Nights Fire [Shai]

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

3rd of Winter 511AV

Night, it was unnatural to be awake and aware during this time. But he was, staring into the fire as he warmed up some of the pork that he had managed to save from a few nights ago. He cooked it some that night but now he was cooking it the rest of the way in his iron pan. He was the only person up at the moment, but he also knew that the Symenstran woman was around here somewhere. He wasn’t completely sure where she was, but he knew that she was around here somewhere.

He could smell the meat cooking on the hot coals he had waited for the burning wood to form. He had waited for a decent amount of time for the fire to burn down to the cinders and warm wooden coals that glowed a somewhat dull orange. That told him that it was time to cook on them. He had waited just long enough for everyone to go to sleep for the night…well everyone except that Symenstran woman. He didn’t know what her name was, maybe he just hadn’t caught it as of yet. Whatever the case he had remained somewhat of a ghost here among this group. There wasn’t much time before them made it to Syliras. He was glad that he had found this ragtag group of acquaintances rather than having to travel with a wagon train or the likes. These people moved fast and didn’t waste time; they had places to be just like him.

He needed to go to Riverfall, and jot down whatever information he could about medicine in that region. Things like any new medical discoveries they had made. From what he knew of Riverfall the Akalaks were warriors, and he was sure that even warriors needed to be healed up and treated medically. Maybe they had made strides in medicine more in that direction. Anything helpful would be nice for him to jot down and preserve for eternity in Mura’s library. He could smell the wonderful aroma of the pork being slowly cooked in the pan. That brought him to as he looked up he saw her there…across from him.

He hadn’t introduced himself to her yet, and she seemed to be tense almost impatient. She was waiting for something. She was growing somewhat impatient for something. He remembered as he had come out of his tent one night that he saw footprints leading to Antar’s tent. But they were small footprints, and he believed they belonged to her. But that was just a suspicion nothing he could be completely sure of. Fact was he wasn’t sure where she slept, and it really wasn’t any of his business. But everyone but him and this woman had fallen asleep now. It was just them.

“Evening.” He smiled as he put on a leather glove and set it aside to let the pan cool so he could eat from it. But until it cooled he would see if this woman was up for some small talk before she slinked off to bed.

“You enjoy the night don’t you?” He observed putting a fork into a little of the meat and pulling it off putting it gently in his mouth. It was delicious and soft in his mouth. It was warm as well, a welcome difference from what was around him.

[Shai]

Shai gave Chi’ one last pat, she had just finished taking off all of the gear the horse carried all day. It only took her a few extra moments each morning and night and she hoped Chivalas appreciated it but she didn’t know enough about the animals to be able to tell. There was one thing the spider was certain the horse liked; the oats. He even seemed to know exactly when in the routine they would be offered and from which satchel they would come from. Reaching down in the saddle bags Shai pilfered a handful of the oats which Chi slurped up happily. The first few times she had fed the stud by hand her primary concern was that he might bite. So far, there had been no painful incidents, well besides the fact that her rear was constantly sore from riding nonstop.
There was a certain amount of indignity inherent in walking after riding a horse all day. It almost felt unnatural to walk properly, so rather than look the fool for longer than necessary Shai promptly sat down by the fire. As she had every night previous the thief would wait out every other party member and steal away in Antar’s tent as soon as there were no witnesses. Ill tempers were none-improved by the human’s late night preferences, nor did it help that he was the only among their company that she was unfamiliar with. He was a stranger. His abilities, and there by his usefulness, were uncertain as were his motives. The saving grace of the situation was that she doubted he was also headed to Alvadas. If he followed them beyond Sylaris Shai would eventually confront him and get her answers one way or another.

A curt nod and a quiet, “Evening” was the best reply Serrif would receive at first. Flexing her fingers within her new mittens, it was cold and she was tired. But her attitude didn’t stop her from being taken aback by the following question. It was a simple question but she’d never been asked it before. Tentatively she answered, “Yes, I suppose.” The night was nice in that it provided darkness; a state in which she not only had the advantage on most people but was also much more comfortable. “But, I am traveling with humans and you all live your lives under sunlight so I will as well, for now.” She had no desire to think about waking during the day all of the time, though she had a sinking suspicion that is what her work with Antar would mean. More annoyingly, when the sunlight was exceptionally bright she managed to get headaches, it was days like those that she missed Kalinor. “Where are you headed human?” She asked quietly, if he wanted to talk then she was going to learn something.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

Her response brought a sly smile to his face. She seemed dangerous which intrigued him. He had only heard rumors and heresy about her and her kind. As he looked across the fire to her he noted several things that were of interest. She was uncomfortable in the sunlight, as should be the case because her race was mostly subterranean living in what he believed was a giant cave structure with a suspended city…or that was what he had read about her kind. She was also cold, but it was winter out here and it was always brutally cold. He even felt the cold dagger of winter slice against his skin every now and then. That was why he had the white bodysuit that hugged him like a second skin. And indeed it was just that, a second layer of protection before the sharp icy tip pierced his skin.

“My destination is Riverfall.” His answer was exact as he put some pork in his mouth to test if it was of appropriate temperature.

It was warm, a stark contrast to the snow outside. But it was still too warm to eat comfortably so he set the pan back down and looked to her. “Call me Serrif, human sounds….derogative. Like you have something against me just because of race.” He looked right at her with a smile and added a little something to sharpen the statement.

“I know you don’t have anything against humans being that you are willingly traveling among so many.” An easy observation but a true one at the same time. He knew she was an acute one, and he was interested to what her intelligent mind would produce for a response. He could almost tell she was a plotter, maybe it was the way she walked, talked, or maybe his mind was making things up.

This woman was different than any of the others he had encountered but as he looked at her…she felt familiar. Almost as if she came from somewhere that he couldn’t quite remember as of yet. He tried to place her face and then slowly started to remember. But he couldn’t dream about someone whom he had never met before, could he. Or was there a link to minds somewhere that he didn’t understand yet. It was possible but as he looked across the fire at her he was beginning to get a clearer understanding of the exact place and dream. But he wanted to see if she remembered him. It was possible that they had been linked together and she may remember.

However, it would be rude and somewhat creepy for him to say something to her. It would likely drive her to do something interesting. And he didn’t need to be traveling with someone who thought he was out to get her. Especially when she was so close to the denoted leader of this ragtag group of renegades. Each seemed to have a specialty; and this woman seemed to be an information gatherer. So he was going to give her something she could use. Like a morsel to a dog to lure it in a little closer; to hopefully maybe get a better look at it.

“If you go to Ravok, kill a man by the name of the Red Man and you will have done right by me.” He nodded and then tried again to savor some of the pork that was in the pan. It had cooled down some enough for him to taste it well in his mouth without uncomfortably burning the roof of his mouth to the point where he couldn’t taste anything after this.

[Shai]

Shai chuckled darkly, “If I meant to demean you, there are other more poignant terms in my mother tongue. Human is simply a fact. But, very well; Serrif it is.” The spider pulled her mittens tightly against her wrists, it was cold. The cold was a terrible taunt against the promise of warmth in her rogue’s tent. Listening quietly, her ears were greeted by the crackle of flames valiantly fighting the night’s chill and the timber of Serrif’s continued deductions. Oh how little he knows and he great his presumption is. Shai possessed no love for humans, only people with use mattered to her. There was one exception to the rule regarding humans, the man who had bested her on every field of play she knew. Serrif was not that man.

Watching the cooked flesh cool, the Symenestra woman broke back into the conversation. “Ravok? Red Man? Perhaps, if I am ever there I may do so.” She added idly though the information was stored away quickly for future use. Now came the real trick, continuing their conversation without giving information but still leave room to gain. People seemed to greatly enjoy speaking about themselves, hopefully this man was no different.

It was odd, in her subconscious Shai had decided already this man must be useful. There was no tangible evidence to support this claim, but all the same it was there. As true as the skills learned in the years before memory, she knew associating with this man would have it’s benefits.

Shifting to skim her gloved palm over a rare gently steeped snow pile that had been left un-dirtied by the camp’s inhabitants the willowy woman posed another inquiry. “Riverfall you said? The home of the coldy hued behemoths?” The spider’s knowledge about the coastal city was limited to a child’s tale from decades ago, but it wouldn’t hurt to learn more about it. “Why Riverfall? If I may ask.” She amended, speculating inwardly on whether or not he would continue to answer her questions without return.

No, she finally concluded. No one would continue to give without even the smallest reward. So she offered a tiny morsel, something any of the camp member's could supply. "They call me Shai, for what it is worth."

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

“Mura sent me on a charge to gather medical information from Riverfall and Windreach.” The answer was plain but he would continue to elaborate some. “Home to the Akalaks. I am to supposedly learn medicinal breakthroughs from them. Maybe some poison as well if I am lucky enough.”

“I am after all a scholar first, a healer second, then a killer third…or however the situation would dictate it need be.” The flesh was cooling some so he took a small amount and chewed it. Perfect…it was right where it needed to be. He wondered if she would like some. She was part of this group and eating some warm food would likely be good for her…he actually hadn’t watched her eat since seeing her.

“I have plenty if you would like some. Killed it myself so I can assure you it isn’t poisoned.” As if that though would actually cross her mind at all. Maybe it did. She seemed the information gathering poisoning type. Or maybe that was just a misconception he had of her. He knew little of her kind; but all he did know were that they were ingenious plotters and planners as well as manipulators.

His understanding of her was limited to hearsay. And he had very little to go off of. But by seeing her he could tell she was a plotter. He knew her mind was very active behind those eyes of hers. A smile crossed her face; that was something they both had in common. Always thinking; but likely for different reasons. She was thinking about how to get the next leg up; while he was thinking about how to lend a helping hand.

[Shai]

Shai raised an eyebrow as killer was added to his list of titles; she found it both presumptuous and redundant. To live was to kill, it was the way of things; and her perceived arrogance came from her instinctive comparison to Antar. Then again, had she not met the rogue under such bizarre circumstances she may have thought the same of him. Sometimes the most docile seeming creatures could deliver the fiercest blows. Quietly the Spider listened letting Serrif speak his piece in peace. Scorn melted from her face to be replaced by astonishment. After Shai recalled that knowledge of her kind was rare among the surface dwellers she managed to reply, “No, thank you. I cannot eat it promptly. ” The Symenestra was unable to think of any other way to explain without getting into detail, and assuredly she didn’t want the man understanding her abilities. No, once something was understood it could be countered and she wasn’t yet willing to trust this man.

“What kind of healer are you? Healers do specialize, correct? Such as salves or surgeries?” Normally the spider would never have known the terminology to translate ‘surgery’ but her, unfortunately less-than-departed, ex-husband was also a healer of sorts, a very invasive healer. Moments after the question past her lips, Shai mentally rebuked herself; she’d forgotten her desire was that Serrif sleep. Tomorrow would be a long day, as every day before had been on this journey, and she would need to sleep soon. Not to mention, even with the fire it was chilly and her bedroll would be adequately warmed by now. Staunchly she rejected any desire to attend the tent for the occupants, it was simply convenient for the thief to have warmth to steal.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

He nodded; this Symenstran woman knew something of the healing art. But he also knew that this art could be used against as well as for. He had been on the receiving end of twisted experimentation more than once. She was a curious study, more than simply met the eye. But then again so was he. A smile crept across his face when she asked what kind of healer he was…Like he was expecting that question but in a different manner. It was refreshing to have her ask the question so bluntly.

She didn’t ask what he did, how he came to know what he did; nor who he had studied under. No, she went for the throat of the matter. She asked what he was; as if she was sizing up prey. And he would give her a very good idea of what she was looking at…who she was looking at. The smile stayed for a few seconds, long enough for her to know she had triggered him but not long enough to be creepy.

“I, am a marked healer Shai.” He then rolled up a sleeve of his long sleeved white cotton shirt and even underneath the taut bodysuit she could see the twisting mark of Rak’keli on his right inner forearm.

The mark traveled from his wrist all the way to his elbow, not a small mark by any means. The shimmering opalescent color was bright enough for a few seconds that she would be able to trace it with a finger if she so chose. He rolled out his fingers as if he wanted her to place her hand within his. He nodded slightly then spoke to her a very direct statement that cut through the night like a dagger in a veil.

“But, the Goddess was not the only one to mark me.” He with the loosening of a few belts was able to roll up his right bodysuit sleeve to his elbow.

Before her were two very direct forces at play. One was the shimmering mark of Rak’keli, wonderful as it was standing for nobility, forgiveness, and compassion. However weaving just as vicious a path were scars of all kind. Weaving ebbing and drifting through his flesh like a playground; dancing across his skin like a marble dance floor. Every step another horrible story to be told. These marks were left by man. And if she knew anything of torture, anything at all she would know these marks were not done in war, nor in defense.

These marks spoke of revenge, viciousness, violence. Possibly only one man ever stood up or measured close to his man’s story…especially if the rest of his body mirrored his arm. The man she had come to admire and respect. His eyes were stern staring right into hers…right into hers. The unbreakable will behind them forged only in hellfire. Only in the roughest of conditions, coldest of nights, and deepest of darkness could a will that resided in his body be forged.

“Man, left his mark on me. But I am more than that. I am a healer.” He let those sink before he nodded and rolled the sleeve of the bodysuit back down putting it in place.

“I heal Shai.” He left it there as he watched her carefully as he made an offer. “I do not know you, and yet I would be compelled to heal you.”