A Hunting Trip of Epic Proportions

[Themistocles]

Alcarin walked through the Spine. He had recently heard of a dragon's egg being found on the premises, and decided to look around. He had just received his bounty from a mysterious man in Carvahall, after hunting down a Varden Scout. So, Alcarin, with no assignments to hold him back, decided to make the short trip to the Spine, and look around.

Upon entering said forested area, Alcarin noticed a small footpath, probably made for use by hunters, he followed the path. The forest was dark, the sky was overcast, and the moisture in the air hinted a chance of rain. Alcarin heard a rustle of leaves behind him. Reaching for an arrow, Alcarin turned around, and without aiming, fired a shot into the brush. He walked over to the low undergrowth, and saw his arrow stuck into a tree stump. Then, Alcarin saw a rabbit scurry into the forest not far from where he had been standing. The arrow had been fired at a harmless foe.

Continuing on, Alcarin heard hushed voices, and the scampering of a wooded creature, most likely a deer. Alcarin quickened his pace. Ahead of him, in the evening shadows, were the silhouettes of two hunters taking aim at their prey. Alcarin approached them quietly, but not completely inaudibly. He tapped on one of their shoulders. The man jumped and yelled, suprised. Their prey, which was a large buck, ran out into the bushes.

"Are you totally daft?" asked the first man angrily. His face was young, but exhibited a full, brown, goatee. The second man, whom at this point was slinging his bow onto his back, stared at Alcarin, untrustingly. Alcarin replied shortly, "I only seek your assistance. The second man said bluntly, "Well, if you seek dinner, you just chased it away." Alcarin, who's unexpressive face only appeared angered, replied, "I seek any information you may have obtained of the recent finding of a dragon egg on the premises." "We have none, but if you want any information on the absurdity of a dragon's egg here, you may want to check the local Dragon Hunter's Association." The two men laughed ignorantly at this ludicrous statement. Alcarin, whom felt his dignity insulted, unsheathed his short sword, and pointed it in the mens' faces.

"We don't want no trouble now," said the first man in a mocking tone. Alcarin, who was in no mood for silly antics, bludgeoned the man over the head. He fell to the ground, unconscious. The second man, who appeared to be in his forties, began begging for mercy. Alcarin then heard someone coming up the path, at a quick pace. The person began shouting, "What's going on up there, I heard sounds of fighting." Alcarin knocked the other man unconscious, and ran into the nearby brush to stay hidden. He certainly didn't want to fight some innocent passerby, should that be who was coming up the pathway...

[Briae]

Cloudy gray skies cast a dark blanket over the spine, and a persistent wind carried thick moisture. The dense trees of the spine did not afford room for Kaldr’s nearly full grown size, so Aelyn allowed him to fly ahead, and find a good camp ground for her in the evening. They kept in mental contact, but Aelyn still felt somewhat empty. Her horse could provide nothing of the speed and companionship of Kaldr, but Galbatorix himself had informed her, that though Kaldr was to accompany her, she was not to ride him near civilizations.
An understandable decision, if aggravating.
The spine, as usual, had held no surprises. Aelyn hadn’t even seen anyone yet, and it was mid-afternoon. Thanks to the ever-inflating rumors of the dangers waiting for those who entered the spine, it was a stretch of land where Aelyn felt comfortable to shake her hood off and relax. Slightly.

Don’t bother to hunt on your way here, Kaldr said, I found a herd of deer and I will save some for you.
Aelyn frowned at the thought of Kaldr tearing into some unsuspecting deer. She had never quite gotten used to that part of him. How thoughtful. Aelyn responded, guiding her horse onto another deer trail. Following the paths that the animals took consistently usually proved to be quicker and more effective than going on a straight path, which humans made long ago. Men seemed to think it easier to build a bridge than to find a place to ford the stream.

The forest was quiet, as it always was, the silence only broken by the sound of Aelyn's horse walking, and the occasional bird trill. Aelyn didn't really understand why people thought it to be haunted, for it was certainly beautiful, if somewhat ethereal and filled with the residual power of some ancient mage who once lived here. Aelyn, and many of her coleagues, she was sure, found it very placid. Kaldr had often expressed his fondness of flying over it; not only did it offer plentiful game, but he rarely had to worry about being seen or flying so high that frost formed on his scales, just so that he would look like a normal bird to the average viewer.

Aelyn had left Ceunon a few days before, after finishing the increasingly boring task of diplomatically meeting with the ruler of the city, Master Turael. Galbatorix informed Aelyn that Turael had not been sending enough money and products, and that she must discuss that with him in any way that would convince him of the importance of the subject. She had also been tasked with reminding him to send recruits for the army, which he had been neglecting recently. Turael was somewhat ignorant of Galbatorix's power, and apparent need for the taxes due him, so Aelyn had needed to remind him - forcefully - of the King's punishment for those who did not send what was due to him. He was in relatively good shape, having not been properly punished, this being simply a warning. She only broke his nose, and a few ribs.

Aelyn was pulled from her thoughts as her subconcious registered the sounds of voices, and she halted her horse. "Vöxtr hljóðan*," Aelyn whispered, and the voices suddenly became as loud as if the speakers where standing next to her.
"I seek any information you may have obtained of the recent finding of a dragon egg on the premises." The first voice was stony, and obviously not informal in the slightest.
The second voice replied with "We have none, but if you want any information on the absurdity of a dragon's egg here, you may want to check the local Dragon Hunter's Association."
Two men laughed heartily, and Aelyn heard the sound of a sword being drawn.
Not good.

"We don't want no trouble now." The second man's tone was obviously mocking, and Aelyn knew that what would follow would not be pretty, if the first man was prone to anger.
Aelyn found herself to be correct, for she heard a short, sharp cry, and a heavy thud as a body fell to the ground. Releasing the magic and spurring her horse forward, she called out ""What's going on up there?" Aelyn asked in a no nonsense tone. "I heard fighting."

As she entered the small clearing, her eyes fell first on the fallen man. Seeing no blood, Aelyn assumed that he had been knocked out. The other hunter was crouching and begging for mercy, which showed his dispicable character. The most imposing figure, however, was the man with his sword drawn. He was hooded and cloaked, but from the angle of his head, Aelyn could see his face. Or, more accuratly, she could see part of his face. Black hair hung down, covering one of his eyes in a menacing fashion. His face held no expression, and he held his sword with practiced ease. He was clothed entirely in brown, from his boots to his hood.

Aelyn drew a dagger, holding it in a position where she could easily throw it. She also readied herself to use magic, should the occasion arise. She wore black, fingerless gloves, which covered her Gedwëy ignasia well, though she assumed that once the man heard her name, should she choose to reveal it, he would know who she was.
Aelyn, I'll come, just in case. Kaldr said.
No! You wont be able to do anything here but torch the forest. Stay where you are, I'll meet you there tonight, if I can make it. Aelyn replied, mentally.
At last, she spoke to the man. "What do you think you're doing?"


[*translation: Increase Sound]

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[Themistocles]

Alcarin knocked the other man unconsious, to take him out of the fight that was sure to follow. Alcarin, out of pure instinct, dove into the nearby bushes, for cover, and to give him more time to get off a decent shot with his bow. After analyzing Aelyn for a brief moment, he realized that she was not an enemy, but a fellow member of the Empire.

Stepping confidently out of the bushes, Alcarin scanned her body for weapons of possible use, on the off-chance that they did find the dragon-egg. He saw few visible weapons about her, but was unsure as to whether Aelyn held any beneath her cloak. Remembering that he had just fought a battle, Alcarin looked over to the men he had knocked down, just to make sure that they weren't regaining consciousness. They weren't. Alcarin noticed that the sky began to exhibit a dark look, one that certainly hinted an intense rain. He began to realize that they should soon move to a thicker part of the forest, or incur the sky's wet wrath.

Alcarin spoke to her trustingly, an emotion he rarely felt. "Are you here searching for the dragon's egg as well?" As he waited for her response, the skies burst. Cold rain fell, splashing into the ground with a force that eroded the paths that they walked on. He quickly ran to an overhanging rock, in the hopes of keeping dry under its shelter, and to keep his well-kept equipment from rusting.

Upon reaching the shelter, Alcarin sat down on the dry ground. Now, expecting no interruptions, he again asked her, "Are you here searching for the dragon's egg as well?"

[Briae]

In one swift movement, the man smashed his sword's pommel into the pleading man's skull, and ran to the cover of the shrubs bordering the clearing. He disappeared from view. Aelyn waited patiently, since she knew that he had not moved since he entered the bushes, and he was probably trying to find out who she was. Beginning to tire of waiting, Aelyn suddenly noticed the increasing moisture in the air, and when she looked up, she saw that dark clouds, heavy with rain, were accumulating. Barzul! The last thing she wanted now was to need to finish her day's ride sopping wet. Not to mention, that the forest, for a half mile or so around their current position, was thin enough to let in almost all of the rain. Barzul, she thought again. Aelyn sheathed her dagger, and waited, no longer patiently.

At last, the man stepped out of the bushes, standing in a more relaxed stance. Ah. He had noted her allegiance. After a moment or two, he spoke, his voice low, but clear. "Are you here searching for the dragon's egg as well?"
Aelyn began to reply, but at that moment, the skies opened and large drops of rain splattered down on the two with quickly increasing force. The man dashed to the shelter of an overhanging rock, and Aelyn spurred her horse on to follow him. When she reached the rock, Aelyn dismounted and removed her pack of provisions and the bag of scrolls from her saddle, tossing them under the rock so they would not get wet. "Finna hlíf*," Aelyn murmured to her horse. He trotted off, and Aelyn knew that she could call him to her when she needed him again.

When Aelyn hunched under the rock, she took off her soaked cloak and spread it on the ground. It was at that point that the man repeated his question. "Are you here searching for the dragon's egg as well?"
Aelyn looked up. "There have been no sightings of dragon's eggs here since the Varden brat found Saphira. And it's been a long time since then. Have you heard something Galbatorix hasn't?" Aelyn raised an eyebrow. "I, personally, am on my way back to Uru'Baen, after having a... diplomatic meeting with the ruler of Ceunon." Aelyn paused. "And what might you be here for? Other than searching for Dragon's eggs, of course."

Aelyn looked out at the pouring rain, and shivered slightly, drawing her knees up to her chest and crossing her arms. If her cloak was not quite so wet, she would be glad of it's warmth, but she would have to make due. She wondered if Kaldr had obeyed her, and stayed, and she decided to find out.
Kaldr, where are you?
Currently? Flying toward you in the blasted rain. Nearly there.
Kaldr! I told you to stay there! I can't ride you anyway, so what good does it do me? Aelyn groaned, and shook her head. Suddenly, she realized that the man was still staring at her. Too late now. Just be careful while landing, alright?
Adressing her new aquaintence, she said "What is your name?"

[*translation: Find shelter]

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[Themistocles]

Alcarin was stymied, and unsure as to how he was so lucky as to stumble upon a fellow imperial member. In reply to her previous question, Alcarin said, "My name, is Alcarin Bayeux, I am an imperial assassin, but I just completed...a...job in a nearby town, and decided to take a look around the area, it's not to often that you hear about the finding of a dragon's egg. Surely if a certain Imperial Assassin were to find such an egg, he would be paid immensely, not to mention showered with fame, glory, and adoration." While talking, Alcarin noticed an immense interest in the woman's eyes, and saw that a storm of questions whirled around in her mind. He noticed that she was a very inquisitive person.

"So, considering that we are both members of the Empire, we most likely should consider teaming-up for a mission. After all, this is pretty conveniant, right? Although, my evaluations so far would have to conclude that we both have our own helpful set of skills in the art of sneakiness. What course do you think we should take from here?"

After talking for the last few moments, he wanted to hear the woman's ideas and suggestions for a plan of action from their current situation.