Private for Pillar and Owly

Darran moved toward her, carefully avoiding the shardblade. He took her into his arms gently, comfortingly. "How many did we lose?" he asked one of the guards as he held Lilo.

"Two, sir," the man replied. "About seven bandits dead."

Darran nodded to him over Lilo's shoulder. "Pile up the bodies and burn them. We'll move out in half an hour. We need t be gone before they're back." Slowly, their eyes still following Lilo, the guards and servants got to work. Darran pulled back slightly and looked down at her. "How...how did you get your hands on a shard blade?" he asked, amazed. "Your house wouldn't be able to afford...and to give it to a woman?"

The blade sank into the earth as though it was going through only air. Darran stroked her hair calmingly, his fear overcome by sympathy. "Shhh. It's okay. You saved us, Lilo. We might be dead now if not for you."

If she didn't specifically desire for the sword to remain in the material world, it would vanish into mist. Darran held her tighter. "Don't worry, Lilo," he said softly. "With the bodies burned, no one will be able to tell that those men were killed by a shardblade. And I'll ensure no one who saw what happened tells anyone when we reach the Shattered Plains." He paused for a moment. "Perhaps...would you like to go to your tent and rest now? I think we should be safe. I'll stand guard with the men out here."

Darran nodded, still holding onto her. Such a frail form, to hold such devestating abilities. "Alright. I'll see we are not disturbed until you are ready. Go on to the tent. I'll sort everything out and be right in." Reluctantly, he stepped away, going to speak with his guard captain.

"You are afraid." The fearspren was back again, circling her lazily. "The bad men are gone, but you are still afraid."

"I came to you," the spren said. "You called out to me." It floated down to rest on her pillow, right by her head. "Do you hate me?" it asked, fear, sadness and nervousness in its voice.

"I was drawn to you," the spren said sadly. "I heard you calling out to me. I knew I had to come and help you. And now you'll kill me."

"You'll kill me," the sprne replied. "You can't help it. It's what you humans do."

The spren squirmed, obviously uncomfortable. "I can't say anymore," it said, fear entering its voice. "I shouldn't have told you what I did." Without warning, it floated through the tent wall, vanishing from view. At that moment, Darran lifted the tent flap and peeked inside. "May I come in, Lilo?" he asked gently.

Darran entered and sat cross legged on the ground. "The camp is secure," he said wearily. "The captain will come to get me if anything goes horribly wrong, of course, but we should be fine for the moment, at least." He smiled at her,. though the smile did not reach his eyes. "Now, would you mind explaining to me how a woman comes across a shard blade?"

"I find that somewhat hard to believe," Darran replied. "You can't just...by the Almighty, Lilo, people don't just accidentally stumble upon a shard blade." He rubbed at his eyes with thumb and forefinger. "I'm sorry. You're probably in as much distress as anyone right now. But Lilo, you have too tell me the truth. Where did you get that blade?"