Lights In The Darkness II [Khyan]

[Hilana Chenzira]

Hilana nodded, making mental notes of where the Museum was. That was some place she had a feeling she would spend a great deal of her free time at, scouring and devouring every last bit of it. She did look sympathetic at the mention of the lava, but when he moved on from the topic, so did she. There was no need to come back it; not when they could talk of better things. Dwelling on that wasn’t something he needed this morning, and she knew there was little she could say by way of comfort. It was best to talk of other things, and let the conversation continue.

When he looked her over, she just looked back at him, Tiaz’s tail still curled around her neck and around her bicep. Some might have rankled or tried to bite back; she knew her share of those in her Caste that would have tried to challenge a Patrician -Salim had been one of them, more out of ego and arrogance than Wildness-, but the girl knew there was little point. She knew her place, after all. And so did he. She’d experienced that attitude before, and it didn’t bother her. She could see that he was, in his own way, offering some guidance and advice. He knew this place and its people. And while she may have had her moments, she wasn’t so ignorant as to dismiss what he was saying. She could see the constructive criticism, and she was happy to take it. She did enjoy an adventure, though in Solunarium… it had to be done carefully. Besides, he hadn’t had to indulge her in any of this conversation, but he had…and the colourful girl was glad of it. “I’ll look into them, then. I’ve…had to dress up more back in Tertium,” her lips quirked in a wry smile, “and if these places are as wondrous as you say they are, then I think that they will be worth the effort.”

At his gesture towards the volcano, she looked on and seemed to consider. Hilana was torn, albeit briefly, before she knew her course of action. “Forgive my forwardness when I say that I’ve enjoyed our time together,” she began. “You have been very helpful to me to talk so freely… but it might be best if you continue on to your home on your own. It wouldn’t look good for you if someone like myself came with you to your door, and it’s early enough yet that I stand a good chance of finding your belongings before others do so that you can have them back. I work at Sweet Remedies in Port Vasta, so your slave can pick them up from there,” she reached to start the process of disentangling the unique-looking python from his shoulders, carefully and gently transferring Tiaz back to her own. The python’s head rested on her wild-looking messy bun of curls, his tongue flicking at Khyan in what may have been a reptilian farewell, his lower parts resting and draping around Hilana’s bare shoulders and upper arms. Considering her early outpouring, that wasn’t too bad, until… “Would you ever consider selling your venom? I would pay you for it; because I can refine it into medicine and antivenin.”

[Khyan Nykara]

Khyan cast an apologetic glance toward Tiaz, as the snake was urged off of his person and back toward Hilana’s.

“Noctis Æternae is pretty life changing…” Khyan confirmed. Art was elevated there in a way that felt like grazing the divine- whether or not it was illusory was inconsequential. He knew there were those who delved so deeply into that world that they lost themselves. Some were so fond of the exaggerated world created by magic, that they refused to suffer the reality of a world without arcane augmentation. Some minds broke and the afflicted lived as if halfway between the waking world and the Land of Nod. Though they became incoherent, the ironic thing was they were some of the happiest people Khyan had ever seen. It brought to mind that old proverb about blissful ignorance.

Khyan had never delved so far into that world that he felt at risk of that. Those crazed grins and lifeless eyes haunted him in their psychotic ecstasy. He only wished to ever dabble in paradise, lest he lose his moorings and melt his mind.

“That’s terribly kind… I’d forgotten all about those things. You’re welcome to keep whatever coin I left in that purse, and I’ll send extra with my slave.” He said, with a warm smile. He was genuinely surprised at her willingness to go out of her way. He knew some people were masterful grifters, but if Hilana was such a one, she was subtle enough to seem otherwise. Even if it was a ruse that, to Khyan, felt like earned coin.

“My venom?” Khyan looked at her, suddenly incredulous. “Oh, I think not.” He chuckled. “You’ve been diverting company as well, but the notion of being milked is less than appealing.” He shrugged, “But if ever I find myself uncharacteristically desperate for gold, I know where you live, hm?”

[Hilana Chenzira]

For Hilana, this world was magic enough. She had seen the lights of the aurora in the night sky, washing over those in the sands below. She saw the beauty of the great golden eagles returning to the gloves, and the convoys of camels under the star-painted sky. Watching the sun rise and the sun set on the dunes and the mountains. The brilliance of lightning as it struck the sands to the thunder that roared and made the Wildness in her bones resonate in delight. It was already wondrous and magical before you added the hypnotic layers of seductive arcana to it, but perhaps carefully experienced… she would have to check it out sometime. It wouldn’t do to lose herself and her plans, as too much of a good thing could be the downfall of anyone… but cautiously, when she was more settled in, if she built herself a support network… then maybe she could. But if you didn’t do something that made your heart race now and then, what was the point of living? The soul afraid of dying would never learn to live.

But when he smiled at her, Hilana smiled back, and she inclined her head. The studs and rings in her ears glinted in the morning sun as she straightened up once again. “I thank you for your kindness in turn, Sir. I am happy to do it. It is good practice,” she was cheerful about it. Good practice in climbing, and perhaps a good practice to live by. There was far too little kindness in the world that had so much suffering. A little compassion went a long way.

Hilana had known it was a long shot, and she was not put out by his gentle refusal. That could have been taken much worse or with a much sharper rebuke, and she only inclined her head again. “I understand. But if you should ever change your mind, you know where to find me. I live in the Margaritae Albae neighbourhood, 15 Vicus Stellae… apartment 406. Or just pop around to Sweet Remedies,” the young woman told him. She didn’t think he knew where her home was, or if he’d remember it later… but she saw no harm in giving it to him. Her braided sweetgrass bracelet caught her eye, and she loosened the slipknot that held it in place, taking it off her own wrist… only to actually press it into his hand and fold his fingers over it with her own before releasing him and taking a step back. The bracelet was still intact, and the opening wide enough that it would fit over his own hand. There was an end protruding enough to help tighten it back up, and it was still warm from the heat of her skin, helping to release the sweet, yet calming fragrant aroma of the woven blades of the plant. “When the darkness falls, and your own shadow leaves you… remember that there are always lights in the darkness to help you find your way back. You just have to look for them. Be well, Khyan—Sir,” she corrected herself immediately. “May His Eternal Radiance and Her Argent Brilliance shine on you and your family.”

[Khyan Nykara]

Khyan took note of the glint to Hilana's earrings, and a flash of memory struck him. How different shiny things looked through the eyes of a Magpie, he'd found. Not that they weren't pretty with human eyes, but it was an altogether different experience observing them through both types of vision. When she spoke, he shook off his distraction and nodded.

"I'm please you find it so." He chuckled,

"We'll see how my father's trial goes, hm?" He probably wouldn't remember her street address as described, but he might recall the path they'd taken to get here and retrace it. And 'Sweet Remedies' was a memorable enough name that he was like to retain it. So he nodded assent to the unlikely eventuality that he might take her up on the opportunity to have his teeth milked for profit.

He knitted his brow, at first confused by Hilana's offering. The expression softened with appreciation when comprehension set in. He'd felt the warmth of her hand the prior evening, through fitful feathers, but it was different skin on skin. He met her eyes and looked at her, as if for the first time.

"Will you..." He turned his left hand palm up and offered his slender wrist to her, "...fasten it for me?" He handed the bracelet back with his right hand, as the left remained extended.

"May the Founders stand between you and harm in all the empty places you must walk." He replied, in answer to her biding and her blessing. Both were greatly appreciated and, though he didn't know quite how to verbalise the sentiment, he hoped that this gesture might speak something to clarify it. And, if not, he supposed he could communicate his feelings through the means most common amongst his class- The exchange of coin. He knew, now, where to send that as well as where to find her if he ever sought more such consolation as the days darkened.

[Hilana Chenzira]

Something that Hilana had learned over the years was that sometimes, when you had nothing to give but a smile and a kind word, it was better to do so. But the wrong words here could get her into considerable trouble, and her unbidden act of closeness and touch was another thing that could have made things complicated. She hadn’t known what possessed her to offer him something so simple as a braided grass bracelet when she had little doubt he could send a slave to visit any store anywhere in the city and purchase whatever that was there as he liked, but it had been an instinctive act. She knew what sweetgrass meant, and she could only hope that some of its protections would manifest for the young man.

But when he accepted it and asked her to fasten it, she brightened up, her dark eyes dancing as she took it back from him. The braided bracelet was eased over the extended left hand, and she pulled lightly on the exposed end to secure it, listening to his own blessing, her smile warm and appreciative. “I thank you,” she told him. “I will pray for you and your family,” she knew it wasn’t much, that the words of a simple Vastian woman would not sway the Eternal, Omnipresent Founders to action, but she could try. She could also go see if she could find a something to sacrifice tonight, too, after the Waning Prayer. And if she couldn’t find something in the wild, well… there were those already caught at the Bazaar. That would perhaps be smarter and more timely. Blood sacrifice meant more than a prayer, she knew that much.

“I put a slip knot on it, so when you wish to take it off, all you have to do is this,” she held his wrist up so he could see it, her touch light on his forearm and hand, and showed him the way to loosen it. Pressure on a strand of the knot, and careful movement back. “And to tighten it, just hold the knot and pull lightly on the other end,” she tightened it once more, tucking the end away and out of sight, making the circle complete once again, with no bits to poke him or stand out. “It’s made of sweetgrass,” Hilana offered. He’d been interested when she had talked of nomads and traditions before, and she offered him another tidbit. “In the desert, we braid it after we harvest it, and let it dry. Once it’s dry, we can use it in medicine and we use it to purify a space, burning it like incense… which can be harder to get outside of the cities,” she told him. “Different clans hold different meanings to the strands. My father’s tribe would say that the strands of the braid symbolize the mind, body, and soul. My mother’s tribe would tell you that they stand for strength, courage, and wisdom. And one of those who I spent time with when I was younger would say that it means honesty, love, and connection,” she explained. “Any which way you believe… all are intertwined,” she was smiling as she looked at him, her eyes meeting his once more. “Some keep it as wreaths in their tents, to ward against harm, and to bring good energy and good spirits to those nearby… and I hope it brings the same protection to you.” After a light squeeze of encouragement and reassurance, she released that hold she had had on his hand. But in that shared moment… she knew that even if he didn’t want to sell his venom… Hilana fervently hoped she would see him again. But in the growing sunlight, she could see people in the distance behind him, and she knew it was time to let him go. She took another step back, her linen skirt swishing with her steps before raising a hand to wave. “Take care, and good luck,” the strange girl made her way back into her own district, and headed for the taberna.

[Hector]

Review

Khyan

Lore: 12 snake-scaled lores
Points: 10, no magic
Injuries/Ailments: nothing of note
Loot: a woven bracelet

Hilana

Lore: 13 lores enhanced by the power of friendship
Points: 10, no magic
Injuries/Ailments: nothing of note
Loot: None

Notes: c u t e c o n t e n t