Arn was floating in the immense vastness of the Aether.  Ribbons of light, the Thread that bound all things together, criss crossed this expanse as luminous bridges.  A pair of darks pecks marred the ethereal beauty of the tapestry before him.  Black as they were, they could not hope to match the sheer void that had been the shadow of Tourmaline.  Yet, he had sense no dread or evil from the man other than what a mortal feels in the face of an eruption or striking lighting.  These two shades however, made him feel a sense of disgust.  As if their existence alone was an affront to Gia herself.  

The soft light that represented his lovely protégé became entangled with black tendrils as the black witches' magic tried to claim her.  The in corporeal spirit of the master mage gritted his teeth.  His gaze shifted to the light blue speck that was Tobi.  Had his young squad mate failed to hear him?  A sudden pull of Aether magic towards the young Shooting Star gave him the answer to the unasked question.  Even in this spirit realm, the battle mage could feel the result of the powerful spell that the young mage cast.  A blinding burst of light, like the exploding of many suns, bathed a big area around them.  Even he had to turn his head as he felt the heat rush past him.  Or was it his mortal body which had felt the burst? 

The scream of one of the dark sisters filtered to his astral ears as if through water.  He saw them flicker as if the bright light from Tobi almost extinguished their shadow existence.  No shadow can bear the coming of light.  The muffled commands of the silver haired Venray shouted urgently.  Arn himself urged the group towards safety. 

After his release of magic, Tobin was all but spent and he slumped back into the saddle behind the blonde.  He groaned as he felt his very veins hot like iron pokers.  Through his clenched teeth he hissed his own urgings. [color=00aeef]“Let get the hell out of here”[/color]  The young mage told the lady knight.  Thankfully, Alexa was quick to the take and spurred her teal mount on.  The wyrm screeched and began to pump powerfully, the leathery wings shooting her through the air.  The two other mounts followed her lead.  None, not even Arn in his spirit state, saw that Tyrhallan had been bequeted a good bye kiss. 

Probably sensing the urgency in their riders, the wyrms plunged towards the Deep Sky like banshees out of one of the hells.  Arn’s body reactively grabbed Eilis tighter around the waist and slumped forward.  He groaned, his mouth too clumsy to offer any words of encouragement that the astral master mage wanted to convey to his charge.  He wanted to tell her he would protect her.  He wanted to reassure her that they would be ok.  But even this was wistful wishing.  Only the strong wings of their mounts could assure that now. 

Tobi basically mirrored his comatose master but he was able to complain audibly. [color=00aeef] “Fuck….remind me never to do that again…”[/color]  he groaned, his body feeling like it would melt.  Sweat coated his body only to be dried by the cold air as they approached the Sea of Sky making him shiver.  Alexa guided her mount expertly.  Heard his voice in her ear as he slumped against her.  [color=ec008c]“You complain to much mage”[/color]  She said but there was no true sharpness in her tone.  [color=00aeef]“But you did well”[/color]  she half turned a tiny smile on her fair face. [color=00aeef] “Damn…”[/color]  Tobi said in mock disbelief.  [color=00aeef]“I think that is the nicest thing you have said to me.”[/color]  Alexa turned her face forward again but not before he saw the smile widen. [color=ec008c] “Oh shut up.”[/color]  Was all she said. 

When Eilis landed their wyrm, she only found a still passed out mage.  He did not seem to be in any danger but his face was contorted in a look of consternation or stubbornness, perhaps both.  If he had know that she meant to give him some of her energy he would have scowled and scolded her.  The  young lady needed to recover as much as he.  The streaks of blood she had left on his robe proof of that.  

He cursed in his astral form and a groan could be heard from his physical one as he felt the sweet warmth of her own life force seep into him.  Arn wanted to be upset but her energy flowed through him like sweet warm wine on a cold morning.  There was something delightful about letting the energy course through is body.  It was almost as if strands of her hair fell upon his face and her arms encircled him.  Still, he would not abide her sharing too much.  Thankfully, or perhaps woefully, the lovely maid’s attention was drawn elsewhere and he felt the flow stop. 

[color=f6989d]"Tyrhallan!"
[/color]
The concern in the voice of his lovely protégé reverberated through the Thread that connected the two of them.  His incorporeal eyes could not really tell what was the issue but he could see a slight dimming in the red glow of the Knight Captain.  Their conversation filtered to him as if he was at the bottom of a deep well.  It was muffled and at times he head to strain to hear but he could get the gist of it.  Their Venray benefactor had been injured.  Tyrhallan was trying to make Eilis feel at ease but Arn knew that any true veteran of battle would take each wound seriously.  There was nothing worse than loosing an arm because a simple cut was not tended to. 

Alexa also noticed the blood that had been masked by the red tint of the red lord’s crimson armor. [color=ec008c] “My Lord!”[/color]  Her young voice exclaimied.  She fumbled for the med kit that every rider had strapped to the saddle of their mount.  Producing it the blonde rushed forward to help with the aid.  There was a slight sweep of her eyes upon Eilis wondering why a seemingly unimportant woman was being so familiar with a Belisian lord of high stature such as the Venray. 

Tobi remained in the saddle, a groan or two escaping his lips.  [color=00aeef]“Go ahead….I am fine…(grunt)  no need to worry about us…(groan) lowly mages.”[/color]  He turned towards his master mage.  Arn remained in a state of sleep.  [color=00aeef]“As always, Arn has the right idea.”[/color]  While the women fussed over the hansome, albeit now one eyed, Knight Captain, Tobi reached into a pouch around his waist.  He produced a leaf from it and proceeded to chew on it.  The young mage made a face.  The taste was bitter and it almost made him gag.  However, it was known to help mages heal after prolonged use of magic.  Hence the leaf’s unofficial name of Thread Balm. 

As the young Brightwind cleaned and began to dress the wound, she could not help but overhear the conversation between the Venray lord and the tatoed lady who seemed to be more than what she was.  Her blue eyes measured Eilis up.  There was perhaps a tinge of jealousy in those sky blue eyes masked by blonde eyelashes.  After all, not only was the Knight Captain a legend and paragon for all knights but it was logical that the young lady had perhaps developed feelings for him after seeing him from a far in bannermen gatherings and such. 

The female knight’s eyes kept on trying to find the hidden meaning behind Eilis.  Why would such obviously powerful woman want her enough to pluck her from the battle field?  Why would a strong mage, whom Alexa wanted to guess was the one called Hellspawn, be her companion?  Why was Tyrhallan so familiar and obviously protecting her?  These questions flew around her mind like a battalion of wyrm mounted knights with no clear leader or direction.  Her attention was brought back from her musings by being addressed directkly by the tattoed woman. 

Tobi waved aside her concern and misgivings and Tyrhallan’s speech regarding duty and a warrior’s dance with death.  [color=00aeef]“IF you are important for Arn you are important for me.”[/color]  He said with a shrug as if that explained everything.  Turning to see if the master mage was still asleep he added.  [color=00aeef]“Besides, I don’t think I could deal with a mopping master mage after his lady is killed.”[/color]  A smirk appeared on his face. 

[color=0054a6]“You need not bother yourself with such worries Tobi”[/color]  Came a voice that was tired and husky.  The young mage winced as if he had been struck in the back of the head shrugging his shoulders as if trying to protect it from the incoming blow.  He gingerly turned to see one eye on the Master mage open.  A nervous chuckle escaped the young lad. [color=00aeef] “Oh Hey Master Arn….glad to see you are good.  I was joking of course.  Trying to see if you was ok.” [/color] The young mage only received a grunt in response. 

Alexa stiffened and with a haughty look replied her own reasons.  [color=ec008c]“I follow Captain Venray.  Where he goes, I shall.”[/color]  Her tone was cold.  Who did this commoner think she was assuming that she meant anything to her?  Without giving Eilis another look, the blonde turned back to Tyrhallan’ and his dressing.  [color=ec008c]“You are hurt bad my lord.  This dressing is the best I can do for now but we will need to  make some sort of poultice to ensure no infection sets in.”[/color]  She meant to go with him.  How many knights could claim they went on mission with a Venray.

Arn sat weakly on his saddle. [color=0054a6] “It appears we could all use a rest….but unfortunately we must move on.  I doubt those dark witches….will stop hunting us.”[/color]  His voice came in gasps.  His face was pale.  The master mage knew that Tyrhallan would agree with him.  Their only refuge now seemed to lay in the Sea of Sky and the Deep Sky’s cold blakness beyod.  If this was the beginning of the journey, only the gods knew what lay beyond.  If Arn had been a religious man, he would have prayed for favor, safety, and protection.  As it was, he hoped that all the sacrifices that had been made would be worthy it.  One look at his lovely charge however, solidified his resolution.