Chapter 1 - The Stirring Shadows

[Setsa]

Location: Maradon, Saldaea

Being pulled down from the saddle now standing on her own two feet reaching for her throwing knife in a hidden space of her riding boot to fight for herself the voice of a man yelling at the four men made her pause. With three changing their focus to the stranger the lady grinned slightly. "What is so funny hmmm?" Choosing to answer with action and not words she stepped hard on his foot so his grip on her arms weakened enough to free herself. Turning around, Lady Bashere did what most men hated to experience or watch for that matter... Kneeing his balls, driving them into his pelvis with a loud angry groan coming from the leader as he bent over in pain. Making quick to grab the woman by the wrist and pull her to him which whispering in pain to her ear fighting her struggles. "Oh so you want to get him involved in this too woman? Well....for that I'll make sure to have you running back to your father lord torn and bleeding!!"

Waiting for his men to get rid of the stranger was failing before his eyes...grabbing a blade from his hip as it pressed against her throat. Setsara holding very still with her eyes looking to the stranger, then her arrows strapped to the saddle, and back to the stranger when something warm near her shoulder and the man screaming made her look to see the flame searing his skin and flee into the allies behind.

"Bloody women, you always tend to get me into trouble and make me act stupid. Would bloody serve you well if I just let those guys flaming have ya for a few..."

Fire in her eyes as she heard the man say such things about not just a woman...but a Saldaea at that!! Not giving a moments thought, noticing when he first approached that his shoulder had been cut from the fight. Setsara grabbed his bicep Hard, turning this fool to expose his back and with her right hand balled into a fist... PUNCHED! The wounded shoulder hard enough that followed with a hook of her foot sweeping his leg back forcing a man to his knees. Gripping his face by the chin forcing the swearing fool to stare at her face when she pulled back the hood entirely.

"How dare you...how DARE you! Never does anyone talk about a Saldaea woman that way!! You have not been in my father's area of reign under the Queen long enough to know who I AM!! " Speaking in a deeper voice, lowering the volume so only he may hear...

"I am Lady Setsara Bashere...second in line for the throne and daughter of the Head of House Lord Bashere whos land your ashed feet step on!"

Pushing him hard onto his back she covered her hair and face with her hood before anyone could see who she was and quickly jumped into the saddle of her steed. Applying pressure on his sides to walk a few paces beside the man....

"I an however grateful for you coming in and saving my life... I am one to my word and as such, I bring the offer for you to accompany me to Kayacun away from my father and that is reason enough for my leave. That shoulder would do well with a few stitches I can provide as well when we stop... Since you made it clear that you desire to stay low this looks like your best option sir... Come now what is your answer for I am NOT patient with little time for me to leave."

Setsara heard the booming voice of the one named Garim, looking up to the skies as the voice continued. He himself claiming to be the Dragon Reborn. Such words over displayed by power made her smirk and shake her head. No...no he certainly wasn't the Dragon Reborn..she'd say so out loud if only there wasn't other more important matters at hand with waiting for this stupid fool to utter enough words on whether he would come with or not.

Bran grumbled as he got to his feet. Great. Not just a woman, but a bloody flaming noblewoman! He thought to himself. "Well excuse me, my lord lady," he said in a mocking tone, "or whatever is bloody proper with you people. Maybe next time someone will just let you get your neck slit, see if that fits into your flaming schedule. And the last thing I need is a headache from traveling with some light-blasted noblewoman telling me how to walk, dress, or how to bloody lace my boots." He then pointed at the inn down the road. "You see that inn right there? I am going to go in there, get drunk-stupid, and play dice til I wake up the next morning with some serving girl much uglier than the one I went to bed with in the first place."

Just then, he saw three guards walk into the inn and he hid behind the Setsara's horse. "Blood and bloody ashes," he said irritably. "I get plenty of luck with the dice, but that where all seems to go cause bloody well have none anywhere else." He then sighed. "Fine then. I leave the town with you. But first small town we come to, and bloody mark me on this, I am going to find some small dirty tavern and forget I ever met ya." He then looked up at her, resignation touching his eyes. "Do you have hooded cloak by any chance?"

"Then we are in agreement...stranger that loves to put hoof to mouth..." Reaching back to her saddle bags she tossed him over a very well made hooded cloak and some gauze to press to the wound until they could stop for the night. If they stopped at all considering she lost valuable time with the cut-purses and this man who thought he was all 'high and mighty drinking lord'. Riding out of town now two to the run away party, Setsara and Bran traveled for miles. Her bow secured to the saddle and throwing knives strapped to a belt around her waist. She kept a keen eye for strange shadows in the night....her steed moving forward as it had been heavily trained to do no matter what may be going on around them.

It was late into the night when they finally stopped far enough away from the road so that their small fire wouldn't be detected by travelers. The groans and grumbles from him about his shoulder were getting unbearable but she was one to her word...so all she could hope for was that the next village came sooner than later for her own flaming sanity's sake!

"Hold still!" she hissed at him using the firelight to stitch the slash in his shoulder with a experienced hand for the task. Having helped stitch up far worse wounds than this. The biggest problem was Bran who kept flinching every time the needle pierce healthy flesh which was a necessary part of the process. "You are such a boy with this...hold still or I'm slapping your head again!"

Bran Grunted. "Well I wouldn't flinch if you knew how to work a needle properly. Like you're trying to patch up a bloody horse!" As they sat by the fire, travelers could be heard talking along the road as they passed them, unaware of their presence. They were talking about the Dragon Reborn being in Maradon and how they planned to follow him. Bran shook his head. "Bloody idiots. I don't know who's dumber, Garim for thinking he's the Dragon or the saps choosing to follow him." He then shook his head as he took a bite of dried meat and a drink of water.

"So he was born in some old mountains, lots of people were born there, they trying to repopulate it! And the Stone of Tear cracks around his birthday. Anyone man who can channel, and some women even, could've gotten mad and cracked that old rock. Hell as old as it is, some kid playing with a hammer could've cracked it." He then searched his belts for a small pouch of tobac and a pipe. "Trolloc raids increase and everyone suddenly becomes gullible. They are probably almost all dead and are just getting desperate finally. I'll say it again, and if you have any sense in that pretty little head of yours you'll agree with me. The world isn't ending, no Dark One is rising from Shayul Gul, and no bloody Dragon is being reborn. I'll stake my left hand on it."

"Hmmmm..... seems like even we can agree on something as soon as that voice came out around us I knew it wasn't the Dragon Reborn.... He wouldn't have projected himself like this if it were true. The darkness is rising up and they are desperate that's all it is." Lightly patting his good shoulder as she was done, Setsara got up washed the blood from her hands and only ate a little bread and dried meat before laying down her bed roll. Horse cobbled so he can graze close by the only words exchanged were ones for a good nights rest. Laying down on her side, her back to the fire, Lady Bashere started to drift into sleep choosing not to recount the events of the day as she usually did. Tomorrow they'd have to travel far and sleep was required to do such....plain and simple as the side of her body rose and fell to her sleeping breaths.

Bran stayed up for a while longer after the girl went to sleep. Being stuck with a noble wasn't his idea of good time, even if this one had a few more wits about her than most other nobles he had met. Only a few more, mind you. Women are enough trouble as it is, but a bloody noblewoman was sure to give him no end of grief. But at least she was pretty to look at, and he was sure as hell bloody sober, though tonight of all nights he wish he had a good jug of ale or whiskey to drink. Bloody nobles, she probably has more shoes than the whole next village they visit, one for each time of each day of the week. Half her saddle bags were probably nothing but dresses, shoes, and makeup. Well, if she thought Bran was gonna lift a finger to help her carry any of those, she bloody had another thing coming.
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As people gathered around the man who had proclaimed himself as the Dragon Reborn, Lord Lornius Bashere, head of the Bashere house and first in line for the throne of Saldaea paced back and forth in his dining hall as he wondered where his daughter was. She should have been there over an hour ago for dinner. As soon as the door opened and his lead guard came into the room, Bashere turned to him quickly. "Where in the bloody Light is my daughter," he exclaimed sharply at the man.

The guard stiffened slightly under Lornius' ice cold gaze. "My lord, she was seen sneaking out of the city by a few of my eyes and ears. She was almost mugged, but someone came to her aid, though it is speculated he is just another vagrant wanting her for himself. We think he might have taken her away out of the city." The man than held up a large sack and pulled out the head of the man who held a knife to Setsara's throat. "This is the leader of the men who assaulted her first. We got a good description out of him. it appears to be the man who escaped from the jail early tonight." The guard than held up a poster with the Bran's face on it.

Bashere threw his glass of wine against the wall, his face red with anger. "Get Nira Sedai to make as many copies as she can quickly. I want the town papered with that bastard's face within the hour! Ten thousand crowns gold for my daughter's return and his head on a spike! Twenty thousand if they bring him back alive so can I deal with him myself! Well? What are you standing there for? Move it! Or I'll see you're head next to his!"

The guard shivered a bit then. "Y-yes my l-lord. I will get right on it." he then bolted out of the room and within twenty minutes, dozens of posters with Bran's face were being posted around the city.

[Jacogos]

Cairhien

Rondc knelt in the bushes for what seemed like hours as the trio of deer drank from the stream. He knew that any movement would alert them, so he would have to wait until they were out of earshot before moving to a better position. The Aielman had gone out from the city for his weekly hunting routine, forgoing city fare in lieu of more traditional game. Though the Waste had never had much like deer for hunting, Rondc had adapted his hunting quite easily, though the wetlander foliage was quite irritating sometimes, particularly right now. Any muscle would send the bush into a crackling mess, scaring the deer off for hours.

At last, the three animals moved away from the stream, and began to walk into the forest away from Rondc. He counted to thirty, then slowly moved from the bush, following the trail the deer left behind. Within moments, they were back in sight and he drew his long bow to send a bolt straight into the buck's heart.

However, just before he loosed the shaft, the wind shifted. The doe's head swiveled as she caught wind of his smell and Rondc swore as the arrow left the bow. The trio dashed away, though the arrow still managed to stick into the buck's side. Not a good enough wound, it'd only bother rather than hamper. The Aielman lunged forward towards the trio of deer, managing to keep up with them for all of a few spans before he was forced to try and shoot another arrow. It struck the buck in the back leg, a flesh wound, but the animal tripped and fell.

Satisfied that the animal's legs were broken, Rondc drew another arrow to finish the dying animal off mercifully, but was suddenly aware of someone else. Wheeling around, Rondc aimed his bow at the woman who...

Rondc blinked. Was that yellow eyed woman sitting with a pack of wolf pups?

[P.K.]

Akiko had been lazily sitting next to Jack while the pups continued to play with a small butterfly that had fluttered into the mess of fur and small paws. It only lazily fluttered just above their heads out of reach as they leaped up for it swatting the air toungs hanging from between their jaws. Akiko chuckled as she watched... She had learned to read the expressions of the wolves and could generally guess what they where feeling. At the moment The pups where having a grand time trying to hunt a butterfly or each others tails.

Jack lifted his head after a moment sniffing the air Akiko looked over at him as he did so. He seemed to shrug... or at least to her he did. His ears flickered as he told her that some large animals where heading there way and fast. However Akiko was not to worried she readied her bow how ever... if it was a deer she could shot it and be done and have her super right there. If it was anything else she could shot it and be done with it all together.

She tested her bow quickly then picked up one of her newly finished arrows and noticed it getting onto her knees then and into a better crouching stance to hold herself more steady. She then set back and waited while Jack continued to report what he said.. he sounded lazy though so she prepared for something else.

Three deer raced by... one with an arrow in its side and a second later it went down with an arrow to the back of the leg thrashing and kicking trying to get up as a man came closer readying a bow to finish it off quickly. He ever so suddenly Whorled around facing her his own bow held and ready strait at her. With out thinking Akiko had done the same thing her bow ready as well pointing strait for the mans throat. Jack Crouched at her side baring his fangs in warning that he was ready to pounce.

The pups noticing that things has suddenly gotten Tens and quite looked up to see what the danger was. She could hear Jack giving them the command to hide themselves. They did so but behind her and jack huddling close together and staring out with wide Gold eyes.

Upon looking over the man she took from what she did know and guessed that he was Aiel and not to be underestimated under any circumstance. "Tisk" she said quietly tightening her grip slightly on her bowstring as she took this into realization of what she could not be dealing with. If he let that string go she had little chance of dodging it and even if she did she had little to no chance fighting him off her best chance would be run but with the pups there was no way.

If she fired there was more chance him getting hit and still killing her. well at least this might have been what her father had said but she had already learned that some of what he said was so very wrong. Still it was good to be cautious. Even then she would not be able to hold the string like this forever her arm would give out at some point.

[SikstaSlathalin]

Maradon, Saldaea

Dash took his time back to his friend's Inn as far as he knew his job was done and all that was needed was making his way back to his family's land and wait for the next bounty to come their way. He was grateful the rest of his night up to going to sleep was uneventful. That was until he was shocked away by some booming voice claiming it's the Dragon Reborn. He growled getting out of the bed rubbing his eyes.
"Another power hungry degenerate, spectacular my family will be extra busy now." With sleep robbed from him the big man pulled on his clothes, boots, and other gear deciding to get an early start on his journey home it might save him time in dodging the Children of Light's patrol on the roads away form the city.

Adjusting his bag and gear he went to pay his bill to his friend when a commotion outside brought him quickly awake tossing the coins on the counter he ran out and grabbed the shoulder of a solider that was running by with an arm load of wanted posters.
"What in the name of blood and fire is all the screaming about?" The solider spun all willing to break the jar of the owner of the hand so roughly on him but looking into dull golden eyes and massive frame of the hand's owner made him quail out a response.
"A man escaped the dungeon of a lord and kidnapped the daughter of Lord Bashere and has offered a huge reward on the return of both of them. Every Thief Catcher and Cut throat in the city are out for the gold. We're to paste up these wanted posters all over the city." Dash growled his quick mind was already guessing who the man was without asking his ripped a poster from the soldier and shoved him on his way. Unrolling the poster his nostrils flared and he tossed the poster aside taking off at a long loping run though the town Bran had escaped and his family's credibility could be on the line as well as his bounty though he knew once the bounty left the hands of the Catcher it wasn't their problem anymore but his professionalism called him to recapture the man and if fortune allowed the Noblewoman as well.

He hadn't personally done many rescues or recaptures but they did shine on the records of some of his family mainly the women but still on the family records. He took the knife he took from Bran and sniffed it for his scent. When he first noticed he'd forgotten to return the knife he wanted to return it to the Lord first thing in the morning but now he was glad he kept it using his mighty senses and with the help of his wolf brethren he soon found Bran's scent even his blood at the sight of where he kidnapped the woman, it looked like he had betrayed whoever freed him from prison and let lust and/or greed take over his more evolved senses and took the woman for his own. Maybe he could kill this rat and get a better reward for ridding the world of him. Using the shadowy forest to hide him and his inhuman friends running on all fours keeping their noses tracking the fugitive's smell. It was a few hours later he caught a stronger scent of cooking food and focusing his ears he heard voices he could vaguely understand Bran's but the woman didn't seem distressed or being tortured in anyway. Could it be they had planned this ahead of time? It wouldn't surprise the Wolf Brother if that were true, no doubt Bran's caviler past had brought him to the beds of many so called well-bred women. Maybe this Lady Bashere was one of his ladies of the night surely her father would pay extra for that knowledge. Slowing his running he dropped into a stealthy crawl after stowing his bag in a tree very near the little camp. Drawing his pistol again creeping up he held the barrel close to Bran's head and growled in a low voice.
"You just don't know when to keep out of trouble do you boy?" The Wolves that had been helping Dash growled skirting the glow of the firelight.

[Edynol]

Bran gave a start when he saw a wolf walk past near by, but then shook his head, not thinking anything more of it. The suddenly he heard someone speak and he froze. he barely recognized the voice of that light flaming bounty hunter with the yellow eyes. "Blood and bloody ashes," he said under his breath. "Can't I ever have any luck?" He then quickly grabbed his sword and knocked the gun away, causing it to fire into the trees as it went flying a few yards away. "You just don't know to stop pressing your luck while you're ahead," he said in retort to his earlier words. "Well, I'm not tired as I was before, you won't find so amicable this time, wolfman."

The wolves surrounding him started to growl, ready to attack at a moments notice. But suddenly one of the whimpered and a few more started growling lower, yet more menacingly, if that was possible. Something sounded in the distance through the trees, stepping much to heavily to be a wolf. Then all of a sudden the wolves forgot about Bran and ran towards the noise and a series of loud growls and roars broke out as everything suddenly broke out into chaos. Dozens of trollocs from seemingly nowhere came through the forest, attacking the wolves as fervently as they attacked them. As Setsara's horse went running away as fast as it could go, Bran grabbed the girl's arm and pulled her away just as a large axe landed where her head would have been. "Trollocs! How in bloody flaming light did they get this far past the border!"

As Bran started going through the forms, slicing one trolloc's arm off before stabbing another one through the jugular, he felt chills prickle through his spine. "Theee patternnn pullsss, huuumannn," said a voice like metal grinding against glass. "Join usss, and live. Oppose usss, and diiieee!"

Bran froze for a moment in the face of the myrddraal, its hollow, eyeless gaze making his mind go numb with fear until three wolves attacked it, breaking its hold on him. As the wolves fought the fade, Bran dispatched a few more trollocs before seeing a clear path through them. "Come on," he yelled to Setsara as he grabbed her arm again. "Let's get outta here!" As he pulled her along, he looked back at the bounty hunter and his wolves fighting. "Forget it," he said to himself. "I told him I wouldn't lift a finger, and I bloody well meant it." He took a few more steps and looked back again. "He got himself into it, why should I risk my life just so he can claim another bounty on me?" He turned and took a few more steps before stopping again. "Oh, burn me. Burn me to bloody ashes! Stay with me," he said to the girl as he went back to the bounty hunter.

Bran charge towards Dasher with his blade raised, looking as if he may run him through, but the sword went high and to the side as it pierced a trolloc through the chest before its blow could hit the bounty hunter. "Don't think we're gonna suddenly become friends, burn you. And burn me for a fool for helping ya." As the fade killed two of the wolves attacking him, Bran rushed at it and sliced off its head. The fade wouldn't die anytime soon, as its headless body still swung the sword wildly trying to kill anything it could. Suddenly, a few dozen trollocs that were linked to the myrddraal started screaming and dropping dead, cutting their number almost in half, but there were still a lot of them. Bran cursed the shield on him, otherwise he could have blasted all these trollocs with relative ease. "Keep your bloody back to me if have any sense, bounty hunter."

[SikstaSlathalin]

Dash snarled diving after his gun as Bran knocked it aside and took aim to drop the scum but his own keen senses and the cue from the wolves made him spin and fire into the night a loud scream confirmed his thoughts before Bran and the woman ditched him he was firing deep into the woods his night vision giving him perfect shots and kills. He was unworried even if they got away he'd track them down all the same once a Wolfgrain has your scent you never get away. His pistols kept barking into the Trollocs as they swarmed. He'd been in situations like this before, borderland bounties were often the most dangerous which is why only experienced members of his family take them snd these Trollocs were why they were dangerous. As his pistols ran out of ammo he didn't have time to reload shoving them back in their holsters he sprung from the ground into the tree where he stashed his bag. He didn't have time to get his rifle or bow out so he quickly drew out his blades putting them in their holsters before jumping back into the fray after he throw it over his shoulders again slashing and hewing with his great sword. Trollocs dropped left and right as he made his way back to Bran and the woman. He growled at Bran.

"Right the moron that escaped prison and ran off with a Lord's daughter knowing full well a bounty would go out and he'd get hunted down again is telling the Bounty Hunter that caught him the first time about sense. If you can stop thinking with your little lizard long enough for us to get away from this swarm. We may get out of here alive enough for me to drag you back to prison." He growled bringing down more Trollocs. "We have to get to the road and out of these woods, at least there you two can see them coming as well as I do."

[Setsa]

Setsara was awake when the wolves growled, her bow and quiver at her side under the blanket she very slowly gripped them, taking her time as it seemed the wolves were growling for Bran and not her. Still, better to be safe than sorry she thought to herself, the Lady didn't make any sudden movements until the gun fired off and in an instant she sprang to her feet in a crouched position. "Are you both fools?! You could have killed someone with that!!" Strapping the quiver of arrows to her back she knew enough about wolves to not look them in the eye, instead focusing on the fighting men until a different noise took attention over all other things.

Thankfully Bran pulled her out of the path of the axe as she curses herself for not seeing it coming, but it was night for ashes sake!! "Trollocs! How in the bloody flaming light did they get this far past the border!"

Drawing back her bowstring with a painted silver tipped arrow she fired off with great speed four arrows into the eyes of quickly approaching trollocs as they bellowed in pain. Knocking down others in their path as they moved blindly towards the sounds of the fight.

"Because those Children of the Light won't let us do our dam job! They love to intercede whenever it comes to Trollocs when my father and I send out the troops!" The chill of a myrddraal was something she was familiar with but none the less never could get use to either. The next thing she knew while dodging a striking spear, Bran grabbed her arm yet again to pull her aside down the path of escape. Running in the forest she thought he was a mad man with Bran speaking to himself with weighing whether to save the bounty hunter who was most likely wanting to collect her and get his reward from her father, or not. Long as she left this alive, walking on her own two feet, and heading away from Maradon she would count her blessings.

"Oh, burn me. Burn me to bloody ashes! Stay with me," running back into the fight to save the wolf brother she growled low obviously displeased. "Get your head on straight or I'll do it for you Bran!!" Once all joined up back to back to back with her best weapon, her arrows, aimed at the remaining Trollocs' throats, Setsara rolled her eyes at the two men bickering about who has enough sense for anything.
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"Oh you ain't taking me away again," Bran said as he sliced another trolloc, its innards falling to the ground before it did. "And for your information, she asked me to come along after I rescued her!" As they cleared their way to the open road, they were met by a few dozen of Bashere's soldiers mixed in with a few whitecloaks after the bounty.

"You two are acting like old bickering men!" Setsara yelled. "One more word about it and I'll slit your throats myself so I don't have to hear about it! Bran is right! He saved my life so I allowed him to accompany me for a spell, once we reach the next village you can take him then for all I care but you WON'T have me going back on a Lady of Bashere's word!! "

"That's him!" one of the whitecloaks yelled. "He's a darkfriend! He brings shadowspawn to aid in his escape!" "And that wolfkin," another voice shouted. "That's the bounty hunter who brought him the first time! They're in it together! He helped him escape! I saw it!"

Bran growled as a two whitecloaks came at him. "Bloody ashes! I'm no bloody darkfriend! Didn't you see me killing trollocs!" He then kicked the whitecloak in the crotch and kneed him in the face before barely deflecting a blow from another trolloc. As one of the other whitecloaks came at him, he was speared through the chest by a trolloc. "Are you alright," he yelled to Setsara who was still at his side.

Nodding that she was alright to Bran and a bit outraged at the sheer number of the mixed troops and Children. Setsara walked through the mess of people straight to the soldier in charged of the group that was sent out to find her. Grabbing the cuff of his collar in a tight fist. "Now you listen to ME!! Go back from where you came from, don't speak a word about my whereabouts to my father any of you!" The soldiers sent by Lord Bashere hesitated until their captain came.

"I apologize, my lady," the captain said, "But am afraid I cannot do that. I would rather you come along willingly, but if I have to strap you to a horse, I'd rather suffer a public lashing than a beheading if Lord Bashere found out I let you go free with these vagrants." The captain then went to grab her but at that instant a trolloc brought a huge mace down on his head, caving his skull in and throwing the other soldiers into a rage as they started killing the trollocs, forgetting about Setsara and the others.

"Go....go now while they finish off the Trollocs, the soldiers can handle them." Turning around it was her turn to pull on Bran and Dash's arms shoving them both ahead of her down the road to the next village.

[Co-op by Setsa and Edynol]

[SikstaSlathalin]

This night had gone right to bearscat as soon as the announcement of the new Dragon Reborn had woken him up. Now he was stuck with two very arrogant fugitives fighting Trollocs, soliders, and White cloaks and now to make things worse they all think he's part of the escape plan. And no matter how much he wanted to destroy the Whitecloak that smeared his family's good name killing the little bug would only prove their suspicions but then again running off with them wouldn't help his case much. But he wasn't going to let these two big pay days escape him. He doubted they could even if they tried but why make things harder for himself?

"Threaten all you two biddys want dead or alive you're coming with me." He sent a message to the wolves still fighting with the Trollocs to follow his scent they needed to escape and he didn't want his brothers and sisters to get hurt when they didn't need to the canines needed no further urging they scattered like the leaves into the forests again. He was about to shout something back at Bran and Setsara when he heard wind whip close by ducking he felt a Trolloc's sword swish over his head spinning in the crouch he tripped the monster and wrapped his large arm around it's neck, using the momentum of the falling monster and his own he wrenched the neck and snapped it leaving the lifeless body behind he fell into step behind the others. For now he was stuck with these two until he could get ahold of one of his family's contacts and arrange for these two to go back where they came from and get the money that was rightly his family's into their coffers so he might as well try and keep them alive that long.
"Take a left at this split oak we need to get off the road again."

[Edynol]

After a few hours of running back through the woods, Bran finally stopped as a foul odor drifted through the air. "Wait. We're getting to close to the Blight. We need to head south-east. I know some people in Cairhien, which is far away from these bloody borderlands." He then chuckled a little. "Told ya the shadowspawn were getting desperate. That fade actually asked me to join them! Never heard of them doing that before. Could hardly understand half of whatever else it said. Doesn't matter anyway." he then looked to Setsara and Dasher. "You wanna get away from your father, for whatever reason, I don't care, and your head will probably fetch as much as mine will now, so I doubt you wanna be anywhere near here. So I suggest we all head in the opposite direction they all expect us to go and be free of the flaming trollocs as well."

With the mention of nearing towards the Blight Setsara only shrugged to herself, having been there enough times it wasn't so bad. Of course this is a Saldaea woman talking and she certainly wouldn't want to live there either. Cairhien wasn't where she originally had planned to travel to, it would be out of her native country but the fool Bran did bring up a point that her initial intention would still be met.

" Even Bashere soldiers can go so far without delay in continuance of orders, and it would be awhile before my cousin the Queen approves of sending others to my rescue so they will call it. " Smiling she turned around towards the south-east, took a few steps, then looked back at the other two. " Shall we then? No time like the present right?" The Lady's smile growing into a sparkling grin.....

Dasher sniffed the air as they stopped and he practically gagged having a heightened sense of smell has it's drawbacks. "I'm not letting you two out of my sight so I'm with you." He sent another message to the wolves following them saying they could return to their packs now if they want. As soon as he asked it he heard the forests near them come alive with various barks and howls and his quick eyes caught sign of shiny gray hides in the early morning light. A breeze made his tattered cloak dance around his body and looking down he saw it was torn and covered with Trolloc blood with a slight snarl he ripped it off and chucked it into the woods leaving the distinctive smelling clothing behind.

"I won't be the only Bounty Hunter out here and while it's unlikely we'll have another Wolf Brother on our trail some do use normal dogs and if we go around reeking of Trolloc we'll be found out. If either of you have a change of clothes on you I'd recommend changing now and chucking your present clothes some where away from our path also roll in the grass and use it to get any Trolloc blood from your bodies." With these instructions given Dash went ahead with his plan first rolling in the grass to wipe the blood from him he then quickly changed his clothes not caring about modesty before pulling on his signature horned green cloak.

Bran nodded in agreement, borrowing some clothing from Dasher since his was back in Maradon. He was gonna miss that bloody favorite shirt of his. "Well, I say we get some sleep first. I'm about to fall on my face. I don't think they'll look for us this close to the border." After ditching their old clothes, the walked for a short while before finding a suitable spot to camp.

The next few days were touch and go as they headed to Cairhien, ducking and hiding everytime they heard footsteps not their own. Only when finally out of Saldaea territory did Bran start to walk a little lighter. "There should be a town a few miles from here where we can get clothing an such. A good town. They like me there," he said with a grin. We can't stay here though, still close to Saldaea's border. They may not come all the way to Cairhien, but most soldiers won't shirk at crossing a border a few miles if they really want something."

(An Edy, Setsa, and Siks co-post)

[Setsa]

Location: Cairhien

Myra was sitting down at a table that early morning rubbing the back of her neck from the ride over from Tar Valon to the Stag and Steed Inn. She had hoped they made before the one she had previously seen arrived. Least she managed to scrub herself clean last night after the days on the road, she never mind traveling but the sweaty, dirt layer of extra skin she was always glad to get rid of as soon as possible. Thanking the cook's hand who placed the two plates of eggs, sausage and hotcakes in front of her for breakfast she poured herself some water and waited for her life long friend to get her lazy rear up. Hopefully she stayed awake after the flick to her nose that only she was allowed to do, drumming her fingers as her stomach tried so hard to convince her to go ahead and start without her. However manners overruled still for the time being as she twirled a strand of her soft long hair around her other finger in thought. Wondering where the Aes Sedai and Warder was as well that they arrived with but hadn't seen them since yesterday.

Having had her nose flicked, Nyandra groaned and fought to go back to sleep. She hated the early mornings that Myra seemed to adore. When she heard her friend leave the room, she growled with her eyes remaining closed. "Blood and ashes.." She hissed realizing she was defeated and couldn't sleep anymore. With a huff, she rose from the bed and put on her usual attire and came down the stairs, her long hair hidden away under her bandana.

"You are a brat, Myra." She whined as she sat down beside her friend and looked at the food. "How can you be hungry already?"

"Well Nya, bread and cheese can only go so far for a stomach, do make me remind you of your complaints for hot cakes and meat yesterday. Now dig in before you're grump mood decides to stick around for the whole day." Nudging her with a wink she began to eat her breakfast, not even taking time to savor the flavor or warmth from the hot meal. There were only a few early riser farmers that were in the room waiting for the markets to open to sell their goods eating their own meals or enjoying a good pipe. The smell of roasted coffee permiated the Inn for any lazy bones in the upper levels to stir at least.

Nyandra scowled slightly before digging in and filling her stomach. It was true that they had been eating small rations of monotonous varieties. The meal was definitely a change in the right direction. Her appearance began to soften as she ate and relaxed. "So any sign of that guy and his friends? Or did we go to the wrong place?" Nyandra asked as she ate. There was a small teasing smirk on her face.

Myra was quick to glare at Nyandra in mid-drink of her water. Setting it down she sat up straight and cleared her throat softly "I got the right village now is the task to find him...there are only two Inns here and I already paid a visit to the Inn owner this morning of the other one who said there was no one staying there that remotely looked like anyone I had described." She was careful with her words as she kept her talent...her gift very secretive and protected. She has had enough of the Aes Sedai and their constant questions and requests about what she read from their auras and any thing of importance that was note worthy since the last report. They weren't even reports really, she was strictly told to visit the lead Aes Sedai every day whether she had any news or not.

Seeing the glare, Nyandra let out a small chuckle. "Alright, I was just joking, Myra. I trust you. You haven't proven me wrong so far." She put a calming hand on her friends arm. "Just let me know when you see them. You know how I am with strangers sneaking up on us."

"Why yes big brother, I would never want to lead you in anyways that would risk me." Sarcasm in her voice she called her as another brother when she would act like this, just like the two bothers she left back home in Caemlyn. Giggling softly, Myra hugged her tightly before eyeing the bandana covering her head. "Tsk, you really should let me brush it out better for you...it's so pretty when you don't hide it under that bandana."

Nyandra let out a small huff at being called a big brother. It wasn't so much that she found it offensive. Truth be told, she really was more of a male mentality. Still, she didn't want to be like Myra's brothers. Feeling the hug, she returned it slightly. "Pretty?" She scoffed before shaking her head slightly. "I do not go for pretty. You know that. Vanity is not on my list of priorities." She finished her food and pushed the now empty plate aside.

"Yes yes, I'm the beauty and you're the brawn. No need to remind me of it I see it in you but don't forget my winnings to our last bet. Next festival we come across you're dancing with me this time!" The two women were different but shared a sisterly bond of best friends that no one could ever break. "I figure we have some time before anyone comes into the village...should we have a walk around and stretch our legs? We need a new sharpening stone for our swords anyhow right?" She knew how to get Nya moving, using class and logic always worked best with a bit of finese.
“Forget? You would never let me. Just please, for the love of blood and bloody ashes, do not make me wear a dress. I hate those things.” Nya said with a look of disdain. She listened to her friends suggestions and lit up at the mentioning of the sharpening stone. “About time you speak my language. What are we waiting for?”

Nyandra stood up quickly from her seat at the table and gave her friend a smirk. “Whenever you are ready, slow poke.” She teased playfully while tapping her foot. Nyandra was glad of their bond. Sometimes it felt like Myra was the only one who really understood her.

Finishing her water she politely put the dishes together in a stack before standing up, smoothing out her light green dress with a darker green corest top half that always made her own eyes pop out brilliantly. "Fair enough...then..." Wrapping her arm underneath to link them together with a brilliant smile on her red lips. "Shall we then? I'm sure the market will open soon and we've never been this far north before maybe we'll find something we both like beside the stones." The two women walked out as such as if there was nobody looking at them, Myra giggling on the main road to the market when Nyandra mention the nose flick smarted some from this morning.

[Co-op of the lovely Lissa and Setsa]