Fate - First Reply Zayeeda's Truth

[Astrid]

"Please, stop."

A woman ducked in on herself at the end of the street, hugging her freshly bought goods to her chest. Three of the guardsmen laughed, their voices traveling through the crowded street and to Astrid's annoyed ear as she sipped her mug of beer. It had been days since she'd last had water. Ragash didn't allow her to have much else besides barley beer. No one seemed to look to the guards other than her. Maybe it was a regular occurrence, guardsmen harassing vulnerable women.

The woman shrieked once more and Astrid watched her bread drop to the street. Another chorus of laughter rang. Astrid scoffed and with a thunk, her mug met the table she was sitting at. She pushed herself up from her seat at the tavern and stomped her way over the guards.

"Hey," she said, eyebrows furrowed as she peered through them up at the three guards. They were all much taller than her.

"Yes, little lady?" the first guard asked.

"You soured my drink," she said, "could you quit picking on her?" Astrid motioned to the woman who now sported kohl-lined streams of tears on her cheeks.

"If you got a problem, you can take yourself elsewhere, foreigner," the second guard said.

Astrid's eyebrow twitched, "How fuckin' incompetent." In a flash, her fist met his face.

 

[Len Dy't B-taa]

She was not the only patron of the establishment, slow as it seemed to be. A few tables away from where Astrid had sat just moments prior was a man sipping his own beer, his face hidden by the hood of his jacket, which was buckled tightly to his chest so that none of his flesh was bared, save for the odd pallor hands that held his mug.

He'd been observing too, a look of disgust growing on his hidden features as he watched the men who were supposedly supposed to be guarding this place take their malice out on an innocent woman. Len didn't understand it, but then he hadn't understood much since making it this far towards the edge of the Savannah. It seemed that for every incredible advancement this world had made, it had several vices plaguing those advancements.

Maybe were he of this time period, he would understand. But Len had come for only one reason, and that was to confront his own death. There were those situated in this city who wished him dead, and Len aimed to learn why. However, the strange man now had something else on his mind, watching the angry woman take a mighty swing at one of the guards in defense of the abused, sending him reeling with a mighty punch

A low whistle left his lips as he also rose from his spot, leaving a half-finished beer behind him as he lowered his hood. His appearance would cause the other guard to look away from Astrid for a split second, somewhat surprised by the completely white face and glowing eyes of Len Dy't B-taa as he watched the fight with interest.

 

[Astrid]

The guard she'd punched fell to the ground, his armored hand flying to his face. Astrid bounced on her feet and raised her fists. The third guard drew his sword immediately and swung it down at her. Astrid ducked, only slightly evading it and circled around him to kick in the back of his knee. His left leg buckled and he hit the ground.

Astrid scoffed, "Not so fun being picked on, huh?"

The third guard got up quickly and swung again. Backing away, Astrid drew her own sword. That was when she noticed the first guard's gaze wander over to the tavern she'd come from. There stood a man with the whitest skin, much paler than Astrid's own. His eyes glowed even in the sunlight. He was ghostly. A physical spectre, if that was at all possible.

Astrid narrowed her eyes and cocked her head. With a harumph and a crack, she found herself on the street, cheek pressed to the cobblestone. She looked up with a groan to the sight of the second guard's raised fist. Her temple began to sting and a line of blood ran into her eye. The guard's gauntlet must have scraped her.

The first guard ran off down the street with the promise of help being shortly away. Astrid moved to haul herself up.

 

[Len Dy't B-taa]

Len was impressed with the stranger's bravery and strength. There would have been no shame in fleeing from the burly guards, especially when the threat of being branded a criminal and run out of the city was there. That she was willing to put herself on the line for another spoke to her character, whether she used the excuse of a spilled drink or not.

So when she turned and met his gaze, Len offered a smile warm and friendly, betraying his ghastly appearance. It was unfortunate that she dropped her guard so readily upon seeing his face, however, and Len winced at the impact of the second guard's fist against her cheek. That had been his fault... As she struggled to lift herself up, the only guard remaining after the first fled for assistance approached her with his own weapon now drawn.

No, the woman wouldn't have time. Len needed to step in. It was really his fault she was down to begin with. Quickly the pallor man rushed forward, drawing his own blade from its sheath in the blink of an eye. He was fast, much faster than achievable by normal means. With a single silver flourish, he slashed at the guard's arm, wounding it greatly and causing him to drop his sword before staggering back, using his other hand to try and stop his wound from bleeding as he fled, the long gash on the underside of his arm would be painful and deep, but not so much that he would die so long as he sought help. Len had made sure of that.

All that was left was Astrid, the woman she'd saved, and Len. The pale-faced man turned to the brave one, offering an apologetic smile as he extended his hand. "I am very sorry, miss. I didn't mean to distract you. Are you wounded too badly? We should probably get out of here before more arrive, they won't be happy."

Astrid

 

[Astrid]

Astrid watched from the ground as the ghost of a man easily wounded the guard. The guard was attempting to flee now and Astrid hauled herself onto her feet, still hunched on the ground as she steadied her breathing. Her fall had knocked the wind out of her and she was still slightly dizzy from the blow to the head. She looked up after cursing herself for being so out of practice. The man was offering her a hand. Astrid sighed and took it, extending to her full height, which wasn't at all an intimidating one.

"Thank you," she said, "I didn't mean to let my guard down. I've just never seen anyone that looks like you... no offense."

Astrid had been in the city for a few days and recognized the area as she'd been frequenting the tavern as of late, trying to pick up bits of information about the guard without being too conspicuous. She'd failed at that, obviously, her rash attitude taking over after days of disappointment and, frankly, boredom.

"I can take us back to the inn I was staying at, if that works," she offered.

It was a humble establishment. Very humble. Astrid didn't have the money to be staying anywhere else. Plus she was helping the owner whenever he needed it. She had to pay for her room somehow. She started down the street with her new companion in tow, taking notice of the curious faces whispering to the wind after what Astrid assumed was a good show. The moment she turned the corner, however, a blade met her neck.

"Shit," she murmured.

The guard had returned with his help, and it was a crowd that met Astrid and the ghost man in the street. About twenty more guards stood in the road, which seemed strange to Astrid. She'd never seen so many guards come running in response to a street fight. Maybe they'd caught sight of the ghost man. He was much stronger than she was.

"You'll be coming with us," one of them said.

Astrid rose her arms above her head and sighed. No way she was going to find who she was looking for now. They were surrounded and the guards pulled out two twin ropes to bind them.

 

[Len Dy't B-taa]

Len was unfortunately far too familiar with the effect that his visage had on people. Most of those he'd met who had been allowed to see him without a hood to hide his face immediately thought him some spirit of death or ghastly wraith. The truth was a bit more mundane, albeit still difficult to believe. Len was merely of a race long since passed, one that no longer dwelled in the Arethil of the current day. Nevertheless, he usually hid himself when traveling in public. That he'd let himself be spotted on this day was out of carelessness and curiosity. "No, I get that a lot. People take one look and have a notion to run away, it seems..."

This strange young woman didn't seem particularly frightened of him though, only momentary shock adorning her face before she'd shaken off the startled expression and sprang back to her feet. She would at least know he was no ghost, as the hand that took hers to hoist her to her feet was warm with life just as any other would be. "Really, I don't want to impose. That's not necessary..." He could probably make himself scarce in the time it would take her to take him to a safe place, and if she was seen with him again...

The stranger was already tugging him down the street though, seemingly eager to get out of sight. Oh well, he supposed he couldn't exactly blame her, not after a display like that. His own quest for answers from the mysterious group he'd traced back to this city would have to wait too, at least until things quieted down.

Unfortunately, it seemed as they turned the next corner that there would be no peace and quiet in their future just yet. Len counted at least twenty of them, a snarl forming on his lips as he ran the numbers in his head. It wasn't impossible for Len to take them all on, but it wasn't a guaranteed victory, and he wouldn't be able to ensure that they all survived to tell the tale. That would also put his new acquaintance at even greater risk, and the pale fellow certainly didn't want to see her hurt.

Damn it. He had no choice.

"We bide our time." Len muttered quietly to her as he also raised his hands. "I'll get us out of this. I promise."

Astrid

 

[Astrid]

The ghostly man's whispered promise rang in Astrid's ears as the guards promptly wrapped the ropes around each of their wrists and led them down the city streets as though they were to be paraded. Astrid wondered if this was not a common occurrence in Ragash. She wouldn't know, anyway.

Their destination became clear after only a few minutes, if it wasn't made obvious by the bindings around their wrists. The prison stood tall next to the Madrassa of War. Its grey stones were impossibly dull next to the Madrassa, a scream of those left behind crushed by those who soon would rise. Astrid sighed. She'd never been to prison before. She hadn't really been one to start fights in the streets, either, but her temper had become harder to keep under control as of late. The heat searing the back of her neck wasn't making it any easier.

The doors of the prison opened for them like it was some grand ceremony every time a street thug was taken in. Maybe they'd be met with a banquet before being thrown in a cell. Astrid was really hoping the ghost man's promise would stay true. She very much did not want to be locked in a cell for what would seem like eternity. It sounded incredibly boring.

The guards seemed to disperse as they trudged through the halls of the prison. When they passed by what looked like a higher-ranking officer, they were stopped. The officer, a woman wrapped in gold, held out a hand. The guards stepped out of her way. She looked the captives up and down.

"We just brought them in, ma'am," one of the guards said, "We thought-"

"Bring them to Zayeeda," the woman told them, chin held high, "I think they could be of some use to her."

Zayeeda. Zayeeda. This was it! That was who she was looking for! Astrid had come to Ragash to begin her search for the Seven so she could work her way east. A man in one of the taverns had told her a tale of the ex-general of the Red Sands, Zayeeda, and her battle with a supposed-god. Zayeeda was Astrid's one clue.

"Zayeeda?" she blurted before she could force her mouth to stay shut, "You're bringing us to Zayeeda?"

Len Dy't B-taa

 

[Len Dy't B-taa]

(Apologies for the delay on this one)
Exactly how Len kept finding himself in these situations was completely lost on him, but this was far from the first time he'd come to a new place only to find himself bound and prosecuted shortly after. If it wasn't his appearance that did it, it was the questions he asked; being unfamiliar with many current day facets of Arethil led to him coming off as quite oblivious and nosey at times, but what was he to do?

He could only hope that his new friend knew this city a bit better than he, based on the look in her eyes as they approached the tall building that loomed threateningly in the distance that seemed a distinct possibility. of course, Len wouldn't have promised her freedom if he didn't think himself capable of it, but the timing needed to be perfect, and with the crowd of guards leading them around, he couldn't guarantee her safety if he made his move just yet.

If the doors that opened before them led into a prison though, that would mean they were on limited time, and he would need to be a bit more creative in their escape. That's why he found it so odd that as they were led down the dull gray halls of the structure, less and less of their escort followed. Perhaps they didn't think them as much of a threat as Len had assumed? The two or three remaining guards would have been child's play for B-taa, but up ahead he saw a test; a woman draped in golden armor, even her posture speaking to distinguished strength that was earned, and not born.

Her presence caused Len to take pause, his fists clenching as if to hold back the desire to fight back then and there. No, not yet... She directed them to be taken to somebody named 'Zayeeda', and immediately the woman he'd been captured with seemed to blurt out the name in shock, seemingly recognizing it. Len too mouthed it silently, his brows raising at the outburst. Of use to her? Len had been used by those of higher status than himself all his life.

If this Zayeeda thought that she could do the same, she would be sorely mistaken...

Astrid