Carantathraiel

Wanderers

Ruli gave her an un-amused look as she inspected the silver band, which only deepened when she called him cheap and insulted his appearance. Miserly indeed. Technically he was homeless, and all the coin he had on him was given to him be an elf that this man wouldn't have allowed into his shop.
Still, he bit back several sharp retorts as he paid for the ring, taking it from Kire and shoving it into his pocket for later.

As they left the shop and went back into the frigid street, Ruli shoved his hands back into his pockets for warmth, head bowed. He glanced sidelong at her, raising an eyebrow. "So, do you think he's here?" He asked her, trying to follow her train of thought. "Was it the man behind the counter? Cause he gave me the creeps, but I think that's just a vibe he gives."

Their goal now was food, and Ruli wandered toward where the crowds seemed to be flocking, the aroma of the many varieties of food coming from that direction. He slowed as they reached the edge of the swarm of hungry patrons, shifting his shoulders uncomfortably. His mind automatically went to the chaos that would be inevitable if something were to frighten them all; trampling, screaming, selfish people shoving others down to clear a path. If Kire sensed Ikegai's magic here, if she was here, that could very well happen. He shivered, and not just from the cold.

Wanderers

"Envy." Ruli answered simply. "He may scold me for spending coin on it, but it's the one thing he does for himself." That, and he had permission from Ysaryn, who had given him the coin to begin with.
He turned toward her. "What sort of herbs?" He wondered aloud. Herbs that made you hallucinate or relax, there were only so many recreational herbs to smoke.
Unless she combined them. That would be an interesting was to enjoy the night.

He pursed his lips as she mentioned grilled fish and squid (whatever squid was), as his experience with grilled fish in Ziad hadn't always been the best. But he figured it would be tastier here. When Kire cut herself off, he turned to gaze curiously at her. "What?" He asked, looking around. She looked alarmed, her hand on her sword, but he could see nothing out of the ordinary.

"Kire?" He asked, stepping toward her, looking about. Instead, his eyes fell on a pawn shop, and he raised his eyebrows. He would need a ring for her enchantment. Maybe he could find one there.

"One stop first." He said, leaving her to stroll inside. It reeked of musk and body odor. The wraith-like man behind the counter eyed them curiously, his attention on Kire's blade. When Ruli asked to see the rings, the man had the nerve to assume something and smirked as he bent to retrieve a tray.
"Pick one that fits." Ruli said over his shoulder to Kire. "Nothing fancy."
"How romantic." The vendor said, and Ruli grunted in annoyance.

Wanderers

He opened, then closed his mouth, thinking her question over. "I've actually never seen it. But I can't imagine its good." He said vaguely. If he lingered too long in place, it grew really uncomfortable. Like what he drowning would feel like under intense water pressure. So if someone who couldn't get out were left in the shadows, he imagined the pressure would pommel them until they crumbled.
He'd also only ever seen someone leave a part of their body behind once, a lifetime ago. It had been a horrible sight. They hadn't lived long.

When she suggested going on sunset, he glanced at her in confusion. What did that mean? But then she gestured to the ocean, and he glanced in the direction. It wasn't visible anymore, but he understood. He'd heard many people talk about oceanside sunsets to know it would be worth it to see.
He made no comment about the food. Even he was tempted. It smelled horribly delicious, and in a crowd, there was always the potential to get your hands on food while someone wasn't looking.

"Take it outside into the woods, near where we left." Ruli suggested as Kire stretched and spoke to herself. "You may hit a tree or something, but its better than a person." He watched her pick up an armload. "And try not to break anything." He added for good measure, sitting on the wagon in the meantime.
When she came back and was clearly finished, he stood, motioning for her to rest for a moment while he took his own batch. Having never carried anything of the sort, even Ruli was nervous. He held the lumber across his body, the vertically, trying to decide which would be more comfortable.
After the first trip, he decided vertical it was, even if it still wasn't comfortable. He placed it next to Kire's pile in the mountains, and returned to repeat the task.

When they finished, the wagon empty, he took a moment to lean on the side of the wagon as she asked about taking a specific street. Ruli only grunted in response. He couldn't imagine what she wanted to look at. Truthfully, he wouldn't mind looking at the water again. Or at some of the food carts.
But she led him to coffee. By the Gods, maybe she wasn't so thick afterall. Ruli approached and took his cup eagerly, wrapping his hands around it for the warmth as he held it under his nose. "I miss coffee." He admitted to no one in particular. The vendor eyed them curiously; from his clothing to Kire's sword. He poured both sugar and cream into Kire's coffee, furrowing his brow when Kire mentioned not once, but twice to add more sugar.

As they drank, he bent behind his wagon to fill a small canvas bag with coffee beans. Ruli sipped his coffee, unable to complain about the purchase. Having slept through the day for months and suddenly trying to stay awake during was not an easy task, and this would help. "And tobacco?" He asked the vendor, who shook his head. "Any idea where we can buy tobacco?"
It wasn't a far walk. Once they'd paid for their coffee and the beans, they strolled along lazily. Ruli held his cup close, unhappy that it was cooling so fast in the cold, late winter air. Ruli fished into his tunic, fishing into a hidden pocket to withdraw a few coins to pay for a sizeable box of loose tobacco and paper. Once it was tucked under his arm, he turned around, draining the last of his coffee.

"Now, botanist, or we can try to get our hands on food." He suggested, his eyes roaming the crowded street.

Wanderers

He frowned in thought as she explained, mildly horrified by the idea of being pulled apart and put back together everytime so traveled. If Shadow-Walking was like that, or painful, which he assumed it wasn't , he imagined he would never do it.
The Kartaians would, but they were sadistic bastards.

"Yes." He said briskly. "I can't feel my hands." He shrugged his shoulders, as his hands were stuff back into his pockets, balled into fists. And while the majority of his face was covered once more, his eyes were watering from the chilly wind.
At the very least, his feet were warm, stuffed into the non-small boots.

"Shadow-walking," Ruli began, figuring he could explain in exchange. "is uh." Fuck. Envy always explained it better. "Shadows are connected. They're all the same. Its using a sort of back door to an in-between realm to step from one to another. When I do it, it doesn't take much energy, but a lot of focus, and strength. Not quite the same as yours. I am physically dragging you or whatever I am holding along. The heavier the burden, the harder it is. Like trying to sprint uphill."

Wanderers

Ruli circulated with Kire, using his limited knowledge on the wood they had used before in Ziad that had served well to judge which supplies they'd take. He'd chosen a bunch of straight wooden beams of different thickness that they could cut and size to their liking to used for whatever they'd like. He chose a saw and hammer, nails and fittings they could grab at a smiths another time.

He turned his head as Kire asked about a back room full of furniture set aside for some Lord Itallo. Ruli rolled his eyes. Privileged nobles. He kept quiet as she haggled them a wagon, and he went to work helping the men load up what they had. They didn't need the wagon for too much time. Only long enough to wheel the lumber out of sight so they could take it back to the mountains.
That would be draining, Ruli realized as they piled more and more on. Kire's small handful of coins and their threats had gotten them far more than he thought they would.

"Next. Smiths?" Ruli suggested. "Nails. Fittings. Anything else we think might be useful. Then find a botanist? Or, if we're too tired after that, we could return tomorrow." He suggested. "Maybe we should take what we have back first, just so we don't over exert ourselves and need to leave it here."
He glanced toward Kire warily. "How does your traveling work, by the way? It winded you in Ziad. It takes energy?"

Wanderers

He regretted the decision immediately, Ruli noted with amusement. Kire brandished her sword at the foreman and he straightened, trying to look taller while also subtly trying to lean back. He leered at Kire, looking very much like he wanted not only to refuse to sell, but to toss her into the sea and hope she drowned.
Until she flashed the gold coin.
He raised his eyebrows, trying to see it, almost reaching for it until Kire's sword tickled his beard.

Exhaling, Ruli reached out a hand for the coin Kire held, then held it aloft for the man to see. If he reached for it, he'd have to lean into the point of her blade. "See?" Ruli said, tapping it on the blade, which made the foreman flinch. "Solid coin. And, it may not be your currency, but you could melt four of these coins down and get five of yours. I think that makes our coin more valuable, right?" He glanced over his shoulder to Kire.

Greed painted the foreman's face as he spied the coin Ruli handed back to Kire, his eyes following it as it disappeared. "Fine." He snapped, annoyed. "We'll let you buy. But I want a dozen gold."
"We'll pay you in gold, but we intend to inspect what we're purchasing, and you'll get enough coin to cover what we choose. No more. I think thats reasonable."
"I want extra." The foreman demanded. "For the harassment."
"If we harass you, we'll be sure to pay a fee for it." Ruli said icily. "But as of yet, all that's happened is the lady has offered to show you the sword you expressed interest in. Too bad its not to your liking. I guess that means she can put it away?" The foreman nodded eagerly.

Wanderers

"You've been on a boat?" Ruli asked, finally tearing his eyes away from the water to gaze at her. It was clear he was itching for details, but thought better than to ask. With another pausing glance at the sea, he started walking again, though his pace was slower and with less purpose. He took advantage of the extra time to ogle ahead. "I've never even fresh fish. Not salt water fish, anyway. Some manage to find their way into Ziad, but."
Mentioning Ziad, even in memory, sent him into silence again.

They walked along the docks, the ground falling from beneath the platform until they walked over the water itself. Ruli glanced down uneasily now and then, his gaze mostly on the sea beyond and the boat and warehouse at the crossroads of the walkway. Large, muscular men went back and forth into the warehouse, carrying armloads of crates, wood, and wagons full of what Ruli assumed to be raw ore.

"There's something that I really want to ask. That just doesn't make sense to me." He said softly, his blue eyes darker, reflecting the stormy waters. He had his hands tucked into the pockets of his trousers. He made fists for warmth, knuckles brushing the rocks he apparently still carried. The sea might be lovely to gaze upon, but it was damned cold here. "You celebrate a plentiful harvest by eating in abundance?" Ruli asked, glancing toward her. "Why? It seems absolutely wasteful."

Up ahead, the warehouse foreman spotted their approach; foremost the armed woman, and turned to head them off. "Can I help you two?" He asked, his voice burly enough to out-man his horribly messy beard. "We don't allow tourists near here. Dangerous, you see."
"As you can see, the lady knows how to handle danger." Ruli said blankly. The foreman eyed Kire again, his gaze lingering on her scarred eye. "We're here to buy."
The foreman shrugged indifferently. "Don't sell to tourists, neither." He said matter-of-fact.
"We'll buy in bulk." Ruli said, ignoring his rejection.
The foreman laughed, and Ruli's frown deepened. "What, you going t'stroll out of the city with boat load of wood tucked beneath your arms?"
"Why does it matter how we leave with it?" Ruli asked sharply. "So long as we pay you for it, the rest shouldn't matter."
"You show me the coin, and I'll consider the offer." He said, looking Ruli up and down. "You don't look like you got a copper to your name, lad. Your boots don't even fit. Now." He turned his ruddy face toward Kire and grinned. He had one gold tooth, while the rest were yellow and rotting. "Let me see that blade your pretty lady has, and I might be a little more attentive."

Wanderers

He glanced toward her once more when she said she'd hear the story later. Nosy woman. "We'll see." Was his only comment about his feet.
As they walked along, his eyes remained moving, out of habit to look for any sign of trouble, and, admittedly, to take it all in. They were preparing for something, banners, paper lanterns, posting colourful signs outside their shop doors declaring discounts, deals, and sales. It was busier than Ziad ever was. In the desert, people kept mostly to the shade, albeit impossible during the midday hour, only wandering the streets if necessary. They never idled and gawked, not unless they were used to the heat, as he was, and could stand it.
Here, people wandered at slow speeds in numerous groups, arms linked with female companions, pointing at windows as they passed before deciding to amble inside for a look.

As busy as it was, it was almost relaxing. No one bustled by in a hurry. No one shooed customers from the doorways because they had too many people inside and it was growing too warm inside.

Ruli furrowed his brow, curious. "Hm." He said thoughtfully. "I see signs for sales, and one back there mentioned a feast. So. Feast?" He wondered. As they passed by another shop, its bright pink paper advertised "Cordon's Heart Festival; Flowers sold here for your true love!"
He reached out and nudged Kire with the back of his hand before pointing. "Heart Festival." He informed her. "I'm not sure what that is, though. Ziad never held festivals. But if there's free food somewhere?" He turned toward her; whether or not he was smiling was lost behind his face cover.

Trying not to get too off course before achieving what they'd come for, Ruli and Kire wandered down the street together, and he struggled to keep his eyes forward to avoid being sidetracked. He paused to ask a shop keeper for hints as to where they could purchase lumber, and were directed toward the docks. Looking upward, Ruli could see dark clouds in the distant, but thought little of it.
And then, as they rounded a corner, they saw the ocean.

Ruli stopped dead in his tracks, staring ahead. It spread out before them, a soft grey-green that went on and on until it ended on the horizon, disappearing in the dark clouds above it. He pulled his face cover down, exposing his face, and he inhaled. Fish, salt, algae, so much out of one body of water. It looked so calm, yet so vicious and dangerous, both beckoning and warning him. He moved again, moving to the side of the wooden walkway upon which they stood, to peer downward. It lapped the shore, foaming white and leaving streaks along the shore.

"I've never been out of the desert." Ruli clarified for the nosy woman. "This is the first time I've seen any body of water besides that oasis. I─" He faltered, staring. "Its huge."

Wanderers

He followed her along the wall until it ended, exposing them to the sprawling and busy city. His eyes wandered, naturally comparing it to Ziad. The citizens still dressed to cover their limbs, but it wasn't to protect from the harsh sunlight and heat, but the chill in the air carried from the ocean.
Ocean. He felt himself straightening, trying to spot the body of water. No luck, they were too caught up in the closely packed homes.

Which were also very different from Ziad.
In the desert oasis, the homes were made of sun bleached mud, sandstone, or limestone. Where the monochromatic city blended into the desert sand, Cordon's structures seemed to be in competition over who could stand out the most vividly. Blues, turquoises, pinks, yellows, violets, the full spectrum of the rainbow. Ruli squinted at it, not used to so much obnoxious colors.

As Kire asked about Yaryn's people, and other elves, he glanced at her, then around to make sure no one was near enough to eaves drop. "Yes." He said vaguely. "Its a long story." He added, clearly having no interest in explaining in more detail in public.
"Limber." He decided. "It would be the most crucial. We can speak with a botanist about seeds later. And no boots." He added, insisting. "Its a waste of coin, I would rather go without, anyway."

The smells of this place was an assault. Not like Ziad, where death and decay coated everything. Or the caves, where the air was stale, but subtle. Here, he could smell everything. Spices, salt, sweat, ale, meat, flowers, fish, and the list went on. He rubbed his nose before pulling his keffiyeh from his pocket to wrap around his face and mute the aroma of the port.

Wanderers

He couldn't help but frown when she grabbed his forearm instead of his hand. He wasn't entirely surprised, but it still annoyed him. Silent, he pulled his arm toward him to encourage her to take a step as he did.

Nearly a minute later, they emerged where he and Ysaryn had been earlier. The air reeked of salt and wood rot, the stagnant water pooling in the uneven ground around them. Sideways shacks, huts, and crates were scattered around them, barren and barely upright.
It was deserted. Exactly why Ysaryn chose this location.
To their right was a stone wall that, from this side, was propped up in a few places by beams of wood as the earth sunk beneath it and the wall tilted. On the other side was the sound of a city; voices, horses, children at play, and vendors calling wares.

Ruli dropped his arm, pulling it from Kire's grasp.