They moved out on foot and headed south from the village Taldor and into the northern border of The Grand Duchy of Ligeria. At the border was a small outpost, though it appeared as though there had not been any guards there for many years. The outpost was overgrown and every surface was coated in dirt and dust. A few flowers were placed by a stone outside. Looked like someone was killed on duty at some point in the past.
They walked through the check point without any trouble. Since there were no guards they ducked in to see if there was any useful equipment, but it had been emptied out. They continued down the road.
While they walked Silachlume began humming another song. This one was faster, more upbeat, it held power and was encouraging, and at times it was still slow and relaxing. It kept them awake and ready for the road ahead. The tune washing over them, deep and rumbling like the caves under a mountain, while still soft and swaying like the pines on the mountain side. His voice was a magicians tool, a song that could sway armies. His voice could heal the sick. As he sang the wind seemed to change direction and speed, When he sang fast the wind blew fast, when he sang slowly the wind was calm and barely blew.
"Is that one of the old marching songs?" Tumuo seemed to know almost as much about the ancients as Silachlume who had lived with them.
"Yes, it was written during my early days I believe. It was sung on the way to plant my city, the library." Silachlume was staring off, remembering the days when his home was first being built. "I believe it was called, Tamue'euri Thlu Ritomolo, or Follow The Wind."
"It is such a good song. I am glad you, who remembers the old songs, are here with us. Those were wonderous times."
"Tumuo, you talk as though you lived through those times?" Mercer walked up beside Tumuo looking at him with a raised eyebrow.
"I did, I was THE Arch Wizard in the Shiragagian Theocracy for well over 2000 years. Magic can do wonderous things for your skin." He let out the second sentence with a laugh, "In fact, my last student just so happened to be your father. He was the only one who had a bloodline similar to my own, so I decided to retire and pass my job on to him, though it seems he held my views and it got him killed."
The two of them looked down and were silent for a moment. When they looked up they could see a village in the distance.
"We are going to just pass through the village, try not to bring attention to ourselves. We won't camp until we are out of The Grand Duchy of Ligeria." Tumuo glanced at each of them to make sure they understood. "It will take most of the day, but it is better than being caught sleeping by a patrol. Once we are out the chance of a patrol is significantly lower."
They continued walking, they were all nervous as they entered the village. None of them wanted to be there, and they knew it would be extremely dangerous if they were caught. They caught some strange looks from the villagers, but not much else. They had made it through the village safely.
"That's them! They're the witch and warlocks!" From just outside the village they heard a shout, it was the man that had given them a ride. He immediately took off after pointing them out to the guards, heading down the road to keep safe. In front of him were 8 guards.
"It appears we won't be safe. Did your mother teach you sword play Lera?" Tumuo looked directly at Lera.
"Yes, she taught me, but there's no way I can take on 8 of them. I'm not some kind of monster!"
"We will weaken them, but you must be able to kill them. I know it will be hard, but there isn't much choice. Mercer, go up there and help her, use what you have learned, remember spell cores are dangerous, but you now have over 2000 years of knowledge through Silachlume. Don't let that make you sloppy though, you still don't have experience."
"Do not resist, by order of The Grand Duchess Etara of Ti Bon you are sentenced to death for the crimes of Unlawful Magic Use." The guards drew their swords and stepped forward. Lera set her bag down, drawing The sword her mother had, and the shield that Tumuo had given her. She could feel the power from both, but the sword was almost overwhelming, the entire blade was covered in enchantments. It's power lay dormant beneath the surface.
Behind her Tumuo moved his arms and began the formation of a spell core, the movement was slow and flowed together, the core he produced rested above his head as the dots inside were connected with words in the tongue of the Eldar. Silachlume on the other hand, held his arms out in front of him and sang a long slow tune, no words. It was sad and piercing. Dragging those who heard it down, it seemed to pass around their group and they only heard slight whispers as it passed by, but the guards were sluggish, reminded of every sad moment in their life. They stumbled slightly, then regained their footing and pushed on, determined to execute these criminals.
Lera stepped forward, he sword was longer than the guards. It was enchanted and still felt incredibly light despite it's long reach. The leather on her body increased her strength as well as it's own durability and flexibility. The shield was light as a feather, but was unbreakable.
The fight began as a guard lunged for Lera, A sidestep and swing later the guard was down. It passed through his steel plate as a knife through butter. However she was now surrounded by 4 of the guards, and was only barely holding them off with all her skill. If she struck at one another would take the opening and she had to back off.
"AAgghh" Lera turned just in time to see a guard hit Mercer in the arms. As his blood dripped her vision slowly faded to a deep haze. She lost most of the memory after this point. Tumuo released his spell causing the remaining guards to stumble as drowsiness overtook them. In the short time it took them to recover from their stumble Lera had cut through all the remaining guards. She moved like a dancer, entranced in the moment. Her bladed coated in blood, the grass a deep red. She was a painter, her sword was her brush, and the guard's blood her paint. Only the first guard was left intact, every other one had lost a limb or their head.
After the last one was dead she collapsed, her eyes cleared and went wide. As she sat there looking at the death she had caused tears began to flow down her cheeks before she finally passed out.
"Mercer can you walk?"
"Yes, this needs bound first though."
Tumuo took a clean strip of cloth from one of the guards and tightly bound the cut on Mercer's arm. He them picked Lera up and they began walking.
When they were out of sight of the village Lera finally woke up. Everyone was quiet and grim. She was set down and kept walking, seeing vague images of what happened earlier. Her armor stained with blood.
At the western outpost they found a few guards, but seeing how bloody the group was they decided to leave them be. They had seen nothing in their opinion. It was better to live than to die.
And so, the group walked into the desert between The Grand Duchy of Ligeria and the Manian Theocracy.
[ Tamue'euri Thlu Ritomolo (Eldar Version) | Follow The Wind (English Version) ]
(Eldar)
Muo thlu simulao ritioch rilu rilamea,
La souimuote ritomolo lemeuriso leutiomolo,
Sarathtomote raso sumurilasiloso murasi temulame,
Tamue'euri thlu ritomolo meru tasitolumoloso,
Thlu Temulo'ouso'oluso maouri murasi salath,
murasi timuilu ritothtomo siluach,
Murelusi thlu muliuamoso,
Thsimuralei thlu tamusilusouo,
Laisimuso'o thlu sitorelusio,
Tamue'euri thlu ritomolo meru tasitolumoloso,
Thlu Temulo'ouso'oluso maouri murasi salath,
murasi timuilu ritothtomo siluach,
Murelusi thlu lousolusiuo,
Thsimuralei thlu relame'eluruso,
Laisimuso'o thlu Miuramosulatomoso,
Tamue'euri thlu ritomolo meru tasitolumoloso,
Thlu Temulo'ouso'oluso maouri murasi salath,
murasi timuilu ritothtomo siluach,
(English)
On the road which we walk,
A strong wind blows behind,
Pushing us towards our goal,
Follow the wind my friends,
The Goddesses know our path,
Our home within reach,
Over the Oceans,
Through the Forests,
Across the Rivers,
follow the wind my friends,
The Goddesses know our path,
Our home within reach,
Over the Deserts,
Through the Valleys,
Across the Mountains,
Follow the wind my friends,
The Goddesses know our path,
our home within reach.
[ (End) ]