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 Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2016 8:01 pm
So... the man was actually here to escort her to her new life...
Constynce looked up as the door to her room opened, her grandmother stepping in with a nod. She gave her grandmother a rather baleful look, as though hoping she might change her mind at the last moment, but the old woman was unmoved. It was time for Constynce to go, and the chief's wife wouldn't let herself be swayed.
Constynce saw her elder eye the little cart she was planning to pull along, but she ignored the look and grabbed the handle firmly. On that small cart was a collection of seeds and plants that she had carefully wrapped for transportation. She wasn't going to take her whole garden along, but some of it had to come with her! ...If she didn't know better, she could have sworn she saw a hint of a smile on that wizened face...
Thankfully, or not, the walk to the main hall was short. Grandmother didn't utter a word, there to make sure her granddaughter didn't drag her feet. Grandmother walked into the hall with confidence and posture, giving a little nod of acknowledgement to the men in the room. Constynce hesitated at the doors and cautiously poked her head out to look around first. Of course, she wanted to see her escort before he saw her!
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Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2016 7:01 pm
So his first encounters in Tale had been a bit rough. Frowning, Tryston had just simply wiped his blade clean before continuing on his way. That was probably going to be the highlight of this escort mission anyway. At least that was his reasoning. He had to work extra hard to make up for the lost time, however, and found himself running through the plains. It was good exercise, but the male was still adapting to the difference in temperature. That and the sunlight...it was strange seeing it constantly rather than in spurts between snowstorms. Life up in the mountains had been different for sure.
As he walked among the leaf earthlings, Tryst had shrugged off the strange glances. Surely it was just his ice heritage throwing them through a loop. Yet hadn't his people been in council with them for years now? What he didn't think of was his taller stature and looming gaze that seemed just as cold as his homeland. That along with the mysterious air of a stranger had attracted some unwanted attention, but soon enough he was being lead to that door.
If Constynce spotted her escort before he did then she would see a very unamused ice earthling who showed very little interest in anything save for the details of his 'escort mission'. He was to take her to the village closer towards his homeland, another reason the ice earthling was selected, and then make certain that she was well taken care of until the actual day of the ceremony. It would take a few weeks and then the waiting game...All this over a bride to be. Perhaps he should have chosen his own mission himself rather than letting Lyrie chose such an obviously easy one. Suppressing the urge to sigh, Tryst only looked up when he heard movement in the hallway. He didn't get the best glance, but he could see a hint of a leaf girl following behind the chieftain's wife. It was only a passing glance before he focused back on the elder.
"Is this the girl?" He asked rather bluntly, "Then I suppose we should be leaving soon." Always he hated lingering and much preferred action over wasting any time. The sooner he could get the girl to her fiance then the more quickly time should pass until the wedding. And then he would have his experience to gain his standing among the brothers back in Zena. Let's hope time flies...
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Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2016 7:30 pm
Constynce couldn't help remaining hidden behind her grandmother's robes. That was her escort? He was so.. so... well.... he looked like he would get along fine with grandfather. Stern face and aloof demeanor, proud back, no-nonsense eyes... Admittedly, it was a little intimidating at first. The more she looked though, the more curious about him she became.
She probably would have stayed put if her grandmother hadn't stepped to the side. Suddenly exposed, she pulled up a friendly, polite smile for the stranger. However, at her grandfather's last-minute instructions, along with the escort's words, her posture fell again. She was really leaving...
Managing to not cry as she said her good-byes to her family, she turned to her escort and leaned toward him curiously. Time to focus on anything other than what she was leaving behind. "Do you like the way the wind laughs? I don't think I could get along with someone who doesn't like how the wind laughs. ..Oh, and what's your name?"
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Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2016 7:41 pm
Goodbyes were such a strange thing. How differently everyone treated them or the feelings that lingered there...this one seemed even more choked than his with Lyrie. Of course his father had known he was coming back shortly while this family would never be the same again. Wasn't marriage supposed to be a happy occasion? Not that he would know much about it since he came from a group of men, but on the rare moments that some of the swordsmen did find a more permanent lover he remembered the celebrations that would blossom. This situation was a far cry from it. It was tense, even for him. And to think that a bride to be would be so loathe to leave. It seemed a political marriage was a different story from the lovers he had seen united. Did she even know the husband to be? To be torn from your family for a stranger seemed off putting.
Perhaps that realization was what started the first blossom of something...
Yet, her sudden question made him frown. "The wind laughs? I would say it bites more than anything else. The Zena winds are not what you have here." It was strange seeing how seriously he handled the question. Anyone else may have found it childish or silly, but he was seriously contemplating it. "I'm Tryston, miss." He glanced around, "As it is are you truly ready to leave?"
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Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2016 7:54 pm
Behind Constynce, the elderly couple both looked at the hired man with surprise. It really was strange to see someone take Constynce so seriously. Her grandfather frowned slightly... but her grandmother smiled.
Constynce waited intently for the answers to come, brow rising when they did. She sure didn't like the sound of a biting wind. No wonder Zenan's were always depicted wearing so many layers. "Well, it laughs here. I'm sure you'll like it, Tryston." Hesitating, she looked back at her bag and her little cart. "Yeah... I'm ready... I guess..." Catching the look from her grandfather, she straightened up and gave a more assertive nod to her escort. "I'm Constynce. Yes, I'm.. I'm ready!"
Before she could change her mind and completely disappoint her grandparents, she held firmly to her things and marched out the door. Once outside though, she looked both ways down the wide path. Without looking back, lest a mere glance send her into tears, she cleared her throat. "Umm.. which way are we going?"
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Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2016 8:40 pm
Tryston raised an eyebrow, "I suppose then that this is a different wind." He couldn't imagine the winds in Zena ever laughing. They mostly wailed and their happier sounds were more reminiscent of chimes as they went through the icy terrain. "We'll see about that. I don't think I'll have long enough to get too acquainted with it." As she declared she was ready the swordsman ushered her along, "Let us go then."
He watched her carefully from the corner of his gaze. Was she truly so upset to be leaving? The last thing he needed was an emotional flood, "The directions I received will be taking us towards the east, closer to my homeland." He commented and took a few steps forward before pausing once more, "Is the cart a necessity?" Tryston frowned faintly, "Seems like it will wear you down if you carry it with you the whole way." If he had known he would have asked to borrow one of his father's familiars for the job. As it was it was just him and the girl so the cart seemed rather heavy...a faint frown decorated his features.
"If so then I'll help you." The man held out a hand, "It will only slow us down if you need to take more breaks from it. My endurance has been built up over the years so it shouldn't bother me much at all."
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Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2016 8:59 pm
"It certainly is. Tale winds never- well- usually don't bite." Constynce knew the occasional storm could cause damage, but that wasn't too often. "And it doesn't take long to enjoy the wind."
East. Toward Zena? Oh, she hoped it wasn't cold in this new place... It was still within Tale, so that was reassuring, but still-!
The question toward her cart made her look up at Tryston with shock. "Of course it is!" she assured, tightening her hold on the handle. "That's why I have the cart; so I don't have to get tired carrying anything," she said with a nod, misinterpreting his concern a little. The offer she received in return made her brow rise with surprise, looking at the open hand. "Grandfather said I could bring it only if I didn't give it to you to pull. I'm used to pulling cart of plants around, anyway." Eyes lighting up, she gave her escort a coy little smile. She could be sneaky about it. "He also said I should listen to you though. If you really want to help, I can't stop you. The handle is clearly big enough for us both to hold onto~" Maybe walking with this man of the ice land wouldn't be so bad?
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Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2016 9:17 pm
"I suppose it would be a hassle." Tryston just nodded, but a faint frown did decorate his features. Why was there so many plants? Was it something that he didn't understand about life outside of Zena? They had snow and ice there, but he never saw anyone carry around mounds of it as this woman carried her plants. Perhaps they were even a gift? A dowry of herbs and exotic plants instead of gems or coin?
Not that it was his concern what she brought them.
"Then I suppose we'll take shifts, for now though let's get a good start." Reaching out the man grabbed the handle, "If we both help then we won't wear out as easily, shall we?" With that stated Tryst started forward.
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Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2016 9:34 pm
Grinning lightly, Constynce nodded with approval. Everything was easier when one had someone to work with and help out! Yes, perhaps she would like this guy, indeed~ She glanced at her plants again, checking for probably the tenth time that they were secure. Couldn't be too careful!
Despite her fears and sorrows, she walked with her head up and eyes open. After all, if she absolutely must travel, she should allow herself to enjoy the trip. It would be a while before she went outside of her normal strolling range, but this was another opportunity to say farewell. Farewell to the trees that she'd grown with, climbed the branches of, and napped in the shade of. She didn't dare show how sad she was to the trees, occasionally reaching out when they passed near enough to one to give the trunk light, affectionate touches. Would she ever see them again?
When her trees became unfamiliar, even though they remained the same species, she turned her attention to her escort. She had to keep from missing home already... "Did you walk here all the way from Zena, then?"
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Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2016 2:38 pm
Tryst just watched Constynce silently. She definitely was an unique creature. He really had to wonder about the people of Tale. Lyrie had told him that they were far more connected with the earth than the ice earthlings. Still, Tryston even noticed that compared to the others he had met on the way here this girl was more unique...was that a good way to put it? Shaking his head the male focused on keeping the cart balanced as they went over the slightly rough trail.
"I can't fly, so yes." Replied Tryston sincerely, "I could have taken a mount, but since this is my right of passage to becoming a true swordsman I wanted to test my endurance. So walking it was." His golden gaze glanced over her, "Are you wishing for a mount to ride? I didn't think about it...perhaps we could find some beasts in the next village to help?"
Personally he rather enjoyed walking. He was far more comfortable on the earth in his own feet than flying above the ground. Even Mamu were intimidating at times. Not that he would ever admit to such feelings of course. What sort of man would be scared of riding a beast? It was a shame really...
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Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2016 3:19 pm
Head cocking, Constynce looked up at the trees above. So, Tryston had walked the whole way simply to see if he could? What an oddball. "Huh? Oh, no, I'm fine. I like my feet on the ground. I was wondering because that's a far distance to come on foot, if my studies are correct. I've heard the snows of Zena are deep, and the dryness of Sauti is vast. Quite a lot to simply walk through." She quirked a brow, and looked at her escort again. "Is that what Zena and Sauti are like?"
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Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2016 3:42 pm
"Alright then." That was fine by him. It wasn't as if they were in the biggest of hurries. From his instructions the male knew that it would be a few weeks before the ceremony preparations even began...to think he had accepted such a drawn out assignment. But this was also a test of his endurance. Just like his walk to Tale from Zena the male had to practice patience and endurance for any type of mission..even one as small as this.
"It can change. Not every landscape is uniform. On occasion you'll have areas of Zena patched in green while it's the mountains that stay snow covered year round. Sauti seemed to differ in patches as well. Some sandy soil here while a surprising patch of forest will grow there. Does that seem so strange?" He quirked his own brow at her in turn, "Is that not the case for Tale as well with it's forests and plains?"
Leaving the question lingering, Tryst continued walking. They had surprisingly covered a fair amount of ground as Constynce said goodbye to her trees and he had just trudged forward in silence. Now since hours had passed the landscape seemed to shift. Perhaps they should make camp soon? He wondered if they should stop before the trees disappeared, already they were beginning to become sparse. Trees were more preferable to the vast openness of plains for a camp since they could provide more cover. He already didn't like the look of the skies...they were getting darker and it wasn't from a setting sun just yet. Instead dark clouds seemed to be looming...
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Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2016 3:58 pm
Lips pursing in thought, Constynce slowly nodded along as she listened. "I guess not," she admitted. Every place had generalities about it. It only made sense that the whole land wasn't all the same. Besides, he was right about Tale. It was not all the same either, from the tales she heard. It was a curious thing to think about.
Gratefully lost in thought of other places, she looked up with surprise when she noticed the change in the air. At first, she was excited. "Ooh! Rain is coming!" On second look though, her excitement waned, and she stuck her lip out in a slight pout. "You might feel our wind bite after all," she huffed softly. "I much prefer when it laughs..."
She wanted to take it as a sign. Constynce wanted to turn right around and head home and abandon the trip. Nature's spirit was telling her to stay put! She wasn't going to ignore that. Nature had to know that going back wasn't an option though... So why stall things? "We should find a place to rest for a while," she said, confirming Tryston's concerns about the coming weather.
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Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 5:49 pm
Tryston frowned. A biting wind, rain? He had thankfully gone through pleasant weather -well if a Zenan could call the warm, sunny skies pleasant- while traveling to the village. Honestly, he had never really experienced a thunderstorm before. Perhaps once while he was small, but now the male was astonished to see electricity dancing across the skies. Then as Constynce said the wind did begin to have more of a sting to it. Rather than gently blowing through the tall grasses the wind began to make shrilly yell.
Where had this weather shift come from?
"Are the trees safe?" He questioned, but since the wind was muffling his voice the male found himself less than a breath away from the girl so that they could hear each other. "Can you get there in time? I can carry your cart..." The thought made him glance over. What about her plants? The poor things were already beginning to dance in the winds and running with them might not be the best idea.
Frowning, Tryst glanced towards Constynce. "Go, run if you want. I'll get there." Ever so carefully the male took off his outer tunic and draped it around her cart. Tying a knot on the side he tightened the material so that the wind wouldn't whip it or any of the plants away. As he worked fat drops of rain began to pelt down from above.
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Posted: Sun May 01, 2016 11:38 am
Watching the sky, Constynce frowned as the weather swooped in like a kinfa diving for prey. This would be quite a storm. Today of all days... Raising a hand against the sudden wind, she looked over at her escort. "The trees will watch over us," she assured with a nod.
Pursing her lips, she grabbed back onto one handle of the cart. She wasn't about to go scurrying off and leave her plants behind! As Tryston took actions to protect those plants, Constynce felt her heart swell with tenderness. Okay. This guy really wasn't so bad.
"I can handle a little rain," she called back with a playful smile, keeping her grip on the cart handle. As the heavy drops fell from the sky, she tugged the cart along toward cover.
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