Santaruz Castle

[Lyndsey]

Lyndsey entered the building, walking right behind Alan. She had to agree, resting seemed like the best idea.

There were actually guards in the entryway. Servants were already taking care of Lyndsey's pegasus and Alan's wyvern, and doing so with skill. Someone had actually managed to get a castle to run like it actually should.

"Maybe they don't need us," Lyndsey mused as she wandered behind her jailer.

[Alan]

"God knows we provided them with experience." Alan said absentmindedly.

[Lyndsey]

"So, what exactly are we going to do here?" she asked Alan. Several members of the castle staff had noticed two of their saviors walking down the halls, and Lyndsey could make out their whispers.

[Alan]

'We're suppose to take time off and I need to time to figure out what our next move should be. So do whatever you want, as long as you don't leave the city.' Alan said casually.

[Lyndsey]

Lyndsey snorted.
"Since when do you trust me enough to leave me alone?" she demanded, resisting the urge to hit him. She knew she wouldn't be involved in any next move decisions, but she did have something she should take care of.
"I'm going to go see Juchack then, jailer," she told Alan, waving at him as she broke off in another direction. "See you at our victory feast."

[Alan]

As soon as Lyndsey had left the room Alan stopped in his tracks. What has to be done is clear and it won't be easy... But I still have to cover my bets... He looked around. 'You, get over here.' 'Sir?' 'The woman that just left the room, I need to have her followed. Get someone to do that. I want it done quietly and thoroughly, understand?' 'Yes, sir.'

Alan started walking again in a different direction. He could only hope he was doing the right thing.

[Lyndsey]

Lyndsey meandered through the castle, searching for her old companion. If Alan had any brains, he'd be having her followed. Finally, she found Juchack.
"Have you heard anything from Ilia?" she asked. She took a seat across from the hero. He'd been surrounded by others, strategizing. Once she arrived, he waved the others away.
"Yes, you got a new assignment. The last one was reported as a failure," Juchack explained. He handed Lynsey a wrapped paper. She grimaced as she took it. Failures did not look good on records.

She unwrapped it, read, then tucked it in her belt.
"This should be interesting..." she murmured. She turned and left. Juchack didn't ask any questions.

[Alan]

Alan walked into the armory. The smith at work immeadtly looked up but didnt say anything. Alan remained silent as he browsed through the workshop, there wasn't much there: War had bledthe castle semi-dry weaponry-wise. Alan finally found something worth it. A big heavy looking blade. He tried to lift it up.
The smith who was watching snorted. 'You're sure you're up for that son, that 's a pretty big-' 'Perhaps... But i you put your weght into it... Like so.' Alan lifted the sword above him with two hands. He then let go with one and started weighting it with the other. 'It gets easier. How much?' Alan let it clatter onto the counter. '1200 goldpieces.' The smith said. Alan paid them man and hastened the sword too his back.

Even with the extra weight, Alan made it back to the airial stable pretty fast. His wyvern wailed as he mounted him. 'I know, buddy. But I still think it's best if we distance ourselves from her, for now.'
He looked at the stable boy who had bee fastening the Wyverns gear. 'If anyone asks, my wyvern is just out hunting and you haven't seen me. Mind you I will be back after this and I will remeber your face should I learn you sold me out.' With that Alan took off.

[Lyndsey]

OoC: I think that's the longest post I've ever seen from Alan...


Lyndsey left Juchack, and began searching for a private spot to open the missive. She resisted her initial urge to seek Alan out. She was growing too emotionally attached to someone who most likely would rather see her dead.
Once safe in her room, she snapped open the missive, and began reading.
Great, a summons back to Ilia to explain what happened to my squad and why I failed a contract. Lyndsey threw the missive from her. It would figure that as soon as things were looking good, they would turn bad. The only luck she had was the bad kind.
She'd have to tell Alan in the morning, and see if he wanted to go with her or not. For now, food and rest.

[Alan]

(I've had waaaaaay larger posts then that^, granted it has been a while.)

Alan had left the castle and was flying at a calm speed. There was no particular hurry: even he hadn't decided yet where he was headed.

[Lyndsey]

Lyndsey had done exactly what she'd planned: filled up on the good food they lavished on the "heroes," and fell into a deep, coma like sleep. Dreams didn't even disturb her.

[Lyndsey]

Lyndsey woke early the next morning. She quickly got dressed and hurried through breakfast. Though she'd never admit it, she was dreading telling Alan about her need to depart.
"You, servant," she called over one of the many servants of the castle. The nervous girl cautiously approached the "hero."
"Fetch... Sir... Alan and tell him I'll meet..."
"Umm... excuse me, miss?" the girl looked as though she was going to faint. Lyndsey waved for her to continue. "Sir Alan left last night, and hasn't returned."
"Great..." Lyndsey mumbled. She waved the girl away.
It'll look like I'm escaping, but I don't have a lot of choice...

[Lyndsey]

Lyndsey hurried to the stables where all the mounts were kept. The stable hands looked surprised to see her there.
"Ready the pegasus," she instructed, pointing at her mount.
"M'lady, her name is Priya..."
"You don't name the cow you're going to eat. I don't name the mount I'll probably lose," Lyndsey snapped, helping the stable hands with her saddle and gear. She never named her mounts. It was a good way to get attached to an animal that would probably die anyway.
"Fine, m'lay," the hand muttered. Soon Priya was ready to go. Lyndsey nodded her thanks to the assistants, and hopped on.
She had a long journey ahead of her...

[Sokka]

Sokka looked behind him. All of the tribe was there, excluding Katara. A nomad ran up to him, looking very frightened.
"Sokka! There was a surprise attack! Your father, he-"
Sokka ignored the rest and ran to where the nomad came from. He saw a circle of people. "Get out of my way!" he pushed through the crowd to see his father on the ground, a healer by his side. "Father!" he said.
"Sokka? I am glad to see you..." his father said.
"What hurts? Let me tend to it, you'll be fine," Sokka told him
"No. The only thing you can do is... Your duty as my son. My eldest and only son... guide our tribe well..." Saul told his son.
"No, father. Be strong. You can get through this," Sokka said. Then he saw the extent of his father's wounds. He couldn't make it, even with a healer.

"Lead well... my son..." the great Saul lowered his head, as did all the tribe.
"No! Faaaatheeeeer!"
And with that, Saul, the arrow of blood, did die in the castle of Santaruz.

[Sokka]

Sokka closed his eyes, his hand clutched around his father's. He let go and stood up. "We'll return home... To bury my father with his beloved wife ... TO SACAE!" he yelled, holding up his sword through his own tears.


And thus, the Tempuain Tribe begun their journey home.