Turning up to face Lorae Lenwe continues the discussion.

"You and Alexandria may sleep under the branch if you wish, I shall meditate elsewhere under some shelter. What do you think of Alexandria? Listen to us, talking like old friends, you hardly know me but let me introduce you to Kethra."
He gestures up at the falcon.
"She's my companion, I found her in an abandoned nest north of here in the woods but she's very much her own person."

Lorae made a quick set of hawk sounds in the back of her throat, and Kethra cocked her head and then spoke back to Lorae in a similar way.

"Most birds of prey are their own masters," Lorae smiles. "She is particularly out going."

Thank you off the offer of the ground, but I prefer higher, perhaps Alexandria will join me. One can see the sky from up there as well. Though I feel that it is the full moon that draws Alexandria this night."

Alexandria was not breathing hard at all when she finished her dance, even though she had been dancing hard for well over half an hour. Bowing once more to the moon, as a sign of respect for a battle, she turns back, and walks to the tree where Lorae and Lenwe are currently discussing. Fixing her hair before she returns, she takes a deep breath composing herself, and casually strides over to the other two, sheathing her sword, and giving it a small pat.

"So? Have you two decided where you shall sleep? I have no troubles sleeping in my lady's light."

Turning from his 'conversation' with Lorae, it was boring anyway. He had come to civilization and he happened upon one of the least talkative people in existence.

"I shall meditate just over there."
He gestures to a point just outside the cover of the tree
"I think I'll be most comfortable away from the interference of a second tree, you two chose your own sleeping places and I'll stay and talk, if you so wish it, before meditating."

It had been since before leaving the Goddess's Grove that she had the time or the need to be one with a tree. Her heart slowed, her body slowed and her mind slowed. It took time to listen to a tree, but it was just as good as meditation to relax the body into a state.

She could feel the flow of liquids up and down the tree, this was the peak season for growing, precious nutrients were making their way to the leaves and the food to sustain itself during the winter, soon the time of sunlight would be lessening.

So as the evening progressed food was eaten and many drinks where drained that at one point the talk turned to retiring for the night. Since he has a room already and extra room he offers up the space to anyone who might need a spot for the night. However arty breaks up and people head off it appears to Xour that he will be bunking alone the bar maid offers to fill his mug yet again he declines by placing his hand over the mug.

He will finish off his last mug full Well this tired elf is going to turn in so last chance for free room tonight. He starts towards his room and then stops and turns back I will be going down to the stables in the morning to see what the blacksmith has to say about the shoes that our horses are wearing and if we should re shoe before trying to cross the mountains on our journey. I will probably see you then Brianna. So have a comfortable nights rest.
With that he goes to his room. Does whatever it is that a ranger does to replenish his couple of spells he carries and then hits the sack for what he hopes will be a good nights rest.

Spells prayed for
level 1
Talk to animals
summon nature ally

level 2
summon nature ally 2

The night passes uneventfully. Soon dawn sees the villagers well underway on the days tasks. Hunters take off early, the smell of bread baking fills the air. At the inn breakfast is already being served to the early risers.

Those that choose to rest outside will be woken by the general noise and the banging of the smith's hammer as he prepares to shoe some horses.

Before Brianna went to bed she sent Flame out to play guardian to those sleeping outside, "You keep a sharp eye or whatever you do. Little one."

Brianna woke early before the sun was fully over the horizon, as was usually with her. SHe goes out to the stables to get the horses checked out by the smith, just to make sure all the shoes were on tight and perhaps having extra nails put on to insure their security of those most important bits of metal on the horses hooves. Sharp rocks of the mountains were hard on horse shoes.

Brianna took one over at a time making sure that the war horse especially the stallions. Shadowbane she would take over last with the red mare It would keep him occupied that way.

While she waited for each horse she practiced her sword work just outside the smithy. first with one long sword and them with two. The smith looked over towards her as Brianna moves with great fluidity from one from to another. She had been well trained for sure. Suddenly startled he shook himself in surprise at being distracted. She was distracting He returned to his work keeping his eyes down on the shoes he was examining. She proceed to exchange each horse as he finished. finally she bring over Shadowbane and the red mare to have their shoes redone. Shadow bane was not cooperative have rarely known a farriers touch. Brinna had to keep him in hand the whole time.

The night passes quickly with Xour getting a very restful sleep. He rises very early as is his custom up even before the sun rises above the horizon. Dressing fully and with all his gear packed and loaded upon his body in it's usual fashion Xour first off makes his way down to the inns dinning area and finding the first person who can take an order from him finds out what if any fresh fruits or vegetables the inn may have and makes a breakfast order to be prepared to be served upon his return.

Moving out into the dark streets for the sun is still a ways from rising the ranger sets out on a little run. Whistling for his friend Dawg his wolf the two set out for a couple miles of overland running something Xour tries to do on a regular basis as a way to keep his lungs and heart working well when he is in battle situations for he knows the longer it takes him to tire the better off he is in any battle so he likes to work on his stamina.

Running hard he and Dawg cover the streets rather quickly and then the wolf as is characteristic takes the lead and with Xour in tow leads him on a cross country obstacle course which ends with them both back at the inn just as the sun breaks over the horizon. Going in Xour finds the waiters and along with his fresh breakfast orders a couple nice lamb chops raw. Taking his plate and the lamb he goes back outside and giving the meat to Dawg the two sit together and hungrily devour their breakfast.

About this time Brianna appears and she is going to be taking the horses over to the blacksmith to have their shoes checked and redone if necessary. So Xour falls in next to her and proceeds to help her with the horses. When the time comes for his own mare Lighting he asks the smith to be doubly sure that all is ready for the mountains.

As they wait for each horse Xour sits back and watches as Brianna goes through her own morning routine of practicing with her swords. He can't help but admire the way the warrior lady handles her weapons her movements are so fluid and smooth and when she has both weapons out and moving it is like a wall of slicing steel.

Quite an interesting evening yesterday turned out to be. I did notice however that you where not quite as comfortable as you would like to have been when Lorae left you to handle the diplomacy with the riders while she went after the drow. I know we have not been traveling together for as long as you and Lorae but if you ever feel you would like my input in a diplomatic setting I have had my share of handling such things as working out treaties between land owners or speaking with royalty because I will be leading their company through a rough and dangerous area. Anyway I am always glad to be of service My Lady..

It's just after sunrise.....


Using a very old map of the realm, A dark stranger rides to the outskirts of a town not on the map. With a gesture and a word, he relieves his mount of duty and the horse dissipates into nothingness. As he walks the remaining distance to the town gates, he reads a sign in a whisper to himself "Pelan's Helm". Checks his map again and scratches his head,"Well, I guess this place looks promising."
He doesn't realize how lonely he's been feeling on the road by himself until he catches himself nodding and smiling at everyone he passes.
Still perplexed by the inconsistencies of his map, he spies a somewhat curious sight, what appears to be a female blacksmith. Needing information and feeling drawn to this particular person (out of all the people of the town), he saughnters over to her.
He may have been mistaken in his first impression of her. She seems a little more like a warrior than a blacksmith, maybe she's both. He hears a ringing sound off to the side and turns to see from whence the sound came. Nah, she's a customer, for the black smith is shoeing a horse. She doesn't look too busy so he decides to converse with her.
"Well met, Ma'am. The name's Devon, Devon Worcslayer. I was wondering if you might be of some assistance to me. I'm on my way to Tilverton but my travels brought me to Pelan's Helm and it's not even on this map. I fear I may be lost. Do you think you could help me out. I hate to impose on you any further but could you direct me to the shops in town?"

Alexandria awoke long before the citizens of the city began working. It was part of her being that caused her to rise early. Having already prepared he spells for the day, and done her tribute to Eilistraee, she donned her armour, and walked back into the Inn, waiting for the others to wake. What adventures would Eilistraee bring her way this day? She did not know. But she was ready to find out.

As Brianna took the horses to the blacksmith Xuor came over to help her. "I really appreciate your help, Xuor, Shadowbane can be a handful if he wants to and quite too often for me he wants to." She strokes the stallions soft muzzle, since right now he is quiet and controllable.

They tied up the horses outside the blacksmith's shop and Brianna went in to discuss what she wanted done. The blacksmith had his forge all fired up and ready to go. "I need you to check all the shoes put in extra nails and cinch them down tight. Any thin shoes strip them off and put on new shoes since we are going to be traveling over the mountains."

The blacksmith came out and started right away. Brianna knew they wanted to got on the road as quickly as possible. Brianna left Xuor holding one horse for the blacksmi as she drew her sword off her back and started to to practice first with one long sword right hand then left, and then with two and once. She whirld and slashed and stabed and cut the air with her strokes..

When she caught sight of him looking her directions she asked, "You want to practice with me I could use the workout."

Later Xuor brought up the matter of Lorae leaving her to deal with the soldiers the night before. "you right I am uncomfortable with that sort of thing. I would have learned that if.... Well, I never got a chance to My life got lipped topsy-turvy and it simply became a matter of survival for me. Diplomacy was never a part of my life to survive. SO yes I am uncomfortable in those types fo situations. I will be glad to ask you for you assistance in that sort of matter if it comes up again.

If he he joins to spar She has him his blades and she used one of hers against him. if he does not she just smiles and continues until she worls out all the kinks and is thoroughly warmed up with a fine sheen of seat o her face. Finished she wipes down her blades and sheaths them on her back

Brianna was bent over examining the freshly shod hoof the blacksmith had just finished the last horse, her red mare, Sunrise, IT was then she heard a stange man's speak behind her. She straightened quickly but withno hurry since Xuor was right there at her back or near enough. Brianna turned in one fluid motion thogh to regard the stranger. “Not a ma’am, I am Brianna, Brianna Stormrider. This IS my friend Xuor.” She says looks him over assessing him.

When she looks back up into his eyes You can see that they are a startling golden color with dark rings around the irises, very like an eagle’s eyes set in fair featured face well tanned by the sun. Her flaming red hair is striking, caught back with a lather headband to flow down her back part way down it is tied with a leather thong to keep it from getting in her face as she bends over. “Greetings Devon Worcslayer, I’ve heard of Tiverton, but I am not sure where it is either. I don’t come from around here. Sorry. Xuor, do you know where it is?”

Brianna is a human woman stand well over 6 feet tall perhaps closer to 6’3". A full grown young woman and you can see it in her eyes and not so much by any other sign of age on her. They are cool and controlled, for the moment. She is well muscled but not bulky. It looks like she could be a blacksmith but the twins long swords on her back, the lonf dagger at her waist two shorter bladed knives one in each of her high soft boots that are laced up to just below her knew. Her tight leather pants and soft tunic and vest are well cut of quality material and stout wide leather belt at the waist holding the long bladed dagger in its sheath. There nothing fancy or decorative about any on her cloths except her cloak. It is a rich green furzed wool hooded cloak with trim on the edges and embroidery and lined in fur. It is the only really fine garment she is wearing. You can see bracer on her forearms since her sleeves are rolled back but nothing else is remarkable about what she is wearing.

However the horses she is holding are another story all together. Large warhorses without a doubt though there is one or two lighter, finer animal amongst them. They are all of the highest quality. The largest is a huge black stallion that is tied off separately from the mares and the gelding she is holding.

“If you’re in a hurry, you wcould go over at the inn. There are several people from a variety of different places. They might know where Tilverton is and give you directions. If you have a bit of time We will be done here shortly and take you their My friends and I stayed there last night. Well, that is as soon as the blacksmith gets two more nails into this last shoe.”

"Hello, Xuor" holding out a hand for a friendly shake,"Nice to make your acquaintance!" giving a big smile.

"No I'm in no hurry, Ma..., Miss Stormrider. I've got just as much time as you do."

Devon appears to be a tanned and well seasoned human male of average size (but still shorter than Brianna) with crow's feet at the corners of his eyes. He does look a bit rough around the edges but ruggedly handsome, or so he's been told on better days. At this point he's tall, dark, and dusty. His clothes are in good repair but wrinkled and unkempt. His black hair is tousled and messy. His eyes are a bright shade of Gray. His face needs a shave. Barring this, his smile greatly softens the rough edges.
He's wearing a Black silk robe, Black cotton shirt, a dark brown leather vest with pockets holding daggers, and a fine brown leather belt with an ornate buckle.

After giving Brianna a very quick look-over (trying very hard not to linger too long in any one spot, just in case she's sensitive to starring), their eyes met. Who looked first, he couldn't remember. He tried hard not to stare, and the more he tried it seemed the wider his eyes got (he had never in his entire life seen anyone with eyes like hers). He starts trying to avoid her eyes and focus on other features of her face (so he may seem a bit distracted or nervous).
Giving up the fight as to where to look, he turns to Xuor.

(speaking to Xuor)

"Did I hear you say something about, Diplomacy? Well, I'm not schooled in the ways of diplomats, but I can pretty much talk my way out of, or into anything! Back home they used to call me "Silvertongue". Never did like the name much, but it stuck and it kinda grew on me, though I still prefer to be called Devon.
I'm pretty good at getting people to seeing things my way or at least in a socially acceptable way. Well just listen to me, praddling on like this, I'm sorry. I've been traveling by myself so long, Y'all are the first people I've spoke to in a while and goblins aren't much good for conversation, especially when I'm pulling my daggers out of them (chuckles then clears his throat and resumes a straight face). When you two are ready just lead the way. I think I'll shut up now."

He leans against the nearest wooden post, lights a pipe, puffs while waiting patiently.

When Devon looked into Brianna’s eyes she could see his eye widen momentarily as if started. Moments later the his focus shifted to somewhere other than her eyes and finally completely to Xuor. Brianna sighed, she had seen this reaction before. Those strange golden eyes were her one trait that she shared with her father and part of the reason she believed he was her father when she finally met him in person.

She had met her father one day not too long ago only to lose him shortly. Well he exactly wasn't lost she was, thrown to somewhere where no one knows anything about the world she came from. Sadness crept into her face and then quickly was gone she shook her head as if to shake off the unwanted emotion. What cannot be changed must be endured.

The blacksmith return with hammer and nails to finish the last shoe. Brianna paid him from her purse. She really had more money than she knew what to do with it and so added a generous tip because he had opened so early for her and also for his good work he did. She admired a man who to pride in his work.

"Thank you, Miss. Might you still be considering those stuffed clothes my wife makes for the cold weather. She couldn't get back to the inn yestereve, our youngest sicked up bad. I can have my oldest girl bring them over since the little one is still ill."

Brianna turns to the blacksmith, "Certainly, have her come to the inn, my friends should be up by now If not I will kick them awake." She also decided that she will talk to Lorae and see if she will help sick youngster. Lorae had a soft spot for children and animals.

"Well, Xuor, Devon, our business is done here Lets go back to the Inn and breakfast. Xuor , I will take these horses,” she says as she gathers up Lorae and Vatta's mounts and her red mare. You take the rest perhaps Devon will help you. I'm hungry.” Brianna walks over to the black stallion leading her red mare and two other leaving the rest for Xuor to bring with him, including his own horse. She undoes her stallion’s lead rope then places on hand on his back and vaults effortlessly from the ground to the back of the tall horse that had no saddle or bridle on it. With just a lead roap to guide him, she sets him to a walk back towards the inn.

A chill breeze blows her hair and if it were not caught back it would have swirled around her like a red banner.

One look and the horse and rider and you knew that Brianna belonged on the back of a horse with the wind in her hair and weapons in her hand. You could just see it. Her whole demeanor just lit up once she mounted. She was complete now, where she was meant to be.

Lorae was waiting on the porch watching as Brianna lead the horses to the stable.

She waited until all the others were there, before going into the inn. She was suprised by the appearance of a strange young man with Xuor.

"Good morning, the food is ready on the table," she said looking the newcomer over, "Who is your companion."

Looking down on Devon is a tall figure of what could be thought of as the Quintesential Elf, even for an Elf her features were exotic. Emerald eyes, with gold raying out from a pale golden center sweep over Devon, or was the through him. Her face was a prefection of symetry with high cheek bones, winged brows over large eyes slanted in her face. It was hard to get away from her eyes, there was something about them.....sad.......old.....though her face showed not sign of age, but that was typical of Elves.