Carantathraiel

Wanderers

"They do, yes. And that is why they hate elves, with exception to the obvious part about the Kartaians slaughtering us for fun." Ruli said as they descended. "They worshipped her because Ziad sprung up where she touched down. Allegedly. From her sprang the springs that helped the city thrive in the middle of the desert. Allegedly."

Ruli stopped short, turning to face her, the corners of his mouth pulled down in a frown. "Kire ... the tribe of elves she blessed with the ability to stay in the sun? The ones who sold out their family for the goddess to slaughter?" He inhaled. "They're mine. Or were mine." He'd never admitted those words before, even if Envy had correctly guessed. He wondered if Ysaryn would also guess. "They're dangerous. They're cruel. If they have ways into your world,"
He shook his head and continued down the stairs. "so, no. I haven't ever worshipped at the temple."

Wanderers

Kire said she hadn't wanted to go anywhere near the temple, and Ruli grunted. It was just about how he always felt about the temple. But he had different views on the goddess than the Ziadi did.
He sat down to eat, all of them falling into thoughtful silence until their plates were cleared and Ruli delivered them back to the Tower.

Once back in Úvano, Ysaryn raised her hand in an indifferent wave and wandered off, muttering something to Gavin under her breath that, from what little Ruli caught, sounded like a reminder that he should be glad he hadn't faced her.
"Really, you should have seen Ed after he had a go at her." Ruli agreed, though narrowing his eyes when Gavin asked about what they were up to.

"Having g useful abilities has that effect. Or haven't you noticed?" Ruli smirked, gesturing for them to walk. "Gavin, we're being officially hired to create protection wards, like these, around Kire's palace. With the illumination effect. Do you think you can start work on supply lists? I'll take you over soon to get a look at the perimeter, but it should be about the same as before."
Ruli ducked into the sunlight, glancing upward toward the sun before he directed them down along the stairs toward the beach. "Tell Envy what we're up to," he said, gently dismissing Gavin. "Maybe he'll join us. Bribe him with Narda."

As they wandered down the steps, Ruli glanced to Kire. "Most of the elders live near the beach for access to the docks. I figured they're the best place to start."

Wanderers

Ysaryn raised her lip in a snarl as she settled into her chair. "I do not know." She answered truthfully. "I do not know much at all. If Father will challenge. If Ed will challenge. Or, now, if I want him to." Her finger traced a small line in the table made by some firm pressure of a pen or flat edged item. "My people do not welcome others easily. Other tribes, yes. Not ... men. Or Amria." She sighed.

"He lost, Kirai." Ysaryn blurted after some silence. "Worst part is, I do not think he lost honestly. Which is insulting to me." Ysaryn rubbed the space of skin between her eyebrows. "Not a word to him, either, Kirai. He can not be pushed."

She went quiet when Daryll returned, turning her back to him to stew in her thoughts while he sat down and ate. Ruli returned a few minutes later, still looking lost in thought. "Kire? The dragon you saw. It was for sure a dragon?" He wondered. "I saw something flying. Gold and red, only it turned out to be ... well," He gestured to the idol. "At least I think."

Wanderers

Having no awareness of Kire's plans to abdicate, Ysaryn merely arched an eyebrow. "Just do not marry him." She suggested. "You are worth more as a mate."

The thought of a mate sobered her, the elf thinking about the argument with her father over Ed. One she knew would have to be had, but not one she had been prepared for, regardless.

Sighing, she went back to the topic. "I do not know what these things are to mean. The visions. But none as of yet have been good."

Wanderers

Ysaryn raised her chin slightly. "We met him. In the talk of war. One of many sons, of the husband to be Jan. The blond who look at us all like we are meat. Same look as the men in Cordon."
She inhaled, squaring her shoulders. "He cross into my world. Among my people. Made ... demands. Of my women. It was a different home. But I know my people and their faces."

Lips pursed, Ysaryn frowned at Kire. "This will hurt many, Kirai. You choice. But know limits. Mine and of Rulitus."

Wanderers

Ysaryn nodded silently, looking at her fingernails. Ruli grunted. "Can't shake us that easy. Besides, if our worlds religions are involved, so will we." He sighed, rising to his feet. "After we eat, I'll take us to the Tower, then we'll go to Úvano and ask around."

Ruli strolled out after Daryll, and Ysaryn rose quickly to her feet. "Kirai." She said, glancing at Ruli's back as he walked away. "I saw something that is a concern." She said quietly as they were left alone and out of earshot. "A chief. Er, empressor." She narrowed her eyes, aware that word wasn't right but not too worried about correcting herself.
"Not a good choice, in my opinion. But not mine to have. But it will hurt him." Ysaryn glanced toward where Ruli had wandered again. "I do not keep many friends. I do not know if he is to be one, but I know you are his."

Wanderers

Talk to everyone else first. That would be easier than returning to Ziad and to the temple within. He didn't want to go back, not when the Kartaians were sure to be waiting and come as soon as they entered.
Unless he could find a way to break the wards around the city that were alerting them. Ruli's mind wandered briefly for a moment before he blinked and returned, listening as Myka explained about the importance of the dragons and their connection to the gods.

"We don't have dragons on Persis." he pointed out. "Not even in our ancient histories, as far as we know."
"Nor emper-iors." Ysaryn struggled.

Ruli nodded, sighing. "That poison got here. Wouldn't surprise me if a few religious artefacts made it through as well. On top of the language."
Ysaryn leaned to the side, propping her hand against her temple. "Does Maika have royal blood?" She wondered. "You are seeing only desert? No women? No dragons?"
"Ysaryn and I aren't even Amrian, so why would we see something? She didn't even see the desert. Just Amrians and Persians."
Again, Ysaryn's gaze flicked to Kire for a moment, then back at Ruli, then she inhaled with a shake of her head, dismissing whatever was on her mind. "So, what, we are to inquire every one to see if blood is same?"
"Do you have some manifest of royal families tucked away somewhere?"

Wanderers

Ruli only shook his head to Myka's inquiry. He couldn't recall the conversation at all, but he knew he'd been uncomfortable. Afraid. And ... comforted.
There was another voice. Someone else. Someone else was there with him.

"We have to go back to Ziad." Ruli whispered, feeling condemned. "We can talk to the Ziadi, and we can try talking to Envy, but chances are, we'll have to go back to the temple."
Ysaryn shook her head. "Even my people know to avoid her. Solaralai." She said the name with such distaste.
"Can only imagine why." Ruli agreed. He sighed. "So, why did we all see what we saw? Why did I get spooked by some cuckholded goddess and the rest of you see ... dragons and frightened woman." His gaze landed on Daryll, his leer flat. "Are you secretly a god going around frightening people in visions?"

Wanderers

"So, all of you can recall your visions that well?" Ruli asked, looking around. He shook his head at Daryll. "I don't think so. The woman I saw had red eyes. Not like Envy's. Just completely red. And wings." He paused, frowning.
Something was so familiar about her.
He rubbed at his brow. "Erg. I don't know. I can't remember most of it. It was like a dream. Pieces are slipping away." Ruli sighed, looking up to look at Kire. "Yeah, I'll get back and grab Gavin. Maybe even Envy, we can all work to-"

Finally, Ruli's eyes fell on the idol Kire toyed with, and the details of it sunk in. "Where did you get that?" He asked, going still. "That's from Ziad. The temple. You mentioned the temple, didn't you?" Ruli glanced up to meet her gaze, looking alarmed. "She's ..."
Holy Gods.
"I think thats who I saw. I think I saw the goddess."

Wanderers

Ysaryn was quiet, ignoring the man and his son despite their reaction to her. She was used to it, as much as that bothered Ruli. When Kire mentioned the idol, he merely glanced at it before rolling his eyes. It was always some religion that started hysteria. Some god deciding to meddle.
Like Ysaryn, he was quiet on the way back from camp, sitting himself in a chair to wait as Kire questioned the two they'd rescued. He drummed his fingers on the table they sat around, trying to dig through what he saw. That feeling that he was forgetting something wouldn't go away.

When Kire barged in and demanded to know what everyone else had seen, Ruli and Ysaryn didn't move, listening as Daryll and Myka spoke first. Daryll's despair caught Ruli's attention, and he glanced up at the man curiously.
But when Kire mentioned Ziad, Ruli turned his full attention to her, frowning. "The temple?" He asked. He froze, trying to think. Pieces of the figure he'd seen floated into view.
Her red eyes. Her golden hair. The flames she'd been wrapped in. He could remember her voice, but not her words.
"I saw Ziad, too." He stated. "Well, not technically. I saw the desert. I knew them. But there was no city. Just sand."
"I saw jungle." Ysaryn admitted. "No sand. My people." She glanced toward Kire again. "And Amria people. Both."
Ruli frowned her way again, then back to Daryll. He'd also seen a woman. "Can you describe her?"