Fantasy Primacy [Closed]

[Lucyfer]

‘Misjudged your own age a bit.’ Varick supposed that wasn’t too offensive. Most women preferred to be considered younger than they were. Or he’d misjudged how long ago that incident was. In either case, he gave a grunt as she noted it, familiar with it, though not personally.

He also wondered if she was one of the babes the despoina had stolen away. He wouldn’t exactly be able to recall the names of them. Or the faces now – they’d all grown up and lost their baby features.

He couldn’t help but grin, just a little, as he felt the obvious prying about his age. He turned his head more fully to look at her, “How old do you think I am, Tamsin?” he asked, knowing she’d come nowhere close to his actual age. Some were aware of the Primals aging – or at least, aware that Primals didn’t age like humans.

Some thought they were ageless and immortal, like the elves.

Varick wasn’t so sure about that ageless part. He definitely aged. Just slower. “One guess. Then I’ll tell you,” he promised. It wasn’t a huge deal to him, though he’d seen how the age affected others. Somehow…he didn’t think Tamsin would be too frightened by it. Or concerned.

~***~

Drazhan appeared not to be suspicious of the request. Kirsikka didn’t know if it was from previous interactions with elves, or a general good natured and possibly naïve trust in elves over humans. Kirsikka had been dealing with humans too long to find their request trustworthy, perhaps. Still, she would go ahead with it, since Drazhan seemed willing enough to allow it.

He’d have to fight any monsters they threw at them.

So would she…but that wasn’t the point.

“Then we’ll leave them. Thank you, once again,” the child said, and went back to the others, translating over the agreement. Kirsikka did listen, though of course, they were now aware she understood. They wouldn’t say anything too suspicious with her right there, that would wait until they were gone – if something suspicious was afoot.

She really wasn’t good with this trust thing, even where people owed her.

People weren’t good at repaying favors.

The child returned their attention briefly to the pair, “Thank you again. We’ll be off. Please give us a few minutes before going any further.”

Kirsikka nodded, “I think the horses are appreciating grazing, anyways,” her horse was, at least. Might have been better if they stopped near water, but beggars couldn’t be choosers.

The elves left them with little more than a farewell.

 

[cleopat]

When Varick asked her how old she thought he was, she immediately thought she had insulted him about his age somehow. That maybe he was sensitive about his age. In the moment of her hurried thoughts, Tamsin felt embarrassment, her cheeks reddening as proof.

“Oh gods, I hope I didn’t insult you by assuming your age,” she moaned. One hand covered her face in her shame before she removed it a moment later. But he didn’t seem annoyed. Or peeved. In fact, Varick may have even seemed a little amused by her questioning, which was far better than the alternative.

“I feel like I may dig myself into a deeper hole if I answer that,” she chuckled. But now, she was truly curious about his age. It seemed she had assumed wrong about his age, and he even offered to tell her the truth. She huffed, “Okay, but if I do answer, you can’t get mad at me for what I guess.”

Tamsin turned her head to better look at Varick, noting the grey spots and slight wrinkles she could immediately see. The face tattoos she really wanted the story for, but she wouldn’t push her luck. Maybe later. “My first guess is somewhere in your mid to late forties.”

~~~

Drazhan’s horse had taken upon grazing as well, once it noticed the group had stopped for the time being. “Safe travels,” he said in his departing words to the elves. Of course, he would regret all of his actions in the last few minutes if the elves indeed betrayed them instead of ensuring safe passage ahead.

But while he may not have the experience as other Primals, Drazhan wanted to say he could read someone quite well. And the other elves may still have their reservations, the child seemed supportive in helping them, as the duo helped them out of a precarious situation.

Maybe he would be eating those words later.

For now, he waved goodbye at the elves and turned back to Cherry. His hand gently brushed along Bear’s back as he hummed. “I wonder,” he began, lifting his eyes to look at her, “should I still call you Cherry? Because now I’m fairly certain that’s not your real name.”

He held up one hand before she could immediately answer. “Not that I care, nor do I expect the truth if you don’t wish to give it. The deal was to get you safely to your destination, though now I’m beginning to wonder why you didn’t go yourself, since it seems increasingly obvious you are more than capable of taking care of yourself.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Varick wasn’t insult in the least. He’d never been insulted by his age, though at times he did feel he had to hide it for the sake of others. Humans only lived so long, and they were already afraid of Primals. Knowing a Primal could live as long as he did? No, they’d be more terrified. It wouldn’t work out for that to be common knowledge.

Naturally, her guess was far off. He snorted, recalling who he’d been back in his 40s. How he’d looked barely out of his teens, and was more of a lanky think than anything terribly built. Oh, he still had power no human had, but he didn’t look it. Not like he did now, where there was no denying he could win most bar fights.

“No,” he said, shaking his head at Tamsin’s answer, “I’m somewhere over 180. I only mark centuries now.” He knew he wasn’t far over 180, but he didn’t want to do the math to get it exact right then. “Don’t worry,” he added, “very few have ever been close to the right answer.” And he thought the mage just got a lucky guess in, at that. Of course they knew a bit about how Primals aged, but he didn’t think they knew better than he did.

And he didn’t know.

He knew they had guesses, but no one had lived to die of old age to prove what the lifespan of a Primal was. He didn’t think he would figure that one out, either. “Not sure how long we live,” he added, “not many even make it as long as I do, but I’m not the oldest I’ve known.” Though he was close. He was the oldest left now, but he didn’t need to mention that.

~***~

Why, oh why, couldn’t Drazhan have been that Primal she met years ago, who didn’t ask any questions? Why did he have to be curious? Kirsikka did, of course, have the power to go on her own. Unfortunately, power wasn’t everything in this world. Well, not yet. If it was, she’d have the power to shut his mouth. “I never said it was,” Kirsikka answered, “I said it was what you could call me.”

She remembered that much, if only because she used that phrasing often enough to avoid a direct lie. Omissions were as deceptive, but they held the hint of their deception. “It’s a nickname I’ve had since childhood, it’s as good as any name.”

Except that it wasn’t her name, of course. Nor was she offering her name.

“And I need to sleep sometimes. I can’t exactly defend myself while I’m asleep. Unfortunately.” That probably also wasn’t a good enough answer for Drazhan, but it wasn’t a lie. It just wasn’t the full truth. They were still far too close to humanity’s civilizations to say anything of the full truth.

He could drag her back towards guards and jails and executions.

Well, he could try.

And he would have better luck than most. ‘This was a stupid idea.’ She shut her eyes a few moments. “If you want to leave, you can leave. I won’t even ask for a refund. You can call it pay for helping the elves.” Perhaps one of the elves would be willing enough to help her the rest of the way after the trouble.

 

[cleopat]

Tamsin didn’t think she guessed his age correctly. Maybe he was closer to sixty and just looked great for his age. But she wasn’t even close. Not by a long shot. “W-wha-” she sputtered, looking over at the man for any sign of jest, but as far as she could tell, he was telling the truth.

Now she felt so insignificant next to him. Oh the experiences he must have lived through, all the stories he had to tell! If she could, she would just want to listen to everything he was willing to tell.

“You look good for your age,” she finished lamely. You look good for your age? Really? Tamsin wanted to hit herself. She was still trying to wrap her head around his age as she thought back on the rumors and stories she heard about Primals over the years. Most were not pleasant, but quickly proven false in the first five minutes Tamsin spent with Varick. The others remained to be seen.

“I remember once overhearing a conversation in a bar between these drunken fools talking about Primals. They mentioned something about your long lifespan, but I just assumed they were the ramblings of drunk idiots, since they also mentioned how Primals liked to eat babies.” She chuckled and shook her head.

It seemed they were right about one thing. Now she kind of wished she had listened to the rest of their conversation to see what other ridiculous rumors they had about Primals.

~~~

Mages were a tricky sort. Drazhan haven’t had many dealings with them in the past, but the few he had? They made him want to rip his hair out in frustration. (And then there was the one that pulled his hair for him, but that was an entirely different situation) Cherry isn’t shaping up to be much different.

While she wasn’t exactly lying to him, as she pointed out, she was omitting details. Details that weren’t exactly life and death, but it did make him wonder, would she leave out something that would put him in that position?

That was what he cared about.

Drazhan sighed, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m not leaving. I agreed to help you, and accepted the first payment. I won’t leave unless I think something you’re doing is going to get us all killed. And if I have reason to believe any of this shit you’re keeping to yourself will do just that, I will do that.”

His tone changed, and he offered her a crooked smile. “But for now, you’re stuck with me.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Varick didn’t laugh, but the amusement didn’t fade from his eyes as he watched Tamsin struggle to accept what she learned about him. Apparently, she’d at least heard a rumor about their aging, but hadn’t thought much of it. So, he went on to add, “Oldest Primal I knew was around 250. Oldest mage I’ve known was around 800. Both are dead now.” A shame, on both counts, really. His mentor had been that Primal, and one of the leading visionaries was the mage.

But age and violence came.

None could live forever.

None should live forever

“You should have seen him. Looked younger than me.” Not that it was a surprise; mages had softer lives. Easier lives. They frequently killed themselves through mishaps with magic, but not battlefield scars. Not until recent times, anyways. He supposed there were probably times before that, too.

“We don’t eat babies, though. Unless you count veal, but I think even the rest of you eat that.” And only a few protested it. “Humans don’t tend to like anything different from them, that looks similar. Uncanny valley. It makes you all uncomfortable. So, they make up lies about us all the time. That one’s not unusual. They say it about vampires and mages, for how they keep their youth, too. Taking youth to be youthful. Common misinformation. Vampires and mages don’t need it. Mages are the more likely ones to do something…immoral with a baby, though.”

~***~

‘You’re helping a wanted criminal, Drazhan. Your life is at risk.’ Kirsikka did arch a brow, wondering if she ought to mention that merely talking to her, and any implication of helping her, would put his life at risk. That skirted too close to suggesting she had a bounty on her head that he might want to claim, and so close after an experience with those chains? No, she’d rather he not know that.

Still, she wasn’t a fan of lying to him where he stated directly what his limit was. She didn’t care much if he died, Primals signed up for that, but he had stated his limit. She could respect that. “My apologies then. Consider your service severed if that is your limit, Drazhan,” she tapped her steed on the neck, drawing his attention from his grazing.

The crooked smile was sweet with the threat of staying, in a way. Perhaps that was what undid her in pushing forward. “Friendly association will, in fact, get you killed,” she said, a light smile of her own. “I cannot help associating with myself, though I do go to great lengths to try,” the illusions. So much else, “You’ve made your limit clear, and I’ll push you no further than that. I just thought Primals didn’t care about a little risk, considering what you face daily, but I can guarantee – association will lead to attempts on your life.”

She put a foot in the stirrup, and pushed up to mount her horse, “But it was nice seeing you weren’t wholly driven by gold for the elves. It’s a rare sort who risks themselves for the good of others with no reward.”

Her reward would be blood.

That was good enough. “But you have no idea who I am, so you won’t be at risk if you go now.”

 

[cleopat]

“...fuck,” was all Tamsin could manage when Varick continued to tell her about the ages of another Primal and a mage. Sure, she heard of mages living to be quite old thanks to their magical prowess, but nearly a millennia old? Tamsin couldn’t even fathom being older than most empires.

And the mage looked younger than Varick?

Well, mages did pride themselves on their beauty. “I would have liked to meet this mage. He must have been very powerful.” What was it that stopped their aging, or at least slowed it down to a glacial pace? The magic in their body? Maybe a potion they all learned how to make at the mage academy?

“Glad to hear you’re not a baby eater,” she chuckled. “And even I fancy veal every now and then.” Tamsin had to agree with Varick. Humans generally don’t like anything different from them. Different from the norm. Even humans who strayed from the path and deviated from what society deemed acceptable were ostracized.

It was why she didn’t care much about rumors regarding others. She preferred to see for herself, regardless of how strange or mysterious it may be.

Back on the topic of eternal youth, Tamsin thought to ask her earlier question. “How do mages keep their youth? And for that matter, why is it Primals age so slowly? If you don’t mind answering,” she quickly added in hopes to not offend or annoy Varick too much.

~~~

Oh yes, mages were indeed a frustrating sort.

Cherry continued to only speak in riddles, not hinting at her true identity, but warning Drazhan that association with her will eventually spell trouble for him. So then who was she? She wasn’t some wanted criminal that he could recognize by name or features.

But mages were powerful creatures. He saw earlier how easily she could alter her appearance. What if this was just another disguise?

He sighed and stepped next to her horse. “I deal with attempts on my life on a near weekly basis. That doesn’t scare me.” Most humans he could easily defeat, especially if it’s only a small group. Or if they’re drunk, which were normally the sort that loved to start fights with him simply because he was a Primal.

“Why don’t you tell me who you really are then? After all, it may be a little late to distance myself from you due to threat of association, since that whole town back there saw us freeing those elves together.” He raised an expectant eyebrow at her. “Or if not, could you at least tell me why people are after you?”

 

[Lucyfer]

Tamsin’s reaction wasn’t abnormal, though it had far less fear behind it than most. A curious reaction for that alone, perhaps that’s why it made it easier to add on additions when he hadn’t been asked. Tamsin wasn’t automatically afraid of it all. She even went on to ask more, a genuine curiosity clearly nibbling at her mind to know more about the strange entities that occupied her world, that could have been humans, once upon a time.

At least, Varick assumed he was once human. He didn’t exactly have the childhood memories to confirm it. For all he knew, he was fae – but then, the Primal potions probably wouldn’t have worked on him if that were true.

“I don’t know how mages do it,” Varick answered, “I don’t understand a lot of what mages do,” and he preferred that, the way a peasant might prefer not to know how a butcher made sausages. It was for the best. He knew he owed his existence to them, and that was good enough to know mages did terrible things.

“For us, I don’t know the science behind it. Or magic. But it has to do with potions we’re given in our childhood. It impacts our entire biology. That’s why we’re such good hunters, and why we have these eyes,” he gestured at his own to make that point, “don’t know how long it lasts. No Primal has ever died of old age. I don’t expect to.”

~***~

‘They saw you, and a strange woman with light hair freeing the elves. They didn’t see me.’ Kirsikka thought to say, but again, wouldn’t. Perhaps Drazhan had guessed by now this face wasn’t hers. Perhaps he had guessed numerous things, but he wanted truths, not his own imagination, and Kirsikka wouldn’t give that to him.

Other than, “I assure you, there is no association between you and who I am.” That was as close to saying this face was a lie, that he was just there with some random troublemaker, as far as the world was concerned. “But I won’t tell you who I am this close to human civilizations.” She did need to sleep. And if he knew who she was, she wouldn’t sleep well.

There remained the risk he’d try to drag her back for the bounty once he knew.

She wouldn’t even consider trusting that until the danger of turning back outweighed the reward.

“But as I’m sure you’ve gathered, I’m not a mage of the Order of Light. The rest of the details, well…it’s too early to say. But mages who aren’t of the Order, generally speaking, are being hunted down and killed for heresy, or whatever new crime they’ve come up with.” That didn’t say her greatest crime.

But it offered him a crime that probably wasn’t worth the gold to him.

 

[cleopat]

It seemed that in his advanced age and world experience, Varick didn’t have all the answers. Other than his mage friend he had mentioned, did he not know very many mages? Or did he just let them do what they did, while he concerned himself only with his business? Tamsin couldn’t fault him for that. Not everyone was as curious about the world like she was.

Sometimes she asked too many questions, or got too curious for her own good.

“That’s kind of sad,” she hummed. “Not expecting to die of old age. Though, what would be considered old age for Primals, since you’ve already lived as long as three human lifespans?” And another one lived to 250 years. She couldn’t fathom the lived experience they must have.

“And no Primal had ever tried to retire before? Settle down in a picturesque cottage with a family?” No, she didn’t imagine they did. They seemed to lead tragic lives, fighting monsters humans want gone for coin, to make a living like everyone else, but humanity had damned them.

~~~

Drazhan stared at Cherry another moment in silence. If she was so certain that there was no association between who she was and him to the people, then he surmised that she truly was in disguise. Many people watched them free the elves. They didn’t exactly lay low.

His gut instinct told him to continue on with the escort. Besides, he was in need of some excitement. His assignments for the past year had been dull, typical, and offered no true excitement.

He didn’t do what he did strictly for the adventure, that was a good way to get clumsy and end up dead, but some excitement was nice. It kept him on his toes.

“Well if we don’t make it a habit of running into trouble in every village we come across, then I say we should be okay,” Drazhan said confidently as he strolled to his horse and mounted it with the ease and grace of someone who practically grew up riding them. “If that in fact happens, then I’m confident that between the two of us, we can manage it.”

He didn’t want to give up on this job just yet. Not when Drazhan was now eager to learn more about his mysterious escort.

 

[Lucyfer]

Varick shrugged, “Some people don’t want to die of old age,” it wasn’t necessarily sad. Varick had realistic expectations. He didn’t expect to become the oldest Primal to ever live, and die, of old age. He wasn’t sure he’d ever adapt to the sort of laying around and resting that old age required, anyways. “I really don’t know what’s old. I’d guess somewhere around 300 or 400 by how I’ve aged, and how I’ve seen others.”

They did age. Slowly. Not as slow as mages (unless they all hid it), but slow all the same.

“Some have tried.” He wouldn’t deny it. “None have ever succeeded.” Human hatred was too strong. Not even Drazhan. He knew Drazhan no longer did the job a Primal was made for, but he also hadn’t settled down and become a carpenter. No, he was still hunting. Just a different sort. Mercenary work.

Not quite the same.

He dealt with people.

Another kind of monster, really. But Varick wouldn’t say that. It was why he couldn’t say any had succeeded, though. Drazhan hadn’t settled anywhere. Built no home. Had no family. “Is that your dream? Settle down in a nice cottage and birth babies?” he joked, because he knew already it wasn’t – but since she brought it up as the ideal, he had to tease, just a little.

~***~

Kirsikka couldn’t help the sigh, and the chuckle, as Drazhan decided to stay on in spite of the risks she’d made explicitly clear. Well, she wasn’t going to play too hard to get. She had hired him for a reason. “You’re the guide for a while now. Just make sure we avoid towns and we shouldn’t have that kind of problem.”

Kirsikka wouldn’t promise much in towns. People pissed her off when they did things like this. And plenty of other things. Being on the run had, if anything, intensified her temper rather than mellowed it. If she was already destined for death, why not make them earn it? Probably a poor choice, but it was working so far.

‘You must be desperate though.’

She gently kicked Zephyr in the side to get him moving once Drazhan was mounted, “You cannot say I did not warn you now, though. No matter what happens. I did warn you it was more dangerous than monsters.” And it would be, even excluding the people.

She was hunting secrets, after all. Secrets to undo an entire nation and an entire religion. She just hoped the answers were there to do so.

 

[cleopat]

Tamsin could already hear the ballad forming in her head as Varick told her the tragic reality of the Primals. It was a far cry from the whisperings and stories people spread to make them seem as monstrous as the creatures they killed.

At the light joke, she snorted and shook her head. “I definitely can’t see myself hanging up my lute to do nothing but care for a husband and carry his children.” Not that she didn’t like children, she just couldn’t particularly see herself in that scenario. She wanted to keep her freedom and her passion.

“You already know I wish to perform my songs and ballads across the land. I guess after that, I don’t know what my dream is.” Which wasn’t completely true. Tamsin knew to some extent that beyond being a well-respected minstrel, so that she didn’t have to fret over coins, she didn’t want to be lonely anymore. She never met a stranger during her travels, and had acquaintances throughout the lands, but traveling by herself with just her horse was…lonely.

There had been attempts in the past to find that someone, but none had ended well. For now, she was content with socializing and taking the occasional man to bed when she felt that loneliness a bit too much.

“But I’m happy to take things one day at a time and see what happens. I’m content with life right now.” Maybe not completely happy, when she finds herself alone and in trouble along the road, or going to bed with a stomach emptier than she would have liked, but Tamsin also knew when to find the inspiration in life.

~~~

“I can avoid all the unnecessary towns, and I’m sure we can keep a low enough profile in those we have to enter.” It should be easy enough to not make another spectacle right in the town square. If they came across more unjustly imprisoned elves, well, then that may be another story.

Maybe Drazhan would have to ask for more gold coins.

“Are you okay with sleeping on the ground?” Mages he met held a certain lifestyle. Their hands were soft while Drazhan’s were covered in calluses. And they certainly didn’t sleep on the ground if they could help it. Even if Cherry was on the run, in hiding, he didn’t know if she used her magic to still get a warm, soft bed at night.

And after a certain point in their journey, they won’t have a choice but to endure whatever nature held.

Drazhan gently kicked Bear to get him trotting alongside Zephyr. “Maybe it will end up being my downfall, but I admit that I am curious as to what we may encounter that will be worse than monsters or humans.”

 

[Lucyfer]

‘Does there have to be an after?’ Was it not something that Tamsin could do forever? Varick wondered why people always thought of an after, but supposed that was normal for people who grew old, and expected to retire. Expected to lose their abilities, one day. There was always an after.

There was no after for him.

The idea was foreign.

He recognized it not to ask why it couldn’t go on forever. Even if it was something as innocent as playing music, she might not have the same mobility in the future. That would mean there was an after.

“Mm. The now is important.” He lived in the eternal now. He didn’t really make future plans. Still, he felt it was important for others, too. Happiness now was good. “You’ll figure out what you want as you explore more. Find a place you like. Someone you like. Or some activity, some thing, you can come back to. At least you’re going out and finding it. The vast majority don’t. And they never reach contentment, either.”

No, they always wondered “what if” – and never found out.

Tamsin was at least a few steps ahead of the majority, in that respect. “Probably won’t find it in Ritherhithe, though – but the gold should be good.” One positive about cities like that, at least. “You ever been to many capital cities?” Perhaps her fortune lied in such a place as that. “Or scholarly ones?” They were often either the least progressive, or the most.

That could do her some good. Not that scholars were often rich.

~***~

Well, Drazhan was full of surprises. Kirsikka kept pace easily enough, eventually letting her pace fall just enough to indicate she was following rather than leading through the forest. “I can deal with forest floors. I’ve dealt with worse.” It wasn’t too bad, and she had a sleeping kit among the supplies Zephyr carried.

He was willing enough to think they could avoid enough towns on the way, but he knew, soon, they’d be beyond that. Perhaps they’d have some reprieve among the elves, but Kirsikka considered that debatable.

Given how much she’d already hinted at, she opted to say, “We have a little less than three weeks before I won’t be able to hide myself. We’re unlikely to find the ingredients I would need to extend that further, before we pass Elphyne. Once we pass Elphyne it may be possible, but it also won’t be quite so necessary. I’ve been taking a potion to mask my appearance.”

He knew it was false. He didn’t know what was true, but he knew it was false. May as well make it explicit. “I’m guessing you’re not much of a believer in the Council of Light or the Ineffable One?” It was a prying question, obviously, but she had to know what his thoughts were on that faith. On most faiths, perhaps, but that was the one that had condemned her.

She didn’t think they were much a fan of Primals, though.

She didn’t really know their stance. Primals did fight monsters. They might have made an exception of their impurities. Or they simply didn’t know how Primals might be impure.

 

[cleopat]

Tamsin smiled as Varick reassured that she would find the future that she was looking for. “You’re right. At least I’m out trying to find that thing, and in return, I get to meet all sorts of interesting people and see the world.” There were dangers with setting forth into the world, dangers that Tamsin naively didn’t quite think of when she first left Antalya over ten years ago.

But she soon learned of bandits and creatures that lurked in the forests and men who were eager to take advantage of a lone, young woman in any way they could. And that was when Tamsin understood why most people stayed content in their own villages their whole lives.

Even then, she couldn’t imagine herself being confined to the same village for the remainder of her years.

Tamsin hummed in confirmation at Varick’s question. “Oh yes, I’ve been to several capital cities. I often have the most luck in the capital cities, so I’ll end up staying for a few weeks while I perform in different venues to save some money before traveling again. The one downside to capital cities is that there are often other minstrels that I have to compete against for performance time and coin.”

There was one bard she somehow managed to run into far too frequently on a continent as large as theirs, and he always found ways to get under her skin.

“I’ve been to two scholarly cities, with mixed experience at both.” She shrugged. “Not as much coin to earn there, but the one city I visited where I had a good experience, I had the opportunity to learn about and play instruments I’ve never seen before.”

~~~

Drazhan grunted to acknowledge Cherry’s answer. At least she wouldn’t be high maintenance. Not that he gathered the impression that she would be, but the confirmation was appreciated. Unless she was lying. Again.

He would find out come nightfall.

Drazhan glanced over at Cherry’s admittance of her disguise, or soon-to-be none thanks to the lack of proper ingredients. Three weeks before her true self was revealed, and she would be exposed to those after her. “We’ll just have to make sure we don’t linger too long in any one area then.”

The faster they arrived in elven lands, the better. But then would come a whole new slew of problems.

He scoffed at Cherry’s question, shaking his head. “I try to stay far away from them. I don’t care much about their holier-than-thou attitude towards everything and everyone, and I don’t think they care much about me and other Primals.” Not that he had any truly adverse interactions with the few he’s met, but he could tell.

“Besides, as a general rule, I try to distance myself from most religions. In my experience, they seem to only cause more harm than good.

 

[Lucyfer]

It seemed Tamsin had traveled to such places. Varick wasn’t surprised. These were likely the first places she had sought out – at least, capital cities. They were the places everyone heard about, no matter how small the city was, though she hadn’t come from a terribly small city, considering it was a port. Ports would carry details from many other places – but the capitals were still the talk.

They were where all the drama happened amongst nobility, and usually even merchants.

The scholarly cities had their own dramas, but they could be just as noteworthy for their advancements. Might not make a visitor rich, but at least Tamsin had a good experience in one, finding out about new instruments. Varick made an agreeable grunt, noted, “There are a lot of instruments out there. Not all are easy to carry around.”

In his opinion, none of them were easy to play, but then again, he thought slaying monsters wasn’t too difficult anymore, so he knew it was all a matter of practice. And he didn’t practice instruments or have much interest.

But he did like the sounds they could make.

“What happened in the city where you had a poor experience?” Tamsin had indicated mixed experiences. Perhaps it was just lack of coin, but it was worth finding out.

~***~

Kirsikka nodded her agreement. That was part of why she told Drazhan, so he’d understand they were on a bit of a timetable before her whole disguise was blown and she was no longer just some random mage on the run. Not that he knew who she was. Maybe he’d start to think she was blowing it out of proportion. That would be ideal, though Kirsikka was coming to the conclusion he was going to find out.

Sooner than later, probably.

Which was unfortunate.

At least he didn’t care much for organized religion. ‘He cares enough for gold.’ And that would remain the questionable matter of this entire relationship. His dislike probably didn’t extend to denying himself some gold by turning in a war criminal. “Seems we have the same experiences with the people of faith and their gods, then. Or god in this case.”

The Ineffable One allowed for no others. Stingy bastard. What was wrong with the Mother of Blood? Not that Kirsikka adhered to any faith, but if she was going to, she quite liked the Mother of Blood. Most men didn’t. Kirsikka couldn’t fathom what was wrong with a goddess of menstruation, life, death, and murder.

She’d allow herself to fall silent, and would be happy to stay in that silence, or mostly silence, as they rode through the forest that grew increasingly thick with trees. Small signs did begin to show themselves, though – the sorts elves or fae would send, that the typical human wouldn’t notice.

And perhaps Kirsikka wouldn’t, if she hadn’t been on the lookout.

But she was – and so she pointed out all the strange yellow flowers that bloomed, a plant that most definitely shouldn’t have been blooming anywhere near this part of the world. They were uniquely cave-dwelling flowers and in total darkness emitted light. But out here in the sun? They just looked like normal yellow flowers.

 

[cleopat]

No, not all instruments were easy to carry around, and many different regions had their own instruments specific to the area, so Tamsin loved to see and learn about any new instruments she came across that she wouldn’t normally see.

She was like a little kid given sweets.

When Varick attempted to find out a little more about her poor experience in the other scholarly city, Tamsin briefly frowned before she shook her head. “Oh, I won’t bore you with those details. It wasn’t anything that terribly exciting. An asshole broke one of my instruments. One that my parents gave me.”

She didn’t want to relive the moment she lost one of the few things she had left of her parents. It would make her sad, which was an emotion she preferred to ignore.

“I bet you have visited so many cities during your life.” The attempt to turn the focus back on Varick was easy enough. “Is there anywhere you haven’t been yet?”

~~~

Drazhan, with nothing more to say at the moment, allowed the silence as they continued through the forest. The trees grew denser, and his hearing grew sharper as he relied on his enhanced Primal senses to keep aware of any potential threat headed their way.

It has been calm so far, but he knew he would be foolish to let his guard down even for just a second.

In the quiet, Drazhan kept a lookout for any of the signs that the elves may have dropped for them. He noticed a patch of nonnative flowers at the same time as Cherry. Flowers whose natural home was far away deep in the caverns of the earth. “Luciferin flowers,” he mumbled. He had only seen them in their natural habitat once before.

They looked far more impressive when one could see the natural light they emitted in the darkness.

“At least we know for certain that we’re on the right track.” There was no doubt about that for Drazhan at all, but maybe Cherry would appreciate it. A reassurance that he wasn’t leading her somewhere to her demise, if that was a thought that ever crossed her mind.

 

[Lucyfer]

It seemed the experience was notable, and Varick listened. It was obvious to discern that Tamsin didn’t want to talk about it, and he wouldn’t press. He knew how those things went too well. He accepted the shift in topic readily enough.

“Plenty. The world is vast. Travel is slow, and often distracted by another job.” Varick answered. He’d been overseas in his younger years, traveling to get more experiences under his belt with different varieties of creatures, and bring back the knowledge he could of what fiends they had out there.

He elaborated a bit, “I haven’t been far north. Not as far as where they get almost full days of no light. I suppose I haven’t been that far south, either.” He didn’t really know the names of any cities offhand. “Tend to be hives of vampires that way, but most of them aren’t the bloodthirsty murderers others are.”

Those had societies. Rules. That’s why they kept to areas they could actually live much of their life outside, in. And why they tried to preserve it so Primals like Varick didn’t called in to eradicate an entire group of them for fucking it up.

They were once non-vampires.

Many of them still wanted to do non-vampire things. “Not much trouble up in those areas, either. Not sure if it’s connected.” For all he knew, the vampires also just kept others in line, too, for risk of joint exposure.

He wouldn’t be surprised.

~***~

It wasn’t too much of a surprise that Drazhan knew the flowers. Primals were survivors. Still, she hadn’t expected it, and hummed as he noted the name. She was familiar enough with them, though they were of no use to her currently. Her potions wouldn’t benefit from any Luciferin. That was better for revealing things, not hiding them.

As the flowers continued to illuminate their path.

She still doubted their path, though. Not because of Drazhan, because of the elves. She couldn’t know their intentions going ahead. They could be pure intentions. That was wholly possible. Kirsikka wasn’t accustomed to that being the norm, though. People usually went off ahead to prepare mischief and death.

So far it hadn’t worked out for them.

She didn’t say that, though. She remained silent to Drazhan’s reassurance, keeping her own guard up.

Nothing happened through the journey, but that was just the first day. As night fell, and the trees provided even more shade from the moon and stars, the luciferin did begin to glow, though it was still a far cry from the caves. A spot was dotted with several of them, a rather small sized clearing, but no doubt a good place to take a break.

The horses needed it, if nothing else. Kirsikka knew how to take a cue and paused at the clearing, sigh, “I suppose this will do for tonight,” she dismounted from Zephyr, “I can take first watch,” she had a few things to do, anyways, including reaching back out to Wydan to let him know she was on the path at last, and what that situation currently looked like. See if he had any updates, as well, from the texts he was stuck translating.

For the moment, she took a ration out of her bag as well as her flask of water. They would need to find a stream to take the horses to, or she’d have to pull water out of the elements, but she’d rather just lead them to some nearby water if it was available.

 

[cleopat]

Tamsin listened intently to what Varick told her. She wondered exactly how many people truly did travel that far north, or south. She couldn’t even name any of the towns or villages in those regions of the world, but apparently they were inhabited by hives of vampires.

Was there not much trouble because there were few humans in those regions, or because the vampires kept everyone in line? It was an interesting thought to muse upon.

“While I do obviously love to travel, I try to stay away from climates that get too cold, like the far northern regions. I can’t handle the cold that well, even while wrapped in layers of fur,” she chuckled, tugging her cloak closer to her body with one hand. The chill of winter hadn’t settled over the land yet, but autumn offered plenty of cool days and cold nights.

She didn’t look forward to sleeping on the ground that night.

“Is there any one place you enjoy going back to? Or anywhere that sticks out in your memory for pleasant reasons?”

~~~

Day turned to night after a relatively uneventful journey, minus the issues of the village from earlier. The luciferin began to glow brighter, but nothing compared to actually seeing them in their natural cavernous habitat. Still, they were a pleasant sight, and under different circumstances, Drazhan may have entertained the idea that the spot Cherry picked for the night was romantic.

He didn’t wish to be turned into a toad or cursed into oblivion, so he remained silent on that matter.

Drazhan dismounted from his horse. “I can’t sense any creature nearby.” That didn’t mean nothing couldn’t sneak up on them during the night, but for now, they were safe. And thinking along the same thoughts as Cherry, he added, “There’s a creek nearby. I can take the horses there, if you want to stay here and rest.”

If Cherry trusted him to not run off with them, that is. But he had no intention of doing so, not for the promise of gold and potentially exciting adventure.

Sometimes, the Primal lifestyle stayed with him, despite every attempt to separate from it. Drazhan knew deep down that he would forever remain a Primal, even with his official change in profession, but he ignored it. He refused to believe it on the surface.

 

[Lucyfer]

Varick arched a brow as Tamsin indicated weather changes bothered her. Well, it wasn’t the first time he’d heard that heat or cold could be unbearable. He was a bit surprised it was getting in the way of her travels. She seemed the sort to power through it. ‘Maybe in her future.’ She might overcome it then. She still seemed young, early in her travels and ventures.

“You get used to it,” Varick noted, although he wondered if that might just be a Primal thing. Couldn’t be – humans did live there by choice, after all. They must have gotten used to it. They were probably the sorts who would complain about summer, though. “I still don’t prefer it,” he would at least agree with Tamsin on that.

‘Geot Draath.’

His thoughts turned there as Tamsin asked of where he liked to go back to. Not the one that stood, but the one that had fallen. He missed it. The replacement wasn’t the same, although it was still good to have the occasional reunion with everyone else who came. It made it clear how many survived, and how many died.

That remained important information.

But of course, the new one had its fair share of poor memories. Besides all the people not returning because of death, there was the one who didn’t return by choice. He had made a scene there, and Varick still looked for him, or sign of him, every time he returned – to no avail. He still wondered if he was alive.

If he’d even know if Drazhan passed, or not.

That made Geot Draath less pleasant every time. The new one.

Still he hummed out a low sound, sighed, “Home. Can’t say much more than that,” he answered, adding, “first one was destroyed by angry humans.” He didn’t expect Tamsin to go rushing to tell people the Primals had a new home, and where it was, if he did say it – but who knew who was listening?

Not to mention, he still barely knew her.

He’d been tricked by a harmless face before. Not for a while…but it happened. “It’s mixed. But at least it’s mixed.” Most places weren’t. They were just bad. “Well. I guess there’s one other place. Tresse. Porty city. I have a friend there. Fixed me up a few times. You might like her,” now that he thought of it, “she sings, too. Her name’s Calliope.” He didn’t think she’d have heard of her, but maybe.

~***~

The Primals senses were better than hers. Kirsikka couldn’t hear the creek at all, nor was she as certain they weren’t in some way being pursued. However, she didn’t question his senses in the moment, “No, if you can point me towards the creek, I can take the horses,” Kirsikka said, adding, “I need water for a few things as it is.”

It made it a lot easier to scry, and she needed to scry to speak with the other visionary about the progress.

“I won’t take long. Then you can rest. You can set up camp in the interim,” she began to remove her packs from Zephyr, and untack him a bit so he’d be more comfortable for the night, “If you have any flasks or such you need filled with water, I’ll take it and make sure to purify them,” water could be questionable.

Probably not in a fae forest, but Kirsikka never did trust that easily, fae, human, vampire, goblin – really, everyone was suspect. Even simple running water in a probably – no, obviously – enchanted forest.

 

[cleopat]

Tamsin hardly believed she would ever get used to the cold. She just didn’t have the natural insulation that many people had, including someone of Varick’s size. She would just have to deal with it like she always did - with warm clothes, a fire, and thoughts of home with its near constant mild temperatures.

Home, oh how she missed it.

But she didn’t wish to return there for fear of what she won’t find there. Her family, long dead due to a plague that for some reason decided to spare her. Even her friends, young, healthy, and spry, succumbed to the illness.

Destiny was cruel that way.

The subject of home also seemed to be a bittersweet thought for Varick as well. “I’m…sorry to hear that.” And she truly was. To have something you loved and found safety in to be destroyed due to unprovoked hatred. At least it sounded like he may have another home to return to, when he’s not traveling.

One day, she wished for the very same.

“Oh, Tresse! I’ve been there a few times. It’s a lovely place. Next time I visit, I shall make sure to pay your friend a visit.” And she meant that. A friend of Varick’s and she sings? Calliope sounded like a lovely person.

~~~

Cherry wanted to walk to the creek instead, and Drazhan wasn’t about to argue over something as pointless as that. It wasn’t terribly far if she did indeed run into trouble. And besides, it wasn’t like she couldn’t protect herself if she did. “Alright,” he agreed.

He pointed to the west. “It’s in that direction, not terribly far away.” He took two flasks from where they were hanging on Bear and handed them off to Cherry. “Thank you.” Enchanted forest or not, water was always suspicious, and he appreciated the fact he was with a mage that could purify the water for any reason.

Nothing may be hiding in the bushes waiting to attack them, but would fruit be the same? Water?

As Cherry left to get some water, Drazhan began setting up camp for the night. Since it wasn’t cold enough to where he would fear getting hypothermia, he didn’t bother with a fire, just in case there were predators lurking in the darkness. Bedrolls were set up, apart from one another even if Drazhan did entertain the thought of placing them right next to each other. Just to see how Cherry would react.

He bet she would not find it as funny as he would. Shame.

 

[Lucyfer]

Varick shook his head. He knew Tamsin’s intentions with the apology, but, “Don’t be. You weren’t there,” she had no part of it. “It’s been gone a long time now,” he added, “but we all have times we enjoyed, as much as places. Only thing is times can’t be gone back to.” Places, for the most part, could.

But not time.

At least, not in any usual fashion.

Messing with time wasn’t one of his priorities. He knew the dangers of that. He wasn’t fully sure if it was possible, but there were enough stories. That was one of the things that still remained a mystery to him. He’d heard terrible stories of time loops.

At least she knew Tresse. “Just don’t listen to her for too long,” Varick noted, but didn’t elaborate why. No need to blow Calliope’s identity out into the open. That was her choice to reveal, or not to reveal. “But you can mention my name,” he said. “She might at least look on you well.”

And ask a lot of questions.

Varick didn’t have friends.

Even Calliope was an oddity; being non-human he could at least sort of classify her as a friend. He couldn’t really say much for humans and his acquaintances there. “Might want to visit in the next couple of years. Before Trifflehem sets their sights that way.” Right now they were too busy with the neighboring country, but it was bound to happen.

Trifflehem was out to claim the entire continent.

At least traveling in Trifflehem was fairly peaceful. The fighting never broke into Trifflehem’s borders. That was the perk of being the aggressor, he supposed.

~***~

Kirsikka was glad to be allowed to go without any fuss, and she took the horses and water flasks to fill up, along with her little mirror. Precious thing that it was, she couldn’t leave it behind when her plans were to scry. The creek also wasn’t terribly far, and Kirsikka let go of the horses when she reached it, and hoped that Drazhan wouldn’t be able to make out words.

But first, she filled up the flasks, and purified them, before she dipped her mirror under the water’s surface.

She had never needed words for this when she was young, and did not need them now as she channeled her will.

“Magic requires two things: intention and energy. Most of us are unable to produce the energy without vibrations…sound. You, Kirsikka….”

The memory of Dravon faded as she called for the image of Wydan, the energy of water as it ran over the mirror sufficing for all the vibrations she would need. Her own image faded, reflection shifting, until it caught Wydan, who wasn’t looking at the mirror he had. “Wydan,” she called out to him.

~***~

Wydan, one of the surviving Visionaries, one of those who fled when the Council of Light took over, was now little more than a captive. A traitor, trying to survive. He had not been brought back to Logaweirs, as those who took him knew the environment would tip off their true prey to what had happened. No, he was allowed to stay where he’d been found, under constant watch.

He winced as he heard his name called through the mirror. ‘You shouldn’t have called.’

But when he turned to face the mirror, he was all smiles, “Kirsikka! Oh – I cannot get used to that face of yours.”

“I know,” she pulled at the flesh herself, and he could make out the sounds of running water, and a forest. Nothing that would help him discern where she was.

Nothing the other in the room would find useful, either. Out of the way of the mirror. “What news?”

“I found your friend. He agreed to help. He’s rather more annoying than you told me.”

Wydan chuckled, “Ah, is he? I didn’t notice,” he knew Drazhan, but hadn’t found him terribly annoying. Perhaps because he hadn’t had much to hide, back then. Kirsikka had plenty. “So where are you heading now?”

“Through the Fateborne woods, and hopefully through Elphyne. It’ll be safer than any human towns, and once we get through the woods…there’s nothing beyond them to be concerned with.”

‘Too true.’ Trifflehem couldn’t get beyond Fateborne.

Except now they might send a small party that way. They didn’t need to go through the woods. They could just send a ship. But they might go through the woods, too. They might. Now that they knew. “Are you sure it’s that way? I’ve found some research that suggests….”

“I’m sure,” Kirsikka cut him off. Of course, there was a tremor of doubt. She couldn’t afford doubt, though. “It’s where all the monsters are coming from, and once I can prove their stupid little purge isn’t necessary, there will be a reckoning.”

Wydan shut his eyes. “I know…but maybe it’s just where they’re all gathering.”

“Then there’s still something!” She insisted, but huffed, “No matter. I just needed to tell you I found your friend. I’ll check in again once I get beyond.”

“Of course,” he murmured, opening his blue eyes. He added, hating that he had to wait until the end. Until he’d gotten confirmation for their enemies of where they were, but she needed to know the message was compromised and they had a code for it. “I just hope it’s raining when you get there. That should keep the monsters at bay.”

Her expression didn’t change, nor her tone – thank god – but he was sure he was in for it when they met again. “So do I,” she agreed, “Until next time, Wydan.”

~***~

Kirsikka broke the mirror in the stream as soon as she cut off from the conversation, and tried not to scream.

With a deep breath, and bloody hands she barely noticed, she gathered up the horses and went back to the camp.

 

[cleopat]

Tamsin still felt some sorrow for bringing up the subject of his home, but she wouldn’t backtrack and apologize again. It seemed a far away memory, and Varick reminisced in the memories, which Tamsin found herself doing often about her home. Her family.

Of memories she enjoyed. Her mother teaching her some basics of how to sew up holes in clothes. Her father instructing her in the basic terminology of blacksmithing.

There was still a hole in her chest because of their absence.

The topic of Calliope distracted Tamsin far too easily. Why wouldn’t she listen to this woman for too long? That’s what Tamsin did. She loved listening to people’s stories! “So is this Calliope a good friend? Or is she a really good friend?” The emphasis was said with an impish smile.

Not that she cared at whatever his answer may be, but she was curious.

With the mention of Trifflehem, she sighed. “Yeah, that is something to consider for future travels.” Depending on how far Trifflehem goes, she may even have to eventually stop traveling for fear of crossing paths with the violence of war. One didn’t have to be on the battlegrounds to experience the effects of war.

Sometimes, soldiers would pillage innocent towns just to spread fear and subjugation.

~~~

She watched the traitor through narrowed eyes, committing her disguise to memory. Little Kirsikka, who just couldn’t be as talented as Malina. At least her new look is an upgrade.

Trifflehem would soon be after the Boreal Wind in elven lands. And Malina would be one step ahead of them, eager to see Kirsikka herself.

The message ended, and as far as Malina was concerned, Kirsikka was none the wiser that she, the Council of Light, and Trifflehem now knew where she, and her companion, was now located. Where they were headed.

“You played your role quite well, Wydan. I’m impressed.” She gave him a condescending smile, stepping away from the wall she leaned against, out of sight from Kirsikka. “The Ineffable One will smile upon you for your help.” She hardly contained the sarcasm laced in her words.

Indeed, she couldn’t wait to see her dear old friend again.

~~~

Drazhan eventually relaxed on his bedroll, senses tuned in to the nature around him, staying aware of any dangers, but also to relax as the sounds soothed him. He could’ve swore he heard talking in the distance, coming from Cherry’s direction, but who would she be talking to?

Maybe the horses. Maybe she had a soft spot for animals.

The thought was endearing.

Eventually, he heard her footsteps, along with both horses, walking back his way. A metallic stench wafted in the air, and he frowned. Drazhan should not be smelling blood. What kind of trouble could she have gotten into by simply going to the creek?

Drazhan sat up and looked over at Cherry as she approached the clearing. His yellow eyes quickly scanned her features for any signs of distress. Immediately, he focused on the blood covering her hands. Blood she didn’t seem terribly concerned about.

“What the hell happened?” He stood up and marched over to Cherry.

 

[Lucyfer]

Varick grunted, "A friend." He wouldn't let Calliope that close even if he was interested. Sirens were literal man eaters. He knew Calliope didn't partake, unless a thief or murderer caught her and tried to cause her harm. Varick didn't blame her in those situations. She was just defending herself, and she needed to eat. As far as he knew, she didn't go actively looking for trouble to obtain food.

"We just met when I had some trouble with one of my hunts. She knew a bit more than I did at the time. She mostly serves as a doctor if sorts. Atypical remedies." Like his own atypical problems. Useful in a port where so much happened.

The war would keep her busy.

"Right now they're busy in the south, across the river. We're well away from their troubles right now." Although his home wasn't. He wasn't too concerned with it being found, though. There were some extra bits of security besides being out of the way in a mountain. A mountain that would afford them no advantage in their war. "Likely to continue south for a while. I don't believe they're as concerned with up here."

There was one kingdom, and so far as Varick knew, they had an uneasy alliance.

~***~

Wydan sulked as Malina pulled away from the wall, but what could he really say? He had betrayed his friend in order to live, and he hoped for forgiveness. From her, not from the Ineffable One he didn't believe in. He swallowed down an angry response, aware it would only make his situation worse, and frustrated beyond all the hells about that, too. He was a coward. A traitor. And willing to live out his days that way, so long as he lived

Even if he lived hating himself.

"May your Ineffable One show you more mercy than Kirsikka will." It was said with his own touch of bitter sarcasm and self loathing, but naught else as he lowered his head and clasped his hands in his lap.

Kirsikka didn't know the meaning of the word. Not even before Mont Pellinor changed everything, for everyone.

Well that was vain.

But it would be true. Wydan knew this was coming to a head. Whether purges would continue or end.

~***~

Kirsikka stared blankly at Drazhan when he approached with that question, opening her mouth a moment to answer back something smart, before she recognized where his eyes went. 'Blood.' of course there was blood she had been careless in breaking the mirror and now she had to answer for it. She should have just thrown it and shattered it.

She sighed, lifting her hands a bit in a shrug, "I broke a mirror." He was aware she used magic with it. Again, she thought to lie and note it was used to purify the water, but she resisted. The answer would come soon. Unfortunately. She wouldn't lie, only omit. He'd recognize it. "I'll need to pick up a new one soon." She used it for a lot.

That didn't answer why she broke it, though.

"I let Wydan know I found you. He let me know he's in enemy hands, after my update." He'd answer for it later. "I didn't say your name. Ideally, he won't mention you either." She noted where her sleeping bag was and moved that way, picking up one of her packs to dig out some of her premade balms and poultices to treat the rather minor wound. "You're still welcome to run. They know where I'm heading."

She had every intention of beating them, but she knew they had mages. Mages unrestricted by a need to keep a low profile. She couldn't really recall who all had readily joined them, but some were nuisances.

She'd almost rather he run. One less thing to keep get paranoid that he'd help them and turn on her as soon as they showed up. She doubted he had a soft enough spot in his heart for Wydan.

 

[cleopat]

Tamsin was satisfied with Varick’s answer, and she grew more curious about Calliope and where she learned more atypical remedies that a monster killer may need use of. He didn’t seem like the sort to have many friends, but instead a few close allies. What were some of his other friends like? Stoic like Varick, or more outgoing, from what Tamsin could surmise about Calliope.

A trip to Tresse was long overdue anyway. She would have to find her way back in the southern direction before Trifflehem grew too close to their borders. Unfortunately, it would be a while before that happened. She had plans for the northern regions, and as Varick mentioned, they were safe there for now.

She would have to keep an ear out for what the Trifflehem armies are doing.

The rest of the day continued at that same pace, with Tamsin and Varick engaging in light conversation. When the sun began to set, they happened upon a clearing, not terribly far from a stream. The chill was uncomfortable, and Tamsin could only hope her blankets were enough to keep her warm.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for a little rest.” She dismounted her horse before grabbing her bedroll. Luna would be happy about resting for the evening as well.

~~~

Drazhan raised a brow and crossed his arms over his chest, not pleased with the lack of answers Cherry provided him. “We can pick up a new one when you tell me why you broke your mirror to begin with. It wasn’t in self-defense, so it had to be purposely done.” That much he could guess.

But beyond that, he hardly knew how the minds of mages worked.

The next bit of news was not something Drazhan wanted to hear. He scowled and sighed, “Shit.” What was he to do? Their shared acquaintance was compromised, and now someone who was after Cherry knew exactly where she was going.

He had half a mind to run.

“I’ll sleep on it,” he finally decided. Big choices such as running or staying was best made after a good night’s rest, and not when he was travel weary. He looked over at Cherry grabbing her medical supplies, and he nodded towards it. “Do you need help with that?”

He already knew the answer, but at least he offered.

 

[Lucyfer]

On his own, Varick would have ridden farther, and longer, into the night. ‘Traveling with you is going to spoil Marzipan.’ He didn’t say that, of course. Just grunted his acknowledgment of Tamsin’s decision to stop and then began to untack Marzipan. “I can set up a fire,” he noted. “Shouldn’t need much else this night.”

He still had rations so he didn’t need to go hunt. Still had water, so that wasn’t going to be an issue yet, either. He knew there ought to be enough towns on the way to pause in to get additional water. His flask did some work, one he had enchanted some time ago to purify water, but it only held so much.

Once Marzipan’s packs were off, she moved towards the stream. They were close enough to see it, which Varick considered as not necessarily the best thing. Animals always came to streams. A bear could be as dangerous as any beast, especially to unsuspecting sleepers. Or thieves in the night.

Of course, they needed to sleep.

Varick was accustomed to sleeping alone, but he had to ask. “How do you manage this on your own? Sleeping, in the open.” Was she really rarely disturbed? Or was she a light sleeper?

As he asked, he began to pick up some small twigs to help as kindling for the flame. He could already feel that it was going to be a cold night. They’d want a flame to help, even if he might have to stay up a little longer to monitor it.

~***~

‘Are you trying to lecture me?’ Kirsikka did give Drazhan a look as he tried to stipulate how and when she could acquire a new mirror, as if she were some child. Well, her temper always made her a bit childish. The outbursts were unbecoming, It was more a miracle she didn’t freeze the stream, but she had gotten significantly better at that.

Being on the run forced you to learn better than any lecture.

The realization hit Drazhan just as heavy, even though he had no inkling of how serious it was. ‘And what does it matter now if you hide it? When they show up, he’ll know. He could decide then to just be on their side because you’ve been so evasive.’ He asked to help with first-aid, and of course, she automatically said, “No,” because she did know how to treat herself.

Another thing picked up on the run.

She could barely remember the times before, when she could trust people without worrying, for more than five minutes at a time. Wydan had been one of the few, and now…a heavy sigh parted her lips.

If nothing else, the Council of Light had done one thing: they had isolated her, and that was as dangerous for them as it was for her. A person in isolation went mad, and Kirsikka knew how close she danced to that edge, and how very alluring it was to just jump over and begin to live far more carelessly, far more recklessly, because the end mattered more than all the means combined.

She had the power to do that.

“My name is Kirsikka. Kirsikka of Kheimon or Kirsikka of Mont Pellinor, it’s all the same,” she finally said, extending the olive branch, the attempt, at trust, to remove the sudden isolation. “But a lot more people simply know me as the Boreal Wind. I believe I’m Trifflehem’s most wanted.” She kept her gaze on her hands as she washed out the blood, making the actual cuts clear enough to begin to apply the balm to them. “I didn’t tell you because you’re a mercenary.” He’d probably at least understand the logic. “Now there’s no point in hiding it, and you should know what else to sleep on.”

And pick to run rather than betray.

He’d be the first to die if he chose to stay along only to betray her. He probably knew that without it being said.

 

[cleopat]

Tamsin was pleased that they would have a fire. They tended to attract animals and thieves, so she wasn’t sure if Varick would allow one. But he did, and she would have a much warmer sleep.

Maybe Varick was a light sleeper, and so he would be aware of any approaching enemies? Did Primals even need to sleep as much? Of course they need to sleep. Don’t be silly.

Tamsin moved to remove the rest of her belongings from Luna, who then proceeded to join Marzipan by the river. Seeing Varick picking up sticks for the fire, she joined him in helping him in gathering small twigs. It was the least she could do to help out.

“I manage somehow,” she said with a shrug. “A lot of the time, I don’t sleep very well until I get to the next town,” she admitted with a chuckle, trying to brush aside the thoughts of all the cold nights she spent shivering, the nights she stayed awake because of paranoia over every little sound, or the nights she mounted Luna with all her belongings in her hands as bandits or animals approached.

Fortunately she didn’t run into trouble all that often. Most nights were peaceful with the only noise coming from the rustling of leaves and the soft snores of her horse sleeping. “After ten years, I just got used to it.”

~~~

Drazhan wasn’t the least bit surprised that Cherry turned down his offer to help her bandage her hands. He would have been surprised if she did accept his offer. He may have known her for a day now, but already he had gathered she was used to her independence and not relying on anyone for help.

Drazhan could understand that. He really did.

Accepting that he wasn’t going to be much more of use for the rest of the evening, Drazhan turned to return to his bedroll before Cherry spoke up and revealed information he didn’t expect.

An identity far more dangerous than he realized.

Drazhan calmly listened to Cherry’s - no, Kirsikka’s story, not once interrupting her. Not when she was apparently trusting him enough to tell him her secret and not betray her. He knew from his own eyes what she was capable of. And he knew the stories of the Boreal Wind.

She could kill him before he even blinked.

“Trifflehem’s most wanted has nothing on you,” he laughed, still in disbelief over what she told him. Who she was. How was he supposed to react?

Of course, one small part of him immediately thought of the money her pretty head was worth, but he quickly squashed that. The coin may be nice, but Kirsikka wasn’t deserving of whatever torture Trifflehem or the Council of Light may put her through.

Look at this. One day with her and already you’re getting soft. How ridiculous.

Clearing his throat, Drazhan shook his head. “I’m definitely going to sleep on that,” he mumbled. If he could sleep, now knowing who was with him. Continuing on could certainly mean death, or a permanent target on his head. Was that something he was willing to deal with just for a job?

“One more thing,” he paused, turning back to her. “Now that you told me who you are, will you also tell me why you need to get to Pomachion?”

 

[Lucyfer]

Varick wasn’t surprised that it wasn’t easy for her. That she didn’t always get much sleep. He grunted, “You can sleep better this time. I’m a very light sleeper – if I sleep,” he wasn’t sure he would that first night. He had slept well yesterday, which was rare enough. He was used to so much less sleep. He could manage a night without, or with very little.

He piled his twigs in an area, noted that Tamsin had brought some, and nodded. “I’ll get some larger pieces,” he said, “so we can keep the fire going without constantly feeding it.” No point to just a fire of kindling. It’d burn up far too quick to provide anything useful.

He wouldn’t offer more of a farewell than that, heading a bit aways from the camp to try and locate fallen branches that were thicker – or low hanging ones. He didn’t have an axe, but he did have a sword that could cut through them just as well. It might not be the best use of his sword, but he knew how to sharpen it right back up after that kind of hacking work. He had a whetstone, among other things, to make sure.

He wouldn’t take long in making his way back with a bundle of thicker branches under an arm, which he would then promptly begin to set the fire up, to get it started with the kindling and then build it up into a cone so it would last longer. It wouldn’t be hard to diminish it if needed; they were right by a river, after all.

Ten years was a long time to be on the road for a normal person. Varick couldn’t help but come back to it. “Ten years. Have you ever learned to defend yourself in that time?” She didn’t…really look like she could.

~***~

Nervous laughter. Increased uncertainty. Those were more or less the reactions Kirsikka expected, from someone who didn’t immediately mean to kill her or do her harm. That didn’t mean Drazhan was safe, but it was a point in his favor that he wasn’t showing a front of acceptance. He also didn’t offer an immediate change of heart.

Positives.

Even if Kirsikka still expected him to run in the morning. It wasn’t something she could blame him for. She had told him that acquaintanceship was deadly. Now he knew she wasn’t, actually, kidding. Or exaggerating.

With the balms applied, she didn’t bother to wrap the wounds. The balms were doing a good job on their own of stopping up the bleeding. In the morning, they’d be significantly better, likely just mere scratches, closed up and almost healed. So, she began to put those things away, as she heard his next question.

“Pomachion is the source of the monsters plaguing the world. When I find the proof of it, and why there’s an uptick, I can quite literally destroy the foundation of Trifflehem’s purge,” and once that was done – the reckoning. For all their crimes. For all their lies, that if these people were killed, there would be fewer monsters. No, once she could prove it had nothing to do with people, with the Ineffable One’s judgment, their religion would die.

Ideally, brutally.

But Kirsikka would also accept all of them struggling with an eternity of existential anguish that no amount of liquor could fill, the nightmares of faces they had no reason to kill, and a pit of guilt they would never climb out of as they realized there was nothing they could do to fix all of the atrocities -- but too much cowardice to take their own life, because of the reckoning of whatever god awaited them at the end.

She was merciful like that. “I’m going to kill a god, Drazhan. One way or another.”