Darzul
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Post by Darzul on Mar 29, 2010 20:19:05 GMT -6
Etrah: 2:00 PM, M13D16, 8008 AV Haven: 9:00 UA, M8D13, 4078 I
Darzul arrived at the house where he had been greeted the previous evening. The home looked good in the daylight, when the sun deigned to peek through the cloud cover which filled most of the sky this afternoon.
He gave three sharp but courteous knocks on the door, and waited on the stoop.
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Post by rilkan on Mar 29, 2010 20:39:12 GMT -6
Old Sarah opened the door slowly at first, then all the way as she saw who was standing outside. "Ah, Mr. Vorca. I'd begun to wonder when we'd be seeing you. Please, come in."
Stepping back, Old Sarah gestured Darzul into the house, closing the door behind him. "I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to wait just a few minutes, we let Taka sleep in, and he's just now getting ready."
Waving her hand in the direction of a number of glasses set out on the counter, next to a pitcher of juice, Old Sarah continued. "Inor and Nate have both stepped out for the moment, they've become quite enthusiastic about bringing this house back up to code. Please, help yourself, and I'll go check on Taka."
Taka listened through the door of the guest room as Old Sarah welcomed Darzul in. Glancing at the window, he knew he wouldn't have much time to make his escape. When Old Sarah stepped through that door, she'd give him the go-ahead to make a break for it, and he'd be on his way.
He'd actually been wanting to meet Darzul, due in no small part to Maku's insistence that he avoid the man at all costs. He and Sarah had argued through most of the morning, until finally they'd settled the matter when Old Sarah grasped his hand, looking into his future to see which of them would win the argument.
She'd been silent for a few moments, and looked tired when she finally opened her eyes again. Looking into those eyes, her age seemed to catch up with her, and Taka began to question the toll that Old Sarah's powers and age took on her. When she'd told him, in a weary voice, that he'd have to run, he didn't argue.
Old Sarah made her way over to the guest bedroom door, knocking twice to let Taka know she was coming in. Giving him a moment to step back from the door, she stepped into the room, closing the door behind her.
"Alright, I'll try and stall him as long as I can. I won't make any promises, Taka. He might very well see right through this and come after you before you're out of sight of the house."
Laying a hand on Taka's shoulder, Old Sarah smiled softly for a moment. "Have faith, child. My visions haven't led us wrong yet. No reason to doubt them now."
Taka nodded, taking a deep breath. "Okay. Tell him I just got out of the shower, and I'll be ready shortly. I'm a little out of practice, but I did chase Maku across Etrah without much of a break, so I should be in shape enough to put some distance between us."
Old Sarah smiled again, dropping her hand to her cane. Nodding, she made her way back into the common room of the house, closing the door behind her. "He'll be ready shortly, Mr. Vorca. Just a matter of making himself decent, really."
As soon as the door closed behind the old woman, Taka made his way to the window, opening it as quietly as he could. It was slow work, but rushing it might spoil their plans entirely.
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Darzul
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Post by Darzul on Mar 29, 2010 20:56:58 GMT -6
Darzul smiled at Sarah. "I hope he's not going to too much trouble. I just wanted to talk to him."
After a minute or two, Darzul looked at Sarah. "It's really not a big to-do," he said, "but I would like to speak with him sooner rather than later," he told her.
He stood up out of his chair. "Let's go have a chat with him, I promise it won't be long," he said, taking a step toward the hallway Sarah had walked down earlier.
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Post by rilkan on Apr 1, 2010 11:42:13 GMT -6
As he pulled himself onto the window ledge, Taka looked down and swallowed hard. While the house was only a single-level home, the bulk of the house had been built a few feet above street level to protect against floods. This meant that the guest room window was a good 7-8 feet above the ground, and with the room he had to move around, Taka would have to jump it.
Sarah hustled to place herself between Darzul and the guest room door, planting her cane firmly between them. "Please, Mr. Vorca, I know you must be a very busy man, but surely you can wait just a moment more?"
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Darzul
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Post by Darzul on Apr 1, 2010 11:53:23 GMT -6
Darzul sighed. "Ma'am, my business with Taka won't take long, but it is of some importance. The sooner I can talk to him, the sooner I can stop bothering you and the others who live here."
He stopped moving, but turned his head down the hallway. "Taka?" he shouted. "I'd like to ask you a few questions. Could you come out here, please?"
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Post by rilkan on Apr 1, 2010 12:10:36 GMT -6
Darzul's yell was heard clearly through the door, startling Taka as he'd begun lowering himself out the window. His arms flailing for a grip to slow himself, Taka let out a wordless yell as he fell the full 8 feet to the ground. Landing hard, his left arm took the brunt of the fall, his wrist snapping and causing him to yell out again.
For just a moment, Taka lay there, stunned by the fall. Then, fearing his shout had been heard in the house, he forced himself to his feet, careful to keep pressure off of his now-broken wrist, and noting with frustration that he'd landed on his hip after his wrist had given way. Gritting his teeth, Taka began limping down the alley towards the back of the house, still hoping to put some distance between himself and Darzul Vorca.
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Darzul
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Posts: 218
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Post by Darzul on Apr 1, 2010 12:13:38 GMT -6
Darzul heard what almost sounded like a yell, then nothing. "Taka?" he called out again, but there was no answer.
"Okay, what the hell is going on over there?" Darzul asked, stepping around Sarah and heading once again for Taka's room.
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Post by rilkan on Apr 1, 2010 12:17:17 GMT -6
Sarah weakly attempted to stop Darzul, her hand brushing against his arm as he moved past her. She knew he'd find the room empty, and knew he'd be more than a little displeased with her when he discovered the boy had run.
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Darzul
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Posts: 218
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Post by Darzul on Apr 1, 2010 12:21:47 GMT -6
Darzul knocked on the door to the guest room. "Taka?" he inquired. Much as he had expected, there was no response. He turned the knob and opened the door, to find an empty room. A single window was open, and Darzul looked out of it. He didn't notice Taka anywhere.
He turned around and looked at Sarah. "I'm gonna ask once, and you'd better damn well tell the truth," he said. "Where is Taka?"
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Post by rilkan on Apr 1, 2010 12:31:08 GMT -6
Gripping her cane tightly, Old Sarah smiled slightly at the general. "He's gone. His brother warned him that you might come looking for him, and Taka was told to avoid you at all costs. He wanted to see you, himself, but the boy's destiny is to run from you today, Darzul Vorca."
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Darzul
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Post by Darzul on Apr 1, 2010 12:35:55 GMT -6
Darzul glared at Sarah. "Destiny?" he uttered. "Well, then I suppose his 'destiny' also entails getting caught," he said, facing the window.
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Post by rilkan on Apr 1, 2010 12:40:32 GMT -6
Making her way into the guest room, the old woman made her way to where Vorca stood gazing out the window. "Let us see about that, hm?"
With that, her hand reached out, grasping Darzul's and holding it tightly. Willing her sight forward in time, Old Sarah closed her eyes, swept away by the vision. For a moment, she seemed deep in thought, finally relaxing with a sigh as she released the old general.
"Your path now follows the boy, Darzul Vorca. Where his role is to flee, yours is to chase after him. You will catch him shortly, no doubt."
"But know that his capture will yield a revelation the likes of which even you are not prepared for. A ghost of the War returns from the City of the Lost, and make no mistake, he seeks an audience with you above all else."
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Darzul
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Post by Darzul on Apr 1, 2010 12:55:02 GMT -6
Darzul's focus was immediately broken as Sarah took his hand. He felt...something happening, and then the old woman cryptically prophesized a 'ghost of the War'.
Darzul turned to look at her, stunned. He had no idea what she meant by the 'City of the Lost', or the ghost, for that matter. He was also baffled as to what the 'ghost', be it literal or figurative, wanted with him. All he knew, though he wasn't sure how, was that she was telling the truth. A vague and cryptic version, perhaps, but the truth nonetheless.
"You're a Unique," was all he was able to stammer at first. He then regained his composure. "The war is over," he said. "Tell your ghost to haunt someone else."
With that Darzul took three bounding steps across the room, and dove through the open window. He tucked into a roll on impact, and immediately sprang to his feet. He saw faint sneaker tracks on the pavement, left by water from a puddle in the alley. Darzul immediately began following the trail at a full sprint.
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Post by rilkan on Apr 1, 2010 13:01:52 GMT -6
Taka grimaced with every step, though the pain in his hip was diminishing. He guessed he was heading south, but he'd be the first to admit he didn't have anything resembling a plan. This city's layout was a complete mystery to him, and he'd started heading towards the harbor purely by chance.
He could only hope that Old Sarah was still stalling. He hadn't seen Vorca himself, but he didn't like the idea of trying to outrun anyone with his hip hurting like it was.
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Darzul
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Post by Darzul on Apr 1, 2010 13:09:02 GMT -6
Darzul noticed the footprints indicated a limp as he folowed Maku's trail. He knew the kid couldn't have gotten far, even after the old woman's stall tactics.
He knew Taka was heading south, further into the Harbor Homes district. Darzul only hoped that the kid hadn't made it to the boardwalk. On a day like today there would be thousands of people there, and he'd be nearly impossible to find without a task force.
But the last thing Darzul wanted was to send a couple dozen soldiers after Taka; he didn't mean him any harm, but the boy had no way of knowing that.
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