Topic: Emerald Estates: Business to tend to...

Tasslehofl

Date: 2004-04-16 10:00 EST
His mind, for the first time in a year, had come to finally relax. The illness which had taken his mind had finally been lifed. Today was the one year anneversery of his retirement, of the weight that was first lifted from his shoulders. The 2nd had dominated his desires for so long that it was hard to think now of how he had lived at all before it.

He let his eyes slowly watch the sun rise as it made its way over the distant RhyDin, and listened to the caressing lapping of the waves at they made their way to the island's beach. He knew that this peace was only a temporary thing, but there was little that would break him of his moment of serenity. Yet.. it seemed that was all it was to be.

"Brother..."

The elder dragon's steps, supprisingly, were soft and quiet. Tass could tell, though, that his older brother was bothered by something..

"Yes, Khirsah?"

"It seems that there are some 'misgiving's' that are going on over in the city. Murders and such, though normal, are on the rise.. and it seems that just the other night, an orphanage was burnt to the foundation, along with all those within."

His sigh came deep, and he closed his eyes a moment. The peace which he had fought hard to take back in his life had once more been interupted. "..and do you know who is behind this, yet?"

"I do have my.. suspicions.. It will take a bit more looking into to get more information."

Tass's nod was barely visable, his mind once again turning to focus on the business that had to be done. "Send for Altara.. and Caleb..."

If a dragon could truely smirk, Khirsah had done so. "So I see you know he's returned."

"I do.. he was hunting an old prey when I saw him.." He gave a soft chuckle. "..though, I do not know if he will be catching this one."

"You do realize that bringing them both here, and together, could cause some problem's, brother?"

"Caleb knows when to put matters aside to conduct business. But I take the proper precautions to ensure that things do not get.. messy." For the briefest moment, it seemed that the sun had turned its course and started decending again. "I do not want to have to slaughter him, nor Altara.."

Khirsah's smirk gave a twist, and an old glint returned to his eyes. "So I see my brother has not forgotten himself." He gave a nod of aprovement, then turned. "And of your family?"

"Inform Spike of what will be coming.. and take Indigo to the Mountain to continue her lessons there until this has passed from out home. Take a few of our breatheren as well to post sentries as you see fit. There's more to worry about than Caleb and Altara.. and even my wrath.."

Caleb Feren

Date: 2004-04-19 13:44 EST
It had been some time since the last time the old man had called him. He had known when he left that it was unlikely that the old man would survive whatever the 'illness' had been that had taken him down after the 2nd, but somehow, the old man's resilience again proved the better.

But it had also been a year since Tass had seen him, and what he had grown to do with the things that Tass had given him... not to mention the things he learned own his own. It was hard to be unfaithful to the old man, but in turn.. it was hard to do what he asked at times, and he felt that this call would be one that he would gladly should have stayed home from.

As he stepped through the fog into the garden, he gave a small smirk, the wind shifting just enough so that he could catch the scents around him.

"Ah.. Khirsah.. I see that the lady is here as well.. This job must be an interesting one if we both were called upon."

Though he held a green hue and wore golden robes, it was hard to call Khrisah anything but powerful, even in his demeanor. "The job is one of?interest to the family, and does require some skills which both of you possess. However, let me make it clear to you that this is a job, and there will be no issues between the two of you."

It was hard for Caleb not to smirk at this, remembering the encounter that took place just a few nights ago at the Arena. "Oh...and I suppose I have to be all nice and polite to the old man cause of his sickness to, eh?"

It was Khirsah''s turn to smirk, and that simple gesture sent a sudden chill down Caleb back.


It was hard not to feel almost as a prisoner with the escort given, though it was only Khirsah, but from Khirsah reputation, he was all that was needed. As they stepped though the door to the office, another chill raced down his back... this was becoming something irritating and he would have to gain better control. Yet, it was quickly understood why he had felt it. He let his eyes, only for a moment, adjust to darkness that was within the study, and realized that the temperature here was a good 20 below? colder even than that of the mountain''s summit.

Caleb''s senses were keen, but now, he felt helpless as there was nothing but darkness that surrounded him, and according to all the skills he possessed, only darkness before him.

"Ah.. so you have come. I''m glad to see that I did not have to track you down. It would have been a waste of resources, especially with that which is going on over in RhyDin main." The voice he knew well, but it seems that Tass''s normal tone had took on a hard edge. This was a twist to the old man.

"Yea.. I''ve come. Where''s Altara?"

Tass''s chuckle came softly, as did his voice. "She has other affairs that she tending to. She is also no longer your concern ? not until this job is taken care of and matters have once again been? settled."

Being told what to do with his personal life had always been the line with his employer''s. "Look here, old man.. I''ll do as I damn well?. "

"You will do as I say!" Caleb''s step took him backwards as he felt the darkness charge with power, feeling a wrath in Tass''s voice that he had never seen. It seems that the old man was not as frail as he seemed.

"Now,..." he could feel Tass returning to his calmer self. He knew that his fate was sealed... but only for now. "...this is what you will do.."

Altara

Date: 2004-05-20 20:50 EST
Flexing her right hand she worked at the stiffness that crept into her arm though now it wasnt as frequent as it had been when the ties were first broke but she still had a tendency to wear the leather bracer that covered the three long scars running from her wrist to the elbow. The wounds had healed but the center one still looked fresh as it would till she died.

"There 'as got ta be an easier way than this."

The growth of her gardens during her extended absence had amazed her and the undertaking to get it cleared out had proved soothing to her nerves giving her the time she needed to set her path. She had not wished to be back among those that now sought her out but it was moot at this point. It kept getting harder each time to recapture her human side. Vague memories of most left behind had almost been buried but she was being urged to delve deeper into what she wanted the least to do with.

People. Why now she thought. But a summons was a summons and a refusal was a death sentence.

"Least they coulda done was sent the gnomes out ta fix the spring pumps ta the place. I sure could use a real bath" she complained seemingly to noone but the answer of a low growl to her words revealed the presence of another.

She had been summoned again by the beast within. She dared not deny the spirit's call and when she had walked back thru that small gate she knew there was no turning back now as that latch clicked in place.

A shadow crossed overhead and she glanced up, wiping the sweat from her brow with the back of her arm, it leaving a smudge of dirt across her forehead as she shielded her eyes from the sun to see which it was this time. The passings had grown more frequent and she knew they were bidding her to hunt with them again. She smiled as those wilded memories seeped back, slow they were but there again nonetheless more easily accessible than the mortal ones. Time...in time she would answer their call but she needed focus now.

They knew where she was at. Until she was in control of her human emotions she felt it wise to let hiim come for her. If he needed her to regain what she gave up, that was one thing. The one that smelled of death was back too. He had shadowed her, she knew he had to have but she had lost the bond to both at the same time. That was another thing. Dealing with death she considered herself done with that remnant of her human side.

She stood there silently wondering what had caused the ancient one to bade her come again. It couldnt be good if he was willing to risk her neck for the favor she owed for that neck. It couldnt bode a good thing at all.

Lowering herself back to her work she felt the familiar prick of the hairs along the base of the back of her neck making her pause. She turned to glance at the wolf pup that had been hanging about the gardens more than the others only to see him slink away into the shadows of the darkened interior of the cottage, whimpering as he went.

A sniff of her nose to the air reaffirmed what she felt.

The ancient one was coming and she didnt think he would be very pleased wtih what she had to say. She didnt look forward to this.

Tasslehofl

Date: 2004-08-10 12:58 EST
Khirsah had known that she would be reluctant to settle back into her home here on the estates, but he had work it out.

However, the lack of response to his summons was something that had irked him. He knew she still resided on the island, and had even started to bring another around. He knew of this other one... and knew of how Caleb was dealing with this.

Still.. the lack of respect was something that had to be delt with...

Altara

Date: 2004-11-16 01:29 EST
She answered the call. It was still her choice, one of the few she had left she fumed as she came back from her meeting at the mountain. She had begged forgiveness at her desires to set things right with her allotted space before she could even begin to hear them out. It seemed the garden gave her the strength she so often felt she lacked and she had been loathe to leave its comforts but better to be on an even footing in mind if not size. She had exercised caution however in her avoidance of Caleb though she knew he was near as surely as he had felt her presence, it wasnt something they could hide from the other and the other night had been somewhat unsettling.

She had spent the morning being chastised till she couldnt stand it any longer but still she had to hear them out. Things had changed while she had been away, she had changed most of all. With that thought dancing at the fringes of her mind she stepped back within the confines of the cottage. Was she truly home or merely the pawn in another's game?

Tasslehofl

Date: 2004-11-22 14:13 EST
Khirsah watched her as she made her way out, and sighed heavily. He knew her mind more than she knew, and he also knew that she resented him for what he was trying to do for her. Each time he watched her, he could feel the tear in her soul widening a little bit more, and it hurt him.

Turning, he moved back up the hall and entered the library. Closing the door softly behind him, he made his way to the hearth, knowing that his younger would be there.

"You could have been more lenient, Elder. You and I both know better than most what the tear is doing to her."

"Yes, brother.. " Khirsah whispered. It had almost tore him apart to watch her, and it shredded him even more to hear the words that kept spewing from his mouth without the desire to stop them. "Tass... she is a daughter, to both of us. We both have been through what she is, to a degree. I want only to keep her from following the hell that you and I went through when.. "

"I know, Elder, but there are some things that cannot be taught from others. This is one of them.

~Her love will destroy her, and it will save her. When it is the one whom she wants, it shall be the one she fears that will come through.~

We will just have to keep watch and move as we must. I do not want to risk losing them both, and if I can, I want to save them both."

Chuckling, Khirsah looked to the younger. "Sometimes, I wonder who's the Elder. We will do as you say, and the Gods help the one who destroys them"

"Yes, Elder.. but then, I'm not even sure that will help"