Carantathraiel

Wanderers

He listened attentively, nodding along. She had valuable advice, which he cataloged to for later. Most of which had been said by Zeke already, being the one without any sort of magic to depend on. While Ruli swore that hadn't been the only reason he'd disagreed with the plan, he felt the former-soldier hadn't believed him.
"You and Zeke would get along." He said casually. "You, though." He looked to Kire as she commented on his shoes and hair. "Nothing ever pleases you royals, hm?"

As Kire asked about his sleeping arrangements, he shook his head. "No, I've chosen a house near the top of the cliff." He admitted. "Its small, but I don't need much space. We'll have to find an empty house for the two of you." His eyes unfocused for a moment, his expression reminiscent. "In Ziad, I had a house I could have welcomed you both into. Homey thing with a blue door. Had the ugliest couch." Ruli sighed. He wished in no small part that he could bring that couch here.

With a beckoning hand, Ruli led them back upstairs through the cave system. To the northern side of the cliffs, where the elves had claimed residence. A few wandered, either restless or on some job. They emerged near the top, the view of the darkened sea and the coast that spread upward, twisting and turning like a multi-colored serpent one of the reasons Ruli had chosen a home on this side.
Tapping the door to a building, Ruli then extended his arm toward the water. "My view." He explained. The house itself was small, undoubtedly bearing only a single room, but it had a patio that Ruli could access from outside, as he did now to stand over the tumbling cliff and city to take in the sea and all its glorious colours. "I've seen a few sunsets now. They really are never the same."

Tearing his eyes away from the waters, he grinned to the women. "Would you like to find a home together? If your visits will be frequent, we may as well offer you one to claim. A vacation home for the empress, I suppose." He added teasingly.

Wanderers

"I would have guessed you'd go back to Cordon." Ruli pointed out, his hands still in his pockets. "We've been salvaging what furniture we can, building or buying what is left and necessary. We've naturally had to make Envy's bed." He added, turning to gesture toward one of the three dark corridors that lead out. "The elves are managing nets to catch fish, a few of us wandering into the trees to see what can be found, occasionally to the neighbour city to browse and learn. I'll need to ask Zeke for the name, too." He pondered. "But yes. Alot of hands, thankfully. It will be more lively in the morning. All that really needs done for us is preparing for Envy. He's dragging his feet a little."

"We're entirely south of our continent, about three thousand miles south of Ziad." He offered as a tidbit of information. "Alot is new. The language is weird."

He shook his head and strolled to the southern corridor, following the stone steps that climbed downward with a warning about their slipperiness. It spiraled a few times before opening into a small room packed with small boxes and half made tables. "This will be where he keeps his supplies. Tobacco. Potions. Wardstones." Ruli informed them. "His plan is to create an illusion that, when seen from afar, will make it appear as if the place is still empty. It will go ignored. Anyone who comes near enough will break through, see reality, but we'll know and be ready."
He frowned. "That's the plan. I don't like it, myself. I wouldn't mind being inviting to travelers. Like Cordon." His eyes roamed Narda. "Perhaps you could offer input as to how to protect ourselves. What it would take for you to leave a city be?" He wondered, shifting from foot to foot on the cold stone.

Wanderers

Ruki chuckled, his teeth showing as he grinned before he closed his mouth to hide them. "It's large enough for all the refugees and Ysaryn's tribe. But far from large enough for her ego." He explained to Narda before he turned and wandered toward the underside of the castle.

Voices echoed ahead. Or one did. The other was just annoyed shouting. A few twists and turns before the chamber opened into a large circular cavern with a worn smooth floor. Aeron, Rab, and Bolym stood in the center, the three appearing to be in an argument as they stood over some crates. Other elves stood nearby, silent and impatient.
Ruli whistled, silencing the two, whole Rab dropped his hands. All three looked their way.

"You're back." Aeron said with far less enthusiasm than Ruli had as he eyed Kire. That was the extent of his greeting as he turned to Ruli. "Bolym won't listen."
"He doesn't speak your language." Ruli pointed out as Bolym broke in an angry rant, knowing without the shared tongue that Aeron had complained about him.
Ruli listened patiently. Over the crate, Rab raised his hand to wave amiably to Kire. He then pointed to Narda and raised his hand, palm down. Tall. He dropped his hand to brush his cheek with his knuckles. Beautiful.

Instructions related to put an end to the quarrel, Ruli turned back around. Bolym and the other two lifted the crate and disappeared with it down another winding path. "We're trying to outfit this for Envy, now. So he can move in. He's the reason we linger. So I suppose you had good timing, showing up when you did."

Wanderers

As the two enjoyed their banter, Ruli turned toward Ysaryn, requesting she get a list of items Envy would need from the Kartaian, and fetch them so they could work. He spoke in elvish, also slipping in the detail that they may need a droplet of Kire's blood, but he wasn't sure. Ysaryn nodded, smiling wickedly to Kire and Narda. "See you soon."

Ruli took his time eating, both to allow Kire time to eat her fill, as well as Narda, who looked like she could eat as much as Envy if given the chance, and to torture Kire's impatience. When he was finally finished, he stood and cleaned off their dishes just to annoy Kire further before he offered his hands to the both of them. "Keep your feet moving, and breathe." He warned Narda before he took a step and yanked them into the shadows.

They emerged onto a pier, the wood creaking beneath their feet as their weight fell upon it. Dusk painted the sky purple and the waters black. Brine filled the air, though it was mixed with the warmth of healthy greenery. "I could have taken you directly into the place," Ruli said, releasing both of their hands and shoving his own into his pockets. "But I thought you'd appreciate the dramatic entry."

The pier ran straight before them, connecting to a white sand beach. A few yards of the soft shore before the cliffs climbed upward, a peninsula that stabbed straight into the sea. Homes dotted the cliffside, abandoned and in need of repair, but sturdy and solid. Made from the cliff itself in most places, while a few had been born of wood or brick, painted to once stand out like little jewels. Orange tiled roofs covered nearly all of them, safe where the buildings themselves had suffered damage.
Further to the left, the southwestern point of the cliff rose higher than the rest, and sported an old castle on its crown. Its walls, while as well built as the rest if the city, were covered in moss an lichen, sea gulls swooping along its base to the nests they'd built in its roots. To the right, the peninsula burrowed into a large mountain covered in tropic forests, the green dark in the setting day.

"I forget what they call this place in the language here." Ruli admitted, allowing them to eye the cliffside a few more seconds before he started for the shore. "Scilabria or something. Its not even on the maps." He admitted. "A storm tore through here a few decades back and a wave devoured a bit of the cliffs, causing a collapse. They left it. Moved inland, some ten leagues away. We have managed, or, at least, Risa managed, to convince him to release it to us. Him being the signore or whatever he called himself. Wasn't a strain, we paid him coin for something he had no interest in."

Their steps echoed on the pier, growing softer as the land beneath the water rose up. Ruli led them across the sand and to the stone steps carved directly into the cliff, winding its way between the buildings like a snake. "Not just the storm. Pirates have been known to harass the cliffs, trying to take prisoners. They just got tired of it, I suppose." He turned his head to smirk at the women from over his shoulder. "They've never come across a group of magic-wielding fiends, though. Envy has some ideas to keep us from being bothered."

Up and up the climbed, around three stories before he cut through a level platform that ducked behind a sizable building and directly into the cliff itself. Inside the cave, the temperature dropped a bit, the wind instantly muted (Envy's tobacco and floral signature tickling as they passed through some ward of his) as they entered the underbelly of the little city. Here, Ruli paused, pointing south. "Beneath the castle is a series of old chambers we're working on clearing out. For Envy." He clarified. "Risa has already claimed the castle, as far as we can think, the elves will take the northern side of the cliff and the houses there, while the Ziadi will take the side we just climbed. Risa thinks she'll rule over them, but it'll likely be Envy from beneath."

Wanderers

Ruli extended his hand for the pin, inspecting it. His thumb traced the wyvern that encircled it, trying to get a feel for the signature. "And you said he is a cousin?" Ruli clarified, being mindful in using the word 'is' rather than 'was'. If they failed to get a potent enough trace from this, adding a drop of her blood would strengthen it. He glanced sidelong at Gavin, meeting the boy's gaze. Not that he would express such a thought here, knowing Envy's ban on blood magic in the lad's presence.
Handing the pin back to Kire, Ruli shrugged. "Depends on the object. Envy will be able to tell you more. With more of Ysaryn's kin around, and easier access to Cordon's stores, we've an easier time obtaining supplies. Few hours, once Envy tells me what he needs." He shoveled more of his food into his mouth, chewing as he spoke. "I can take you to the new place in the meantime. Both of you. Pirates have a history, there." He added to Narda, hoping to get her to make any face except that thoughtful, curious gaze.

Wanderers

Ruli looked to Narda in surprise, her expression mirrored in Ysaryn's face. "Is that you culture?" She asked. "Give weapons to potential mates?"
"She doesn't like me as a mate." Ruli insisted.
Ysaryn merely pointed to Kire. "Her red face says otherwise." The elf teased, delighted.
Pursing his lips, Ruli ignored her from then on, focusing on Kire's reason for the visit.

"I," he said as she very suddenly switched topics. "Yes, of course. But do you have anything that belongs to your family member?" Ruli asked, turning the conversation back towards the gates. "Has Envy offered to try to scry for your family member?"

Wanderers

She stared at him. Until Ruli gave an uncertain glance toward Narda, wondering if something was wrong, and then to Ysaryn. Though the elf wouldn't have told him if he had something on his face or not to prompt such stares. When Kire remembered to speak, amusement flickered across his countenance again.
"Dinner sounds good, yes. Thanks." He said, moving to the opposite of the hearth to fetch a plate. Kire left, and Ruli glanced at Ysaryn. "Did she get into your herbs?"
Ysaryn only chuckled, crouching beside him to help herself to the meal.

Zeke turned when he heard a voice, his expression shifting into one that expressed his thoughts; her presence meant trouble. "Hello." He said cautiously, admittedly blanking on her name. She was in an out, and Zeke looked to Envy.
"That was Kire." The elf remarked. "She and her friend Narda are visiting. They have business here."
"That's not good." Zeke sighed.

With his plate in hand, Ruli stood, eating with his fingers. When Kire approached and held out a weapon, he froze, looking from her to the blade, then back. "You're serious?" He asked. Ysaryn, beside him, ogled the blade just as Gavin did. Slowly, Ruli licked his fingers clean before he took the blade, all but pushing his plate into Ysaryn's hands. She frowned at him, looking like she would have preferred he hand her the blade.
"I'm a shit shot with a bow, anyway." Ruli forgave her.
"You may be shit with this, too." Ysaryn prodded, and he snorted, partially unsheathing the thing to peer at it.
He narrowed his eyes and prodded the blade. "Amrian steel?" He asked, glancing toward her. "Feels stronger than what I'm used to." He grinned, sheathing it again. "Thank you. Its lovely. I ... didn't get you anything."
"Is what I said!" Ysaryn said, shoving his plate back in her hands so she could keep eating.

Ruli tucked the blade between his arm and torso so he could eat. He was dressed in his usual earthy tones, his clothing thicker, less ragged. Though he still wore no shoes. His feet carried a bright white sand that declared he'd been near a beach, though the smell he carried resembled caves, more than shore. "So, what are you doing here?" He wondered carefully.

Wanderers

Ysaryn wandered in part way through tea, listening in silence as Gavin explained his lessons. She grinned behind her teacup, eyes sparkling, when he explained that she'd been teaching him to fight. Clearly, the elf had no mercy for the boy, and had claimed her revenge for his participation in her capture and torture by torturing him in return in the sparring ring.
"Risa is not so bad." She admitted when the conversation turned. "She gets everyone to ignore me, which I like more than the alternative." Ysaryn shrugged delicately. Her eyes shifted between the two women, wondering how the princess would react to them.

When the two broke off to go hunt, Ysaryn busied herself, returning to the duo when they were found in the kitchen prepping their catch. Ysaryn leaned against the wall, watching Kire and Narda curiously. "How is your home, Kirai?" She asked gently, recalling that the woman had her reservations about her throne, and unrest lingered. "If not conversation for here, I will wait." She obliged, opening her mouth to continue when the smell of cinnamon filled the air. Ysaryn grinned wickedly, turning her head to where the newcomer stood just behind Kire. "Welcome back."
"Thank you." Ruli greeted, lowering his gaze questioningly to Narda, and then to Kire. A small smile played on his lips. "You're back." He stated simply.
"Nothing gets past you." Ysaryn teased, pushing herself off the wall. He clicked his tongue at her, watching her approach him. "All is well?"
He nodded. "Mmmhm. Rab chose to stay with Bolym and the others for the night."
"Good." Ysaryn grinned, looking back around to Kire as more introductions were made.

Ruli didn't extend his hand, unsure of how much Narda knew about him, and didn't want to feel insulted by her avoidance. "Nice to meet you, Narda." His gaze went back to Kire. I didn't expect you so soon. His eyes said.

Wanderers

Desite her agreement, Envy still cast Narda a few wary points of his nose, inhaling, as if to make sure she hadn't gone wandering off to harass anyone else. "Yes, we found a place." Envy informed. "Ruli and Zeke showed me a few weeks ago. Its beautiful."
"Lots of fish!" Ysaryn added with a twitch of her eyebrows.
Envy grinned again, chuckling. "Your sea-smelling friend may enjoy it as well, it is surrounded by the ocean." He added after, with another glance toward Narda.

As the ladies explained their business here, Emvy sobered, listening. "You may have family stranded here?" He repeated, looking worried. "For the last ..." He tallied. "...nine months?" His brow furrowed. He hoped this person would be able to survive in unfamiliar land. Looking between Kire and the giantess, he had an inkling that whomever it was had some skills to rely on.
He opened his mouth to make a suggestion when Kire announced she'd brought gifts, and he silenced, hearing her excitement.

He held out his hands for the pipe, feeling it in his fingers with an approving smile on his lips. "It feels lovely." he admitted, turning it in his hands. As Kire offered him the box, he inhaled and groaned. "That smells far better than the stuff from Cordon." He observed. Ysaryn muttered some indignant retort that had him chuckling. "I look forward to trying the herbs." He bent in a grateful motion, still twisting the pipe in his fingers to become more familiar with it.

At the mention of tea, Ysaryn raised her eyebrows and stepped forward, peering down. "Oh, Kirai." Ysaryn breathed, her eyes wandering over the pouch as she pulled it opened and inhaled, catching the many aromatic thrills that tickled her nose. "You should have sent word, I would have prepared for you, also!" She complained with a grin.
"Aeron will be happy about the candy." Envy said as the elf retreated beside him, crouching to explore the pouch. "If you'd like to put anything down in my chamber, it will go untouched. I can't promise the candy will be safe from wandering hands." He grinned. "Rab is not here, though, so I suppose they're safe anywhere until he returns."
He nodded, anticipating Kire's question. "He's good. Learning to communicate better, and happy. Gavin, as well. Many of us have been working with him, but even we struggle to keep up with how quickly he learns." Envy turned to smile approvingly at Gavin. "He helped us procure our new home. We had to have a few discussions with the man who is still technically its mayor, and we were able to procure it from his willing hands much easier with Gavin's help."

He held out his arm, and Ysaryn bent back slightly to avoid his arm bumping her forehead. "Please, wander around. The other camp is nearly empty, a group of the ones here have taken over their now-empty tents. Show the Countess around, or rest your weary traveling feet over some tea."

Wanderers

"A countess among our numbers." Envy smiled, showing his pointed teeth. "We'll have to bring out the good tea." He mused, and Ysaryn chuckled.
"I am still not sharing mine." She warned, turning her head as Gavin appeared, and Narda sprung for him.

Envy gave a shout, Ysaryn reached for her blades, but didn't draw them. Each waited for Kire to rein in her friend, unwilling to make a move until Narda did. One way or another.
When Narda finally did release Gavin, Ysaryn stepped toward him to offer her hand to him.
Envy frowned at Narda, ignoring Kire for the moment.

"I understand," he began, his voice low. "That you may have a duty to this woman, and have likely sworn to protect her in some form or more. You may answer to her in Amria, but this is my domain. And if you so much as lay a hand on any of those under my protection again, you will be as unwelcome as the plague. Am I understood?" He asked, never raising his voice, but his clouded eyes bore into what he hope was Narda's gaze. Really, he leered at her throat, too unaccustomed to people matching his height.
Ysaryn gently sidled away from Gavin, as if offering Narda the temptation of him, just to see Envy follow through with his threat.

"Now." Envy said, sighing and straightening, as if having to be demanding was a weight even on his broad shoulders. "Ruli is in New Ziad. The new, New Ziad, I mean. We've had a bit of relocating since you were last here." He ran his fingers through his dark hair. "He and the others will be back for dinner. I implore you to wait. You can inform me on your business here." He gave Narda a wary turn of his head. "No more hunts for maniacs, right?"