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From: abb6731@ritvax.isc.rit.edu (Mr. Sinister)
Subject: [JOI - Segoi]  Onward we go we go
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		[JOI - Segoi]  The western shores.

		by:

			Mr. Sinister...	-	Segoi,
			Jen Clifford	-	Laurenth.

		Synopsis:  After crossing the remaining miles between the
island and the main shores of the Western continent, Segoi and Laurenth have
landed in a small bay.  Segoi has seemingly disappeared leaving Laureth to
wonder what she will do now.

_______________


	Laurenth stood up and looked around.  Where had he gone off you now. 
The bay they had landed in was small and walled in by steep cliffs on either
side.  There was a small cave set back away from the surf in the base of the
cliff, a thin trail of smoke was coming from this.

	Laurenth climbed out of the boat and onto the firm sands of the beach.

		"Ahhh!  Its good to be on solid ground again." she smiled and
rubbed her feat in the sand.  "You never know how much you miss something until
you don't have it."

	Looking again at the cave she approached cautiously.  The thin trail of
smoke floated out from the mouth drifting upwards to be caught by the wind and
whisked away.  The cave mouth itself was dark and hung about with vines and
roots, obscuring the view of all who would look in.  Laurenth crept, as best
she could, to the dark tunnel and peered in.  At first nothing was visible as
her eyes adjusted to the dim light that filtered in through the vines.  In the
back of the cave seemed to be a mound or pile of something, she could not tell
what, and from it issued the smoke.

		"Segoi!" Laurenth whispered, "Segoi!  Where are you?  Are you
in here?"

	Nothing moved.  There was only silence...and...something, some noise,
faint, but there.  Laurenth moved further in trying to hear.  She did not
really want to enter the cave, but the noise drew her in a ways.  It sounded
almost like...breathing.  She drew back suddenly, skitting a few stones across
the cave floor.  Laurenth froze as the noise stopped.  She hardly dared to
breath, but to her relief it started again after a moment or so.

		"What are you doing Laurenth?"

	The voice was right behind her.  This was a little more than she could
bear at the moment, and turning to see Segoi looking over her shoulder into the
cave inches away pushed her over the edge.  She screamed.

	Segoi clapped his hands over his ears and staggered back a pace or so.

		"Shhh, quiet yourself Laurenth or you'll wake Bluge!" Segoi
motioned for her to relax.

		"Be quiet!" she hissed at him, "You scarred the life out of me! 
I must have aged 10 years from that fright!  Where have you been?  It seems I
may have to add you to my list of people to reprimand when we meet back up with
them!"

	Segoi just stood there.  Human females were so excitable, he wondered
what the reaction would be when she turned again to the cave to see Bluge's
head protruding from it.  He thought about this, and then thought better of it.

		"Laurenth we must begin packing for the trip up river.  I was
away scouting a path up from the bay here, and finding the river.  You were
asleep and I saw no need to wake you.  After all you were prefectly safe."

		"Safe?  Safe?  You call being left alone in a boat on a
deserted beach safe?  Who know what could have wandered by!"

		"Nothing would have," Segoi smiled as he said this shooting a
glance at Bluge who still watched the back of Laurenth's head.

		"Nothing would have?  And how can you be so sure?"

	Segoi just looked at her with the same lost look she had seen on the
boat.  Laurenth made some angry noise and stalked off back to the boat.

		'And you have allied yourself with their kind, eh Segoi?'

	Segoi look up at Bluge.

		"Why not?"

		'Use your mind, it's easier to understand you.'

		'Sorry, I forgot about you.  I came here a long time ago to see
how they were doing and then returned recently on business.  I joined a group
of them to see how far they had some since the last visit.'

		'And how far have they advanced?'  Bluge raised an eyeridge.

		'They will do well.  But this currnet party I have become
attached to.  I must see this one through to the end, though I fear for them
it will be a long time yet to come before they see thier homes again.'

		'They are mortal, what else is new?'

	Segoi smiled at this, but shot a reproachful stare at Bluge.

		'Now will you help me find Aleric?'

		'Follow the river upstream into the mountains.  There on the
third day of travel for you, will you meet someone.'

		'Very well.  Though you are welcome to join us...'

		'No, no, I'm too sleepy now.  That womans scream woke me from a
delightful dream and I wish to go find it again.'

		'Fare thee well Bluge.'

		'Fare thee well Segoi.'

	Bluge withdrew his head into the cave, and it was swallowed by the
darkness.  Segoi turned and walked back to the boat where Laurenth was packing.

		"Do you need anything before we go?" asked Segoi.

		"Hmmm...peace of mind?" replied Laurenth with a sarcastic tone.

	Segoi smiled at this and began packing his belongings.  The few there
were he stowed in his bag, the rest he did not need he placed in the boats
chest.  Carefully he dragged the boat up the shore and placed it upside down by
Bluge's cave.  Satisfied with his work Segoi turned to Laurenth.

		"You will have to ride on me until we reach the river." he
said.

		"Ride on you?  And how am I supposed to do that?" Laurenth look
at him trying to see where she could possilby ride.

	Segoi knelt down on the sands, bending one knee as a step so Laurenth
could climb onto his back.

		"Get on here." he said, "Then wrap your arms around my
shoulders and hold on tightly!  Don't worry I won't let you fall."  At this he
smiled and this time Laurenth could see a toothy grin from under his hood.

		"Yeah right," she retorted as she clambered up his back and sat
down.

	When she was settled Segoi turned off to one end of the bay and began
to run.  He ran in great loping strides across the sand with Laruenth hanging
on for dear life.  Nearing the end of the bay where the cliff and sea met there
was a crack, and straight for this Segoi ran.  It widened into a steep path,
winding upwards out fo the bay.  With a great leap that sent Laurenths stomach
to her boots, Segoi sailed through the air and landed on the path.  Jumping
from point to point he made his way up the cliff.  Laurenth shut her eyes, and
swore revenge for this.

	With one final jump he cleared the top of the path and shot straight up
out of the vale where the path began.  Landing softly he continued a jumping
run covering the ground before him with great speed.  The day had just begun to
start and the sun was now climbing into the sky.  Behind them the bay was lost
in a jumble of trees and hills.  By mid-day they had covered some 80 miles in
the 6 hours they had been travelling.

	Segoi stopped to rest and eat then.  Laurenth gratefull agreed to the
rest and climbed slowly down from his shoulders.  She had gotten the hang of
riding on Segoi's back, and found it quite enjoyable to watch the country side
go by so quickly.  Segoi looked tried and said little as he munched on some dry
bread and meat.  Looking around he spotted what appeared to be an apple tree
and after further investigation rewarded both of them with fresh apples.

	The afternoon wore on and Segoi once again took Laurenth on his back
and set off.  He resumed the same jumping run as before covering the miles
quicky.  After an hour or so they came upon the river and turned upstream to
follow it to its source.

	Night came and they rested in a glade by the river.  Segoi built a
small fire and Laurenth stretched out by it.  Wore out from the days travel
they went to sleep not bothering to set a guard.  In the middle of the night
Segoi woke suddenly.  There was something amiss here.  He looked up at the moon
just in time to catch a strange winged creature fly across it.  His brows
knitted in thought, and he remained awake for the rest of the night.

	The next day he said nothing of the creature to Laurenth, but continued
on up stream.  The day passes and they covered the miles between them and who
knew what.  The country had changed from farm lands, to rolling hills, to the
thick forest area they were now in approaching the mountains.  About mid-day
they entered the first of the foothills.  The weather turned cold, and the sky
coulded over.  They saw less wildlife now and the stream became lost here and
there as it went underground.  Segoi however seemed to have an idea of where to
go and so just followed a general northern path.

	Night began to creep into the sky on the second day, and Segoi was
showing signs of tiring. 

		"We should stop early tonight so you can rest," Laurenth told
him.  "You'll be no use to Aleric if you can't move!

		"I agree," Segoi smiled, "We will stop over the next ridge,
there may be some shelter there."

	Over the ridge was a small valley and beyond that what seemed to be a
great expanse of land hidden between the arms of two great mountain ranges.

		"There we shall camp in that valley tonight." Segoi pointed to
a rocky area where the overhang of one provided a dry spot.

	No sooner had he said this than it began to rain.  Moving carfully on
the sllick rocks he picked his way down into the valley to the camp site. 
Laurenth quickly jumped off and ran under the rock overhang.  Segoi remained
and looked at it for a while, the rain running off his cloak.  Then he walked
over to a large boulder and eyed it for a time.  Slowly he reached under the
boulder and rolled it over towards the rock overhang.  With a couple more rolls
he had it propped up against one side forming a wall.  To this he quickly added
several smaller ones sealing it into place and bracing it with another smaller
boulder.

		"There, that will make things easier!"  wiping his hands he
bent down and crawled into the shelter.  "Laurenth, will you start a fire,
there is dry wood in one of my bags.  Place a heating stone in it when you are
done so it will last longer.  I must sleep for a time now."

	Laying against the back wall Segoi stretched out, laying his great
cloak out next to where Laurenth was building the fire.  He kept his hood on. 
Laurenth wondered at this, but remembered she had never seem his face anyway. 
Taking out a blanked Segoi wraped himself in it and went to sleep.  Laurenth
dug into the bag and got out the wood. Setting it into a circle blocked by
stones she spoke a quiet word of power.  A flame flilckered in the heart of
the pile and soon a blaze was going.  She selected a large rock from the
shelter and gently dropped it into the fire.  After a bit of poking and pushing
with a twig, she got the stone covered and the fire settled.  This done she
settled down to wait.

	The night came and Segoi slept.  About midnight he woke and relieved
Laurenth of the watch.  The fire had died down and the heating stone was
glowing soflty.  The rain has also died down it was only a lite drizzly now. 
Segoi sat at the front of the shelter and stared out into the night.  The
drizzle lessened towards morning, but a chill came then and the heating stone
had long since given out.  Segoi truned to see Laurenth shivering.  He reached
out and touched the stone, pushing it closer to her.

		"Turok." he said softly, and the stone began to glow again
filling the shelter with warmth.

	Laurenth's body relaxed, and Segoi placed his blanket over her as well,
then donned his cloak again.  He returned to his seat and stayed there until
the sun came up at which time he woke Laurenth and prepared breakfast.  There
were few words between them that morning, despite the sun, each found little to
say.

		"We should find Aleric today." commented Segoi.

		"How can you be _so_ sure," Laurenth looked to him with a
strained face.  "You always know what to do, where to go, and how to get there. 
What are you, that you can see all this?  Are you a seer?"

		"No." his voice was quiet and tinged with sadness.  "I am no
seer Laurenth.  It is best you do not know...for now.  You cannot yet
understand my nature.  But know this, you have nothing to fear from me.  I am
here to help and protect you and your party."  He looked at her for some sign
of understanding.  "I have many 'friends' who I can talk to for information,
this is why I seem to know so much.  .....Does that help?"

		"A little," she shrugged, "I just don't know what to think
about you!"  She gave a rye smile.

		"Then finish your breakfast, we must be off."

	After cleaning up they set off as before.  About mid-day again they
came to a place where the stream widened again and became a small river.  Here
Segoi had Laurenth get down.

		"We must search here I think.  Bluge said we would meet someone
on the third day into the mountains.  You search this bank and I will to the
other.  If you find trouble scream."

		"Oh I'm sure you'll hear me." replied Laurenth.

	With that Segoi took several paces back and jumped the 20' of the
river.  Laurenth continued on up the right side while she could see him picking
his way along the other.

	Segoi had wondered for some time, not knowing where to look, when he
noticed a flash of light coming from a patch of bushes.  Turning he began to
move closer to investigate.  As he did so a figure errupted from the brush
swinging a sword at his head.  Segoi vaulted backwards towards the river to
escape the attack.  He landed softly and had time to draw his great blade and
look at his attacker.  To his surprise the man who attacked him resemblem
Aleric.

		"Aleric, stop!  What are you doing?"

	Segoi deftly parryed the blow aimed for his head.  He retreated a step.

		"Don't you recognize me?" Segoi knocked away another blow.

	The figure stopped watching him closly.

		"Aleric, it's me Segoi." as he said this he sheathed his balde
and opened his hands in a gesture of peace.

		"I'm not Aleric," the other replied, "Who are you?"

	Segoi balked at this.  The man before him was almost identicle to him,
almost...the light suddenly went on in his brain.

		"Depending on how much your brother has told you, my answer may
or may not make any difference.  I am one of his friends from Generica."

		"He's told me enough to know that possibility exists." 

		"You had me confused, for not only do you look like twins, you
carry Xel'ha.  My name is Segoi, and I was accompanying Aleric and others on a
mission to Qar'Tima."

	The other visible relaxed.

		"Alright.  I believe you.  Although why you are here and not
with the other group is still a mystery."

		"I might ask the same of you.  I assume Aleric is nearby
somewhere if you have his sword."

		"He is.  But I'm afraid he is very sick.  My sister Kieriah and
one of your firends have gone to find him a physician."

	At this Segoi looked worried.

		"Perhaps I may help.  I have some skill in healing.  If nothing
else, I must talk with Aleric and tell him what has befallen our company."

		"Very well."

		"I have another of the original group with me, she is off on
the other side of the river."

	As he said this Laurenth appeared from some trees, Segoi waved to her.

		"Aleric!" she cried and started to run to him.

		"No, this is his brother." replied Segoi.  "But let us save
introductions, Aleric is ill and I must see him."

	The brother turned and led the way back to his camp.  Arriving there
some 20 minutes later they found a number of people standing around a
waterfall.  One approached the brother, an elf.

		"Jaer, they returned some time ago.  The news isn't good."

		"Is there someone in there helping him now?" he asked the elf.

		"Only kia.  She asked to be alone.  I think you'd better go in
and see her."  The speaker a stocky man looked at Segoi and Laurenth.

		"Old friends of Aleric," replied Jaer to his look.  "They will
come with me."  Without looking back Jaer ducked into the space between the
rocks. 

	Segoi and Laurenth followed.  Segoi had difficulty getting into the
cave or what ever it was, he cursed his size.  Looking in he saw Jaer with a
female, presumably Kia, and a prone form.  Laurenth poked at him to move in. 
They slowly entered, Segoi moving to crouch on the other side of Aleric from
his siblings, and Laurenth standing at his feet.

		"He's dying Jaer..." were the only words from Kia before her
eyes filled again with tears and she could say no more.  Jaer looked at his
brother and then at Segoi.

		"You said you had some healing about you..." he looked hopeful.

	Segoi looked up from studying the face of Aleric, his eyes glinted in
the dark and he let out a soft hiss.

		"You must leave us."

	Jaer looked started at this he did not trust this newcomer, but if he
was telling the truth, it was Aleric only chance.

		"I'm not leaving him!"

	This came from Kia, now staring defiently at Segoi, who inturn looked
at her brother.  Jaer shurgged, and tried to raise Kia.  She would not move.

		"Kieriah is it not?" the voice was deep and soft and echoed
from the rocks.

	She looked up into a face she would never forget.  Segoi had leaned
across Aleric and now was level with her face not 3 inches away.  She could see
every detail, every scale.  The deep golden eyes looked at her, looked through
her to her soul.

		"Little one," he reached out and gently lifted her whispering
to her the whole time.  "Come little one, he will be fine, I am here now,
shhhh, it will be alright."

	Segoi shot a look at Laurenth for help with the Lyorn female. 

		"Take her and leave here.  You must leave as well Jaerodyn. 
You could not watch what must be done to save your brother.  Now leave, comfort
your sister."  Segoi fixed Jaer with his cool gaze.

	Jaer for the first time in his life felt afraid, afraid of what was
behind that gaze.  Yet he knew, somehow, that Segoi was right.  Laurenth had
already taken Kia out and Jaer followed leaving Segoi alone with Aleric.

_____