For Honor of Family [attn: Bella/Lysira Gaidin]

[Roan]

Riahana Ferria

Ria didn’t hide the grim expression as she nodded, “It is, though I will be the first to admit I wish it were not. Did your duties take you to Sturveyn, as well, or did you remain here at the Citadel?”

Turen frowned at the question, “No, I didn’t follow ‘em to Sturveyn. My duties kept me here. You don’t think I had anything to do with the attack, do ye?”

Riahana was no expert on reading a person’s expressions, but she watched Turen’s expressions closely as he answered her question, and followed up with his. She gave a slight shake of her head, “In truth, we are not sure who might have been involved. We would not be doing due diligence if we did not ask our questions. I would imagine if you had men that accompanied them, you’d want to know who might have been behind the ambush, no?”

“O’course,” Turen answered, his voice a bit gruff. “I give ye my word, though, I had nothin’ to do with the ambush. Been out here too long, and seen too many horrors to want anything to do with those we fight against.”

Ria inclined her head slightly, “And I believe you. Thank you for your time, though we may have more questions for you.”

“I ain’t goin’ anywhere. If I can help, I will,” Turen replied before moving back to his men.

Ria looked to Lys and let go a frustrated sigh as she started to sign, I do believe him, as well. She looked around, and saw far too many curious eyes, and nodded towards their quarters. Only once they were out of the main courtyard, and away from prying eyes and ears did she continue, this time speaking softly, “So. . .leave for Karanos in the morning?”

[Bella]

Lysira believed him as well. She didn't consider herself the best ever at reading people, but for what instincts she had--and she wasn't without them entirely, of course--she believed him as well.

'Yes, first light,' Lysira agreed.

The diminutive Gaidin took in a slow deep breath and looked around the yard at the familiar sight of men and women training. The clash of wooden weapons filled the air as epic battles were waged against training dummies, and compatriots sparred against one another to be ever-ready to bring the fight to Shadow.

It was easier to her mind to believe that some transient border unit had been involved, rather than these men and women she had known and maybe trained with. She knew treachery could be found anywhere, but she hoped now.

'Maybe we can find some people at the evening meal who have useful information as well,' she signed with a musing expression as she turned her onyx eyes back to Riahana. 'Not as suspects, but simply as those who may have seen something. Maybe someone saw the group talking to someone else, or they heard other soldiers talking.'

[Roan]

Riahana Ferria

Ria nodded as she ‘listened’ to Lys’s suggestion, “A good idea, to be sure.” Footsteps from behind gave her pause, but nothing she’d said or was about to say was a guarded secret, “We have some time before the evening meal starts. I’ll probably use the time to see to our supplies and make sure we’ve got what we need for the journey to the outpost. You’re welcome to help or if you’d rather take time to look around?”

Lys gave a small smile as she signed, ’If you don’t mind, I will take a look around. See if anything catches my attention.’

The Mistress of Arms inclined her head and returned the smile in kind, “I don’t mind at all. I’ll meet you in the mess hall for dinner.” She parted ways with Lys and made her way to the kitchen. The outpost would have provisions, of course, but Ria learned long ago it was better to travel with rations than not. . .just in case you had to make camp before reaching your destination. On entering the kitchen, she saw a familiar face and couldn’t help the wide smile that came to her, “Jace. . .salty dog. You still scrubbing pots?”

The large woman named Jace turned to face Ria, and her eyes went wide, “Riahana Ferria. You dare step in my kitchen and ask if I’m still scrubbing pots? I’m no pot scrubber. I’m the bloody Mistress of the Citadel Kitchen, I’ll have you know!” Towards the end, the woman broke out into a broad grin and gave a hearty and infectious laugh. The recruits who were scrubbing pots all started to give a nervous laugh before Jace looked over her shoulder and barked, “Back to work, squibs!” Every single recruit put their heads down and started scrubbing furiously, missing the woman’s smirk.

Turning back to Ria, she beamed, “I heard you were back, but if you’re here, I’m guessing not for long?”

Ria shook her head, “Not long at all. Leaving at first light. Think you can pack up provisions for two of us for three days?”

“Consider it done. You can pick the packs up at first light,” Jace replied. “Hey. . .I heard what happened to Miahala’s group. I’m glad she and Tia were ok.”

Ria was about to reply when Jace brought up the ambush. Frowning, she rested her hand on the hilt of her sword, “I am, as well. . .it could have easily ended badly for the entire party. As it was, most walked away with injuries easily healed by our Yellows.”

Jace frowned and shook her head, “Not pleasant business.” She paused, “Speaking of. . .we’ve got the evening meal coming up. I need to see to it, else I’ll have all of the Citadel turning me out to the Blight!”

Ria offered the woman a smile, “I’ll leave you to it. Thanks for taking care of provisions.” Without another word, she turned and took her leave. Both she and Lys brought their bows, and while Ria couldn’t match Lys for skill, she could hold her own. Along with their bows, they brought a quiver each of arrows. The Citadel, though, had a talented fletcher, and Ria intended to pick up a bundle of arrows for both her and Lys. One could never have too many arrows.

After the stop at the fletchers, Ria saw to their mounts before returning to her room. She had just enough time to check her gear before the bell tolled to signal the evening meal. It didn’t take her long to make her way to the mess hall, where she went on the hunt for Lys.

OOC: Feel free to have Ria join you at a table or wherever.

[Bella]

'Hunting for information' and questioning possible witnesses and suspects was a little trickier when you were Lysira. She had to find people here who knew her gestural language, which was several because of how much time she had spent at the Citadel but there were always fresh recruits who knew nothing of it. When that happened, she was left with the choice of moving on or laboriously writing it down.

She wandered through the training yard, watching all the fighters a second time as they worked through their rounds, and then she moved into the Citadel proper.

Many a day and even week had passed where Lysira had spent her time walking these halls, going about this task or that. She remembered days here working side by side with Caden Ives, and Derrik...and Jhered... Friends had come and gone, and many things had changed over the years, but these halls filled her with a sense of nostalgia now. Bittersweet, that.

During her walking, she found a few familiar faces and old friends who knew her and could speak to her. She asked a few discrete questions, and did a little snooping around, but found little of interest. Rumors here and there of this person or that person who had been "acting strange" and so on, but she knew most--if not all--were just paranoia.

Come mealtime, she went to the messhall and found a seat at one of the small tables toward the perimeter of the room after fetching a bowl of stew and mug of cider from the serving table. It was just moments later that she saw Riahana approach and she nodded to her. Once the other woman had sat, Lysira set her spoon down.

'I found little of substance,' she signed. 'Some rumors that may or may not be anything.'

[Roan]

Riahana Ferria Gaidin

Ria stirred the stew in her bowl as she read Lysira’s signs, and pursed her lips, “I figured that might be the case, though I will admit I was hoping you’d find some clear piece of information that pointed us in a specific direction.” She ate a spoonful of her stew and sat her own spoon down to sign.

’Our plan remains, then. We head for Karanos at first light. Jace will have a pack of provisions for each of us ready to go by first light. She said she’d see to it herself. I also picked up a bundle of arrows from the fletcher for both of us.’

Ria paused to take a sip of ale, ‘We can discuss what rumors you’ve heard on our journey to the outpost. Karanos is like other outposts here. . .a mix of Gaidin and guards. I am trying to go in with an open mind, as it is entirely possible the men who talked to Miahala’s group were not responsible, though they might point us in the right direction.

‘Despite going in with an open mind, though, I am wary. I’ve had a sense of unease since we arrived, and with each passing moment, it seems to grow. I’d suggest we continue to tread carefully.

She looked down long enough to pick up her spoon and shovel another mouthful of stew as she turned her eagle-like eyes towards Lysira.

[Bella]

'I always tread carefully,' Lysira said with a small smile curving her lips before she turned her attention to the food as well. They may well be on travel rations for a while, so she knew to make the most of the hot meal while it was in front of her. There wasn't a Gaidin or soldier alive who didn't know that lesson.

From there, they spent a little more time roving the Citadel and then went to sleep. First light would come quickly...
* * * Dawn came, and the pair of Gaidin departed. They did not ride hard, because days had already past so a little extra time would not change much, but they rode steadily. They ate one meal in the saddle, stopped for the next, and then rode on. Karanos was close so they chose to not worry about a third meal and by the time time the sun was hinting its intentions to set, they were reaching the outpost's gate.

They slowed their steeds as they approached and announced themselves to the guards on the ramparts. The guard happened to be a longtime soldier who had done turns at the Citadel, and so he recognized the women and let them pass without any trouble.

[Roan]

Riahana Ferria Gaidin

Once the pair were within the walls of the Ramparts, Ria and Lys tended to their horses. It had been a long day in the saddle for the pair of them, and they arrived just in time for the evening meal. Once their horses were in their stalls and fed for the evening, the two gaidin made their way to the small mess hall, and inquired about Cyrus. The cook pointed to a man sitting alone at a table towards the back.

Ria nodded her thanks as she took her tray, and looked to Lys, “Might as well joining him for the meal and kill two birds with one stone.” Once Lys nodded, the Mistress of Arms led the way towards the nearly empty table. The man, Cyrus watched as they approached, though his expression gave little away.

“Mind if we join you?” Ria asked.

There might have been a slight hesitation, though Ria wasn’t certain as Cyrus motioned for Ria and Lys to sit, “Of course not, Mistress. I’d be honored to share the meal with you.” He watched the pair as they took their seats, “Given there are one or two empty tables, I’m guessing there’s a reason yer sittin’ with me?”

Ria offered a small smile and gave a slight shrug, “Truth be told, we wanted to talk to you about a party that came from the Tower a few months back and were ambushed.”

Cyrus furrowed his brows, “This would be Miahala Sedai’s group, right?” When Ria nodded, Cyrus shook his head, “Nasty business that. . .why would ye want to talk to me about it? “

“We’ve been talking to anyone who may have crossed paths with the group to try and piece together how the ambush might have happened. . .see if anyone might have any information. We were told you spent some time with them?”

The man shrugged, “I did, though we didn’t talk about much. We knew they were headin’ on to another outpost, and then got sent on to one that requested urgent help, and that’s when it happened. Not sure how much help I’d be.”

It was not lost on Ria that someone who may have betrayed Mia and her group wouldn’t come right out and admit it. She and Lys exchanged glances before Ria looked back to Cyrus, “Do you recall the group interacting with anyone else? Or anything odd about their visit?”

Cyrus furrowed his brows, “Well. . .Antir was there too, and he seemed more on edge than normal, but I just chalked it up to the reports comin’ from the outposts. That and he hadn’t been around that many channelers yet. He was somewhat new.”

Ria arched her brow in her characteristic manner, “Antir. . .we heard he rode out here with you?”

“Aye, he did, but he carried on to Outpost Sturgen. . .just over a half day’s ride from here,” Cyrus replied before downing the rest of his ale. “Do ye need anythin’ else? If not, I’ve got watch comin’ up soon and need to get ready.”

“Sturgen, you said?” when Cyrus nodded, Ria gave Lys a thoughtful look before turning her attention back to the guard. “No. . .that’ll be all for now. Thank you,” she replied. She waited until he was gone, “On to Sturgen, then. I’m beginning to feel like we are on a wild goose chase.”

As the pair ate, they ‘talked’ about the conversation with Cyrus. Like the others they’d spoken with, he’d given them no reason not to believe him, which was why Ria felt like they were on a goose chase. The pair opted to leave at first light the following day, thus once they finished the evening meal, retired to their quarters.

Ria was up before first light, and wasn’t surprised to find Lysira already in the stables getting her mount tacked up. It didn’t take the women long to get their horses ready, and just as the sun was breaking the horizon, they were riding out through the gates.

Both Gaidin were alert as they rode on. Lys would drop her reins and guide her horse with her seat and knees when she ‘spoke,’ though neither had much to say. For Ria, her mind was on their task and what they might find when they arrived at Sturgen. Given what Cyrus said, Antir seemed a likely suspect. She wasn’t sure how he’d handle their questions if he was the person behind the ambush.

The Mistress of Arms was brought out of her deep thoughts when Lysira held up a hand. The pair came to a stop and Ria scanned the trees. Some of them had a weird look about them. . .as if the Blight was trying to get a toehold on the borderland. Something caught the other Gaidin’s attention, and Ria learned long ago to trust her friend with such things.

Ria grabbed her bow and knocked an arrow, knowing Lys had done the same. Not a moment later, something...a lot of somethings crashed through the trees. Ria took aim at the first thing that came into her line of sight.

”Trollocs!” she didn’t need to scream it, but she did out of reflex. She let her arrow loose and it hit the first trolloc square in the chest. More poured out through the trees behind them. The way forward was clear, and she simply barked, “RIDE!” Both she and Lys were well versed in mounted archery, and Ria didn’t hesitate as she sent another arrow fly.

The Trollocs gave chase. She estimated fifteen behind her. They might be able to outride them, but she wasn’t about to ride her horse into the ground if she could help it. After letting another arrow loose, she looked ahead and saw an outcrop, but hopes were dashed when another group of trollocs came into view, “Blood and ashes! We’ve gotta make a stand!”

[Bella]

Ambush.

The word ricocheted around in Lysira's mind as they saw the horde before them. She didn't necessarily have any proof that something had been set up, but this felt like what must have happened to Miahala and her group. As if the trollocs themselves weren't enough, that equaled it's own sobering thought.

Two beasts in front of them fell to arrows in the eye before they whirled their horses and ran. Her own steed was well-trained, and what horse wasn't good at running from these abominations?

As they galloped, Lysira dropped her reins. They were made so she could drop them without them dropping to the ground and tangling in the horse's feet, so she was able to do so safely now. Or, as safely as possible. They ran and she rose in the stirrups, turning her torso and firing more arrows behind her. Large beastmen collapsed in the dirt.

“Blood and ashes! We’ve gotta make a stand!”

Riahana's words brought her around forward again and she saw another group ahead. She cursed inwardly to match Riahana's cursing outwardly. She dropped hard into the seat of her saddle and grabbed the reins, hauling her horse to a stop. Its hooves danced and skidded on the ground, but it was happy to stop when it saw what was before them.

The horse wouldn't stop moving beneath her, but she guided it with her knees while she grabbed another fistful of arrows. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. She fired in rapid succession, the arrows finding marks in eyes and throats--finding the chinks in their ugly, coarse armor. Five beasts ahead of them fell, but she could hear the pounding steps of those behind...

This is going to be ugly, she thought as she spun and fired behind her again. Time was swiftly running around for bows.

[Roan]

Riahana Ferria Gaidin

Ria was no slouch with the bow, though Lysira was at an entirely different level. The Mistress of Arms did what she could with her bow from horseback, but the Trollocs kept closing in. If they got too close, they’d overwhelm the two women. If, though, Ria could etch out a buffer between the malformed beasts and her friend with the Heron-marked bow, then they likely had a chance. Slinging her bow over her saddle, Ria dismounted and gave Lex a whistle. Her mount knew well enough to move off, kicking at Trollocs as it cleared the road. The beasts seemed more focused on the Gaidin than their mounts.

The Trollocs that came up behind them were closer, and Ria moved to stand towards the rear of Lys’s horse, letting her friend handle those coming from the front. . .at least for now. Her right hand went to the hilt of her blade that was sitting on her left hip. The Void had already settled over Ria as she Unfolded the Fan and scanned the group of Trollocs that would make her, Lys and their horses their next meal.

Sometimes, patience was key to a fight. Sometimes patience afforded one the element of surprise. Ria waited for the Trollocs to close distance, and when they crossed some imaginary threshold, she sprung forward, her eyes locked on the leading Trolloc as she started The Thistledown Floats on the Whirlwind, her blade staying nearly stock still as she spun her body. Feeling slight resistance as the blade first made contact, Ria’s momentum carried the attack through, and head separated from body as the first trolloc fell lifeless and headless to the ground.

There was no sense of celebration in Ria’s eyes, as she had already moved to her next opponent. One of the Trollocs charged forward, and she side - stepped to the inside before bringing sword down across the beast’s back. With the number of Trollocs she faced, there could be no pause to consider what next. The Void still enveloped the Blademaster as the sword seemed to move of its own volition, an extension of the woman’s body. In that moment, Riahana Ferria was a living, breathing weapon. Not invincible, but it would take more than a few Trollocs to stop her.

Behind her, Ria could hear the thud of arrows into flesh, knowing Lys was just as engaged as she. The speed at which one arrow seemed to land after another didn’t go unnoticed, and spoke to the deadly skill of her friend, but Ria could not give it much more thought as she had her hands full.

The group of Trollocs tried to close ranks and surround her. She went into The Cyclone on the Plain without thought, her sword keeping the beasts at bay and giving her space she needed to continue her onslaught. Moving into Lizard in the Thornbush, Ria’s Heron-marked blade sunk into the chest of one Trolloc. She then pivoted down to a knee and slashed through the middel of another, disemboweling it. She rolled back to get out of reach of two others and came back to her feet, her sword going up into a high, horizontal guard to block a downward slash. She kicked out with one foot with all her might, pushing the beast back before running it through.

A beast to her left had gotten too close for comfort, but it was felled by an arrow. Sparing a glance to Lys, Ria flashed a smile, “Thanks.” That was about all she had time for as another three Trollocs, wary looking though they were, closed distance.

[Bella]

How does just a pair of Gaidin face off against an overpowering force of Shadowspawn?

By playing to their strengths.

Riahana Ferria Gaidin was a master of the blade, and her sword bore the heron to prove it. She was the Mistress of Arms for the Grey Tower, and an example that other Gaidin followed. She knew her craft and her skills and her blade like others knew how to breathe. It was ingrained like second nature.

And by the same token, Lysira Viathene Gaidin was a master of her heron-marked bow. If you wanted the best out of the diminutive Gaidin, once Gaidin Captain, you needed her hands on the string. And in this case, that meant staying on the horse. Fortunately, her steed was trained for this just as well as the two women were.

They knew what they were doing.

Lys did not allow fear for her friend to touch upon her as Ria dismounted and sent her horse away. There was nothing but the task at hand, the enemy, and their strategy. The Trollocs focused on the "easy" catch while Lysira was able to spur herself outside the group.

Once in the open space, she guided her horse around with her knees and immediately formed her own little Cantabrian Circle. Just like she taught her students. She kept moving at a steady canter in a circle, never slowing and never stopping. She held her arrows in one hand and fired into the mass while Ria kept them focused in one spot.

Her arrows were not inexhaustible, but between those she had brought and those they took up at the Citadel, she was set up decently; every shot still had to count.

Arrows blossomed like pin cushions from the beasts, and if one shot didn't align, she rode until she had a better one. Some beasts turned toward her and even pursued, but her steady and swift circle found them losing ground. Eyes. Throats. It rarely took more than two arrows to down a beast, and only if she was unlucky, and that creature might as easily be felled before the second arrow by Ria's sword.

They knew what they were doing.