Battle Hymn of the Republic

“She’s quite the character,” Mealla said with myrth in her voice as Drysi scurried down the river. “Shame you couldn’t have kept Fairburn too. That girl would have made quite the Keeper.” “I’ve little interest in training a Keeper,” Ruarc gave Mealla a look that said he wasn’t going to say any more ...

“Hard as it may be to believe, I don’t actually care about that bastard,” Ruarc’s tone was blunt and he seemed more interested in the crystal glassware. “Sure, if he was in the room right now I’d be strangling him, but compared to the rest of the rogue gallery I need to concern myself with on a semi...

“Very good,” Ruarc said, a warm smile growing that was visible only to his apprentice. Reaching out his hand, the druid reached his hand into the flames of the unnaturally large campfire flames. Unphased, Ruarc used a small effort of will to draw some of the flames into the palm of his hands. The fl...

“Pwah!” Willow expressed as she finished a long chug from a water bottle she held in one hand as she pulled Drysi along with her other. Feeling refreshed she clipped the bottle to her belt via a carabiner. Gaining a free hand, the teen reached up and pulled on the tie that kept her hair in an effici...

“Well, everyone who needs to be here is,” Ruarc gave a pointed look directed at Mealla. “Let’s begin.” With that, Laoise stepped forward and handed Ruarc his formal cloak, which he draped over his shoulders with a practiced swipe of his arms. Cloth the color of dark oak appeared black in the night, ...

Nodding his approval, Ruarc turned and ushered his apprentice onward. With the gravity of the clearing behind them the walk returned to its somber tone. The song of the forest was welcoming and warm, and the starry night sky shone through occasional gaps in the canopy. Gentle light from a waxing cre...

Placing a steadying hand on his apprentice’s shoulder, Ruarc wondered momentarily if he should call the walk off, but he steeled himself and carefully maneuvered Drysi so she was leaning against a tree. From there he walked into the glade towards the large tree, uttering a few words as he walked. A ...

With a single, simple nod Ruarc showed his approval before continuing on down the path. It was a tad bright, but fulfilled Ruarc’s request so he didn’t nitpick. Continuing the silent walk with a soundtrack orchestrated by all manner of forest creatures, Ruarc led the young triclops down a branching ...

With casual steps, Ruarc moved along the paths that he had walked countless times before; in both day and night. He understood the hesitation Drysi had with this forest, and made a point of keeping stride with his short apprentice. The fact that the young girl was able to walk as confidently as she ...

Ruarc knew what Drysi was feeling all too well. Alexei was the one person he well and truly hated. The druid had been a wraith haunting him for the last decade; he truest enemy that had hounded him and his friends; his nemesis. There were many things Ruarc wanted to say about the matter, to dispel h...