Terror & Conspiracy

[Silvine Knightwood]

Silvine followed Crow to an old manshion, it must've been run down. Silvine was not sure about the security of this place, but by seeing the amount of guards and a few traps, he trusted it to be safe, at least for a while. Crow and his gang looked like they lived a nomadic living, they were always on the run.

They reached an old room, with just a broken desk and 4 chairs. Perfect for all of them actually.

"Ah Silvine, take a seat. Really, I have my full gratitude. I probably would not have been alive if it was'nt for your help." Crow said.

"There's no need to thank us Crow. I saw the way you battled, I bet you would have easily taken them down. Anyways, let's get on to business. What exactly do you want to do to the Etrurian army, and why?" Silvine asked Crow.

"Well Silvine, I've been spying on the Etrurian activities lately... and-"he paused. He looked at the other three, his eyes widening, hands trembling. He really looked shaky. " my boys have found out that the Etrurians are planning for a sudden attack on Pherae. They've already taken down Ostia, Pherae's their next target. They've planted spies everywhere- they're just softening their prey for the kill. It has all been planned well. They've got hidden mages ready, they've got ambush plans ready.... it all will happen in time. How soon, I do not know, but I am sure it'll happen soon."
"Any wild guess?"Silvine asked.

"Hm.... a month or two I guess. We've got very little time Silvine."he said shakingly.

Silvine gasped. Theodor grimaced...and from the corner of his eye Silvine could see Annete sitting in a corner... she was sad really... he could hear her crying. That emotion....it made him uneasy.

"Why do you propose we do Crow? And...." Silvine paused a bit and spoke up," why are you keen on damaging the Etrurian Army? What do you hope to gain from this?" Silvine was suspicious. Crow could do the same thing to Lycia. Something was hidden.....

"I..... my wife was taken away by those scum. They stripped me off of my job at the court. They made the lives of us citizens miserable. By going against them, I hope to gain revenge...and some rewards. I hope to get back at them. I hope you understand me." He looked even worse than before now.

"Anyways.... there is a town nearby..... where we have one of the most rich landlords. He has been providing the Etrurian Army with lots of gold for weapons, in return he gets more peasants and guards for himself. He keeps an eye out for any suspicious behaviour. He's usually rewarded with more privileges..... if we can take this guy down, we'll have created a hole in the Etrurian army. And so.... I'm leaving you with an assasination mission." he replied.

"Wha- What????Assasinating? Well.... you said he's well guarded, of course, it would be difficult to try this, right? It would be extemely risky!"Silvine replied in shock.



"Silvine...... what you say is true. That is why I'm sending a few of my henchmen. About 4 of them are coming with you. A group of 7 I think, is enough for this? If you're stealthy enough, you'll be able to take down the guards and break in easily. Steal all the wealth and whatever weapons you can, and bring them back here. It is about 3 days travel from here, so you should be away for at least a week I suppose." he said.

Silvine was startled. He felt numb. He panicked. How would he be able to do such a mission? This was beyond his skill... he was only a simple quire...... he began to doubt himself... what if he failed? All those who would come with him would also die.....

But then he thought about the number of lives that would be lost in a future war..... no. He had to do it. It did not matter if they lost a few people, as long as peace could be maintained....

"I accept the mission. I shall start tomorrow. Theodor, Annete, come. We need to prepare for our mission. Its backk to the inn for us." he said with enthusiasm and winked at the others.

"Silvine..... are you crazy? This is highly risky... above our skill!" he barked at SIlvine.

"Peace, Theodor. I know what I'm doing." Silvine replied calmly. THe three left the room.



"That boy is courageous, I must admire that. But that might also be his downfall."Crow remarked.

---------------



Annete and Silvine decided to share the room for that night. He felt like he had to talk to Annete. He was so tensed after that battle, he hoped talking to her would relieve him of that stress.

But Annete looked marose. She looked rather highly depressed...... what was wrong? "Annete..... are you alright? Why are you so blue?" he asked her gently, putting his hand on her shoulder.

[Annette]

OoC : Long...

Annete flinched when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She slowly looked at Silvine's eyes. Was he still angry? The dancer shook her head. "Nothing important, really. Just thinking about something." She removed his hand from her shoulder and walked away, stopping near the window. He looked rather tensed, that was normal after what happened to them recently, and he might have something in his mind now. "No way I can talk to him about me leaving now." Annete muttered as she looked at the moon, but the moon wouldn't answer to her.

She looked back,staring at him. Maybe, if she couldn't talk about that with him now, she didn't have to force herself. Silvine wasn't in good mood now, she knew it. Well, they both were stress. No need to make everything worse, she decided to save the matter for later. Smiling, she started walking towards him.

"Tonight moon is beautiful. I want to see it, but not from this room, I will go outside. Do you want to come?" She touched his hand, her eyes was closed, thinking about what the best choice for her, and him.

[Silvine Knightwood]

"Sure Annete, if that's what you want." Silvine said gently. He did not have energy to say things loudly. He was too tired, too scared. He needed some rest.

The moon was bright.... so beautiful. He saw a shooting star go by...... he felt happy.... like he was relaxed and all the fear was washed away.....

And then he turned to Annete. She seemed bothered by something. Would asking her about it help? He thought it would, but then this wonderful moment might get spoilt. He saw tears flowing from her eyes..... he had to comefort. It was the job of no, not just a knight, but as a man. As a man, he had to comfort this weak woman. He had to be her pillar of courage. No matter how difficult it would be, he hadto give her strength.

"Annete..... come with me.m Let's go to the park nearby. " he told her. They would admire the stars and the moon.......

-----

They found a bench at the park where they sat. There was no one around... only they were alone. He felt her sadness... it must be tormenting her, torturing her, whatever that thought was. Silvine just hugged her and tried to hug her as tight as he could...

[Annette]

"Beautiful..." The beauty of the moon had fascinated her, the dancer was staring at the most beautiful god creation on the night sky. Her red ruby eyes sparkled, the moon she had been admiring since she was born, how long would she be able to see it? Would she see the moon again next year? But the negative thoughts didn't make her smile disappeared.

Then, suddenly, Silvine hugged her. She was surprised but couldn't do anything because he hugged her tight. She was blushing. "Why are he so bold suddenly?" She thought. The hug slowly hurt her, it was too tight. But Annete let him, she didn't say anything and just continued looking at the moon. "Why?" She whispered, without looking at him. "Why do you hug me?"

She had decided to leave him, if he continued to do this, she wasn't sure anymore.

[Silvine Knightwood]

"Why? Why do you hug me?" he heard her ask.

That question alone shook him. He came back to his senses. It was like a spear that was piercing through him, killing him. He felt ashamed of himself.... he was thinking too irrationally. Was he being too much for the girl? Was he... trying to claim her? He lost himself... he still had to show a brave exterior though. He would allow no one to see his weakness. He had pride, and he would not let it be blown away that easily.

After pausing for a bit, he continued smiling, and said, "Why, my hug is only to comfort you Annete. Do you refuse my offer to help you? Perhaps you doubt me? You doubt my reasoning? Perhaps I am being a little too bold with you. I apologize."

Somehow, he said those words, even though they were not intentional. And yet, he felt like a burden was lifted. He did not know why she was so sad, but if it was because of him, then he ought to know. Because to his memory, he did not remember any time when he tried to deliberately offend her.

[Annette]

To comfort her? Annete could feel her heart throbbing hard. Did he mean he knew about her feeling now? Silly, she wanted to comfort him but now he was comforting her. Should she tell him? Because, if he continued hugging her like this, she would doubt her decision. She left her family, she left the orphanage, and now she would leave...him?

"No. It's alright. I was just wondering...you did it so sudden."

They stayed in that position for few minutes. Finally, Annete decided to speak.

"I..I was scared those times. When the soldiers hit you in the bar. When you killed the commander, I had never seen a dead body before. When, you fought the soldier to save Crow." She was silent again, she continued like that for few seconds. "I was scared, but I was scared because...you risked yourself in danger. I know you're a soldier, I know how dangerous your duty. But I never saw it with my own eyes. Beating, fighting, and killing." Her father and brother were mercenaries, she knew the risk of their job. They never allowed her to see them doing the job, so she only knew from stories. But on her journey with Silvine, she watched how dangerous it was.

"Am I just a hindrance for you? Like when I was captured or when I couldn't help you in battle?" Her tears was almost flowing out, but she tried to hide it.

"I will leave tomorrow morning. Good luck with your quest." Her last words made her tears flowing out like waterfall.

[Silvine Knightwood]

"Annete, look here" he said, patiently to the weeping dancer. This was turning out to be tense, with the girl all emotional, and Silvine trying to be strong-minded. " You do remember that it was not you who chose to come with me, but it was I who chose to come with you? Well, please do understand that when I fight, it is usually to protect you or rescue you, or else really, me fighting all the way over here is not exactly reasonable." he said.

"Sure, I'm also here for some other work, but we've been in this together, for the last month. Do not think I have not forgotten about that potion, one bit. I think that once we return from this mission, we're taking a break, of about three days. Just to sit in the library. Hopefully we may meet a fellow comrade along the way, who would be interested in joining us. Besides, I do enjoy your company Annete, I really do. Tonight... I was not feeling well. was feeling tensed... and I had a bad dream. A dream where I saw my demise." he said.

His face looked cold now. That dream was horrible... the way those soldiers pricked his body... he could not bear to think about it.

"Look, when you were captured in battle, I had this feeling that I just had to rescue you. Now please, do not let my effort go to waste and just run away abandoning me. Who knows... you could get captured by someone again. And I will not be there to help you. Just stay with me... do not, ever, doubt yourself again. Is that clear?" he said. Inside, he wanted to just scream, to cry, because she was hurt, and whatver she said hurt him more than it hurt her. Yet.... it was pride. No, more than pride. It was sacrifice of emotions at the moment to help a depressed dancer.

[Annette]

His effort to comfort her was success, maybe. She felt better now, the tears still flowing though. She though she was a hindrance for him, he was angry when she couldn't assist him in a battle. But his reason, bad dream? What did he see? She wanted to know.

"I -I think I can stay with you...But..." Her hands touched his and removed them, she freed herself from his hug. "I want to be alone for a while. Don't worry, I won't go anywhere. You can go sleep first, I will come later." After saying that, she walked away from him.

She left him and sat on a boulder, thinking about her decision again. The cold wind didn't bother her at all. Looking up to the sky, she hoped she had made a right decision.

End Of Thread