Archives: Search for Azala
Chapter 16: Reunion in Blade
As they began the trek to Blade, Lanir was left to his questions for Valkyria. While Ox carried the head of the stretcher, he was facing her at his feet. “Valkyria, why did you call me little brother?” he asked, though he probably knew the answer.
The flaxen haired half-elf sighed. “Because I’m your half-sister,” Valkyria admitted. “Your father and my mother had a fling together. Of course that was about clear over a hundred or so years ago. Hearing his name brought up the memory of my dearly departed mother kicking my ass repeatedly into getting hitched with some nice stable guy.” She laughed. “She didn’t want me up and turning into our wild and lust-driven father. The man who’s the leader of the Sand Wolves now is my little brother from my mother and her other lover, the first leader of the Sand Wolves,” she laughed.
Air followed behind quietly, just listening to the conversation. She was embarrassed that in her first fight she fainted at the sight of blood. She wanted to apologize and thank everyone who attended her rescue, but the words wouldn’t form in her mouth.
Lanir’s eyes widened when she said how long old she was. “A hundred years?” he exclaimed. “I’m only twenty-two,” he added. “My mother, Terasia, was a merchant in Raiden. While she was traveling she met Azala and had, well, you could call it a fling as well. She always spoke so highly of him, though she said she could never tie such a free spirit down, which was why she let him go. I...am starting to doubt just how noble he was, however. You see, I’ve met more of our siblings aside from Air. A couple weeks ago, I met a childhood friend again and we set out to speak to our mothers when we realized that we may have shared the same father. It turned out it was true. Aside from her, we’re also traveling with a high elf who is pregnant with Azala’s child. She has been trying to find him, which is why we joined her.”
It was a long explanation, but they had nothing but time to spare. Lanir chuckled, after a pause. “I’m starting to suspect every half-elf I meet now. Though there is another half-elf in our group, but she’s not Azala’s. So, that’s one half-elf out of four, counting myself, that’s related to Azala.” Then he suddenly recalled Albedo; “Oh, there was another half-elf fellow who joined us, his name was Albedo. He said that his father was human, but everyone was sure he was Azala’s son. Miss Seri said he looked a lot like Azala.”
“I’m pretty sure there’s lots of our father’s children out all over Lodoss.” Valkyria chuckled. “In all fairness to our collective father, you two are the first siblings I’ve met to date.”
“I’m...eighteen,” Air stated slowly. She wanted to keep quiet until she could at least apologize for getting kidnapped and failing in battle, but she also wanted to be a part of the conversation. “I’m not entirely sure how my mother met Azala, and the only people who could tell me are back in Moss.”
“No shit, eh?” Valkyria whistled. “Moss? I can’t say I’ve ever been there. I couldn’t imagine all that damp forest.” She shuddered. “Just the thought of leaving the desert creeps the hell out of me. Cold climates and this little number don’t exactly get along. So, Air, and I guess Lanir, since Air said that her best friend was Sylph, I assume you two both know a little about the spirits.”
“Actually, I don’t,” Lanir said a little shamefully. “I never really knew anything about spirits until recently.”
Kitsa listened to the conversation between the three siblings quietly as she and Orion followed along behind them. Orion wanted to speak to Valkyria too, she recalled, but he was probably waiting for an opportunity when he wouldn’t interrupt their conversation. Kitsa glanced over at her partner, and he was as dutiful as usual. She smiled slightly, as she realized that she found it rather endearing now, or maybe it was just because of how new the relationship was.
Valkyria sucked in breath. “Damn boy...that’s well, I figured...damn.” She was at a loss of words. Remembering that Orion wanted to talk to her, she prodded the silver elf verbally: “So, elf-kin, you said you had something that you’d like to speak to me about?”
“Perhaps later,” Orion replied. He had taken to silence since they had begun the march back to Blade. Originally, he was going to approach Valkyria is a more sensitive way about her heritage to Azala, but Lanir had no gripes about covering that in earshot of everyone. He was going to offer her the possibility of leaving the Sand Wolves and to come with them instead, but it was not his offer to make, he had realized. Miss Seri hired them. Though the work may be over, he doubted that the children of Azala would give up. If they wished her to join them, then they would make that offer. If she was not interested in that, Orion had already considered offering to allow her to join himself and, hopefully, Kitsa, if they parted ways with the company after the job was done.
He also wanted to apologize at some point for not being forthcoming or particularly honorable about the entire situation with her guild. While he did not blame himself for being careful, there was a difference between caution and rudeness.
There was a noble part of Orion that hoped that Valkyria would not go back to the deserts. There was a part of him that only hoped that she found something better. Perhaps his version of better, however, was not hers.
“Alright,” Valkyria said. “We’ll be entering into the outskirts of the Blade sewers soon. As long as you watch your step you shouldn’t wear the sewage,” she warned. “The smell, however, that’s another matter entirely,” she said with a light chuckle. “Please remember to keep your eyes and wits about you, we’ll be entering a fellow thieves guild’s turf, and sometimes they aren’t really up to being too friendly with the lot of us. There are some traps in the area we’ll be passing through, but for the most part, if you follow Ox and I, you’ll reach Blade without much trouble or pain.”
Air nodded at Valkyria’s warning but stayed silent. She had to keep her eyes and wits about her, not talk. The last thing she wanted was the be wearing sewage or even worse, be hurt.
Lanir’s passage wasn’t exactly up to him and the half-elf fell silent in his stretcher. Y’ezela was probably worried sick about him and Air, and he was looking forward to putting her worries to rest. Seeing Sairina for healing was also appealing.
With Valkyria and Ox in the lead, it was easy to pass through the sewers without incident. The group came to a set of stairs that brought them up into the thieves’ guild headquarters in Blade, but the thieves paid them no mind. Leaving out the front exit, the group, led by Valkyria and Ox, had finally arrived in Blade.
“I’ve got to get back, Val,” Ox stated. “Can someone take my end of the stretcher?”
“I’ll do it!” Air exclaimed, coming around to the front. Ox passed Lanir’s stretcher to the eager half-elf and returned to the Thieves’ Guild.
“So, where are we going exactly?” Valkyria asked.
“An excellent question,” Orion replied, realizing already that Seri and Estas had not told them where to find the rest of the group. It was no concern, however, for the spirits could direct him from there. “We won’t know until Sylph tells us..” Bowing his head and whispering his request to the spirit of the winds to find the high elf Seri and to lead them to her, he waited for his response. After a few moments, Sylph returned to him, whispering back her reply.
“Seri is not too far off,” Orion said, looking around the streets. “I’ll know it when I see it. Please, follow me...” Orion began to walk ahead, towards the Inn of the Conjuress with the image in his head and the direction narrowed ahead...
Valkyria and Air, carrying Lanir, followed Orion’s lead without question. If he knew where to go then all the better. It saved Valkyria greasing palms of the local street urchins to locate the desired party.
* * *
Orion spotted the inn and Sylph disappeared. That was it. “We’re here,” Orion said as he pushed open the door to the inn. He glanced around, skimming the main room for companions, of which he found the back of Luria’s head, among others. “We’ve found Air,” he said loudly as the rest of the group entered in tow.
Valkyria and Air wormed in through the door and eased the stretcher down, with the wounded Lanir on it. Air was far too embarrassed to look at anyone in the room, or even announce her presence, but lucky for her Valkyria was more of a straightforward sort.
Helping her little brother up, Valkyria hoisted Lanir up by his shoulders and sat him in a seat. “There ya go, all good and ready to get some proper healing done on you,” she said with a small smile and a quick flourish as she mussed his hair a bit with her fingertips.
Orion turned back to Valkyria. “Thank you for your help, Valkyria.” The silver-haired ranger looked down for a second, in thought, before looking back up. “You should stay for dinner.”
Valkyria nodded. “I intended to stay for dinner,” she said slowly, then added: “I was charged with leading Lanir, Air and company out of the desert safely, remember? I wouldn’t shirk my duties. Until you, Air, Lanir and everyone else attached to you and them leave the sandy dunes behind, you’re all my responsibility.”
Y’ezela saw Air, Orion, Kitsa, and a new half-elf enter and immediately hopped to her feet. Lanir was hurt, and the bard hurried to her brother’s side after the new half-elf sat him down. “Lannie, what happened to you?” she asked.
“I tripped a trap,” Lanir admitted sourly. “Where is Sairina?”
“She’s upstairs with Seri,” Y’ezela said, then gave the others a sidelong glance. “Seri is having her baby,” the half-elf said, loud enough for everyone to hear.
With her keen eyes, Valkyria looked over the group that was at hand. The girl fretting over Lanir shared a small hint of her looks with both Lanir as well as Air, a possible sibling. There was another half-elf but she didn’t look anything like the other two in finer features, so it was best to assume she didn’t share blood.
Luria was glad to see the others return. They all seemed so concerned and close to each other now that she sort of wished her dad was Azala too. She wondered if Phaeton would be returning soon. “Nice to see you guys in one piece er... more or less,” she said. “We are all sitting around waiting for an update on Seri’s condition, I guess. Estas it outside.”
Having seen Air’s return from a block away, Estas came back to the inn. Air was back safely, with Kitsa and Orion none the worse for wear, but Lanir was sporting a bandage on his leg, and there was a new half-elf.
They had to get Lanir tended to, so he chose a member of his company who seemed unoccupied to fetch the priestess. “Luria, please go upstairs and request Sairina for a moment so Lanir can be healed,” the high elf said.
Estas then moved over to Air and placed a hand on his shoulder. The half-elf annoyed him on many occasions, but he was the one who sent the order to bring her back. “Welcome back, Air,” he said, though his voice was just as even and ambiguous as always.
“Yes sir,” Luria answered obediently and skittered up the stairs.
Luria knocked cautiously on the door then began to speak through it. “We need Sairina downstairs for a moment if you can spare her!” she said in an excited but worried tone. “The others have returned safely with Air, but Lanir has been been injured!” She thought that she shouldn’t bring up that there was yet another half-elf downstairs with Seri in this condition.
Sairina had been assisted Mona, and also taking a few lessons in midwifery. However, Seri had made no progress. Mona had preformed a rather intimate exam on Seri, but concluded with much disappoint that she hadn’t ’ripened’. However the high elf’s contractions were still coming at random intervals.
As Luria knocked on the door, Sairina looked to the midwife for permission. “Go on,” Mona said. “It’s not like this is going to go anywhere.”
Sairina hopped to her feet and went to the door, then slipped out. She was still barefoot, though she had washed her face and feet. “Seri isn’t progressing,” she informed Luria in a whisper. “But we will have to wait and hear what Mona has to say about it. Let’s go take care of Lanir for now.”
Sairina hurried downstairs, not knowing how severe Lanir’s wound was. Everyone was back, except Phaeton, but there was a new half-elf amongst them. Sairina wondered who she was, but that would have to wait. The priestess made it a point to utterly ignore Estas’s presence. Going to Lanir’s side, she saw his bandaged leg.
“What happened to you?” she asked as she knelt beside Y’ezela.
“I tripped a trap...shot an arrow straight through my calf,” Lanir replied. “Valkyria healed it a little, but I can’t put much weight on it now.”
Valkyria? Is that the new half-elf? Sairina wondered. She was a little curious as to how she healed Lanir, but Sairina would ask later. Placing her hands over Lanir’s leg, she began to pray to Cha Za; “Holy Cha Za, let your fortune shine on my companion. Give me the strength to heal his wound.” Her hands glowed with holy light and Lanir’s wound began to heal.
Air shifted uncomfortably under Estas’s hand. Of all the people to welcome me back, it had to be him, she thought as her eyes darted to the floor. She didn’t dare look up. Just a hint of disapproval in the way he looked or acted would send her spiraling into depression.
Once Lanir was tended to, Y’ezela went to the next object of her concern, her sister. The bard hurried over to Air and hugged her. “I’m so glad you’re back!” she said, then kissed Air’s cheek.
Valkyria slinked forward towards Estas, slipping her arms around his figure from behind and cupping his face, pulling him into her body. With a gentle playfulness about her she nipped at the tip of his ear and gave a little suckle. {“You’re my little plaything now,”} she whispered to him in elven.
Estas stiffened as the half-elf wrapped herself around him. He’d shaken one woman just to gain another and she was even worse than the first. Restraining the urge to strike Valkyria, Estas pried her hands off of his waist and pushed her away. Still holding her by the wrists, he focused a sharp glare on the girl. {“I will warn you only once. Do not lay your hands on me again,”} Estas replied evenly in elven, trying to make the conversation as private as possible.
As Sairina healed Lanir, she saw movement out of the corner of her eye in Estas’s direction. Unable to resist the urge to make sense of what she saw, she looked to see the new half-elf girl press against Estas. The priestess stared with her mouth hanging open in shock, unable to decide whether or not she should be jealous or amused. She completely forgot what she was doing and the glow around her hands flickered and died.
{“Or what. high elf?”} Valkyria smiled widely, answering in elven. {“Or what? You’ll use spirits to attack me like a pathetic dark elf? You’ll resort to violence to enforce your authority? A so called ’high elf’ threatening a woman who shows interest in you, even somewhat invasive and you turn to violence.”} She laughed melodically and moved her face closer to Estas’s face. {“Oh, how the mighty ’high elves’ have fallen to be nothing more than arrogant, androgynous farce of the ’elven ideal’.”} She clicked her tongue at Estas. {“By sinking to this level, you’ve already become my plaything,} poppet.” She reversed the grip that Estas had on her wrists and twisted both his arms behind his back, forcing the high elf to bow against the table. {“You may be more skilled in shamanism than some of your younger cousins, but don’t you dare think that you are better than us, whelp. There is always someone better than you, more loved by the spirits, stronger, or more committed to a cause than you and your reclusive clan. Valkyria is my name, high elf. I am the daughter of Azala, member of the Sand Wolves, sister to Air, Lanir and Y’ezela.”} Valkyria clearly had the physical upper hand here, which she proved by her show of force.
Air who had been silent the entire time, trying to hold in all the pain she was attempting to bottle up, began to cry when Y’ezela hugged her. Air dared not say anything however and just stood there quivering and crying, not being able return Y’ezela’s heartfelt gesture.
Luria knelt by Sairina giving her enough space to heal Lanir but staying nearby to see if she could be of any help. Her mouth opened into a large silent “O” matching her friend’s in surprise and utter confusion. She knew enough of the elven language to catch the basic meaning, if the woman’s tone wasn’t obvious enough. She didn’t know what surprised her more—this woman coming on to Estas, or Estas actually allowing her to go off on this long speech. “Crazy...” she muttered aloud, and then clapped her hand over her mouth.
Estas’s pride was certainly wounded as Valkyria bent him over the table. It was a position he definitely didn’t expect to find himself in. There was no easy way out of this with his dignity intact. There was little room for physically fighting her, as she was rather tall herself, and just as strong as he was.
“Whoa!” the innkeeper suddenly exclaimed. She put one fist on her hip, then pointed at Valkyria and Estas. “I don’t know what the hell you two are arguing about, but either take it outside, or get a room!” She then swung her hand around to point at the door. “I don’t need any violence in my establishment!”
“Valkyria, please stop!” Lanir said, turning in his chair. He realized Sairina hadn’t finished healing him, but he too was distracted by the conflict.
Valkyria released Estas and patted his back. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make a scene,” she said, giving the innkeeper a disarming smile. Taking a step back from Estas she moved her attention away from the high elf and back to Lanir. “I stopped. I stopped.” She assured Lanir and took up a seat near the injured half-elf.
“Valkyria!” Orion growled, uncharacteristically angry for the stoic ranger. “A word outside, if you please...” His polite words were betrayed by the fire in his eyes.
Valkyria stood up without a word and walked outside to wait for Orion’s chastising words towards her. With an ambiguous look across her face she leaned against the wall just outside the inn. She had promised not to hurt anyone, and as such her promise had been kept. Keeping from humiliating a high elf was not part of the deal however, and he made the first aggressive move, by grasping her wrists.
* * *
“Didn’t mean to make a scene?” Luria remarked to Sairina as the aggressive half-elf woman left. She was glad that the barkeeper had interfered, since as Estas’s employee, she would have to do it herself if things got too carried away. Letting her take Estas down a peg wasn’t too bad of an idea, though. “Well, uh...” she began, trying to lighten the mood. “Seri is okay for now?”
Estas wrung his hand around the wrist Valkyria had held after the half-elf was taken out by Orion. All his pride, all his dignity had been lost. He was growing fed up with these unpredictable offspring of Azala’s. Y’ezela and Lanir were alright, but Air, Albedo, and now Valkyria were out of hand. Doing his best to regain his composure, he looked across his employees, trying to find some form of validation in their eyes. Most of them seemed shocked, but his eyes finally settled on Sairina’s to find some sort of support.
Sairina had been staring in shock at the entire ordeal. As Estas’s eyes found hers, she was surprised to see him staring at her directly, but she broke the contact and turned to Luria. You deserved it, you asshole, Sairina thought. She almost wished she could have done something like that. She was impressed with Valkyria, to a degree, yet she was also jealous of the woman for attempting to seduce the man she had desired up until recently as well as doing something better than she could have done, or even imagined.
“I don’t know,” Sairina replied to Luria. “She isn’t really going anywhere, and the midwife didn’t give me any hints as to how to deal with it.” The priestess raised her hands over Lanir’s leg again and started the healing spell again. A few moments longer and his leg was finally healed completely. “There,” she said to Lanir. “Now, I need to get back to Seri.”
“Thank you,” Lanir said.
“You’re welcome,” she replied, then stood. “I’ll bring news down soon,” she said, then departed back upstairs.
Throughout all the excitement of Valkyria’s assault on Estas, Y’ezela held her sister tight. No one else seemed to notice that Air was an emotional wreck. However, Y’ezela was there for her, holding her close and stroking her hair.
* * *
Estas didn’t find what he was looking for even in Sairina’s eyes, but what could he expect after the way he had treated her outside? He had his reasons, and he didn’t quite regret them, but he suddenly felt that he needed to explain himself.
As Sairina went upstairs, Estas turned and followed. He caught her wrist at the top, gently holding her back. “Sairina,” he said her name softly, though his reasoning was just to keep others from hearing.
“What do you want?” Sairina replied venomously. She was confused now. Had Valkyria actually knocked him down far enough to make himself equal to a mere mortal?
The high elf stepped up beside the priestess. Releasing her wrist, he placed his hands on her shoulders. “I must apologize for my behavior on the street earlier,” he replied evenly. “You need to understand that it was not so much out of spite...” Estas paused, struggling with the words. “...as it was out of necessity. I know you are attracted to me, but love between a high elf and human is... hard. Aside from that however, the truth is that my heart belongs to another. I was cruel to you in order to push you away, because... well, you and I are not meant to be together. Do you understand?”
Sairina was taken aback for a moment. The sudden intimacy of the moment was confusing her emotions. After his explanation, Sairina looked up at the high elf, her face an unreadable mix of emotions. “I... I guess...” she replied. She didn’t know what to feel for him. So he loved someone else? If that was the case, she didn’t stand a chance. However, after seeing the softer side of Estas, she was drawn back in. At a loss for words, she pulled away. “I really need to get back to Seri, I’ve taken long enough as it is,” Sairina said, then hurried back to the high elf’s room. Without giving Estas a chance to reply, she shut the door behind her.
Estas wasn’t quite sure of her what her response meant, but he did the best he could. The high elf paused for a moment at the top of the stairs as he tried to figure out just what he had done, then he walked on to his room. He would be sharing it with Orion again, but he locked the door behind him anyway. After every thing he just went through, he needed some time to himself. He was half-tempted to just pack his things and use an Air Walk ritual to return to the Forest, but he couldn’t bring himself to abandon Seri.
* * *
Orion followed Valkyria closely out and nearly slammed the door behind him. “What were you thinking in there?” Orion asked, but did not wait for a reply from her. “You helped us back there and I give you credit for that choice. However, that man is my employer. Was that necessary? Did you find a sudden need to humiliate him?” Orion stared her dead on. “No. I don’t care about your reasons,” he said quietly. “Like all things, this is an exchange, isn’t it?”
The elf looked down for a moment, composing himself, before looking back up. “Back in the den of your... organization, I was not a fan of your rules. However, as I learned them, I followed them. It is the same here for you. You may not like rules outside of your own, but you will follow them. And they begin with respecting Estas and everyone else I am employed to protect and assist. If you choose to ignore them, then my wrath will be worse than that of your boss’s. And, unlike Estas, shamanism is not the only way I can bring you down. If you have a problem with that, now’s the time to address it.”
“Actually, I do have a problem with it,” Valkyria stated, not budging on the issue. “First off, I had every intention of knocking that pompous ass down a few pegs. Maybe your head was too far up your own ass to see how much it disturbed Air to be touched by him. She practically shrunk under his hand, like a wilting flower. You spend the better part of the day trying to save the girl and the minute she’s back with the company your arrogant prick of a boss gives her a pat on the shoulder that pretty much makes the little girl want to crawl into a corner and shrivel up. You’re damn right I had to embarrass him!” She growled. “If I remember correctly, you didn’t exactly follow the rules in the beginning either. Don’t lecture me on proper goddamn behavior when you can’t display it yourself.” Her eyes narrowed. “Believe it or not, but I’m not afraid of you. Shamanism is as much my sport as it is yours, and physical combat-wise, I’m no slump either. However, returning to the subject at hand: Air is my family, just as Lanir and Y’ezela are. I will defend my family to my dying breath if need be—from friend or foe.” At the last part her crimson eyes had set on Orion’s eyes, a bestial look in her glare.
“Air was in no significant danger and you know it,” Orion replied swiftly. “And I will take the same rights you took with me in your den. Just as I did, you had your excusable mistake. Don’t test the patience of this gathering. We are allies. If you have a problem with Estas’s behavior, use words, not physical action. It is uncalled for. You may not like him, but that does not mean you may subdue him whenever you like. Do it again and I shall be behind you. Not only have you embarrassed Estas, but you have done the same to me and placed an impression on all of us with that scene.”
Orion took a step back. “I’m not interested in having a skill competition, so, for the sake of everyone gathered, including Air and Lanir, be civil.”
Kitsa, on the other side of the inn’s front door, could hear Orion admonishing Valkyria. After listening for a bit, she decided to step outside and join the conversation. Orion made his point well, but she didn’t want his sharp tone to threaten Valkyria’s pride.
“Orion is right,” Kitsa replied smoothly, taking a more peaceful tone. “While I will not object to you defending your siblings, we will not approve of doing so in such a violent and indirect way. This company has seen enough internal strife as it is, and I would not like to deal with more,” the quarter-elf continued. She then realized another fact that would give Valkyria a new point of view. “Our employer is with child and that child is your sibling as well. You may have not heard our priestess, but she is upstairs right now giving birth to your brother or sister. You may not like Estas, but he is here to protect that child, just as Orion and I are. We need no more conflict for their sake.”
Valkyria sighed. “Fine, fine. I’ll use words, instead of my fists.” The thief shrugged. She was glad Orion backed down, she’d hate to have to subdue him. The practice, while the possibility of not hurting him was there, was too great a chance that he’d fight back and she’d have to hurt him to subdue him. Turning her attention skyward she spat in disgust at the sight of the moon. There was a ring around the moon, meaning that a sandstorm was going to come. At least there would be no bandits on the road, that day. A few die-hard raiders at most, but other than that they were safe. “We’re leaving here tomorrow right?” She asked the two of them.
“If Seri is having her baby tonight, then I doubt it,” Kitsa replied. “She will likely want to rest for a day or two, at least.”
Valkyria nodded. “We’re in for a sandstorm tonight or possibly early tomorrow morning. Were you not with me, it’d be foolish to travel through it, despite being a shaman. Sylphs and gnomes get confused during sandstorms, making it hard to control them, so their information is sometimes impossible to read properly, even if you’re an excellent shaman,” She said, still staring at the sky. “However, it’s the best time to travel for us, however. Bandits are wary of sandstorms, and most monsters hate to go out during them. Only a few bandit tribes, the Sand Wolves included, would dare to venture out in the sand storm.” Valkyria made a face before stating the rest of her concern. “The problem isn’t the storm itself, it’s if we go out afterwards. Bandits and monsters are always heavily active after the storms, to loot and eat what was lost, which will make it even harder to cross the desert. Too many encounters will diminish everyone’s energy before we reach the real hurdle: the heart of the Storm and Fire Desert.”
“We shall see,” Orion said, glancing to each of the women around him. “Shall we get comfortable inside then?”
* * *
Air finally composed herself after her little crying session, and returned Y’ezela’s hug. “Booze,” she said to her sister. “I need some booze. Lots of booze. I want to drink ’til I can’t remember any of this,” she admitted, sighing deeply. “Get me some booze and I’ll explain what Valkyria said,” Air pleaded of Y’ezela.
Y’ezela smiled, and though she didn’t think alcohol was the best way to deal with this situation, she indulged her sister. “Ok, but no passing out tonight!” she replied. Taking Air by the hand, she brought her to the bar, where the barkeep, instead of the innkeeper, met them.
“What can I get ye?” he asked.
The bard never drank any alcohol beyond wine, so she was at a loss for what Air might want. “Umm... I don’t know. Air, you order,” she said to her sister.
At Y’ezela’s prompt Air grinned widely. “The strongest stuff ya got, ain’t nothin’ better than hard liquor in the gut after a hard day,” she paused after that, and recanted. “Actually, if you’re stocked on meed, I’ll take a bottle of that. I’ll need two cups and a small bowl.”
“Sure thing,” the barkeep said, then went to fetch what Air requested. A moment later, he set down a bottle of meed in front of the half-elf girls, along with the two requested cups and bowl.
“What’s the bowl for?” Y’ezela asked, staring at the dish.
“The bowl is to feed Sylph, of course,” Air said, scooping up the glasses and the bottle. “Could you grab that bowl for me, Ez? My hands are kinda full right now,” she asked while bringing the objects she had in hand to a nearby table.
Y’ezela picked up the bowl and followed Air to the table and set it down. “Why do you need to feed Sylph?” Y’ezela asked.
“Oh, I don’t have to feed Sylph, Ez. But she and I are close, so I tend to give her gifts of milk and honey every now and then.” She set down the glasses softly and poured a little from the bottle into each glass and a little into the bowl. Shortly afterward little blue-green fairy appeared and began to drink from the bowl. “See? She appreciates it. My uncle Cole told me that the spirits work for elves because they feel obliged to help them, and often get nothing in return. As a little girl I figured that the spirits should get something out of it as well, so often I summoned some spirits and asked them what their preference for food was. With Sylphs, it seems to be sweet things and milk.”
* * *
After the heat of the moment had died down, Luria took a moment to take in what was happening. Air was extremely upset, but Y’ezela was seeing to her. Sairina had gone to head back upstairs and Estas was talking to her now, but more nice-like. Interesting?
Instead of trying to make sense out of any of this, she smiled cheerfully at Lanir. “Is there anything I can get for you? Food, drink? Or do you just want a nap?”
Lanir noticed Y’ezela taking Air to the bar. “Thanks... but I think I should see to Air,” he replied. It looked like Air was going for the booze again, she’d need someone to make sure she didn’t get too drunk again, like last night. Looking down at Luria, he smiled. “Or maybe you should come have a drink with us,” he said.
“That sounds like a killer idea,” Luria replied. She was eager to catch up with Kitsa and the others. She decided not to let herself get drunk, though. Estas may still find something for her to do to help Seri before the night was out, and she was beginning to worry a little about Phaeton.
Lanir grinned, then stood up. He was hesitant about putting weight on his leg, but he gave it a test and found it to be as good as new. “Ah...all better,” he said, then headed over to Air and Y’ezela’s table. “Mind if we join you?” he asked his sisters.
“Sure,” Air said. “Oh! We’ll need more glasses then.”
Lanir flagged down a barmaid and requested two more cups, then took a seat between Air and Y’ezela. “It’s good to see you in high spirits again,” he said to Air. Momentarily, the barmaid brought two glasses over for him and Luria.
* * *
Valkyria slipped back into the inn. She said her piece about the shift in the weather. Anyone who had lived as long as she had in the desert could feel the shifts in the temperament sand in their bones. She was pleasantly surprised to see Air all fine and in good spirits again, so she just took up a seat at a neighboring table to not interfere with the girl.
Kitsa followed Valkyria back inside. I hope that we can convince Seri to wait after the storm. I can only assume that she will want several days rest after the ordeal of childbirth, she thought as she walked in. Linking her arm with Orion’s, she pointed out a table near the wall of the common room and a few tables away from where the bulk of their companions were gathering. She knew Orion preferred his space, and she wanted a little herself, after all the excitement of the day.
Orion reluctantly followed Kitsa in, glancing up to the sky for a few seconds as if to look for guidance from it. Though his face did not change, his spirits were low after that. What would Estas think? The high elf probably considered him responsible for bringing Valkyria here. Thus, her behavior was his responsibility in a sense.
No matter. The ordeal with Air and the Sand Wolves, as far as he was concerned, was completed, whether or not Valkyria remained. She did not make it easy on him, but he divorced her from his mind for the moment.
The ranger sat gently in the chair, finally able to take respite without the concern about killing his way out of some caves. A peaceful corner of an inn, Kitsa with him, and a lack of sand pouring into every orifice, were all reliefs to him. His mind was so full that he neglected to be a gentlemen for a second. He hopped back up and pulled out the chair for Kitsa. “I’m sorry,” he said, a hint of fatigue in his voice. “Can I get you something?” he asked quietly.
Kitsa sat down in the chair Orion pulled out for her, mildly amused by his sudden burst of energy. “Just sit down,” she said, tugging on his sleeve. “We will summon a barmaid and let her handle our supper. You need to relax just as much as I do.”
“It isn’t a problem,” Orion almost whispered as he came to his seat next to hers. Privately, he was thankful that he could take a moment to breathe. But it wasn’t a very honorable position. One never imagines the greatest of knights as needing rest as everyone else did. He sighed, leaning back. “Thank you,” he said, after a moment. “I don’t think I speak her language...”
* * *
Y’ezela stared in wonder at the spirit. She wanted to learn to summon them badly, but she didn’t know how it worked. The half-elf took a sip of her meed while pondering on the spirits. She welcomed Lanir with a smile as he joined them, and with everyone settling in around her she started the conversation. “So, tell me what happened,” she requested to Air.
“During the battle?” Air questioned. “Because I kind of woke up in the Sand Wolves’ headquarters.” She poured a glass for both Luria and Lanir. “Well, during the battle I...” She drank the meed quickly. “...it was the first time I took a life, so I was a little shaky. I must have passed out after vomiting,” she said, cheeks burning. “...I know weapons are meant to kill people, and that I love them very much but...it was just...just too horrible to see in person.” She poured herself another glass and downed it quickly, trying to rid herself of the image.
“Thanks,” Luria said to Air, and brought the cup to her lips. She listened to Air explain what had happened sympathetically. “Don’t feel bad,” she said. “I would have reacted the same way.”
Air sighed and ran her finger down Sylph’s back, gently massaging the tiny fairy’s back. “I’m sorry for being a burden on everyone.” Air stated mildly. “I’ll try to be a better fighter, and more useful all together.” The young half-elf sighed and lay her head down on the table. “I wonder if Craw is doing alright by himself...He acts tough a lot of the time but he’s a real marshmallow when it comes to being away from me for too long.” She covered her head with both arms and sighed.
* * *
Valkyria sat back in her chair and watched the going ons of the inn with a flat look painted across her face. Air had summoned a sylph who was now dining on meed. That act in and of itself was something of genuine interest. She had never fed a spirit before, and wouldn’t think to feed it alcohol in a thousand years. The thought of drinking with spirits brought a smile across her otherwise stoic lips.
* * *
“Don’t worry Air, I’m no fighter either,” Y’ezela said. “You don’t have to fight, despite what Estas expects...though I suppose he did expect you to considering you carry so many weapons. He can be a real jerk, but I think in that case he just had the wrong impression.”
“Estas, he...” Luria began, somewhat distracted by the Sylph. She thought it was very cute and suddenly wanted to try this herself, but returned to her thought. “I think that he just doesn’t know how to be with people, if that makes any sense at all. What your sister said really got to him, even though I thought she was just blowing a lot of hot air, er... no offense—I think it will be a good thing in the long run, what she did. I am sure that he will be more considerate to you now... or at the very least, more careful.”
“Let’s hope so,” Air stated, responding to Luria’s comment. “She did say some pretty harsh things, although I can’t say I don’t disagree with some of what she said. I mean, Estas really does have his head up his arrogant ass a lot of the time, at least, from what I’ve seen. I’d be more useful if I was a full-fledged fighter, but I’m not. I’m a smith, a fledgling shaman and...” Air sighed. “Still sober. I think I need something harder if I’m going to try to forget this day. Damn my dwarf-like tolerance to light alcohols.”
Uncovering her head, Air looked up at the Sylph. “I’ll get you some cream if you can go track down and return my crow to me, sister-Sylph,” Air said sweetly, trying to bargain with the small fairy spirit. The Sylph cocked it’s head to the side and peered back at Air. “Fine, fine, and some melon slices, if they have it! Only if they have it in stock, though. I’m not going to go out of my way to feed you when you don’t need to eat necessarily.” The little Sylph got off the table and flew out of the inn through an open window. Air placed her arms over her head again. “Needy little brat,” she muttered about Sylph.
“I’m just glad I’m not dealing with a gnome, they eat gemstones and minerals. Now that is an expensive eater. Will o’ wisps are easy to feed, just give them some moss, which seems to be pretty prevalent where I grew up.” Peering up at the others at the table she groaned. “Come on guys, you’re really quiet and it’s kinda creepy. With the exception of me responding to questions or muttering to myself, you guys are seriously quiet. Somber even. Make some noise, ask questions. Lanir explain how come you don’t know heads or tails about shamanism? Ez, tell me about your childhood. Luria, talk about your love life. Anything just as long as I don’t have to think for the next little while...”
Lanir took the initiative and decided to answer the question for Air. “Alright then,” he said, chuckling as he took a drink of his meed. “You want to know why I don’t know anything about shamanism? Well, I suppose it’s because I wasn’t brought up with it. I don’t know how elves learn it, but I didn’t know anyone to teach me...and I guess my mother didn’t know I could learn. I grew up in the city, but I saw some fairies in the forests when my uncle taught me to be a ranger. I didn’t know I could talk to them.”
“WHAT?!” Air gasped. “Spirits naturally migrate towards children early, and then usually you can get some instruction from them themselves if you so desire. It’s less of a ’learned art’ as it is an acquired art that takes patience and respect.” She shook her head. “That’s it, starting tomorrow I’m teaching you the basics!”
Lanir blushed shamefully, feeling as if he had made a mistake as a child. “Alright, I’d be happy to learn,” he said to Air, bringing up a smile again.
“Teach me too!” Y’ezela piped in. “I never learned as a child either.”
Air giggled. “Fine I’ll teach you both.” As a jest Air raised her voice and spoke to Orion. “Orion, would you like me to teach you too? I’m sure I could teach you all sorts of things about the spirits you never knew before.”
* * *
Mona came downstairs, followed by Sairina. The priestess and midwife conversed softly for a moment, then Mona headed out of the inn. Sairina turned and went to join her traveling companions. Clearing her throat, she made her announcement, “Seri isn’t having her baby tonight. Apparently it’s false labor. The midwife gave me some herbs to ease the contractions, but Seri probably isn’t due for about a week yet.”
“Oh good!” Y’ezela said with a sigh of relief when Sairina announced that Seri wouldn’t be giving birth tonight. She was looking forward to meeting her new brother or sister, but she hoped it would be in the sort of place Seri would want, like her homeland. The desert didn’t strike Y’ezela as a place for a high elf of the forests to be born.
“Aww, no new baby today.” Air pouted. “Hey, Ez, let’s go get knocked up. I’ll race you,” she said jokingly with a little wink.
Luria was a bit disappointed over this news. She wanted Seri’s pain to be over with. It didn’t seem fair being forced to go through so much pain for nothing to show for it. “Is pressing on really such a good idea?” she wondered aloud. “If we hadn’t been lucky enough to find a midwife in this town, who knows what might have happened? I know Seri would rather be somewhere else, but what if labor hits her again somewhere along the road?”
Y’ezela snorted and giggled at Air’s suggestion. She would have played along further had Luria not made such a worrying comment. “I know... but honestly, I don’t think she’s been making a lot of good decisions,” Y’ezela said. “Well...err... If I can be so bold.” It was a little hard for her to say, as she wasn’t really the type to pass judgment on other people. “I worry that she might insist on moving forward... I really don’t know how serious this ’false labor’ is though.”
Air sighed. “Seri-mama should be okay for travel, as long as she doesn’t over exert herself. To prevent further relapses of false labor she’ll be needed to be kept in a less stressful environment, as well as the possibility of cooling her off. Since we’ll be traveling through the desert, I suppose, wouldn’t it be better to summon an ice spirit or an Undine to keep her cooled off while we make the trek?” Air suggested.
Y’ezela nodded eagerly. “I hope that will help,” she replied. “There is about two days worth of travel from here to the mountains. If we leave tomorrow, we should make it to Hilt by nightfall, then the next day we will reach Lolan.”
Air moaned. “Noooo,” she whined. “No mountains. I hate mountains. I’ve lived in nothing but mountains and alpine forest all my life. Screw mountains! Let’s just make a straight drive for the Forest of No Return right through the thick of the desert. It’d be more fun that way.” Sylph returned and Craw shortly behind her, the crow flying in through an open window and perching on Air’s head. “Hey! We’ve talked about this! Shoulder or arm, not head. Git off my head you lummox magpie!” Air swatted at Craw who flapped off her head and perched on her shoulder.
Y’ezela giggled. “There are mountains between here and the forest too! It’s inevitable that you’ll have to cross them if you want to get to the Forest of No Return, but if it’s any consolation, the pass between the desert and Valis isn’t very long.”
As Air and Y’ezela talked, Lanir’s eyes drifted over to Valkyria at the table next to them. The ranger slipped out of his seat and went over to speak with her, trying to remain unobtrusive. “Valkyria, why don’t you come and join us at our table?” he asked.
Valkyria shook her head at Lanir’s proposal of her joining them. She’d prefer watching them while she ate, rather than eating with them. From her current vantage point everyone in the inn was within a six-step strike circle, allowing her to be able to protect any who were in danger. If she moved that would leave gaps in her strike zone. “No thank you,” she verbalized when her mouth was emptied of food. “I’d prefer to sit here and contemplate alone while I eat.”
“Oh...alright...” Lanir replied, then returned to his seat at the other table, looking a little embarrassed.
“Don’t feel bad Lanir,” Air said, giving her older brother a hug, thrusting his face into her breasts with her arms wrapped about his head. “I’m sure our big sister is comfortable in her seat, and doesn’t wanna move because her butt’s finally numbed to the seat. Nobody wants to move after they got their butt in a comfortable position,” she stated with a grin.
Lanir struggled a bit as Air nearly smothered him, then pulled back with a blush and a chuckle. “Yeah, I guess so.” The half-elf returned to his seat, then took a big drink of his mead. “So uh...what else did you want to know Air?”
* * *
Kitsa frowned at Sairina’s announcement. Though it was good news that Seri would not be traveling with a newborn, she still worried about the storm Valkyria warned them about. “Seri will want to continue tomorrow, then, I am sure,” she confided in Orion.
“I should hope this midwife is willing to follow then,” Orion replied. “We may yet require her services...”
“I think we should speak to Seri,” Kitsa said. “Sairina, is Seri well enough to speak to us?”
The priestess nodded to Kitsa. “If it’s important, go on up and talk to her,” Sairina replied. “I’m going to go take a bath though.” The priestess headed over to the innkeeper to talk about preparing a bath. She desperately wanted a relaxing soak in hot water.
Orion nodded. Taking Kitsa’s hand, he led the two of them upstairs towards Seri’s room. Knocking lightly on the door, he called in. “Lady Seri, it is Orion and Kitsa. May we come in?” He hoped she would say yes simply by virtue of the fact that they were there at all. After all, she probably still thought they were off finding Air.
“Yes, come in,” Seri called. The high elf had changed into her nightgown after Sairina and the midwife left. She was feeling rather relieved that she wouldn’t deliver her baby now, but she was somewhat exhausted from the excitement. She could still feel the tightness of her contractions, but the pain was gone. It would be tolerable.
Orion unlatched the door and pushed it open with care. The silver-haired elf appeared just the same as he had left to find Air. No wounds, no marks of any kind. A good sign by all accounts. “Air is safe and downstairs,” Orion said as he nodded his head in respect to Seri. “Lanir was injured, but his wounds will shortly be taken care of.”
Orion glanced to Kitsa, hoping she could take it over. He did not know how to broach the subject of pregnancy gently. Perhaps a woman would better know how to address another woman on the subject?
“Oh, I know, Sairina told me,” Seri replied with a smile. “I’m glad everyone is alright...well, now at least. I thought Sairina already healed Lanir?”
Kitsa caught Orion’s vaguely helpless look, and realizing he didn’t bring up the subject they were here to address, she realized that he must have wanted her help. “She did. He is well now,” Kitsa replied. “We were wondering if you intend to continue on your journey tomorrow.”
“I do,” Seri replied with a frown. “Mona advised me to stay here until I deliver, but I must get out of the desert. We can at least make it to the Mirror Forest if we hurry. I believe it would be easier to travel while pregnant than with a newborn, and when we make to the Mirror Forest, Estas and I can return to the Forest of No Return by entreating Ento to help us cross the spirit plane through the Ancient Tree there.”
“If I may,” Orion asked quietly, “I do not think it is wise. But if you have decided it so, would you consider asking the midwife to travel with us? Miss Mona’s concerns, I think, are very valid. Should we not make it in time, someone must be capable and on hand...”
“I did ask her,” Seri replied with another slight frown. “She refused. Apparently she has other clients here in the city that she doesn’t want to abandon. However, she did give Sairina some instruction. Beyond that, if there is any injury to myself, or the baby, Sairina can heal us.” Mona had also explained that in a normal birth, assistance wasn’t required. The baby was in the right position for delivery—head down—but she was concerned about how hard delivery could be on Seri’s small frame.
Orion was not at all certain about this. If Sairina needed a midwife to deal with Seri today, what made Seri think that the priestess could do it later? Pointers would not be enough to properly deliver a baby. It simply could not be that simple.
“If you are certain that Sairina could handle this, then I will not protest. But it is a certain risk and much is at stake if a complication occurs.”
“I know...” Seri said, looking towards the window, as if the night sky could offer some solace for the hard choice she was making. Her more logical side told her to stay, but she was more determined to get home, or at least to someplace like home. The desert was no place for a high elf to be born.
“There is another concern,” Kitsa spoke up. “We were told that a sandstorm is brewing,” she explained. “It would be a bad idea to leave during, or shortly after it.”
Seri sighed. Even nature is against me? “I will meditate on this... I do not want to stay in this desert any longer than necessary,” she said.
Orion nodded. “You should rest. We will let you be.” Without really waiting, the ranger went to the door.
Kitsa turned to follow Orion out. “Sleep well,” she said to Seri. They still didn’t mention Valkyria, but Kitsa was hesitant to bring it up considering every thing that Seri had just gone through.
“Good night,” Seri said to Kitsa and Orion. The high elf looked back out her window, then fell back into thought. To brave the storm or not? Perhaps I can ask Djinn for a favor... she begin to think. I don’t know if I have the energy to spare. Perhaps I can get help from Estas and Orion. I must get out of this desert.
* * *
Kitsa and Orion returned to their table downstairs to find dinner waiting for them. Air and her siblings—plus Luria—were still talking. Kitsa made no effort to be polite, and simple sat down and began eating with gusto. She was too hungry to care about much else.
Orion was a bit surprised by Kitsa’s more base response to the presentation of food. Sure, Orion was equally as famished, but he maintained his usual restraint. He ate slowly, despite his stomach’s demand. His rationale had something to do with savoring flavor, but he was quite conscious of the fact that it was a vain choice.
Kitsa eventually slowed down to avoid giving herself a stomachache, but she still finished before Orion was half-done. The quarter-elf leaned back in her chair, slightly amused by Orion’s measured approach to eating. “Hmm...I will join Sairina in the baths,” she said, then leaned in to kiss Orion’s cheek. “I will see you afterwards.” With that, Kitsa went to prepare for her bath with the inn staff.
Orion let Kitsa go, a twinge of sadness on his cheek, wishing her lips might just stay there. He sighed and looked down at his plate, half eaten. It had such appeal before she left. For a bit, he pushed the food around, taking a bite here and there. Finally, the restless spirit rose. As he passed by the others towards the door, he spoke to no one in particular. “I’ll be outside if anyone needs me.”
The brisk evening air was cool on his face, a comfort for a man used to beds of moss and breakfasts of berries. He leaned up against the wall, the noise of the inn proper just echoes, as distant as the crying of sleepy babies, somewhere out there. Sighing, he watched the last of the city’s people hustling home to their wives and children.
Jealousy seeped into his mouth a bit, watching them go. They had probably never felt what it was like to kill a man. Or even have the power to. They led lives that pushed no farther than their customers. The money they earned had no moral underpinning, the question of whether or not suffering occurred for them to receive it, whether or not that suffering was worth it. They came to a resolute place, where simple comforts could be guaranteed. When they rested their weary feet, they would not be alone.
A part of him wished for that. That monotony was not boring, he felt certain, though he had never experienced such a life.
“You’re getting soft,” Orion said to himself. “Old age, perhaps.” Looking upwards to the stars, each a piercing dot of light, an iris on the black sky, gazing back at him. “Maybe I’m just tired.”
