Karliah motioned for a man to come over, “Show these fine people where they may rest for the night, somewhere near their animals. Tell whoever asks that they are here on the Archmages business and answer no further questions.” The man nodded and led them out of the grand hall. --- Catching Karliah's arm before she could walk off, Remia stopped her. Losing patience in a desire to talk to Cyrus, Karliah yanked her arm free before crossing them over her chest. "What! I'm not a mind reader," she barked at the knight who was looking at her with a concentrated look. "Sorry," Remia sighed. "I've noticed you're able to communicate without words, and I have something to ask of you that I'd not like other ears hearing." Karliah scowled and made to protest but Remia did not allow it. "I don't know exactly what is going on, but if this woman troubles you all as much as it seems she does, I'd like to stay and help, else I'd have taken my battalion and gone already," she explained, her voice growing hard. "Assist me in this one request and I will also ask no more questions about what happened to myself and Adelina." Karliah studied the other woman a moment, glancing toward the Archmage's chamber as she dropped her arms and gestured the direction the rest of the knights had gone, save Remia's mount who fell in step behind them. * * * Outside it had grown dark, and most of the signs of battle had been cleared away. One corner of the courtyard had been cleared for the Corisians. A few of the pegasus had laid down already, their partners tucked into their wings and chatting amongst each other. Adelina was in deep conversation with one of the male knights; he was the third member of the original three, Karliah noted. Remia beckoned to them and they made their way toward her, the Heart still wrapped in Adelina's arms. Remia took the bag and asked her to summon Tidus and his partner, and to make sure he emptied his supplies. She looked curious at her commander's request, but simply bowed and walked off. The male knight remained with them, looking down at Karliah with mild suspicion. "Rhys, this is the Archmage's...second in command?" Remia questioned, suddenly aware that she didn't even know her name. "Close enough," Karliah said, extending her hand to Rhys. "Karliah." "Rhys Kagenhall, flight lieutenant," he clipped, giving her hand one short shake. Ignoring his clear discomfort with her, Karliah turned to Remia impatiently. "This is all well and good, but what am I here for exactly? I have other things to do," she said pointedly. Remia nodded, turning to her right and let out a long whistle. Glancing at Rhys, Karliah was surprised to find him just as confused as herself. They were not left long in suspense as a small figure shrouded in a black riding cloak walked over to them, a tall nondescript bay horse in tow. Remia smiled as she greeted the mysterious person. "Thank you Mina, I know you've enjoyed being here, but this is urgent." Remia's voice was apologetic. The person removed their hood, revealing a lovely girl with shoulder length hair the color of spun gold. Her amber colored eyes sparkled even in the dim lighting, a broad smile stretched across her face. "My Grace," Mina curtsied, "it is always an honor to be called upon by you." Remia's eyes darted to the side, clearly embarrassed, but the dark grey stallion behind her pushed her shoulder gently with his muzzle, his ears forward. "Oh Bolide, you're such a hog," Remia scowled at him, pushing him away from herself. "Go ahead." He danced around the side of his rider and snuffled his nose into Mina's blonde hair, dwarfing her in size. She laughed, placing her tiny hands on either side of his face and scratching for a moment before searching the inside of her cloak. After a brief search she held out two white disks the size of her palms, one in each hand, and offered them to both Bolide and the bay. They immediately snapped them up, crunching away. "It is good to see you doing so well with Drix, I'm sure you have served each other well," Remia complimented, looking at the bay who was now also harrying her for more treats. "We'll be needing your speed tonight. I'll have Tidus flying with Blitz." Mina nodded, patting the two equines as she listened intently, her face serious. Adelina returned as Remia was speaking, a slight young man with a small, bright white pegasus accompanying her. "Good, we're all here," Remia continued, speaking in a quiet voice. "Mina, I'll need you to ride out first. I'm so sorry for putting you in such a position, but the Heart cannot be intercepted at any cost. I had hoped we would not need to send you." "It is our job, my lady," Mina replied gravely, resting her hand on her mount's neck. "Do not forget what I am trained to do." Remia nodded, "Tidus, your bag is empty, yes?" The dusty blonde man gave her a toothy grin. "Yes ma'am, it's right here," he said, holding up a small leather pouch. Glancing at Karliah, Remia instructed Tidus to open it. As he did, she slipped the Heart, bag and all, into it, the shape of the pouch remaining unchanged. The mage's eyebrow tweaked, but she was not entirely surprised to find that even Coris used some magical items. "Please, remember what you carry. You must stop for nothing to get that bag to Queen Lilliana, and no one else." She looked him directly in the eye, adopting her square posturing again. Bolide turned from Mina and moved to her side, his head held high above her. "Yes Commander." The smile was gone from Tidus' face, replaced with a quiet determination. They clasped their right hands, locking around their thumbs. "Fly true," she imparted. "Fly free," he replied before turning to spring up onto his mount. Remia turned to Mina and nodded at her. She quickly swung up into her saddle and her horse shifted excitedly beneath her, his long legs dancing against the cobble. "Sure footing," Remia offered, earning a dazzling smile from the girl before she raised her hood again. "Fly free, my Grace," she said, pulling a bag from her cloak, similar in size the one that had held the Heart, startling Karliah and the other knights as she attached it to her saddle. She lifted her hand in final farewell as they launched into a gallop, tearing out of the courtyard. Finally, Remia turned to the mage. "I need you to make them invisible," she stated, sweeping her hand toward Tidus and the tiny pegasus. "Them?" Karliah gaped. "Both of them?" Remia looked at her expectantly. "Blitz is our fastest flyer, and they can probably make it back to Coris in two days," she explained. "I don't imagine you can cloak them for that long, but even a few hours of safety would make me feel better about sending them alone." Karliah covered her eyes with one of her hands, muttering to herself about people with no magical experience. "I.....will do what I can. I can give them at least a two hour coverage on just my own power, but this is not really an easy request," she hissed, dropping her hand and glaring at Remia who simply smiled back at her. She eyed the white mare who was bobbing her head impatiently, the short curved blade on her face mask flashing in the the weak light. Waving the others away from her target area, an alarmed look passed over Tidus' face and he looked to his commander. Remia steadied him with her calm, standing like a monument with her partner. Karliah could see why the woman was their commander. Her strength was their strength, and her resolve was what kept them together through things like the mass silence in their attack today. "As soon as the spell is complete, Tidus, you need to fly like your partner's namesake," Remia ordered, her gaze level and direct. "The wall where we came in today is clear and you should be able to use that for an easier takeoff. Waste no time in starting out, the further you can get while unseen the safer we will all be. Do not make Mina ride in vain, and take her for a drink at the Honeycomb when you're both safely home, put it on my account." His wide grin had returned by the end of her speech, and he shook his head as he wound his left hand into Blitz's mane. He had secured the leather pouch back to its place on his belt and his right hand rested over it. He gave a single nod to Karliah and braced himself as though he was going to be hit with something. "Relax, you won't feel anything, except maybe some cold pressure," Karliah explained. "Now let me concentrate." Adelina and Rhys moved to stand with their commander; Adelina's eyes were alight with curiosity, while Rhys maintained his skepticism. Remia stood stalwart, evaluating her flightmate. A few moments later, the pair shimmered out of view, pulling gasps from the two flight lieutenants as Remia immediately faced Karliah. "You have my thanks," Remia said, bowing to the mage, who sighed, glancing at the knight only briefly before walking away. "And you have your request. Now sleep, we shall speak again in the morning," she managed, waving her right hand as she made her way back into the keep. | blackbirdswords |
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