The following two days passed much as the first had. To those who had not been born to it, the land around them that had at first seemed so featureless eventually began to take on a life and personality of its own. The dull yellow grasses got greener where water rose close to the surface, and where it broke through to stream some distance across the plains low shrubs and small trees also grew. Herds of gazelles and flocks of fowl were startled into flight at their approach (causing Windclaw to grumble in the back of Jardanth's mind about missed opportunities), and several times in the distance they saw small prides of lions sprawling under huge shade trees, watching them pass with seeming disinterest.

Khevar was able to vary their diets with well-placed shots into the heart of those flocks of birds as they rose, and Windclaw surprised him by retrieving the carcasses for him, intact. It was difficult for her -- after running all day she did not have the energy left to hunt -- but Jardanth was firm and she ate what her friend allotted to her in the evenings, instead.

On the morning of the third day, Mari and Kassus looked at the skies thoughtfully, then at each other. It was going to rain, they could feel it -- and before the day was out. Rhenn and Khevar both cursed a bit at this, but they knew their sea-cousins had a way of knowing such things. Sure enough, late that afternoon, thunderheads rolled in over the mountains, their jagged peaks ripping into their dark underbellies and spilling forth the rain they'd gathered. Lightning arced from cloud to cloud and struck ground amid ear-splitting thunderclaps -- an exciting display from a distance, but extremely dangerous as it passed overhead. Still, there was nothing to be done about it but cover up with d'nem, bend low over the horses, and keep riding.

The trail of the Jackalbane horse, which had been growing more and more difficult to follow by the day was completely obliterated by the time the rains had passed. They had been gaining time up until that point, but now they'd have to ride close to the river's winding banks and sacrifice speed for making sure they didn't bypass the site of the attacks altogether. Around the lightstones that night (the rain having soaked any available wood too thoroughly for a fire), Duras' extensive knowledge of the river allowed him to make some educated guesses about where that Jackalbane delegation might have camped. He had an acute motivation to guess correctly on this, and in the end the group agreed to bypass some of the smaller loops of the river in order to concentrate on places where the bends were broader and flatter.

Rhenn had another attack that night, though perhaps only Jardanth noticed, having been awake on watch when it happened.

It was mid-day on the following day when Rhenn first noticed the tracks in the dried mud near the river where the horses drank. Many lions, leopards (solitary hunters, always), jackals, wild dogs, one set near and over top of the others in ways that indicated the creatures had passed this way too -- not together, but sequentially, and not long after that rainstorm. He, Khevar, and Jardanth studied the signs and other spoor in the area, coming up with numbers they didn't like. There could only be one reason the predators and scavengers on the plains were gathering -- they were feasting on a massive kill, or on those who had come to feast upon it. The group was close now, very close.

And indeed, as thoughts began to turn to finding a place to rest for the night, Kassus' magically enhanced vision spotted the first swarming scavengers in the late afternoon sky though no one else as yet was able to see them -- just as Windclaw's hackles went up as she caught the first scent of it upon the winds. They were at the end of a long fourth day's ride from Bak Kachina, but had made much better time than the wounded Jackalbane horse on their race south. It seemed better to find a marginally defensible place to camp for the night than push onto an area that would likely be quite dangerous as light was failing. Knowing that they'd be upon the scene before mid-day the next (fifth) day pulled a quiet pall over everyone, as each in his or her own way steeled themselves for the gruesome task that lay before them.

Two hours into that next day's ride, everyone could see the vultures, ravens, and other scavengers in the air.

After three hours the stench of dead bodies carried on the wind was unmistakable. What was left of another Bak'Tiar steed lay sprawled in the grasses, not much more than hide, hooves, and bones. Robins and jays picked at the delicate bits of cartilage between the exposed vertebrae, barely stirring as the group approached and passed.

In his mind, Rhenn felt Senaia's sorrow and anger, much as Jardanth felt it from all their horses. As jarring as it had been, it was as nothing compared to the grisly scene that awaited them when they topped the final rise and saw, and smelled, and heard, what was left of the Jackalbane encampment -- and most of the Jackalbane -- sweltering in the mid-day sun. Two of the three tents were nothing but scorch marks on the ground, what was left of the third in a large swath of tatters spread across the ground. The makeshift corral that had once contained cattle was trampled into well-bloodied mud, further obscured from the rains two days previous. Packs and saddlebags and the remains of bedrolls were tossed about like jackstraws, saddles scorched or broken in half, left to bake in the hot summer sun.

The smallest blessing was that most of the large predators had left. Two or three young male lions remained to fight the ravens, vultures, and jackals (cruel irony) for what few scraps remained. Bones were scattered everwhere one looked, sometimes still attached to a head of golden hair, a fringed shirt, or a long tawny mane. Jackals barked and yipped and snarled over bones, their fierce jaws snapping them into pieces to lick out the marrow. No slaughter yard ever smelled so foul as this, rotting flesh tinged with acrid smoke, and the markings and remarkings of every male predator with a territory within fifty kilometers on this side of the river.

It was enough to make Cady and Rael jump off their horses to eject the contents of their stomachs violently, and of the Bak'Tiar only Khevar and Jardanth weren't a bit green around the ears. Rhenn in particular felt as if he'd like to emulate Cady and Rael, but managed to keep to his saddle only by clamping his jaw together tightly and pausing for frequent looks up into the bright blue sky.

"I was not angry, until I came here," Kassus Windrider said, his soft voice nonetheless ringing with quiet fury. "But now, my blood stirs and my heart breaks. Those responsible for this must pay."

There was no stopping the anger and pain that welled up in Mari. It kept much of the nausea at bay, but not the tears, they came immediately. She reached out to the nearest living thing to her for comfort. Para whinnied when she wrapped her arms around his neck and cried into his warm hair.

It took her a moment to realize that the wailing she heard was coming from her own throat. With that realization came another. She had the means to see this Hunter. All she had to do was slide off her mount, walk below, find a scorch mark, and sing. Just like she was doing.

Duras spit out the vomit that he couldn't hold back. His eyes watered, not with the burning in his mouth and gut, but with the horror before him. He tried to stay on his horse, but the steed was too horrified by what was before them. Too much death, and the presence of the predators and scavengers likely didn't help either. Cursing the four legged beast under his breath, he dismounted and followed Mari at a slight distance, throwing knives at the ready to protect her. He kept his eyes on the lions in particular, but anything that was even remotely near Mari was watched - if it seemed intent on approaching her, it was going to be greeted with a knife.

With the voices of all the horses, WindClaw, and the sound of two people being violently ill in his mind, Jardanth began shouting directions. "Rhenn, Khevar! Look after our Bard if someone doesn't protect her her she will be the new food for the lions and jackals! I will look after the horses and our stricken guests."

He called WindClaw to his side, worried that she might be attacked if she strayed too far. Running over to Rael and Cady, he made sure that they were breathing clearly and had gotten all of the fluid from their mouths. He made each of them swallow half of a small vial of powder, telling them that it would calm their stomachs. Remaining just long enough to make sure his patients were able to stand and breathe on their own, he then turned his attention to the horses.

The scene before Khevar was gruesome and he nearly gagged, but the sight of the lions focused his attention and he forced his gorge back down. Even before Mari moved, he had already strung his bow, long practice allowing him to accomplish it quickly and smoothly without taking his eyes off the vicious predators. An arrow was on his string and the bow half-drawn in another breath. The only thing that prevented him from firing immediately was Mari. If he startled the predators, they might attack. He kept his eyes on them, mainly focused on the lions, but watching the other scavengers as well, using all the knowledge he had to look for signs of an impending attack. He considered dismounting, but decided having the speed of the mare under him might be vital if he had to ride to Mari's rescue.

Trouble was, the mare did not want to remain still beneath him. She was the more placid of his two mounts and usually quite biddable, but the scent of death combined with the presence of predators caused instinct to over-rule intellect. She wanted to leave this place and every time Khevar dropped the reins to draw his bow, she sidled to one side nervously. Once Jardanth began talking to her, however, she settled, and Khevar was able to control her with his knees and keep his arrow trained on the hated young lions.

Rhenn was already doing what needed to be done, without having to be told. His mind slipped into contact with Senaia's, first. My love, one of the two leg sisters is in danger, can you stomach the death, and charge?

It is bad, Rhennbrother, but I will bear you, as always, where you need to go. She replied. He could tell she did not want to go forward, but she knew he would go without her, and that was unacceptable.

He heard someone shouting behind him as he urged Senaia forward, lowering the tip of his 12 foot battle spear. His hazel eyes flicked left and right, and he listened for trouble behind, at the horses, or the sick folks. He forced his bile down, as the wind shifted, and he waited, reassuring Senaia through their link.

These predators aren't hungry, sister, if we look alert and strong, they will probably not want to risk it.

It had better be as you say, my brother, for the two leg sister and the brother who follows her will be food for lions, if not.

Heedless of the activity behind her Mari rushed to where the first tent had been and examined the ground before her as she walked. Nothing else existed beyond seeing his face. Her eyes would look into his, as his magic blasted her people. She would examine every line, every detail, she would memorize each wrinkle. If he grinned Mari would know the color of his teeth, and the quirk of his lip. His face would be more familiar to her than any lover’s ever had.

She began to sing quietly and abruptly, she "saw" the tent in front of her, dark in the pre-dawn light, before it suddenly, noiselessly exploded into flames. Mari turned wildly and saw the second ball of fire arcing in from behind the hill where the horses milled restlessly under Jardanth's care. Smoke began billowing, obscuring her view of her immediate surroundings, but she saw two Jackalbane elders stumble out of the tent, clothes burning, their mouths open in eerily silent screams.

The bard stumbled away from the memory of that fire in time to see another erupt not far away, tears creating tracks of mud down her cheeks. This time it was children and young adults who ran out, most burning hotly, other trying to urge them down to the ground to roll out the flames.

Another arcing ball of fire lit up the lightening sky, landing just in front of the horses, who panicked as one, then stampeded away from the flames. A fourth landed in the midst of a knot of clanhusbands and clanwives, half-dressed, attempting to respond intelligently -- they died quickly from the force of the initial explosion, or slowly, burning in the aftermath.

It drove Mari to her knees, keening in sorrow her voice carrying her heartache to all those who could hear. Duras stood nearby, daggers drawn, unable to see what she saw but intent on protecting her, nonetheless. She couldn't see him, though she knew he was nearby, and knew that this was all a vision, nothing more -- but when the rain of arrows started, death came indiscriminately, in wave after wave. She saw Cumlach, the brave Sun Yani priest-knight, his blade a hellish orange in the reflected light. It dipped and swayed, knocking arrows aside as if they were mere annoyances, his almond-shaped eyes constantly moving, assessing the threat, trying to isolate an enemy....

.... they came over the hill, the same hill Khevar, Jardanth, and the others now stood upon, garbed in dark colors, faces contorted in lust for blood. Twenty.. thirty... forty.... bearing down on the stricken encampment in coordinated waves, moving to circle and isolate groups of the living, adding more and more numbers to the dead. A young woman ran out into the firelight, sword in her hands, searching wildly for a foe too. Her eyes and hair were like Duras', fine and dark, and the set of her chin was a more feminine version of his. She leapt forward and sliced an attacker's leg as he rode by; before he circled his mount to strike her down Cumlach was there, sword and body interposed between them.

Even as the other attackers gathered more females into one group and killed the others, Cumlach relieved at least a half dozen attackers of their lives, calmly, without the least change of expression. Rayna stood at his back, smaller blade out -- she was not the master of the weapon Cumlach was, but more than one assailant tasted its bite before...

The scene was without sound, so Mari did not know what happened next. One moment Cumlach and Rayna were fighting back to back. The next moment both arched in pain and fell down -- and so did one horse and rider. It was then, as the dawn broke over the Crookleg River, that Mari finally saw the face that spurred the need for her vengeance. She rose to her feet and stood before him, calm stealing over her. She examined him as he walked towords her, memorizing his mannerisms and his form.

He strode among the dead, and they were nothing to him, not even those who'd attacked and died under his orders. His eyes were set like Cumlach's, but they were cold. His face was a bit more square, his nose flatter. He pointed imperiously at Rayna and gestured to where the Bak'Tiar women were being subdued and bound. Then he pointed in another direction and barked another order. The remaining men nodded and turned their horses in that direction. Mari spared a glance to see where they headed, then her eyes returned to her prey.

The Hunter reached for Cumlach's unconscious form, grabbed him by the hair, and dragged him toward the river. His sword lay where it had fallen, clotted with blood, dull and lifeless in the morning light.

The rest saw the lions lope off at the intrusion of humans. The jackals also retreated, but the horses could still smell them. Senaia told Rhenn they had not gone far, and would be back. Most of the birds continued to peck and pull at the remains which were some distance off, undisturbed.

Duras kept his eyes on the lions as they moved off; not having much experience with them, he didn't know what to expect (but it hadn't been lost upon him where Khevar's scars came from, either.)

His knives still at the ready, he moved slowly closer to Mari.

Having given up everything in their stomachs, Cady and Rael swallowed the powder Jardanth had given them and found themselves somewhat restored and able to take in the tableau in the shallow bowl just below them. Mari stood, gazing toward the river with a hard look on her face. Duras kept watch over her, knives at the ready.

Rhenn and Senaia stood some distance off, alert, ready to charge in either direction. Kassus had jumped off his skittish horse, but stood nearby, chanting silently under his breath.

Khevar's arrow never waivered as he watched the lions trot away.

The Emissary wiped her mouth off angrily, upset with herself for losing control at such an inopportune time. "Thank you Urilia for teaching me humility. ...but in the future, a more suitable time would be appreciated."

She allowed her eyes to sweep the scene in front of her, still horrified by the slaughter. This is what murder looks like. Deciding that Mari was well enough protected, she dropped a dagger into each hand and stayed to protect the horses from any danger.

Rael wiped his mouth and slowly rose. He didn't know if his horse would make it that way, so he set off on foot to put himself closer to Mari in case of danger.

Seeing that the predators had moved off, and that Mari seemed to have come out of whatever it is she was doing, Rhenn spoke up. "Alright you two... when youre ready to come out of there, come out the way you came in, there may yet be something the Plains can whisper to Khevar and I."

Duras made a hand motion, one he'd learned amongst the Prarierunners, indicating his acknowledgment (and agreement) of Rhenn's words. He moved closer to Mari, but gave her some space, and spoke calmly but (hopefully) loud enough for Mari to hear without being startled, "Mari, it's Duras. I'm here with you, behind you."

"Not yet," the bard gasped, the agony in her heart spilling out into her voice. "This isn't over... oh, that paskaat(*)...! She strode off toward the river, eyes fixed upon what only she could see, a limp form being dragged away, the Hunter pausing on the riverbank as if with second thoughts, then bending over to slap Cumlach's face again and again until the priest-knight roused to semi-consciousness.

Mari's power did not afford her the ability to overhear what was said. She could only stand there as Cumlach's glazed eyes tried to focus on the cruel face above him, and watch the Hunter's lips form words she would not have understood even if she'd heard them. It was only when Cumlach's hands came up to grasp his captor's arms as if to pull them away that the Hunter smiled -- coldly, diabolically -- and plunged the priest-knight's head under the swirling, muddy water.

Already wounded and spent from battle, Cumlach still fought valiantly against the ignominy of this particular death. He thrashed and twisted and pulled at the Hunter's hands, efforts growing more and more ineffective by the minute. So eerily silent, though Mari could dimly hear the sounds of vultures and ravens squawking in the background, incongruous to the scene before her. When Cumlach's struggles finally ceased, the Hunter's lips moved, face locked in a rictus of death-lust, still holding that head under the water, making quite sure.

He left it face down in the shallows when he walked away, fielding reports from his "lieutenants," issuing orders, calling for his horse.

Cady chanced a quick look at Jardanth, her voice slow and pointed when she spoke. "What...is...she...doing?" She returned her vigilant gaze to scan the area, quite concerned about Mari's welfare.

"Cady She's using her talent to see what we cannot as of yet."

Khevar didn't know exactly what Mari was doing, but he assumed it was important. As she moved around the sight, he watched for any sign of the predators returning. Hopefully the large party had frightened them off, but he wasn't taking chances. His bow was still ready, with an arrow nocked.

When the Hunter’s horse was brought to him, he mounted it. Mari took note that it was not a Bak’Tiarian steed. Several men approached him, some clearly Sun-Yani and some not, all wearing similar sets of black leather armor. He gave them orders like someone long used to being in command, knowing that they would be carried out.

Mari followed behind him as he rode over to the group of captured Bak’Tiar women who were being bound with their hands behind their backs. None of them opened their mouths when he spoke to them, and she could see the hatred glowing in their eyes. Rayna looked to be almost in shock, confused, and weary. He gestured and spoke some more, then about a dozen horses were brought over and the majority of the women were placed on them. The remaining four women were placed on horsefriends, none of which look happy about it.

Sparing a look around the site of the massacre, Mari saw the cattle being chased onto the plains by the mercenaries, and the Bak’Tiar horses being rounded up. She had to quirk her lips slightly at the trouble a few of them are giving the men. Her eyes returned to the Hunter quickly though, she still had much to learn about him. As the last of the horsefriends were captured they were brought to where the Hunter was waiting, and then he lead them all off to the southeast.

With all the information seen Mari slumped to the ground, knees beneath her, chin on her chest, eyes closed, near exhausted. Of all the emotions vying for attention in her heart she soon chooses to focus on the anger, knowing it would give her the most strength. She took a deep breath, and began to cough, having forgotten about the stench of the dead, her resolve faltered. “Duras, please, help me.” She said barely above a whisper, hoping he could hear her.

His every attention focused on Mari (and her safety), Duras heard her plea. He moved to her, his blades disappearing into sheaths in a fluid motion, rendering his hands empty to offer her assistance.

Gently, he placed his hands on her, letting her know he was there, before moving to assist her up. He had no idea of what she had gone through, only that she had gone through something...

Feeling the comfort of his hands on her encouraging her up helped renew Mari’s strength a little. She stood, trying not to lean too heavily on Duras and began to make her way back up the hill to where the horses were standing. She knew she should be feeling guilty for putting herself and the rest of the party in danger, but she was too ruined to care at the moment. Knowing what had happened, and what her enemy looked like made it all worth it. She did remember some of her manners though, “Thank you Duras, you are a kind man.” she said as she sat down at the crest of the hill.

Duras didn't respond to her words other than to nod and make sure she was comfortably seated. Once she was, he fetched a waterskin to get her some refreshment.

Some of the color returned to Cady's face when she saw Mari come back up the hill. She swallowed down another wave a nausea and looked at Duras & Rhenn questioningly, wondering if they had any idea what had afflicted their bard.

Rhenn wheeled Senaia around, as Mari and Duras returned, and galloped her to the top of the hill. As they neared where Mari rested, he waited till she caught her breath and spoke, his voice like steel on slate. "Out with it, Mari, what did you see?"

“Give me a few moments, Rhenn, and I will show you.”

Her strength returned, Mari stood, “Steel yourselves.” She began to sing softly, the fireballs flew overhead striking the tents, and the chaos began. The angle was different, but the scene the same. No sound, just death, destruction and the cruel Hunter.

Rhenn watched the attack unfold in front of him, it was the details he was picking out. Did the mercenaries attack on foot, or horsed? How many were there, alive, when they left? How many Clan sisters of Jackalbane? How many Horses had they stolen? How many archers were there? Did the Archers commit to a charge? How many arrows had they left in their quivers once their murder was done?

He looked closer, as they moved to ride away, had any of the captives secreted weapons? Were they trying to communicate with each other? Were any of them Horsetalkers? His mind reeled as he made his mental notes.

They attacked on horse, 25 of them survived to ride away. They took 16 two legged and ten four legged captives. Some of the Mir-Dokis were wounded. They had not split into dedicated archers, and dedicated skirmishers.

Duras made himself watch intently; though he'd never seen anything like this, it wasn't out of squeamishness that his instinct were to avert his eyes. No, instead it was fear, fear at the prospect of seeing Rayna hurt.

As the attack began, he found himself marveling at the power, wondering what it would be like to command such forces. To be able to channel such energy.

When the Jackalbane started dying in numbers, suh thoughts were replaced by horror. Such death, at such great numbers. The few times Duras had taken a life, it had been different... more personal. This? This was slaughter.

And then, his eyes fell upon her. Fell upon the young woman moving through the fight, ending up back to back with the Sun-Yani.

His beloved Rayna. He watched her, eyes wide with fear, hoping that nothing would happen (even though he knew that she was taken captive and would not go quietly.)

There was something about the way she moved, the way they moved together, Rayna and the Sun Yani, that niggled at the back of Duras' awareness. His desperate fear for her safety was clouding his ability to see what was in front of him, but for all his efforts he could not put it aside to realize what was right in front of him.

When she fell, a cry of startlement, of pain escaped his lips. Tears that had already welled up in his eyes flowed down his cheeks. Even seeing her relatively unharmed, joining the other captives... it was almost too much, seeing her in this fashion for the first time in so very long.

Rael had watched it all unfold before him. He saw the brutal slayings and watched the Hunter take delight in the dishonor he caused for the revered Sun Yani monk. He felt the anger rise within him as he had not felt it since the day the young half-breed had almost killed a printiseach, a young Sun Yani that was studying to become a priest-knight.

That is why you shall not become a priest-knight of the goddess. The memory and words haunted him even today.

Rael felt blood within him begin to boil as he watched the light leave Cumlach's eyes. The monk slowly slid the the katan from it's scabbard and held it before him. He fought back the anger that threatened to take control and finally spoke aloud in the language of the Sun Yani.

"I bear witness for you Master Cumlach." Rael held the blade up and out. "I, Rael du'L'Ysidore, mark your passing with the sadness of the sea but shall remember your name until it is spoken in honor in the halls of prayer. May your spirit now rest in peace that I may carry the burden forward for you."

Rael then returned the kattan to it's scabbard, and turned to Mari. He spoke to her softly in his passionless manner.

"Thank you for showing me this," he told her with a simple bow. "Though I truly know not the pains it has caused you, please know you have done a great service to the spirit of Master Cumlach and the Sun Yani this very day."

Mari returned a slight bow to Rael, “The pain this causes me is secondary to the anger I feel. I am pleased I could honor Master Cumlach in the process of showing what we are fighting against.

Jardanth missed a the first few moments of the vision that Mari's song evoked. But soon, the song and its imagery was playing through his mind. He stood still, frozen in place as the horrific scene played out before his mind. His hands clenched into fists and his whole body vibrated with horror and fury. "The waste, the waste. He just wasted everything around him. He has no honor, no heart." the rest of his words trailed off until it ended. Blinking he looked at the others his voice and his body still shaking with anger and disgust. "It has no soul. That khagbak must be destroyed." He spat out the Bak' Tiar word for "monster."

Cady watched the scene along with the others, her face pale as death and set with a most serious expression. She tried to absorb the personalities among the enemy, to understand their devotion to their vicious leader, to see if they burned with some sort of faith or power that was beyond her comprehension. It was the heart of their souls that she sought, silently begging Urilia to allow her to know what drove their dark purpose.

In truth, there was little to be seen from the vision that would indicate, either way. They were not any military that Cady recognized, though they all wore similar kinds of armor, dark studded leather and some kind of hat or helm constructed of similar materials. No shields, though all carried bows and arrows in addition to melee weapons. In her agency experience they reeked of "mercenary," though none bore any kind of mercenary marking she recognized. If they were hired muscle, it would indicate their devotion was to the money they were paid rather than to the Hunter himself.

Khevar's eyes narrowed as he watched the slaughter. Part of his mind screamed silently in outrage, part of it analyzed the attack. Not a trained tactician, he focussed on the archers. There was little skill in their attack, just overwhelming numbers. Of course, as the attack proved, overwhelming numbers was often enough. As the attackers rode away, Khevar took careful note of where they went.

Once the scene ended, Rhenn slipped from Senaia's saddle, and began to walk around the perimeter of the Jackalbane ambush site, his eyes moving from the grasses around him, to the ground, and back. He studied the ground with intensity, looking for signs of Jackalbane sentries.

How was it possible, that a band of forty Mir-Dokis murderers had gotten the drop on Men of the plains? Were there no guards? Had the Horses not smelled the intruders? It made no sense. Unless the Jackalbane had been foolhardy, which Rhenn found hard to believe, there had to be another explanation, and Rhenn searched the grasses, to find it.

Without any agreed upon signal, Khevar worked with Rhenn, using their talents to shorten the time necessary for the task. He surveyed the ground, hoping to understand how this had happened.

When the Hunter had lead his captives off to the south east once again, Mari looked around at her companions. “We know in which direction he heads now, this is no surprise to us. I am exhausted, but will get on my horse and ride until dark, the mercilessness of this man is loathsome. Our need for haste has increased, he will kill our women on any whim, we must reach them soon, hunt him down and wipe his memory from our soil.”

Kassus moved forward from beside his horse, a quick impatient step. "Wait, wait, we cannot leave yet. Mari..." Kassus folded his fingers together, eyes intent on the bard. "I know you are tired. I know it has been a strain on you, these visions.. they are not kind to anyone. But we cannot leave until I can see where those fireballs came from. That is an unknown threat we cannot afford to ignore. I have to know.. who this wizard is, if he is a trained mage... I have to know. We have to know." Kassus took Mari's hand gently in his own. "Please. It's just over that hill. Please help me see."

Mari looked deep into the Mage’s eyes, and knew he was right. Her chest heaved as she drew in a deep steadying breath, “Of course Kassus, there is still much to do here. We will go and see who has the power to rain fire down on the plains.” She drew her hand away and mounted Para. Turning the direction that the Hunter had come, she began to ride and sing waiting for the vision to come, watching for the flick of the fingers that would indicate the use of magic.

Duras stayed behind with the horses, rather than follow the mages. Something was tickling the back of his mind, something to do with Rayna... but he really couldn't focus on her right now. He had to stay alert for any returning predators, or any other threats. He looked around and settled on the closest higher ground that he could find, one that (hopefully) would help him keep eye on as many of his comrades as possible. Blades were back in his hand, his fingers running through a series of hand-katas all the while.

Cady left with Kassus and Mari as they headed to investigate where the arcane energies originated. She knew that if Mari fell into the same sort of trance again that it would be important to have another set of eyes to watch her back.

When the images had moved on over the hill Mari began to sing again and showed what she had seen to those watching her.

And what Mari saw, she then shared with all those who followed and cared to see.

Kassus narrowed his eyes in concentration, one hand white-knuckled on the pommel of his saddle. The vision sprang into existence, a disorienting shift from the slanting afternoon sunshine to the ethereal light of pre-dawn. Before him was a mass of dark figures, clustered together about a hundred yards back from the encampment. The vision was soundless, as before, but even if it hadn't been, he knew he would have heard nothing. These were trained killers, the riders who had slaughtered the village so mercilessly. They held their horses, waiting for something.

One figure broke away from the rest. Kassus recognized him as the Hunter from Mari's other visions. He stood for a moment, gazing in the direction of the village, though he couldn't see it from behind the hill, and then raised one hand and, with no other word or gesture, fire leapt into being around his fingers. Kassus couldn't hold back sound. Whether he was dismayed by the display of control, or morbidly impressed, he didn't dwell on, as he saw the Hunter close his eyes, brow furrowed in deep concentration. The Hunter opened his eyes, looked down at the flames, and then, looking up and closing his eyes yet again, he thrust forth his hand, as if throwing a stone, and a ball of fire burst from his fingers and arced up and over the hill. Before the flare of the explosion, an explosion Kassus knew as one of the tents going up in flames, the Hunter had another in the air, still without a word. Kassus knew then that the Hunter was aiming his flames, but how? There was no map, no drawing in the dirt, no focus for his power, other than his own sight... some form of divination magic, obviously, but one that Kassus did not recognize.

Suddenly, the Hunter waved to the band behind him, and a group of archers stepped forwards. This was to be the source of the rain of arrows that accompanied the fire... but how could so few produce so many? Kassus saw the Hunter wave, and a shimmering rip in the air appeared before the men with bows. As they began to fire, through the rift, their arrows multiplied a hundred fold, and Kassus recognized the spell, then, one he knew himself... but he could never have cast it without the words and gestures, and while concentrating on another spell entirely? This Hunter was powerful indeed.

Kassus knew what was coming next, and swallowed uneasily as the group mounted en-masse and rode up and over the hill, to finish off what the fire and arrows hadn't gotten to. There is nothing I can do for them now, but to rescue those still alive from the clutches of these monsters. So much power... how could anyone be so powerful... Even as Kassus reacted to the horror of the attack, he was wondering, trying to dissect in the back of his head that fireball spell that the Hunter had used. He could take fire away, and he could cast it, but not with anything like the ease that the Hunter displayed... a part of him was deeply jealous, a part he wasn't sure he liked.

“I suspected that the Hunter was also a Mage. He has the arrogance of one who commands more than just men.” Mari said, sitting tall in her saddle.

Kassus quirked a wry eyebrow at Mari at her statement about the Hunter and his arrogance, even as he nodded in agreement. "He most certainly is. That magic he used was... impressive. The lack of incantation, minimal gesturing, no focuses or external components, that is the sort of magic they teach in cities." He paused a moment and tapped his lip with the fingers of one hand, gazing blindly out over the plains. "Would it be possible at all for you to pause these visions, somehow? Freeze them in place? Perhaps if we could get a closer look at their clothing, their faces, we could glean some further information. And I would like to have another look at the magics, especially that arrow multiplication spell." He turned to Cady, and gave her a tired smile. "Your experience in the matters of dress and insignia would be most appreciated. If you don't mind?"

“Yes, I can manipulate the illusion any way I like. We can examine them frozen and then in slow motion.” Mari began to sing the illusion back but it would not become focused. She stopped the song, “I seem to be tired. Let me try that again.” She pulled out a water skin and took a deep drink. Then refocused herself and began to sing again. This time the illusion took shape clearly. The men stood before them as though they had been frozen there in time.

While the vision played, Cady had been studiously walking around the site and taking in the minute details of it. "Of course, Kassus." She nodded at him agreeably before turning her attention to the bard. "Mari, that's a very useful talent you have there. I was able to learn a lot about our enemy. Let us join with the others, while this is still fresh in our minds and share?"

Mari nodded at Cady’s compliment and in agreement that they should return to the rest of the group. She was too tired to do much more than turn Para and let him take her back the way they had come.

Rael watched the vision with the eye of a student. He looked for fighting styles as well trends in any of the warriors. He studied their weapons and techniques to see how he might use that to his advantage in a combat. He looked at the Hunter to observe his weapons as well as how he used them.

The Sun Yani had never faced a Hunter before. He had heard of them. He had been well schooled in their tendencies. It was something else to see one first hand.

Rhenn spent his time searching the perimeter of the camp in an ever widening circle. He worked his way around from river bank to river bank until he found what he was looking for. The Jackalbane had sentries out. At least one, and mounted to boot. He stood in the waist high grass and his hazel eyes saw the carnage in miniature. There wasnt much left, after the scavenging. The sentry had been felled by a single arrow, to the head. Rhenn bent low, and picked up the broken arrow, retrieving shaft and fletching in one piece, and pulling shaft and arrowhead from the skull in the other.

He surveyed the ground carefully, but there had been too much dragging and gnawing at the carcasses to determine which way the sentry was facing, or how fast hed been moving if at all when he or she had been struck. Shaking his head, Rhenn pulled a bandana from his pocket, and tied it over his nose and mouth. The stench of death was growing and he was afraid it would never leave his nose.

Rhenn picked up the bow of the Sentry, its string long gone, and drove it hard as he could into the ground. It didnt stand very high over the grasses, but it was the best way he knew to mark the remains for the cleanup crew that was supposed to be following them. He tirned, and moved back to the campsite proper, and began to gather rocks from the riverbank. Toiling back and forth with them, he arranged them in an arrow, pointing in the direction of the Sentry, with two rocks then five, then ten, arranged just so at the bottom of his marker, to indicate distance to the remains. Once he finished that, he turned to look for Khevar, to show him the broken arrow, that had felled the sentry.

Khevar was puzzled as he studied the reality and compared it too the image. "Too many," he muttered. Too many arrows, even if all of them had been as fast as he was, they couldn't put that many arrows in the sky at once. The question was, were the extra arrows just images to distract or were they just as lethal as the real thing. And could Kassus do something about them with his magic? Otherwise the party would be overwhelmed easily. On the other hand, if Kassus could do the same with Khevar's arrows, the hunter would be in for quite a shock.

Rhenn shrugged, and put the broken arrow into his hip pocket for later. It seemed Khevar was preoccupied with other thoughts, and it could wait. He looked at the knot of his companions clustered around Mari, and how they all studied the illusion. Seeing as how no one was actually investigating the campsite, he decided to do that, keeping his eyes open for anything unusual, or the remains of any of the attackers, to investigate.

Finding only packs scattered about, with what seemed to be personal effects, (Scarves, leathers, small jewelries, charcoal bits and various other sundry items.) Rhenn piled them all in the center of the encampment. Were it up to him it would be returned to the Jackalbane, but it was up to the Elders to decide such things.

Cady, Mari and Kassus rejoined Duras and Jardanth near the horses and waited for Khevar and Rhenn to return.

Duras watched with concern as they returned, noting Mari's exhaustion. He offered his hand to help her down off of Para.

Mari took the proffered hand and slid from the saddle, letting her body lean into Duras’ as her feet touched the ground. For a moment she let him support her, then stood on her own wishing for all the world she could stay exactly where she was. With a weary smile she said, “Thank you Duras, again.”

Duras nodded and let her lean on him as long as she wanted. Murmuring softly as she stood on her own and stepped from him, "Always, Song of the Seas."

A chill of excitement ran down Mari’s spine at his words. Her mind flashed back to the kiss they shared, a mere couple of nights ago that seemed like an eternity now. She longed to return to that moment if for nothing other than their innocence of this destruction and the nightmare before them. Her mind returned to the present though when Cady began to speak.

Once they were all together Cady spoke up, her face grim. "I counted 35 attackers from Mari's vision. Five Sun Yani that were protecting the Hunter and approximately fifteen ex-mercinaries. The mercenaries are likely from the same outfit, and trained to work as a team, all 35 of them were equipped with bow and arrows, but it seemed as if only two of the archers were able to fire through the magical rift that the hunter made."

The Emissary stroked Diago absently with one of her hands as she continued, her voice touched with a rare sympathy. "The horses were dead tired. I could see marks on their underbellies where the tack was wearing into their skin. Their riders don't even seem to know how to put the saddle on correctly."

Rael shook his head a moment. "There is nothing that I have seen here that differs from what I have been taught about Hunters. I do know, that at least five of the mercenaries are Sun Yani."

Rael then walked off towards the place where Cumlach was killed in the vision. He strode resolutely to the bank and scanned the shoreline until he spied what he had been searching for in the water. Rael waded out into the river towards a dark clump that was snagged on a branch from a sunken tree limb. He leaned over and spread open the shirt the corpse was wearing. Seeing the couatl tatto was all that Rael needed to see so that he knew he had found Cumlach. He grabbed the cloak of the dead Sun Yani priest-knight and wrapped it around his hand. Rael then pulled the body towards the riverbank by the cloak he held. Once he made it to the shore, Rael knelt down and lifted the arms of the body to examine the hands and fingers. He reached out and removed a ring from the corpse's right hand and examined it closely. With a nod of satisfaction and a prayer of thanks to Urilia, he put the inside one of his pockets before he noticed another ring.

Rael lifted the Cumlach's left hand and removed a silver ring from the pinky. He looked it over and over before putting it in another pocket. Satisfied, Rael stood up, left the body of the priest-knight where it was, and returned to the group.

As Rael walked over to Cumlach, Cady considered how she was the only one that wasn't personally affected by all of this. Even Rael had the connection to his fallen Sun Yani. She wondered briefly to Urilia, what her place among them should be. She continued to watch him intently as he removed Cumlach's few possessions and hoped they would help him somehow.

As Cady started relating her thoughts, he listened, but talk of strategy and tactics and mass combat might have well been a discourse on Cascadian economics - it was just as alien to him.

Kassus combed his fingers through his own horse's mane. "Indeed. The Hunter is also a Mage; a dangerous combination. He was responsible for the rain of fire, and the arrows. Explaining, I think, why there are not a thousand shafts on the ground, fouling the footing." He gestured out across the ground, then folded his arms tightly. "They would have disappeared once the Mage stopped concentrating on that particular spell." His mouth narrowed and he plucked at the seam of his sleeve, walking a few steps out from the group and back again, before saying, "He is powerful. Perhaps more powerful than myself. Possessing more formal training, certainly. It is not an accident that he is the leader of this mission." Kassus turned to Rhenn. "Were you able to find anything? Did the Hunter dispatch the sentries through magical means as well?"

Rhenn walked up the hillside to the conversation by the horses, and pulled his bandana down from over his nose. "Whether magically aided or not, I cannot say. What I can say is, that the Hunter hung all his element of surprise on being able to drop that sentry silently. For this work, he trusted an archer, who place a single arrow into the skull of the sentry, then felled the horse before he could raise the alarm, in the dark." Rhenn shook his head a bit. "If it wasn't at least aided by sorcery, then he has the best archer in all the plains with him. Because I doubt even Khevar could do such a thing unaided." Then he added almost as an afterthought. "Any idea, about what dropped Cumlach and Rayna?"

Khevar returned to the group with a scowl on his scarred face. "I found another sentry killed over there." He indicated the direction behind him. "I couldn't tell how he died, there wasn't much left of him of the horse. It had to be something silent and fast, since they managed to surprise the group." Trying not to think about all the death around them, he focussed on his job and on the hunt.

Duras' attention was, as expected, turned to the mage after Rhenn's question.

Kassus heard the news about the sentry, unsurprised. "Another targeting spell, most like. Seems to be a specialty of his." His mouth turned down. "As for Cumlach and Rayna... I really cannot say for sure." He blew out a frustrated breath. "I wish I could hear what was going on..." He paused, arrested by the thought of hearing the screams of the dying, rather than just seeing their slaughter. He swallowed heavily, and the stench, pushed aside until now by his concentration on the visions, suddenly seemed to multiply. He put a hand over his nose and mouth, eyes fixed carefully on the blue sky over the horizon. "I am not sure. Let me think about it for a moment. I have to just... give me a moment." He turned and walked away, towards the river.

Sighing with frustration, Duras shook his head. He called as the mage walked off, "Think on it, Kassus, but do not take too long, for I have a question I must speak with you about."

Rhenn managed a chuckle despite the horror he had been chest deep in since dismounting Senaia. "Smooth Duras.... smoooooooth. I think the young man has gone off to empty his stomach."

Duras snorted in response to Rhenn's statement. He watched the mage head off, and shrugged.

Cady regarded Rhenn and Duras with a slight smile, as she vividly remembered already taking care of that particular piece of business.

Kassus returned, looking pale, and folded his fingers together, trying to quell their shaking. "I apologize for that. My best educated guess is some burst of concentrated power, meant to overwhelm the two. What I find interesting, though, is that they were not the only ones affected by... whatever it was. Did anyone happen to notice anything about the rider and horse who fell with Cumlach and Rayna? If I knew what they had in common, I could narrow the field quite a bit."

“They were in close proximity to one another.” Mari said, remembering standing next to the three of them when the two on the ground arched back in what looked to be a fair amount of pain.

Rhenn thought about it for a moment, and he remembered how he had seen a Wyvern drop a hunting party to their knees with its wailing keen. "They could all hear. I know it may seem silly, but perhaps a loud enough sound could have rendered them unconcious. We could not hear, in the vision. Invisible gas? Though one would think that would take a moment to work, and whatever hit them seemed sudden."

Kassus nodded thoughtfully. "An intense burst of sound... that's not as silly an idea as you might think, Rhenn. I would have thought it to affect more people, if that was the case, but I've seen the control the Hunter has. Perhaps this was controlled, for a sound burst. Like... a cone of noise. Hm. I think we can rule out mental magics, since man and beast were affected at the same time. That it was so instantaneous, though. Some sort of paralytic magic, perhaps? Something affecting a body's control over muscles?" Kassus trailed off, thinking furiously to himself, trying to dredge up any memory of such a magic, from stories or the experiences of the other magic users in his clan.

"Mari knows more abou sounds than any of us, I'd wager." Rhenn looked at her hopefully. "Is it possible to have a sound so loud, or pitched perfectly, to knock people and Horses out?"

“Oh, yes, a loud enough noise can shatter eardrums, causing a lot of pain. A high pitched noise can even cause non permanent damage to the inner ear, but if it is loud enough will disable a person for a little while. I just don’t know of any way that it could be confined to so few people”

Kassus smiled. "How can a dozen arrows be multiplied to hundreds, or thousands? How could a man control fire, hold it in his hands and make it do as he willed?" Kassus spread his hands. "I have not encountered such a thing, but that doesn't mean it couldn't be done. Compression of the air surrounding the path of the noise, to muffle it, perhaps. It would be complicated, but not impossible."

The Emissary nodded her head in agreement. Anything was indeed possible, whether through magic or the will of the Gods. Just as it would be possible for the eight of them to bring down the Hunter's small army.

"This noise spell is interesting, but I’d like to get back to his use of the targeting spell. It concerns me that he may not even need sentries. He may very well know we are coming days before we catch up with him. Is there any way to block him from seeing us?"

"Well, it would be nice if he didnt see us, but I doubt he can watch ten days worth of back trail." Rhenn said, turning and looking out across the campsite.

"He's too cocky, I would wager. I would suspect that he has underestimated the heart, of his Captives, Bak'Tiar brethren." Cady shrugged her shoulders as she offered her opinion.

Duras interjected, "I have a thought - I do not know the limits of your powers... but if you can work something along these lines, we may have an advantage. Being that Rayna is my twin, could you use me, or my blood, to help us trace, or even spy upon them?" His question was mostly directed at Kassus, but included Mari as well.

“I am only able to see things that have happened where I am, or around an object that I am close to. I wish I had power enough to trace someone.” Mari replied thoughtfully.

Kassus shook his head. "That, too, is beyond my knowledge at the moment. But! As I said before, simply because we have not done a thing does not mean it is impossible!" Kassus chuckled and tapped his temple. "I have some ideas. Let me think on it and I am sure I could produce the desired effect in good time." Kassus stepped up to Duras. "Since we do not wish to bleed you dry for the sake of experimentation, Duras, could I trouble you for a lock of your hair? When I come up with an actual spell, we'll probably use blood, stronger connection, but hair will do for now."

The mage's enthusiasm struck Duras as a little strange - but then, he was a mage and Duras knew little to nothing of magi. Nodding, the river runner drew one of his daggers and cut off a decently sized lock of hair from his left side, offering it to Kassus. "If you could find a way to use this to... see how Rayna is faring, I would be grateful."

Rhenn looked at the sky, gauging how much daylight they had left. "Well my friends, we have perhaps 4 and a half hours left, to put leagues between us and this magnet for hungry beasts. I say we mount up and ride, and discuss it further as we resume our chase." He reached out for his Horse sister, through their link. round them up, and bring them, my love, we ride!

Jardanth led the rest of the horses to where the group was gathered. He met each of their eyes once, his face expressionless except for when he caressed one of the horses or kneeled down to hug WindClaw. As they prepared to move on he asked a question, his voice tight and angry. "Is everyone feeling ready to continue? If any of you are feeling to ill to ride, say so now." After receiving everyones assurances of health, he nodded silently and pulled out the first of three blades, sharpening and oiling the tips and edges until they cut airborne horsehair.

He nodded grimly to Duras, "We will save her." As he mounted his horse and started off after their foes.

Windclaw moved close to Cady, occasionally looking up to the Emissary and then back to the land in front of her. The Emissary stroked the leopard, resting her hand upon her head and enjoying the strength that ran through the cat's veins.

Rhenn was about to ask how remaining in the stench could possibly make anyone feel better, but he thought better of it. Thats why hes the healer, and youre a cowhand. He thought to himself as he swung into Senaia's saddle. He didnt wait around for knife sharpening, or hair cutting, but started out, following the trail of the murderers. He was not willing to spend another minute, soaked in the smell of rotting flesh.

Kassus wrapped the lock of hair in a scrap of cloth and tucked it away for the moment. "I put all my energy to this task, Duras." Though he wanted to start right away, he knew he would never be able to concentrate until they got away from the site of the battle... well, not a battle. Massacre. Kassus mounted stiffly and turned his horse away, in the direction Rhenn had started riding, but waited for the rest to be ready. As he sat, trying not to think about the scene behind him, he thought, Hmm. That really is an impressive topknot, and then, At least I'll have new nightmares tonight. He smirked and laughed bitterly at himself under his breath.

Nodding in acknowledgment to Kassus' comment about the lock of hair, Duras headed back to his horse.

Cady gave Windclaw one last pet before leading Diago away from the carnage a bit more. She pulled herself into the saddle, while her horse danced in anticipation, already wanting to pull away and join Seniai at the front of the line. She held him back and waited for the others to fall in line before taking the last position. Smiling at the thought of just how uncomfortable some of them (likely) were at the thought of an assassin bringing up the rear.

WindClaw silently drifted back from Jardanth to where Cady rode. The cheetah moved just ahead of the horse, keeping herself within Cady's view and occasionally looking back at the Emissary over her shoulder.

Mari looked back over the massacre, not that she needed to remind herself what it looked like, that image would be imprinted in her mind for the rest of her life, but because she wanted to honor the people that had suffered. She knew no one from the Jackalbane delegation, but she knew that they were Bak’Tiar, that was all she needed to know. They were now with Ch’dar and their ancestors. She bowed her head to them, knowing she would meet them some day, and thanked the Sun Yani for his courage and sacrifice as well. With a heavy sigh, she mounted Aihwa, clicking to her, she turned to follow Rhenn and Khevar at a slow walk, preoccupied with her thoughts.

Duras mounted up, his mind on many things, notably Rayna. He rode in silence unless someone spoke to him first.

Khevar remounted and moved to follow the trail with Rhenn again. He had missed a lot of the discussion, but didn't really feel he had much to add. He didn't know anything about magic, but he know how to follow a trail and how to hunt. It was time to hunt the Hunter and eliminate him. At least they knew which way the group had gone from the vision. He moved towards Rhenn. "We may want to have Mari check the trail when we stop, just to make sure nothing unexpected happened, like a group splitting up." He considered how the bard had looked after showing the vision at the slaughter. "Assuming it isn't too tiring for her."

As they ranged out in front of the others, Rhenn guided Senaia in close to Khevar and he reached into his back pocket, producing the broken arrow that had felled the sentry. "This was the arrow that I pulled from that sentries skull, a hell of a shot, that was. You know far more about these things than I do, what do you make of it?"

Khevar studied the arrow as they rode. He spent extra time examining the head of the arrow, frowning as much as he could. "This is the arrow of a sniper. Someone with the very best equipment. I've seen a few before, but never used them myself. They fly straighter and truer than most arrows. A good crutch for the less skilled archers out there." He left unspoken his concern that the archer who fired the arrow was willing to put a lot of money and effort into his equipment. Generally that meant a very skilled archer. Not as good as him, but good enough to threaten his group. "If possible, we need to identify the archer so I can take him or her out first."

"That's what I was afraid you'd say." Rhenn let the horses drift apart to a more comfortable distance as they rode. "I would not have thought the Hunter would have risked losing the element of surprise on an archer without considerable skill. More reliable to have someone sneak up and eliminate sentries with daggers, or some other weapon that can silence, as it kills, like a strangle cord."

Khevar nodded, not trying to talk over the sound of the horses. He didn't know anything about how to kill a sentry, or how to sneak up on someone. All he knew was how to use a bow. For the first time, he wasn't sure that was enough.

Kassus rode silently, aware of the conversations going on in the group around him, but unable to pick out much detail. He didn't feel he had much to add, and they would all reconvene when they camped for the night in any case. So instead of talking, instead of thinking about what he had seen, or the Hunter and his magic, or theories about the tracking spell, he looked out across the plains, and thought of his clan. He brought to mind his mother, remembered her brilliant eyes and laughing smile, his father with his strong hands and rolling walk, and his tumbling siblings, who he missed perhaps more than anyone. Their humor would have been welcome in their present situation.

Rael rode silently alongside the group as he listened to the conversations. He reached inside one of his pockets with his right hand and removed the silver ring to examine it closer. He looked about at those that rode with him and finally steered his horse towards the bard, Mari. She, of any of them, might know something about the design.

"Excuse me, Mi'Lady", he said as his horse drew alongside of her. "I was wondering if you might look at something for me. I found this ring," Rael said as he handed it to her. "Cumlach wore it on his left hand, and it seems fairly new."

She looked up at Rael, then down at the ring. She took it and examined it. After a few moments, she replied in a steady but tired voice, “It looks to be a Bak’Tiar ring, made for a woman. The horse is the symbol of all our people, even those of the rivers and seas. There is no special significance to it beyond that. Many of my people wear images of horses.” She handed the ring back to Rael. “Having watched the Priest and Rayna fight together though, I would hazard a guess that she gave it to him. Is there any significance to rings in your culture?”

Rael looked at Mari. "I would imagine that Rayna and Cumlach held a special place in their hearts for each other. If that was the case, than she might have given him this ring as a token of that affection. Master Cumlach wore it, most likely, for that very same reason. He wore it as a token."