Carantathraiel

Wanderers

Risa turned her head slightly away, glancing at Kire from the corner of her eye as if waiting for some backhanded compliment or a straight out insult. When none came, she lowered her head, tightened the sash that held her robe together before rising to her feet. "The Goddess Solaralai." She corrected, patting the folds from her robe.
Folding her arms over her chest, Ysaryn loitered near the door, letting Kire and the princess speak on their own, her cat-like eyes watching closely.

"There are still followers here in Úvano, yes. I take their company a few times a week. But I would ask why some stranger parading as an empress in a land that isn't hers would be asking?"

Wanderers

Ysaryn tilted her head, curiously. "I do not understand." She stated. "This is not a thing you want? Is it not a good thing?" Ysaaryn studied Kire's face. "I have not yet felt this word, but I imagine I would be happy if I did. Especially with Ed." She commented, then shrugged. "Maybe humans are different. But," She frowned at Kire again. "I would excuse, most men live short lives. Not you, nor Rulitus. So you are not so selective."

A wave of her hand, Ysaryn dismissed the topic as they ducked into the castle. It was shaded and cool, the space far too large to make warm and welcoming yet. The bare stone walls had measly tapestries hanging here and there in an attempt to rid the corridors of drafts with little luck. During foul weather, it was miserable.
There was no one about, but Ysaryn didn't need any assistance in wandering the halls, leading the way through a long corridor, up a worn set of stairs, then along a windowed hall that led to a closed door. She knocked, then waited rather impatiently.

"Enter."
With a not so subtle eyeroll, Ysaryn pushed down the ancient handle and stepped in.

It was a sizeable room, not likely one usually designed to be a royal suite, but instead something more of a large library. There were tall windows that were stained in brilliant hues that made grand figures dressed in priest robes holding glowing lanterns. The majority of the walls here were adorned with tapestries, the heart lit and the braziers that stood in the corners glowing warm.
It appeared this was the room best suited to keep warm, and therefor the room Risa had taken residence in until enough repairs were made throughout the rest of the castle.
Risa was sitting in a recently reupholstered fainting chair, wrapped in a thin robe of pale cream. She frowned when she saw who entered her chamber, and she sat upright to pull her rob closer around her, as if unwilling to let them look at her. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

Wanderers

"Both?" Ysaryn questioned, furrowing her brow. "That does not sound nice." She sighed, starting toward the cliffs and up the stairs. "I am in castle now and again, I have seen strange dress people. But, to me, Risa dress very strange." Ysaryn pointed out as they climbed.
She began to brush some of the same off her arms as Kire asked about her sparring, and Ysaryn grinned brightly. "A loss in the spar against Ed, but a victory all together." The elf answered. "Is a good thing to have lost. My people do not back down. That I lose to him," Her smile widened. "it is to win him. This, I am happy about."

As they neared the top fo the cliffs, Ysaryn ceased her half-hearted attempts to brush herself off and turned toward the castle that perched on the edge of the cliffs. "And you?" She wondered, looking back over to Kire. "You are to stay more often now, yes?"

Wanderers

Ruli looked up from his plate when Gavin mentioned his ties, as well as their own ties, to the gate due to their blood. He'd completely forgotten about that aspect, and suddenly alot was clicking into place. The Dragon Empress, the Blood Mage, and the Sand Mutt. They were all tied together in the thread that held their two worlds together.
And Ysaryn, well, her people were altogether a mix of the Five originals. Perhaps she was just unfortunate enough to be on the edge of this dark storm.

As Kire excused herself to chase down Ysaryn, Ruli nodded and waved, his mouth full of food. And then that word happened. He froze, sensing Kire do the same before she bolted. Slowly, Ruli swallowed a bite he really should have chewed a bit more, glancing toward the door. Love. Had she really ... but she couldn't have ... but she could really ....
"Wipe that off your face or I'll have you gutting fish for a month." Ruli snapped at Gavin, though the tone behind it didn't fit the threat. Ruli bent himself over his plate again, resuming his meal in hopes of avoiding further conversation for the moment.

Ysaryn chuckled when he asked why, but her glee vanished when he asked about her father. Not in anger, but thought. "It is my burden to challenge him, Ed." She explained. "If I do not fight him, then I am too weak to be Chieftess. To fight about strategies, about loyalty, about who I decide is worthy of my bed." She shrugged idly. "You are worth this fight. But you must keep being worthy, or you only become another lesson."

As they heard a throat clear, Ysaryn peered over Ed's shoulder to spot Kire, and her eyebrow arched. "To Risa?" The elf repeated, skeptical. But she redirected her gaze back to Ed. "Meet you in your bed?" She asked, tilting her head toward the house on the cliffs. "Bonus if you are not wearing clothing." She winked before strolling past him to join Kire.
"So. Risa." Ysaryn sighed, glancing over herself. Her clothing was disheveled slightly, and covered in grains of sand. Her hair was a mess, her face flushed. Perfect for meeting with the princess of vanity. "Dare I to ask 'why'?"

Wanderers

Ruli listened as Gavin spoke about his dream, his hands busy with handing out the plates. A few times, he glanced toward Kire to see if her reaction gave away any of her thoughts. Aside from the grin on her face at Ysaryn"s loss, he couldn't read much.

He finished cooking, pulled aside the wares, and settled with his own plate, noting the way Kire waited for him before she began to eat her own. Knowing how often she dove into meals headfirst, it was touching that she'd wait.

"You didn't wander into Amria and find yourself in a forest or desert, did you? No?" He looked around to Kire, stuffing his mouth in between. "If the dreams are effecting him in Persis, it's definitely concerning." The couple by the window gasped at last and turned away from the window, muttering. While not full of the animosity the Ziadi used to hold toward elves, they still seemed pleased the elf had lost to the pretty blond. "I'll talk to Envy while you're with Risa."

Outside on the beach, Ysaryn growled from the sand, her hair plastered to her face and neck from the ocean mist. She gave Ed a wolfish smile before relaxing on the shore, chuckling. "Thank the Gods. You are worth it." she breathed, reaching up to take his offered hand. Once on her feet, she brushed her hair from her face without bothering to brush off the sand.
"How long before your Chieftess needs to be fetched?"

Wanderers

"Thanks." Ruli said, gathering the cup she offered and going to work on his cooking. Nothing too fancy, as he felt too groggy still to put much effort into his work. A simple dish of vegetables and fried eggs was enough. As he was finishing with the vegetables, Kire's attention was caught by whatever was outside the window, and Ruli glanced at her as she went to look.

"Oh." He said when she explained that it was Ysaryn and Ed. "Let me know who wins." He stated, continuing his task to avoid overcooking anything.
But he listened. Beyond Kire exclaim about the fight, as well as the local pair that were watching with interest, entirely forgetting that they showed up here for a meal. When Gavin arrived, he nodded in greeting before pausing for his coffee. "Might want to take a close watch, it may be the only time you'll ever see her lose." Ruli warned Gavin, though he looked back up when Gavin mentioned weird dreams. "You, too? Out with it. I'll feed you for the details. Plates up." He added with a slightly raised voice, and the local couple turned from the window only long enough to drop coin and take their plates back to the window to watch.

Wanderers

"Personally, I'd rather the first dream." Ruli commented. "At least you know where you are, and where to go. I wouldn't know what to begin in the new one. Especially with a dragon destroying my escape route." Ruli leaned over and kissed her cheek, nodding before he scoot himself to the edge of the mattress. "Come on, then. Let's feed you, then we'll grab Gavin and follow you to Amria."
Ruli inhaled, her hummed. "Maybe we'll meet you later. I need to wash."

Outside, the wind carried a chill that threatened another incoming storm from the sea. Ruli swore and tucked his arms close to himself as they headed to the hall, turning his head to glance at her. "You alright?" He wondered, seeing the distant look on her face.

Not long after, they stepped into the mess hall, which had very few people waiting outside of it at this hour, and with the storm rolling in. He opened the door, and stepped in to start the fire, circling to gather the supplies he wanted. "Feel like anything in particular? Or just food?" Ruli asked as he filled an urn for coffee.

~

Ysaryn smiled at him, her eyes narrowing. "Beach." She decided before jerking her head south. "The Ziadi side. I will fetch our sparring blades." The sand would add difficulty, but it wouldn't be as cold as the cliff tops. "Six minutes, I shall meet you down there." Ysaryn promised before she disappeared.

Wanderers

Ruli turned his head, watching her as she sat up. He was still far from waking completely, and unwilling to sit up yet, but her words brought his mind from the fog of sleep. He hadn't really noticed about the structure of the castle, but its architecture hadn't been a priority at the time. Maybe when he and Gavin went back to work, he'd take a closer look.
It sounded terrifying, though. Her dream. "Do you have that dream alot?" He wondered. "You said 'old dream', as if its reoccurring." He sat up with a groan, sitting cross legged beside her, his shoulder brushing hers. "Two visions of sorts with dragons. And a cranky goddess. Maybe your dragons are pissed about the world gate appearing, and want it torn down before my cranky goddess uses your world as her new sandbox." Ruli shrugged.

"Eat breakfast first. Drink coffee. No one handles Risa well even on a good day, and you're running on nightmares and stress."

~

Ysaryn studied him as he spoke, her gaze unmoving. "It is not my way." She agreed with a slight dip of her chin. And when he continued to announce he wanted to rectify the situation, her chin rose once more, a curious grin shadowing the corners of her mouth. "Good." She said, stepping forward to stop inches from his torso, her head craned upward to meet his gaze. "Fight me as if our sex life depends on it, Wyvern, because I assure you it does."

Then she turned her head and stepped away, circling and eyeing him in that feline way. "Am I your only reason for the visit? Shall I offer you the chance to correct your mistake now, or are you here to collect your cousin from her sweaty bed?"

Wanderers

Ruli groaned again when he felt her wake, inhaling before yawning. "I think its too much to ask that they don't meddle to begin with." He grumbled back at her, extending his legs in a stretch before rolling onto his back. He blinked his bleary eyes open squinting at the ceiling. For a moment, he'd forgotten they weren't in his little home before remembering. He sighed. "What was it about?" He wondered. "You were muttering in your sleep. You sounded afraid."

~

Ysaryn raised her chin, acknowledging the dangers that lurked within the forest. She recalled seeing him in her vision. Different. With a man who looked younger. Who could have been a son. Same blue eyes. Same blond hair.
"I need to know you are worth the fight, Wyvern." Ysaryn answered him. "Did you yield to me?"

Wanderers

Ruli jumped when she did, raising himself up on an elbow. She'd been twisting in her sleep, muttering, sweating, and he tried to coax her out of it. She'd ignored him, only to jolt awake shortly after, her grand finale a swear. He watched her flop down again, reaching for him. His hand found hers and he settled against her, pressing his brow against the side of her head.
"Maybe its the cake that helps you sleep." He muttered to her before tucking his arm across her torso. "Hour til sunrise. Sleep." He added, exhaling against the crook of her neck.

~

Waiting for Ed, putting an end to at least a portion of his concerns, was Ysaryn. Without her combat leathers, wearing soft hues of lavenders and grey, she looked rather feminine. One side of her hair pinned back behind her ear, her eyes glittered brightly with the morning light. "Wyvern." She greeted him, her fuchsia eyes scanning him curiously. She noted the bags beneath his eyes, and the slight dishevel to his hair. "You look like feces." Ysaryn tossed at him, arching one eyebrow gently. "The forest is not that bad, yes?"