Weaving his fingers into her hair, Alethiro begins massaging her scalp while working in the soap. After a couple of minutes the Elf begins rinsing her hair, taking care not to have it run into her eyes.
Arista relaxes at his touch, and makes a low kind of humming noise in the back of her throat. "Hhmmmm...thank you, that helped a bit." She soaps up and makes sure she's good and scrubbed to almost a glow before she rinses off. It's hard to get an exact read on her facial expression, but she doesn't seem quite as animated as she usually is.
Once he's done soaping and rinsing she leans back against him, leaning her head back against his chest.
"Is everything alright my love?"
Smiling contentedly she says, "Well...yes, I'm sure it's fine. It's just been a long stressful couple of days, that's all. I guess all of the excitement is just finally catching up to me, that's all."
Sādhanā couches down alongside Corda placing a supportive hand on the other woman's back. "Well that isn't any good at all is it? You need your sleep now more than ever. I know you're worried about Skaar but remember that he can definitely take care of himself. He'll be back eventually. Is there anything we can do to help?"
Ylrhea laughs. "No, it's fine, Cyna. I didn't think anyone was going to tangle with all those soldiers, but I don't think I learned anything important."
Corda gave a sharp look at Sādhanā before snapping, "Worry has nothing to do with it. You trying going to sleep night after night and having dreams about the love of your life getting torn to pieces by formless shadowy things. How well would you sleep?"
"It has been a stressful couple of days, but it's over now. Oh, did I tell you Clara wanted me to join with the Hospitallers? I accepted the offer. I figured another healer remaining in town couldn't hurt." After a few more minutes, the couple got out of the tub, dried off, dressed themselves, and went to see Arista's family off.
After his training session with Esmerelda, Drago spent some time with Elena, getting more aquainted with her and her family. But in the back of his mind, there remained the persistant worry over Niccolo. I pray we get to him in time.
She looks at him and smiles, "I think you joining the Hospitallers is an excellent idea. With so many people coming here now, they need all the help they can get. Besides, I've been so worried about Corda...I'd feel better knowing that you are here in town to help her if she needs it. Even if all she needs is someone to talk to. I don't want her to feel like she has to go through this alone." Once she finishes dressing she goes to him and puts her arms around him, "You...are the most wonderful man, and I feel that I am truly blessed to have someone like you in my life." She leans in to give him a soft and tender kiss before leaving to see Marie and the others.
"Honestly, I probably wouldn't. But you aren't just doing things for yourself now are you? No matter what happens you have a life that's as much a part of Skaar as you growing inside of you and you owe it to all three of you to put that first." Sādhanā says quietly.
"The last time we left, it felt as if we'd been gone for 4 days. For Clara and everyone else here, it was 2 months. And for every day of that she had to keep believing that we'd be back. That I'd be back, because I will always come back to her. Skaar may have disappeared into some bizarre shadow realm but this is the same man who conquered a Minotaur and made me a wedding present from a horn. Focus on being healthy for your baby Corda, that's where you're most needed right now. And you're surrounded by people who are ready to help however you need."
The young witch's features softened. Throwing her arms around Sādhanā and bursting into tears, she managed to say, "I'm just so angry right now, I don't know what to do." The rest was lost to mumbling in coherently as she sobbed on the Magus' shoulder.
Sādhanā holds the young witch as she cries, allowing her to give vent to her emotions. "I know you're angry, and you have every right to. But anger won't help either of you right now. Take care of yourself and your growing child. The forces that curse Zahvroma want nothing more than to deprive us all of a good life. It's up to all of us to defy them in every way we can."
She looks past Corda to her wife, seeing the compassion in her eyes. "We will probably be heading out soon but Clara will be here, and I believe Alethiro will be as well. Please, don't hesitate to approach either of them if you need anything."
Once she finally manages to stop crying, she responds, "*sniff* Okay."
Umina hitches the horses to the carriage and loads the luggage with due diligence. Marie, Lucco and the children stand ready, while Andres and Zeph speak with Godrick.
Elsewhere, Hasina sets up a little altar on the beach, setting out a couple of the small biscuits that Hadrinn was kind enough to give her. The old vanara woman smiled inwardly. In hardship and worry, we all find ourselves equal.
In a rather foul mood Cyna spends the morning looking around town. Trying to figure out better ways to defend it should the worst happen and to just getting a general idea of how the day to day goes.
Forty Armed men shouldn't have gotten so close without a warning.
Cyna realizes the beach is the weakest point in Valwick's defenses. The lighthouse is too far to be of any use and the cannons at the top of the fort are better suited to using against enemy ships.
***
Marie gives Arista her laundry, her scimitar and a big hug. "It was wonderful to see you again. I just hope things get better for you from here on out. You know where we live, so don't be a stranger."
Lucco and Zeph congratulate Arista and Alethiro again, then the old aasimar gives them a wide smile. "We really didn't bring you any presents for your blessed occasion, so we'd like to leave four of our horses with you. It seems like the town could need them and a romantic ride once in a while is quite good for the spirits. We've already to talked to Godrick and they'll be kept by the paladins' barracks until you need them."
Nerah and Wilk approach the newlyweds. "Bye, Auntie Awista and Unca Awetheewo! See you soon!"
Marie smiles and loads the children in the carriage. "It may not be soon, but, please, come see us again."
Andres finishes helping Umina then gives his aunt a hug. "Thank you for your hospitality, Arista and Alethiro."
The family gets into the carriage along with Zeph, while Umina takes the reins of the horses. "Farewell for now. Many blessings!"
The carriage rides out of town and is beyond the horizon in a matter of minutes.
Harakhty departs from Sadhana before the meeting with Corda. I was the one to divulge the news to her; she might be upset with me. In truth, Harakhty was upset with himself: Nothing had been done about the disappearance yet. He felt useless.
But perhaps nothing can be done.
Fittingly, in his worry, he went to meet Hasina to offer a prayer. "You were always good at finding special spots. A shady nook ... a flat tree branch ... a clearing next to a stream."
The view from the beach was wonderful - a redeeming feature of this place. "They're out there - somewhere." As he looked over the horizon, Harakhty's statement came across unintentionally vague - he could have been talking about Skaar and Nicatha, his tribe, or one of the many threats they faced. Yet it was the former which occupied his thoughts. What happened to them?
Hasina's presence took his homesickness away a touch. It was good to be around her for a moment, even if he had to depart soon.
As he waved goodbye to the carriage, Alethiro turned to Arista. "I suppose we should gather the others and discuss our next course of action."
Having walked Corda back to the fortress, Sādhanā and Clara roam the town for a while getting a feel for the mood and concerns of the denizens, assuaging worries where possible.
Arista sighs as she watches the carriage drive out of sight before smiling at Alethiro, "I'm sure everyone will be coming to Hadrinn's tonight for dinner." She holds up her basket of now clean clothing and scimitar, "Right now though I think I should go put these away. Why don't you go see if your sister is around? Make sure she's doing alright after everything that happened last night, if she even knows about it. Then you can either find me at the fort, or I'll meet you in town somewhere." She sets down her basket and ties the sword to her belt. Laying a hand on his cheek, she leans in and gives him a soft kiss on his lips before pulling back and looking into his eyes, "I love you....tell Elsa I said hello."
"It's not the spot that is special, Harakhty," Hasina says softly. "It is the moment. You are wondering about many things and the quiet moment somehow brings a little clarity. Sometimes, you have to stop and breathe. Everything happens for a reason, good or ill. Naeem taught you much about hunting, so you know the most important lesson: when to wait and when to strike."
Arista turns and heads back to her room in the fort with her basket and scimitar. Once back at her room, she unstraps the scimitar and puts it away. Taking the more worn clothes out of the closet she places them in a pile. Once the clean clothes are put away, she takes the dirty clothes and places them in the basket. She goes about the room just straightening it up a bit. After making her bed she lies down on it for a bit, just to rest her feet and falls into a light sleep.
After a few hours the pair head back to their room in the fortress. Aware of the fact that she will soon be heading off into enemy territory, Sādhanā treats Clara to another full body massage, relaxing her wife completely and curling up next to her to take a nap before meeting with the others later in the day.
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He TRIED to teach me about hunting, Harakhty thought. In truth, he was simply happy to have some time to themselves during the lessons; not much got absorbed. Naeem remained the superior huntsman.
"I - we - have been waiting for some time now. I offered to help Drago retrieve his kin, and that time is ripe; the longer the delay, the farther lost he might be. Drago should know." Ixen's abduction of him came to mind.
Hasina was, like Harakhty, a good reader of people. "Hassy, have you become acquainted with anyone here so far? I hope they've been kind to you." Harakhty saw these denizens as an insider. A fresh pair of eyes could see things he couldn't though.
"I've spoken with Elder Sister, Godrick, and Hadrinn. They seem like good folk and they've shown me nothing but kindness and hospitality," Hasina answers before turning back to the previous subjects. "You have a choice to make. Take your companions' counsel before making a decision. Regardless of how you feel for them, I see that they care for you, but they also fear you."
Having made a point in the past to leave the day to day operations of Valwik to the various factions inhabiting the town, a rather frustrated Ranger finds herself marching around town making mental notes of various things than need to be done.
"What's on your mind, Cyna? You haven't said much all day..."
"I might still be mad about last night but this town is a mess."
Alethiro let Arista go off and do her thing. At the same time, went and found his sister. Finally having a moment to sit and talk, the two siblings caught up on what had been happening over the past few years.
"We'll get it fixed."
Arista falls into a deeper sleep as the stress and excitement from the last few days finally catches up to her. Turning on her side with one hand under her cheek and the other under her pillow, she starts to snore softly.
"I've spoken with Elder Sister, Godrick, and Hadrinn. They seem like good folk and they've shown me nothing but kindness and hospitality," Hasina answers before turning back to the previous subjects. "You have a choice to make. Take your companions' counsel before making a decision. Regardless of how you feel for them, I see that they care for you, but they also fear you."
What? Harakhty was a bit surprised at her revelation. "Fear me? Why?" To his knowledge, the group didn't know any of his true work as an inquisitor, and he'd been with them every step of the way. I can see them viewing me as rude, perhaps, but fearing me?.. If anything, it was he who'd feared Skaar when they met.
And that brought him to Hasina's point: They had grown on him since that boat ride some time ago. Skaar especially, but the sunny Arista and unfortunate Drago had elicited concern from him numerous times. Aurelia - now Sadhana, he reminded himself - and Cyna were more mysterious yet, but from what he could tell, they were good-hearted people. As am I, right?
Introspective for a moment, he looked back to his mentor. "I wish them no harm; I care for them too - that's why I'm trying to rescue Skaar and Nicatha. But I will heed their words more carefully in the future."
"Something unnatural casts a shadow over you," Hasina says. "Come and pray for a moment. Let your mind be at ease."
The old vanara kneels in the sand offering the biscuits and prayers to the health and well-being of the young dhampir who gave himself to the enemy.
Feeling guilty at the aged vanara kneeling, HArakhty followed suit. Yes, a shadow - ever since my birth. Drago seemed to have one too. The Suntooth beseeched the divines to remove their supernatural overcast states.
Storm clouds roil on the horizon as Harakhty prays. Hasina looks at the gathering storm. "A portent or something more, Harakhty. We best get inside."
Drago, now out and about in town, noticed the storm on the horizon. While he had always felt a natural calm about storms, seeing this one was...different. This one felt as if it, or something within, was calling to him. He just stood and watched its approach.
Sādhanā awakens refreshed, looking over to her sleeping wife she smiles, and leans over, kissing her awake.
Clara stirs, a smile on her face which quickly fades. "I suppose we better go find everyone."
Harakhty actually liked storms, but he knew better than to disagree with her. "Yes, lets." Aiding in her carry of whatever she wished to retrieve from the altar, he made his way back with her. Enough portents.
After talking with Elsa, Alethiro headed back to Arista's room. Hearing her snore through the door, the Elf quietly entered, closed the door, stepped softly to the bed and laid next to his wife. It wasn't long before he dosed off as well.