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[Arlin]

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Arlin couldn't help but smile as Arcana announced the departure of Arieus from the Knights of Sosaria. She scolded him, despite having seem relieved after taking away her former seconds command.

The half-ogre made his way around the corner of Poets Tavern, after having excused himself as politely as possible. Nature calls, as it were, and Arlin qucikly relieved himself around the corner.

After buttoning up, and leaned against the wall, still chuckling. It had been awhile since he had seen his lady love, and he had something special in store for her.

Arlin suddenly felt a cold chill travel down his spine. He thought it odd, and went to stand up, before another stab of pain coarsed through his body. This pain was accomponied by a sickening feeling, and Arlins body went from numbing cold, to a flash of hot pain.

He collapsed as a final stab finished the job. He never saw an assailent. He never lifted his sword. He slumped against the wall of Poets, as he the outline of a woman warrior come rushing around the corner, and heard a cry of terror before it all went black.
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As the fire fades to night, remember always the ember that started it all.

[Arcana]

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Arcana heard no other sound than Arlin's surprised grunt of pain, yet the noise sent her racing around the corner of the building in alarm. She gave an involuntary gasp of horror at the wholly unexpected sight of the half-ogre slowly slumping to the ground in a rapidly growing pool of his own blood.

It was only a heartbeat's hesitation, but as she wrenched her gaze away, the dark-clothed assailant had already turned on his heel and fled, his black cloak billowing behind him. In the next heartbeat Arcana had her hand on her bow, drawing it off her shoulder. However, there was no longer a target for her arrow to seek; the assassin had vanished into the dense surrounding forest.

Snarling in frustration, she immediately dismissed all thought of pursuit and turned her full attention to saving Arlin. With the timely aid of several Army of the Frontier soldiers, they were able to heal him enough to travel back to Yew.

As soon as they arrived, Arcana murmured to the ranking officer, "See that Arlin has guards. Don't let him tell you no." Arlin protested this from the bunk where he lay and was studiously ignored by the competent soldiers who quietly took up positions around the barracks and outside the fortress.

The physical wound was patched easily enough, despite its severity, but the poison from the unknown assassin's blade proved more tenacious.

"Are any of your medics about?" Arcana asked Sgt. Klem.

"Chandra is, milady," he replied. "Shall I summon her?"

"No. I don' need no medic. I'm fine," Arlin insisted but was interrupted by a violent fit of coughing.

Klem looked at Arcana.

"Yes, send for her immediately," she instructed.

Klem gave an approving nod and issued the necessary orders, confident that his Captain could in no possible fairness assign him to latrine duty for this, given the circumstances.

Arcana ruffled Arlin's hair with affectionate concern, and the hardened ex-mercenary gave a sigh, resigned to the fact that for the moment his army had just mutinied against him in favor his his lovely lady-knight.

A short time later Arcana had to depart, her responsibilities to her fellow knights calling her away to Vesper. Fortunately, Arlin already appeared much better and she no longer worried for at least his immediate safety. The long term however, was far more troubling. As she readied the spell which would carry her home, she began turning over in her mind which of his many enemies would have hired the assassin.