Closed [Rattling Chains/Sanctuary] Expansion Is A Painful Joy

[Kavala]

Timestamp: 5th of Fall, 512 AV
Location: Rattling Chains Then Sanctuary
Purpose: Bringing Cadra and Larik Home
Status: Vanator Please

Kavala did not want to make the trip out to The Rattling Chains yet again, but a message had come that Haev had a new shipment. It was only five days after she'd rescued her brother, and that bothered her a bit. Kavala knew she was helping the slaves, but she also knew she was contributing to situations that weren't ideal for the young people and women the Ebonstryfe imported to Ravok.

So she took Kamsin and Spitfire, the mares more than willing to go and rode in the direction of the slave camp. On the Striders, the trip took no time at all. She pulled up, unloaded Kamsin of medical supplies after sliding off Spitfire, and nodded to the guards to go inspect the cells. She hated this part, hated it with a passion, because sometimes she saw only healthy frightened beasts, most of which grew up in wealthy households as pets to the noble families. Once the boys got out of the puppy stage though, where whatever baby animal they were stopped being cute, the nobles tended to sell them off or geld them rather than risk their daughters. The females were retained but often scarred because they were allowed to be playthings for the noble sons, who had no real interest in doing anything but using the women. Sometimes they came to Riverfall pregnant as well. All of these things Kavala had to deal with. Sexually transmitted diseases, scarring, broken bones, sometimes long untreated wounds. And the worst were the men.

Her heart bled for them each time she found them. Sometimes she brought them home with her. Haev wasn't unreasonable. He knew she did her work for free and males were of little value to him. So he would gift them. Other times she'd purchase them and set them free when they were healed up enough to travel. But the women were mostly out of her price range. While she made a great deal as a healer, Kavala's funds were dedicated to her staffing and her remodels. There'd be really no spare coin until the Healing College was done and students were bringing in extra income. So it wasn't with the mind to purchase that she walked into the caves. Instead, she was in full healer mode and started treating patients.

Today seemed to be centered around teeth. While Kavala wasn't a dentist, she still had to do her share of doctoring teeth, especially bad ones. She extracted two, and prescribed a salt rinse for another mouth. A third woman had a mouth full of white substance that clung to her tongue and teeth and gave her a foul yeasty breath. Yeast infection. It was not uncommon, especially among the slaves. Kavala prescribed something very simple for her - straight yogurt. A spoon full every few hours swirled around her mouth and left unrinsed would kill the yeast and get the woman's mouth healthy again.

Two cages down she checked on a pregnancy and then fixed a broken toe. She left kind words, gentle touches, and a piece of Carmel for all, which was her new thing visiting the slaves. Often the small square of sweet did a lot to brighten their day.

After about an hour of work, Kavala came to a final cage that had several young people in it of mixed ages. She let herself in with the key the guard always provided her, and moved through them. Kelvics, one and all, though the pair in the back clinging together had her stopped dead in her tracks. The two looked a great deal like Vanator. They looked like each other as well, though one had red hair and one had blond. Kelvics both, twins, and even looking a little like their mother as well. Kavala was stunned. She moved closer to them and the girl hissed at her, spitting like a cat. Big cat? No, she wouldn't be here if that were the case. The boy had a proud look to his face, almost arrogant, and was covered with bruising. Kavala came closer, crouched down beside them, and asked softly...

"What are your names?" She said simply, reaching out to touch the girl, but refraining from any such attempt with the boy. The girl hissed with pointed canines and then settled as the Konti stroked the red hair off her forehead. Medically she was fine. Emotionally she looked terrible. The boy Kavala did not touch. When they did not respond, Kavala quietly added to her statement. "I was there at your birth. I knew your mother. And your father is my brother. We are family, even though I look like neither of you. Will you let me take you out of here?" She asked softly. "Your father doesn't know what has become of you, but he'd really like to know you are alive and well. There are no cages where we live. Only the sun and sea and sky... and endless grasslands. Please say yes. That you will come with me." She said gently, oh so gently, daring to hope.

It was surprisingly the boy that spoke. "Larik. I'm Larik. I was born first." Kavala shook her head. "No, she was. Like I said, I was there." He nodded, knowing Kavala passed the test, and then gestured to his sister. "Cadra. She doesn't say much. Not anymore." He added. "I would like to meet our father." He said, his eyes dead, but Kavala could feel the tinge of hope in him.

The Konti nodded. "I'll be back. It might take a few minutes to bargin with Haev." The truth was it took longer than that. Larik wasn't the problem. Haev was willing to give him to Kavala for a reasonable price. But he wanted to keep Cadra. She was both pretty and red-headed something the Akalaks loved. But Kavala was adamant. In the end, she traded him a pair of Seme two-year olds, geldings, to replace a team that he'd lost via the Zith last week. She nodded, finished the bargin with a handshake, and went to get her niece and nephew.

"I'm your aunt and you are free to come with me now. I have horses. Can you ride?" They both shook their heads no, but this wasn't surprising. The moment she got them to the surface, returned the key, Larik stripped out of his filthy tunic and took to the sky. Kavala was astonished. He wasn't just a bird, not a mere jay or sparrow. He was a grasslands eagle, large and formidable. He flew because he could not ride. But Cadra had no such way to escape. Kavala helped her onto Kamsin and mounted Spitfire. She urged the kelvic to grasp the yvas and grip the mare with her legs, and then the two women, escorted by the eagle, turned and headed west towards the coast.

When they arrived at The Sanctuary, and rode through the gates, Kavala immediately looked around for Vanator, unsure how to proceed from here.

[Vanator]

Vanator had spent the few days since his arrival at Sanctuary exploring the facility. Kavala had suggested he stay put inside Sanctuary until he had time to recover and get his bearings after his long enslavement and the news about their family. Likewise, Van avoided the other residents as well. So, the new arrival wandered around, learning the ins and outs of the complex system of rooms and hallways, things a Drykas found so unfamiliar.

Vanator marveled at all Kavala had built since he visited two years earlier. The Konti herself had accomplished much, and the brother beamed with pride at not only at what she had built, but the amazing woman she had become. As he wandered into the open ground of the courtyard and arena, Van saw the groomer free lunging a mare. He leaned against a wall, his arms folded across his chest. He nodded to Aweston. Kavala had explained why he had the Denusk name, though Van knew he was never of their pavilion. It was fitting, not only because he was Drykas, but because Aweston was the son of Tara, the mother of Van's first son, Bolden. That made him almost family in itself.

The Drykas inhaled the long absent aroma of horse deep into his lungs. It was one of the most comforting things about Sanctuary, the smell of all things horse. He longed to be astride one, to feel the power of a steed beneath him. Kavala would not be able to keep him on the ground for long, she knew all too well.

It was then that a shadow crossed the arena, a sizable one cast by a raptor circling the overhead. Van caught its silhouette against the sky. Then the inner gates at the north end opened up and Kavala rode through. Vanator had known she had gone to the Rattling Chains. Her brother had insisted that he go with her, for it was no place for a woman alone. But his sister assured him that she was fine, that there was an arrangement with the man who had owned Vanator for a short time. In hindsight, it was not a good idea to accompany her, given his very recent release from the slave camp himself, but he just got his sister back, and it was hard not to be the big brother.

Immediately Vanator noted the woman on the second horse. She appeared unsteady, ragged and not a skilled rider. He was almost certain where she came from, Kavala most likely rescuing her like she did himself. But why? The Chains had a lot of females, their main stock. Why this one?

He ran over to meet them just inside the gates. With a glance at Kavala, the brother's hasty assessment to determine her safety, he moved to the woman. His hands reached for her hips, sliding her out of the yvas and holding her in his arms, her head resting against his shoulder. Aweston arrived, leading Kamsin aside and waiting for Kavala to dismount to take Spitfire as well. Vanator looked down at the girl, her disheveled hair covering most of her face. He hardly noticed the raptor's shadow passing over them until, on the other side of the horses, a nude young man appeared. Kelvic. The boy's face was haunting, though the Drykas could not place why. Van began to head across the dusty arena towards the tunnel to the Within, just as Kav had done when she brought him home from the slavers. The girl still in his arms, Vanator's eyes moved to Kavala's.

"What is going on?" He inquired of his Konti sister.

[Kavala]

Kavala was not alone with the two youths when she rode through the gates. Vanator had seen this before. Two armed men rode in behind her, looking gristly and glancing around. They had greed in their eyes and it was easy to see they'd come for payment. Kavala glanced at Aweston apologetically and then disappeared briefly to reappear leading two Seme mares. The mares were in good condition and middle aged so they had a lot of use left in them, but it was a use Kavala did not need. The slavers took the leads on the mares, looked the horseflesh over carefully, and then departed with the horses in tow. Aweston looked a bit angry, but Kavala shook her head as if to tell him she'd talk about it later.

When she rejoined the group, she looked slightly upset but had a realism in her voice that made her words make sense. "They take a lot better care of their horses than their slaves. They won't be abused. And what they bought is precious." Kavala said, softly, glancing skyward and then at the girl in Vanator's arms.

Kavala gave Vanator a pained glance, and met the boys eyes. "He will not hurt your sister. Will you come with me? I'd like to take you to the bath. You have wounds that need tending and you'll both feel better after the filth is gone and you can have something to eat." She said gently, glancing at Vanator to make sure he'd follow.

Kavala lead them deep into gemstone heart of The Within, past the commons area, and through the library and another hall where most of the denizens had their private rooms. Once through that corridor the hall ended in a bath that normally had a large sunken solid stone bath big enough for five or six people at a time. Kavala beckoned the boy into the water, and he waded in unashamed. Kavala stripped down to just her tunic, and then she gently took the girl from Vanator's arms. She waded into the water with her and rested her on a stone bench just beneath the surface of the water.

Carefully she began to bathe the girl, even though the girl just stared out into space for the majority of the bath. She only cried out and flinched, pulling into herself when Kavala had to resort to cutting two large knots of hair out of her head. The boy did better, washing for himself, though Kavala had to handle his hair as well. The bath's took an extremely long time. Kavala was careful, washing every inch of them and even under their nails. She talked to them while she did so, telling them about the place they were at, about Vanator, and about herself. She told them about the Denusks and all who had come before them, keeping her voice low and soothing.

She periodically asked Vanator for something special like a towel or shampoo or a distinct soap, making sure when Kavala asked him to describe one of their relatives, like Eachann, he got a chance to pipe in and do so.

Then Kavala healed their wounds - the small things, cuts, bruises, and old festering punctures. Larik was worse than his sister, though she harbored a disease that Kavala's Gnosis wouldn't cure. She could sense it clearly, an infection from abuse that was only now taking a foothold on the girls' body. Kavala was furious because it was a disease found in whorehouses. Kavala had medicines for it though, and would administer them away from Vanator, because she felt it best he not know. She'd send a note to Haev too, letting him know one of his guards was unclean and with medicine for all his men before they infested anyone else.

When they were comfortably clean, Kavala wrapped them in warm towels and gave them both each one of Vanator's shirts to wear. She'd go shopping in the morning for them, or later tonight if they went to sleep. Then she placed them in her huge oversized bed and sat down with them beckoning Vanator to join them. The boy stroked the girls hair and the girl clung to him, exhausted but somewhat better than the stunned silence she was in when she arrived. Both where handsome, Larik having blond hair and Cadra having a profusion of brilliant orange. Each of them had the Denusk blue eyes.

"Larik... Cadra... This is your father Vanator. You won't remember, but you were born here about a year ago. I don't know what happened to your mother, but we'd be very grateful to hear your story." Kavala said, looking thoughtful. She reached over, took Vanator's hand for a moment, and gave it a squeeze. Her look said volumes to him. The Gods provided. They absolutely did. There was no hope for The Denusk Pavilion to ever even have a living Denusk member besides Kavala since the djed storm, but now there were four, five including Aweston who had taken Kavala's name when his own pavilion was destroyed.

And she'd keep looking, using the slavers as a network, and not give up hope that all of them were dead.

[Vanator]

Vanator followed Kavala into the Within, the girl still in his arms. Though his sister would explain later what had transpired, the Drykas knew the two thugs that followed her to Sanctuary, for five days earlier, they guarded him. Van could surmise the semes were payment for the konti's latest rescues.

Once at the baths, Kavala did not dismiss her brother while she bathed the teenagers. Vanator sensed she wanted him to stay, and requested his aid now and again. All the while, the Drykas studied the faces of the siblings, finding a haunting familiarity in their features. Otherwise, he stayed quiet, allowing Kavala's soothing voice to educate the new arrivals on where they were, and a little about Kav and Van themselves.

Once clean and treated for their unjuries, Vanator provided shirts to the twins and helped Kavala get them into her spacious bed. Vanator sat on the edge of the bed, next to his sister. His heart went out to the young man and woman. He knew, as well as Kavala, what they must have suffered in captivity. The girl, especially, concerned him. It was obvious she was emotionally damaged. The boy, for his part, certainly cared for his sister a great deal. Vanator could relate to that.

Then Kavala introduced the twins to Vanator. Pygmy's babies...his children. Vanator returned the firm grip of his sister's hand, as if to draw strength from it. "Larik...Cadra." He spoke softly in disbelief. Van felt as if his chest would explode. It was beyond belief. The twins were conceived shortly before Vanator married Kashik. Their mother, a kevlic named Pygmy, was a close friend, and one night of too many drinks led to them sharing a bed. The first, and last, time he had seen the twins was shortly after Kavala delivered them. Dhanya,(the name Vanator gave Pygmy before she left) had brought Larik and Cadra to Endrykas to present to their father. Then she left with the babies, never to appear again.

Vanator looked to Kavala, his eyes expressing the depth of gratitude that his words would failed to convey. His gaze returned to the twins, who had to be kelvics like their mother, to have grown so quickly in a year. In turn, Larik and Cadra's eyes were fixed on him. Larik's gaze was hopeful, Cadra's countenance still lacked much comprehension.

"Yes, I am your father, though I have not seen you since you were babies. Larik, are you able to tell me what happened?" Vanator's strove to keep his voice steady.

The boy looked down at his sister, then to his aunt, then to his father. "We were with a caravan coming out of the deserts to the south, where the people have a lot of arms. Raiders attacked. We tried to escape, but they surprised us, and we were caught in a net before either of us could shift. We were dragged away. We didn't see what happened to mother. When we were taken to a camp, she was not there, she never was."

The girl began to shiver, a single tear trailed down her freshly cleaned cheek. Larik held her closer. Vanator released Kavala's hand, burying his face in his palms. A soft, mournful groan slipped from his throat. Was Dhanya dead too? Vanator felt a weight fall upon him. If he had chosen Pygmy instead of Kashik, the Kelvic would have stayed, then she and the babies would have been safe. As it was, Vanator had broken her heart and let her leave. He didn't know she was pregnant. His heart was rent as he looked at the children he was not around to defend.

There the four of them sat, the only blood Denusks left, all survivors of slavery.

His hand reached down, searching again for Kavala's as he met each pair of blue eyes. "We are family, and this is our home. You don't have to be afraid anymore."

[Kavala]

Kavala sat with what was left of her family and felt numb. First her mother. Akela. Bolden. Eachlann. Eachlann's wives. Vanator's wives. Their cattle. Their goats. Their horses. Even their beautiful pavilion. All gone.

"No. He's wrong." She said suddenly, looking over the two children. "There's every reason to be afraid. Everything out there, beyond these walls can hurt you. There are things in these walls that can as well. Fear isn't the enemy, though I hate it beyond what you can probably imagine. But we can control it. We can master it. And we can learn to be not so afraid because we are prepared. If you stay here, with us, and you have a choice. You don't have too. You aren't slaves. But if you choose to stay here you'll need to learn from your father. You'll need to learn from me. There are things I want to teach you, so that you will be strong and not need to be afraid because there won't be anyone that can take advantage of you." She said softly, not knowing if the children could understand or not, but wanting them to desperately be able too.

"It starts with you getting healthy. Then it starts with you getting educated, and that means learning to read and write multiple languages as well as speaking them. You might be kelvic, but you need to be able to read and write to get by in this world. You'll need to learn how to fight as well, a weapon, and how to ride even though again I know you're kelvic. I want you to each pick a profession and study towards it, so you always have something to fall back on if ever this place no longer exists or Vanator or I perish. We won't ever want to leave you alone, but sometimes people don't have a choice." Kavala said, her convictions strong. She didn't want to coddle the twins. She wanted them to be strong in the way that everyone else here was slowly learning to be strong. Even, if it was like their father, who was learning to be strong all over again.

"Do you understand?" She asked.

Larik nodded. "I do. I understand exactly." And then Cadra nodded as well, though she didn't say anything. There was still a shock about her, one that would take time to get her over. "And I don't want you both bonding with anyone if you can help it... save it. When you've fully grown, learned your lessons, and have skills, then you can start trying to scratch that itch I know you both have. You haven't bonded with anyone yet have you?" Kavala said, looking thoughtfully at them. They both shook their heads. The Konti nodded, relieved.

"Now, will you both go into the kitchen and look around and see what you might want to eat? Take anything you'd like. Take extra too. We have plenty. I need to talk to your father." Kavala said, looking thoughtful.

Larik helped his sister up, who still wasn't walking well, but giving them the orders seemed to snap her out of her haze and get her feet moving a bit better than she was when Vanator carried her within. Larik helped her, and that gave him something to do as well. When they were out of direct earshot, Kavala turned to Vanator.

"Cadra's pregnant. She's too young in my opinion, but I don't want to make any sort of call. I'm a healer, not a killer, but this could be dangerous for her life. She's only a child. I have no idea what we should do." Kavala said, knowing that the girl looked mature, but a year old kelvic was still to young no matter what species she was. With a house cat it was easier, but still not without risk.

[Vanator]

When Kavala blantantly called him wrong in front of his children, Vanator shot her a glare. Long denied, the pride and authority of the Ankal's son rose up within the Drykas. Had it been anyone else but Kavala, had it been a year ago, he would have raged. But things were different now. His whole world was different. Kavala was right, of course, and Vanator laid his foolish pride aside, grateful instead for his sister's wisdom and grounding. He had not been there for the twins when they needed him, he had rejected their mother and his own father had rejected them. Now, Vanator had a second chance with Pygmy's children. He would help to teach them to read, to fight, to ride. All the things he would never be able to do for Zivatar.

His heart ached as Larik helped Cadra from the room. Once the twins had cleared the room, Van turned to Kavala, who delivered her news without cushion.

'Cadra's pregnant."

Pregnant. They had used her. His daughter. She was a year old. Vanator groaned mournfully as he clutched his fists at his side. The groan became an angry growl. "Petching... petching bastards!" He seethed, almost desperately. He wanted to kill them, to go back to the Rattling Chains and kill every one of them, slowly, brutally and grotesquely. It may not have even been them, but to Vanator it didn't matter. He should not have been surprised, Vanator saw how women were treated. The Zith forced him to do the same thing. But none of them were his daughter. Feeling helpless, his hand seized the edge of a table, ready to fling it over.

Anger would not help Cadra. Killing every slaver in sight would not change what Cadra and Larik had suffered, or Kavala or himself. Van simply dropped his hands and breathed. He wandered to a stony wall, his head leaning against it, his hands pressed to the cool rock. Maybe things had not changed as much as he thought. He was still faced with difficult decisions regarding his family.

Vanator did not want to hear what Kavala was telling him. He had just found Cadra and Larik again. How could he endanger Cadra's life? But how could he condone killing her child? The Drykas struggle as a people, daily in the grass, they struggle, even more so now, to keep their pavilions alive. Every child is a blessing, a chance to keep the pavilion alive for another generation. To deliberately take one away stood against every fiber within him. Kavala was telling him he could not protect them both.

Vanator pushed off of the wall, turning to look at his sister for the first time since she spoke. "Kavala," his voice closer to breaking than she had ever heard, "...I just found her, I don't want to lose her."

[Matthew]

Kavala

Experience Points:

• +1 Acting
• +3 Childcare
• +2 Diplomacy
• +2 Horsemanship

Lores:

• Childcare: Effectively Instilling Strong Values
• Dentistry: Simple Teeth Cleaning
• Diplomacy: Using Careful Words to Gain Basic Trust
• Medicine: How to Use a Simple Bath for First Aid

Additional Notes :

I thought since Dentistry was a branch of Medicine, a Lore would be more appropriate. If you'd rather have Dentistry XP, just let me know.

If you have any questions or concerns relevant to your grade, don't be afraid to send me a private message so that we can work it all out! Please remember to mark your Grading Request as Graded.

A shout-out to Ollic Rimesage, who was kind enough to make this template for me.