Closed Empathy amongst Captives (Alexio)

[Taylani]

Time Stamp : 6th Fall 513

The sun rides high in the sky, the heat from summer giving way to a gentle warmth. Though with the Drykas and their tent city moving, it will never get too cold, something that anyone from a more ... permanent dwelling might have envied, if they found themselves in Endrykas by choice. The camp was bustling, the center of the camp near a large open area with a dais was being raised for what one might think a performance...or an auction would be held. A tight knot of single dwelling tents are raised around the area, and one larger tent where the less..cooperative captives were kept. However the captives that were not so captive, and those who were captive indeed but less violently opposed to such a thing were left in the midst of the camp. Where were they to go? Run off to the plains where anything could happen to them?

One such person sat, outwardly serenely if one was not watching closely, her eyes closed and her breathing very controlled. Too controlled. Her red hair striking against the darker coloring of most Drykas, its brilliant hues reflecting the sun back. Her skin, once pale and white now an angry shade of red, with hints of peeling already. Perhaps she knew her skin enough to know that nothing but a good weathering would protect it from such burns. For if one was a red head, with no freckles, one simply burned.

Her garb was plain, just a simple dress with a row of buttons to the top, no colorings were indicative and her feet were simple sturdy boots. Her legs were stretched before her, and her arms lay deceptively relaxed against her side. However, if one knew what to look for one might see that her eyes remained closed, though she is obviously not sleeping. One might notice how her body was slightly stiff rather then loose as her relaxed arms might have suggested.

No, Taylani was not serene in the slightest. Her eyes are closed against the city, the tents, the people. She wished she could close her nose to the unique smell that was Endrykas, the smell of horse and leather. Whenever a Drykas would approach, even with soft word or voice she would steadfastly ignore them for the most part. She hated the language they spoke, she despised the way that they seemed to expect her to accept this reality, yet she was too smart to try and physically fight them. She knew that to survive she would have to set aside anything they might do to her, knew she would have to keep her mind to herself. So far they had seemed courteous..if you considered she was clubbed upside the head and accosted courteous, but they fed her, they helped her with her physical needs. She hated that she had to accept that but she had no clue how to get food, water, or anything out here. Eventually she will have to ...thrive if she were to survive. IF even just until she could find a way back to Syliras, but she was not happy about it.

The Dancer instead spends her days thinking, mentally going through her dance poses, thinking of how to manage to break free from the barbarians. Thinking how she was going to get home.

"Taylani's Speech."

Thanks Edriena

[Aleixo]

They walked, his arm about her thin waist, Antia slumped against him. His sister needed rest. The journey to the traveling, hidden city in the grass had been so hard on her. But she needed a breath of fresh air as well. Aleixo had sat beside her all morning, watching her sleep, trying to coax her to eat something when she passed from fitful slumber to uneasy wakefulness. She had managed to drink some water and take a bit of flat bread, then promptly brought it back up again. This was why he had found a place for them off by themselves, somewhat. Antia’s constant morning sickness was offputting to the other captives, with the exception of a few empathetic women. These came and went occasionally, trying to offer suggestions about how to calm the girl’s queasy stomach. But Aleixo had none of the remedies they propounded – cinnamon, mint, chamomile. Through an interpreter he’d tried to ask for these things, but all that was offered was yet another Drykas, who’d examined his sister, and left some herbs with gestures and words that he took to mean he should make a tea of them. This he did, and he’d tried to get Antia to sip at it. But he’d tasted it himself, and knew how bitter it was. Antia had bravely tried to drink it down, but it had come back up too. That had been yesterday, and Aleixo was wondering if the Drykas woman would return and bring more of the herbs. She hadn’t as of yet, so he’d determined to go look for someone who could speak their language and perhaps ask for her. At first, he thought he’d leave Antia lying on her pallet. But she seemed so wan – he was almost afraid to leave her at all. And she’d said she needed some air. She wanted to get out in the warm sun. So he had helped her to her wobbly feet, and led her out of the tent, having to half support her slight weight as they walked along slowly.

Once outside, though, she did seem to perk up a bit. She smiled thinly, as some sort of bird of prey passed far overhead in the bright blue sky. This being out of doors, out in the wild, was something very new to both of the city dwellers – novel enough to still hold their awe. They both remarked on the sight of the bird soaring through the sky, so powerful and so free. Antia, for all that she was now the captive of the Drykas, was far more preoccupied with being ill and the unwanted pregnancy than she was with worrying about being held against her will. It wasn’t even clear that it was against her will, as far as she viewed things. She seemed almost indifferent to her state. Aleixo, of course, was here “voluntarily,” by dint of the series of events that led to his sister’s capture. It was all so strange and seemed like a weird dream to him, though every morning he awoke not to find it banished but to find it renewed, surrounded by strange sights and sounds and smells. He couldn’t say he found it displeasing. Though a city dweller, he found he enjoyed the freshness of life outside of stone walls. To his nose, accustomed though it was to Syliras, he found the earthy smells – even those of horses and Zabrizi – far preferable to unwashed humans packed together like sardines.

So they walked on and they had not gone far at all, constrained as they were to a perimeter set by their captors, when they happened upon a strange sight. It was Antia who remarked the flame headed girl first, with a murmured compliment to the unusual hue of her hair. Aleixo looked and he thought the girl’s posture and position most peculiar. She seemed to be meditating. He was inclined to leave her to her pursuit, whatever it was, when of a sudden his sister clutched harder at his arm and gasped. Immediately, she doubled over and what little there was in her stomach came forth, to spatter the ground almost at the feet of the unfortunate redhead.

[Taylani]

Taylani had heard movement near her, but she had not opened her eyes. To open her eyes would be to invite conversation, if they were Drykas it would be difficult and pointless as she did not intend on giving these demon barbarians anything of herself, including her company. If it be more captives, then she just as soon be left alone as well. Only because she could not handle any one else and their plight for the moment, so intent on her own plight.

So when the Dancer heard the telltale sounds, she was surprised but quickly jerked her legs back with a speed and flexibility that was honed after fifteen years of Dancing. Even so she had to take time to wipe flecks of refuse off her boot onto the grass. A dark look of annoyance slips over her face, but she does look up at the pair. She had heard talk amongst the other captives, not to her most left her alone these days and did not try to engage the bitter angry woman but to each other about these two. She, not kindly, in her mind did not figure the girl to last much longer in this city. Even though she had completely shrugged off most Drykas attempt at teaching her about this life, even she knew that one needed an edge to survive here. Particularly if one was a captive. Unless one was a willing captive, at that thought the dancer gives a slight grim grunt but realized that she might be expected to speak.

Figuring the girl was going to either be a mindless body when she finally breaks, or dead from lack of spirit does not mean that Taylani was cruel or insensitive. She was brisk, and abrupt when she speaks, but she does not speak of what truly she thinks. "Have you not gone to the Konti healer yet?" Her words are stilted and strained, almost breathless in the quality of the tight control she exerts. "She speaks fluent Common. And when she is not accosting young women recently hit upside the head, she knows what she is doing. She was with the party that kidnapped me. Unless she has left to attack other young women..she is probably near the medical tents." Again, she gives the wan looking girl a flat appraising gaze that hid nothing of her cold thoughts on the girls fate. "Word of advice. Don't coddle her. She would do better to learn strength and resilience....if that is possible." The last sentence is said in a slightly softer voice, intending truly to offer a bit of hope that the girl might bounce back...unless of course the girl was always this listless..

[Aleixo]

Aleixo could only watch helplessly as his sister hurled what little fluids were in her sick stomach onto the grass. Holding her by her shoulders to keep her from toppling right over, he tried to pull her long braid back from over her shoulders. It wasn’t a long episode, at least, not as far as contents spewing forth went. But Antia clutched at her heaving stomach and continued to retch, even after there was nothing left to disgorge. Her brother’s dark eyes flew to the red head with alarm and apology in their sad depths, as he stammered, “I’m so s- sorry! My sister…she’s ill.” Well, that went without saying. He amplified with, “They say she is pregnant – it’s the sickness that comes to most women. Sorry – she’s just not feeling well, and wanted to catch a breath of fresh air.” He of course saw the dark look on the once fair, now very pink face, though it was still downcast, and regretfully he also noted that the young woman had to wipe her boots off a bit. Finally the girl spoke, and her tone was curt, which Aleixo could understand, given what had just happened.

“No,” he replied. “We haven’t seen a Konti. There was another – a Drykas, I think. She brought herbs, for a tea. But my sister…she couldn’t keep that down either. I’m going to go look for someone to see if maybe they can recall her – the healer – but maybe I should ask for this Konti you speak of.” Alexio wasn’t sure if they were allowed the full run of the tent city, but he’d sure be finding out, if there was some other, better healer who might be able to help Antia.

The red head then gave his sister a close scrutiny and spoke again in a cool voice that held little sympathy. Aleixo was sorry that Antia had almost hurled on the girl, but he thought her manner insensitive, and her words uncaring. He had yet to really realize the truth that gave them their teeth.

“It may be possible,” he replied, his own voice going a bit chill. “But right now I don’t suppose you’re suggesting I just walk away and leave my sister to fall down on the ground, too weak to even walk back to her bed? I’m not coddling her – I’m taking care of her, for she has no-one else, and I’m the reason that she is here in the first place.” His tone was also a bit bitter with that last admission, for it was true. If he had not been so rash, they would not have been forced to flee Syliras.

By this point, the dry heaves that had racked Antia’s thin frame had subsided, and she raised her ashen face to her brother. “Don’t chide the girl,” she said in a still voice. “She’s right. Only a very strong person will survive out here.” Her tone seemed to imply that she did not count herself amongst such as those who were strong enough to do so.

Her pallid face turned towards the red head, and she gave her a small smile. “I’m Antia, and this is my brother, Alexio. Don’t mind him. You are right – he shouldn’t fuss over me so much.” The smile fled and a look of concern crept over the dark haired girl’s face.

“Are you OK? You said they hit you in the head? They attacked you? That must have been awful.” Antia straightened and took two wavering steps closer to the other girl. Her eyes fell to the girl’s feet, and she added, “I’m sorry too – about your boots. I – I hope I didn’t ruin them?”

[Taylani]

Heaving a soft sigh, yet the weight of the solitude and the sheer relief of hearing fluent common unaccented wore against Taylani's desire to wall herself away from others. Instead of ignoring the two, or turning away she stands, again the movements precise and sure, with no lack of balance as she slides from a sitting to a standing position easily. Her hand reaches out, not in anger or animosity but simply to steady the girl -and if she allows it- to guide her away from the small mess to another patch of yet more grass.

"Don't be silly." Taylani says toward the man, her eyes still queerly flat and blank. "I was not referring to her current state. Only that sheltering her and coddling her feelings will only serve to harm her in the future." She settles back, does not give Alexio an invitation out right, but she clearly left plenty of room beside his sister to sit if he so chose. "I am not sure what these...these people want from us. But considering that if we are not so ..volatile we are left to roam, I don't think it is ...dreadfully mortal." She arranges her very plain skirts around her, more to give her hands something to do before she speaks once again to the young girl.

"Hit on the head, or coerced with little choice in the matter? Does it matter how anyone is brought here, if it is not in their will to come?" She asks, her eyes staring at the other girl for a while, trying to ascertain her age. "What matters is ..that no amount of pleading will change the minds of these people. No amount of bargaining seems to work. I only assume you are captives because of the lack of accented Common. I could be wrong, but if I am not. " She shrugs, "Taylani is my name." The last was added more to cut off the train of thought.

[Aleixo]

Antia took the outstretched hands, grateful for the added steadying strength of them, though the redhead was built on perhaps deceptively delicate lines. She smiled her thanks and the two girls walked a few steps, to settle back down on the grass away from the patch which Antia had christened. Alexio was still glowering, but he did listen to the other captive, knowing in his heart that her words held a solid grain of truth. Antia would have to get strong, somehow. This world they were now a part of was a harsh one. The Drykas lived much closer to the earth and nature than the Sylirans in their walled fortress of a city. Here, life was raw and uncertain, and the other girl was right – only the strong would survive. This realization was not a new one for Aleixo. But he just didn’t know how to help his sister be strong, when she was starting out with a clear handicap in this game.

As Antia was now sitting beside the flame headed girl, Aleixo sat as well, on the other side of his sister. Almost without thinking, his arm went to wrap about her waist and she sank back to rest against him, as their new acquaintance continued to speak. Antia looked wistful, as she chimed in, “I wish I could be stronger. But I feel so exhausted. I think it must be the child.” Her hand went to her belly, and her expression held no joy at the prospect of bearing the son or daughter of the man who had violate her – a man now dead, at the hands of the brother sat beside her. He in turn gave her a little squeeze of encouragement and comfort, and added his own thoughts to what the other girl had just said.

“I agree, it’s very puzzling. Antia and I were taken at sword point, though to be honest, I was given the option to stay behind. I guess being unarmed they didn’t feel I posed any great risk that I’d try to follow and release Antia. So I chose to come with them, to be with her, and so I’m completely at a loss to know – are we slaves, or are we to be come citizens, or… what?” Aleixo was not making it general knowledge why he and Antia were fleeing Syliras in the first place, and that he at least had no option to go back to his one time home. He felt it would be foolish in the extreme to brand himself a murderer by his own words, and so this other reason for choosing to come to Endrykas – to continue to look after his sister – made a handy excuse, though it was real enough. And his puzzlement over their status was quite genuine too. The best he could describe it was that they women taken were slaves with the possibility of being something better than that, if they were cooperative. The children – and there were many of them, which had quite surprised him – were being treated as potential offspring, so their lot seemed the better of the two. For himself, and the very few other males who had chosen to come with the raiding parties, well…that was amorphous still. He felt should he choose to walk away right this very moment – right out of the traveling city and on into the sea of grass – no hand would be raised to stop him. Why should they? They didn’t want a man who didn’t want to be here – too troublesome and too risky. And the chances that he’d survive any journey out there were basically nil. So there was little risk that he would go off and gather up a rescue party. So it would seem the Drykas were somewhat indifferent to him – happy to have him if he chose to stay, uncaring if he chose to leave. So…he seemed not a slave at all, yet, still, they were to be auctioned off, or so he’d been told. What in the hell did that make him? He just didn’t know…

The other girl’s words seemed to echo his thoughts, for she spoke of being coerced to come here, whether by brute force, as seemed to be her case, or not. Antia’s dark eyes widened as the girl spoke again of being hit on the head, and it was clear she was looking at the girl to search for signs of the wound.

“That’s horrible!” she exclaimed softly, her hands pressing against the redhead’s. “We were taken without any violence. I – I was in no condition to protest. And Aleixo had no weapons, only a small dagger. If he had tried to interfere, though…” She paused and looked fearful. “He would have been killed, I’m sure of it.” Her voice was barely a whisper, as she uttered the harsh reality of the desperate actions of a people in need of new blood. She turned her face to look at her brother, and added with a ghost of smile, “I’m glad you were wise Aleixo. If you had tried…” Her voice broke off, as she clearly could not again speak aloud what would have been his fate. She knew he felt a great deal of guilt, and inadequacy, for not being able to save her. Over and over she had reassured him that – what did it matter? Endrykas or Zeltiva? Her life was destined to be one of work and marriage and children. And in the traveling, hidden city of tents, there was really less chance that anyone would ever identify him as one wanted in Syliras for murder. The riders offered them protection that they would not have been guaranteed on the arduous road to Zeltiva, and they spoke of a new life – wasn’t that what they were seeking anyway? Antia knew, despite her words, that Aleixo still harbored both guilt and doubt, but – what could they do? Better that he was alive, and with her, then dead, or traveling to Zeltiva by himself.

As his sister took a moment to steady herself, emotionally, Aleixo nodded and said, “Yes, we’re from Syliras, though I believe there may be some amongst us who are from other cities. We were intercepted on the Kabrin Road, and as my sister has said, the Drykas were not required to club us into submission.” His tone was bitter, but much of his anger was self-directed.

Antia, recovered now, and hoping to divert her brother’s anger, turned back to the other girl. “It’s good to meet you Taylani, even under these circumstances. And yes, good to hear the accent of our home. What did you do there? I was working as a seamstress, my brother as a blacksmith, just like our parents, though they passed away three summers ago, when that fever swept through the city, you remember?”

Overhead, the bird of prey still circled lazily, sweeping the ground with its sharp eyes, on the look out for its lunch.

[Taylani]

Eying the man that the girl had introduced as Alexio a little less suspiciously now as the girl tells their tale, Taylani settles against the grass once more affecting the look of someone who does not care of her surrounding. She had not been sure about Alexio all along, because of her experience with Reaut during her capture. "One can not be too careful," She didn't realize she had spoken aloud until she heard her own voice and twin red brows raised. "Sorry, I was thinking and spoke out loud. The men I don't know, not even really certain of my own fate. I know that I was told to learn and watch, so I watch. I was taken on the 77th of Summer. What is it now, the days blend together the 5th 6th of Fall?" Shrugging, she registered the other girls hand on her hand, but she simply glanced down but did not move her own hand. It was far more pleasant talking to someone with fluent common then she had thought it would be. She missed the easy conversation more then she realized.

"There are men here who are here voluntarily.." She flicked her eyes toward Alexio but there was no malice, for he was technically here voluntarily. "Who actively help in the raids of our people. Traitors who are given weapons and ...." She flipped her hand over to show she didn't know. "One was named Reaut, he was with me when I was..."

"There are rumors, surely they are just scare talk amongst the captives, that say that there has been a decree that all unmarried Drykas must be present when...well when we are presented." She did not continue, leaving the implications of that to hang in the air, her blue eyes turning flat and hard for a moment.