friendly match." Ancelot said happily. He now knew what he had to do. He now had to train, become stronger so that he can protect her daughter. So he stood up and grabbed his lance. He got into his battle stance and waited for further instruction from Cain. "I'm ready when you are." Ancelot said happily, while he pointed his lance at Cain. "You can make the first move Cain." It seemed that his troubles had vanished for the person he most feared asked for forgiveness. Not only that, but she was going to let him live.
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 10:22 pm
"Don't rush into battle, take the time to learn your opponent. Besides at the moment my lance is on the back of Kadar and he's got to fetch my stick. So I'm unarmed... Mage. Bah, I hate being unmounted." He slipped off the rock and lay back in the grass, completely unconcerned about Ancelot and his lance. For a good five minutes it seemed Cain had dozed off, maybe he had for he did not notice Kadar's return.
"What the!" Was Cain's reply when his stick hit him in the face.Kadar had no problem dropping it on him and backing away. "Git." Cain muttered getting up and walking over to him and pulling himself onto his back. "Right, remember Kadar eats people, so though he wont aim to bite you. He will still kick you. As will all good warhorses. I meanwhile have a pretty stick which I will attempt to block you with. All while casting magic at you! In theory, you'll be kind of in a active battlefield of sorts. I'll try not to finish you off quick, be sporting and what not."
He chuckled softly, shifting into a battle position on Kadar who responded by snorting, lowering his head and looking right at Ancelot before pawing. "Settle down, we need him." Cain's free hand gathered up some mane before Kadar sprang forward, strides eating up the ground between them and Ancelot. Cain's stick was aimed at his shoulder, since he didn't want to hurt Ancelot. He would have to work with Kadar, Kadar was probably too aggressive for this.
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KnightLord Zero Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 10:38 pm
Ancelot quickly moved out of the way before getting hit by the stick. He knew he had to keep on his guard. So he went into a defensive stance preparing for anything that could happen. While he did this he began to scan Cain and Kadar for an opening. When Cain came back around he barely dodged and nearly hit Cain with the hilt of his lance. He kept scanning, but it was hard. Cain had a really good defense not only that, but before Ancelot could find a good spot to strike he'd have to dodge Cain's magic. He knew that it would be foolish to rush Cain, beacuse he would be hit with the stick, magic, or worse Kadar. So he carefully watched Cain and Kadar and studied their movements. Trying his best to find an opening.
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 11:03 pm
There was one great flaw with Cain's teaching. Mage Knights did not use weapons because they tended to hold onto the horse's mane with their free hand. Cain needed both hands to fight, one to cast and one to use the stick. Unlike normal Mage Knights that used saddles to help them stay on the horse, Cain did not. Though he had an excellent seat, he moved with Kadar, making him slide around on his back. Using only his seat on the horse, it was easy to knock him off.
If Ancelot could find a way to make Kadar have to stop fast, jump or turn sharply it was likely Cain would possibly fall off him. Furthermore if Ancelot hit Cain with a sharp blow, he might be unseated. There was one Risk with anything and that was a lose mount, especially since Kadar was a Cron. Cain had neglected to teach him the difference between a human spar and a Seeker's spar. The Seeker's Spar being more violent and did not end until both mount and rider were downed.
"Why, you're pretty good at getting out of the way you know! Always a good skill to have if you can't fight. Dodging is a viable strategy, sometimes defense is better then offense!" Cain was sticking to his fireballs, because one good thunder attack would be to easy with him standing right there. Then again it might teach him not to be a wall, mages liked walls for target practice, since they never had to get in range of the lance. Kadar seemed to be calling the shots; charging, dodging and plunging the attacks of Ancelot.
Suddenly, he lunged forward, the whites of his eyes showing. He planted, reared, slashing out at Ancelot with his hooves. Cain completely caught off guard by the actions of Kadar, was tossed onto his neck. "Woah, stop that!" Having no reins on him, gave him no control of his mount. Never before had Kadar gone out of his way to launch a direct attack unless... Only then did Cain realize his mount was taking this too seriously.
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KnightLord Zero Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 11:29 pm
Ancelot now knew that he was in danger. He swiftly dodges Kadars hooves, even though a couple strikes his armor. He then makes a mad dash behind the Cron and grabs Cain. Flinging him off the horse and onto the ground. He then turned to look at Kadar, he seemed angry. Ancelot then turned toward the camp. "Cain I have an idea!" He shouted as he dashed toward the camp. He had enough time to grab a long peice of rope. He then ran towards a large tree and tied one end of the rope to the tree grabbing the untied end. He turned and saw a angry kadar heading straight for him, so he quickly tossed his lance near Kadar causing him to slow down. Then Ancelot quickly climbed up the tree and waited for Kadar to get closer.
Ancelot looked down the tree and saw Kadar, who was now kicking at the tree. So Ancelot said a quick prayer and jumped out of the tree landing on Kadar's back. Once he was on Kadars back he tied the rope around Kadar's neck, he barley had enough time to finish tieing it before he was tossed of his back. He then scrambled to his feet and ran away from the tree. Kadar tried to follow, but was stopped due to the rope. Ancelot hit the ground, he was breathing heavily. He was exhausted, but he was safe so he was happy.
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 11:59 pm
"Not a bad idea if that really was a horse..." Cain muttered darkly before it happened. One second Kadar was attempt to take down the tree and the next second there was no Kadar. "Not good." Cain looked around, knowing he would likely see the Cron before it appeared. He did, a few feet from Ancelot. The Cron appeared, rising out of the ground. The long almost three foot horns, protruded out of the top of its skull, a horn protruded out of each of the cheekbones and thankfully pointed inward to towards the jaw bone. The empty eye sockets looked to Ancelot as the powerful forelegs propelled it forward.
Unlike a horse, which has hair, the hide looked more like tanned leather stretched over the bones which stopped near the hooves. The mane and tail were white and limp looking while the hide was a shiny black. Pressed against the sides were draconian looking wings and the Cron lowered it head. Clearly not amused. Cain was already between the pair as it emerged from the ground. "Don't you dare!" He yelled at the beast.
Surprised by Ancelot's idea, if not amused he leaped onto the Cron, a heavy silver chain in his hand. "Not today, not now but soon." He said soothingly to the Cron, as with a flick of his wrist the chain looped around the muzzle and Cain, jerked back, smacking hard into the neck of the Cron. By the force of the yank, it sat down, sliding at little on the loose dirt. Cain had the other end of the chain now, pulling its head down into its chest. Hooves flashing a little closer to Ancelot's head then Cain liked he kept pulling on the Cron, backing it away from him.
"You will behave yourself you hear me!" Cain backed him up all the way to the tree. Kadar fighting to toss him every step of the way. "Stand." Cain jerked sharply on the Cron's muzzle as they got to the tree and he slid off. The rope was now a silver chain and Cain was already wrapping it around his neck and using his magic, locked the end together. The reins loosened and Cain pulled them off his muzzle. "Settle down." The Cron still wanted Ancelot clearly as the tree trembled from the force of the lunges.
Several minutes passed before the Cron stopped and stood calmly again. "Thought that might fix you." Cain said harshly, not happy with his mount. Where ever the silver had touched was blackened as if burned. "Now change back." He barked before taking the chain off, the Cron melted into the ground and reappeared as Kadar. "Get over here." Kadar came, looking none to pleased with Cain. Cain dug about the bags and produced a halter, putting it on him then clipped the chain to it, making sure it wasn't touching or rubbing. "Behave." He muttered walking away and tossing the spare chain to the ground where it too melted into the ground.
"And you'll stay there until I can trust you again!" Cain yelled at him before flopping onto the grass. "You okay, not hurt are you?" Cain sounded anxious and concerned. "We'll use Ashra from now on. He hasn't hasn't had a kill in long enough and he's a bred and trained killer. Never taught him the difference between a spar and war. I punished him but, it was really all my fault." He sighed, there was a lot to learn obviously. "Nice win though."
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KnightLord Zero Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 9:16 pm
Ancelot watched in horror, as the cron rose from the ground. He was frozen, all he could do was watch it rise from the ground. Then he watched Cain push the Cron back, and watched him to Kadar to the tree. It took a couple of seconds to realize that Cain was talking to him, but he snapped out of it. "I'm alright Cain... so that is what a cron really looks like." Ancelot said quietly. He shook his head back and forth, until he became calm agian. "I'm alright Cain, but I do have a couple of dents in my armor." Ancelot said with calmer voice. After that he sat back down on the ground and looked up towards Cain. "That was a scary training session." Ancelot said jokingly.
It was turning dark so they decieded to head back towards the campsite. Once they got back Ancelot let out a yawn and sat down near the fire. he looked over at Cain. "Hey Cain, want to know what I've noticed? You treat me like I'm your own flesh and blood. You saved me from the Vashta, and you convinced Death to spare my life. Not only that, but you always make sure that I'm okay. If it was anyone else they would've left me for dead, your like a father to me..." Ancelot looked down at the ground.
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 9:44 pm
Cain was, after returning to their campsite, chained Kadar to the tree and settled into place on a branch in the tree. He was busy surveying the area from his new vantage point and so did not answer him for a good few minutes. "I never was a father and I never had one, so I wouldn't know." Cain sighed gently looking out. "Warren was... Sick, not physically but, he had an obsession of power, wealth and grandeur. He did things... Things that history will tar me with upon my lifetime. He raised me the same way, so did mother... I never saw much of her."
He looked to the lance he'd carried up with him. "When I was sixteen, I was captain of the biggest private army in the world. We killed other creatures, humans, for sport. My Sister though unwillingly helped. I think after the first kill, she realized what I did not; I found killing fun. She hated father and saw me only as an extension of him, she hated me. I wasn't father in the end though..." He was gripping the lance tightly. "I have four children, all different mothers. I only met one of them after dying; Ria. She was a lot like my sister, married a relation of my sister's husband as well. She and I do not see eye to eye."
He stood up on the tree branch, the lance bit into the bark of the branch as the wind blew his cloak. "My other two Daughters and Son would die in the war that Ria survived before become a Seeker. Her and her mate are both Seekers." He looked down at Ancelot, "I don't know how to be a father. I always treated and cared for the men that served under my command with respect and I did what I could for them, I took care of them so we'd have each others backs."
He looked back to the sky. "I will try to do right by you Ancelot, to the best of my abilities. Maybe you are not a blood heir, maybe I am living through you and what I have foreseen I hope to give you that which I never had. You will change the world in a small way but, it will never be forgotten by the Council at least. When the Keeper sees something in the Book of Counted Time, all the Seekers see it. All of them know what you did, Silvia will live it in time. It is my job to make sure you are prepared for that time."
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KnightLord Zero Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 6:57 pm
Ancelot looked down toward the ground after hearing what Cain said. He didn't know what to say. A couple of moments passed by, neither of them said a word. "Cain, I promise I won't waste this life that you have given me. I will live my life to the fullest, and I will train hard to be Silvia's guardian." Ancelot said to Cain. He looked up into the starry night sky, it was beautiful outside. A couple of minutes passed befure Ancelot looked back towards Cain.
Cain was still in the tree scanning the area. It was really quiet out, so Ancelot decided to break the silence. He started to hum a small tune that his mother would hum to him when he was a small boy. It had a soft melody about it and it was very calming. He hummed the tune for several minutes before the tune started to get lighter and lighter. All of a sudden there was a loud thud, Ancelot fell over fast asleep.
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 7:16 pm
Cain was half in meditation listening to Ancelot and the tune, the thud however, jerked him out of it. He looked around before realizing what had happened and laughed a little at himself for being so jumpy. Finally he slid down the tree, took the chain off Kadar and rode off after her. Clearly he had yet to get parenting down to a fine art.
When dawn broke, there was no Cain in sight just a note jammed into the tree with a small dagger.
Ancelot,
When you get up, get on Kadar, I have Ashra. The fortress has been constructed by her and I have been busy getting my lectures from her. You know how women get, nagging and raging. I also found us some work but, I'll tell you that when I see you. Also bring this note and my dagger, I do like that one.
Cain
Kadar was chained to the tree looking none to pleased with the situation at all.
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KnightLord Zero Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 7:39 pm
Ancelot took the dagger out of the tree and put the note in his pocket. He then turned to Kadar, he could tell that he wasn't happy and Ancelot was nervous from what happened during their training session. He gave a small sigh. "Well I guess it can't be avoided now can it Kadar? I know your not happy with me at the moment, but It will probably be the only time I get to ride you. So let's just take it easy and have a nice trip." He slowly unchained Kadar, Kadar still didn't look happy. He then mounted Kadar and nudged him to go. Kadar stood still for a couple of minutes before going. It was a long and bumpy trip, Ancelot wasn't use to riding without a sadle and Kadar knew that. Ancelot fell off Kadar several times, mostly because Kadar would stop randomly causing him to fall off.
Eventually they made it to the fortress, after several accidents. He found the stable where Ashra was at, so he put Kadar there and went to go find Cain. "Cain, where are you?" Ancelot called out. He walked around for awhile before deciding to sit down and wait for Cain to find him. So he hummed the tune that he hummed the night before to pass by the time.
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