Private Tales The Mountains Ahead

[Kasim Areth]

They would have to think of a solution, a way to save their children.

He would fight until the ends of the earth, he would stand against his father, his family, all of Vel Anir if he had to. His children would not suffer the same fate as him, would not go through what he had. That much he would swear.

"We need to go somewhere safe." Kasim said softly.

Yet where was safe?

They were both hunted. They had no real money, no frie-

Lips thinned, and briefly an idea formed in the back of his mind. A memory of his travels just after escaping from Vel Anir; The Underground.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

Kiovec padded over to the pair, nuzzling his head between them as a low hum thrummed deep in his chest. His tail wrapped protectively around them, intent on keeping his Warden and her mate safe.

Aviana looked down at the dragon's head and smiled to herself as she placed a hand just between his eyes. "Thank you." She whispered to him.

Her gaze shifted back to Kasim and she exhaled softly, reaching out to run her fingers through his hair as she smiled lovingly up at him. "Where can we go?"

"I don't know anywhere in the mainland that's safe..." She said softly, a concerned expression glinting in her eyes.

 

[Kasim Areth]

There were few people in this world selfless enough to help anyone else if it didn't involve them getting another leg up.

Coin was what you needed, but luckily Kasim at least had some connection to people who cared for more than simple gold. He was hesitant, but only because it would bring them into closer proximity to Vel Anir itself.

Still, they didn't have many options. "I might know some people."

He said finally.

"But." He chewed his lower lip. "It means we'll have to get closer to Vel Anir."

 

[Aviana Sabel]

"That's probably the last place they'd expect us to go... If anything, they'll think we're still trying to get to Minaris." She said softly, shaking her head as she looked up at him.

"If you think it'll be safe, we should take it. Can we get there before your Uncle catches us?"

 

[Kasim Areth]

"We can fly." Some of the way at least. Kiovec would likely need more rest with the both of them, but he'd already proven himself capable of going several miles with both of them riding him. "He's stuck on an island."

As far as Talus knew his uncle's condition meant that he couldn't swim. Crossing an ocean was difficult for him, and he would have to wait until someone got him off the island.

He frowned for a moment. "The bigger concern is my father, or my sister."

That close to Vel Anir someone could recognize him, or worse the magic inside of him would give them away. Both things were a possibility, but Kasim also didn't have any other solution.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

She gave a slight nod in understanding, though it was clear that she was still terrified of being found again.

"Okay... Okay. We can make this work though." She said quietly.

She glanced over her shoulder to a cave nearby, Kiovec had done a surprisingly good job finding them a safe place to stay for the night.

"We should get some rest... We have a long road ahead of us, and I can't think straight right now. I haven't slept in days."

 

[Kasim Areth]

Kasim nodded. "I had to leave most everything behind on the ship."

He and Kiovec had been sleeping about as roughly as one could. No blankets, barely a fire, and certainly no comfort. Everything had been sacrificed in the name of speed. It had worked out in the end, he supposed.

That was something to be thankful for.

"We'll stop off and get some supplies in the next village we see." He told her softly. "For now..."

Kasim smiled. "For now at least we're together."

Without another word he began quickly to set about making at least a makeshift camp. They would have no bed, but they could afford the warmth of a fire and some of the rations that he still had left over from the few days before.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

All three of them were exhausted, but there was no time for any of them to rest while they gathered the supplies needed to make their improvised campsite. Aviana found herself once again gathering broad leaves and straw to lay on; while Kiovec set out to collect firewood.

In spite of the chaos she'd endured, she couldn't help but chuckle to herself as she watched the dragon trot through the nearby trees collecting debris in his mouth and with his tail. It was entirely adorable and she caught herself smiling for the first time in weeks.

It felt like everything was going to be okay.

She had Kasim at her side once more, and her beloved Dragon was now large enough to pose a sizable threat to anyone who would want to hunt them down. He'd likely give bandits pause and trained soldiers would hesitate when faced with a dragon.

By the time they had everything gathered for their camp, the moon had long since risen over the horizon, casting the world in a soft blue glow. The found princess sank into the makeshift bedroll and closed her eyes. They had a long journey ahead of them, and she was going to need her rest.

 

[Kasim Areth]

The next few days were an odd sort of bliss that Kasim wouldn't have thought he would ever have again.

They spent most of the day time traveling with Kiovec, flying a few dozen miles before setting down to let the Dragon rest and then going when he was once again ready. The pattern quickly fell into place, and there was a sort of...simplicity to it that reminded him of the old days.

No one bothered them, they went into no towns, and everything was simple.

Sure in the back of his mind the reminder of the fact that they were being hunted remained ever present, but that didn't mean he couldn't enjoy the moments of solitude.

It was only after a week that Kasim and Aviana found themselves standing on the edge of a large hill, Kiovec sitting in the tall grass behind them and a small town laying out before them. "Thousands of miles."

He said quietly.

"We came so far in so short a time." The town they now stood in front of was Vel Selen, a city controlled by Vel Anir, though laying on the outer reaches of Anirian Control. This was where he had lead them, where he hoped to find their path to safety.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

While Kasim's time on their journey was relatively peaceful, Aviana's experience was considerably more challenging. Nightmares plagued her in her sleep, and her waking moments were spent a tangled mess of anxiety and paranoia. She was terrified that Kasim's uncle was hot on their trail, that she would wake in the middle of the night and find that wretched crew looming over her.

Nausea was as constant a companion as Kasim and Kiovec. She was able to keep her composure and sanity through a variety of herbs which she collected during their travels, but the closer they got to Vel Anir, the more scarce they became. Eventually, she found that she didn't recognize most of the flora.

Now that they had arrived at the small village, she looked pale and downright exhausted. Though they'd traveled quickly, it had been a rather arduous voyage for her.

She sat in the grass next to Kasim with her head resting lightly on his shoulder, taking the opportunity to catch her breath and steady her thoughts.

"What now?" She asked him in a soft voice, her eyes finally opening to look down at the village below.

 

[Kasim Areth]

It was a good question, one that he'd been pondering himself.

His arm was looped around her, fingers on her skin as they stayed at the village below. A frown addorned his lips, though he tried not to let the expression linger for too long. Kasim wanted Aviana to feel safe, wanted her to a semblance of calm.

He needed to be her rock. The thing she could hold on to while the rest of the world was drifting away. "I have an idea."

Kasim said softly.

Part of him thought it was foolish, but another part knew it had its own sort of genius to it too. He frowned for a brief moment again, and then continued.

"We need somewhere safe. Somewhere we can hide for the next few months." They couldn't travel with Aviana in this state, and unfortunately for them they had limited options to turn to. With that in mind, he took on a deep breath. "My family has a winter estate that should be just a few days from here."

He proposed. "No one has been there In well over twenty years."

Not since his mother had died. The castle had always been her favorite, and after her death none of them could bare to visit it. Last he'd heard the place had been sealed up and simply left behind, only ocassionally checked on my a servant.

It would make the perfect hiding place.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

Aviana lifted her head from Kasim's shoulder to meet his gaze. One brow lifted in a silent question, before she put her thoughts to words. "If you think it's safe, then it's probably our best bet."

They had come this far, what was a few more days? The promise of shelter and security was far too sweet for her to resist.

Her attention turned to Kiovec, still seated behind them. "Just a little further, Kio."

The dragon snorted his assent, his dark tail swishing idly in the tall grass. It should have been a perfect moment of serenity, but Aviana couldn't shake the feeling that something was chasing them. It felt closer to catch her breath after sprinting from a monster.

Why was she always running... when would it stop?

 

[Kasim Areth]

It was almost like he read her thoughts. "No more running."

Kasim wanted her to know this was the right decision. The castle was a fortress, more than that, it was an ancestral home of House Virak. The walls were warded with magic and the towers had been built with the touch of Dreadlords.

They would be safe there, and anyone coming would be seen.

"We'll be safe there." His arm slowly wrapped around her, pulling her close as he reached up with his other hand and gently cupped her chin. "I'll always keep you safe."

There was no more question of that.

He would not leave her side ever again. He would not let anyone take her ever again. Passion burned in him. "You're the only thing that matters to me. The only thing I want. I will keep you safe."

No matter what he had to do to keep his promise.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

She couldn't help but smile, however faint, in return to his earnest words. His conviction was infectious. He'd always taken care of her since they first met, even back when he thought she was little more than a pretty face and an interesting story -- when he believed that he was nothing but a selfish bard. In their travels together, he'd proven himself to be so much more. Kasim was both her protector and lover.

She didn't know what she would do without him in this strange world of the mainland.

Aviana nuzzled into his palm, savoring the touch as she took a deep breath through her nose. She reached up, gently cupping her hand over the back of his.

"We'll be okay as long as we have each other." His promise warmed her heart, but she knew that she would have to do better in order to protect him. They had to watch each others backs. And she would die before she let him down.

 

[Kasim Areth]

Kasim leaned in and softly kissed her. "I'm getting you a castle."

He tried to put some humor into his tone.

"You can be my Queen for a little while." His thumb brushed over her cheek. They needed this. They needed a bit of cheer. He wanted to see her smile again, hear her laugh. His arm gently squeezed her.

Right now all he wanted to do was make sure that she was okay, that she would be alright.

"There's even a Throne." He mused. "Though I'm not sure we have a crown for you to wear."

His lips brushed over hers in a smile.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

An amused laugh escaped her lips and she leaned back to wipe at her eyes with the back of her hand, shaking her head. How long had it been since she'd been in a castle? So much time had passed since her days of safely residing in the royal castle in Minaris without a care in the world. Things had changed so much in a relatively short period of time.

"A castle sounds lovely." She chimed with another chuckle, leaning forward to kiss his cheek.

"Though, I'd much prefer a proper bed in place of a Throne. It's been ages since we've slept with a roof over our head." Her hand moved to run her fingers through his hair, curling around the shell of his ear.

"But... I'd love to be your Queen." She mused softly.

 

[Kasim Areth]

"Then a bed you shall have, My Queen." Kasim said as he pressed his lips against Aviana's with a wide smile.

The laugh had made his heart practically soar, and he couldn't help but believe...if only slightly, that things would be okay.

If he was right about where they were it would take them a few days to reach the Castle, even by the back of Kiovec, but it would be worth it once they got there. He smiled, another kiss, then another, until eventually he pulled himself away. "A night of rest, and then we go."

The next few days went by in a surprisingly quick fashion. Kasim spent most of the day telling Aviana stories as they flew on Kiovec's back. He spoke of his past, legends, everything that he could think of to keep her mind drawn upon him and only him.

It was on the fourth night that they saw it, a castle in the mountains, covered in snow. "There it is!"

Kasim called as Kiovec slowly began to descend.

"Land in front of the gates!" They had to go through the front door, otherwise they would trip the wards.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

Snow.

Aviana had never seen proper snow up close. She'd seen it on the mountains when her and Kasim ventured into the Underground Road beneath the Spine, but the two of them had never ventured up into the snowy heights.

The dark trees stood out in sharp contrast to the stark white expanse. It was beautiful, but by the Depths was it cold.

Once Kiovec touched down on the bridge in front of the gates as instructed, she carefully slid off the dragon's back with Kasim's assistance. The fluffy white snow crunched softly under her boots. It reminded her of walking in sand, but it wasn't quite the same.

Her breath clouded around her face each time she exhaled and goosebumps rose on her exposed arms as she wrapped them around her form. She hoped that there were warmed clothes inside the castle.

"It's beautiful." She said, breathlessly. Her cheeks were bright red from the flying through the cold air.

"How... do we get in then?"

 

[Kasim Areth]

Kasim slipped off of the Dragon's back, looking up at the fortress for a few moments.

Aviana's question seemed to fall on deaf ears as he peered at the great walls, an odd pang running through him as he took a breath. He could still remember the last time he'd been here, the last time that he had seen the walls.

Just after his mothers death. He swallowed hard, looking at the sealed gates. "I just walk up."

Kasim said with a soft smile, reaching out and grabbing Aviana's hand. His fingers slipped through hers, and slowly they began to walk forward. The massive gates ahead of them seemed to flicker, a shift of red running over them, and then they opened.

The gap between the two doors was only large enough for the two of them to pass through, almost as if some magic knew that it would just be enough.

As soon as they passed through the gates began to close.

Kasim's arm wrapped around Aviana as they walked, keeping her warm as they moved over the bridge and climbed the small incline towards the castles main inside gate. This one too seemed to flicker as they drew closer, and even Aviana would feel an odd touch as the magic of the Virak estate reacted to the children she carried.

Doors fell open, and torches inside began to light. "Home."

He told Aviana softly.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

The castle had an eerie feel to it. She could sense the magic that connected Kasim to the place, as though the walls themselves were responding to his very presence. Minaris had nothing for her to compare the sensation to.

Though, a thought crossed her mind and she was immediately on edge.

"If... this place is drawing on the magic of your family, will they know that you're here?" She asked, turning her gaze away from one of the torches that had just lit itself to find Kasim's.

Kiovec prowled behind the pair, looking monstrously huge within the confines of a structure. His massive talons clicked softly against the immaculate marble floor.

 

[Kasim Areth]

"No." Kasim immediately shook his head.

He should have told her earlier of course, but in his haste to get here he had utterly forgotten about an explanation.

"This place is old." He explained quickly. "Older than the Well."

Kasim had explained his families magic fully to her before, she would understand the significance of those words. More torches lit, responding to Kasim and the blood that now coursed through Aviana as well. "It was built with Rune Magic."

He said softly as they came to the main Hall.

It was a massive thing, running near the length of the whole castle. Huge white sheets lay over tables, statues, and chandeliers. Torches erupted into light everywhere, and an odd warmth began to fill the hall as though an unseen hearth had sprung to life.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

"Oh... wow." Aviana expelled a breath, one hand reaching for the hollow of her throat. The main hall was immense, far more so than the castle she'd grown up in. When she remembered that this was a winter retreat, she realized just how humble her little kingdom was.

She squeezed his hand and offered a slight smile in understanding. If he said it was safe, then it was safe.

"So... it responds to your bloodline then." She murmured, sweeping her eyes across the hall.

"Wait... what are we going to do for food here?" Aviana asked with a rather perplexed expression. If no one had been here for twenty years, it was unlikely there would be any edible supplies just laying around -- unless they'd been magically preserved, that was.

She realized the obvious answer after asking it and felt rather silly. Her free hand sheepishly scratched the back of her neck as she blushed slightly.

 

[Kasim Areth]

He smiled at her. "Hunting?"

The foodstores here were undoubtedly gone long ago, and no magic...as far as he knew could produce food via magic. But between himself and Kiovec he figured that it would be easy enough to hunt Deer or some of the other larger creatures.

Plus, there were a few villages that were just a short time from here. Everything else they would have to figure out for themselves.

"Come on." Kasim said softly as he gently squeezed her hand.

"There's some..." He thought a moment. "Cozier areas of the Castle. I think you'll like this more."

 

[Aviana Sabel]

Cosy was exactly what Aviana needed. A smile darted across her face and she squeezed his hand in return. "That sounds perfect."

As she followed him through the castle, her gaze never strayed far from him. Sometimes a piece of artwork would catch her eye, but she didn't want to chance Kasim getting out of her sight. It felt like a dream, and dreams frightened her now.

Would she round a corner and find Kasim tied to a stake? Would the hand she was holding suddenly belong to someone else if she looked away? Moments like this were common for her now, a panic that the world she walked wasn't reality.

This just felt too good to be true, like the village near Minaris that she dreamt about. She squeezed Kasim's hand once more to reassure herself that he was there with her. His hand was warm and solid, it felt real.

"Hard to believe no ones been here in twenty years." She mused quietly, trying to keep her thoughts preoccupied.

 

[Kasim Areth]

As they walked the halls around them became less grand and slightly smaller. Torches still lit themselves, and warmth flooded in the space. "It was my mother's favorite place."

Kasim explained softly.

"My siblings and I still loved it as a memory of her, but my father..." Kasim frowned slightly. He still remembered what his father had once said, about how the last wasn't worth holding on to. That this place was no longer worth the trouble.

He'd been eight at the time. "In a way, this palce doesn't carry the same taint as the rest of my families estates."

At least in his mind.

They began to pass by open doorways. Sitting rooms, an office, even a large library all revealed themselves until finally they reached what appeared to be a large suite. A sitting room attached to a bathroom and bedroom.

"This used to be my room." Kasim said with a smile, motioning to the decorum.

It was exactly what you'd picture from a young noble.