Geaman stood in the center of Estolad, he was more comfortable here than he had been in Lomedor, less people walked the streets and he no longer had to worry about his master's safety. He no longer wore his cloak instead he had willed the rock around his feet up to cover him, effectively disguising himself as part of a particulary ornate house. Once or twice he had even allowed himself the pleasure of jumping out at passersbys. Still he hoped to be away soon.

His master had set him the task of aquiring a rare book from a ruined temple not far from here, it was said to be protected by a group of monk's. This all sounded easy yet his master seemed to think he would require assistance. So, now he was waiting for the people his master had hired they were late and Geaman's temper was wearing thin. His master was being unusually secretive about the contents of this book but if his master was prepared to splash gold around then Geaman was prepared to go to any lengths to retrieve it, even if it meant sacrificing a few mercenaries.

Shifting his head slightly he saw several possible candidates moving his way.

Luke Duke had been minding his own business, sitting in a tavern and enjoying a glass of water when the man walked in. Luke peered over his book at him, and heard his distinct, regal voice. “Anyone looking for a job, come 'ere. I've got a mission to line the pockets of any mercenary that'll take it up.” Luke had turned back to the book he was reading, uninterested in the offer, when his stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since yesterday, and even that had been a sparse meal. The knight sighed and leaned back in his chair, looking at the cup of water on the bar next to him. He needed some gold if he wanted to eat, and the man behind him was willing to pay for a strong arm.

And so now he walked down the street, along with another two burly-looking mercenaries, looking for an earth elemental that served the man. They were to find him, accompany him to wherever it was they were going, and help retrieve some artifact. A book, the employer had said. There was the possibility of a fight, too, but Luke wasn't terribly worried. He had plenty of practice with a blade.

Soon they came to the spot, and the three stopped, looking around for the elemental. He was nowhere to be found. The two burly-looking mercenaries grunted, and stood next to each other, waiting for the creature that was obviously not there yet. Only Luke, who turned to a stone building with an unusual addition on it, noticed that the elemental was already here. He stepped forward, and smiled. “Are you ready to go?” He asked the creature, who was still surrounded by stone. The other two mercenaries looked at him with raised, bushy eyebrows, wondering what he was doing talking to a wall.

Geaman let the rock fall from his form showing himself to the two startled mercenaries and the sharp eyed young man. He wiped dust off his shoulder and looked at them. Two looked like thugs that you could find in any town's inn and momentarily he felt satisfaction at their startled expressions then his eyes settled on the young man. He was different than the others he had noticed him and this made Geaman feel uneasy.

"We will leave momentarily." he told the three humans before bending down and plunging his hand into the earth. He fished around until he felt the edge of his cloak. Grabbing it he withdrew the cloak from the earth and placed it on his shoulders. Turning he plunged his hand into a weathered gargoyle and withdrew his knife which he placed in his belt.

"There are 3 horses around the corner, ride East for 2 hours I will meet you there. Any questions?"

The knight watched as Geamon, the earth elemental that Luke's employer had told him to meet, drop the rocks around him and began to show his real shape. Luke was fascinated. He had never met a construct before; one of the elementals. He wondered if the creature's master had summoned him, found and trained him, or if the creature had just approached his current master looking for an adventure. I'm going to need to ask him. He thought to himself, figuring such a story was interesting enough to place in his newest novel he was writing.

It said that they would leave momentarily, and the knight nodded, watching as he pulled his cloak and weapons from nearby solid objects. It was something strange to watch. Luke wondered how the creature kept the objects solid and movable underneath the surface of objects. When the creature asked its question in a deep, earthy voice, one of the mercenaries, who had been trying to keep his legs from shaking in fear, suddenly turned tail and fled. He disappeared around the corner of a house with a howl. The other mercenary laughed. He was a broad-shoulder man with a large axe strapped to his back.

Luke scratched the back of his head. “Ah, I just wanted to say that it's nice to meet you, Geamon.” He said, remembering what his employer said was the creature's name. “I'm Luke, and I look forward to working with you.” He said politely, placing a gloved hand on his chest and bowing slightly. The other mercenary yawned, and folded his arms across his chest.

Geaman watched impassively as the mercenary fled he had little liking for sell-swords. Had it been a proper soldier who had fled from him he would have used his powers to bring him back. One of the mercenaries was laughing at his partners flight. His eyes fell upon the youngest human he was still watching him.

“Ah, I just wanted to say that it's nice to meet you, Geamon.” Said the young man he placed his hand on his chest and bowed. “I'm Luke, and I look forward to working with you.”

Geaman nodded his head and turned to the remaining man. "And you?"

"Gorn Mac a'Feargal, you may have heard of me?" The man said. Geaman could see contempt hidden behind the man's eyes. The large axe across Gorn's back was etched with runes that hurt his eyes, several he recognized.

"No should I have? Have you done something worthy of your name being recorded?"

Luke turned to the burly man, who stood with his large arms crossed over his chest. “Yeah, I've done plenty. My name's been recorded in more'n once.” The knight nodded. Shortly before being hired for this job, Luke had talked to Gorn about his many exploits across the land of Arda. He seemed to have quite the record about him. Of course, for all Luke knew the man could have been lying. He had never heard of the man before.

The axe-wielder grunted a laugh, looking at the elemental. “An I bet you haven't hearda me. Can ya even read, ya damned beast?” he asked, rather rudely, and hypothetically. He didn't wait for the elemental's answer. He turned his back and starting walking to the stables to get his horse. The knight, on the other hand, sighed and scratched the back of his blonde, messy hair. “He's a rude one, but from what he's told me, he's been a mercenary and fighter for quite some time. We're lucky to have such an experienced fighter with us.” he said. Unless the man in lying. But if that's so, than I'm sure we'll find out soon enough, in combat. He thought to himself with a smirk.

The knight turned, and began walking towards the stables. “East for two hours- got it. I'll see you in a little bit, Geamon.” He said without turning around. Luke was looking forward to completing this mission and heading back to the bar, where he could get a decent meal and work on his novel some more. It was coming along nicely. Perhaps his new employer, or the elemental, would share some of their stories with him? Luke smiled. It was going to be a good day.

Geaman watched the human's walk away. The axe that man was carrying had scared him he had recognized some of the runes, they were made to be lethal to his kind. He would have to watch him still the other seemed intelligent and looked like he could handle a blade. He hoped he wouldn't have to kill him.

He looked around and, seeing he was alone, let his powers flair. Slowly he began to sink into the earth. As the earth swallowed him he pictured the place he would meet the mercenaries.

He emerged from the earth in the middle of a clearing. Walking to the edge of the clearing he settled down to wait. To anyone who passed by he would appear as a weathered rock. As he sat he turned his mind to the problem of the axe.

Luke reached the stable and saw that Gorn had already saddled up a black horse for himself, and was readying it to depart. “Oi, let's go kid!” He yelled to Luke impatiently. The knight found a whit horse for himself, climbed on its already saddled back, and trotted out of the stable with it. The axeman grunted in approval and took the lead through town, with Luke following close behind. The roads to the area Geaman had specified were fairly well-kept, and provided easy riding, even for such a long ride. After an hour and a half, they were forced to leave the main road and enter a side trail, littered with branches and debris from a storm the area had endured a week earlier.

A moment after they entered the side trail they spotted several men, all raggedly-dressed and wielding short swords or daggers at their sides. They were obviously brigands. Yet, the group didn't bother Luke or his companion. The knight figured that it was because the axeman was such a fierce some looking opponent, and nobody really wanted to get on his bad side.

They reached the field a short while later, entering the vast expanse of light green grass folding and swaying in the wind. The sky was blue, with only a few delicate clouds moving through it, and the sun high overhead, warming the ground below. It was really a nice day. Luke enjoyed days like this, and would have liked to stop and take a nap, enjoying the atmosphere... But there was work to be done. In the center of the field there stood a large rock. Since Geaman had told them to meet him here, Luke figured the rock was him. Gorn didn't notice the connection.

“Oi, where's that damned elemental?” he asked, turning his head around the field from atop his horse, trying to spot the stoney creature. Luke shook his head at the man's ignorance, and waited for the elemental to show himself.

Geaman opened his eyes when he heard the horses entering the clearing. He heard Gorn shout “Oi, where's that damned elemental?” and sighed, he had been deep in contact with the land and at peace for the first time in months. Idly he thought about using his powers to make the ground underneath Gorn treacherous but he didn't want to injure the horse.

Pushing himself to his feet, careful to keep his movements slow lest he spook the horses, he approached Gorn had the grace to look embarrassed for a second before his usual arrogance masked to control.

"I have been here since before you mounted human." Geaman said fixing his gaze on the Luke he said, "You have a half hour to rest then we take a root through the forest, it's not safe for the horses so we'll be setting them loose."

Turning he walked a small distance away from the men and sat down in the shade. He heard footsteps behind him and forced himself to push down a feeling of irritation.

The knight watched as the rock he thought to be Geaman came to life, and walked up to Gorn, telling him that he had been there the whole time. Gorn had merely crossed his arms over his big chest and turned his head, as if he wasn't paying attention. The elemental turned to Luke. "You have a half hour to rest then we take a root through the forest, it's not safe for the horses so we'll be setting them loose." The knight nodded, and patted his horse's neck. Such a fine horse- what a waste to let it go back into the wild. This employer must be quite a rich man to let his horses go to waste like this. Luke dismounted and watched as the elemental went to sit in the shade. Gorn had already sprawled out in the grass next to his horse, his hands crossed under the back of his head. “Borin' mission if thar eva was one.” He said, closing his eyes. The knight turned to the elemental again. I wonder if he would mind talking to me..?

The knight decided he might as well try, and walked over to the elemental's side, sitting in the long grass opposite him. There was a light breeze blowing over the field, and it felt good, especially in the shade, away from the hot sun. Luke tilted his head a bit. “Geaman, if you don't mind me asking, how did you meet your master? Were you summoned, or did you find him on your own?” He asked, opening a book from his side. This would make an interesting story. Of course, he wouldn't write anything until he received the earth elemental's permission.

“Geaman, if you don't mind me asking, how did you meet your master? Were you summoned, or did you find him on your own?” The young human called Luke had approached him, disturbing him and now he wanted to know his past. Still there was more than one way to relax and commune with the land perhaps talking about his past would be one.

"I was summoned by my current master 10 years ago, he was 20 then and at the peak of his power. I am not his only servant he has several of my people spread around as well as a score of servants from other races. He collects rarities, items that he believes will be worth value or will help increase his powers. Recently these items have been darker. Anything else?" He asked.

"I've seen you do impossible things how?"

"I don't know, it comes naturally. You wonder how I got here before you?" He paused and Luke nodded. "I simply opened my mind to the land and thought of this place. Tell me did you pass anyone on the road?"

"Yes some bandit why?"

"They're sneaking up on Gorn."