A Tale of Equine Proportions

[Ainyi]

((OOC Note: Unable to find literature on Ionu's Mercy; I'll do the best I can without. Feel free to fill in the gaps I leave on your next post))

She liked that he understood the urgency of it. When he gripped her on the horse, though, it was obvious that he had never ridden before. She flashed him a small smile to ease his worries, and helped him adjust in the saddle before setting off.

"My arm is hurt, but I am not made of glass," She said in a controlled tone. She pressed his hands around her belly, and pulled on his arms so he was sitting closer in the saddle. If he was going to avoid falling off, he had to have a secure grip. He could probably feel how strong her stomach muscles are, see the muscles in her back, around her shoulder blades. "You must hold strong, or you will fall. Also, do not put feet there. A little higher." She rested her good hand over his and pushed down, to ensure that he was holding on tight enough before gripping the reigns.

"if you need healing, I suggest we seek Ionu's Mercy. It is a building open to the weak and injured and should help you recover quickly. Unlike other buildings, it is rather easy to find. Just keep going forward, and it should appear."

This was good. For some reason, knowing this helped her focus. Helped her calm. The bout of dizziness that the blood loss caused began to affect her, up until this moment. She used her good arm to whip Halik's reigns and get going, giving him a sturdy kick. She didn't force him too hard - more for Alric's sake than hers. A first ride can be hard, and her wound wasn't so pressing that she would die in the hour if not tended to. And from how he spoke, she would have care in no time.

"When you ride behind someone," she said as they were moving, "you move your body with them, and the horse." With no idea how to explain it in Common, she left it at that. She liked riding with someone again. She used to do this all the time with her father, and listen to him tell her things about riding, and hunting on horse back, and all sorts of things. It felt weird to be the person sitting in front, though.

Time passed, as it does, and Ionu's Mercy appeared as the rich man said it would. They sat together as the wound was tended to, and where she could keep her eyes locked on her horse. Braghna stood with his claws next to her as her good arm stroked his chest. He chirped as he looked around, as though on guard duty while she got her arm fixed. He shot a nasty look at Alric once or twice before going about his bird business.

Meanwhile, the questions that were earlier held back now came out, as Ainyi began to feel better, "Why didn't you tell me about your arm? Why are you helping me? I have done nothing to earn it? Why did you not leave me to fight the creatures? How can you live in this...this place?!"

The last question wasn't meant to be so bitter. But she was so weary of all the change. Just once, she wanted to see something familiar, something normal. Just once, she needed to know she wasn't going crazy. It was so hard to tell in this city. Were Ainsley a normal woman, she may have chosen to break down and cry at the moment. However, all she could do was sigh, and close her eyes, as though trying to dampen the fire in them to calm herself.

"I'm sorry," she said aloud, after rambling. "It has...been a long day, no? I must only be tired."

[Alric Wilmot]

Despite Ainsley's wounds, it seemed she was still in relatively good humor. She could tell that Alric had never ridden a horse before, and offered advice while they trotted along. She said to move with the horse and rider, and despite what she most likely thought, Alric understood clearly. It was a lot like being on a boat. When he had been on the Reana Red, he had to keep himself rocking with the boat to keep from falling. This was a similar experience. Thankfully, Alvadas made sure to keep Alric's spotless lie-free record. The city shifted accordingly, and Ionu's Mercy came within sight. Alric sat close in case he was needed, but the healer's knew their duties well. It turned out that most of the wounds were minor, and Ainsley wouldn't need to stay for any extended period of time. She was patched up quickly, and they were able to leave in short order. Her hawk still seemed rather distrustful of Alric, but he paid it no mind. What importance does a bird hold anyway? He was quite sure they could not understand, and so they were but worth very little. About as much as his mask, really. As Alric and his comrade left Ionu's Mercy some hours after their arrival, Ainsley's questions came back in full force. "Why didn't you tell me about your arm? Why are you helping me? I have done nothing to earn it? Why did you not leave me to fight the creatures? How can you live in this...this place?!" "Slow down, my friend! Allow me a chance to answer a question before you go on to the next! Now, in order." Alric took a deep breath, and appraised her, glad she was relatively unarmed. "I did not tell you because I thought it a lot like bragging. It is not something you announce simply to announce. You bear it proudly and use it when it is needed. However, I believe all people need a bit of humility when it comes to this sort of thing as well. "After all, you did not tell me you were so fearsome with a bow. But you were certainly talented to fight as you did. It is much the same with my arm. With my gnosis. As for why I'm helping you..." Alric paused. Why was he helping her? She had just arrived to the city, and he had only met her today. There was no real connection to her. Yet, he knew the answer almost as soon as he had paused. As one does not walk away from a Gold Miza left on the street, one does not walk away from a potential ally. "I believe you're worth helping." said Alric, smiling in his odd way. "I believe that covers why I did not leave. However, as for why I live here. I suppose I just never had the heart to leave. I was born here you see, and the changing city is as normal to me as breathing and walking. As frustrating as it is for you. It is comforting to me."

[Ainyi]

Once again she didn't understand every word he said, but the gist got across. Slow down. That one she got very quickly. She calmed herself, and took back her arm as it was finished being tended to, leaning in to listen to him. It would take time to heal, and would probably be a bit sore for a while, but it should be fine in the long run.


"I did not tell you because I thought it a lot like bragging. It is not something you announce simply to announce. You bear it proudly and use it when it is needed. However, I believe all people need a bit of humility when it comes to this sort of thing as well.

Bragging...bragging...what was that word? Bear it proudly, use when needed, she understood those words. Humility. Now she understood. He was trying to be humble. This seemed odd to Ainyi, when one had such great power, but she said nothing. She wanted to listen to what he had to say.

"After all, you did not tell me you were so fearsome with a bow. But you were certainly talented to fight as you did. It is much the same with my arm. With my gnosis. As for why I'm helping you..."

She understood better now. It wasn't that he was trying to hide it for humility's sake. There was just no point until it was needed. As he began to say something about helping her, she edged in a little closer. This is what she was most curious about. Thick mahogany braids hidden under a mess of wily hair came forward, clinking against each other when the glass beads holding them touched. They were really quite pretty; blends of green, blue, and brown. It almost looked like water, or the ground and the sky, or any other combination of things. It helped to have a glassblowing Avora for a mother. Her head tilted, akin to how Braghna would gaze at things curiously.

"I believe you're worth helping." said Alric, smiling in his odd way.

...That's all? Truly? Because you're worth helping? But that didn't answer her question at all. Why was she worth helping? What made her worth helping? This man was so frustrating! The only important question she asks, and it's the most ambiguous answer!

"I believe that covers why I did not leave. However, as for why I live here. I suppose I just never had the heart to leave. I was born here you see, and the changing city is as normal to me as breathing and walking. As frustrating as it is for you. It is comforting to me."

She could understand that much. Home is home. And for her, home was far away, in a mountain. It was glass beads, red hair, and Nari. It was the smell of heat in the air, and watching her father craft bows, hoping to learn one day. It was listening to Yinri playing her flute.

Yinri.

As soon as that name entered her mind, she shook it, glancing over to her pack on her horse. She saw the long, rectangular bulge at the bottom, and felt comfort knowing that it was still here. Still with her.

"You answers question funny," She teased, showing him a smile. She wasn't a good liar, but she didn't want him to inquire as to why she made a less than happy face for ten seconds. She didn't want him to feel uncomfortable. If he saved her life, perhaps he was worth trusting. But only a little.

"You also talk funny, all the time," She added to her observation list. "And dress funny, and act funny. You smile funny, too. But you know that, yes?" She cleared her throat, and said in a softer tone, "Perhaps if we help each other more, everything will be less...funny. Do you...understand?" She hoped she did. She had no idea how to say this properly. If anything, She missed speaking Nari to someone other than Braghna. While the bird was intelligent enough to understand commands and emotions, he couldn't exactly speak to her or visa versa.

She needed to move again. To get ready to move again, at least. Stretching her arm, she stood, walking over to her horse and adjusting the reigns. "Where do we go now, rich man?" She asked playfully, after he'd had time to join her.

[Alric Wilmot]

As Alric continued his gaze upon the Inartan, he noticed her glance upon her pack. She wore a face that spoke of longing. Alric had seen the like before. It was likely that she missed her home. Or someone from her home. He remained still, however, and did not acknowledge what he was seeing. After all, most considered such thoughts private. After a short time, Ainsley turned back to him. She smiled."You answers question funny,You also talk funny, all the time, And dress funny, and act funny. You smile funny, too. But you know that, yes?" Alric shifted his head to the side, like a confused dog. He was not quite sure if he had just been insulted or not. He didn't think he had been. After all, Ainsley wasn't fluent in common. She most likely was commenting on his strangeness again. Even if she wasn't, Alric could hardly say no. He was different, and he knew it. So really, all he could say was- "Yes." She cleared her throat, and said in a softer tone, "Perhaps if we help each other more, everything will be less...funny. Do you...understand?" Alric smiled again, though softer than before. He did understand. She wanted a guide, and a helper. Someone to help her through Alvadas and guide her through the unfamilair. He nodded to her. He could help with that. After all, he would never deny those who sought knowledge. "Where do we go now, rich man?" She asked playfully. Alric walked up beside her, a grin on his face. "I'd say we continue to the stables, and head to my quarters as soon as possible. And, if you haven't had anything to eat, perhaps find a stall somewhere. After all, fighting for your life is hungry work."

[Fallacy]

XP Award! Name: Ainyi XP Award: Falconry- 2 Observation- 2 Longbow- 3 Riding- 5 Talon Sword- 1 Teaching- 1 Lore: Change in the City of Illusions A Place to Stay Alric Wilmot Shooting while Riding Commanding Braghna Notes: Ionu's Mercy along with all the other released location in Alvadas can be found on the stickied Alvadas Linkmap. Name: Alric XP Award: Hypnotism- 2 Observation- 3 Riding- 1 Lore: Offering Options What Rich People Are Inartan sized Ainsley Visual Illusion Tricks Riding Behind Notes: Very interesting thread. Like the whole concept of a foreigner pulled off. It was done rather well. The Yukmen added another element to the story and gave a nice break from all the chatter and really was a nice twist. I thought I knew where the thread was going, but BAM, there they were. Nicely done. Any questions or concerns about the rewards gained please send a PM