"As for the rest ... you're saying you want to buy traps for the Caravan? That'd be useful. But ... there's something you need for that? Not sure I followed."
"Yes." Adding quietly, "are you?"
Shalelu closes her eyes and leans ever so slightly into your touch.
"If you are," she replies, "I am."
"Half man who is chiseled from a mountain, he who is named Rhost by the two legged,
asks for you assistance in a matter of a gift for Kalimac. He requests fur, and wonders if you might be amicable of offering some of yours."
** spoiler omitted **
In elven, I need some time to think about what you have said. But we are alright." Her voice is low, intimate.
Of all the things she does next, she steps into the small distance separating the two women, and gives Shalelu a hug. She does not let go and step away after a few seconds, rather, she holds on to the taller woman.
** spoiler omitted **
Rhost accepts a hand up from Hrunndalf, shaking his head. "Good armor," he says.
"Yeah. Those dwarves sure know their handiwork."
Hrunndalf casts several healing spells on Rhost on the way back to camp, using his quarterstaff as a walking stick. His dwarven armor might have blocked Rhost's direct hits, but he had still received a pummeling through the padding.
He nods at Rhost's ears. "So what's your story?"
Zaiobe glances towards the rest of you with a raised eyebrow.
Alaric reaches out for Zaiobe.
Assuming she takes his hand.
Myri sees the raven, notices Zaiobe's raised eyebrow and Alaric hand reaching towards Zaiobe, she says "For whatever reason, it's decided to stay out of normal bow range, so that's never even been a consideration," she pauses,
and visibly tries and fails to stifle a sigh "& I know you guys really don't like killing, anyway." another pause, "..but I have a net in the wagon if that'll help." She does not intentionally mimic Zaiobe's raised eyebrow.
Long moments later, she forces herself to stop. "So... how do we have this..." Already turning a light mint.
"This conversation? I think we first agree not to get mad at the other." He considers. Then, his voice measured and free of judgment: "Firstly, I won't treat her or anyone else as an object. She's a person with feelings. Not that I think you would be cruel to her or anything. I just felt the need to say it. Secondly... are you attracted to her?"
He squirms a bit uncomfortably. "I've also... done that. Before. Once. It was fun although not the most... emotionally satisfying of experiences. That being said, it's not something that I need to do anymore."
For the last, he needs to muster up some courage. "Zaiobe is beautiful. Yes, I wanted to kiss her. But I wanted to uphold my promise to the woman I love more."
|
"If you admired her for the resemblance to Abrogail, maybe her pain had something to do with the fact that the only image Melinda has of the person you compared her to, was as the one who ordered the flaying death of your first love. ...I cannot blame her for being angry about such a comparison."
Hrithik has held off on commenting about this particular detail for a time. After Liothonae's care and wise lecture, it is this piece that he comes back to.
"Different people saw different parts of my memory, though it seems that those close saw mostly the same thing. Was there no recollection of Queen Abrogail issuing mercy to our trading partner, or ruling that as veterans we wouldn't be crippled and reenslaved, or deferring final judgment on us as veterans to her Regent General, which is the only reason Kyriya was able to earn my freedom? She was bound to her Throne, but not without humanity."
Hrithik wipes some blood from his brow. "And she was filled with some power within just as your Descendant is. Her Court had many true Devils, from Hell itself. All of them defer to her. The Queen and your descendant are both able Leaders."
"Melinda is a young, powerful woman, unable to prevent all the woe she would like. She is very much like Her Infernal Majestrix. I must apologize to her if she did not see the Queen as thoroughly as I did."
|
|
"You are here, in the middle of nowhere, with me, in a caravan of idealists, adventurers, and fools. I do not like it when you play the fool. But I am very fond of your idealism.
"Clearly there are some people who we are traveling with, who will never see eye to eye with you. They will never like you. No matter what you do, no matter how amazing you become, some people will never see it, never accept it, never get past the insults, perceived or real they have suffered at your hands. Knowing you cannot win them over, does not mean you should give in to your darkness. Although without darkness, the light does not matter, it is the light which is more fleeting and fragile.
Hrithik smiles sadly at these wise words, and the long lecture proceeding them. "Thank you, Liothonae," he says. "I will try to be more idealistic for you."
|
|
Rhost also has questions for Liothonae and Hrithik the next time he sees either of them.
"Saving pickles for Crown of the World. Is OK?"
Hrithik is carrying several bags of clothing. One of the bags jingles occasionally. The rest seem to have the full spectrum of vivid colors represented.
Hrithik nods to Rhost, and smiles. "Whenever you feel the rainbow is best. Perhaps under the northern Aurora?"
Hrithik pauses, then adds, "I owe an admission. Before recent orders, I would generally absorb sounds and voices constantly. In the course of that, I overheard Kelda propositioning you, and your response. I apologize for the violation of privacy. You have my Word that I will not repeat it."
He stumbles a bit over his next words. "But...the three of us... it would also be a great deal of fun."
Then, his voice steady, once again on sure ground. "How about this: we tell Zaiobe our reservations. There's nothing wrong with wanting to get to know her better. If at any point, you want to shut that door, we shut it. If at any point, I want to shut that door, we shut it. Mel, your happiness is the most important thing to me here. And no one is ever going to take your place in my heart."
Rhost is not very picky in his choice of inn (i.e. first one), and may regret that when it comes time to pay for the damages.
"Brushed," Rhost says. "Cutting feels wrong."
Rhost thinks for a moment. "Ears from mother. Biceps from father. Rage from within." Rhost thinks again, then delves deeper. "Brinewall made my teeth grind. Much as we bond, I travel with Koya." Rhost's face splits into a broad grin. "Sparred and lost. You are current."
"Forgiven and forgotten," Rhost says. "Another question. I would restore Whispering Shrike. Might you know help?"
** spoiler omitted **
"Melinda is a young, powerful woman, unable to prevent all the woe she would like. She is very much like Her Infernal Majestrix. I must apologize to her if she did not see the Queen as thoroughly as I did."
"I think, although apologizing is a good idea, you might not want to get into the details. Melinda will take that as an excuse, rather than an apology. Just let her know it was not your intention to insult her, and let it go at that. If she wants to know more, she will ask. And then you can fill her in on the specifics." Liothonae offers.
Hrithik smiles sadly at these wise words, and the long lecture proceeding them. "Thank you, Liothonae," he says. "I will try to be more idealistic for you."
"I am sorry that I go on so, and lecture. I wish you could see, what I see, when I look at you. How kind, and sweet, and wonderful you can be. How you make me feel things I never believed for even a moment that I could ever feel, let alone that I would feel at all. You, of all people, kissed my hand in the forest, you stayed with me through your ordeals, and you saw me. No one has ever seen me before, and wanted to see more. Even when I broke down, and threatened you with a dagger, you did not turn from me. How can I turn from you? For all the darkness, there is so much light in you. So much wonder. And you have shown me this, and even joy." She smiles. "Let's get you cleaned up, and then I will heal you. You need to be at full strength tomorrow. It's going to be a long day."
Zaiobe nods to Alaric, then accepts the net from Myri. Once she has it, she launches herself into the air.
As soon as she does so, the raven wheels away and flies to the north.
Zaiobe takes off in pursuit. The two soon vanish from sight.
In the quiet period after dinner, Kalimac seeks out Ameiko. In a semi-private area away from the main crush of the crowd, Kalimac produces two books which he hands to Ameiko.
"As a lover of stories, I thought you might appreciate these," he says. "The dwarven bookseller that sold this to me said this one's title translates from Tien to 'People Unwary of the Strange Ways of the World Adrift in Foreign Countries'. It's supposed to be an account of the south Inner Sea region by a visiting Tien writer." Something in his demeanor says he hopes the dwarf can be taken at his word, and if not that whatever it really turns out to be Ameiko will take in good humor.
"This one is one of the more famous Halfling stories, so you may already know it. But even so, it holds special meaning to me, since I was named for one of the heroes. It's best in the original Halfling." Kalimac smiles at this, silently hoping that Ameiko does not know how to read Halfling.
Zaiobe takes off in pursuit. The two soon vanish from sight.
Alaric keeps searching the skies as the caravan moves, worry plain on his face.
In the quiet period after dinner, Kalimac seeks out Ameiko. In a semi-private area away from the main crush of the crowd, Kalimac produces two books which he hands to Ameiko.
"As a lover of stories, I thought you might appreciate these," he says. "The dwarven bookseller that sold this to me said this one's title translates from Tien to 'People Unwary of the Strange Ways of the World Adrift in Foreign Countries'. It's supposed to be an account of the south Inner Sea region by a visiting Tien writer." Something in his demeanor says he hopes the dwarf can be taken at his word, and if not that whatever it really turns out to be Ameiko will take in good humor.
"This one is one of the more famous Halfling stories, so you may already know it. But even so, it holds special meaning to me, since I was named for one of the heroes. It's best in the original Halfling." Kalimac smiles at this, silently hoping that Ameiko does not know how to read Halfling.
Alaric's heart melts a little. He tries not to stare intently.
Alaric's heart melts a little. He tries not to stare intently.
Mel, no doubt next to Alaric, elbows him very gently when his staring gets obvious.
At his shy question, she blushes. She almost asks the question in her eyes, 'Close eyes?' But doesn't.
She puts the small pouch with a little coin and her flute down on the chair. With her back to Alaric, she pulls her large shirt over her head. As the shirt comes up, a silky black corset is revealed. She glances over her shoulder at Alaric.
Zaiobe nods to Alaric, then accepts the net from Myri. Once she has it, she launches herself into the air.
As soon as she does so, the raven wheels away and flies to the north.
Zaiobe takes off in pursuit. The two soon vanish from sight.
"Please be careful. Watch your surroundings." Myri calls after her, watching as she leaves. She glances once at Alaric, sharing a worried look. She sighs, "There won't be anything we can do." She forces herself to turn and find other duties to attend too.
She steps out of pile of clothes at her feet. Leaving her in skimpy black lacy underwear. As she turns, he can make out bone white carved skull and crossbones accents on the corset. The deeply black material makes her skin look even paler. She turns, "Like?"
"As a lover of stories, I thought you might appreciate these," he says. "The dwarven bookseller that sold this to me said this one's title translates from Tien to 'People Unwary of the Strange Ways of the World Adrift in Foreign Countries'. It's supposed to be an account of the south Inner Sea region by a visiting Tien writer." Something in his demeanor says he hopes the dwarf can be taken at his word, and if not that whatever it really turns out to be Ameiko will take in good humor.
She looks a little puzzled at the description of the title, but her eyes light up when she glances at the cover. "Oh, it's Innocents Abroad! It's supposed to be a classic, but I've never read it."
"This one is one of the more famous Halfling stories, so you may already know it. But even so, it holds special meaning to me, since I was named for one of the heroes. It's best in the original Halfling." Kalimac smiles at this, silently hoping that Ameiko does not know how to read Halfling.
"I ... I don't actually know how to read Halfling, I'm afraid," she says a little apologetically. "Or Thassilonian, or Ignan, or Abyssal," she adds a little obscurely under her breath. "But," she adds more brightly, "I think we're all going to be more polyglot by the end of this trip."