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 Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 7:18 pm
The Start of a Journey
Kanilea was surprised, Aladon had fallen asleep easily. The tiny boy was bundled up on her lap his small chest moving slightly under the cloak. Kanilea was tired too, but she dare not sleep on the coach, that’s how things get stolen. Not that there was much to steal.
There was only that tiny suitcase. It held only a few of Aladon’s essentials, his wand, and Kanilea’s work. It meant only one change of clothes for the three week journey, but it was better that way. The trip would get more difficult as it neared its competition. Aladon would return to the war zone that he was born into.
Kanilea had not wanted to subject her child to such a war, but she had to now, now that there was no place for them to stay—now that her duty was calling her home. She had probably stayed away to long, but, as she brushed back a piece of Aladon’s hair, it would never be long enough.
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Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 5:24 am
End of the Line
They were entering a different sort of world and Aladon could feel it. He could feel its presence as the lady gracefully lifted him from her lap and descended down the coach stairs. He could sense something, though he wasn’t sure what. It filled the air with a mind of history, power, and elegance.
It filled the air with magic, Kanilea could sense that for sure. When you crossed the line from civilization to the bad lands, named Hell, she was sure even Aladon would know the name of what he sensed.
He nuzzled his head against her arm, as she propped him on her hip. He was still groggy from the twelve hour ride, despite noticing this Kanilea was to tired to fix his uncomfortable nature to much. She was only going to hold him long enough for him to walk…there was quite the walk to their next stop.
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Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:40 am
If Bats were meant to walk they wouldn’t have wings.
Aladon winced and stopped mid stride. Kanilea looked at him. “Are you alright honey?” She said in a very tired voice. He didn’t respond, but he didn’t look alright. Aladon, was never much of a winer. But she could tell the light was hurting his eyes, and his feet were sore.
Kanilea held out her arm and hoisted him up onto her hip, this wasn’t going to work. She had been caring him off an on for the two hours they had been walking, her arm was sore from his weight. She placed him on the ground again.
She took from the suitcase the extra dress she brought for herself and tied a knot in the end of it slinging it over her shoulder. “Up, up.” She said holding out her arm. He latched on and Kanilea placed him gently in the sling, before moving him to her back.
“Mattah?” she was trying the old Earthen to get him to speak, it meant ‘Are you alright?’
He nuzzled into her as a contented response. Again Kanilea started off, handing Aladon an apple. He really was a good kid, if heavy.
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Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:26 am
Rest
There they were, the first stop on their trip, the town of Doajs. This was probably to be their most pleasant rest. Kanilea check to make sure Aladon was sleeping as she walked through the town gate and over the cobblestone streets. It was dark again, a full twenty-four hours since they had started their journey. Kanilea couldn’t reach the Inn soon enough.
As she pushed open the small door she let out a sign of relief her body aching for the 10 hours she planned to spend here. It was too late for anyone to be at the desk, she rang the bell.
“Coming... Coming…” Said a man too cheery for Kanilea’s mood.
He walked out book in hand, glasses on noise. “Yes, yes, will it be a room for tonight.”
“Please.” Kanilea said, pulling out a gold coin.
“Just you then?” The man smiled taking the coin and writing something in a long book.
“And my son.” She motioned to the sling on her back. “A wake up call for nine if you would.”
“Of course, of course.” He smiled, over the desk. “Here you go.” He handed a small rusted key to the girl. “Up the stairs to the right. Goodnight.” He turned around, but not before catching a glace of the wing protruding from the sling, “Curious,” he muttered to himself, “Could have sworn that girl was an Earthen.”
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Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:39 am
Breakfast
Kanilea awoke, barely remembering anything between locking the door and shutting her eyes. Aladon, was awake on her chest. Poking one of her eyes inquisitively, “At least you have your personality back for the moment.” She smiled, still using the Earthen language. He was going to have to get used to it where they were going.
She had a few more moments to sleep, but it was about time to wake anyway, she rolled Aladon off her stomach and started to tickle his belly.
Seeing his smile again was inspiring.
There was a rap at the door, “Nine O’Clock, mistress. Breakfast is being served downstairs if you’d like.”
She got out of bed, mildly reluctantly and slipped on her normal green shift over the slip she slept in. “Suda?” She smiled, asking the boy if he was hungry, and holding out a hand. He clutched onto it, as was his fashion, they didn’t have to leave until eleven, time for breakfast and a bit of supply shopping.
Kanilea walked down the stairs, Aladon hopping next to her, dressed in his usual black paints and short sleeved green tunic. They entered the dining room of the Inn, one long table for all the borders was set up. An old woman was bustling about getting the food.
Kani took the only seat left letting Aladon climb into her lap. Taking a pear from a bowl on the table she started to cut it into pieces for him to chew. One particularly dodgy looking man was staring as the old woman came to take Kani’s order, “What’ll it be deary?”
“I’ll take any strawberries you have for this little guy,” She broke off another piece of pear for Aladon, “And I think some porridge with raisons for myself, no milk, please.”
She looked blankly off to the other side of the room, as her hands kept Aladon happily eating in her lap.
“What kind of pet you have there?” The man’s voice was rough.
“Excuse me?” Kani brow thickened and she turned to stare at the man.
“It is just odd, you see, for an earthen to have an air familiar.” The man replied, eating something that looked like a pile of greasy meat.
“He is not my familiar, sir, he is my son.” Kanilea retorted defensively.
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Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 12:13 pm
“You would have had to breed with quite a creature to make something as ugly as that thing, that is quite the….”
The man was cut off by an Air-being next to him. The being wasn’t fallen, but even so under normal circumstances would have never stood up for an Earthen.
“The boy is adorable, if I do say so.” The man had owl plumage to his wings protruding from his back. Even though his words were comforting you could feel the power in them, the other man spoke no further.
The angel grabbed the rest of his bread, dropped a copper on the plate, and left.
The man followed him out.
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Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 12:47 pm
Exploring Doajs
Kanilea bowed her eyes in a small gesture of thanks. The woman came to deliver their meal, Kani smiled and put a couple of strawberries in her bowl, before handing them off to Ally to suck on. The meal was peaceful. Leaving two copper pieces for the old woman, they got up and left.
After the meal Kani and Aladon had almost two hours before the next coach left. There were a few things that needed to be done before they moved on.
Kanilea dragged Aladon to a taylor, she couldn’t believe she had forgotten the sling that first helped get Aladon asleep. She picked out a new sturdy, inexpensive black piece of cloth to replace the old one (only half a copper) and after fastening it settled Aladon onto her back. It was easier to keep track of him that way, and it was reaching mid-day, time for his nap.
There was also a letter to be sent
She borrowed a quill from the post and started to write on a piece of parchment Quote: Z,
It has been to long my old friend. I will be returning to the glade with Aladon. I hope that I will be seeing you.
Always,
K
Desman was another name for Earthen, they were close enough to the border now that she would be recognized for what she was: an Earth Sage. Kanilea wasn’t sure how she felt about this.
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Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:01 pm
On the Road Again
Kani took a seat near the front of the coach, slipping the suitcase behind her knees and humming to the half-sleeping Aladon, all but hidden in the black cloth on her lap. The coach was almost empty which would be nice for the long ride, but it was foreboding. The Earthen lands used to be a bustle of activity, the war had changed a lot of things. There was only one other traveler, an old Wicca, Kani guessed from this distance. It would be nice to just relax for the ride.
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Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:12 pm
The yell to go from the caller was just passed his lips when Robein climbed up the steps and took a seat across form Kani, the closest to the door. He seemed to be distracted by the book in his hand slowly reading, then once and a while writing with the small quill he held in his left hand.
The wagon began to move. The persistent rocking did not lighten his intense gaze on the text.
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Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:22 pm
The rocking was making Aladon uneasy, the road was rougher here than the previous part of the trip. He started to roll around uncomfortably on Kanilea’s lap. She hushed him and hummed quietly, perhaps she wouldn’t get to relax after all.
Aladon was not comforted, though he never cried, the small change in his face showed his discomfort. His arm moved a bit and knocked the blanket away from him. She picked him up and rocked him, whispering a song, “Hassun da morna, Hussun da sun, Lush nu da morna, Lush nu da lun.”
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Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:35 pm
He looked up from his book hearing the old Earth song. He could see the child was still fussing, “You think that will calm a son of the sky?” he couldn’t help but smile, “He needs a song from his own people.” His rusty voice touched the notes deeply,
“Golden slumber kiss your eyes,
Smiles await you when you rise.
Sleep,
pretty baby,
Do not cry,
And I'll sing you a lullaby.
Care you know not,
Therefore sleep,
While I o'er you watch do keep.
Sleep,
pretty darling,
Do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby.”
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Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:47 pm
Kani had to stifle a grin, Aladon seemed transfixed by the man’s deep voice, she sighed, she kind of was too. She tied the sling so that he would hand in front a almost upside down and Aladon having been settled, leaned back. “Thank you,” She said softly to the man.
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