[sub]in collaboration with [@Wildeyes][/sub]

[h1][center][i][u]"Old Friends and New Quests"[/u][/i][/center][/h1]

Ashlynn disembarked the Dawnflower,  her personal long ship.  They'd finally arrived back in Valleta,  on the island of Malta.  She sighed,  listening to the bustle of her home city,  the sounds of hard working fishermen hauling the sea's bounty,  craftsmen pounding away with their tools,  merchants extoling the virtues of their wares.

It had been a long several months,  the rebuilding efforts in Kenebres were moving along slowly.  Left over demons from the incursion they'd closed remained,  and a strong showing of Knights was still required in the region.  She and Alrich had hunted the worst of them and entrusted the rest of the task to Knight-Captain Killinger.

She grinned as she heard the rattle of heavy platemail approach from the dock behind her.  Turning she greeted Alrich.  [color=fdc68a]"Back home at last hmm?  We've got a couple of days before we're off again.  What should we get up to?"[/color]

[color=f7941d]"Those were some rough storms we had."[/color] Alric said as he stepped into the light, His armor shone brightly as he stepped into the light. His face sported a magnificent blond beard, within which one could see a smile that shone even brighter than his platemail. [color=f7941d]"As much as I'd like to catch up in town, I think we should head south. Something big is brewing down there. We wouldn't want to be late for it, would we?"[/color]

[color=fdc68a]"Something big?"[/color]  Ashlynn's brow furrowed in concern.  [color=fdc68a]"Anything to do with you staring into those storms?  Instead of coming below deck to stay dry like the rest of the Knights?"[/color]

She nudged her companion with her shoulder.  [color=fdc68a]"You've been a touch less talkative since then.  Only a touch though."[/color]  She grinned.

[color=f7941d]"Have I? I saw things within the storms, a great evil rising up within the south, and other great powers are circling each other, ready to rend one another's throats. If they don't release one another, then we may all be doomed."[/color]Alric raised his eyebrows playfully, [color=f7941d]"We better get going. Shouldn't we?"[/color] He attempted to scoot Ashlynn off the dock to where they could buy some horses.

[color=fdc68a]"Hey!"[/color]  Ashlynn protested playfully,  falling into step with Alrich.  [color=fdc68a]"That much of a hurry huh?  I'll send word to my father while we're on the road then."[/color]

She fell silent while Alric haggled for the horses.  Once they were alone again she turned to him.  [color=fdc68a]"How bad will it be...?  I... I've got a dear friend in the south.  Elizabeth,  I hope she doesn't get pulled into all of this."[/color]  She laughed wistfully.  [color=fdc68a]"Maybe her mother finally convinced her to be a proper lady instead of a hunter.  I doubt it though."[/color]

[color=f7941d]"Fat chance of that."[/color] Alric said with a laugh.[color=f7941d] "I can't imagine any one who's endured the boredom of nobility would give up hunting."[/color] He chuckled to himself, apparently unaware that most people quite liked boredom.[color=f7941d]"And knowing our luck, she'll be as stuck in the middle of it as one can get."[/color] He clanged his mailed fist against the shield at his side. [color=f7941d]"That's what this is for."[/color]

[color=fdc68a]"Of course!"[/color]  Ashlynn punched the shield grinning.  [color=fdc68a]"If she is in trouble,  we'll just get her out of trouble.  Why do I worry about these things?"[/color]

[color=fdc68a]"If it gets too bad my father can just ride down with a contigent too."[/color]  She said cheerily.  While she still hoped Elizabeth had managed to steer clear of whatever foul buisness Alrich thought was brewing she was confident in their ability to see to her safety.  They'd done more miraculous things than that after all.

[color=f7941d]"Yes...your father...." [/color]Alric and Gideon had fought together before. The man was strong, and righteous, but Alric had seen what he was capable of "for the greater good". Battles were always bloody, but Gideon did not even seem to care to staunch the wound. He preferred to amputate and sterilize. Thinking about the shapes he'd seen within the clouds, he hoped that he would not be necessary. 

[color=fdc68a]"Yes..."[/color]  Ashlynn fell silent after that.  Alrich and her father had some differences in opinion about how to scour the earth of evil.  She leaned more towards Alrich's philosophy, and if her father minded he never showed any indication.  

[color=fdc68c]"Am I ever going to meet this Alice?  You keep blabbing about her,  but I'm starting to believe she's just a folk tale."[/color]  She broke the silence,  her voice teasing. 

[color=f7941d]"Oh, she is."[/color] Alric said with a soft smile.[color=f7941d] "She's been busy with heavenly pursuits lately. Her life's a bit of a flurry right now."[/color] He laughed very hard at that. [color=f7941d]"You don't want to meet her anyway, she's full of far too much hot air, and is liable to blow in your face."[/color] Alric tilted his head back in full laughter, apparently believing himself hilarious.

Ashlynn's smile broadened at Alrich's obvious mirth,  although her head tilted in question.  "You're a strange man Alrich,  with strange friends I'm sure."  Her brow furrowed slightly.  "I don't see why I wouldn't want to meet her... If she's talkative,  and you're talkative... how do you get anything done?"

[color=fdc68a]"Also!  I question I've been meaning to ask."[/color]  Ashlynn's face brightened.  [color=fdc68a]"Is she your wife?  Me and the men were talking and making bets,  they figured she was either your wife or the name of your shield.  I said you probably had a wife,  but they laughed at that."[/color]

Alric was having trouble breathing now. After a few minutes, he controlled his breathing enough to respond.[color=f7941d] "No, she is not my wife, nor my shield. Though she did ensorcel the latter."[/color] He patted the masive steel board affectionately. [color=f7941d]"We mainly got things done when she decided she wanted to do something stupidly dangerous, and I was stupid enough to stand between her, and said danger. Ah, good times.... at any rate, Ashlynn.....do you pay any attention to when we go to the taverns?"[/color]

[color=fdc68a]"Dangrously stupid... that describes our career."[/color]  Ashlynn giggled.

[color=fdc68a]"Taverns?  I'm usually flirting with barmaids and dancing,  so no."[/color]  She tilted her head.  [color=fdc68a]"Why?  What does that have to do with you having a wife?"[/color]


[color=f7941d]"That's why we got so much done."[/color] Alric said.  [color=f7941d]"....I just think that if you paid more attention, then you'd think it unlikely that I had one, is all."[/color] Alric didn't think that Ashlynn needed to hear about what happenned between him, they boys, and those twin bar wenches. They really were beautiful women, Alric's gaze drifted off in memory. 

[color=fdc68a]"Yes... well."[/color]  Ashlynn kept her gaze on the man as he evidently remembered something pleasant.  [color=fdc68a]"Let's go shine a little light on the southlands then.  Maybe you'll find Alice,  and I'll catch up with Elizabeth."[/color]

The thought of meeting Alice again filled Alric's heart, but also made him feel very tired. How would he protect Alice and Ashlynn at the same time? Maybe if he insisted on them standing close to each other while performing their suicidal daring do. [color=f7941d]"That would be delightful."[/color] The two rode on into the night, looking forward another adventure. Even with the omens, they were confident that their light would shine through. How dark could one valley be?