Dinner early in the Nolands is peppered cabbage soup (with a chicken broth base). This is served with bread, and dried apples for a touch of sweetness. There is a small amount of non-chicken-broth-based cabbage soup for the vegetarians (or anyone else).
A little while into helping prepare the dinner, Mel realizes the ingrediants that Rhost is using. Hesitantly she askes, "Tista 'tagħmel waħda li sservi ta' forsi ftit tal-laħam u l-lamtu? Jekk jogħġbok?"
Rhost frowns the smallest amount. "tgħinek. The frown vanishes. "għaliex?"
"will help you. why?"
Rhost frowns the smallest amount. "tgħinek. The frown vanishes. "għaliex?"
Mel looks around the camp, trying to ensure that there is no one around to listen. Still, she uses magic to make the next even more private.
Translation: "It's not your food, your food is wonderful. But, Lio... She doesn't like cooked cabbage. Bad memories."
She shrugs. "Aħjar li taf l-ewwel, id-dritt?"
He brushes the hair from her face, looking deeply into her eyes. "Melinda... you know that you're wonderful, right?"
Rhost frowns again. "Iva." He sighs. "Nies." He thinks for a minute. Stirs the pot. "Kif nista 'ngħid make a list ta 'jħobb u l-biża ta 'ikel?"
"Yes. People. How do you say ... of likes and fears of food?"
Rhost assists Melinda and makes sure a double portion of bread is set aside.
She looks at him, "Wanted to let you sleep... but... cold ground, no blanket. Didn't want you to get sick again."
"I didn't get sick before," he says indignantly. "I don't get sick. But you're right. Sleeping in a wagon, even one that smells like feet is preferable to the cold ground. 'Course, I'd rather be cuddled up with a certain young lady, but mores are mores." He kisses the tip of her nose and moves to get his clothing.
Mel thinks for a while, "Istmerrija. It's not quite right, is general, but closest I can find."
She smiles at the large half-elf. "nirringrazzjak."
"Thank you."
Night in the Nolands falls early and swiftly at this time of year, as if the struggling sun can only climb so high above the horizon before the darkness claws it down. Far off to the south, faintly heard, a wolf howls into the blackness.
Myri glances over at Attatoq, and smiles. "Anything new?"
Alaric looks up from lacing his breeches, pulling his gaze from the secret places of her in order to search her face in that obnoxious way that says he's about to read her mind.
Shalelu is as opaque and hard to read as she usually is.
"You think he is insincere?" she asks.
Lio's mind twists and turns. Now she will think that I returned her kisses only because of what happened between him and I, is the first one that pops into her head. If only she knew when I handed her that apple, before I left for Brinewall, that I wanted so much to kiss her. We even had a moment alone. I should have kissed her then. And this cantankerous boy, why do I have to care about him? Why do I think about him as much as I think about her? Her thoughts aren't in any particular order. With raw emotion, she is only able to voice some of them. "I think, in a moment of vulnerability he saw something in me that cannot truly be there. He shared with me something that I never thought I could have, and then upon regaining his equilibrium, he has reverted to being formal, distant, and has hardly spoken to me since. Does he care for me? Maybe. I do not rightly know. I feel... I feel as though he saw, that night, what horror lies within my mind, when Mel accidentally touched me, and he has not approached me since. I know, I know that I am not innocent or pure, and that I have done things just to survive, that a good person would not have done. So I cannot see what he, nor can I see what you, find within me that is... worth something. I, should not have kissed you without disclosing my conflicting feelings, although I am... very glad I got the chance to kiss you. I know, I do not deserve you. I am beyond sorry for hurting you." She says the last quietly, no longer working on dressing the animal to take back to the camp, all of her energy focused on not fleeing from the wrath she feels might come at her any moment.
Alaric approaches Myriana at some point. "I suppose I've put this off for long enough. Can we speak? Privately?"
Myri looks up at Mel's uncleric and Reta's father and smiles, "Of course. I'm glad. You don't mind walking, I assume?" "Where too?
She smiles at him, "Mind reader." And the smile fades. She starts to say something else, but cuts herself off when she catches sight of his haggard, sleep-deprived face.
Myri looks up at Mel's uncleric and Reta's father and smiles, "Of course. I'm glad. You don't mind walking, I assume?" "Where too?
"Your choice." Alaric is content to follow Myri wherever she chooses to take him.
Then, awkwardly: "How do you want to do this? Shall I tell you what I meant by what I said? Or do you want to tell me how you interpreted it?"
When they are far enough away from the party, Alaric will break the silence. He is clearly very tense, but no longer has the hostile edge that he used to. He seems almost afraid of Myriana. "I'm tired of having this misunderstanding hanging between us. Especially considering... well, especially considering Melinda. I don't know if you know this, but it amused her when I told her. In the beginning, I assumed you two were sisters."
Then, awkwardly: "How do you want to do this? Shall I tell you what I meant by what I said? Or do you want to tell me how you interpreted it?"
After sweeping the area with her eyes, Myri sits down, her back against a tree, bow close to hand. She again looks up into his eyes. "I'm glad." Myri's smile turns a little sad. "You know, I still consider her as such. ...& Lio too, though that wasn't fair, Lio has so much more experience than I do, I... ... I'm sorry, I'm getting off track. ... but please, there is no reason to be nervous. I know you have Mel's best interest at heart, ... ... and that goes a long way to making things right with me. ... Though I admit, you had me a bit worried there for a little while, I believed you'd come around.
"Anyway, sorry, I know you didn't mean to say it the way I heard it, so I don't think it would be very productive for you to go first...but, since you offered, why not?" she smiles a little evily, "You know my dads' celebrated my birthday on Jester Cap, right? So why not make this interesting? What did you mean?"
Soon after the caravan stops on one of the travel days, Mel knocks on the alchemy wagon hoping to catch Hrithik.
Myri's expression turns quizzical, "Umm..Alaric? Are you scared of me?"
He paces, whole body a taut bowstring. "This is what I said: that if I am wrong and there is an afterlife, worrying about what the dead think of you is pointless. Simply because you'll meet them in the afterlife and you can make amends then. And if I am right and there is no afterlife, worrying is equally pointless since, well, they no longer care."
Nervous fidgeting joins the pacing. He looks like a sharp word could shatter him into a thousand pieces. He won't even glance at Myri, so terrifying is her presence. "I suggested a third option, which I'm doing right now. Which is to treat those around you with love and respect so that there is nothing to regret. Not always possible, but I think it's a noble goal to strive for."
He holds up a trembling hand. "And yes, I have figured out that you were not able to do this for a loved one, and for that I am sincerely sorry. If it helps, we share that pain. I made peace with it by... doing this. Being a healer. Trying to make sure that the fewest possible people experience that pain."
He falls silent, bracing himself as though for a blow.
"Oh, the usual. It was on a caravan like this. I was scouting around after the evening meal and found him. He was a pup and had been orphaned. I took him back with me, and we've been inseparable since." "How about you? How did you start getting involved with such an unusual weapon?"
Tollin stiffens for a moment and grows quiet, then with a slight shudder the tension eases from his shoulders and he speaks. When i was fourteen years old I found myself living on the streets of Alkenstar. One night, like many nights I found myself starving and no way of legally obtaining food. So, like many nights I stole food. A snort of amusement escapes Tollin. Well on this night rather, I tried to steal food. I had found a way into a small house, actually the door was unlocked. I found a loaf of bread less then a day old, some cheese, and some dwarven ale. It was the best meal I had in weeks. Sad huh? Anyway, I had never had dwarven ale before and it hit me very very hard and very quickly. When I woke up there was an old dwarf sitting in a chair staring at me. I had no idea what to do. After a few more seconds he asked me what I planned to do. I was a bit confused and so I told him i didn't know. After a little bit he told me my lessons would begin at dawn. Over the next three years he taught me the way of the gun. To be honest I don't think he thought I could grasp some of the technical parts. But I surprised him. I focused my every waking moment learning what he had to teach me. And in the end I learned all he had to teach and then I left.
So how did you become a Cavalier?
Her words only seem to make him tense up more. He doesn't shake this bad in combat. "Well, I think you'll find that I tend to mean what I say. As you know, I'm an atheist... which was the crux of why I refused to apologize. I won't apologize for my beliefs, and nor should anyone. Defend them with logic, of course. But apologize for expressing them? No."
He paces, whole body a taut bowstring. "This is what I said: that if I am wrong and there is an afterlife, worrying about what the dead think of you is pointless. Simply because you'll meet them in the afterlife and you can make amends then. And if I am right and there is no afterlife, worrying is equally pointless since, well, they no longer care."
Nervous fidgeting joins the pacing. He looks like a sharp word could shatter him into a thousand pieces. He won't even glance at Myri, so terrifying is her presence. "I suggested a third option, which I'm doing right now. Which is to treat those around you with love and respect so that there is nothing to regret. Not always possible, but I think it's a noble goal to strive for."
He holds up a trembling hand. "And yes, I have figured out that you were not able to do this for a loved one, and for that I am sincerely sorry. If it helps, we share that pain. I made peace with it by... doing this. Being a healer. Trying to make sure that the fewest possible people experience that pain."
He falls silent, bracing himself as though for a blow.
At her question as to whether he fears her, he hesitates, then nods mutely.
Myri sighs, "Come here." She extends her hands towards him, holding his eyes with hers.
So how did you become a Cavalier?
"Well, nothing nearly so dramatic. I was always the dreamer in my family. I loved listening to the tales the bards would tell and sing. I always dreamt that I'd be in those tales one day." Kalimac seems a little uneasy. Not for his tale, but for the realization that of all his new-found friends he has led the least complicated and least trauma-filled life. He feels a bit guilty for being so blessed.
"I used to play at being a knight as a kid. When I was of age, I joined up with the Vhiski caravans. I learned from whoever would teach me. The horselords in the Velashu Uplands taught me to ride and the way of horses. I learned to fight from the sellswords who had hired on with the caravans, and so on. A couple of them had been cavaliers themselves, and I found my calling."
Kalimac shrugs. "It's kind of a boring story, really. Compared with you and Lio and Hrithik, I mean. I still have my dad back on the farm in Sandpoint to worry about me. I guess that may be why I chose the adventuring life; something in me wants the danger."
** spoiler omitted **
Tollin smirks at Shalelu.
Oh thank the gods. I totally understand why you are so weird, I thought that it was because you were so old, its not. To be honest if I was surrounded by all this...this naturey stuff for as long as you have been I'd be a bit off too, It can not be good for you. Can't wait to get behind some walls, have access to a market, and take a nice long hot bath.
Timidly, Alaric approaches, still waiting for something horrible to happen.
Myri takes his hands in hers, "Look, you are at least as strong as I am. The only way I can hurt you physically is with my bow. I need two hands for that. You hold them now, so that is not an option. If you fear my words..." an eyebrow raises slightly, along with a corner of her mouth, "well, you could gag me, but I think that would be kind of counter productive, don't you?" she pauses, thinking, "You know? I don't understand this. A few days ago, I was the one that couldn't...well, I don't know. I wasn't very sure of myself I guess. And now you, one of the smartest people I know is scared of me." She smiles again sadly, "It doesn't make sense. Why are you scared of me? You are Mel's friend. Mel is...like a sister to me. You make Mel happy. You have nothing to fear from me. Understand?"
She looks at him again, suddenly a little suspicious. "Wait a minute. Is this an act? Are you acting afraid, just to make me feel confident or something?" There seems to be the hint of a smile behind her suspicious glare.
Mel sits next to Alaric as he reads in the dimming light. She says nothing, but pulls out her flute, and softly plays a quiet and contemplative song.
perform:wind
Mel sits next to Alaric as he reads in the dimming light. She says nothing, but pulls out her flute, and softly plays a quiet and contemplative song.
He places an absent hand on her leg, smiling at the lovely song. When she finishes, he whispers a kiss on her cheek and thanks in her ear.
He places an absent hand on her leg, smiling at the lovely song. When she finishes, he whispers a kiss on her cheek and thanks in her ear.
Mel leans against the uncleric for a short while whispering to him.
Liothonae is not by the fire. When the scent of cooking filled the air, she quietly abandoned whatever she was doing, and entered the one place least likely to smell like cabbage but still be within the camp, the Alchemy lab.
So how did you become a Cavalier?"Well, nothing nearly so dramatic. I was always the dreamer in my family. I loved listening to the tales the bards would tell and sing. I always dreamt that I'd be in those tales one day." Kalimac seems a little uneasy. Not for his tale, but for the realization that of all his new-found friends he has led the least complicated and least trauma-filled life. He feels a bit guilty for being so blessed.
"I used to play at being a knight as a kid. When I was of age, I joined up with the Vhiski caravans. I learned from whoever would teach me. The horselords in the Velashu Uplands taught me to ride and the way of horses. I learned to fight from the sellswords who had hired on with the caravans, and so on. A couple of them had been cavaliers themselves, and I found my calling."
Kalimac shrugs. "It's kind of a boring story, really. Compared with you and Lio and Hrithik, I mean. I still have my dad back on the farm in Sandpoint to worry about me. I guess that may be why I chose the adventuring life; something in me wants the danger."
Tollin offers Kalimac a smile.
I'm not sure about Lio or Hrithik, but my early life was......... unpleasant.
Tollin grows quiet for a few minuets.
That does not mean that you should feel your life was in some way lacking. It takes more for someone to give up a safe and comfortable life to go out into the world and help those in need. As for me.....well I do what I do to try and keep what happened to me from happening to others.
Tollin looks hard at Kalimac and his voice grows cold.
There are individuals out there of all races who are evil in mind, spirit, and action. As long as they are alive they are threats to those who cannot protect themselves. There is only one guaranteed way to keep them from hurt others again. I'm not good Kalimac, I know this. But I do try and protect those who are.
Tollin shakes himself and rubs his face as if he is taking off one of his masks. Then with a bit of a laugh says, Well that was a bit dramatic, sorry
As Tollin speaks with Kalimac he works on the plans he is making for reenforcing the wagons. The drawings contain measurements, lists of possible problems, and supplies that will be needed to preform the upgrades and those that will need to be acquired later.
He will continue to work on these plans that evening near the campfire.
Alaric relaxes slightly. Nods. He smiles at the mention of Mel: a reflex, as though even a stray mention puts her with him. It passes over his face quickly, demeanor growing serious again. The tension is not gone, but it is not the terror it was. "You've heard my side of the story. Do you want to tell me yours?"
Myri smiles as Alaric relaxes a little. "And so we get back to why we're actually here. Okay, though you still haven't told me why you're frightened of me. That really makes no sense. ... Anyway...Sure...my side, Um, okay,... ... Lio had just mentioned that it 'must be nice to say good bye' and I had replied '...and sometimes you only wish you could'. You may not have heard that. I was kind of mumbling to myself, but anyway, her words had got me thinking about my..um,..biological parents. Probably the wrong frame of mind. Anyway, when you continued with it being so important to show your love while your loved ones were still alive, ...well, like you've already surmised, I never had the chance to do that, the only memories I have of my parents are from my dreams. Some are good...and...and...Oh gods,..what month is it?" she begins to shudder
will:shuts her eyes, and apparently regains control. "Sorry, um, where was I? um, parents. Yes, dead. Couldn't tell them, couldn't show them. Um...you had said, Goodbyes not necessary..person has no knowledge of their death. Um, that's not what happened to my parents. My father was turned into a wight. My mother, into a spirit. ...though from what Buttersnips tells me, I guess that's a good thing. She stayed around long enough to bring my father back. ... Just as something that...that I can't ...talk too." Myri's face seems a little strained, and her hands in Alaric's are trembling again. Just a little. She regains control. "I...I've spent every new moon I can in Whitewillow, trying to communicate with whatever remains of the essence of the spirit that was my mother. It's when I feel the closest to her. When I can almost feel her looking down on me ... or in the essence of the plants and water around me. When the dreams are...wonderful." She shivers again, briefly. "...and...and if the other...dreams are...well, if you are telling me I am doing that to myself..." she begins to shake again and stops speaking briefly, closing her eyes and regaining control. She takes a deep breath, "Sorry. The only other explanation to the dreams I have, other than my mother...is that I am crazy." She again looks up into Alaric's eyes. "And I'd prefer not to believe that, thank you."
Myri seems to have exhausted a lot of emotion and energy into this explanation, but she is still holding Alaric's gaze. "Does that make sense? Am I being...intelligible? ...or am I really going crazy?" Her grip tightens on Alaric's hands, almost as if she's saying, "I can't let you go, I refuse to let you go, without an answer."
And when evening comes, she does.
Green eyes lock with blue, "Not you, me." She doesn't reach for her ancestor, just lets her make her own choice.
Mel leans against the uncleric for a short while whispering to him.
He nods. "I'll be here until then."
** spoiler omitted **