Private Tales Broken Compacts

[Cal]

He smiled briefly. "The best lies have a hint of truth. No man would leave you alone for a winter."

Cal said, though she was probably right. Giving the Innkeeper a closer look at Orlaith might have been a mistake. The man seemed happy enough though, a business man for sure, but not vile like some others he had met.

While Orlaith ordered tea Cal simply ordered a small cup of brandy.

"A bed." He told her with a smile, as if it were the only luxury he was really interested in. "And a proper fire."

Something that would warm their bones.

They would have to get rations too, food that would last them the trek. Then he would spend the night fashioning a pack from their things and ensuring they were ready to actually set on their journey.

As they say and enjoyed their drinks, unbeknownst to them a man in the corner seemed to be studying them. Curiously he did not look at Orlaith, whose back was turned, but instead peered at Cal. His gaze flickered over to him again and again, always careful, yet a curiosity clinging to his face.

 

[Órlaith]

Órlaith's cheeks warmed at his answer and she bit on her lip to prevent herself from grinning. She knew there were plenty of men who would leave her alone in winter. In the middle of a field, chained to a pyre to freeze to death. She'd never considered that anyone would ever look at her like anything more than something wrong. Nor had she considered that she was anything particularly pretty to look at. "Oh? Well. Thank you.." she flustered slightly with a shy chuckle. She certainly wasn't used to flattery.

"I.. Wouldn't leave you alone in the winter either.." she smirked, glancing at him over the rim of her mug as she sipped. Food was delivered to their table, and Órlaith speared the sausage on the end of her fork, wondering what sort of animal they'd chopped it off of. Her brow quirked at Cal in question..

 

[Cal]

Cal shrugged.

Who knew what food was made of in the mountains. "Dragon Sausage?"

It was obviously a joke. More likely it was deer or boar. He looked down at his plate, recognizing potatoes and a few of the other vegetables. It was a surprisingly generous meal, though perhaps that was the standard here.

"Only one way to find out." He told her with another shrug and then picked up to take a bite of the sausage.

The flavor was...interesting to say the least. Not bad, but also notllike anything that he had tasted before. His lips drew thin as he chewed, expression entirely unreadable.

 

[Órlaith]

Órlaith knew he was joking and she gave him a coy smirk and a roll of her eyes. Everyone knew dragons weren't real. Her head shook, and she took his lead and bit off the end.

Ah. Food... Órlaith grinned at him as she chewed, a sigh escaping her nose and her shoulders slumping with happiness. She ate in silence whilst trying her best to refrain from making questionable sounds or looking like she'd never eaten a decent meal before.

She ate until the plate was sparkling clean and she cleared her throat as she looked up at him.. "Hm." she smiled.

 

[Cal]

He looked down at his own plate, still half full.

Briefly he wondered how such a tiny girl could manage to eat so fast. Maybe it was making up for lost time, all the meals she had been denied. His head shook for a moment, and plucking one more roast potato from the plate he pushed it over to Orlaith.

"Here." He told her with a shake of his head.

Cal was already full, and he wanted her to enjoy herself while they had the chance. Breakfast would come soon enough. "Just try not to explode."

He teased.

 

[Órlaith]

Órlaith was simply appreciating the things she'd missed out on and enjoying them whilst they lasted. She still fully believed that she didn't deserve them, that luxuries such as good food, warm coats and comfortable beds were not meant for her, and there was still the voice of fear assuring her that it wouldn't last.

Her lips twisted as she looked down at the potato with a quiet chuckle as she speared it with her fork and devoured it. "Okay." she mumbled with her mouth still half full. "I'm done.." she swallowed and washed her meal down with the rest of her tea.

"Just make sure you keep the supplies away from me once we have them." she grinned. "And I am eating for two, remember? Our little Pascal needs his nutrients." she patted her belly, her lips twisting in amusement.

 

[Cal]

He smiled at her. "Yes, I'll buy a lock and everything."

Cal said with a shake of his head.

"Well with all that sex we had back in the last village, there's no surprise to that." He told her with a wide smirk, reminding her of the moment she had shouted to the Tavern. "Suppose I'll just have to keep feeding you then."

He leaned back in his chair, with that same smile.

 

[Órlaith]

Órlaith lapsed into an affronted silence, her cheeks flushing a furious shade of red as she bit down on her knuckles, wincing at him in apology. "Gods, I did announce that didn't I?.." she groaned and rubbed at her forehead. "Shit.. Never let me drink wine again." she huffed. Not only had it been incredibly embarrassing, she realised now how easily she could have had them caught.

"Hm. Well.. To the market then?.." her brows rose as she desperately tried to change the subject, already pulling on her coat and fastening the toggles before pulling her hood up..

 

[Cal]

He smirked at her. "Spirits instead then?"

Cal said as he sipped the last of his brandy and leaned back in his chair. Eyes closed for a second, enjoying the warmth and environment around him. He knew that they would soon slip out of this, go back to their long journey.

It was important to revel in things like this, particularly for the two of them. It was impossible to tell when they would next get to a stop like this.

"Alright." He said as he drew himself back up, pulling on his own jacket. "We'll see if we can find you some funnel cake."

Cal jested.

 

[Órlaith]

She let out a huff of a laugh and shook her head. She dreaded to think what would happen if she were to try anything stronger than wine having never tried alcohol before. Not that she hadn't enjoyed the wine, she had, but it loosened her tongue and impaired her judgement a little too much. Not to mention the headache she'd had the next morning.. Then again, he had taken care of her, which sort of made the headache worthwhile.

"Funnel cake?.." she asked as they stepped back outside onto the slushy street, and she waited for a wagon to pass before crossing toward the market. The stalls clustered together like old wives in the centre and vendors argued and bartered with those gathered around their wares. Stalls filled with farming goods, meats, cheeses, winter grains, pelts and fresh baked goods wafted their pleasant smells onto the air.

"Alright. What do we need?.." she asked excitedly.

 

[Cal]

"It's like bread but..." How did one describe it. "Sweet?"

He could not put it into better terms than that.

As they stepped into the market place Cal looked around, glancing to see if there was anything right off the bat that he would need. Lips thinned as he peered. "Food, first off. Rations and the like."

That was the most important bit. As far as he had managed to estimate their journey would take them two or three weeks at minimum.

"Not cake." He told Orlaith with a smile. "Actual food, yeah?"

Cal grinned. "But maybe a treat or two."

With what gold they had left.

 

[Órlaith]

Sweet. She liked sweet. She was already about to pull him toward a sweet smelling stall with all the excitement of a child before he reminded her that they'd need 'actual food'. Right, this would be survival.. She could do that, she had survived on scraps and less before. She smiled back at him and nodded, pulling him instead to a man yelling about fresh and dried meats.

Again she avoided the merchant's gaze as he asked what he could get them, and she let Cal do the talking as she gazed around the market place. She'd been eyeing up a wine merchant's wagon when she noticed a man who seemed to be paying her more attention than the stalls.

Órlaith casually looked around the square, and when she let her gaze travel back to the man, he was still looking at them. She cleared her throat and turned back to look over the meats, her cheek resting against Cal's bicep to quietly whisper to him.

"I think, someone is watching us.." she frowned.. "Over by the wine vendor.." she added quietly. But by the time she'd turned to look again, he was gone. The back of her neck tingled with paranoia and she felt her pulse quicken.. Perhaps she was imagining it.

 

[Cal]

Cal turned when Orlaith pulled him, holding a sack of what he'd negotiated for and offering payment with his other hand.

His head turning slowly not towards the wine vendor, but somewhere near. A frown touched his lips as he saw no one watching them, but he did not doubt her words. "I think we have most of what we need."

He told her softly.

"Let's head back to the Inn." They could get the rest of what they needed in the morning on their way out of town. The market would be less crowded and if someone was watching them it would be easier to notice.

As he stepped away Cal thanked the Merchant, then gently tugged Orlaith along with him. He put a smile on his face guiding her back the way they'd came and stopping off at a stand that sold roast and spices nuts. "Let's get some of these."

Cal said as he pulled out a few copper coins, glancing in the mirrored surface behind the vendor to see if anyone was watching them.

 

[Órlaith]

Órlaith stayed close to him as he led her back through the market, all while fighting the urge to look up and around. She was certain the man had been staring at them, the last thing she wanted to do was let him think they knew he was there if he was following them.

"What... are they?.." she murmured as she looked over the baskets full of nuts and breathed in the scents of spices.

"Try, lady. You can try." the merchant encouraged, holding up a handful of salted almonds for her to take one. She did, and her brows rose as she crunched. She tried a roasted chestnut next. Meanwhile, the man who'd been watching them remained still in the moving crowd, casually glancing around the market before letting his gaze drift back to Cal's back from across the square.

"Yes, some of these, and these too." Órlaith pointed at the baskets, having noticed the mirror. She glanced up at Cal. "See anyone?.." she murmured quietly.

 

[Cal]

He nodded his head, watching the mirrored service beyond the vendor, but only smiling. "You're gonna explode eating too many of these."

Cal said with, though he did actually mean it.

The amount of nuts she pointed at was...well nuts. His head shook and he reached over the stall to pay the vendor as she offered Orlaith a large paper sack of all the different treats she had picked out. His arm slipped around her lower back and he gently lead her away from the Stall.

"You're right." He told her softly. "But right now we're best off going back to the Inn."

They had everything to run if they needed it, but attracting attention would only draw more eyes on them. "I don't think he's a watchmen for the town."

A mark of good luck. If it was just a citizen it meant no one would come running for them immediately.

 

[Órlaith]

Órlaith grinned up at him and gave a gentle elbow at his ribs. "Well, we have a long journey ahead of us. We're going to need enough to survive. Happy wife, happy life." she shrugged and thanked the vendor as she hugged the haul to her chest.

"Alright." she smiled casually, but her stomach churned over nauseously, having hoped it'd simply been her imagination. She let him lead her back toward the inn through the slush and snow. "He didn't seem like an Inquisitor either.." she frowned. She could spot those in a crowd without issue, they'd been the stuff of her nightmares her entire life, and they were never far from her mind.

She stamped the snow off of her feet in the doorway of the inn before going back inside, instantly enveloped in warm air. They were directed to their room, and the stairs creaked in protest under foot. A sound she'd be listening for from the moment she stepped into the room.

 

[Cal]

Cal nodded his head as he pulled the wooden door closed behind them. He pulled the lock closed a few seconds later, latching it in place and then peering around the room. "No, I don't think he was."

There was always something sinister about them, an air that seemed to cling to them even in the very center of a crowd.

"Right now there's nothing to worry about." Cal said as he tried to assure her. "The Inn will lock itself up at night, we have everything we need, and even he noticed us..."

He shrugged. "We'll be gone in the morning."

Gently his arms wrapped around her, tugging her into a gentle embrace.

"Tonight we have a nice bed, comfortable sheets." He softly kissed her forehead. "And a fire."

As he spoke Cal slowly worked out a plan if they had to run, an idea of what might come after them. A thousand other factors. He wanted to protect her, keep her safe, and the best way he knew how was to take comfort in what they had now.

 

[Órlaith]

Órlaith set her things down and fell into his embrace, forcing out her worry in the form of a deep sigh as she focused on his reassurances instead. "Mh, you're right..".. It was also a possibility that the man had simply been watching them because they were strangers in the little village.. "I'll try to put it out of my mind.." she promised with a soft sigh, her lips quirking as he kissed her head.

"We have two nice beds.." Órlaith smirked.

She turned to look around the cosy little room with a warm smile, glancing up at him before wandering over to the window. The view to the back of the inn was farmland thick with snow, and the Spine mountains, closer than ever. They were intimidating to say the least, but she couldn't help be nervously excited about every step that took them further fro Rhagos.

 

[Cal]

"Right." He said with a nod. "Two beds."

A small smirk pulled at his lips.

As Orlaith slipped away and wandered towards the window Cal made his way to the fireplace. If it was going to be their last night in civilization for a week or more than he would make sure it was a damn comfortable one.

Quickly piling the logs into the metal cage, Cal gathered up some of the tinder and then grabbed a fire stick. He looked at it for a moment, never quite trusting the invention, and then struck it against the brick to the side of the fireplace. A burst of heat rushed forth from the flame almost immediately, and for the first time since the spa Cal peeled off his jacket and threw it over a nearby chair.

A contented sight escaped him as the warmth washed over his features.

His head turned to glance up at Orlaith, pulling himself up and quickly stepping up behind her. His arms wrapped around her belly, gently pulling her close as he rested his chin on her shoulder. "I never thought they would be so large."

Cal mused.

"I've seen them for most of my life, hundreds of miles away." He'd never thought about just how huge the Mountains had to be to see them from so far away. "It'll be nice to finally find out what the other side looks like."

He'd seen maps, illustrations, but never anything with his own eyes.

That excited him almost as much as getting Orlaith somewhere safe.

 

[Órlaith]

Her smile warmed as she felt him gather her in his embrace, soft and warm. It was the sort of comfort she'd wished for, but never imagined she'd have, and she inwardly thanked whatever Gods hadn't abandoned her as she held onto him and breathed a sigh of contentment. He gave her the respect of an equal but cradled her like a cherished child. In that embrace she felt her worries loose their keen sting and her optimism raise its head from the dirt. Perhaps the hope had been there all along, but without some warmth it was trapped, like crystals in a stone.

"Hm.. I used to dream of climbing over them. That the other side wouldn't hate me." she laughed under her breath.

She turned her head to press a soft smile against his cheek.. "I suppose we'll see."

 

[Cal]

He took in a breath. "We will."

Regardless of what was after them, who was watching them. Cal would make sure that they got over those mountains, that Orlaith would be safe. The path they had was a good one, they had food enough for their journey and he had the means to defend them if it came to it. A sword would have been preferred, but Luther's weapons were still strapped to his pack in case they were needed.

He hoped they would not be. He hoped that the man watching them today had just been a curious bystander, or someone looking just out of jealousy. Cal could handle that small hate, he would welcome it opposed to the alternative.

Slowly he turned his head and pressed a soft kiss to Orlaith's lips, lingering for a moment as he breathed her in.

As the sun set upon the mountains an orange glow began to cling to the snow, a breath taking sight that seemed almost once in a life time. Cal stood there quietly, watching with Orlaith until the darkness of night crept over the fields beyond. Eventually a yawn slipped passed his lips.

"Maybe it's time for rest." He said quietly, glancing towards the feather down beds.

 

[Órlaith]

The last few days had been like stepping into someone else's life entirely. There had been a small window, cast with an iron grate next to her bed, and every night she'd shifted a rickety table underneath it and climbed atop it to look outside. She'd had a view of the monastery walls, and beyond it the tops of trees and the snow capped mountains in the distance. She hadn't realised how long she'd been standing there staring up at the mountain until he spoke.

"Mhm.. We're going to need it.." she nodded and drew in a deep sigh as she kissed him and let him go.. She didn't close the fraying curtains, and she chose the bed closest to the window before shyly stripping down to her smalls and slipping under the sheets. The bed was even softer than the last and she groaned as she spread out in a stretch and pulled her blanket up to her chin and nuzzled at it.

 

[Cal]

Cal smiled, turning to toss a few more logs onto the fire before making his way towards the other bed.

As he had predicted he could hear the sounds of things being closed down below as well, and outside their window he could see lantern lights and the like being snuffed out as the village followed suit. He offered Orlaith a smile as he stripped down to his small clothes and then slipped beneath the blankets.

They were not the most comfortable he had ever experienced, but close enough that he too let out a soft sigh. His eyes closed, and he dragged the pillow half beneath his neck before finally setting down.

"Goodnight." He told her softly as he already began to drift off into sleep.

 

[Órlaith]

"Night Cal.." she whispered, letting the softly falling snow outside lull her to a light sleep. Her mind allowed her to rest for a short while before memory and shadow twisted together in her mind and she was back in the monastery. She revisited her most unpleasant days, only the one she was being forced to hurt was Cal. This was her punishment, and his.

The pain sparked her mind awake, her breathing short and sharp and her heart thundering behind her ribs as she sat up and turned to make sure he was still there. She let out a huff and rubbed at her face before slipping out of her own bed and padding across the moonlit floor to his. She hesitated for a moment before lifting his blanket and sliding in beside him, trying her best to be slow and quiet as she lifted his arm and brought it around her.

It'd been like her mind was now aware of his absence, like that subconscious feeling of safety he gave her. It couldn't have been a coincidence that her mind had spiralled back into fear without him holding onto her. She cuddled into him for warmth and sighed deeply as she finally calmed.

 

[Cal]

It wasn't the sound of Orlaith's footsteps that woke him up, not the creak of her bed as she left it, but the rush of cold hair that folded over his body as she lifted his blanket.

Eyes fluttered half open for a moment, catching the sight of her silhouette within the light of the moon. He did not speak, only watched her like some spirit that had come to visit him in the midst of the night. He smiled as she slipped in besides him, lifting his arm and softly curling herself against him.

His arm wrapped softly around her, grasping the blanket and pulling it tight around the both of them to trap in more of the heat.

A breath filled his lungs, slow and steady, and his fingers gently curled against her skin.

Softly his thumb stroked across her, his eyes falling shut once more as he held her gently against himself. Within the moonlit room, with the sound of the crackling fire, the feeling of her body against his Cal couldn't help but think of the future yet to come.

The joy that would be found beyond the mountain.