Carantathraiel

Wanderers

Ruli lowered his arm and shrugged. He couldn't feel it, which he hoped to be thanks to his adrenaline and not some bizarre side effect of the monsters. Envy had a fair amount of supplies, and Sid was around to help once he needed, it could be dealt with later. Kire was right, other things were far more pressing. Gazing down into the pit that held the gate, watching it as she began to make her way toward it.
And then it flashed blue.
"Kire!" He shouted, same as Ed. And, same as the Wyvern captain, Ruli jumped into the pit, reaching for her. If he could grab her, grab both of them, he could at Walk them back, retreat away from whatever was happening. Kire, realising the danger, turned and rushed back toward them, and Ruli paused, hesitating, his arm outstretched. Her body began to waver, to warp, as the portal lurched and swelled. A few more feet and she could grab him, and he could get her back. Ed was further up the hill already, but Kire... "Move!" Ruli shouted at her, hoping she would try. He heard her scream, and, in a final moment of manic, he turned to rush up behind Ed, toward the others, when he felt the portal grab him.

He felt the wind rush from his lungs as the magic squeezed him; Ruli writhed, trying to break free. "Go home!" He tried to shout at the others, to Ysaryn, who watched on her knees with her eyes wide in fear. Ruli shouted at them again, but his voice was ripped away. It was no use trying to paw at the ground. There was nothing to grab onto. Nothing for Ruli to reach for before the portal tore him from the forest.

He landed somewhere with a heavy thud, and he had trouble inhaling for a few terrifying seconds before he took in air and breathed. Ruli opened his eyes to see trees, and figured, maybe, he'd Walked back out of the nightmare knot after all. He closed his eyes again, gathering his nerves, before he rolled over and pushed himself onto his knees, readjusting the sheathed sword that dug into his side.
This is not the Lithilote woods. Ruli blinked, mouth slightly open, as he looked around. These were trees he didn't know, cool air that smelled different. "Kire?" He said quietly, wondering if she had somehow grabbed him, after all, and portalled them both somewhere safe. But there was no sign of her. No sign of anyone. Slowly, Ruli got to his feet. He'd lost a boot, and he took a few cautious steps toward the escapee to slid his foot inside before he took an appraisal of his surroundings.

Trees. Alright. He had been around those before. Mountains. Definitely not the mountains he'd grown used to seeing lately. Bright blue sky, with a brighter sun. At least it wasn't raining. He spun in place, looking for any signs of anyone else; footprints, a pathway, broken leaves, and found nothing. He couldn't hear anything but the leaves rustling lazily and some strange insect screaming. Okay. Not a good sign that even the bugs were afraid.

Inhaling, finding his torso sore, Ruli pictured the woods again, just outside of the tightly-spaced knot of trees, and tried to Shadow-Walk. He could feel the magic purr through him, his veins going cold as his body tried to do as he asked, but his head roared in discomfort after a second of trying. Exhaling, Ruli stopped, took a few breathes, then tried again. This time, he pictured the cliffs, his little house.
Another headache, another failed attempt.

He was stuck here. Wherever 'here' was.
"Dammit." Ruli whispered quietly to himself.

Noticing his arm still bled, Ruli reached up to tear his left sleeve off, wrapping the cleaner part against the bite wound and tying the fabric tightly. As he did, he tried to think of what to do. It had been a very long time since he found himself lost, unable to use his magic to get him anywhere. Then, he had known in which direction to run, even if vaguely. Here, he knew nothing.
Using his teeth to tighten the knot of his makeshift bandage, Ruli rose, shuffled his feet through the single droplet of blood in the dirt to hide it from view.
His only guess on what to do; go downhill. Water would travel in that direction, and eventually, if he was lucky, he'd find a body of water, and be able to follow it to a city or town. He turned his feet south and started walking, watching his steps to avoid leaving a trail.

~

Ysaryn came to and smelled dirt. It coated her nostrils and she exhaled at once, feeling the light dust blow outward. She opened her eyes, and the blurred world spun for a unnervingly long amount of time before she focused on some nearby plant. An ugly plant, she decided. With a muffled groan, Ysaryn put her hands under her shoulders and pushed, her body objecting to the strain at once. She bit her lip to silence the swear that threatened to slip off her tongue.
On her knees, she got a better idea of her surroundings. Woods. Midday. She inhaled, smelling flora she wasn't familiar with, dirt, healthy trees, some burrowing creature somewhere nearby, and sweat. But not her sweat. Ysaryn turned and pushed herself up onto her feet, wobbling. Her shorn hair swung into her face, and she lamented her long braid.

Reaching out, Ysaryn grabbed a branch of some sweet smelling shrub and pulled it aside, revealing Ed to be the person she could smell. He stood, combat-ready, his blade pointed in her direction. "Please." Ysaryn panted. "I would fuck you up. No blades, does not matter." She gestured to the empty sheathes at her sides.
Warily, she stepped towards him, bracing her hands on her knees once she stood nearer, her head bowed. "I did not like that." She admitted to the feeling of ... whatever had happened. She wasn't sure. One moment, she was on her knees, watching Ruli and Kire disappear into the blue light, the next, she'd simply tried to stand, to obey his order to get them all home, when she felt ... ugly. That was the only word she had to describe it. Squeezed and pulled at once, upside down and inside out, too much too fast.

Blinking, she looked up, her brow furrowed. "Where we are?" She asked Ed. Now that he didn't looked ready to run her through, he looked relieved. Almost happy.

~

Gods Above, it all happened so fast. Kire moved, the portal flashed and opened its maw to devour her. Then Ruli. Then Ed and Ysaryn. Then, nearly as that had happened, the gate disappeared in a pulse of power, leaving an unnatural stillness in the clearing.
Zeke found himself braced against a tree, his blade and Ysaryn's dropped at his feet. He stared, shocked and confused, at where the portal had been, at where the others had been just seconds ago. His heart pounded.
"Hurt?" Zeke was slow to react, but her words brought him out of his shock. Be here. Assess. Regroup. Zeke touched his torso, his head, his thighs. "No, no, I'm not. I..."

Narda explained her theory, that the portal had taken them to her homeland, and Zeke felt a wash of relief, at least. If that was, indeed, where they had been taken, then Kire could bring them back. She had left herself energy to portal, he heard said, they'd be back soon.
As the giantess pointed to the circled branded into the forest floor, Zeke nodded and pushed himself onto his feet. "Right." He said, gathering his own blade and making his way towards it. Ysaryn's blade he tucked into his belt, hoping they wouldn't cut through it.
"Wait," He turned back toward Narda. The air smelled horrible here without the push of the air that the portal had made. "What will happen when we break it?" He wondered.

Cautiously, his body oddly sore, despite being unharmed, Zeke picked his way down. "You really think they're in Amria?" He asked his last companion. "Kire screamed. Why do I think its alarming that she screamed? Hasn't she used these before?" They reached the bottom, and he stretched out his arm to draw his blade across the nearest rune.

Wanderers

Ysaryn scratched at Narda as the giantess took her out of Zeke's arms, baring teeth as she swore venomously. The motion of being handed over made the ache in her head rear agonizingly, and the elf grabbed and squeezed her skull, squeezing her eyes tight. Zeke loitered near the two women, while Ruli jogged ahead to take up the space in the middle, guarding the Armians as they seemed to switch positions. Zeke helped guide Narda through, pulling apart branches and cutting thickets when the giantess couldn't reach, thanks to the elf in her arm. The fact that neither of them could understand the language she snarled to no one in particular a blessing.

Ruli, sword in his left hand, a large stick in his right as a baton, helped Kire fight off the last of the wolves, squeezing in through the gap made just before the Empress, his eyes beyond her as the wolves, the monstrous abnormalities, made their attempts at her. "Almost in." He informed her, backing away to give her space.
He inhaled once she was through, giving a few swipes at the wolves to make sure they retreated. As Kire and Ed turned to face the gate, Ruli remained near the space they had squeezed through, watching for any more.

"No." Ysaryn said, writhing and scratching at Narda. "No, off," She insisted, and the moment her knees hit the ground the elf vomited, heaving on the uneven ground.
"You going to live?" Ruli called.
"Fuck you." She answered.
He glanced over his shoulder to smirk at her, and caught sight of the gate below them. Forgetting the passageway, he turned, gaping at it, moving to step beside Kire. "Is that it?" He asked, awed, though he squinted at the pulsing light. "I didn't expect it to be so, ... pretty."
Zeke, casting the occasional glance behind to ensure they're assailants were truly gone, shook his head. "It gives me the creeps." He said firmly, rubbing his arms as if to chase away gooseflesh.
Ruli glanced down, dropping his stick at his feet before he moved to sheath his sword. It was then that he noticed the dark colouring on his sleeve that wasn't as dark as the corrupted and decayed blood of the monsters. Pushing his sleeve back with his free hand, he blinked at the bite mark in his forearm, the fangs punctured deep.
"Do you think those things are rabid?" He asked, flexing his arm. More of his blood oozed out, so he sniffed his arm to try to tell if it was clean.

Wanderers

Ruli glanced ahead at Kire when she muttered, smirking. Ysaryn fell into place beside Zeke, who looked thrilled about it. They didn't speak, letting Kire get a feel for the magic she sought as well as allowing Ysaryn's ears to pick up anything unusual. Kire was the first thing to detect anything, her direction changing suddenly. When Kire told Ed what she sensed, Ysaryn turned her head to glance at Ruli over her shoulder.
"Was it like that in Cordon?" Zeke asked beside the elf, and her fuchsia eyes shifted to him. "Not for me." Ysaryn admitted. "But I do not sense like they do."
Zeke hummed. "Not good, either way."
"Is good." Ysaryn insisted. "We are going correct way."

Not long after, they approached the enclosed knot of trees, and could smell the decay in the air, Ysaryn bristled, unsheathing her twin blades. "Too cold, even for the forest." Ysaryn whispered. She turned around to look at Ruli again. "Do you think those things are inside?"
"I don't think your people will have fallen victim here." He reassured, reading the fear on her face.
Indeed, her large eyes then turned to Ed, wondering what would have become of any of his men that remained.
"Head forward." Zeke instructed of the elf gently. "Eyes open."

It took them a short time to find a route inside the cluster, cutting their way in through the unnatural brush. Spotting Kire and Ed, both, with blood oozing from their noses, Ysaryn and Ruli both raised their fingers to their upper lips. Dry. Puzzled, they looked forward until Narda explained.
"Is it painful?" He asked the Wyverns.
"This isn't Gemini territory." Zeke argued.
"Not that point." Ysaryn said to the dark haired man. "Their magic has claimed this land for them. Stained it."
Zeke wrinkled his nose. "Is ... this what Ziad is like, now?"
"No." Ruli said shortly, cutting the conversation short.

The first sound of the animals, Ysaryn whirled. The trees made their voices echo oddly, and she couldn't sort out which direction they came from.
"What the hell is that." Ruli wondered. He was only familiar with desert animals, and these sounded ... terrifying.
Ysaryn shifted her arms to keep her muscles ready, her eyes searching the trees. Kire and Ed gravitated toward the edge, peering at bits of old metal, Zeke following their line of sight to the breastplate. He paled the moment he realized what it was. Who it had been. He stared at it, remembering that, nearly nine months ago, his own men had perished under flames and stone. His head ached in phantom pain from the crush of his helmet, and he turned around to find Ruli staring at him, guilt soaking his features.
"I'm sorry." Ruli whispered.
"Now is not the time." Zeke snapped back at him.

"Tsst." Ysaryn hissed, and heads turned her way, then followed her gaze to the creatures that appeared.
Ruli blinked at them, trying to sort out what, exactly, they were. He would have guessed dogs of some sort, but they looked like no breed he'd ever seen, though he knew the list was small. "Did Ikegai start experimenting here?" He asked quietly.
He drew the blade Kire gave him, and, to his left, Zeke drew his own sword, the weapon well cared for despite Zeke's idleness the last few months. "Are you still able to fight?" Ruli asked.
Zeke squared his shoulders. "I can't believe you'd insult me with a q-"
"Zeke!" Ruli said firmly, demanding an answer.
The former soldier exhaled. "No. Not like I could before."
Ruli clenched his jaw for a moment. "You can hate me as much as you want, but you're hating me for a few more decades." Ruli whispered. "If you feel like you're losing, say the word, and I'm taking you back to the cliffs. Someone needs to watch them."
Zeke turned his head to leer at the blond, but offered no objection.

Upon hearing the invitation, Ysaryn grinned, baring her sharp teeth, and stepped toward the creatures, snapping her jaw at them with a deep growl. A challenge. They leapt forward, and the group threw themselves into the defensive, cutting through any of the wolf-monsters that drew to near. Ysaryn was a whirl of metal and fuchsia. Ruli and Zeke, toward the back, were slower; Zeke's form and energy weren't as sharp and quick despite his habitual training. Ruli was simply unaccustomed to using a blade, though even he would rather not get within reach of the monsters and those teeth. If he tried to use his Touch against these abominations, who knew what he'd feel answer his conscious.
He kept one eye on Zeke as they fought, his other on the movement of everyone else. He had already seen Kire and Ysaryn fight, both women skilled and lethal. Ed fought as Ruli expected, trained and perfected over years, decades, as Ruli recalled their longer life. Narda was a force to be reckoned with, her swings powerful enough to knock the mutant things off their feet.

"We go forward?" Ysaryn called to ask Kire over the sound of snarling and blades sinking into fur and flesh. Strands of her vibrant hair were falling from her braid, the plait itself falling in her rapid movements to drop in the usual cord down her back. She'd have worried, but none of the monsters could get passed her blades.

They pushed forward, making their way toward the sensation only Kire could feel calling, though they knew they were going the right way. Ysaryn began Walking, jumping small distances to throw off the wolves that continued to come at them. They snapped and snarled at her, and she growled and howled at them in return, taunting them and drawing their attention enough that the others could pick their kills. Everytime she vanished, Ruli felt his pace quicken, worried that she'd make a wrong move, like she'd done at the edge of the desert by stepping into the thorned plant. The poisonous thorned plant, he reminded himself with dread.
Envy really had been disappointed in that portion of the retelling.

His fear came to light not fifteen minutes into their advance, the air filled with the reek of soiled blood and decay. Ysaryn's agonized shriek tore across their battles, and Ruli and Zeke whirled to find her on the ground writhing, clutching her head. Her hair, much shorter, was strewn about her face as she twisted and screamed, the ends of it stained black. Some ten feet to her right, one of the monsters had the rest of her braid in its jaws, its head jerking back and forth in the predatorial way dogs shake their catches to kill.
"Ysaryn!" Zeke shouted, shifting his position to reach her. Behind him, Ruli did the same, growing closer, the elf's screams echoing over the growls and snarls.
"Tell her to breathe." Ruli instructed as Zeke crouched over her to fend off the monsters that tried to pick at her legs. "Watch her kicks."
"Whats wrong with her!?"
"She Walked." Ruli panted, jabbing at a wolf that went running for the two, forcing it to redirect itself. "A ... thing .. had her hair. Walking when something is pulling on you ... she's lucky it only ripped through her hair." Ruli vaguely recalled severing the limbs of some of the men in the Cordon warehouse as they tried to subdue him. He turned toward them both, trying to make sure that her hair was indeed all that the botched magic had cut. "Imagine all the worst headaches you've had at once."
Zeke was muttering reassurances to the shadow elf as she cried, clutching her head.
"It will pass, but tell her to breathe." Ruli said again, circling Zeke as he stood guard. "We need to move. Can you lift her?"

It took him a moment, Ruli circling and guarding the two, before Zeke was able to rise with Ysaryn bent over his shoulder. The wolven monsters grew daring, trying to swarm as Zeke was bent over her, a few getting close and drawing blood. Ruli continued to keep close once Zeke was upright, clutching her trailing after the Armians. Ysaryn's shrieking died down, but she gripped her head and whimpered. Zeke repeatedly reassured her, but Ruli couldn't hear the words over the wolves.

Wanderers

"Haha. Everyone's such a comedian today." Ruli said, though he smirked behind his cup. "I suppose that's a compliment. Passive way of admitting I looked like shit the past few days." He grunted, turning his coffee cup idly in his fingers. "Its a terrible drink, really. But it gets your head swimming quickly, so there's a perk to choking it down."
"And I'm not wishing for anything. She is." Ruli pointed out, gesturing over his shoulder with his thumb. "She's outside. I've already promised her I'd spar with her when we return. Assuming she still needs to burn through the aggression. I swear, her kind self-destruct when they don't have an outlet for their violence."

After he'd gotten up to grab a small plate of breakfast, Kire mentioned taking the last of Ed's men to Amria. Ruli took another sip of his coffee, turning his attention to Narda shortly after. "Mmmhm. He's in the caves." He said, pulling his bacon apart with his fingers to eat in pieces. "He'll see us all off before we go, I'm sure."
He missed the smile Ed gave to Narda, oblivious to the interest between one and the other giant.
When Kire rose and said she'd go, Ruli nodded, downed his coffee and the last of his breakfast, and rose to his feet. "Meet you in there." He said to the remaining two before he slipped back out again and into the sun-bright city.

After taking a moment to detour to his little house for his sword and, he knew Kire would comment on, his boots, Ruli returned to the caverns, trying to pat down his ornery hair. Ed and Narda were already present, Envy standing near the giantess. Ruli supposed Envy enjoyed having someone to compete with in height. Zeke and Ysaryn were still no where to be found.
"Back to that spot just outside the border, right?" Ruli said, shifting his shoulders and rolling his neck as if expecting to roll directly into a fight.
He turned when he heard the familiar lilt of Ysaryn's voice as she grumbled at Zeke, who walked in beside her. He gazed at the group of them in silent plea to get her to leave him alone, his cheeks splotched in redness from whatever she had growled at him.
"Ys." Ruli said, and the elf rounded on him.
"That is not my name." She said sharply.
Rolling his eyes, Ruli reached out, beckoning her near. Zeke looked grateful that she accepted and moved to stand beside the blond. "Stop picking on him."
"He's a big boy." Ysaryn sniffed.
"If you want to pick on a 'big boy', pick fights with Envy."

Envy only chuckled as Ysaryn crossed her arms. "Are you all ready?" The Kartaian asked. "I don't want to fret and tell you all to be back at a certain time mark, but please do not linger more than you need to." He requested, tilting his head slightly to listen for each of them where they stood.
"We'll be alright." Zeke said.
"Mmm. Clearly we're all too stubborn to die." Ruli said casually, stuffing his hands in his pockets. Months here, and he still wasn't used to the lower temperature, even after the time in the chilly mountains. "Two to each of us." Ruli said, reaching for Ed and Kire. Ysaryn, in turn, offered her hands to Zeke and Narda. "We'll be back." He promised to the largest of them, before they vanished, pulled into the nothing.

The woods in which they arrived were slightly dimmer than the bright coast, the sun not quite over the horizon here. Ruli dropped his passengers and stuffed his hands back into his pockets, his eyes shifting at once to the Lithilote border.
"After you." Zeke said, gesturing to Kire, her hand pointing westward. "Ysaryn, you're our scout again, Ruli and Narda, take the rear."
"Make friends with a pretty elf and suddenly he thinks hes the boss." Ysaryn complained, drawing her blades. She rolled her shoulders, loosening her joints.
"He always thinks he's boss." Ruli commented. "Its half the reason he was the boss in Ziad. No one wanted to argue."
Ysaryn chuckled, and Zeke gave them both a dark look. He didn't have to understand to get the feeling they spoke about him. "You want to take control?" He snapped at Ruli.
"I thought I'd leave that to the empress." Ruli answered casually, and Ysaryn flashed a crooked grin.
Zeke frowned, then threw up his hands in dismissal as he walked. Still, Ruli fell into place toward the back of the group as they walked, silent so Ysaryn could listen over the sound of their feet.

Wanderers

His coffee enjoyed, Ruli stepped outside of the hall to climb a set of stairs and sit in an empty courtyard. It was camp from the night's rain, but he cared little as he drank his coffee and watched the sun rise over the green beech and the soft white beach below. He was cold from the morning wind, but it was slower and less agitated than what carried the storm. The coffee helped, each sip warming his stomach, and the sun on his face was something he'd dearly missed from being in Aera's court.

Ruli sat alone, enjoying his morning drink and the view that accompanied it, until Ysaryn sat beside him with a huff. At once, she folded her arms and her legs, and Ruli raised his eyebrows at her in question.
"I knocked on your door last night." She said with an edge to her voice.
"I was sleeping."
"Soundly, apparently."
He smirked. "What did you want?"
Ysaryn turned her lovely face toward him, and Ruli froze, wondering what it could have possibly been that she'd look so annoyed over missing out. "I did not like being caged again."
"I did not like the idea of being put in cuffs."
She blinked, studying his face, gathering from that comment that he'd worn them before. She knew so very little of his past, same as everyone else. Her gaze fell to his wrists, but there were no scars on his wrist that suggested he'd been chained. Ysaryn had only seen his arms a few times, and knew there were many other scars from the life he made of thieving and fighting, but nothing around his wrists. Perhaps it was just a phobia.

"So what did you want?" Ruli asked again, sipping his coffee.
"To spar." She admitted. "To take control. Know I can win. I knocked on Zeck's door, after, but he refused."
"Why would he refuse to have his ass handed to him by a pretty elf in the middle of the night?"
"I don't know, either." Ysaryn sighed, and Ruli chuckled. Her eyes narrowed at him. "You were teasing!"
"Of course." He nodded. "No one wants to go out in the pouring rain to be picked on by an angry elf."
Ysaryn huffed and adjusted her weight on the bench. "My men would have."
"Then you should have asked them." Ruli pointed out, earning a glare. "Look, if we don't find any combat today, I'll spar with you as long as you need." Ruli promised, rising to his feet. "Let's go see how the others are waking, and we'll go."
Ysaryn wiggled again. "No. You made fun of me."
Ruli chuckled and wandered off, feeling her annoyance follow him for his nerve at walking away.

"There you lot are." He said, sliding into the second hall he came to to find the Amrian officials. He sidled in, refilled his cup, then sat nearby. His gaze went from Kire to Narda to Ed. "Hey." He said to the male. "We haven't been formerly introduce, I'm Rulitus. Everyone calls me Ruli." He did not offer his hand to the empress's cousin. Sipping his cup, instead, Ruli narrowed his gaze at Kire. "Did Ysaryn give you her weird alcohol last night?" She reeked of that unique taste seaweed had.
Giving his head a little shake, he dismissed the topic. "Speaking of Ysaryn, I partially hope theres something to sic her on at the gate today, as apparently she's looking for something to stab." He jerked his chin toward Kire. "You look like you know the feeling, maybe you can get her to calm down."

Wanderers

Envy grinned, flashing teeth, before he shrugged his shoulders. "It is not as easy for me as I let on." He admitted. "Losing my eyesight was a lot easier than losing so many friends, and my home. I have good sense of smell and hearing, plus enough around me I trust to help me get around. That is what gets me through. Everyone here who have survived." He fished into his pockets, searching for his cigarettes. "If I falter, so will they. So I don't allow myself to do so. If you would be so kind." He held the cigarette to Narda, gesturing toward the fire. "Would you like one?" He added thoughtfully, opening his wooden box again to offer one to the giantess.

With the box tucked back into his pocket and their cigarettes lit, Envy shook his head. "I don't say much with pride. With the exception of pointing out that I am certainly not lonely. I keep good company, both domestic and foreign." The Kartaian grinned, his words rising as smoke in the warm chamber.
"And you? With all that is going on in your home at the moment, do you find yourself lonely? Or is having people like Kire and her family, or your ship mates, enough?"

They talked for a while more, the Kartaian finishing his cigarette before he rose to his feet, offered his hand to Narda to at least pretend to walk her out into the cave again. "You should rest." Envy insisted. "Tomorrow is bound to be trying in one way or the other. And I am aware of how much energy our bodies consume." He grinned, guiding her to the tunnel out that would lead them nearest to the house they had been offered. "If you do decide to remain here, I will be glad. But if you return, as would be understandable, I will look forward to your visits, as well."
His hand grazing her arm, Envy tucked her hand to his lips to kiss her knuckles. "Good night, Narda. I'll see you off tomorrow before you run off for danger."

By morning, the storm had subsided, leaving the beaches swarming with boats full of elves eager to cast their nets. Envy was awake, loitering just inside a tunnel, enjoying another of his cigarettes as he conversed with Zeke. The latter of the two had a cup of coffee in his hands, the smell of it filling the chamber.
"Morning." Ruli grumbled, finally waking and strolling in.
"There you are." Envy said, turning toward his voice. Zeke took another drink, refraining, for once, from slipping away. "I had wondered when you'd appear."
Ruli only groaned and rubbed his face before combing his hair with his fingers. "I could have slept a few more days. I want to sleep a few more days." His eyes zeroed in on the coffee Zeke held. "The others awake yet?"
"Not that I have seen." Envy answered with a smirk.
"Haha." Ruli said tiredly. "I'm going for a pot." He shoved his hands into his pockets and trudged outside.

Wanderers

Envy arched an eyebrow at the mention of Kire acting stupid under the enchantments effects, wondering how such a reaction occurred, exactly. When Ruli had been practicing, as he said, he felt pressure squeezing him, but he'd kept his mind. However the Amrian magic worked, it was certainly a few degrees different.

"Here, I don't believe humans have magic." Envy admitted as Ed explained that such a thing was dormant in all of their blood. "Short of a few sly of hand tricks and cons, things that put on good entertainment and empty a pocket or two. But magic like you've witnessed I have only seen produced by those with elven heritage. Likewise, in different degrees." He added.
Turning his head, he looked toward Narda. "Are you saying your family is shorter than you are? I can't imagine the surprise when you just continued to grow." He blinked, trying to imagine as much for a moment. "Kartaians are always tall. Take Rab, for example. He was probably taller than the average man before he was what they would count as an adult. Though he is far shorter because of his mixed blood. I have no such excuse. I'm just short." He grinned, showing his teeth before he bit into the last of his pork.

Slowly, the shadow elves rose and filtered out, muttering among themselves about the decent dinner, and about the fishing that would present itself as soon as the storm passed. Envy listened idly, then looked around to the other three. "So, you're taking some of your citizens back tonight. More tomorrow. Then this gate ordeal. After that, what is next?" Envy wondered. "Don't tell me we'll be waiting another quarter of a year for you to make an appearance. I may have to keep your giantess for company and incentive."

Wanderers

"Oh, I see her drunk." Ysaryn declared proudly. "She talk and talk and talk, and gets very friendly, no? Like a cat?" The elf winked at Kire. "I would not mind to see again."
"Mmm," Envy said, his attention shifting between them before he heard Narda's question. "Don't drink, I'm afraid." He answered. "Inhibitions and all that. The tobacco is all I allow myself, really. Unless its a weak wine."
Ysaryn studied Envy, realizing she had never seen him drink at all, and wondered if it would be worth it to try. Her attention was turned to Kire as she coughed, her smirk reappearing.
"No more, or you will not make it to bed." Ysaryn ordered, though there was the unmistakable hint of a challenge in her voice. Then she perked up, looking around. "Where is the grumpy one?"
"Which one?" Envy asked, chuckling.
"Either." Ysaryn twisted, looking at each of the dozen or so faces that were sitting in the hall.
"I'd guess they're just in another hall." Envy commented.

Ysaryn fell quiet a moment, pulling apart the tender pork on her plate, her fingers quickly coated in grease. "They were not kind to him. Either of us, really." Ysaryn said suddenly in elvish. A few of her people silenced and looked over. "They kept Rulitus in a cage, magic suppressant wards. For me, I had bracelets so I could wander freely, but he refused, so they didn't let him roam. I don't think he slept for the duration we were there."
Envy hummed. "He'll be fine. A little sleep and he'll resurface, I assure you." He promised, reaching forward to gently pat Ysaryn. As he couldn't see, he simply lifted his hand, and Ysaryn gently pushed it back down, as if to say she hardly needed his comfort.
But her people continued to watch her, ire crossing some of their expressions. "They caged you?" One of them said.
"What makes them any different than the men in Cordon?"
"They have no right!"
Ysaryn and Envy both straightened, sensing the rising tension. "That is enough." Envy insisted.
"We don't answer to you!" One of them snapped.
"But you do answer to me, and I am also saying to drop it." She snarled right back, baring her teeth. The males shrank back a little, though they still looked cross. "They did not put me in a cage to violate me or sell me. They put us all in a cage to suppress our magic. Then we were let out." Her nostrils flared. "You challenge Envy again I will make you count the grains of sand all day."
The elves hissed at her, leering at Envy while they went back to their meal. Ysaryn, looking grumpy, took another drink from her bottle. Envy pursed his lips together, sighing.
Then Ysaryn rose to her feet, taking the Kombu. "I need air."
"Ysaryn, its pouring rain outside." Envy pointed out.
"Still air!" She answered before vanishing outside. The group of elven males looked over again, glaring.

Envy exhaled noisily. "Not all a peaceful trip, I take it?" He asked as he glanced toward the other three, yet unaware that Ed would have understood. "She tells me that your magic was suppressed. I can't imagine that felt pleasant. I've only felt that once, when Ruli was practicing his wards. Its like being under a massive amount of water." The Kartaian shifted his shoulders uncomfortably at the memory. "Kire has magic, does that mean you do, as well, Ed? Or even you, Narda, I haven't asked. I hope I'm not prying by doing so."

Wanderers

"Are you?" Envy turned around to look toward Ed, eyebrows raised. "How about that. We're the same age. I've never met anyone as old as I am. Least not since I left the den." He admitted, looking satisfied with this new information, but it vanished when Kire mentioned that Ed had grown close with Aera. He fell quiet, thinking this over. Though he decided not to comment. Hhe figured Ed wouldn't make his way back to the moon court anytime soon, and any warnings he thought to offer were moot.

"I wouldn't mind a detailed telling of it." Envy requested as he ducked quickly to the side, avoiding a short part of the cavern, apparently sensing it before it smack his head. "Few have been to see it, and any of my kin who approach are killed on sight. For that reason, I am glad that Ysaryn has been brought back in good spirits. Though it would seem our mutual friend is not so up beat."

While Narda apologized for her reaction to Gavin, Envy turned his face toward her. "The apology should not be directed at me." He pointed out. "I also hope that all of your other men and women keep their hands off of him. If its necessary, I will have him kept in the mountain caves, but with the rest of us now here, I would rather not punish him like that."

He ducked to the left, into a small, poorly made tunnel of rocks held together with some sort of natural adhesive, and it opened into a wide chamber that smelled heavily of roast pork smothered in herbs and a thick broth. There were a few elves sitting around, nibbling on small portions of their own. Three of the Amrian soldiers had already found their way in, and Envy paused at once, listening hard to try to sort out where everyone sat.
"If you'd be so kind to help me find a place to sit?" Envy asked, holding out his arm for Narda. "If I step on anyone its really going to hurt."

The elves, while apprehensive, rose to cut more portions of the meat off the large beast over the hearth, setting it on a large platter for the newcomers to pick off their desired share. Once everyone was sitting, the door on the other side of the hall opened, admitting the fuschia haired elf with the wicked smile. Back in her leathers, her hair rebound in her usual neat braid, Ysaryn raised her hands to splay the four ceramic bottles wrapped in twine. "Kombu!" She declared, and the shadow elves raised their hands, taking the bottles, save for one, which she waved before the Armians. "Our drink." She introduced. "Strong. Made of seaweed."

She gathered a few small cups from the shelf on the wall, she handed them out and filled them, Envy declining with a wave of his hand. Gathering her own plate, Ysaryn sat cross legged across from the others. "Will knock you on you ass." Ysaryn warned with a crooked smirk. "Try not to take challenge, or you fighting tomorrow will be shit."
"Yes, do try to avoid falling unconscious for the night." Envy grinned, cautiously picking at his own plate. "I would like to -wait, why are you fighting tomorrow?" He asked, turning toward the Amrians, his brow furrowed.

As they explained, his frown only deepened. "Then I repeat, do not drink too much, so I can be confident you'll all be returning in one piece. As well, I imagine taking your people home will require a level of focus." He added to Kire, his clouded eyes pointing in her direction.
Ysaryn only chuckled and took a swig from the bottle before shoving a fair amount of pork between her teeth and her cheek. "Kirai too stubborn to let them get risk." She decided. "But, Kirai also to stubborn to decline drink..."
Envy wrinkled his nose, the Kombu reeking heavily of salt and of the seaweed from which it was made. "Just don't ask whats in it." He warned, containing his meal."
"Who cares?" Ysaryn demanded. "Gets your drunk."

Wanderers

Envy only grinned at Ed, lowering his head slightly. "Patriarch." He repeated. "I like that." The elf chuckled, the sound filling the caves beneath the roar from outside. He listened to the tones of their voices as they spoke, hearing their smiles and sensing the tension easing out of the Amrians, even if he couldn't understand the entirety of the words said to them by their empress.
"There is no debt." Envy said simply. "You helped my family when you had no obligation to. You took down the enemy responsible for our scattering. Offering a dry place to rest with full bellies is the least I can do."

He tilted his head, listening, then searched a few seconds, before he realized Ruli was not present. The lack of concern or tension told the Kartaian, at least, that nothing had happened to him. After being near Aera, Envy could easily guess the blond needed time alone.

As Narda address him, Envy turned toward her, smiling kindly. "It would be rude of me to refuse." He obliged. "Allow me to set these letters in my chamber, and I'll-"
"I'll take them, Envy." Zeke said, stepping forward. "I want to change, anyway."
"Ah." Envy held out the letters to Zeke, assuming 'to change' is where Ruli had gone, as well, perhaps. He turned back to Narda's direction and smiled. "Well, it seems I am free to join you now. However, as theres only one hearth I can reach without borrowing Ruli or Ysaryn, I can only say I hope you don't mind pork."

"Uh." Aeron glanced over everyone, counting. "Okay, ten with me, five with Rab. Rab, you go north side, to the homes found there. He can't speak so just watch him for directions. You're going to get wet. He'll show you where to go for food first, then take you to where you'll sleep. Right, Rab?"
Rab nodded, though he looked slightly apprehensive around so many strangers, let alone at the thought of being in charge of them.
"Go, then." Aera shooed, and Rab shuffled back into the rain, five of the Amrians following. Aeron waved to the remaining soldiers, leading them to the southern side, into the brunt of the storm.

"You three." Envy said to Ed, Narda, and Kire. "We've found a three bedroom house near the crest of the cliff that should suffice." He pointed to the Ziadi side on the south, near to where his own chambers were. "It's the house nestled against the base of the palace. There are actually more rooms, but part of the roof is collapsed, so just try not to sleep in the exposed rooms. The other three are dry, and the hearth is in tact. The bright side is with this rain storm you'll find the bathing chamber full of water." He grinned teasingly. "Highest house, just against the palace wall. Small garden in the front, you can't miss it. Once you're ready, I'll make sure you find food and drink."