King's Court

Ialdo walked into the passage with a snort.

"If you're scared of a couple of spiders, then you better just go home now... there'll be worse later on"

He pushed her aside and followed the druid

* a smirk ran across Yumiiko's face, but her bubbly expression kept in her eyes* "Nightfall sounds good, but I must warn you...Yumiiko gets a bit....indisposed at night." *she shot her face up at the king with an evil look in her eyes that resmbled that of a wolf, hungry...bloodthirsty*

"Don't panic, I won't hurt you...but I will, if you please, your Majesty, taste the blood of our enemies. Heheheeee...ahem." *Yumiiko then blinked and resumed her care-free attitude and strut down the hall*

Shinu began to walk, lightly tugging Kairi in with him. He stopped for a second at Talia and put his free hand on her shoulder.

Don't worry about him, or the spider. He's right though, there will be worse. Besides, we need to get you two some weaponry so that we can be successful on this journey. Preparation is half the battle.

He was inwardly excited at the prospect of picking up some new weaponry, but his had sentimental value, and he wasn't intending on losing it. However, he would be looking for enhancers and things that were highly portable and efficient. In the King's personal and apparently hidden armory, there had to be some amazing things. He was going to be sure to stay behind the crazy girl though, he didn't want to get bitten from behind.

*Yumiiko glances over the set of light armor* "Hmmm...I'll take this padded stuff here..and this one, and this one, and-- OOH! This looks nice.."

*a guard then made her return the stuff she DIDN'T need*

"Hmph." She grumbled trudging in trying to seem over it. "What is he so high and mighty about?" She growled quietly folding her arms over her chest and trying to keep plenty of distance between her and the walls.

*walks over to Talia and sniffs the air around her* "You smell like anger."

"It's nothing....just don't like being looked down apon is all." She muttered to her then smiled swiftly at the row of swords hanging on the wall. "Ooooooh!" She ran over grabbing a nice looking long sword with an indigo gem on it. "I like this one." She said runing her fingers over the blades edge.

she felt the tug front the ribbon and fallowed him

"um.." she said looking at all of the stuff

"well.." she said and picked up a sword and her arms hit the floor only the one that had been tied stayed up in the air

"ok i dont think i can carry half of this stuf!" she said trying to pick it up again

"i think i want something more like...." she looked around and picked up a katana

"ohh light weight and ease to carry i love it" she said picking it up

"but its dull.." she said and looked at it

"and i dont mean not sharp" she said and pulled out of her pocket a little tassle with a pink pearl on it and she tied it to the end

"there a little touch of kai" she said and smiled

"um..." she said trying to tie it across her waist but didnt know how

"how do i...maybe if...no um..." she said and looked at his

"how did you put your holster on?" she asked

Shinu watched as Kairi struggled to hold up the swords, and then finally settling on a katana which she then embedded with a pink jewel no less. She was pretty funny, and then couldn't figure out how to carry it.

Here Kai, let me help you out.

Shinu grabbed the sheath and clipped it to the leather shoulder strap. He turned in front of her and reached around her to put the strap over her left shoulder and let it rest between her breast as he clipped it in the back near her waist. The strap rested diagonally in front of her with the sheath resting on her back. He took the katana from her hand and slipped it sharply into it's sheath.

There. Now when you want it, you just have to reach behind you. When you take it out, make sure you lift it straight up so that you don't hurt yourself.

"like this" she said and reached behind and pulled it out but had a loose grip and it went flying into the wall infront of her and stuck into it

"ugh...my bad" she said and gave a weak smile

she walked over to the wall and pulled on it and then put one leg on the wall and yanked on it and it came out

"heehee" she said and smiled and put it back

"i guess i still need to learn" she said

Ooohhh, maybe we'll try again when we're outside.

Shinu laughed for a second, and realized that maybe taking her sword out was something she should know how to do before she left the castle. He gave a small sigh and he drew his blade.

Ok, just do it at the same time as me, really slowly.

He put his left arm behind his back and waited for her to do the same with her right arm. He then slowly raised his arm straight up, bent at the elbow to fully extended and then held the blade out in front of him.

You see? Not too hard right?

"ok..sorry im just so excited" she said and slowly pulled it out and held it in front of her

"cool i did it" she said and smiled at him

"thank you...why are you being so nice to me?" she asked

Shinu smiled right back at Kairi, actually happy for her that she at least got that part down. She still had a long way to go, but he was hoping that the others wouldn't think of her as a weak link.

We have a long journey Kai, it's important for us to help each other when we can. If one of us goes down, the whole group is going to be worse off. Besides, it looks like we're going to stick together as long as your bow holds.

He gave her a wink and slowly imitated putting his sword in the sheath if it was where hers was so she could see how to do it before putting it back in his own. He eyed the room, but didn't see too many things that he could really add on to his already lethal arsenal of weaponry and armor. He did like what he saw in a few small heaters and coolers. The guard began to explain to him that you slip them in the armor and they will either heat or cool the body depending on which you shake to activate. Shinu quickly grabbed three heated pads and three cooling pads just in case he encountered some harsh situations.

Their robed companion stood stock-still near an apparently unremarkable wall. Hidden within the concealment of his hempen hood, his keen eyes surveyed his would-be compatriots. He was discouraged.

Hope for defeating his foe, the Dark Wizard, was slim already. But in his hopes, he had imagined companions more competent than these. He had counted on heroes, powerful and canny warriors. Instead, what he had received was one two warriors and a rabble of children. His worst fear was that they would become more hindrance than help. And he needed all the help he could get, if his foe man was to be toppled from his black throne.

But he would not despair. He had been in situations dire before, but none so dire as this. Regardless, he would walk on, and even if they failed, the bards would not be short of songs to sing of their valor. Or so one of his companions of old would say.

Inwardly, the man veiled so deeply in shadows smiled, but with the smile came a certain sadness, for he was sure that if they failed, there wouldn't be any bards left to sing of them.

He snapped himself out of his reverie. All of his new charges seemed to be ready. It was time to begin, then. He reached back, and in swift, deft motions, he tapped a series of iron studs on the wall in a fleeting pattern, vaguely resembling a star.

The wall opened again, this time revealing a winding staircase, leading upwards. Erk addressed them once again. "This is where we part for now. A guard will lead you from the castle. Do as you see fit within the city until nightfall. We will rendezvous at the inn of the Silver Candle. Do not be late, for we will leave as soon as the sun disappears below the horizon."

With that said, Erk turned, and seemingly vanished into the wall adjacent to the now revealed staircase.

*Yumiiko swiftly changed expressions* "That always sucks.."

"ahh i can help though i might not be a good fighter but i can still help" she said feeling the tension of the room

'its like im the only one here who has little to no fighting experience' she thought and gulped

"i im sorry but i dont give up easily i can help i promise ill find a way to be useful" she said and sighed feeling to relief with the words she was saying

*Yumiiko mutters to herself while seeming agitated* [Should I tell them, in case she attacks while they're at their weakest? Hmm..] *she glances over the warriors* [I probably don't have to...they all look like they could take her...maybe.]

*Yumiiko gets even more agitated* [But if they can't...then the wizard will win...and I'll...] *Yumiiko turns around and opens her mouth, but then switches from agitated, to a stern, kind of grim expression* {You'll not tell them...I can always choose another body.}

Talia walked over to Kai with a small smile. "You shouldn't put yourself down like that. You'll be fine Kai." She said then looked at Yumiiko. "What's up Yumiiko? Why so serious all of a sudden?"

Lins walked into the room, looked for the king and walked of the him.
He was clad in his golden battle armour, with his spears attached to
his back in an x shape. Just next to them was his long bow and his
quiver. When he reached the king he bent down onto one knee,

forgive my tardiness m'lord.

Lins got up and bowed his head in respect then headed over to a small
group of people. When he reached them he done the same thing. On to one
knee and said the same thing. When he got up how ever he pulled out a
letter from his guantlet.

So you must be the people m'lord spoke of in his letter. Names Lins. Long bow man and dual spear fighter at your service.

"oh hey" she said

"im kairi my names probably not on the list" she said and sighed

*Yumiiko turns around suddenly* "Huh? Oh...nothing." *she giggles nervously*

Shinu reached down and untied the bow that bonded he and Kai together and left it in her hand.

Okay, you're free now.

He laughed and gave her a smile to let her know he was just joking.

I need some time to think before we start, I will meet up with yall soon.

"hu" she said and smiled "ya ok" she said and smiled but actually didnt want him to go

she was feeling like he was her only friend here and she just sighed

she walked out and down the street and looked around for a moment she saw asuma but then a person walked by and he was gone

she dropped her shoulders and walked down the street and passed by many people and stores

"fresh apples!!" a man yelled and she walked over

"oh are these the frist harvest?" she asked staring at the huge red apples

"why yes they are young miss" he said and she picked up the best one she could find

"how many?" he asked and she just held up the one

"just this one" she said and smiled giving him the money and taking a bit of it

she smiled and whipped away some of the juice that had drissled down her lips

she smiled and walked by a store with cloaks in it and rememebr how everyone else had one too.

she went in and bought a black cloak. she wrapped it around herself and smiled while she clipped on a pink flower brotch and smiled

"thank you" they man called out to her counting her money and she turned and waved to him

"no thank you!" she said and laughed and walked away as the man smiled at her

she danced through the street humming out loud. when people looked at her she waved and kept going and she took another bite out of her apple

she looked at the sky and noticed it was almost dark and she started running to the silver candle

"oh no im going to me late!!" she said trying to move through the crowd

she rolled her eyes and jumped up and grabbed onto a roof top and pulled herself up and ran across the roofs until she got to the silver candle and she jumped down the chimney

she fell inside and cough as a puff of the soot flew into her face

"im here!" she said looking around and turned red when she did see anyone she knew but everyone was staring at her

"Well,well,well! Nice entrance." Talia laughed walking over to help her out of the chimney. "You could have used a door ya know." She said motioning towards the entrance.