“Think you can get back your sleep?” He himself said he needed it.
-
"Yeah," he sighed as he left his hands drop. "Yeah, I'm...fine enough." It just...might take a moment...
-
Kiran raised an eyebrow in Vael's direction. Not that it was an odd response for any other nightmare in any other situation, but...she'd be lying if she said she wasn't feeling particularly protective when they'd just gotten Ryland back. Not that he would appreciate being 'coddled'. "...We're here if you're not, Ry." She'd even take over on watch if he'd rather talk to Vael. They were allowed to talk alone after all.
-
“You good if I head back out?” he asked, apparently on the same path as Kiran. He could carry her if she got no sleep, heh.
-
"Yeah. Yeah, don't..." Ha, good luck trying to convince them to not worry about Ryland. "I'll say something if I need something."
-
"What'd'ya know Vael, he can learn," Kiran ribbed gently.
-
He smirked at Kiran. “Please do,” he emphasized, giving his shoulder a gentle pat. “You’re not gonna chase us off ‘cause you need something.”
He shifted back to his feet. “May the Stars bring you sweet dreams for the rest of the night.” He nodded to Kiran, then headed back to his post.
-
"Thanks...." Ryland did appreciate Vael's earnestness. The sincerity did mean a lot. So he saved the snark for when his cousin was back outside. "Doubt the stars are gonna start giving a shit out of nowhere..."
-
"It might just overflow the day's weird quota if they did," Kiran agreed.
-
"....Don't fucking tempt them. I've seen weirder at this point...."
-
"...I'd be more concerned about the possibility, if they were inclined to pay attention in the first place." And thus the loop begins again. "...Dare I ask what 'weirder' you've seen?"
-
"...." Ryland swallowed. "I don't...know if I can explain..." His eyes took on a haunted distance.
-
Kiran was at least going to stay warm, the way she vibrated with rage over whatever had put that look in his eyes. "...I'm not going to push Ryland. Certainly not tonight, when you're barely burning fumes," she said, quiet but not soft. She'd chewed his ass plenty tonight already, and it wasnt lost on her that so much of that had been for things out of his control. "Some day, though, you'll need to talk about it. When that day does come, you had better know I'm here for it."
-
"....If we don't....find a way to make it stop, then yeah." His eyelids started falling heavily, despite his attempts to force them back open. "Hopefully I can find a cure or....something...."
-
She looked over to find relief that sleep was finding him again. "If there is a cure to be found, we'll find it. Promise." No matter what it took.
-
"..." He turned his head and looked at her as hard as he could with those sleepy eyes. "And if we find there isn't one...you need to go home..."
-
"...I'll give you exactly one pass on this martyr shit, because you're exhausted," Kiran said, eyes blazing. "When dawn breaks, I don't want to hear another damn word about us leaving you behind."
-
Ryland turned his head back to rest and closed his eyes. "It's not being a martyr when it's my entire duty to keep you safe, dumbass..." They certainly had an interesting definition for what a pet name was...
-
Koran had never been especially impressed with 'duty' as a driving motivator. But something about Ryland's conviction hit different when he was this tired. "...while I appreciate the sentiment, I just spent the last eight months being safe while you weren't. I'm not particularly interested in repeating the experience."
-
"....Well.... Don't say I didn't warn you. Now to keep you safe you're forcing me to drag you to Veriki. You brought that on yourself. And Vael. You better learn to live with that." Ryland needed more sleep, but at least he'd had enough so far to form jibes.
-
"I think we'll manage," Kiran chuckled. She let the quiet stretch a little before oh so quietly adding. "Get some sleep Ry. We've got you."
-
Ryland yawned. "...Both of you knock off at dawn. He likes the night. And the winds have us covered, as long as it's still going ." They could risk it for a few hours in the day. If these two morons were gonna keep up, they needed sleep too...
-
"Good luck getting Vael to sleep with the sun up, but I'll pass the word." Kiran chuckled into an answering yawn. "...just know, if I wake up and you've fucked off without us, he'll be the least of your worries."
-
"I'm not dropping you without warning. .... Apparently that gets me yelled at," he mumbled as he tried and failed to open his eyes again. His dreams were awful, but his body was too weary to care, apparently.
-
Kiran was very glad they'd come to an understanding. And would snark as much in the morning...probably.
-
-------------------------------------------------------
Ryland's sleep did not go uninterrupted again. His dreams had been strange since before the scales made their appearance, but what grown man complained about weird dreams? ...Even if the weirdness kept turning dark? And ominous? And made him wake in a sweat half the time? There was nothing to complain about - they were too abstract, too incomprehensible, to explain. He had bad dreams because...he felt bad dreaming them. Nonsense.
But the nonsense continued to insist on haunting him. And eventually he'd learned to take his terror and stuff it down. Being tired was the more important feeling. He needed sleep. He'd needed it on the road. He'd needed it to stay sane among the Te’ils. He'd needed it while he was vaptive. And now he needed it more than ever on this the eve of his next insane attempt to find sanity. Dreams or no dreams, at this point he could always force himself back to sleep.
So when he eventually woke and didn't feel the need to close his eyes again after a few minutes, he knew it had to at least be day. He'd gotten rest. Finally.
Damn Kiran and Vael and their insistence on taking care of him. They weren't kids anymore. Ryland didn't need to run off to Kiran's house to escape his father. Vael didn't need to sneak out and meet up with the two of them, leftovers in hand because Aunt Lila knew it was hit or miss as to whether her brother was actually feeding her nephew on nights like that. He'd grown up, beat the shit out of his tormenter, and secured his safety within the fort. Ryland knew how to take care of himself by himself now. And he knew what was too much. Kiran and Vael weren't saving him from a shit situation this time. They'd rescued him from burning just to fall off a cliff right along with him. Worked out great for Ryland - bought him a little time and sanity. But they were fucked.
Unless Ryland could figure out how to get them to safety. And Veriki sounded like the best bet so far. They would at least get that far, or he'd die trying.
Ryland shifted and sat up as quietly as he could. There were a few new itchy patches here and there - always were after a bout of weirdness. ...He didn't want to think of it as anything else. It was weird. The bad kind of weird. And it was going to cause trouble for his family...
But first they had to get somewhere safe. First thing first.
-
As the sun began to rise, Vael had occasionally been poking his head back in to see if the other two were still asleep. Figured he’d let them at least until the sun was fully up. It would still give them plenty of daylight for movement but afford them a bit more rest. He was certain they needed to take it as they could.
As he poked his head back in again, of course it was Ryland who was awake. Some things never changed. He made his way into the shelter quietly.
“Hey,” he whispered as he came round to his cousin’s side. “You okay? Could probably rest a little longer if you need.”
-
"No, no," Ryland whispered through a yawn. "No, I'm good." He looked over at Kiran. "We can let her sleep a while. Everything alright out there?"
-
“So far so good,” he replied. “All’s quiet, sun’s not quite off the horizon. Not gonna hope it’ll be that way every night.” He smirked. “But we got this night, Moon be praised.”
-
"You should try to get some more sleep, too, if you need it." Ryland picked up their small stash of fire supplies to build a a new flame. Bigger so he could cook them a couple tubers each and some extra to eat easily later. "Soon as we're moving we gotta make good time. Gonna be a long day."
-
“I can’t sleep once the sun is up,” he replied, shaking his head slightly. “But I’ll be fine. Every day is a long day at a forge.” He winked. “It’ll just be frigid instead of sweltering.”
-
"Yeah, well, parts of you will be freezing. We keep moving and don't get wet, you'll hopefully be warm enough." Ryland sighed. "You'll be ready for sleep when we stop, that's certain."
-
“I don’t doubt it,” he replied. “Walking in snow will be a hell of a workout.” He’d have to find time to swing his hammer around to keep his arm strength up… He’d worked hard to get those muscles, and he wasn’t about to lose them, damnit.
-
Ryland snorted softly. "Definitely." ...Vael could handle himself. Nobody who mistook his soft heart as a sign of having an equally soft constitution or will left with less than a black eye. Long distances of trudging would be hard to adjust to, sure, but Vael would adjust.
And Kiran? Maybe she wasn't as strong, but she was far from weak herself. And she knew cold more intimately than Vael, in and out of the fort. She'd adapt. ...Or she'd pretend she was adapting and scream at them to shut up and not worry until she collapsed. Which Ryland would be more than happy to give her grief about - nothing different would happen if the rolls between the two of them were reversed.
"Just stay dry," Ryland assured him as he got the fire going. "We'll figure out the rest. As long as we can get past the winds, we can be out of the thick of the snow in two days." At least the weather was more amenable than it was when he made the journey the first time.
-
“Hope the winds will agree,” he replied, expression growing more serious. “Old Man Grieves said the weather was wreaking havoc on the supply line from down south.” Maybe the trouble would follow the supply caravan and skirt around them… “With luck or the Wind’s blessing, the weather will stay at our backs. And push us forward.”
-
"Well, you have a talk with the wind. I trust it to listen to you more than me."
-
He chuckled. “I shall,” he assured. Besides, it wouldn’t be good for Ryland to push the weird and make his nose bleed again…
“I’ll come back in for breakfast.” He lightly clapped his cousin’s shoulder. “… It’s good to be with you again, Ry. We missed you fiercely.” He gave the man a soft smile, and then headed back to the entrance, to keep watch a little longer.
-
"....Yeah. ....Yeah, it's....good to see you two, too." At least for now. At least for now... And if it took a while before shit hit the fan, Ryland wouldn't be sad for it. Just....everything could break at any moment. He had to keep that in mind.
-
Hey, they had a smith and a tanner on their team. Chances were good they could fix broken things. Or something. They’d see where things went, wouldn’t they?
-
And while Vael watched outside, Ryland slowly worked toward his cooking efforts.
-
Vael did take the time to speak to the Wind, the Snow, and the Sun as kept watch. Whether they heard his prayers - or chose to acknowledge them - was up to them. But he could pray, and pay respects. It seemed silly sometimes, but he held his spirituality close. Something his mother had instilled in him long ago that he never let go of. It seemed to work with the forge!
-
Kiran started to stir just as the cooking was finishing. It took a moment to gain her bearings, but the scrunched assessing in her face eased into relief when she realized it was Ryland cooking.
He was home.
Or as near as it could be, given none of them were likely to go back to the Fort any time soon. If ever, she thought as the rest of the previous evening's events caught up to her.
"Morning," she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep.
-
"Morning. You actually sleep?" He poked at the roasting roots. Ryland did pride himself on making food well, even if he lacked ingredients. "Or did you hover and make sure I was breathing all night?" The smirk wasn't on his lips, but rather in his voice.
-
"You were exhausted, not sick, and I'm not your wetnurse," Kiran scoffed as she sat up. "Since you'd so graciously come to your senses about not rabbiting on us, I slept. If that's what one could call being frigid and unconscious. How was the rest of your sleep?"
-
"Shit." He got one of the shoddy knives they managed to salvage, stabbed a sweet potato, and held it out to her. "But I slept."
-
"We'll take what we can get for now," Kiran said, appraising his state. So far he was at least more settled than the night before. Perhaps the stars had offered some small blessings. It'd be about time.
She used the edge of her cloak as a heat barrier to catch the offered tuber, holding it close to absorb as much of the warmth as she could manage. "Did Vael refuse more sleep, or is it still that early?"
-
"Both. We'll at least get him fed. But he should keep taking last watch if he can't sleep in the morning, because we don't have time for naps today..."
-
Kiran wouldn't argue the watch situation. Vael had always preferred mornings just as it had always taken her longest to settle; a natural balance she hadn't given much thought to, but was sure Vael would now consider spirit-blessed. And one that would let them give Ryland a couple more nights of sleep before joining the rotation. But Kiran wasn't any friendlier to being coddled than Ryland. No, she would not take it as evidence he cared about her and Vael as much as she did them, don't even start.
"We'll manage, Ry," Kiran affirmed with a frustrated roll of her eyes. "I know we don't do this nearly as often as you do, sneaking off through the wilderness and whatever, but we're hardly waifs or children. Give us some credit."
-
Ryland looked at her with a barely contained frown. "I watched that guy get held down on a table, fed some weird liquid, then get up, scalp a man, and wear it as a hat. At dinner."
-
"Colorful. Maybe we can swap notes," she grumbled into her potato. In truth, the look on the--she hesitated to even try to fit him under the description of 'man'-- 's face when he'd rounded the crates had been enough that she wouldn't be dawdling today.
"I am very aware that we are in peril, Ryland. You're scared. And you're never scared. Not since...anyway. I get it. You don't have to be an ass about it."
-
Ryland looked back to the fire. "....Maybe not..." he said quietly as he scratched at his thigh. "...It's just not... This isn't normal. Not even for me."
-
"I can see that," Kiran sighed, eying him. "I'm sure I can speak for Vael when I say we didn't think we were following you out here to frolic through the daisies." She hesitated before closing the distance enough to shove Ryland's shoulder just a little harder than strictly joking. "...but maybe let's not tell Vael about that guy's choice of dinner attire, hm? Our man's gotta keep food down if he's going to keep up today."
-
That managed to jerk a small smirk and a snort from Ryland. "Yeah. Probably smart." He glanced at Kiran, then sighed as he looked away again. "...Just remember I wasn't around you two for the last eight months, just like you didn't have me. You get yourself killed, I will murder you."
-
"Yeah yeah, love you too, asshole." Kiran rolled her eyes and shoved the last of her potato into her mouth. "If you've gotten the delightful descriptions out of your system, let's get Vael fed and move out. Apparently, you won't get to nap today, and I'd like to get some miles in before I drown your tired, whiny ass in the snow." She flashed him a grin as she got to her feet to fetch the man in question. She'd keep watch while they ate. The lunatic might not like to move during the day, but the guards and mercs had no such proclivities.
-
"Uh-huh." ...Maybe Kiran could sass Tienja to death...
-
Kiran stretched tall as she exited the shelter, but only for a moment before bundling the cloak back tightly around her. Shit, that wind had bite.
"Tag," she said, tapping Vael's shoulder once before sinking into a crouch. "Your turn for breakfast and pleasant conversation with Mother Hen."
-
That got a laugh! “I take it he’s feeling better, then” he replied with a smirk. “I’ll be quick so we can flatten this and get going. Days are always shorter than we think this time of year.” He tapped her shoulder before ducking back inside.
Ooh, potatoes smelled good.
-
Ryland, meanwhile, got a potato ready for Vael, and handed it over as soon as he sat. "Try to get two of these down."
-
“Try he says,” Vael retorted with a laugh as he plopped down to the ground and took the potato. “I promise, it won’t be that hard, even without butter.” He grinned, then happily took a bite. “Ah, ha’h fa’tha’thoh!” It wasn’t like he didn’t expect it to be hot, but… er, he had his moments.
-
Ryland snorted. "And you call yourself a blacksmith...."
-
“Hey,” he said around the bite, pointing a finger at him. He swallowed the bit before continuing. “I don’t use my mouth to forge, asshole. My jaw would be far more chiseled if I did.” He smirked. “What’s our tentative goal for today, O’ Scout?”
-
"Get as far south as we can without being out of the snow or winds." Ryland rubbed at his thigh. "Both give us cover, and one gives us shelter. Tomorrow we have to at least get to the hills by end of day. Veriki will be half a day at most after that."
-
“Not a bad plan,” he agreed with a nod. He’d keep an eye out for salving herbs. Healing had never been his first choice, but it had made sense to learn some basics, seeing as he was around fire and weaponry all day every day. He knew a few things! “You look far more rested today. How are you feeling? And don’t just tell me you’re fine.” He quirked a brow.
-
"Alright. Not fine. But better than yesterday." He got his own potato and started in on it.
-
He nodded. That was an acceptable answer. “Hopefully tomorrow brings a little more improvement, too,” he said. “Ah, Veriki is near the ocean, isn’t it? That’ll be a first for Kiran and me.” He didn’t imagine Ryland had taken much time to appreciate the ocean when he was down there last. They’d have to change that. Small picnic on a beach.
-
"....Yeah. It's different. It's....big." Ryland nodded. "You'll like it. The hills break the weather, so that's when it gets warm. That's what they say anyway. Not sure how hills are supposed to make that much of a difference, but it's what I heard."
-
“Nature and her mysteries,” he replied with a chuckle. “So. We’ll plan to take a meal by the water when we get there, as a celebration for making it there.” He nodded definitively. “Hopefully we can find some answers there, with three of us looking. If not, maybe inland from there… Or we could hop a ship, go further south. Bet that assassin would have a hard time following you on a ship!” He smirked.
-
".... Do you even know what a ship looks like with your own eyes?" Ryland smirked.
-
“I am certain I would recognize a ship if I saw one,” he replied, rolling his eyes. “They would be in the water, so that would be a pretty good clue.” He finished his first potato with a contented sound. Not a typical breakfast for him, but he wouldn’t complain!
-
"Dead giveaway." Ryland shook his head, then ate quietly for a moment. "....She's not actually angry at me, right?"
-
“No,” he replied, wrapping an arm around him. “And… for what it’s worth, I’m sorry we yelled at you for the things that weren’t your fault. We’ve been imagining the worst possible scenarios for the last eight months. It wasn’t like you to just take off, so we didn’t know what to think, to begin with. … And it’s doubly frustrating we can’t do anything about what was done to you.” By any of the parties involved. He barely kept a dark expression off his face at the thought of their own people throwing Ryland out and letting them worry… He gave Ry a gentle smile. “You know how she is. If she wasn’t worried, she wouldn’t be angry.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
-
Ryland nodded heavily. "....Yeah. It's Kiran." She and Vael hadn't changed. Had no reason to change.
It was just Ryland....
-
He gave his cousin’s shoulders a squeeze. “She loves you,” he assured. “As do I. We’ve got your back, weird and all. Just like always. That hasn’t changed, and it never will.” He smiled warmly.
-
"....You did see that said back you say you have is covered in silver, right?"
-
“I saw,” he replied. “Why should any change anything? Whether it’s scales or wrinkles or hair falling out, you’re still Ryland. What you look like doesn’t change who you are. You’re my cousin, our friend, our confidant. So yes, scales and all, we still have your back.”
-
"....Still bad at self-preservation," Ryland teased quietly.
-
“… I play with fire and molten metal all day,” he said with a laugh. “What part of that screams ‘good as self-preservation’?”
-
Ryland snorted and leaned in to shove Vael slightly. "Surprised you survived without me."
-
“I avoided going outside the walls while you weren’t here,” he retorted with a chuckle. “I can make it okay from the forge to the tavern to home.” He smirked. “… Sun and Moon, I got turned around in our own back alleys trying to chase you down for nicking that sword!” He snorted, shaking his head with a sigh. “… I’m instilling great confidence in you for this journey, I know.” He grinned.
-
"Just keep up and don't make me drag your ass and we'll do just fine, cousin." Ryland finished off his potato and went for a second. "Hey Kiran!" he shouted. "More food!"
-
He chuckled, holding a hand out for his second. “Should I take up watch, or do you think we’re okay for the length of eating a potato?”
-
"We'll be okay. At least for now." He handed over Vael's second portion.
-
And he started chowing down!
-
Oh, thank goodness, that meant more warm. It took two entire seconds for Kiran to all but dive back in to the cave.
"Are we splurging, or not planning to stop for lunch?"
-
"Not planning to stop, but I am cooking some off if we need the food," Ryland answered. He handed her a second portion as soon as she was seated. "Anyone melt off water while I was sleeping?"
-
“No, I think we were too focused on watching and sleeping,” he replied. “Should do that before we leave.” He nodded.
-
Kiran took the newest potato, blowing across it and lamenting the wasted heat. "Worst case we can tuck them under shirts, right? Let body heat do its thing?"
-
"No, you want to keep your body heat. Keeping ice near you is a bad idea, especially if it has the chance of dripping. But we can do it now before we put the fire out." Ryland wasn't going to tease or be a pain, even if he easily could. ....Maybe he was more tired than he thought. He wasn't the sentimental type....
-
"...right," Kiran nodded. She was already missing the walls, but she'd be damned before she admitted as much....
-
"Also, if we run out of water, don't eat the ice." Ryland reached for a canteen. "It takes your internal warmth to melt that down, and just chills you. Just be sparing and wait until we stop for the night." He started getting to his feet.
-
“Good to know,” he said around another bite of potato. They had a lot to learn yet, it seemed.
-
Yeah, she was definitely used to environs where heart could be renewed; her initial thoughts being along the lines of 'but my mouth/body is warm anyway'. ...it'd be fine. She'd learn. And Ry would teach them. Which she would hate, no matter how much she appreciated it.
"Weird, its almost like you've done this before or something," she grumbled around potato, definitely not embarrassed by her lack of knowledge.
-
"Once or twice." Ryland tapped her arm with his elbow before getting to his feet. "We'll get to snow blindness when I get back in." And he grabbed a second canteen before he headed out into the open air.
-
Snow blindness? He blinked as he watched after Ryland. He turned to Kiran. “Snow can make you blind?” Good thing they’d only be in it for a couple days…
-
Kiran shrugged. "You know what I do, but at least we're in good hands. I swear if he gets a big head about all the things we don't know, though, I really will drown him in the snow..."
-
He chuckled. “Oh, you can let him have a little ego boost,” he said. “This is what he does for a living.”
-
"What'd that look like just now, a dress-down? I'm trying Vael!" Kiran looked into the fire and took entirely too large a bite of potato to talk around, all the better given her face was intent on projecting her much needed heat into the surrounding air.
There was no small part of her that wanted desperately to pick back up where they'd left off eight months ago, with the jabs and the teasing and the sass, like nothing had happened; and yet, she couldn't stop herself from pushing, from snipping too often or too hard. She'd been so damn angry at Ryland. For leaving, for staying gone, for not getting word to them. That anger had flared white hot on the third day he was gone and she had spent months shoving it down because it just wasn't fair to be mad when they didn't even know if he was alive to be mad at. The relief of seeing him again had broken the dam in the tunnels and she'd thought she could finally let go of all of it. But learning he hadn't had a choice in any of it? Here she was, back to stomping it down, burying it in worry for him. Sheesh, for all of them.
...Had she forgotten how to be around him? How to be the three of them?
-
Vael scooted closer and wrapped an arm around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze. “… This is how we take back control of what we is happening,” he said quietly. “For us, and for Ryland. We won’t lose him again, Kir.” No matter what was happening.
-
Kiran leaned into him, swallowing heavily and probably too soon to be healthy. "He better damn hope not," she said quietly. "...I don't think I can do it twice"
-
“Neither can I,” he agreed. “Which is why it won’t happen. You and I won’t let it.” He leaned his head against hers for a moment, then sat up again so he could more easily continue to eat. “I firmly believe we can do anything as long as we stay together. So that is what we will do, whether the Ancestors will it or no.”
-
Kiran nodded. "...yeah. Yeah, you're right. We just gotta stick together and everything's be fine." She knew that, it just...bore reminding.
-
Ryland got his snow and was coming back inside...
-
Kiran sat up a little too quickly, a vain attempt to hide her embarrassment at needing said reminder. She tucked the last of her potato into her cheek, the better to sass Ryland. Eventually.
"So, snow blindness? Don't we have hoods for that?" Clearly keeping the snow out of their eyes was the solution...
-
"...Yeah," Ryland said as he sat in front of the fire. If he noticed how quick she moved, he didn't indicate it. But how would he not have seen? But what did it matter if he did? Was Kiran supposed to care if he did or didn't?! "But you need to be careful. It'll still hurt. Stop me if you feel like you're having trouble focusing on me. It's the one time we'll want snow on you - we gotta cool your eyes off and give them rest."
-
“… y’know, we talked about leaving to try to find you a couple times,” Vael said quietly as he let that settle on his brain. “We had no idea where to even start… and less of an idea of how much we just don’t know about traveling, let alone by foot.” They probably would have gotten themselves killed…
He ran a hand over his hair with a small frown. “Think I’m glad we didn’t make the attempt, even if I wish we could have found you sooner…”
-
Ryland set the canteens near the fire, keeping his eyes cast down. "....I don't blame either of you for not leaving the fort for me," he said, reasonable and quiet in that way that made Vael proud and Kiran uncomfortable. "You'd be crazy. And I would have come back just to die yesterday."
-
“If we were going to leave for any reason, it’d be for you,” he gently corrected. “But we couldn’t have helped you if we’d gotten ourselves killed…”
-
...wait, had he actually admitted that they'd saved him? That almost worried Kiran more. "...why did you come back yesterday?" She asked barely above a whisper before clarifying. "Not that it wasn't the only correct choice--because it was-- but you seemed damned determined to avoid us and to convince us to stay...yet you went straight for Vael's blades instead of the armory..."
-
"....I thought he wouldn't be crazy enough to attack the fort," Ryland said, now more quiet and...almost ashamed. "...And then he did. So...I went where I knew I could at least arm myself and I was gonna get his attention and get out of there. Get him out of there."
-
Ah. That was all then. Kiran didn't like the way her chest ached with the answer. "...well, lucky you ran into us then."
Hopefully, the assassin was more cautious about Veriki. It wasn't a fort populated almost exclusively with soldiers and mercenaries, but the population might be enough....
-
Ryland shook his head. "Listen. I want answers. And I want you two to survive. But if we have to choose, let me go down. I don't know..." He squeezed one of his hands into a fist. "Whatever is happening is....dangerous."
-
“Yeah that’s not happening,” Vael said simply. “Just so you know.”
-
"Not how it works, Ryland," she agreed, just one step down from glaring. "And it's past dawn besides."
-
“You need to understand, cousin. You and Kiran?” His expression became more resolved than the man had likely ever seen. “I would defy the Sun, the Moon, and all of the Ancestors for the two of you. So. You’re not going to go down. We’re going to figure it out. Together.” And there was no other option.
-
...they didn't know. And if Ryland could help it, they wouldn't know. So he kept his mouth shut. "... Drink." He handed off the canteens to them. "It is past dawn."
-
He took a canteen and took a drink from it. “We better get moving then.”
-
Kiran took her canteen in silence. For once. If she said anything else she definitely wouldn't be able to keep the anger in check. Goodness sake, she'd honestly hoped that he'd gotten past the martyr crap...
-
Ryland got a second helping of breakfast in him, and make sure Kiran finished hers. Then the three of them packed up, collapsed the entrance of the cave, and headed out into the snow.
The sun was visible enough through the winds thankfully. It was easy to course correct and start their way south. And Ryland was willing to thank the winds directly for being there to obscure their footprints, even if it stung their faces. Small discomfort for huge blessings. He just needed to make sure they kept good pace but also held back his own long-legged strides so the other two wouldn't get overtired...
-
It was very different, being out in the cold rather than working up a sweat at the forge. He already missed the fires. Heat was easier for him to handle. All the same, he kept his laments to himself.
He was glad he’d not changed out of his bindings yesterday; this trip would be far less comfortable, for multiple reasons. The fabric was going to need a damn good washing when they made it back to civilization, heh. At least he was used to full days of strenuous exercise with them! Cold or no, he should be fine, but he was keeping track of his breathing, just in case. Much like with their eyes, he’d be sure to say something if he found himself having trouble. No sense in dying in a preventable way.
He had no idea what a ‘good clip’ would be, but it felt like they were making good progress to him!
-
Last night had felt awful, but in the dark it was hard to tell how slow they were going. In the daylight, even through the heavy wind there were just enough landmarks to mock their pace. Kiran was the shortest among them, which was no more apparent than in how quickly she had to move to keep up. And every step was a slog. Each one just stoking the flames of her frustrations, her anger. Fuuuuck she was ready for this to be over. Maybe when they got to Veriki she could find a fighting ring. Or start a tavern brawl. Anything to get this out of her system...
-
For as angry as Kiran was getting....Ryland seemed smooth, calm, practically at home, even as he pushed against the wind and terrain. He didn't even have the decency to sound frustrated with either Vael or Kiran when he turned his head to yell back, "Keep up, don't stop!"
-
“We’re keeping,” he assured as much as he could, tugging his cloak tighter around him. He knew the wind was in their favor, but damn did it bite!
-
Because falling behind was an option?! This prick...
Kiran stomped harder, faster. Rage-fueled daydreams of punching Ryland in his stupid face distracted her mind from the slog, letting her body find a rhythm that worked. At least the daydreams encouraged her to keep her eyes on his back. Which meant she was also not noticing the passing of the landscape mocking their pace.
Damn him for being right...
-
Finally, with maybe an hour of daylight left, Ryland halted. "We're done. Let's dig."
-
Vael paused to take a breather, hands on his knees and he heaved a deep sigh. “Ho… that was a long walk.” He the shrugged out of his pack and set it on the ground so that he could get to digging! Rest was near!
-
Kiran didn't speak, not trusting herself not to snarl at either of them. Just dropped her bag and started the work. Vael could stop and start again, but she was so stiff, she wasn't sure she'd be able to start moving again if she stopped. If they could get this damn shelter up, maybe she could uncoil some of the knots that had formed as she huddled against the cold and the wind.
Aaaand she had first watch to look forward to. Fucking great.
-
Ryland had enough in him to help, making shorter work of the cave. It was just past sundown when they finished and could carry a flame to see by inside. Ryland sat on the floor with his tiny makeshift torch in hand sighed as he leaned his head back. "....Someone make the fire, I'll cook..." He wasn't bone weary like he was yesterday, but it was going to take time to recover to the point he prefered to be at.
Unless his state just included being forever weary...
Hopefully fucking not.
-
“On it,” Vael said as he hunkered down. They had a few more strips of that old crate, didn’t they? A bit of the Te’il clothing for kindling, and he’d get them more or less cozy in no time! Man, his body ached.
-
Kiran's ire sputtered out to see Ryland exhausted once again. Fine. Fine. Fine. It was fine. They'd be out of the snow in a couple of days. She could keep her shit together that long. Vael had the fire under control. She wasn't sure if she should get warm while they ate, or if that would only make it harder to step back into the cold for watch... probably harder.
"...I'll keep an eye. Holler when food's ready."
-
"Watch doesn't need to start yet," Ryland said. "Get warm."
Ryland had the audacity to go and be calm and logical and competent after that whole day before of being half crazy?
-
Seemed on par for him. And that was somehow a comfort. Even if Vael suspected it was mostly a front.
“I’ve just about got it going, Kir,” he said as he nursed the baby flame to the wood. Theeeeeere we go, little Flame…
-
How dare he exhibit those traits she admired him for while issuing orders! And now Vael all but coaxing her like a wild animal? Which...she could admit she was behaving like. "...fine," she said, hunkering down nearest the exit. She'd sit and warm her toes. Just for a bit. It was fine.
-
Ryland pulled his hood back and ruffled his short hair into something akin to kempt. "...Don't suppose anyone grabbed cards before we started running from death incarnate?"
-
“I did not think about entertainment, sadly,” Vael replied with a chuckle. “I could sing for you, or tell one of Grandma’s stories. But no cards.”
-
"Damn." Ryland yawned. "Nothing to smoke either."
-
"...we were supposed to be getting drinks," Kiran grumbled, pulling a well worn deck from her pocket and tossing it into Ryland's chest like she hadn't been avoiding it for months.
Before his disappearance, the trio had often played cards late into the night, whether in the tavern or at her place. She'd stopped bringing them out once the worry set in. How could they just have fun when Ry was missing? Just go on like they weren't sick with worry? Some nights as she cleaned up to meet Vael she'd grab them from the drawer, resentment insisting she shouldn't care so much when Ryland so obviously hadn't, the ass. The moment always passed quickly though, replaced with guilt as she tucked the cards back away before she left.
Last night, she'd been angry enough that she'd carried them all the way to the tavern, intent on reclaiming a hint of normalcy. To convince Vael they stop putting their lives on hold for Ryland. To...accept that he wasn't coming back, even if they weren't ready to embrace it.
And then his defiant ass had turned back up as suddenly as he'd left. ...Maybe Vael was right; maybe the spirits did listen to them. Spitefully, it seemed.
-
Vael lit up! “You bright your cards!” he exclaimed, because it obviously needed to be stated out loud! “Man… it’s been months.” And his smile became a bit wistful and nostalgic. It hadn’t seemed right to play without Ry…
-
Ryland blinked as the cards made impact and fell into his lap. ...Cards? Just like that? Ryland wanted a creature comfort, and it just....appeared? The normal way, without causing more scales? He was somewhere relatively safe, with food he had control over, people he trusted more than his own damn self, and they didn't have to be bored or spend the evening rehashing survival plans they were already perfectly aware of or even just locked in his own damn head. Yeah, there was a crazy person who wanted his head, but when in his life had he ever been perfectly safe? This was as normal as it got.
Things were almost normal.
Ryland had survived.
...He'd made it home, even. And maybe he wasn't within the walls, but...the walls had never been what made home safe.
Ryland stared at the cards. Then he snorted and half-smiled. Perfectly normal reaction - it was ironic that Kiran would just so happen to have them, after all.
But it wasn't just the cards he was responding to. The cards hit his chest, and they cracked him in the impact. Something so insignificant, so ancillary, so...so stupid, and yet he could just have it. Because Kiran was there to give it and Vael was there to intrinsically remind him of why he'd asked for them in the first place. So that smirk and snort turned into a chuckle, one he tried to cut off with a lick of his lips as he covered his mouth with one hand. Then his hand moved over his eyes as his other arm went across his chest, and he couldn't stop himself from laughing. And that laughter flew out of his control quickly. Maybe not wildly - he never paired 'sober' and 'wild', he was Ryland-fucking-T'Vair. But normal as his laugh might have been on any other night, in any other circumstance, from any other man, it looked odd on him.
... But he was alive, and he could play cards. If he wasn't going to laugh, then the whole world was going to break open and he would scream. And considering his eyes were getting misty from behind his gloved fingers, it still might.
-
“Oh no, Kiran, you broke him,” Vael teased with a small smirk. That had to be a good sign, right? Little odd, considering the situation, but stress, nerves, exhaustion all caused funny reactions…
-
(Kiran) "If I'd known that was all it took..." the unfinished jest of implied menace fell flat, she just didn't have it in her to give. Fuck, it was good to hear him laugh, even if it was brushing real close to the edge of sanity as it went on; the sound of it cracking the protective shell of anger she'd built around herself. ...shit she was not going to ruin this by crying like a fucking child. Ryland was home dammit, and she had nothing left to be sad or angry about.
"...you gonna deal, or just have a one-man giggle fit all night? My magic pockets don't have the booze for us to join you..." There. Playful sass. That was better. They could pick back up where they'd left off and everything would be fine.
-
"Shut up." Ryland kept laughing as he picked up the cards and tossed them back at her. "You deal, I...gotta feed your stupid faces...." He tried to make it look like he was rubbing his eyes more than wiping away tears, then reached over to appraise their food situation. Not a lot left, but they could get away with two each again.
-
Vael chuckled softly, leaning back a bit. Tonight… might be a little better than last night.
The fire now started and catching on its own, Vael shifted away from them just a touch to work off his binding. Might give it a rest tomorrow, just to be safe. He breathed slow and see as the compression released, and he rolled up the cloth carefully once he was loose. He’d set it near the fire to dry out and pack it before sleeping tonight. Maybe he could find fresh cloth when they reached Veriki…
-
Kiran managed a smile as she caught the cards. That was...better. It was getting better. They were getting better.
And so she shuffled, flourishing a little more clumsily than she used to, but muscle memory was a miraculous thing. "Alright, these babes are a little dusty, so let's show 'em a good time, hm? That means no cheating." She eyed each of her companions squinting pointedly. Never mind that she been accused of doing so far more often than either of them over the years.
-
"Like you have anything worth cheating off you." Ryland was trying not to sound so amused. The laughter hurt in his catharsis, and he didn't need to be any weaker. ....So he focused on something he could be strong about. "Fuck, Vael, how long have you had that thing on? Don't wear it tomorrow, you need your damn lungs!" He did understand how important it was to Vael, but if something broke or bruised while out here? "Probably stinks now anyway."
-
“I wasn’t planning to, Dad,” he retorted. “I didn’t mean to, but I slept in it last night. Not something I normally do, I know it’s not safe to, but I kind of forgot o had it on. …And yes, it smells awful because I didn’t change after working yesterday either. So just avoid it.” He snorted softly. “Hopefully I can salvage it after a good wash… or find a replacement in Veriki.”
-
"We'll figure it out when we get there." Ryland couldn't help but remember the dislocated jaw he fully earned as a child when he tried insisting Vael was not, in fact, a boy. Being wrong got him being shoved in the mud - it was the rude ass laughter and jeering that got him injured. Though not being spoken to for a week hurt much more. And that led to remembering all the bruised faces Ryland inflicted on others when they decided to make the same mistake he did. When he was young, he figured Vael forgave him because he'd turned guard dog and did his term of penance. Older and wiser, he understood later it was likely the apology that included one of the few times he ever cried in his life that was enough for Vael. Because it was Vael. And that Ryland stayed forgiven because he took everything Vael needed seriously. "Could use it for kindling when it dries out. In a week." ....And also not too seriously.
-
“Fuck off,” he said with a laugh. “But if it can’t be salvaged, then yeah, it’ll work for kindling.” Maybe he could find some pretty fabric to replace it…
-
"Veriki's supposed to have everything. ...Don't know how we're gonna get money for the 'everything,' but half the problem is solved." Ryland shrugged.
-
"Eh, we've got marketable skills," Kiran said, indicating herself and Vael as she dealt. "Can probably find a forge or tannery to help in for a few hours and make some coin. Dunno 'bout you though. Do they pay people to stand around and look important?" She smirked, entirely aware that Ryland had more skills than she was even aware of.
-
Vael snorted, not hiding his grin. Ry had an amazing set of skills, but…
-
"Apparently you will if you're suggesting you'll work in order to earn my keep." He smirked at her hard with a sidelong glance. A proper smirk from better times.
-
“Hah!” Oh he lost it at that!
-
Kiran bit her lips together, her cheeks pinking oh-so-faintly. Yep, she had walked directly into that. Thank the flames, the light was low in here. "Ah, see, that's where family comes in! Vael is very dedicated to family. He'll see to it you're fed." She reached over and patted the man's knee, grinning wickedly.
-
(Vael) “Like that was ever in question,” he retorted with another laugh. After all, he had been since they were young, in some form or fashion!
… funny enough, though, he couldn’t cook worth a damn.
-
"You can tan a hide." Ryland reached into the bag and pulled out some of the jerky. "But anyone who considers this to be edible? They can't even feed themselves. So from me in the future to you, you are welcome."
-
"Oi! I didn't make it!" Kiran laughed, stubbornly snatching the jerky in question. "...but seriously who dries fox? There is nothing on it. They're practically skeletons once I've taken the pelt..."
-
“Someone desperate,” he replied with a chuckle. And now he was dreaming of that lamb stew they didn’t get. Sigh. “Gah, I will be looking forward to a proper meal… whenever we get one next.”
-
"Yes," Kiran agreed emphatically. "I know it's only a few more days but, Ry owes us months of good food. We had to resort to tavern fare!" Look how put upon they were!
-
“At least Grieves can cook okay,” he chuckled. “But it’s definitely not the same.” He smiled.
-
"Salt, sugar, fat. Get me those things, and I'll do my duty." That painful laughter was threatening to return...
-
“All right. So we have mission parameters for once we’re in Veriki,” Vael chuckled.
-
"You'll make someone a mighty fine wife someday," Kiran chuckled. She couldn't even argue, the man was a force in a kitchen. He could absolutely work miracles with just a handful of staples. ...maybe he'd been working magic all along? No. No he'd worked hard for that skill, having to fend for himself as he did growing up.
-
That he would! And that he had. They had always been impressed with his aptitude at a stove or oven. It was fun to pool resources for something a little fancy now and then! Or cookies. Cookies were always good.
-
"Yeah, too bad nobody will say the same about you." How was it so easy to slip back into this deadpan affection? Ryland just needed to remember to breathe.
-
"That is by design, my friend," Kiran rolled her eyes. "Last thing I need is some over-bearing prick thinking he knows best about how I spend my day. I've already got one of those." Her eyes flicked to Ryland, then back to the cards. It was an old joke, and comforting in its return. Yeah. Yeah, they'd be ok. It might get weird for a while, but together, the three of them would be just fine.
-
“You two,” he sighed with a chuckle as he picked up his cards.
-
"You two." Ryland poked at his cooking. "I escape captivity and all I get is two wards I can out-man and out-woman." He didnt mean to smirk quite so jovially....
-
“You want to test that theory, sir?” he asked as his brows raised and a smirk on his lips. “I assure you, hammers have only been good for my physique.”
-
"Damn right they have," Kiran winked at Vael, before returning a challenging smirk toward Ryland. What? She had eyes. And she was absolutely betting on Vael in this tussle.
-
"...Gotcha," he nodded at Kiran. "So Vael will be your wife, and you..." He grinned.
-
"...will deeply enjoy what those hammers have wrought while he drags your ass into the kitchen?" Kiran quirked an eyebrow. Not that it would go any further. They'd spent more than enough time mutually appreciating the assets of the local men-folk when they'd had enough drinks.
-
Vael chuckled. “And much as I love Kiran, you are well aware you are more my type, and we have already had a discussion about that,” he piped up, brow quirking at his cousin. “Besides, I’d make a better husband than wife. I can’t cook for shit.”
-
"More's the pity for me," Kiran sighed dramatically. "I might actually be able to stand a husband like you. Not that I'm any more wife material than you are."
-
“Oh, you’d make a fine wife if you found the right husband,” Vael assured with a laugh. “Anyone who says otherwise isn’t the right husband.” He winked.
-
"You're entirely too sweet," Kiran swooned. "You hear that, Ry? I'll make a fine wife for the right husband!" She made a rude gesture in his direction with only the usual amount of fire behind it.
-
"Why did I go back..." Ryland picked up his hand and smirked as he fanned the cards.
-
“Because you missed the bullshit,” he retorted with a grin.
-
"I sure did get some bullshit." He started arranging his cards. "....I'm taking middle shift tonight."
-
"...Tomorrow night," Kiran said, arranging her own hand far more casually than her usual mercurial fare.
-
"I'm gonna wake up anyway," Ryland said casually. He always did....
-
“Then you can go back to sleep tonight,” he replied as he shifted some cards around.
-
"I'm not sick or injured." Ryland frowned.
-
“But you have been on the run without a break for several days, and imprisoned before that,” Vael replied, looking up to meet and hold his gaze. “You’re pulling your weight plenty by leading and cooking, and you’ll be able to pull more if you take care of yourself now.”
-
"We're asking you to swallow your pride and rest for one more night, Ry. Humor us."
-
"Feel like I've been humorous enough," he mumbled. But he knew 'no' was the likely answer. ....So he'd play it by ear and at least make sure they were in a state to actually replace him.
-
The cool part about first watch was that Kiran would ultimately get to decide who she woke and when. If she decided he didn't get a watch because she woke Vael at his allotted time, Ryland Stubborn T'Vair would not get a damn watch. But she'd also seen him leading today, knew he felt better when he was being useful.
"...Tell you what, if I get tired early or I don't think I can handle it, I'll tap you in for a short shift before we wake the big guy, alright? I don't think I'll have a problem sitting on my ass in the snow for half the night...but I also haven't spent the day fighting the wind face first before. Just...let us at least try to do our jobs and watch out for you, yeah? It's our duty too."
-
Oh. Oh, she had to pull the duty card. Fuckin' turnabout... "...Fine. ...Especially if he doesn't get to sleep at a decent hour." Ryland nodded toward Vael.
-
“Oh, I am going to pass out as soon as watch starts,” he assured. “I’m used to working myself hard, but snow and wind are not the same as a forge.” He chuckled. “That said, I will still wake at my watch time. Too used to being up before the sun.”
-
"Great! Sounds like a plan," Kiran nodded, then broke into a grin. "Look at us, negotiating like adults. And Ms Eleanor said we hooligans would never grow up."
-
“Yeah, that old bird was always a judgmental bitch,” Vael murmured. There were a few of those who just couldn’t be helped. He mostly tried to avoid them. They only softened when they realized he was in charge of their soldiers’ arms.
-
"....Is she still alive?" Ryland curled his nostril.
-
"I heard she'd caught a fever last winter and finally kicked it," Kiran shrugged. "Her nephew is teaching the rugrats now."
-
"Oh great, what's he gonna teach 'em? How to 'use their words?'"
-
"How to run their damn mouths, unless he's changed much since we were kids."
-
“Nah, he’s still full of hot air,” he retorted with a snort. “He’s cute now though. Seems unfair.”
-
"He is wife material." Ryland smirked at Vael.
-
"Because he's cute and full of hot air?!"
-
“Hah!” He threw his head back and laughed. “I don’t think could stand him long enough to marry him.” He smirked.
-
"Don't always gotta marry 'em..." Ryland moved his smirk toward his cards.
-
“I don’t think he’s cute enough to fuck. He’s too annoying.”’ He snorted.
-
"Yeah... You take 'em to bed, you still gotta listen to 'em." Ryland snorted.
-
“Damn right.” He rolled his eyes. “And it’s not worth risking getting saddled with his offspring. Then I’d never be rid of him.”
-
"You bring him in the the family, you're getting kicked out of the family."
-
Kiran squeeze-blinked at her cards, shaking her head. Sweet spirits, attitude like that, she was glad she'd never caught Ryland's interest...
-
“I’d run off to Veriki first,” he assured. “Raise the kid solo.” Really, there wasn’t anyone back home that had truly caught his interest…
-
"Alright, I'd write you then." Ryland nodded.
-
“You had better come visit, ass,” he retorted with a smirk.
-
"Don't worry, Aunt Kiran will drag his dumb ass down by the ear if she has to," Kiran grinned.
-
“Ah, my heart. I know who my real family is.” He smirked at his cousin.
-
"Just gotta make sure I'm not captured by Te’ils again." He glanced at the tubers he was cooking and shifted them. "Food'll be done soon."
-
“Don’t leave without us, and we’ll help make sure it doesn’t happen,” he affirmed with a nod.
-
"And not a minute too soon," Kiran said, stretching, not being remotely cautious about showing her hand in the process. Maybe she'd end up waking Ryland after all. She was beat.
-
The three of them got dinner, melted more water down, and remembered themselves over cards until weariness set in....
-
When Ryland knocked off, he at least had his hood down. The end of the row of scales climbing along the right side of his hairline were visible, and there was red and irritated skin toward the corner and just below. He was back....but things weren't the same....
-
Vael eyed the scales with concern, a soft frown on his lips as he settled. Ryland had beat him to sleep, so… him sleeping through another night probably wasn’t the worst idea. Hopefully tomorrow he’d have time to gather some of those herbs to make a salve. He doubted it would “cure” The scales, but it might soothe the skin. With that thought, he settled himself for sleep. His turn on watch would come soon enough.
-
Kiran left for her watch as soon as the next hand was over. It'd been a long day, and the sooner it started, the faster it'd finish.
Ryland's scales would take getting used to, cure or no. Things had changed for him. And while he was coming back to them, slowly but surely, it was hard to ignore the ache for him in light of those changes. He wouldnt be able to hide the scales forever, not now that they were moving toward his face. The Fort's scouts would hardly be the only superstitious people they'd meet. Things wouldn't be easy, even in a town as big as Veriki. But she'd be twice-damned if she let anyone take Ryland from them again.
When it felt like the night was half over, she made her way inside and roused Vael for his watch. "Your turn. Been quiet." It wouldn't take long for her to fall asleep, but she'd be watching Ryland for signs of distress until she did.
-
As she shifted to settle in the cave, Ryland suddenly startled in his sleep and jerked, his dreams haunting him...
-
Vael paused as he started to get up, eyes on his cousin with deep concern. He gave Kiran a worried look, then turned back to the scout. Very softly, and soothing as he could, he whispered, “You’re all right Ry. You’re not alone. You’re safe. You’re all right. Whatever it is, me n’ Kiran won’t let it hurt you.”