Looking down her pale nose as the slumped form, Mitra let out a low whistle. Her eyes reflected the dim blue coming off of the creatures skin. "Well, well. I certainly wasn't expecting this." Clearing her throat uncomfortably, she gestured for the guards to lead the prisoner to the cage. Her tailed curled around her legs protectively as she turned to the others. "An Elemental." A simple statement, the words said with just enough surprise to warn the others that their journey was not going to be easy.
“I am familiar with elementals I believe.” Serai said, “What kind is he?”
Sangrar chuckled, "Oh good, a challenge."
"He's Earth dominant," piped up one of the soldiers as his leader hesitated, eager to please. "I believe, however, his powers have grown to wield most if not all the elements."
The creature, still silent, looked up; his glowing orange eyes, not in the least dimmed by his exhaustion, shone through the dusk's darkness.
Mitra arched a brow, begrudgingly impressed. "Wondrous. This will be fun then." She watched the soldiers, no so carefully, deposit the elemental into the cage. The runes glowed brightly, giving off a faint hiss before settling once more. Stepping forward, she held her hand an inch away from the lock, avoiding the iron at all costs, and softly murmured a spell. Additional runes bled out from her palm, wrapping around the lock securely. A simple sealing, but strong enough to handle whatever this elemental may throw at it.
Meeting the eyes of the creature before her, Mitra smiled a bit sadly. "Orgost awaits."
He lifted his head with evident effort, the blue glow faltering. "Get on with it," he muttered in a scratchy, pained voice.
From his huddled position, his eyes roamed over all three guards in turn, gauging them and their power. Then, emotionlessly, he cast his stare down.
"Shall we?" The Fae said over her shoulder to the others. She was still looking curiously at the Elemental, something in her magic telling her not all was as it seemed.
Serai checked her gear, “Indeed.”
Sangrar looked up from the ground and replied, "Of course."
Taking advantage of the guards' distraction, the wizard shut his eyes and invoked the last of his magic to adopt his human form— a single jolt of agony told him it was a terrible idea, and with a tired groan he let his eyes drift shut.
Mitra jumped back a few steps as the cage's runes flared up. A low hiss slid out from between her teeth. "Ugh, damned runed iron. Who's idea was that?" She released her hold on her weapon, once she spotted the unconscious wizard, seemingly human now. Letting out a surprised huff, she jumped onto the seat of the carriage, far enough away that she couldn't feel the iron stinging her skin. One snap of the reigns had the horses trotting. "Onward, then."
(How is seating arranged on this contraption?)
(I literally was thinking about that as I typed it out.)
(I was thinking though that one person drives the carriage and the others have horses.)
The stable boy came forward, leading two horses towards Serai and Sagrar, still trying to get one last look at the wizard. “Here you are,” he said, eyes wide now that the wizard was transformed.
Serai nodded curtly and leapt on top of her horse. It was a little unsteady and she felt like she was going to fall off, but she kept her balance as the beast moved forwards a few steps.
Sangrar gave the stable boy an appreciative nod and jumped on top of his horse, and proceeded to follow the carriage.
Serai let out a deep breath. “So… we’re off.”
The carriage bustled down the road and as the sun rose and people began to populate the city surrounding the castle, Mitra summoned a thick dark cloth big enough to drape over the sides of the cage, hiding the wizard from sight. She didn't know why she did it exactly, it just seemed that putting the prisoner on display was just salt in the wound of being sentenced to Orgost. Sighing, Mitra leaned her elbows on her knees. "This is going to take forever. Orgost is so far."
Serai looked over to the other woman. “How far? I have never yet made the journey.”
The surrounding chatter wormed its way into the prisoner's sleep, and he found his eyes opening of their own accord. He woke to darkness.
It wasn't complete— dulled spots of light danced across his lap, leaking through what was very obviously cloth. He propped himself higher against the iron bars of the cage, feeling the tingle of blocked magic heighten to a choking dizziness.
"Uncover me," he ordered through the sensation, squinting against it.
(Eris will be off until Monday.)
Mitra frowned, leaning back into a more comfortable position. To the untrained, civilian eye, their little group appeared to be travelers passing through the city. "Many leagues," She said, answering the young girl's question. "On the other side of the mountains. Almost a month's travel–" Mitra paused, hearing the wizard speak from under the cloth.
Turning, she lifted the cloth just enough so he could see her indignant face. "Would you rather be gawked at by the masses?"
Blinking the light out of his eyes, Graeme stared back. "I would, yes," he spat. "Are you foolish enough to think I'm not accustomed to mockery and whatever else?"
Serai stared at him in surprise. If it were her, she would have been quite glad for the cover from shame.
Sangrar shortly glanced at him with sympathetic eyes. He knew what that felt like, and he felt sorry for the wizard.
Tail twitching in annoyance, Mitra shrugged. "Suit yourself." Another graceful hand gesture had the cloth flicking up into the air and vanishing with a crack loud enough to draw the attention of the crowd of people bustling around them. The citizens gaped at the display of magic, and continued to gap at the sudden appearance of the prisoner. It took no time at all for them to begin their angry chatter. Rumors of this wizard's crimes traveled fast it seemed. Mitra felt a twinge in her chest. No one should ever have to face such a humiliating public punishment as this. She glanced over her shoulder to her fellow guards before her gaze landed on the wizard once more, her mouth a thin tight line. The reigns flicked in her hands, urging the horses faster. Best to get out of the city before a riot began.
Graeme met the Fae's pitying gaze with equal amount of hopeless pride, looking away as she sped up the carriage for his sake. "Do you even know my name?" he questioned his guards, slightly angry that they'd care about him though they knew so little.
Serai glanced at him. “Nay. Nor what you have done. But doubtless even you deserve the dignity belonging to all persons.”
Mitra nodded in agreement with Serai, although her curiosity got the best of her. "What is your name?"
Why she was conversing with the prisoner was beyond her, usually she was as still has the stones she came from, and yet…
