Carantathraiel

Wanderers

Zeke chuckled. "Yeah." He sighed. "I used to do well enough in the romance area. But I was captain of the guard, a well honed fighter. Ladies liked that, I suppose. But ... well. Alot changed when Ziad was razed to the ground. More than just our home or our way of life. I suppose you'd understand that, having taken refuge in the mountains."

~

For some reason, her reaction to his reply made him feel guilty again. Like he'd hurt her without intended, even if his answer was the one that should have hurt less. "If you ask me, running into quests sounds a lot easier than trying to run a kingdom. Or empire." He put in. "But travel, that makes sense. You already have seen more worlds than most people can say in a lifetime. Thanks to you, as have I, so. Guess you have some competition.

And then she brought it up. Faced him and asked if he was alright, and about the poison. Ruli clicked his tongue and turned his head. "Kire," He sighed, looking along the beach, away from her. "I'm alive, aren't I?" He asked, looking down to grab a handful of sand, and letting the grains pour from between his fingers.
"I had one thought when they dosed me with it. When I knew it was strong and would kill me. That it was meant for you. That he thought I was you, and that you would be the one to step forward. That that poison was meant for you. Again. And I decided that I would accept it." Ruli rubbed at the healing gash on his cheek that would be another scar to add to his collection. "It meant you lived. That you didn't have to experience it."

Wanderers

Ysaryn chuckled, almost purring. "Kirai, it may be wise to knock before you enter the house." She wanted, standing with Ed and linking her arm in his. "Unless you want to see more of your cousin than I want you to see." She winked at Kire as she strolled away toward the houses.
Zeke, looking slightly caught off guard, took Elva's arm. But he blinked, reminding himself that it was just a walk on a beach with a woman who had never been. To their world, let alone Úvano. "So you live in the mountains?" He said as he walked with her. Their conversation faded, Ruli shaking his head as he and Kire were left alone.

"Not at all." He agreed, letting silence fall. He was fine with not with speaking, having been waiting for Kire top pounce about the poison, or their arrangement. But her admission about abdicating, that he had not been expecting. Ruli turned his head, studying her profile as she gazed at the stars.
He almost jumped when she sat up suddenly, hiding it by a shift in his weight to sit upright with her. Waving off the bottle to say he didn't want anymore, Ruli frowned softly.

"Kire," he sighed, watching her. "I ... I don't know yet. I don't know you well enough. But if I had to go off of what I do know about you, I would say no." He shrugged, then looked toward the sea.
"You throw yourself in harm's way before allowing anyone else the chance to be hurt. You don't seem like the type who relishes all the power and control that comes with the position. Which you just confirmed. But," he raised his hands in a half shrug. "What would you do without the title?"

Wanderers

Ysaryn grinned wickedly. "I eat what is in the ocean. I don't frolic with it." She replied smoothly, taking her final sip before handing the bottle over. She watched Kire chase the younger two, her ears trained on the conversation. When she heard of how, exactly, the Gemini had been executed, she turned toward Ed and Elva, watching their expressions.
And Gavin's.

"You know." She said, folding one leg over the other and waving her bare foot up and down slowly, the way a cat sways her tail. "Dark clouds hang over many in unrest. Victors and defeated alike. You family has suffered much. There are things you may want to unhappen. But it is not right. It has happened, and all you can do is decide what to do with what is before you now." She reached over for the bottle, taking a drink. "I slay many mage. I repeat the names they took with every cut. I pray for the child my mother lost when Gem-en-ai take me. But I will not be broken. And nor will the Wyvern. The face of evil is smaller, now. New forces to work and rise. Make it yours."
"You get chatty when you're drunk." Ruli whispered low to her.
"Try it sometime. You're duller than a sea glass."
Ruli chuckled, shaking his head.

Zeke, arriving shortly after, sat himself beside Janes, deciding best not to make an idiot of himself before Elva any further. He asked about Amria, about the language, and about life with so many cousins. Ysaryn, between her drinks and her sassy remarks, watched Ed hungrily, her fingers occasionally brushing over his blond hair. Ruli listened with one ear, reclining on his back to watch the sunset over his feet.
However, when Kire and the girls returned to the sand shivering, he got up to gather a bit of driftwood, tossing it into a pile to light, vanishing for a second to get to the mess hall and borrow a flint and a bit to eat. With the fire roaring, small at it was, he offered Ysaryn a loaf of bread in hopes of sobering her up. Truthfully, anymore wine and he feared she'd disrobe there on the beach.

As the group split, half returning to the caves to slip through the gate, Ruli reclined on the sand, watching the last glimmer of the sun vanish behind the horizon. "To be honest, they made me." He admitted. "Threatened me with sparring with Ysaryn and Zeke if I didn't." He went silent, ignoring whatever it was that Ysaryn was whispering to Ed as she trailed her fingers over his arm. "I would have come by later. Offered a congratulations. I just hate parties."

Wanderers

Suddenly feeling a bottle of wine in his hand, Ruli looked down to inspect it before glancing to the source. Kire. Naturally. She said she owed him one. He raised it, angling his head as he gave her a playful salute with it before he followed Ysaryn and Ed down toward the shore, his boots kicked off before he'd even left the caves.

One the shore, Ruli sat in the sand a ways off from the water, among Gavin, Elva, and the others. Ysaryn, in a move against the breeze, braided her hair quickly and tugged at a few of the folds of her dress, letting it fall more loosely. Beneath ir, her black pants and the black cloth around her breasts were exposed as she leaned back in the sand, propping herself up on her elbows to watch the children wander.
They were an enigma to her. She'd spent so few times around children, Aeron being the only one here that crossed her path frequently. Even if she knew they were not all that many years younger than her, and probably close to Gavin in age, there was something about conversing with them that was so different.
"Now that I live here, I don't think I could go back to the desert or the mountains." Ruli commented, watching the water lap the sand lazily. "The views when the sun goes down can't be matched." He uncorked the bottle Kire handed him and took a long drink. Immediately, Ysaryn held out her arm to demand a drink. "I think you've had enough."
"I think that sort of talk is going to get you pushed into the water." Ysaryn retorted, just as Myka pushed Kire into the water. She gestured to the sputtering empress, raising her eyebrows threateningly. Reluctantly, Ruli handed over the bottle.

Wanderers

"We are quite troublesome." Ruli commented. "Sorcerers, fighters, alchemists. Zeke."
"Fuck you." Zeke snorted.
"Well, depends on the breed." Envy explained, turning his head in the direction of Elva and Etta. "My people can live at least two centuries, but I am not sure how old until they would pass. They rarely survive to old age."
"Same with my people." Ysaryn added, almost clearing her plate already.
"I have a friend, miss Kire has met. Her father is nearly seventh hundred years old, and still quite energetic. Her mother, even older. More than a thousand years old."
"I'd like to join," Ruli spoke up about the alchemy chamber offer. He had missed the chance before, being more than a little out of it.
Gavin, Daryll, Ruli and Envy spoke a little about alchemy ingredients, and most commonly created items used for poultice. Most of their ingredients, albeit under different names, were similar, likely branching from similar floral ancestors.

They ate their fill, more than one serving for each of them. Envy didnt touch the wine, instead sticking to the non-alcoholic beverages. What he passed on, Ysaryn drank, enjoying a few glasses of wine, managing to at least appear collected through the evening. Though when they made their way into the Tower, she grinned crookedly. "Amrian wine is good." She declared.
"How drunk are you?"
"How dare you." She answered with a giggle. "Take me to weapons."

They all wandered down with her, Ed and Zeke accompanying Ysaryn into the armory while Gavin, Ruli, and Envy branched into the alchemy room. They took their time, only returning upstairs when they heard the others arrive, ready to cross through the gate.
"Quite impressive." Envy complimented. "Though, I admit, I can't see the logic in your system."
"A blind joke. Really?" Zeke asked.
"He knows what I meant." Envy chuckled. "Is Elva here? Does she by chance have some of her herbs on her? I am dangerously low, but if any night would be worth of the finale."
"With the Gaye, we can always get you more." Ruli offered.
"Oh, will we be discussing some sort of small trade route through here?" Zeke asked.
"Let's decide that another time, hm?" Envy insisted.
"Yeah, considering Kire just got the empire peaceful again."

They stepped through into Úvano, the air cooling slightly, fortunately for Elva. "Do mind your steps when you leave the caves," Envy warned. "We had rain, the steps are a little slick." He gestured to the northern side of the caves, which would lead to the beach with the view of the sunset. Through the elven homes. Zeke excused himself, wanting to change and set down his blade, promising to join them after.

Wanderers

Envy chuckled as he heard Gavin's response, though he listened intently to Narda's list of foods present, making a note to ask for details on most of them. "It was," He admitted. "The two have been known to hurl mud at nobles, and since they seem to be getting along a bit better, I was worried." He sighed, though he cleared his throat when he caught the tail end of Ysaryn and Ed's conversation.
The fuchsia haired female chuckled, though she watched him carefully. She picked up the fact that an execution had occurred, the whispered gossip reaching her ears. Their enemy finally gone, but at a price.
If she could help him relax, forget about the violence for just a little while, she'd be happy to do so. Especially once they returned to Úvano.

Ruli and Zeke both listened to Elva with blank expressions, even though Zeke had smirked at Kire's order to stuff themselves. His smirk vanished when Elva demanded to know the nice things said about her, and he immediately faltered. "Uh. Well... the uh .... N-Narda made talk about your skill with your han- NO, I mean-"
"Shit, Zeke." Ruli muttered behind him. "You used to be good at this."
"Oh, shut up." Zeke said, rubbing his face. He exhaled heavily, tossing out all ideas of trying to be flirtatious and deciding just to speak. "Narda said you were a skilled healer, Mis-er, Lady Elva. We have Sid, at home, she was taking lessons to be a practitioner before we lost our home, now she's trying to continue her studies as best she can."
Shaking his head as Zeke spoke about Sid, he turned to the younger girls as they eyes Envy in question. "That is Envy." He answered. "He's an elf, like Ysaryn. But far more gentler. He raised Zeke and me, as well as many others who live with us. He teaches us alot." Ruli glanced Envy. "He was wounded badly, and can't see anymore." He said in explanation to the splotchy scars all across the Kartaian's skin, and his clouded eyes.

As Elva mentioned they were being summoned, each of the two changed their stature; Zeke straightened, squaring his shoulders, while Ruli hunched his and stuffed his hands into his pockets. Ysaryn, glass of wine in hand, floated toward them, her slanted eyes taking in the room, then smiling at Kire. "Well met, Chieftess." She said, nodding her head in what would be the closest she would offer to a bow. She sat where Ed guided her, leaning back and folding one leg over the other.
Cautious, Envy felt for his chair, then sat uneasily, apparently worried he'd miss the seat entirely, or be too large for it. When he relaxed his weight and nothing creaked, he sighed, leaning back, turning his head to listen as Narda continued to describe what was before him, as well as who was nearby him.
Ruli and Zeke took their seats on the end near Gavin, the latter doing his best to be proper and sit upright. Ruli had no such notion about appearing proper, and he leaned back and sipped his wine. He wasn't here to impress, as Kire and her family knew. However, when Elva raised her glass, he raised his before digging into his meal.

"Just as amusing as seeing Ruli here." Zeke commented. "Granted, it would be funnier if he bothered to dress up and didn't just comb his hair."
"You're lucky I did that." Ruli commented idly. "But I am interested in ruffling the feathers of the nobility."
Envy, from the other end, cleared his throat, and Ruli went back to eating.
"Oh, come on, Envy, let the boy have a little fun." Ysaryn chimed in with a coy smile.
"'Boy'?" Ruli turned his head. "I'm older than you are."
"Can you stop doing that?" Zeke requested. "They'll think us rude for excluding them. And me. I think its rude."
"Should have learned." Ruli muttered.
"I think the new point is, many of the nobles would blush if they knew your lot mingled with our lot." Envy added, amused, as he tasted a bit of the meat on his plate. He suddenly forgot all notion of conversation as he went for more.

Wanderers

"Not so bad, either." Ysaryn complimented back, smiling warmly at him before giving a wink to Narda. "Tell me, what you have been up to? Palace looks much better."

"And you," Envy suggested, guiding Narda forward a tentative step. "I must make a request. Would you be my eyes? Tell me what you see. How does everyone look? And if you see anyone with mud stains on their corsets, do inform me." The elf added.

"Hello Etta. Percy. Elva." Ruli greeted in turn, nodding to each. "I'm glad you liked it." Another nod. "And yes. A bit of sleep and I was back to normal. And the help of your cousin." Ruli said, his eyes roaming the crowd. He spoke without putting thought into it, smothering the memories down. "Oh." He whipped his head back around to his company. "This is Zekiel."
"Just Zeke, please." He insisted, extending his hand to each of the three women as their names were shared. "Elva, the healer, yes? I've heard about you. G-good things, I promise. Though, I feel like they hardly did justice."
"Oh, don't." Ruli sighed, glad that the arrival of Kire interrupted them.
Zeke rubbed his nape, feeling foolish, and turned away to watch Kire enter.

"Whoa." Zeke muttered as he spotted her. She was so adorned and glittering she would likely break skin if she drew too close. Envy, beside Narda asked for a description. Ysaryn, as Kire's gaze passed over her, winked happily at her, her arm looped in Ed's.
Ruli watcher her, only turned part way in her direction, his eyes roaming her. Her empire back. Her throne reclaimed. And she still looked tired. Spread too thin. It bothered him that he felt glad to see she didn't look as though all her dreams had come true. And when she smiled, his stomach fluttered, and he glanced down at his feet in order to crush the urge to grin back.

"That's all got to be incredibly heavy." Zeke whispered to him as Kire addressed them. Ruli didn't respond, listening to her words, and his eyes following the crown Janes delivered. Zeke made a noise that said that, too, had to be heavy to wear, and Ruli figured it was. Physically and in every other way.

They all fell silent as their dead were listed, and when Kire broke off to make her way to the other hall, and Elva motioned, the two men followed.
"We are to eat?" Ysaryn asked, looking to Myka, then Ed. "Maika says we are to celebrate in Úvano after all this? You are to come, yes?"
Holding Narda, Envy shuffled cautiously along, worried about bumping into anyone. Noticing, Ysaryn directed herself and Ed to walk before them, cutting through the crowd.
"Gavin?" Envy turned his head. "You'll mind your manners? There will be no work talk during any of this."

Wanderers

Impressive. Envy's chest swelled as he heard the compliment, her face turning toward the giantess. "You've been gossiping about me." he pointed out with a pleased grin.
Ruli smirked at Myka, though, somewhere in the back of his mind, that quiver of disappointment surfaced, its gnarled fins breaking the glassy surface of his calm. He'd tried not to think about Kire, and being reminded of the source of that nickname stung slightly.
"Matron of honour?" Envy asked, turning his way.
Ruli cleared his throat. "For Kire and Ysaryn's wedding."
Envy's head turned toward the dark elf.
"She would be so lucky." Ysaryn quipped.

Conversation was short, Envy explaining that he'd been interested to hear about Daryll's research, Rab cautiously staring at Narda and Myka, then, finally Daryll in curiosity. Zeke appeared, as well dressed as he would manage, a blade on his hip. He'd cut his hair, at last, though his beard he'd combed and oiled so it looked neat and kept. When the topic shifted to how many would be joining, Envy and Ysaryn both turned toward Ruli.
"You're going." Envy insisted.
"I'm really not su-"
"One more word of objection and I make you spar with Ysaryn and Zeke for a week straight."
Ruli swore, then ducked out of the hall, Walking to his house to reluctantly change. Satisfied, Envy looked back around to Narda. "The empress wants to celebrate here? Should I find that odd? That she'd escape her world after finally reclaiming it?"
Ysaryn, who was circling Daryll, her eyes on his attire, muttered. "I'm sure it has more to do with the company. We're much more fun than men who dress like this."
"Like what?" Envy asked, tilting his head again.

Once Ruli reappeared, looking very much the usual in muted tones and his hair combed, he tugged on his boots and they went through to the gate. Ruli had to hold on to Envy, who repeatedly asked for a chance to get into Daryll's alchemy room, to prevent him from escaping. Zeke, likewise, held on to Ysaryn to keep her from the armoury, insisting they could return another time and inspect as they pleased.
Ysaryn was the one who brought everyone to the Palace, having been the only lucid one with the ability to enter the location, and Ruli refusing to help by stealing the location from her mind. Two trips later, and they were all present.

Envy tucked Narda's hand in the crook of his arm, listening to the many voices that circled the chamber. Ysaryn, wide-eyed, looked around at the formal attire, jewelry, and the many different perfumes worn. Ruli and Zeke, on the other hand, looked alarmed already.
"I forgot how crazy nobles get." Zeke muttered.
"Say the word and we're gone." Ruli whispered back.
"Forget it, you two." Envy chided. "You're here to celebrate your efforts. Go get a drink and see if you can make a lady smile."
Ruli and Zeke exchanged a glance, then turned and strolled off together.

Wanderers

Úvano was much the same.
The animals were fed in the morning before the trade caravan went to their neighboring city. Meals were dolled out for those who had not yet the ability to cook in their own home, or preferred to spend the coin they brought in to have someone else feed them. What repairs were still necessary were made. The elves sparred and worked to hone their skills. The nets and traps were cast in the evenings to bring in at dawn.
It was all as usual.

Except the business with the gate.

Envy did his best to supervise, listening as Zeke and a few others worked on condoning the gate from the rest of the caves, while Gavin worked to create the wards that would protect it, as well as alert them whenever anyone came through. After the first night, Ruli appeared and wordlessly went to work to help, desiring to keep himself busy and throw himself into a task. No one pressed him, but Ruli knew he was being monitored.

He didn't mind it, to be honest. All it did was remind him that he had a real family nearby, people who cared, and he took that as encouragement. After another nights sleep he went back to work in the mess hall, earning himself some more coin he had no need to for. Envy, a few times, opened the door for him to speak with him, but Ruli dismissed it.
He'd be fine.
He was fine.
It was only the remnants of a nightmare. Dwelling on it would only keep it alive.

As the day for the celebration came, Ruli loitered in the caves, dressed in his usual nondescript attire, ignoring Envy's insistent demands that he attend with them. Why should he not go, the elf demanded. He'd done so much, and, even if it made Envy wary, he reminded Ruli that Kire would be glad to see him.
Ysaryn backed the Kartaian. She arrived in the cavern before the gate room well dressed; her hair was loose, her body swathed in a dress of gold, turquoise, and deep blue that was fitted in all the right places. Around her right arm, just beneath her armpit, was a band of gold made to look like a snarling wolf chasing its tail. Her black leggings beneath did little to hide the form of her legs. While Ruli couldn't see any weapons on her, he knew without a doubt that she had at least three hidden somewhere on her person. Any sign of trouble, and she'd have the skirts tucked away and herself armed in a single breath.
"You look nice." Ruli complimented. Envy turned his head as if he would see.
"I know." She responded with a smile.
"For your paramour?" Envy asked, grinning. He was dressed in creams and blacks, complimented with the abnormally bright robe that resembled the thing Ysarn had worn a week ago to Amria. Clearly, he was relying on her to shop for him on occasion.
"I dress for no one but myself." Ysaryn insisted. "But, should he be reminded how lucky he is, so be it."

When the runes lit up to announce that they had visitors, Ysaryn strolled forward and opened the door they'd installed, peering inside. "Finally. Something pretty to come through the gate." She declared in greeting, smiling wickedly. She swept back, inviting the three of them into the chamber.
Envy, waiting patiently to hear who had arrived, tilted his head when he heard Narda's voice. He grinned at once. "There is a voice I have missed, and am quite glad to hear." He extended his hand, inviting her forth so he could kiss her hand and embrace her politely.
After a quick glance to see that they were the only three, Ysaryn closed the door behind them. "Welcome to Úvano, Maika, and ..."
"Daryll." Ruli reminded her from where he stood.
"Daryll."
Ruli stepped forward, offering his hand to Daryll in greeting. "Honestly, welcome. I know you've been itching to get here."
"Daryll?" Envy asked, tilting his head again. "The Daryll?" He faced the sound of their voices, inhaling.

"Here come others." Ysaryn informed them, the runes and the alarm system no doubt alerting not only Gavin, but Rab, who came wandering through the caves.

Wanderers

"So long as they follow the same rules of conduct, I see no reasons to disallow visitors." Envy agreed, nodding. "I'll let him know. Perhaps I shall come along, just to see what this was all for. Again, figuratively." Envy sighed, waving his hand in front of his face.

~

Stark naked, her dark skin glowing beneath the sleepy morning sun, Ysaryn was stretched out on her belly, her arms tucked beneath the pillow she had her head upon. When she felt Ed's arm, and then his lips in her ear, the small of her back arched and she hissed as chills coursed through her.
"Ooooh." Ysaryn purred. Having discovered the effect such intimate touches had on her sensitive ears, he had taken full advantage, very much enjoying her reaction. With a pleasant shiver, Ysaryn turned her head toward him, smiling toothily at him. "It is, isn't it?" with a stretch of her limbs, she rolled, facing him.