Private Tales Quick Trip

[Odessa Urahil]

Odessa slumped down in the chair, waiting for her partner before they were to head off to their next mission. Another easy one, she figured, based on the letter both initiates were given a few days back. An escort. Simple. Quick. She and Lachlan were to help Lady Elara travel from the Academy- where she had been meeting with proctors for one reason or another- to an old ruin that was a little under a week northwest of the Academy in Amol-Kalit.

Lady Elara, while not gifted with any arcane ability herself, is known for her expertise in the arcane studies. Oftentimes, she oversaw the progress of the students and would gift the academy with her most recent findings- enchanted weapons, spells, or potions. And of course, the Academy often sent two initiates alongside her to ensure her safety while she moved from one topic of research to the next.

Today, it would be Lachlan and Odessa’s turn. Armed to the teeth and trailing alongside the elderly woman, they were given few orders to follow:

1. Lady Elara must remain unscathed.
2. Stay alert.
3. Minimize delay.

The third of which was already being tested by Lachlan and Odessa waited and Lady Elara sat in her own personal carriage. Until he decided to make his grand entrance, Odessa would sit there with a map in her lap as she hunched over to trace the thin lines depicting what would ultimately be the quickest and safest routes to Arislan.

Lachlan Irwin

 

[Lachlan Irwin]

"Sorry!" He huffed, panted, lifting the heavy case that the Lady Elara had asked him to go fetch. He carefully loaded with the other trunks and cases, tying it down securely before leaning against it. "Fuck! I am winded!" Shit, should he apologise for swearing?

But there was no time to catch a breath, as the Urahil sat beside him was already studying the map. He didn't need it to figure out how to leave the Academy. "Alright, Urahil?" He panted out in a heavy breath, now standing up straight and taking calming breaths to get it back to normal. "You riding in the carriage or with the driver?"

Did they have a driver? Was he expected to handle the horses, something he was gods awful at?

 

[Odessa Urahil]

Her eyes lifted, just barely from the map to glare at Lachlan. Blue eyes colder than ice lingered as though she tried to freeze him for having the audacity to speak after being well over fifteen minutes late. She wished she had been gifted with such powers. Her life would have been much, much simpler.

"You're late." Her gaze remained locked onto him as she folded the map and shoved it into her bag.

She pushed herself out of the chair and eyed him up and down, obvious disappointment that despite all his training he was still exhausted from what she could only presume was a brisk walk down two flights of stairs and a couple yards down a hallway carrying luggage.

"If you had read the letter, you would know the answer to your stupid question." She waved a hand at him and walked out. Out past the first carriage and towards a second, much less ornate one- about half the size of Lady Elara's. "We will be taking this one, as you should be familiar. Lady Elara will be leading the way. We are here to make sure she is not harmed. Nothing more, nothing less. Do not speak to her unless you are spoken to first." She opened the door and gestured for him to get in. "Your lack of preparation has already set us back nearly twenty minutes."

She would wait until he hopped in to follow him and squish herself into one side, refusing to touch him.

"Our driver has eyes on their carriage and will alert us if there is any danger ahead, but if you see something from your window then it is your responsibility to tell us. Got it? Any more questions?"

 

[Lachlan Irwin]

Right, instructions that didn't seem all that wise if they were the protection detail. The distance between themselves in another carriage to their charge gave him unease, but the tall Vel Odren boy squished himself into the carriage and gave Odessa a sheepish look when his legs took up most of the room. If only they made larger carriages to support those of taller height.

"Alright then." He settled, a hand running through his hair that used to be much brighter given his days in the sun, but now began to return to the golden tresses he had in his youth. "Take it you're not one to chat much." Seeing as Urahil had sapped the fun out of this already, he figured she would be quiet for the rest of the escort mission.

So of course, if she was dedicated to their mission and kept watch, he could afford a quick nap.

 

[Odessa Urahil]

Odessa scowled, staring daggers at the leg that brushed up against hers. As if her eyes were capable of severing it from his body. Her eyes drifted upwards to his when he decided that he would make this ride unpleasant at the least, seemingly intent on draining her social battery before they even started the mission. "Depends on the topic." She began rummaging around the small bag she brought with her. "Was there something you wanted to talk about? I suppose I should know about whatever powers you possess in the event we need to work together."

She pulled out a small book from the bag- a romance novel, something so out of place for the bitter unfeeling girl. "I'd suggest you get your talking out now. Then you can nap or do something quiet until we set up camp for the evening." She waved him off with a hand, as if he could get out her her space before opening the book to the page marked with a ripped up piece of paper.

 

[Lachlan Irwin]

Lachlan opened his hazel eyes, a slight wrinkle above his brow that was the only give away to his annoyance listening to the Urahil girl. "Fine..." He exhaled, shooting her a skewering look. "I call them stinging whips. Thin, almost translucent. They touch someone, they're gonna get a nasty pain for an hour or two, but if I get them bad enough, they could die." He had done so at least... a handful of times now. Each death varied, but he was no stranger to watching the lights leave one's eyes.

"If it suits the lady, that is all the talk I think I am required to do now." He certainly didn't want to continue anymore talk with Leander's twin sister. The two were quite differing, and this was his first time one on one with the pale blonde girl. Even her cousin, the Proctor, was more Urahil.

 

[Odessa Urahil]

Odessa laughed. No, snorted. "Whips?" Her laughter, genuine but mocking continuing as she spoke. "Seems more suitable for one of those freaky sex houses, not for the battlefield...but to each their own, I suppose! I guess they let anyone join the Academy these days." She picked at her nails, still finding a second to giggle. "Then again a powerful meat shield for more important people is probably better than a wall of average humans."

She shrugged and looked down at the book. "You have no requirement to talk. Just to make sure Lady Elara gets to her location. You can sit on the roof of the carriage for all I care."

She read her book for a few minutes before adding another question. "How long have you been here?" Not truly interested in a conversation, but rather to know how trained he was in whatever bizarre magic he had control of.

 

[Lachlan Irwin]

Ah, yes, there was that little Urahil trait of superiority that rubbed him the wrong way. Lachlan was not compelled to speak to her, to needlessly defend his magic or that of his battle capabilities. She was a rich noble, who will one day be kept home and safe from seeing a battlefront. There was no need to tell her how deadly he could be.

He can show her if the need arises and they need to defend their charge.

"About two years." He answered gruffly, now turning his body to face away from her, as if he would now try to sleep, and ignore anything else she had to say to him.

 

[Odessa Urahil]

"Hmm." Was Odessa's response, flipping the page in her book and focusing her attention on the juicy romance. A hint of pink touched her cheeks, but she did not feel nor acknowledge it. Nor would she acknowledge Lachlan's presence for several hours while she turned the pages in silence. There was no reason for her to be speaking to a walking, talking liability. A newcomer whom she refused to believe had enough time to develop his powers to a level where he was both competent and able to control himself. She had no desire to be a victim of yet another untrained Anirian dog.

Roughly three hours of silence would pass before the carriage slowed to a halt and the driver made to open the doors. Fresh air. Time to stretch their legs. And most importantly, lunch.

By the time Odessa marked the page and shut her novel, a small area had been set up off of the road for them. There was a fire with various meats already beginning to sizzle and a sack of other various breads and dried foods available to those who wished to eat them. Elara sat alone, staring off into the distance with a look that suggested she prefer not to be disturbed. There was never a coldness about her, just a look that gave the impression that she had a lot of thoughts which needed her constant attention. Odessa respected their rules and grabbed a piece of stale bread from the sack before sitting down beside the fire.

 

[Lachlan Irwin]

While Odessa read whatever book that had kept her occupied the past few hours, Lachlan had taken a nap, only to be roused by their driver to come help set up lunch for the Lady Elara. When Urahil finally graced them with her presence, Lachlan was allowed to eat.

Lachlan was not great cooking, but made sure to befriend those that could. Gary, one of the cooks at the Academy, had always made sure to make him sandwiches to get by during the day. He pulled out his wrapped sandwiches, lounging by the fire and enjoying the way that it burned him with heat.

"Want one?" He found himself asking Odessa, only out of politeness. If the Lady Elara had been watching, she would think him a gentleman, seeing as he had offered to help her earlier and she took full advantage of him grabbing her bags and things.

 

[Odessa Urahil]

The sour look that seemed to be Odessa's most neutral expression was nowhere in sight as she joined the group, likely replaced by a soft smile so that she did not offend the Lady amongst them. As she moved to serve herself whatever had been cooking, the crinkling of wrapping caught her attention. She turned her head towards Lachlan and cocked her head to the side. She could see Lady Elara watching from the corner of her eyes.

"Oh." She dropped the hand that lingered near the fire and turned to him, accepting the sandwich. Like him, it was to maintain a façade. "Thank you, Lach." She moved a few feet away from him. The flames crackled loudly as they ate in silence for far too long to be comfortable. Even Odessa, who had a tendency to be more introverted felt overwhelmed by it.

"You know," Odessa started mindlessly rambling to fill the silence. "I always thought fire was so magical. I know we have magic, but its so unlike anything I can do. I always wished it were something I was born with a mastery of instead of...whatever it is I am. I imagine it actually feels so satisfying to wield a gigantic fireball." She took a bite of the sandwich and turned toward her partner, seemingly in better spirits. "Do you enjoy the hand you were dealt or do you ever wish for other power?"

 

[Lachlan Irwin]

Again, Lachlan found Odessa odd, but he did not voice it aloud either. He was sure the Lady Elara would hear him.

"I like my magic..." He replied simply, and there was quiet again between them. Clearing his throat, he swallowed his food and looked to her with a shrug. "Not many expect it, is what I am saying. I like being unique. Sure, I am no killer at first glance, but my Nana taught me to be unassuming. It's the best way to survive with the business we make in Vel Odren. What's the point of the game if you show all your cards at the start?"

It was why he surrounded himself with dozens of girls, and entertained them. They liked to talk, and him acting hot and cold with them only made them vie for his attention even more. They eventually gave him answers, gossip, and insight of those he wanted to keep tabs on. Only... he never thought to ask about the Urahil girl sitting near him.

"Your magic is power. I just think the Academy or even the Dreadlords are foolish not to realise and utilise you properly. Escort missions? May seem dull, but the way I see it, if they keep you close to our charge, your are one defense they would expect to fall. I would be the one to strike an assault first, be the large display of power so that the rest of our cards are not shown.... if that makes sense?"

 

[Odessa Urahil]

"I never said I disliked mine." She rolled her eyes, though she would be lying to herself if she said she liked not having any idea of what life around her felt like. What sun or snow felt like on her skin. What flesh from another felt like when holding hands. She could dream, imagining it was just how they described in the novels she cherished during her travels and late nights alone. "I hope you can surprise me with whatever it is you were blessed with. It certainly sounds more unique than poison or ice. I just hope it can save our lives if we ever need it."

She was being honest with him. Though a power she wasn't eager to swap hers for if given the opportunity. She did have to admit that the gods were creative when shaping him.

"I think they send me on escort missions to see if I'll kill myself before they can find a way to do it themselves." She took a moment to chew and swallow another bite of the sandwich. "Of course I am expected to fall. But when I fall, I bring a lot of people down with me. Consider yourself lucky not to have seen me in a more dangerous mission. There were times even Leander thought I might really be dead. Times he carried my lifeless corpse- or pieces of what once were me- back to the Academy where they would wait and wait until I was whole again. Useful again."

She chuckled bitterly. "If I'm being honest, I reckon no one truly knows what to do with me. I think maybe they try to appease me by giving me easy missions. But truly, they bore the fuck out of me. I'd much prefer to leave you to do this solo than waste my time on it. I'm sure you're more than capable. Maybe not. But I know I am far beyond this."

 

[Lachlan Irwin]

The harshness of Odessa's words struck him, drawing his gaze to watch her as she continued to speak.

But he also did not fault her either.

"I reckon things have changed plenty with this revolution. Feels like the child soldiers no longer have the fear to incite in many, instead we have to prove we are still lethal, but where is the use anymore?" This moment of peace did not seem to be all Lachlan had thought it'd be coming to the Academy, even if the Archon that sold the idea to him thought he had potential.

If only the Great Houses were still in play.

"Well, it appears as if they decided we both needed to get out on more missions, no matter how simple the task. Can certainly say I am not missing out much back at the Academy." It was a welcome reprieve to be out of the company of the many girls that had taken a liking to him.

 

[Odessa Urahil]

"I have nothing more to prove. There is no use to any of this." She had only finished a third of the sandwich before packing it back up and tossing it to Lachlan. While Lachlan seemed more relaxed, Odessa seemed to grow irritated with their chat. She truly believed every word she said. She was better than Lachlan and far more capable than most of her classmates. "Perhaps they should stop sending us out to play babysitter when people like my cousin, Perrine, do that for a living. I'm sure she'd enjoy such a fruitless week of travel"

With that, she stood from her spot and turned to head back into their carriage. Lady Elara, listening intently in a conversation she'd been excluded from (as an order), also seemed to understand that they should be continuing on in their travels.

Odessa boarded the carriage and returned to the spot on the far side from the door where she would open her book back to the page she'd marked and begin reading. Without informing Lachlan, he would be given the sole responsibility for keeping lookout. As Odessa had stated, he was (probably) capable of it.

 

[Lachlan Irwin]

With a sigh, Lachlan fell into his seat in their carriage and stared out the window. Fuck was he glad his family was small, that he wasn't some stuck up noble that only wished for the best outcome for themselves.

They didn't speak, barely acknowledged each other's presence until it came to another few stops before they came to an estate. The Lady Elara informed them that they are to stay with a friend of her's for the evening, and with the number of guards plotted around the home, Lachlan could be sure they could lighten up on their lookout.

Time passed and Lachlan stood outside the Lady Elara's rooms, just as a maid popped her head out to inform him she would be out in a minute. Odessa had done her best to keep out of the way, but Lachlan did not shirk his duties so easily. The tall Initiate was dressed in finer clothes, but his dual swords were present at his back. He was no dinner guest, despite the invitation extended to him. He declined, still on duty despite the guards running the perimeter. The Lady was his and Odessa's charge, and even in safety, he would not slacken on his duty.