Private Tales An Ocean of Fire

[Rhidian]

He was glad for the distance from Vel Anir.

Not ready to come to terms with it, Rhidian had put his hand up for taking up service in the West. He had been there on a mission once, had crossed into Cortosi territory, but in the end it proved a success. It took him three weeks travel to get to Vel Castere, another day to the Guard camp he was to serve in for this leg of adventure. His first day was spent asking for a friend he had made his last time near the border, but many guardsmen gave him a scathing look because of his uniform.

Fresh from the Academy a few months prior, Rhidian was no longer feeling like an imposter in his leathers. He had armour, of course, but did not need to wear it on a day to day basis. But there, marking his rank of Third Level, it was a telltale sign he was not part of the Guard, but a Dreadlord at that.

If only they knew I grew up a guard.

Rhidian sighed, taking a seat in the dining hall and staring at the plate of food he got himself. Not many newly graduated Initiates this way... Normally, making friends was no hard feat for him, but... after the blow he was dealt in Vel Anir, it seemed to sapped the happiness from him.

If only Arn was around, then there would be a friendly face.

 

[Skyler]

"....and that's why I prefer Vel Vara over here. Y'know, the food is just fresher."

Sky quirked a brow at her companion. His name was Dravus and he was one of the horse handlers. She assumed he also liked the more southern front against the Cortos because of the Luana horses.

It just so happened that a third-level Dreadlord decided to sit across from them. One of the few free spots in the bustling food hall. Dravus gave him a wary look and stuffed a bite of smashed taters in his mouth. It was not uncommon for dreadlords in the guard to think themselves superior. To use lives of guards like nothing more than spare arrows in a quiver.

Hellen straight up disdained them. But that included anyone and everyone, really.

And if Rhory was here, she knew her friend would be drooling over that chiseled jawline.

Sky smiled warmly, her brown eyes searching the dreadlord's face. "Hi, I'm Sky." Dravus nearly choked on his potatoes as Sky so casually addressed a dreadlord. "And this grumpy bones is Dravus." His eyes bulged as he managed not to choke and proffered Sky a murderous look.

"Are you new here?"

Dravus grumbled something beneath his breath.

 

[Rhidian]

Rhidian lifted his gaze to see this Sky, blinking as if he had only taken notice that there indeed were others present at the table he chose to sit at. He shifted in his seat, mustering up a polite smile.

"Rhidian, and yes, just arrived not too long ago. Second time out here, actually. My first mission I was called to infiltrate past the Cortosi border, but my unit were slaughtered. Well, besides myself and another guardsman."

Dravus snorted, and when Rhidian flicked his eyes to look at him, he was sitting up straight and putting out his chest in challenge. "Odd they kept you alive, though. You'd think they would take out a Dreadlord first."

"They did." Rhidian gave him an innocent smile. "But it also takes more than a blow to the head to kill a Dreadlord. Something about our magic keeping us alive..." It seemed he didn't have to remind him of the notoriety of Dreadlords being able to continue fighting even after losing a limb for Dravus' face paled.

 

[Skyler]

Sky elbowed Dravus' side. Lighten up. What was with these Anirian males and wanting to prove who had the bigger-

Her attention sharpened on Rhidian's face as he spoke. Elbows propped on the table between them and she leaned forward a few inches. It was clear she wasn't scared of the dreadlord like maybe she should've been.

"Who was the guard that made it? Which unit were you with?"

She hadn't heard from one of her brothers in awhile. That in of itself wasn't odd, considering how much they traveled and were stationed in different places. She told herself that she didn't need to worry. But she couldn't help but gnaw lightly on the inside of her cheek as she stared at Rhidian as eager as she was dreadful to hear the next words that came out of his perfectly set jaw.

 

[Rhidian]

Rhidian gave her a sheepish look.

"I don't remember which unit... but the guard that saved my back was called Arn. Tall guy, taller than me." he lifted his hand to show that this Arn guy was taller by a couple of inches. "Hit a guy of the Radiant Church with a perfect shoot of an arrow."

Rhidian thought it best to leave out the destruction he had made moments before Arn came in with that save. He had learned a lot with the Academy is aiding his magic, but never had he had reason to use it in such a way before. His face fell a little at the memory, but kept the easy going smile on his face to hide behind.

"Anyway, thought it would be nice to say hi to him. Tell him that... I could finally buy him a drink after last time we met." And Rhidian had been looking forward to that reunion. A friendly face after the turmoil and darkness he had to work through the past month travelling to the Western Front.

 

[Skyler]

"Oh Arn, yeah," Sky ducked her head as Dravus watched like he was in the middle of an Anirian theater production. "He's in my unit," warm brown eyes panned back up to the dreadlord's face. Sky had to wonder they fed dreadlords at that Academy. She'd never seen one ugly one.

Couldn't hide that small flash of worry in her eyes, though.

Why hadn't her brother checked-in?

She had to wonder if he was behind enemy lines somewhere. Amol-Kalit? The Radiant Church uprising. Something with Gilram?

Vel Anir certainly had enough enemies.

"I'm sure he's around here somewhere." Sky added, her gaze flickering around the room while Dravus took a big bite of his roll and began chewing loudly. Sky rolled her eyes at him.

"So what's your magic?" Dravus asked after a loud belch. He and Hellen would certainly get along.

Sky winced.

 

[Rhidian]

Rhidian's pleasant face fell into something deeper and darker, his eyes reflecting the change as he regarded ths Dravus fellow.

"Detonation." His hands curled into fists, his back straightening, and for he first time since he became Initiate, anger was so easy to boil within him. There was much to be angry at, and being asked the same question he had been asked for the past year simply irritated him. It only reminded him that she had the power to withstand his magic, and that made Rhidian more comfortable to be with her.

But training and discipline were quick to settle him, and with a deep sigh, he turned his attention back to Sky. "Care to go on a walk and see if we can find old mate?"

 

[Skyler]

Dravus' light countenance shifted to one of nerves at the dreadlord's response. Sky lightly kicked him under the table. Grabbing the roll off her plate she stood.

"Yeah, let's see if we can find him."

Great, leave her with the attractive death-magic wizard. She took a bite of the bread and swallowed, leading the way back out of the bustling cafeteria. Couldn't be worse than when she'd been assigned to that second level Dreadlord with fire. He'd end up burning the enemy and half their troops in the process. She could still remember working three nights straight working up anti-burn creams for the sheer number she'd been left to treat.

"That's General Blackforge's tent," she pointed to a cluster of larger ones. "I'm telling you because he's in a mood today. Might be best to steer clear of him if you can. We can circle to the stables." Sky tried to hide her grimace. "Arn usually hangs out there if he isn't on patrol."

Brown fingers fiddled with her belt for a moment, pulling out a small tablet. She hesitated but then offered it to Rhidian. "The food from today's lunch doesn't exactly sit well with most folks so I figured I'd offer you this if you need it. Should help um," she looked mildly embarrassed. "Smooth things over in the gut area."

 

[Rhidian]

Maybe it wasn't a good idea to joke with Sky that he wouldn't mind squaring off with the General, but given how most guards took Dreadlords too seriously, he chose against saying such a thing.

"Yeah, I think I remember Arn saying he lived on a farm before becoming a Guard. Was good help picking out fast horses when we needed them." And he was glad now, happy that he would soon know someone stationed out here in the West.

His brows would raise at the offered compounds moulded into a pill, taking it and giving a laugh. "Kress, this is fine work. Thanks for the save, I will keep it for when I need it." And he tucked it into a small pocket stitched into his sleeve. "Medic?" He asked her, recognising that his mother and sister had made pills of similar use.

 

[Skyler]

"Yeah," she ducked her head but flashed a bright smile. There was a patch that was bound upon her opposite arm for the Anirian symbol of medic. Some officers mentioned that symbol might keep her from getting flayed in a battle. Others joked that it only made her more of a target for the enemy. Sky hadn't lingered on either side.

"Where I'm from they have this huge center where they teach anyone who has an interest in medicine. Herbs. The art of healing. I mean," shoulders shrugged as she looked back to the dreadlord. "I'm pretty sure they'd take anyone who wasn't squeamish at the site of blood, guts, and...other things."

She was pretty sure Rhidian understood. She'd only heard stories about what the Academy was like before the Revolution and she was sure any dreadlords who were squeamish wouldn't have survived.

"Oh kriff, should I call you Lord or Dreadlord Rhidian?"

The stables were just past the next tent.

 

[Rhidian]

Rhidian spent a few seconds looking her over, trying to gauge where it was she was from.

He was ready to blurt out his guess when he realised if they had been from the same city, he would know this centre. It wsan't familiar to him, but there was some clues now coming to him to help make a more informed answer than his original guess. "Ah, I take it more from the Savannah, hey?" Rhidian gave her cheeky grin.

He laughed at her dilemma of figuring out how to address him, and he decided a friend of Arn's was a friend of his. "Just call me Rhidian. I am still not used to being called Dreadlord Vaughn... and no, never been a Lord. I'm from a family that's served in the Guard for generations. My mother and older sister are medics. They'd like you." Rhidian's smile turned bittersweet. He wrote to his family plenty, but reading words was one thing compared to seeing their faces and hearing them speak the words they had put to letter.

 

[Skyler]

He came from a guard family? That was surprising. Maybe that's why he was a little more friendly than the average dreadlord to guards like her and Arn.

"Is my accent slipping again?" Brown eyes flickered to his face. Dreadlord Rhidian Vaughn. His smile caught her gaze for a little too long and she mentally chided herself for letting that slip. A guy like him? She was sure he had all the girls at the Academy in a tizzy. Maybe all the girls of Vel Anir.

In other words.

Out of her league.

"A kingdom there. Before we moved to Vel Anir. It's called Marakoosh." She paused as she glanced around and a lot of folk who didn't look like her. "It's a lot different there."

"Where did your sister and mother serve?" A curious glance his way as the stables came into view. And she wasn't about to add that her brothers would probably not be as friendly toward Rhidian.

 

[Rhidian]

"Vel Hetren. That's home for me." He answered, stepping to the side to let a stable hand lead a horse from the stables. It meant he stood closer to Sky, but he soon corrected to distancing himself respectfully as they continued their conversation.

"I was training under them both while I was going through the six month training program up North. Made me a damned good guardsman when I served for a few months before..." And he grimaced. "Before I became a Dreadlord."

A subject he would not elaborate on.

He slowed his pace now they stood before the stables, rounding onto Skyler and fixing her with an amused look. Perhaps a little charm was present, giving her a quick glance over before settling on that medic patch that he knew well.

"Anyway, what's Marakoosh like? Always heard about it in passing." He smiled at her, glad he was able to put the attention on someone else.

 

[Skyler]

Surprise crossed her face even as she stiffened as the horse passed them. "Crazy that you grew up so close to where I did." What were the odds? Out of all the Vel cities across the kingdom.

And she couldn't imagine what he'd gone through. It was like...if she woke up with magical powers tomorrow? Maybe something like that. Just the idea of having to deal with the Academy after all the stories around it. Despite the heat, a small shiver ran down her spine.

Then she felt her brown cheeks warm at Rhidian's attention. Those eyes of his. That dimple in his smile. Aaaaaand those muscles.

Damn.

She swallowed.

"It's," feth, was her voice higher? She turned and lead the way into the shade of the stables, trying to stay in the middle as much as possible so horses in stalls on either side wouldn't be able to reach out and nip her.

Those bastards.

"A lot more crowded than here. But in a good way? There's a huge art district in the center next to the public baths." She swallowed again. Why did she bring up baths?! "Anyway," she added hurriedly to change topics. "Roofs a built nearly on top of each other within the city limits so there's a secondary walkway that works out well during the monsoon season. Lots of academics with the tower of healing there. Y'know, typical monsters in the canyons that we're told about growing up as bedtime stories."

A smile at him as she frowned and looked around, catching another guardsman by the elbow.

"You know where Arn is?"

"He went out on patrol," the guard with crimson hair answered before moving on.

Sky turned back to Dreadlord Rhidian giving him an apologetic look as she tried to hide her anxiety with being around this many horses.

 

[Rhidian]

Patrol.

Rhidian gave Sky a grim smile and shrugged. "Alright. Thanks, mate. Guess we will catch him later."

He did not notice her inner peril, but Rhid nudged Sky to walk and nodded towards the path away from the stables. "Well, Sky, looks like you're going to have to entertain me until Arn's back. That's if I am not taking you away from anything, am I?"

Rhid gave her a sidelong glance, waiting for her to answer. She seemed to know Arn, was the first friendly face a Dreadlord could hope for, and if he truly had his heart in it, he wouldn't mind putting on a little bit of flirt to get her to smile. But that task daunted him more than it should have. He had some grieving left to do, some thinking. Healing.

There was no way he was going to unload all of that onto her, not when he was scared of opening up again.

 

[Skyler]

Sky jumped when he nudged her.

He wasn't a horse. It was okay. She forced the tension in her shoulders to relax as she all too readily lead the way out the back of the stables. They wove between giant stacks of hay and pitch forks. At least the smell of the used hay was on the other side.

"No, actually, you can join me in what I was going to do anyway. Have to swing by my tent, first." The path they took lead them along the outskirts of the camp then past a row of tents. "So, Rhidian, how familiar are you with plants?"

 

[Rhidian]

Rhid fell into step with his new friend, taking in the sights once more since it had been several months since he had been here last. It wasn't long of a visit since the next morning he had been part of the scouting team into Cortosi lands that were all butchered besides Arn and himself. They both kept each other alive, and Rhid would forever repay Arn for that.

Maybe after his patrol, he'd be up for a drink or two to catch up.

"Plants? Put them in my care, and I probably will kill them with a smile." He laughed, shaking his head for his more genuine answer. "I don't know much, admittedly. Why?"

 

[Skyler]

Sky flashed him a blindingly white smile even as her head shook at his answer. "Because," she paused in front of one of the tents before pushing the flap open and tipping her chin for him to follow. "You're going to help me find some. Our herb stores are running low." There were sets of bunks lined across from each other with a small walkway between. It was clear this was the barracks.

She paused at a bottom bunk about three rows in. A motion of her fingers on her lips to the Dreadlord as a lump stirred beneath a blanket on the bunk next to hers.

Most likely it was Hellen. She'd had a late shift the night before and was catching up on sleep.

Sky's bed was neatly made. Various small, potted plants decorated any open ground on either side of her bunk. Other stacks of viles and medical supplies as well. There was even a brightly woven, small tapestry with an outline of Marakoosh and an odd symbol on one corner. Creatures with wings stitched into the bright sky. The tapestry hung across her pillow but her hands didn't go to that, it went to two bags. One she tossed to Rhidian and one she slung around her own shoulder.

"C'mon. We should have time to scout around the camp before my next patrol. As long as you're not afraid of the woods?" It was a question of jest as she lead them back out the way they came. Hellen swore in her sleep.

 

[Rhidian]

Rhidian liked the fast pacing of his time with this Guardswoman. It allowed him not to think, to decide, but simply follow and be onboard for the ride.

It was not until they were at the woods that Rhidian remembered the tapestry that belonged to her. "Was that a map of Marakoosh you had back there?" He jerked his thumb behind him, as if her bunk was right there feet behind them. "That's the name of the city you are from, right? Did I get that right?"

He needed to tread carefully. There were some things you could not change about yourself, but at least he knew the signs by now.

Rhidian was fascinated by her.

She was everything he had wanted when he lived back home in Vel Hetren, but then he ruined everything for himself the moment he got involved with that Urahil girl.

Just thinking about her brought a pain and aching at his chest, as if breathing was an effort now. Rhid tried to keep it even, tried to slow and center himself but... what was to say that it wouldn't happen to him again?

And so, Rhidian only asked questions a friend would ask to get to know their new friend.

 

[Skyler]

"You got it right," she beamed. A warmth and ease to her smile and eyes that could only come when thinking about home. Thinking about her family. "Its usually busy this time of year. Bustling and beautiful. Getting ready for their bi-annual music festival. I think you'd love it," brown eyes seemed to sparkle in the low afternoon rays that cut through the shadows of the trees.

"Stages all across the city. All types of bands come together. Even authors and tale-tellers from across the land. And don't even get me started on the food vendors. Mmm MMM Mmmm." Pausing on the path, she studied the ground before cutting into the woods. Footfalls soft on the bed of dried pine-needles.

"I suppose you couldn't be put off by crowds, though. You a crowds kinda guy, Rhi?"

The nickname easily slipped past her tongue as if she'd known him more than an afternoon.

Pausing, she pointed at some of the plants. "Quick lesson though. Anything with three leaves, don't touch 'em. Most likely poisonous. I want you to look for leaves that look like mint that has some mini purple berries on them."

 

[Rhidian]

Rhidian moved his hands that were nowhere near the poisonous plant.

"Noted." He frowned and thought about bursting the plant with magic to get some of that release of from him, but he steered his mind to the idea of a music festival. It was foreign to him, left him imagining what it would look like but his imagination wasn't all that great. But then she had painted a picture for him, and the scene began to come to life in his mind.

"Sounds fun... you musical at all?" He smiled at her. "I think I have a great voice when I am drunk, so maybe one day you can be the judge of that, hey?"

 

[Skyler]

A low, earthy chuckle. "I do alright playing a fiddle or guitar." Her brothers would argue she was good. Perhaps it was why she was such a good medic. Was able to listen well and pay attention to the fine details. That gentle but firm touch when applied to instruments could be magical. That and her father probably had some musical talent.

"I don't remember but my brothers said our father had an ear for music. Said any talent we got was from him." Kneeling down among the pine and grass, she smiled at a memory that wasn't quite there. A smile as if she forgot Rhidian was watching. Something more private. As quick as it was there it was gone as she reached forward, gently tugging free some plants.

"But don't worry," her eyes found his again and she was surprised how much finding them felt almost like home. Even though they sparked with a teasing mischief. "I won't judge you...much."

Sky paused. And while she had no magical abilities as an epath, she was a keen observer of the small ticks and emotions others gave away without realizing it. She'd picked up on the slight tensing of Rhi's jaw. That small furrow of his brows as he'd looked at that poisonous plant.

"Hey, you okay? Need to talk about anything?"

 

[Rhidian]

He gave Sky his easy smile. It looked good on him, and it may have gotten to his head over time hearing people tell him his smile could capture hearts, and he did it as often as he could to get away with what he could. "I'm alright now. You haven't heard me sing yet and passed your judgement." He deflected, wandering a distance from where she was harvesting.

Once she joined him again, he cleared his throat and produced a flower of striking purple. "This," he began to explain, giving it a twirl between his thumb and forefinger, "is an aster. It's harmless, but pretty. I think it would compliment you quite nicely..." He commanded her attention by taking a half-step forward. "May I?" Poising the flower towards her ear, where he intended to tuck it securely.

 

[Skyler]

"Would you rather I withhold my judgement?" A light quip as he wandered away.

That smile may have worked with some, maybe most girls, but with Sky she found a furrow of concern building on her cinnamon brow. He was deflecting. She told herself it was none of her business anyway. Why would he share something with her? They'd just met.

She was a guard.

He was a dreadlord; he outranked her.

Didn't mean her heart didn't flutter like a wild thing in her chest as he approached her. As those different shades of grey in his eyes focused fully on her. Is this how her friend had felt around Davi?

"That shade is beautiful. Reminds me of lavender." Then she swallowed, her brown eyes moving from where he clutched that flower to his mouth, then his eyes, then back to his mouth. Nine levels of Empire hells, she was in trouble.

May I.

"Alright. And look at that," a light quip this time to deflect from her own nerves even as he stepped right up to her. As his fingertips brushed back her hair. "You smiled and the plant still lives."

 

[Rhidian]

Rhidian let out a bark of surprise. Sky's light teasing tickled him, making him grin widely and forget that he had been reserved just moments before. "You wound me, Sky!" A hand clutched at the space above his heart, but his eyes gave no indication he was truly hurt by her words. But he made one last adjustment to the aster behind her ear, fingers lightly brushing the top of her ear to smooth down a piece of her hair. "I wonder if Arn gets bullied by you also. Perhaps he and I can start a recovery group."

But he left her with a wink before turning around and wandering the trodden path, looking for anything else interesting. All he knew was pretty flowers, perhaps some medicinal herbs, but over this side of the Territories, there was plenty he did not recognise than he would have in the arid climate of Vel Hetren.

"What made you join up to be in the Guard? You don't seem the type to do your mandatory one year service and then return to what you were doing beforehand...."