Carantathraiel

Wanderers

He tolerated the proding as she inspected him, but the moment she was finished and called for food, Ruli lay back down on his side and cocooned himself in the blanket. His eyes watched her as they waited for the meal. When it arrived, he didn't straighten again, still unwilling to eat even if, rationally, he knew he should. She lit her pipe and nibbled on fruit, and Ruli waited, knowing more was coming. She bore that same look on her face that Envy often got when he was curious and wouldn't ignore it.

Ruli wasn't really expecting a thanks, however. He blinked at her as she continued to chat, even apologizing for the chatting, as she revealed a little about Kire. Ruli had had a hunch, but it was nice to hear Kire was just as horrible about showing weakness as he was. He flashed again to the flicker of memory last night where he had asked for Kire to stay, and she'd obliged, even though he was on the stone floor of a basement. When she had her own bed upstairs, and really had no obligation to do as he asked.

As Elva moved on, mentioning something she'd been meaning to ask, Ruli blinked again and focused on her, listening. Is there anything between him and Kire? A loaded question, really. For some reason, it didn't surprise him that Elva knew. Either through Kire, or Ysaryn's comments to Ed, he assumed. Ruli inhaled and shuddered as he sighed, giving the question proper thought.
"It was to take the edge off." He said after a time, feeling heavier for it. Was he disappointed? "Her idea. But I suppose they'll stop now, so no further cause for curiosity."
Ruli closed his eyes, wondering why his heaviness didn't disappear. Was he disappointed? He saw her face again, the blurred shape as he asked for her to stay, could feel her hand in his, the warmth of her body that soothed him. Remembered how he'd accepted his inevitable death because it spared hers.
But she was empress again. That put an end to alot.

"What antidote did you give me?" He asked suddenly, deciding to pull the topic away from Kire. "It helped alot. I'm ..." Ruli opened his eyes again, peering at Elva. It was scientific documentation. "...familiar with the poison used. At least a strain of it from my world."

~

Ysaryn chuckled again, twitching an eyebrow in Kire's direction before she turned and went to work, following the group as they cleared room by room, chamber after chamber. Ysaryn scratched the runes with her swords, pulled tiles up from the ground to break them, helped to cut down trees that bore the scars of the magic. It wasn't easy work. Despite the negation wards of Ruli's, she could somehow sense the magic that radiated from the runes. It was like a slight wave of nausea, making her both hungry and unwilling to eat, that disappeared with each one that broke.
It felt good, though. Having slaughtered so many Gemini mages in the memory of those she had lost, those who hadn't been so lucky as she had been, and then destroying all that they had slaughtered for. It was a victory. As the day moved on, she fell silent and contemplative, silently mourning one of her lost female's with each broken rune.

As they approached the tower, however, Ysaryn had no argument about not entering at all. The crypts had given her the creeps. They did not bury their dead, so being beneath the surface of the earth with a whole series of them made her skin crawl. Instead, she remained outside of the tower beside Gavin and the cousins, staring up at the glowing windows.

When Kire shouted at them to join her, Ysaryn frowned. "Why she sound happy?" Ysaryn asked in a half grumble, drawing one of her swords as a precaution as she stepped inside.
And immediately gagged. "What in unholy-?" She said, covering her nose and mouth with the bend of her free arm. Her eyes watered, and she hurried upstairs as quickly as she could, the odor following her for the first two flights. Even when it finally lessened, Ysaryn kept her arm over her face. Their air felt odd here, a surge of magic similar to the world gates hummed and dances around her, pressing on her ears in some unidentifiable song.

As they neared the room in which Kire stood, Ysaryn's steps grew cautious, but she straightened, her arm still raised. As they stepped inside and she peered at the gate, at the image projected inside of it, her arm finally fell. "Is that...?" She asked, taking a very cautious step forward to peer more closely. Though nothing was clear beyond the walls of the cave, she could see shapes moving on the other side, like shadows deep beneath water. One of them was very large. "Is that Envy?"

Wanderers

Ruli nodded, knowing very well he should eat, though not very enticed by it. His mind steeled itself about her mention of the toxin, figuring such a topic would arise. But Ruli didn't answer her on it. It appeared Elva had enough of some sort of antidote for it. He was alive, afterall.
As Kire instructed him to go upstairs and get looked at and fed, he nodded again, watching her get up and leave him in the hot spring chamber. He felt strange. From everything. The poison that kicked him right back to his old life, his old memories. The fact that he'd bitten someone. And the fact that he'd asked Kire to stay with him.
More than that, she done it.

Another memory surfaced from the previous day, when he'd accepted his impending death because it spared hers.

Tucking the pillows under his arm, wrapping the blanket around his shoulders, and grabbing the ewer, Ruli wandered out of the room and upstairs, deciding against the use of his magic for the moment. While the last of the effects of the poison still threatened to knock him off his feet, perhaps it wasn't worth the short cuts in transport. He was quickly found by one of the servants who took the pillows and ewer and helped him along, leading Ruli to the infirmary. He slumped over in a bed, still wrapped in his blankets, and waited.

After a while, Elva arrived to look him over, and Ruli opened his eyes to watch her. He didn't move much, unsure if she needed the reassurance that he wouldn't fight. Or bite. Gods, he felt guilty about that. "I'm sorry about your healer." Ruli voiced. "I will apologize, if I see them." He wasn't sure he would. Who would show his face after being bitten?
On Elva's instruction, he shrugged off the blanket to let her look him over, getting little more than a tut about the irritation in his eyes before she asked how he felt. He responded much the same as he had with Kire; sore and heavy limbed.

~

Ysaryn rolled her shoulders when they emerged back at the camp, the smell of metal, oil, and blood welcoming her like a dear friend. She smiled, looking around as they were escorted within. The atmosphere was better here. Less death and wariness. There was a celebratory feel to it. People had a bounce in their steps. Even the wounded seemed upbeat.

When they entered the tent, Ysaryn's gaze swept around before catching Ed's gaze. She smirked at him, listening as they spoke and commended Gavin. Yes, such a good thing they decided not to kill the little man.

As Ed addressed her, Ysaryn gave a low chuckle. "Be prepared to look up at me from upon your back, Wyvern." She answered smoothly as Kire tolled her eyes. "Sparring is good for every hour, Kirai. Try it." She added teasingly, folding her arms over her front. "What task does the Chieftess have for me today?"

Wanderers

Is that what he asked? Ruli frowned again, trying to remember. He remembered wanting to go home. He remembered wanting nothing more than to hide somewhere underground in the quiet, to be near Envy. Someone he trusted to keep him safe. He glanced at Kire, suddenly recalling that he'd asked her to stay, and that, yes, she promised to do so.

He cleared his throat. "Yeah. That's fine. I'm alright." Ruli sighed. "I'm not in a rush. Just, tired, now. That's all." Bending his legs slightly, he braced his arms near his knees and leaned over his lap. "Kire, I-" He began, staring at the floor. "I don't ... remember much fo what happened last night. I get bits and peices of it, then pieces of something else, so, uh." He cleared his throat again. "If you could let me know if I've hurt anyone? Else, I mean, I know I hurt someone. And if we could just forget everything else?"

Wanderers

Ysaryn only smirked down at Kire as she mentioned Ed. "Anyone would be." She answered with a wink before she turned and strolled out to pass along the words to Elva.

When Ruli finally stirred, he inhaled and breathed out in a soft, growl, his eyes opening into slits. His sclera was still slightly pink, but he had less difficulty in focusing. He noticed Kire and furrowed his brow, not sure of how much he could recall had been a dream or not. Not much of it, if she were here with him.

"I bit someone." He said quietly, not yet reaching for the water nor making an effort to get up. Would Elva toss him out for that? Arrest him? Eyes burning, Ruli looked around the chamber he'd woken in. Was that why he was hiding down here? After he looked back toward Kire, he considered her question. "Sore." He answered. "Still hurts. But its nothing like before."

After a few deep breaths to ready himself, Ruli sat himself up, groaning, his arms shaking with the effort. Once he was at last sitting upright, he dragged his hand over his face, his fingers falling over the gash on his cheek. Pieces of yesterday came back, as well as all the pieces of his previous life. Which left a pit in his stomach Envy could have dove through.
To avoid remembering, Ruli glance to Kire, brow furrowed again. "You stayed?" He asked, admittedly surprised by this. The empress, on a hard stone floor in the bowels of her cousin's mountain manor, with a man who'd torn into the flesh of one of her citizens.

Wanderers

Safe.
That word fell on him like a blanket as she wrapped her arm around him. Ruli inhaled, bracing, before he tucked his arm around her in return. He closed his eyes again, willing himself to rest and sleep.

Not long after, Ysaryn returned, her bare feet padding across the chamber silently. In her arms, she held two pillows and a blanket. When she neared, Ruli's eyes opened and trained on her, but he either didn't care that she was there this time, or wasn't entirely sure if she really was. He didn't move, otherwise. So, cautiously, Ysaryn approached and knelt, setting the pillows above their heads within reach and pulling the blanket over them both.
Ling after she was gone, Ruli's eyes remained open, but his gaze was unfocused and still as he dozed.

By morning, there was a clink as Ysaryn put an ewer of water on the ground. The room was so muggy condensation already raced along the surface, pooling on the floor.
Ruli didn't stir, his eyes closed as he finally slept soundly. He still shivered, though it was less violent, less frequent. Ysaryn studied him for a moment before she looked down to Kire. "You cousin is eager." She warned, having convinced Elva to allow her to come see to them instead, fearing Ruli's tolerance.
Considering the bite mark he left on one of Elva's healers, Ysaryn had won that debate.

Wanderers

His brow furrowed again when she suggested sleeping it off. He inhaled sharply, anxious. "Stay here." He said quickly, his hand tightening on hers. "Pay that way. Don't leave me alone. This," Ruli licked his lips, inhaling again. "this hurts. Last time I was alone." He didn't think he could to that again. Not sure if he could hold on to his determination to see it through.

Gently, he bent his arm, wrinkling his nose at the discomfort as he tried to pull her closer to him, closing the space between then.

Wanderers

They won. Ruli shivered again, then closed his eyes. He knew he should be glad for this, but the emotion felt distant for the moment. He breathed out, relaxing against the stone, the warmth of the room and her presence comforting. Despite his shaking, he felt relaxed and calm. The less he thought at the moment, the less confused he was.
The she mentioned repaying him, and Ruli opened his eyes again, meeting her gaze. He inhaled, feeling the burn in his throat. Whatever Elva had given him, it was helping. "I don't," Ruli started, pausing as another shudder raked through him. His gaze never left her face. "What did they do to me? I've ... I've felt this before."

Wanderers

Ruli's eyes followed her, watching her rise and draw nearer, before she settled before him. She felt the warmth of her hand in his, the scarred flesh beneath his fingertips. For a moment, it felt so foreign. Physical touch. Gentle touch. Something he'd longed for but had always been denied. But, swiftly, the real memories surfaced, reminding him that'd he'd spent years, decades, safe and loved.

His brow furrowed as she spoke, her voice strangely loud. So close. Kire was so close to him. That's why he could feel her hand. He looked down, studying her hand, the Ring that adorned her finger. There was a fight. "We fought." He voiced, remembering the Gemini. He remembered ... little. Everything was mottled. "They took something from me." Ruli whispered in between his shivers, his eyes closing again. The 'what' was fuzzy.
"Did you win? Your h-home?"

Wanderers

The springs beneath kept the floor warm, the air in here humid and thick from the steaming water. He didn't care for the moisture, but he was already damp. And at least he was warm and underground. Just as he'd managed when he first escaped. When he found Ziad, and the Kartaian hiding within. The hard stone grounded him. No soft sand. Unforgiving, relentless stone.

Ruli?
He opened his eyes again, his cheek pressed against the floor of the chamber. Her shape moved, her approach cautious. She said something to him, but it jumbled in his ear. He couldn't understand. Not that it mattered. He closed his eyes again. Walking made it worse. Made his bones ache again. Made him tired. Gods, so tired. Ruli took a shuddering breath, listening as she spoke again. More of her words made sense this time, but not all of them.
He understood she was apologizing.

He smelled someone else, and shifted his head, peering through the fog. Barely visible was a smudge of fuchsia near the threshold. A female elf. A fighter. A mistress. "Go away." He snarled, still shivering uncontrollably. Ysaryn inhaled and left backed out, leaving Kire alone with him. His gaze shifted back to her. But to her, he wasn't sure what to stay. Vaguely, he recalled that they'd been fighting in something. Violent. He looked her over, looking for injury. He should tell her to go away, too. Tell her to leave him alone. But for some reason, the thought made him feel alone.
Shaking, he extended an arm, spreading his fingers toward her. "Please?" He asked quietly. "I- ... I don't know w-whats real."

Wanderers

Ysaryn smiled back, glad for Kire's acceptance of her decision. Given orders, Ysaryn turned to put herself to work, joining the Wenches in another sweep of the palace. Ysaryn's fingers twitched at her sides as they wandered the halls and the rooms. So much refinery. So many things that could be sold for coin enough to feed her people for weeks. No wonder Kire and her family wanted back here. But, with all of this around them, so many resources, how was Kire not fat?
Suppose the Gemini kept them on their feet, constantly prepared for a fight. But with them all dead or captive, maybe they'd get soft. If Ysaryn had nothing to fight, she'd go soft and round with so much food.

She found more of the dead Gemini and searched their bodies, gathering the carnelians from their pockets for Daryll or Envy's study. And finding a few coins and items of jewelry in the task. With the exception of the pendant she knew from her nightmares; the ivory faces facing one another on an ebony field. Those, she refused to touch.

By the time they'd returned to the empress and she address her soldiers, Ysaryn's adrenalin had waned, and she felt fatigued. In need of a good rest. A hot bath. A table full of food. Silent, she listened to Kire, standing on the edge of the group as they took in her words and instructions. Sleep in the camp. Mourn those they'd lost. Take back their home and sweep their enemy out of it.
"Edward." Ysaryn greeted as he passed, her voice soft with her fatigue. Her fuchsia eyes roamed him, checking for injury. He'd been near the explosions. She could smell that on him, but couldn't yet tell if he was burnt beneath the soot that covered him. "You appear to have a few scratches on you. Pity." She smiled teasingly. "Let me know when you'd like a few more, hm?" A suggestive wink, and Ysaryn turned toward Kire, who asked for a way to Elva's.

When they arrived at Elva's, Ysaryn could smell a heavy amount of herbs in the air. She sniffed, rubbing at her nose, and left Kire to find the infirmary and check on Ruli. Ysaryn followed, briefly looking into the room to see Ruli alive on the bed before she left the room, needing to clean her weapons before she could collapse into a bed.

~

Ruli was barely conscious. He lay in bed, more relaxed, thanks to the medicine administered, but he shivered relentlessly. His muscles unable to calm. His breathing was rapid, but steady at least. His skin wan, his eyelids dark. He felt more aware of his surroundings as he tried to sleep, his thoughts turning and coiling like a restless snake just above the line of sleep. Resting, but not restful.

He knew Gavin slept nearby, knew people wandered around him with no intention of harming him. Knew he was in Amria. In Elva's house. He knew the ache in his body had lessened, and that the burning lines on his back were his imagination. Everytime he breathed, the pain far less than before, he could smell Elva's tobacco, a healer's sanitary soap, and after a long while, sulfur.
It was for that smell that Ruli opened his eyes. His sclera was irritated and pink, making his blue eyes seem even more bright. He struggled to bring her into focus, though he knew who she was without.

Shivering still, Ruli couldn't feel his body. Why, he was unsure. If he was blocking out to pain or the medicine had numbed him. All he knew was that he couldn't stop shaking. "Take me home." He begged softly, his voice barely audible.
Ruli could see it in her face, her blurred features shifting to something negative. Pity. Regret. Sorrow. He couldn't tell what, but knew that her answer was 'no' without her having to physically speak the word.

He closed his eyes again, blocking her out. Inhaling, and putting a tremendous amount of effort into his senseless body, Ruli rolled, summoning his magic and vanishing from the bed.