The Target Found

[Aurelia Dalry]

She found her target and oddly enough she found him at a time when she was not focused on her mission. She looked up at the man dressed from head to toe in black and gold. He seemed intrigued by her, which could only help to make this easier for her.

”You can call me Uther, I am the second deputy of Sanctus” he looked down at her with a smile.

Perfect she thought. How very perfect. Uther was polite, good looking and seemingly bestowed with a fair amount of power and wealth.

Uther and Aurelia sat down at the table nearest the fire in Hanse’s Hostel. He seemed almost in a trance as he stared into her eyes. She smiled and batted her eyelashes as she pulled herself into character. They carried on conversation. ”Where do you hail? What do you do?” Polite conversation. Poor man. He has no idea what he is getting himself into she thought to herself.

The tavern was filling up with bodies and the room echoed with voices. Aurelia laughed as Uther told her stories. A man dressed from head to toe in green came and stood beside her and she smiled politely to him.

”Hello” she said.

Uther began to speak to the man and Aurelia quickly became lost in their conversation. She caught bits and pieces of what each of the men were saying, but she was very confused.

”Spawn….Oggaroth….Kill the king…Talon Skyfire….” She sat watching them speak to one another, trying to pick up on anything that may be useful.

”You seem a bit upset, perhaps you should sit and have a drink” Aurelia said as she smile brightly towards Spawn, completely oblivious to what was going on.

He looked at her a moment and then pulled his sword placing the tip against her chest. The tavern grew silent as each person stared at the sword. Aurelia shifted her eyes to Uther and then to Spawn.

”Die!” Spawn yelled as he lifted his sword and then quickly brought it down on her collarbone.

She fell backwards onto the floor and with one quick glance down she saw blood gushing from her new found wound. Immediately her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she lay unconscious on the floor.

[Aurelia Dalry]

(Cross posted by Uther Pendragon)

Uther was on his nightly patrol missions of Sanctus, he rode quietly among the magnificent buildings and structures of the town, until he finally rode up on Hanse's Hostel. This time of evening, it normally bustled with activity, and tonight was no exception.

"Help!" he heard a voice scream coming from the direction of the building. As he looked up, a woman ran his direction followed by three males. They seemed to be giving her a hard time, and his instincts served him right. "They keep chasing me and telling me they will kill me!", she said. As the men approached, she hid behind him, obviously frightened.

"What is the meaning of this?", Uther asked. The men looked at him and laughed. One with a head of flaming red hair said: "It is none of your concern!!" Uther replied, "I am a man of law here, and it is my business if you are causing trouble!!" "Ohh...a lawman are you, well what are you gonna do about it Sanctan?" sneered the stranger. Uther smirked as he gently and quietly placed his hand on his seeker cleverly hid beneath his robes. "Stranger, I believe you do not wish to find that out, and you best be served to leave the young lady here alone." The stranger and his men looked at each and rode off, knocking the young woman down in the process, laughing hysterically. Uther shook his head at the men sadly, "Such a waste.", he thought to himself.

He turned to check on the woman, as she was momentarily unconcious. He gently scooped her up in his arms, and tended to her arm, as it was cut in the fall. While in the process, her eyes fluttered open. "Oh my...not again.", she said. Uther smiled and said: "You had quite the fall, those scoundrels made sure of that...are you alright?" "I am now.", she said as she smiled sweetly to him. "Come let me help you to your feet.", said Uther. She stood and brushed herself off. "Thank you m'lord, my name is Aurelia, and I did not catch your name." "I am Uther, Deputy Sheriff of Sanctus, at your service m'lady."

"Allow me to buy you a drink to thank you, and we can sit and chat a bit.", she said. Uther reluctantly accepted her request, as he did not drink, but he felt he did not want to insult her, so they went. As they talked, he told her of where he came from and where he has been, and they both shared stories of their life experiences. "It has been a while since I have enjoyed myself this much....not since....Well, it is nice." As he finished his sentence, a man in a hooded green shroud entered. He spoke to some in the tavern and he turned and made his way in their direction. As he approached, Aurelia smiled and greeted him. Uther stared at the man, trying to see his face...he seemed..familiar....then...it hit him....."Lord Spawn?", he said to the man. He removed the shroud and yes, it was him, or so he thought. He was dressed and looked exactly like him, but his demeanor was nothing like his former mentor or his soul...This was not Spawn...but an abomination, a demon..."Do you not remember me?", asked Uther. "The man looked to him and said: "Maybe I do, maybe I do not, but it matters not." He then went on to speak of Oggaroth, the demise of the King, and the look in his eye...was sinister...He quickly pulled his bokuto out and pointed at Aurelia.."Does this anger you Sanctan?" he said. Uther slowly put his hand under his robes and gently grabbed the hilt of his seeker, moving closer to her..."She has nothing to do with this, Spawn!" "You are quite right, she does not.", he said. He began to raise his sword over his head to strike. Uther yelled out to her: "Aurelia, move!!!" She could not move in time however, as his blade caught her collarbone. She collasped into a heap on the floor, as Uther jumped in front of her to prevent another strike. He looked over his shoulder to see her look at him with frightened eyes, and then she passed out. He glared at Spawn, ready to face him as the rest of the Sanctus army arrived. He knew he had to focus on the task at hand, but deep in his heart, he hoped...that he could see her again alive and well.....