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Date Posted: 10:12:49 04/15/02 Mon
Author: Marz, Tia, Jeremy
Subject: More than a few things
In reply to: Tristan and Rowan 's message, "And a few other things" on 01:28:05 04/15/02 Mon

Marz pulled a bottle of liquor off the shelf, filling the air with years of dust. He sneezed a few times then glanced at the label on the bottle, unable to read the foreign words written upon it. After more consecutive sneezes he set the bottle down and proceeded to search the shelves built into the back of the bar. A moneybox was free of dust, its lock broken off. Apparently, thieves had visited this tavern, stealing whatever the box might have held.

"We aren't alone in here."

The ex-gang leader's eyes immediately turned to Tristan, who stood mid-way up the staircase. As he made his way to the dragon, he slowly withdrew his sword. Marz shrugged along with Tia when Rowan suddenly asked where Jeremy was. It never occurred to him that the youth would even think about joining Erlic's group instead of his because that would have been an insult to his pride.

Once Rowan and Tia ran off to find the youth, Marz turned to Tristan. "Let's see what's up there." Together they mounted the stairs, stopping to stare down the long hall at the top with doors on either side of it. Marz tightened his grip on his sword as they crept along the hallway, listening intently for anything out of the ordinary.

They paused before a door that was slightly ajar when they heard a whimper sound from within the dark room beyond. The smell of a recently distinguished candle was predominant. Although Marz could see fairly well in the darkness, he pulled the lighter he had stolen off Jeremy from his pocket and flicked it to life. With their swords held out before them, they stepped into the room.

Marz set a wall torch to the side of the door ablaze then shoved the lighter back into his pocket while looking around the room. A large bed was recently slept in, and the table beside it held a glass filled with liquid, possible orange juice judging from its color. Marz shared a knowing look with his lover before they made their way to a door across the room. While Tristan stood ready to skewer anything that might jump out at them, Marz grabbed the knob and pulled to door towards him, opening it wide.

The ex-gang leader blinked at the sight that greeted them. A dark-haired boy of about his own age knelt beside a much younger auburn haired girl with his hand over her mouth. Apparently, he had been trying to keep her from crying out. Both were dressed in tattered clothes and their eyes were wide with fear; the boy's slanted ones marking him of eastern decent. When Marz caught the glint of a blade in the boy's free hand that he tried to hide behind his back, he pointed his sword at this throat. "Drop your weapon and come out of there nice and slowly."

The boy's emerald green eyes shifted from Marz to Tristan. He looked like a caged animal seeking a means of escape. After a moment, he placed a dagger on the floor before him and lowered his hand from the little girl's mouth. She let out the scream she had been holding in then buried her cherub-like face into her hands and began to sob. The boy threw an arm across her shoulders then they stood and slowly stepped out from the closet.

"Tell us your names and what the hell you're doing here," Marz commanded, staring down at the shorter boy, while keeping his sword pointed at his stomach.

"I am Noyko," the youth said, "and this is Ablina. We are slaves."

Marz's eyes went wide. Of course he knew that slavery existed, yet he didn't know much about it. He glanced at Tristan before facing Noyko, who went on to answer the second part of his question.

"We come here with our master and the men he hire to help him explore these ruins. They search for ancient spell books to add to our master's library." Noyko kept his eyes on the floor as he spoke and seemed to keep all of his weight on his left leg. "One day, big hairy monsters come and kill everyone, but Ablina and I manage to hide. After a while, we find this place and stay here. There is metal box in kitchen downstairs with food that is good to eat, but is not much left."

Marz let his eyes roam down to the leg the youth was favoring. "Are you injured?"

Noyko shrugged. "Two day ago, I leave Ablina here and go out to look for more food. I run away from bald man that start to chase me. He throw dagger and it hit me in leg but no let it slow me down. I pull blade out and keep for self even though I know is not allowed for slaves to carry weapons."

Albina, who appeared to be about ten years old, finally stopped crying. She brushed matted hair away from her face then met Tristan's eyes before quickly lowering her gaze. "Are you going to kill us?"

Noyko tightened his grip around the worried girl. "Please….do not hurt us. I am very good slave, with many years of training. I can cook, clean, sew, fight in pit battles, and even give you pleasure if that is your desire."

Marz stared at the self-proclaimed slaves. Satisfied that they posed no threat, he finally sheathed his sword and glanced at the dragon. "I think we should have Val take a look at them then check to see if they found Jeremy before we move on."

Turning back to the pair, Marz introduced himself and Tristan. He moved to retrieve the dagger from the closet then motioned for Tristan to lead them from the room, while he mind called Erlic, asking that he have Val look for them outside. As they entered the hallway Noyko fell to his knees, his injured right leg unable to sustain his weight any longer.

"Help him out, Tris," Marz said as he lifted the little girl into his arms. At first she seemed terrified but after he smiled at her she wrapped her arms around his neck and relaxed.

Noyko looked up, his emerald eyes meeting Tristan's dark orbs. "Forgive me for appearing so weak to my new masters."

*******


As soon as Tia's eyes took in the scene before her, she unleashed her daggers. The blades imbedded themselves into the chest of the assassin that was rushing toward Rowan. His eyes went wide with shock before he toppled to his death, a pool of blood forming around his body.

The petite thief ran forward, reclaiming her knives and Rowan's dagger as well. She cleaned them off on the dead body then searched the two assassins. After pocketing everything of interest, she knelt beside the elf and Jeremy. "Where there only the two of them?" she asked, while wiping blood away from the otherworldly youth's eyes.

"Yeah," Jeremy whispered. "But I think there's more somewhere in the ruins." He met Rowan's eyes then his body went limp, his head falling forward to rest on the elf's shoulder as he passed out.

"We better get him to the healer," Tia said. "You carry him and I'll get your swords." Once she had the weapons in hand, Tia followed the elf out of the building. Thankfully, Jeremy was rather scrawny and didn't seem to be much of a burden for Rowan. When she spotted Valhorek stepping out from a building across from them, she called out to him. Her eyes darted around the area, looking for any further signs of trouble while she waited for Val to come give Rowan a hand with the unconscious, badly beaten youth.

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