[Inner Warrens] Secrets in the Dark(Turrin)

by **Ainyi** on February 26th, 2014, 7:08 am

The Chiet's shoulders shrugged at the barrage of questions, wracking her brain for answers that didn't exist. She hugged Yasa to herself with one arm, and pinched at her brows in the other with eyes squeezed shut. After a few chimes collecting to herself, she opened her eyes, and appraised the Endal carefully.

"No, not annoying," She corrected slowly as her feet began to pace her about the space. "Just a lot to process. Mostly, I have eavesdropped on Dek, as that is who I saw him gathering with a few times, before death. Most of what I heard though, wasn't related. I told myself, if I didn't hear anything new or worthy in the next ten days, I would stop this method...this was meant to be one of my last nights of it. I suppose - we were both fortunate, then." Ainyi lifted the pained expression from her face, and offered a polite nod to his concerned face.

As Ainyi thought over the other questions she let out an exasperated sigh and raised a hand to her head. "Believe me, I have tried to remember everything that happened, everything that might lead to a hint, or a clue, but it's - ". She sighed and shook her head. "There are times I wonder if I'm chasing a paranoid dream. If his death was just as it was. It feels so strongly like murder yes, but these are coincidences. I have no proof, nor answers to your questions." The red head leaned against the wall, and smirked wryly at the dark haired Endal. "Though, I haven't wasted the night entirely, it seems."

There was an immense reluctance in her tone as she spoke, akin to a beaten woman admitting defeat. Her eyes followed Turrin as much as they betrayed her own guilt for her lack of proof. She wondered how he coped, as a clear mixed blood Endal. Often, her struggle as a lower caste member embittered her as much as they drove her, but at what price did this man's privilege come? To what degree was his politeness a plea for acceptance?

Snapping herself together, Ainyi cleared her throat. "All I remember is my father talking with some men in Katinu on some nights, and Dek on some others. He was quieter with me than usual once this started, and he wouldn't talk to me about it, and said it was private. I expected him to be happier after he became an Avora, but he seemed...troubled. Upset. Something was on his mind, but he was like this before. He'd gone out climbing the days before his death; he did that, sometimes, to clear his mind." She raised her eyes to meet his again, face friendly, but understandably joyless. "Does that help?"

by **Turrin** on February 27th, 2014, 12:00 am

Turrin listened to Ainyi. He wondered to himself if she had been obsessing over her father's death and not letting herself time to grieve. Normally, the Endal would care less about the Chiet's plight, but the desperation in her eyes was looking for anyone to help her find the truth in her father's death. The Myrian wished that he had a emotionless heart, but he cared to much about other people like his mother. Turrin's father Marak told him that the first thing that attracted him to Turrin's mother was her kindness. It was a trait both of Marak's children inherited from their mother Ceela, so he knew that he couldn't break a promise to her after he just made it. In the end, Ainyi concluded that her method to find the trust might be futile. However, the smile on Ainyi face made him wonder if she found something that she least expected, help from a Endal. The red haired woman was silent for a moment as she looked at him until she continued on with her story. Turrin listened to her and found out that Ainyi's father was talking to both dek and the upper castes, and their conversations seemed to trouble him. The Endal started to wonder if he was a part or assisting a rag-tag resistance group in Wind Reach trying to bring about change in the city. When she was finished with her story, Turrin asked one final question, “Honestly, there isn't much to go on, but it is a start. On my patrols, I will keep a ear out for any word about your father's death. Bragna was his name right?”

Turrin knew that he would be neglecting his job if he let her prowl the inner warrens looking for vigilantly justice. Also, he would never forgive himself if she found dead or worse in a dark corner during these dark times. However, he would need to convince her to abandon her current course of action. Looking into her tired eyes, Turrin said gently, “I will help you find out what happened to your father, but you need to first sleep and spent time grieving. You'll need a clear mind if you are going to bring these bastards to justice, Ainyi.” Turrin said with a nod of his head, “I want you to head back to your room and get some sleep. When you remembe..” Suddenly, Turrin got a idea, but he knew that Ainyi would need a clear mind to attempt it. He remembered Wind Reach had a spiritualist named Whisper, and if they can convince her to contact Bragna, they could get enough clues to start looking for answers into finding out Bragna's murder. However, the Valintar in his “infinite” wisdom closed down the only place in Wind Reach used as a memorial to the dead, the Shrine of Those Who Passed. Turrin gave the young woman a slow wide grin and said with a laugh, “I should have realized it sooner, but I know of a way to find the answers directly. There is a spiritualist in the Shrine of Those Who Passed named, Whisper. Maybe we can convince her to help us talk your father, but we have to wait till spring because the Valintar closed the shrine because of the famine. What do you think? Wanna try her and see if we can get some answers?”

As the Endal waited for a answer from Ainyi, Turrin realized that he needed to get back to his patrol. His flight leader will need to know the full story for arresting the criminals. He knew that guard duty frustrated him to no end, but if he could help this Chiet find justice, maybe this whole ordeal with the Despised, Zulrav, and the famine could fill the longing to fly with Aponivi again. Turrin looked at the criminal's short bow in his hand and decided to keep the weapon. Looking at Ainyi, the Endal said with a nod, “We have a lot of time to think about it, so there is no need to rush your answer, but I need to head back to my patrol. Do you need a escort back to your home?” Turrin waited in silence as he waited for her answer. Talking to Whisper would be a good idea, but he was not sure if she would agree to help them, so he needed to think of a alternative plan if she said no.

by **Ainyi** on February 28th, 2014, 8:34 am

"Honestly, there isn't much to go on, but it is a start. On my patrols, I will keep a ear out for any word about your father's death. Braghna was his name right?”

Ainyi nodded reproachfully. "Aye. Braghna. Found dead 72nd of Fall, this year. Thank you for your help, again, Turrin." She raised her eyes to him with a grateful, toothless smile, chin lowered in respect.

Despite this, his words about grieving struck her. She gripped Yasa a bit tighter, found her body more rigid, unmoving. Grieving without answers was a mad circle. To grieve, one had to come to peace with death. To come to peace with one's death, one had to have answers. When one didn't have answers...questions rose. Within ticks, Ainyi emotionally shut down. Her face went flat, she held Yasa across her chest, posture curled inwards. Her brow twitched. What did this man know of death? What did this man know of grief?

Breathing in deep, she exhaled slow, and nodded to him curtly at his suggestion of sleep. "I think that would be wise as well," she agreed softly. She was about to move herself when Turrin spoke further of Spiritualism. Ainyi found her eyes nervously making a jagged circle around the room, picking an object to stare at before moving it again. Be it gods, goddesses, or magic, Ainyi kept to herself, they kept to themselves, neither bothered the other, and everyone was happy. Ainyi could not deny to herself the strength and benefit that magic brought to this world, but so much of it...felt wrong to her. What little magic she had seen in life brought such great calamity to their already hard lives. Every fiber of her being wished to outright deny him and storm away, already feeling tepid at the emotions the conversation had kicked up. Breathing deep again, she exhaled, and met his eyes calm as she could. "I...I will sleep on it," She offered calm as she could. "I will need to think about it. It is not a bad idea."

As Turrin asked her if she needed an escort, Ainyi offered a small smile and held up Yasa with a quirk to her lips. "The Commonrooms are not far. I think I can handle myself fine, for the way home at least. We caused a ruckus, but nobody else saw or came out or about. So long as I lay low, I should be safe."

The archer shouldered Yasa, and checked that she had everything still. Nodding, she looked over her new found friend once more, and offered her arm in good will. A smile carried on her lips as she did so; a smile perhaps lessened by grief, perhaps tattered by weariness, but it remained in resilience for a moment of optimism.

"I am glad for our meeting, Turrin," she said genuinely, meeting his dark orbs with her own fiery green. "Have you any other questions before I take my leave? Any other words before I rest for the night?" Ainyi mentally groaned at the thought of waking up soon for work, but pushed past. Perhaps she would need a few nights off after all.

by **Turrin** on March 2nd, 2014, 6:18 am

Ainyi seemed hesitant about his plan about using Spiritualism to talk to her father, but the Chiet didn't rule out the possibility of using it either. He figured the woman would need to do some soul searching to speak to the dead. Turrin nodded when she told him the name of her father, Bragna. He will keep it in the back of his head on his patrols. Holding the confiscated short bow in his hand, Turrin stayed silent when Ainyi told him that she wanted to head back to her apartment alone. The Endal was sure the woman wouldn't have any trouble as long as she went immediately home. The myrian said softly, “Alright, just try to be careful, Anyi.” Turrin turned to walk away, but he hesitant for a moment, turned around said gently, “I am sorry about your loss. I lost my family in the djed storm two years ago, so I know what it like to have a hole in your heart that you can't fill...” The myrian said with a smile, “You will not have to face this alone. Goodbye Ainyi.” Turning away from the Chiet, the endal walked down the inner warren in search for the rest of his patrol.

Turrin walked down the sparsely lite corridor until he heard the sound of grunts and laughter. Turning the corner, Endal Naime Virra and the rest of the endal in his patrol were beating up on the large dek who was protecting his head from the blows. The Chiet woman was in the corner crying as the endal beat up on her brother. The myrian clenched his jaw in anger at the brutality of his comrades. The endal doubted the Dek would survive the wounds if he and his sister were thrown out of the city for their crimes. Turrin's golden eyes immediately went to his flight commander who was watching the abuse with a approving stare. The myrian clenched his jaw, stormed over to his flight leader Naime, grabbed her shoulder, and spun her around, and barked, “What is wrong with you? This man is already going to pay for his crimes, do you think beating half to death will make him learn his lesson.” When Naime got spun around, she used all her strength to him away her and said sharply, “Why are you defending them, Turrin? They tried to kill you! Honestly, I am being merciful right now...”

Turrin saw Sorel and Samen stopped there assault and stood there with watching the myrian face off with Nalme. It took Turrin a long time to be accepted by the rest of his flight, but Naime always had a special interest in Turrin. At one point in his past, Turrin was her second rider and lover, but the stress of being a Endals her being his superior took it toll on their relationship. Samen and Sorel knew about their past, but they didn't want to get involved, so they stayed the silent spectators as the large dek slumped to the ground. Turrin shook his head, pointed at the dek, and said plainly, “You are better than this Naime. What would Endal Risin say about your actions?” Turrin knew that he hit a sore spot with Naime because the old flight leader Endal Risin was her mentor who died in the djed storm two years ago. Seeing the blood leave her face, Naime bit her lip as she stared at Turrin for a chime and finally whispered, “You are cruel, Turrin...” Since Risin was the closest thing to Naime's father, she never forgave herself for not being there for him when he died two years ago. With the death of his sister and mother, Turrin was to emotionally distant from her to notice their relationship falling apart.

Walking close to Turrin, his commander looked into his golden eyes and reminded him, “I am your superior, so you will not lay your hands on me unless I give your permission. Do you understand?” Being culturally taught by the Myrians to listen to woman, Turrin eyes shifted away from her face and said with a nod, “I understand, commander.” Naime turned around, looked Sorel and Samen and ordered, “I want you both to stop. We will take them to the Valintar.” Spinning around on Turrin, she said with flat look, “Turrin, I want you to carry the dek to Valintar.” Knowing Naime was punishing him, Turrin let out a deep breath in defeat and grabbed the arm off the large dek and putting the dek's arm around his shoulder. He used his legs to lift the dek to his feet. When he got to his feet, Turrin saw Sorel grab the Chiet girl and lead her down the corridor. Feeling his legs start to burn, he slowly followed the rest of the patrol as they made their way out of the inner warrens.

by **Una Tanta** on April 7th, 2014, 7:33 pm

Ainyi :

Turrin :

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