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 Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 9:27 pm
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Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 9:28 pm
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Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 9:29 pm
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 12:52 am
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 1:02 am
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 3:52 am
Asai had lost track of how many moonturns it had been since she'd moved within the depths of the Dragon Range and into the Caes Talaes (the Heart Caverns) of the Pandryl Tylal Vali. Yet a knowing in her bones and the scales of her hide, told her that the moon had waxed and waned roughly 7 times since then.
The ancient dragon was shaken from her thoughts as the infant half-elf, Vah'lyren'est'ria whimpered in her sleep, calling forth an echoing whimper as her twin Keli'os'asyren'est'lien reached out toward his sister and clutched at her bed clothes with his pudgy hand. The touch of her brother, quieted her immediately and she rolled into her brother's only slightly bigger body. Both twins were nestled deep in a warm nest of blankets, which was made in the circle of Asai's scaly tail. The dragon radiated heat, so much so that small cavern felt as warm as any midsummer day. It was important that babies not catch while they slept and their little bodies lay still. So at night or during nap time, Asai rested in her true form, and during the twins waking hours, she fostered them in the guise of a human. Or something human looking... the Two polished horns that crowned her head weren't exactly human traits... but it was better than having a winged lizard bigger than the size of a house for a nursemaid.
The Caes Talaes, were so deep in the cave system, that unless one spent a lifetime memorizing the tunnel system, without a guide... the elaborate cavern chambers and the twisting passages between them was impossible to navigate. But Asai knew them, inside and out. Making her the perfect Guardian of her bonded's children. Only Reiyvian, the High Priestess and the Oracle of GUARDIAN's Healing and Support division, knew where they were hidden away. Yet even Reiyvian, could not find her way to the inner Sanctum of the Dragon Mountains, without a 'guide'. The heart caves had been equipped by Asai, to serve as a living space. There was a nursery, what the humans called a 'living room', a kitchen and pantry of sorts, a work room and a cave several corridors away where waste could be disposed of. All the caves were magickally shielded and heavily warded. Even the bond between Sierra, Ra'kar and Asai was being concealed. Asai could not afford for Sierra to know where her children lay, lest she unwillingly had that information pried from her mind. Nor could she have the Dark Lady come calling. Were Sierra stronger than her twisted counterpart, she could have safely been with her offspring, but in her weakened state, she was no match for the cunning demoness.
The dragon extends a delicate claw, pulling a blanket more securely over her wee charges. Her deep smoky voice, crooning an age old lullaby in the lost tongue of the Dragons of Endarah, soothing the twins back to sleep. It would be a few more hours before they needed to woken and fed.
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 2:59 am
After Reiyvian and Vahn hed left the Val os thosi, and exited the healing centre where she had handed a fur lined cloak to Vahn, donning one herself. She led him to the stables. There a groom met them with two waiting mounts. Elven horses were fine creatures and if Vahn had any experience with horses, he would be able to mark the excellent breeding and superior nature of the creature whose reigns were passed to him. The black regarded him intelligently as if weighing him. Reiyvian's own mount, Lysndell, nuzzled her mistress affectionately. She was a stunningingly delicate palamino. Fur that shone honeyed gold and a mane and tail of pale creamy white.
"How well do you ride?"
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 3:34 am
"To be honest with you, there really hasn't been any need for horses in quite a few years." He stared at the horse being held out for him in question, feeling more and more of that certain nostalgia welling back into his head.
There were more than a few unpleasant memories attached to the days when he had rode frequently...
"But it's just like riding a bike."
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 3:53 am
The black snorted indignantly at the tousle-haired man and stomped a hoof as if in annoyance as if it understood the comparison and wasn't flattered.
Reiyvian suppressed a chuckle and nodded approvingly. As she lead her mount from the stables.
"The Dark Sakura embraces the modern world but ever so subtly. Horses are enjoyable companions and quieter than the light-blasted contraptions you humans call machines. I'll take a horse over a vehicle any day!"
Swinging easily into the saddle she grins at Vahn mischievously.
"I am glad to hear that you are so well versed in the art of riding though, you should have no trouble handling and keeping up."
Without another word she nudged the palomino into a trot as she left the stable yard and turned off onto a forest trail. The trail lead north and widened after a moment so that the two horses would have enough room to walk abreast. But she did not slow, quite the contrary. After a quick warm up at a trot, the golden mare moved into a canter and then a ground eating gallop, racing toward the mountains that stood against the azure blue backdrop of the sky.
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 4:00 am
"You still haven't told me where we're going!" He yelled but it really wasn't any use.
Apparently she wanted to get somewhere, and he was meant to follow.
And you don't even start with me. He stared at the horse, before walking forward and running a hand along it's nose, parting locks of hair. "You throw me, and I'll roast you. I swear it."
Taking the reins, he took a half attempt at swinging himself up, not sure if he was wearing the right kind of clothing to be riding.
Settled in the saddle, he motioned the horse forward, hoping it didn't break into a full run right away. Although he wouldn't be quick to show fear or uncertainty, lest the animal break him.
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 4:16 am
The gelding knickered, almost a chuckle as he swung into the saddle. Trotting after Lysndell happily. As the golden mare picked up speed, so did the black gelding. Then trail stretched straight ahead for some distance before it began winding it's way up the mountainface. Lysndell and Reiyvien took off like a shot as they galloped ahead, Reiyvian's white cloak streaming behind her like a fluttering banner of white. While it was only fall, it wasn't terribly cold within the guild's grounds, it was decidedly colder the deeper they penetrated into the mountainous range.
The black mount waited, looking for a moment his rider wasn't paying attention and hopped sidewways, ducking his head and kicking up his hind feet---
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 4:33 am
--- and yea, no.
Yellowed eyes narrowed even as he felt the steed buck and move with sudden aggressiveness, with a lining of playfullness that would have been hard to pick up if it weren't for the fact that the animal wasn't genuinely trying to kill him.
At least he hoped so.
"Whoa-- whoa---- Dammit!"
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 4:48 am
The black whinnied when Vahn was't thrown and kicked up his heels again. Not as high though, this was more of a cow-hop. As if in salute that he had managed to stay on. Deciding that his rider wasn't so bad maybe knew -something- about horses... he settled into an graceful run, catching up to Lysndell and nickering in greeting. Reiyvian greeted him in turn with a smile and a chuckle.
"Arquel seems to have decided you're not so bad..."
She laughed as they rode up the mountain trail. Quickly they had to reduce speed for the trail up the Dragon's mountains was not made to be easily accessible and the trail was narrow and the footing not always sure.
It was roughly an hour's ride to the cave mouth. Inside was a stable of sorts. A place to put the horses while they ventured through the caverns. It was this that Reiyvian rode into and then dismounted. Leading her into a stall she spoke one word,
"Stand."
Lysndell would not budge from this spot until Reiyvian came for her. She loosened the girth of Lysndell's saddle as not to gall the horse while she waited for their return. She grabbed a bucket from somewhere and walked over to a pump that sprouted out of the cave wall, pumping fresh mountain water and filling a trough.
She would check to see that Vahn's mount was also taken care of before leading him into the caves.
"If you tell him to stand, he will not budge until we return."
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 4:59 am
"I see."
He scratched the side of his chin, before facing Arquel, and staring him eye to eye real close like.
"Yo-- move and I'll singe your hair."
Narrowing his eyes, he patted the horse's nose and went to go join Reiyvian.
"Now, mind telling me where we're going?"
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Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 3:19 pm
Reiyvian laughed and shook her head. Placing a hand on Arquel's nose she simply said,
"Stay."
The first command word every elven mount learned. Turning she held her hands in front of her, as if she was holding an orb, but nothing was there. And as if to fill the void, a twinkle of violet light began, pulsing and flickering until it rapidly expanded and grew into a glowing orb of amethyst magelight. She set it to float above their heads just ahead of them, lighting the path as they walked.
"There is someone here who would like to meet you... She has been looking out for Sierra since she was young, long before she made her way to Gaia. And now... she has dedicated herself to protecting Sierra's most precious memories here deep within the Caes Talaes, away from scrying eyes."
They walked for 13 minutes before the cave branched off into several different paths and adjoining caverns. It would be easy to get lost in here... so very easy. One might spend a lifetime in vain trying to navigate their way out if they wandered in without a knowing guide. This was one of the defenses of the Pandryl mountains.
Reiyvian entered the third from the left and continued deeper in. Many times they were met by forks in the road and presented with multiple directions they might take. Always Reiyvian's decision was made automatically as if she were following some invisible markers. All the while, Vahn would get the distinct impression that they were descending deeper in the mountain's heart.
After a candle mark and a half, The priestess stopped before a solid stone wall. A dead end or so it seemed. She turned and looked at Vahn with a seriousness that had seemed to build in the silence between them as they had walked.
"There is something here you must see... A knowledge we must impart to you in case the worse should happen. If we cannot save Sierra, the blessed light forefend-- but should we fail... then you need to know what it was she left behind that day in the tournament's hotel."
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