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Post by Brandwyn on Sept 8, 2014 0:11:15 GMT -5
Marcus mentally kicked himself. He had no one to blame but himself for his current state of affairs. He'd been so preoccupied with his thoughts that he'd let all of his obersvation skills slide and never saw the blow coming. Something had slammed into the side of his head and shoulder and sent him sliding off his horse. He had reached for an arrow, an instinctive action, only to realize he'd left his bow and arrows with his saddle and his ranger pack in his room. He hadn't even covered up his notes he'd been working on before going to see Olivia because he'd thought he would be returning to his room shortly.
Now here he was, trussed up like a christmas pig just before its spitted and roasted for dinner. He had blacked out before he'd hit the ground so he didn't have any idea what had become of Spirit, but he had a sinking feeling about what was in his immediate future. It seemed at least some of the reports he'd heard about were true. He'd been stupid to wander down to the docks with nothing but a throwing knife tucked into his belt. Now even that was gone, having been confiscated by his captors.
He had enough presence of mind upon waking to not move and keep his breathing steady. His captors did not yet realize he was awake. He lay there and took in what he could without opening his eyes. The air had a funny, stale odur to it as if he was in a basement or something.
After a moment he noticed the odd rocking motion of the planked floor below him. His heart sank a little lower. If he were already in the hold of a ship then he was in serious trouble. Footsteps suddenly sounnded above his head and they got louder as they descended. Men's voices sounded in his ears above his head and to his right, but he didn't understand the words. It took him a few minutes to realize they were speaking Gallican. He brightened somewhat at the discovery for it seemed unlikly he was a prisoner of the Grislies. They were from Teutlandt.
"Stop faking, slave!" growled a voice above him just as the man gave him a sharp kick inhis side. "We know you're awake."
'So much for subterfuge,' thought Marcus. He opened his eyes so he could see his attackers, but he didn't answer them. He just grinned at the man. He was thinking it was going to fun to bring the man down.
"What's yer name?" The man's accent was barely noticable, but Marcus could tell Araluen was not his homeland. Marcus refused to answer him. The man slugged Marcus in the face, nearly knocking him out again, but not quite. "You will learn to answer when you are asked a question, slave,: he growled.
Marcus chuckled as he glared at the man, but he still didn't answer.
"What's so funny?" His captor asked indignantly.
"You are a walking dead man." Marcus answered and broke into laughter. He was working at the knots binding his arms behind his back, but they were so tight his fingers were going numb.
The man kicked him again, just for fun. He laughed at Marcus. "I think you got that backwards, madman. If you aren't going to talk, then I'll just kill you now and be done weth you."
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Back at Seacliff castle a weary dapple gray stallion limped back to the stable. There was a long gash on his shoulder and blood had dried on his foreleg. Master Cariadoc cautiously approached Spirit. "Easy there boy, take it easy now and let me see to that wound."
Spirit limped up to the stable master and put his forehead in the man's chest. Cariadoc stroked his neck and when no resistance from the ranger horse was evident, he examined the wound. "Johnny, bring me the med bag!" he called out to his stable hands.
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Sept 8, 2014 10:22:58 GMT -5
Back at Seacliff castle a weary dapple gray stallion limped back to the stable. There was a long gash on his shoulder and blood had dried on his foreleg. Master Cariadoc cautiously approached Spirit. "Easy there boy, take it easy now and let me see to that wound."
Olivia's heart stopped beating for a moment when she saw Marcus's horse enter the stable alone. She blinked and a cold hand of fear clutched her heart and made its way into her stomach. Where was he? She wasn't sure what to do, Spirit definitely wouldn't of left Marcus unless Marcus unless Marcus had been incapacitated and carried off. Even then it had probably been hard for whoever had doe this to poor spirit to get him away from his master. Ranger horses were extremely loyal. She licked her lips trying to think of what she should do.
Spirit limped up to the stable master and put his forehead in the man's chest. Cariadoc stroked his neck and when no resistance from the ranger horse was evident, he examined the wound. "Johnny, bring me the med bag!" he called out to his stable hands.
Slowly a thought entered her mind and her shoulders lifted with resolve giving Mara one more pat she strode over to her room, she scooped up a hair ribbon tied her boisterous curls back smartly, she put some ointment on her chest to help her cough then lacing up her boots she straightened her dress and walked out of the stables she purposely went to the docks. She went into one of the numerous taverns that resided there and despite some cat calls from the men in such an establishment walked straight up to the bar.
She reached over and grabbed the bar tenders arm and pinned him with one of her stares. "Did a man come in here last night? Tall, a little on the skinny side? plain hair?"
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Post by Brandwyn on Sept 10, 2014 21:49:23 GMT -5
She reached over and grabbed the bar tenders arm and pinned him with one of her stares. "Did a man come in here last night? Tall, a little on the skinny side? plain hair?"
The man looked at her indignantly when she grabbed his arm. Then he almost chuckled, "Sweetheart, that could describe half the men in here last night." He slid an ale down the bar to a weasel faced man who seemed to be interested in the conversation, but was trying to look very uninterested in Olivia. "Can you be a bit more specific? This fella got a name?"
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The man kicked him again, just for fun. He laughed at Marcus. "I think you got that backwards, madman. If you aren't going to talk, then I'll just kill you now and be done weth you."
Marcus tried not to wince when the boot connected with his stomach, but he couldn't help it. "Tell you what," Marcus coughed, sucking air back into his lungs, "if you let me go now, I will let you live."
"What? You really are mad!" the man laughed. "You are hilarious. I think I will keep you around a little longer to provide some entertainment for the men." He motioned to the men on his left and they began pulling on a rope that Marcus could see was looped over a crossbeam over his head. The rope grew taut and then Marcus began to get hoisted off the wooden floor by his feet. Soon he was hanging upside down, his head swinging three feet off the floor.
"Let's just see how funny you are after hanging around like this for a while, eh?" The man punched him in the stomach, which set Marcus to swinging back and forth and spinning around. Then his captors left the room by the stairs, leaving Marcus to his own thoughts and devices.
Marcus studied his surroundings as the blood began to pound in his ears. The beam he was tied to suggested he was not in a ship, in spite of the gentle rocking motion and sound of water slapping the walls. So he must be in one of the floating warehouses along the pier. It seemed a bit odd that the access to the room he was in was from the floor above. He pondered the abnormality as he scanned the room for something to cut his bonds.
His head began to ache from all the blood rushing into it, but for a few minutes it provided him with acute senses. He heard the men above him speaking in Gallican but his grasp of that language was not quite what it should be, especially when he could barely make out the words. He did catch a little, however. The man who had kicked him seemed to be the leader and apparently there was some disagreement between him and two of the others. "...we have collected enough..." and "...home" were phrases he understood. Then they were discussing money and profits. They mentioned the word "youngsters" and he distinctly heard "Seacliff's ranger..." but couldn't hear what about the ranger.
He needed to get loose, so he scanned the area frantically until he spotted a nub of a nail sticking out of the post supporting the beam he was tied to. He squirmed over to it and began to rub the ropes binding his arms on it. 'This is going to take a while' he thought as his body kept swaying away from the post whenever he pushed against the nail.
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Sept 11, 2014 6:50:21 GMT -5
The man looked at her indignantly when she grabbed his arm. Then he almost chuckled, "Sweetheart, that could describe half the men in here last night." He slid an ale down the bar to a weasel faced man who seemed to be interested in the conversation, but was trying to look very uninterested in Olivia. "Can you be a bit more specific? This fella got a name?"
On the way to the docks she had gotten her cover story straight in her head. She had also switched her ring from her right hand to her left middle finger. Of course under close scrutiny no one would believe that it was a wedding ring but she wasn't going to let anyone look at it closely. Olivia raised an eyebrow and put her hands on her hips in an intimidating way.
"Yes sir you bet he does. But by the time I'M through with him he wont be able to remember it! Marcus, the louse never came home last night. I was up practically all night worried sick. Inconsiderate that man is." She purposefully scanned the room hoping that maybe Marcus was there just passed out under a table or something. She sighed dramatically and turned back to the bar tender she ignored the man who was staring at her. Oh when she found Marcus he was going to get a very big mouthful from her. If he had been captured then his captors were going to get chewed out first then it would be his turn. But she had to find him first and she wasn't altogether sure where she should start.
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Post by Brandwyn on Sept 13, 2014 16:42:08 GMT -5
The barkeep chuckled. "I don't recall anyone by that name here last night," he said. "But if he was a married man, you might try a couple docks down the pier to the south at the Iron Gate Inn. Lot's of married types seem to end up there." He probably should warn her about what she would find at the Iron Gate, since it was far more than just a pub and far less than a real inn. But it wasn't really his problem, and he didn't have much sympathy for women that couldn't keep their men satisfied at home. It was their fault the men sought out other company, so far as he was concerned. This Marcus guy must be a fool though, to leave a good looking woman like this one at home alone while he went out drinking and whatnot. "I wish you luck, Ma'am, but if you don't find him, and you need a good man, come back and see ole Ned, here. I won't mistreat you like that, I promise!" he gave her a wink.
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Marcus' head was throbbing, and he suspected it was almost as much from the ale he'd drunk last night, as it was from hanging upside down - almost. Either way, he wasn't going to be able to stand much more. He'd given up on the nail after a few minutes and was now vigerously rubbing the rope binding his hands up and down on the corner of the beam. He could feel the heat from the friction. Soon the rope should get hot enough to ignite and then he would be free.
He heard hurried footsteps coming down the pier. They raced up the stairs outside and then he heard the voices overhead again. "Someone's looking for this guy!" he heard a man speaking urgently. The leader's voice answered, "how do you know it was him they are looking for?"
"The woman described him. Said his name was Marcus. It was his wife!" The voice had a weasle-like tone to it, spoken as if the man were seeking favor and expecting he'd done something great for the leader.
Marcus stopped moving to listen closely, especially since they were speaking Araleun now. 'My wife?' Marcus could think of only one person who would come looking for him, but she was posing as his wife?
"He didn't seem the married type," interjected one of the others who had helped hoist Marcus up in his current predicament. "You sure?"
"It doesn't matter," cut in the leader's voice. "We sail tonight after dark when the tide goes out." he told them, his Gaulic accent barely noticeable. "We'll move this lot out to the ship right before that when most people are asleep."
"You should leave that one there," wined the weasel-voice. "Or kill him. I feel he is going to be trouble."
The leader growled, "I'll be deciding who goes and who stays and that one will fetch a great price at The Arena. He's got a lot of fight in him. The Boss will enjoy breaking him down." The leader's voice purred in anticipation. "He's going to make this miserable trip worth it, so I'll not be leaving him to rot just because you are a yellow-bellied rabbit and are getting squeamish. Since when are you a fortune teller? 'I feel he is going to be trouble,' wa wa wa." The leader did a poor imitation, mocking the man.
Marcus wasn't too happy that his worst fears had just been confirmed. He was to be sold as a slave and he'd just heard proof the fabled dread Arena of the Southern Cliffs actually did exist. On the other hand, he hadn't been captured becuase he was a ranger. Apparently these men didn't know they had a ranger in their custody. He wondered if the price would go up or down if they knew.
Marcus had to get out of here before anyone found out he was a ranger. If Crowley heard about it, he would never live it down at the Gatherings. He renewed his efforts to free himself. He had to get free before Olivia got into something over her head and landed herself right here beside him. When he got out of here, he was going to have words with her about sticking her nose into dangerous situations without any regard to her own safety.
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Sept 15, 2014 7:01:40 GMT -5
She smiled at the man. "Thank you, Ned. I just might take you up on that offer some day." then she turned and walked out of the bar, she paused then headed over to the shadier side of the docks. She was a little nervous going over here alone, she was a small woman and who knew what kind of men were over here? She shook her head a little.
"Marcus just what did you get yourself into?"
Men they were an odd difficult bunch. Unbeknownst to Marcus a few years ago a man had pursued her quite adamantly. He wrote her love songs even went so far as to sing them to her in the garden at the castle. He often told her she looked lovely and would give her roses whenever he saw the opportunity to do so. She had a whole drawer full of his letters back in her room in Norgate. She didn't understand him at all, she had of course like any young lady fallen under his spell even had loved him to. Then one day he he was called upon by the army he left and she never heard from him again. She sighed a little, Marcus was definitely different from him in many different ways, as she studied it she compared the two and came to the conclusion that marriage to Gerald would never have worked. Marcus was much better suited to her, that is if she could keep HIM from disappearing on her as well. She ducked behind a building when she saw the man from the bar duck into a building. She edged closer and heard lowered voices she didn't dare get any closer, the man a several others came out of the building, before the door closed she saw a guard stay put in there. She bit her lip and thought quickly and deeply. She had two options, run in there and try to take out the guard which was unlikely, or run back to the castle and get reinforcements. She nodded curtly to herself yes reinforcements was a very good idea. She got up and rushed back to the castle.
She was breathing heavily when she entered the barons office the baron looked at her startled. "Olivia what is it?" When she got her breath back she said. "I need some men to go with me to the docks, there are some people there who are doing the slave trading business. The got Marcus." The Baron paused then nodded to her he knew her well enough that she would not make something like this up and it was important that they intercepted this ship before it left and the criminals be apprehended. "Go to the barracks and gather as many men as you think you need tell them I order them to go with you." "Thank you My Lord." she gave a clumsy curtsey then hurried off.
The men mounted their horses and they galloped off for the docks Olivia was on the back of one of them holding onto a solider as they went. They entered the docks with a clatter and some shouts, Olivia directed them to the proper place. They invaded easily capturing the gallican guard they searched for other slaves and for his friends, Olivia burst through the door. "Marcus! Marcus you idiot!! You, you." she stopped and just rushed over to him relief flooding through her she grabbed his shirt front pulled him down to her level and before really realized what she was doing, kissed him.
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Post by Brandwyn on Sept 15, 2014 21:43:41 GMT -5
The ropes binding Marcus' arms and wrists finally gave way and he quickly disentangled himself from them. He stretched his arms out for a couple of minutes as the circulation flooded back into his fingers, biting his lip to keep from gasping aloud at the unpleasant tingling sensation.
When he was able, he pulled hmself up so he could reach the cross beam from which he dangled and was able to take the weight off the rope around his ankles. With a couple of shakes and a minute or two poking at the knots with one hand, he had that rope clear and he was free. He hung from the beam for a moment, listening for sounds above him and then dropped lightly to the floor with barely a faint thud.
The room he'd been occupying wasn't entirely empty. There were a stack of crates piled across from the stairs and Marcus was interested to see what other cargo besides slaves his captors were smuggling. There wwere no duty tax markers on any of the crates, so he knew they hadn't gone through normal customs.
He inspected them and after several attempts was able to pry the lid off one of the crates. Inside were glass bottles filled with a clear liquid. They were unmarked. Marcus pulled the cork off one and took a sniff. They did not smell like alcohol, in fact he could detect no oder at all. It was almost as if they were filled with water. He poured a bit out on the floor, knowing better than to take a drink without knowing what was in them. He thought he heard a sizzle when the liquid hit the wood planks, but he wasn't sure becuase at that moment a terrible clatter arose from outside on the pier which quickly spread up the stairs outside his prison and across the floor above him.
He heard shouts and fighting above. Quickly he corked the bottle and shoved it down the front of his shirt. Crowley would probably be interested in it, if it wasn't water, and he didn't have time to find out what was really in the bottle. Then he heard several people cry out in relief, he thought. Moments later the door above burst open and two men from the Baron's guard rushed down the stairs, weapons ready.
Marcus was leaning against the crates, his arms held up and to the side, palms out so they wouldn't mistake him for one of the slavers. "No one down here but me," he said as they threatened him with the points of their swords.
And then Olivia burst through the door. "Marcus! Marcus you idiot!! You, you." she stopped and just rushed over to him relief flooding through her...
"Olivia! What are you doing-" ...she grabbed his shirt front pulled him down to her level and before really realized what she was doing, kissed him.
All thoughts flew from Marcus's mind as soon as her lips touched his. For a moment he was paralyzed, thinking he must be hallucinating from hanging upside down so long. No way could Olivia be kissing him right now. Then he hugged her tight and was kissing her back, forgetting for a moment they were not alone.
One of the guards scuffed his foot as he turned to go back up the stairs and Marcus remembered where they were. He gently but firmly broke off the kiss and stepped back from Olivia, just a bit. It wasn't proper for them to behave this way in public and as soon as she got over her relief at finding him, she would realize it and be sorry for her actions and maybe even angry with him.
He reached up and cupped her cheek in his hand, "what are you doing here Olivia? and with the Baron's own guard?"
"We've come to rescue you, Ranger Sir," said the guardsman next to him who was inspecting the crates. "The Lady Courier said you were in trouble so the Baron sent us out to help you."
Marcus couldn't be sure, but he got the impression both the guards found this situation immensely ammusing. He wasn't sure what he was feeling at the moment. He was touched that Olivia had been worried about him enough to come looking for him, but angry she'd put herself in danger.
He was also a little miffed that she'd turned out the whole castle to 'rescue' him. He'd never live it down and he had already gotten most of the way free. Was she going to panic any time he didn't show up exactly on time and send someone out to look for him? He wasn't sure he could take that for the rest of his life.
None of the emotions showed on his face, except curiousity. For now he'd opt for not antagonizing her. "You were worried about me?" he smiled fondly at her. "You needn't be. I just went undercover to try and break up this slave ring." That wasn't exactly true, but it wasn't exactly a lie either. He had been posing as a lonely traveller to see if he could flush the abducters out of hiding, but he hadn't really planned on getting abducted.
He captured Olivia's hand and gave it a squeeze. Her fingers felt cold in his and he realized just how chilly it was down here at the docks. "You should not be down here with that cold," he admonished her softly, so the guards couldn't hear. "Your fever is going to come back if you don't take care of yourself," he warned. "Let's get you back to the castle."
Marcus turned to the guards, "I didn't find out what ship is theirs, but the Harbor Master might know. You'd best have him confiscate the ship for inpsection." The guard nodded and Marcus could swear the man was fighting hard to keep a straight face.
"Are you ready?" he asked Olivia. "By the way, have you seen Spirit?" Marcus had been worrying about what had happened to Spirit since he woke up. He had no idea if Spirit had been injured or run off, or if they slavers had captured him too. "They knocked me out and I don't know what happened to Spirit," he explained as they climed the stairs.
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Sept 19, 2014 20:35:59 GMT -5
He reached up and cupped her cheek in his hand, "what are you doing here Olivia? and with the Baron's own guard?"
Olivia blinked a couple of times surprised at herself but no she didn't regret it one bit. Marcus was going to need something pleasant to think back on after she was threw with him. She gave him a look.
"What do you think?"
When the guards left she closed the door as soon as she could blocking her and Marcus from everyone else. She turned back to him her expression was flat. "Now Marcus Blackwater you will sit and you will listen and you will listen well and good." She moved to stand in front of him and pushed him onto the step and folded her arms across her chest. "Now before I say what I'm going to say I will say this first. I know you are a grown man able to take care of yourself, I know you are a very capable ranger. Anything I say here after has NOTHING to do with your abilities and capabilities. So just drive that out of your thick skull and bite back your manly pride and ego." she paused took a very deep breath and let it out very very slowly, the only indication that she was doing her best to reign in her anger. She was doing her best to keep her composure but it was quickly dwindling to nothing she was about to lose it and that was not a very good thing for Marcus.
"First off to address your question about me worrying about you. This also correlates to your inquiry about spirit." she paused and practically shouted. "Of course I was worried about you! Why wouldn't I be worried about you?! I was mildly concerned this morning when you were gone I didn't worry until Spirit came back alone and injured then I started to worry! I don't care what on earth you were doing, the fact that you just went off without telling anyone your plans was idiotic!! Oh and secondly you don't have a right to sulk! To to go off on a wild tangent just because you feel slighted because I told you to leave because YOU read something very private! If anyone has cause to be slighted or miffed it should be me not you me and me alone. Did it ever occur to you that if I had wanted you to read it or know what I was writing I would have told you? If you had simply just asked me I would have told you! You don't make any sense! You tell me you love me, you tell me you want to marry me then you just go off and put yourself in danger just because we had a simple disagreement! Did you ever think for a moment what would happen to me if you died? What if they had carried you off? What if I hadn't of had the brains to search for you? Did you ever think of how I would feel standing over your grave? No, no you didn't, I understand completely that as a ranger you naturally are in danger of dieing almost everyday but if you truly want to have a future with me or any other girl you need to think about the future and the family that would eventually come about. What if we were married and had three little ones? What if your actions today killed you? You can't just recklessly put yourself in danger just because you feel hurt or mad or whatever! You didn't have a plan you didn't even bring a weapon for goodness sake! If you are going to sulk by looking for danger fine but at least bring a weapon! I understand Marcus that in your life you will be gone for a unknown length of time and you might not come back, but please at least have the decency to tell me where you are going for closure! You nearly killed me by your actions I was preparing to go to your funeral,next time you want to try and get killed please let me know in advance and save me the worry!" she paused, her hands were balled into fists. Her eyes were on him and she was seized by a fierce coughing fit, when it was over she was much calmer and was not as livid. "I know you have something you wanna say to me so please just say it."
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Post by Brandwyn on Sept 22, 2014 20:08:08 GMT -5
Marcus got a sinking feeling at the look on her face, plumeting down from the high her kiss had given him. He'd seen that look before on his mother's face and his sister's face when they were about to light into their spouses.
"Now Marcus Blackwater you will sit and you will listen and you will listen well and good." She moved to stand in front of him and pushed him onto the step and folded her arms across her chest. "Now before I say what I'm going to say I will say this first. I know you are a grown man able to take care of yourself, I know you are a very capable ranger. Anything I say here after has NOTHING to do with your abilities and capabilities. So just drive that out of your thick skull and bite back your manly pride and ego."
Marcus squinted his eyes at her but he didn't say anything. He wasn't sure if he wanted to laugh or if he was going to get angry, so he just waited for the storm to hit, unsure what he'd done this time, aside from reading her letter.
"First off to address your question about me worrying about you. This also correlates to your inquiry about spirit." she paused and practically shouted. "Of course I was worried about you! Why wouldn't I be worried about you?! I was mildly concerned this morning when you were gone I didn't worry until Spirit came back alone and injured then I started to worry!"
"Wait! Spirit's wounded?" Marcus interjected, starting to rise, but she didn't let him up, nor give him a chance to inquire further. He wondered what happened to Spirit and nearly missed her next sentence.
"I don't care what on earth you were doing, the fact that you just went off without telling anyone your plans was idiotic!! Oh and secondly you don't have a right to sulk! To to go off on a wild tangent just because you feel slighted because I told you to leave because YOU read something very private!"
"I wasn't-" He cut himself off as she kept going.
"If anyone has cause to be slighted or miffed it should be me not you me and me alone. Did it ever occur to you that if I had wanted you to read it or know what I was writing I would have told you? If you had simply just asked me I would have told you! You don't make any sense!" Olivia continued.
Now Marcus realized shw was still quite angry over the letter and he had to concede that she was completly justified to feel that way. He felt very guilty about reading the letter but had no idea how to make it up to her. "You're right. I am sorry." He tried to say, but he didn't think she'd heard him.
"You tell me you love me, you tell me you want to marry me then you just go off and put yourself in danger just because we had a simple disagreement! Did you ever think for a moment what would happen to me if you died? What if they had carried you off?"
'Ahhh,' thoguht Marcus, 'so that's it,' as he realized she was more angry that he had frightened her.
"What if I hadn't of had the brains to search for you? Did you ever think of how I would feel standing over your grave? No, no you didn't, I understand completely that as a ranger you naturally are in danger of dieing almost everyday but if you truly want to have a future with me or any other girl you need to think about the future and the family that would eventually come about."
"My job-" Marcus tried to answer again, but she wouldn't let him get a word in edgewise.
"What if we were married and had three little ones? What if your actions today killed you? You can't just recklessly put yourself in danger just because you feel hurt or mad or whatever!"
"I wasn't reckless, I-" Marcus cut in. If anyone was reckless, he felt it was her, not him. She never thought about the danger to herself, only about getting her job done.
"You didn't have a plan you didn't even bring a weapon for goodness sake!"
He shook his head, "I had my knife." She obviously didn't want an answer to any of her statements, he concluded and leaned back against the steps and glowered back at her.
"If you are going to sulk by looking for danger fine but at least bring a weapon! I understand Marcus that in your life you will be gone for a unknown length of time and you might not come back, but please at least have the decency to tell me where you are going for closure! You nearly killed me by your actions I was preparing to go to your funeral,next time you want to try and get killed please let me know in advance and save me the worry!" she paused, her hands were balled into fists.
Marcus waited, sure that as soon as he opened his mouth she would cut him off again. His own anger was rising, yet a part of him understood why she was angry. She was completely over-reacting to the situation, but she did have a point, he had to admit.
Her eyes were on him and she was seized by a fierce coughing fit, when it was over she was much calmer and was not as livid. "I know you have something you wanna say to me so please just say it."
He sat there for a full minute, glaring at her, trying to decide how to respond. He slid up one step so they were on eye level, disliking the phychological advantage she'd created by standing and looking down at him. He knew the negotiating tactic but he wondered if she'd used it consciously or just out of habit and her courier training. It didn't matter, the effect was the same, so he moved up to eliminate that advantage before he responded.
He was angry now, but it was as much at himself as it was at her. Once again she seemed to be pushing him into an arguement and he was inclined to give her a good one, if that's what she really wanted. He looked her square in the eyes, noticing how beautiful they were when she was angry. "First of all I want to get this clear; I didn't go off intending to get mixed up with these slaver vermin when you ran me out last night." He reminded her that she had thrown him out the night before and he had left, against his better judgement. "I took advantage of a situation when it presented itself. That's what we rangers do," he tried to explain. "We rarely form plans because they always go wrong. We are trained to think on our feet and adapt to any situation. I did nothing last night other than my job and what I was trained to do." He pierced her with his stare and paused for a moment, ready to stop her if she tried to comment. "You are going to have to come to terms with that, because I don't see how I can do my job effectively any other way. It is dangerous. There is always a risk I won't return, and you can't come running after me every time I go out. But your job is also risky and I have to accept the same situation when you go off on your own on some diplomatic mission. As much as I want to, I can't escort you every time you go on a mission."
"That being said, you do have a point," he said, holding up his forefinger. "Marriage is a partnership and I should have thought of that when I left. If we are going to be together, then we need to both consider the other's feelings and in that I did fail you last night," He slowly got to his feet and stepped back down to the floor. "I am sorry that I scared you and made you worry about me. I am sorry I read your letter and most of all I am sorry that my actions have caused you distress, to mistrust me and have driven a wedge between us," he said earnestly. He stood very close in front of her now, longing to take her in his arms and kiss her again.
"I just have one more thing to say," he said softly, his voice had a husky whisper to it.
"You are absolutly gorgeous when you are angry, and I do love you, Olivia." He smiled at her. It was his lop-sided, boyish smile accompanied by a twinkle in his eye.
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
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Post by Kallie on Sept 23, 2014 15:58:42 GMT -5
Olivia listened to what he had to say patiently and without interruption.She began to formulate a counter argument as he talked. She was planning on pointing out that no one ever really intends to get kidnapped. She had discarded the idea of going to his whole throwing out part obviously he wasn't going to let that go so she decided to just let it go for him. They weren't married which was the point really, until they were married she had a right to throw him out of her room but of course it was Marcus and he would never ever see it that way. he continue to act like a spoiled child. She was also planning on pointing out that she didn't need am escort just refrain from mentioning that she often ditched hers because she felt like she could do it on her own. She was also going to point out that she had told him at the beginning of her tirade that she had said she understood his job, but of course being a man he was completely ignoring her and just jumping to the conclusion that she was telling him how to do his job. She understood that he could think quick on his feet, had he not listened to anything she had said before she had yelled? She knew he was capable she knew the danger and understood it! MEN! They never listened to anything! She knew he was capable of handling himself she had said so!! But slave traders were different! She was sooo tired of arguing she was tired of repeating herself mostly she was tired of him. He was giving her a headache.
"That being said, you do have a point," she raised an eyebrow and waited.
"Marriage is a partnership and I should have thought of that when I left. If we are going to be together, then we need to both consider the other's feelings and in that I did fail you last night," she blinked a little surprised at that.
He slowly got to his feet and stepped back down to the floor. "I am sorry that I scared you and made you worry about me. I am sorry I read your letter and most of all I am sorry that my actions have caused you distress, to mistrust me and have driven a wedge between us," he said earnestly. He stood very close in front of her now, longing to take her in his arms and kiss her again.
She looked up at him feeling rather small compared to him, with his height, and broad shoulders then again most people were taller and bigger than her so it didn't really matter much.
"I just have one more thing to say," he said softly, his voice had a husky whisper to it.
"You are absolutly gorgeous when you are angry, and I do love you, Olivia." He smiled at her. It was his lop-sided, boyish smile accompanied by a twinkle in his eye.
Olivia rolled her eyes and shook her head she couldn't help it. A small smile tugged at her lips. All the points and thoughts she had formulated left her mind, she decided that sometimes arguing over something no matter how important it seemed just wasn't worth ruining a friendship over. Anger was an ugly thing, she didn't like arguing with Marcus but she'd rather just let him win or whatever than lose him as a friend forever because she was to stubborn and wanted to have the last word. She took a small breath and let it out.
"If you are expecting me to apologize for coming after you I wouldn't hold my breath because that won't happen. The truth is Marcus." she reached out and took his hands in her own and gave them a gentle squeeze. "I was afraid that you would ask about my father. That's why I was so upset, I was admittedly miffed that you read something private but I'm not I HAVE already forgiven you a million times over. I just didn't, don't I just don't want to talk about my father, I don't want to answer questions about him. I know it might seem silly to you, despite all of my courier training I can't formulate a way to explain it to you." she paused and leaned her head gently against his chest so she could listen to his heart beat tears welled up in her eyes. "The truth is I'm not angry, I was terrified that I had lost you forever, an and I know that you know how to do your job and I know that one day there is a possibility that you might not come back to me but I just couldn't bear that thought. I don't want to lose you, I love you." she took a shuddering breath and listened to his steady heartbeat it soothed her reassured her that he was here and that he was living and breathing.
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Post by Brandwyn on Sept 29, 2014 22:00:24 GMT -5
Marcus had not even conceived the thought that Olivia would appologize to him. There was nothing she needed to appologize for, but he hoped she realized how dangerous for her it had been to come after him. He made a note to bring up the subject of her tendancy to disregard her own safety at a later time when they were both a little calmer. Now was clearly not the time, especially when she was so upset. He was more than willing to let the subject of the letter be overlooked, however.
"I just don't want to talk about my father, I don't want to answer questions about him. I know it might seem silly to you, despite all of my courier training I can't formulate a way to explain it to you." she paused and leaned her head gently against his chest so she could listen to his heart beat tears welled up in her eyes.
"It's not silly at all. When you feel like talking about it, I will be here, but I promise I won't press you to talk about him," he assured her as he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. Of course now his curiosity was going to run rampant, but he vowed to himself that he would not ask her any questions about her father. He recalled the line in the letter about the festival and wondered if there was some connection with her father and the upcoming festival.
"The truth is I'm not angry, I was terrified that I had lost you forever, an and I know that you know how to do your job and I know that one day there is a possibility that you might not come back to me but I just couldn't bear that thought. I don't want to lose you, I love you." she took a shuddering breath and listened to his steady heartbeat it soothed her reassured her that he was here and that he was living and breathing.
He kissed the top of her head, "I know exactly how you felt. I felt the same way when you were burning up with fever," he recalled. Was it really less than two days ago? "I kept thinking you had the plague and what would I do if you died from it? I felt so helpless..." his voice trailed off as he struggled to get his emotions under control.
He cleared his throat after a moment. "Why don't we go back up to the castle and get a nice hot cup of coffee?" He smiled at her. "Right after I find out if they got that slaver's boat." He started to guide her up the steps when another question popped into his head, "Do you know what happened to Spirit? Is he okay?" He was worried about his horse, especially since he couldn't recall anything after the moment he was knocked off Spirit and hit the ground unconcious. He wasn't even sure how he'd been knocked out, but he had a throbbing headache and a big bruise on his forehead under his hair as evidence.
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Oct 2, 2014 14:52:31 GMT -5
It's not silly at all. When you feel like talking about it, I will be here, but I promise I won't press you to talk about him," he assured her as he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight.
She sniffed a little. "Thank you."
"I kept thinking you had the plague and what would I do if you died from it? I felt so helpless..." his voice trailed off as he struggled to get his emotions under control. she gave him a little squeeze a little lost for words.
"Why don't we go back up to the castle and get a nice hot cup of coffee?" He smiled at her.
"Coffee does sound good. I couldn't drink any this morning."
He started to guide her up the steps when another question popped into his head, "Do you know what happened to Spirit? Is he okay?" He was worried about his horse, especially since he couldn't recall anything after the moment he was knocked off Spirit and hit the ground unconcious. He wasn't even sure how he'd been knocked out, but he had a throbbing headache and a big bruise on his forehead under his hair as evidence.
"I'm not sure, Spirit came limping back to the stables. The stable master was taking care of him as i left to find you. I'm sure he's being taken care of, though I'm sure he's missing you spoiling him to death. I have no idea how he got injured either. Maybe you should see a doctor about your head. It looks painful you might have concussion."
She opened the door and they walked out into the main room, she reached over and took his hand and gave it a squeeze. She didn't want to let go of him for fear that she would lose him again. Although it was a foolish fear since he was after all right here next to her. Olivia gave a quiet sigh she wasn't quite sure just how long she could handle all this stress, Marcus was giving her an ulcer. Provided of course everything would settle down as soon as she got back to her old routine. That's what she needed routine, she had been tense and on edge during this whole switching of fiefs ordeal. She didn't have a job of sorts until she was settled in and had completely taken over. She needed to have a little organization she liked have a outline of what she needed to do and when she needed to get it done by. Yes once she started her new job she would stop being so edgy. She let Marcus lead her to where he needed to go content to just let him do his job. She also realized that now that she her adrenaline was gone she was very, very tired and her throat was very very very sore. She wondered if maybe she should take a small cat nap before dinner or lunch or whenever the next meal was. Provided of course her throat decided to let her it was becoming very difficult to swallow even her own spit.
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Post by Brandwyn on Oct 12, 2014 20:12:40 GMT -5
Marcus kept her hand tucked into his as they made their way back onto the pier. The Baron's men had rounded up all of the slavers and had them sitting crosslegged along the land side of the pier while one of them tied their hands and bound them together by a long length of rope.
The leader of the squad saw Marcus and motioned him over. He pointed down the peir to the third ship. "That's their ship, Mr. Ranger, Sir. We've quaranteened it and I've sent for reinforcements, though it looks like they have a minimal crew on board." The Harbor Master was on hand and had commandeered several other boats and ships to form a blockade so the slave ship could not pull away from the peir, even if they managed to loosen the grappling ropes that bound it in place.
It appeared as if the slave crew was preparing to fight and the Harbor Master was about to board it with a contingent of hastily hired men. Marcus was about to tell the Harbor Master to hold off and wait for the Baron's men when he heard the sound of someone spitting right next to him. He looked down to where a big glob of spit landed on the planks right next to his foot.
"A ranger, I should have known from that nag you was riding," the slaver leader growled. "I hope that slash I gave him makes him lose the leg!" The man chuckled, glaring at Marcus. "I hate rangers - government scum!"
So that's what happened to Spirit. Fury burned inside Marcus. He'd never been so angry at anyone before in his life. That this man could callously slice a horse and then brag about it made his blood boil. He reached down and grabbed the slaver by the throat and lifted him into the air, cutting off the man's air supply.
"You cut my horse?" Marcus asked. The slaver was gasping for air and clawing at Marcus's wrist. Marcus eased up just enough to let the man gasp in a couple mouthfuls of air and then he closed the man's throat off again. He was so angry he was seriously thinking about squeezing the life out of this sorry excuse for a human being.
"Uh, Mr. Ranger, Sir," the leader of the Baron's men laid a hand on Marcus's shoulder, "I can't let you kill him, you know. I share your feelings toward the scum, but I really don't want to fill out all that paperwork if he dies on my watch after he's been tied up."
For a full minute Marcus ignored the Baron's man. His arms began to shake, however from where he was holding the slaver up with the man's feet dangling. He was kicking at Marcus now, trying to get free as his face was starting to turn blue. Marcus gave a tight squeeze and then dropped him to the ground and kicked him in the gut. "That was for my horse," he growled. Then Marcus turned to the Baron's man, "Does Seacliff still make use of the work gangs?" The soldier nodded. "And are they still using them to cut the stone stairs on the northside of the cliffs?"
"That they are." The man grinned. "Shall I request he be placed in that gang?"
Marcus nodded, "Yeah, but I am going to have a word with Baron about it. Let's give him a taste of what he's been doing to God knows how many innocent men, women and children." Marcus gave a quick glance around and recaptured Olivia's hand. "It seems you have this under control, so I am going to escort the Lady back up to the castle. Tell the Baron I will be in to debrief him as soon as I check on my horse."
The Baron's man saluted him and Marcus led Olivia back up to the castle. As he walked he worked to bring down the fury he still felt and let it go. It was hard though. No one messed with Spirit and it bothered him that he was unconcious at the time and couldn't help defend the horse. He was also starting to feel a bit embarrassed for having exploded in front of Olivia like that. Halfway up the stairs he pulled them to a stop to rest.
He tried to put his feelings into words, but it wasn't easy. "I am sorry you had to see that back there," he said to her. "I am not sure what came over me. Nothing like that has ever happened before." He looked back down at the harbor, realizing he might have scared her. "I've never been that angry before, but when he said he'd hurt Spirit..." his voice trailed off... "something in me kind of snapped... I wanted to..." he'd wanted to kill the man, but he didn't really want to tell Olivia that. He also realized it would be ten times worse if he ever learned of anyone hurting Olivia. The thought was frightening, that he could feel so much for her. He didn't know how to express what he was feeling, so he just gave up and turned to continue their climb.
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Oct 16, 2014 7:58:38 GMT -5
So that's what happened to Spirit. Fury burned inside Marcus. He'd never been so angry at anyone before in his life. That this man could callously slice a horse and then brag about it made his blood boil. He reached down and grabbed the slaver by the throat and lifted him into the air, cutting off the man's air supply.
"You cut my horse?" Marcus asked. The slaver was gasping for air and clawing at Marcus's wrist. Marcus eased up just enough to let the man gasp in a couple mouthfuls of air and then he closed the man's throat off again. He was so angry he was seriously thinking about squeezing the life out of this sorry excuse for a human being.
Olivia's eyes grew wide and she just stared at Marcus in shock. She didn't know what to do, she had to admit she was kind of intimidated and a little scared to approach him. But she felt like she should step in but she didn't know how. She was about to try to step in when one of the Baron's men did it for her.
"Uh, Mr. Ranger, Sir," the leader of the Baron's men laid a hand on Marcus's shoulder, "I can't let you kill him, you know. I share your feelings toward the scum, but I really don't want to fill out all that paperwork if he dies on my watch after he's been tied up."
For a full minute Marcus ignored the Baron's man. His arms began to shake, however from where he was holding the slaver up with the man's feet dangling. He was kicking at Marcus now, trying to get free as his face was starting to turn blue. Marcus gave a tight squeeze and then dropped him to the ground and kicked him in the gut. "That was for my horse," he growled. Then Marcus turned to the Baron's man, "Does Seacliff still make use of the work gangs?" The soldier nodded. "And are they still using them to cut the stone stairs on the northside of the cliffs?"
"That they are." The man grinned. "Shall I request he be placed in that gang?"
Marcus nodded, "Yeah, but I am going to have a word with Baron about it. Let's give him a taste of what he's been doing to God knows how many innocent men, women and children."
Olivia was still blinking in shock, she had never seen Marcus so angry before she wasn't quite sure how to handle it. Of course she HAD seen him angry before it wasn't like he was never angry in front of her. But this had been a whole new side of angry she hadn't seen before. Of course she knew how close he and spirit were and she was be pretty mad is someone had purposefully hurt Mara or Marcus and then boasted about it. It was just so... unmarcus like.
Marcus gave a quick glance around and recaptured Olivia's hand. "It seems you have this under control, so I am going to escort the Lady back up to the castle. Tell the Baron I will be in to debrief him as soon as I check on my horse."
The Baron's man saluted him and Marcus led Olivia back up to the castle. As he walked he worked to bring down the fury he still felt and let it go. It was hard though. No one messed with Spirit and it bothered him that he was unconcious at the time and couldn't help defend the horse. He was also starting to feel a bit embarrassed for having exploded in front of Olivia like that. Halfway up the stairs he pulled them to a stop to rest.
Olivia could tell that he was still angry about the man hurting Spirit. She was trained to look for subtle hints but the most obvious one was that he was walking really fast. She had to take even bigger steps than usual just to keep up with him. She was starting to pant, man she definitely needed to go back to walking, she was totally out of shape. Most days she was sitting at a desk writing out dispatches for the couriers under her to go deliver massages. Clearly she had lost all of her previous stamina from sitting all the time. She was happy when he stopped for a rest, she sat on a rock to catch her breath and rest her leg muscles. She coughed heavily into her elbow and rubbed her throat. It felt like someone had put a flaming torch down there.
He tried to put his feelings into words, but it wasn't easy. "I am sorry you had to see that back there," he said to her. "I am not sure what came over me. Nothing like that has ever happened before." He looked back down at the harbor, realizing he might have scared her. "I've never been that angry before, but when he said he'd hurt Spirit..." his voice trailed off... "something in me kind of snapped... I wanted to..." he'd wanted to kill the man, but he didn't really want to tell Olivia that. He also realized it would be ten times worse if he ever learned of anyone hurting Olivia. The thought was frightening, that he could feel so much for her. He didn't know how to express what he was feeling, so he just gave up and turned to continue their climb.
She almost finished the sentence for him but stopped herself. She understood why he had been angry, she had been mad to, she had wanted to kick the guy in the face. "It's ok Marcus you have a right to be mad at the person who hurt Spirit you have every right to want to kill him. Spirit is closer to you than any friend you've ever had to think that someone would hurt him should make you angry. If it didn't I would question weather or not the blow to your head made you loose your mind." she paused and before she could say more he turned and continued on she gave a little sigh got to her feet and raced after him before he got to much ahead of her and she lost all hope of ever catching up with his long legged stride.
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Post by Brandwyn on Nov 21, 2014 21:34:09 GMT -5
She almost finished the sentence for him but stopped herself. She understood why he had been angry, she had been mad to, she had wanted to kick the guy in the face. "It's ok Marcus you have a right to be mad at the person who hurt Spirit you have every right to want to kill him. Spirit is closer to you than any friend you've ever had to think that someone would hurt him should make you angry. If it didn't I would question weather or not the blow to your head made you loose your mind." she paused and before she could say more he turned and continued on she gave a little sigh got to her feet and raced after him before he got to much ahead of her and she lost all hope of ever catching up with his long legged stride.
Marcus shook his head, "No, it's not okay. I am a ranger and I should never have lost control like that," he sighed and slowed down almost to a plod. "Crowley isn't going to like it when I tell him what happened." Marcus looked at the ground in front of his feet. "I made a fool of myself and made the whole Ranger Corps look bad, and for what?" Now he was directing the anger toward himself. "That scum certainly wasn't worth it." Yet another mistake he'd made in the last two days to add to the long list, he thought, but didn't say it out loud.
He glanced at Olivia and realized she was tired and struggling to keep up and out of breath. “I am sorry,” He apologized again. “Here’s a bench, why don’t we rest a moment?” Her coughing seemed to be getting deeper and sounded worse than ever. She certainly didn’t need to be running around in the cool damp sea air right now.
The bench was carved out of the cliff wall on one of the many landings of the stone stairwell. It was one of many spaced along at regular intervals to provide a resting point for people climbing up from the docks. Marcus sank down onto it and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and rubbed his temples to ease the throbbing.
He knew he was a mess. Not only were his clothes disheveled, but he probably smelled like the tavern floor. He likely had several bruises in his abdomen and a couple more on his left cheek and right chin. The original lump on his head really was serious enough to have it looked at, but he was determined to see Spirit first.
“There was one good thing that came out of last night’s escapade, however,” he said gloomily. “At least I know what they were planning on with all those people. I think I do anyway.” He glanced over at Olivia. “Have you heard any of the rumors about a great arena in the Southern Cliffs? Aplace where they buy people and make them fight to the death?”
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