From Where Dreams Are Born. [Eyvind]

[Kel'tha Raveti]

Morning of the Third day in the Month of Melora, in the Season of Winter, Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XV Post Fractum.

The early hours of the morning.
The whole night was ablaze, fire and screams filled the black sky, obliterating the familiar constellations, making the whole village alienated from the rest of the world. People were running this way, that way, beams wreathed in flame changing their paths. Eyes wide with fear, the headed for the hills, to the unimaginable slaughter by those who lay waiting for them to run.

Men dressed in black charged through on huge horses, hooves chasing down some of the runners, arms, feet, swords, scooping them off the ground into a whole new horror. Every man, woman and child was shattered that night, everything they held dear taken from them by these barbarians.

A few had tried to hide, small boxes, chests, even in wardrobes. They were all found eventually, dragged kicking and screaming out into the furor. Death hung over every head, a huge ominous cloud laughing as the barbarians chased them all down, one by one.

One man, with a proud head, sporting what he claimed to be a dragons teeth necklace, sat atop his steed and watched over the scene, the flames captured in his eyes. His graying beard was showing his age, as the lines about his eyes deepened with the shadows. A small smile crept across his face, his horse moving forward.

A long line of women had been placed before him, many of them stained with blood of their loved ones. They were all very pretty, some human, some elven. Looking along the line, the chief dismounted from his horse and walked toward the frightened women, who all cowered as he approached. He looked at each of them in turn, before selecting a small handful. Led into a cage, the others were left to the brutality of his men, their screams for help drowned out by the approaching thunder.

A young elven woman, white hair stained brown with dirt and blood, vivid gold eyes swirling with anger and fear, caught the eye of the chief from behind the bars of her mobile prison. His black eyes locked on hers and he grinned, patting his stomach and licking his lips. "You first."

Kel'tha woke with a start, sitting upright in her bed, gasping for breath. Another nightmare that did not belong to her. People she didn't even know. Shaking her head slowly, the elf mix looked out of the window. It was still dark, yet morning had began to take hold of its new day. Rolling from her bed, Kel'tha pulled on her clothes, stretching out the muscles in her legs, her back and her arms. After such a practiced ritual, she left her house, jogging lightly onto the street. Powerful legs propelled her through the city, and at no time, she was at its wall. Running alongside it, she made her way toward the gate, preparing to jog back round through the city, past various shops just as they were beginning to open. Red headband in place to hide her ears, alabaster locks tied back loosely, Kel'tha approached the gate, the dawn having broken and people of all interest making their way into the city.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

It had been an uneventful Brightening the one spent watching Gonehameau and the surroundings of the town. It was yet another blade stabbing his heart to see the place where his family and his loved ones lived and not being able to enter it, hug them, rescue them, revenge them and throw Dag's broken body into the Great Sea. The descendant of the usurper of Gonehameau's throne, guilty of the same crimes and atrocities he would pay for his sins and for his ancestors'. For too long had the Gothir and the people of Gonehameau and even his family been mistreated. A tribe should never go that low as to be lost in the mist while a man grows fat with bribes and other people's blood.

As usual in all his missions outside the city, Eyvind disguised himself of another person to walk past the gates. It would soon be the last time it would happen for it was time to act. But for the moment he had to walk past the gates and the Legionnaires standing there. If he could use his real name they would even bow to him, not to mention fear him, for he was the Scourge of Sheria. The one man who had ordered the creation of the Sherian Wasteland, but he couldn't say his true name, not here and not yet or it could reach the ears of Dag's assassins before Eyvind's sword reached Dag's throat.

A long and dark brown rob he placed over his shoulders, a hood he pulled over his head and a staff he held, from it skulls of rats and rabbits pendend and the smell the clothes possessed would prevent any curious from getting close enough to recognize his face. Bowing his massive body and pretending he had a hunchback by placing a backpack under the long rob he started walking to the road and then to Jaedaxia. The closer he got to the city he more he bowed and the slower he walked, pretending he had a broken or not so functional leg. Some little bells on his staff, one he enormously used to keep standing warned all of his approach and the skulls gave it a terrifying look.

Maybe rumors of a witch living outside the city would be heard soon, but he didn't care for his disguise would change to something else. The gate guard looked down upon him and didn't even dare to ask for the witch's visa. The man only stepped back and allowed the old woman to enter the city, afraid of being somehow cursed. A wicked grin appeared in the Vagaran's face when he was already inside the city. "Fools"

As he walked he spotted a rather interesting piece of female flesh, golden was the best word to discribe her but he couldn't stop now, he needed a dark alley to change clothes but that didn't prevent his eyes of meeting hers, an error for sure as now someone knew this wasn't a old hag but something else, therefore the mighty warrior disguised as an old woman kept walking until he found the first dark alley between two tall buildings and entering a maze of narrow corridors found the same place where he and his men had changed clothes the first time they had entered Jaedaxia.

Before whoever's eyes that had followed the old woman would appear that she walked faster and faster as she was deeper into the city darkest part and then, from the shadows and the darkness appeared a man towering over seven feet in height with a flaming red hair.

[Kel'tha Raveti]

Steadily becoming out of breath, Kel'tha watched the gate, curious as to who was coming into the city. Her jog had slowed to a walk, the barely noticeable flush on gold gray skin began to die as she listened.
"A witch! That isn't possible. You're dreamin'" Conversations followed a similar tone as she moved past the crowd. Breaking through the stream of people, she was hit by a foul stench and turned, dark golden eyes hovering over the crowd. She was being looked at, by the robed figure. It was brief, fleeting almost, but enough to pull her face into a frown. That must be the witch. She thought, but then, the eyes that looked back, weren't all that old.

Curiosity consumed her as she resumed her running, weaving between the people and into the alleyways. A shadow up ahead of a figure moved faster and faster away from where she was running. Turning this way and that, Kel'tha seemed to have unintentionally been crossing paths. Stopping she waited until the shadow was completely gone from sight. Setting off again she followed the well known maze, turning artfully about each corner.

Eyes locked on that odd old woman again. This was turning scary. Kel'tha made to call out, but something made her choose to stand to one side, unmoving. Breathing was deep, and she stood perfectly still, like a golden statue. She could hear movement, and it was dark here, the buildings rose up to close off the sky. Rats scurried about her feet, yet she didn't move from the shadows.

Upon hearing footsteps she turned her head, heavy footsteps. With a shiver she stepped from the shadows silently and headed more toward the main streets of the city. A tall shadow was looming in the growing darkness, she wasn't at all comfortable with it being so close. Half expecting to wake up from yet another nightmare, Kel'tha turned a corner. Out the corner of her almond shaped eyes was a tall man, a shock of red hair and possessing a tall shadow. Her step quickened and her heart raced. The brown robe of the witch was nearby. The breath caught in her throat and she gasped, covering her mouth with a delicate hand. The gray cloud of death seemed to be creeping closer to her.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

The towering man grabbed for a clean piece of cloth and cleant his face and hands, later he would need a full bath to remove the smell of the robe he had used to move past the city gates, but right now it was the only solution available. Taking something from his pocket he reached for the pole of the staff he had used as a Witch, removing the small skulls and symbols the man held the staff strongly between his legs while tying something to its tip, in the end the result would sound surprising to someone not used to the ways of the warrior or the hunter. A spear.

Grabbing his backpack that layed open nearby, the man put it on his back and with the spear on his shoulder in a rather relaxed posture, walked out of the dark alley just to listen to a sound coming from somewhere. Looking around but seeing nothing the red-haired man shrugged and turned a corner walking past the shadow where Kel'tha was hiding, without seeing her. He was walking in the direction of the main street when he remembered he had forgot something on the dark alley and turned back sprinting. It was better not leaving anything there, especially the robe he had used. Walking in large strides he returned to the alley and seeing an abandoned box nearby, bent over to grab the box and place it over the robe.

[Kel'tha Raveti]

Frozen with fear as she turned the corner, her eyes were wide. He had almost walked right into her. All that had transpired over the last few minutes, all the dread and worry that had clouded her mind was thrown out of the picture.

By the gods, he was tall.

Remembering to breathe, Kel'tha stood tall, but shrank with fear against the wall. All noise was caught in her chest, her eyes ready to pop out of her skull.

Some protector she would make.

With that thought lazily screaming around her head, she stood a little taller, pointed a shaking finger toward him before her hand fell loosly to her side. After a few seconds she spoke.
"You...you're not the witch are you?" Her silken voice shook, and then words just tumbled out of her mouth.
"I'm sorry! I was out running. I do every morning. This is my route back home. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to see, I just heard noise, I didn't know what. I thought I was being followed. By gods I'm sorry." All her words had come out at such a speed, Kel'tha could barely understand herself.

Now she was waiting, for the tip of the crude looking spear to end up sticking out of her chest, leaving her as rat fodder in the gutter, like she didn't matter.

Ah, but she did matter.

"I can lead you around the city, some way in which you wont be followed easily, and I have somewhere for you to hide if you need it. They wont come looking for you with someone who has never said 'boo' to a goose." Again, she spoke so fast and regretted every word that had tumbled forth.

She was stupid.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

And the moment the red-haired Vagaran was straightening himself up from covering the dirty robe with the abandoned box the corner of his eye spotted a finger pointing at him from the shadows and the following moment a figure emerging from the dark. His muscle became tense and his tendons pulled him to a defensive stance, spear tip turned to the figure his eyes had not yet took the time to visualize properly. Then the last thing Eyvind could imagine happened, the voice that greeted him wasn't the rough one of a thug nor a malicious one from some Aeternian minion, it was an innocent voice, gentle to say the least. It was...wonderful.

When the Vagaran's eyes focused on the figure he thought to be seeing a statue of a Goddess of old with a beauty beyond that of mortal beings. The golden hair, the tender and soft skin, the full and appealing lips and finally the eyes, golden and shinying. The color was most indicated for the preciosity this woman...girl? was. The warrior's jaw feel as he looked at the female in front of him, astonished. The spear's tip hit the ground as his arms and body relaxed making a clanging noise that echoed in the dark alley waking Eyvind from his turpor. Shaking his head he blinked to be sure the person before him was real or an illusion, and it was real.

"Hrr...no...I am not a witch. I was just trying to...no problem I..."

Eyvind shook his head again and leant a against a wall, dropping his spear. His melon sized hands massaged his eyebrows and then he looked at the female again.

"I am sorry and I didn't mean to scare you...you just...caught me by surprise...and I know this isn't exactly the best situation but...what is your name? I need to know the name of Goddess of Beauty..."

He's eyes shined as he spoke but he remained far from golden woman not to scare her.

[Kel'tha Raveti]

Jumping at the clang that echoed about the pair, Kel’tha was still apprehensive. While he was no longer in a defensive stance, she knew how fast that could change to the spear sticking out of her ribcage. Still trembling somewhat, she moved round him, moving more into the open and out of the shadows that hid her. The red headscarf had fallen round her neck, revealing her Esh’lier, double pointed ears. The only true testament to her elven heritage. White hair, gold eyes, she could pass herself for human, the ears on the other hand…

As the spear hit the ground, she thought the man was about to collapse in front of her. Instinct made her step forward, fear made her hesitate. Standing an arm’s length away, Kel’tha’s brow furrowed. He seemed to recoil from her, as if in fear almost. Tilting her head to once side, his words, while normally flattering, sent a shiver down her spine.

Should she tell him her name?

”Raveti, Kel’tha Raveti.” Her name came tumbling out before she had a chance to catch herself. Dark golden eyes relaxed, her body soon followed. ”And you sir? I am no Goddess however, just…” She pulled the headscarf back to cover her ears, adjusting the alabaster locks about her shoulders. ”Me. I’m just me.”

[Eyvind Redbeard]

Unbelievable...she might be no Goddess but she was blessed for sure. A gift of the Mother maybe, or from Carmelya! As long as it wasn't a gift from the whore-goddess Diana the Vagaran was fine. The red-haired man chuckled as he saw the ears, double pointed and...cute. This was some sort of spell that was for sure and he had to shook his head again before talking.

"My...my name and titles are too many to be said here...and the very fact of knowing them could put you in great peril. My name is...Eyvind...but here, call me Freyr."

He straightened himself back up and looked down upon the vision his eyes had for so long hungered, beauty in godlike proportions. A delight to the eyes and a curse to the soul. Reaching out slowly with his right arm he poked her with a finger in the shoulder, feeling the sweet touch of the soft flesh underneath the clothes that covered the woman.

"You're real..."

No matter how hardened he might be after seeing his own father's ghost, witches, enraged merfolks and massive Orc armies, Eyvind, like all Vagarans, was still a supersticious man and before touching and feeling that this Kel'tha was real did he calm himself down, a bit.

[Kel'tha Raveti]

Her flawless brow furrowed at his answer.
”Why do they call you Freyr, when it is not your real name?” Kel’tha was wholly puzzled by this man, so much so that her fear had diminished to near nothingness. She knew this man was dangerous, everything about him screamed that fact. But she felt no true danger from him at this moment.

She tensed as his hand moved toward, the lone finger propelling itself through the air. Unmoving she felt the pressure of his finger against her shoulder, his digit moving back to his side. The frown was back in place. ‘I’m real? If course I’m real’ She could do nothing other than smile, broadly. The entire situation was laughable.

He kept looking at her oddly, his eyes seemed to be on fire and only directed at her. She felt a little uncomfortable in his persistent gaze. Trying to divert away from it, she fidgeted, thinking if it were appropriate to ask. ”What are you doing here in Jaedaxia Freyr?” Morning was creeping in further, people were starting to move about the area now. Someone would see them soon enough.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

Now calmer the red-haired Vagaran was more in control of himself and perhaps fitter to answer to Kel'tha's questions. Questions and more questions...but what troubles could a being of such...purity cause to him? Him, Eyvind, a man bound to sacrifice himself for the People's safety and freedom.

"I chose this name to protect myself and my men while I am inside the walls of the city, and to protect my family who lives nearby in a city ruled by an evil man."

His icy blue eyes stared deep inside the woman's eyes, the avaluating gaze of the Commander of men return for a few seconds while Kel'tha was pierced. After doing this and touching his belt's pounch and feeling it cool Eyvind knew there was no evil in the woman, at least the one shared by the followers of Jorel. There were other kinds of evil out there in Telath but there was no way to detect them all. Having a medallion that pointed out Jorelites was good enough for a simple man like Björnsson.

"My presence in the city is due to the fact that no fight is done without preparation. I am about to return home and reclaim what is rightfully mine. That and saving my family from the claws of a tyrant."

[Kel'tha Raveti]

He was indeed...odd, to say the least. Too many people in one body for her liking. The idea of concealing yourself under a new guise every time you entered a city, baffled the half elf completely. She was Kel'tha and always would be. Thoughts then quickly spiraled onto what would be acceptable to be another name for her. Kel'tha shook her head and stared again at Eyvind.

"I take it you are some sort of military leader?" Nothing like Thracyn and the Protectorate, but perhaps something no to dissimilar, perhaps something more illegal.

All perhapses and maybes.

Enough of questioning and imploring however, it was early, she was cold with that post fear sweat and not to far from somewhere a tad more safer.
"If you're hungry, there is a small cafe not to far from here, get you out of the street. You can't be planning anything on an empty stomach, it fogs the mind." She turned and carried on chattering as she walked. "So my mother says at least, don't remember the last time I tried to do any planning on an empty stomach." She turned back and placed a delicate hand on her shapely hip. Come on, the Protectorate check these alleyways every morning, they will be sweeping by soon. No doubt you're a wanted man if your sneaking into the city." Her voice lowered for the last part, not wishing to draw too much attention to the pair.

"I used to think about joining the military, but I wanted to specialize in something...more fulfilling. Specialist guard work, where life really was the job, and if life was lost, so were you. Something so pure and simple about that makes me more interested. Think of the places it could take you, the people you meet from behind your charge, the...everything." No doubt Eyvind was ready to bash his head off the wall with her innane chatter. She couldn't help it, she was trying to calm herself in his presence, and talking seemed to be helping her.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

Eyvind nodded at Kel'tha's first question and bent over to grab his spear. When he straightened himself up he stood to all his height it would seem to the woman he was bigger than before but the show of massiveness only lasted for a moment.

"Imperatis Eyvind Redbeard Björnsson Avornmagor, assigned to the Sherian Provincial Imperial Command would be the correct rank, miss."

A storm of words and information followed his answer. This woman was full of ideas of her own, and her mother's, that was for sure and being invited to a cafe by what he considered the most beautiful woman he had ever met was something he would never dare to refuse. The Vagaran's only way to answer in the middle of such flux of words was to nod and follow.

"No. I'm not a wanted man, yet. But I am here in secret to deal with some personal matters with my own hands, it wouldn't be good for the man I've come for to know I'm here and outnumbered, would it?"

He chuckled lightly at his own question as yet another wave of words came from Kel'tha's mouth. In his time in the Imperial Legions Eyvind had seen many reactions to both fear and nerves. While standing in front of Hiems with his banner swirling in the wind he had heard more than one soldier crying and trying to run away, being held by his comrades. Others froze where they stood relaxing their bowls and their bellies and the stench of decay and a wet ground was the result of that, those at least had a contained way of fearing the enemy, it didn't spread through the ranks. There were other though that couldn't keep quiet, always talking to the man at their side or idly making music with their gear. A good speech or the beating of drums commonly vanished all fears and nerves and doubts but for his misfortune Eyvind didn't have a drum with him here, maybe later he could ask Ulgar to play some, maybe.

"The Imperial Legions have plenty of specialized groups. With your beauty you could easily join a spionage or an assassination team, although you would be of great use to the Army I have to admit you would be spending your Eras with blood on your hands. I don't know if it would be of your liking..."

[Kel'tha Raveti]

Stopping, she tilted her head to one side slightly, turning to Eyvind and smiled coyly.
"You see, this is where people have the misconception about life. I could choose to be a butcher, a doctor, a cook, anything, it will no doubt all involve blood on your hands at some point. The question you should ask is, if I want to have the ability to pawn the blood off on another, in which case, it would involve a political career, or if I wanted the blood of fellow citizens on my hands."She carried on walking, continuing after a small pause. "I think, I would end up with blood on my hands whatever I decide to do, so I can live with such a choice. Life is life, death is death, each a chapter, and dying or killing is just turning the page." She was philosophical to say the least, or perhaps she just had a clearer idea of life.

The small cafe had just opened its doors as they arrived. Kel'tha had suggested that any and all weapons should be concealed once again, just in case. Taking a seat at the back, Kel'tha ordered herself a coffee to start in an attempt to get some warmth in her bones. Sipping at the coffee, Kel'tha seemed to have relaxed a great deal, being somewhere with others about, and in more familiar surroundings. "Did I detect a hint of a job offer outside? Or were my ears decieving me?' She smiled over the rim of her cup, gold eyes dancing.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

Eirik would like this girl, that was for sure! She was all full of ideas and philosophies and the Warrior-poet that served under the colossal red-haired man was fond of both and more, poetry and music. Things Eyvind was sure Kel'tha enjoyed, if she didn't well...he was Human, not a god! With this funny thought on his head he followed the avatar of beauty through the still sleepy streets of Jaedaxia, Jewel of the Empire. The major problem to this title was that according to some the Empire was no more, Eyvind would put their words to the test. He was a man of honor after all and an oath was sacred to him, be it a blood, a written or a spoken one.

"Not all the blood is that of citizens..."

He said more to himself than to Kel'tha. Afterall how was he supposed to consider the people loyal to the New Kingdom? Should they be treated as citizens of the Empire or should they be considered Barbari with no rights? Or worse, should they be considered enemies of the Empire? Well...yes, they should since they followed the usurpers. The executioner would be death tired soon...

At the girl's suggestion Eyvind removed the tip of the spear once more and started using it as a staff. With his simple outfit and a backpack and bow hanging from his back he could very well be a hunter who had spent the Darkening laying traps in the woods and was now returning to have a great Rosyum with the company of such a beautiful woman. After ordering some bread, honey and milk the Vagaran sat opposite to Kel'tha at the back of the cafe.

With a spoon the veteran soldier expeditiously started spreading the honey on the slices of bread he had produced with his sharp knife and with then placed the spoon still covered in honey inside his milk's cup.

"I guess your ears were deceiving you." He chuckled lightly. "But I can make you a job offer now. Serving in the Imperial Shields, or Imperial Inteligencia would require that you would first enlist in the Jade Legion in Aelyria Prime, undergo six Cycles of recruit training in there and only then receive specialized training. This proccess creates some of the best operatives I've come across but it is time consuming and I doubt the Palace would allow reposting of troops or operatives very soon. The realm is suffering a great many of changes and when Imperialists stand against the usurpation we have suffered by the Ancients things can get bloody really quickly." He paused for a moment while chewing a slice of bread which he then swallowed with a sip of the milk. "As I was saying, it's a time consuming proccess there I've come to the conclusion that I might need to hire people who had their training done already or can do it without the Kingdom's interference.

You've picked my interest, that is for sure, with your beauty. Before continuing I would like to know what you think about the current political situation in the realm. I like to command people who do a task because their ideals tell them to and not only because I tell them to."

Casually he took another sip on the sweet milk.