The wind rushed in Arn’s ears as the wyrm maneuvered thanks to Eilis’s guidance.  It could also be the blood that made his head pound.  The Aether exhaustion was starting to set in.  Thankfully, he was experienced enough that he was not  having full on Dark Sight.  Still, there was splotches in his vision and his head felt fuzzy.  So much so that sound was distorted.  He blinked his eyes every now and then and for the life of him, the master mage could swear that he was hearing voices.  But it sounded too garbled as if his head was underwater.  

Compared to other mages, the Hellspawn was actually doing quite well.  He was somewhat conscious, able to wrap his hands around the small waist of his charge and even mumble a warning or two as the blonde guided their mount to the Knight Captain.  Arn figured he would have some choice words with the man.  Then again, he could not understand Tyrhallan’s need to go and save his uncle.  It appeared that the man was not a complete knight zombie after all.  

The master mage himself should have those choice words be told to him.  Here he was, putting the woman he had sword to protect at risk to save the white haired knight, and his own apprentice.  There it was, he cared enough about Tobi to call him his apprentice.  Arn would never tell Tobi this or the boy would not let him live it down.  That was, if they were able to get out this alive. 

So stubborn was the ex Shooting Star in making sure he kept his promise that he did what few would dare.  He closed his eyes and attempted to enter the restorative meditation that all mages knew.  Usually, this was done in a place of silence and comfort.  Safety was also a big concern because it left the mage vulnerable in the half sleep state. 

However, thanks to this and his connection to the young girl, he was able to make out some of the things that were being discussed in her head.  Yet, the voice still sounded as if was coming from a deep tunnel.  He could feel the distress in Eilis’s Thread.  Arn decided that not immediate danger was present so he decided to concentrate on his own Thread.

His ability to relax and concentrate was nothing sort of a miracle.  His arms remained on the young woman’s waist, tight enough to hold on to her but not too tight to prevent her from leaving him.  His breath became more stable.  The tired and worn muscles in his body very slowly began to relax.  The heart beat began to moderate.  The master mage would not have been this calm if he knew the conversation his poor protégé was having but it was for the better.  In his current state, he would be nothing more than a handicap. 

Every now and then, he could feel a resonance in the Thread that connected him to her.  Probably what a spider feels when a fly has been trapped.  But the vibrations were much too small for him to really study and currently, his mind was focusing on working the Aether and manipulating it so that it refreshed his spent body.  It was said that a true master would be able to utilize the life force of the Aether to become immortal.  Was this perhaps how Tormaline had achieved his longevity?  It was a lecherous existence to be sure but to be able to transcend the boundaries of life and death, was still worthy to be noted. 

The vibrations became wilder in the Thread and made Arn become all too aware that there was something that was distressing Eilis.  He regained awareness enough to weakly whisper her name in her ear.  The warmth that usually accompanied any time they were touching seemed to flicker as if trying to comfort her.  Yet, it was more like an electric burst of a firefly than a warming hearth.  Still, after he called out to her, the vibrations stopped and he returned to his half wakened state. 

Arn felt the connection between them strain as Eilis left him in the care of Tobin.  The master mage slumped forward on the mount but was still astride the Wyrm whom was a nervous reck.  Clawed talons skittered on the deck trying to find purchase as the big leviathan of a ship creaked and groaned.  The young mage turned to his master and groaned. 

[color=00aeef]“Ah man, you look like shit.”[/color]  He reached out and grabbed the reins of Umbra and adding power to the magic repulsors, made his own flying contraption begin an easy ascent.  The motion of the flapping wyrm made things difficult at first but once both were hovering, it was easier to led her. 

In the mean time, the blonde knight gritted her teeth as she put all her weight behind the downward slash.  The sword of the dead general was decepteviley heavy.  It was heavy enough to put Alexa off balance.  The female knight grunted as the silverhaired captain bumped into her.  She managed to snarl at Ravos and was readying another slash when she caught the back handed strike from the bloody stump.  She added her own blood to that left behind by the strike as Ravo’s blood squirted out.  

Alexa spat out the blood in her busted mouth and shirieked as she charged the enemy.  It was to no avail as the sudden change in inclination not only made her footing be tricky but she ran straight into the waiting arms of the Viemese.  She struggled against the dead grip of the man but in vain.  She was unable to bring the blade to do much good or damage.  Suddenly, she felt the strong grip of the man’s hand on her throat.

A sudden surge of pain and desperation rose inside her.  She had been in situations like this before but the strength of the other man seemed to nullify any effort she made.  Her training was for naught against the noose like hand.  Her air was slowly leaving her and a buzzing in her ears had begun.  The young girl’s eyes began to fill with water.  Her struggling became less and less.

When Ravos warned off Tyrhallan, Alexa gritted her teeth and tried to tell the knight captain to kill the bastard but only managed a hiss and gurgling sound.  When the silverhaired Venray offered his life for exchange of hers, a sudden surge of strength returned and she tried to struggle, especially when her lord took Fatebringer from her hands.  [color=f6989d]“N…OO…N..o”[/color]  Alexa tried to prevent the captain from making that deal.  

[color=ed1c24]“Don’t worry Brightwind, you’ll be fine. It will all be fine.”[/color]

Anger began to well up in her.  By the All Mother, how could her lord be so stupid.  There was nothing that would prevent the Viemese from killing her once he died.  She wished the Knight Captain would runt he blade of the ancestral sword through both of them.  The young knight would gladly give her life to kill this foe who had bested General Uilies and who had managed to fend off the famed Venray Captain. [i][color=f6989d]“Live you fool, we need you alive.”[/color][/i] Her brain screamed as darkness started to creep in on the edges of her vision.  She could not even swallow so her saliva dripped off in drool from the corners of her mouth. 


[color=ed145b]“Try this on for size!” [/color]

A cry came just before the darkness began to take her. Alexa felt the impact of something and immediately felt  the release of her neck.  She fell to the side, forgotten as Tyrhallan’s blade dove deep into the man’s flesh.  With a thud and a grunt she fell to the metal deck.  Her breath came in gasps and she was dizzy.  It was all she could do to hold on to the knight captain and not follow the body of their general to the sky. Still unfocused and seeing sparkles, Alexa saw the man’s neck flow red and saw his body plummet. 

[color=ed1c24]“Hold on!”[/color]

The young girl did as she was told with whatever strength she could muster.  She could still feel the pressure of the big man’s hand on her throat.  Had he crushed her windpipe?  No she could still breath.  It produced a wheezing sound but she could draw breath.  The flew vertically and to the side.  Her vision slowly returned to normal. 

Not too far away, Tobin saw them and rushed as much as he could bringing the wyrm behind him.  The young mage noticed a problem however, There was only room for two of them. [color=00aeef] “Damn it, where the hell is Alexa’s wyrm”[/color]  The lad said desperately.  As if to answer his desperate wish, a teal colored streak made its way towards them.  [color=00aeef]“Thank Gia, there is that stupid beautiful beast.”[/color]  The young mage hoped that they could all depart from the chaotic skies. 

Arn was still in his meditative state but sleepily looked up to see the trio flying towards him like some sort of dream.  The closer Eilis came, the more he sensed her.  A slight smile appeared on his face.  His body could not help it.  This was a natural reaction to sensing his lovely charge close.  Even if he was not fully aware, his mind and soul knew how important Eilis was to him.  He would do anything for her.  The master mage already had decided in his heart that Tourmaline would inhabit his charge no longer than was needed to get the necessary equipment and consumables needed.  She would be free.