[u]Fimion[/u]

Fimion awoke suddenly with aquick snort, his eyes flicking fondly around the small tent that he called his home at the moment. A grin covered his face as he yawned and stretched, his mind quickly going back to last night and the time he had spent with Wildflower and her companions, or rather Lady Lovelace as Aergar had referred to her as. He could picture her almost perfectly in his mind, and spent a few moments just remembering her face, hair and her laugh. A short while later he clambered out of the tent, the fresh morning air filling his lungs as he again stretched out. [i] ‘I know’ he thought to himself ‘I shall make my Wildflower some breakfast’. Striding across the clearing he directed a glance towards where her wagon had been parked the last night, suddenly freezing as he saw that it was now missing as his smile faded. 

He wasted little time in wandering across the clearing and looking around some more before he realised she was gone, tracks leading away and down the road. He stood for a moment, unsure of what to think before he shrugged and grinned once more to himself – it had taken him this long to find her again (or rather for her to find him), and she wouldn’t be able to escape so easily this time. Jogging back to his tent Fimion quickly began to pack his belongings up, stuffing everything into his saddlebags before he started to pack his tent into a small bundle, whistling the whole time as he did. Once he was finished he made his way towards where the horses were grazing, the centaurs watching him as he approached. With a grin and a wave he shouted his thanks towards them, spotting his own horse Merlyn amongst the others, she looked full and happy, her mane brushed and braided as well. He wasted little time in saddling her up before he mounted and with one last glance towards the camp he spurred her onwards at a light gallop following the tracks left by Wildflower’s wagon. 

[u]Fritz[/u]

Fritz had slept well, for his first real night in Emanseria that was. He had dreamt of his home, of his parents and of his life before all of this. When he finally did awaken the sun was high in the sky and the rhythmic bouncing back and forth of the wagon served to remind him just where he was – though his mood was much better than the previous night. Kirin was still asleep and not wanting to disturb her Fritz had gone to sit with Ada, watching the scenery pass and asking many questions every time one popped into his head. 

When the Caelum ceti flew overhead Fritz had been amazed and fascinated, expressing a huge desire to ride one of them one day, before explaining to Ada that there were no big flying creatures in his world – and even then he wasn’t sure if there’d ever been anything as big as them outside of the oceans. Fritz told her about his world briefly, and that they had no magic or wondrous things – only stories and legends and myths, as well as many machines. When she started to tell him about magic he had been fascinated even more-so and asked many questions about it and its capabilities. 

“So I couldn’t learn magic? Wait what happens if you run out of energy, does the spell stop? So I could learn alchemy but not magic? How would I find out if I had magic?” were some of the questions he couldn’t help but blurt out during their conversation, though they certainly weren’t the last. 

Kirin awoke and soon had joined them, thanking Ada for all of her help – like him she obviously felt better after a sleep, the troubles of the last night forgotten. It soon then became apparent that Aergar Wald was still with them, as he spoke Fritz eyed him suspiciously, remembering their initial encounter and the somewhat troubling light he had seen the Imp in. He seemed all fun and harmless now, but he hadn’t forgotten the very real feeling of fear that had crept into him as he and Sparrot had tormented him. 

As Ada demonstrated her spell he gazed at the pebble in awe as it floated, thoroughly impressed, even gasping slightly as they passed the tree and it fell back to her hand. 

“Wow. I need to learn magic… or alchemy that is” he said to himself, wondering about all the amazing things he’d then be able to do. Aergar’s mocking of Ada made him grin despite himself and as she threatened to throttle him he simply grinned at the pair and their antics. Suddenly a raven appeared, landing just before Ada before it hopped into her lap. His initial thoughts were that this was that same angry bird as before, but it wasn’t speaking and it wasn’t glaring at him, so perhaps not. Fritz felt his cheek, the small cut was already mostly healed and only the faintest of marks remained as a reminder of his time with the bird. As Ada read the message that had been fastened to the birds leg he couldn’t help but wonder where Sparrot was, after all he had gotten the impression that he and Aergar knew each other and that the bird might not be far, but as soon as he started to think about it he was brought back to the current situation as Ada and Aergar once again started – this time she flicked his nose as the imp tried to peek at her message. She seemed somewhat concerned by whatever it was about, but after a few moments in thought she simply spurred Willow onwards with a renewed pace. 

A short while later they approached a group who hailed them down and Ada greeted them with a wave as she slowed to a stop to see what they needed. At the same moment Fritz noticed Fimion from the night before approaching from behind atop a large white horse, the man grinning like crazy as he shot him a wink before his gaze returned to Ada. 

[b]"Hello, I am Benjamin Afflek. My family and I are ok, we just wanted to know if you would be interested in purchasing some of our ware's"[/b] said the scarred man as he introduced himself. After a quick enquiry it became clear he and his family were some kind of traveling merchants, and Ada was indeed interested in one thing he had. 

[b]"Fritz, come look here!"[/b] Ada exclaimed. Hopping down from the wagon he made his way over as his eyes searched through his wares before they settled on the dagger she was holding. She held it against his hand with an approving look before she said [b]"I'll take the dagger! Here Fritz, go swing this around and throw it at a couple of tree's. See if you like it" [/b] 

Grinning like a boy who had been given his first dagger he exclaimed “Wow, thank you very much!” and he turned before rushing off towards the nearest tree as she had suggested, waving the dagger around and stabbing at imaginary foes as she continued to speak with the merchant. 

A few moments later he heard the merchant’s voice raised slightly in excitement as he exclaimed [b]"Bring her out, I might offer two crowns. Maybe more if she's young enough."[/b] Turning back Fritz stared at the man, he looked visibly… excited for lack of a better word as he was staring at Kirin. Slowly Fritz gazed at the rest of his ‘family’ before he realised they were all miserable looking young girls, his mind recoiling as he realised what was happening as Ada went to bring Kirin to him, their eyes meeting as he suddenly felt very nauseous. 

"How could you!" he screamed, suddenly confused and angry about what was happening. Before he could object further he suddenly felt a most odd feeling come over him, and he felt like he couldn’t make a single sound no matter how hard he tried – all he could do was gape at the situation that was unfolding as he watched Ada with horror. 

Dragging Kirin before the man it looked as if they had made an agreeable deal, the man far more interested in Kirin as they went to shake to finalise the transaction. Gazing at the dagger he was now holding Fritz wondered wildly what he should do, but found himself unable to do anything other than feel weak and sick as Ada took the man’s hand. Fritz glanced back at Fimion out of desperation, surely he wouldn’t just let this happen would he? But then again he had seemed infatuated with Ada and would likely do whatever she wanted – but nevertheless Fritz shot him a desperate pleading look. Fimion simply continued to grin before with a nod of his head he gestured for Fritz to watch Ada, and so the boy turned his eyes back towards her. 

Suddenly with a flurry of movement Ada had pulled her sword free and sliced through the man’s arm, literally taking his hand before in one swift movement she bashed him several times causing him to topple over unconscious in the grass, drool spilling from his mouth. 

[b]"Fritz, gather all the children here,"[/b] she commanded at him, though he needed little prompting as he rushed forwards feeling slightly embarrassed that he hadn’t trusted her in the first instance. 

Fimion dismounted his horse and joined with Fritz in trying to calm the group of young girls, most of which were somewhat panicked and confused. The girl with the dark shaggy hair and bruises moved forwards quickly before she lashed out planting several strong kicks into the unconscious merchant before Fimion gently pulled her backwards. 

Fritz resolved at that point to trust whatever decisions Ada was making, and to at the very least never question her in front of anyone else again. After they had calmed the group of girls they stood together in a close knit group and watched Ada to see what she would do, some still looking concerned despite Fritz and Fimion’s words of calming reassurance. 

Glancing towards the weapon s that still lay with the merchants other wares Fimion spotted the long broadsword before he moved over before pulling out his own chipped and rusted blade. Picking up the broadsword he weighed both weapons in each hand before with a shrug he dropped his old blade and sheathed the much newer one and commented “Seems a fair trade to me” as he moved over to Ada’s side, his boyish grin returning as he said “Freeing slaves is a hobby of yours I see Wildflower” shooting her a sly wink as he did.