Michellin

Wanderers

The moment Risa left, Gavin doubled over in laughter. Kire grinned at the lad, then turned to Ruli, brow raised at his extended hand. She smirked and clasped it, then gave another curtsy. “Thank you kindly, m’lord,” she said with the same exaggerated politeness she had given Risa earlier, before giving it a firm shake. “Oh, I had other choice words. I wanted to say sorry for how the gods arranged her face, but I figured I didn’t want her fouling up the rest of your day if she took that to heart,” she said, smirking.
“Can I steal that line, though?” Gavin put in. “Save it for a rainy day.”
“You’re welcome to it,” Kire replied with a grin, before she huffed, shaking her head. “She reminds me of some nobleborn ladies back home that I’m not particularly fond of. She’s extremely lucky Narda wasn’t here. I doubt the giantess would take that insult with just words.”
“Aw. Too bad,” Gavin muttered, then gestured behind them. “If you’re heading to Envy, I’ll come along, if you don’t mind.”
“Sure. Might as well go now; I want to see what they’re cooking there, and how well Narda’s getting on.”

“So, was it true, then? What you told her?” Gavin asked as he walked with them.
“Oh no. I tripped and fell on an axe,” Kire said, smirking. “Yes, pretty much the truth.”
“So your Ring could heal you, but still leaves the scars?” he asked.
“Something like that. I mean, if I put my mind to it, I can devote all the healing energy to clearing everything,” Kire explained, “but especially when I need as much power as I could get for the strength and portals, or just to keep me alive, I limited the healing to just putting me back together to function properly. Back when I got this injury, it was day in, day out, constant fighting. I had no time to worry about looking pretty. But there was another assassination attempt that was worse than this.” Kire grimaced. “I took a poisoned arrow to the shoulder. Stupid mistake on my part, really. There wasn’t a healer nearby, and I hadn’t tried healing myself from poison before. Feels like the Ring boiled my blood clean as it cleansed it from my body. Kept vomiting for days, then couldn’t speak for a week. That was especially nasty.”
Gavin cringed, clicking his tongue.

“But there are a couple of scars the Ring couldn’t completely heal from, too, even when I tried,” she continued, tapping her Ring finger. “This burn around my Ring finger happened when I destroyed the world gate the other day. Then the dragon scars on my back. Seems like the Ring couldn’t trump dragon-magic, I suppose.”
The lad turned to her then. “You’ve got to tell me more about the gate. And the dragon—I mean, if you want to, and if you have time,” he added quickly. Kire wondered for a moment if it was wise to tell him about the gate ordeal, but figured anybody would be curious about these details, Gemini or not.

When they entered the caves, Narda and Envy were already there. “Ahh, good morning, sleepyhead,” she greeted, grinning. She looked at Gavin, who hesitated to approach. “And to you too, lad. Keeping well?”
“Eh—yes, thank you,” Gavin stammered, still hesitating for a few moments before stepping closer.
“Good morning, Envy,” Kire greeted. “Has Narda been bothering you?” she teased.

Wanderers

“Eh, well you know how he worries,” Gavin said, answering Ruli’s query about the Kartaian. “The herbs Kire brought back helped his nerves a lot, though. Pretty good herb, too,” he said, grinning wide. Kire smirked, shaking her head as she looked the lad over. In the relatively short span of his stay with Envy and the Ziadi, he really had changed. Hair kept unkempt, plain clothes, and a manner that was now much more at ease with other people. Even the way he spoke seemed to have loosened up. Good. The scars of his ordeal as someone forced into blood magic would remain with him a long time, but it seemed that being here really was doing him good. If she took him to Amria and exposed him to his kin, it might reverse all that. She was about to ask him something else when some other person intruded upon them.

Immediately, the impression Kire got of the woman was that she reminded her of so many ladies and lords’ mistresses back at Amria, the kind she would try to spend as little time with as possible. The kind, definitely, that would talk about her and scheme behind their backs the moment the Empress wasn’t in their presence anymore. She kept quiet as Princess Risa spoke to them, or at them. Her features wouldn’t have been too lamentable if it hadn’t been accompanied by an even uglier attitude. If this and Aera are the only princesses he’s met so far, no wonder he has no love for the highborn. Kire was sure the woman would simply ignore her, and she exchanged glances with Gavin, who looked like he was biting back a remark of his own, too. But the princess just had to turn her attention to Kire, and she raised an eyebrow at the insult.

“Ahh, the Princess Risa, we meet at last,” Kire said, putting on a big grin and giving her a mock curtsy, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness. “Do you mean this scar? Alas, when you’re an Empress, sometimes you must survive assassination attempts. Comes with the territory when you’re on the highest seat of power. Since you asked, I can tell you how I got it.” She smirked, moving the skin beneath her scarred eye, making the scar ripple and stretch. “We had been fighting an invasion, and I was surrounded, Your Grace. Just as I had felled a brute twice my size, he swung his sword and just caught my ugly little face, just so. There was so much blood streaming down my face, Sire, and still the monster was on his two feet. So I skewered him with my sword. Split him open from his cock to his neck. His guts spilled everywhere, it was a right mess.”

Gavin looked sideways at Risa, then at Kire. He held no fondness at all for this princess, especially with the way she treated everyone else around them, so he could only barely contain his glee at Kire’s response. Having been forced to be around highborn lords as Ikegai’s slave, he felt if he had to follow nobility, he’d choose Kire any day rather than this lot. He was torn, however, between wanting to diffuse the situation and letting the obnoxious lady stew.

Wanderers

She followed him out, but not before tearing off a bit more of bread, making a note of telling Narda about it later. It was pleasantly cool outside, with the warmth of the sun and the meal she had just had keeping it from being too chilly. As she chewed on the last bit of bread, she looked up at Ruli, trying to gauge his reaction to what she had just asked. Kire raised her brows at his blunt wording, then grimaced when he joked about asking him to move to Amria and stay in a chamber like some concubine. "Gods no," she said, glad that he was just jesting about that.

"And alright. I acknowledge that it's a--weird arrangement," she said, climbing up after him. "I do feel weird asking, believe me." She paused as they neared the top, then turned around to look out at the sea as he spoke. As awkward as the topic of conversation was, at least the view was a great distraction. "And to be fair, I'm never not here for an important reason," she said, hands clasped behind her. "Though I hope next time I'm here, things won't turn out too violent or dangerous." She pondered on his offer for a few more moments. "I'm good with that. Best I could hope for, really, " she said with a small smile. We'll see. "Do we shake on it?" she joked, returning the playful tone he had earlier.

She looked back out to the view, watching the Ziadi at work, or returning from early morning tasks to eat breakfast. A familiar face climbed up towards them, a piece of flatbread in his hands as he chewed sleepily. "Oy," Gavin said, seeing them up ahead, "that's my spot."

"I don't see your name on it," Kire said, smirking. "Hello, lad."
"Hello yourself, Your Majesty," Gavin said with a grin, then nodding in greeting to Ruli before yawning. "Zeke really made me earn breakfast today," he said, stuffing his face again. "How'd the trip go? From what I've been hearing, pretty eventful few days."

"Understatement, but yes. Eventful," Kire replied, suddenly remembering she had hinted at his existence to the Gemini. Would they try to look for him? Will they demand I bring him? "And you? Still would rather stay here and put off coming back with me?"
Gavin looked at her, thoughtful. The desire ro see Amria was there, she could see, but when he looked to Ruli, then around them, he seemed to have pushed the desire aside. "We just moved here. They need all the hands they could get," he said with a shrug. "Are you gonna see Envy?"
"In a bit. Narda's still romancing him, I think," Kire said with a chuckle. Gavin's expression reminded her that he and Nard didn't have such a great first meeting.

Wanderers

Kire fanned her mouth now and then, but the sauce was growing on her. She paused, however, when Ruli offered his own apology. She kept a quip about him admitting to being a hard man to get alomg with to herself, not wanting to make things worse again. His fumbling over his words in the end was rather amusing to her, though.

"Like I said yesterday, it's not like I'm looking for a husband. Or wife," she added, smirking briefly. She sucked a bit of sauce from her thumb, thinking over what he said. "How about... we get along alright as is, and we both could use a night like that now and then? As I've mentioned, it's bloody hard for me to find someone to bed," she said the last part in a low voice in case the mother threw them more dagger looks "and after having a taste, I'd rather not wait for the next hundred years for another. But, of course, that's just me. If you stand by what you said yesterday about not carrying on, I'll leave the matter be." She paused, then pointed at the food. "Though if you throw in some food now and then I wouldn't mind that at all." She grinned, only half-joking.

Wanderers

Kire listened to him explain what the sauce was for and almost helped herself to it immediately. When Ruli offered a bit of the flatbread with it, she took it readily and put the whole thing in her mouth. Her cheeks reddened, and she almost coughed it out. "Yeah, that was hot," she said after she'd swallowed, chuckling a bit. She then did as he suggested, filling the bread with eggs and vegetables, though she definitely put more than just a bit of the spicy sauce.

She ate, albeit a little clumsily, as he explained where Narda was. "She's rather charmed by him, yes," she said, amused. "Narda can be very suave when she wants to be. Think I'll give her some time alone with him then." She ate in silence for a while, glancing at him now and then. "Much more suave than I ever will be," she said after a while. "I can be rather thick when it comes to things like that. And," she paused, weighing her words. "I think I handled our talk rather poorly. I'm sorry."

Wanderers

Kire rose shortly after sunrise, peering with a frown at the shafts of sunlight that lit up her room. After much grumbling, she left her bed and fixed herself up. The night had been cold, and it was a wonder, given her restlessness, that she had fallen asleep at all. Finding that Narda had left, possibly to catch the sunrise and to look for breakfast, she went outside to do the same. Admittedly, the view of the cliff side was breathtaking in the light of the new day, and she spent a few minutes just gazing over it, feeling the pleasant breeze blow in from the sea. As she made her way down, careful not to be in the way of the already busy Ziadi, she could smell breakfast cooking from the many homes around her, which helped wake her up a bit more. Though she guessed that Envy would most likely be in the other mess hall, Kire hadn’t spent much time in this side yet. Whatever was cooking over the fire had her curious, anyway.

The aromas that filled the mess hall did not disappoint. She found Ruli in the middle of cooking and stood near the doorway a little awkwardly, wondering if she should turn back and go to the elven side after all. But her stomach growled at the sight of the flatbread and sausages, and she decided she wasn’t going to leave until she’d had a bite of everything. She found a spot to sit in and was about to make her way towards it when he had spotted her and offered a greeting. “Morning.” She tore herself some of the offered flatbread and stuffed as much of it in her mouth as she could, cheeks puffed up as she eyed the eggs and vegetables on the skillet. “This is really good,” she said, when she’d finally swallowed the food in her mouth.

Still a little sleepy, she stepped back to watch him work, chewing thoughtfully on more flatbread. “How’s your arm doing? And what’s that?” she asked, pointing to the small pot of sauce.

Wanderers

“Good night,” Kire said, then turning to Narda, who had been watching her. “What?”
“Nothing. Was just curious if you’d follow him,” she said, grinning. Kire slapped her arm. “Hey!”
“Come on, I want a bath, and I’m going to bed. And no waking me for the sunrise, either.”
They found their way to the house Envy had provided for them when they had come back with Ed a couple of days ago. They took turns with the bath, both eager to wash the grime off and sleep. Kire, laying in her bed, heard Narda’s snoring not too long later, and she willed herself to go to sleep just as quickly. But now, when everything had quieted down once again and she was alone, every time she closed her eyes she remembered Ruli’s body against hers, his warm breath, his lips, the smell of cinnamon… Sleep, gods be damned! Kire thought, covering her face with her hands and growling in frustration into them.

Sleep did come, though not till an hour after she had been lying down in bed. Thankfully no dreams of Ruli or nightmares about the woods or the gate. And Narda, to her credit, decided not to bother her when she rose early. The giantess left the house quietly to make her way outside where she could find a good view of the sunrise. The seaside air always put Narda in a good mood, and she wandered alone, down to the beach, walking barefoot as she took in the cool breeze. After a while, she made her way to the mess hall, hoping that Envy would be there for breakfast.

Wanderers

As Aera spoke of the magic that presented itself in her people, though in less magnitude than other elves, Kire bowed her head a little, concentrated. The scent of moonflowers did linger strongly around the princess, along with a signature she had yet to pinpoint. She scarred him, she thought. That must have something to do with it. She didn’t pry further into that, though, but she did note Aera’s description of the magic the mountain held.

She listened to the princess’s thoughts on the lives of mortals, then met her gaze when Aera returned the question. “Of course I like being around my own people. Everybody does, I suppose,” she said after a while. “But like I said, I think we have far too much in common with their lives rather than those of immortals. In between, yes, but. That search for meaning, that need to find contentment—it’s invigorating. There are people back home with lives as short as theirs. It’s a good reminder, to hold close what is dear to you, and also a reminder to learn to let go of things when necessary. Admittedly, that part’s rather difficult for me to do,” she added with a chuckle. “As much as I sometimes curse the burden this Ring had given me, it has, at least, let me see so many wondrous things, and meet people I never would have otherwise. Even without it, I can’t imagine a life spent just within my Capital, not seeing the rest of the wider world. Danger and complication sometimes has a way of coming to me, whether I move or stand still, so I might as well move.” Kire shrugged. “But. To each their own. Your choice may be different from mine, but we’ve lived under different circumstances.”

Kire turned her attention back to the fires, determined to see it through until the last of them had died down. The elves were quick and efficient with their work. There were a couple more wolves that had come out, but Kire hadn’t bothered to meet them, seeing the Raielwen deal with it, themselves. By the time the night had deepened and the fires had gone low, Kire couldn’t wait to leave and clean herself off. Once it was safe enough for her to approach, she walked over to the parts no longer touched by flame, just to make sure nothing else sprouted out of the ground, or no strange runes suddenly appeared. Husks of the dead wolves littered the burnt ground, and now and then she would catch glimpses of Amrian armor, some bearing the Wyvern crest, a few others the Gemini insignia. Her lip curled at that, that they would sacrifice their own for this kind of destructive power. She remembered the feeling of her fingers digging into the mage’s neck, the utmost temptation of snapping it with her bare hands still strong in her memory.

“I suppose we must take our leave now, if you don’t mind,” she said, after she had completed her inspection of their handiwork. Unsure about how the elf princess felt about shaking hands, Kire bowed her head respectfully. “Thank you once again for all that you’ve done. I’m sure you’re looking forward to going back to your old schedule,” she added with a grin.
“Thank the gods,” Narda muttered; she had been standing a ways away from the smoke, and now she approached to say her own farewells to the princess. “My thanks for accommodating Zeke and I will we waited for this slowpoke to return,” she added, grinning at Kire, who elbowed her with a frown.
“I came back in a day, Nard. I’d say that was speedy service to get back to a foul-mouthed brigand like you.”
Once everybody was ready, Kire and Narda stepped back with the others, bracing themselves to Shadow-Walk. Kire took Ruli’s hand, Narda on his other side.

The smell of the sea greeted them when they emerged in the quiet cave. Kire breathed it in, glad to be away from the smell of burning. Narda, too, looked much happier. “Well maybe I would avoid meat for a night after smelling all that,” the giantess muttered.

Wanderers

Kire snorted at Ruli’s comment. “Should look much better on you,” she said back, before turning around to watch the Raielwen continue their work.
“So, which is it? Our soldiers or hers?” Narda asked, grinning. She didn’t bother wiping the soot from her own face and hair.
“Mm.” Kire looked the elves over. “They’re more put together. But ours look better,” she said in an amused whisper. “These elves are rather…”
“Stiff? Inhuman? Bloodless?” Narda said, grinning still. Kire elbowed her, though offered no contradictory argument.

When the princess approached her, Kire cleared her throat and offered a small smile back. “Any time blood magic is involved, count your lucky stars if things go smoothly,” she replied. “I am glad you were overprepared. After handling the world gate’s energy, I’m rather glad this is what we have to deal with here.” She was silent, pondering Aera’s question. “I think I’ve kept them away from Envy long enough. Unless anyone objects, I assume we’ll all be heading back to him,” she said after a pause. “I am indebted to you for all you’ve done for us, of course. Should you need my help, I’ll do my best to give it.”

She fell silent again as they watched the wood burn down. “I find I am rather curious about Lithilote, though,” she said after a while. “It’s strange. The lives you live. At some point in our ancient history, I’m sure Amrians were like you, too. Much longer lives. Steeped in magic. There’s some deep, old magic in your citadel. But now we’re closer to human lives like Zeke’s, though we would still outlive them. Do you miss being around that, or are you content with being here?” She turned to Aera, an apologetic smile on her face. “I’m sorry if the question is rather impertinent. But, like I said, I am curious.”

Wanderers

“Well, thank the gods we don’t need to do all the work,” Narda commented, once the gathering of elves had arrived. Kire nodded, similarly pleased that they were eager to be rid of the thicket. “You are going to let them work, aren’t you?”
“Don’t worry, I will,” Kire said, watching as they worked to chop the trees they had felled while the others brought down more. “Besides, it’d be interesting to see whether my soldiers or her men have more coordination,” she said with a slight smirk. Narda shook her head, though she looked amused at the remark.
After a while, Aera finally asked Kire if they were ready to begin. “By all means, Princess,” she said, stepping back, though keeping her hand on her sword in case there were other surprises. “Let’s begin.”

The Amrians watched intently as the first fires were lit. Kire remembered the stench of burning back in Cordon, when she and Ysaryn fought their way through the dolls, the stench Ysaryn had smelled when they saw the wolf earlier today. Narda was tense, fingering the handle of her axe, as if waiting for another gate or a pack of wolves to emerge. So far, so good, though. For a while, it seemed that everything was under control, so Kire stood back for a bit, a little closer to Ruli, who had been keeping his distance from the princess. She now knew why, or at least the gist of it, and she could therefore guess why he said what he had said about not putting up a ward around the woods. She already knew Ruli could do it, natural element or not. “This’ll be over soon,” she murmured in assurance, her eyes on the elves’ work.

A pained, wretched howling rose up from within the woods as the fire advanced further in. This time, Kire could smell burning flesh, too. “Nard, ready,” Kire said, unsheathing her sword and stepping closer. The air was thick with ash and fumes the closer they got. The giantess nodded, similarly drawing her axe. While Kire was confident the elves could handle whatever would come out of the woods, it didn’t hurt to be prepared.

The first wolves emerged, their skin and fur catching flame. Already weakened by the fire, they were cut down easily by the elves. When more broke through, Kire and Nard stepped in, guarding the elves and allowing them to focus on the fires and preventing the wolves from igniting more forest. Kire was a little relieved that these wolves weren’t as much of a danger as the first time around; she hadn’t looked forward to fighting them after all the work she and Nard had put in earlier.

The attacks slowed; and after a while it seemed they had either cut down or burned through whatever wolves had remained within. When Kire and Nard stepped back, coughing a little from the smoke, they were covered in dirt. “Yeah, let’s leave ‘em to it,” Kire conceded, wiping down her blade before sheathing it, rubbing soot from her face. “I am looking forward to a nice, long bath later.”