Artemis:
Meanwhile, as soon as Penny is safe ashore, Ian crawls to her side, eyes wide. Are you alright? Did the bugger get you? His voice is full of worry, which is almost laughable when you get a good look at his arm, which he lets hang at his side. It's so wounded it's literally almost completely severed. He glances down at it himself, swears, and turns to Alice. Yes! Most definitely yes I want! he exclaims at her offer. Thankfully a drop soon puts him to rights and his arm knits back together, to everyone's relief. The rate I'm going, I'll be using up that whole blasted bottle on my own, thanks Alice, he shakes his head with a scowl.
For a long moment, Penny just stared at Ian, her blue eyes empty of understanding. She was still somewhat in shock by all that she'd survived. And then her mind caught up and she realised.
'Oh, the crocodile. No, I'm fine, it only took a bite out of my skirts... Funny how a crocodile is the least of our troubles now.' she chuckled, somehow still able to find amusement in all this. But then she couldn't seem to stop herself, and hollow ragged laughter shook her body. Some might call her hysterical, but it would not be entirely unreasonable; Penny had been pushed her to her physical, emotional, and mental limits. She had every right to go mad.
But then she caught sight of Ian's injuries, shocking and streaming blood, and was snapped immediately back to grim reality.
'Oh God, Ian!' she screamed, moving close to inspect despite her horror, as if she could find some way of fixing him, as if she could find some way not to lose him. Fortunately, Alice did, and Penny was filled with relief.
'Yes, thank you, Alice.' she said herself. But Penny stayed closed to Ian, looking over his former wounds, holding his arm, holding him, unwilling to let him go.
Artemis:
Rome? Well, two guesses where it ended up, Loki smirks. Alright people, how do you wanna split up? Rock paper scissors? Thumb wrestle? How about it? he claps his hands as though to hurry things along.
The discussion of their strategy from here gave Penny a useful excuse to detach herself from Ian and concentrate on more practical, cerebral matters. Rather than those of the heart.
'If you think it is safe? Thus far, we have been ambushed by demigods at both sites, and shouldn't be surprised if we are again. We only just survived both times. And Hecate will be back, and she won't parley this time...' Penny caught herself and sighed, aware she was growing too fearful, focusing on the dangers rather than the benefits.
'But, our enemies can only ambush one of us, I hope, and if they find us here in Lalibela, they may miss us in Rome, or vice versa. It may even tell us how they're finding us.' she agreed.
She turned to Archambaud, saying
'You mentioned your counterpart here in Ethopia – so more knights of your order guard the other scrolls? Do you know which? You may convince one of the rightness of our quest, but how may we persuade the other?'
Afterward, looking for Crimwall, she asked
'What do you know of Ethopia and the famous rock-hewn churches of Lalibela? Amharic or the early Semitic languages? I am fluent in Latin, of course, so might translate any old writings in Rome, and your skills may make you more effective here.'
OOC: I've seen a documentary about them, does that help? :)
Knowledge (History) 21
Knowledge (Theology & Philosophy) 15