Twilight
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Night's Edge Monastary: Salle Forest District
- The salle is less a room and more a roofed area attached to the main body of the manor house, the place of training for the weaponmaster and his students. Thick shardwood posts and rafters hold up a baked tile roof, leaving the sides of the space surrounded only by a waist-high wall of the same white sun clay bricks that make up the rest of the manor house.
- Rolled canvas is tied up on pleasant days, but can be allowed to drop to keep in warmth, in conjunction with the small stove in an out of the way corner, or keep out inclement weather. Within the bounds of the salle, the dirt floor has been carefully raked, a twenty-foot-across circle of fine white powder renewed daily in the open space at the area's center. To one side, several benches are placed to offer a class the ability to see the lesson being taught - or simply shoved against the wall to make more room for a class to work.
- There is a small, enclosed armory. Its heavy door of biinwood usually barred and locked against intrusion; the small store of arms available to the residents of the manor kept within. Wooden practice weapons are stored in racks outside, however, available for anyone caring for a casual spar or a quick lesson.
- There are two biinwood doors: one leads off to the east to return to the courtyard, while the other heads north going through the armory to the dining hall.
Dead center in the salle, a certain young, grey-haired mage eyes one of the
weapon racks sightlessly, yes - lost in thought. Indeed.
Alin trots back out from the kitchen-- He's in armor and still sweaty, so it's
no surprise when he hefts the warmace propped against the wall again.
"Greetings." He rumbles in a whiskey-on-gravel baritone, regarding Kael with
sun-faded blue eyes. Offering the typical salle bow, he queries, "Are you out
here for some practice?"
Kael actually jumps a bit, startled, glancing back at the Mikin..... and
flashing a wry, not unfriendly grin. ".. were jus' talkin', afore.." He
blinks, as though realizing exactly what he's standing in.. "Oy. Er. Sommat
tells me m' standin' in th' wrong place. Yer nae goin' t' hit me wi' that
thing, are ye?"
"No, not unless you want me to." Alin responds, smiling amiably to the mage. "I
suspect not." He rolls his shoulders to limber his muscles back up, adding,
"You're a guest of the Baroness Celeste's, yes?"
Kael nods, to that, offering - "Kael, sir - Kael Firelight." a bit of
hero-worship there? A fan, perhaps? "I saw ye at th' joust - y' were right
amazin', takin' Norran as y' did." He moves out of the way, hopping up to sit
on that low wall.
Alin smiles broadly, looking somewhat abashed. "I'm amazed I did so well,
actually.. I'd been practicing, but it's been years since the last actual
joust I had." Stretching finished Alin picks up several small bands with
multiple pouches of some sort sewn in-- Strapping them to the length of the
mace handle. Weights, apparently. He begins to work through parries, thrusts,
and blows with the warmace-- It's large and slow, and sweat beads on the
silver-haired Mikin's forehead as he warms up.. Still, his arms are steady and
his movements sure. "A pleasure to meet you, Master Firelight. I notice you're
marked-- That's good, it means people are coming to see what the Baroness has
built. What brings you to Night's Edge, if I may ask?"
"Meanin'." Kael watches, curious - "dreams n' half-thought things. W' are o' a
mind, she 'n I - what w' saw, what w' found, well.. w' found 't at different
times, 'n different places, but were a suprise t' discover 't were th' same
thing."
Alin grunts as he extends full reach-- A warmace is certainly a large weapon,
especially when fully extended. He holds the posture, watching the length of
metal keenly for any tremble. "She's the sort of person that people want to
believe in. She speaks about a dream and it all seems real and tangible and
wonderful, and it makes a fellow want to build it with his bare hands if
that's what it takes. Of course, now that I've been here a while, it's not
just following her here... I want to see this place succede because it feels
more right than anything I've seen in decades."
Kael's settled on the low salle wall, watching Alin go through the motions of
warmace practice, curious. "Aye, s' a dream indeed. S' funny - all 't takes is
one o' two t' stand up fer a dream, and suddenly 't starts t' be /real/. S'
fragile right now, though."
Meian strides in, arms full of... vegetables. It's a rather large supply, but
she seems to have it well enough in hand for the moment. An easy smile curves
her lips, a pleasant tune hummed under her breath. Unable to curtsey with this
loose load, she has to settle for bobbing her head.
"Not so fragile as all of that." Alin responds, switching his grip mid swing to
curve the blow into a feint. Sweat pours down his features as he goes through
the rounds with the heavy weapon, voice somewhat strained at times in the
conversation. "It doesn't feel like it, anyways. Something about this place..
Maybe it's because it's the site of an older building, those ruins. I feel
like I'm looking at any of those towns that've been around for centuries; It
just feels.. Permanent." He explains to Kael.
"... maybe. But like anythin' else.. 't hae t' grow. An' hurt, n' get fought
for." The mage is curious still, his tone thoughtful - "Sommat very wise once
tol' me - what y' are is yers to choose. Yers t' make. This place 's part o'
that, fer all o' us." Meian gets a warm smile... the young man breathing in as
though preparing to say something... but he lets it go, for now.
Celeste slips in from the dining room, one hand still brushing out her hair
(still wet from the rain). She looks over the occupants of the salle, moving
through the classroom-like side to that of the training circles. Her hands
coming to rest just over the visage of the mongoose at her waist. "I see that
you two are practicing," she offers lightly. The Mikin studying the style and
footwork of Alin.
Meian seems determined to manage a curtsey for Celeste at least, clutching her
armload of asparagus and rosemary tighter. Cautiously she dips into the
motion, taking it slow and managing not to spill anything. "M-my lady," she
murmurs with a smile. "I w-was just t-taking this to the k-kitchen for another
b-batch of stew." Her head tilts slightly, enough to return Kael's smile just
as warmly.
Again, he switches his grip to thrust upwards with the spike warmace with
force, gaze locked on an invisible opponent. "That may be so, Master
Firelight. Whomever said that was wise indeed, although the Light does much to
make us whom we are as well." Pushing a foot and shoulder back, he turns his
profile to said invisible attacker, before parrying a blow that doesn't
actually happen.
Kael waves a calloused hand at Alin - "'es practicin' - m' jus' watchin' an'
bein' a distraction." More seriously, he addresses the mace-wielder - "I
donnae ken if th' Light hears me, but I hope 't does. I prefer t' figure 'm
what I am nae fer bein' forsaken, but because 's what I need t' be, fer
whate'er reason. But th' one what said that came after prayin' t'
understand... I cannae ignore 't."
"That is fine, Meian. thank you for all the hard work," replies Celeste with a
smile towards the bard. The noblewoman falls quiet at the topic at hand,
listening to the marked mage's words with renewed interest. She too, moves
towards one of the benches to sit and listen.
Meian pauses hesitantly, seeming to want to listen- but after a moment she
quickly shakes her head and continues onward to the dining hall, juggling her
load.
Alin hefts the warmace up and props it on his shoulder, turning to grin at the
duo. "That may be so, Master Firelight. I hope so, and I believe so." He
rumbles, reaching up to mop at his brow, settling the mace-head on the floor.
"... that thing looks ruddy /heavy/." Kael shakes his head, dropping down -
"Prefer m' claws 'n teeth t' that - n' offense. S' a bit much."
"One gets used to the weight," notes Celeste quietly. "You actually begin to
feel naked sometimes without feeling it at your side." The noblewoman falls
quiet again, imparting her slight bit of wisdom.
Alin comments wryly, "I often use a one-handed sort, but there's times when a
really big metal thing with spikes is exactly what the situation calls for. It
takes more practice, too." He grins at Celeste, adding wryly, "That, and
sometimes it just feels neat to tote around the biggest weapon, I confess."
"Heh. Kin imagine - woul' nae want t' meet th' business end o' that either
way." The mage moves around the salle's circle - "Jus' seems sommat gettin'
hit wi' that woul' be awful permanent, r'gardless. Which, m' guessin' is th'
point."
Meian slips back out of the dining hall, no longer carrying produce and now
wrapped up in her usual black cloak again. She wanders over to take a seat on
one of the benches, tilting her head at the conversation and swinging her feet
over its edge.
Celeste leans back against the half wall, listening the noble and mage. "Yes,
I've not used something that large since my days at the Stanchion," notes
Celeste. Her hand patting to her right hip absently. "Course, I should
probably returning to practicing with one....when I'm dressed for it."
"The problem is actually hitting someone with it, though." Alin responds,
laughing. "Want to give it a try, Baroness?" He asks, holding the mace up.
"Builds up the arms wonderfully, for that matter, and I'll bet you can show me
a thing or two."
Kael grins. "Woul' nae mind seein' that - " he pauses near Meian - "y' trained
sorts flailin' about 's a hell o' a thing t' watch, t' be honest."
"J-just as n-no one g-gets hurt," Meian volunteers, a little anxiously despite
her lingering smile. "...th-then it might be f-fun. B-but oh, you t-two will
have to be c-careful."
Celeste brushes a hand down the velvet dress, looking over the war mace. "Maybe
I should look to putting something on that isn't as ....frail," notes the
female Mikin. "Then we can see about such things."
Beaming, Alin nods agreeably. "I look forward to it, Baroness." He responds,
amiably. "Do you still have armor from the scourge days, or another set? I
hadn't even thought to ask."
Kael settles down next to Meian, glancing to her and murmering - "sometime
soon? Ye 'n I need t' talk, m' thinkin'."
Meian blinks over at Kael, tilting her head upward at him to softly whisper in
reply, "Is e-everything a-all right, K-kael..?"
Color rises to the noblewoman's features, her hand continuing to rub at her hip
idly. "Yes, I've that which I used to wear as a scourge as well as another set
that was provided by a friend," Celeste comments, glancing back towards the
older Mikin. "I would show them to you whenever you like, cousin."
Alin glances at Kael and Meian and pulls off his gauntlets. "Well, why not go
have a look now, if you don't mind? " He queries, setting the weapon alongside
the sackcloth-covered package. Glancing at it, he grimaces. "I still have to
deliver that bow at some point."
Kael nods, seriously, to Meian - "Y' up fer a walk? While m'lady Celeste 's
gettin' 'er armor an' such. Will nae keep y' long - an' then we kin watch 'em
both sparrin'."
Meian rubs the back of her neck, beginning to look more than a little unsure,
but she slowly nods. "Y-yes, of c-course... It w-would be n-nice." She glances
up at Kael, brow furrowing slightly with unspoken worry. "...I'm s-sure." The
girl rises to her feet, adjusting her cloak.
Celeste looks at the bow, laughing softly. "That is for Lady Tamae Zahir, yes?"
She waves a hand towards the dining hall. "She actually was freshening up in
the guest chambers when I last saw her, Lord Mikin." She pushes away from the
bench, taking a few steps towards the said hall. "My room is just on the other
side of the chapel, if you would like to see the armor."
"She is?" Alin queries, both bushy eyebrows reaching high orbit. "Oh! That's
fantastic. Can you let her know it's in the salle, if I don't see her first?"
He asks, following after Celeste complacently. "Certainly, Baroness.. You
know, the next time there's a tourney, I hope you might consider fighting in
it too. I was surprised not to see you there."
Kael pauses, as the two move away.. blinking, and raising an eyebrow - he
stands himself, but seems in no particular hurry. "Woul' be worth seein',
that..."
Meian stands still, waiting for Kael to lead the way somewhere. She tilts her
head, overlong bangs falling into her eyes, and softly asks, "M-my lady
f-fighting in a tournament, y-you mean? I... I th-think I'd be happy n-not
seeing, I'd be t-too worried she'd b-be hurt. W-would take more than o-one mug
of a-ale to make me n-not nervous and a-afraid for her, however g-good she is."
"I was, well, I was at Apple Village," states the noblewoman. Her attention
drawn to her own wearied hands as they move towards the dining hall. "I wanted
to see if there was any way I could assist, and lost track of time,I fear."
She pushes the door to the dining room open, glancing back to Meian. "I was
once known for my abilities with a mace, dear. But those fighting days have
been put to rest for some time now."
"How bad is it?" Alin asks, voice low and raw. "I heard.. Well, I didn't hear
anything good about the situation. " He holds the door open long enough to
pass through it himself, adding, "I'm certain a little training would work the
abilities back.. And frankly, it's a good idea even if you don't intend to
become a knight, Baroness. Especially if this place is threatened."
Kael murmers, softly - "Threatened - 't wi' be, afore is done. Kin almost
promise ye that - but wi' nae be just maces about." Speaking the obvious is a
talent, it seems.
"I b-believe in you and y-your skill, my l-lady," Meian says softly. "B-but I'd
r-rather not w-watch people I know and c-care for f-fighting for r-real again.
...t-though we probably w-will have to, d-doesn't need to be.. any m-more of
an unnecessary e-evil."
"There were few, if any that made it out alive...and I fear, I was in an
argument for most of my time there." Celeste colors at the admission, offering
a quick smile to Meian. "It's alright, I can understand your trepidation. As
to if this place is attacked," she glances back to Alin. "Why don't I show you
that armor, my lord." She pulls open the door, moving to step into the dining
hall.
Kael watches the pair leave with a certain quiet thoughtfulness, then, quietly,
offers a hand to Meian. No words - if anything, the young man seems to be
putting his thoughts together.
Meian reaches to take the hand, slowly looking up to Kael. She doesn't break
the silence either, but her brow furrows again- a definite and anxious
question in her eyes. Automatically with the other hand she reaches up and
brushes the hair out of their way, nothing now obstructing their faintly
troubled gaze.
".. I donnae ken where t' start." That's an admission - "but ye n' I need t' ..
sort o' go somewhere. S' sommat I hae t' show ye."
"I'll g-go wherever you l-lead me," the girl softly remarks, with a gentle
smile and a faint shrug smoothing out some of the lines in her brow.
"...f-feels like s-something's wrong, it d-does, but I t-trust you. The
f-forest is n-nearby, and q-quiet."
"...aye." Careful and deliberate, his words, though perhaps a bit lost. "An'.. I
woul' nae much say that. But w' do hae a great deal t'talk through... an'
here.. s' nae th' right place fer 't. W' need t' go t' the Aerie, t' tell ye
truth. But 's a long way."
Those lines reappear, but perhaps more of confusion than worry- her voice is
certainly more bemused than anxious, as Meian gazes up at Kael with gently
probing eyes. "...K-kael... If y-you want to g-go there, I'll g-go with you. I
w-won't ask wh-why. But if that d-doesn't work, there are q-quiet places
n-nearby. Which d-do you want to choose..?"
Kael seems to .. decide something. "th' forest wi' be fine, fer now." A bit
wry, he points out - "y' wi' hae t' bear wi' me, ladybright - m' nae good wi'
words anyway, an' m' thinkin' through a lot at th' same time.. means 'm awful
slow, 't times."
Meian chuckles softly, murmuring, "B-better slow and s-sure, K-kael, than fast
and m-mad like m-me the other n-night. A-all right, I'm r-ready to go..." She
swallows once as her smile weakens, glancing aside now in that habitual hiding
of her expression. "..l-let's go."
Mikin Wood: Shade Oak Forest Forest District
- A small spring gurgles next to a cluster of shardwood and shade oak trees. Chitters can be heard trilling and capering about in the higher branches. Smaller animals rustle through the shrubbery.
The walk here is a quiet one, Kael saying very little - not bothering to stop
and resume the clothing he carries, just.. moving. Walking easily, solicitous
in his speed, ensuring that he doesn't rush the girl whose hand he holds, a
hand he seems reluctant to let go of, at the moment.
Meian appears unwilling to break the silence either, striding along and keeping
up with the mage carefully. As the walk proceeds, nervousness begins to
overwhelm the previous curiosity on her face, the occasional sound of an
uncomfortable swallow punctuating her footsteps. By the time the two are into
the woods, the girl's hand is likely clammy with a light, cold sweat.
".. donnae fear. " Quiet and sure, that.. the young man pausing under a tree,
turning to face the girl fully. "Nae me. Nae here. Nae /now/. Y' hae t'
promise me - no runnin'. Nae like yestereve. Fair?"
A deep, uneasy breath raises and lowers the girl's shoulders, her gaze finally
lifting to focus on Kael's face again. Fear might not be the word- but there's
a deep anxiety there, clouding her eyes. "...A-all r-right," the girl softly
promises. "I...I won't r-run... K-kael."
Kael nods, slowly - "E'erything hae a price. Sometimes w' pay it without
noticin', without e'en really figurin' out what w' paid along th' way. One o'
th' first y' pay is a small thing, but th' thing y' miss th' most." He lets go
of her hands, and leans against that tree, calm and serious. "Y' open yer
eyes. Y' see truth - an' 't blinds."
All the blood drains from Meian's face. Her eyes close then, dark lashes
melding into the shadowed circles underneath her eyes. That slim form stands
almost preternaturally still, mostly angular lines softened by the padding of
her cloak, but still seeming as pale and unmoving as a curiously flawed
statue. "..S-so you kn-know, then," the girl replies, in a mostly flat voice
ungirded by weary sadness. "I d-didn't want you.. to h-have to kn-know."
Kael smiles, sadly. "i ken sommat - /what/ y' may nae really ken, yet.." he
crouches there - peering up at her - "I woul' spare ye a great deal, 'f I
could. But.." He reaches down, idly scooping up a few fingertips of nothing
more than simple dirt, there in the shade of that tree, idly rubbing it
between his fingertips. "I donnae ken 'n easy way t' tell ye - sommat what kin
see more 'n I can looked close, an'... yer dreams, lass? Th' /are/ more n' ye
ken th' are."
Meian's eyes fly open, and suddenly the color floods back into her cheeks.
Relief blossoms in her expression, her entire frame sagging with it for just a
moment as she lets herself take a shuddering breath. ...And then the reality
of Kael's words hits her, and the girl simply... blinks, in incomprehension.
"What?" she manages in a blank and not particularly articulate fashion.
Kael simply watches her, crouching there. He lets the words do what they will,
brushing that dirt away against his pants leg.
Then the babbling comes. "I d-don't u-understand, K-kael, I th-thought you
found out.. s-something e-else... H-how can my d-d-dreams be more than I
kn-know? They're just d-dreams. N-nothing more. Wh-what... what are you
-saying- t-to me?"
".. th' are nae dreams. Nae entirely." Calm and gentle, that. "'f what were
seen 's right." Patiently, letting her find her own way, it seems.
Meian just stares down at Kael, seemingly unable to find her way to much of
anywhere. Finally, she asks in a soft voice, "A-are you s-saying wh-what I
d-dream... wh-what I d-dream.. could be... r-real? That I... th-the, the
Shadow.. It i-isn't, n-no.."
Kael nods, slowly. "Aye. 'tis. Mos' likely." Still so very gentle.
"No," the girl states simply, voice stil oddly blank of emotion. "That's..
th-that's not p-possible. You're w-wrong."
He idly drags fingers through his hair. "Maybe." he acknowledges, calmly - "An'
y' are free t' decide I am, e'en if I 'm nae. What y' are 's what y' are, n'
matter what I say either way, aye?"
Meian runs shaking hands through her hair, whispering, "Y-you wouldn't l-lie.
K-kael, you w-would never l-lie to me..." There's a dawning awareness, and a
dawning horror, in her voice. "..oh, oh L-l-light... H-he was r-right..
r-r-right... all a-along..." The shivering begins to spread, her eyes opening
impossibly wide and her breathing coming quick and shallow.
"Peace, Meian." Kael offers a calloused hand, expression oddly worried.
"breathe, ladybright - easy."
Meian doesn't take the hand, backing up a step. The trembling seems to make it
hard for her to support herself, her breathing definitely hyperventilation
with its uneven gasps. "H-he was r-right." She's still whispering, a strange
contrast to the force of her physical reaction. "It i-i-is in m-me. Be.. b-be
careful.. wh-what you wish f-for.."
Quietly, Kael speaks - an obscure sadness there. "What y' are, Meian - is ye.
What y' allus hae been, what y' allus will be." he stands, easily, moving
forward carefully - "Yer nae evil. Th' Shadow 's nae kind, but donnae make th'
mistake I did, aye?"
A single, solitary tear slides down Meian's cheek. She doesn't spook at Kael's
advance, as taut and tense as her frame is. "I pr-promised you I w-wouldn't
run," she whispers wretchedly. "I c-can't r-run, an-anyway, c-can I? It's..
it's -in me-."
Kael nods, calmly, offering both hands, "I kin help y' face 't. I kin show ye
what little I can. Y' wi' nae be alone - s' more o' us than y' might figure.
But y' are what y' are - an' what y' chose t' do wi' that knowin'."
Another tear follows the first down Meian's cheek, and then another. "I.. I
d-don't.. I d-don't h-have any i-idea wh-what to do.. K-kael... I d-don't
know.. I don't -know-. Everything.. m-my whole w-world just... It's
ch-changing..." She latches onto the hands, beginning finally to sob in
earnest.
"how 't changes - 'n how far - 's up t' ye." Kael's tone stays so very gentle,
as he squeezes her hands. "An' aye, 'tis. But 's been changin' e'er since y'
left yer home. Now, y' change a bit more, 's all."
Almost seeming beyond words now, the girl cries, a torrent of emotions rolling
down her face in great, heaving sobs. She clenches onto Kael's hands even more
tightly, throwing her head back with a strangled cry of quiet despair. And as
she cries, the world begins to cry with her. Leaden grey clouds roll in over
the forest with a distant, heavy rumbling. Slowly, her head lowers, and the
girl gazes at the mage with eyes turned a liquid silver by tears, shade and
perhaps... a touch of magic.
Return to Season 6 (2007)
