Archives: Search for Azala
Chapter 19: Morning in Blade
The exotic quarter-elf woke in the morning in the room she had been left to share with Valkyria. Thoughts of Orion were heavy on her mind, and he had filled her dreams. For the last two mornings, she had awoken light of heart, and eager to see him again and just spend a day in his company. However, her happy thoughts were soon clouded with concerns of Seri and the looming sandstorm Valkyria had warned them about. She didn’t mind staying in Blade for a few more days, so long as she had Orion to keep her occupied, but the high elf made it clear that she did not want to be here any longer than necessary. Kitsa redressed quietly, then headed downstairs to find the common room empty of her companions. Instead of bothering to wake anyone, the quarter-elf only ordered breakfast and waited for the rest of her company to descend the stairs.
Orion had not slept much that evening. While perhaps others would be swarming with satisfaction, sleeping soundly after such a romantic and relaxing night, Orion was ever tense. Thoughts of the future gnawed on his resilience as he laid eyes wide open. How would they live? Would they even make it to the future? Would he have to chase her across every adventure? Or would her heart be quelled by him? She seemed satisfied, but the stars never spoke of what would be to him. They only showed such a pragmatic elf the present and left any question only cryptically answered.
Before the sun rose, Orion had left the inn in silence. He climbed to the roof of it to watch the sun rise in the desert. The greatest star in the sky’s colors eased none of his concerns. It seemed as though all of nature desired nothing more than to make his fears unending. As much as he was at ease with Kitsa, he would never stop asking questions. His past mandated it.
Orion appeared at the door not long after Kitsa made it downstairs. She was unmistakable from across the room and he froze at the door before she had a chance to hear him. “I suppose I am caught,” Orion whispered to himself. Pushing through the doors, he pulled up a chair beside her unannounced. “Good morning.”
Kitsa gave a slight start as Orion seemed to suddenly appear near her, but as she looked up at the elf, her face suddenly illuminated with a happy smile. “Good morning,” she greeted him, then leaned over to kiss his cheek. She was alone with him now, aside from the inn staff, and it was comfortable, but at any moment, someone else could come down those stairs. “Did you sleep well?” she asked.
Orion looked down at the table for a quick second, long enough to say, “enough.” He didn’t want to look into her eyes and say it. Orion was afraid of how it would feel. “And you?” he asked, looking back up.
The quarter elf shrugged. “It was not the best sleep,” she replied, then looked up at Orion with a slight smile. “But I did have some pleasant dreams.”
* * *
Estas, though still internally shaken by Valkyria’s actions the night before, did his best to compose himself externally. He heard Orion come and go from the room over night, but he outwardly ignored the common elf. Estas was not looking forward to seeing Valkyria again, though he was also concerned about Seri’s reaction to yet another tag along, as he recalled what happened the morning before with Albedo and Air. The high elf dressed and packed his belongings, leaving his sword, coat, and hat out with his bag so that he could grab them before he left. He wasn’t looking forward to going down the common room and potentially crossing paths with that woman again. Instead, he decided that it was time he and Seri discuss their traveling plans. Leaving his room, Estas stepped out in the hall and made his way to Seri’s room. With a gentle knock, he waited for Seri’s response.
Seri woke to the rapping on her door. The high elf slept on her left side, facing the door, as she had been told by her midwife that the left side was best to sleep on while pregnant. It seemed more comfortable than the right, or her back, too. A pillow was always placed under her stomach as well, to provide support. “Come in,” she called.
Estas entered the room when Seri welcomed him and quietly shut the door behind him. {“Good morning,”} he greeted her in their native tongue. {“Did you sleep well?”}
{“As well as one can expect in my condition,”} Seri replied with a slight smile. {“Is there something you need?”}
{“Indeed,”} he replied, moving up to stand at her bedside. {“There are several issues I need to address. One, there is another that has been added to our number. A half-elf returned with Air, and...”} Estas paused. This entire explanation would be uncomfortable for him. {“Her name is Valkyria, she is a daughter of Azala, it seems. I do not know why Orion and Kitsa allowed her to return with them, after your decision yesterday, but you should speak to them. And her, I suppose.”} Estas looked away from Seri, not wanting to make his discomfort visible to her.
Seri groaned and threw her arm over her face. The mention that the girl was Azala’s daughter hardly phased her this time—she was coming to expect that at this point—it was the fact that she wanted no more additions to their party. {“Would you fetch Orion and Kitsa and this new half-elf for me then?”}
{“There is another problem with her,”} Estas said, forcing himself to tell Seri about what happened the night before. It was not easy for him to explain the embarrassment, nor explain the stir that Valkyria created amongst their company yet again. {“After Air’s return, Valkyria attempted—at least, what I perceive as an attempt—to seduce me. When I refused her, she pinned me down threatened me. Orion called her away and gave her a lecture outside, but I had to leave the room at that point. I can only hope that he made an impression on her.”}
Seri clenched her teeth in frustration as she listened to Estas. She tried her damnedest to get away from the drama caused by Albedo and Air the day before, yet it seemed to follow them further. With a heavy sigh, she replied, {“Send up Orion and Kitsa. I’ll have one of them fetch this Valkyria after I speak to them.”}
{“Very well,”} Estas replied with a slight nod, then turned to leave.
* * *
After speaking to Seri, Estas went down to the common room to at least find Orion, knowing the common elf wasn’t in the room. Thankfully, he and Kitsa were both downstairs, and Valkyria was nowhere to be found. “Good morning,” he spoke to the couple. Without waiting for a response, he stated his business, “Seri would like to speak to you in her room.”
Sairina came downstairs, dressed and primped as usual. She saw Estas with Kitsa and Orion, but found her feelings toward the high elf ambiguous and cooled. She wasn’t angry with him, nor passionate, but she still felt the attraction physically. Quietly, the priestess took a seat at the table across from Kitsa, and flagged over a barmaid to request breakfast.
“Myself or both of us?” Orion asked, already standing up from his chair.
“Both,” Estas replied, though perhaps it wasn’t necessary. It was what Seri asked for, however. The pair were quickly becoming a package deal.
“Then we shall not keep her waiting,” Orion replied, nodding to Estas and rising from his chair. Together, Kitsa and Orion hurried upstairs.
Estas followed Orion and Kitsa up to Seri’s room, as he wanted to be involved in the coming discussions. He knew very little about Valkyria as well, and had his own questions that needed to be answered.
Sairina listened in on Estas and Orion with barely concealed interest. What did Seri want to speak to them about now? Did she know about Valkyria? Maybe about how to continue today? A side of her was tempted to sneak upstairs after them to listen in. As a novice in her temple, she and her friends had mastered the art of eavesdropping to gather gossip fodder, but she decided against employing her skills in this situation. It wasn’t suitable for a grown woman. Now alone at her table, Sairina began to eat and wait for the rest of the group to wake up.
* * *
A gentle knock sounded at Seri’s door. “Miss Seri? Estas informed us that you wish to see us?” He did not open the door, but waiting for an invitation. Orion was fairly certain his voice was recognizable, even through a door.
“Come in,” Seri called from within her room. The high elf hadn’t bothered to get dressed yet, as it had become too much of a laborious task to accomplish in the few minutes between Estas leaving and finding Orion and Kitsa. She was sitting up in her bed now, in her nightgown. Her stomach was demanding breakfast, but she still maintained her dignity by sitting patiently to discuss the issue at hand, instead of waddling downstairs as fast as she could and eating like a ravenous beast like she wanted to.
Estas was a few steps behind Orion and Kitsa, putting a little comfortable distance between himself and them. As he came upstairs, he gave a cautionary glance down the hall to make sure Valkyria hadn’t yet come out of her room.
Orion opened the door with careful grace, but was taken aback for just a moment seeing Seri in her bed attire. It wasn’t that he was uncomfortable at the sight, but he had expected a High Elf to be more concerned with their appearance than that. Nevertheless, he entered at her request. “You requested our presence, Miss Seri?” Orion asked dutifully, as a familiar knight might to his queen.
“Yes,” Seri replied as Orion, Kitsa, and Estas entered. After Estas shut the door behind him, she began to explain; “I heard there was another addition to our group.” Seri kept her voice even, as she didn’t want to show any sign of anger to Orion and Kitsa; she trusted their judgment nearly as much as Estas’s. There had to be a good reason. “A half-elf named Valkyria, who claims to be another child of Azala. She also seems to have assaulted Estas last night. I want to know why you allowed yet another to join our group after I requested that we add no one else.”
“It was a condition of the bandits who kidnapped Air,” Kitsa spoke up. “We bargained for Air’s release, and won, but they insisted that Valkyria lead us through the desert to protect Air and Lanir. I know you did not want any more followers, but I believe that she will also be a great use to us, as she is familiar with the desert.”
Orion nodded. “Though I am not a fan of her manners,” Orion said, “she would be invaluable in this environment. I am not certain of her desires to follow us onward, but I do not believe that you can deny her right to know her family,” he said calmly. “I think her motives for her undue behavior around Estas are not as malevolent as they seem. Not everyone adapts as well as those downstairs have done to such a life. It does not excuse that behavior, but I think it should be taken into consideration.”
Seri’s brows furrowed as she considered Kitsa and Orion’s words. Their answers had at least proven that her trust was well-placed, as their reasons were logical. “Very well, I will allow her to continue with us... so long as she does not continue to cause problems with Estas,” Seri replied. “And Estas, keep your distance from her.” Turning her attention back to Kitsa and Orion, she asked, “Would one of you please fetch Valkyria so that I may speak to her?”
“That will not be a problem,” Estas nearly muttered his response to Seri. Now the question was if Valkyria could keep her distance from him...
“I will fetch her,” Kitsa replied with a bob of her head. She had spent the night with the half-elf, after all. With that, Kitsa stepped out to get Valkyria.* * *
Valkyria came down the stairs after Estas, Orion and Kitsa had gone upstairs. Silently she took a seat with Sairina and nodded at her. The tall desert half-elf ran her fingers through her hair sorting out the knots and tangles that had emerged from the night of sleep in a proper bed. “Do you love him?” she asked the priestess bluntly. “The high elf. Do you love him?”
Sairina gave a start as Valkyria sat down with her. When she first asked her question, Sairina almost said ‘Who?’, which probably proved that it wasn’t love in the first place. She blushed slightly, but the answer was clear. “No,” she replied bitterly. “It’s only a foolish girl’s crush.” Almost as an act of forcing herself to move off the subject, she picked up her cup and sipped on her honeyed milk.
“I see,” Valkyria stated. “That’s too bad. I could tell you how to ensnare such a man, if you were so inclined.”
Sairina raised her eyebrow at Valkyria, debating her offer. She almost turned it down; after the way Estas treated her the night before, and his confession to loving someone else, she decided that it was best to move on with her life. However, there was a vindictive side to her that also considered Valkyria’s potential advice, just to torment Estas, if she could. It could also come in handy for anyone else she was intending to court. After all, she had been considering finding someone else to turn her affections on so she could release all the frustrations that had built up over the last few days around Estas.
The priestess leaned forward. “Go on...”
Valkyria gave a light nod. “The key is that he only wants what he can’t have. The way he looks he can get any girl. Ignore him, hate him, flirt with other men, women, mostly in his sight. After a short time he’ll be crawling on his hands and knees begging you to lay with him.” Valkyria smiled slyly and added: “Men are all like that.”
Sairina smirked maliciously. Even if she didn’t want Estas now, it would be a boost to her ego if the high elf came begging to her. “I’ll give it a shot,” she replied to Valkyria. She’d already been considering something like that anyway. The priestess began to consider the men she was traveling with. Orion was out of the question, Phaeton had his sights set on Luria, and there was Lanir. He was attractive, though naive, but he also seemed to have feelings for his newly discovered sister, which he needed to be distracted from. It could work for both of their advantages.
After checking their shared room and finding Valkyria gone, Kitsa returned to the common room and found the half-elf sitting with Sairina. “Excuse me, Valkyria,” the quarter-elf said as she stepped up to the table. “Our employer wishes to speak with you.”
Valkyria raised an eyebrow at Kitsa. She was half tempted to say ‘So? What of it?’, but she held her tongue and stood up. “Lead the way,” she stated in a bland tone. She had a feeling that she was going to be in for a tongue lashing, but she’d be nice enough for now and take the lumps without a complaint.
With Valkyria in tow, Kitsa returned upstairs. She was quite curious to know what Seri had in store to say to the half-elf as well.
* * *
Several minutes after she left, the quarter-elf returned with a soft knock, then entered with Valkyria. “Valkyria, this is Seri, our employer,” she introduced them, then stepped back to her place beside Orion.
“Yo,” Valkyria said with a slight wave. Seri was a beautiful woman, with or without the pregnancy, but Valkyria expected that much. “You need somethin’ of me?”
“Hello,” Seri said, offering Valkyria a warm smile. She decided that it would be best to be amicable with the half-elf so that she could feel more at ease. Looking to Estas, Orion, and Kitsa, she spoke, “Would you three please give us some privacy?”
Though slightly disappointed that she would be left out, Kitsa obeyed the order without question and turned to head out. A week ago, she may have tried to eavesdrop on the conversation, but perhaps it was Orion’s maturity rubbing off on her.
Estas was awkward in the same room as Valkyria, and he was grateful to be dismissed. He followed after Orion and Kitsa, trying to act nonchalant around the half-elf, but there was a different sort of tension in his movement. He had no idea how to deal with that woman.
After Estas shut the door behind him, Seri smiled at Valkyria again. “Come have a seat,” Seri said, patting the bed beside her. “Orion and Kitsa told me why you’re with us, but I would like to more about you, in your own words.”
Valkyria took a seat by the bed and nodded. “Well, my brother—the leader of the Sand Wolves band—instructed me to tag along with Air and Lanir—since family is important to us and wolves—to escort them safely through the desert. Not much more to that then that. I’m not after my father for any reason. Any scum who abandons women after making love with them isn’t worth the salts he’s made from.”
Seri almost protested at Valkyria’s comment regarding Azala, but held the comment. She let him go willingly, not knowing she had become pregnant, and a part of her understood his nature, yet another part of her was still hurt from learning of his habits. “I have given up on my search for him as it is,” Seri replied. “All I am trying to do is return home at this point.” The high elf looked up at Valkyria with furrowed brows as she thought over what the half-elf said. “Your brother? Is he Azala’s son as well?”
“He is my brother by my mother and another man. He’s about fifty years my junior.” Valkyria admitted. “I prefer not to be in a position of power, and he’s far more intimidating looking than someone of my own ‘fair’ grace and ample...curves.” She cupped Seri’s hands in hers gently. “I didn’t mean to upset you by saying my thoughts about my father. My mother and my father left on amicable terms, however seeing the younger ones—Air, Lanir, and Y’ezela—it left a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth. I also apologize, albeit regretfully, for shaming your butler, steward, or whatever have you—the high elven snob. When he placed his hand on Air’s shoulder her body language suggested that she felt extreme discomfort by his touch. At first I assumed that you wished to call me up here to discuss my appropriate punishment for shaming the all-on-high snooty one.”
Seri looked down at Valkyria’s hand holding her own as the half-elf spoke. Though she wasn’t often so physical, she found it comforting to have someone else making the contact. She felt distant from some of her other party members, and even for all the distance high elves placed between themselves and others, Seri still longed for some understanding. “Estas came with me to protect me,” she explained. “I understand that our behavior greatly differs from that of other races, but if you feel that something we do offends you, please, tell us instead of acting so rashly. It is not easy for us to walk amongst humans.”
“I’ll remember that in the future,” Valkyria assured.
Seri gave Valkyria a small smile and patted her hand. “Thank you,” she said. “I need to get ready, so I’ll see you downstairs.” She realized she had forgotten to discuss one of the subjects she wanted to bring up with Orion, Kitsa, and Estas, but she could talk to them about it downstairs. Now, it was the task of getting dressed, which had become quite an undertaking in recent months.
* * *
Y’ezela woke with an aching head and dry mouth, to which she groaned. Aside from the more noticeable symptoms of a hang over, the half-elf bard felt generally horrible all over. She had fallen asleep on her stomach, and now she pushed herself up on her hands and knees to see that she hadn’t changed out of her travel clothing, though she had at least crawled under the covers. “Air...” she called to her sister in the other bed, only to find her voice coming out in a croak. “You didn’t tell me that I’d feel this horrible in the morning!”
Air woke to Y’ezela’s hoarse voice and stifled a small giggle. Her head was only a little jarred from the drinking last night, but she was used to that feeling. “What’re you talking about Ez?” Air said with a chipper voice. “The morning after is the best part of the whole experience! It teaches you to remember moderation.” She combed her fingers through her own hair and got out of bed, slipping into her day clothes. Readjusting her neck, allowing it to give a resounding crack, she grinned maliciously. “Tomorrow night we’ll drink double what we drank last night. That’ll raise your resistance to the whole experience in leaps and bounds. Best medicine to keep yourself from feeling the effects of a hangover is to drink more!” She half-jested.
Y’ezela groaned and dropped her face into her pillow. No more liquor! she lamented to herself before she lifted her head. “I’ve never drank to drunkenness before. I drink a glass of wine with dinner sometimes, but that’s all.” The half-elf bard pushed herself up to a kneeling position. “How about a nice warm bath?” she suggested. And a nice big mug of water too!
“You want to take a bath with me?” Air grinned widely. “Well sure, dear sister, I’ll gladly bathe with you.”
“You are such a flirt!” Y’ezela said, though she still blushed. Air was so strange to Y’ezela, but she was willing to step outside of her comfort zone to interact with her. “Let’s go then,” the bard said, then climbed out of bed. Her head hurt as she moved, and she gave her temples a rub. “Ugh...” she groaned at the hang-over, but she only had to wait a little longer until she was in soothing warm water. Holding herself together just a little longer, she got some clean clothes out of her pack and headed out the door to make the arrangements with the innkeeper.
Air followed shortly behind her sister, keeping her hands on her sister’s hips to help steady the poor hungover half-elf. Air was in chipper spirits however, a little drink never hurt her any before.
* * *
After leaving Valkyria with Seri, Kitsa, Orion, and Estas returned downstairs. It seemed that no one else had risen in the short time since she had last come down. Sairina was still at the table alone, eating breakfast. Kitsa was half-tempted to start waking the rest of the group, but until she knew what Seri planned to do, that was pointless. So, the quarter elf took her seat at the table again. Propping her arms up and resting her chin on the back of her hand, she gave a sigh, signaling her boredom.
Orion joined Kitsa dutifully. Orion had risen with the sun and thus had already taken breakfast. So, without much else to do, he entered boredom as well. “It seems that the morning only gets longer...”
Hung-over and achy, Y’ezela made her way downstairs with Air holding onto her. The two sisters made it over to the innkeeper and requested that two baths be drawn for them. While they waited, Y’ezela requested a mug of cool water and some bread to fill her stomach. Once she got her water, she nearly downed the whole mug on one drink, then got another. Her body was screaming for water. Soon, a maid came out to inform them that their baths were ready and Y’ezela eagerly followed her to the inn’s bath.
* * *
The half-elf sisters entered the bath, which was warm and steamy from the heat of their baths. Six copper tubs sat in two rows in the room, which was lined in stone with only a high window at the other end of the room. As soon as the maid stepped out, Y’ezela stripped out of her white silk outfit and removed any jewelry that she still had on.
Air slipped out of her clothes behind her sister and sighed. Slipping up behind Y’ezela she wrapped her arms gently about her sister’s soft waist and pressed into her back, giving a soft nip to her sister’s right ear. “My, my what a lucky woman I am...” she purred in between gentle nips along Ez’s ear. “I have such a soft, beautiful sister to love and adore.” She teasingly kissed Ez’s neck and hugged her close. “What serendipitous fortune I have to be acquainted with someone so graceful and pure.” She tipped her sister’s face towards hers and gave her a small pressing kiss against Ez’s lips.
Y’ezela shivered as Air pressed against her and a blush rose on her cheeks. She pulled back from the kiss. “Air, what are you doing?” she asked as she took a step back. “We’re sisters...” Air was a flirt, and her carefree lifestyle interested Y’ezela, but this was pushing the limits of curiosity.
“I’m merely touching on the fact that you’re beautiful, dear sister,” Air purred. “Don’t think me so ostentatious that I’d dare force you into doing something you’re uncomfortable with. You’re unfortunate, the one you had eyes for, the one who made you smile was forced away from you in a cruel jest of fate. Now there’s an uncertain and saddening air between you and he. The two of you cannot look each other in the eyes and it burns me so much.” She nibbled Y’ezela’s ear slightly and ran a couple of fingers from their resting place upon Ez’s stomach up and down the natural curves of her sister’s bodice.
“I’m a sad replacement for such feelings, my lovely sister. I cannot ease the ache you have in your heart with just soft words or gentle gestures. While we are tied together by blood, we need not fear predicaments arising from displays of passion such as touching, exploring, kissing, soothing each other’s heartache. Relinquish your grief and fear unto me, dear Y’ezela. While my stature is small, my heart is larger than average and is able to bear the burdens of your heart as well.” Air gently turned Y’ezela around in her arms and held her close. “You are my dearly important sister, Ez,” she stated with unflinching eyes, looking her sister directly in the eye to emphasize the truth in her words.
Y’ezela’s breath was nearly taken away by Air’s words, they were beautiful enough to impress the young musician. “Oh Air,” Y’ezela sighed and returned her sister’s hug. A part of her was tempted to let Air do what she wanted, but another part of her protested; was it right to do with another woman, especially her sister? Another part of her had become so enchanted by Air’s wantonly lifestyle that she wanted to test her feet in those waters, and push the limits of the rules she knew like Air did. She was conflicted, to say the least. Perhaps... if she just let Air take the lead, and if she felt strongly one way or another, she would stop her.
Air gave Y’ezela a reassuring smile. Surely right now she is mentally asking herself if this is in proper conduct, Air concluded silently. With her gentle smile she tried to tell her sister without words that this was a natural thing, a pleasant and rewarding experience that did not look at the bonds of sisters as a stalwart enemy, but as a way to bond the girls closer together having now known the intimacy of one another. While her smile could not tell her sister what she was intending, she tried her hardest to show that it was alright, things like this were not against the laws of man and nature. If such a thing was blasphemy than it was only to their human heritage. That didn’t concern Air in the slightest. From a human standpoint, looking at their human ancestry, neither girl was related to the other.
Her inward thoughts were getting complicated; Air leaned into her sister and pressed her lips against Ez’s. “We can stop whenever you’re uncomfortable. I’ll withdraw immediately, promise,” Air purred her promise. “Just tell me if you’re uncomfortable when and if the feeling comes up. I don’t want to do anything to you that you’re not willing to do.” She bit her own lip gently. “It will take every ounce of my will to pry myself from you, were that to happen though. You’re far to ravishing a beauty to not be able to pleasure.”
Y’ezela didn’t resist Air’s kiss, but she didn’t exactly return it. Hesitantly, she nodded to her sister. Her mind was in a haze from the hang over, and she might have objected more, but a part of her just wanted to give in and stop fighting off Air’s flirting. Another part of her was just curious.
* * *
The savage awoke early, as was usual for him. The soft beds of the inn were much different than what he had spent his life on, and it was hard to adjust, but after a long, hard day, he rested well. Rising from his bed, he washed his face, and after a moment’s consideration, he decided to repaint his face. After the troubles on the road the day before, he felt that perhaps putting a strong face would be proper. So, Phaeton took his bag and sat on his bed, then took out the small pot of black paint and began to paint the familiar shape of a hawk across his face.
Lanir awoke to the sound of something moving around. As his eyes opened up, he saw Phaeton looking into his bag. Lanir sat up with a yawn. He watched the man, then said, “Morning,” before getting out of the bed and heading to the lavatory to freshen up himself. After a few minutes, Lanir came back to the room. He suddenly laughed as he remembered what happened last night with his sisters, then he laid down on the bed and sighed softly. He still felt sleepy, but he could manage.
As Lanir laughed, Phaeton looked over at the young half-elf. “Good morning, Lanir,” he finally replied. His war paint was finished, leaving him with the form of a black hawk across his face. “I am curious, how did you return to the inn last night? I was sent to wait for you at the city gate. You were wounded too, I heard.”
Lanir rubbed his head a bit. “Well, umm... at the gates?” he said and started to think. “Well, after Orion, Kitsa, and myself left to go find Air, we found out where the bandit’s lair was, which we had to take an underground tunnel to get to it. Once we reached there, I had to answer a few questions to get Air back. After that,” he paused as he stood up and yawn a bit, “we took the underground tunnels back to Blade.”
Lanir looked at his calf and rubbed his leg as he remembered where the wound was. “As for getting injured, while we were going through the tunnels, I tripped over a trap and got shot by an arrow. I managed to get back and get healed.”
His stomach growled a bit as he finished. “Hmm.. maybe we should head downstairs to get something to eat,” he told Phaeton as his stomach growled again. He headed over to the door, and stepped out, pausing to cast a smile back at the warrior to see if he would follow.
Phaeton nodded to Lanir and hopped up from the bed with a warrior’s grace. “I pray Lady Seri is well,” he commented as they stepped out of the room, but his true hope was to see Luria as soon as possible.
* * *
Phaeton and Lanir came down to find Kitsa, Orion, Estas, and Sairina in the common room, but no one else. Phaeton was somewhat crestfallen to see that Luria had not yet risen, nor Seri. The tribal warrior took a seat near Kitsa and Orion and bowed his head respectfully to all gathered. “Good morning,” he said. “Has Lady Seri risen yet?”
“She is awake,” Kitsa replied to Phaeton as the young warrior joined their table. “She will be down eventually.”
Lanir yawned softly as they came downstairs. He made his way over to the table, saying, “Morning, did everyone sleep well?” He wasn’t in the mood to talk, but still, he needed to make a small conversation before he’d go back to being mute.
“Good morning, Lanir,” Kitsa said to the half-elf. “I slept well enough.”
Lanir smiled at Kitsa, then blushed softly. He looked down at the table as he nervously played with his finger. “Miss Kitsa, have Ez and Air come down yet?” he asked in a soft, worried voice.
“Yes,” the quarter-elf replied. “They went to bathe.” Conversation was lacking at the table this morning. Kitsa could only hope that Seri would come down soon and they could decide what they would do today.
After Seri’s little lecture to Valkyria, the spry half-elf came downstairs and plopped back down in the seat she occupied before she was called up. Giving a sidelong glance at Estas she pursed her lips in a mocking kiss, and turned her attention away from him. She didn’t need to see his reaction in order to gauge it. It would most likely repulse or irritate him, and she gave her word to Seri that she wouldn’t instigate anything.
As Valkyria entered, Estas tensed, but did his best to maintain his composure. When she blew a kiss to him, he looked away from her with a blank expression, trying to be nonchalant. I only have to tolerate her through the desert, he told himself.
With nearly all the company gathered, Sairina’s eyes drifted around the table. She intended to follow through on Valkyria’s advice, and find someone to make Estas jealous of what he was missing out on, or at least get out her own sexual frustrations on. Orion was out of the question, Phaeton was doe-eyed for Luria, but Sairina’s eyes fell on Lanir. He was handsome, beautiful even, but he lacked the confidence and strength that Estas carried himself with. All the same, Lanir was attractive, and available...though, she considered that Valkyria might not approve of her using her little brother in such a way...
Sometime after Valkyria went downstairs, Seri finally emerged. The high elf was fully dressed and slowly came down the stairs, taking each step carefully. Having one’s balance so badly thrown off by the bulging stomach made going down a steep set of stairs quite an ordeal. When she reached the foot of the stairs, she gave a small sigh of relief and made her way over to the group. Surprisingly, they had mostly gathered together this morning and some had eaten. Only Air, Y’ezela, and Luria were missing.
The pregnant high elf found the only remaining chair at the table and sat down. “Good morning,” she said with a small smile, in surprisingly good spirits. “Have Luria, Air, or Y’ezela been up yet this morning?”
Lanir smiled at Seri as she made her way over to the table. He was glad to see that she was alright, but he frowned a little as he looked at the stairs. There was no one else behind the high elf. He looked at the woman, sort of surprised, and smiled once again as he saw that she was in good mood. “Good morning,” he responded. “I have not seen them yet.”
Valkyria stifled a yawn and jerked her thumb towards the baths. “The sister-types are probably bathing. They were up getting pissed ass drunk last night, so it might take ‘em a little longer to fall in line than if they were without the devil’s hangover.” Valkyria grinned. “Hell hath no fury like liquor the next morn.”
“Well then, we can just inform them later, I suppose,” Seri replied. “I intend to continue our journey today, but I heard mention of an impending sandstorm from Kitsa and Orion. Valkyria, I believe you told them?” The high elf’s eyes shifted to the new half-elf. She may not have been invited, but she would prove to be even more useful than some of the other members of the group. “I assume you are more familiar with the weather patterns here than we are, so I would like your opinion on whether or not we should attempt to travel.”
“I’m relatively well versed in the weather of the desert,” Valkyria admitted. “It’s to the point where I can feel the slightest shift in the spirits direction in my bones. There is a strong storm coming, but I’ll leave it up to you whether or not we continue. I can guide us through the most violent shit storm safely without trouble, but animals don’t like to travel during the storms. We’d have a slow and arduous journey ahead of us, forcing the animals to follow us regardless of their own instincts.”
If Valkyria was of the opinion that they could travel, then Seri wasn’t going to waste extra thought on it. She had to get out of this accursed desert and back to the comfort of the forest, be it her own, or another. “Very well then, we will set out in about an hour,” Seri replied. “Will someone fetch Luria and let her know?”
“I will,” Sairina replied. The priestess had already eaten her breakfast, and Luria had been her roommate. The priestess slipped out of her seat and headed upstairs.
Orion glanced at Kitsa warily. Despite Valkyria’s expertise, he was not accustomed to fighting the forces of nature. The spirits would blow an ill wind and perhaps even the wills of high elves wouldn’t be able to calm it. No one, he was sure, would be able to protect them from the ravages of a sand storm for long. “May the spirits be gentle,” Orion whispered to no one in particular.
