Carantathraiel

Wanderers

Tomorrow. And dinner, tonight. Ruli grinned at her, then turn and strolled out of the caves, muttering a "Nope." behind him as Kire asked if he required help. Ysaryn linked her arm with Kire's left one and walked with her, tugging her away from Gavin and Envy. "Play nice." She warned to Gavin before leading Kire out into the morning sunlight.

Behind them, Envy tilted his head, listening to Gavin as spoke. His lips pressed thin, and he drummed his fingers on his knee in thought. "You are correct." Envy said. "You are valuable, Gavin. But not because of your bloodline. Just because you breathe. Because your heart beats. I do not want anyone drawing your hand in a fight that is not yours."
He inhaled, calming. "However, nor will I hold you back, as Ruli is correct. This is your choice." Envy's tone announced his displeasure at the fact. Were Gavin a few years younger, not a legal adult, by either world's standards, he could keep him safe.

"Crossing into Amria to join Kire and her allies will not be easy. You are Gemini. How Narda reacted to you will be repeated tenfold, and in a few cases, with less mercy, I fear. Even if her allies realize the value of you, so to, will her enemies. Your head will have a bounty on it." Envy's large hands clenched and unclenched anxiously. "Ruli will make you a charm to hide you, and you will remain close to him at all times. Those are my terms if you insist on joining her in her war. If anything or anyone should move against you, he must be near enough to protect you." He hissed softly. "But I will repeat, I don't like the idea, and if anyone bullies you or pressures you into anything, they will face my wrath. I don't care who they are."

Outside, Ysaryn was pointing out all the changes that had taken over the city; the growing plants, the livestock, the fisheries, the repairs. "And you are to say 'well done, yes. Name is quite nice. Informationin-, er. Informative." She smirked. "How many Gem-en-i are in your fight? Is it hard to catch another and drain him? Or does Rulitus suggest simply asking Gavin in Amria?" Ysaryn reached out to tug on a large frond, watching as it waved once she released it.

Wanderers

Upon Kire's answer, Ysaryn grinned wider, winking at the woman before she looked back to Envy, paying attention to the larger elf berate the blond. Her eyes roamed Kire's burn, and as the Empress explained how she'd gotten it, Ysaryn hissed through her teeth. She recalled the headache she'd gotten when misusing her own transportation magic, and decided a burn was a decent punishment, considering the many alternatives.
"Ed is just as sly as you are, I think." Ysaryn said teasingly, circling Kire and meeting her gaze mischievously.

Envy, at the endo of it all, still looked cross, and knew just as well as Kire did that Gavin was sorting it out. He was no fool, the young man. "Gavin." Envy. "I am not one to forbid you. But I think it is wrong that it would be asked." He turned his face toward Kire, as if to repeat this to her without words. "Find another source."

"Envy," Ruli said cautiously. "Its really not your choice, its Gavin's."
"He is under my care." Envy snapped, and Ruli shrank again. "I will not have that sort of magic in my city."
Ruli turned to Kire again. In his city. His eyes fell on Ysaryn and the robe she wore. "We return tomorrow?" He asked Kire. "Gives you time to prepare, and enough time, perhaps, for us to find an alternate solution."

Wanderers

Envy tilted his head as Ruli all but fled, his face then turning toward Kire. As she asked, he tilted his head to beckon her, leading her along the system. The large circular chamber he'd claimed as his own was much less sparse, and he directed himself around the furniture to the large, wide chair sitting against the far side. Around it were two smaller, backless seats, for conversations just as this or, more often then not, Gavin's lessons.
Inviting her to sit, Envy leaned back and listen, his expression blank, though his clouded eyes shifted now and then at her explanation. He could smell the ointment on her arm, and could smell the scent of a semi-familiar tobacco smoke in her hair. And Ruli's flatbread. Envy pursed his lips, but offered no reaction other than that.

Until she mentioned Ruli and Daryll's theory, and the potential need for Gavin's blood. Envy stiffen, nostril's flaring slightly in annoyance, but was spared from immediately shooting her down by the appearance of Gavin. It was short lived, though, and Envy sighed. "He may, but you may not ask him for anything." Envy said firmly. "I will hear no argument on the matter."

He went quiet, mind moving, until Ruli and Ysaryn arrived. She wore something akin to a robe, the fabric asymmetrical and wrapped around her so it fell to one side, her leather pants and tunic beneath revealed. "Kirai." Ysaryn greeted, her eyes on the woman. There was a dangerous smile on her lips, a huntress's smirk. Ruli raised his arm to give Kire the 'OK' symbol over Ysaryn's head.
"What were you thinking?" Envy snapped at him, and both Ysaryn and Ruli went still, eyes wide. Though the former relaxed first, suddenly looking entertained. "Suggesting blood magic? And the use of his blood?"
Ruli cleared his throat. "Just to warn you, Ed has been teaching Kire elvish."
Ysaryn's gaze flit to Kire, her predatory grin returning. "Ooooh! So, do you understand?" She asked, delighted.
"It is not for her benefit, but his." Envy continued over Ysaryn. "This is foolish, even for you."
Ruli glanced around to Kire, then shrugged.
"Rulitus informs me I am to have own swords?" Ysaryn asked, stepping up to Kire to gently grasp her elbow, lifting her right arm for inspection. "And a battle in for to shed blood?"

Wanderers

Ruli sipped his drink while Elva and Kire spoke, finishing the last of their supply list before Kire was brought out of her well of thoughts. He set down his mug carefully and got to his feet. "Do you mind if I borrow the clothing? I'll bring them back." He promised, not really feeling like changing just yet. "And, if you'd allow it, I would appreciate the recipe for the ointment your healers used. Ours has a horrible scent and doesn't work quite that well. I'll offer something in trade."

But, as Kire tested her portal, Ruli tucked his arms against himself, suddenly feeling extremely cautious. "You're not going to leave half of me behind, are you?" He asked cautiously. When she reassured him, he tentatively reached out for her hand, but he still shut his eyes as she pulled him through.

Once he knew they were in the caves, and in one piece, he breathed. He let Kire go, rotating his shoulders to stretch. "Oh, no, you're dead. I'm going to go talk to Envy, and get out of the line of fi-"
"Ruli!"
Envy appeared, his hand on the wall, following the path of the cave to find the two nearby. "What, by the Gods, happened! Wards were screeching, Gavin came running, and ... Kire?" Envy inhaled, catching her scent. "Well, now Gavin's mention of blue makes sense." He folded his arms, waiting. Clearing his throat, Ruli glanced toward Kire. You can explain that. "I'm going to find Ysaryn, see if I can't talk her down from murder to maim." He teased before disappearing.

Wanderers

Ruli woke, burrowed under the blankets, the pillow tossed off the bed, his leg left hanging over the edge of the mattress. He decided at once that he liked the beds here, though only for now and then. Had he a mattress this soft in Úvano, he'd never wake up in time for his messhall breakfast. Nor would he get anything done, and he'd wind up much softer than he was now.
He struggled to get up, his back stiff, but no more sore than last night. Ruli rubbed his face, stretched and bent, before he rose and shuffled out of the room.

To be led to Elva. "Morning." He greeted in return, looking around and wondering why he'd been delivered here. If it was his turn for a lecture. As the mistress of the house explained that Kire and Narda had left, but would be back, he nodded, grinning as she complimented her supplies. "Sure. A-are you able to read my language? I know Kire isn't able to. If not, I can tell you what I know I will have trouble finding, and you can write it down? And, may I request some coffee?"

He sat himself in a chair, and once he held a warm cup against his palms, Ruli thought over his list once more and began listing what he could use help in gathering. Most of it was sure to be found in either world. The natural portions; rocks, herbs, ash, and so forth. The rest, he discussed with Elva in part, trying to relay the exact specifications before deciding which he'd rather grab in his world. A few items he didn't bother listing, like the tools he used. He was in the process of double checking the quantity with Elva when Kire reappeared, and Ruli looked her way. In response, he lifted his own mug of coffee, gesturing for her to sit and drink. "Hows the arm?" He asked, looking it over. He was glad to see most of the burn had healed, only her hand bore the worst of it, now.

Wanderers

He frowned deeply, puzzled, making a note to ask Envy about this, too. "Huh." Ruli hummed, before unfolding his arms. "Well. Let me know if you get another? I find myself curious."

Turning, he put his hand on his doorknob, glancing at her arm. "Two days. Dinner tomorrow?" He asked, gaze back onto her face. "Goodnight, Empress. Go fix that arm."

Slipping into his room, door shut behind him, he was glad to find his linens had been changed and were warm and dry. He moved to the bed, kicked off the boots, and fell into it.

Wanderers

"I ..." Ruli frowned, confused. "I didn't show you anything to do with my cooking, so no, it's not real. But it is true." He said, pausing in the hallway between their rooms. "That woman I showed you, Dara? She taught me a lot."
His eyes studied her face, wanting to know more about these false memories she was getting, and why.

He folded his arms and leaned against the doorframe, hissing g softly as his tender back muscles hit the wood. "How often do you get them?" Ruli wondered aloud. "And, if I may, what do they show you?"

Wanderers

Ruli nodded, agreeing with Kire. "We've forbidden him any sort of action into any blood magic, not that he's objected in any way. It would be incredibly cruel to walk up and demand his blood, even if we explained the reasons. He's coming along nicely with the rest of his lessons, I have no objection to asking him, but you'd have to ask Envy for permission, who has taken the lad on as one of his own." Ruli informed Kire.
And, as she mentioned having a way to get the direction he needed, he only met her gaze, wondering what her family knew, how much she'd tell them, and how much they'd ask at that sly mention.

Elva, thankfully, came to the rescue. Two days. Ruli reeled a little at the short amount of time as he stood and pushed in his chair. "Two days to go back, gather what they needed, and return. He began making lists in his head; magic supplies, clothing, weapons, Ysaryn. He was quite as they walked back to their rooms, repeating and rechecking his list until he heard his name. "Mm?" He asked, glancing up.
Then he chuckled. "I wanted to ask if you'd like to go to dinner." He answered bluntly. "Not what we just had. But in Cordon or Pokos. Or even maybe I'll just cook something for you."
Ruli turned his head toward her. "Exactly how much do you and Envy discuss me? With you knowing I bake cakes, and all."

Wanderers

"Ysaryn and I could get in easily, and, if we managed to get even a little Gemini blood, I could make us untraceable. Hide our symbolic scent." Ruli offered. "Of course, we would need help knowing where to go. And we'd have to be incredibly careful, as any sort of magic used within would undoubtedly alert them. Ysaryn's not always the most subtle of allies, either."

He glanced to Elva, opening his mouth as he considered his answer. "Drops. Nothing more than she hasn't shed already." He looked Narda over, considering this, too. "If we get all the enchantment pieces ready before hand, and have several people carry them in, then, yeah, it would be only a matter of placing them correctly and unseen. That would be the most difficult part, at least until the Gemini realize we've done something. Then, its not being found, and preventing them from destroying what we've done."

Ruli glanced back at Kire. "It won't be easy, entirely. But if it will get you your home back, even Envy would say it'd be foolish not to try."

Wanderers

"Well, no, when blood is involved, nothing is uncomplicated." Ruli agreed. "But the wards are easy enough. You just have to know what instructions to put down for the magic to obey." He explained. "Blood is simply the best reagent. Not, er, that I support the Gemini and their type of magic. I like blood only for things such as protective wards. I have no fondness for the horrible things they're creating."

As Daryll went on to ask how big his wards could get, and relayed his theory, Ruli leaned forward onto the table to listen. It wasn't as simple as jotting down an alphabet, but ... it was actually genius. Ruli said so when Kire turned to him and ask. "Quite the opposite." He answered. "When Narda and Elva mentioned the Red Tower earlier, the thought crossed my mind, especially if this tower is one of the reasons they're rooting around in the Capital to begin with." He turned toward Daryll. "Magic and wards to negate whatever is inside is easy enough, but it gets complicated from there. Kire wouldn't be able to do anything unless we somehow tie her into the wards, themselves. But-" He made a face. "-having never done such a thing, so this is only speculation, I imagine any magic she would use once within would drain her quickly. You, quickly." Ruli added, realizing he'd been speaking as if Kire weren't there. "Relying on military strength alone would work, especially if you outmatch them, and perhaps only using your magic as a last resort?"