[youtube]RlqI_lAkIfM[/youtube]
The day was hot and humid; the sort of weather that made one drenched in seconds and feeling sticky for hours. The sun had been baking the hills of Limsa for hours and it was hard to breath. Distant storm clouds hinted at the source of the festering humidity but that relief was coming. However the front was still hours away and, until then, Crate was forced to suffer.
The blond seeker had departed the vineyard and made his way to a nearby trading post. The shade of the large trees did nothing to stem the oppressive temperatures and the constant attack of mosquitoes was nothing less than impressive.
If I could raise an army of these bastards, I could take over the world. Crate mused as he waited for the traveling merchant to fill his order. Over the past few days he had consumed his entire stock of fruit and he was in need of more to sate his legendary sweet tooth. Plus it gave him an excuse to leave Jin for awhile.
The elderly keeper was recovering well, but with her restored health was returning her powers and confidence. Crate was being quickly reminded that the witch had earned her place in her cult through brains and power. The Seeker for all his bravado, was realizing her skills with aether surpassed his own.
She hadn't given him a display, thankfully, but he could just sense it. While, not the strongest spellweaver he'd ever met, Jin was in a tier above his and he was starting to think he might have bitten off more than he could chew with his plan. His sort of magic required preparation, raw components, and time. When the two miqo'te came to blows, and Crate was under no illusion that such a conflict was avoidable based on their views of what should be done with the thing in Doma, Crate would have to be the one to spring the trap. If Jin got the drop on him, Crate didn't fancy his chances.
The fruit merchant finished bagging the pineapples and handed the burlap sack to Crate. The seeker grinned and paid the merchant dutifully. Pleased with his haul, he began to head to the bridge that marked the start of his journey up the dirt road to the vineyard.
"We wait until tommorrrow morrrning."
Crate's eyes went wide and he immediatly pressed his back against one of the nearby buildings. That voice...
"Hojo, here?" Crate whispered to himself. His ears turned in all directions through the holes cut in his tri-corn hat. They sought hojo's location.
"I have no intention on waiting that long." came another voice. The second voice was snobby and aristocratic. The two speakers were just around the corner and Crate peered around carefully. About twenty feet away stood the huge bear of a miqo'te. Dressed in is armor, Hojo looked ready for war. Around him were some twenty men in leather armor that Crate took to be witch hunters. A tall, red-headed elezen was the source of the second voice and he was currently sharpening a long, wicked looking spear. Crate took him to be Atoneaus Dexrinoiux, which meant the other figures were part of his free company.
"Just my luck." Crate growled as he slipped back. Crate's powers were limited in the light of day, and against that many skilled witch killers, he didn't fancy his chances. The blond dropped the bag of fruit and placed his right hand on the machete at his waist. With purpose, he crossed the road and slipped into the heavy foliage to make a wide arc around the hunters as he headed back towards the vineyard.
Crate wasn't sure how they had picked up their trail so quickly but he wasn't surprised. This wasn't the first time Hojo had surprised him like this. And from what Jin had told him, Atoneaus was one of the best blood hounds in the business.
Crate weighed his options as he drew his machete and began hacking through some vines. At the moment, it was only Jin and himself. If the hunters attacked at night, Rhyme could come out to play and that would equal the odds immensely. But Hojo knew Rhyme's weaknesses as well as Crate knew Hojo's. If Hojo managed to convince the hunters to attack tomorrow morning, it would probably be over. So, at this point, running might be the only option left to the two miqo'te.
Thunder rumbled in the distance. A tempest was brewing and Crate hoped he had the skill to weather this one out.
The day was hot and humid; the sort of weather that made one drenched in seconds and feeling sticky for hours. The sun had been baking the hills of Limsa for hours and it was hard to breath. Distant storm clouds hinted at the source of the festering humidity but that relief was coming. However the front was still hours away and, until then, Crate was forced to suffer.
The blond seeker had departed the vineyard and made his way to a nearby trading post. The shade of the large trees did nothing to stem the oppressive temperatures and the constant attack of mosquitoes was nothing less than impressive.
If I could raise an army of these bastards, I could take over the world. Crate mused as he waited for the traveling merchant to fill his order. Over the past few days he had consumed his entire stock of fruit and he was in need of more to sate his legendary sweet tooth. Plus it gave him an excuse to leave Jin for awhile.
The elderly keeper was recovering well, but with her restored health was returning her powers and confidence. Crate was being quickly reminded that the witch had earned her place in her cult through brains and power. The Seeker for all his bravado, was realizing her skills with aether surpassed his own.
She hadn't given him a display, thankfully, but he could just sense it. While, not the strongest spellweaver he'd ever met, Jin was in a tier above his and he was starting to think he might have bitten off more than he could chew with his plan. His sort of magic required preparation, raw components, and time. When the two miqo'te came to blows, and Crate was under no illusion that such a conflict was avoidable based on their views of what should be done with the thing in Doma, Crate would have to be the one to spring the trap. If Jin got the drop on him, Crate didn't fancy his chances.
The fruit merchant finished bagging the pineapples and handed the burlap sack to Crate. The seeker grinned and paid the merchant dutifully. Pleased with his haul, he began to head to the bridge that marked the start of his journey up the dirt road to the vineyard.
"We wait until tommorrrow morrrning."
Crate's eyes went wide and he immediatly pressed his back against one of the nearby buildings. That voice...
"Hojo, here?" Crate whispered to himself. His ears turned in all directions through the holes cut in his tri-corn hat. They sought hojo's location.
"I have no intention on waiting that long." came another voice. The second voice was snobby and aristocratic. The two speakers were just around the corner and Crate peered around carefully. About twenty feet away stood the huge bear of a miqo'te. Dressed in is armor, Hojo looked ready for war. Around him were some twenty men in leather armor that Crate took to be witch hunters. A tall, red-headed elezen was the source of the second voice and he was currently sharpening a long, wicked looking spear. Crate took him to be Atoneaus Dexrinoiux, which meant the other figures were part of his free company.
"Just my luck." Crate growled as he slipped back. Crate's powers were limited in the light of day, and against that many skilled witch killers, he didn't fancy his chances. The blond dropped the bag of fruit and placed his right hand on the machete at his waist. With purpose, he crossed the road and slipped into the heavy foliage to make a wide arc around the hunters as he headed back towards the vineyard.
Crate wasn't sure how they had picked up their trail so quickly but he wasn't surprised. This wasn't the first time Hojo had surprised him like this. And from what Jin had told him, Atoneaus was one of the best blood hounds in the business.
Crate weighed his options as he drew his machete and began hacking through some vines. At the moment, it was only Jin and himself. If the hunters attacked at night, Rhyme could come out to play and that would equal the odds immensely. But Hojo knew Rhyme's weaknesses as well as Crate knew Hojo's. If Hojo managed to convince the hunters to attack tomorrow morning, it would probably be over. So, at this point, running might be the only option left to the two miqo'te.
Thunder rumbled in the distance. A tempest was brewing and Crate hoped he had the skill to weather this one out.
