Open [Port] A Morning Adventure

[Briza]

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38th of Summer, 514AV

A new day is a good day at least that is what Aska had always told her when she had woken and visited him. No longer would his sweet voice, with overlaying tones of bitterness, speak into her mind; only her memory.

She gazed out from the door of the inn and took in her surroundings. She'd been her for quite a while now, but had preferred to keep to herself, trying to come to terms with this new place, and decide whether she should stay. Time was passing quicker than expected, however, and it was now time to venture out and explore properly, besides, Braije was probably getting cabin fever from being stuck in the stables for so long. Either that, or he'd taken to causing mischief amongst the other horses and stablehands.

She ducked out of the yard, and made her way around the corner to the stables, hearing at once Braije's winny of disaproval. It was like he was asking "where have you been?"
She smiled to herself as she entered, and was surprised to see the horse already tacked and ready to go. She looked at the closest stablehand with an eyebrow raised. "Ma'am, he kept nudging his saddle, and being a right rat he was, so I saddled him and he settled," the flustered boy spat out, ducking down as if waiting to be clipped.
Briza smiled at him, and simple nodded, knowing her companions antics. She then proceeded to unlatch the stalls door and lead the dancing horse out onto the street, where she promptly climbed into the saddle and set off on an exploration.

She found herself crossing over a bridge, into what she assumed was another part of this large place. Coming off the bridge she figured she could follow a small path that seemed to wrap along the shore, and out of sight. "Heres to hoping it doesn't end in a cliff," she sighed, patting Braije's neck and setting out along the path.

As she wandered, she noticed ahead of her what appeared to be some kind of port, she'd heard about boats from those among her people who had travelled, but was amazed to see them bobbing in the water like childrens toys. With a yip to Braije, she set off at a fast paced trot, dodging any who wandered the streets, until she found herself staring down peir at the ships that seemed far more formiddable up close.

She grinned in childish delight at her discovery, ignoring several illmeant remarks for bringing her damned horse down this far. It was the most joy she had felt since, well since the accident.

The water looked inviting, despite the vessels upon it, but Briza was no fool, five seconds in that water and she'd either be drowned, or potentially eaten by whatever lived in those depths. So instead, she sat astride her horse and enjoyed the pleasant salt water breeze as it brushed over her, watching the comming and goings of the port in the morning light.



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[Drefan]

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38th of Summer, 514 AV

Drefan had just walked away from his friend, searching the crowd for a street to reach an inn or a tavern. He sighed, frustrated, allowing his hood to fall back and allowing his red hair to waver in the breeze.

The warm air of the docks caused his hair to ruffle slightly as he gazed out over the bay, slowly walking along the dockside, his hand idly stroking the eagle feathers lining the edge of his cloak. His blue eyes grew slightly misty as he stared at the bright sun. "If only Vashi could have seen this day." He murmured to himself. Despite leaving the homeland, and the painful loss of his eagle, he had never felt so alive as he had since he had gone into the world. Nothing had been the same, and his only regret was that Vashi could not be there to see it.

Shaking his head with a sigh, he resumed his morning walk. His brother had cast off early that morning, declaring that he would not need his protection on a simple fishing venture, leaving Drefan with a day to himself. He scowled. He did not like feeling useless, and his only other goal, tracking down the hunter with the Black Arrow had gone cold months ago.

As he was lost in his own private musings, unconsiously shutting out the clamor and noise of the portside docks, he couldnt help but notice a new sound, the noise of horse hoofs on cobblestone. He moved towards the side of the road, not intending to be ridden down, as he glanced up curiuosly, searching for the rider--

--Red hair. His eyes widended. It had been years since he had seen such vibrant red, not since he had left the homeland of his people. He unconsiously started to work his way through the crowd, approaching the mounted redhead. Clearing his throat, he glanced up at her.

"Good morning." He said in a low voice. His voice was as usual a growl, and despite his attempts to make his voice sound less threatening, it still came out as if he had been screaming for the last fortnight.
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[Briza]

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38th of Summer, 514AV

She'd sat almost montionless for many minutes, though she hadn't really paid attention to how much time had passed. The hustle and bustle of the port was new and exciting to her, even if it was slightly scary. She'd watched in awe as ships had docked and people had scrambled onto the docks, trying not to laugh when some didn't get their land legs right away.

As she gazed around she noticed in the crowed a shock of red hair, something she'd not expected to see here. Though she knew her own people were of reddish tone, she was not sure if others were, so she kept an open mind as the person approached.

He stood beneath her mount, who was not impressed by the intrusion and shook his head in annoyance. "Don't mind the horse, he's a frightful nuisence sometimes," she stated to him, patting Braije over the saddle, a slight hint to settle himself. "It is quite a good morning, isn't it! I can't remember if I've ever seen this many people fall over, quite the entertainment," she giggled at this, and swung down from the saddle, keeping a firm hand on the reigns lest Braije thing it fun to push weak legged people into the water.

She didn't find the newcommers voice at all threatening, in fact it reminded her of the gruff voices of the male rides when they'd returned from flying. Such things should not be thought of though, for they brought her great sadness.

"So, you look of kin, where do you hail from?" She asked, using the common language as she did not want to speak in native in case he did not understand.

Whilst she awaited his answer, she spotted a small crop of grass along the water line, it must have been hardy stuff to survive so close to the salt. She let go of Braije's reigns with a sharp look into his eyes that meant "Don't go further", and he walked over to the grass to graze.



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[Drefan]

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38th of Summer, 514 AV

Her open and simple manner amused Drefan, and a rare smile graced his lips as she mentioned all the people falling over. However, when she asked her question, Drefan paused, hesitating a moment before answering.

"I was born in Wind Reach." He answered slowly, and then tilted his head. "I am of Inarta, aye, but it has been many, many seasons since I have been there." He turned, staring out over the sea. Remembering the Inarta homeland was something he did not do frequently. The raging winds, the pleasant laughter in his old home, the former friends he would go eagle riding with-

Drefan closed that door in his mind, once more putting on what he hoped was a decent smile. "Ah, I forgot." He turned to her and bowed politely. "My name is Drefan Vashi. Always a pleasure to meet such a fair lady."

Inwardly, he cursed himself. There was a reason he never thought about his past, and he certainly didn't want to bring it up in front of someone he had just met. He only hoped she would not ask about his eagle feather cloak, or about why he was outside of the homeland. He had been trying to keep a low profile, in order to more easily conduct his search.
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[Briza]

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38th of Summer, 514AV

She gazed at him, her amber eyes sharp in the morning light. He seemed sad, much like herself often was. She thought about what she could say to him, but she wasn't sure he wanted her to know of his sadness. He was Eagle Rider, of that much she was sure, he carried himself in the unmistakeble way of her people. Yet, he was here, and his eagle was not, and what a strange place for an Inarta too be, floating about on the strange sea, rather than high in the peaks of on the back of an Eagle.
"It is a pleasure to meet with you, Drefan of Windreach," her voice was soft and thoughtful, she refused to use his 'last name', as she knew what that name actually was.
"I am Briza (Aska), also of Skyinarta and Wind Reach," her introduction was in native Nari, she wished not too bring a great amount of attention to herself, for she had the feeling her kind was not common when away from the peaks of Skyinarta.

"There are questions I wish to ask, but I know you wish them not to be asked, so for the moment I shall hold my peace, but the questions will be asked eventually," she stared into his eyes, making it very clear that eventually she would ask, and eventually he would answer, for it was not their way to be deceitful or tell half truths, she just hoped that his time among these others had not change him so far from his kin.

She turned her gaze away from him, returning it to look over the mouth of the river, and into the sea, it's waves churning up the sand near the banks, and battering against the already washed-smooth rocks.
"A strange place, this is," she mused under her breath, keeping an eye on Braije in the corner of her vision. He was eyeing off the last stragglers from a newly docked boat. She turned her attention fully to him, catching his eye and glaring him down. Now was not a time for being a trickster.
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[Drefan]

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38th of Summer, 514 AV

Drefan, hearing her words, sighed heavily. He should have known these questions would occur, and he blinked, staring into the sky. He wrapped his cloak a little tighter around himself, despite the summer heat. The touch if the feathers that once belonged to his friend was... comforting.

"As you wish, Briza." He said, a slightly bitter tone infusing his words. Then he shook his head, shaking off the sadness and presenting her with a smile. "I must confess, seeing one of my people after so long away from home is quite... warming." His smile was honest, and contained no trace of the former sadness. "It is also refreshing to hear my native tongue after so long hearing Common, and whatever gibberish those Svefra speak." His eyes twinkled with a mischevious expression as he lapsed into Nari. He too recognized the significance of her being present without an eagle, and at once he felt a kinship with her, an understanding.

"If you ever need my aid, I would not hesitate to aid a fellow Inartan." He held out his hand. "You may find me at night, on that Casinor, the Marlin's Arrow."
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[Briza]

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38th Summer, 514AV

She grinned at him, letting the coldness of her gaze slip from her like a coat from her shoulders. Regardless of his history and his secrets, he was kin, and she would treat him as such.
"Thank you for your kind offer my friend," she answered him, her smile wavering slightly as she remembered many things from her past and present. Her situation was not what one would call ideal, she was potentionally going to end up in debt, or dead, and neither idea appealed to her.

"Say, I don't suppose you have an old bow laying around? I left mine behind before I left the mountains," she threw him a sad smile, being without a bow may not have been as painful as being with her bird, but it felt much the same to her, being that she had neither for the moment.

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[Drefan]

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38th of Summer, 514 AV

Drefan smiled at her. Her sudden openness was like a breath of fresh mountain air, cooling and soothing to one such as he. "I've got a bow, aye. Though I must say, I'm no longer the shot I once was with it. Perhaps you would put it to better use than I." He leaned on the railing, admiring her brilliant red hair.

"I favor my sword, more than the bow." He held up his sheathed sword, the unadorned blade winking in the light. "Its never let me down, so far." He replaced the weapon on his right side. "A bow, I can easily provide. Arrows as well." His usual cold manner was rebuffed by her kindness and her energy, and he couldnt help but give her kindness in return, in his own way. Perhaps, here is a person who truly understands... He thought to himself
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[Briza]

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38th Summer, 514AV

She sighed, a deep, soulful expression of air. "That is a marvelous thing, I feel somewhat naked without my bow," she allowed the grin to stay on her face, and lowered her eyes slightly, a sign of respect. How lucky she was that she'd ran into this fellow, and what a strange twist of fate, being so far from home, yet feeling so close.

She was starting to feel a pang of hunger, and remembered with a start that she had a map in her backpack, perhaps it would shed some light on where to eat.
Skimming her eyes over the multiple business on the map, they alighted on a place called Kulkukan Tavern and Inn, a place that appeared to offer food. She had a few coins on her to buy a meal, and she could do with a hearty one, to sate her appetite for the day.

"Drefan, do you fancy a bite of food?" She asked, her grin widening as she pointed to the tavern on the map. She'd unconsciously slipped into common language, but was not overly worried, for what was sinister about discussing food? Nothing she could think of.

"It is on the map, here," she pointed again to it "if we cut through here," pointing to a spot between Nysols Tower and Sapphires Star, " we should be almost right on it's door step, and I don't know about you, but I'm starving!"
She laughed at the last statement, looked closely at the map and then their surroundings to make sure she had an idea of where to go, and folded the map back up and put it in her backpack.


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[Drefan]

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38th of Summer, 514 AV

Drefan nodded, stretching. "Famished..." He noticed her signs of respect towards him, and frowned. Reaching out, he tilted her head upwards, her gaze level with his. He knew she was only being polite, however, he had ALWAYS felt uncomfortable when there was even an implication of one honoring him over another. He gave her a warm grin.

"I confess, I know absolutely nothing of this place, save the glance I've gotten from climbing the cliffs in my spare time. I'd hazard a guess that you know more about this place than me." He too lapsed into the Common tongue, matching his language to match hers; it was a skill he had grown accustomed to, serving with those who spoke multiple languages.

"You lead, I'll follow." .
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