Flashback [Closed] An Ocean Away

[Kirvan Deepseeker]

3rd of Summer, 512 AV Patchwork Port "You've been to Zeltiva how many times?" As per usual, the oddity that was Patchwork Port was in constant motion with the day's activities, not bustling busy but certainly active. People traded things with ships from other cities, preparing carts to take the goods into Alvadas proper, as well as helped merchants load and unload cargo. They were on an odd bunch, with even stranger homes on the piers ranging from high to low and tall to short and wide to narrow, yet they seemed honest and friendly enough. Of course, they were a tight-knit community being only in about their hundreds, and communicating amicably between them was easy. The old man that stood beside Kirvan watching it all chuckled. "Ah, more times than I could care to count," he answered. "Which is not actually very high to be quite honest with you." Kirvan looked out to sea, at the small fleet of fishing boats hard at work in the Suvan to fill their quota, the teams working efficiently having known each other for who knows how long. Also out on the sea was a pod of svefra, a large family of a couple palivars and a handful of casinors, some of which had nets extended themselves to fish in whatever spots weren't occupied by the port's fishing fleet. They were restocking their supplies of landward goods in Alvadas, a process that didn't usually take long, and most of the pod had opted to stay out on the water where they could quickly leave once their shore-bound podmates returned. Not Kirvan though. He liked hearing stories that many land-dwellers told, though he happened upon maybe the one man in the port who had more sailing experience than he did. "You must know the gut quite well then," the svefra stated. "Only went through it a couple times myself, one down south and one back north, and it did not go smoothly either time." Another chuckle from the old man. "Aye, she's full of treacherous water that's for certain takes experience and skill to make it through her alright, though smaller ships may actually be at an advantage. More room to maneuver, and less likely to attract the attention of undesirables. Not that you'd have any trouble from them, seeing as you are their kin and all." The old man's name was Wharf, a self-explanatory name if a bit odd, though he was completely serious when he introduced himself. Then again, what wasn't odd in the place? "True," Kirvan responded, "though my pod doesn't prey on trader vessels. Instead, we hunt those who aren't our kin who have the gall to pirate on our waters, given to us by our Sea Father Laviku. We're very accepting and understanding of our cousins who do raid ships and demand pay for safe passage, but we try not to associate ourselves with them too much. Our pod is trying to build its own reputation." Wharf shrugged, unconcerned with the politics of it all. "Well, I'll be thankful for less piracy on these seas at any rate, regardless of who it is that gets the blade. The trip between here and Syliras only a few days over is treacherous enough without having some desperate scoundrel come in and crush you for fear of someone else getting to you first." Looking back, the old man's attention seemed to be caught by something. Kirvan turned to follow his gaze, and saw a woman walking briskly away. he turned to Wharf then for an explanation, and the seasoned sailor grinned, a difficult expression on his face. "That'd be the wife," he clarified, and the svefra understood somewhat. His culture didn't have wives, but he'd heard about these women from the land dwellers and they sounded like people of considerable power. Wharf extended his hand. "Well, nice to meet you Kirvan. Hope your travels take you back here sometime." The svefra grinned, taking the offered hand. "You too Wharf, and thanks for the stories. I'm counting on it." Both of them nodded, and after a few minutes of watching the old sailor follow the wife Kirvan turned back to the sea, sitting on the end of the pier he was on. The podmates sent to trade for meats and rope were not yet ready, so he had some time to kill. He considered going for a swim, after all it was the right season.

[Tatiam]

The mists of Alvadas weren't such a welcomed factor in Tatiam's life that early morning. As much as she loved the illusions, the maze of the city made it quite difficult to travel and get wherever she wanted. There had been times when the folly of it all spoke to her heart; The mysteries just as cryptic as her dreams, every road twisted and the signs misleading. It felt like for the first time, life was boldly represented as it really was. Every day like a pilgrimage, the traveler would fast and search for who knew how many bells, looking for a tavern, a way back to the inn, or a specific shop, and encounter the most unbelievable things. It was a source of inspiration for her art, and at times, Tatiam wouldn't even find it a task to make her way where she wanted. But not that day. It had been at least a couple of hours since she had left the inn with the intention to continue her travels. The young woman had no place where she belonged, no ties, no bonds, and there was so much of the world to discover. Whatever would await her in the roads ahead was up to her to find out. But until the Maw would show up, it was all just speculation. It felt like a test of sorts, one that questioned her will, the roads curving back in and insisting on keeping the foreigner in Alvadas. Until Tatiam sighed and decided to let go and abandon her chase, the Gaping Maw finally appeared before her, after a left turn and then a right. The sight outside Alvadas felt refreshing, like a long forgotten memory. Guided by her feet and the salty air, the exiled walked without rest, eating seldom snacks on her way towards the inner sea. Eyes cast on the vast expanse of water as she walked towards the Port, the copper brown-haired woman smiled, having missed that sight for years. As she approached and crossed merchants en route to the city to sell their wares, Tatiam noticed a fair amount of ships docked and others in the nearest waters, the small harbor rather lively. What now? she asked herself, setting foot on the quay's large wooden planks. All that long walk under the Sun had covered her forehead with sweat, she was thirsty and had no idea who to address for questions. People were busy making trades and moving stock, so Tatiam resolved to rest for the time being. She removed her boots and set them aside, then plunged her feet in the water close to the shores as she exhaled, her sore feet finally able to take a short break. Eyes drawn to the horizon once more, she admired the impressive sails on the ships, an untold longing surfacing the consciousness of her mind. After a few moments of taming the new area, Tatiam's amber eyes threw glances in all directions at the stirring crowd of people, trying to identify the sailors from the townsmen and traders. If I could talk to one of them, she thought, maybe... Maybe...

[Kirvan Deepseeker]

Kirvan sat there at the end of the pier, kicking at the salt water that he called home. He had been here to Alvadas a few times before, though he'd never gone into the city proper. Tales of all sorts of strange things ran through the small port, most of which Kirvan had a lot of trouble believing, yet he was superstitious like all Svefra and wondered at the mysterious power of the city on the hill. He'd met a friend here once long ago who'd been in the city proper, but at the time there were other things on their mind that drew their attention away from Alvadas. Sighing, Kirvan withdrew his feet from the water and picked up his shoes, growing infinitely more bored the longer he spent here inactive. Again he entertained thoughts about swimming while he waited, but if they had to go then they would be waiting for him as he swam back to his boat, and as much as he hated to admit it he was not the greatest nor the fastest swimmer of all. In fact, his knowledge extended to the basics of the activity and no further. It took all his concentration to keep both his arms and his legs moving, and he on occasion forgot to keep them straight. So no, perhaps not swimming just now. So he resolved to do something else he loved doing: talk to someone else. Like he had been doing with Wharf. Stories were always fun to swap, and the old sailor couldn't be the only one around here with an interesting history. Though Kirvan was doubtful that he'd find someone nearly as tight with the ocean as the old coot was, finding him was sheer dumb luck. Still, there was more to Mizahar than the sea, so Kirvan turned around to find someone who looked as if they could spare some time for a conversation. His eyes fell on a slender woman standing in the surf, tan skin clad in blue garments. Her light brown hair fell in braids down her body, and she had some piercings in her ears and nose. Bright orange eyes looked to the seaward horizon before sweeping across the surrounding activity, hinting at a curiosity at the things around her. Behind her, it looked as if she had packed her bags, her shoes and satchel lying in the dry sand where they wouldn't be ruined by the salt water. She looked as if she was traveling, if not to Alvadas then at least about to head somewhere else. Or maybe she was a recent arrival? Only one way to find out. "Ho there stranger!" Kirvan called out, his bare feet padding along the docks. When he drew near, he hopped onto the beach and sat on the edge of the wooden pier, burying his feet into the sand. "Looks as if you're headed somewhere. Where to, and where are you from?"

[Tatiam]

"Ho there stranger!" heard Tatiam as she searched for the voice's source, finding in its place a tall, lean and fit man with pale features, walking towards her. At the expense of looking goofy, she glanced behind her, making sure the blond young man wasn't talking to someone else. Still slightly incredulous after she'd done so, the mixed-blood waded in his direction, observing his light and carefree demeanor as he hopped down on the beach and dove his feet into the sand. "Looks as if you're headed somewhere. Where to, and where are you from?" asked the man from the Port. The tan-skinned woman chuckled, amused by his intense straightforwardness, then took in a long puff of fresh air. "I've been in Alvadas," she replied vaguely, acquiescing to his guess. The young woman smiled at him with eyes squinting from the bright sunlight, grateful that he intervened when he did. She had been contemplating the idea of diving in for a swim just earlier, an undoubtedly silly and possibly troublesome idea. Curious, she joined him and sat on the side of the pier, watching the waves wash up on the shore. "I'm not too sure where I'm going," Tatiam admittedly shared. "The sea looked like a nice place to walk to, but I don't know where I can go from here. I'm tired of Alvadas, it's a weird place... I need something a little less... confusing. I've been told Syliras was a big, busy city, with many things. Maybe varied enough for someone like me." There was a hint of irony in her last statement, where Tatiam didn't exactly insinuated that she was a freak, but definitively somewhat different from the norm. In a moment's realization, Tatiam glanced back whence the blond man came, farther along the docks, and turned to him. "Are you, by any chance, a sailor?" she asked, her voice betraying interest in the subject. "My mother was a sailor too..." confided the copper brown-haired stranger suddenly, undeniably influenced by the man's direct approach. Her tone was dreamy, distant and full of awe when she glanced at the polished iron ring on her finger, an intimate smile on her features. Tatiam recalled the stories her mother would tell her when she was a child. It was a rare sight, as delicate and fragile as it was ephemeral, vanishing as soon as her gaze rested on the young man, awaiting his answer. The seascape was here, there was no reason to dream anymore. Perhaps... hoped Tatiam, unable--or maybe unwilling--to formulate her secret wish even in thoughts.

[Kirvan Deepseeker]

Kirvan regarded the strange woman with amusement as she looked behind her to make sure that he was, indeed, talking to her. It was an understandable gesture for certain, after all there were plenty of people in the Patchwork Port, but that didn't make the motion any less funny. Her reaction was almost as if she couldn't believe he was actually talking to her, a notion that Kirvan found confusing as he couldn't think of any reason why he wouldn't talk to her, but he didn't tax his mind thinking about that. After chuckling a bit - had he said something funny? - she answered in a way that didn't exactly answer what he had asked. Well of course she was from Alvadas, she hadn't come here from some distant city to enjoy the beach. The childish frustration played out on his features for a bit, but he did not let it linger as he found himself wrapped up in her words as she began to elaborate. Well, he thought she was going to. The Svefra looked at the stranger as she sat down next to him and spoke a bit more. For a second, he thought she was going to share some epic story, but instead she turned the topic of conversation back on him. Mildly frustrated by the lack of answer, Kirvan still paid close attention to her voice. "Yes, I am a sailor," he answered shortly, guessing she had more to say on the matter. Turns out she did, mentioning something about her mother before losing her gaze to a simple iron band around her finger. Kirvan could see nothing special about it, but as the woman's eyes turned almost dreamy he guessed that it had some sentimental value. Instinctively his fingers went to his chest, to the necklace of glass beads around his neck, hidden beneath his shirt. When her eyes refocused on him, it was clear that she was waiting for him to say more. So he did. "Well, more than a sailor actually," Kirvan started, a little surprised she didn't make the connection sooner. Maybe she was from inland? "I'm a Svefra, a child of Laviku and the sea, with his blue eyes to show that I am gifted." He shifted his gaze directly into hers so that she could see them better. "We live on the sea thanks to Laviku's blessing and generosity,so sailing is more a way of life than a way of travel. Though I suppose your mother was more of the latter?" he ended, trying to shift the conversation back over to his counterpart.

[Tatiam]

Tatiam noticed the sailor's expression changing when she talked. Was it something she said? Or perhaps something I didn't say, thought the young land-traveler. Her evasiveness had proven to be quite a useful way for her to get around without notice. Most people didn't really pay attention to the answers anyway. Her amber eyes stared at him attentively, listening to the man talk about his people, a slight curve at the corner of her lips. There was a hint of pride as the sailor talked, she noticed, and she found herself slightly attracted, or perhaps envious of this sense of belonging. A life on the sea... she mused internally, only capable of appreciating the romantic idea of it, and not its reality yet unknown to her. Tatiam glanced at the beautiful, bright colors of his blue eyes, nodding slightly. Gifted, she scoffed in thoughts, reminded of a very similar concept among... what used to be her own. It wasn't a derisive vision of the Svefra, for she just began to learn about them... Thanks to this young man. Perhaps it truly meant something among Laviku's children, Tatiam told herself, leaving aside any thought pertaining to the Inarta. "Maybe..." she pondered, raising her head to answer him more extensively. Though, Tatiam was still surprised at the interest the blond man gave her. It was almost pure, innocent, maybe childlike, even. Why did it matter so much? Maybe he's just bored out of his mind... Well, he was listening. "I... Haven't spent a lot of time with my mother when I was growing up. I probably had a lot on my mind, but I didn't get to ask her where she was from, what her family was like..." Despite leaving a lot of details aside, Tatiam was careful in her answers. If it was to share something about herself, she'd do her best to keep it as true and authentic as possible. Otherwise, there was no point in doing so. "All I know is that she told me sailor's stories when I was a child, and if she ever lived on the land before she met my father, she had nothing to say about it." "Your people..." started the tan woman, "They travel everywhere? Even to, say... Denval?"

[Kirvan Deepseeker]

Why was she teasing him so? That one word suggesting so much more to say, so much more that she was keeping hodden from him. What did he need to do to get her to talk? Most people woukd spill their life's story at a word, which was whatbKirvan had grown used to. This was the fist time he came across someone who actually tried to hide their past, and he couldn't say he was liking the change. Stories were what kept his curiosity fed, they told him of great places and great deeds. Even if they were legemds, stories opened his mind to the rest of the world beyond the sea, a world he would never get to visit because of his blood and loyalty to Laviku. These glimpses were the best he could afford, which was why he tried so hard to get them. When she finally decided to allow him a peak into her past, Kirvan listened with rapt attention, paying close attention to the details. Those she gave at least. So, her mother was a sailor as well, a woman true to the sea? What more was there? Which sea did she frequent? This stranher still had yet to say from where she was from, so which sea it was that her mother knew well was unknown as of yet. Each little tease left him wanting more, and he was incredibly frustrated she wasn't elaborating. Why wasshe holding back? The name of the town caused Kirvan to think for a moment. He'd heard of it, but he'd never actually learnt that much about it. The name didn't match any town in the North Suvan, so chances were it was farther south - or maybe in the outer seas? "My own pod has never been to this Denval place," Kirvan admitted. "We stick to the North Suvan, so we don't go to the south that often and the outer seas hardly ever. The Svefra are everywhere though, and if it's pn the coast chances are there were some there at one time or another. Where is Denval exactly?"

[Tatiam]

For a moment, Tatiam had gone through a series of doubts and suspicions about the Svefra. What were his intentions? Why was he so determined on learning about her? The exiled had something to hide, after all, even if it'd been four years... She could never forget, never let her guard down. Not drunk nor asleep, every word about herself had to be weighted carefully. Lies worked too, but the artist figured that they could be treacherous. Simple was the way to go... Even after all that time of practice, the illusion of her second life didn't cover everything. Sometimes it was tricky to delimit what she should completely avoid, and which subject was delicate. What would lead to another question, what would satiate the blond man's interest...? It was becoming a little unnerving. What if they had been looking for her? These Inarta and their eagles, they could have spread the word easily. But it was hard to say... Whether her disappearance was an unforgettable offense, or a favored riddance. They had their pride, though... One Tatiam inherited of, as well. Somewhat. They probably think I'm dead... Could they really recognize me now...? It was impossible for the young woman to perfectly keep her features from betraying a hint of worry, but gladly, the sea dweller spoke and directed her thoughts towards another, less troubling subject. Tatiam nodded with interest, wondering if her mother had been one of them. She looked nothing like that young man with pale features though... Figuring out her ancestry wasn't going to be easy. At his question, she stood and glanced at the general area, the beach's curve in the land and the Kitrean mountain range. "I can't be perfectly sure..." she started, trying to evaluate and calculate where exactly Denval would be from where she stood. Finally, she pointed towards the East and slightly North. "It'd be over there, on the complete opposite side of the land, by the ocean." Tatiam sat back beside the young man as she was before, turning to him. "So you don't leave the Suvan? And you don't... you won't visit the lands...? That's some kind of rule, or.. law among yourselves or...?" Ah, freedom. Was never an easy concept.