Private Tales The Edge of Cortosi

[Eirika E'sprit]

The priestess had shared all she cared to in the moment, now that his motivation for continuing on with her was purely selfish gain for a talent she wasn't even sure he possessed. Bards also tended to exaggerate every detail of every story they ever recanted. By the time this was over he would be singing about seeing a dragon torn from the skies and slain to obtain the cure she needed, and that its skull was bigger than a house. The thought pained her, but she spoke nothing of it.

"Very well. Just remember I'm not an elf when we're anywhere near your people. Unlike bards, I don't need, nor desire the attention of crowds."

Better to think the elf was no more than a peasant girl returning to the village than anything else.

"There's a lake ahead, small, but will likely have fish in it, I'm sure. Place like this attracts animals, which attracts hunters, which gives incentive to ensure fish breed in the lake. Should at least be able to eat tonight, fill a canteen and hopefully find someplace to take shelter. Storm's coming and we can't afford to leave tracks to follow."

Kasim Areth

 

[Kasim Areth]

"I'm not an idiot." Kasim said simply. "I think I know better than you how your people tend to fair in Anirian lands."

He had nothing against elves, but many of his people did. There was a remaining sentiment that they were the enemy for many Anirians. Just why Kasim had never really been able to tell, most of the wars with Fal'Addas happened a century or more ago. Those Anirians who had fought in them were long dead.

Kasim held no loyalty to dead men. "There will be hollows in the wood."

The Jester suggested.

"Fallen trees we can use for shelter." He was no elf, but he'd taken this path before. When he'd first run these woods had offered more shelter than most villages. "It would be best for us to approach Nassar after dawn. Strangers walking into the village at night won't be taken well."

 

[Eirika E'sprit]

"You insinuated I was a map just earlier. You thought taking horses from someone who enslaved them made you the thief, and you laughed in my face when I told you I was going to Elbion inside of a month, before all of this commotion started. Are you not the jester? Because you had me convinced."

She smiled an obviously fake smile.

After having been teased with the lavish room at the inn, with its plush pillows and soft bedding, sleeping in the hollowed out trunk of an old tree was a bit less cozy, though hardly discomforting or foreign to her. Eirika spent countless nights sleeping on just about every offered surface nature had to offer. The inn was just a welcome change of pace that was snatched away too soon.

"We haven't got long before the rain starts, we should hurry."

Kasim Areth

 

[Kasim Areth]

"Jester." He intoned. "Not idiot. There's a stark difference between the two. For one, being an idiot will get your head cut off in most royal courts."

That wasn't exactly true, in fact it seemed to him that most of the time the dumbest man in the room was the one sitting on the Throne. Kasim wasn't entirely sure if that was true for Elves, but it certainly was for quite a few species. Dwarves and Orcs included. With a roll of his eyes he followed after Eirika.

As he fell into step behind her he used his free hand to pull up his tunic, checking the rune on his abdomen.

The Tattoo had faded enough that the black ink was beginning to sink into his flesh, it's edges now blending with the color of his skin. He frowned slightly, but dropped the cloth and held the odd torch high once more. He had no idea for how many more minutes they went on, but eventually he managed to catch sight of the lake she'd spoken of.

"Don't suppose you can talk to fish?" Easier than using a pole and some string.

 

[Eirika E'sprit]

The priestess looked at Kasim with a dumbfounded expression while the two approached the bank of the lake. "You want me to ask the fish if we may eat them? And what exactly do you expect as a response to that?" His offense to being called an idiot seemed rather unfounded now. The woman sat down in the bit of sand along the shore, untying her boots and removing the laces from each. Looking at a nearby tree that soared twenty or more meters into the air she noticed a few rather long sticks that could be used as a spear on the ground near the trunk.

"Wait here a moment." She said, quickly trotting off to the tree and plucking one of the larger branches. Examining it once over and deciding it was suitable she thanked the tree for its generosity and returned to where she'd left Kasim. "Right." Sitting down once more she opened her pack, drawing out a finely crafted elven dagger and setting it gingerly beside her lap. With the laces from her boots she tightly, and meticulously wrapped the laces around the branch in a crossed fashion, leaving just enough length of the laces to fit the hilt of the dagger onto, and to securely tie it into a workable fishing spear. "There." She said, lifting it up to examine.

Kasim Areth

 

[Kasim Areth]

"Neat." Kasim said plainly, though he didn't really seem all that intrigued.

Reaching down the Jester dropped the small rucksack he had been carrying, shifting slightly and looking down at the lake below. For a moment he simple stood there, and then he shifted his weight to draw out a small dagger from it's sheath. He sighed slightly, lifting his tunic and glancing down at the near faded rune.

Kasim cast a quick look to make sure that Eirika wasn't looking at him, and then he stabbed the blade through his skin.

A slight hiss escaped his lips as he dug the blade beneath his flesh and carved out a piece his skin. The rune seemed to flare for a moment, and then came loose in one quick motion. The strip of flesh was peeled in one swift motion, and then tossed aside onto the ground as Kasim immediately placed a torn rag over the fresh wound.

He grimaced slightly from the pain, but managed to stay quiet through it. "I'll gather some wood."

The words came through a grimace.

 

[Eirika E'sprit]

She had been ignorant to what Kasim was doing whilst she made the spear and tested its durability. It wouldn't do well to come apart in the water and have to try and locate it as it sunk to the bottom of the lake. After a minute or so of examining the string, knots, and the security of the hilt the elf stood and began to wade into the water, slowly, so as not to disturb the fish as they swam. It was all about grace, subtlety, and dexterity.

Or, what came naturally to her.

For several minutes the woman remained deathly still, spear held just above the waterline, pointed downwards ready to strike. A small figure moved in circles around her, steadily swimming. Before lancing into the fish Eirika spoke a single elven phrase. Then, in a single fluid motion, as quick as a strike of lightning, the woman pierced the water and retracted the spear, with hardly much of a disturbance to the lake around her. She then repeated this once more before wading out of the water towards the spot they had settled their gear.

Kasim Areth

 

[Kasim Areth]

While the elf had gone fishing, Kasim had done exactly as he said he would. It wasn't exactly hard to find wood in the trees, and even though he couldn't talk to them like Eirika could, he figured that what he found on the ground was fair game.

At least he hoped so.

He was sure that he would hear otherwise from the elf if that wasn't the case. Either way Kasim found himself wandering back to their gear at the exact same time as Eirika did. The wood he had gathered was just a few sticks, but it would be enough for them to cook the fish she caught.

Kasim knew from experience that building too large of a fire would be foolish, especially considering that they were still being hunted.

"So, no talking to the fish then?" He mused as he dumped the pile of sticks on the ground, kneeling down and pulling a flat disc out of his pack. Upon it was carved a small, rather simple rune. Without waiting for a response Kasim stacked the wood on top of the disc, placing the twigs carefully.

Once he'd created a pile his finger reached down into the center of the rune, touching the etching for just a second before it erupted into a small flickering flame.

 

[Eirika E'sprit]

Eirika planted the far end of the spear into the sand, holding up the two fish caught at the end of the dagger towards the sky. Hazel eyes drifted from the spear to Kasim, whose mockery of her wasn't lost. "No creature wishes to be killed and eaten." She explained, "So I ask for its forgiveness before doing so. But no, there's no conversation to be had. The fish must eat, so too must I." Elves were guardians of nature, in tune with it more so than any other race known to the world, but that didn't mean they sustained themselves on good will and prayer. "We do not kill for sport, as others do. And we do not kill needlessly. But we do need food just like you."

Observing Kasim start the small fire was the first instance she'd witnessed the man use rune magic; An ancient, often times forgotten craft, largely replaced by alternative means of delivery. Eirika said nothing of it, though her eyes shifted from the disc to the man, and back again as it heated up. She wondered briefly if he had taught himself somehow, or if he had been taught that back home, before he had fled from his duty.

Kasim Areth

 

[Kasim Areth]

"Alright alright settle down." He told her. "I was just joking, jeeze."

Kasim figured he should probably no longer poke fun when it came to wildlife. If he was going to be traveling alongside her frequently getting on her bad side wasn't the best idea.

Thus he quietly settled his attention on tending the fire in front of him. With a sort of practiced motion Kasim cultivated the small embers into a central pit, directing the heat in such a way that the glow of the fire wouldn't spread out far beyond their camp. The goal was to make as little a mark as possible, ensuring no one saw them even within the dark.

Glancing up at Eirika he motioned towards two sticks he left out of the fire. "Can you get those ready?"

She'd already yelled at him once, best to be nice for now.

 

[Eirika E'sprit]

She retrieved the two sticks, setting them beside her while first taking one of the fish from the spear into hand and beginning the process of cleaning it in preparation to cook. With simple grace she opened the fish, scaled and gutted it, then skewered it lengthwise. The process was repeated for the second one over the next few minutes until both were ready.

"Here."

Handing both to Kasim she allowed him to set them over the flame, hazel eyes lifting upwards towards the clouds. The sky had become darker, the periodic gales growing stronger with each gust. It was going to be a heavy rain this night. Hopefully it would hold off until after they had eaten and found shelter for the evening. The less opportunity to be followed on their path away from Anaset the better.

Kasim Areth

 

[Kasim Areth]

Kasim placed the two fish over the embers, shifting them slightly so they would both receive proper heat.

It was clear that he had done this more than once. Camping had been a regular thing for him at the beginning of his journey, and even now it wasn't all that uncommon. Most of the time he preferred staying in an Inn, but a nice fire wasn't all that bad. Especially if you knew what you were doing.

"So." How did one go about small talk with an elf?

He wasn't really sure what they talked about when they were at home, what their conversations consisted of among one another. The Jester shifted slightly, moving the two fish.

"I was headed to Fal'Addas you know." He would start, better than sitting in awkward silence. "Poke around and learn some of your stories."

 

[Eirika E'sprit]

The elf snorted a snarky laugh. "Do you even know how to enter Fal'Addas?" In her much earlier years Eirika had amused herself with her peers by watching travelers attempt to navigate their way through the Falwood to reach Fal'Addas, only to wind up frustrated and turn back, cursing the whole way out of the forest.

"It's not quite like your human cities with a gate guarded by soldiers that you walk through in hopes not to be run through by a man having a bad day or holding a grudge for an earlier perceived trespass you know."

Placing her hands near the heat of the fire to warm herself in response to the falling temperature Eirika looked towards Kasim through the flickering smoke between the two. "Stories though are surely in no short supply, if you find an elf willing to speak to you long enough. Those will generally be the traders or the children, or the liars."

Kasim Areth

 

[Kasim Areth]

"I know how to get through the Falwood." He said, though he didn't sound particularly happy about it.

There had been a map on the wall of his home, an ancient thing drawn up by a Dreadlord in the service of one of his ancestors. It showed three paths through the wood, all of them leading to Fal'Addas. The intent behind the map was of course not peaceful, and was instead a relic of the wars that had long since passed.

His father had always been proud of the thing, though Kasim had found it interesting for entirely different reasons than his old man. He still remembered the map well, and it was how he had intended to reach the Elven city. "I'm sure I could have found someone to talk to me."

Kasim said with a shrug.

"I'm personable enough." In truth, he hadn't exactly been sure how he would go about getting the stories he wanted. "Plus, Fal'Addas is a story on it's own."

Even without the Elves inside it.

 

[Eirika E'sprit]

"Mmh." Eirika seemed disinterested in how Kasim had managed to come by a way through the Falwood and into Fal'Addas. Her eyes focused on the skies above them as a rolling thrum of thunder cast out in the distance. Just beyond the camp a small fox, no more than a year or two in age perched itself on a patch of moss, looking hungrily towards the open flame where upon the fish were cooking.

The elf caught the animal's presence and gestured with her head. "It would seem we have a guest." She said to Kasim, smiling. Small golden eyes stared towards the two, reflections of fire in its eyes as it made its desire more than clear. Extending her hand outwards in a gentle manner she spoke natively, welcoming the fox to join them. At first it remained hesitant, eyes fixed on Kasim, but then cautiously circled the camp and approached Eirika, sitting just an arm's length away from the elf.

Kasim Areth

 

[Kasim Areth]

Kasim didn't say anything as the fox entered their little camp, instead he simply watched the creature quietly. Had it been anyone but an elf he might have suggested killing the creature so that they could salt its meat and sell the pelt in the next town over, but he had a feeling the notion would not go over well with his traveling companion.

Particularly given how she was about horses and fish.

The Jester frowned slightly, deciding it was probably best to simply ignore the little beast and instead tend to the food in front of him. He supposed it was better a fox than a wolf, there were many of the latter who practically hunted men like him. Though he wondered if the same went for the elves.

She could speak to Horses and apparently foxes, wolves couldnt have been all that different.

”He can share your fish.” Kasim stated plainly.

Eirika's stamina was far beyond his. To keep pace with her he had needed to use one of his runes, something that sapped more energy from him than he would have liked to admit. He needed to eat as much as he could, especially if they were to keep the pace she had set today.

 

[Eirika E'sprit]

The woman said nothing in response. She hadn't planned on asking him to feed the animal, yet he was sure to remind her that he had no plans of sharing what he was already given. Human greed once again; Typical. Eirika placed a hand on the fox, gently rubbing behind its ear. It seemed content, eagerly waiting on the fish to be removed from the fire, bushy red tail swinging lazily from side to side.

Sitting back whilst using her arms as crutches to keep herself upright, the elf hummed a soft melody to herself, eyes gazing up at the stars once more. She wondered how her father was faring, hoping that his condition hadn't worsened in her absence, that he wasn't too furious with her decision to leave, and that when she returned with a cure all would return to as it had been.

Kasim Areth

 

[Kasim Areth]

Kasim counted the minutes until the fish were done, mostly because he could already feel the gnawing hunger of his stomach. Finally when they were ready he pulled himself forward and took one of the sticks from the flame, from his bag he pulled out a small pouch, digging into it and sprinkling an odd sort of powder over the meat before he offered it to Eirika and her furry companion.

The powder was a spice that he had picked up in the western reaches near the isle of Sheketh, a place where the meat had so little flavor the people felt the need to enhance its taste with whatever roots they could dig out of the ground. Kasim had come to enjoy the practice quite a bit himself, and it often helped make even the most unpalatable foods bearable.

At least in his experience. ”Here.”

It was basic manners to ensure other ate before. Despite what she might have thought humans were not all greed and selfishness. Though admittedly they were a central drive to pretty much everything he had done.

Not that he would ever admit it.

 

[Eirika E'sprit]

"Annon allen." She said, thanking him in Elven as she took the skewered fish from Kasim. Before one could blink an eye the fox was on its feet, tail flipping from side to side eagerly. Even its tongue flashed for a moment, jaws ready to go to work. Eirika took the blade of her dagger, unwrapping it from the makeshift spear from earlier and cut the fish she had received in half precisely.

Holding out her hand towards the fox she offered the fish to it, which naturally he eagerly took from her. The woman smiled, rubbing the creature's ears once more before turning to her own half of the fish. Delicately she cut small portions and began to eat, eyes flicking between Kasim and the fox occasionally.

"Share what you have with those who have less and the God's fortune will favor you."

A small flash in the sky signified the coming storm once more.

Kasim Areth

 

[Kasim Areth]

There was no subtlety or delicacy to the way that Kasim ate.

Despite his noble upbringing he had long ago abandoned any and all manner and form when it came to eating in the woods. He didnt really care about getting his hands dirty or any such nonsense, particularly when he was already on the edge of starving. Thus he didnt take his dagger to cut careful pieces from his meal, instead he simply dug in.

The sight would not be a pleasant one, and most would judge Kasim to be a commoner simply on how quickly he devoured his meal. It seemed that within only a minute or so the entire fish was naught but a head and skinny bones left on the floor.

The young Jester made a delighted noise, and then glanced at the fox who had slowly leaned forward to sniff the leftover carcass.

The storm rumbled above, and Kasim grimaced slightly. ”We need to find shelter.”

Otherwise they'd be dealing with wet boots, a fate worse than death on the road.

 

[Eirika E'sprit]

Eirika paused more than once to stare blankly at Kasim's rather unappealing sight as he ate. Even the fox ate in a more visually appetizing manner, and it was a simple creature. Despite the gruesome eating habit, the elf finished eating mere minutes later, and nodded to Kasim. They needed shelter soon.

Turning to the fox she spoke a string of foreign words while she worked to lace up her boots once more. The stick was cast aside, and the blade wiped clean with a small cloth from her pack, then tucked safely away within. "He can take us to a nearby hollow. Should be big enough for us, near enough to reach in a few minutes before the rain arrives." Scooping up her pack the woman stood.

"Snuff out the fire and we can get going."

Kasim Areth

 

[Kasim Areth]

Perhaps it did pay to speak to animals.

Briefly Kasim wondered if there was a rune that would allow him to do it. He'd never seen one, though he supposed that he could devise it himself. Perhaps if he carved it...no, best not to think about that while standing next to the elf. She would end up somehow reading his mind and getting angry at him for maiming an animal. Not that he would ever seriously hurt any creature that couldn't defend itself.

Still, it would have been a neat trick. The studies of his own magic had never focused on that sort of thing, but what else could be expected from Vel Anir.

Without a word Kasim quickly went about putting out the fire. With a quick and skilled hand he doused the embers and then buried what remnants remained. He did the same with the fish carcasses, digging a small hole and covering them in such a way that they would not be found. Dogs would still be able to sniff out the scent, but a passing scout or guardsmen would just find more dirt.

”Alright.” Kasim said as he swept a little more dirt over where the fire had been.

It was important to cover their tracks. The Dreadlord needed them as justification, and it would be easier for the man to grab them here in the forest rather than in Nasser.

 

[Eirika E'sprit]

She nodded, and the fox sprinted up ahead, turning its small, flat head back to make sure the pair was following. Eirika smiled and waived it on, picking up the pace slightly. They hadn't much time left, the rolling thunder grew louder with each crash, and the storm winds were approaching now. They'd make it in time, but not if they delayed.

The woodland creature stopped twice more, waiting for the two atop a pair of large rocks the second time, beckoning them onwards until they arrived at a large, generations old tree that had fallen, likely during the fury of an older storm. Along the side was a sizable hole, hollowed out by time, and other desperate animals digging their own shelter within.

Eirika thanked her small friend and rubbed its ear once more, before sending it off to its own den. "Well, cozy." It wasn't large within, but it was enough to at least sit comfortably without hitting one's head. Laying down wasn't exactly in the cards, but Eirika had no issue with sleeping sitting up.

Kasim Areth

 

[Kasim Areth]

Surprisingly Kasim had no complaints to offer about the small hovel that the Fox had lead them to. He knew well that there were worse places to sleep, and the storm above left them with very few options anyway.

Oddly enough it reminded him of his childhood. There had been a time when he and his brother had escaped the trials of their daily lives and hidden themselves away within a small alcove they'd found in Vel Anir's great wall. They had used it as a home base of sorts, somewhere to hide from their father and the various teachers that chased after them. The Jester smiled slightly, placing his pack to the side as he leaned up against the wall of the tiny cavern and reminisced.

Outside a crack of thunder echoed, lightning flashing a few miles away.

”The rain will slow them.” Kasim said, not bothering to elaborate who he was talking about. ”But they'll likely have horses, so the sooner we can get into Nasser and then out the better.”

Kiril wouldnt have the same authority as he did in Anaset, but he was still a Dreadlord. Most Anirians would happily bow to any request made by the man. It was better not to let him catch up at all.

If they could help it anyway.

 

[Eirika E'sprit]

"Then we'll rest and leave before first light. The horses will have trouble navigating through the dense wood, even with a skilled rider, but we're approaching the edge of the forest, and they'll have no trouble at all on the even terrain once they breach the clearing."

Those horses back in town were looking more and more like they were worth the risk, though tracks they'd leave, Eirika was a top notch horseback rider, and with the trust of an animal your average guard had no hope of keeping pace. Trouble was they had no horses, so they'd just have to make the trek on foot.

Being caught in the open in a field and surrounded by warriors on horseback wasn't something she looked forward to. The woman was a keen bowman, but she hadn't taken it with her, and the small dagger she carried certainly would not stand up against an armored soldier with a longsword.

Kasim Areth