Kendra's Prologue

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra looked about ready to throw up at this point, but maybe it was best that she played along. "All right. Line up against the railing there," Kendra said kindly, as if she was going to give in to their demands. "Oh, and make sure to close your eyes too!"

[Daos]

There was a long pause of silence as the goblins tried to digest what she had just said. All three started yammering in their own language excitedly, and quickly all three lined up in a row, but then started apparently arguing over who would get first. There was a bit of a scuffle, but eventually an order was decided.

Once lined up, they all puckered up their dry and cracked lips and closed their eyes. Kendra noticed that one of them, the one who had tried to peek under her dress, was flexing the fingers of one hand, as if in anticipation of squeezing something round and soft.

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra wasn't sure if she should be disgusted or amused at the display that was going on before her. Part of her wanted to laugh out loud at the complete idiotic behavior of the goblins. Though, then again this was to be expected from Goblins, or so Barlemus would tell her.

"Okay, here I come," she said sweetly to the goblins. Though, the goblins didn't feel soft lips, but perhaps a gentle breeze as Kendra rushed past the goblins as fast as her legs could carry her. Her only hope was to reach Gimak's.

[Daos]

Unfortunately, stupid as they were, the goblins did not fall for the ruse for very long. After a few moments, Kendra heard the sounds of them shouting and pursuing her as she ran down the stairs to the ground.

[HorizonsDream]

"Gimak!" Kendra cried out as she ran down the stairs to the ground. Once on the ground, she quickly turned the corner to get to Gimak's front door. She nearly ran into it as she started beating on it. "Open the door! Quick!"

[Daos]

Unfortunately, there was no answer. Kendra turned just as the three goblins caught up with her. The little red devils were about out of breath, but quickly surrounded her.

"That...weren't very nice," said the pipe goblin, although he had dropped his pipe some distance back.

The three slowly advanced on her, and one of them reached out to her. Before he could touch her, though, there was a loud thunk and the goblin found his sleeve pinned to the wall by a steel bolt.

Whirling around, they spotted an aging dwarf had come up behind them with a light crossbow. "That was a warning shot," he said as he casually reloaded. "The next one will be aimed at your head."

There was a long silence and none of the goblins moved at all, save for the one pinned to the wall who was quietly trying to free himself. Eventually, his sleeve ripped. Cradling his arm, he said, "Cheese it!" and all three goblins scattered in different directions, arms flailing and screaming in their native tongues.

"Hrmph," Gimak said as he watched them flee. He walked up to the young girl. "You okay? I, uh...actually was aiming for his head. Guess my vision isn't what it used to be." He shook his head. "Actually, I was just going to fetch you. Odd timing that you came when you did."

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra put a hand over her chest and breathed in deeply to catch her breath. That was too close for her own comfort. Though, she knew that she would probably get it worse tomorrow.

"Yeah, I'm good," Kendra said. She looked so very pleased to see the old dwarf, and before she knew it she was hugging him. "I can't even begin to tell you how much I owe you for driving them off either. "

Kendra was prone to displays of affection, but remember that Gimak was suppose to be a grouchy old dwarf, she quickly let him go. "So...uh, what were you going to fetch me for?"

[Daos]

The dwarf grumbled, his cheeks red at the young woman's affection. "Err, uh...it was nothing. Really."

Quickly changing the subject, he said, "Oh, right. I need your help. You're good with herbs, right?" He quickly set the crossbow down and fumbled around for his keys to unlock his front door. "It's Marik. He showed up last night in a daze. Bad fever, I think. Stark-raving mad, too, as a result."

The dwarf pushed open the door, grabbed his crossbow, and gestured for the young woman to enter.

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra followed after the dwarf, her expression showing nothing more than complete concern. "Marik?" she asked, as if in disbelief. Everyone wasn't suppose to return for another four days, yet Marik returned early! Not only that, but he was sick. That was never a good sign.

"Yeah. Where is he? I'll start trying to help him right away."

[Daos]

Kendra realize Gimak was actually waiting for her to enter first, so she quickly stepped inside. The dwarf followed, closing the door behind them. "This way, he's in his room," he said, leading her to Marik's bedroom. Gimak had hired a carpenter to add extra rooms after he adopted Amala and Marik.

Sure enough, stepping into his room, there was Marik lying on his cot. He had changed a lot in the past five years. However, he looked terrible. His skin was dangerous pale and he was covered in a cold sweat. He clutched an old wooden staff in both hands with a death grip.

Gimak grunted. There was a wet rag lying on the floor. Quickly scooping it up, Gimak reapplied it to the lad's forehead.

"Darkness...Darkness on wings," Marik muttered, his eyes darting all about.

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra was in a state of shock as she looked over her childhood crush. Old feelings started suddenly washing over her, but she quickly swallowed them down. Clearing her throat, she tried to take this in a more professional matter, but she was clearly worried as she approached Marik.

Quickly, Kendra pulled over a stool and sat down next to the sick rogue. Removing the rag that Gimak had just placed upon Marik's forehead, she placed her hand there to feel how hot he was to the touch. "Tch, we need to get the fever down," she said as she replaced the rag on his forehead.

Turning to Gimak, she said: "I need you to boil some water. I have some herbs stashed away in here, so I'm going to need Ginger. That should help bring the fever down, providing we can get him to drink it."

[Daos]

"Right," the dwarf said, and he hurried to put a kettle of water on the fire and find a wooden cup and spoon for her.

"Black as night, never ending...the night has eyes, she has teeth," Marik muttered, his eyes still darting around. There was no recognition in them at all, and he seemed almost...terrified.

[HorizonsDream]

While she waited, Kendra turned her full attention on Marik. She needed to snap him out of this, but she really wasn't sure how. "Marik?" she called to him softly. Gently, she placed her hand upon his, hoping that perhaps her touch and the sound of her voice would bring him out of his madness.

[Daos]

Marik gasped at her touch and turned his eyes right to her. He stared at her as if she had just materialized on the spot before him.

"The Chosen One...I was told to bring the staff to you," he said, thrusting the old piece of wood at her. "Only you can wield it, only you can bring the truth to the people! It is your destiny!"

"Eh, what's he babbling about?" Gimak asked returning, a gloved hand carrying the now hot kettle of water. He set a wooden cup on the nightstand and poured some of the steaming water inside of it.

[HorizonsDream]

Mild surprise washed over Kendra's face as she took the staff from Marik. She looked at it critically for few moments before she let it rest in her lap. At least he had let it go, so that was a start.

"Apparently, I am the Chosen One," Kendra said dryly. "Mom turned me into an old maid with a bunch of cats, and Marik gives me a piece of wood that is my destiny. Lucky me."

Once Gimak was done with the water, Kendra quickly poured a bit of ginger into the water, and stirred it in. "All right, crazy man." Kendra reached over with her free hand to gently lift Marik's head. "You need to drink this slowly," she explained as she put the cup to his lips so he could take small sips at a time.