Niliki nodded. He didn't understand the door situation either. He became uneasy. This made no sense. After a moment he heard a small whinny that drew him from his reverie. His senses flew out until he located his horses. He shuffled forwards, avoiding the obstacle of hay, towards his mare.

The latch to her stall clicked as he undid it, and then Beauty was free. Next he moved onto Graceful, the astute stallion was silent as Niliki worked at the latch. Soon Beauty quieted down, reading her son's body language. After a few moments the heavier lock used for the stallions unlatched. Both horses followed him.

Niliki swung into Graceful's saddle, leaning over his strong neck as they entered the trees. Beauty followed, guarding their flank. He let his senses fly, feeling for the right direction but once again the trees threw him off. He let out a frustrated sigh. " I wish. The trees seem to want me thrown off." he whispered.

Graceful dipped low to help Niliki avoid a branch. He felt Niliki's unease in the forest and worked to help him. He took care to walk in wider paths, and away from low hanging branches.

Niliki laughed. " I am good thank you. Clicking is just something I will Lea to the bats." he said. Besides Graceful was a great GPS. His stallion was well trained, a true work of art. His father's legacy was one Graceful did proud. Cobalt and Graceful were rare creatures. They could communicate with their minds, though often didn't. Graceful's mother, Beauty, is was normal but awesome all the same.

"Up ahead a few hundred yards is a large tree. At the base of this tree is a crevice. It looks small but it is actually a huge cave in the ground. We should be able to hide there." Niliki answered, still intent on not getting smacked in te face. Being almost seven feet tall had it's disadvantages. He groaned when Graceful knocked him into a branch. Guilt filled him, the feeling coming from Graceful. He pat the sleek black neck, "it's ok boy." he soothed, laying closer to the animal's neck.

Niliki noticed their unease in the cave. He gave a self depricating laugh. He tapped the corner of his eyes. "The darkness doesn't affect me." he stated, and then turned to his horses. He pulled the saddle off of Graceful, throwing it on the ground, his sword landing with a clatter. He ignored it. He then turned to Beauty and removed his packs. Luckily he had food, and some water. The packs landed beside the saddle.

He grabbed a brush and began to brushed his horses down before letting them go. He reached into his pack and retrieved the sack of grain he'brady en from the warriors. He divided It into three equal parts and fed all the animals. It would be too risky to let them out to graze.

Niliki laid out his pallet, spreading it out beside his saddle. He wanted to keep his sword close. He sat down facing the girl. Loathe as he was to do it, Niliki HAD to remove the wrap over his eyes. Dirt, and tiny bits fro tree bark was irritating his eyes. He sighed and grasped both sides and pulled.

He blinked rapidly, his eyes clearing themselves. He felt the fire warm the cave and was glad he ha laid his pallet outside the ring of light. The blue of hi eyes was startling and he was glad the light didn't reach him. "Your welcome. What exactly do you wish to know?"

"My parents and my sister live not to far from the Elven capitol city. There isn't much I can say about them. I haven't seen them in years, and nor do I wish to return." Niliki replied. His childhood had been miserable, filled with disdain because of his lack of eyesight. Elves were a grand people, but widely unaccepting of those who mar their perfect society. He had the physical, and emotional scars to prove it. Though none of that was her fault.

Niliki smiled, but shook his head. "No I don't, but thank you anyways." he said and leaned back onto his saddle. He closed his eyes and listened to her. His horses wandered away from the fire and into a far corner. Beauty was silent, her head down, no doubt asleep, but Graceful was alert and wide awake.

He was also aware of the outside world, listening to the ebb an flow of the animals that passed by. He smiled as a deer passed by, the soft crunch of it's hooves lyrical. Small animals shuffled in the brush, mice and squirrels playfully searched for nuts.

"I am truly sorry to hear that." Niliki said, and the pulled his pack towards him. He grabbed a shirt, and some water. Grabbing his knife, he began to slice the shirt into strips. He measured them against his face, and then his arm. After the entire shirt was shredded Niliki poured water onto a few of the strips and began to wash a particularly nasty gash on his bicep.

From what he could tell, he acquired the gash when Rey drug him to the village. He grimaced when he began to bind the wound tightly, hoping to avoid infection. He could have healed it, but magic left a taint to the air that he hated. His senses alerted him to when magic was used and he didn't feel like being confined with it. After he was done he folded the other strips to use as blindfolds later on.

Niliki tasted the soup and tried his best to hold in a cough. The soup was SPICY, but he smile thanks. She had worked hard for him. "It tastes awesome." Niliki said, keeping his eyes closed from her. "and I will be sure to tell you when I change it." he added witha smile. ~short

Niliki leaned back, thinking for a bit. "Well....as far as those warriors are concerned, dragonriders are no longer here, but if I can convince them otherwise, then maybe they will rejoin our war. My wishing to train has ulterior motives to be sure. As for now I shall wait. Graceful has contacted Cobalt and in turn Cobalt has called Reb. Maybe a little fire steed and shade-rider will help convince them." he replied. His only hope was that Reb would get there quickly enough. If not......

Niliki laughed. "A shade who is also a dragon rider....hence the shade rider and her horse Cobalt who can light on fire. Hence Fire Steed." Niliki replied, watching his horses mill about the cave. He was beginning to think the night would last forever, and the cave's close quarters were getting on his nerves. His senses were jacked the longer they stayed. OOC: short

Niliki smiled. " Its alright. I shall manage to survive. I'm pretty sure that I'm accustomed to the fuzz by now." . Graceful nudged Niliki lightly, then layed down beside him. It was a usual ritual. The horses would take turns laying beside him, switching when they couldn't bearto lay any longer.

His horses were his alarms. They would alert him if anyone came near the cave, and watch over him. He pat Graceful, grabbing a handful of mane, just holding on. Graceful chose that moment to open his mind to Niliki, and forthe first time he saw what his rescuer looked like, and what the cave looked like. He shuddered as all the information filled him.

Niliki smiled. "Thank you. Beauty is normal, but Graceful is half normal and half firesteed." he replied. Graceful nickered when he heard his name. Beauty tossed her head, before settling back down. He pat both of them, and smiled at Darian. "your horse is very smart."

Niliki smiled, but it faded when Graceful picked up people in the forest. "Shhhhhh." Niliki commanded before jumping to his feet and silently padding over to the entrance to the cave. He checked the leaves covering their hiding spot. It didn't take long to pick up on voices....alot of voices. Niliki cursed.

He grabbed his sword and crouched down . He reached up and tore his blindfold off. He would have to stun them long enough for Darian to tie them up I the people discovered their location. He just prayed to God that the futures he would reveal were good ones. He always hated when someone was revealed and they screamed or fainted. "No matter what Darian you must not look at my eyes. Don't even glance at them." he whispered furiously right as the closest person came into view.

Niliki tensed, waiting for the cave to be noticed. The noise outside the cave grew as more men came into the clearing. He inwardly groaned. His plan was a botched one, and it would most likely fail. The success of his eyes was placed soley on the factor that the men would notice them. Granted the glow/amazing color was captivating he doubted that men bent on revenge would make a notice to look there first.

He didn't have much more time to ponder than that, for he heard the leaves rustle at the entrance to the cave. He sighed. "Damn! We have been searching all night without a single sign of the blind man! He is a cripple how far could he have gotten!" A man's voice rang out, these vile words, and many others ringing in the silence. Niliki barely reacted to the words, used to them though they were untrue. No one deserved the word cripple thrown into their face. It was a nasty word and one Niliki wished would disapear.

It took only seconds for the men above to decide to check the cave, and the first batch entered. Niliki backed away from the light, letting only his eyes show. "Look into my eyes, look for your doom." Niliki choked over the cliche, and terrible wording but it worked. Every single man who entered the cave looked into his eyes, and froze.

Niliki felt the pull, knew what was happening. He felt the urge to close his eyes but withstood it. He forced them wider, and cringed as the men began to twitch, or in some cases collapse. The thrall was strong.

A few of the men spasmed, their eyes rolling back into their heads. The silence of his attack was just as disturbing as the screams. Before him stood about twenty healthy men, frozen in horror and pain unable to scream or make a sound.

It didn't take them remaining men on the surface to come and investigate. Like dominoes they fell, each one's curiousity claiming them, each one staring into the twirling pits of Niliki's eyes. This group weren't as silent. Many fell to the ground, letting out screams as terrible as possible. It took all of Niliki's control to keep his eyes open, and let the torture continue.

It was all up to Darian now.

Niliki heard Darian and immediately shut his eyes. He stumbled and fell to his knees landing hard. All around him the men slowly began to wake, groaning a they did. He was in a trance-like state where he knelt.

Graceful trotted over to Niliki, a strip of cloth between his teeth. He nudged Niliki's shoulder, and dropped the cloth in his master's lap. Niliki didn't respond, but he did wrap the cloth back around his head to cover his eyes. He plopped down on his back , remaining in the lethargic trance.

Darian rushed forward to catch Niliki as he fell, but he hit the ground just as she reached him. One of his horses, Graceful, approached with the strip of cloth that went around his eyes. Niliki picked it up and tied it in it's place, but something told Darian that he was just going through the motions, that he was really somewhere else. She looked solemnly at her friend, then turned back to the remains of their dinner and picked up his cup of water. "Drink this when you feel like it," she said, folding his fingers around the side of the cup.

She looked at the entrance to the tunnel, a grim look on her face. If there were anymore warriors out there, they would probably be on high alert right now, but she had to check anyway. A spear formed in the air beside her. It was bright white, with a hint of glacier blue and as it swished through the air as Darian walked, a chilly mist drifted off of it.

She cautiously walked up the tunnel, pausing every few feet to see if she could hear anyone moving above. She didn't hear anything, and when her head popped above the surface of the earth, she didn't see anyone. The spy scouted around for a bit, even taking the time to climb through a few treetops, but didn't see anyone. She returned to the cave, covering the signs of her passage and that of the invaders.

When the lid to the tunnel was back in place, she dropped her spear and turned away. The spear dissipated into a clear mist before it hit the ground. Niliki was still crouched on the ground when she entered the cave, and a few of the prisoners were acting restless.

"Don't try anything, or I will be forced to hurt you," she warned them, walking over to Lyssand.

"Oh really? And why should we be afraid of a little girl like you?" sneered one of them. He looked to be one of the youngest members of the group, and even though he was tied up, he moved with a lot more arrogance than Darian could put up with.

She eyed the boy for a minute, then snapped her fingers. A ball of water formed in the air and she smiled humorlessly at him. "This is why," she said sweetly. She pointed her finger at him and the ball of water shot towards him and forced itself between his teeth. Another snap of her fingers and the ball froze solid, forcing his mouth open and effectively gagging him. She nodded in satisfaction, then sat down against the wall and watched them all in silence. The warriors were all watching her warily now, and the one she had gagged was staring at her in horror, his eyes bugging slightly.

Honestly, I don't see what they're so fussy about. A magician could have done as much, granted I didn't use the Ancient Language, she chuckled. Lyssand snorted in agreement and put his head down, trying to get some sleep.

Niliki heard what Darian said without actually comprehending it. He layed on his bac holding the cup in a firm grip. He knew he would eventually break free but that wouldn't be for a few more moments. He really hated the smell of fear in the air. It soaked into his pores and severly pissed him off. He didn't like fear, and didn't use his "gift" unless absolutely unavoidable.

As the effects wore off Niliki bolted upright, gulping down the water with gusto. It tasted divine to his parched throat. He prolonged his drink, aware Darian had questions. Her fear and curiosity were tangible.

Niliki tensed when Darian spoke, loathing having to discuss things. "Yeah....people tend to react badly to their future being crammed into their mind against their will." he responded in a gravely voice. He navigated the men , ignoring the scents of fear coming from them as he approached his horses. They didn't react to what he had done. ~short

Niliki looked as the piebald brushed his arm. He pat his nose, and then walked over to the corner and sat down. "It isn't so much that I could see them, but I was aware of their pain. It doesn't have to be that way. I can show the future without the pain that follows." Niliki replied.

"Its not that simple. Its not that I caused them pain for the purpose of causing pain. It is simply the method in which I HAD to neutralize our threat. The other way is uncomfortable but you are recieving information on a more manageable speed. They recieved their entire life in but a moments time. You can see how it is painful. " Niliki replied, and sat down with a plop, his horses brushing up against him.

He heard men shuffle, but was confident they wouldn't get away. Darian had seen to that. Niliki still smelled fear, but it was getting less and less noticeable.