Heigh-Ho Heigh-Ho to Barelon we go

[WhiteWolf]

Relief flooded through Cara as Liitha’s face came into view when she had removed the blindfold; next she removed the gag, and then the ropes binding Cara’s arms and legs. Cara would have thrown her arms around her rescuer, but they were so stiff and numb that she could barely move them, and her mind was still foggy from the effects of the drug they had used on her. Cara nearly jumped out of her skin when the door crashed open, but Liitha dealt with the man who came through it, without even batting an eyelid.

 

“You know how to swim, I hope?”

 

Liitha’s question brought her back to their predicament with a crash and Cara tried to answer her friend, but her mouth was so dry and her tongue so swollen that she could not speak in anything other than a horse whisper. “I do not think I can, I cannot feel my arms or legs.” Liitha had to crouch down to hear her, and when she realised the pain Cara was in quickly hugged her friend then lifted her off the bed and helped her over to the window. Liitha quickly helped Cara through the small window, and watched as Cara plummeted to the river below.

 

The water was icy cold, and the shock of it helped clear Cara’s head a little, but she still had trouble making her limbs work and slowly started to sink. Not panicking, Cara tried her best to make her limbs conform to her wishes, but the days time spent tied up had done more damage than either her or Liitha had realised and despite her best efforts Cara sank deeper into the river. Just as her head was about to sink beneath the waters, she thought she saw Liitha jumping from the boat, but before she could confirm it, the rising water obscured her view.

Cara Ramsey

 

I wasn’t born with enough middle fingers

 

Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah.

[Liitha]

“I do not think I can, I cannot feel my arms or legs.” She gave her friend a hug, whatever they had given her was strong stuff. But she couldn't really see any other way out of this. She lifted Cara and helped her out of the window, she heard the splashy sound and then steps behind her, looking over her shoulder she saw a man frozen looking in surprise on her, she didnt wait for him to get back to himself but dove through the window.

 

The cold water enveloped her as she surged into it, and effectivly waking her up, even with the weigth of clothes and weapons the shock was enough to wake her so she regained her full mobility. With long strokes she swam towards where cara was now only waving a hand above the sourface, then diving under she grabed hold of her friend and kicked towards the beach. She could hear the sounds of the boat behind her and shouting fading away. It was to dark for them to be seen, though they would have to move soon enough, before dawn preferably if the others sent a search party for them.

 

She pulled them both up, Cara seemed barely consious. It took her a while with frozen fingers to start a fire but finaly she got the flames alive, they needed the warmth as was. Slowly she undid their clothes and hung them up, luckely there wasnt wind tonite, and she put her cold friend closest to the fire, wishing she had something to cover her with. In lack of cover she cradled close in hope they could help warm eachother, placing herself on the oposite side of cara so the Aes Sedai lay between her and the fire.

 

"It will be okey now, we got away..just focus on sleeping, i will stay guard, sleep of whatever they gave you." she burried her nose a moment in the soft wet hair of her friend.

[WhiteWolf]

The fly got closer and closer to Cara’s face, flying in lazy circles, each reducing the distance, until it was almost touching her nose. Moving away again, the fly then changed direction and headed straight for Cara’s nose, but just as it was about to land, a hand shot out and squashed it. Cara stirred in her sleep, and her hand brushed across her forehead, moving her hair from across her face. Slowly she opened her eyes and squinted into the morning sun. The arm around her neck felt reassuring, and the sunlight on her face made her realise they were outside. Slowly she turned to face Liitha, her grey eyes taking in the dark rings under her friend’s eyes. “Have you been holding me all night Liitha?”

 

Smiling down at Cara Liitha nodded her head, in reply. Cara reached up and brushed her lips across her friends, “thank you, I do not know what I would have done without you.” Cara wriggled herself free and embraced Liitha, burying her face in the woman’s hair. “I do not know how far you intend for us to travel today, but my arms and legs feel like they have been twisted one way then the other. Did they mistreat you Liitha?”

 

Eventually they helped each other to stand and slowly started to walk away from the riverbank, after Liitha had hidden all sign that they had been there. It was late morning when the first sign of habitation came into view. It was an old farm building, obviously well used, but equally well cared for. Liitha insisted she do the talking and made Cara hide her ring. “We are in no fit state to be getting into a fight Cara, so hide the ring and follow my lead.”

 

When they got to the farmhouse, they were greeted by a herd of children who escorted them as they approached the farmhouse. “I hope they will help us Liitha, I am not sure what they gave me, but I still feel as weak as a day old kitten.” Liitha smiled at Cara, and wiped an errant strand of hair from across her face. “Come on not far now.” Liitha placed her arm around Cara’s shoulders and helped her cover the last bit to the farmhouse where a woman was standing watching them approach.

 

Cara Ramsey

 

I wasn’t born with enough middle fingers

 

Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah.

[Liitha]

“I do not know how far you intend for us to travel today, but my arms and legs feel like they have been twisted one way then the other. Did they mistreat you Liitha?” Liitha shook her head, "apart from what went down when they took me down, no, even with that they seems to see me as a woman of litle harm, and as such didnt do their job properly which allowed me to escape."

 

It went slowly but suported by eachother they made their way away from the river, through the forest and inland. Untill a farm could be seen up ahead, Liitha insisted on doing the talking. Not something easy to do with an Aes Sedai, but for the bether in this situation. “We are in no fit state to be getting into a fight Cara, so hide the ring and follow my lead.”

 

“I hope they will help us Liitha, I am not sure what they gave me, but I still feel as weak as a day old kitten.” A flock of kids soon sorounded them and escorted them back up to the house where a woman was awaiting. “Come on not far now.”

 

She greeted the farmwife, "I am afraid we have goten lost and where attacked by an bear, our horses ran off, could you give us an aiding hand, my friend here has taken sick as of late and I was taking her to get help from this Aes Sedai i heard was present in an village futher south of here."

 

Bether be carefull and not put acusation to peoples, they didnt know who these peoples where, they migth be loyal to the Lord and as such not want to help those who run from him.

[WhiteWolf]

The farmhouse was typical of the design you could see in this land, large open rooms, and smaller bedrooms, and it was to one of these that Cara and Liitha were led. “I am afraid you will have top share a bed, I hope you do not mind?”

 

Under other circumstances Cara might have smiled, but even the effort to do that was beyond her at the moment. Liitha thanked the woman, she said her name was Ermina and told them her husband was away at the market, and would not be back until later that evening. Once she had left, Cara pulled off her still damp dress and her boots and climbed between the sheets, shivering slightly, more from a chill than anything else. Cara snuggled herself into the blankets and waited for Liitha to join her, even though she would deny it, Cara knew she was nearly exhausted. The ordeal may not have been as bad for her as it was for Cara, but it had still sapped her stamina and she needed to be alert in case of any trouble.

 

Liitha had been busy while Cara was getting into the bed; she had placed the room’s one chair under the handle of the door and wedged it shut. Then she had checked the windows before being satisfied that anyone trying to gain entrance would make enough noise to wake them. Once she was undressed, Liitha placed her swords close to hand, and slipped a dagger under the pillow, then got into bed. Cara crawled into Liitha’s arms and laid her head on her chest. It did not take her long to go to sleep the sound of Liitha’s heartbeat soothing her frayed nerves, and Liitha’s embrace provided the illusion of security.

 

When Cara woke, she was still cuddled up to Liitha’s back, and she lay there a moment listening to her friends breathing. For the first time in days Cara’s head felt clearer, and she slowly started to remember what had been done to her. She had regained consciousness rarely, but on those occasions her drug addled brain had been able to recognise what the purpose of the ropes had been, that she believed was the main reason her arms and legs had felt like they had been pulled out of their sockets Just then, the sound of knocking interrupted Cara’s thoughts, and she slipped out of bed and once she had removed the chair, opened the door a crack. Ermina stood in the hallway and smiled when she saw Cara. “If you are up to it, I have prepared a meal, you can join us in the kitchen?” Cara smiled at Ermina and told her that she appreciated the offer and they would be along shortly. Ermina also had a washbowl and some water for Cara and she passed these over.

 

Cara set the bowl down on the table, and returned to the bed, gently kissing Liitha’ ear and whispering her name. Slowly she woke up, the haze of confusion slipping from her eyes as she saw Cara’s face above her. “Are you feeling better now Cara?”

 

Much thank you Liitha, but I am ravenous, and Ermina has just told me there is a meal waiting for us. So come on lazy bones, lets have you out of the bed and washed.”

 

Cara Ramsey

 

I wasn’t born with enough middle fingers

 

Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah.

[Liitha]

Liitha got up and washed huridly, she had no changes, they where in her sadlebags, luckly she kept everything of essence on her person and been able to retrive that togheter with her swords.

 

She had to restrain herself to not dig into the food to fast as they sat by the table, then dug into her pockets for coins. It was time to move on, it wouldnt do to stay here to long, the busband could come home and he migth have been with the crew of the lord.

 

She smiled to Cara, they had a walk infront of them, and she didnt even know where they where going, Cara migth have some wishes but this wasnt the place to discuss those.

 

Well outside they slowly made their way away from the farm when Cara told her of going back to the mansion. Liitha wasnt trilled about the idea, thoug she partly saw the reason in it, and in the end subsided.

 

It took them the bether of the day, and half the next one to get there. It went much slower without horses, and they where still recovering.

 

But finaly it came into view, Liitha hoped Cara had her head clear and could channel, they did not know what they where walking into.

[WhiteWolf]

Cara stood on one leg, rubbing at the sole of her left foot, she had lost here shoes in the river and had had to cover the entire distance bare foot. Thankfully the ground had been grassy and so the going was slightly easier on her, but still it took its toll. Satisfied that she could do no more to ease the pain in her foot, Cara walked over to where Liitha stood, observing the mansion through a gap in the wall that surrounded the estate.

 

“Can you see anyone Liitha?” Her friend shook her head in reply, her gaze not leaving the house. Wondering what had so captured her friend’s gaze, Cara climbed up next to her, and peered through the slot. The grounds were deserted and there was no sign of activity in the house, at this time of the day, early evening, there should have been a lot of activity, something was very wrong here.

 

Liitha pulled Cara down and sketched out how they should approach the house, keeping undercover as much as they could to avoid detection. “I think you are mad to try this Cara, we should be as far away from here as we could be.”

 

“Liitha, they have my horse, your horse and might know something about that horrible man that kidnapped us, I want to know why he did that and I mean to find out sooner rather than later.” With that Cara climbed over the wall, cursing the skirt she had on, she had cut most of it away but it was a full round skirt and still got snagged on things. Finally she was on the other side of the wall, and waited for Liitha to join her, scanning the grounds just in case someone had seen her.

 

Cara Ramsey

 

I wasn’t born with enough middle fingers

 

Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah.

[Liitha]

“Liitha, they have my horse, your horse and might know something about that horrible man that kidnapped us, I want to know why he did that and I mean to find out sooner rather than later.” Liitha shook her head, not saying she had counted Yazi as lost already knowing the mare had been used to cary her to the boat, and likely the horse would be sold at a good prize, even if not the fastest she was well trained.

 

She climbed the fence togheter with Cara, then croutched as she turned to her friend. "Can you channel?" she waited for the answer, then nodded and started ahead to scout, and make sure she was first should something unpleasant pop up. They made it to the house who seemed empty, something was all to wrong here, where was the workers.

 

Slowly opening the balcony door she slid inside, hearing Cara follow, her swords already drewn as she slid forward carefully. Peeking around each corner carefully before rounding it, "there is no one here, something is wrong."

[WhiteWolf]

Liitha was correct, there was definitely something not right here, apart from the lack of staff, there was a lack of noise as well. Cara let Liitha lead as they searched the house, but each room they looked in was empty, so they made their way to the top of the house were the servants quarters were. Here they found no sign of life either, but Liitha did say that all the possessions were still in the rooms and this led her to believe the Staff was still around somewhere. “There is one place in the house we have not searched, the cellars. A place like this must have huge cellars, come Cara.” With that Liitha led the way back down to ground level and into the kitchen. Searching the kitchen, they could find no sign of a door leading to the cellars, until Cara noticed some faint scuffmarks on the floor. Calling Liitha over, Cara used the one power to move the large dresser to one side, behind it was a door and Liitha reached out for the handle. “It is locked Cara, why would you lock the cellar?”

 

Patting her friends face, and smiling at the look of consternation Cara turned back and surveyed the kitchen. “Obviously it is to keep someone out, us, or someone in, the staff.”

 

“You think they are down there?”

 

“Definitely, where else would they be, come on help me look for the key, it must be here somewhere.”

 

It took them a good while to search all the drawers, and cupboards, but eventually they found the key hidden in one of the large jars on the dresser Cara had moved. Talking the Key over to the door, Cara inserted it in the lock and opened the door. Liitha quickly pushed in front of Cara and led the way down the stone steps.

 

Cara Ramsey

 

I wasn’t born with enough middle fingers

 

Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah.

[Liitha]

Liitha was just about to ask Cara if she couldnt open the door with saidar when they found the key. She waited till Cara had unlocked the door then quickly snuck in front taking the lead down the stairs. Going slow to let her eyes adjust to the darker soroundings down here where sunlight didnt come.

 

She had already formed the flame in her mind, notising how it effected her sences, sharperning them, peeking into empty storagerooms without doors, then sudenly she heard a sound up ahead and froze for a moment, tilting her head and listening till she heard it again. It sounded like a moan, she picked up her pace without going to fast, still making sure the rooms she passed where empty, till she came to the end and found a door which seemed locked. "Cara?" she looked around for help.

[WhiteWolf]

Cara saw Liitha’s problem immediately and moved in front of her friend and inserted the key into the lock, more a forlorn hope than believing it would work on a second door. But, work it did, and the door swung inwards, the scant light from the hallway only illuminating the first third of the room. Liitha quickly ran to where one of the torches sat in its holder and brought it back to where Cara was. Slowly the two women entered the room, the light from the torch supplying enough light for them to see the huddled forms in the far corner. Cara went over to them and tried to find any signs of life. After examining all of them, Cara turned to Liitha and just shook her head; all ten of the bodies were lifeless.

 

“They must have been afraid of these people identifying them, I cannot fathom why else they would want to kill them. Although I makes no sense really, this is just a waste.”

 

Shaking her head Cara walked out of the room without looking at Liitha, the last thing she had expected to find was all of the Staff dead. Cara leant against the wall outside the room, talking deep breaths, and trying to calm herself. When she had first ridden out here with Liitha, she had expected to spend her time looking through some old manuscripts, not being drugged, kidnapped and then finding a room full of people. Cara was not normally a person who cried, but the stress of the last few days, and now the shock of finding all these bodies over whelmed her and tears started to run down her cheeks as she waited fro Liitha.

 

Cara Ramsey

 

I wasn’t born with enough middle fingers

 

Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah.

[Liitha]

Cara put in the key and turned around, Liitha got a torch and they went in, she saw the lifeless bodies laying in a corner and let Cara walk over alone to excamin them. No point, she waited and saw the shake of Cara's head.

 

“They must have been afraid of these people identifying them, I cannot fathom why else they would want to kill them. Although I makes no sense really, this is just a waste.”

 

Cara left the room without talking to her, she let her go for the moment, by all esitmates the mansion was deserted atm, however there had been a sound, and she wanted to know what made it, likely rats, but she couldnt let it go. She searched the room, walking around the room untill she came to the corner behind the door, a scrawny scared kitten looked scared up at her, she picked it up with one hand under it, no bigger was it.

 

Outside she soon caugth up with Cara who she found crying and huged her, still holding the cat. "I found life, that is now homeless, i heard Aes Sedais and cats go well togheter", she held the moldy litle kitten up for Cara to see. A litle wash and some food and it should be fine with time, maybe even a beauty. "Lets go see if we cant find your horse, Yazi was used to transport me on so i think she must be lost, if we're lucky we at least find a couple of beasts left behind, anything is bether then nothing now."

[WhiteWolf]

The afternoon sunshine helped to lift Cara’s spirits a little, but such senseless killing did not make any sense to her, and the thought of dying in such a place sent shivers down her spine. Idly she stroked the small bundle of fur Liitha had deposited in her arms and after a moment walked towards the stables in search of her horse. Liitha opened the stable door and Cara walked down the middle of the stalls looking for her horse. Finally she found him, in the last stall, looking defiant, the stall walls showed that he had lashed out with his hooves on more than one occasion. Car was just about to lift the latch on the stall door, when a sound from behind startled her. Turning around she saw a figure disappearing around the corner of the stable and quickly she called out to Liitha and then ran after the figure.

 

Cara found herself in a narrow corridor that ran towards the back of the barn, a glimmer of sunlight from ahead suggested a doorway and it was this Cara was running for. Bursting through the door, which snapped back and nearly smacked Liitha in the face, Cara spotted her quarry and without conscious thought started to channel ropes of Air, binding the figure in mid stride. The figure then started to rise and slowly floated towards them. Cara looked to Liitha and motioned at the figure. “I think we might be able to get some answers from this person Liitha, what do you think?”

 

Cara Ramsey

 

I wasn’t born with enough middle fingers

 

Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah.

[Liitha]

Liitha followed Cara inside, but it seemed much like they where out of luck, as it seemed way to empty. However she heard a sound and looked up, seeing Cara about to lift the bar of one box door, so she found a horse then. Another sound was heard, and she heard Cara shout out, she saw a shadow disapear around a corner.

 

Cara was already following, thoug Liitha was sprinting to catch up as well, she saw Cara disapear through a door and had to jump back to not get the revolving door in her face.

 

When she came outside she saw a figure float towards them through the air, maybe they now could get some answers, Cara showed of similar mind as she spoke. “I think we might be able to get some answers from this person Liitha, what do you think?”

 

Liitha griped the person by the troat, not caring that Cara still held him, "You bether have a loose tounge, cause the last couple days have not been to plesent for me, so less you want to find yourself in equal displeasure..." her voice was cold as steel, her tactic to scare the young boy.

 

"Why are you not down in the basement cold and stiff with the rest...where have everybody gone since all the horses is gone...anything and all you know..I want to know it.."

 

She let go and trusted him away from her, the air bonds seemed gone as he stumbled and fell on his hiney. Tears already staining his cheeks as he talked in a rush in a mix of usefull and useless information. The lord was from the borderlands, he had escaped by not beeing present at the killings home tending a sick relative, and so it went on till Liitha stoped him. "Okey, I'll tell you what, go to the house take a few items of value if you can find any and sell them to get some money for you and your family, when your mother is well, then move, you dont want these peoples finding you. Now where would be the easiest place to find a horse."

 

The boy now drying his tears said there was a horse on the other side of the stable, a young gneldring that wasnt riden in, otherwise it would be in the city. Liitha nodded and let him go. "Seems we bether send a note to the tower and have them send someone to the borderlands then, or send a note to the army there, or such." she waited to hear what Cara thougth.