Subj:	 [ffml] [MW] Decisions
Date:	98-09-13 21:28:59 EDT
From:	uainss00@umail.ucsb.edu (Sky H Ainsworth)
Reply-to:	ffml@onelist.com
To:	ffml@onelist.com (ffml)

From: Sky H Ainsworth 

	The darkness of the cave matched the darkness in his heart.
	Bacca sat at the end of side tunnel in the shafts dug into the
mountain. He had no candle light near him, nor had he need of one. Bacca
cursed his night vision abilities then. He wanted darkness, he did not
want to see anything. Closing his eyes brought the images of his fallen
men and departing women. He felt as if the entire weight of the mountain
rested on his shoulders.
	Bacca had to act, to do something. He had to get Lady back, and
Schala and Kaitlin. It was bad enough that the woman he loved was gone,
but two of the most powerful magic users were also gone.
	Lorinan was in a coma off in Vector. This meant that Bacca had to
rely heavily on Schala and Kaitlin as his adjutants, his subordinates.
They could be trusted with the complicated and difficult tasks required of
the war.
	Now Bacca had only Siran, the half-hearted, lazy martial artist.
Golden Melody, the proud, snobby steed of Lady Paladin. Scotts, who
understood war and fighting as well, even better, then Bacca. And a few
others who had done little recently.
	Golden Melody was a short ways away from Bacca, resting in the
side tunnel. He could not navigate well in the cramp, dark tunnels and so
stayed out of the way. Bacca heard Goldie's tail whisk in the air.
	Scotts walked down the tunnel and took a seat next to Bacca. He
did not say anything for a while.
	"The tunnel to the top has been completed. It's dusk outside now
and the tunnel came up near the edge of the tree line at the top of the
mountain. We'll be able to move men out soon."
	Bacca did not respond.
	"I know she meant a lot to you, Bacca," said Scotts, looking at
the gloomy corner which contained an equally gloomy general. "But you need
to press on and focus. Your men need you now. We lost heavily at the
fortress, but we did accomplish what you had planned."
	"Death," said Bacca.
	"Yes, death," said Scotts, his tone even. "We slaughtered the
enemy in droves and severely depleted their numbers. They did the same to
us, but at least we have weakened them. Your plan worked. They came to us,
fought us, and we killed them. Now, we have to reorganize our forces and
bring the battle back to them."
	Bacca lowered his head.
	"Very well," said the High Lord of All That Kicks Ass. "Signal the
airships and start evacuating men to vector. Also, have them go in and
harry the enemy; and pick up any of our men along the way."
	"Yes, sir."
	Scotts sat there a moment longer, but Bacca said nothing. The old
general stood up and walked out of the tunnel. He stopped at the entrance
and scratched the short grey stubble of his beard. He then made his way to
the top of the mountain.
	Bacca stood up and walked to stand beside the paso fino stallion.
	"Golden Melody, I know your loss of Lady is as great as mine. But
I have a plan to retrieve her. It is dangerous, though. Will you accept?"


Sky H Ainsworth
uainss00@umail.ucsb.edu


Date:	98-09-14 05:03:31 EDT
From: "Beth Davis" 

	The Paso Fino steed stamped a hoof.  "I will assist you in this endeavor.
It is my duty to serve my Lady, and so I will.  Danger means nothing to me.
I am immune to the effects of Thanatos.

	"Before we leave, I must remind you of an item Lady Paladin left behind.  I
do not know what she intended of it, but I sense from it great power.  Reach
into the bag of holding beside the saddlebag."  Bacca reached into the bag,
and his fingers felt the smooth velvet binding of a book and the cold touch
of a sheathed sword. His fingers grasped the sword's hilt, and he pulled it
free of the bag.

	The sword was a shimmering masterpiece of hues of black and midnight blue,
with a touch of violet. The colors seemed to writhe and twirl chaotically in
the sheen of the metal.  Bacca unsheathed it, and found the blade even more
extraordinary.  He gave a low whistle, and then slid the scabbard back on,
as though the colors hurt his eyes.

	"A back-up sword always helps, though the one Lady gave me several months
ago is my preference."  Bacca smiled into the distance, and absently hooked
the dark sword at his waist.


Beth Davis, the Lady Paladin
lady_paladin@geocities.com
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Of all the things I've lost, it's my mind I miss the most!
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