By a thread...

[Cal Soulshadow]

Cal had never been to Deepwood before; at least, not knowingly. She had been somewhat dubious about this invitation to a boxing match, being so close to Stonekeep, but those who inhabited this small corner of Yew had been adamant that the ?leader of the Kaldorians? should attend. They had a proposition of sorts ? one that she should take time to hear.

With the general busy, Cal travelled to Deepwood with Kai. She couldn?t help but notice that several members of the hated Yew militia were there, but they seemed to be more interested in the boxing than hunting Kaldorians.

Anxious to test his physical prowess, Kai entered the contest, and Cal watched proudly as he outlasted one Yewish contestant and then flattened another. She almost felt sorry for the second contestant, who stood a good foot and a half shorter than Kai, and was probably half his weight, but he wore the grey kilt of a Yew militiaman, and thus deserved no sympathy.

As Kai was gearing up for a third bout, Cal was summoned upstairs. She was reluctant to leave him; he was not just her consort, but her bodyguard. He could look after himself, but she was unarmed and had still not fully recovered from her recent shoulder surgery.

Frowning, she followed her hosts next door to the tavern and into an upstairs room. There, they, together with Darkion of Haven, were discussing a heist involving a package that was to be delivered to Stonekeep. Would Kaldor be interested?
Cal was non-committal. She had other things to worry about; namely the invasion of Serpent?s Hold by the Marksmen and Britannia Guards.

As she began to mull things over, she heard sounds from outside; heavy footsteps and raised voices. This couldn?t be good.
?What?s goin? on out there?? she asked, glancing towards the window.
?I?ll take,? one of the Deepwood men, Blackwood, muttered.
She followed him out onto the roof terrace.
Yew guards, armed and armoured. They had Kai.
Cal?s eyes widened. ?I thought this event was meant te be safe!?

As Blackwood despatched one of his men to find out where Kai had been taken, Cal could only pace back and forth. Though he was gone only minutes, it seemed like an eternity.
When he did return, it was with grave news. They were going to execute Kai.

Cal raced back to Strongholt in search of men. She found only two; the new footsoldier, Inglebert, and Meiko the Viper. Instructing them to follow her, they returned to Yew via the moongate, and she sent Meiko on ahead to scout.

Meiko found them south of the citadel. They were going to hang Kai; the noose was already around his neck. Impressive physical specimen he might be, but he would die as readily as anyone with a rope choking the life out of him.
Calmly, Meiko unslung her bow and lined up the rope in her sights.
The arrow flew true; severing the heavy rope.
Kai crashed to the ground with a thud.

Before the startled militiamen could react, Darkion rode up with his order and surrounded them.
Meiko grabbed Kai and pulled him to his feet, ushering him away from the chaos, and to safety.

Cal was waiting by the road, her face a mask of anxiety. ?Are ye alright, Kai??
Kai choked, his hands going to this throat. ?Take this noose off. Hard to breath.?
Carefully, she cut the noose away, then severed the twine that bound his hands together. ?Can ye breath??
Kai massaged his neck. ?A..aye. But I need to sit somewhere.?
Cal nodded and took his arm for support.
His neck was bruised and torn, but he would live. She would not lose him, especially not to those Yewish fools.