Ranulf Ilyien (ignis_quaedam) wrote in caeleste, @ 2009-10-14 21:16:00 |
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Entry tags: | ithacles, ranulf ilyien, sabev kimyxa, shine everlight, the exiled, vedette uthral |
Crossing [Sabev, Vedette, Ithacles, Shine]
"I'm sure it's all very tragic," said the elven guard at Terestai's south gate. "It always is. But refugees still cannot pass into the city."
There was a short pause. Behind the phoenix came the sound of a rasping, wretched cough. Ilyien's gloved hands tightened at his sides. Leather creaked. The exhaustion, the hopelessness, the fear that wafted off the sad group behind him was a constant reminder of his duty. Defend the helpless. Shelter the weak. Protect those who have need. There were only thirty four of them. Thirty four were brave enough to leave their dying village behind them in the hopes of escaping the creeping sickness of the Deadlands. Thirty four who had trusted in Ilyien, Sabev, and Shine to take them to a place where they could start over. Now they stood at the gates of that place, only to find it barred. Anger rose sunset-bright over him.
"I'm sure," Ilyien said at last, gritting the words carefully and distinctly through his teeth. "That an arrangement can be reached. If I might speak with your superior." It was ignoble to think of running the guard through --
The elven guard looked down his aquiline elven nose and smiled without mirth. "He's occupied, I'm afraid."
"I'll wait."
"You will go."
Ilyien waited.
The guard whistled over his shoulder, and at once five other guards from beyond Ilyien's previous vision marched into place behind the first. "You will go," the gatekeeper said. But even as he said it, the new guards had turned to look over their shoulder in unison. A sound not unlike marching filtered out from the solid gates. Ilyien could not see past the elves to the origin of the sound, but whatever it was, it caused the other guards to part as quickly as could be managed. The first one turned his head as well, looked, then snapped attention back toward Ilyien. "You will go now," the guard said, "Or be swept away."
Ilyien was the first to turn away, because it was marching that he heard; there could be no mistaking it. His first priority was the safety of the group he led. "Get them off to the side of the road," he told Sabev silently, even as he turned away from the gate to find Shine and give her the same instructions. In just a few moments, they had the refugees sorted to the side -- and not in too much time, either. The gates opened a second later, and out marched a set of soldiers that impressed even Ilyien.
And in the midst of these soldiers - fifty strong, Ilyien guessed by a glance - was a face the phoenix recognized. Aeotha's -- no, Leironouth's friend. His name... his name.
"Faustben," Ilyien said. The Prince of Faustben.
At last, a bit of luck.