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Old 11-11-2003, 05:47 PM   #146
Ealasaide
Shadow of Tyrn Gorthad
 
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Join Date: Sep 2003
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Sting

Kaldir

As darkness descended, Kaldir found his pace slowing as it became increasingly difficult to follow the trail of Naiore and her four companions. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw that Mrs. Banks had retreated once more to her place beside Benia, who rode several paces behind him. He looked again at the ground. He could either light a torch, continue on and risk missing something, or he could stop for the remainder of the night, giving the horses, not to mention his companions, the chance to rest. They had come to a wide place in the trail with a small clearing off to the side which would afford them ample room for a small encampment. Would Naiore stop for the night? If she was traveling by foot with a weak or wounded companion, he considered it likely that she would. If that was the case, then he would not lose too much time by stopping himself. He paused and waited for the two women to catch up to him. Looking at their faces, he could see that they were exhausted.

"It's time we stopped for the night," he said, as they reined their horses to a halt beside him. "We'll make camp here." He was tired, too. It had been roughly three nights since he had slept and, while he was able to exist a long time without sleep, he found himself flagging a bit, as well. He would have to sleep soon or his mind would begin to wander. He couldn't afford to have his reflexes slowed by lack of sleep with Naiore Dannan so close by. At least, he knew now that he could trust the desert woman not to try to knife him in his sleep. When he had held her dagger to his throat and ordered her to kill him, he had not felt even the slightest hesitation in her hand, nor the slightest movement toward him from her. She had tried to pull her hand and the dagger away. That was good. Even the smallest hesitation would have landed her back in shackles for the night, but her obvious aversion to the sight of his blood had told him more clearly than words that she was not a killer. Neither was Mrs. Banks, for that matter.

Turning, he watched Benia dismount from her horse. With a nervous glance at him, she led the mare into the clearing and removed her rucksack from the horse's back. She was so beautiful. Only a fool would hand her over to some brutal Haradrim tribesman to be beaten or killed in exchange for a mere handful of coins. She deserved better. Catching himself staring, he pulled his gaze away from her and looked around for Mrs. Banks, who had also dismounted and was busily rummaging through his supplies, no doubt in search of something edible for dinner by hobbit standards, which were considerably higher than his own. Sighing, he knealt and began to clear a spot for their campfire. At the moment, what he wanted more than food or anything else was a few hours' sleep.

Once a small fire had been built and burned merrily away in the fire pit, he unsaddled the three horses, bringing their packs in close to the fire. Then, wrapping himself in his cloak, he found a place on the edge of the clearing where he could sit comfortably with his back braced against the trunk of a large oak. Catching the hobbit's eye, he beckoned her over.

"Mrs. Banks," he said quietly once she stood in front of him. "You and Miss Nightshade have the first watch. Cook what you wish from my supplies, but do not leave this clearing...not even for a sprig of basil. If any of Naiore's minions are about, it could be the worse for you. If you hear anything or even think you hear something, wake me. Remember there are five of them and only three of us."

He smiled at her with the good side of his face. "Bear in mind, I am a light sleeper."

Gilly nodded gravely. "Don't worry about a thing, Mr. Kaldir. If even a twig snaps, we'll wake you."

"Good." He watched her back for a moment as she made her way back to the fire. Then, he drew his sword and laid it across his lap, his hand resting on the hilt. The last thing he saw before drifting off to sleep was Benia seated on the far side of the fire from him, combing the tangles out of her long black hair.
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