Mists over the Musarde [IC]

[ewancummins]

Norzak's dagger strikes through Evangeline's dress, pinning the green silk to her captor's leg! The man grunts in surprise and sudden pain, then moves to carry out his threat against Evie's life!

Just as the blade in the kidnapper's hand begins to move across Evangeline's exposed neck, Dorgio hurls his own knife, striking the man across the cheek with the hilt. It's just enough to distract him for a fraction of a second. Evangeline twists away from him, his knife slicing away some of her hair and a bit of lace, rather than her neck.

Cirdan moves like a silver streak, stepping forward and ramming his sword into the man's guts. The man lets out an explosive cough as the wind is knocked out of him. He jerks about violently, and blood dribbles from his mouth.

''You....I'm...Malreux...my....''

His eyes glaze over, his breath comes in gasps, and then he just slumps over, stone dead and still hanging on the knight's sword.

[ewancummins]

Sir Cirdan lowers his blade and pushes the corpse to the deck.


Evangeline, weeping, embraces the knight and kisses him full on the mouth. After a silent moment of clinging to him, she turns to the others, tears still in her eyes.

''I knew you'd come for me, my friends! Oh, where is father?''

[ewancummins]

[No one else seems to be one the boat.]

[steveflam]

Norzak rushes forward immediately, leading Evangelique away from the grisly scene "Come missy, ye don' wanna be see'n that. Let tha half elf finish his business with that thug. Sorry ye had ta be a part 'o' these shinanigans. Glad ta see yer okay. Yer da is worried sick but'll be glad to see ye. Once he's seen ye ye kin have a chat with Cirdan, ok?" Norzak soothing manner might stun the others. Hopefully Evangelique will listen to him as he leads her away. Over his shoulder he says "GREAT HORNY TOADS, MR.C! Ye dun it good. I be proud. Imma take lil missy back to her da" turning to the others "Take care 'o' this mess 'n look around will ye? Hey Dorgio, nice toss, fer a human!" Norzak winks at Dorgio and escorts Evangelique back to her father. Whether the others heed his words or not he doesn't really care. His only objective is to get her back to her father.

[ewancummins]

Sir Cidan steps forward.
''I shall escort her back, Norzak, I'd be perfectly happy if you came with us, of course. ''

With that, the knight sets off along with Evangeline and the dwarf.

[steveflam]

Norzak complies, keeping on the lookout for any trouble. An idea is beginning to form in the back of his mind on the subject of little Anja but he'll wait to learn more of her before he decides anything.

[ewancummins]

When the party arrives back at the spot where they'd left Denys Sancerre, they find him still there, looking quite exhausted, with bags beneath his eyes. He fairly leaps for joy at the sight of his daughter.

''My daughter! Oh, Evie! ''

Father and daughter embrace beneath the fallen stone arch of the Old Builders, reunited in happiness and safety.

................................................

[elsewhere]

Only a black stain remains where the druagr's charred arm had lain. Little pools of water in the shape of footprints glisten on the cobbles under light of the waxing moon...


END OF CHAPTER ONE