Border Crossing

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"You're late." Baralai Fairchild despised the rain, almost as much as he despised mages. He was waiting at one of the bridges that crossed the river that in turn divided the two largest kingdoms in their land. It was the same bridge where he had waited countless times. Templar or no, gold was gold, and this gold also got rid of troublesome mages.
"You want the gold or not?" A black clad man snarled as he jumped down gracefully from his equally black steed.
Baralai muttered something rather unbecoming of a Templar, then held a gloved hand out. "Gold first, then the cargo. Try anything..." He words were cut off as the mage he was transporting broke free of his restraints. It all happened so quickly that he didn't see the flash of lightning and the proud Templar was crashing into the raging river below.
Six months. It had been six months and the fallen Templar still woke in a cold sweat after dreaming of that night. The mage had rendered him immobile, though wide awake when he had plunged into the river, his heavy armour weighing him down until a pig farmer had dragged him from the river several miles away. It had taken months to get back to health and pay back the farmer for his kindness. In that time word had gotten out that Fairchild the Templar was a deserter.

Alice Gormanghast was scowling into the mirror. She hated this world she had been born into, even now as her maid pulled tightly on the laces of her dress she thought of nothing but a way to escape. Her brother's were all war heroes, famous to everyone in the kingdom for their brave deeds and triumph in defeating several of the dragons. But Alice... All she was known for was to be the prize her father handed over to the man he deemed brave enough to end the war altogether. She was the proverbial Princess in the tower, useful only for luring in prospective suitors. The young brunette didn't even realise her rose coloured lips were quirked into a slight smile 'if only they knew'. Indeed, her father would have a literal heart attack if he knew his prized daughter had secretly been learning how to shoot a bow and handle a sword. She lost herself for hours at an end in books that told of the thieves guild, and their mysterious leader who was sometimes known to have a higher moral code than the knights of their kingdom.

"Very well, you can die." The elf shrugged, just as he heard one of the invisible traps around the camp trigger, trapping someone inside.
Alice was cursing herself as she found her limbs unable to move thanks to unseen force. She had never seen a magic snare before, and so wasn't looking for one.

The large man looked into Yena's face for the longest time, trying to understand the memories that had just come flooding back. He could remember every touch, every kiss... and then the moment it was all taken away from him. "You let her take everything..."

"What's happening?" Kane'so own men were surrounding the elf and Selene, the icy eyed man at their center. "What did your group just do?" He demanded, holding a dagger to the elf's throat.

More tears were streaking dirty cheeks. "She swore to me that she loved you. That she would die without you. She...told me about growing up with you...that fond expression she wore as she watched you sleep...it was enough to tear me apart. She accused me of enchanting you. She told me Baralai, the real you, would never so much as touch a mage with a dirty sword. She had to be right. You were so kind when you woke. I ruined you." Yena confessed, her voice cracking as she began to step away from him. "I'm so sorry. I cannot say it enough."

The elf was smiling up at Kane. "Caught ourselves someone who shouldn't have been here." He declared proudly.

Baralai shook his head and wiped away Yena's tears. "That may have been true when we were young and foolish, but not now. Selene is power hungry and will use anyone anyway she can to get what she wants. I think she proved that by taking your heart from me..."

"Take me to them. Perhaps we have someone else for your pathetic little bonfire?" Kane snorted, motioning to his men to finish tieing Selene to the post. "Was that a magical trap you used? How interesting." He went on as he followed the elf. 

"She..." Yena's eyes went wide and she stepped forward again, pulling at the neck of his shirt. "Oh no...I knew something wasn't right...I have to get it back...I have to go..." She was stuttering now, beginning to pace.

"Of course it was, what use is a trap if it catches anything that passes over it? We have no use for rats, shem." The elf sneered.
They would find Alice still trying to fight her way out of whatever it was that was holding her in place.

"Yena, tell me what's happened." Baralai insisted, taking the young woman by the shoulders and ceasing her pacing.

"Well...that was easier than I thought. I didn't even have to kill a nursemaid this time." Kane chuckled, watching his half sister struggling. "You look lovely as a thief, my dear. Trying to be something you're not becomes you." He purred, his icy eyes never leaving her. 

"Your wife...she has something I gave to you. She can't keep it. If she does..." Yena sighed softly. "It belongs to you. I wanted you to have it. Never her. I have to get it back." She began chewing on her lower lip, her body trembling.

Alice's own sapphire eyes were wide as she ceased struggling to stare up at her half sibling. "No..." It was the only worse she could force past her lips, and even them it was no more than a forced breath. Anaris wasn't here to stop anything that may happen this time.

"Alright, alright..." Baralai reached out and pulled Yena against him, resting his chin on top of her head. "We'll get it back, don't worry about it. Selene wont have gotten far anyway."

Kane continued to smile as he turned his head toward the elf. "Cut her loose and hand her to me. Defy me and you will regret it." A roar of pain tore across the camp as if on cue. "Or should I say your king will."

"Why aren't you with her? What happened?" Yena asked. Secretly despite the knowledge that her heart was gone and death soon to find her, she was glad Baralai was here with her.

Alice's eyes grew saucer wide, knowing that voice that cried out in pain. "You bastard!" She roared, struggling all over again as the elf destroyed the rune holding the dark haired woman in place.

"We were both Templars, and I thought we both understood that duty came first and that duty was to protect people from mages. Somewhere... Selene forgot that. Somewhere she created the image that all mages are monsters to be feared."

"So quick to anger, little sister." Kane caught a handful of her hair and jerked her hard against him. His lips were on hers in a moment in a bruising kiss. "I believe this is what you'd call...Check mate." He purred, another roar of pain cutting through the evening air.

Yena smiled at this, reaching up to touch the gruff shadow of a beard he was beginning to grow. She brought back from him the memory of the night she'd tried to shave a beard that had grown during his injury. 
He'd been quick to tell her he would give her no dagger. She had simply kissed him, deep and long, and when she'd pulled away his chin was as smooth as ever. He'd begged her not to do that with the hair on his head and the rest of the memory was a blur of passionate love making.
"We are what you make of us, I suppose." She said after a moment. "As I understand it there are many who believe the Templars to be the real monsters. I did not see monsters that night. Did you?"

Alice was about to strike Kane, when the elf caught her wrist, knowing he had to do everything this human wanted if he wished to save the true king.
"You make me sick!" Alice spat as she jerked her wrist free. The young woman just didn't understand it. Her brother was an extremely handsome man who was wanted by every woman in their father's court, so why did he only want her?
"Sire, there is a spell that would make the girl much more compliant, if it helps?" The elf suggested.

"Yes." Baralai replied sadly, a rough thumb tracing Yen's full lower lip gently. "I admit I am what they made me... But that does not excuse me pouncing on you like some beast in heat. You deserved better... You deserved someone else."

"What fun would that be?" Kane snorted. "I quite enjoy it when the bitch is screaming my name in hate." He turned his head toward Selene and then back to the elf. "Set the fire. We are starting the war your king wanted. Too bad it's not going to have the outcome he wanted. Dragons indeed." He turned his attention back to Alice, again wearing a wolf is smile. "Tell me, what will you do to save your king?"

Yena laughed quietly. "Are you saying I didn't give as good as I got, Bear?" She asked him.

Alice was astute enough to understand what it was Kane was implying. "No matter what I let you do to me, you wont let Anaris go." She told him, fighting to remain maddeningly calm now. "Because you are afraid. You know he would take your head."

Baralai smiled fondly, then stole a lingering kiss from the small elf. "As I recall, you still had leaves in your hair for days." He breathed against her lips.

"You think I'm afraid of an ancient elf?" Kane laughed cruelly. "Have you ever known me to be afraid of anything?" He turned them away from the bonfire turning her so that her back was against him. "The old fool has his uses. Just like you do. But trust me. I've learned how to make even an ancient one feel true pain." He purred against her throat. "I will ask you again, what will you do to save your king?"

"I always have leaves in my hair. I'm an elf. Remember?" Yena teased. "Bear, I have to find that necklace. It means a lot to me for you to have it back. We need to go."

Alice closed her eyes as Kane's lips brushed her throat, fighting back her anger. "I would do anything, but you already knew that." She whispered.

Baralai nodded. "I've seen a few elves patrolling these woods, it seems unusual considering we are so far from an elven city." He commented. "It's likely Selene would try to steal what she needed from them."

"Take her to my carriage. When I arrive, you will show me just how desperate you are to save him." Kane ordered his men. He took Alice's chin in his fingers and kissed her roughly. "Don't dissapoint me, sister dear."

"There's only the thieves guild here. Elves are not all they have. If she went looking..." Yena shook her head. "Dread wolf curse us they will rob her blind at the very least."

It took everything Alice had not to bite Kane's lip when he kissed her. The young princess had no idea what hatred was until he tried to force himself upon her that night in the barn.
The dark haired woman allowed the other men to usher her away, all the while trying to think of someway to both escape her situation and save Anaris.

"Well that could be a good thing." Baralai remarked. "Can't say the damn woman doesn't deserve it... But I don't fancy looking for that pendant within the thieves guild, do you?"

There would be several more roars of pain before Kane arrived at the carriage. He opened the door wearing a grin like a cat that had gotten the cream.

"No...but...do we have any other choice?" Yena asked, only now looking around for her newfound friend.

Alice's planned escaped had been dampened somewhat by the fact the elf had bound her wrists to the inside of the carriage door. She was forced to simply sit there and listen to Anaris as he roared in pain.

Baralai shook his head. "I'll kill the entire guild if I have to." He remarked, though did wonder who his lover was looking for.

"The sound is beautiful isn't it?" Kane asked as he puled himself inside. "The agony has deepened since I told him you were here with me."

Yena wasn't surprised to find the woman gone. She was used to being left behind by everyone. This one was non different. "Come on then...I can sense them this way.."

Alice turned her hateful gaze on her brother, her full lips pressed firmly together to keep from saying exactly what she wished.

"Are they all mages?" Baralai asked, needing to know exactly what they were getting into.

"Those mage are useful. They have enchanted him to think that you have been planning this with me from the start. I will use him to see how true their stories of the Black city are. His agony will get us there." Kane was already removing his outer cloak, his eyes never leaving hers. "Go on. What are you waiting for?"

Yena closed her eyes. "No. There are humans too. Quanaris...dwarves...non magic users have taken over..."

"My hands are bound." Alice replied thinly. "Idiot." She added with a hateful sneer.

Baralai didn't like the sound of this. "Taken over?" He echoed. "So the guild are under attack?"

Kane grabbed a handful of her hair and shoved her to the carriage floor. "I know that. I just wanted to hear you say it." Another roar echoed through the camp. This one worse than the others. "They are breaking him." He purred, shoving her legs apart and beginning to rip away her clothing. "And soon I shall do the same to you."

"I would think so but there is no fighting." Yena told him. It was then that Anaris' agonized cries reached them. "But they are hurting people."

Alice couldn't help the hot tear that ran down her temple as Kane tore away the molded leather chest piece that bore Anaris's crest. She had to be strong, for his sake. Letting Kane have her was probably the only thing keeping her king alive right then. "You have a lot to live up to." She spat, knowing that Kane still assumed she and Anaris had consummated their sham marriage. Of course, it wouldn't be long before he realised that wasn't actually true.

"I don't care what they're doing." Baralai shrugged. "All I care about is getting your pendant back and then getting you far from here. War is no place for you, little knife ear." He added with a smirk.

"Did he give you this?" Kane asked, pausing a moment to look over the chest piece. He didn't wait for her to answer as he moved to the door and tossed it out. "Burn in. Find anyone wearing one and burn them too." He ordered, slamming the door and turning back to his half sister. "Now lovely. Scream for me." He purred, yanking off his pants and positioning himself on top of her.  

Yena turned her head toward the enormous soldier, hee crimson eyes glowing. "I smell fire." She breathed, unable to keep the strange purr from her voice.

Alice wouldn't give Kane the satisfaction. He could assume he was the cause for her trembling, but the young woman silently told herself it was the cold air touching her now bare flesh as it drifted through the draughty carriage. The dark haired woman knew that Kane had wanted this since she no more than fifteen years old, and she knew him well enough to know he would relish every humiliating moment.

Baralai had never heard that tone to Yena's voice before, and it caught him off guard, startling him somewhat. "Yena?" He breathe uncertainly. "It's just a fire." He added, silently noting that she had the same lust in her eyes as the men he had seen lose their sanity in battle after taking their fist life.

Kane had his way with her, roughly shoving himself inside her. It took him only a moment to realize that she had been untouched by her husband. That was when he began to laugh, burying his face in the full breasts on display for him. "All mine." he breathed. "Just as I wished it."

Yena ignored him walking toward the crackling sound and the sharp smell of burning flesh. She was shivering, unable to stop herself from moving toward the growing chaos.

Alice had kept her eyes shut the entire time, trying to lie to herself and make believe it was Anaris's lips assaulting her breasts, his hands pinning her roughly to the floor of the carriage. It was a heavy price she had just paid in hopes of freeing her husband. Kane now had something no one else could ever taste.

Baralai was trailing after Yena, allowing her to wander only a short while before he grabbed her slender wrist and pulled her from what now seemed more like a funeral pyre than anything else. "What ahs gotten into you?!" He hissed as pulled her against his chest, hoping the small elf would snap out of whatever this trance was.

When he was done, Kane got to his feet and brushed himself off like he was disgusted with himself. He yanked on his pants and opened the door, his eyes on the guard. "Tie her up. If any man but me so much as touches her, he dies." He didn't even bother closing the door behind him as he headed back for Anaris, ready to tell him of his conquest. 

"Intruders!" Yena wouldn't get the chance to answer her lover. The shout was followed by an arrow that slammed into Baralai's chest and went straight through his heart. The tip of it grazed her skin and all she could do was stare up at it.