61st of Frost, Year 122 of Steel
Kalzasern Territory, Northern Wilds
Kalzasern Territory, Northern Wilds
"Sorry," he said slowly in Rivach, trying to help his friend and student keep in touch with whatever Dratori culture he might desire. "Even though I know it is you under the seeming, it is strange to see you thus." His smile was apologetic, but he wasn't sure that he had ever given Rivin offense. What might offend another man, it didn't occur Rivin to mind. Sivan did seem to connect with the other people who did not fit into their place of origin. His "Magus'" glamours were fantastic; if Sivan hadn't known it was Rivin, he likely wouldn't even have picked up on it. He had already looked for signs of magic, but the illusion itself was flawless to his eyes, and it had all been inverted so even his aura gave no sign. The elf supposed that, given enough time, he could break through the inversion and then, possibly, the glamour itself. But perhaps not...
His gaze turned toward the western wall of the rocky valley they had found. Nostrils flared, his Wolf-blessed olfactory sense alerted him to the faint trail they had been following. He supposed there were more broken branches in the shrubbery hereabouts, which would make sense if a large creature had lumbered past months ago. Dratori were generally close with nature, but he had relied more upon his affinity with nature's spirits to get things done than to develop actual survivalist skills.
Sivan had already explained how he planned to do this: the spirits had told him of a bear that needed help; Bear spirit would be grateful; another animal to absorb into his Rune.
When they found the mouth of the cave, Sivan pointed and they stopped.
"I am going to meditate. I will speak to Bear, as her to keep this one asleep while I work. I should be fine, but... will you watch my back?" He smiled shyly. In Kalzasi, he had learned to depend on other people, to be all right with depending on other people. Despite Exael's prejudice, Rivin had become one of those people. Exael could have guarded him, but Exael was a celestial spirit and his manifestation might cause too much excitement in the wild spirits, which could wake the bear, enrage the bear, and end badly. Sivan didn't want that.