Missions and Misadventures. (Closed for now)

[Cordeliane]

After hours of riding hard Cordeliane was nodding off on the back of her horse. It had gotten dark and she really did not know where they were going. Shooting Star stumbled as Cordeliane released the reins, she was slumped forward all most falling off his back, her eyes closed.

Shooting Star reared as she slumped over, waking her and causing her to throw her self over his neck and hold on. Riding side saddle like she was she did not have the normal control to stop him from rearing like he was. She was really wishing she had taken the time to put on the riding pants and boots, but she had wanted too get out of there.

She fought the rearing horse as best she could putting what weight she could on his neck and back hoping to get him to put all four hoves back on the ground. She was struggling to make her stubborn horse comply with her wishes. Falling from him would be bad she could break something or even kill herself, falling from the Stallions back, specially in the dark. As dangerous as it was she did not call for help but tried to handle it on her own.

[The Hummingbird]

Despite the hard riding, Shawn didn't tire at all. Nor did his horse, whose name was given as Trident, grow weary. They kept a swift and steady pace as the night darkened around them, never slowing as the world sped past. The Arcantian camp quickly vanished behind them, replaced by utter darkness with only slashes of star and moonlight to see by.

Quiet as ever, Shawn said nothing as they traveled, completely forgetting about Cordeliane in favor of the path under Trident's hooves. But when Shooting Star stumbled and then reared, he pulled back on the Trident's reins, slowing the stallion. Carefully, he matched pace with Shooting Star and reached out to grasp the horse's reins, holding them loser to the face just in case the beast attempted to bite him. Controlling both animals, he slowed them to a canter, then a trot, and finally to a stop.

Releasing the reins, he slid down from Trident's back. Although his face couldn't be seen well in the dark, his stare was cold and heavy. "If you are tired, you should say so." He offered a hand to help her down, a rare and rather surprising courtesy. "If you wish to eat something, take what you want from my horse's bags, but do it fast. You get five hours to sleep before I leave, with or without you."

Although Trident had been loaded with a bedroll, Shawn paid it no mind, instead contenting himself to use only the hard, rather bumpy ground. Trident stayed nearby, the perfect model of obedience. As if gloating at this trait, the stallion snorted at Shooting Star, tossing its head up and down.

[Cordeliane]

Shooting Star stopped when Shawn took hold of his reins putting all four feet back on the ground and snorting in irritation. He was not use to Cordeliane sitting side saddle so when she stated to fall off it startled him. He had been rearing to actually try and keep her on like he would have had she been astride. Fortunately for Shawn Shooting Star liked him so he did not try to take his hand for touching his reins like he would any other who dare do such a thing, Cordeliane was the only other person who could touch him without getting maimed.

When Shooting Star came to a stop Cordeliane would sigh softly and look at Shawn pushing her hair from her face “Thank you,” She took his hand and dismounted Shooting Star giving the horse a pat as he pranced around a bit giving the other horse looks.” No biting Shooting Star, be nice” She told the stallion in a firm voice, and he sighed and looked down as if that was what he had been intending.

She sighed softly then glared at Shawn” Yes Shawn it was my intention to almost fall of Shooting Star, Had I been riding astride not side saddle it would not have happened, I could have slept sitting on him, I did not say I was tired because it did not occur to me, although it should have since I have had hardly any sleep since being passed out from magic hardly counts. “She would rummage through her own packs on Shooting Star, pulling out some trail mix and her riding pants and boots. “Thank you Shawn but I do have provisions; I did not ride days to your lands without” She shoved the trail mix in to one of the pockets on her dress and dropped the boots to the ground as she slipped out of her shoes.

She looked to Shawn and saw him lay on the hard ground and shook her head softly as she slipped on her riding pants. She then slipped her feet in to her boots leaving them unlaced for now. She picked up her shoes and placed them in the pack, it was not likely she was going to need them but one never knew. She looked at Shawn again and sighed, he could be so stubborn, and she pulled off one of the blankets rolled on the saddle and went over to him.” I find the nights here chilly, would you like a blanket Shawn?” She held the blanket out to him her blue eyes unreadable.

She had no idea why she was being so nice, he did save her life twice now, but it had nothing to do with that. He just seemed so friendless so aloof that she had this urge to be nice to him even if he was a jerk and insulted her when he got the change. Regardless of his answer she would sit next to him lace up her boots before lying down. If he took the offered blanket she would get her other one before lying next to him. “Sleep well Shawn” She murmured as she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Sleep softened her features especially when it was real sleep and she was not in pain from magical back lash. Her lips were curved into a soft smile and her lashes fanned out on her cheeks dark against her complexion. Her hair was mussed and falling out of the bow again and spread around her like sunshine. She had one arm tossed up over her head in her sleep her chest rising and falling evenly; she looked so angelic like that one would never know she could be sharped tongued and bossy when awake.


Shooting Star since he could not bite the other horse showed no interest in his behaviour, and stood there grazing, while the humans slept. He was uninterested in much if he could not bite somebody or something, unless it was running. But he knew better than to take off on Cordeliane, she had healed him and been kind to him since she acquired him. He would stand not too far from the girl as if watching over her. He would wake her if something was amiss.

[The Hummingbird]

Ever the gentleman, Shawn rolled his eyes. He found such things as trail mix and plain, so-called "healthy" food a waste of space and largely senseless. Knowing this, Hourglass Dream had packed the saddlebags with preserved cheese, dried meat, and ration bars. These last were a highly nutritious staple in the camp, often coated in honey to ease the bitter taste. They were convenient, easy to make, filling, and in Shawn's mind the only thing to eat during hard travel.

His eyes were already closed when Cordeliane offered a blanket, but that didn't stop him from scoffing. "When I fought for the North, I slept in the snow. If you think this is cold, I can't help you." And with that, he turned his back to her, not responding to her well wishes for a good sleep. Nearby, Trident whickered as if amused by the whole exchange.

War and arduous training had long ago forced Shawn to learn to live on cruel amounts of sleep to no sleep at all. In time, his body adjusted to the new demands. Five hours of sleep was now more than generous; he woke long before the sun prepared to rise. The moon was still up, shining boldly in a sky as dark as it was when they had stopped to rest.

Bored and feeling resentful for having unwanted company, Shawn rose and set himself varying tasks; brushing Trident's mane and checking the stallion's hooves, performing silent exercises to hone his strength, and even talking to his seafood-loving friend back in the Arcantian camp.

For a time, the grasslands were quiet, the sound of the river mere yards away being the only sound. Even so, Shawn noticed when the silence became oppressive and unnatural. Not speaking a word, his hands drifted down the twin guns at his sides.

They had only begun to slip from the holsters when a loud blast shattered the silence. Shawn stumbled and then collapsed as six men emerged from the blackness. They had the appearance of being both rough and groomed. All wore suits of boiled leather armor, and all were armed with swords. Four grasped crossbows while the last two touted rifles, one that had made the blast of sound and the dark, bleeding hole in Shawn's side.

"A noble lady!" One of the men chortled, swinging his rifle in a reckless circle. "I think we'll have some fun tonight, boys!"

[Cordeliane]

Corde was hurt by his words but did not let him know it; she just used her blanket and went to sleep. She would sleep like the dead as he woke and moved around tending his horse. Shooting Star watched him bored, he knew Cordeliane had she not been so tired would have given him a good rub down, so he would wait for her to awaken.

The stillness and silence of the night bothered the horse his ears flickering as the silence seemed unnatural. He was on alert now and when the shot rang out, unlike most horses he did not make a sound, no his ears went flat to his head and his teeth showed. He looked angry and mean. And he was only a few feet away from his beloved mistress, ready to protect her.


One of them men went to Shooting Star and tried to grab his reins, the horse was having none of that when Cordeliane had told Shawn not just anybody could take his reins she had not been laying. As the man reached for them, Shooting Star whipped his head around his teeth closing hard on the man’s sword arm. The sound of bone cracking as he chomped him then released him spitting on the man’s shirt. He would not be much good in battle now.

Cordeliane sat up as the shot rang out and the men filled their camp. She saw Shawn collapse and sighed softly. It was going to be a long night, she was tired and it made her bitchy. These men had made a big mistake if they thought she was going to be ‘fun’ for them. She glared at the man swinging the rifle as the others seemed to be looking at her as if she were a prize to be had. She smiled sweetly at them and simpered “please no, do not hurt me. “

As she spoke Shooting star the mean bastard he was snuck up behind the man who brought attention to Corde, and reared dropping his forelegs onto the man’s back and stomping on him as he circled in anger bucking, there was the sound of crunching bone and screams of pain as he killed the man who dared to threaten Corde. Any man who tried to help their friend would have to deal with a snapping kicking horse, He was fast and lucky, shooting him might work but then they would have an even angrier Corde on their hands and unless they killed him, Shooting Star would turn more vicious in his attacks.

Cordeliane got to her feet and shook her head at the stupid men, Once again she was without weapon, it was on her horses back, and she would really have to remember to start carrying it with her. There was no way in hell she was going near Shooting Star when he was in killing mode. She looked to the men and waited for them to come after her, what she could not deal with Shooting star would, he was a killer, she had always been surprized he was a race horse not a war horse with his temper and meanness.

Cordeliane while the men were distracted by her horse killing and maiming their comrades made her way to Shawn and stood before him protecting him. She would not let him die, it would drive him crazy to be protected by her she was sure but it was going to happen. “I would not try to hurt the horse or take him again it will just make him meaner. “ She spoke drawing attention aback to her and away from her horse that was standing on the dead man as if he were just grass at his feet.


The man He bit cradled his arm to his chest looking at the girl and her killer horse. He would enjoy taking around out of her when his friend held her down and tossed up those skirts. He could not even use the cross bow he had at the moment because her horse had broken his arm. He was not surprised she was only traveling with one guard not that he had encountered her horse. He would circle to the other hose not drawing attention to himself, He would lot the other horse while they made the girl regret what the white devil had done to their friend.

One man laughed at her and advanced towards her and Shawn, he was not afraid of some noble girl, most were helpless and he figured she was no different. He would get within a foot of her and smile “come girl if you’re friendly to us we will not kill your friend” he reached and grabbed her skirt with one hand lifting it a little.

[The Hummingbird]

Screams and shouts broke out in unison as Shooting Star trampled the man into the ground. A stray, bloody hoof kicked the rifle away, sending it spinning across the scarred ground even as the man's screams were abruptly cut off.

The highwaymen were no less angry then the horse, nor less bold than the healer. Those three unharmed, two with crossbows and one with the last rifle, brought up their weapons and aimed simultaneously at the horse. A few clean shots would avenge their comrade, and here in the grasslands horse meat was just as good a meal as any other.

In the midst of the other man's death, the one with the broken arm had been forgotten. But to him the arm was simply an inconvenience; lives of outlaws were hard and treacherous, often accompanied by pain that served only as strict disciplinary lessons. He was certain he could secure the black stallion, and it seemed much calmer than woman's wild beast. He crept toward Trident, who merely looked at him with unblinking, ebony eyes.

It was only when the man reached for Trident's reins did Trident rear, striking out with merciless hooves. The man yelled as Trident landed a blow to his head, knocking him to the ground. Trident fell on the man, and a sickening crunch sounded as the horse caved in the man's ribcage. In seconds the man was spluttering and dying, choking in amass of his own blood drawn from punctured lungs.

The man, the apparent leader of the group, barked orders for the remaining three to kill Shooting Star and Trident. None of them seemed willing to get closer than necessary, even with weapons in hand. "They're just dumb beasts!" he shouted. "Do I have to do everything for you fools?" His head whipped around, leering at the noble lady as a thick hand yanked at her skirt. "Spread your legs all nice and easy now, or I'll kill you and take you anyway. What's it gonna be?"

A second rifle shot cut the air along with two crossbow bolts, all aimed at Shooting Star. The sounds covered that of a fourth; the safety catch of Shawn's handgun being released.

[Cordeliane]

With the way Shooting Star was moving the shots fired would hit him but would only serve to aggravate him more. The bullet grazed his left shoulder, one arrow had imbedded its self into Corneliane’s saddle, and the second in his right flank. Even injured Shooting Star was a fast horse and now he was a pissed off, angry fast horse. He would move before they could reload, striking out at the one who could do the most damage to him, the one with the gun.


He lunged without warning without giving them a chance to even think of getting off another shot. He was a race horse in his former life so going from near standstill to fast was nothing for him. He would head but the man with the rifle to knock him over before stomping on his legs. It would distract the man from firing the gun at him again; at this range it would kill him. Shooting Star would then rear and drop onto the man’s chest much like Trident had crushing bone and breaking ribs. But unlike Shawn’s horse Shooting Star was mean, so he trampled the man as well making sure he was good and dead, and also kept moving making him a hard target for the others to kill.

Cordeliane watched in horror as they shot at her beloved horse and her eyes went hard and angry. She glared at the man lifting her skirts and smacked his hand away with a fist “I will give you nothing, I would like to see you try” She could fight off this man, but she had to protect Shawn and since the horses seemed to be on a killing spree, she would deal with the obvious leader.

Like the others Cordeliane did not hear Shawn’s gun click, she was too focused on keeping herself from getting raped, and making sure her horse did not get killed while she protected what she thought was an unconscious Shawn. Her lips twitched a bit as she looked at the man who was pulling on the skirt of her dress; she wondered how he would react to finding pants under that skirt. She bet he would be frustrated he could not just toss up her skirts rape her and have done with it. No he would have to tear or cut the pants and bandages off her if he wanted to have his ‘fun’.


She couldn’t help it, as another man died screaming being trampled by a horse Cordeliane laughed. She could see the look on his face when he lifted her skirts and it was just too much for the tired stressed out girl. She loved closer to the male and laughing brought her knee up into his groin, hard enough that he would not be using it this night or any other night for a while.


The men with the cross bows looked at the white horse then the black one and made the sign against evil. Usually it was the black horses that were devil spawn, but the white one was more so then the black, even injured the white horse kept going as if nothing was wrong. The men backed up more to keep away from the animals calling out “Boss maybe we should just leave these guys alone, the woman is not worth it” Their eyes were on Shooting Star, who’s hooves were covered in blood from trampling on their comrades, his eyes gleaming white not in fright but anger.

[The Hummingbird]

The man dropped like a sack of stones as Cordeliane hit his most precious of areas. His remaining two comrades were breaking in their former courage and confidence, eying the white horse and whispering of demons and witchery. They had become too used to successful raids. They were accustomed to being the ones who inspired fear, not the other way around. Now, whether it was fate or the gods or just simple ill luck, they were ready to run from a force they never before encountered.

Cordeliane's victim rolled on the ground, biting back a scream. His eyes opened, and he found himself staring into Shawn's flat, grey eyes.

Raised on one elbow, Shawn tilted his gun at the highwayman's face. "Are you scared?"

The man's mouth moved soundlessly. He was. He didn't see the man his comrades had shot. He didn't see the blood spreading across the grass and seeping into the ground. He only saw himself, lying at a noble woman's feet and about to be murdered, begging for his life with unspoken words.

A gunshot, lower and sharper and more sudden than that of a rifle sounded. The man's skull burst in a wave of blood and brain and bone. The bullet lodged in the back of the dead man's head, smoking with momentum and stored magic.

The two backing away from Shooting Star turned and ran, one of them throwing down his crossbow, screaming like one about to die. And he did, as Trident surged forward and ran him down into the earth.

The last didn't get very far. Shawn took aim and fired, intending to kill outright with a shot to the spinal cord. But the world was blurring, distorted, and partially blocked what with being guarded by the healer, of all people. He ended up sending a bullet instead into the man's knee, shattering the cap and merely disabling the last raider.

[Cordeliane]

Cordeliane screamed as the man she had kicked died, the gun shot startling her and making her shake, she had not been expecting Shawn’s help at all and so it had startled her. She looked at the man at her feet her eyes wide, as the other gun shot rang out. She shook her head at the waste of life but knew it was necessary. She dropped to her knees beside Shawn, kneeling in all the blood and began looking him over, She knew the horses would take care of the men, she had to heal Shawn than Shooting Star if they were going to go anywhere later. She gave a soft sigh, she was going to be exhausted after this, bullet wounds, although rare were hard for her to heal as they could do so much damage.

Cordeliane would carefully take the gun from Shawn’s hand and place it beside him “Shawn I need to remove your shirt, I have to take the bullet out or make sure it passed through you” She was going to do it the way a normal doctor would, by removing the bullet first since it took less of her power that way, they could not afford having her go in to a magical coma, and begin bleeding, so she would remove the bullet first then heal him with her power. She swallowed as she began pulling at his armour, to take it off him; she had a soft blush to her cheeks as she did so. She had never undressed a man before; when she had healed in the past her brothers had been there to help and had taken care of undressing the men she helped if they needed it.


Shooting Star saw the man with the shattered knee collapse and made his move going over to him as calm as he may, and trod on him then began to trample him into the ground, the man’s screams of pain as Shooting Star seemed to be playing with him, echoed in the air. He would trample one arm than the other before going for his legs. Crushing bones as he took his time torturing the man, as Cordeliane tended to Shawn. He finally ended the torture by crushing the man’s skull and snorting impatiently.

Shooting Star was impatient but knew Cordeliane had to take care of the man he liked. He dealt with his pain by continuing to stomp the dead man under his feet. He was not happy with being hurt and the dead man under him was the out let. Shooting Star was covered in blood, and didn’t seem to mind it; he had killed men before and most likely would again, especially in defence of Cordeliane who loved. He would give won last Trample to the dead man as Corneliane’s voice rang out, and stand their waiting for her.

“Stop it Shooting Star, I will get to you in a moment, I do not need you covered in more gore thank you” She knew Shooting Star would listen to her and stop, she needed to focus on Shawn and not listen to the sounds of crunching bone. Once she had his armour and shirt off with or without his help she would begin feeling around the wound for the bullet. She had to be careful and not make things worse magic or not, she did not want to hurt him more. She sighed softly as she felt him, she still owed him a life debt, this was the second time he had saved her life since meeting him, she had hoped protecting and healing him would repay her debt, but he had to go and kill another man to protect her. She was not some helpless female, yet she did have a tender heart and would not kill if she did not have to.

[The Hummingbird]

Not one given to letting another handle his weapons, Shawn nevertheless allowed Cordeliane to take the gun and place it aside. He grimaced with ill-concealed pain as the healer meddled with his armor; it was tight, stiff, and pulled at the wound. There was a singed hole in the leather, softened by blood, yet it was the only thing that had prevented the shot from passing through and killing him in seconds.

Trident watched from afar, standing over the man he had crushed, snorting and shaking his mane. He eyed Shooting Star as the white horse tormented the last victim. It was a kind of intelligent cruelty that made even Trident uneasy, and the palfrey moved pointedly away, ears flat.

Shawn was unusually quiet and compliant as Cordeliane removed his armor. The buckles and latches were impossible to loosen without knowing the right order, and he did this without a word until the armor could be pulled aside and the shirt stripped. The bleeding had slowed considerably; in fact, it looked like he didn’t have much blood left in him.

When Cordeliane began to feel around the wound, though, Shawn suddenly smacked her hands away. He cast her a burning glare, one that placed blame and hate on her.

"You call yourself a healer but you don't know how to take care of a bullet?" he hissed. "If I wasn't on a mission for Lord Dream I'd let you take it out so I could bleed to death. And don’t think I don't know what'll happen to you if you heal this shit."

Snatching up the gun, Shawn leveled the barrel to the ground, and pulled the trigger. He shot, multiple times, so fast the blasts merged into one, drawn out roar. He stopped only when the mouth of the barrel was smoking and hot. Then he turned the gun on himself, and slammed the barrel straight against the wound. The flesh hissed, steamed, and boiled as he cauterized it, sealing the hole shut. When it was done, he fell back on the ground, exhausted.

"If you still insist, just heal me partially, and that's enough. Worry about your horse." Shawn winced, and then actually cracked a sardonic grin. "Is it a horse? Or are you riding a hellbeast?"

[Cordeliane]

Cordeliane was uneasy with his compliance, it unnerved her greatly as he helped her remove his armour, once it was out of the way she pulled off his shirt carefully, her cheeks a deep pink color. His silence did not make it any easier on her, she looked him over as she felt the wound for the bullet, it was then he became his normal self and slapped her hands away. She looked at him hurt in her tired frightened blue eyes, his words cut deep she knew what she was doing, what she had to do to heal him properly without fear of backlash.

She did not have time to reply as his words left her in stunned silence, and then he picked up the gun and fired it she visibly flinched shrinking back as the rapid fire of the gun made but one sound. She put her bloodied hands to her face in horror as he cauterized the wound with the hot barrel of the gun. She grabbed the gun from his hand and would have tossed it if she thought she could get away with it.

She snarled out at him her voice shaky tears leaking out of her eyes as she looked at him “Idiot!!! You just made my Job harder!!! I needed to remove the bullet, so that healing you would not send me into a magical faint, and I would not have back lash, on top of that leaving the bullet in will do more Damage it could travel internally and kill you” Cordeliane looked at him scathingly as he made a joke about her horse, here he was injured and he was making jokes. “Yes I insist on healing you and not half assed either!! You will take the full healing or so help me I will knock you out to do it.” She was sitting there next to him covered in blood and gore none of it hers and telling him off like he was a child “Shooting star is a horse, I told you he did not like other people, now you have seen what happens to those who try to take him”

She had enough with talking and looked quickly back at her still horse before places his shirt and armour next to him and muttering “Sōten Kisshun” her hands held up over the wound and his clothing fixing him and them. She would kneel there silent her eyes close as she working on healing him careful not to let the healing shield touch his ritual arm. She would sit there silent for at least a half an hour to make sure the bullet was gone.

Like before when healing the cauterized wound would shrink and heal as if nothing happened the blood would vanish even the bullet would disappear as if it were never there to begin with, the armour and shirt would appear as new as well, cleaned and whole ready for him to wear once again. While she was healing her color would pale a bit, but it was nothing much, she was actually more physically and emotionally exhausted than magically.

Done with Shawn she would get to her feet and give a soft whistle. Shooting Star would prance over to his mistress his bearing proud as if he were expecting praise for his actions. And he was not wrong. When he came in reach of her she ran her hands over him muttering softly “ you are such a brave boy, Shooting Star yes my brave horse, when I get you healed you are going to get some sugar and an apple. Yes you are you and Trident. Such good brave horses, nobody’s better than you boys”

Cordeliane sighed softly glad he was not hurt too badly but she would have to cut the arrow head out of his flank, and the one poking him embedded in her saddle. It would make it easier to heal him and she was tired already. At least Shooting Star wouldn’t question her skills or insult her while she worked. She pulled her dagger from her saddle bag and went to work cutting the arrow first from his flank, than once it was out she would cut the one from her saddle all the while cooing to Shooting Star about how good and brave he was. Once the Arrows were out she would hold her hands out and speak “Sōten Kisshun” The healing shield would only cover the upper body of the horse healing his wounds, she could wash him and give him a rub down in the river later, right now she just wanted to heal him. It would take her no longer than 15 minutes to heal him completely and repair her saddle. Once she was done her eyes would roll back into her head and she would fall to the ground. She was not magically drained, just exhausted, the nights events had finally caught up with her and her mind had shut down.

Shooting Star’s ears had flickered as she first tended Shawn, watching them both with a careful eye. He liked Shawn but was very protective of Cordeliane, he did not even notice Trident move away from him unnerved, by his cruel intelligence, and Shooting Star had done what he had to punish the man, to make him suffer as he had suffered with the pain of the arrows and being shot.

He stood there as Cordeliane looked him over and praised him for his actions well him and Trident, his head turned to the other horse for a moment before watching Cordeliane. He stood there silent as she used her dagger to cut the arrow from him, something she has had to do before, and waited for the healing to begin. He liked the feel of her magic and whinnied softly as she finished, he was about to nuzzle her when she passed out, he was not quite quick enough although he did try to catch the front of her dress in his teeth to stop her from falling. He neighed and pawed the ground looking at Shawn as if it was his fault.

[The Hummingbird]

The last thing Shawn had expected was for Cordeliane to strike back at him. For quite some time now he had known that she was not the ordinary, meek healer most were accustomed to, a common stereotype in Genesaris, but this sudden boldness caught him by surprise. Although he maintained no more a look of interest than any other time, he refrained from challenging her, saying and doing nothing as she cast her healing spell. The most he could do was mutter obscenities as she finished and moved on to her horse.

Shawn was already up and moving when Cordeliane collapsed. He looked at her and then at Shooting Star, returning the horse's disapproving glare in kind.

Shawn considered his options. He thought about riding back and leaving the healer for Hourglass Dream to deal with. But that would have its own consequences; she would likely simply seek him out again and then he would have to face Dream's displeasure. Leaving her here was dangerous in its own right, but taking her along was not something he was looking forward to either.

After a few moments, Shawn made his decision. He looked at Shooting Star. "I have no rope. You are going to have to share."

Trident trotted over at Shawn's sharp whistle and lay down next to Cordeliane. Shawn moved her up on the palfrey's saddle and then mounted behind her as the black stallion rose.

Leaving the bodies of the highwaymen was discourteous, dishonoring their lives, deaths, and souls. It was even a slight to a few better-known gods. But no one said Shawn cared, and he had only had one god. Altus Arcantium was no more a god of the grave than he was of the womb.

He rode Trident the final distance to the river, trusting Shooting Star to follow. When he reached the bank he turned and followed the river downstream. He rode the rest of the night, pausing only briefly to let the horses rest. Eventually, the river's fast flowing waters turned slow and calm, running calmly under a firm, stone bridge.

He led the way over and only then stopped. Pulling his passenger from the saddle, he busied himself brushing Trident down and cleaning the horse's bloodied hooves. Contrary to the suggested, he didn't think Shooting Star would let him clean him, especially after Cordeliane's most recent faint.

[Cordeliane]

Shooting Star watched Shawn and snorted at him as he told him to share. He liked Shawn and did not mind him touching Cordeliane, he did however watch carefully as Shawn placed Cordeliane on Trident and held her dead weight as the horses started moving. He did follow Shawn and Trident, well more kept pace with them. He was watching out for his mistress.

As Shawn rode with her in his arms she would go from being passed out cold to sleeping. He would notice the difference in her, she would curl into him resting her head on his shoulder one hand going up around his neck and she snuggled closer to him. She was still covered in his blood and that of the man he killed protecting her, but she seemed to now be sleeping peacefully against him. As she cuddled him she murmured softly “ I love you Orion,” the word Orion not audible so all Shawn heard would be the words I love you. Orion was her older brother the one closet to her in age and the one to do what Shawn was doing with her when she used to much power or was just exhausted and since they could not get her strapped to Shooting star who had at one point or another broken all 5 of her brothers ribs for getting to close to him, even with her.

When the stopped and he put her down to tend Trident, she just curled up shivering from the cold since she nolonger had his body heat to keep her warm. She was obviously really tired and seemed to be able to sleep through anything. Shooting Star on the other hand watched Shawn brush and clean Trident, and nudged him with his nose standing with one of his hind hooves up as if to say hey clean me too! There were bits of bone in Shooting Stars hooves from his stomping and trampling, more so than what would be in Trident’s since Shooting Star had trampled and stomped on the men even after they were dead. He would wait patiently for Shawn to finish with Trident, and sigh softly. The bone hurt his hooves while they had traveled and he had remained even tempered, but it was time for it to be taken care of.

[The Hummingbird]

Not given to blushing and hardened to embarrassment, Shawn nevertheless turned several shades of red at Cordeliane's sleepy declaration. "You must be kidding me," he muttered as she cuddled close to him. He quickly decided – most definitely knew – that she was talking to a specter of her past. A noble woman of her talents probably had many suitors after all. Still, it didn't make him feel any more comfortable.

After that, he quickened the pace to the bridge, after which there would be only a short jaunt to Celin City. He didn't want her to start kissing him in her sleep, imagining him to be some sort of foolish dowry-seeking prince.

Trident was fairly sparkling when Shooting Star vied for attention. Shawn was decidedly uncertain about trying to tend such a vicious beast, plucking horse hair out of a brush as he looked over the white stallion. Finally though, he shrugged. He dug into Trident's saddlebags and drew out the blanket Cordeliane had offered him not so long ago. He dropped it over her. She was hardheaded already; he didn't need her sick and grumpy too. He rummaged further into the bag and drew out a set of picks before sending Trident away to graze. He tapped them together as he looked over the hellbeast.

"If you bite me or kick me, you can stay a mess until your mistress wakes up," he warned Shooting Star as he took hold of the reins and led the horse carefully to the riverbank.

If nothing else, Shawn was good at cleaning horses. He was also surprisingly gentle, having cleaned the hooves of many a temperamental war horse before. He picked out the fragments of bone and flesh from Shooting Star's hooves with expert care, then scrubbing each hoof to a shine. He dipped the brush in water and brushed the horse down, ridding the beast of any remnants of blood. He combed out the mane and tail, removing any knots and tangles. If he found the saddle simple to remove, he would take it off to give a full grooming until the horse's coat was sleek and shined. Handsome under any circumstance, Shooting Star looked ready to be put on display.

Trident snorted, stamping. He had been enjoying Shawn's undivided attention. He trotted over and nipped at Shawn's hair as he began adjusting his armor, unlatching hidden straps and buckles. Pieces of armor fell off until Shawn looked halfway normal and most importantly forgettable, left with only a light chest plate, greaves, and shoulder guards. The main body of the suit he rolled into a thick lump and stuffed it between Trident's neck and saddle horn.

"How do I look?" Trident grabbed a mouthful of Shawn's silver hair, snorting. "Thanks."

[Cordeliane]

Shooting Star looked at him as if he was crazy, when he told him not to kick or bite him. Shooting Star liked the man, a rare thing that considering he didn’t like many. When Shawn led him to the river he went, he was happy to be cleaned even if he had to wait for the promised apple and sugar until Cordeliane woke up.

If he could have purred he would have. He loved the feel of the brush and the picks on him, tending to his needs, Cordeliane hadn’t had time lately to give him such a good rubdown, so he was really enjoying the attention. Shawn would notice an almost silver gleam to his coat as it was brushed, giving him a soft almost glowing sheen in the rising sun. For all his bad temperament Shooting Star was really a lovely horse and the perfect mount for one such as Cordeliane who seemed to find trouble without even trying.

Cordeliane hadn’t even twitched as he covered her, she just slept on curled up while he tended her horse. It wasn’t until he was talking to his horse asking how he looked that she woke up. Cordeliane unlike Shawn looked horrible, she was covered in blood and gore, his blood dried on her face and in her hair, her dress was stained with crimson splatter and the whole front of the skirt was covered where she had knelt to tend him. “ You look good Shawn” She spoke softly as she sat up and looked around. Smile on her lips as she looked around and then at him and her horse “He let you strap me in did he? He never lets my brothers near him when I am out cold” She got to her feet and went to her saddle bags, She knew she could not bath but she needed to change, and she had promised the horses Sugar and apples. She got out the apples 4 one for each other horse and one for each of them , and a bag of sugar cubes for the horses. It was a rare treat she gave Shooting Star.

She then went rooting through her bags and pulled out a dress of sunshine yellow setting it over the saddle. “I suppose we do not have time for me to wash” She pulled out a brush as well she would have to deal with the mess she was in as quickly as she could, she knew he did not want her with him and she did not want to hold him back and slow him down.

She sat at the river’s edge, putting her hair in the water to wash the blood out of the ends as she brushed it and scrubbed it a bit getting it as clean as she could without stripping and soaking in the river. She gave Shawn a look than stood her wet hair sticking to her dress and she sighed sand pulled her hair to the side. He would have to unbutton her, she couldn’t afford to lose another dress. She would use her magic on it later to clean it but that could wait until they were somewhere safe. “Shawn can you undo me “
Once it was done she would wash her face and arms in the water washing off as much of the blood as she could scrubbing her skin raw with a bit of wet sand to make sure she got it all off before rinsing clean. When finished she would slip on the yellow dress, which laced up the front so she would not need Shawn’s assistance in dressing.

Once dressed she picked up the apples and sugar going first to Shooting Star who nuzzled her taking the treats than to Trident offering him both, once he ate them she would dust off her hands and wash them in the river. Cleaned she picked up the other two apples tossing one to Shawn “ hear “ she bit into her apple, and chewed swallowing “ Where do we go next Shawn?”