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From: hsexauer@vax.cns.muskingum.edu (Rapunzel)
Subject: [Legacy] Deathwatch
Message-ID: <1994Mar7.115459.1@vax.cns.muskingum.edu>
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Organization: Muskingum College
Date: Mon, 7 Mar 1994 16:54:59 GMT




     While the Lyorn girl and the valeman looked for help in
the stockade above, the rest of the company waited in the
hidden alcove Durstrin had found.  They had circled wide of
the stockade, staying out of sight of the icari guarding the
ramp.  Just to the east of the town where the river dropped
down off the bluff, a tumble of boulders formed a natural
barrier at the base of the cliff.  Amidst these, the elf had
discovered a fault in the rock wall rising behind that was
effectively concealed by the boulders.  The company had
hidden themselves there, where the stone covered their
presence and the noise of the waterfall masked the sounds of
their voices.
     Jaerodyn stood at the entrance to their hiding place
staring out at the water cascading down nearby, lost in
thought.  He was still carrying Xel'ha since his brother was
down for the duration.  The huge broadsword was an immensely
better weapon than anything else the company had, even if
Jaerodyn could not use it as Nilsangehir could.  
     <Although if what I think is true, I may have to get 
used to the idea of carrying this,> he thought.  
     The Lyorn fingered the hilt speculatively, running his 
fingers over the flames and the glyphs etched on the hilt.  
He traced each of the letters that spake their message in the 
native tongue of the Lyorns. Jaerodyn wondered what they said, 
but until he met someone who knew the ancient language, they 
would remain a mystery.
     Behind him, Jaerodyn heard the voice of his brother
raise again in his ramblings.  He released the hilt of Xel'ha
and turned to face the interior.  Elcoran was crouching at
Aleric's side dabbing at his face with a damp cloth.
Jaerodyn's face softened with worry as he watched his older
brother toss his head and moan in pain.  Aleric had always
been his very best friend as well as his brother, and the
ties that bound them were strong.  If he ever lost Aleric....
     Jaerodyn firmly shut those thoughts from his mind.  Kieriah 
would bring help and Aleric would be fine.  She wouldn't let
him down, she loved him very much.  The one thing their
father had stressed after their mother had died was to
preserve their family.  They had always been a close family,
and later even more so.  Jaerodyn knelt beside Elcoran and
took the cloth from his hands.  Elcoran sensed the younger
Lyorn's mood and respectfully withdrew to the far side of
the enclosure.
     On the other side he dropped to the stone floor next to
his uncle and folded his legs under him.  Durstrin looked up
at his nephew and nodded in greeting.  His tawny eyes flicked
to where the two Lyorns were and back to Elcoran.  "How is
Aleric doing?" he asked.
     "Not well.  I'm not sure if he'll make it even if Kia
and Ruel bring a physician," the elven lad replied shaking
his head.
     Durstrin studied the youth for a moment.  He cast a
glance at Tierge's sleeping form nearby then asked in a low
voice, "Can you do anything to help him?"
     Elcoran thought about the query before answering.  "I
don't think so.  For myself it took long enough, and I still
had to recover my strength.  I wouldn't be able to do more
than postpone the inevitable and it would mean a lot of
questions I am not prepared to answer."
     Durstrin nodded sadly.  "I understand.  Or at least as
much as possible, given the fact I can't understand you
either."
     The silver haired elf spread his hands.  "I know, uncle.
I couldn't do a much better job explaining than you."
     Night spread its velvet cloak over the sky plunging the
world into darkness.  Within the small cave at the base of
the waterfall a handful of people waited nervously while one
of their party slipped further into the realms of eternal
shadow.



-- 
Heather Sexauer
Muskingum College
hsexauer@muskingum.edu

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

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

						-- Princess Bride