Carantathraiel

Wanderers

The moment Daryll nodded, Ysaryn whipped her head back around, standing taller. "Yes. We take her. Bring her to us." She ignored Narda as the giantess shook the ever-tired looking male, her eyes trained on the man, who only seemed to hesitate. When he made no move to go inside, Ysaryn leered at the mayor. "You are chief of man, yes? Order it. Narda chief of you. She order you." She snapped her fingers, her other hand lowering to one of her twin blades.
"No!" The man by the house shouted, raising his arms. "No, I mean, I c-can't."
Ysaryn raised her eyebrow at him, waiting.
"Sh-she..." He looked to the mayor for a moment, then back. "She won't let any one into her room. Any of us near her. My wife..." He gestured toward the house. "She tried. Lyta struck her."
The elf's eyes narrowed. "I like this girl." She muttered softly, glancing to Narda. "We are to fetch, yes?"

---

Ruli ran until his legs burned. The desert surrounded him, and there was so much sand. He was out of practice, running on sand. Always out of practice. Out of shape. He hated himself for it. Loathed that he'd gotten comfortable and soft, and now, Envy was gone. Missing. After they'd managed to find a new home. After the Kartaian had stepped until sunlight, willingly, for the first time in years. Charmed or not, Ruli had been so proud. "Envy!" He called again, switching dialects. "Enlor'lei!" He hollered, calling him by his birth name. "It's me. Please. Say something. Anything!"
"Ruli!"
Ruli whirled, hearing it across the sand. But it wasn't Envy's voice. Just Kire's. Ruli felt anger flare, for her part in Envy's being here. But even that flickered out fast. She'd offered repeatedly to come alone. They'd insisted. Envy had volunteered.
"Give him back!" He shouted again, whirling. "I want him back! Give him back!"

In a blink, the desert faded, and Ruli was covered in shade provided by towering trees, the reek of bark and vine filling his nose, taking place of the arid sand. And fire.
Before he could swear, flames roared towards him, and Ruli dropped to the ground with a painful thud, covering his head as fire swam above him. He only chanced a look when the heat faded, spotting people. Amrians. They wore the same sort of looks many in Ziad had worn when Akuma and Ikegai tore the city apart. Vacant. Enthralled.
"I'm looking for an elf. A blue man." He corrected, not sure anyone here would know what an elf looked like without actually seeing one first. But a blue man, that was noticeable. "Please!"
"This is holy ground." One of the figures said towards him, not at him.
The fuck did that mean? Ruli snarled. Solaralai. "I want my friend."
"You must leave."
He could lie. Say he was Solaralai's blood. She was from his world. Ruli considered it. Honestly considered it. Would claim to be one of them if it got Envy back.

Kire's name called him again, far closer than before, and Ruli moved on instinct. He spun, rushing away from the villagers, feeling fire roar again, the heat growing against his back and neck. He tore through the trees, weaving, until he all but ran into Kire and, the moment he could reach her, he dragged them both into the shadows.

He dropped her when they were back where they started, turning to stare into the woods. "I didn't find him." Ruli's voice broke at the confess. "I can't find him. I can't-" He bent his knees and squatted, burying his head against his hands, his eyes tight.

Wanderers

The man's eyes widened slightly at the mayor's information, and then at Narda's axe as she thumbed it. Ysaryn could smell the fear spilling off him; such a foul scent that she twitched her nose and exhaled. "Uh. Sh-she..." He stammered. "People who c-can ... care f-for her. Her ... "
He looked to Daryll as he questioned the girl's name. "N-not my daughter. But yes. My wife's girl." Ysaryn inhaled again, the coughed. The noise made the man jump, his beady eyes wandering her curiously, taking in her details. Her swords, her ears, the strange colour of her eyes. And when she grinned, those teeth! He took a step back. "She needs uh ... uh ... a specialist."

Ysaryn wasn't sure what this word meant here in this context. 'Specialist'. But the manor in which he said it made her skin crawl. "You are to give her up?" She questioned sharply, brow furrowing. That horrible scent met her nostrils again. "Good. We are to take her. Yes?" She asked, looking around to Daryll.

---

"First sign. We promise." Ruli agreed with a nod.
Envy, hearing the two, inhaled, determined. "I want to court Narda properly." He confessed suddenly. Ruli chuckled. "I'll need pointers."
"Not now, Envy." Ruli said gently. "When we're back. We'll see about wooing your woman."
Envy squeezed his hands, squared his shoulders, and stepped with Ruli as they moved into the woods.

It was warm as the desert fell around them again. Ruli welcomed it despite its strange origin, his skin welcoming the arid heat like an old friend. To his right, he heard Gavin offer his eyes to Envy, and while he didn't hear any sort of answer from the elf in return, he felt Envy shift as they walked.

Then the singing started. Ruli furrowed his brow and suddenly remembered this morning, when he'd been woken before the sun had risen by the same sound. It was like a lullaby, but slower. More somber.
A dirge.
He remembered sitting up for hours, which explained the soreness of his back, and hated that he hadn't been laying down beside Kire, who had joined him because she needed him for comfort. Was she annoyed that he hadn't slept? Why didn't he feel more tired? Nothing around him made sense. He could still feel Envy and Kire's hands in his own, but couldn't see him. It wasn't quite the same as the empty blackness of the shadows. Somehow, it was bright. Warm. As if he were standing in the middle of a sandstorm. But no sand ate at his skin. No wind howled.

"Gavin!?" He heard Envy shout, and the yank as the Kartaian moved suddenly. Ruli shouted back, grasping for the elf, yanking hard enough on Kire's arm to yank her near off her feet. His fingers wrapped around a bony wrist, and he pulled. "Back!" He shouted to Kire. He hoped she, at least, could see. Or that Gavin could, on Envy's other side.

Only, when they retreated and the fog fell from around Ruli's mind, the music going quiet again-
Envy was gone.

Gavin's wrist was in his grasp, the Kartaian no where to be found. Not even his footprints in the dirt leading out. Only in. "Envy?" Ruli shouted, dropping both Gavin and Kire to spin around, looking back toward the forest. "Envy!?"
Raising his arms, he ran his fingers through his hair and turned on Gavin. "What did you do!?" He snarled, eyes wide in panic. "Envy!" He shouted again, pacing a few feet one way, than the other, wanting to go back into the forest to find his friend.

Maybe he panicked and left. Ruli couldn't breathe. He inhaled and vanished, appearing inside Narda's home, circling, rushing outside and into the garden, looking for any sign. Then to the Tower. Anywhere Envy would know to Walk to. Would he know to walk through the gate? Or how to find it? Ruli bolted through the Tower, almost leaping through the gate. No Envy there, either. No where in the tunnels. Back through the gate, to the camp, shouting for his friend, before he went back to where he'd left Kire and Gavin. "Envy!" He shouted, voice echoing against the unnatural trees.
He's got to be in here. Ruli stared at the woods, breathing hard, pulse racing, then started running for them.

Wanderers

Ysaryn looked skeptical about Narda's sleeping. If she and Ed had been under the same roof, sleep wouldn't even be an option. But Envy seemed far more a prude than Ysaryn or Ed. Narda was a hard read.

As they wandered in, the elf kept quiet, her eyes roaming, taking in the bizarre scene. Everyone seemed to be struggling to stay awake. To do their errands. Even the guards. Ysaryn raised an eyebrow at them. Her father would have had them punished for such laziness if they were part of their clan.
As Narda snarled at their inquiries and put them in their place, the elf smirked. Well enough. The guards nearly fell over themselves to make up for their mistake.

As they made their way to the mayors, Ysaryn's gait was smaller, to keep pace with the sluggish others of her group, but also to observe. Whatever it was, it was clear everyone was claimed by it. Disease? No, it wouldn't have been so quick to claim Narda and Daryll. And why didn't it touch her?
Magic? She was magic, the other two were not. Perhaps it was why she was uneffective.

Hearing the mayor answer the door dragger her attention forward, and she leered at him indifferently, her jeweled eyes bright in the sun. After the brief exchange, they were allowed in, and Narda introduced them. It wasn't her own, but Daryll's that made the elf turn her head and grin. "Worman... what?" She asked, the word impossible on her tongue. Chuckling softly, she poured herself into a seat, crossed her long legs, and watched the mayor with an unrelenting gaze. Slowly, her foot waved in the air, impatient and restless.

"Narda?" Ysaryn leaned toward the giantess. "What is this word? 'Queer'?" As the giantess explained that it meant strange, Ysaryn frowned and looked back around to the mayor. 'Strange' was no reason to suspect a person of a plague.
Before the tea was even properly served, they were on their feet again and leaving, Ysaryn giving the mayor's wife a piercing look before she was out of view.
They may not have elves and not yet know what to think of one, but may as well keep them on their feet.

The house was ... well, honestly, Ysaryn felt almost at home, It didn't differ much from the shacks and tents they'd dwelled in in Cordon. It seemed impossibly close to collapsing, but somehow still erect. There were wilting shrubs in the front, a moss covered boulder, and the windows were dim with grime.
Ysaryn's eyes searched it, definitely feeling something from within, but couldn't quite name it.

The boulder moved, revealing itself to be a round man in grey and green clothing. Ysaryn narrowed her eyes at him, wondering if he dressed in such a way on purpose. To hide.
"Mayor." The man said. He was balding, his brown hair thin, the weak caterpillar of a moustache on his upper lip looked as though it would flee in the next breeze. His dark eyes roamed the visitors, namely the elf. "I thought you wouldn't take her?" He asked, looking from Ysaryn to Daryll, clearly making an assumption as to who they were.

---

Ruli only grinned. "They did. I agree, it might be best to leave it be until we understand it more." He glanced back to Envy, who seemed to be considering what it would take to decide where that line rested. "It might be better to risk ourselves if it meant shielding the citizens long enough to get them away."
Envy inhaled, clearly disagreeing. "We will not be risking ourselves. We take no step without certainty here."
"With the exception of blindly wandering in." Ruli pointed out.
The Kartaian frowned, unable to argue.

"Fat chance." Ruli said to Kire, as Envy opened his mouth to scold such a thought. Envy fell quiet again, glad he didn't had to worry about Kire running off.
Even wearing his charm, Envy felt his skin crawl beneath the sunlight, his hand tight around Ruli's forearm as they appeared where Kire led them. He didn't let the younger man go, and Ruli didn't shake him off, knowing the elf needed guidance. And it gave him an idea. "Gavin, grab Envy's arm. Kire," Ruli said, reaching for her hand again. "Let's see her pry us apart, then." He pulled her arm gently, bringing her closer. "You don't get to hire us and then ditch us." Ruli chided, his eyes roaming her face. You're stuck with us now."

Wanderers

Ysaryn took a moment to collect herself, not entirely as used to dragging people along with her as Ruli was, let alone someone the size of Narda.
Not that she'd be dumb enough to mention that unless Narda or Daryll asked.

She felt a slight chill, though not enough to warrant a tug of her clothing to keep herself warm. And when Narda asked about the sleepiness, she turned toward the two, curious. "You are not having slept?" She said, wondering what sort of night the giantess had had with Envy. The tired looking male was always that. Tired.

Wondering if maybe she should have volunteered to go with Kire, and leave Ruli with these two, Ysaryn listened to the description of the girl, and raised an eyebrow. He was about as useful as a grain of sand in this trek, wasn't he? "Come to me." Ysaryn sighed, stalking passed the two and along the street, her head held high. "You nap can wait."

---

Ruli chuckled at Kire's immediate question, while Envy merely blinked slowly. "No gentleman tells." The Kartaian insisted firmly.

It seemed to be all he was willing to say on the matter, so Ruli, his face hidden behind his coffee, listened as the women discussed their plans. Back into the forest. His pale eyes shifted to Gavin, wondering if he'd let his eagerness show. "How will we know if we have to ward the whole forest?" He asked, still watching Gavin, to see what the lad would decide.

Wanderers

Ruli broke into his breakfast while Kire amd Myka spoke, nodding as Narda claimed Ysaryn for the journey to the ... whatever Daryll was dragging them. Which left him to assist Kire, and possibly taking the far-too-eager Gavin toward the forest. Which he was sure Envy would be annoyed about.
"Envy," Ruli said, suddenly reminded. "Are you going back into the village with us? If we step into the forest, would you want to accompany us?"
Envy gave a bleary blink. "I suppose." He said, then his brow furrowed. "I don't know, actually. I'd rather none of you go into the forest. I'd rather not go myself, but I find I am curious."
Ruli shrugged, going back to his meal, watching Ysaryn finish her plate clean, drain her cup, and then rise to her feet. "Am I to take?" She asked, looking to Ruli, then to Kire. "Who knows where I'm taking them?"

When the location was taken, and shared with the dark elf, Ysaryn held Narda and Darll's hands and vanished.

Wanderers

"Envyyyy." Ruli sang as he strolled into the room offered to the large elf.

A deep growl answered him.
With the curtains drawn, it was quite dark in the chamber, but he was still buried beneath the blankets to shield himself from any rebellious rays that found their way in.
"Come on, sleepy head. You woman awaits. And there will be food."
Envy's responsive growl was somewhat less threatening, but still very reluctant.
"You know whats going to happen, don't you?" Ruli wondered, pulling the blankets back to reveal the elf. The Kartaian's sharp teeth were bared as he curled on his side, shying away from the cool air. "We're going to question Narda about all the juicy and moist details of last night. Without you there to tell us to shut up." He saw the pink-hued colour of Envy's eyes as the elf leered sleepily. Ruli bent down, propping himself on his knees. "All of us, Envy. Me. Gavin. Kire. Myka."
The elf groggily shook his head, slowly rousing. He mumbled something Ruli couldn't understand, as the elf had his face pressed to the mattress. "That-a-boy." Ruli straightened, earning another growl.

Ruli arrived in the inn with the others, grinning impishly. Envy stood behind him, his eyes barely open, his mouth set in a way that clearly said he was holding back a serious of inappropriate words in every language he knew. Gently, Ruli helped to guide him to a seat before taking his own. "Oh, he was real deep in there. In the bed." Ruli answered mockingly, grinning at Gavin as Envy snarled softly.

"Worship?" Ruli asked, glancing along at Kire. "As in, of Solaralai?" He wrinkled his nose. "They don't even know her. Why bother?" He looked toward Envy, but the Kartaian was still struggling to wake. So he switched his attention to Ysaryn, who was inhaling coffee despite her cheeks being full of the sausage that had been on her plate seconds before.
"Do you need help there?" Ysaryn asked, looking to Daryll. "Having someone of magic incline ... in ... ability may be of use." She said, tucking some of her loose hair behind her pointed ear.

Wanderers

"In part, yes." Ruli responded when Narda asked if he was here for Envy. "Mostly to see if he was up. Which I doubted. So also in part to see how well behaved." He smirked, eyes glinting. If he had to wake the Kartaian, he'd had no trouble being on his bad side.

"Kire's waking the others for breakfast. You know the empress and food. And the dark elf and food. Frankly, if we don't feed that one I'm worried she'll eat a villager." He hoped he was kidding. "I'll wake the brute. Am I taking you anywhere after? You have that look in your eye Zeke gets when he's after someone." Ruli asked, starting toward Envy's room and pausing to watch Daryll.

Wanderers

He arrived in the same spot of Narda's house yesterday, the smell of coffee. Their mixtures were slightly different, stronger here, he learned. Which hopefully explained why Kire had so many cups in Úvano.
"Hello? Anyone up?" He called, making his way.
He was met with one of Narda's employees, who led him to where Narda and Daryll were, as the latter was rolling a scroll. "You look hopeful, did you find a lead?" He wondered.

A swift glanced around the room told him the Kartaian was not present. "Still sleeping? Wait, did he tell you not to take him, right?" Ruli wondered. "He's grumpy in the mornings."
But, Ruli considered something. "I wonder how nice he'd be to you. Considering he actually likes you." He said with a grin that amtched Narda's earlier one.

Wanderers

"I don't know, I'm sure not very long," he answered about sitting up. "but I am sure we'd have heard something if anything happened." He arched again, then twisted slightly before getting to his feet. "Envy will be fine. He's in good hands. I'll grab Narda, and see if he's awake after we eat. Would you keep an eye on Gavin while I'm out?" He wondered, running his fingers through his hair to comb it. Once it was tamed, he pulled it back and tied it in a bun. "You know he wants to go into the forest."

Wanderers

Ruli blinked, and turned his head.
He wasn't aware he had sat up hours before, and remained upright. Had no collection of the singing or the voice in his head. In that blink, he had only just woken, unbothered.
"Yeah." He answered. As he turned towards her, his spine ached from his time sitting in such a position. "Nng, I think I slept wrong." He complained, arching his back to stretch.
"You look rested. No dreams?"