Horse staked a bit from her location, the black stallion more than pleased with the fresh grass and the moment of peace now that they had come to rest at this camp. On her own, for the moment Ausan took the time to pray. Sword drawn, she laid it before the small fire she had built just for this moment. Fur cloak removed and placed alongside her person she took the chain and<a class="postlink" href="http://i.imgur.com/n4G1eaA.png">pendent</a>from about her neck.  As her mother had taught her all those years ago…<br/><br/><br/><span style="color: #40BFFF"><span style="font-style: italic"> “My child, do you know why we pray to Naiya?” her mother asked the young girl was slightly bruised and banged up from a day of training with her father. <br/><br/>“I don’t pray to her, father says that such things are foolish. Especially to a Goddess and not a God,” she sniffled a bit; the simple action caused her wince in pain. There was a small trickle of blood from her left nostril and when she turned to the side her mother could see that the once perfectly aligned nose was crooked and swollen. <br/><br/>Whatever hopes she might have had for her young beautiful daughter were no longer there. She was to be a tool for her husband to further his own power and renown, regardless of what it did to her. “Come here by the fire with me,” her voice kind and gentle, a tone the daughter never heard from her father. <br/><br/>Another grimace as she was forced to move from where she had collapsed in the Den, but the warm embrace from her mother was more than worth the bit of pain. <br/><br/>“Now, look into the fire and tell me what do you see?” <br/><br/>Unsure of where this line of conversation was going, Ausan did as she was asked and gazed into the fire. “I see, orange, red and white flames…” her tone sounded far too old for the small body that it came from.<br/><br/>“Is that all that you see?” <br/><br/>The small girl nodded hesitantly; as she tensed prepared for some form of punishment like her father was want to do when she failed to give him the answer he desired. <br/> <br/>“Be still child, you know that I would never hurt you like your father,” she cooed and stroked back the dirty matted hair of her child. “Do you know why a woman’s place is in the kitchen?” she asked then to try and get her daughter to relax some. Asuan shook her head and her mother smiled kindly, “That is because that is where the hearth is, the fire pit the source of the heat and where our livelihood resides. Sure, men would like to think that they are what keep the world going, but that is merely their egos needing to be stroked. A woman is the only one with the patience and nurturing side capable of sustaining the fire. That is why it is a Goddess who represents it,” she leaned back from her child to remove a small pendent from about her neck. “The Hearth of the House, the Fire of the world, that which protects us and allows us to shape the world into something greater. It is this that the symbol represents….</span></span><br/><br/>Softly she placed a kiss upon the pendent before she clasped it firmly between her fists and prayed.<br/><br/>“Naiya, Goddess of Fire, she who taught men to temper the steel and change the world to suit them; hear my prayer,” her voice calm and even as she gazed into the fire and watched the flames as they danced. “The people of Linden are broken and scared. This maiden would pray to you and hear your wisdom,” she looked down at the worn and battered sword. “Many I have slain in the name of my people and in the name of you, My Goddess. Their blood spilled to honor you, to praise you and show my faith in you,” her gazed lifted back to the fire hard and intense with unspoken determination. “Naiya, this maiden wish only for you to save her people, to save her prince from the war that is to come, spare their lives from the cold grasp of death  and instead take her own instead. For her life is without meaning save for protecting those she loves,” she eyes closed in a final silent prayer, and then kissed the pendent once more, the final lesson of that day from her mother echoing in her thoughts.<br/><br/><span style="color: #4080FF"><span style="font-style: italic">“… Fire is a powerful tool and through the grace of Naiya, the men of this world have been allowed to rise to the top,” she held the chain over the fire and allowed the pendent to heat in the fire. “Never forget my child, for in your darkest moments, the light of her fire will always be there to guide you and give you strength. “<br/><br/>The chain was then slipped about her neck and she whimpered only slightly as the pendent burned and branded her with the mark of her Goddess. “Women are the givers of life and with the fire of Naiya burning in our souls we can also be the takers.”</span></span><br/><br/>Above the flames the pendent dangled, the tops of the flames just barely licked and lapped at the metal until it was properly heated before being returned to its rightful place about her neck. Only a slight grimace crossed her face as the hot medal settled into an old branded scar from countless prayers said to her Goddess.<br/><br/>Just as she snuffed the flames she heard the commotion within the camp and figured Barth had concluded the meeting with the other leaders. Likely in a sour mood if how they had thusly been treated was any hint to the respect he would have been given. Sword sheathed back at her side she headed toward her horse and was met by some of the Lebidan soldiers who thought it fun to tease and taunt her horse, who looked if nothing but bored at their antics.<br/><br/>“May I help you?” she asked them while she reattached her cloak to her armor.<br/><br/>“No worries there little miss. We are just here to take this beast back to the stables, he seemed to have wandered off from the rest of the horses,” not a one even taking the time look at her or take note of her garb.<br/><br/>“That is my horse, so he is exactly where I need him,” she responded and crossed her arms across her chest. “Please step away from him, I must return to my Prince.”<br/><br/>“Your what?” it was at this that they turned to face her for the first time. Both rather shocked that she was eye to eye with them and even more so that she was dressed like a soldier. “What’s going on here?”<br/><br/>“Nothing, for you are delaying me in my duties,” she said and strode toward them without an ounce of fear. “So, I say again, please step away from my horse.”<br/><br/>“Is this a joke?” one of the men asked the other.<br/><br/>“Wait a minute!” the other exclaimed as he snapped his fingers and pointed at Ausan as if she was not striding toward them. “That’s one of the prince’s girlfriends. You know the ones who always follow him into battle,” as she drew closer one of them made a face when they took in the scar across her face. “She must be pretty good in the sack for him to deal with that mug,” he laughed and so did the other, which caused Ausan to pause while between them.<br/><br/>“Have either of you seen a Tutar up close?”<br/><br/>“What?” they asked amongst their laughter.<br/><br/>“Huge hulking beasts that fight as if possessed and without any fear or even noting the pain we visit upon them blow after blow,” she turned to face the one that had made the comment. “Do you know how I got this scar?”<br/><br/>“No,” he scoffed as if it were not important.<br/><br/>“My prince was pinned down and in need of support, so I charged through the enemy lines to try and offer some relief. One of those monsters snatched from my horse by my face and threw me like a rag doll to the ground,” her hand went to the belt at her waist while she continued to speak, her gaze never wavering. “We engaged in combat though my blood ran thick into my face and I could hardly breathe from how hard I hit the ground,” her hand now started to withdraw what would appear to be a dagger. “By either my skill, luck or perhaps both I managed to best him and slay the beast. I even took something for what he did to my face.”<br/><br/>The hard unwavering gaze unnerved the man to some degree, though he did a good show of hiding it. “What’d you take?”  He asked after he licked his suddenly dry lips.<br/><br/>“This,” she raised the glossy black talon up to his face. “I ripped out the claw that did this,” she ran it along the trail of her scar perfectly. “These things are surprisingly sharp and never needs to be sharpened either….want to feel?” she asked as she thrust it toward his face which made him jerk back.<br/><br/>“No…no. That’s fine,” he said though his voice cracked a bit.<br/><br/>“Well,” the talon returned to its place on her belt. “I believe I will be on my way then, yes?” Neither moved to stop her as she mounted up, “Oh, gentlemen,” she said as she sat easily atop her horse. “If you ever think it wise to insult either my prince or my people in anyway, I will do the same thing I did to that Tutar, to your own fingernails.” A small smile played on her lips as she dipped her head to him slightly before she kicked her horse into an easy trot back to camp.<br/><br/>Horsed handed over to her squire she strode to Barth’s tent, where she saw him with her sister, the other Maiden of Linden.<br/><br/>“I can already feel the anger rolling off his shoulders now,” she remarked with a tired sigh. “Tell me which one to kill and it shall be done.”<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: black;background:black;"/></div><br/><br/>It was dark, as it usually was where they dwelled, but night had fallen and it was to be the time of slumber. The time to rest and prepare for the coming combat on the marrow, all was to be ready for an attack on a small village. However, it would seem that some could not sleep as shadows, silent and deadly slipped through the slumbering bodies of the females belonging to their Chieftain. All day he had spent among his females, copulating over and over again to celebrate their recent victory. It was hoped/expected that this evening would bring him another brood of healthy and strong warriors to continue with the fight. It was also; because of those activities that those who now stalked the shadows felt they had a chance. A chance to slay the famed Chieftain Grishnakh and take his seat of power for themselves.<br/><br/>The only reason they worked together was the chance of victory was greater if they attacked him as a group. Each of them knew that once he was dead they would have to slay their associates, but they were none too bothered by that notion. It was part of their daily lives, so they welcomed the backstabbing like anyone would welcome a hot meal into their cold empty stomachs. This was their world, their way of life and none of them had even the smallest thought to change any part of it.<br/><br/>The pebble strewn dirt of the cave offered a small challenge as each of the hulks had to carefully maneuver least the alarm be risen before they were in position.<br/><br/>Atop the platform a pile of bodies rested, the loud and obnoxious snoring reverberated off of the cave walls in a sound that was near deafening. Why, the would be assassins thought that they would end up rousing anyone seemed odd given the sound that currently dominated the space. However, the hearing of a Tutar was known far and wide to be keen and sharper than any other being that roamed the world. Knowing this, it was only right to be cautious when plotting the death of someone who could easily murder you with nothing but a glare. Or so the rumors have said.<br/><br/>The group of three stood over the platform; weapons raised high above their heads when they finally spoke for the first time since they entered the cave.<br/><br/>“DEATH TO GRISHNAKH!”<br/><br/>Over and over again, their blades plunged deep into the still waking bodies or those who had chosen to slumber there, namely the females Grishnakh had decided to bring to bed with him that night. Screams of pain, anguish and the soft gargle as some choked on their own blood echoed off the cave and roused the others who had still been slumbering. When it all fell silent the males though that they had succeed in their mission and slain the mighty Grishnakh.<br/><br/>The sound of whistling suddenly filled the silence, followed by the distinctive “thunk” as something impacted with something else. Two of the three stared in horror at the spear that now protruded from the chest of the third. Shock had yet to set in and he merely stood there staring at the weapon that held his large black heart on the end of it. Before he even fell over dead, their target charged them with sword held high as a roar of challenge bellowed from his throat. One of the males tried to run but he was snagged by the thrown bolas that was thrown which ensnared his legs. A loud crack was heard when he fell over and contacted with the impacted earth below, however, his chest still steadily rose with each breath.<br/><br/>The last male thought to make a stand and draw his blade to meet the challenge head on. They crossed swords a total of two times before the final blow was placed and his head went rolling off into the darkness of the cave.<br/><br/>“You think to take my power!” the Chieftain roared as he stalked over to the one he caught. “Take my females! Make your own brood!?” Now he stood over the male who still struggled to get free, only to have his actions halted by a clawed foot across his throat. “You’re weak! I take that weakness from you,” he snarled before he spat in his face, and then reached down between his legs to grasp hold of what made him a male.<br/><br/>The howls of pain as he twisted and jerked, were music to his ears and suited to soothe the angered Chieftain. Those had been some of his favorite females.”