The night was dark, but the cleared area bordering the Royal Forest was lit near bright as day, lanterns illuminating knights, squires, and Riders alike. Thomas wasn't really sure what was they were all doing, besides that they were to find a young boy, a page, who had been captured by a spidren, barely an hour ago. He didn't even know what the hell the kid was doing in the middle of the Royal Forest at dusk. But, he had only followed orders, grabbing one of the long spears that was distributed to them, and saddling his mare, who he'd named Dust, for want of any better ideas. Dyer divided the trainees into groups, and told each of them to report to one of the members of the Rider group she had selected to lead... what was her name again? Leandra, he thought, but he couldn't be sure.

Brindie, and another man who he supposed to be the Commander of the King's Own were approaching him discussing in heated tones. Thomas sidled over to eavedrop.

"...only one Rider group, there's no choice, and it's not as if they're too young, they're much older than the pages, and they've been in training for almost two weeks. Rider training. Look, this is a big forest, and the only way we're going to find him is if we send out every man and woman we've got. It's very unlikely they'll see combat, in any case."

The man sighed. "I guess you're right. But nevertheless, I'll instruct Evvard to accompany them with a few pages, just for safety..."

Dyer lifted an eyebrow. "Pages?" Thomas could have sworn he saw her smirk.

"They've had much more training-"

"Oh, spare me," Dyer cut in. "I'll do it. But not because I value your opinion of matters," she added quickly. "Now leave me alone, I have trainees to deal with."

The man chortled and walked off.

Brindie jumped sprily onto the nearest stump, so that she may be seen above the Riders and their ponies, and gave the command that they should move out - one of the hand signals they'd had to memorize three days ago. In the confusion that resulted from everyone trying to mount at once, Thomas accidently stepped on someone's toe.

"Sorry," he told the person he hoped he hadn't just offended. He couldn't recognize the face, as it was turned into the shadow, but he hoped it wasn't anyone important.

Evvard of Genlith rode at the head of a line of pages that he had led down the hill from the palace towards the torchlit area where the search party was to head out from.

He signalled the pages to halt, forming up in to lines and turned his horse, Westwind, to face the waiting young men and women, who carried the pole arms that were preferable for hunting spidrens.

His voice rang out clearly above the hubub of the search party, causing the pages to settle in to silence.

"Pages, listen up. You'll be riding in your assigned groups, you'll have an experienced soldier with you, follow his lead and search using the patterns we've practiced. Each group has a gifted page to help with passing messages, do not give away our position until we've found the nest.

Perhaps now you'll listen to me when I tell you the Forrest is no place for a stroll alone! Mithros willing we find Heathercove alive. So mote it be!"

His closing remark was echoed by the gathered pages.

Kataru rode around as Dyer, and Genlith addresses their groups. She was amazed at how fast everyone got down here ready to fine the young page, Silas.

She had a quiver of arrows on her back and her Yamani bow, which was alittle longer then the Tortallan bow. She also had her sword on her hip.

She rode up besides Genlith. "Is everything ready, Lord Genlith?"

Evvard nodded a greeting to the Princess's bodyguard. She was a skilled soldier but also had a great deal of integrity which earned her his deepest respect.

"More or less Priestess Kataru, we're just waiting for the rest of the guardsmen to arrive and then the groups will move out. If you're willing I'd like you to lead a group of the older pages."

"I'll be happy to lead a group of pages." she told Genlith as she rode up on to his right side to get a better look at the younger warriors. "Which group will it be?"

OOC: I'm going to assume that Evvard knows who Antony is because he's only three years into his knighthood.

IC:Antony had woken up 10 minutes earlier when his serving man, Abe, had rushed into his room telling him a page had been taken by a spidren and any help that could be provided would be welcome. He had suited up into his well oiled armor lightening quick, and sent Abe to saddle Manticore while he armed up. He had chosen his axe and pike from the rack of weapons in his room and strapped on his sword just in case. He had mounted Manticore and rode down the the border of the Royal Forest as fast as he dared in the dark night. He had heard the last bit of conversation between the warrior priestess Kataru and the training master Evvard of Genlith before he came within reasonable distance to speak.

"Priestess Kataru, Sir Evvard," he said bowing as politely as possible in his saddle. "My orders? I'll go anywhere I'm needed."

John jogged up. Late as par normal as John didn’t ride, refused to. His basset hound Bailey trundled along after him, pausing to sniff at anything that caught his attention. John’s eyes scanned the area and whistled. “Well, those with horses sure do move fast.” He joked. John whistled again and Bailey perked up and trotted after his master. “Milord,” he greeted. "I have a dog."

"Is he trained to follow a spidren? Otherwise he might balk and run off into the woods. It's not a safe place for a dog, and he probably wouldn't come home. Hounds tend to be smarter than humans in these circumstances" Antony said trying to supress a grin. His tone was polite for the benefit of Evvard and Kataru, but he was fond of joking, even in serious situations. People seemed to react much faster when they weren't lethargic from being constantly polite, as he had been as a page, and then a squire.

John knelt down and scratched behind one of Bailey’s ears. Dogs are always smarter than humans, he thought but kept this tidbit of knowledge to himself. “He’s bred to track and to keep his head when things are dangerous.” He glanced down at the dog. “And Bailey doesn’t run, he can’t run. It’s a physical impossibility” John looked pointedly at Bailey’s short legs. “And he’ll come home. He tends to be lazy when not given a specific job to do.”

"That should make things quite a bit easier then." Antony replied."Ah yes, legs. That's just a minor detail." he said still in a collected voice.

Turning back to Evvard Antony spoke again "Milord, perhaps I may lead a group of pages?"

OOC: Thought I'd give an update on the little lad

Silas, now getting closer to Spidren's den, had stopped squirming perhaps fifty Spidren paces ago. He would have tried to leave sometype of mark, but he then realized it would take awhile to find it. As much as he tried before, he just couldn't get free. Limp in the Spidrens hold, he tried to guess where he was - other than downwind from the castle.

The Spidren, on the other hand, was quite pleased with herself. She had no intentions of eating him (as he did have no meat on him to begin with), but if it meant that he can lure some of the more beafy knights and soldiers, than that is good. Maybe she'll torture the lad for awhile. Besides, she had her kin to back her up if need be.

At last, they had made it to her den. Haphazardly, the Spidren attached Silas to her web. That should hold him. Skittering away, she informed her kin what had happened - and what they should do. Silas, on the other hand, purged whatever meal he had as he looked to his right and left at the carcasses. Hanging limp in the thread, he realized something. That being he should've been born a girl.

-----------

Back at the palace, Miniya Clayson winced as her toe was stepped on. Thank goodness for boots. She said nothing at first, as she peered into the darkness at the Toe-stepping Rider, who she was able to recognize somewhat as Tom. Who ever it was she shrugged, realizing the person couldn't see, stated, "Its all right."

Not thinking a second again about it, she moved to the correct side of her horse, Kaseko. He didn't seem very happy to be once again mounted. He had enough during the day. As Miniya became a bit more comfortable on the saddle, she moved her quiver to a more comfortable side. Her rapier was placed conviently on the saddle, handle out so it may be ready to grab. Holding the horses reigns in one hand, like she has been training to do, she held in her other hand her bow.

A glint of light caught her eye in the trees. Stormwings, she told herself bitterly. She didn't think a second of it, as she turned to the commander, waiting for a response to move out.

Katherine rode down on her white horse, Seabreeze, following Lord Genlith to the end of the Royal Forest. She had her spear in her hand and a very worried look on her face. She had just been out in the forest, half an hour ago with Silas and Artemis. She now just wished that she had stayed with them.

She rode up to Lord Genlith. "My lord," She said as she bowed in her saddle."All the pages were woken and are down here, milord. Some of them are still up in the stables saddling there horse very slowly."

Lorelle waited with the rest of the trainees, not even sure if she should be there. She had thrown away her sling, hoping the commander would forget that she was injured. Her shoulder and chest were bandaged under her shirt, and she held her left arm stiff to her side. She bit her lip as she mounted up, forced to put weight on her shoulder. It hurt terribly.

The girl's pony, who she had named Buddy, stamped his hoof and snorted impatiently, tired of standing around. She shushed him and gave him a pat on the whithers. Her eyes strayed to the shortsword buckled to her saddle, then she quickly looked away. She didn't know how much good she would be in a fight; as unlikely as one was, she couldn't help worrying.

Lorelle put her head down, shadows hiding her face. She didn't want the commander to see her.

Falik trotted down the hill on Sakina. He waved a quick greating to Katherine before taking his place in the columns of pages.

Evvard acknowledged the arrival of the two knights, both of whom had their own particular and useful talents. As he listened to Blackwater's message he scanned his eyes over the pages, taking in those who had arrived hastily and storing that information away for later.

He turned his attention to the knights and commanders around him.

"Sir John, Sir Antony, good to see you down here." A small grim smile crossed his face.

"John if you could take one of the groups up front, take a small group of the better hunters and trackers, possibly even on foot. Go on ahead of us and use the pendant to keep us informed." He tossed a small spelled pendant, that had been common practice in hunts now since the later years of King Jonathan's reign. "Some of the older pages if you please."

He rubbed his chin for a second.

"Antony, if both you and Kataru could take groups of pages and take some trainees with you too, you know the drill for sweeping the forrest. Let John make some headway then set out after him."

((Smart, Kit, real smart.))

John caught the pendent in one hand. “No fetch,” he told the dog, who was looking eagerly up at the pendent.

He scratched his elbow. “Do you have anything the boy touched or was around recently?” He asked. “I could set him on a Spidren scent, but I don’t want him turning over the wrong immortal.”

Toni had been sitting, starting out her window. And had noted John followed by only one of his dogs, which was odd enough in itself, even odder was the fact that he was apparently armed and heading for the forest, running towards to be more accurate.

Her instincts said it was nothing good and so had as fast as she could run down to the forest. On the way, she had garnered a bit of information about what was going on.

She arrived several minutes after John and moved in behind her friend silently.

Kataru nodded her head both to Antony and to John as they arrived. She listened as they spoke and then listened to the young Blackwater page as she spoke her messege. After she had left she listened as Evvard gave her his instructions.

"Which group would you like me to take? And if I hadn't told you before, Lord Genlith, I have my gift to help communicate and battle. That was how I kept that Artemis kid alive." She placed her strung bow around her shoulders making sure she didn't hit her horse Midnight. She pulled up her sleeves and looked at her bandages around her wrists. She still had some magic left that needed to be released, and this would be the perfect moment.

"Has anyone seen Tirragen?" Eleanor demanded irately, stomping into the circle of light. "The creepy little ingrate disappeared after wasting a good cup of my best sleeping medecine - poured on the floor the entire bottle - no respect for anyone else's things whatsoever - why good evening Lord Genlith, Priestess, and, er... various Sir Knights," she added with a swooping curtsey. Her eyes searched gathering hawkishly, and she smiled frostily.

"Let me try that differently - did anyone see a dark cloaked figure who identified himself an unknown knight heroically volunteer to join the search, and then leave with the last group, let's say, about five minutes ago?"

Anotony blinked dumbly at the woman who had just invaded their miniature war party. Hearing why the woman was there Antony bristled slightly.

"Madame, I believe Tirragen was with the page Heathercove who has just been kidnapped by a spidren. This is neither the time nor the place for spilled sleeping medicine. However if you would prepare the infirmary, we would all be grateful. It is doubtful we all shall escape unscathed."

Kataru cursed softly to herself. "You mean Artemis left the infirmary! He's still wounded from when I brought him back from the forest. He's in no condition to fight!" she turned her horse to look at the edge of the forest. She raised her hand and let it glow bright, allowing her to see to the forest's edge. She saw a cloaked figure trying to go into the woods. "There he is Lady Eleanor, just as you predicted."

She turned in her saddle to look at Antony. "I have already informed Lady Eleanor of what is going on. She was looking after Artemis, since he was attacked, and wounded from the spriden that took young Silas."

"Ah, I see." Antony said blushing a bit. "Allow me."

Antony dismounted and loosened his sword a bit just in case it wasn't the page.

"Hallo over there!" Antony caught up with the figure and reached out to grab it by the shoulder.

((OOC: It's supposed to be Artemis right?))

[Er... too late, he's long gone ... however, I have an idea!]

Thomas gasped and spun around as a large, heavy hand was laid upon his shoulder, almost wetting his pants.

"I'm sorry I didn't tether up my horse properly!" he babbled. "I didn't mean to, it was just a mistake - well, I guess it really wasn't a mistake, er, sir, because I did it purposely... I mean, I was going to make it really quick... But I guess that's just an excuse because I really should have tied her right?"

John cast his eyes on the ground and pressed his lips together against a smirk that threatened them as the keyed up rider trainee begin to babble. Not that he had ever met a relaxed rider trainee, it would worry him if he did.

"I don't think he's Terrigan," John said dryly.

Kataru rode over to them, her hand still bright with light. She saw the scared trainee and sighed. "Antony, your scaring him."

Kataru looked at John. "No, this isn't him. Tirrigan must of snuck into the forest while we weren't looking."

She turned back and looked at the boy. "What's your name, lad. And where's you horse?"

"Calm down child." Antony stated

"If anyone here is going to beat you it won't beat me. What about your horse?"

Antony kept his hand on the Rider's shoulder. If the kid tried to go into the forest again it wouldn't happen without someone else from the group going with him. Especially with spidrens about.

"You're trainees being flighty," Evvard stated dryly to Commander Dyer, "how unsual!" He raised an eyebrow.

He was not surprised that Tirragen had run off to try and help his friend. He had great admiration for loyaly but not foolishness. "Lady Eleanor," He said in his quiet manner, "thank you for coming after Tirragen, rest assured, when this is over I will send him to you for punishment duty for a month."

"Right!" he called, his voice training ground volume now, "lets get this circus on the road, if we sit here any longer we'll loose any kind of advantage."

Lowering his voice to a quieter pitch he asked, "John, who do you want with you? You know the pages quite well."

Lorelle had to bite her lip to keep from laughing at Thomas's outburst. "Take it easy," she muttered to him. "Save your nerves for a spindren." She knew she was being rather hypocritical; she was probably more nervous than he was.

She was afraid of the dark, and always had been, ever since she was a little girl. The shadows of the forest at night were not terribly appealing to her, but the fact that she was with others eased her fears a little.

"You have that kind of control over squires?" she demanded sharply.

"Ah well. I suppose I shall be contented - but as soon as you find him, he is coming to the infirmary, and staying there!" She glowered to emphasize her point.

---------

"Thomas Rede, madan. And my horse is over there," Thomas added, pointing in the general direction of his mare Lady, partially concelaled by the other encircling trainees. "I didn't think she'd run off - and look! She hasn't!

"Er, sir?" he asked in a very small voice. "Er... if you wouldn't mind, well... I've really got to go..."

Evvard looked back at Eleanor and kept his face impassive. "Lady Eleanor, Tirragen has yet to be chosen as a squire, he is in service of the palace and as such is my responsibility still, joy of joys," He added dryly, "he will go where he is send, especially as he has not been granted to leave the infirmary and your expert care!" He nodded his head to Eleanor. "Now if you'll excuse me, we have a stray boy to save."

John surveyed the pages. “I’ll take Toni with me, if you don’t mind.” He said offhandedly, motioning his hand at his old friend. “And I know Al Basiri is a good shot and as I’m devoid of long range weapons, I could use a good archer, and I’ll take Blackwater as well.”

He gazed around. “Do you have anything of Silas’s or a path to start us off on?”

"Oh, really..." Eleanor seemed faintly surprised.

"Well, good luck then, all of you," she said, "and take care of yourselves - I don't want to be seeing you afterwards!"

Antony glanced down and realized he was still holding on to the boy's shoulder.

"Ah, yes, To your horse lad."

Antony was itching to strt the hunt, but all he could do ws mount his horse. So he did, nd waited fot Sir Evvards orders.

Katherine was still near Lord Genlith, when she heard John request who he wanted to take with him. What good was she going to do. When she heard John's question about Silas, she rode closer to him.

"Sir John, Silas was walking on that path over there..." She pointed to that path that was closest to them. "Along with Artemis, sir." she looked at her horse. She knew she was going to get in trouble sooner or later for sneaking out when she wasn't suppose to.

Evvard heard Katherine's comment but chose for the moment to ignore it. It would be useful that she at least knew where to head. Turning to John, Evvard leaned over and handed him a piece of material. "One of the boys handkerchiefs, it hasn't been touched save for with gloves so it should give a true scent. Take your group and head out Sir John, Anton's group will follow behind you and stay in contact. You need support you call it. You've made wise choices for your group" He nodded to Toni acknowledging her presence. Even though it saddened him that she had forgone her shield, she was a skilled young woman and he had a deal of respect for her.

Raising his voice again he called Falik over to join the group.

Falik trotted over on Lord Genlith's command and joined his assigned group. He gave Katherine a quick glance and a smile and was pleased to be joining Sir John's group. He'd heard some interesting things about Sir John, not all pleasant, but he remembered the kindness he'd shown him and he was happy to ignore the unpleasant rumours and be under this man's command.

((Aww, never mind, Evvard would probably know anyway, wouldn’t he.))

He took the handkerchief gingerly from the knight master. “Thank you,” he nodded to the training master and then nodded at Katherine, “Thank you as well.” John studied at the two pages. “All right, you two, keep close, but not too close.” He eyed the horses warily, before heading over to the path that Silas had taken.

He inspected the ground and called Bailey over. “Bailey? Sniff. Go,” Bailey’s nose glued itself to the ground and began waddling slowly gaining speed into the woods before barking several times and bounding off having picked up the trail.

Silas' Point of View

Silas' red hair was drawn past the vision of his eyes, blocking out the carcasses of animals next to him. It had been quiet for awhile, except for the rustling of movement from the Spidrens to one certain place. The soft glare from waxing moon reared off faintly from the abdomens of the Spidrens. It was obvious, they were excited with the catch their kin has made. Unfortunate for them, Silas was eavesdropping

"Are you sure the ones in loud armor will come?" One of them asked to the one who captured Silas.

"Positive. The ones with him made sure I didn't close to him." That same Spidren glanced around. "Here is my idea. Surround the front and sides of our cavern. There is no way in from the back. And stay hidden. In the trees, or in the ground. Once noticed, attack. Some will stay out, to make it look like we are there anyways and don't know whats comming. Make sure the web is well seemingly ungaurded too."

Clicking with excitement and agreement, few had something to say. "What do we do with the boy now? A little snack won't hurt to help us feed."

A different Spidren voiced an opinion. "You can wait. He needs to look well for us to trap the knights."

Just then, another snapped up. "What if we made it look like he was eaten? Enrage them. Make them do foolish things."

"Where would we keep him?" Asked the one who captured Silas.

"In the back. In front of the nursery behind some webs. Yes, yes. That will do."

Silas winced as he heard this. He was done for. And, to be continued....

Thomas waited until the knight wasn't watching, then scampered off into the trees to complete his necessary business.

Can't let a chap do what he needs without asking a thousand questions, he thought to himself irritatedly. These Corusians...

Toni nodded back at Evard one of the few people outside of the realm's spy network who knew that Toni wasn't the knight she appeared to be.

She turned and followed John without any more words, watching him condition Bailey to find the path that Silas had taken.

"When all of this is over and if we get out of it intact, I wanna talk to you," she mumbled quietly enough that the pages couldn't hear her or so she hoped.