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Will of the Free, Will of the Forest
Topic Started: Sep 11 2012, 08:26 PM (963 Views)
Legend Blueshard
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The crusader was no less driven in his own spear handling. He kept his eyes on Aru as he gave his answer.

"Under decree by His Majesty, Lord-Saint Dirac, we have seized these men for immediate transport to Svalbard." The man stated this confidently and with a gleam in his eye. Of course, the sheridans in question still weren't visible. Legend could hear their mixed infuriated and frightened shouts from the carriage as he approached it.

"H... Hey! Where are you going?!" This time, the crusader Legend floored shouted after him. The miner stopped to glance over his shoulder at the man's balled fists. "Didn't you hear? The King of Kings has issued a warrant for their arrest. You're committing treason!"

"Been there, done that," Legend sighed. As much as he hated to admit it, he, Aru, and Oyster had already directly opposed the Lord-Saint's command. Legend inspected the lock and chain on the carriage's back doors. Considering their last experience with keys and locks, he decided to approach the situation with a little more caution this time.

"Okay," he said. "I don't want to make this hard for anyone. Give me the keys to this carriage, and you can tell the Lord-Saint we broke your carriage and made off with the prisoners. How's that?"

"Unacceptable!!" shouted the armed crusader. He finally jabbed at Aru, the last of his patience expended.
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Aru
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Aru jumped out of the way of the blade that was coming at her. With the swiftness of a cat she made another jump, Aru's feet sliding in the dirt and grass as she landed behind the guard. The man was able to turn around and face Aru before she could regain her composure.

Another jab came at her, this time the blade of the spear made contact with her left thigh. A deep wound opened up and blood began to make its way down to her knee. Aru winced at the stinging sensation that came with the new gash in her thigh.

Aru immediately tried to counterattack, the guard still a bit wobbly from leaning so far over, her spear colliding with the guards and sending it out of his hand. The weapon landed in the dirt with its rod sticking straight in the air. Aru smirked, feeling like she had evened the playing field.

"We can stop here, and you can open the door like we asked. We asked nicely too." Aru frowned, waving her spear in a lazy manner.
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Legend Blueshard
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Aru's crusader held his hands in the air when disarmed. He dared not make any sudden movements without the security of his spear. On the other hand, the crusader creeping toward Legend had a fury in his eyes. He sprang forward with a fist drawn back, not caring at all that Legend still held his trusty pickaxe. The miner didn't catch this surprise attack in time. Instead, he caught a fist to the jaw as he turned. Legend and the crusader fell to the ground together. His pick landed just out of reach in the hardened dirt. Blow after blow rained down on Legend, beating his face left and right with the crusader's rage. He could hardly find a chance to breathe, let alone get a word in.

A gust of wind swooped between them from the sky as though the invisible hand of the wind goddess had descended to aid Legend in his time of need. It ensnared the crusader and quickly flung him backward a few feet. The rush of wind deposited its target on his back again. By this time, Legend already had his pick in hand.

"That's not nice," Legend scolded him. "I was trying to make this easy for you." He pointed the pick at his assailant. "Get up, and put your hands in the air like the other guy."

Obediently, the crusader scrambled to his feet. His arms wavered like flagpoles in the wind above his head. Legend backed the man over to Aru and the surrendered partner. He rubbed blood from his upper lip where it dropped out his nostrils.

"Where was Impa then?" he laughed under his breath. The crusaders each gave Legend a curious look, but they knew better than to speak. At least if they cooperated now, they would escape with their lives.

"Aru, keep your spear ready," instructed Legend. "I'm going to search them for keys."
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Aru
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Aru kept her eyes locked on the two guards that were standing in front of her. She didn't make any sudden moves, besides when she saw Legend's face a jumped a few centimeters. She quickly dismissed the obvious trails of blood spilling from Legend's nose and lips, returning to her task at hand.

Aru made sure to keep arms length away , her spear pointing between the two men's necks. The tip of her spear almost touched the arms of both men as they continued to hold both of their hands up high.

"You could just tell him where the keys are, or drop them now." Aru said, her eyes bouncing between both men. "We might really let you go if you are nice." she tried to convince the two guards. Aru realized the last time she got a key from someone and let them go they gave her the wrong key, so perhaps this way would prove to be more successful.
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Legend Blueshard
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Legend didn't consider giving these men a pat-down the highlight of his day, but it was definitely a step up from the barrage of punches to the face. He pulled up the ends of their robes one by one and checked their pockets thoroughly in front and back. Neither of them carried any additional weapons, but he did come across a handwritten notice on fine parchment. It seemed such a waste that the royal decree had been folded into a square and crumpled in the crusader's pocket. Legend unfolded it and glanced over the writing.

By royal decree of His Majesty, the Emperor, the Lord-Saint Kondar Dirac:

The sheridan population of the Red Woodlands poses an imminent threat to the security of this fair empire. For the glory of Knives and our continued prosperity, I hereby order the capture and interrogation of all persons with horns or otherwise resembling sheridankind. To this end, I enlist the aid of my Church and its humble missionaries. Utilize any force necessary to transport these persons directly to Svalbard alive.

You have my blessings.

In my own hand,
Lord-Saint Dirac


It was such a straightforward, unabashed order that Legend could only stare at the man's signature in the aftermath of its reading. He repeated it aloud in disbelief.

"He's really ordered the capture of an entire race," Legend summarized, shaking his head. "Why would anyone go along with this?"

"The Lord-Saint's will is our will," barked one of the crusaders.

"But what threat to security is he talking about? What did the men in that carriage do to you?"

"The Lord-Saint knows things we humble servants don't. It's not our place to question His Holiness."

"You're crazy," Legend replied. He stuffed the royal decree in his own pocket and continued rummaging through theirs. Unfortunately, this search didn't turn up a key. "Alright, where is it?"

"Where is what?" Hearing the snide response, Legend jabbed the man in the back with the handle of his pick. The crusader almost stumbled into Aru's spear. With a pitiful cry, he waved his arms above his head. "It's under the carriage! With our travel supplies!"

Legend took several steps away from them before he dared turn his back. Crouching, he peered under the carriage. Sure enough, a brown leather bag had been attached to the underside. He crawled under the carriage and began searching this hiding place just as thoroughly as the crusaders' clothes.

Once he found the key, Legend headed straight for the back doors. The lock and chains dropped like hail onto the wooden ledge at the back of the carriage when released. Within a moment of grabbing the door handles, the shouts of the captive sheridans fell silent. Legend pulled the doors open and scanned across the group. The scene was similar to what he saw the previous day; the men were bound at the wrists and ankles with chains connecting them to one another.

"It's another one!" cried one sheridan. Even when Legend waved the key in his hand, the suspicious man remained vigilant. It was clear he wasn't the only one who shared the sentiment. Once he started unlocking their shackles, however, the atmosphere took a lighter tint. In a matter of minutes, the whole group stood outside the carriage with bruise marks on their wrists and ankles from two days in chains.

Legend hopped back onto the ground and chucked the key into the forest. As it disappeared into the foliage, he wore a smile.

"Aru, let's get out of here. We need to meet up with the others."
Edited by Legend Blueshard, Sep 16 2012, 10:19 AM.
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Aru
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Aru nodded at Legend, then turned to face the two guards still shaking in their boots. Aru smiled at them and turned her spear so the blunt side was facing toward the men.

"Why do all the men wearing dresses act so rude?" Aru asked, using her spear to push them aside. Each one dropped their arms and let her through, looking at her a bit puzzled.

Aru followed Legend away from the wrecked carriage and the startled guards, leading the sheridan males back to the group waiting for them on the side of the main tail. It wasn't until she tried to catch up to Legend that she remembered how badly her leg had been cut. Aru made herself walk swiftly, limping just slightly when her left thigh flexed.

"Are you okay?" Aru asked once she made it next to Legend's right side, leaning forward to try and get a better look at Legend's face.
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Legend Blueshard
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Legend rubbed his nose with the side of his hand, his eyes fixed on Aru's leg.

"Are you kidding me? Are you alright?" Legend offered his arm to help her walk back into the forest. The first of the sheridan males took off into the forest. He couldn't blame them; after an outright kidnapping ordered by the emperor, getting captured a second time could really ruin one's week. Those who remained formed a protective circle around their rescuers. The crusaders made no attempt to resist as their spears were snatched from the scene.

Legend had nothing to say to the men in white robes. They had already sacrificed their will to hatred, and nothing he said would likely change that.
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Aru
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Aru gladly accepted the help from Legend, laughing a little as she put her arm around his neck. "I'll be fine once I warp up my leg, and maybe rest for a little." she reassured Legend, relaxing now that she was able to walk a little easier.

"What did you take?" Aru suddenly asked, remembering the piece of paper Legend had stuffed in his back pocket. She tried to look over his shoulder and see if she could figure it out on her own, but she couldn't even see his back pockets.
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Legend Blueshard
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"Just a love letter from the Lord-Saint," said Legend. "I wanted to head directly to Faust after this, but we need to warn the sheridans in Middlebrook. This is legitimate. It even has the royal seal of Knives." The sheridans surrounding them listened with vested interest.

"Warn them of what?" asked one of the horned men.

"Lord-Saint Dirac has ordered the arrest of every sheridan in the empire, if you can believe it," he explained for everyone's benefit. "If they bring an army to Middlebrook, will your people be able to defend themselves?"

"Naturally," replied another sheridan. His tone suggested offense; surely, no human army could prevail over his own kind. Legend hoped his confidence was warranted.

"I just don't understand why..." continued Legend. "Why are sheridans considered so dangerous that they would be captured and shipped off to Svalbard? There's something missing here." If the sheridans knew the answer, they didn't offer it. He frowned as they neared the rest stop where they ditched Oyster and the others - half because of the silence and half because the rest of their platoon was nowhere to be found.
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Aru
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Aru stopped along side Legend, not having much of a choice as she leaned against him. Her head turned from side to side without catching a single glimpse of their group or a clue as to where they went. A horrible feeling set in and Aru looked to Legend with a frown.

"Why does everyone keep getting captured?! Oshura is not very safe at all! Everyone goes missing when you turn around!" Aru whined, almost shouting right in Legend's ear.
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