The Dark Path [Empy and Lark]

[Skylark]

She smiled a little and accepted his help down off of her horse, lingering there with him as well. When he complimented her, she blushed and lifted a hand to brush her hair behind her ear only to find she was still holding his hand. "Thank you..." Her blush darkened, coloring her fair skin notably, even in the growing dark.

"Sure. I'll get things set..." She looked away from him then, seeming to break whatever it was that had made her stare the way she had been. "Oh, don't worry... if I find a reason, I'll scream plenty loud."

It made her nervous not only to be alone without him, but setting up camp in the growing darkness. He might have enjoyed her song and the little extra travel time it gave them but with the waning moon and the thick tree cover, she was nearly blind by the time he returned.

The flash of sparks from the flint burned her eyes and when it was her turn she entirely missed the first time and nearly dropped the flint the second time out of shock. She couldn't even really see what he was cooking until the fire was going. Then, at least, her eye sight returned to a certain degree.

She looked at the rabbits roasting and bit down on her lower lip, keeping her thoughts to herself. It wasn't her fault that she thought bunnies were cute. They had floppy ears and little puffs of tails and they were soft and fuzzy... she tried not to think about all of that as she soon discovered they were equally tasty.

During their meal, she kept stealing glances at him. His eyes glowed ever so slightly in this dim lighting and it was captivating to watch him as his eyes shifted. Of course, they shifted to her sometimes and that left her blushing and glancing away a lot.

"It's starting to get colder at nights... it's a shame we can't see much of the sky here. I bet the stars are really clear."

[Empy]

The rabbits tasted equally better with the fresh, homemade bread Bartholomew had sent them with, and he was grateful to not have lost the spices he had stowed in one of his saddlebags, that would have been the real tragedy of the trip because foraging was very difficult this far into Korvanna. And Cyzair had been waiting for a complaint or comment about their dinner, but when she ate it quietly, he smiled, content that she trusted him to fend for them.

Shem she spoke of the sky, his eyes shifted from her, upward and he nodded, “Aye, I imagine Nat is having a wonderful time of it, back home. During the summer time, and even into fall, the drow’s in my home city would move their beds out onto their balconies during the day, so that they were warm come night time, but that they could also fall asleep under Nat’s blanket of stars.” He smiled to himself and looked back down at her, “Some of the public buildings have great domed ceilings and wide glass skylights, covered with black drapes during the day, and uncovered at night, to let in the moonlight. There’s…this one hall, in the Nobles’ palace, where, there are these no more than ordinary vases of glass filled with fresh white flowers daily. And at night, when the skylights are revealed, the moonlight pours down upon the flowers causing them to shine, and beams through the vases, spreading their multifaceted colors onto the floor and walls in shades of blue and purple. Heh…they’re quite beautiful…” he trailed off for a moment, remembering his brief time there. “But, the Nobles’ palace is for knights…not many get to see it…”

[Skylark]

This was the first time Cyzair had ever volunteer information about himself and that alone made Nymai smile. She did the truly lady like thing and licked her fingers when she finished eating and wrapped her cloak around her, scooting a little closer to the fire so she could stay warm.

"That sounds amazing," she whispered, finding it different to think of the drow city having such beauty within it... but she was starting to learn an appreciation for drows. Their people may have a sorted past, but the future hadn't been written yet. Why not pave the way with a friendship?

"One of the courtyards at the Queen's summer palace is full of nothing but morning glories. They climb all over the benches and pillars. It looks like a green maze most of the time, but if you catch them in bloom... they're all around and so very beautiful in the morning sunlight, with dew clinging to their petals... I've only been there once but it was magical."

She looked across the fire at him, hesitating. "Were you a knight once?"

[Empy]

“That sounds nice…our people both seem to have an affinity for glittery things.” He smiled at her, stoking the fire a little bigger to spread the warmth, “Whether by sun or moonlight, if it shines, we admire it.” His gaze lingered on her a long moment, as he had seen her shine once or twice…and admired it greatly.

When she returned his gaze, and asked a question she had no doubt longed to ask, Cyzair froze, staring at her. His eyes glazed over slightly and he drew in a deep breath before blinking away, “Yes…yes I was.” Picking at the grass idly, he knew there was no getting out of the story once she had asked, and sighed, “I was, given a mission to fulfill…” he said, pausing to find words for what he had done…for what had happened, without giving too much away or sounding too forlorn about it…but the sadness in his tone was evident, the regret. “I failed. Lives were lost. I gave up my commission, and left the great city. That is why they call me, Aelque. Forgotten knight.”

Turning and stretching out on his bedroll, letting the fire light his features as he laid closer to it. “My real name, Cyzair, means onyx lightning. And I was, on the field of battle, I truly was. But I could not see past my own…title. My altered sense of duty. And I missed out…on what could have been a wonderful life.” He seemed to stare into the fire, seemingly lost in his thoughts, his past, not realizing just how much he had shared, or how broken he must have looked in the faint light.

[Skylark]

His answer did not surprise her, but when he continued on to explain it more than just saying yes, she was a little shocked. Yes, he had said if she asked he would tell... but she hadn't expected him to be so open as to just tell her things when she asked only one question about it. Perhaps he just didn't want to play twenty questions.

"Cyzair..." She watched him from where she sat, torn up at watching him be so emotional. He might try to hide it, but it showed in his voice and on his face. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you by bringing it up. I was only curious..."

She bit down on her lower lip and hugged her knees to her chest. "I don't think," she said quietly, fairly certain she was overstepping her bounds, "That you should write off your entire life as a failure because you failed once. You can still have a wonderful life... you might just have to take a path less traveled." She smiled faintly. "You're good at that from what I've seen so far. No matter how bad things were, they're bound to get better. You're a good man..."

[Empy]

Glancing up at her, he pursed his lips, “It’s alright…it feels nice to talk about it with someone who doesn’t already know. Who won’t judge me…thank you for that. You barely know me, Nymai…but, perhaps that makes this easier. We wear our masks most often, which those we know, fearing what they will think of us. And though a stranger’s opinion should not matter, you are either no longer a stranger to me…or I’ve come to like you that much.” He smirked slightly.

“Perhaps I will gauge the success of my life, at the end of this journey, but not before. When I’ve gotten you safe and sound and out the other side. For now, thank you for listening, it means a lot to me.” Looking to her for a moment, he shook his head as if he’d been about to say more, “Get some rest, Nymai. I’ll see you in the morning.”

As he fell asleep that night, no dreams or nightmares haunted him, no past mistakes or bad decisions. He slept peacefully, unaware of the dark and damp fog that began to roll in around them. When he woke, he thought nothing of the fog, as it seemed like perfectly normal morning fog. Dismissing himself from camp, he went to work out, only to pause in a small opening between the trees. Knitting his brow, he moved closer to one and reached out his hand to trace his fingers along the long gouges in the bark. His grey eyes suddenly widened and he raced silently back over the grumbling leaf carpet of the forest to their camp, “Nymai!” he hissed, helping her gather up the rest of the camp quickly, “We have to go, now!”

[Skylark]

Nymai woke to the faint sounds of Cyzair's movements. The fog dampened all other sounds. When she opened her eyes and saw the heavy mist settled between the trees, blocking them out from the rest of the forest, she instantly grew worried. Not once since Largos had she seen such a fog.

She had already packed her bed roll and was working on his when Cyzair came back to camp. "I know, she whispered. "Please... don't make too much noise. I don't want to attract it."

Her hands shook as she handed him his bedroll, letting him finish tying it to his horse. If she tried, she'd just fumble the string and drop it most likely. She was on her horse in moments, her hood down so she could look about... but the fog was so thick and close that there was really nothing they could do.

There. A sound in the woods. Her eyes widened. She knew that sound... and wished to never hear it again. Big, cloven hooves bounding the ground. Wide, sharp and curved tusks brushing against trees to stay sharp... angry eyes, nearly the size of a man's fist... searching for prey...

[Empy]

Glowering at her when she shushed him, Cyzair hadn’t spoken very loudly and resented being told he had. He knew the gravity of the situation, just as she apparently did. But he didn’t say anything because he could see the fear on her face, in her trembling hands. Camp stowed swiftly, he joined her on horse back and started them off slowly so as not to draw attention. However, as the noise they could both hear, grew louder, Cyzair heeled his mount reaching over and twisting his fingers in the mane of Nymai’s horse, spurring it on at the same pace so neither would call behind nor would they get separated.

The echoing sound of a tree buckling behind them spurred them on more as Cyzair looked back and saw traces of movement in the trees. The beast didn’t seem to want to come out into the open, but it looked as though it might at any moment. Looking to Nymai, her brown curls fluttering behind her in the breeze their pace created, he knew he could not risk this futile chase.

Tugging abruptly on the reigns of his horse and the mane of the other, he turned them into the lapping waters of the river, urging them into the foam of the slightly swifter current. The water splashed up around them and tempted to soak their saddlebags as Cyzair urged them across without a word of explanation. But just as they were half way across, the beast behind them burst out of the trees, showing it’s ethereal but also very frightening form. “Nymai!” Cyzair shouted to her, “Don’t look back, just keep going, we’ll be to the other side in a moment, he won’t follow!”

[Skylark]

The sounds and fear of what was unseen was enough to make Nymai cry. The tears were wiped from her face by the crisp wind that met them as they urged their horses faster. She knew, with utmost certainty, what this beast was. She had seen what it was capable of when Largos had decided to stop them and face it. Fleeing might seem cowardly to some, but not to her. It was the best bet she could come up with to keep them alive.

One of her hands reached out and gripped onto Cyzair's as he held the mane of her horse, keeping them together. She swallowed hard as the started across the river, praying the beast could not swim. Just about to look behind them, to see if it was on the far bank, watching them or weighing it's options before plunging into the water behind them, Cyzair's shouting drew her gaze back to him. Now that they were moving slower, her tears were more obvious. She made no attempt to hide them, her fear.

[Empy]

Cyzair had no problem with running, especially when he understood the tactical outlook of the situation. Especially, when he knew the beast wanted blood, and that he was little match for it.. When he looked to Nymai again and saw her tears, he let go of the horse’s mane and reached up to cup her cheek, half out of comfort, half to keep her head from turning back. His hand then slipped down the back of her neck and rested on her shoulder blade to keep her urged forward.

They were on the other bank within moments, splashing up onto the grass. Cyzair looked back once more, watching as the beast paused at the opposite shore, stamping anxiously, but it would not cross, not now. If it were truly desperate, it would wait to find a safer, shallower crossing, and they would deal with that time when it came. But for now, Cyzair shouted to the horses once more and they were off at a quick pace along the other side of the river. And he rode them hard for a good twenty minutes or so, until the beast could no longer be seen behind them, which could, or could not be good news.

Pulling them to a halt at last, Cyzair dismounted and moved to Nymai’s horse, helping her down as well before pulling her to him and hugging her protectively. “It’s alright…it’s behind us…please don’t cry…” he breathed, kissing her hair without thinking.

[Skylark]

Even once they were across the river, Nymai did not stop crying or shaking. That had been close. A few seconds slower and they might have met a very gory end. She stuck close to Cyzair, glad for his hand on her back. But the twenty minutes of fast riding didn't put as much space between them and the beast as she would have liked.

Cautious to get off of her horse, she trembled as she let Cyzair help her down. His hug was unexpected as she had never shown her such affection before, no matter how worried he said he'd been. She wrapped her arms around him, however, and hugged him in return. His armor didn't make for a very comfortable hug, however, and she might have pulled back if not for the kiss she felt upon her hair.

Sniffling, she wiped her cheeks and looked up at him. "I'm sorry... I can't help it. That thing... I swear, it was what got Largos. I was scared, so scared... it might get us. It might get you... and then I would be all alone here again. I'd be lost without you." She hugged him again, burying her face from sight for several long minutes before she finally pulled back. "Sorry," she whispered again. "I didn't mean to cling..."

[Empy]

“It’s okay…” he said quietly, though his heart beat loudly within his chest from the exertion, and from her returned embrace. He had meant to hold her to comfort her and stop her tears, he didn’t think she would hold him back trying for the same things. “Shh, it’s alright…it’s not going to hurt us now, it’s gone. And it won’t get me…not by itself at least.” He smirked at her, lifting her chin gently with his finger.

Frowning slightly, he tried to maintain a strong appearance for her, even though he was worried they might be caught up, “I know you’re frightened, but you’re safe with me…I’ll use my every last breath to protect you. We’re going to keep riding, I just wanted to stop and reassure you everything was fine…crying will only dehydrate you, and make you weary, I don’t need you falling off your horse.” He smiled and moved one of her curls behind her shoulder before squeezing it gently, “Shall we go?” he asked, offering to help her up once more.

[Skylark]

She smiled a little at his confidence that they were safe, that the monster wasn't going to get either of them. Just hearing hims say it, to be so sure about it, comforted her.

A moment later, however, her heart beat even faster than it had when she had thought the beast was at her back. The way he touched her chin, her hair... even just how he looked at it made her heart race. Her blue eyes met his and for a moment, just a moment, she thought something might happen between them.

Instead, he announced they should keep going. Rosy blush rose on her cheeks and she nodded. "You're right... we should go. I'll do my best to keep from crying. I just panicked a little is all." She smiled at him slightly and accepted his help in getting back up onto her horse.

Once she was up there and they were on their way, however, she was left pondering those few moments where she thought he might kiss her. She wouldn't have stopped him, and she found that slightly troubling...

[Empy]

The fog seemed to burn off as they traveled further into the morning, which was a good sign, as fog in a forest was never comforting, it wasn’t natural. The peak of the day’s warmth being around noon wasn’t natural either, but Cyzair was beginning to understand that. Rennalv, although westerly, was more to the north than where they had started. And with the minimal amount of sun that was allowed to warm the river bank during the day, it was understandable that the nights would get colder, not to mention the canopy of leaves that would absorb the day’s warmth, was starting to thin the more they progressed into autumn.

Cyzair rode them a little further into night fall than he normally would have, wanting to put as much distance as possible between them and their encounter earlier. However, as this was the northern side of the river, it was a bit damper and the trees were a bit mossier. When the broke to camp at last, he helped Nymai set up the fire first and foremost so that they could have light to do the rest of their chores. “It’s too dark to hunt tonight…or fish I think,” he frowned. “However, there are some nice mushrooms here…” he pointed out, “Perfectly good ones to eat, too.” He nodded, “Mix that with our dried meat and rations and we’ll have our fill. I’ll try to catch something mid-day tomorrow, while it’s light out, that we can have for dinner the next night, alright?” he said as he rolled out his bedroll across the fire from her as usual, rubbing his arms in the chill of the evening. “Perhaps another song, to keep you warm while I forage? A quiet song?” he added.

[Skylark]

As the day went on, Nymai relaxed more. She insisted they stop once more, only for a few moments as she refilled their water as she hadn't been able to earlier in the day. When it grew to be night time, however, she stuck closer to Cyzair and let her horse do the general steering as she couldn't really tell if she was making it walk into a thorn bush or not.

That night, she helped set up camp again. She was getting to be rather good at finding comfortable bits of ground to sleep on. Already yawning when he was discussing dinner options, she nodded. "A quiet song?" She grinned a little, knowing one that would most likely do the trick. It was a lullaby she'd been sung as a child. Not looking at him, she sang it again now, her voice quiet enough that had there been a child there, they might have been lulled to sleep. Except it was so cold... she was starting to wonder if she would be able to sleep without rolling into the fire to keep warm.