From alt.pub.dragons-inn Mon Feb 14 13:31:57 1994
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From: hsexauer@vax.cns.muskingum.edu (Rapunzel)
Subject: [Legacy] Aftermath
Message-ID: <1994Feb12.161433.1@vax.cns.muskingum.edu>
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Organization: Muskingum College
Date: Sat, 12 Feb 1994 21:14:33 GMT




	In the aftermath of the battle it seemed there were a great many of the
twisted corpses.  In reality there were only about twenty or so.  But in
addition to their bodies, there were three dead horses with their throats
ripped out and bodies mauled.  The other four were alive, but showed signs that
they too had fought to keep their lives.   Of the company, except in Aleric's
case there seemed to be only superficial scratches or gashes.  Durstrin turned
his face toward to passageway, dreading to see what remained.
	Ruel clapped one hand on Durstrin's arm and guided him as they went to
see if Elcoran was still alive.  They carried back a limp body, bloodied and
battered, but still living.  He had evidently protected himself as best he
could once the monsters overran him.  The elven lad's arms were shredded and
his chest had numerous gouges, but he seemed to be breathing normally despite
the roughing.
	Jaerodyn tended to Aleric.  The older Lyorn had not moved since
defeating the ghouls.  He still held Xel'ha in both hands, bowed over his knee
with the other holding him upright.  The dead ghoul hung from his body by its
own fangs embedded in the Lyorn's shoulder.  Jaerodyn pried loose the jaws and
carefully extricated the claws from his back.  As each was removed, a fresh
rush of blood flowed from his injuries.  When Kieriah approached to try and
staunch the blood with clean cloths, Aleric finally moved and pushed her hands
away.  
	"No," he commanded.  "Let's get out of here first.  I don't want to
take the chance of more of them sneaking up on us."
	"Fine," Jaerodyn agreed, taking charge of the situation.  "Ruel,
salvage what you can from the dead horses and put it on Mistwraith.  Get
Elcoran onto one of the others and get him out.  Tierge, find the exit and lead
them out.  Durstrin, lead the rest of the horses out.  Kia, help me get Aleric
up."
	"I can walk," he protested, getting to his feet.  He glared fiercely at
his sister when she made an involuntary move to help him.  So with as much
order as possible they gathered what they had and left the chamber with the
corpses behind.  
	Tierge followed the breeze of fresh air, leading the company out into
the ravine.  The last rays of light were fading when they emerged.  Jaerodyn
looked around for a suitable place to camp.  There was no way they would make
it up the other side in the dark and with injured members.  Aleric left those
details to his brother, gritting his teeth and concentrating on staying
conscious depite loss of blood.  The little beast had chewed a sizable distance
into his shoulder and throat, doing as much damage as possible.  Kindly enough
though, it had missed the major arteries and tendons.
	What Jaerodyn found to shelter them that night was less than ideal, but
it suited.  They wedged themselves into a fold on the south face of the ravine. 
The walls that crowded close on either side offered at least protection for
their sides and back if anything should come, but left little room for
maneuvering.  They settled themselves and saw to patching up the wounded. 
	Everyone except Tierge was liberally decorated with scrapes and 
scratches, but only Elcoran and Aleric bore teeth marks.  Fortunately, Elcoran
was not as gravely injured as had appeared, he seemed to be unconscious only 
from blood loss.  Tierge performed what healing she could for both elf and 
Lyorn, which was only to reduce the pain and help stop the bleeding.  She 
couldn't actually repair any damage.  So Kieriah was forced to use needle and
thread on her brother's shoulder.  When she was finished, he gladly fainted and
allowed him mind the oblivion and surcease from pain.
	
	After Aleric and Elcoran had been treated and put to rest, the others
gathered off to one side to talk.  They dared not light even a tiny fire and
signal their presence to the lurking night haunts.  Durstrin and Ruel had
managed to drag several large boulders to partially block the entrance, and
then concealed the opening with brush.  In hushed tones they discussed what had
occurred.
	"I've seen that type of monster before," Ruel started, "but never in a
pack like that.  I do know that these particular types will not attack unless
they have the advantage of numbers, though."
	"I'd like to know what Aleric did to them with that sword of his,"
Durstrin said quietly.  He looked to Jaerodyn and Kieriah for answers.
	Kieriah shrugged her shoulders, baffled.  "I've never seen it do
anything like that, ever.  And it was my father's blade before it was
Aleric's."  The Lyorn girl was every bit as puzzled as the rest.  She looked to
Jaerodyn to see what he would say.
	"You all heard what Aleric said about that warlock, Tevore.  I would
imagine only Aleric could make Xel'ha do what it did, he's Nilsangehir after
all," the younger Lyorn suggested.
	"This isn't the first time it's done that either," the valeman reminded
them.  "I saw more or less the same thing when we were attacked by the
watcher."  He touched the marks on his cheek lightly.
	"So we know that even if we do come up against Shekiren we won't be
defenseless," Tierge mused.
	Jaerodyn shook his head.  "I think that won't be an `if' but a `when'. 
If I understand the prophecy correctly, Xel'ha was created specifically to
destroy them.  We aren't just looking for Xel'eman, we are out to eliminate the
Shekiren."
	"But Jaer, that prophecy also says there is supposed to be another to
help Nilsangehir.  It doesn't say that he can destroy them without having
Chiyasanghir's help.  He can't face the Shekiren alone," the Lyorn girl
protested.
	Tierge touched Kieriah's hand lightly.  "I'm not so sure he'll have to. 
The nature of a prophecy acts against such an eventuality."
	"Explain."
	"Prophecies have power over the course of events.  The words lend it
power.  People are subject to its forces, and have no choice but to follow it. 
I'd be willing to bet that Aleric didn't just decide to come here.  He joined
that group who then came here for a purpose.  But the prophecy just used them
to bring your brother to this Vale when he was needed."
	"Then you think that by the time we get to Highspire Chiyasangehir will
have appeared?"
	"Almost definitely."
	"No," Jaerodyn contradicted.  "I'm sure he'll be there.  You just said
so yourself."
	"I hope for all our sakes you're right, Tierge," Durstrin said with a
worried glance at his nephew.
	"I'm going to sleep.  Wake me when it's my turn at watch," Jaerodyn
yawned.  He went and stretched out next to his brother's body, wrapping his
blanket around him.

	Aleric woke in pain early, before the sun rose.  He was amused to
discover his siblings sleeping on either side of him like watchdogs.  Kieriah
was curled up with one hand under her cheek, reminding him of when she was
little.  He gave a tiny smile and tugged her blanket tighter over her shoulder. 
It had been a long time since the Lyorn had seen any of his family, so his
sudden reunion was still new.  But old habits were coming back as they
re-established their relationship.  They had always been close as children and
at times his wandering life had felt empty without their companionship.  Today,
he painfully extricated himself and rose to assess their situation.  Tierge was
watching the entrance when he approached.
	"How are you this morning?" she asked when she heard him coming up
behind her.
	"Living," he replied shortly.  He winced as Tierge prodded his
bandages experimentally.  She beckoned him to kneel.  He did so cautiously
until he was at eye level to where she was seated on a rock.  She touched his
shoulder and forehead gently, murmuring a few syllables.  The pain lessened to
a throbbing burn at his neck.  "Thank you," he whispered softly so as not to
wake the others.
	"And before you ask, no sign of disturbance all night.  I don't think
they know where we are."
        Aleric made a noncommittal noise.  "How long to sunrise is it?"
	"Two hours."
	"Why don't you go sleep the rest of the time then.  I'll stay here," he
offered.  She accepted and rose to her feet.  The little mage glided past with
a pat on his arm in thanks.  
	Aleric arranged himself so he could lean back against the rock face and
still watch the entrance.  He stared out into the predawn darkness lost in
thought.  He brooded over what their next course of action should be. 
Obviously they could not remain where they were.  It was too dangerous to stay
so close to their last place of encounter with the night haunts.  On the other
hand, travelling was now by necessity on foot.  That was well enough since they
would have only had to leave the horses once they reached the river.  But
neither he nor Elcoran was in good form so progress would not be good.  Perhaps
they could wait a couple days?  No, it was best to push on.  By the time they
reached Highspire they would all be in better condition and ready for what lay
ahead.
	When the first pale streaks of light stained the eastern sky Aleric
began waking his companions.  Elcoran was still unconscious, but looked
improved.  His color had lost the greyish tinge and his face was regaining its
bronzed tone.  Though he could not mount a horse in his condition, the group
decided to forego a litter since they would have to climb out of the ravine
today.  In the end, the elven lad's body was laid on a horse's back and kept in
place by both ropes and a touch of magic.  The set up was deemed suitable until
they reached the forest floor again, so they began their trek to the rift Ruel
had spotted the previous day.
	It took them almost three hours to reach the place.  They figured that
their long, tortuous route through the caverns had deposited them at a point
much further down the ravine than when they entered it.  When at last they did
come to the way out, they discovered it wasn't so much as a rift in the rock,
but an old streambed that looked like it ran full in heavy rains.  Therefore
the footing would be treacherous and the climb arduous.  The horses would
definitely be a problem to coax and shove up the slope.  The group set to the
tast with good effort.
	Durstrin took Aleric's mare with Elcoran's prone form on top by her 
bridle and guided her into the stream mouth.  Ruel took up spot position
behind, and with the elf in the lead to pull and Ruel behind to shove when
necessary, they began navigating the slope.  Kieriah and Tierge each led one
horse, leaving the final one for Jaerodyn.  Aleric was absolutely forbidden by
his brother to do anything to help.  About halfway up the track the Lyorn was
inclined to agree with Jaerodyn, finding the climb more difficult than expected
with one arm almost useless.  Nevertheless he forced himself to continue until
he gained the upper ledge.  Having make it that far, the company called a halt
for a brief period.
	As long as they were stopped, Jaerodyn figured it a good time to check
on the wounded.  Aleric irritably shrugged off the helping hands and bade them
go to tend the elven lad.  He had a splitting headache and was having some
trouble focussing his eyes on the faces around him.  The fact that he was
injured in the midst of an important venture galled the warrior to no end. 
Elcoran, despite all the rough handling, was still improving.  He still showed 
no signs of waking as yet.  They did take the time to make a crude litter for
the youth.  Ruel wandered into the trees with his axe and returned a short time
later with two springy saplings.  To these he lashed a blanket and a harness. 
Once finished, Jaerodyn and Durstrin lifted the lad into the improvised
stretcher.
	Kieriah approahced her oldest brother with a set look on her face.  Her
demeanor shouted louder than words that she would brook no argument he might
like to present.  Aleric had just begun to consider how to defend himself when
she pounced on him.
	"Jaerodyn has decided that once we reach the nearest settlement we're
all staying there until both you and Elcoran are recovered."  The stare she
pinned him with dared him to contradict her.  Therefore he immediately revised
his plan and tried guile instead.
	"Fine," he agreed with false cheerfulness, "but only provided you can
tell me where that will be."
	That caught the girl off guard.  She had obviously expected something
different.  Several expressions flitted across her features before they settled
into a suspicious aspect.  One reddish eyebrow arched and her eyes narrowed. 
"South.  The first one we find."
	"As I recall Ruel said there aren't any real settlement, except for
Highspire of course," the Lyorn warrior countered.
	"And exactly how do you expect to carry out your quest when you can
barely wield Xel'ha?"
	"I won't have any problem by the time we arrive.  Tierge's spells have
been helping, and I'll be able to wield Xel'ha in a week."
	"Weak is right!  Her spells only reduce the pain, they don't mend the
shredded tissue or muscles.  You won't be sound by then."
	"Don't worry so much," Aleric said testily.  "It was prophecied that
I'd win, so there is a good possibility that it won't matter."
	"Prophecies depend much on actions.  Yours had several `mays' which
don't guarantee success."
	"But I won't be alone," he said in a persuasive tone.  
	"We are stopping in the nearest town or village, period."  She said
each word clearly and slowly to be sure her brother heard them.  He did, he
just chose to ignore them.
	"No, now stop nagging me."  Aleric fixed her with an indigo stare that
eloquently spoke of his resolve.  She met this with eyes like hardened agates
that said she was going to be rebellious.
	Their little battle of stubbornness would have gone on indefinitely had
they not been interrupted by the third member of their clan.  Jaerodyn stepped
in smoothly and pulled his sister to her feet.  "C'mon Kia.  you know you can't
do anything with Aleric when he's being stubborn.  I think it's time to move
on."  He turned his head to whistle at Ruel and get his attention.  When the
valeman looked up Jaerodyn gestured to Elcoran.  The valeman nodded and
fastened the leads of the litter to one of the horses.
	Aleric slowly climbed to his feet and experienced a sudden flash of
dizziness.  He reeled, until he felt a slim arm slide around his waist.  The
Lyorn's head took only a few seconds to clear, and he looked down at his
sister's coppery hair.  He smiled and unwrapped her arm gently.  
	"Just a brief headrush.  Let's get moving." He carefully did not try to
focus on her face, or he would have seen the searching look she gave him.  When
he turned away her eyes remained fixed on his back.  



	
	
-- 
Heather Sexauer
Muskingum College
hsexauer@muskingum.edu

	
	"We'll never survive....."

	"Nonsense.  You're only saying that because no one ever has."

						-- Princess Bride