The Ghost from the dust

Svenia nodded, lying down next to him with only a slight hesitation, arranging the cloak so that it covered them both. Even with the low fire giving off heat not far from them, the desert night had taken on a definite chill, and she was glad of his warmth next to her as she closed her eyes, quickly falling asleep.

He fell asleep shortly after, sleeping next to her, as the chill of night came over them, but their body heat kept them warm. as they slept through the night

She woke early the next day, rising before the sun crested over the horizon, the fire little more than a bed of coals. Knowing that he had wanted to get an early start, she sat up, and shook his shoulder as she yawned. "The sun will be up soon," she informed him. "I believe you said you wanted to gone before then."

Ardin groaned and nodded "Yes I know, drink some dew, before it evaporates" he got up and packed his stuff, drinking some dew off his gear, then stood ready to go

She drank what she could, and found a small puddle of dew in a bush, carefully draining it into her canteen, corking it and hanging it at her side. After grabbing her other gear, she looked at him and smiled. "I'm ready to go if you are."

Ardin chuckled "I was ready before I woke up" he grinned and began walking, towards the hills in the distance, the air was still cold and would bite at the back of their necks and ears. but he ignored it as they traveled.

She pulled her light cloak tighter about her shoulders, drawing the hood up as she followed him. The sun soon rose, and even the heat of the morning made the cold night air nothing more than a memory. "Have you often traveled in the desert?" she asked, walking at his side.

Ardin smiled and nodded "I lived in a desert, one much hotter and colder than this, if you lost track of where you were, you would never fond your way out" he grinned "So this is nothing, for me" he pats her shoulder "Why you ask?"

She shrugged her shoulders, glancing up at him. "It just seemed like you've had a lot of practice living in such a place. I know I wouldn't survive long by myself in such conditions." She appeared ready to say more, but stopped frowning, looking off beyond his shoulder. "Do you see that?" she asked, wondering if the heat was playing tricks on her eyes, for in the distance, through the shimmer of heat rising from the sand, she thought she saw shapes approaching. "It looks like three horsemen."

Ardin gripped his blade and stepped infront of her "Get behind me," he watched the approaching horse men, waiting for them to get closer

She did as he asked, stepping behind him and watched as the horsemen got closer, breaking off to form a loose circle around the two of them, all of them with a lance in their hands and swords sheathed on the saddles. The lead rider, a tall human with skin burned dark brown, held up his hand, seeing the sword in Ardin's grip. "Hold, stranger. What brings you to these parts?" His voice was gruff, but not unfriendly, and he eyed the two of them with interest. "Its not often we get strangers here, especially not of the elven sort," he motioned towards Svenia, for though her hood hid her pointed ears, her short stature and slight build made her heritage obvious.

Ardin studied them and looked into the leaders eyes "We are just traveling together, hopeing to buy some food and supplies at the nearest town, we seemed to have gotten lost in this barren land," he looked at Svenia "I am My lady's personal escort,"

She bowed politely to the man, and smiled. "Would you be able to tell us where the nearest town is?" she asked. The man nodded, swinging down from his hose. "Of course.... miss....?" He let the sentence hang, and she smiled. "Svenia Veridir." He took her hand and bowed over it, kissing the back of her hand. "I am Uldril, and these are my sons, Lutin and Tram." He indicated each in turn. "I own a horse ranch not far from here. Please, come with us, and we will see if we can be of any help."
She nodded, blushing lightly at his treatment of her, pulling her hand from his as he had not let it go. "We would both appreciate it, Mister Uldril," she replied, taking a step closer to Ardin. Uldril motioned to his horse, and the beast walked forward. "Pardon me, but you look tired my lady. Why don't ride with me back to the ranch?"
She shook her head quickly. "No thank you, I will be fine walking." Uldril looked like he wanted to protest, but glanced at Ardin and backed down. "As you wish, my lady." He swung back into the saddle, and began to lead them off towards his ranch.

Ardin kept his hand gripped on the blade as Uldril made his gesture, staring at him and stepped forward slightly, making him know he meant business, and was dangerous. he walked next to Svenia, watching the riders, he leaned forward "My name is Coldan" he whispered into her ear. as they walked into the town towards the ranch Ardin took note of its location

She nodded to indicate she understood, keeping close to him. She couldn't say exactly why, but she didn't trust the men who led them. The ranch soon came into view, consisting of a large house near an oasis, a bunkhouse for the ranchhands, and a large barn, near to which was a decent sized holding pen where several horses could be seen. A number of men were outside working, though they stopped what they were doing as the five passed, staring at the newcomers.
"Why don't you two go inside the house, Elzi will see to getting you some refreshments and something to eat," Uldril told them, and he and his sons rode off to the barn to take care of the horses. Svenia walked towards the house, cautiously opening the door.
A woman turned around, a duster in her hand as the door opened. She was a pretty woman, and at first she thought she might be the ranch owners wife, but Svenia found out that she was a servant. "Ta Master's wife, she passed away years now," the woman said as she led them to the kitchen, bading them to sit down at the table while she poured them glasses of water.
They had just started to drink when Uldril entered the house. "So what kind of supplies are you two needing?" he asked as he walked into the kitchen, his eyes drifting from one to another.

Ardin remained standing, his weapons hidden from the servants sight, under his cloak. drinking the water silently. glanceing his silver eyes at Uldril than at Svenia. "M' Lady knows what he are coming for," he looked at her, something in her eyes wanting her to talk, only one hand could be seen could be seen and that was the one holding the glass of water, his other hand hidden, holding the hilt of his blade, ready,

She nodded, though she wondered why he wasn't taking the lead in the conversation. Looked to the man in charge, she smiled lightly. "We need grain, flour, and a grinder for bread making, and wood working supplies - hammers, nails, and an auger, and a shovel. As well as some tanning supplies for leather."
Urdil glanced from one to another. "Sounds like your planning quite a project. I can send a man or two with your guard here," he nodded to Ardin -"Into town to gather the supplies."

Ardin huffed, and put his glass down, but said nothing, he didnt want this mand to know much, or where they had come from, "im sure we can handle it for our selves, when we are in town I will get us a horse to help with the supplies, and a wagon" he looked at Svenia, seeing what she would say

Looked to Ardin with relief, not wanting to be left alone here. "Yes, I am sure that if you just point us in the direction we'll find it alright," she said, turning back to Uldril. "We thank you for your hospitality, but is not necessary for you to appoint any men to go with us."
"Nonsense, it is a dangerous area, my dear, and though I am sure your escort is capable, it would be my pleasure to assure your saftey." The man nodded towards Ardin. "If you wish you can head to the barn and saddle a horse for you and the lady."

Ardin twitched and looked at the man, one hand holding the hilt of his blade, "We will be fine, an escort is not needed, I can protect my mistress" he looked at her and nudged his head at the door "But thank you" he didnt want suspicions of where they were comeing from or what they were doing,

Uldril noticed Ardin's slight twitch, and the gaze directed at the door. He smiled, and hastily cleared his throat, directing the man's gaze back to him. "Town is several miles away, and your lady here looks about done in. At the very least let me provide you with a horse and buckboard to bring in the items. My son, Tram, will go with you to show you the way."

Svenia, seeing Ardin's edginess, rose to her feet and drifted to his side where he stood, placing her hand on his arm lightly. "They are helping us, the least we can do is accept that much in return. After all, we are but strangers to these generous folk, and I am sure that Uldril merely wants to ensure that we do not run off with his horses," she smiled, trying to calm the situation. All she wanted was to get away from this odd ranch.

At that moment, the doors opened and Tram and another man, a large, muscular man that was introduced as Hilman, the foreman, opened the door. "Son, Hilman, please escort this lovely young lady and her bodyguard to the barn and get a horse and wagon hitched up to take them to town," Uldril said with a warm smile. Tram and the other brought the two to the barn, and with each step Svenia could sense the tension rising. Hilman reached past Ardin to open the large barn door, but as he pulled the door open, he drew his sword with his other hand, raising it quickly, the blade making a path for the ex-assassin's back.

At the slight sound of a sword being unsheathed Ardin lept into action, he gave Svenia a quick push towards some hay with enough force to knock her off balance, he turned to the large man, moving out of the way of his sword and caught his hand in a strong grip, pulling the mans arm straight and came up with his other arm fast to make contact with the mans elbow, breaking the mans arm all along the joint, the man would fall back in pain from the blow, letting go of his sword which Ardin caught out of the air, and turned to see if Svenia was alright.

Svenia let out a cry of shock as she was pushed over, landing ontop of the hay. Tram gave a cry of shock of his own as the foreman was swiftly disarmed. "Stop playing with the man, Father wants him dead," he snorted out, and withdrew his own weapon from his belt, a wicked curved knife the length of his forearm, the edge gleaming in the midday sun. As Ardin glanced at the young elf, he grabbed Svenia, holding the blade under her neck, her body tight against his, using her as a shield. "Make one more move and your pretty little priestess gets a new hole to breath from," he stated fiercely, digging the blade in on Svenia pale neck, cutting just under the skin, a drop of blood welling up. Her eyes were wide and frightened, the brown orbs staring at Ardin.
Tram saw his brother sneaking up behind the ex assassin, a pitchfork in hand, the tines pointed towards the man caped in black. With a hard thrust, he moved to impale Ardin.

Ardin stood still staring at Svenia and the man, his silver eyes focused, he was fighting his instinct to let her die, always trained to care for no one but himself, but he promised he would protect her. he sensed the man coming up behind him and smiled "For drawing her blood, you have sealed your fate, and I will see that by the end of this day, your blood will be spit."

He turned just as the man thrust forward and impaled him, having three prongs stab into his gut, he pulled it into him as far as he could, taking the sword that never left his hand, and slashed the man across the chest, then dropped to the ground dead, his blood soaking the hey on the ground.

Svenia had just opened her mouth to call out a warning to Ardin when he turned around, and the words turned into a scream as she saw the sharp tines of the pitchfork bury deep into his gut. Though she'd seen him come back from worse, she couldn't help the reaction. Lutin grunted as the sword sunk deep across his chest, falling to his side. Tram swore and shoved the young elf into the arm of Hilman, who had risen as Ardin fell. The foreman captured the girl in his good arm, his other dangling useless at his side. "He's dead," the man said firmly, glancing at Lutin's still body laying in a pool of blood. Tram nodded and rose to his feet. "Dumb shit." he spat on his brothers body and shrugged his shoulders. "Guess that means bigger shares for us." he said with a grin, looking at Svenia. "She'll fetch a pretty price." He reached out to touch her hair, laughing when she flinched. "And I'll bet as young as she is, she's a virgin as well. We should be able to get at least ten grand off of this one."
As two other men came out of the barn, curious of the noise, Tram pointed to the bodies. "Dispose of these. I'll take the priestess here to her 'room'," he chuckled, taking the young elf from the foreman's hand and tossing her over his shoulder.
The action seemed to wake her up. "Let me go!" she shrieked, wailing her fists on the man's broad back. "Oh look, she has some spirit afterall!" he laughed, and disappeared back into the ranch house with her while the others took Ardin's body up between them. Several yards away was a refuse pile, and it was there they tossed him. "Let him rot with the other garbage." one smirked, wiping blood off his hands onto his pants as they turned and left.