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Page 1 of 8 The salt breeze did
hold a clean scent to it that soothed Ae'thenal's spirts within her as
she did make her way across the deck to the rail. Leaning her weight
upon the smooth wood she did set her eyes on the distant indistinct
shape upon the horizon that was Ulthuan. For all her resolve that she
would not come on deck while the land of her birth was still within
sight she had done so, even if Ulthuan was now so faint in the distance
that within this hour it would fade away in the joining of sea and sky.
Sighing she did drop her eyes to watch the white wake at play against
their vessel's sleekly fashioned hull, the winds favourable and serving
to carry them away swifly into exile. And while the deck did quiver
beneath her feet and with the sound of the rigging creaking in her ears
Ae'thenal did weep, her tears spilling to lose themselves one after the
other in the waters of the wide ocean.
They had quit the forest of Avelorn on the afternoon following
the battle with the Beastmen. And arrayed before them on a expanse of
open ground beyond the forest had been a great warhost with their
Everqueen's champion, the Prince Tyrion at its head. Even from where
she had been sitting in misery among the baggage she had not failed to
see the many proud banners held aloft; - ancient war standards with a
weight of honour that had accused her with silent tongues. As the
baggage wagon had halted she had forced herself to climb down, the act
awkward in her long lady's gown of Autumn gold. And the more awkward
still because she did have her sword belt and sword girded at her
waist, despite her fostermother's protests this dawntime.
"Ward my Lady Si'anelle Elanise," she did say to the former
member of the Maiden Guard well aware of the question held in Elanise's
eyes as she did raise her eyebrows at her.
Pregnancy had not dimmed Elanise's fierce spirit in any measure
for at once she did ask, "And who shall ward you Lady Ae'thenal? You
can bare keep your feet with the weight of that sword at your hip
unless you keep a hand to this wagon. Tell me how you do intend to act
the part of our Lady's champion when you cannot stand unaided?"
"I shall lend Ae'thenal my support E'lanise," Nimine had said
then as she did come to her rescue in company with four of her female
guard. The four did plainly have their orders for they did at once
climb up upon the wagon with purpose in their every movement. One did
immediately claim a folding chair of dark carved wood from the mound of
baggage, while her companions did at once set about easing up
Si'anelle's limp form from where she did lie on a make shift bed among
the bundles and boxes. More she did not have the chance to observe for
now Nimine was firmly guiding her towards the place where Cedwyn did
wait with Arhaindir Moonhand's standard held in his grip. The banner of
his own archers and the banner of Nimine's female guard flanking him at
either side in the hands of those who were the next senior in
Si'anelle's household. Cedwyn's archers and the balance of Nimine's
guard were drawn up in their ranks behind Cedwyn and if the the host
before them did consider them to be the less for holding to Si'anelle,
the set of their faces and their straight backs did prove their
disagreement.
"Do they give any sign that they do intend to speak with us
Cedwyn?" she had asked when Nimine had brought her to the archer
champion's side. For her weakness had abated a little as now the
Banepearl did shift itself to make a small gift to her. Though Nimine's
more firm grip on her arm did also serve to warn her that her
fostermother had not lost her powers of observation in any measure.
"I think they will come to us soon enough Lady Ae'thenal," was
Cedwyn's reply. As he did now face her she did not fail in seeing his
expression of disapproval at the sight of her sword.
"My oath to Si'anelle did not fade away with the rising of the sun this dawntime Cedwyn Brighteye," she did tell him.
"Nor our oaths Lady Ae'thenal," said Cedwyn in his turn. "Though
I shall give this warning to you Lady, no blade shall be raised against
Elf-kind this day or else the owner of that blade shall give an
accounting to me." The gaze he did now lay upon her was severe and more
than a match for her fostermother's present expression. In answer she
did incline her head in formal grace, though Nimine did still hiss a
rebuke into her ear at the cold hardness of her own expression.
"The day I do slay Elf-kind I will turn my blade's sharp edge
upon myself fostermother," she did tell her sharply. "I do carry a
sword as a token of my oath to Si'anelle; - will you both ever be so
openly suspicious of my every act?"
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