[The Patchwork Port]Shielding at Noon(Shai)

[Antar]

43rd of Winter,511av

Today was a day to leave the confines of Alvadas, emerge through the gaping maw and take a slow ride on their horses in the direction down towards the suvan sea where the Patchwork Port lay. The port was about an hour's ride from the Alvadas' proper and truly a wonderful settlement to visit; even if it was small. He had promised Shai another lesson in shielding, and figured this was the best way to get some extra practice besides, he had wanted to get Dawnstride out for a ride.

It was good to get out of Alvadas for a while, to feel the fresh air of the wilds and the trotting pace of a horses hooves upon the ground as they traveled to the port. He was happy for having a bit of time with Shai, if only because they were alone together, yet not engaged in some random task that needed to be done. In fact, it seemed the city had taken pity on them today when they had left their place of residence provided by their season's employers. It had delivered them almost a half step out the door to the stables and then gaping maw, and he could almost feel like it was trying to wish them a good day.

Of course that was his imagination... wasn't it?

No matter; soon enough he would consider it just a passing thought; as he inhaled the scent of far off pine. The Unforgiving which surrounded the city of Alvadas was harsh terrain, but at least there were trees there; forests which made him feel... comforted. He had even brought along a picnic, though had partaken the need to pack some fresh fruit for the spider. Food and drink was important in the practicing of magic; it could aid to slowly replenish the supplies of djed within the body over long periods of time; though quick meal could help stave off the cusp of degenerative effects.

It was just a matter of practice after all.

Leaning forwards to pat the mare on the neck, he'd tighten his legs grip as he pulled upon the reins to the right, guiding the horse around a large rock. He took a moment to glance at the symenestra riding beside him and smile; soon they'd reach the port; and there their day would begin...

[Shai]

Shai found their abnormally quick arrival at the stables odd, almost suspicious. Every time she had stepped a toe out of a building in this city something had gone horribly wrong. Or, at the very least, she was directed to where ever city decided to spit her out at. On only rare occasions was her desired destination where she actually ended up at. Regardless, finding the stables so conveniently made her nervous. Maybe the city just likes him. The spider directed a glance at Antar.

She hadn’t ridden Chi’ in quite awhile, though she had visited the stallion occasionally whenever the city decided to lead her to his stall. The memory of the fifteen days she spent on his back still seemed raw, but at least her rear had long since recuperated. Antar had chosen to saddle his horse, as most humans seemed to, but to Shai the saddle seemed unnecessary especially now that she had gotten used to the jarring motion of riding a horse. It had seemed Chi had gotten used to the strange sensation of the microscopic hooks she exuded from her palms to keep her balance on his back as well. So, the thief had chosen to ride with nothing but a blanket over the stud. Riding bare-back seemed to be working well enough, although the agile woman had learned quickly to keep her butt planted firmly or the blanket would move and then consequently her with it. She hadn’t actually fallen but it had been a close call.

Keeping herself upright with her thighs the spider idly woven the horse’s mane into a complex figuration that didn’t seem to have a true pattern. Every so often she’d turn to watch the rogue when she believed he wasn’t watching. For most of the journey to Sylaris Chi had tried to force his way to the front of the group, but it seemed it was acceptable to the silly beast to walk along side Dawnstride. When the horse would slow to paw at the frozen earth Shai would tighten her hold on the reigns and redirect him to continue.

Shai had been to the port before, when they had arrived, and could recognize it clearly. Although, if asked to navigate her way here from Alvadas she’d probably get lost, the winter terrain all looked every similar to her. When the forest arose from its lumber she would have a much better grasp of her bearings, not nearly as good as in a cave but it was altogether better than snow.

As strange as their destination was it the Symenestra wouldn’t have past up the opportunity; more practice was always welcome. Although, she did wonder why of all places Antar had picked this one. Hopefully not for the cuisine; fish was a horrifying endeavor for a spider to attempt and usually took much longer than it was ever worth. “Did you have somewhere specific in mind?” Her lips pursed as she tried to restrain a laugh, “or have you already come to miss the sea, dear?” Shai rose an eyebrow and let her mouth slide into a lopsided cheeky smile.

[Antar]

Antar looked back towards the spider with a disapproving glare at the reminder of his troubles aboard ship. The rogue was plagued with an ever present weakness for getting sea sickness. He was glad the woman seemed to have the heart to help tend to his misery on the passage to Alvadas, he could have done without the jesting on his behalf.

Though, come to think of it, if was a fitting payback for how he requested her presence this morning...

A few hours ago they had been practicing symenestran, her natural language of sorts and he'd been asking all sorts of questions in their little bantering back and forth It was surprisingly cute though when she had let out a slight laugh at their final words, He had asked her the proper pronunciation of , "Will you go out with me?'.

And her response had been to look at him with a puzzled glance as he said it was for practice, how could practice hurt anyways? Her own pronunciation of the term seemed much more lilting yet harsher on the syllables like 'vitz me'; but it was the thought that counted.

Of course, being a rogue he had capitalized on the stiuation by cheekily replying, "Sure, let's go."

And that was how this day had started... but did she still have to make fun of him? Oh well... two could play at that game, and he liked the games they played. He just didn't like giving her free points... "Oh you know my dear, I figured we'd just wander until we found a place we liked, have a picnic and perhaps... practice. Though I do want to see the small village of sorts nearby the docks. Supposed to have some interesting architecture and I just love looking at things like that.Of course, it's not the only thing around me I like to take some appreciation for a welcome view. " He turned to look at Shai on her horse, letting his gaze wander up and down her curves, letting his actions tell his meaning as he amusingly let his gaze linger enough to make her blush as he let Dawnstride choose her own course," Don't you have something you like looking at as well, dear?" He wasn't fishing for compliments here, no rather he imagined what fun it might be if Shai replied with a little more banter of her own.

How long would they amuse themselves with these games?

The small port town was ahead, and soon they'd see the sea. For all his seasickness on a boat; he didn't mind a little swimming; though that probably wouldn't be the best idea in winter...

[Shai]

She chuckled and patted Chivalis’s neck. The rogue was being smart again. “A great many things catch my eye Anthony. I would not be in my line of work if they did not.” Shai led Chi closer to Dawnstride. “For instance,” she began, “I enjoy things that shine and glimmer. Especially if they can cut or are woven.” She turned her eyes on the rogue, most of his weaponry not readily visible she knew he was always armed and knew where his harness usually hung on his body so her gaze traced the unseen straps. “Of course, there are things I like to watch worth less bullion but equally valuable.” She tightened her grip on Chi’s reigns and he slowed to fall slightly behind Dawnstride much to the horse’s annoyance. “Let me see how do the humans…oh yes.” Shai pursed her lips and whistled a cat’s call.

She tensed her thighs and urged Chi to switch from their lazy walk into a proper trot, quickly out pacing the mare. As she past the spider spoke again, “Why yes, today would be good for practice but there are many things you and I should practice I think. Well if that horse can even keep up with Chi that is.” She dug her heels into Chi’s side and forced him up another notch from trot to gallop. The rider and horse took off quickly eating up the ground between Antar and the port.

Shai was already working on slowing down Chi when the path turned into cobblestone, the heavy clap of the horse’s hooves still far too fast to be practical for streets. It was due to her inexperience that the situation would unfold as it did. Ahead there was some sort of ruckus and Chi was rapidly running out of room to continue his deceleration. He only hardly managed to stop before running right through the commotion but one of the figures running, for it seemed to be a chase, stumbled before the suddenly appearing horse and rider.

Chivalis reacted adversely and reared up onto his back hooves. Shai reacted instantly in the completely incorrect way; she latched on around his stout neck holding with her microcilia and her strength combined. It was all that saved her bones from breaking as they surely would if she was thrown from the large beast’s back. As he came down the first runner had gotten beyond her and Chi had created a barrier between his pursuers. Quickly looking over the situation Shai realized she had just accidently interceded on behalf of some sort of criminal, for the men being blocked by Chi looked a considerable amount like guards. Craning her neck Shai sought out the retreating figure but it was long gone. Sheepishly she turned back to the men whose job she’d just made exponentially more difficult. “Apologies?” She offered and then looked around for Antar, hoping he had caught up by now.

[Antar]

When a woman was apt to do something foolish, normally Antar would just let them... but when there was a challenge of sorts involved he seemed driven to respond. Though in this case his response was a little more careful then a hasty rapid dash in the saddle. Flicking the reins he centered on tightening his legs around Dawnstrides barrel and brought her to a quick canter, and then a series of gallops in short spurts as they headed towards the portl The port was near the caldera, which housed that most interesting bar and town for the places alvadians mixed with people from the outside. A mix of cultures that was one of the few reasons he thought to bring Shai to the port today, after practicing by the sea. Antar figured some time to rest and relax was well deserved for both of them. But such thoughts would flee from his mind as quickly as the passing winds along his back as her horse began to widen the distance between them. Unlike her, he was steering his mare from the most dangerous of obstacles along the rugged terrain of the kalea region to the coast and it was still a wonder he wasn't thrown from his horses back even with such precautions. He supposed the only reason she hadn't been unseated yet was that at least spiders could hang on better to things. He had plenty of foreknowledge on that subject , though he'd never really relate that information to anyone else. Eventually, even with the downfalls of being a human in the saddle, he and Dawnstride approached where it seemed a disturbance of sorts as they caught up with her. Her and her horse blocking the view of some guards as they seemed to chase a thief of sorts. Thinking quickly he slowed Dawnstride to a walk as he came up beside Shai's and clicked his tongue to draw the horses attention."Sorry good sirs, she's just learning how to ride. Out of your way in just a second." The guard grumbled and hollered as Antar reached across to grab lightly at Chivalis' reins and made Dawnstride shuffle back, bringing chivalis' head around and both of them out of the way of the guards who promptly ran off in the last direction the thief had gone. As soon as they were gone he let the reins fall from his hand, "Well that was most unpleasant. You really shouldn't cause any more trouble then you should around here my dear. It would be rather unhealthy for both of us in the long run."

[Shai]

Allowing the rogue to take the reins, the spider kept quiet until the guards had departed. If Antar had said nothing further than dissuasions to dispatch the men Shai would have been happy to let the moment pass and continue on their ride… but he kept going. The purple gaze grew colder with every syllable until cold-iron couldn’t match the look he received. “Do not speak down to me.” The unintentional pun about their heights only deepened her distaste as it flickered through her thoughts; he had no direction to speak to her but down. Again, the man might have left the conversation but it simply wasn’t in his nature. Perhaps on a subconscious level Shai knew the rogue would keeping on, it was his way to speak superfluously.

“Oh well I guess we could always go and get back in trouble with the guards. It's not my fault your views on humans and society might one day put you in some more danger then it should. "

"Do not be an ass." She replied quickly to accent her glare. Sucking in her bottom slip the spider attempted to stifle any further remarks

"Really, and here I thought you were the one looking at my ass before." the rogue said with a grin.

That the man was only speaking the truth only incensed her further, a faint pink rose in the spider’s cheeks before she exhaled sharply. “Fine.” She replied coolly and snatched back her reins back. “I saw the tavern on the way…” She answered far too evenly and set Chivalis to walk back up the road. Dismounting in front of the establishment, she tied the horse’s reins to the hitch. Turning to eye Antar, “We will have one more game today and this time you will participate.” Though she referenced the earlier mischiefs the woman’s tone held no levity. “And when I win, you will not speak down to me again.” What she was really proposing was very similar to a trial-by-combat; arise the victor and her position was correct. “The man the guards were chasing, one of us will catch him whoever does is the winner. Acceptable?”

After the thief had voiced her proposition, she turned inward and asked a question of what most would consider subconscious solitude. Shai was different; she had an audience. Did you see his face? And the direction he left in? A long pause, that occasionally left the spider wondering if she was going mad, was followed by an unwavering tone. Affirmative.

[Antar]

"Oh I suppose that is an interesting gamble... well I can't say I truly ever really speak down to you , save I do follow my nature. But if that's your request then I shall ammend it to this, you will have one boon from me and an apology." the rogue said as he shifted his weight on the horse, "I'm sorry I said I saw you looking at my ass when I could have been commenting on your own." As she lead them to the tavern he dismounted from the saddle properly, using his hands to hold his weight as he swung his leg over the horse's hindquarters before letting himself fall quickly to the ground.


Like her, he tied the reins up to the bannister and stepped back, "Are you sure you're willing to do this? Maybe we should just leave this to the guards after all, they may not like outsiders involved in their affairs. Though i suppose we could always fib and say we were wondering if the thief had any good information on why we came to Alvadas in the first place. Though... "

The rogue trailed off into his own thoughts and gave Shai a glance that roved up and down her body in a rather provocative way, as if he knew every curve underneath her cloak and was still mesmerized by it, "I suppose we could always catch the thief and have a bit of fun breaking up something bigger if it leads to anything. My, my, breaking up a thieving ring in Alvadas does sound like a good workout... so I'll accept." Antar smiled with a smirk, and pondered, he honestly didn't care if he caught the thief or not, he merely wanted the challenge of seeing if Shai could, though the competitive part of him warred to find the little varmint first. He'd have two choices, either follow Shai and see how she did, while taking in the pleasant view of course, or striking off on his own... Of the two choices one sounded appealing and the other not so much.

"Hmm ... decisions, decisions." Antar muttered before shrugging, 'Well shall we be off?"

Without another word he began skipping around Shai smiling all the while as mockingly lifted a small box to peer underneath it, "Oh is the thief here?"

He turned then towards the next item, a piece of paper and made a quick show of looking under that... and then turned towards the bar and marched towards the doors, "Oh perhaps in here?"

Reaching inside he'd pull a silver miza out of his pocket and slammed it onto a passing waitress' tray before grabbing what looked like two chilled glasses of juice. Once he had his pleasant drink he'd turn back to Shai and offer it to her nonexistant person as he guzzled his choice in one go. It was rather obvious she had run off already. With a smile he'd rhetorically offer up a pleased sigh of contentment at the woman's initiative, "Oh, I guess we have started already. That's my girl. Now I just have to ponder how to make things more interesting for you in your first hunt, don't I?"

With that thought he drank the second glass of juice and set them both aside before reaching down to shield Dawnstride's, horsey hooves tasking them against sound as he stretched a bit to work out the kinks of the previous ride. Then he untied and mounted up. For this little date he had scouted the caldera town quite well and it seemed unfair not to let her have the advantage of a head start. Clicking his tongue, he wheeled his horse around and headed off at an angle towards the center of the small docks town, figuring there were only a few main streets the little varmint would have to cross before getting anywhere that mattered where the thief might hide... maybe the warehouses would be a good place to evade the guards. At least in this respect the symenestran had the advantage of thinking like a thief, whereas the rogue would think more like an assassin.

Besides, horses were faster then on foot... even when someone ran the rooftops though He might have to tie dawnstride up again somewhere.All in all , it would be a more interesting game this way. Besides catching the thief, Antar wondered in what ways could he make it harder for his little poisonous flower of a spider as well?

Such problems would only serve to make her stronger in the end after all...

[Shai]

Raising a cynical eyebrow the spider smiled. “We? How do you plan to follow?” she muttered to herself. The rogue continued to talk, so the thief took her own advantage and walked away. If he wanted to give her a head start by horsing around that was his choice. The thief placed distance between them, she quickly turned down the second alley; simply to be arbitrary to make it difficult for Antar to locate her. With the tangible advantage Chell provided letting the rogue trail her would be practically incompetent. Tugging off her boots, she knotted the laces in her familiar way and swung them across the back of her neck. Scuttling up the wall she gained her foot hold on the first roof. The guards and her competition both had a disadvantage when traversing cityscapes and Shai would exploit it.

Loping across the roof tops, the spider went to seek the guards that were still in pursuit, they would likely not have given up yet and after they were located it was only a matter of catching their prey first. Stealing their thief. she chuckled to herself. The familiar remained silent and Shai was unsure if the familiar had a sense of humor or simply found hers lacking. At the first major intersection she would have had to slip down and alleyway and cross on foot, there were no expedient ways to cross directly. Observe your surroundings Shai, you’re missing facts again. the quiet reprimand was almost a shock to the spider, it was rare that Chell chose to speak of its own volition. Taking a second look she noted something she would almost never have; a rope from which several articles of clothing hung. It was so mundane it was genius, running across the edge of the roof she quickly placed her toes on the cord. For a human this feat might take years of practice, for a Symenestra it was common place as walking to the market; indeed it was how they walked to the market.

Again running along the roofs the thief kept her eyes open for disturbances below, knowing that the guards could not be terribly far ahead and there would be a ruckus around them. When such a disturbance finally presented Shai’s jaw dropped because racing right behind it was the rogue on his horse, it was improbable that the man had caught up so quick even on horseback. Maybe she would catch a break though; perhaps the horse might cause trouble for the guards. Additionally, while the equine could outpace her the guards could not and so she kept up seeking her target.

As the male thief finally came into her range of vision, she noticed him pull a rather developed maneuver; he’d slipped the guards by creating a distraction by losing a crate of chickens which predictably went wild. If Shai hadn’t a bird’s eye view she might have lost the culprit as he began to blend into the crowd, unfortunately her view afforded her a variable she hadn’t seen earlier and one which Chell had failed to mention. The thief was only a boy and he was young too. She had time now, while the boy walked with the crowd; the Symenestra wasn’t convinced to leave him just yet but following further would require more stealth. Summoning her mental image of her djed chest, Shai drew out a tendril and slammed the lid again. It was truly only a mental image she used as a metaphor for her reserves but it worked well. Instead of releasing the tendril from her hands as per usual the spider directed it towards her bare feet. From there she wove a simple pattern to net her soles. Tasking the shield to silence she utilized them in a way Antar had illustrated once before for her. Her muffled footsteps in companion with her usual stealthy nature let the spider follow the child-thief with much less noise.

[Antar]

Wheeling his horse to the side of the crowd of guards Antar angled past and into a side alley, clicking his heels to Dawnstrides sides to have her speed up to jump a small line of crates. The landing on the other side was enough to jar his teeth but somehow tightening his legs around the barrel he held on. The best part of it was that there was no sound from the horses previously tasked hooves and shoes.

Smiling he began to look up through the buildings to his right and above in time to notice a certain tightrope act and smile as he made good progress, beginning to parallel Shai's path just ahead of her where she must be tracking the thief.

Every cross alley he would look to his right and see if he could spot the little devil and soon enough he did see a flash of cloth jarring in the wind that played between the alleys of the caldera port. This place was a fascinating mix of architecture, half sorta like the city of Alvadas, and half purely belonging to the long term residents of the small sea town which serviced the city's needs.

But he was more interested in the prize, turning his horse down a side alley he pondered as he saw a few things that could be used above. Clotheslines and arches between buildings much like windows that came just above his and the horse's height. If he timed it right he might block Shai's view of the mark. Gathering his djed, he chose a possible one in the distance and cast the net of ephermural energies, anchoring it to the archway and line to give it a barrier, spreading the shield no greater distance then a sheet of linen before tasking it to block light, turning it an eerily grayish black at just the right moment.

But that wasn't all he did, no, for this to work he'd have to throw the thief off his game too... Reaching to the side of the horse he grabbed a bit of a broken clay jug and hurled it forwards, clattering it just above yon thief's head who scampered down a side alley in a new direction... Antar still figured he'd make his way towards the warehouses, only now he'd take a more circuitous route. Uncaringly, he sauntered along with his horse along in the current direction , perhaps proving a welcome distraction to Shai in case she thought he was still following the mark instead of making an educated guess.

He could have thrown up a second visual impediment in order to confuse her further, as if he was still on the trail. So perhaps his not doing so was a subtle hint? Whatever happened though would certainly be amusing.

[Shai]

While crossing an alleyway, via another clothing line, in her hushed and languid pursuit of the boy a most peculiar occurrence arose; the alley beneath her completely disappeared. She could spy both buildings but the alley was devoid of all light, it wasn’t especially disconcerting because once again it was a norm in Kalinor. What did cause the spider trouble was her sight on the thief was broken. Quickly crossing the gap to the far building Shai paced along the edge in the direction the boy had last been heading.. Thankfully the blind patch ended; abruptly in fact the entire incident was unnatural. Antar. the conclusion as easy and obvious and Shai knew the rogue was in the vicinity. To the spider’s consternation the boy was not on the side of the blind she had predicted, in fact he had turned around by what she couldn’t be sure. Although it was easy to blame the rogue yet again.

Once again on the thief’s trail, Shai kept her eye out for the rogue this time waiting to see what he might try next. It took effort to keep her mind from wondering; if Antar was able to mess with her in this manner it meant he was only messing with her. He can have just as easily caught the boy and have one; she was being toyed with…again. Chell, would you watch Antar for us? I don’t want him interfering again, it could be dangerous.

Agreed. Affirmative. As soon as the familiar agreed, Shai took off again; the boy had picked up his pace. Twisting through the alleys his tailing-spider hopped behind him, keeping up with ease because every corner that would throw a normal pursuer actually brought her closer. As far as she could tell the thief hadn’t posted her yet either. Without much concern for their direction Shai followed and Chell remained quiet on its watch, so the rogue presumably hadn’t tried anything.

After a good five chimes the child slide down into a tiny basement window of… taking stock of the situation Shai realized it was a warehouse quarter which made this most likely the boy’s hiding spot. Warehouses were notoriously easy for the diminutive to hide in or if he had a cadre of fellow thieves; warehouses were cheap and often uninspected.

Shai. Chell garnered her attention and the spider surveyed the area thrice before her gaze fell upon the rogue. The boy was let go, she hadn’t forgotten him but there was a big fish that required liquefying.


Slipping along the roofs the spider caught up with Antar and she caught up with him and followed but spoke nothing. The rogue seemed not to comprehend her anger which had spawned this very game. Instead of capturing the thief and finishing the game, as he certainly could have her toyed with her further reinforcing her point. The game lost its value when one participant couldn’t comprehend the prize and so could never award it. Her toes found a loose shingle and recalling a night a Sunberth with a not entirely different man she kicked the shingle off the roof to call in front of the horse and rider. Belatedly Shai considered it might spook the horse but at the moment she also didn’t care overmuch.