Private rp with Wingfeather

[mainehorse]

"Getting him tied up on the horse would prove difficult... we may need to find some place to keep him contained while we search for the girl." Cass mutters after witnessing the whole ordeal. She could probably lift him if she really tried, but it wouldn't prove an easy task, nor would it do her back or her knees any favors in the search ahead. She wasn't short by any means, but this guy was a good bit taller than she was. But what had to be years of training had done her good. She could lift more than one might assume. His weight though was likely pushing it a bit, especially since it was clear their perpetrator would be dead weight the entire time. Had he been willing to cooperate a bit, then it might have been possible. But few in his position would cooperate. That was merely wishful thinking and a waste of her energy at the moment it seemed.

[wingfeather]

“I don’t exactly know where we can do that,” but Lockian continued thoughtfully, “I suppose we could find a serviceable cave and leave him in there for the while, or we could attach a rope to his hands from the saddle pommel and trail him along with us, or we could even go back to the castle and leave him under in custody and subject to guard until we return,” he suggested. At this conversation the man’s dark eyes flickered ever so slightly whether it was from fear or not, was hard to tell. Lockian could see though that the man was very cold, the thin cloak he was half wearing and gloveless hands, he knew, did nothing to hold back the biting wether. He even perceived a few shivers run through the man’s body every once in a while. Fear? Doubtful. But who knew. Though perhaps the fellow was actually afraid of what future inevitably held for him, this is what Lockian thought.

[mainehorse]

"Might be best to leave him in the custody of the guard. Leaving him in a cave would be risking him finding a way to escape. We know he's crafty and dragging him along with us will likely slow us down. Goodness knows he won't cooperate and we need to be able to cover good ground in order to find him." Cass says. They'd get him out of the cold that way too. She didn't care for criminals, but it would be inhumane to keep him out in the cold without any form of protection from the elements. She wasn't heartless by any means.

[wingfeather]

''Yes, but now we must waste time dragging him all the way back,'' he said, he would by no means care leaving the fellow in the snow for good. ''Well I suppose we should get started now, there is no use in us waisting daylight, especially with him. The man stared back, ''you still haven't proven anything, and I maintain the statement that im innocent! You both have no right to hold me against my will, especially as you dont have the slightest bit of evidence.'' Lockian ignored the man and turned to Casey, ''how do you think we should bring him back? I suppose he'd have to ride... somehow.''

[mainehorse]

"The circumstances are against you. We have reason enough to be suspicious. If you were wholly innocent then you would have no reason to be so resistant to questioning, since you'd have nothing to fear." Cass mutters, glaring at their prisoner. His attitude was really rubbing her the wrong way. She turns her attention back over to Lockian. "Lifting him up onto the horse would be a challenge... but I suppose I could manage. The other option would be to simply tie him to the horses, and let him make the choice to either walk, or be dragged over every hidden root and rock in the snow" she says.

[wingfeather]

The man looked back at her as if she were lower than dirt, “I have every right to resist. What, are you on personal orders from the king? Did he tell you to go and find a random trapper, assault him even if a shows no aggression and continue to violently question him about something he clearly knows nothing about?” He coughed dryly and disdainfully spit blood with great force. Lockian looked down impassively, “well I don’t think he would be any good walking unless we wanted a fellow with two lame legs by the end of it.” The fellow turned his head slightly and nodded. Lockian turned and led Phantom back and was about to grab the man to attempt at getting him atop the grey horse but instead he was shouldered aside and with a short jump the man had his bound hands in the front and was able to get himself on the horse’s back from where he looked down with an amused expression.

[mainehorse]

Cass swiftly drags the man off the horse, throwing him down to the ground in the same fell swoop. "Nice try, but that's going to slide here" she mutters, pinning him down. "You either ride in the back of the saddle where we can ensure you don't gain control of the horse, you walk tied to the horse and risk going lame in both legs, or you get dragged and feel every rock along the way. The choice is yours, but we're not risking you gaining control of the horse" she says.

[wingfeather]

The man hit the ground hard since his tied arms did not allow him to properly distribute weight. He saw the light dim and brighten and had to blink several times times before he regained his wits and awareness. He looked at the by now much hated boot, “fine, I’ll walk if that suits you better. Though at this point I would gladly walk off a cliff, preferably the same one that I would like to throw you off of!” Lockian walked over and cuffed him soundly, “you keep a civil tongue between your teeth for if there is any cliff throwing YOU will be the one imitating the birds!,” he turned to Cassy, “let’s just get this guy behind iron and forget about him a while,” he was tired and quite peeved at this point, what did he care if both the guy’s legs gave out and had to be hauled all the way back.

[mainehorse]

"I'd like to see you try. But alas we do not have time for such endeavors and you have a lot to answer for once you're behind bars. You won't like it, but sooner or later someone in that castle will make that tongue of yours talk." Casey says dryly as she ties him to the horn of the saddle. He was taller than her... that much was true. But she was practically all lean muscle. If he tried to shove her off a cliff, he'd have another thing coming. "Perhaps a stiff drink will help as well... after all this, I'd say we can both use one" she says. One of the could ride while the other walked to keep their charge in line. She doubted he'd make the return trip an easier since he didn't seem the type to cooperate. He hadn't thus far and she doubted that would change. Maybe more than one drink was in order she mused, rolling her shoulders in a circle to attempt to loosen up her back slightly. Though with the lord's daughter still missing, relaxing for the evening might not be an option. At least not for her, not when she was charged with the girl's safety.

[wingfeather]

The man smiled thinly, though absolutely no fear whatsoever resisted on his face, ''indeed, we shall see about that,'' he said eyes gleaming for the barely restrained anger. Lockian slid his dirk from his sheath purposely causing the blade to ring as it drew over the metal of the sheath, the sound reverberated sharply through the forest. He twirled it between his fingers looking away, seeming distracted, suddenly though with strange ease, as if stringing a bow, he nicked the man on the side of the neck, drawing a small thin line of blood, before placing it in the small of his back, ''enough from you! Let's get going before I cause that blood to flow quicker and the shadows get any longer, now march, and quick,'' he said his voice commanding and not going to brook any more foolishness. ''Aye, We'll see whose blood is spilled by the end of this!'' He was forced to walk though as the horse had begun moving forward. Lockian sheathed his knife with a piecing click.

[mainehorse]

"If we didn't need answers from him still... I'd put a stop to his pointless blather myself right here and now. But at least once we get back to the castle, he won't be our problem any more. Not once he gets escorted to a cell and locked up." Cass says dryly, keeping a firm hand on the horse's bridle as it walked along. She wasn't going to risk it getting spooked and running off with their charge. A nice stiff drink was definitely calling her name after this. What a day it had been... and it still wasn't over yet. Hopefully the lord's daughter would be found safe and sound. The sooner the better.

[wingfeather]

Of course one was never to expect perfect obedience from a fellow like Casey and Lockian had captive now, for it happened that the two had forgotten to confiscate his weapon which was a small knife kept concealed in his belt. After a few steps the man made as if he had stumbled and drew the blade, slicing through his bonds and bolting into the forest. Had Lockian not the self control he possessed he would have fairly roared with anger, quickly he left on to his horse and wheeled after the man, ''Im going to kill him!'' he said to Casey. Lockian was surprised to find though that they hadn't need to ride far for a few yards away there he was standing against a tree, leaning on it a little heavily Lockian noticed. As the horses drew near he spoke out, ''listen, if I show you where she is, will you leave me in peace, otherwise I would swear you won't find her, and you will never be able to confine me to a prison,'' he watched them keenly. Lockian looked a Casey, ''what do you think.''

[mainehorse]

"I don't know... we'd best weigh our options carefully. On one hand... if he truly does take her to us then we'll be able to ensure her safe return. But at the same time, how can we be certain that he's being truthful? We could very well be allowing him to lead us into a trap. If we are going to take him up on his offer, we need to be certain that we can hold him to his word." Casey says. It was a tricky situation to be in. Without taking him up on his offer... finding the lord's daughter would prove difficult. But she wasn't sure she trusted this man. He hadn't given them any reason to trust him.

[wingfeather]

The man leaned back against the tree and continued watching them, “it’s just a chance you’ll have to take. Or leave. Your choice. I will say I don’t have the energy at the moment to outrun horses,” he said gesturing toward the steeds, “so take me back if you will, but you won’t find her without me,” he began cleaning his knife against his by now very bedraggled cloak before sliding it back into its sheath and looking back up at them. Lockian toyed with his blade as it hung at his side. He glanced briefly to Casey but, as always, couldn’t gain any guesses as to her thoughts. “Have we anything to lose?” he asked her quietly.

[mainehorse]

"I suppose we don't." Casey says, crossing her arms over her chest. "He's in no shape to lead us on a wild goose chase either it seems." She mutters. "Very well, take us to her. But know this, if it turns out you've been dishonest, then you'll be lucky if you live long enough to see the inside of a prison cell" she says flatly. At this point, she wasn't in the mood for any of his games. Not that she had been earlier either.