[IC] The quest(Katherin&Kyo3kat

[Kyot3kat]

Laila nodded and spoke softly, "I see." To not rest on the subject, she said, "Some corn would be fine." Admittedly, she wasn't at all hungry. She scarcely ate. Not because she didn't want to, but because she didn't need to. She really just was never hungry. Though, she knew she needed to eat in order to survive. It sometimes became challenging, as she would forget to.

[KatherinWinter]

"I doubt that." Griffin told her grimly. He was relieved when she let the subject drop. He dug into the small bag and handed her a stalk of corn. He took a fish out for himself. He rarely got to eat and never anything as big or as nice as the fish. He was going to enjoy every minute of his freedom as much as possible. Spending it worrying about things he had no control over wouldn't help anyone.

[Kyot3kat]

"So, what do you do?" Laila asked absently, picking off corn pieces and placing them reluctantly in her mouth. "There isn't much for me to tell about myself, as you already know I'm merely a slave at the castle."

She exhaled softly, then said, "They're nice people, they are. They're just... forceful."

[KatherinWinter]

"I am a shadow Mage. I can create things out if shadows." He explained. "Like knives and chairs such. The shadow itens are not as good as normal things but they can be useful in a pinch. I can't say I've had alot of practice using my ability. I don't know much about live at the castle. Forceful how?"

[Kyot3kat]

"The king is certainly a pleasure," Laila admitted. "However, if you don't please his sons correctly or in time... well, they can be a bit violent." She paused. "We're not supposed to talk about that, though. Not much."

Instead, she changed the subject. "I've never had the opportunity to learn any form of magic. There have been a few great Mages to come into the castle; I've seen them. Never a shadow Mage, though. What's it like?"

[KatherinWinter]

"I understand. There are things I'm not suppose to talk about either. But you know now that we are away from the castle that those rules don't apply right?" Griffin asked her. He understood if she didn't want to talk about her experiences. But he wanted her to know that she could talk about them if she want to. "I don't get to use my ability often but its nice not to have to carry everything I might need because I can create everything."

[Kyot3kat]

"Your skill must be very useful," she nodded. Again, she looked at him, and said, "What it must be like to have so much hope for the future." She had no idea what his life was like, but she imagined it musn't be too stressful or restricted. After all, she couldn't see him as being any form of slave for the kingdom. Laila wondered, though, about his injury, and why he said it was a gift from his father. She didn't want to bring up the subject, but she did seem to stare at his leg for a little too long.

[KatherinWinter]

"My ability will be helpful in completing this quest. This quest is my one chance to to get the one thing I have wanted for years." Griffin told her. He snorted at her mention of having hope. For most mages what she said but not for him. She would be shocked at how similar their lives probably were.

[Kyot3kat]

"And what is it that you want?" Laila asked, simply.

[KatherinWinter]

"Freedom." Griffin told her. "Not for myself but for someone else." he didn't dare go into anymore detail. He didn't think she knew or work for his father but he couldn't take the risk. His father had spies everywhere. Not to mention that she could easily use the information for her own gain. Until he knew what kind of person she was he could only trust her so far.

[Kyot3kat]

Laila let it rest. She stared at the lowering sun and watched as it fell below the horizon. She picked at her nails, peeling the paint off of them, bit by bit. She looked up at the tree above them, watching a bird fly into a nest hidden in the branches. She felt a connection with Griffin, though she didn't know why. She stated aloud, more to herself than to her companion, "I will never have freedom." Then, she looked over at him. "I'm not sure if I want it, though. I don't know what I'd do, by now."

She paused for a moment before continuing, "When I was younger, I wanted nothing more than to be away from the castle. This would have been a blessing to me. Now, all I wonder is what my mother is doing, how she's faring. She old, she's fragile. They won't keep her much longer - they'll have her killed, most likely." She paused again. "She's the only person left in my life who is worth living for." Laila turned her face away from Griffin. "There is no one else."

[KatherinWinter]

"Maybe you could use this quest to get her freedom." Griffin suggested. He knew what it like to spend time worry about someone. He had never seen his son. Part of him doubted the boys existence but he knew his father. If he had a son his father would have taken the child so that he could use the boy's existence against him. He never undrstood why his father hated him. It didnt really matter why. "The king will reward us if we succeed."

[Kyot3kat]

"He might reward you, but what use would he have in rewarding me?" Laila countered, pessimistic. She continued to drabble on about her insignificance, "I'm just a slave. I'm useful when they need something, of course, but what other use am I? I'm not respected as a person. If they could hear me talking like this, I'd be sent to a guillotine. My freedom does not and will never exist, that's just the way it is." She sighed. "But... maybe you're right... maybe..."

[KatherinWinter]

"It could hurt to ask. You might be a slave Laila but right now you have the power. If any of this prophesy is real then we are doing something that no one else can do for the king. Once we have all ten items he Woukd be a fool to refuse anything we request. Setting your mother free won't cost him anything, especially if she is frail and old." Griffin pointed out.

[Kyot3kat]

"You're right," Laila said. There was a bittersweet taste in her mouth. To set her mother free would be the right thing to do; it was what Laila wanted to do. But, perhaps, if she could gain her own freedom...

She hated herself for thinking like that. Her mother needed to experience freedom before she died. That's all her mother had ever wanted. If Laila were to take that from her, what kind of daughter would she be? She wanted the freedom for herself - she couldn't deny that. Despite it being what she also wanted and what was the right thing, Laila would only grudgingly ask for her mother's freedom rather than her own. It was in her mind that no matter what, she'd think of her mother first. Then again, how had her mother fought for her...? She hadn't...

"I'd rather not think about the future. We could be dead within the next hour," Laila said. "Doesn't matter how safe we are at the moment."

[KatherinWinter]

"Are you always this chipper?" Griffin asked sacrasticly. "We have made it through the whole day without being attacked. What is your problem? I know life as a slave isn't all rainbows and sunshine but it can't possible be so depressing that you have no hope. I promise I will not let you die. If you die then I fail. Trust mean I will not fail. The person I hope to free means too much to me."

[Kyot3kat]

"It's not that I'm a pessimist," Laila sighed. "I've just learned that if you expect the worst, you feel much better when it doesn't happen. It's kind of like...self-reverse-psychology. Or something," she shrugged. "I don't believe you would let me die."

Then, she continued, "I'm not pessimistic at all. You really don't know what's in my mind. Please don't act like you do." She looked down at her lap. "I'm not trying to be rude, I'm just telling you that there's more to me than you think."

[KatherinWinter]

"I am aware that I know very little about you. That is why I am asking. I am trying to understand. I admit I know very little little about life as a slave. I can only imagine what you have been through." Griffin admitted. "However I can imagine anything bad enough that you would be so... Pessimistic about this quest. For the first time you have some freedom why not enjoy it?

[Kyot3kat]

"Oh, I'm enjoying every bit of it," Laila assured him. "It's just the thought that I feel stuck. Assume the king were to give me a reward - freedom for myself or for whoever I chose. Only one. It's difficult for me to choose between myself and my own mother." She fumbled with her own fingers and said, "Try to imagine that for me. Perhaps you're under the same stress? I wouldn't particularly know..."

[KatherinWinter]

Griffin shrugged. "I wouldn't know what to do with freedom if the king could grant it. For me it isn't a question. I want freedom for someone who needs it more than I do. You have no way of knowing that the king will only grant freedom to one of you. From the way you described your mom setting your mother free wont be a hard ship on the king. He won't really be losing much. You have a month to decide if it come to that."