The Trail to the Peak

[Horas]

"Prophecy is a fickle thing, Lady Aranya," Horas says. "The extra men will be welcome should there truly be twenty foes waiting for us at the mountaintop."

[Deleted]

Aranya stepped forward, staring at him. "I don't think I'm wrong, you bastard. And if you have a problem with it, you can shove it up your ass."

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"Silence, Aranya. If there are twenty men awaiting us, we'll need every sword we can muster. Who knows, perhaps they will ambush us before we even reach the top -- how would that change prophecy?"

"We cannot know what the gods intend, so we should not guess and rather allow the future to unfold," Rhodri says.

[sethgreyjoy]

Fryse laughed. "I like this 'un." He smacked Tunak on the back. "How 'bout you, Tunak?" Tunak made a nervous laugh. "She's a fierce spirit. We call em Maadera."

[Horas]

"Infighting will accomplish us nothing, my lady," Horas says calmly. "Master Fryse and his men will accompany us. Should they appear to be jeopardizing our mission, I will send them back."

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"Only five, Aranya? Were you intending to leave me behind?" Selwyn asks. "There is not a chance of that."

[Deleted]

Aranya's eyes burned. "I've seen what the gods intend. More than five and we risk the entire Vale. But as you say. We'll take them up."

She glanced at Selwyn. "You know it's too dangerous. But it seems I'm out-voted."

[sethgreyjoy]

"It settled then?" Fryse asked, looking up the trail. "We'd best be goin'. I can send Gasher out to scout if'n yeh want." He looked to the others.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"It's because it is too dangerous that I would never turn around. You never told me you planned to send me back -- you know I will not leave you to this alone, without me. I never would," Selwyn says. "Even if those five men fall off the mountain, I will stay by your side."

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

Yohn starts walking up the mountain.

[sethgreyjoy]

Smiling, Fryse begins to follow the boy up the trail. "I like the way he thinks!" He said, nodding to Tunak.

[Deleted]

Aranya smiled faintly, feeling a little bit better. "I didn't want to send you back," she said. Then her mouth set grimly as she gazed up at the mountain. She mounted her black courser, and began to ride up.

[Horas]

Horas dismounts and begins to walk up the narrow path to the summit.

[sethgreyjoy]

Marq, Geral and Gasher, following Tunak's lead, begin the ascent as well, their hands on their various weapons. Tunak inclined his head in prayer.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

elane said:

Aranya smiled faintly, feeling a little bit better. "I didn't want to send you back," she said. Then her mouth set grimly as she gazed up at the mountain. She mounted her black courser, and began to ride up.

Selwyn reaches out and squeezes Aranya's hand. "I know, sweetling. We'll be fine. I love you, and that will keep us safe."