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Ian · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 351 Location: South Carolina

He springs up behind her, and immediately regrets it. His vision swims and he puts his hands around her waist. He manages an "Okay, let's go." He doesn't tell her about his injury. At best, he's just winded, at worst, he thinks he has some broken ribs. Probably the worst. He resists the temptation to lean against her back, and hopes the ride won't jar his ribs too badly.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 12:12 am Post subject:

When they step outside of the circle, their senses flare up as if everything is accelerated for a brief moment. A ward of some sort is unleashed, but dissipates just as quickly as it is released. Arson seems unaffected.

Flora turns Arson around to look at Ian's handiwork. The cult leader looks at both of them and manages a cruel smile, then a death rattle and his body goes limp. She looks at the children, then the dead, deformed and decaying cultists.

Flora ties the bow to the saddle horn, leaving it ready to fire if need be. She squeezes Arson's flanks and yells "Ya!"
And off they go, riding Arson who adapts his riding speed to accommodate both riders. The travel after that isn't too bad, even for Ian. Florimel smells heavenly.

They ride for the better part of an hour, Flora managing changes quickly and from what he can tell avoiding the Black Road. But it continually shows up. "It's part of the equation, it seems. Can't help it now."

...

A bit later, she says, "Arson seems to be doing well. We can push him for a while more. We're close enough now. I can get a mount at the Windborne estate... No need on taking a side trip. Are you still alright back there?"

They are in a lush forest and the wind is so strong and unsteady that it has uprooted several trees. The state of decomposition of some suggest that this is a common occurrence. The Black Road is somewhere to their left, maybe half a mile out, judging from the last time they have had to cross it.
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Ian · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 351 Location: South Carolina

Fairly convinced now that he has no internal bleeding, Ian answers Flora's query with a "never better." He is still careful not to lean against her and foul her pristine clothes with the gore, ichor and blood that is everywhere but on his hands. To take his mind off the pain in his side he asks "Windborne estate? Allies of Amber or friends of yours...if you don't mind my asking."

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 2:43 am Post subject:

"My son owns it, for all intents and purpose... I am still welcome there."

...

They ride for another hour or two, avoiding having to cross the Black Road and decidedly not investigating strange noises coming from there. Ian can also feel they are being watched, but Florimel seems unconcerned.

...

Eventually, he sees it: the end of the forest path takes them away from the Black Road and into lovely countryside with windmills atop grassy hills. The winds are steady and strong here and do not carry any of the Black Road's foul scents.

In the distance, he sees a range of black, rocky mountains and at its foot, a formation of white towers. Several of them are nothing more than extremely tall windmills.

"We should be there in a few more hours. Care to take a rest? I'm famished."
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Ian · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 351 Location: South Carolina

"Near a stream if possible. I'd like to wash up a little and water the horse. If you don't mind my asking, who is your son?" Ian keeps a vigilant eye searching for trouble. He isn't sure if the Black Road creatures can step off the Black Road, but why take chances?

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 6:18 pm Post subject:

"Of course! How careless of me... I had been focusing on getting here so much I had nearly forgotten about what you had to go through to... Well, I know just the spot." When she speaks to him, she turns around slightly, forcing her golden and fragrant hair in his face, her eyes glistening, teary because of the heavy wind.

"I'll tell you about my son Daniel when we take a break."

She pulls Arson to the right, towards a wooded area a few miles down. There, amidst the wind cover of a black rock formation, a natural hot spring erupts in bubbly silence. When they approach, a frightened hawk flies away toward the forest.

Flora offers to help him down from Arson.
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Ian · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 351 Location: South Carolina

He smiles and tries to hide his pain when she helps him down. "One never declines the assistance of a beautiful lady. You've found a perfect spot." He clenches his jaw and tries not to give away the extent of his wounding. He certainly doesn't want to be replaced, or look like a wimp in front of Flora.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 12:59 am Post subject:

Flora smiles, helps him down, squeezing his grimy hand firmly and brushing his leg as he comes down. "Well, I guess it's time for a bit of rest, relaxation and Daniel's story."

She ties Arson to a nearby tree and removes his saddle, intent on giving him a break too. She takes care of Arson for a while, handing Ian the supplies he'd packed for this trip.
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Ian · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 351 Location: South Carolina

While Flora tends to the horse, Ian gets his spare clothes and goes to the hot spring, to bathe and check his wounds. He washes up, then carefully checks for bites, spines or anything else that could be lodged in him, then checks his rib cage, to locate exactly which ribs are broken. After which, he gets out and wraps that part of his chest tightly with a long bandage.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:24 am Post subject:

Flora comes to him in time to help with the bandaging. She'd been keeping an eye on him while taking care of Arson. "That's quite the welt, Ian," she says tracing it with a light finger. "You should probably soak in before bandaging it. Take your time now. I need you in shape, after all." She winks at him and begins removing the bandage. She seems to be ignoring whatever state of nudity he is in.

Flora says, "I'll join in if you turn around first, then I can relax and tell you my son's tale..." She begins unbuttoning her sleeves and collar.
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Ian · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 351 Location: South Carolina

Close to stunned. Ian is now wondering if he has died and gone to Amberite heaven. He walks back in the water, slowly, and sits, with his back to her. He closes his eyes. "Okay. My eyes are closed." Part of Ian considers maybe reconsidering hating Eric so much. In fact, a thank you note might be in order.

Ian · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 351 Location: South Carolina

He is leaning back, head resting on a rock. One hand is over his eyes and the other is probing the broken ribs. He is keeping his mind from wandering into erotic territory by trying to calculate how long it will take to heal and how he left himself open from a double fist.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 5:04 pm Post subject:

It may have been that the creature was faster than expected and chose offense over defending from a deadly blow. It could have been that his combat frenzy drove him to carelessness.

The broken ribs would certainly take at least a couple of weeks to fully heal, especially if he is driven to heavy movement, but he can sense that there is no internal injury. It'll be painful for a while longer.

For her part, Flora enters the water slowly, ten feet from where he sits. When she is in, she moans and admits, "It's wonderful. I haven't been here in so long... You can open your eyes now, but I expect you to continue behaving like a gentleman," she adds playfully.
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Ian · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 351 Location: South Carolina

He mentally concludes that whatever happened, he's happy to be able to think about it and turn an eye towards it after, unlike his foe, who was dead. With an inward shrug, he opens his eyes when Flora tells him to.

He grins mischievously. "Two things will ensure my being the very paragon of etiquette, madame. One, I'm too damned tired and hurt to move very fast. Two, if knowledge of my not being a gentleman preceded me to your son's home, I would no doubt be spending the evening in the stable, and not a comfortable bed."

He laughs until it hurts too much, wiping tears of mirth or pain from his eyes, then calms himself, closes his eyes and relaxes. A gentle smile covers his features, here in a place that if it is not heaven, is surely within a stone's throw. "I do believe you were going to tell me a tale. I am your captive, humble and attentive audience."

Beneath his right leg, Hollowshade soaks in the water. Ian isn't THAT disarmed.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:12 pm Post subject:

Her head is leaning back on a smooth rock behind her.

She looks at him and laughs with candor. "Well we may stay after our exploration of the caverns in the black mountains. Most of the danger of the Black Road can be averted here..."

...

With her shoulders partially out of the water, she looks at him and answers, "Well, in that case I will give you the long version and I'll stop if you doze off, with no hope of hearing the rest. That'll be my only warning, and if you're any good at feigning sleep, it'll give you a chance to be spared my horrible storytelling skills," she decrees playfully.

She turns around, deftly exposing her smooth back while hiding everything else as she reaches for a waterskin and prepares for the tale.
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