Setting
- 69 posts here • Page 1 of 3 • 1, 2, 3
Landing, the palace of the peaceful.
Turning, she gazed upon the regal towers set into the hills and small mountains, the walls paled from years in the sun, wind swept with sand. Voices swirled from the distance, the festival beginning and bringing hands together in prayers and cheers of happiness. Kenni smiled, blue eyes bright, feet itching to charge forward and join them.
My Child, My Sweet.
Startled, Kenni turned on her heel, nearly toppling over in the sand. She stumbled over the crevices here and there, searching for the source of the voice. "Hello...?" she called cautiously.
Kenni, listen closely. I do not have long.
"Who...?"
The War ended many years ago, but today marks the one thousandth day of imprisonment for our siblings. Their caging bars weaken. They wish to be free.
Kenni spun about again, gripping her dress and following the voice to the left. Then she decided it had actually been to the right. She stopped beside the tide, the cool water splashing her toes as indecision boiled up inside her. "I don't understand...who are you?"
You know me Child, though I have never shown my face. You know me.
"Show me your face now then."
There is no time. You must travel to Rodwin, find the lost relic. The ring, Child. The ring to seal their prison forever. Do not allow my brothers and sisters to be freed.
Like a tiny stone dropping on the top of her head, Kenni started, brain kicking into gear. She had read the scripts, heard the tales, whispered prayers to such a voice all of her life. "Skye..." she muttered, blue eyes turned upward now. "You are one of the Skye."
Yes. You must complete this. You must not allow my siblings to escape again.
"But I don't understand...How can I stop them?"
The Ring.
"A piece of jewelry...I read the stories. A worse consequence will befall Siveen if we allow the Spawn to escape, I know this, but you arm me with a ring?"
Are you questioning me?
Kenni's lips pouted slightly. "No, Your Holiness. I simply wonder why you would choose someone as fragile and unnecessary as me to complete such a task."
You can hear me. And your spirit is strong-willed, even if you do not see such. Now, to Rodwin. You must hurry. The seals weaken.
Kenni wished to continue to speak, to know details, to speak with such a Holy entity for longer than she knew was possible, but she began to slip through the sand. Clutching at grains and kicking without moving, she struggled to climb out of the deepening pit. Soon she was engulfed, chest crushing, bones constricted and throat squeezed. Air vanished. She could not even scream.
Then she escaped the sands, falling farther, coughing up the tiny rocks as her watering eyes met heat and red. Fires licked beneath her. She was going to burn in the hells of the Spawn. She heard their shuddering cackles as they echoed around the cavernous bowl of flames, giant looming black shadows, grabbing at her and batting her this way and that like a cloth doll, a plaything, an insignificant piece of flesh ready to be eaten below. Kenni screamed and snatched at thin air. The Spawn only laughed.
::
Her own screaming woke her. She struggled for breath, clutching at her chest and feeling the fearful tears trail down her cold cheeks like searing beads of candle wax. Flinching and shaking, she stood from bed, wrapping the thin blanket around her figure and noting the violet blue light streaming in from the high rectangle window. Her tongue felt like dough. Around her, the other girls had woken up and gathered, asking questions that Kenni could not bring herself to hear. She kept muttering about Skyes and Rings for a good twenty minutes before Annibeth strode in dressed still in her nightwear.
"My Child, what dreams have startled you?" she inquired softly, lowering Kenni back to her bed to sit. Kenni felt the warmth from Annibeth's hand. It made her colder.
"The Skyes...spoke...to me..."
Some of the girls gave skeptical stares, while others gasped in disbelief. Annibeth herself squeezed the younger one's fingers, startled.
"What...well, what did they say?"
Everyone was silent, waiting for her answer. Kenni lifted her eyes to the other girls of the mountain, their red or brown hair trailing around such beautiful faces. Her sisters, her friends, and Annibeth...Kenni nearly began crying again, gazing upon the face of the only mother she had ever known. She had always wanted to leave the cathedral, see the world, discover adventure and truth. Yet now...
"He told me I had to travel to Rodwin. To find a ring." Kenni swallowed, eyes closed. "The Spawn...are going to break free."
Shove her into her cage, and probably use iron shackles this time. She dunked underneath the water, than brought herself back up. She could feel her exhaustion even more now. She could easily drown. She would never return home, but at least she would never fall into the hands of the Nikians again.
Neecey felt the current pick up, her leg smacking against a large rock. She was probably nearing a mill, hopefully that meant a town. A farmer who would feed her and clothe her, until she was well enough to continue on. She spun herself around to see her assumptions were correct.
A large mill sat on the edge of the river, it's large wheel speeding up the current. A rush of adrenaline coursed through her veins, and she forced herself to swim to land. She pulled herself up, her arms shaking underneath the weight. She collapsed on the grass, it's blades tickling her nose. She forced herself to keep going, clawing her way forward, pulling the rest of her body up out of the water.
Neecey crawled, unable to stand, closer to the mill. The creaking of the wood her only salvation. She had to reach it. She had to make it. She had to survive. She was almost there. Almost to salvation.
She outstretched her hand, reaching towards the wooden door. Her limbs shaking.
He wondered why he hadn't gotten sick, was it because of the cats living in the mill, perhaps because he quickly ran himself through a fire after each time he was over. At any rate he was only wearing his leather armor at the moment and was entirely unarmed, kept him from having to worry about his equipment. Rather than doing his usual fiery baptism, he quickly ran a torch near he body; it was incredibly hot but as before but this seemed to keep him clean. He doused the fire before he came across the front door...and the girl laying in front of it.
"Are you alright,"he stooped down while asking a rather stupid question. He got an arm around her to hoist her up, she was wet and cold, "hold onto that thought." He didn't even know if she was awake or not but he quickly picked her up and entered the building. He climbed up the stairs a bit on the slow side, he didn't want to jostle her.
He got into the room he was staying and grabbed his cloak, wrapping it around her. One great thing about his cloak was that it was amazing at absorbing water and quickly drying off. He put her on the bed and piled all the sheets he could find on her; it was at that point he noticed that her ears were pointed. The girl was an elf, which explained why she was so small and light.
He grabbed himself a piece of bread before he got back to work,leaving the loaf out and set the stew pot on the fire to heat it up. The stew wasn't overly impressive, Just some lamb, potatoes and onions cooked in water that he added a strong drink to. The pot wasn't directly over the fire so it'd take longer to heat up but he had some dark business to finish first. He set out a spoon and bowl so she could help herself and also water should she be thirsty.
"I've got somethings to take care of quickly, don't worry I won't be too long," he found her silence rather unsettling for the moment but for all he knew she didn't understand him. A brief thought of him returning to her using his bow, which was under the bed flashed in his mind but that wouldn't occur. The pullback on it was much more than she weighed, besides he hadn't hidden any of his other weapons around the room.
She had no idea how long she had been out, when she felt someone slowly pull her up. They were asking her questions, but she couldn't form the words to reply. He was speaking the language of the humans. Neecey had learned it while under the capture of the Nikians, but she could barely form words from her own language, let alone the human one. A series of awkward sounds came out of her mouth, that barely constituted as sounds, as she was pulled into the house.
Neecey tried to open her eyes, to get a view of her surroundings, but her body refused to obey. She kept getting fuzzy glimpses at the surroundings. A fireplace. A rocking chair. A blanket tossed over an arm of a chair. But nothing else. She was back to unconsciousness.
After another brief stint in the blackness of her mind, Neecey awoke. Jolting forward, as if awoken for the first time in eight years. She thrashed, her legs caught in several blankets and coverings. She desperately kicked off the heavy weight, and freed herself from the confines. She pushed off of the bed and shook herself free from the unknown material. She glanced around the room, wondering what she could take.
She had to get home.
A smell wafted to her nose, and Neecey turned to see a pot over the fire. A glorious smell was emitting from the pot and she couldn't help but bring a scoopful to her mouth. She gulped down the stew, it's flavors complimenting each other nicely. She gulped down another four spoonfuls of the stew before continuing her search. She had to find suitable clothing. She couldn't traverse across the terrain in her Nikian ensemble. She dug around the small room, digging through trunks and shelves, looking for any clothes that could possibly fit her.
She settled on a pair of dark pants that were a little too big for her small frame, but would be tightened around her by the belt she had found. She grabbed the smallest tunic she could find, a small white one with a small tear at the hem, and slipped it on over her head. It came just past her belly button, which would do for now. Now, she needed a weapon.
Neecey hadn't seen any sort of weapon while searching for clothing. She glanced around the room, trying to think of any place she hadn't already looked. Under the bed, maybe? She crawled onto her knees and stuck her hand underneath the small space. She couldn't see much, but she could feel a few things underneath. She settled on a smooth object and pulled it out to see. A knife.
That would help, but she would feel more comfortable with a bow. She continued searching through the objects under the bed, finding more knives, but no bow. She was about ready to give up, stick with the three knives she had grabbed, when she felt her hand glide across a tight string. She gripped the string and pulled, revealing a long bow. It was beautiful, the wood carved to a perfect curve. The string tight and thick, perfect for battle.
It reminded Neecey of her father's bow. The one she had first learned to shoot with. Pulling back on the string, she found that it was almost exactly like her father's. The draw was heavy and strong. It would do. She just needed a few arrows, and she would be fine. Nothing could stop her with a bow like this.
He quickly returned to the mill and glazed himself with a torch for the final time. In his haste he burnt himself slightly this time but he was more interested in his guest. Knowing he'd smell of smoke and slight burning he still hurried up the stairs and entered the room. The girl seemed more than fine, she was up and about and handling his bow just fine. "Oh hey elf girl's up. How are you doing, you were a complete mess earlier today." He was friendly with his greeting but then what he said suddenly dawned on him.
"Wahh!? Elf girl?!" The words flew from his mouth and he found himself diving back at the statement. "By the Skye, a real elf; what are you doing here? Not the house I mean out of your woods, I've never heard of an elf leaving their wood. Then again in Landing we have tales about how elves don't fully mature until twenty-five winters and will live to see hundreds of them." In his surprise he wound up freaking out, babbling and asking questions at the same time.
He inched his way towards the wardrobe, in it were his swords and arrows. "I must say, you elves are strong... there aren't many men that can bring that thing to a full draw. By the way, I'm Keiran Greywind, son of Aedin of Landing, what's yours?" At the moment he hadn't gotten to the wardrobe but he had the table between them and a throwing knife was in arms reach...close enough to even ground. It was then that curiosity kicked in, "By the way, how do you like the bow? Most people tell me it's weird because it's not one solid curve; my father left it to me and I've not found a man who can make one like it."
She did not feel she had to hide, the ridicule she had received was simply disheartening, as if the people around her had suddenly betrayed everything they claimed to believe. How could it be so simple for them to cast away their source of happiness and fortune to tear down a simple girl from the cathedral.
King Jar studied Kenni closely, deep red eyebrows pulled together. He was a handsome mountain man, burly and eyes full of life. There was no doubt that he gave himself fully to the Skye's and their wills, but there was hesitation in his expression. Kenni stood straighter, mouth a thin line.
"This task is rather...large...for a young girl."
"Yet I have been tasked to it," she responded at once, the booming voice of the Skyes echoing within her chest. "I had your same doubts, My Lord. But the Skye was persistent."
"You cannot have me believe you wish to complete this journey on your own!"
Kenni shrugged once, gaze falling to the ground to the red and gold carpet at her feet. "It is far and treacherous. I would ask for aid, but it is not my place. The Skyes tasked me for this journey and I cannot ask anyone else to complete it. The dangers alone would frighten any soldier."
The King nodded. "Dangers, yes. Dangers you cannot handle alone."
Kenni remained silent, not replying due to pride.
Again the King studied her and soon a smile broke out on his face, one of admiration. "You are very strong, dear girl. Daniels! Send word down the mountain to Mandor and anyone else you can reach. They have plenty of men. And announce to the people that I will be funding this journey, as in gold, that should get a few volunteers as well."
His eyes twinkled as he stood and strode to Kenni. "The Skyes may have tasked only you on this mission, Kenni. But I will be damned if I allowed you to fail. You will have the finest men. Such a journey...you must complete. For all our sakes."
The seriousness behind his friendly demeanor hit Kenni hard. Yes, it was important. If she failed, the Spawn would be unleashed on the world again. She could not and would not allow such to happen. Nearly shaking with fear of the unknown and anticipation to prove herself to the Skyes, she hugged the King close without thinking, arms tight and hardly able to fit around him. He chuckled and waved off his guard, hugging her back and giving her more assuring words. She felt confident now, with the King on her side. Despite having only had one other audience with him, she admired his character and how he handled his kingdom and people. He was the father figure she wished she had had. Then she thought of her nurse and felt an even deeper sadness. She would have to leave him as well.
But for now she put on a smile and stood straight again, pushing her hair out of her face. "You have no reason to worry, Your Majesty."
"I did not have a choice, I was taken away." She said through clenched teeth.
She followed him with the arrow as he inched closer to the wardrobe. His weapons were probably stowed away inside, explaining how the arrow had gotten lodged underneath. He continued talking, admiring her skills at actually being able to draw the bow. He was trying to distract her, she could easily pick up on the tone in his words. However, if she kept him talking, and inching closer to his weapons, she could make a break for the door. She didn't want to kill him. He had essentially saved her life, and for that Neecey was grateful. But she would be damned if she was going to let this one man stop her from getting home.
"It was just like my father's. His bow was as sturdy and strong as yours." She explained quietly. "And the design is definitely different, but I can understand the appeal. It's much easier to hold."
He was still inching towards the wardrobe, and Neecey made note of his name, Keiran. "My given name is Neecey. And, I'm truly sorry about this."
She shot the arrow and pinned an article of his clothing to the wall. She quickly dropped the bow onto the bed, and made a break for the door.
"I can understand wanting to leave a dangerous situation but do you even know where you are? If so, great and if not you're making a mistake; I don't know how you elves do things but where I'm from we at least exchange stories with our rescuer before leaving." As he talked he opened the wardrobe and pulled out a broadtip and pulled to a full draw, " In Landing we have a thing called a Table Bond; it means that as soon as the guest partakes of the hosts food or drink they are under the hosts protection. The bond lasts three days, during which the host and guest are like family; one bringing harm to the other is a grave act of dishonor punishable in this life and the next."
He let her mull those words over, along with the arrow; after all she shot a bodkin, meant for small prey while he had a broadtip. An arrow meant to kill bigger creatures than them, if he shot at her and clipped her she could still expect heavy bleeding on the body; the arrow head was bigger than his forearm so it went without saying it'd sever a limb. "I don't know whether you partook in food or drink so I can't flat aim at you but should say you open that door at that moment the bond's forfeit."
Keeping the bow trained on her, he continued, "Forgive me, but I've buried seven kinsmen today,three children among them so I will not be the best of hosts but I would like to know what you meant by forced here." He'd relax the bow when she sat down and began talking after they exchanged stories, it'd be dark and he would insist she spend the night. He was heading out tomorrow and the prospect of someone willing to help her in exchange for a story should be enough to keep her interested.
Fayvus was walking to the garden and just got out the front doors when some guards called him over to help them aid another wounded guard. He rushed them inside laying the wounded on the table. The man had been stabbed in the gut. Fayvus immediately began surgery with the tools in his pack after sterilizing. The surgery took about an hour and the guard that had brought the man there was relieved. "Apply two of these leaves to his wound and rewrap the bandages with new ones each day for one week. It will close in four days, maybe three with luck. That will be five silver." Fayvus told the guard.
"Thank you sir. That was a friend of mine and he was attacked by a thief in a dirty suprise attack. Uhh...I don't have any money but take this." The guard held out a Nikian flute. "I bought this from a merchant earlier, he said it could 'sing' the voice of an angel."
Fayvus took the flute with a smile on his face. He remembered his joy in his childhood when he played these instruments. Though Kenni was most likely too old for such trinkets the old man was determined to give it to her none the least. "Thank you for the gift, now I must be off but do not forget my orders for his get well." He told the guard with a warning tone. Fayvus then began to walk to Kenni's quarters where he would wait to show her the fine trinket that he got.
"I may not know where I am, but I followed the river here, I can follow it back to my forest." She explained. "I know that forest better than I know my own body."
He continued speaking, explaining something about a tradition of Landing. Although, she wasn't from the place, Neecey had a respect for tradition. It was ingrained in her mind from the many teachings of her elven elders. Although the Delocian rarely communicated or interacted with the humans, it was best to stick to their certain traditions.
When he mentioned the food and drink, Neecey's eyes wondered to the pot hanging over the fire. She had gulped down several spoonfuls of the delicious soup. She would have to abide by the rules. Keiran had saved her life, the least she could do was explain herself.
"When I was ten summers old, I was taken from my village by the Nikians. I was forced into slavery, becoming a toy for their chief. For ten long summers, I was trapped in that forsaken village, abused and mistreated each night." She moved away from the door, Keiran's arrow still trained on her. She plopped on the bed, wrapping in her arms around herself.
"I finally managed to escape my prison and jumped in the river to escape capture. I don't know how far from the village I am, or from my forest, but I have to get home." She explained. "I need to. I don't...belong in this world." She could feel her eyes stinging with tears. She wiped them away and looked up at Keiran. "You said you had to bury seven kinsmen? Why? What happened to them?"
Bracing a foot on the wall he began to pull hard and it slowly came out and he put it on the table. "As it stands,"he began on the second blade, which was even harder to pull out, he had to put both feet on the wall and fell when it came out. "I intend to sell the land back to the town tomorrow and head home." He put the second knife on the table and set about getting himself some food.
"Help yourself if you're hungry or thirsty by the way. So in truth you may be on your way back home by tomorrow; of course I'll help with supplies." She'd seen the underbelly of human behavior for long enough and he'd have done this anyways; but he felt she needed to see the better half of humans.
Slipping through the narrower halls of the cathedral, Kenni twisted a piece of her crimson locks as her thoughts raced through her dream. Despite her solid belief that what she had seen had definitely transpired...doubts began worming their way behind her eyes into her mind, darkening her confidence.
But when she reached her quarters and pushed open the door with force she had not been aware she was building, she felt the stong of tears behind her eyes. Then she saw Fayvus, the only true father she had ever known. And she slammed the door shut, ran to him among the echo of the slam and fell to her knees as she clutched at his robes and buried her face in his knees.
"I cannot do this," she managed to choke out, tears sliding onto his clothes. "It is too much for me."
It didnt take long before she realized how she must look and she pulled away, horrified by her actions. Standing straight and adjusting her blue sleeves, she stepped once away, wiping at her eyes. "Apologies...I...lost myself...I..."
Fayvus' eyes held no criticism and she caught her heaving breath, forcing a smile. "Such...a child I must seem to you..."
Fayvus finished the beautiful tune and lowered the flute before speaking again. "Now dear child, what seems to be the problem that has got you so riled up?" He asked kindly.
She faced Fayvus full on now. "What is it like? The world beyond the mountain. Truly," she added, knowing the man had softened his stories for her over the years. "Books speak of barbaric practices...elves...creatures I have never seen. According to records, most have died out but...are there still such dangers among nature still?"
Gaining as many facts about the outside world was all she could accomplish for now as the King gathered a protective guard for her. He had sent messengers all through the nearest kingdoms and hopefully by tonight, the call for the able-bodied and willing would have reached helpful ears. Kenni had to admit the generous incentive of gold would aid in their search.
For now, she needed knowledge. "What can you tell me, Fayvus? I may never return here...or see you again...I need to know..." Then a thought struck her and her back straightened as if poked with the sharpest of sticks. "Fayvus...why don't you come with me?" Excitement filled her eyes and her body flooded with anxious anticipation. "You can teach me everything! Everything you have ever learned from the outside."
Nearly shaking now, she waited for the Nurse's response, begging with her gaze for a "yes."
He looked at her more closly now. She was obviously very nervous about the whole situation. "The book speak of cultures in which the authors did not understand. If they were familiar with them then perhaps there would be friendlier terms used to described the Nikians. As for...elves...I have only met one in my entire life. That is a tale left for a different day though. Now tell me child, when will we leave?" He asked.
"When the King is satisfied with the protection I will receive," she explained, furthering such with her story of visiting the King's court earlier that day. "He is such a good man," she added absently. "I am grateful he cares about me enough to provide such luxuries. I was afraid that...that I would have to venture alone."
Fear hiking once more up her spine, she caved into her childish desires once more and hugged Fayvus closely, curling into his familiar smell of medicinal herbs. He was the constant in her life and if she ever had to part with him, the pain would tear her limbs from her torso and she would bleed then and there to death. Dramatic, but somewhat true. Kenni was terrified of being alone. She had always longed for adventure, but to experience it alone would be empty and cruel.
Her thoughts ventured to the whispers of the elder girls in the cathedral, their giggles and taunts about the boys who deliver the food to the church. They repeated words such as "cute" or "handsome," going on to describe his hair or smile, then his supposed gentle nature and protective charm. Kenni had seen the boys as well, but never fully understood what the elder girls were talking about. A longing always surged within her however at the thought of the thing called "love." From what she could tell from books, it was a wondrous emotion to feel, one of music and gravity and wings and agony. It fascinated her as much as the outside world, this intangible entity called "love," the one thing she had never truly experienced for another person.
Yes she loved her sisters, and yes she loved Fayvus, and of course she loved her Skyes...but what was love between a man and woman, as she had read so much about? Her status within the church forbade her from physical relations with the opposite sex, but she didn't even understand what that meant! One of the girls tried to explain it once, but didn't get very far as she grew annoyed with Kenni's constant questions of "love."
"It's not about love," she huffed, rolling her eyes.
But Kenni wasn't so sure.
Realizing she had been lost in her thoughts for quite some time, she lifted her gaze. "Sorry...did you...say something?" She tried an innocent grin.
Kenni spoke, waking the old man from his thoughts. "I was asking when we leave. I need to get some things before hand so I need a time." He paused thinking of the road. "Kenni do you know how to properly thrust and slash a knife or where to hide so not even a royal guard can find it?" He asked her. They were about to embark on a dangerous quest so she needed a weapon of her own. Fayvus knew that she could not stay an innocent child forever.
"I've never held a knife before," she admitted, feeling greatly inadequate for the journey set before her. Why had the Skyes chosen her, of all people, to fulfill this quest? She was hardly capable. "Nor do I know how to hide."
"There is much I must learn before we embark, Fayvus. We have little time. I'm quite certain the King will have a guard soon enough, Skyes willing."
She stood up, twirling her red hair around both hands with concern. "What can you teach me? I can continue to learn on the road of course, dangers shall not greet us until we have broken the perimeter of Mander, but I must learn." Standing straighter and wondering just how difficult such a feat would be, she added, "I must know how to survive in case..." Unable to finish, she waited for Fayvus to fill the silence.
One by one, the elves would pay their respect. Every elf played a vital role in the tribe. Whether it were leading the great Delocians, or simply looking after the children, every elf had a purpose and each one would be honored in passing. Every elf, whether a mere infant, or a wise elder, would say their final farewell. Then, the entire tribe would speak as one, the prayer of their kind. A beautiful ancient verse, in a language that was once used to speak to the Mother, that would send the elf's off to the next life. To be free with their Mother.
Remembering her customs, Neecey could feel more tears sting her eyes. She missed her family, even the way her father would pinch her shoulder when she was doing something wrong. She instinctively rubbed the spot with her hand, remembering how badly it used to hurt from the many pinches. She would give anything to feel his rough fingers dig into her flesh.
She didn't even know if her father was still alive. He was older than most elves when Neecey was brought into his life. She had been gone for so long, something could have happened to him. She shuddered at the thought of coming home and finding that her father's Sending had already occurred.
Wiping away her tears and pushing off the bed, Neecey ignored the offer of food. She had taken enough from this man, plus she just wanted to get home. She had her energy back and she had eaten more in the few hours she was here than she had in the past eight years. She found her way downstairs and outside. She found Keiran standing beside a large mass of overturned dirt.
Was this where he had buried his family?
Neecey stepped past the human and up to the disturbed ground. She kneeled down and placed her hand atop the dirt pile. She could feel the Mother's life coursing through the dirt, already moving to send the humans buried beneath.
"Dari nu na'vi mir cal baliv vithirs. Ti'kir donis baliv. Moris baliv hon ri mithica, liliming Ronima."
Take these souls and set them free. Watch over them. Protect them for all eternity, divine Mother.
Knowing he had something to give her, heigthened her excitement and she waited, fingers tingling, for him to open the door.
The crossbow was a unique oak object. There was a handle over the tob that pulled the bolts from within the clip onto the top and clipping the end to the string. There was a custom wooden and glass sight on it too. The clip held five bolts at a time. Fayvus created three clips as well as one hundred custom bolts. Twenty of those bolts were armor piercing. Could take down a knight if shot right. He handed the crossbow to Kenni.
"That is one of the things that I have been working on for the past five years." He said while he strapped the knives, axe, and poisons to the inside of his toga, taking care of the bag of silver too. He walked to the brew to begin carefully pouring it into an empty vial. "The rest are tools that I have used when I used to travel. Very good for battle, stealth as well. That crossbow is the easiest thing to use but I will show you how to aim and handle it. It shoots just as far as the normal kind but the sight makes it easier to aim. Also it does not take much to pull back the handle to resupply the bolts, nor does it make a sound." Fayvus headed for the door now that he had everything he needed. "Come Kenni. We must not keep the King's men waiting."
"Forgive the question, it's just in Landing we have nothing of elves but stories and you seem so young. But how old are you?" He did a quick look over, but he couldn't tell which Landing stories were true and which were just that," I mean you seem younger about six years my junior but if even half of the stories back home are true; then you could easily be more than ten times my age." He didn't have any ulterior motives to the question, it was just so weird because he didn't know how elves aged.
The goodbyes were harsh, but quick. Kenni managed to keep a stiff lip and dry eyes until all the hugs had been given and she kissed her farewell to the women of the church. Rejoining Fayvus at the front of the cathedral, his attire drastically changed from his usual robes, she felt the reality crush her lungs. But she held herself high and silent.
The King had managed to summon three Saerian guards to accompany them to the valley below, the largest kingdom in the land having messaged their own compliance with the quest. More would join them by this time tomorrow.
So they were to set off to Mander...Kenni eyed the men joining them, three burly, stoic faces of protection, not friendship. Kenni turned to Fayvus in spite of her fears, muttering, "Such a lively bunch. I surely shall be protected from ever feeling happiness again."
Past the armor his weapons took up most of the wait. His throwing knives were attachted as a vest around his chest, his hand axe was on his belt, he had replaced the glass vials for the poisons he had with metal flasks that he had attached to his belt, and this time he put the silver knife that he always carried in a compartment in his right boot. He stored three lock picks in his left boot and two under his wrist brace.
His skin was no longer scented with oils, instead Fayvus rubbed dirt on his skin to give off a musk. It was better to smell the same as an enviroment than to smell nice dead. He had also scubbed his mouth out with grass as to not have any distinct breath.
Fayvus turned to Kenni after shared her comment. "They are meant for your protection though I wonder how experienced they are. They look like they have never fought a battle outnumbered by more than two to one." He smirked at the thought of the guards before continueing speaking. "I think you will like this journey. The world is an intersting place, even the bad parts. If you have any questions on anything just ask me." He finished telling her.
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