Private Tales The Shore and the Sea

[Alistair Krixus]

"Yes, I've always had some interest in them. Their imagery is often associated with the arcane in more ancient societies. Besides, fear often comes from a place of ignorance."

Alistair offered assuredly about his desire to see these winged titans of the sky. As for the griffins, he would admit it was not to see the Oban but just examine the winged creatures.

"Oban, it was a city that my father frequented often enough, but I never have had the chance to visit."

Another city Kristen had named in her conversation had sparked some thoughts. Elbion was a place that Alistair believed could greatly expand his own knowledge, but he would admit that his opinion of the magical city was less than stellar. It had a reputation for producing genius magical scholars, while Vel Anir produced magical muscle heads. That could not possibly be true, after all, Alistair was from Vel Anir...A sense of pride had always stopped him from spending too much time in Elbion. Anything he could learn there, he was determined to learn in his homeland.

"I've read reports of a place in Malakath with a whole group of warriors that ride dragons. It sounds incredible."

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Some shock, accompanied by a half-laugh, half-gasp, arose in response to that.

"Ride them? Why, I never would have thought such a thing possible. Are they not particularly unruly beasts?"

Admittedly, Kristen hardly knew anything of dragons, and what stories there were of them storing hoards of gold, shapeshifting, and being possessed of vast intellect all seemed...well, absurd, frankly.




Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair shrugged at the question, but it did make him smirk.

"Who knows? I'm sure the first person who tried to ride a horse probably thought the same thing."

Of course, horses and dragons were two very different things. At least, he had never seen a horse fly or breathe fire, although that would be impressive. The train of thought was fantastical, but not something that Alistair was keen on following for too long.

Alistair reached over and pulled the basket of snacks that had been prepared by Mrs. Hursch opening it up to reveal all of the treats that had largely been made with Kristen in mind.

"I told her about some of the things you like, but Hursch also seemed confident that she could surprise you."

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

What was on top of the assortment, perhaps providing cover for the goodies beneath, was no surprise.

Kristen gasped with delight and said, "Snickerdoodle cookies! Quite possibly the fastest way to my heart." She grabbed one and held it up and observed it and marveled, "My...it feels almost like a lifetime. Yet it has merely been three years." She laughed softly and said again, "Three years." Before she took a bite she mused, "Mother had the servants bake a batch of snickerdoodle cookies a few days before I went to the Academy."

Then she took that bite of the cookie, and her expression melted into closed-eye bliss.

"Tastes like home," she said.

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Kristen's smile and the little gasp brought a wide smile to Al's face as he took one of the cookies as well. He would have to make sure he told Mrs. Hursch that Kristen had loved them, she always did get worried that she could not cook food that would be worthy of one of the Great Houses.

Her other words made him pause in his bite, as he really had to take in what she had just said. She had only been at the Academy for three years, and he had only started to really know he in the last two, but it stell felt like they had gone through so much together.

Kristen was almost a completely different person from when she started. She was not the first person to come to the Academy late, but anyone would be challenged to find another that the Academy had had such a huge impact in such a short amount of time.

"You are incredible." The words slipped out before Alistair had even realized he said them. He laughed awkwardly before trying to quickly explain himself.

"I just mean with your training and the family expectations...Of course, you are amazing with other things, everything really..."

Ok Al, maybe stop talking for a moment.

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

You are incredible.

The suddenness by which these three little words were said—

(three little words)

—had Kristen arrested for a spell. For the second time in only so many minutes, as it so happened! She held the snickerdoodle cookie with the bite mark which turned it into a crescent moon and gazed at Alistair with delight as he went on to explain himself. Was this the true fruit of courtship? The heady unfurling of wonder as the flower, clasped between one slender hand and one firm, blossomed? And what better things awaited even yet? Her training, so mentioned by him and the title of Dreadlord which would flow from it, was the proposed prize of all she had endured, but mayhap the thing of most value was the chance, that oh-so precious chance, to have met Alistair.

And speaking of the Academy.

"Of the vast variety of men you could have become," she said, smiling grandly, "you became the one who is best of all."

With this she gently touched his chin with her natural hand, leaned to him, and gave him a kiss. Though his eyes suffered malady, still he had his sense of touch, feel. And taste, so her wondering mind presented to her, as those polite little intrusions of thought do: did her lips perhaps taste of snickerdoodle?

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

That was one thing he hated about his new vision, without the help of runes, he could not longer read a person's face. So he had no way of determining if he was making an absolute fool of himself. That mystery reddened his cheeks ever so slightly.

He sort of got an answer from Kristen's comments. The best of all? Out of all the options? That couldn't be right. He could have become normal, instead, he was a killer with competent social skills, and an overactive curiosity.

"I wouldn't say-"

His humbling response was cut off as Kristen leaned in an kissed him. Little did she know how right her own thoughts were. The loss of his sight had granted him an appreciation for his other senses, but one thing it was taking time to get used to was information overload. He noticed itchy clothing materials, spicy foods, poor smells, or a ringing in his ear so much more vividly.

Now imagine, three of those senses facing information overload at the same time. From the soft touch of Kristen's hand and then the ever softer touch of her lips, the lovely smell of Kristen's perfume as she leaned inc close, the taste of snickerdoodles now on his own lips, or the sound of his heart beating rapidly. All these senses at the same time sent a shiver down his spine.

He subconsciously leaned into the kiss wanting to experience that almost drug-like high for as long as he could. His free hand reaching out and intertwining his fingers into her free hand.

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

On parting, Kristen smiled a radiant smile knowing that Alistair could not see it, yet confident that its warmth would like the glow of a hearthfire be transferred to him.

She pondered for a brief second, the thought of three little words occurring to her again. She did have to say them. She wanted to say them, even if there was still a tinge of that superstitious fear acting as the counterbalance. When would the moment be right? These things couldn't be very much planned, she felt, and she would have to trust that, when the time was right, she would know it. The one thing she did resolve though was that she would not leave this shoreside without saying them.

It had been far too long in coming.

Back to more mundane matters: "Sadly, I was not able to bring along some fine cooking and baking—mostly travel rations were available to me in my situation. However, the village in which I stopped happened to have a curious confection on sale."

Kristen pulled over her basket and rummaged around and then produced the treats in question.

"Apple slices, covered in this topping which they called 'caramel'. This caramel comes from Amol-Kalit, or so that is what the locals said. I've not yet tried such a thing." She plucked one of the slices from the bunch and held it up and examined it. "It resembles honey to some extent. And the locals did say it was quite sweet."

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

"Caramel?" Alistair had not encountered the treat during his time in Amol-Kalit, but then again, Alistair had not taken much time for pleasantries then.

"I do have a sweet tooth." He laughed, as his eyes stayed on her for a moment longer before he accepted one of the apples and took a bite. He did not see the sweet, honey-like substance so had been surprised to find the food was much more like some type of sticky syrup. It coated the insides of his mouth, but he would gladly admit that it was delicious.

"Incredible, to just find this one of the villages. It really is our lucky day."

The sweet treat, the warm sun, and the comfortable breath was all enough to just bring a smile to his face. It was shaping up to be the perfect day. His eyes turned to the water before them, after this little snack, they could go for a nice swim.

"Maybe our next trip should be the Empire...or maybe I'm getting ahead of myself."

Alistair had so many ideas for so many trips with Kristen, over countless years...He saw himself living his whole life with her, just going on missions and vacations. Did that say something?

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Our next trip.

Once more, three little words made their pleasant introduction and brought with them a fresh delight. There in the light of the implication rested a future, the one future above all others, she yearned for: being by Alistair's side, both today and tomorrow and for all the days to come.

"Annuakat does beckon strongly," she said, mentioning the capital of the Empire once more. She popped the caramel-covered apple slice in her mouth. Chewed and swallowed and said, "Oh my, that is delicious."

After a few more, she giggled with a hint of guilt and said, "This feels like sneaking in some dessert before dinner. How naughty of us!"

Granted, they had not a sumptuous supper awaiting them, merely food fit for travel, yet still this all brought to mind those memories of her childhood mischief.

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair could not stop smiling, it was just a cuteness overload. Everything about Kristen was just so perfect. Her sense of duty, the way she treated her family, her fighting skills, her tenacity, all of it was perfect. He went to speak again, but paused, "Oh, you have something right there."

He reached up with his thumb and gently wiped a way a bit of caramel at the corner of her mouth. He caught himself staring...perfect lips. Alistair pulled away awkwardly before trying to ignore what just happened and look through the rest of the snacks that they had packed.

"Yes, a small treat is perfectly suitable for the day. I don't think anyone could blame us."

That sounded lame, even to him. Why couldn't he just act cool? He was perfectly calm and smooth when dealing with dangerous diplomatic missions or even fighting criminals, but as soon as sat down with Kristen he felt like the young boy at the Academy that his Proctor's had told him was too gangly and awkward to be a Dreadlord.

Kristen Pirian