Ryland couldn’t help but grin. Damn it. He was sullen about having to cool off and thus expose his shame, but…yeah, this was good….
-
“Noted.” Kiran’s grin was wolfish. A challenge had been issued, and frankly it was entirely too easy to piss Ryland off, especially at her. And while a fraction of her was inclined to back down, to not antagonize him after everything he’d been through... it wasn’t them.
-
“Guard your sleep. Remember, I’m also the cook.” Ryland looked at her through the side of his eye.
-
“Heh!” Oh, now that was a warning! “You better mind yourself, Kiran,” he teased. “I won’t defend you if you put yourself at his mercy!”
-
“Hey now, no changing the terms! You said changed watch, now you’re bringing the food into it? You are a cruel, cruel man Ryland T’Vair...”
-
“I’ve seen things.” He turned a ridiculously dark stare on them. “I’ve been places. You have no idea what I’m capable of….”
-
“…” he snorted. “Yes, yes, O Scout, yes,” he chided with a smirk. It was true, of course, but he was being facetious.
-
Kiran hesitated only a second, a horrified look on her face before calling his bluff. “Oh, you little-” She winged the first thing in reach across the fire at him with a laugh. A tiny pebble from the cave floor? Surely she could do better...
-
Ryland laughed! “Too easy.”
-
“We’ll see how early your shift starts tonight, ass,” Kiran huffed, a half-hearted attempt to hide her relief that the man was in better spirits.
-
“Am I going to have to separate you two?” he asked with a smirk.
-
“I mean, you can try. Not a very big cave.” Ryland chuckled.
-
“Maybe I’ll make one of you sleep outside then,” he threatened with a smirk, completely empty and they both knew it.
-
“Eh, it’s warm enough, I’m sure he’ll survive,” Kiran smirked.
-
Vael rolled his eyes with a smirk. “Get your cards out, smart ass,” he said with a chuckle. “Let’s play a few hands.”
-
And Kiran did, gladly. It’d been far too long, and last night had been a welcome return to normalcy, despite their location.
-
Ryland got them their food, and it practically felt like a feast after being so limited on food. It would be good to have a proper meal, but that would come soon. His stomach would feel full enough to sleep tonight. Hopefully.
What was more helpful was the cards and conversation. He had short sleeves on and no gloves, and yet he could almost forget what was visible to his family. That…that was a real relief….
------------------------------------------
When Ryland’s shift came, he’d already been awake for a few minutes before Vael shook him awake. Stupid dreams… But at least they hadn’t startled him into a scream this time.
“Wake up....” It was a voice...or a dream...or...something...what was making Vael wake up...?
When he did, he saw Ryland sitting very still, back to the two others, staring out over the ocean.
-
“Nhg…” He rubbed at his face and blinked, looking around for a moment in confusion. He yawned as he slowly pushed himself up. “Ryland?” he called, softly so as not to wake Kiran. Hadn’t been one of them… whose voice was that?
-
Ryland let out a startled gasp. “.... Yeah...” He whispered.
-
He shifted to his feet and made his way to his cousin’s side. “You all right?” he asked as he crouched down next to him.
-
Ryland’s face was ashen as he went back to staring out to the ocean. This was not like Ryland. He could get shaken at the worst of times, but this....was different. “... I can’t...”
-
“… Can’t what?” he asked quietly, shifting so that he cold get a good look at him. “Ry, what happened?” He looked like the ancestors had just marched across his grave!
-
“I...I can’t...go into Veriki...”
-
“… What are you talking about?” he asked, brow furrowing. “Your cloak covers everything, it’ll be fine…?”
-
“No, you don’t -” he raked one hand through his hair. “No, he - there was... I’m crazy,” he whispered. “I am going fucking crazy....”
The talking was breaking through Kiran’s sleep, and she slowly woke.
-
“I doubt you’re going crazy,” he assured, reaching his hands out to rest on his cousin’s shoulders. “Talk to me, Ry. What’s going on?”
-
That...sounded bad. Kiran quietly got up and made her way to the cave mouth to sit near them. She didn’t speak yet, didn’t want to interrupt, but she wasn’t going to be able to get back to sleep knowing there was distress happening.
-
Ryland gulped and bent forward, burying his forehead in his hands. “….I…hallucinated… Someone just showed up and….said if I don’t go to Veriki….he’ll make sure the fort survives….”
-
“… Who showed up?” he asked, glancing around outside the cave briefly. “What did they say is happening at the fort?”
-
“….I don’t…know…for sure who… But he said… He said the queen is hunting me…”
-
“… The Queen herself?” His brows raised at that. … could it have been an ancestor? No, the ancestors would protect their people regardless. But then, why- “What does that have to do with going to Veriki?” he asked. “What would happen if we went to Veriki?” The fort notwithstanding…
-
“I don’t know,” Ryland said as he shook his head. “I swear I really don’t know, he refused to tell me why. I asked. He just….ordered me, like he has any fucking….” He grit his teeth. ….And, as quiet as it was, an actual growl escaped his throat. Only for a moment. Ryland’s eyes burst wide open, and he clamped his hands over his mouth.
-
Kiran blinked, her eyes seeking Vael’s even in the dark. She was not yet awake enough to jump at the unexpected noise, but years of gentling Ryland down from nightmares came to the fore as she scooted close enough to rub circles across his shoulders. “Heyyyy, breathe, yeah?” She coaxed, barely above a whisper even though there was no one to wake. “In and out for me, slow as you can.” She emulated the breaths he needed, slow and deep, her hand on his back matching the rhythm.
-
Vael nodded, emulating with her. Between the two of them, hopefully they could calm Ryland down. Gave him time to ruminate on what they’d discussed and have a suggestion once he’d calmed…
-
It did take both of them. For a moment it seemed he wouldn’t breathe, and then only breathe via hyperventilation. But eventually he did start breathing. He would focus on listening to Kiran. Even if what she was saying was drowned out by a ringing in his ears at first, he would focus on trying to hear her. And then he started focusing on her and Vael’s touch. …And then he remembered his own damned stubborn will to survive, and reminded himself he needed to breathe. Dead men couldn’t get revenge on ghosts. …Maybe. Living men at least had a better chance than the dead ones. And so Ryland slowly made his way back to breathing properly…
-
Kiran’s relief was probably palpable. Her own breathing had stayed steady by sheer need, though her heart pounded as she waited for his to settle. It had been years many since it’d been this bad. “There we are,” she affirmed, not stopping her hand. She’d let Vael take up the task of teasing out more information. He’d been defensive enough with her last night, Vael was more likely to be successful. And where there was room to let things go with dreams, this seemed far too urgent to let Ryland deflect.
-
“Better,” he agreed with a nod. “… You know me, and you know that I am usually willing to let something… strange or spiritual stand on its own. But you,” he looked past Ryland to Kiran, “both of you, prefer a little logic. So, accepting things are… strange anyway. Here are my thoughts.”
He sat back, gently releasing his cousin’s shoulders. “We don’t know if Tienja is still following us, but we suspect he may be. You didn’t know he would follow you into the fort when you came back, but now we know, and we know what kind of havoc he can wreak. And we have already voiced concerns about whether he’d pull the same stunt in Veriki, yes?” He leaned back a bit with a sigh. “So if we go around Veriki, there won’t be any civilians to unwittingly get in his way. We won’t feel a need to surrendered to protect them, nor will we have to watch out for them in a fight. This also, if he is indeed still following, pulls him even further from his home.”
That was important. “It’s now been a good while since you escaped and the Queen sent him after you. If she’s at all prone to impatience, she may well decide to take matters into her own hands, and the fort is the closest Kyarian settlement. Our soldiers are prepared for an attack by Te’il warriors. If Tienja is still chasing us, he won’t be at her disposal against the fort.”
He nodded to Ryland. “Hallucination, spirit, curmudgeon-y ancestor, perhaps was speaking from your instincts and concerns…”
Or maybe it was a Te’il god talking to him for some reason…
-
….Logic… Yes… None of it was guaranteed, but it was likely. Likely enough to help Ryland keep breathing as he slowly nodded. “…Maybe…” he whispered.
-
“Okay,” he soothed. “So we’ll go with that. In which case… we can change trajectory. Food will be easier to come by down here anyway.” They could save the coin for another day. Maybe they’d fine a trader on their travels. They should avoid roads though…
-
Ryland shifted so that he cradled his whole face in his hands. Change of plans…he needed to think. He needed to calm down. He needed to be rational…
But what the fuck was that noise he made…?! That was not rational….
Calm…breathe… “…He didn’t…shit,” he whispered as he felt his voice start to shake. Ryland, get your fucking shit together! “He didn’t say,” he took a deep breath to steady himself, “that you two couldn’t go. He said me. …If the two of you go into Lurenu and just get food…just focus on supplies… Ask where the nearest town is…”
-
“We’re not leaving you here alone in this cave, Ryland,” Kiran said, firm but still quiet. If for no other reason than that he didn’t need left alone to dissolve like this. Because even if he didnt try and leave them, the moment he was left alone, he most certainly would implode.
“...But we are out of food. Neither of us are technically on the run. So, one of us goes, the other stays with you. We can reprovision with the farmers. Vael is best with people, he can get us the most out of our coin. I needed to look for rabbit runs and set up traps, anyway; you can help me with that. We set up a meeting spot in case something happens and one of us has to run.”
If Vael wasn’t back within an hour of sundown, then fuck the Fort and fuck whoever was paying Ryland visits. She’d tear this whole damn valley apart.
-
He didn’t like it, but it was a good plan. “Just point me in the right direction,” he agreed. And he would be able to find his way back. He wasn’t a scout, but as long as it wasn’t back alleys, he wasn’t too directionally challenged, heh…
-
“The cave is safe enough,” Ryland mumbled in frustration. “If you go together, you can have each other’s backs if something happens....”
-
“I’ll be okay, Ry,” he promised. “I’m a big guy with a hammer. Most people won’t mess with me. And Tienja isn’t looking for me. Besides, two of you here means more traps can be set up, which means more game caught.”
They could make a list of necessary provisions for him to take with him. No big deal. He’d be back by dark or shortly after.
-
The utter panic was quickly draining into anger. Primarily from being so. Fucking. Weak. He kept falling apart at night, and it was getting stupid! He didn’t need to be watched over, he wasn’t a child, and he wasn’t going to convince either of them that if he kept panicking over...over specters and mind tricks and.... He stopped trying to define it. Too real, too fast. He grit his teeth and looked down. “....Fine.” He huffed out a few breaths, and then got to his feet. “It’s your shift, Vael. Shoulda woke you a while ago. I’m gonna get air.”
-
“Hey.” He grabbed Ryland’s hand, looking up from his crouched position. “We’re a unit. A team. We need all of us to survive.” And not just the elements. His heart would absolutely break if they lost Ryland… And with that message clearly stated, he released his hand just as gently as he’d grabbed it.
He would regrown from telling him to not go far. He trusted Ry knew better than that.
-
“...Yeah.” He nodded without looking at them. “I know...” He just.... desperately needed to punch something, and there was nothing in that cave he wanted to damage or scare...
-
Kiran watched Ryland go in silence. Vael had always been better with sincerity; there was nothing left to add. It was a long while before she spoke, barely a whisper. “...tell me he’s gonna be alright, Vael. I don’t know how to handle this spiritual stuff, and logic? ...Nothing about this makes sense...”
The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
-
He shifted to settle next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders with a quiet sigh. “Whatever happens,” he said quietly, “we will make it okay.”
-
“...yeah,” Kiran said, breathing deeply as she snuck an arm around his hip and rested her head on his shoulder. “Yeah. We will. Just...gotta make sure he knows that.”
-
“We will,” he assured. “With card games and banter, and words in his face if he decides to be thick.” He smirked slightly.
-
After a moment, they heard a familiar sound from the past - Ryland screaming into the void as he punched something. It happened so much more often when he had no control over what happened to him at home, paired with youth and a lack of wisdom stoking those fires. At least these cries felt intentional. He knew why he needed to let off steam. ...It was just hard listening, because even if he was older, wiser, had more control...he was losing control...
-
Gods… the sound was painful, nostalgic in the worst kind of way. It wasn’t even something he could turn around; what was he supposed to do with silver scales across his body?
And the fuck was up with that growl…?
Ancestors guide them. Kiran was right; none of this made any damn sense. No matter how strong his cousin was, this seemed like… too much for him to have to carry.
They could travel with him, hunt and trap and fish, forage, build and collapse shelters. They could play cards and give him words of comfort and shoulders to lean on (when he’d let them). They could help him carry his fears and worries and frustrations… but they couldn’t take the scales from him. They didn’t even know why he was sprouting scales. They certainly didn’t know how to stop it, let alone reverse it…
-
Kiran stilled in the wake of that scream. It was in fact familiar. Excruciatingly familiar. Made worse in the knowledge there was absolutely fuck-all they could do about it. Not at the moment, anyhow.
Fuck, she had no idea how to keep Ryland sane. The scales would be what they were. They weren’t comfortable, clearly, but they didn’t change him. He was, for all his many flaws, still Ryland...just now, with added trauma. Maybe that’s the reminder he needed now. That this weird didn’t change who he was. Even with the growling...
-
Ryland’s screaming didn’t last the whole hour or so he was gone. The sound of impacts went longer, though they slowed over time. And then there was a strip of silence before he finally made his weary way back into the cave, the black sky just starting to hint at indigo as he did. And he was cradling his left hand, his primary hand.
-
“… Is it broken, bleeding, or just bruised?” Vael asked as he noticed the cradling, simply, plainly, without judgment or worry, because Ryland didn’t need those right now. But he did need his hand treated if it was hurt.
-
“No, yes, yes,” Ryland hissed. He was at least exhausted enough to not be completely enraged anymore, and physical pain was so much easier to concentrate on than anything else. That was something that could be addressed and solved, even if it took time. He sat down next to Vael. “....Probably be fine...” He held his hand out to Vael. If punching things had been Ryland’s main way of keeping sane while he was in captivity, then that would explain why there was more silver on his left hand than the other. A couple spots where the bleeding was heaviest, the once irritated skin had started opening up to reveal more scales....
-
“Mm… gonna rinse it anyway,” he replied, reaching for his canteen. “Should be able to make a salve when the sun gets a bit higher.” How ridiculous would it be, if Ryland succumbed to a fucking infection in his knuckles? He hoped the ancestors were not so petty, it better safe than sorry.
“Did it help?” he asked as he poured a bit of water over the abused hand, again without judgement. He didn’t ask every time, but now and then… it was worth asking.
-
“...Yes and no,” Ryland said quietly. At least he felt good about shaking from the sting and the let down of adrenaline and not the rage. “Could do without becoming more of a lizard...”
-
“If I could keep that from happening, I would,” he replied as he carefully ran his thumb across the blood to clean it up. “Don’t think I have an herb for that though. So we’ll make do with keeping infection at bay.”
-
“Good enough for now.” Ryland nodded. “...I’m fine....when I’m not...just waking up from a dream or....whatever that...”
-
“Those dreams seem nasty,” he replied with a small nod. Kinda wished he’d taken a little more time with herbalism. Maybe he could have created some sort of sleep drought. … not that he was entirely convinced Ryland would take it, mind. “And rude, clearly. The least they could do is give you some damn answers, if they’re going to plague you so.”
-
“If only.” Ryland snorted. “...I’m just saying, I won’t be in danger here, likely....”
-
“I believe you,” he replied, looking up from cleaning up the hand he held. “I also still think it would be better if there were two people to set up traps for game and one to go to town. I also trust you and Kiran to keep the way clear for when I return.”
He placed his other hand over his cousin’s. “We know you can take care of yourself, Ry. We know you can handle shit that comes at you. You’ve had to, far more than we can even fathom. But you also don’t have to handle it alone now.” With a smirk he added, “And you know I could eat a whole rabbit myself, so. More game means a happier blacksmith.” He winked.
-
...Fuck, Vael... Ryland snorted and half smiled. “Yeah, yeah...”
-
He patted his hand, then finished cleaned it. “You want to rest for an hour or so, or are you awake for the day?”
-
“....Probably should try to rest,” Ryland mumbled. “Either way Kiran’s gonna kick my ass...”
-
“Only if you fight me,” Kiran grumbled from where she lay next to the fire. Vael had insisted she rest, but she’d only really be able to sleep now that Ryland was back.
-
Ryland looked back. “.... You should be asleep, too,” he pointed out. “If you’re gonna drag me around trapping.”
-
“Agreed. So, quit yer yapping and lay down.” Kiran yawned and readjusted herself for what sleep remained. “Wake us up when the sun cracks the horizon. We need as much light as we can get.” Which would have been true if she were going alone. Of the two of them, though, Kiran may be the swifter, surer hand, but Ryland was the better tracker. He could spot rabbit runs like they called to him. They’d always been more productive together.
-
“I’m getting my hands cleaned. What’s your excuse?” ....They were probably fine at this point, but....maybe Vael would want to wrap them, who knew?
-
Oh yes he did. And they still had of the Te’il outfit that would make a good bandage. He just smirked as he pulled the cloth toward him and started ripping strips. He almost felt bad; the craftsmanship of the garb had been exceptional. But, it was still just cloth, and they needed kindling - or bandages - more than excellently crafted clothing they would not wear…
-
“Clearly, I’m an idiot who gives a damn,” Kiran mumbled from the brink of sleep. He’d made it back safe and he was in Vael’s care. She could rest now.
-
“Then go back to sleep, idiot.” He spoke neutrally. ...Then he leaned toward Vael. “You don’t have to wake her at dawn,” he whispered.
-
“Oh, so you want me to take the brunt of her wrath?” he asked quietly with a huffed laugh. “Oh no, sorry cousin, she’s a little scarier than you are.” He grinned.
-
“Blame it on me then. I’m a delicate flower who needs his bullshit sleep.” Genuinely, he’d get up whenever, but he still wasn’t sure she’d really gotten enough rest over the last two nights with his stupid problems interrupting....
-
“Fine, fine,” he said with a chuckle as he tied off the makeshift bandages. “I’ll pick some herbs before I wake you both. Go rest.”
-
Ryland nodded. Then he lifted his hand. “Thanks.” He patted Vael’s shoulder with his right hand, and then went to lie down. Hopefully he would get to sleep...
...and he did. He slept pretty hard....
-
Vael let them sleep, slipping a little out of the cave to poke at the various greenery around them. Something for itch, something for disinfecting, and maybe something for numbing if he could find it!
-
He had to make the short hike to the hills, but even there, there wasn’t much to work with. The blame for letting them sleep in further was looking to be more and more on his shoulders....
“Can I assist?”
...Turning about, Vael found a woman standing nearby. Where she’d come from, it was hard to say. Maybe he’d been that focused on the ground he hadn’t noticed this statuesque farmer coming up the hill? She was dressed plainly enough for a farmer. She took great pride in her glossy brown hair, though, which reached down to her knees, even with the intense waves all throughout, and was strung with colored sections with all the brilliance of a field of wildflowers.
-
Vael startled a bit, silently cursing himself for being so careless, but pretty quickly adopted a friendly - if a touch sheepish - smile. “Hello! Sorry, I hope I’m not trespassing,” he said with a chuckle. “I was looking for healing herbs, but I’m not having much luck…” Maybe because there was too much green on the ground, ah-haha…
-
“I can see that.” She gave him a smile warm as the sun. She cradled the handle of a large basket to her belly. “...You must be quite lonely out here. You’re not from these parts.”
-
“Oh, no, is it that obvious?” he asked with a soft laugh, ducking his head. “But no, I’m not lonely; my companions are keeping watch at our shelter nearby.”
A small white lie, if only for protection’s sake. What? He’d learned a few things from his cousin!
“I admit I’m a little more accustomed to looking for herbs through snow. I don’t begrudge the beauty of the land here, but it does make it a little harder to spot specific herbs.” There, a little truth to balance. Besides, his clothes probably gave away where he’d come from, so what was the point in pretending on that front?
-
“I’m sure.” She held out the basket to him. “Perhaps this might help?”
....the basket was full of herbs, fresh and dried. It also had a jar of a neutral balm he could add the herbs to. And there were herbs for cooking....
-
“Oh!” Well, then! “It would, actually. You a trader, then? I’m happy to part with some coin for a bit of your stock!” He had his purse, right? Yes, good, he had tucked it back on his belt.
-
“Your friend has already paid.” She smiled more softly now. “Not everyone agrees, but...he has done a very good thing.”
-
“… My friend has paid?” he asked, whatever praise he’d been about to offer the Ancestors for this unexpected good fortune stuttering in his mind. “… I’m sorry, I’m not sure I understand.” Now he was a little more wary… Not outright suspicious, maybe she had him confused for someone else…?
-
“Would you do me a kindness?” She clasped her hands in front of her.
-
“… I can certainly try,” he replied cautiously.
-
“Save this for when he will hear it. And then speak with conviction.” She took a step forward. “His first action. He knew not what he was doing. It was not his fault. And it is our burden to bear. But his second and third?” Her smile grew bright. “From the bottom of my heart: thank him for me. Deeply.”
-
“I- Forgive me, but who are you?” he asked, now bewildered. She had to be talking about Ryland, but…
-
“Your ally.” She leaned in. “It is safer for you if you know nothing more. For now. But you have friends.” She stood up straight again. “Go see to him.”
-
He hesitantly accepted the basket, looking down at the contents again, then back up at the woman. “… Thank you,” he replied softly. Might not be the ancestors but it was… something not remotely mundane… He eyed her for a moment, then nodded. “I will remember,” he then promised. When he would hear it. That might be a while… but he would hold the message.
-
“Thank you.” She nodded to him before turning to walk down the hill ...
-
He watched her for a moment, then slowly eased back before turning back toward the cave. After a few steps, he paused to look back at the strange, friendly woman, brow still creased.
-
....She was gone....
-
“…” Deeeeefinitely not mundane. He swallowed, then turned back toward the cave. For all of his spiritualism and belief, he’d never quite had an encounter so… clearly and obviously divine. It was… Great River take him, it was strange! Left his skin abuzz in a way adrenaline couldn’t quite do…
He set the basket down as he reached the cave, looking out over the fields of green again. There was no logic he could offer for this…
-
Vael took a couple centering breaths, then knelt down to tap their boots. “Hey, I let you sleep too long,” he said to them as he sat back down. He needed to get going to Veriki, but he… needed just another moment.
-
Ryland snorted then woke. “....Ngh....”
-
Kiran roused with a deep inhale as she gained her bearings. She sat up to rub sleep from her eyes. Yeah, it’d been a couple short nights, but she’d be damned if she bitched about them now. “...how late is it?”
-
“Uh…” he glanced out the cave, “a bit past full sun up. Sorry, I was looking for herbs…” He looked a bit shaken, and maybe a touch too contemplative about herbs…
-
“S’fine. D’you find what you were looking for?” Kiran paused a moment, draping herself heavily over her knees before getting just as heavily to her feet. She’d feel better once they got moving...
-
“… Yes. And then some.” He looked toward the basket, then pulled it closer to actually take inventory…
-
Kiran blinked at him. “...did we have a basket?”
-
Ryland blinked the blur out of his eyes. “....Wait....”
-
“No,” he said as he breathed a soft sigh. “The basket came with the herbs.” He turned to look at them both, but particularly Ryland. “A gift. From an ally, she said.”
-
Kiran looked to share a glance with Ryland. “An...ally?”
-
Ryland frowned and sat up. “Vael. Where did you go?”
-
“Out by the hill,” he said. “I could not for the life of me find what I was looking for.” He chuckled softly, looking down at his hands a moment before looking up again. “Didn’t hear her walk up, but I thought maybe I was just too engrossed. Was primed to thank the ancestors for my luck that a trader in herbs happened to be out so early… but when I offered to pay, she said my ‘friend’ had already paid.” He looked at Ryland. “She… wouldn’t tell me who she was. Said it was safer I didn’t know ‘for now’, but… assured we have friends.”
-
“........” And just like that, Ryland was up. “Fucking...” He snatched up his cloak and threw it around his shoulders as he stormed out of the cave.
-
“Ry, hey!” Damnit…
-
“Oi!” Kiran hollered, chasing after him. She was not awake enough for this.
-
Vael let her chase after him. He rubbed his face, then took to preparing the herbs. There were plenty of rocks here…
-
Ryland was storming up the paths to the hills, absolutely on a mission.
-
Kiran sprinted up the path and slipped past him, planting herself in his path. “Nuh-uh, not doing this, Ryland.”
-
“Out of my way, Kiran,” Ryland growled.
-
“No,” Kiran glared. “I know you don’t want to think about this shit, but that’s the hand we’ve got right now. Come back and fucking talk.”
-
“If someone out here is fucking with my people, then I have fuckin words for them!” He yelled back.
-
“If someone out here was fucking with your people, I’d be right here with you!” Kiran closed the gap between them, pushing on his chest in emphasis. “As it is, whoever the fuck is out here Gave. Vael. Help. For you! And I get that you’re out of practice, but the appropriate response here is to be grateful, not storm off like a damn child!”
-
“Grateful for what?! Bribes from some Te’iltic bullshit?! Because that’s what this is! Someone just shows up with exactly what Vael was looking for, saying it’s paid for?”
-
“YES!” Kiran chuckled, incredulously. “Yes, Ry! If for no other reason than the entirely over-tapped weird quota is working for you today! Fuck, if something is threatening you off of going to Veriki even long enough to get supplies, you don’t throw a tantrum when someone else brings supplies to you!”
Kiran breathed long enough to rake a hand through her hair, trying to de-escalate herself so she could bring him down too. “Look, let’s just go back and figure out what else this ‘she’ said and then we can get on with the rest of our damn plans for the day, alright? We’re already losing daylight and Vael has plenty of walking to do if he’s going to be back at a reasonable hour.”
-
Ryland clenched his teeth and turned away. “...I wanna know what was paid. I wanna know what it cost.”
-
“I know,” Kiran affirmed, gentle now. “Fuck, I’m...I’m scared to know, but I get it. But she ain’t out here giving answers or she’d have delivered the basket to you directly.”
-
“She should have.” He turned back to Kiran. “She - whatever she is - she owes me. They fucking owe me!”
-
“You are damn right they do! And this sure as shit isn’t enough!” Kiran was more than happy to meet his energy here. This she wouldn’t argue with. “...But it’s a fucking start.”
-
Ryland swallowed and took a few deep breaths. “....” He pinched his lips and looked toward the ocean. “....This comes out against you or Vael somehow, and I will....” He didn’t know what he would do. ....But he would make sure it would hurt.
-
“I know, Ry. You’ll burn the whole damn thing to the ground for us.” It hadn’t ever really been a question. Cuz she’d do the same. Probably faster. Which was perhaps why him being this volatile scared her so much. Not of him, for him.
-
Ryland paused, trying to keep his fuming under control. “....Damn it, Vael...” He grumbled as he started marching back to the cave.
-
Kiran breathed a sigh of relief before catching up and following him back in.
-
“Vael!” Ryland shouted for him as he came into the cave. “Vael, what did she mean that this was already paid for?”
-
Vael looked up from his work, startling st the shout. He paused, frowning softly. “I- Are you sure you want to hear that part?” he asked, voice soft and gentle. She’d said to tell him when he was of a mind to hear it. It didn’t seem like he was of that mind yet.
-
“What the fuck - yes!” Rylan shouted. “
-
“… What happened, when things first started getting weird?” he asked, voice still gentle as he met Ryland’s gaze, his own unwavering. “You haven’t really said…”
-
“....Vael. I’m asking about the herbs.”
-
“I know,” he replied. “And my question is related.”
-
“Things got weird when I started having freakish dream, and then scales grew out of my skin!”
-
“Yes, we know that part,” he said, voice still gentle. “What else happened?” He reached out and took his cousin’s hand, beginning to unwrap his knuckles. “Because it’s ‘woo-woo shit.’” He shook his head as he dipped into the soothing astringent salve he’d made.
-
“Vael -” Ryland yanked his hand back out. “We’re not dealing with the sun and moon! We’re dealing with shit that fucked me over! And you or Kiran can come next, and we don’t even know if it would be because of the herbs!”
-
“It won’t be because of the herbs,” he said as he met Ryland’s gaze steadily. “The herbs have already been paid for.” He held a hand out for his cousin’s. “And if I did not believe that, I would have graciously refused them.”
-
“Alright. Great. How? With my skin?! With eight months of my life? Herbs are what I get for being paraded around in front of a bunch of Te’iltic fuckwits like a fucking animal?!” Ryland screamed.
-
“No,” he replied, remaining calm as he continued to meet his cousin’s gaze and held a hand out for his. “No, it wasn’t because of what you suffered, Ry. That was human beings, being their worst.” Kyarians were capable of some pretty heinous acts too. “It’s because of what you did.”
-
“What did I do?!” He laughed in total disgust. “I didn’t - Vael, if shit happens to you next, what are we supposed to do?”
-
He took Ryland’s hand, his grasp firm, and pulled, hard, to bring the man down to his level. “That’s not going to happen,” he said, placing his free hand at Ryland’s cheek. “You know why? Because you won’t let it. Kiran won’t let it. Just like you and I won’t let anything happen to Kiran. Just like we won’t let anything else happen to you.”
His other hand released Ryland’s and moved to the other side of his face. “You said things happen when you speak. So speak that. Nothing is going to happen to us.”
-
Ryland frowned and shook his head as he looked away. “....Nothing is going to happen to either of you. But it would be nice if you had a sense of self preservation, cousin.”
-
He smirked. “I have enough for faith to cushion me. And, you know, you and Kiran at my back. Now sit down and give me your hands.”
-
“....I am still pissed off at you.” He sat down ....because damn it, his hand was already starting to feel better.
-
“Stay mad,” he replied, taking his hand and smearing the salve. “I’ll make a balm for the itching when I get back this evening. There’s cooking herbs in the basket as well.” Ryland would recognize those, though he likely recognized the herbs as well as Vael did, honestly. Vael just knew how to mix them properly for desired results.
-
“....You’re going to go into town still. By yourself.”
-
“Yep,” he replied. “It doesn’t take long to mix the herbs. And we have a balm base, so it’ll just need to be mixed into that. What provisions do we need? Most important to least.”
-
“Something for dinner tonight,” Kiran started. “The traps may not yield till morning. Other non-perishables for a few days wouldn’t hurt. Wraps for you, lighter clothes for Ry. If you can’t find gloves thin enough, I can make some but I’ll need fabric, needle and thread. I’m sure a bow’s out of budget for now, but a sling would give us options for meat while we’re on the move...I have no idea what else we’ll need as we move south. Ry?”
-
“...” Ryland clenched his mouth stubbornly shut.
-
Kiran would not pummel his stubborn ass. It had already been a trying morning. Kiran would not pummel his stubborn ass... “C’mon Ryland, you’re the one with all the experience here. How different is this than traveling in the snow?”
Their cloaks would probably be sufficient for bedding down. Their boots would all walk fine, if warm...
-
“You know I now can’t help you if you go off alone,” was his answer.
-
“...Are you fucking serious?” Kiran’s voice was colder than the winds they’d left behind.
-
“If you go into Veriki, I can’t follow. Was that not clear?”