Private Tales What Wolves Hide Their Teeth?

[Vittoria Larrainth]

"You look green." Vittoria said, turning to see the scholar that reauired an escort to their intended location. It was a strange moment during their last year of education at the Academy, where most of the work was now spent out in the field. War loomed like an everpresent cloud, and Vittoria had already participated in the bloodshed.

She felt a hero, that she delivered justice.

All of that dissipated the moment she returned to him. Vittoria looked away from their charge, who had motioned with their hand to give them a moment to recollect themselves after they had just travelled through the Portal Stones.

Kilien. It never mattered her kill count, nor her ferocity, when she was with him for he brought her a peace she never knew what to do with. She smiled, only after hearing the Anirian scholar, Tafinn, groan from sickness.

"Perhaps he is not ready to continue on to Elbion just yet." She delighted. Vittoria peered at Kilien a moment, eyes taking him in and finding the qualities of what drew her to him. With these thoughts, she neared him. "How does it feel to be here?"

 

[Kilien Basmarc]

Portal stone travel wasn't super common for younger Initiates, but the older they got the more they found themselves sent far beyond. Kilien had memories of using the stones. Lots of them. Alongside other shadows his memory maintained as murky. Beyond that, only dreams ... or perhaps more appropriately, nightmares accompanied the tall tales his mind made up for him.

Maybe it was the new hash he'd bought on the way to the Allirian stone.

The young man dusted himself off and flopped a hand through his hair, now nearly down to his shoulders and as free and wily as a young drake in the skies. Vittoria's words drew his gaze to their charge to which he lofted his brows with a faint grimace, "Bit froggy, yeah."

And then Vittoria was standing before him, as welcome there in his presence as ever, "Feel...here?" He wasn't quite sure what she meant. Had he been sick? His memory really had been a bit fuzzy over the last few days.

 

[Vittoria Larrainth]

Vittoria's eyes narrowed only slightly, but it was enough to make her face just that more unreadable. Even when a dark brow arched at him. "To be close to Elbion." She reaffirmed. "You said you could not wait to be close to it, and here we are." A conversation they had the night before, at their camp half a day's ride from the Falwood Stone. Vittoria had found her way to Kilien's tent, no need to sneak when Tafinn had nodded off not long after the sun had gone down, with the help of his little flask of whisky. She had liked asking him questions before falling asleep beside him, and last night she had asked if he was looking forward to seeing Elbion as she was curious to travel to a new city.

From behind them, Tafinn groaned again. He had managed to slip off his horse and lowered to his knees. He earned a frown from Vittoria, and a chastising click of her tongue. "I can not believe this is our Anirian representative to visit the College." He had been a man of very little word, always reading his books, or muttering to himself.

Only thrice did Kilien have to quell Vitt's growing sense to put him out of his misery.

 

[Kilien Basmarc]

"Oh," yes he had absolutely said that. Kilien blinked and nodded, "Yeah. Yep."

They'd discussed many times about his desire to travel, not just for the novelty of it but for the simple means of getting away from the Academy. Elbion had always been high on his list for various reasons, some he'd shared and others he kept to himself. So why was his brain so muddled?

"I've heard the view from across the river is an eye-popper," he slipped her an easy smile and lifted a hand to pick a leaf from her hair, "and I've always wanted to ride on a ferry boat." The smile drew to a smirk.

There were several routes to get to Elbion from the stone, one involved a large bridge at a narrowing over the Cairou, the second and their chosen route was to follow the southern road to the river plaza. From there, it was a short ferry ride across the river and straight into the trade heart of Elbion.

Kilien glanced at Tafinn empathetically, "Those first few stone throws really get ya. I lost an entire lunch one time. Whole mutton, lettuce, and tomato sandwhich."

 

[Vittoria Larrainth]

Her eyes moved to settle on the Kilien, gifting him one of those rare smiles where they reached her eyes only slightly. Her pupils grew wider every time she looked to him, saw him as he was before her. Not a day went by that she wondered just how he had found a way into her heart, past all the defenses and traps laid upon every path.

Perhaps it had not been just his doing, but her own part in it too...

Her hand reached for him, the back of her hand brushing at the place he allowed her to stab a dagger through to prove his quick healing. Her fingers curled around his arm, using it to pull herself closer to him and whisper at his ear. "Pains me that we are here to watch a drunkard be invited to the esteemed Elbion College to represent Vel Anir." Her eyes, without pity, watched the man take several breaths. At least the pallor of his face was improving.

"Make sure we are far from him once we are on the ferry." Vitoria Larrainth was not one to usually use humour in her words, but there was bound to be habits she picked up from the one courting her. Even if no one truly could understand that what she had said was funny, she knew Kilien would understand her.

 

[Kilien Basmarc]

A sound of consideration run in his throat. Vittoria always had her opinions and he'd learned she was never afraid to voice them. He'd always been taught to bite his tongue when thoughts were dark.

"Mmm," his brows curved up while his fingers curled through hers, squeezing for a beat, "it could always be worse."

The man could have been an asshole on top of being a drunkard. Thus far, Kilien had seen little evidence of a sour disposition, more just a hungover one. That he could personally relate to. At the very least, they had one another's company and that was perfectly fine by him. Traveling to Elbion had always been on his bucket list, but traveling there with the apple of his eye made it a much better experience.

"Well now," Kilien's smirk turned fully to the girl as he wrapped their clutched hands around her lower back, "we'll have lots of time for ourselves - let's at least see the man to his destination." To be honest, the entire trek was a bit of a wash. One of the easiest jobs he'd ever been given. In fact it seemed almost a waste?

Why send their poster girl on such a simple mission?

Ah well, he wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

"How's that, Taf? Got your sea legs back for the boat?"

The man waved at the pair of them over his shoulder and gave a grumbling nod before slowly righting himself.

 

[Vittoria Larrainth]

Her hands were trapped behind her, held in Kilien's hands as he pulled her in. She arched her spine, so that she could still retain a full look at his face as he spoke to their charge.

The man was slowly returning to his usual colour, taking deep breaths and looking around. He averted his gaze when he caught the two Initiates in their embrace and set out to ensure their things were ready to continue their journey.

"Yes, a week before we return back to the Academy." Her stint on the front lines was over, the message she was sent to deliver had been a success, but to return back to her studies after utilising her entire limitations on her magic? It left her hungry for more. She was glad to have someone else with her on this mission, even more grateful that is was Kilien assigned to assist. They had not seen each other for over a month while she had gone to Cortos.

"The missive said I was to wear the nullifying cuffs once we reach Elbion." It came out in an almost hiss. She would eventually unmake whatever magic caused the nullifying effects, but she could only hope it was before the week came to an end.

 

[Kilien Basmarc]

One week in Elbion.

That was a long time to get into trouble.

He considered the implication. Trouble had a tendency to hound Rovani like a stubborn shadow, but even moreso himself. Vittoria? She always seemed to be well in control of herself and her surroundings. That was part of her charm, really. But...

Kilien frowned at the mention of the cuffs, Vittoria was dangerous and wasn't always as in control of herself as she liked to portray. It wasn't fair for her, but he understood the precaution. Brow setting into a furrow, he squeezed her hand again with a deep sigh.

"We'll figure it out," was the only thought he could manage on the matter.

Their charge cleared his throat and it was time they were moving again. Taf had a schedule to stick to.

Later in the day they queued up and embarked upon the ferry. Taffin chose a seat toward the middle, already looking off-color. Kilien tugged at Vittoria's hand with bated enthusiasm as he lead her toward the bow where they could stand at the railing with the whole view of Elbion sitting across the glimmer of the Cairou like a pearl-encrusted mountainside.

"Slap me silly and call me Sally, would you look at that," Kilien blinked beneath raised brows, a broad, toothy smile spread across his face. He'd seen his fair amount of foreign cities, but the way this one climbed the mountain slopes in sweeping terraces of white-washed buildings inter-stitched by granite stone walls was something else indeed.

 

[Vittoria Larrainth]

It had been over a decade since she last stood on a vessel and felt the gentle rock of the waves and currents. Vittoria felt at ease, comforted by the say of the ferry. Her eyes looked ahead, spying Elbion and it's mountainous glory.

"It would look gorgeous in the winter." She could see it, snow-capped mountains and a soft powder settling over the city. To view it across the river was something she would like to see again.

Vittoria turned her head to smile at Kilien. "Why would I call you Sally?"

But Tafinn approached on slow steps, extending a letter sealed with wax. "Excuse me Initiates... a blonde girl told me to give this to you."

Vittoria's eyes darted about, looking for whom it could be. There, on the dock, a brilliant head of pale gold could be seen, and Vittoria knew who it was immediately. She did not call out to Avery, for a fair few of those in her cohort had come to guess that Avery had been selected by the Vigilite for something.

And so, she resided here on the outskirts of Elbion...

"Thank you, Taffin. Best you take your seat now." Vittoria took the letter as the captain began shouting orders for those on the dock to unmoor the ferry.

Snapping the seal, she unfolded the parchment and read aloud.

"Initiates Larrainth and Basmarc are cordially invited to accompany Lord Tafinn to an art gala event." She read the rest of the letter quietly, but now furrowed her brows in a frown. "Five days from now." Blue green eyes lifted to meet Kilien's gaze. "This is sudden."

 

[Kilien Basmarc]

"Why would I call you Sally?"

Kilien chuckled to himself at that.

The arrival of a letter got a arched brow and he, too, looked around for a blond girl but did not spy her through the crowds as Vittoria did. Weird. Not that it would have mattered, he wouldn't have recognized Avery anyway.

"Gala?"

"This is sudden."

He felt his gaze grow distant as he thought to the wardrobe he brought with him. Nothing was fit for anything as fancy as a gala. Or anything even remotely less fancy than that.

"Let me see?" Kilien gently prised the letter from her hands while simultaneously pulling his reading glasses from an inner pocket of his duster and pushing them onto his face. He squinted.

"How did they even know?"

 

[Vittoria Larrainth]

She chewed on her lips for two reasons.

One, at the thought of stopping herself on speaking about Avery Cathaoir, a girl she loathed to even acknowledge. Her presence was a surprise, but if she was here on Vigilite business, it was not Vittoria's duty to unveil such a thing even if it were in confidence to Kilien.

Second, Vittoria enjoyed seeing Kilien take his time putting on glasses or taking out his wand to cast a spell. To see him slowly prepare himself in such a way made her heart flutter.

"I would not question it. Our names would have been declared for arrival, no? There are measures taken to visit Elbion." She leaned against the rail, two arms propped against it as her dark hair blew softly in the breeze. "Shame, I did not have a dress sent ahead should I have known before we left Vel Anir."

Yet Vittoria brought coin, and lots of it. She did not know if the accomodations made for them would be satisfactory. It was best to have some funds should anything go awry, such as having no proper attire for a gala. "As soon as Tafinn is in his lodgings, I think we should find a tailor or atelier."

 

[Kilien Basmarc]

Well.

Okay.

Sure.

He guessed that made a lot of sense.

Lips drawn thin within the scruff on his face, brow deeply furrowed, Kilien folded the letter with another look around for a suspicious looking blond.

"Sure," a gentle word followed as he tucked the letter into a pocket of his coat, "it'll be nice for you to enjoy a fancy event for a change. I'm sure Elbion has someone that makes pretty dresses."

 

[Vittoria Larrainth]

She reached an arm out to him, hand resting at his hip as Vittoria dazzled him with a rare smile. "Do you not mean an event we get to enjoy. Your name is listed and I would like to see you dressed up. Even if it is this once."

There was no need to mention that graduation, although post-poned due to the war, would one day come and perhaps they would go their separate ways. Vittoria wanted all the time she could get with the Rovani.

"You merely need to look smart, not a rich lordling or merchant." She provided, in case that perhaps could put him at ease that he did not need to be so put together for such an event.

 

[Kilien Basmarc]

That brow furrow shifted up as his gaze panned back to her.

"You can put a bowtie on a duck and it's still a duck."

Rovani weren't known as the sorts of people who attended, let alone even got invitations to fancy events. They were usually the ones the guards were on the lookout for to keep them from crashing said events. The undeniable itch for disruption of high society ran strong in their veins - which he supposed was part of the reason they didn't get along with the Anirians.

Strange that they got along with elves, who he had come to learn could be quite stuck up.

"Besides," elbows shifted to rest on the railing next to her with the wind billowing about his own unruly brown locks, "you know I don't have the coin to look smart."

 

[Vittoria Larrainth]

Vittoria slide closer to him, resting her chin on his shoulder. She had to crane her neck a little more than she used to, for Kilien had grown a little over the past few months. At first, she had thought she was not standing tall, but if she were to look up at anyone, it would be him.

"Or you could let me buy something nice. Does not need to only be for the one evening. Something, smart to wear... a nice shirt? An evening spent on a small boat going down the river..." A date. It had been too long since they both were able to find time to be alone, to steal kisses between classes was not enough when there were too many eyes around them.

She did not want others to watch her growing affections for Kilien.

"I will not attend the gala without you. I want to go as Vittoria and Kilien, not Lady Larrainth, nor Initiate Larrainth."

 

[Kilien Basmarc]

His head tilted askance, eyes shifting down to look at the face perched on his shoulder. Gods she was cute when she wasn't concerned about appearances. It pulled a warm half-smile onto his lips.

Vittoria Larrainth seemingly always got what she wanted. Either through luck, sheer force of will, or simply by bending those around her to do her bidding he couldn't always say. Kilien could hardly think of a time he'd felt compelled to tell her no.

He'd have asked her if she was certain she wanted to be seen in high society with such a scruffy duck, but she'd already made it clear on their first date that she did not care what others thought.

"An evening on a river boat, eh?"

The smile spread into a smirk.

"Are you trying to woo me Larrinth?"

 

[Vittoria Larrainth]

Vittoria hesitated, her eyes widening with light worry. "Have I not already?"

Yet that smirk clued her in that he was making jest, so much so that Vittoria's eyes narrowed back to their usual shape and her lips curved into a slight smile. "I like wooing you, Kilien Basmarc."

Ever since the moment he consented to her stabbing his leg to prove he could heal, that he was not a great test subject for their extra curricular class on poisons.

If someone could tolerate her whims like he could, Vittoria made sure to keep an interest on them.

"And Elbion is a city we both have never been to before. If this may be the first and only time for myself, I would like to make memories with you here." Something to be fond of, to remember, just like the stories her father used to tell her when she was a young girl. How her father and mother came to Elbion after marrying.

There was one place Vittoria was interested in seeing, a lookout spot her father spoke of that gave a view of the city below.

 

[Kilien Basmarc]

Another chuckle rumbled from his chest.

"That's good," he craned his neck to plant a small kiss near her temple, "I like being woo'd by you."

Making memories here together certainly sounded nice and he'd not had a lot of nice in his life as of late. The war had been ugly. While Vittoria was sent away on her delivery mission, he'd been tasked with subterfuge. Harkenov had taken to experimenting with new elixirs to force his change outside of the moon cycle and it had done things to him he wasn't entirely sure would go away. Kilien could feel the approaching full moon in his bones - that had always been part of who he was, but now it burned.

And traveling by use of the Portal Stone had awakened remnants of memories he couldn't recall having. The voices had always been there when using the stones, but they'd never felt so familiar.

"Alright," Kilien lifted himself from the railing for a stretch, his right hand coming to settle at her back where it smoothed back and forth over her shoulder blades, "I'll go."

 

[Vittoria Larrainth]

Vittoria was used to feeling triumphant, but hearing Kilien agree to something altered something else within her. It gave her satisfaction to hear him give in, enough to get her excited that they would attend something together.

Every year, the Academy put on a dance for the Initiates in hopes for morale and comradery to be strengthened. The war stretched them thin, made sure some Initiates were out being useful to their abilities in such a time. Perhaps that was why an invitation was extended for them to experience the gala that welcomed all that hailed from several cities and allied ones.

"If that is so, Killy, then I must plan something before we leave to go home. I must make my inquiries first before executing such an idea..."

There were others present on the ferry, otherwise she would pull him into an extended session of locked lips. It was different to do so in stolen moments between classes, as she had heard how horrified some of their classmates were of Vittoria fancying anyone romantically.

 

[Kilien Basmarc]

Plan something.

Inquiries.

Kilien gave her a suspicious side-eye that was otherwise short lived. Vittoria was a schemer and a planner, so he would expect nothing less. Always made taking her off-guard with his leap-before-I-look'ed-ness that much more fun. He knew next to nothing about Elbion aside from what most unfamiliar foreigners knew, so the city was their oyster for the next seven days.

Well, next five. He'd not be counting his chickens about the full moon just yet.

For now he'd focus on the good things to come.

"Do you think they'll let a mongrel like me into the college for a little lookie-lou?"

 

[Vittoria Larrainth]

Vittoria quirked a brow.

"We are Anrian guests, I should think they would be curious to allow us to visit."

It would be an opportunity to see how the Elbionese approached magic, to see how it was wielded in such a way that differed to the mages hailing from Vel Anir. She had read many books about it, had traveled to the Empire in search of such magic with Proctor Krixus, and now if there was a chance to visit somewhere that taught classes on magic... Vittoria would like to see it happen.

"We shall ask the embassy once we arrive. Get them to organise a visit."