The adventures of Aleytys Lamar - another forgotten story from a lost island -

[Alytys Lamar]

((OOC = Origin Story by PO Ascius 2007 *A travel uproad - putting things in order *
Persons:
Ascius, a seasoned warrior from Salkamar
Lady Gwendolyn Cad'ell, a Lady Knight of Zhambra, in relationship with Ascius
Edward Cromwell: friend of Ascius and in a relationship with Aleytys
Aleytys Lamar herself befriended with Ascius
--------------------------------
She and Ascius, both had a special friendship. Aleytys, who strangely had somehow a similar past like Ascius, she the cold, playful, young thing, trying to hide her feelings; and he falling in love to a special lady knight, having to settle a long overdue revenge, settle an outstanding, yet deadly, score. A betrayal only payed back in blood.
As he asked her if she would accompany him with Edward, to settle it once and for all, there was no doubt in Aleytys " Sure dear, its always nice to deliver cold revenge to an asshole. I'll gladly assist."

--------------------------------
Slowly the medium big ship was swaying in the small harbor. The leashes cracked under the weight of the ship. The captain, an older man with a long and messy beard looked at the stand of the sun. He'd have to leave soon, but the four people who asked him whether he could take them with him to Salkamar didn't show up yet. At least not all of them. Two were still missing, the other two were standing on the footbridge, smoking strange herbs in their pipe. The captain shook his head and turned to a few seamen.

"Are we ready to go, lads?" he asked with his gruffed voice and the seamen nodded.

A few more minutes passed, until the next two persons arrived at the harbor. They stood for a moment and took a strange look at the two smoking, but then greeted.

"Greetings, Edward and Aleytys..", they said. "Oh, hello Ascius and Lady Cad'ell", the other two replied. "It's just Gwendolin", lady Cad'ell said with a slight chuckle. It was time for them to go now. Time to get onto the ship, time to begin their travel. They did not know yet what it would really mean or what might happen, but they were ready to go.

The captain ordered to drop the rope-ladder to get the four on board...

Gwendolin was still a bit pale as she arrived on board. She already thought they would miss the ship due to the several unexpected happenings on their way to the harbour. And as Ascius said, it nearly made the impression that a higher might wouldn't want to let them go.

Dismissing her thoughts Gwendolin looked about the ship, then turned to Ascius. "You can give me your things, I will have a look where our cabins are." Taking Ascius backpack, she nodded to Aleytys. "Coming with me?", she asked

Aleytys nodded towards Gwendolin.
Her dark eyes travelled over the shoreline which gone fast away now. The wind ruffled her long hair.
She remembered all of sudden so much what happened the last years ....

Edward wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck.

With a sigh she removed his hands and followed Gwendolin finally under the deck.

[Alytys Lamar]

Ascius smiled slightly as he handed Gwendolin his backpack and his gaze followed her shortly while she was leaving with Aleytys for the cabins.
He stood at the railing, watching the ship moving away from the harbor slowly. The sails were risen with some noise but were quickly filled with wind and became tight.

He looked back at the island which had been some kind of home for him during the last year. If he would ever return, he did not know.
He turned away from the railing and smirked to Edward shortly. "I'll have a quick talk to the captain again..", Ascius said and walked towards the enhanced place where the wheel was.

Edward sighed as Aleytys turned around and followed Gwendolin, staring at her slowly distancing figure until it had completely disappeared under the deck.

With a couple quick steps he walked over the deck to the starboard side of the ship, nodding to the sailors as he walked past them. He leaned agains the bulwark and stared into the horizon. The quiet creaking of the deckboards underneath his feet and the distinctive noise of the seagulls flying above reminded him of his travelling past.

He glanced over his shoulder to Ascius. Suddenly the first mate of the ship begun to shout out orders with a raspy voice and the sailors rushed to their posts.

"Ahoy lads! Anchor up! Open the sails! Get her out to the sea!"

The sailors around the capstan begun to walk forwards, slowly pulling the anchor and the anchor chain up from the sea. Slowly, but steadily the ship distanced itself from the shore.

Ascius walked past him and told him that he was going to see the captain. Edward smirked back and followed him, whispering as they walked toward the bridge of the ship:

"I guess there is no turning back now, 'brother'.. I'll come along."

[Alytys Lamar]

"The seas are raw these days", the captain told Ascius. "We have nearly reached the Mas days... these never are calm, not even outside on the ocean."
Ascius nodded on the captains words. "I am sure you'll bring us to Salkamar safely..", he responded with a slight smirk. "Arr, I will, be sure. This wont be the first raw sea I see. We should talk about the payment, by the way.", the captain said and narrowed his eyes a little.
Ascius gestured conciliating with his hands. "Well talk about that when I can see the safe harbors of Salkamar, trust my word." The captain mumbled something, but then nodded.

The sea was calm yet, but for how long only Findari knew..

*********

"I guess those two are our cabins", Gwendolin pointed at the two doors they stood infront.
Casually Gwendolin opened one of them and peeked inside. She chuckled at the sight of the bunk beds.
"Well", Gwendolin said. "The ship hasn't been made for couples, clearly."
She stepped inside the small cabin and put both bags upon the bed below, then walked outside to Aleytys again and let her open the door to hers and Edwards room...

**********

Sitting on the small cabin bed, Aleytys looked briefly around, there wasn't a lot to look at to be honest.
She knows that she would rather stand on the deck than sit in this little cabin, it felt already like a wooden jail.

And she was quite unsure about Gwendolin. This lady looked just a tad too innocent and pure.
Aleytys shrugged her small shoulders. Ascius should know what he was doing.

Edward approached, leaning on the frame of the cabin, staring at her with his amusedly sparkling eyes.
"What do you think sunshine? Me and you in this small cabin.. I think we'll have some fun."
His wink was teasing and cheeky

Aleytys did lift a brow, gave him a cold gaze and started to unpack the stuff from her backpack.
This journey maybe was a journey without return....

**********
Gwendolin closed the door of her cabin and looked over to Edward in the doorframe of the other one. She chuckled at his words and shook her head.

"We should have booked our cabins a bit more far from each other", Gwendolin thought quietly, but smiled. She made her way on the deck again and walked to the railing. Her crystal blue eyes wandered into the direction they traveled.

Salkamaeria... what fate will they be facing...?

********

Edward's lips curled to a warm smile as Aleytys gave him the cold gaze. He moved inside the cabin, closing the cabin door behind him.
In relaxed manner he let his shoulders slump just slightly, allowing his backpack to slide on the ground. Leaving the backpack on the floor he sat on her bunk, right next to her.

He let his fingers run through her hair and whispered quietly, with an amused tone:
"Mhh.. I don't know if I can sleep easily when the waves are rocking the ship, after being away from the sea for so long.
Maybe you'll be kind enough to let me enjoy your calming presence at least for the first night, my sunshine.. It would please me greatly. We can unpack our things on my bunk.."

He leaned back against the wooden boards of the wall, closing his eyes. He could feel the waves rocking the boat gently from side to side.
He filled his lungs with the stuffy air of the ship.

So many memories..

[Alytys Lamar]

2. Mas, the early morning


A great wave hit the ship and water flew all over the deck. The wind howled loudly, the sails were slamming hard and the wooden pole was groaning. "Take down the sails!", the captain shouted. Men tried to climb into the pole, getting the sails down. Two men had to hold the wheel because of the force the waves and the wind attached to the whole ship. The storm was certainly heavy, Aleytys hadn't seen any storm like that on the sea before. The wind was blowing as if Findari was hunted by Moshran personally today. No wonder, these were his days.

Though the storm was vast, the sea rough as hell, the experienced sailors managed to get down the sails before the pole would brake. Still water was coming all over the ship and even the cabins were not dry anymore. When the ship sunk into a trough of the sea, the whole body deformed a little and sounded like it would crack. Luckily, it didn't. After about an hour without sails the storm calmed down a little. The sailors checked the ship for any major damage, but couldn't find any. "That's my lady", the captain grinned and ordered to put up the sails again. Edward, Aleytys, Gwendolin and Ascius even had to help getting the water out of the cabins. They didn't care about that much, cause, they were pleased with still being alive.

As the dusk approached that day and just wanted to sink into the sea, the sailors and guests heard a bird. It was a seagull, a sign that the ship was coming closer to the mainland. Salkamar was near. It took another few minutes until the "Land ho!" could be heard from someone who was just climbing on the pole. Cliffs arrived at the horizon now and quickly seemed to come closer. The first part of that travel was nearly finished..

.........

Aleytys packed the wet stuff in her backpack and glanced to Edward, who did just the same.

The storm was nearly over and she gazed at her hands. Both were sore and red from the salty water and the permanent holding on strong ropes.
Her silky hair was plaited in a long pigtail, simply dirty.

Her thoughts wandered back at the past days, a hatred gaze glancing over the tiny room. She had shown Edward a cold shoulder very often.
She knew Gwendolin and Ascius mocking about him and her and she disliked this feeling. So she had avoided Edward at many times, standing on the deck and watching the sea.
She was excited and tired, angry and bored, all at the same time, her life in the past with the pirates circled in her mind when she was looking at the sails,
hearing them rattle in the wind.
And the memories about Antonius, her first love and another one who had betrayed her.
She payed back his betrayal in full, killed him and hoped his bones would rot in the deep sea.

Edward was in a a grumbling mood, probably about her cold behaviour.
But, she shrugged her shoulders slightly, he was not alone in the world.

" You are ready to enter Salkamar dear ? " so she spoke, finishing her packing and looking into his crotchety face with a mocking gaze.

[Alytys Lamar]

Aleytys did look around the large harbor. All was clean and well in order. But she knew underneath chaos and corruption did spread. She knew it from Ascius. It was still a surprise to her that she liked him. But his past and fate had quite a lot of similarities to hers. He had lost all what he ever had cared for due to betrayal. Wife, family, honor. But she knew she wasn't easy to handle, nor was Edward. But Ascius had managed it, with respect and his smart behaviour.

Ascius turned to the three people who had followed him here. He saw Gwendolin, she was smiling at the view. She would also remember her old home, with better memories than Ascius, thats for sure. Ascius shook his head a little before his gaze moved over to Edward and Aleytys.

"Sooo, brother, what to do now?", Edward asked with a smirk.
"Well, we could search for the next good tavern and get you informed about the plan.", Ascius replied.
Edward chuckled and they started moving. "Aye, tavern is good."

Four full beer mugs produced a jingling and knocking sound, as Ascius set them on the table. "On a more or less successful shipping. Cheers!"
They took a deep sip and then looked at Ascius, waiting.
"Alright.", he lowered his voice a little. "You all know the background already. There are three people I want to see dead.", he said very certain. "We wont find the mercenaries who did the dirty work any more, so they may live on. The three we can find are of course Aecius, then a man named Grumius, who had been a friend of me, but decided to betray me and work for Aecius. He set the trap on me. The third one is a man of whom I don't know the name, but he was the one who kept me caged for that long time."
They all nodded slowly while listening, only Gwendolin lowered her head slightly. "I suggest we begin with the nameless one", continues Ascius.
"I know the place where he once lived and where I was caged. It's a quiet and lonely place, we can easily go there and get him. He is still living alone as far as I know, so it wont be too difficult. Later, we need to find the location of Aecius. Grumius will probably still work for him, so we can get both there." He stopped and took another sip from his beer.

"Any questions?", he asked the three.

Gwendolin finally broke her silence, after a moment of pondering.

„I guess you won't need my... help on this first case. I will seperate from you and find my father. He must be somewhere here in Salkamaeria due to... personal reason.“, she glanced to Ascius. „I think I know where to find him and he might already have gathered informations about Aecius, that would be helpful for us. I need to tell him to ... stay out of this matter. If he approaches to the court, we have a problem when they find out about Aecius death. We will have a problem either way, but this would only make it worse and I don't want my father being drawn into this.“

"Alright, Gwen.", Ascius said. "Keep him away from danger, this will be over soon, anyway.", he continued and then looked to Aleytys and Edward. "Where will you two go? I am quite sure I can handle the first man alone, but Gwendolin might use some help if anything goes wrong." Ascius raised a brow while he asked.

Gwendoling raised also a brow. "There's nothing that could go wrong, unlike your mission. I'm going alone and find you later here in tavern again... I don't want you to go alone there."

Aleytys looked up from her mug, her lips a small cold line.

" I think Edward should go with you Ascius. Let me stay here with Gwendolin.
I had an idea about Aecius. When we know where he lives ...
but let me explain. You know I am cold enough for a risky plan. Maybe a helpless Princess crossing his way, a princess from a far away land.. He never would get the idea to associate us both. And when the time is right then we likewise attack from in- and outside Ascius. I thought a "Nobleman" -- Aleytys spoke this word with disgust -- like him feels like helping a beautiful and noble Lady. I bet he is that kind of man. Gwendolin stays with her father, my informations about the two targets I could send to her *

Ascius nodded. "Very well.. that may work. If it is possible though, keep Aecius alive until I can get him. This whole thing is quite personal. With the other one.. do what you like." He looked to Edward afterwards. "So, do you agree on the plan? If you do we should not waste any more time but get moving. The longer we stay the greater the danger to leak out."

"So Aleytys goes with Gwendolin.. and I'll be stuck with you."
Edward sighed theatretically and then nodded.
"I guess you need someone to babysit you, old bugger.. Sure. Let us hit the road.."
He placed his empty mug on the table and stood up, gesturing the others to wait.
"But one more thing. I'll be back shortly.."
Turning around on his heels, he walked to the barkeeper and uttered some words to him. After a couple minutes of searching, the barkeeper handed him what seemed to be like a pen, some ink and a sheet of paper.

After pondering for a while, Edward begun to write on the paper. Five minutes later, he neatly folded the paper and handed it back to the barkeeper along with a generous amount of coppers. Despite the noise of the tavern, it ís possible for the others to hear some isolated words from what Edward said to the barkeeper.
"The letter.. Gobiath.. n.."

Edward walked back to the others with a small smirk on his lips. He placed his hands gently on the shoulders of Aleytys.
"Well, Jester and Ladies.. Shall we go?.."
After saying the words, he turned his eyes to Gwendolin and quickly formed the following words silently with his lips.

"Take care of her.."

Gwendolin looked at Edward, then stood slowly. She nodded silently at him and offered him a faint smile. It was easy to tell that Gwendolin didn’t feel comfortable on this journey at all. And it was easy to tell that she only did this for Ascius. Because, so it seemed, she would do anything for him. For his sake.

She walked up to Ascius and looked quietly into his eyes for a moment, before she leaned in and kissed him. First lovingly, then passionately as Gwendolin wrapped her arms around his shoulders. It was the first time they kissed right infront of Aleytys and Edward. After she broke the kiss, she took her bag and shouldered it.
“Be well you two, we will meet here again.”

Together with Aleytys Lamar she left the tavern and stepped out of the street. She smiled faintly as she consciously took another deep breath of salkamaerian air, then looked around. “Hm. We will go this way.”, Gwendolin pointed up the street.
“I know a wonderful tailor.”

This sentence was followed by a deep frown and a grimace from Aleytys.

[Alytys Lamar]

Ascius looked after them for a moment, then placed his hands on the table and pressed himself up from the chair.
"Let's be off too then, not that the ladies are quicker than we are.", he smirked at Edward.

They walked out of the tavern. "The man we are looking for lives nearby, but still a few miles away from this town. We'll have to travel faster than by foot. I hope you can ride." Ascius said to Edward mockingly while they were walking up the street.
"I usually leave that to the ladies, but it'll do.", replied Edward with a wide grin. Ascius laughed shortly and pat the mans shoulder. They continued and decided to leave town first and find suitable horses on some farm in the country.

When the evening was slowly drawing nearer, the two men had finally left the city and reached the countryside around it. It was rather plain, but a few drawn-out hills made it very appealing, at least for Ascius.
In some distance one could see small farms or sometimes even cottages, owned by rich people from town. They should be a major place to steal to horses, they were rich enough, anyway.
They still had to travel a little on the road to find some more lonely place where no one would easily see them. On the way though they again didn't manage to talk without mocking each other. "We should try to look most inconspicious..", Ascius had said on the way. "Impossible with that ogre face you own, old bugger.", Edward had replied.
The halfling merchant Dusty back on Gobaith had once listened to one "conversation" of Edward and Ascius and thought the two would be brothers. Their conversations had been like this since the first time they met and would probably always be like this. Ascius grinned slightly on that fact and shook his head, then his gaze fell on a small cottage off the street. Four horses were tied to the front of the house. Ascius looked around, it was quite a calm place and quite a calm hour, most people, especially rich people, were having their dinner right now. He pointed at the horse and Edward nodded.

They approached the house slowly, looking what may go on inside of it. A few people could be seen trough a window, they were in fact eating right now. It looked like the host had guests tonight. The horses were tied where the people couldn't see much from the window and it seemed no one was looking after the horses. "Let's make this quick.", Ascius whispered and moved over to one of the horses. As expected, those animals were well trained because their riders most likely used them for traveling between celebrations. They were not too stubborn.

When Ascius just wanted to untie one of the horses, steps could be heard from around the house. Someone was certainly coming closer, and he was whisteling a small melody. Ascius hectically turned his head towards Edward and whispered. "Can you try to distract him while I ready the horses somehow? I didn't want to kill anyone yet."

”I could kill him for you, Ascius. I have no qualms about doing that..” Edward replied sardonically with a small grin on his lips. He nevertheless made a calming gesture to Ascius, before walking behind a tree not too far away from the corner of the hedge. His position allowed him to see the whistler but still gave him some cover from his eyes.

The whistler was a wealthily dressed, mid-height man with a large belly. Edward glanced around and his lips curled into a mischievous smile as no other people seemed to be in the vicinity. As the man walked slowly closer, he reached for a copper from his belt. After glancing at the man and his clothes again, he frowned and quickly changed the copper coin into a silver one and tossed it on the road behind the man. While the whistler turned around, apparently surprised by the metallic clink caused by the coin, Edward stepped out from the shadow of the tree and began to walk forward as quietly as he could. The man was not alarmed by his quiet steps. Why should he? This was Salkamar, a peaceful and orderly place. The podgy man bent his large body slowly down to pick up the coin..

The couple final steps were more like leaps than steps. As the man took the coin with his fingers and begun to rise up again, Edward was already standing behind him. Before the man could turn around, Edward's arm was wrapped around his throat with a constantly tightening grip, like a steel hinge made out of flesh. The whistler tried to yell and wiggle his body away from the merciless pressure and pain on his throat, but no audible sound came out from his mouth. The victim did not know it yet, but resistance was futile. For his great misfortune, he was not the first man Edward had attacked like this and he certainly knew what he was doing.

Edward pulled his right arm back for a moment, tightening the muscles before landing a hard and precise hit into the midriff of the man thus emptying his lungs from air. While his right hand struck, Edward simultaneously aimed a forceful kick into the left kneejoint of the man with his left foot, forcing the victim on his knees on the ground while strangling him still. He pulled his right arm back again, before landing a series of hard strikes into the side of the man’s head with his fist. He released his left arm from his neck, allowing the unconscious body to collapse on the ground. After looking around quickly again for possible bystanders, he grabbed the man by the collar of his expensive jacket and dragged the large body roughly and with haste into the shadow of the hedge.

Edward looked down at the unconscious man and spotted a small pouch hanging from his belt. He hesitated for the duration of a heartbeat before grinning to himself and kneeling down next to him. He opened the pouch and ‘relocated’ the coins into his own belt. He chuckled quietly to himself as he stood up and walked back toward the horses. A cold, amused voice spoke inside his head: “Oh Edward, Edward.. Ascius is stealing you a horse, you just assaulted a man and are on your way to murder another. Nobody is going to give a damn if you nick the money of that poor bastard or not.. ”

He picked his own coin from the ground and then walked quickly around the hedge corner back to Ascius. Edward grinned with sparkling eyes. “Don’t worry, my ‘brother’.. He lives, but I distracted him quite well. So well and thoroughly in fact, that we probably should leave from here with haste..”

What an amusing journey this would be. As they quickly climbed into the saddles of their horses, he chuckled and said: "If we are going to risk hanging, Ascius.. I better do as much for my ticket to hell as possible.."

"Sounds just fair", Ascius answered with a smirk and hit the side of the horse with his heels slightly to make it move. "Just follow me."

It was good to ride again. Ascius hadn't seen a horse on Gobaith for all the month he had been there. He still knew how to do this very well and quickly dashed through the country, hoping Edward could follow. Night was falling now. Soon the moon would climb up in the sky. While the wind rushed through his hair, Ascius thought about the man he and Edward were going to. Was he still living alone? Was he really bad enough to be killed? Gwendolin had sometimes asked whether the people Ascius wanted to kill had family, and if they had, if he would kill the families, too. He had denied, of course. Not the women and childen of his enemies were guilty, but only the ones who did all this to him were.
Still, it was a strange feeling for Ascius. What if the man had family by now? He would kill him, rip him out of the life of the ones who loved him. He would create the same sorrow and hate that had once been created for him.

When the moon was slowly crawling up the sky, filling the air with a slight silver sheen, Ascius remembered the last official mission he had gotten before the betrayal had happened. He remembered when he and his soldiers had prepared an ambush for the bandits and killed them all. He remembered the blood and dead bodies, lieing around in the grass, having the same moon sheen on them as they would have today. Would he leave a picture like that again soon?

After passing a few more steep hills, Edward and Ascius could see a small homestead. It looked like the owner was not a rich man and the wooden buildings seemed to be old. Ascius nodded to himself. This was the place. He climbed down from the horse. "We are here.", he said. "Let's find some trees to tie our horses to end get this over with.." Edward smirked and also got down from his horse. They found some smaller trees and tied their horses to them, then turned their gaze to the homestead. "After you, please", Edward grinned and Ascius started walking. His mood wasn't the best right now.

One could see the shine of light from inside the main building, probably the living part. The rest of the area was dark. The two men moved closer slowly, trying to make no noise. They walked past the insecure looking door of the house to maybe get a gaze through the window where the light was coming from.
Ascius reached the window first and discreetly looked inside. He recognized the man who had kept him in "jail" for the long time on the order of Aecius. That man was sitting at the table, eating, and next to him a woman. Ascius closed his eyes for a moment and cursed. "What's the matter?", Edward asked with a lowered voice.
"He's not alone, there's a woman, too.", Ascius replied. "I don't see the problem?", Edward grinned "She wont be able to stop us finishing this.", he continued.
Then, suddenly, a light appeared behind the two men by the window and soon also a voice.
"She may not, but I may!" Behind them a soldier was standing , probably a patrol of the local legion camp. He was fully armed, yet holding a torch, but having one hand on his sword already. "Stop right there, put your weapons to the ground and turn slowly!", the soldier shoutet.

"Oh.. damn"

When one thing went wrong, it was clear that everything else was bound to go wrong as well. First Ascius was getting cold feet because of the woman, then the soldier. What the hell had he been thinking? That all the intended targets would be hermits? Ascius would have to play the noble avenger on his own time, as Edward would not allow him to risk their lives by sparing the lives of some insignificant witnesses. That soldier however, he was a bad thing. Edward had no doubt that he and Ascius could kill him, but even if he was alone, his comrades would probably be within some miles.. and they would come looking for him.

He was forced to grin in jackal-like manner as he turned around slowly to face the soldier. The cold gaze of his green eyes was fixed on the soldier, but he made no effort to disarm himself. Edward glanced to Ascius from the corner of his eyes and raised a brow, while grinning still.

[Alytys Lamar]

A mistrustful gaze hit the tailor. Her whole behaviour mirrored a uncomfortable feeling, but she knew it was necessary.
Gwendolin had said this tailor was the best and as she looked in the mirror, saw her hair and the dress, she had to agree with her.
The Tailor stepped around her with a satisfied and broad smile. " Milady, you're looking like a queen "
Aleytys raised both brows, hands him out some gold coins. " But, good Man, you have to agree, looking like this is very expensive!"

She walked out, looking for Gwendolin." She needs time with her father, I guess "Aleytys murmured quietly and walked few steps to a fountain under some trees. Then she opened the closures from the white velvet necklace with a mocking arrogant grin. "Hey dear, that's really too innocent for you " she spoke to herself and chuckled, holding the necklace in her hand. She embraced it and nodded. Thats a wonderful gift for Gwendolin, it would fit her perfectly, she thought.

" Aecius, beware for the innocent looking princess... she will get you, and you my dear will languish for her, lost in unfulfilled passion. And in the following you will lose your life "
Aleyty's lips curled into a mocking grin and she settled back, enjoying the last hours in peace.

Gwendolins pace was rather fast when she entered the outer marketplace to hurry to the tailor. It was already late and Gwendolin hoped dearly Aleytys wouldn't be too mad at her.
A few metres before the tailors shop she paused abruptly as she noticed a woman, sitting upon the edge of a well in a small garden, just around the corner. Gwendolin blinked a few times.

"By Zhambra. Aleytys you were always stunishing beautiful, but this dress and... it shows a total different side of you. You look amazing."
The armoured woman turned to Aleytys and approached to her, still staring at her in awe.

Aleytys chuckled, stroking with one hand over the silky material from the dress and stood up slowly, approaching Gwen with affected elegant movements

"Thank you my dear.. a bit expensive , but hopefully it works for us well. But I have a gift for you Gwen. In my eyes you are one of the purest Ladys I ever met ..."

Aleytys hesitated shortly, then she opened her hand. A wonderful white velvet necklace with a petite silverwhite flower in the mid is seen.

" I think that will be embellish your wonderful skin my dear "

Gwendolin tilted her head slightly and looked at the necklace then chuckled. "What a beautiful necklace Aleytys... that.. wouldn't have been necessary, but thank you..." She smiled honestly at the lady. Examining the necklace for a while longer she moved it around her neck, to put it on.
"Does it suit me?"

She raised her eyes to Aleytys. "I've met my father and got some informations that will serve us very well. First of all, there different congresses these days in Salkamaeria, that's why Aecius is here and not in his small province he is the legatus of. He has an own small house in Salkameria where he lives, when he isn't at home. Which is actually often. He is married, no children. But no worries, his wife won't be here with him. They are just married because of status, nothing else. Aecius keeps visiting a brothel - so there can't be too much love between them."

Gwendolin paused and took a quick breath, before she continued.

"You will have an easy game, Aleytys. Just be careful. Introducing yourself as a noble lady will prevent him from doing anything stupid, but he's still a man without scruple, keep that in mind. Furthermore... the congress of today ends in about one hour. Then he will be on his way home. I guess that will be our chance."

[Alytys Lamar]

Meanwhile ...


Ascius slowly stood and raised his hands slightly, turning towards the soldier. "Calm down, good sir, we are friends of these people." he said, slowly moving towards him. The soldier shook his head and threw away the torch. "Stop right there!", he shouted and drew his sword, trying to hit at once. Ascius saw his moves and drew his own sword just in time to parry the attack. The sword in Acius right hand banged against the sword of the soldier, Ascius left fist hit the soldiers face right in that moment. Edward finished the back-stumbeling soldier with a few good blows and knocked him unconscious.

Ascius shook out his hand and stuck the sword back to his belt. Then he realized the door of the house had opened and the man from the inside stood there now. He must have had heard the noise of the short fight. Surprisingly, the man seemed to recognize Ascius at once. "You!", he shoutet.
Edward quickly pushed the man back inside the house and Ascius followed, closing the door behind him. Edward forced the man to set back at the table, where the woman was still sitting. Ascius stood at the now closed door and looked at the two. There was probably not much time left.

While holding his sword against the chest of the man, Edward made a quick glance around the room. Only one door, good. The woman could not escape while they dealt with the man.

"Finish this quickly. We ought to do what we must and then get out of here as quickly as possible."
The woman stared at the two strange men with their swords unsheated with widened eyes. Her face white as snow and she was sitting on her chair like she was paralyzed. The man tried to wrestle himself free, but was convinced otherwise by Edward's fist. He grinned in amused manner, staring down at the man with a merciless gaze in his green eyes. He continued to stare at the man while saying with a quite casual voice:
"..And my 'Brother'.. The woman as well.. and the soldier. We should not leave witnesses."

Ascius nodded to himself and then spoke to Edward. "Can you please drag that solider inside? He may be seen out there. I will handle those two while you do it." Edward raised a brow and looked unsure. "No cold feet now, brother...", he said and removed the sword from the mans chest, moving towards the door.

While Edward was trying to get the heavy armoured soldier inside, Ascius stepped over to the man. "So you still remember me?", he asked. The man nodded. "I knew it was a mistake to let you stay alive, you'd come back some day." Ascius chuckled and nodded. "Well, I am back here now." The man swallowed and whispered. "I only did what I had to do." The woman began sobbing lowly. "So do we all, for I can't allow you to tell anyone what happened here during the coming week." Ascius said and drew his sword again. "Will you kill us?!", the woman cried.

When Edward closed the door of the house again, having managed to drag the soldier inside finally, Ascius had already finished with the other two. Edward turned towards him and raised a brow. Ascius was standing next to a trap door in the floor of the house which was very well hidden. Ascius grinned. "The place where they kept me once. No one who doesn't know of it will find it. They'll have food and some water for a week. Let's just also put the soldier in. Once we leave Salkamar again, I'll send a letter with their location to some official."

“You.. are.. such.. a.. spineless.. wimp..!”
Edward laughed and shook his head as he dragged the unconscious soldier over to the trapdoor and pushed him – not too gently- down small stairs leading underground. He heard the armoured man clank down the stairs and grinned amusedly again.
“I think we should have just killed them. The man knows your name.. You are not only risking your own life, but also hers.. and ours. Have you thought about that, old bugger?”

"No one will follow us to a place like Gobaith. Furthermore Gwendolin told me after Aecius death there might be some evidence for his guilt.. so things will turn out good for us. We wont be killed too quickly.", Ascius said with a slight grin and closed the trap door, placing some fur that was on the ground of the house and the desk over it.

"Let's head back to the city, get rid of those horses and see how far the ladies have come."

Edward nodded, still grinning and shaking his head.
"Fine.. fine, let us go then you old bugger.."
He opened the door and walked outside, briefly looking around if there would be more soldiers in vicinity.. No. Everything seemed quiet. Edward took the soldier's torch that had already gone out, and tossed it into the bushes surrounding the house. The two men then rose on their horses and headed back toward the town.

[Alytys Lamar]

" You're looking beautiful with this necklace Gwen, really..."

Aleytys pondered, then she nodded.

" So the gods are with us dear, we have luck... Hear my plan Gwendolin: you should bring me near to his house.
At the moment he is approaching the street with his entourage .. aah you will see dear. But stay near.
Anything can go wrong maybe I need immediately your support. And before you ask..."

Aleytys did make a tiny,fluid move and suddenly two sharp daggers laying in her hands.

" You see ? I am not defenseless "
Aleytys chuckled coldly, let the daggers glide in the innersite of the sleeves from her dress.
" Shall we go ? I am not a friend of waisting time "

Salkamaeria was a beautiful town. Especially in spring. The evening sun shone at the buildings and crimsoned them. Gwendolin would have enjoyed the walk if it weren't for their mission.Yet she wasn't able to help herself and explained Aleytys several streets, buildings and some part of history about Salkamaeria. There was a but proud hint in her voice,
whilst she was speaking.

After 25 minutes of walking she looked over the place and seemed to orientate herself, then saying in a lowered voice to Aleytys.
"That's the building they are having the congress in right now. We will go down this street. If he wants to get home he will have to take this one."

Aleytys nodded to her and Gwendolin noticed the mischievious smile, then chuckled.
"I have a good feeling about this somehow. I trust you Aleytys.", she said and walked down the street with her.
There would only be a short time left.

She did hear the horses even before Aecius with his entourage did ride around the corner.

A dangerous, merciless glitter appeared in her eyes and she did hide herself behind of one of the big trees on this street. Before he will able see her it would be too late for him to react. A few seconds later, five horses approached the tree where she stood , calmly waiting. On the forefront, sitting on a black horse was the man, the man which Ascius had described to her -- Aecius.
Right before Aecius reached the tree, she did run out of the street, directly in front of the horse. The black stallion did lift its front legs up and bristles in anger and fear, rolling his eyes. Aecius cursed loudly, try to control the fierce horse.
One hoof did strike Aleytys on her shoulder and she let fall herself to the ground with a loud, painful cry.
Aecius let his horse make a few steps back, jumping to the ground.



He did run with haste to the woman lying on the street. One of his henchman tightened the reins of Aecius’ black Stallion.
Tears of pain did trail down Aleytys's cheeks, she did hold the bruised shoulder.
Aecius kneeled down, looking into her face, stuttering shocked some words.
" Milady, what you doing... you are allright ? I am sorry, let me.. let me help you"

Aleytys moved her hand towards him so he could take hers, let him help her in a sitting position. She spoke with a shaky voice
"Please, sir. It was only my fault, my fault , I am so confused, I did noticed nothing "
Aleytys sniffled low and wiped the tears from her cheeks with a graceful gesture.
Aecius spoke with an arrogant, dark voice:"Milady, let me see your shoulder and what makes a noble Lady like you so confused that she runs straight in front of my horse ? "

Aleytys removed her hand from her bruised shoulder, blinking, " This will heal, but I was robbed only few hours ago, I lost all. My servants are dead and all my parchments stolen. I could escape just barely... So it’s not a wonder that I am so confused. But please Sir, can you tell me who you are ? "

Aecius layed his fist above his heart and said " Aecius my name, Legate of the Province Nova Norici"
Aleytys answered him with a sweet, but painful smile. She lowered her head with a majestic movement.
" Princess Aleytys Lamar from Laemaros. I am here to built commercial relationship between Salkamar and my Land"
A greedily glint was growing up in Aecius eyes as he did gaze down at her.

" A pleasure, Princess Lamar. I am sure that I can help you with everything you need. My house is down the street, so please let me offer it to you if you wish. We are hospitable people and my Stallion was the one that rode you down, it is the least I can do. You need rest and a healer to look at your shoulder. And then we can talk.. "
Aecius extended a hand to help her get up on her feets.

Aleytys did take his hand with a stunning, thankful smile and stood up slowly and careful. She tried to smooth out her dress without haste and gave him a spare nod.
On Aecius face appeared a craving expression, he did cover it with a false smile, as he watched her movements. Then he offered her his arm and grunts over his shoulder at the other men: " Dismount! Grumius, you lead the way. I will follow with Princess Lamar on foot "


Aleytys gazed over her shoulder as he did grunt the name .. directly in the face of the second target ...............



Gwendolin had followed her quietly and with some distance til she was able to see Aecius house. It was a small residence, already used by his father when he was more active in politics. She kept watching how Aecius and Aleytys walked there and then stood still, shaking her head. That was far too easy. She noticed Aleytys looking over her shoulder for a moment and nodding to her, so Gwendolin nodded quietly in return and turned around. She was worried about Aleytys, but she knew she would be doing well.

*********

Another half an hour later, Gwendolin reached the tavern where they had separated and ordered herself a goblet of mead. She was the first that returned and and now sat over the parchments of notes about Aecius and all the delinquences he possibly had begun, yet she wasn't able to concentrate properly. It was already late and with a concerned gaze she looked at the door occasionally, waiting for Ascius und Edward to return.

[Alytys Lamar]

She sat by a window in Aecius House. How she detested walls ! But, all in all, the plan wonderfully worked out so far.

A healer had a look at her shoulder and after a long talk with Aecius she had left him with an alluring smile.
Oh yes, she had seen his hungry gaze .. Aleytys chuckled quietly. What a game ... she knew he was like wax in her hands.

Before she entered this private room, she did walking outside, simulating headaches craving for fresh air.
She found a little boy near the house, giving some coppers to him and the address from the tavern, handing out a parchment with a few words.

" Aecius and I coming tonight to the great Spring-Ball. You should come, too. I will bring him out to a quiet place... You know what has to be done "

Aecius offered her many clothes for the ball and a handmaiden, to help her with the hairdressing.
She knew she was close to win this game, but this man was dangerous and Grumius watched her with some mistrust.

" Aleytys my dear... be careful " she mumbled quietly to herself.

[Alytys Lamar]

Edward and Ascius rode around some parts of the huge town in distance.
They wanted to enter town at a different gate to that one they left it and also get rid of the horses first and do the last meters by foot.
"I think this is a good spot..", Ascius said after a while of riding and stopped his horse, getting down from it.
"I say we just let them here. Someone will find them sooner or later. We don't have to care."
Ascius clapped on the butt of the horse slightly so it would begin to walk slowly, away from their position. No one should know they stole the horses, or people could become suspicious. Edward did the same and then smirked. "Well, back to our second home I guess. Tavern." Ascius nodded.
"Let's see if the ladies are still there."

They walked into the town normally, as if nothing had happened. The streets were still rather empty at that time, people just didn't notice him,
they didn't look about strangers after all.

They had to walk for a while because they entered the town at another gate which was more far away from their former meeting point: A Tavern, of course. After about half an hour of walking they finally reached the tavern and entered it. Ascius smiled as he saw Gwendolin sitting there, she was reading some papers. "I'll order some beer.", Edward said and walked to the bar. Ascius nodded and sat at Gwendolins table. She looked up and also smiled, but it was a bitter smile. "Is the first one dead...?", she asked, pondering. Ascius shook his head. "Not quite. I think I should tell you later.."

Gwendolin nodded and she felt some slight relief. She hadn't been decieved in her feelings and thoughts about Ascius.

She peeked over to Edward a moment and waited til he was there with the beer. Nipping at her mead she finally said afterwards:

"Our plan worked well. Aecius was an easy prey for Aleytys. She's now with him at his residence and I'm waiting for informations. This woman is amazing.
She knows how to get on a man on his weak spot.", she grinned a bit and looked to her parchments, as the door opened.

"My father is well too, we spoke and he decided to...", Gwendolin paused as a small boy shyly approached to her.
"Message for you ma'am", he said quietly and held out a piece of parchment. The lady nodded quickly and reached into her pouch, handing the boy some coins.
"Well done, thank you, little one. Do me a favour and wait outside, yes? I will give you a message to bring it back."
Quickly the boy put the coins away and headed outside with a smile.

She unfolded the parchment and handed it over to Ascius and Edward then, to read it, not saying it out loud.

" Aecius and I coming tonight to the great Spring-Ball. You should come, too. I will bring him out to a quiet place... You know what has to be done "

"Sounds like a good chance to me. What do you think?"

Edward took a long sip from his beer and nibbled on his lower lip.
He raised a brow and muttered quietly.

"When I asked you to take care of her, this wasn't exactly what I had on my mind.."

He shook his head and then grinned amusedly. His fingers wrapped around the handle of his sword for a moment, before he nodded.

"Sure. Let us play your little game.."

"You'll have to escape back to Gobiath quickly after this deed. People will most likely suspect Aleytys, because she was together with Aecius for the whole evening." Ascius nodded to himself. "Indeed, it might work. This will be the last beer for us tonight, we need our heads clear."

Gwendolin glanced at Edward. "It was her own idea. And she spoke it already before we left the tavern. If you have had any objections to this plan, you should have said them before when you had the chance."

She took a sip from her mead then nodded. "Very well..." , she ripped off a small blank part of parchment and took her feather.

"We will be there." - she wrote upon the notice then stood.
Walking outside of the tavern she looked at the boy who quickly raised as she approached to him. She handed him the note.

"Bring it back to the lady, who gave you the other note before. She will give you some coins."

And with this the boy ran off...

[Alytys Lamar]

.
Aleytys did watch herself in the mirror, dressed with the silverwhite ballgown. She was astonished by herself how she appeared, a fragile pure flower.
The handmaiden did put some silvergolden hair circlets as a finish in the subdued silky mass of her hair. Some coins later putted into the hands of the servant girl
she was alone. The room was to open for her taste. Three doors, hard to control. The dagger was stored neatly in the big silver rose on the skirt, easy to reach, though.

Some minutes later Aecius entered the room with quiet steps, his eyes grow wide as he looked her up and down and a bow followed.
" Princess it will be a pleasure to accompany you to the Ball "
He moved a bit nearer laying his hand on her waist.
Aleytys did rest the dark eyes in his and smiles, allowing him to be near.
"Aecius you are an attractive Man, the other ladies will be really jealous "

Aecius gives her a cold smile and his voice turned unemotional as he spoke " Princess, would you tell me who are *WE* ?? "
Aleytys blinked suprised " We ? What you mean Aecius ? "
He takes a parchment out from the pocket of his jacket and held it in front of her face, at the same time his arm tighten his grip on her waist,
pulling her strong near to him.

" We will be there "

Aleytys looked at the parchment with a curious glance in her eyes and shrugged.
" I have really no idea Aecius. What you mean..? And please, would you remove your arm from my waist now ? "
Her mind raced at the same time, cursing, aware she was trapped. Why the hell Gwendolin, why ? she thought

Aecius answered with a cold and arrogant gaze, a despising smile in the corner of his mouth " Grumius found the little boy *Princess* "

Aleytys sighed deeply and with a quick movement her dagger did point at Aecius's throat.
Her voice and face immediately as cold and mocking as his own.
" You should make no move now dear ... not swallow, not speak, only remove very very careful your arm from my waist .. NOW!"
Aecius’ eyes are widened surprised as he felt the sharp blade on his throat. He removed his arm from around her carefully.

A voice was to hear right behind Aleytys. " You should let him go - you have no chance you wench! " Aleytys was sure it was Grumius, the *dog* of Aecius.

" Mmh .. I think a bit differently. Make one movement and he dies... would you risk this ? "

She heard a little sound, like a creak, then the world seems to explode... While all around her began to swirl she jumped forward and thrusted her dagger into Aecius

Then ..... darkness.

[Alytys Lamar]

Edward moved restlessly inside the tavern. The sun was finally going down and the last rays of light reflected from the wet surface of the street.
Night, and the time of the spring ball, was slowly drawing nearer.
He turned to Gwendolin, who looked as calm as ever. With a grin he offered his hand to her, while winking to Ascius.

"Lady Cad'ell, may I? We probably should be leaving now.."
His voice became more amused as he continued.
"..You should probably keep your distance to us, Ascius.. So that we can move in undetected. The last thing we would want to do is to scare Aecius away with your hideous looks, my 'brother'."
Edward grinned very broadly and tilted his head slightly staring at the two.

Gwendolin walked down the stairs in her dress for the spring ball. The colour were kept in green and gold, her red hair, on the side ruffled up and hold with green satin ribbons, let see her bare, well formed shoulders.



Her eyes rested on Edward as she took the last step down and laid her hand upon his. "You may, Sir Cromwell."

She smiled slightly. The concern in her eyes was easy to notice. Gwendolin looked over to Ascius and offered him a loving smile as she said: "Please take my platemail and my sword with you. So I can change.. quickly..."

Ascius nodded. "I will hide them somewhere near the place. Of course I have to attend to see when you begin acting. I will just wear normal clothes and hide from Aecius' and Grumius' eyes." Edward smirked and said teasingly. "If you manage to get inside without a partner, of course."
Ascius narrowed his eyes a little. "I will find a way."

Later, the three of them walked towards the location the ball would take place. Ascius only weared normal clothes and had to carry the heavy bag with all the stuff inside, so he most likely looked like a servant. Edward and Gwendolin looked like people going to a ball though, but Ascius thought Edward only did because he had Gwendolin on his side.
When the three had nearly reached the ball house, they stopped shortly.
"You two go in first. I will hide this stuff somewhere near and find a way to get inside. I can tell you where I put the weapons later."
Gwendolin and Edward nodded. "Well, fair lady, let's get inside and have some dances." Edward grinned and offered his arm to her.
Gwendolin chuckled to Ascius, but with an apologetic gaze. Ascius smiled slightly and nodded. The two walked off to the entrance and Ascius submerged in a small lane next to the ball house, hiding the weapons and armour. Now, he had to think of some good excuse to get inside without company and looking like a servant.
Inside he would have to be sneaky again, Aecius and Grumius would probably still remember him, so he shouldn't better be seen.

"You do indeed look gorgeous, Gwen", Edward said with a grin as they climbed up the steps leading to the door of the ball house. As soon as he spotted the lackey at the door, he took a more arrogant expression on his face.
"What are you standing there for, boy? Open the door now!", he snapped at the poor lad with a commanding voice.

As the lackey rushed to open the door, Edward rolled his eyes and tried to sound very displeased as he remarked to Gwendolin with a voice loud enough for the lackey to hear.
"The servants these days.. I should have him whipped for his lazyness!

The man bowed very deeply as they entered, apparently fearing for a punishment. He asked with fawning and sugary voice, "Sir, and whom shall I announce to have arrived?"

Edward waved his hand dismissively at the man, while keeping his eyes on Gwendolin.
"Do not announce us, servant. We are here simply to dance, hence we are incognito to avoid all the attention. Now begone out of my sight."
The servant bowed deeply again and walked quickly back outside.

The grand hall opened in front of their eyes, filled with noblemen and women, socialites, servants and the creme of the burghers alike. Old, balding men, wooing young women one third of their age, arranged to be present just for that purpose. Young men and women with fancy titles and enormous allowances having fun and socializing with eachother. Common parasites, opportunists and pond scum in fancy clothes.. all of them; Edward thought and grinned. In comparison to the other men, the most glaring difference was that the sword on his left side was of the heavy double-edged type, in comparison to the flimsy rapiers favoured by most of the young nobles and other would-be swordsmen present.

He turned his head to Gwendolin with a small grin on his lips.
"Any sight of our friends yet, dear?"

[Alytys Lamar]

She did dive out of blackness slowly. Her head seems to explode of pain, in her mouth the metallic taste of blood. The try to open her eyes was painful.
She could hear voices but far away and muffled.
After a few deep breathings she tried again to open her eyes.
Still in the same room, Grumius did lean on the door frame and in front of him stood Aecius, holding his hand on his neck, covered with blood.

" Grumius .. Throwing that bronze statue at her was a good Idea but this damn whore stabbed me deep in my neck..."

"The healer shall come soon, Legate "

Aleytys closed her eyes again, listening to the conversation. It had been too easy before and it had been a clear mistake of Gwendolyn to send the little boy back. Now her only hope was that Gwen would react fast when she noticed Aecius didn't come...

" We need to know which people are involved... "

Aecius said and turned slowly to Aleytys. In this moment the medico rushed hastily into the room and Aecius let him tend the wound.

Her thoughts circled through her martyred head. She knows this man would show no mercy and there was no way out.

Aecius aproached and slapped her with full strength in her face.

" Aleytys you should really speak now.... I have no fun to torture your sublime body. I know other uses for them - so just make it easy for us "

She gave him a cold, unbroken and hatred gaze before she spit in his face without any word.

Aecius wiped the spittle from his face , then let in wrath a hard fisticuff follow into her ribs. Aleytys felt out of air, gasping desperatly, hearing the crack inside.

Once again welcomed darkness ...

[Alytys Lamar]

"Not yet, Edward. We will just have to look around." Gwendolyn answered

Edward nodded to her and they moved on the dance floor, taking a few slow steps together. Neither of them was really concentrating on the dancing but tried to spot either Aecius or Aleytys in the crowd. He was getting more nervous by every minute that passed, a fact that did not go unnoticed by Gwendolin.
"Strange, the walk from Aecius' house shouldn't take this long. It's quite near the ball house", she said with a worried undertone in her voice.

Ascius came in from the door used by servants and walked alongside the wall, trying to look as innoncent as possible. He observed the crowd for a while, before turning his head to the two and shaking his head discretly. Edward, who was facing Ascius at that moment whispered to Gwen.
"Ascius has not seen them either, dear. Something is wrong.. I have an ominious feeling about this. We should leave now.. Lead us to the house you were speaking of!"

Without any further words, Gwendolin nodded and turned to the door. With quick steps the three marched out, bypassing the baffled lackey on the way. As they reached the street, their fast walking turned into running as Gwendolin led the way in her fancy dress. Soon they stopped and she pointed at the small house in the end of the street.
"That house. Let me put the armor on first.. It'll take just a moment", she said.

After hesitating a short moment, Edward nodded reluctantly. He observed the house with Ascius while Gwendolin was helping herself with the armor.

"Hurry..", Edward said with an impatient voice.

Gwendolins thoughts were racing as she strapped on quickly the metal armour. “Not good”, she mumbled and strapped the sword belt around her waist. They needed a plan. It was already growing dark and only the streets were lightened by laterns. There was also light in the house inside… where it was deadly quiet.
“There are guards patrolling, we can’t just walk inside in the hope they are al…”, she stopped in the middle of the sentence as her eyes fell on a small stable for the horses. She narrowed her eyes then turned to Edward and Ascius.
“I have an idea.. do you see the stable over there?” instead of waiting for a reply she continued.
“Wait over there at the bushes. It’s dark enough there. When you see the guards passing you by, then it is your chance to enter. Okay? I will follow afterwards. We will have a small fire here soon.”

She nodded to both of them, then quickly made her way to the stable. It wasn’t locked. Sure, why should it? Were there any streets safer than those of Salkamaeria?
The armoured woman sneaked inside and took a short look at the oillamp that was hanging at the entrance, then gazed at the small stalls and the horses.
She took the lamp from the wall and hurriedly moved to every single of the six stalls and opened the gates for the horses, so they would be able to run out.
Moving to the very end of the stable she threw the oil lamp next to some straw. Glass could be heard breaking and the flames of the lamp greedily began to devour the straw.
The horses were getting nervous at the growing flames and Gwendolin ran outside.. behind the stable and further to some trees. It didn’t took long and the flames were burning high and the horses were breaking out.
“Fire! Fire”,
Gwendolin heared and saw a few people leaving Aecius residence, and some others came around from other directions. They even left the door open in their hurry.

"Our chance", Ascius said to Edward as he saw the burning stable. People were running to the stable, guards were leaving their positions to get water. Ascius and Edward tried to get around the building in the shadows as far as possible and then hurried into the house, hoping to not be seen.
Ascius looked around in the neatly arranged room. There were a few doors leading to other, small rooms, but Ascius quickly fixed on the stairs in the middle of the hall.
"We might have a look upstairs", he whispered to Edward and moved towards the stairs. They sneaked upstairs as good as possible, which was not really needed because of the noise and chaos outside. The fire grew quickly in the stable and the cracking of the flames was hearable even into the building.

When Edward and Ascius reached the upper floor, their attention was drawn to a bigger door. From the room they could hear someone shouting and also heard a banging noise,
as if someone was hitting someone else. They both nodded and drew swords. "We need to be quick..", Ascius whispered. "Ready?", Edward asked.
In the next moment, they hit the door open and rushed into the room a few steps.
In front of them they saw Grumius, some medico, Aleytys, who was bonded to a chair and Aecius, who was just raising his hand to hit her again.

Now, all of them looked at each other with a most surprised gaze ...

[Alytys Lamar]

"..YOU!", Aecius and Grumius shouted almost simultaneously with their eyes still widened by suprise. Instantly the hand of Aecius begun to reach for his sword.
Edward glanced quickly at Aleytys and then to Aecius. His eyes burned with hate as he leaped forward, bypassing baffled Grumius before he could react.
He slashed horizontally with the sword in mid air, sweeping the unlucky medico brutally out of the way. His shoulder hit the stomach of Aecius and he tackled the legate on the floor. Edward's sword flew into the corner of the room during the collision, while Aecius had been too slow to pull his shortsword out. It was still sheated in his belt.
The two men immediatly began to wrestle on the ground, both desperately trying to get their hands on the sword and prevent the other from getting it.

While the two were wrestling on the ground, Grumius unsheated his shortsword and moved between Ascius and the others in the room.
"I should have finished you myself when I had the chance!", he snarled at Ascius.
The badly wounded medico winced on the floor as the two others continued to wrestle, exchanging blows and shouting insults at eachother.
"I should have finished you myself when I had the chance!", Grumius shouted again.
Ascius grinned, nearly insane. "You should have, old friend."
Grumius snarled and attacked Ascius with the shortsword. Grumius had truely changed during the years.
He had once been a friend of Querius, who had been something like a father for Ascius in the past.
"I'm only doing what I have to do. I'm sorry", these had been the words Grumius told Ascius long years ago, when he had betrayed him and set the trap on him.
Such a bad excuse. Everyone is only doing what one has to do, and for now Ascius had to kill Grumius.

The fight was not too long. Ascius, only wearing normal clothes, dodged the first slash of Grumius sword, parrying the second blow.
Grumius was quick with his shortsword, but Ascius was well trained from hours and hours of training on Gobaith and full of fury.
He cut Grumius on the chest. The blade of the sword cut through the light armor Grumius was wearing, leaving a wound which was a few centimetres deep in the chest of the man. Ascius second blow was a hit with the hilt of the sword into the face of the man. Grumius fell to the ground. Ascius turned for a moment and saw Edward who was still struggling with Aecius. Quickly Ascius grabbed the shortsword of Grumius and stuck it through a loose part of the mans armour, fixing him to the wall. Grumius was hurt badly and would probably not have the power to stand anyway, but it was safer to also fix him to his position now.
"Not yet finished with you..", Ascius whispered to Grumius and then turned towards Edward and Aecius.

The two men were struggling on the floor, their hands squeezing the handle of the sword almost desperately. During the struggle, the sword had been pulled out of the sheath and was now between the men. Suddenly Grumius groaned in pain as Ascius slashed him with his sword. Aecius lost his focus for a moment, which was all that Edward needed.
He moved his head back, before hitting his forehead hard against Aecius nose. A distinctive sound of bone and gristle breaking could be heard and Aecius groaned as blood gushed from the wound. Edward wrestled the sword to himself, lifted his torso up and struck the sword forcefully through Aecius shoulder into the wooden floorboards, nailing him down on the floor. He screamed in pain, holding his hands over his shattered nose.

"I think you want to finish him, Ascius..",
Edward said coldly as he climbed up quickly and rushed to Aleytys, releasing the ropes from around her and giving her a brief, passionate kiss.
"Are you alright, my sunshine?"
Aleytys gave him a weak smile. " I think this damn Bastard has broken my ribs "
She sarted to cough and a thin trail of bloody saliva runs from the corner of her mouth to her chin.
With an annoyed gesture she wiped away the blood and did make an effort to stand up.
Shortly she did wince of pain, gritting her teeth, then closing her eyes.

"Edward, help the others.... Give me time. And when all is finished we should really burn this house down and escape in the following Chaos "
And then she spoke with an barely audible voice in his ear " Bring me home......."
Aleytys did lean carefully back in the chair still with closed eyes.

So this was the end of it. Ascius stood there, in front of Aecius who was bound to the floor with a sword through his shoulder.
Ascius forgot time for a moment and all the years between the betrayal of Aecius and the death of Ascius family rushed through his mind.

He saw the flames. He saw the dead bodies. He saw the small cell which had been his home for such a long time. He saw the shores of Gobaith.
He saw the castle ruins of Varshikar and the inner castle itself. He saw Darlok, sitting in the reception hall on his throne. He saw Mairead scream and Maeve grin.
And in the end, he saw Gwendolin, but she was parted from the other thoughts. The betrayal, the time in prison, the work for Darlok and his own crimes, they were past.
A part of life which was going to end soon, with the death of Aecius. Gwendolin though was a sign for a new part of his life. A sign for a new beginning, hopefully.

It was not yet finished. Ascius kneeled down to Aecius. "Good evening, legate..", he said.
"You jerk!", Aecius shouted in return, spitting out some blood. "You will never get away with this!"
Ascius chuckled. "I think I already did.", he responded.
"You have indeed been very successful, legate.. you have wiped out your enemies very efficient.. but you should have killed me."
Ascius looked calmly at him, not awaiting any positive response from Aecius.
"Whom do you think you are?! You are nothing!" Aecius coughed up some more blood while saying his words. Ascius smirked slightly and stood, looking around in the room.
"We should get lost here soon, 'brother'." said Edward.
Ascius just nodded absently and found the oil lamp on the wall. He took it and opened it, emptying it over and around the cursing Aecius, who was still fixed to the ground due to the sword through his shoulder.
"This is not for me.", Ascius began. "But it is for the ones I loved. You burned their bodies and fires, and now you will burn. Justice will be done."
He stood and walked away from the cursing man, walking over to Grumius again.
Grumius was breathing slowly, probably he would pass away soon. Ascius didn't want to burn him alive, for Grumius had have at least showed some pity in his gaze when Ascius family was killed.
"Good night, old friend.", Ascius said and quickly cut the mans throat. With a tiny gargle life passed away from Grumius and his head dropped.

When Ascius stood again, he realised Gwendolin standing at the door to the room. She looked as if she had just arrived.
He looked to Edward and Aleytys. Edward was helping her up. "We should leave, guards may be here soon." Edward said.
Ascius nodded and walked over to Gwendolin. "Are they... dead?", she asked with a low voice.
Ascius nodded with a slight smile. "Almost.. let's get out of here.. it's done."
He sheathed his sword. "Help Edward with Aleytys please, they must leave quickly.. people have seen Aecius and Aleytys together."
Gwendolin nodded and turned slowly. Ascius was still smiling. When Aleytys, Edward and Gwendolin walked down the stairs to the main hall and entrance, Ascius turned back to the room. Grumius was dead, but Aecius was still there. He had gone silent, but he was alive. His clothes were wet of oil and also the floor around him. Ascius grabbed a small torch that was hanging on the wall of the room, filling it with light. He threw it on the body of Aecius, which quickly caught fire. Ascius turned to follow the others.
Aecius screames went silent when Ascius closed the heavy door to the room with a loud bang.

He walked down the stairs. The whole room would soon be on fire. The deed was finished, and now it was over.

[Alytys Lamar]

Gwendolins face was blank as she walked down with Aleytys and Edward. Many thoughts were going through her mind and it felt like an eternity 'til she reached the door,
then looking over her shoulder.

"This way", she said quietly and led them into a small street, away from the house and the stable that was extinguished.
"I took a bit longer.", she said only but as they entered a small blind alley, they found three horses bound to some posts.
"Aecius horses. Take one or two and hurry."

She looked at the couple and gestured to the horses, then with a small worried look to Aleytys. "I'm sorry Aleytys", Gwendolin said to her.

Aleytys gazed Gwendolin's face. " Don't say sorry Gwen, please. This plan was a risky thing and I had knew it, I live and survive be sure. My wish is that you and Ascius find a way for a new beginning now, my dear. And i look forward to seeing you both in Trolls Bane "

Aleytys did giver her a reassuring smile and a soft hug.
As she moved back she could not help but gasp in pain, looking to the horse and Edward...
Edward gazes at her with a worried face, bends down, without a word sliding his hand under her legs and the other behind her back, and lifts her up.
Very carefully he did help her on the black Stallion
He looked down with a short nod to Gwen, giving a mocking smile to her...

“No need to thank me..”, Edward grinned as he climbed on the horse. ”Anything to my ‘brother’ and his 'little miss'..” .
His grin grew even broader now and he winked to Gwen. ”See you back on the island, vengeful lovers.. Hyaa!”
He chuckled as he turned their horse into the direction of the harbour and rode away.

“Is this ship going to Gobiath?” The sailor on the pier nodded and shouted ”Cap’n.. Passengers!” .
The ship looked strangely familiar and it wasn’t long until an older man with a long and messy beard came to the bulwark and looked down. He seemed to recognize the two.
“Back to the island, aye?” , He asked. Edward nodded eagerly “I’ll pay you in silver.. In advance.”
“Help them aboard, lads!” , the captain shouted to his sailors. Edward and Aleytys climbed aboard the ship.
Edward could see from her eyes that it was hard and painful for her, but she did not make a sound. What a stubborn and proud woman.
My Aleytys., he thought as he handed the Captain a generous amount of coins. Edward and Aleytys retreated down into their cabin with his hand around her waist.
As soon as the cabin door closed, he kissed her passionately and with love.

”We are going home, my sunshine.. to home.. ”

--

After a week of sailing, the aging ship glided slowly into the harbour of Gobiath. The anchor was lowered and the sailors worked frantically with the sails and ropes.
Edward and Aleytys leaned against the bulwark, staring at the familiar scenery opening in front of their eyes.
She whispered quietly with a small smile. ”We are back home, sweetheart..”

”Finally.”