RuneScape Forum Archive | The Thief's Apprentice.

Levente

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“Will I have an adventure like you did?” asked Star, gazing at him with her blue eyes.
Nathan gave a short smile, stopping his work for a second as he looked at Star. “Maybe.”
Nathan helped Claire onto the horse, and showed Star how to lead one. He instructed her to pull the reins which ever way she wanted to go and how to stop or go faster. Then, taught her the leg work and how to stay on a horse without falling. After about an hour, Nathan finished his teaching and peered outside. It must have been two in the morning, and it was still dark outside. The moss around them, was wet with dew and the air cool around them. Nathan lead Claire's horse which was called Off Spring, and Star rode on Badger with Claire. He slowly lead them through the forest and onto the road, first stopping to hear for any sounds or noises that would alert him of travelers. Then he got onto Off Spring, and started to ride quickly down the road, with Star behind him.
She was confident and did as she was told, she was smart with a good mind on her head, and she was adventurous. All the good things, thieves needed to survive. Alden did good, thought Nathan. They rode down the trail, with little talking and finally came up to a large hill. When on top, Nathan peered down, and saw small shadow with glowing embers in them, Glamis.

26-Aug-2009 06:28:23

Levente

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Chapter 6
The Witch and the Cause

The city was deserted, with only the sound of the cool wind to aid them. Nathan rode slowly through the city, closing his jacket tightly around him. He turned to see Star wrapped in a blanket and Claire doing the same. The city was quiet and loosely lit, with a small torch every few hundred feet. The stone street, forced their approach to be notice and they were stopped by two armed guards, on why they were up so late. Claire learned that due to the consonant raids from local thieves that the militia was forced to act, and make a curfew. When the guard informed her about this, she glared at Nathan but only a moment. “*'excuse me, good sir. Where can I find a good place to eat and rest, after a night's ride?” asked Nathan. The guard told them that there was just one tavern near here, and it was run by a man named Jerious. Then they rode off towards the direction of the tavern that the guard told them about.
“Nathan .. we can stay with a friend of mine.” Claire shouted at Nathan from behind. He turned Off Spring around and waited for Star to catch up with him. Star was slowly becoming a great rider, and even the front gate guards, gave him a well down for teaching his daughter to ride.
“You've been to this town?” Nathan stated.
“Well yes. There is a old friend of mine, that used to come to the tavern to buy from me, a special herb that grew only near use us called snapdragon. It was a bluish green herb used to her baiting potions. She's well ...... a ... herbalist. But people call her a witch around here. She lives behind the edge of town, with an elegant nice house,” Claire explained. Claire still didn't see, but now she was getting used to it and even knew where to turn when people talked to her, making her look normal. My poor dear, thought Nathan as he looked at Claire. During the trip, Claire had to describe a lot of the scenery to Nathan and with difficulty Nathan found a large manor at the edge of town.

26-Aug-2009 06:28:42 - Last edited on 26-Aug-2009 06:39:56 by Levente

Levente

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The house had two stories, with light shining from all the windows. There was a keep that lead up to a large attic on the top with a nice little courtyard to look at. Flowers bloomed left and right, with the amazing appearance of summer when winter season was soon to come. The fragment of roses filled the air, and the dance of the tulips from the rushing wind helped each one of them to take deep breaths and to relax for the first time in a while. Nathan got off the horse and helped Star first and then Claire. We must look like a mess thought Nathan, looking at his dusty clothes and feeling his unshaved face. Star had dirt on her clothes, as well as Claire. Nathan held Claire's hand and directed her to the door, in which using a golden lion knocker, knocked on the door. There was a long pause and finally soft feet that only Nathan detected came from inside the house.
The door suddenly opened and there stood the weirdest woman Nathan had ever saw. She was about five eight feet tall, with purple long hair that hung down to her waist. She had amazing brown eyes that bore a deep mystic feeling when he looked into them. She had a thin body with a long white drape over her it, and milk white skin. She was very attractive to Nathan's eye, even with her severely pointed ears, they seemed to make her look positively beautiful. “Claire!” she squealed and raised her hands around Claire. She didn't seemed to notice that she was squeezing Claire, tightly but she was glad to see her. “How are you Neiko?” asked Claire, with heavy breathing.
“Better, better. And you? What happened to your eyes?” asked Neiko, pulling herself from Claire. She placed her long fingers to her chin, tapping them. “You didn't look at a Shadow's Light, by any chance did you?” Claire must have been dumbstruck to the question and stood silent. Either it was the silence that bothered Neiko or her continuing questions, she asked. “Who is this gentleman and little one?”

26-Aug-2009 06:28:53

Levente

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Nathan thought this was the right time to introduce himself so he picked up the conversation from here. “This is Star Corway and I am ..” But before he could continue, he was interrupted by Neiko. “Nathan Corway?” she asked.
“Yes ... but how did you ... ” he asked looking at Neiko with big eyes. She just smiled and looked from Nathan to Star. Then finally at Claire, slowly waving them inside. Nathan stepped in last, with Nei** closing the door and walked into a strange room. The room smelled of incense, and the was a large pot over the fireplace and dozens of books stacked on a large table near it. The room was covered in parchments and ink stains littered the floor. Though Claire couldn't see, Nathan knew that she would have a heart attack if she did. The room was a large living room and was incredibly hot.
“Well don't just stand there.” Neiko implored. “Sit, sit! You look tired.”
Nathan thought but where? He first helped Claire into a cushion chair that loomed near the table and then he sat down next to Star after looking for a chair. Neiko merely moved to the table and rudely sat down without helping anyone to find a seat. “Ahh nearly forgot.” she said and she ran out of the room. Nathan looked at Claire, and as quietly as he could asked, “Claire, is this a wise decision?”
“Nathan, how could you? I never let you down, so why should I decide to now. Neiko is a very special and dear friend to me. Always watched over me and never lost faith in me. Trust me on this one,” Claire said, offended. She smiled towards Nathan when saying this, and finally in the end made him to feel ashamed. Though Nathan had a great sense of pride, he could never live up to it in front of Claire.

26-Aug-2009 06:29:05

Levente

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Neiko returned shortly after but held a small orange vial. It was about one gulp size but Nathan could never forgot the special orange that he saw that day. It was a bright glowing drink that held it's mysterious in the ingredients. Neiko returned to her seat, with was next to Star and looked at Claire. They sat around a table but parchments littered the top of it, annoying Star causing she couldn't see.
*Now sweetheart, please give this to Claire and don't drop it cause it highly acrid.” Neiko implied, handing the vial over to Star. She looked at the vial and carefully keeping it a good distance away from her body handed it to Claire. Claire felt the cold vial and with her other hand for the cork. When she finally opened it, she was going to drink but was interrupted by Neiko again. “Claire, you drink it with me not telling you what it is?” she asked curiously.
“Neiko I trust you with my life, and with your health I drink this.” replied Claire. She drank the vial leaving nothing in it. Nathan didn't think that was right, but he had to trust Claire on this judgment. After Claire finished, she placed the vial on the table, very quickly as she was afraid on dropping it. “Now listen to me quickly Claire. This is called Nolie's Potion and this is for anyone that was blinded by a highly bright light, like a Shadow's Light. I always keep one on me, due to the dangers that lurk today. I'm warning you that soon, you will feel a sharp pain on you eyes and then a burning sensation. Don't rub them or the pain will last longer.” Nei** quickly said. “For now, I just say go to sleep and let the sleep handle the pain. Sweetheart, can you take her upstairs? Third door on your right.” Neiko helped Claire to stand up and watched as Star lead her upstairs. Now Nathan was alone with her.

26-Aug-2009 06:29:13

Levente

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“For starts, I know you have questions and I know your answers, Nathan. So the first question you will ask is, how did I know your name?” Neiko began, grinning at Nathan.
“How did you know my named?” Nathan repeated. He finally caught himself not being about to look away from her, was it her beauty or the mystery around her? He could not decide.
“Alden.”
“Alden?”
“Oh come now. I know your smarter than that. Alden Florence in Qualimin. Infamous thief, as well as leader and operator of the Athenians. Now your next question is how do I know him? Well I'll tell you, knowing he wouldn't. I am Neiko Florence, Alden's younger sister.”
“But how? I heard his family was killed in a fire.”
“Yes, you right on that one. But with one flaw, not everyone was killed. Alden and I survived it barely and later as time passed he decided to move to Qualimin in search of a future and glory, and I here in search of my future and my glory.” Neiko explained.
“Why are you telling me this?”
“The same reason that a friend died for you. The same warning to return to you, ' I know why you are going to Glamis and I wish for you to know that, that path will lead to a lot of pain alone.' Hurst said that.” Neiko nodded her head, sadly after she finished her statement.
Nathan quickly rose from the table, letting the chair to slid back and hide a stack of book that fell to the ground. His confusion as well as fear, flared to life and they started to torment him with the decision of what to do in this case. “What are you? A fiend, a witch or a cursed soulless woman?! I shall not stay in this house, when someone knows of my future and my faith. How do you know of my life, better than I do?” Nathan demanded in a harsh voice. Neiko then rose to match Nathan. “The same way you came to Glamis, the same purpose you came here to this small town. The same reason that is standing right behind you!” she declared.

26-Aug-2009 06:29:34 - Last edited on 26-Aug-2009 06:40:36 by Levente

Levente

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Nathan looked around him and saw the little shy creature that he started to fall in love with. Star, stood there for how long Nathan could not remember. Then he looked back at Neiko, with fear in his eyes. “Come tomorrow, I'm leaving this house Neiko. And try nothing to me or my Star for it will be your last.” Nathan quickly picked up, Star and ran up stairs leaving Neiko, alone in her studies once more.
~ ~~
They usually say, that a well night's sleep helps a lot of things to be clarified and fix. To allow the mind to create a better judgment of the situation but not for Nathan. He tossed and turned while he slept with Star. She curled into a tiny little ball, off in one side of the bed and Nathan was left staring at the ceiling. The ceiling had stars painted on it, with the correct positions for many constellations, but one was missing. The Orion's Belt. Nathan looked from the furtherest corner of the room to the other side, finally causing him to fall asleep.
The sleep that possessed him that night, was not a great one. Dreams weaved in from the Shadow Seekers, to Neiko, to the tattoo on Star's back. He tossed and turned, waking up several time until he saw that it was dusk. He left the room, after a change of clothes and washing his face. Nathan was sure that downstairs there will be nobody, and with his luck he was correct. There was just a gray shabby cat, that looked curiously at the stranger. It's eyes were nearly the same color like it's fur, and it did not move as Nathan paced the living room floor. His eyes trailed to the many books, that lay on the stone table that they sat at, last night. “A Time and A Place: A Vast Amount of Transportation, by Therlock Newton,” “Uncrossing a Cursed, by Percy Coffman,” “Nature's Magic, and Potions, by Hemlock Hollie.”

26-Aug-2009 06:29:51

Levente

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There were many more books, that Nathan saw but he did not have the time to go through them, for he still had to do one errand that he came to Glamis for. To find Father Hernis, at the 'Church Among the Hills.' Nathan ventured outside and stopped in front of the courtyard. The pleasant air was silent and calm, with birds chirping left and right. The waves of oaks that roamed through out the surrounding forests, were covered in life. Nathan looked around, wondering where Badger and Off Spring were put, then he saw a small shack not too far from the main house and he walked over to it. Inside were both of the horses unsaddled, cleaned, and sleeping in each little stall. Nathan walked over to Badger, and saddled him before he was awaken. Then he lead the horse out and rode him towards the town.
Glamis, was a wonderful city with many bright colors filling the air. Unlike many huge cities, that had the problem with pests, this one did not seem to. The smell was of different perfumes being sold at the street corners, hot meat with butter on top, and even once in a while a large animal being sold. People crowded against one another tries to buy whatever they saw amusing, so Nathan got off his horse and started to walk. People dressed in different garments, with many colors to create a large moving rainbow-colored crowd that laughed, sang, and bargained with each other. This was truly a wonderful city thought Nathan.
In Qualimin, Nathan remembered how knights from the four corners of the world came to buy, sell or the speak of their cause to the people, they each had a large banner with the emblem on it and they all wore many different pieces of armor. But here it was calm, with only occasional guards that loomed to talk to friends on the street, to look at a person merchandise. There was little or no conflict from what Nathan could tell. "You there!, yes you.” Nathan screamed at a guard.

26-Aug-2009 06:30:08 - Last edited on 26-Aug-2009 06:41:34 by Levente

Levente

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The guard wore a large chest plate over him with a type of emblem on it of a large bear. He held a curved scimitar on his side, with a oval shield on his back. The man had a gentle face, with many scars on it though.
“What can ye help with?” pondered the guard. His sharp beard hung loose in front of him, with a small helmet on his head.
“I'm looking for Father Hernis of the 'Church Among the Hills.'” replied Nathan.
“What ye have business with 'im?”
“Family.”
The guard looked carefully at Nathan, then told him to look for it near the edge of town. “The east side of it, but I warn ye. No problems ye hear?' Nathan gave him his word and the guard returned to a wine merchant leaving Nathan to move through the crowd once more.
After Nathan adventured out of Glamis, he saw a charming little church on top of a hill the looked over the city. The church was a common one, with its normal steep walk to the top and a large brass bell on the top of it that rang, once in the morning and once at night. The church had a large white statue of a god in front of it, and small graves behind it. When Nathan entered the courtyard of the church he thought it was wise to leave Badger in the front, before getting in trouble. Slowly he walked into the church, with the same musty smell and noise from a large organ in Qualimin. The aisles of long benches rolled before him, and he saw that there were at least ten people here. A large heavy priest was in church with a large scroll in hand, reciting from it. Nathan knew better than to wait to ask, so he walked to the side and saw a large wooden door in the end. He opened the door quickly and quietly without anyone to notice him do it, and walked inside. The room was small, and had the smell of wooden furniture. There was priest sitting down at the end of it, with a large book on the table and a hot tea in hand. Nathan asked politely, “Are you Father Hernis?”

26-Aug-2009 06:30:31 - Last edited on 26-Aug-2009 06:42:04 by Levente

Levente

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The Father must have been surprised cause he spill a little of his tea on his shirt and turned around suddenly. He had a long black robe over him, and a silver cross lanced to his neck. His scared face was shakened by Nathan's sudden appearance, and so his white uncombed hair lay on his head. He had a blue eyes that was the only color coming from him, other than the usual black and white. “Ye – yes. What do you want, child?” the priest asked.
Nathan sat down on a chair, a good distance away from the priest to show him that he meant no harm, and so the pries still standing looked a little calmer. Nathan placed his crozier on the floor about a yard away from him, and then put his hands on his lap, as a sign of peace. Most thieves did the same thing and many people recognized this gesture, but in a a quiet little town as this they could not tell. “Father, my name is Nathan and I need your help. I have a child with me, that have markings on the back of her neck. I know it is too much of me to ask but can you translate them back to me?” Nathan asked, with a small grin on his face. He wondered what the priest would say, to a stranger asking to translate the ancient language that no one has spoke in hundreds of years.
“Well I guess that you are against them ..” sighed the priest, looking completely calm. This made Nathan very much curious.
“Who, Father?” asked Nathan, with a weird look on his face.
“The Shadow Seekers ... They came here a few weeks ago, after a daughter of a very rich nobleman from Iverton was kidnapped. They said that they needed to know of the ancient language but I told them I won't help them. So they took my pupil away from me, with the translation scripts as he walked home one night. And just about three days ago, a hunter found a corpse in the forest with a black robe on him and a silver cross. Poor boy, died to defend something he would never understand.”
“Understand what?”

26-Aug-2009 06:30:51

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