((transcript from a chat roleplay))<br/><br/><br/>Brinn finally crossed through the trees she knew her cart was barked behind. It was a lovely night, and her attention was on the sky, watching the stars over head... until she noticed the shape atop the cart. She froze in place, instantly gathering her Will about her, focusing on the spell she would use. She recognized the figure at once, and her eyes went immediately to the figure still lying prone at the back of the cart. "Well well... the Lady Hawk returns... Come to take me up on my offer? I've been needing a few new feathers for my rituals..."<br/><br/>"No, I still would prefer to skip the pain...and I like my feathers where they are." Agaue said looking at the other women with a slight glare. " I came to get my pack back and nothing more."<br/><br/>Beginning to circle around the cart, checking for anything that might have been done to it, she assessed the situation. When she finally reached the point where she could view the rear of the cart, and saw that the knight was still, by all appearances, sound asleep, she relaxed slightly, "We will see what this night brings. This, however, I can promise you. The pack will not be returned to you. The items in it are stolen, and will be handed over to the Royal Court as evidence of your crimes. I myself will go as witness. Step down from the cart. Slowly. Keep your hands where I can see them."<br/><br/>Agaue narrowed her eyes at the women, refusing to leave the cart. She wasn't leaving without the item she had come for, not without a fight. That silly thing meant more to her than she would ever have thought it would. "Most of the things in there are....yes." Agaue said still sitting in the cart. "One thing in there is mine. Keep the pack, turn it in. I do not care....I just want one thing."<br/><br/>A smile spread Brinn's features, though the expression was far from lovely. The expression gave her a fierce, animalistic appearance. She stepped ever so slightly closer and lifted her hand toward the girl. A faint aura of fire gathered around her hand as she spoke in a threatening tone, "You will come down from there... Or I will get you down. I will make-- two promises to you. The first: I will not harm you if you give me no reason. Second: By staying on the cart, you will give me a reason."<br/><br/>Agaue froze in her spot as she noticed the aura of fire and the tone of the womens voice. She knew she meant what she said and the thought of the fire made her shiver. She reluctantly made her way out of the cart, hoping she was true to the first promise. "There, I'm out." She said now eyeing the women with caution. " No need for cooked ... hawk tonight. I would prefear that to stay out of the eqaution."<br/><br/>Brinn nodded, watching her climb down. She kept the hand raised, however, taking no chances. Her tone was more gentle, as she nodded her head toward a tree, "Have a seat. Make yourself comfortable. You're going to be there a while."<br/><br/>Agaue sighed and walked over towards the tree, not to happy about having to stop. It was then she thought back to the curse her mind had been on earlier. Ever since that promise she had made...things have gone wrong every time she broke it...for the wrong reasons. "I'll be rather happy to listen to anything you say if you just let me look through my pack." Agaue said with a sigh. "It is nothing dangerous. I can assure you of that. I get what I want and I will listen like a well trained ...dog."<br/><br/>Brinn scoffed, following her to the tree. when she was in position, Brinn bent down to begin drawing runes in the dirt. She blinked as the act of kneeling made her dizzy, three days without stopping having finally caught up with her. She rubbed at her eyes and finished the runes the best she could with clouded vision. Standing, she shook her head, "And give you the chance to go for a weapon? No. What is it you are looking for?"<br/><br/>"It's not a weapon." Agaue said grinning and pulling a dagger from behind her back. "I have them already but don't worry I won't use them." She paused a moment before she decided to tell her what it was. " It is just a simpled necklace of mine that I am looking for."<br/><br/>Brinn's hand was up again, pulsing with the aura of flame once more, eyes hard and ready, "I thought you might... lets have it. Don't make me search you."<br/><br/>"Are you sure you want to search me?" Agaue said not being able to hold back her mischievous grin." I might enjoy it to much."<br/><br/>Agaue shivered at the thought and tossed the dagger in her hand harmlessly towards her feet and grabbed her other one and did the same.<br/><br/>Brinn never took her eyes from the girl as she scuffed the runes out of the dirt in one spot, breaking the circle. Her tone was rough, almost violent, "Oh, I think I very much do want to search you. You've done more than enough harm to deserve it... plus you're asking for it."<br/><br/>Agaue blinked in shock, having not expected that response. That left her unable to say a thing for a few moments. "I...yeah...I think I'll skip the search, at least if it is you....doing it. You want me searched...ask the knight. I won't object to that....Speaking of the knight. I am sorry about his...head. I honestly never meant to hit him that hard.<br/><br/>Brinn ignored her words, anger coursing through her. She knew the girl was armed, and knew from her words that she would use her weapons if given a chance. Shaking her hand, she doused the prepared spell of flames and gripped her hands on the girl's shrt, shoving her back against the tree. Using one arm, she shoved her elbow up under her chin to pin her there and began searching for weapons.<br/><br/>"Magic would have been more effective." Agaue said in a muffled voice. She then reached up and grabbed her upper arm, attempting to push her to the ground.<br/><br/>The last thing she expected was that. She was not prepared to be shoved, and fumbled to plant her feet. Reeling for balance, she flailed, but found the effort pointless. She fell backward and thumped into the dirt with a huff of breath. Instantly, she kicked out with her feet, trying to knock the woman over.<br/>Agaue took the hit but managed to stay on her two feet, now glaring at the other women. She reached down to her lower leg and pulled out a small dagger, quickly making her way to pin the womens shoulders down. There was no intent to kill, since she truely didn't wish to, nor would she as she placed the blade against her neck.<br/><br/>Hopefully all she would have to do was hit her upside the head, like she had the knight. Though not nearly as rough as she had before.<br/><br/>Brinn froze for only a moment, then clenched her fists. Even her eyes began to burn with a hint of flame as she prepared her spell. It would only take a second. she rushed through the preparations as fast as possible, then swung a hand at the woman.<br/><br/>Agaue brought up her arms, knowing she wouldn't be able to dodge, and took the hit, watching her leather sleeve catch fire. Growling she decided to stop try and stop this from going on any longer, knowing that if she did it would end badly for her. She brought her good arm down onto the side of her head. Hoping she didn't miss. as her thoughts swiftly went to her arm.<br/><br/>(end of transcipt)<br/>=================================================<br/><br/>Brinn never even had a chance to defend herself from the blow. She had her attention so focused on the woman's blade, that she never thought to prepare for a blow to the head. Later, she would kick herself for not having thought of that.<br/><br/>Lack of sleep, brought on by the four days without sleep she'd endured, as well as the intense strain on her manna reserve with the casting she'd done, left her utterly exhausted. She'd slept only a few hours in the back of the cart, and that had only left her feeling more groggy than before. As the blow struck her skull, stars exploded before her eyes, quickly followed by a rushing tide of oblivion. She fought to hold on to consciousness, but she might as well have stood before a hurricane and ordered it to stop.<br/><br/>Her eyes rolled back and she released a long breathe, going limp. Her hands released the woman and fell to the ground at her sides, the flames dying away completely as the driving force behind them was cut off. There would likely be little in the way of burns left behind when the flames died, which might suggest that the warlock had meant no real harm in casting it. To anyone who knew magic at all, it would be clear that such control over flame would be extremely difficult, if possible at all.