Carantathraiel

Wanderers

Ruli grinned, thinking about Envy. "He's family." Ruli summed. "My first and oldest friend, too."

He listened as they climbed and she spoke about the offer to atone and fight for a clean slate. He glanced sideways at her, raising his eyebrow. "The horrible thing." He began, knowing she knew what he'd ask. "Was it the Gemini?" He wondered. They reached the platform that would lead to his house unless they went into the caves instead, and he stopped, offering them time outside of prying ears. "What started the feud between your families?"

Wanderers

He felt ... strange when she continued walking. Grateful that she'd offered no argument and didn't ask anything further. But also ... longing. Like he wanted her to ask more because it was refreshing to open up for once and not feel terrified. In fact, she'd been angry on his behalf, where instead he'd been haunted.
Ruli watched her for a few seconds before he began walking after her again.

"No one else knows." Ruli said quietly. "Just Envy. I'd like to keep it that way. Please." Gods, please don't let Ysaryn put the pieces together. Her shrewd mind would instantly put together his whole background, and as much as they got along, he wouldn't put it past her to put a knife through his heart. "I did a lot of horrible things that I'm still trying to make up for. Its easier without people watching me."
He inhaled deeply, trying to push it all out of his mind, to redirect his thoughts to something more positive. Slowly, he started toward the stairs again.
Clearing his throat, Ruli started the climb. "So. If you were never offered the Ring, would you remain empress?" He asked quietly, still not sure that that was shared knowledge yet. Granted, few of the elves passing them would care an ounce. "I get the feeling you never wanted it to begin with, is being a paladin just an out?"

Wanderers

He raised his eyebrows in agreement, pausing in his walk to turn partly toward her, waiting, without looking her way. Terrible. One of the many words he'd heard himself repeat in his head on the days he'd allowed himself to look back. He looked at her again when she asked why, his brow furrowing. After all the things she'd seen as an empress and a paladin, she still needed to ask why? Because cruelty will always be found.

She stepped closer, and he tensed just slightly, feeling her touch the line embedded in his cheek. "I ran away." He confirmed. "The only one to do so and live, as far as I know. Unless others did before me and we were just lied to." Which, frankly, wouldn't surprise him. "I kept crawling through the sand until I couldn't. Woke up in the company of buzzards after days, I think. I didn't keep track. Found Ziad a few days later. I did the same thing Envy did. I went underground. To shade."
Ruli inhaled, reaching up to grasp her wrist gently, prying her hand away from his face. "I gave you one question, and you've gotten far more than that. I think I'm due the next five. And I don't see your boots." Ruli jerked his head to point out the lack of footware on the beach, which meant Narda or Envy likely had them.

Wanderers

When she asked if 'they' were elves, Ruli nodded. He had already admitted to being a half breed, so she knew he belonged to some tribe or the other. And she moved on to the poison and Ruli only blinked, glancing ahead as they neared the wood pile. He deabted on not answering. he'd told her one question. But the poison, she had faced that, as well. She'd experienced it.

So he nodded.

"I told your cousin when she looked me over. Its not exactly a poison, but a drug that effects your mind." There it was. He could talk clinically. Distance himself. "Mix it in water, the only water available, and all it does is make you lethargic. But wean off it, your brain tells you you're missing something vital, and it begins to shut you down. Its excruciating. The dose the Gemini fired at you must have been enough to give your body a taste, masked by the adrenalin, and when it started to leave your system, you reacted like you'd been poisoned."
Ruli glanced at her cautiously. "It was to control us. As punishment, they'd wean us, some even died. None of us dared to run, knowing we would be doomed. One day I just didn't care."

Wanderers

With a nod, Ruli started up the stairs, his bare feet finding the steps with practice as he wandered over the cliff toward the northern beach. When she asked about the baking and his dislike in eating the baked goods, he laughed. "I knew that was coming, to be honest." He grinned at her, fishing around in his pocket to withdraw a tie so he could pull his hair from his face.

As did he predict that second question.

He didn't answer until they were on the sand, strolling toward the small pile of charred wood that was the remains of his fire. "Both." Ruli answered, falling into a slow walk beside her. He felt anxious, but he reminded himself that she'd told him about her own scars, and with their few times in seeing each other unclothed, she never shied away from the marks on his skin.
Ruli inhaled.
"Think, slave. And then think lower." Ruli said. "Then, think dogs who are bred for viciousness and strength, and think slightly higher. That's what I was." He stared at the ground as he walked, very away of every move he made, every stray strand of hair the wind played with. Even aware of how warm he felt. "I didn't have a name until Envy gave one to me."

Wanderers

Ruli kept himself busy, not allowing himself to wonder what question she would ask. Truthfully, if it wasn't about either the poison or his dislike for sugary foods, he'd be surprised. He cooked about seven meals, not including their own, pocketing the coins offered to him, and taking his own bites of breakfast in between.

When Ed appeared, Ruli glanced his way and nodded in greeting, not failing to notice the marks the fuchsia-haired elf left on his neck. "Breakfast?" He asked, raising his hand to off Ed a plate of fried vegetables and egg wrapped in a flat toasted bread. He wasn't sure if Ysaryn would have remembered to feed him between latching onto him.

"So can I, if you need to go back." Ruli said to Kire when he'd finally finished. He wiped the sweat from his face with a cloth he kept at his side while cooking and rose to his feet, opening the door the step out. He sighed at once when the cool breeze hit him. "I'm not going to rescind the offer just because you're needed elsewhere."
Shoving his hands in his pockets, he looked her way. "We can go hunt down your boots?" He offered. "Or, if you'd prefer asking in private, we can head back to my house."

Wanderers

Ruli tilted his head in response, rolling his eyes. But he listened as he turned his attention to his task, working to get the flames the height he liked before he went to work chopping vegetables and meat. "That helps, I suppose." He said after he'd diced a few potatoes from the store bins near the wall.
"Fine. Before I regret it, after breakfast, before you go home, I'll give you one question that you get to ask. And I'm going to use this question to judge your intentions. So think carefully on it. Now," He gestured. "Hand me a dozen eggs from behind you."

Wanderers

"To Envy?" He asked, glancing at her again as he stepped inside the hall and took his usual place beside the fires. He motioned for her to sit beside him so he wouldn't have to talk too loudly over the few people that filtered in. "I said neither one of us has any expectations." Which wasn't untrue.
But her following comment, he had to think on it for a while.

"Its because I cook, isn't it?" Ruli asked, taking another glance in her direction. "Or, 'bake', more specifically?"

Wanderers

"Figured as much." Ruli answered. Like Ysaryn, Kire seemed to jump at the chance of a meal. "You did, but I'm sure they're around. Narda would have picked them up."
Likewise barefoot, he opened the door and led the way. Already, there were a few people loitering outside for the hearth the be lit and breakfast to be cooked.

"I wouldn't call it a hard time." Ruli offered. "He asked if I knew what I was doing. I think my half carrying you up to my house was a bit contradicting to my answer." He turned to glance at her, squinting in the reflection of the sunrise on the sea. "I, uh. I brought you there because I though Ysaryn and Ed, you know. It would be more restful. And warm. I hope its okay."

Wanderers

When Kire jogged down the beach to fetch the giantess, Ruli turned toward Envy, waiting. But Envy said nothing, appearing to wait patiently for Kire and Narda to return. "You can sit, you know. Fire is eigh- well, for you five steps ahead and one to your left."
So Envy shuffled forward, sitting when Ruli reached up to tap his arm.
"So, what did I interrupt?" Envy said at once, and Ruli sighed.
"To be honest, I'm not sure. Just talk."
"About sleeping, no. Continuing to sleep together?"
"Yes."
Even without the use of his eyes, Ruli could sense the piercing stare Envy gave him. "Do you know what you're doing?"
"Its a temporary thing." Ruli answered. "Comfort. Take the edge off. I have no expectations. Nor does she."
Envy pursed his lips and shook his head.

They both fell quiet until Narda and Kire returned. Envy smiled, turning his attention to Narda, while Kire reclaimed her spot beside Ruli. With them, Elva and Zeke reappeared, the latter looking uncomfortable after so long on his feet on unsturdy ground, but offering no complaint. He was trying to hide it, but clearly failed as Elva left him the invitation to ask for her help before she departed. He quickly mumbled a need for rest and followed her up the stairs, branching off to head through to his house.

Ruli watched the fire, listening to Narda and Envy talk about the ocean, the appearances of fish dishes and the differences in they way the cooked them, and so on. "I think I'm heading up." Ruli said quietly, causing a pause in Envy's sentence. "Narda, I'll take her and lay her down, okay? I'll make sure Ed takes her back in the morning."
The way she smiled at him said she assumed far too much out of his comment. Envy remained silent as Ruli stood and gently grabbed Kire, prompting her to her feet. "Come on." He encouraged, getting her upright and wrapping an arm around her.

It was slow going, but they made it to the stairs, and then upward. After the first flight, Ruli wondered where he'd let her lay down. Ysaryn and Ed had claimed the house Kire would usually lay in. Plus she was still damp, even after all the time by the measly fire. "Don't make assumptions out of this." He muttered to her before directing them to his house.

It was warm inside, the heart glowed low and illuminated the walls in a soft orange, and the shudders were closed to keep out the wind. "Lay down." He said, guiding her to the bed. He watched her recline, sitting himself on the end of his mattress. She was already half asleep, digging herself into the mattress, the warmth of the house and bed claiming her.
The sight made him happy. No expectations. He'd said to Envy, and he wondered if that was still true.
Sighing, Ruli grabbed a spare blanket from his chest of drawers and wrapped it around himself, laying himself down on the edge of his bed to sleep.

~

Her breathing, though admittedly without snoring, woke him, and Ruli opened his eyes suddenly. Part of him had forgotten he had a guest. He had shifted, tucking himself further against her as the embers died and the room cooled. He turned his head to study her, glad to see her face was flushed with warmth and she'd managed to avoid a cold.
The last thing the empress needed was to be ill so quick after her coronation. Or whatever that was. I’m going to abdicate my throne. Ruli chewed on that statement, and what it could mean for her. Or them. But he cut that thought off quickly and sat up. No expectations.

"Morning." He greeted, noticing her movement. Ruli watched her over his shoulder, his elbows on his knees. "I'm about to head to the hall to make breakfast. Want a plate? My treat."