Placeholder The Bonds that Bind Us (Skyard)

[Kaie]

9th Day of Summer, 516AV
Mid-Afternoon


Her life was becoming increasingly complex. It was truly shocking to her that such a revelation was even possible. Her adventures spanned nearly all of Mizahar, and with them birthed feats of growing prowess admirable enough to earn respect even from elders squatting beside a longhouse fire back home. Riverfall was safer and more docile compared to the other cities she had made her temporary home. Ironically, her time spent there was proving to be the most transformative period of her journey thus far.

A trip to a city-wide party had left her with an unexplainable ability, which gifted her an intuition that protected her from those that would do her harm. Soon after she was plagued, like many others, with a season-surviving addiction. Inactivity would set her mind to fire, tormenting her from the inside until she relented to an insatiable need for action. Each day she forced herself to engage in perilous activities just to feel the comforting surge of demanded adrenaline flooding her veins. Thankfully, that stint of illness passed. The sudden, unavoidable bond forged between herself and her new bondmate, however, was far more robust.

The bond was nothing she wanted. To share her life with another was something the Myrian woman did not feel she needed. Her last love had fallen on her sword and most recent lover failed to secure her affections. Then came Skyard. Before she even knew he was a Kelvic lion, an intimacy initially thought to be temporary yielded an everlasting tie.

Kaie was all wrapped up in the man from then on, always yearning for his touch as if his mere presence in a room was inadequate. It was love, and love they made over and over without care for any other previous partner still breathing in the world. No other compared. No other mattered. She'd set the whole world on fire before another threatened to stand between them. For that person, what a woeful day indeed.

It was not Skyard alone that occupied her mind just then though. Brushing past the wildflower field of Akalaks through the streets, it was her current companion that made her nervous. Her younger sister Jeida had arrived to complete her own pilgrimage, and with her she carried all the baggage of their past. All the grief, frustration, and newborn hate still lingered like an ax over Kaie's head. It was merited of course. Ashamed of her failures and the death of their father, she never got around to sending word back home that she still yet lived. Neither had she returned.

Kaie pushed open the tavern door of the Blue Bull with the younger Myrian at her heels. Amber eyes spotted a collection of chairs huddled around a table in the back far from other patrons. She made a bee-line for it and the two settled into chairs with their backs to the wall, gazes catching the skeptical eyes of other tavern-goers upon recognizing the women for what they were.

Nonetheless, armed with her acquired personal alarm system, she did not fear for the moment. Kaie ordered a bottle of wine from the barmaid when she approached. She made no hesitation about filling three glasses up while the pair waited for Skyard's arrival. It was time for her sister and bondmate to finally meet.

[Skyard Underwood]

Skyard grew more attached to his beloved day by day, and he knew that he had to see her again tonight. She told him in vague detail that he had to meet someone; a particular person who was important to her. The Kelvic knew that anyone who she could possibly call “important” had to truly be valuable. Who would he meet upon this lovely night? Skyard did not know whether or not the person was a family member, or perhaps he/she was a close friend. Surprises only continued to pour in day by day, and he could only hope that a positive encounter would take place.

Skyard made his way toward the location they agreed upon several bells earlier into the day. He absolutely despised the fact that he had to wait so long to see her. Tick by tick his frustration grew without her touch; had he truly been addicted to her? Her scent was an earthy one, and it carried a hint of fresh leaves. Her hair was incredibly wild, and it was somewhat curly with a silky smooth texture. Her eyes were so beautiful that they could drive a man to do things far beyond what could be called rational. She was his everything, and he knew that he would love her above and beyond anything and anyone else.

In his mind he found their situation to be absolutely preposterous; She went from being a spontaneous sexual partner to the most important thing in his life. In the past She tried to take his life, and now they felt for one another as if they were the only two in existence. Skyard was a love stricken man, and he had incredibly high hopes for the future of their relationship. He approached the Tavern with caution, and scanned the area for his beloved. However, he did not have to scan for long and immediately knew where she was; as if she had called for him without a voice.

He felt as if he had been pulled in her direction, and right beside her stood a young lady obviously related to her. The had similar attire, and remarkably they had a similar appearance with distinct differences between the two. Skyard approached black-clad in his leather armor, and met his lover with an immediate smile upon his face. He did not know who the other individual was, but in order to pay his respects he spoke to his lover first. After a brief greeting to his beloved his attention turned toward the other young lady.

“Why hello there, My name is Skyard Underwood. Tis' a pleasure to meet you.”

He spoke in a calm and yet firm tone. His voice could always be described as modulated, and often times “strange”, but he did not care. He knew that his lover was the most important person in sight, but something told him that this was a meeting long overdue. Skyard certainly did not want to displease the other individual; because he thought she was a sibling to Kaie. Quite obviously she had to be, but Skyard did not want to utter a word as not to anger her.

[Kaie]

It was difficult for the woman not to appear visibly nervous. If it wasn't evident in the cool expression she masqueraded, it might've been discovered through her occasionally antsy movements. Before long she spied the figure of her lover as he navigated through the tavern, a smile immediately painting her visage and a calming wave cascading over her with his approach. He was dressed just the way she would've hoped: decorated with a fine leather armor as black as night. The ensemble somehow brought a ruggedness to his pretty-boy exterior that Kaie enjoyed. She couldn't help but steal a glance toward Jeida beside her. No doubt she was just as confused by his platinum blonde hair as she'd been when they first encountered one another.

Kaie returned the greeting to her lover and focused on both sister and bondmate immediately after. The wine was promptly brought to her lips when Skyard addressed Jeida with his introduction, throat welcoming the alcohol in a hearty quantity before the cup was lowered again. Her younger sister eyed the man with blatant skepticism. Dark eyes roved his body quite literally from head-to-toe, gaze inevitably resting on his head with a confused expression. Nearly forgetting herself for a tick, Kaie shook away the temporary paralysis to speak.

"His name is Skyard Underwood. He says it's a pleasure to meet you," Kaie swiftly translated in their shared Myrian tongue after clearing her throat. Jeida's expression remained stiffly neutral. "I know what he said," the younger sibling stated bluntly in return. Then she went silent in a way that made Kaie's heart plunge. Petch, she cursed privately within her thoughts, part of her wanting to either start chugging the bottle of wine before them or ditch the meeting altogether. "So, you Lion bonded to my sister?" Jeida finally broke her silence with with Common words and a tilt of her head. It only occurred to then in that moment that this mightve been her sister's first time meeting a Kelvic.

"Skyard, this is my younger sister Jeida," Kaie explained to the man with a gesture toward the seat beside her on the right. Her lover was no drinker. That had been discovered quite early on in their relationship. However, she ensured his cup was full before she set it before him. "She's just arrived to Riverfall to begin her own pilgrimage. It's a thing some of our people do, explore the rest of the world, wreak some havoc in the Goddess Queen's name, and head home." The side-eye Kaie caught from her sister was more than enough of a gesture to know she believed a fair amount of detail had been left out. Petching don't, Jeida.

"So it's a pretty face keeping you away from home still?" Jeida jabbed in their shared language before taking a sip of wine, then transferring back to Common to speak to Skyard again. "Like armor. Seem...well made." Kaie set her jaw but refused to entertain her accusation.

[Skyard Underwood]

Her sister was inredibly straight forward, and had a tendency to get to the point. Skyard liked that, and had experienced nothing like it before; She immediately voiced herself. The answer to her question was simple, and he would answer it without words. He gave Jeida a nod and for a brief moment he could've sworn he heard them speak back and forth in their native tongue. The Lion could only hope that she did not speak ill of him, but he was certain that if she did Kaie would not have it or so he thought. Skyard listened closely for her next set of words for him.

Skyard immediately directed his attention toward his beloved when she began to explain what business her sister had in Riverfall. He found it odd that they were so dedicated to their goddess that they ventured out to lands far away in order to pay tribute. Yet, he could not dare call something like that odd; for if it were in service to Wysar he would do the same thing. Skyard parted his lips to speak, but before he did he analyzed the situation. He wanted to make sure that Kaie and her sister had no more words to speak before he began. He thanked Jeida for the compliment regarding his armor; he did not quite know exactly who made it.

He had no true care for who made it as long as it sufficed for him when the time came. Armor was important for both utility and appearance. He wanted to offer an explanation of exactly what the armor was, but he could not fathom why It was so durable. Skyard watched as Kaie set a cup before him full of ale, but he absolutely despised “The Drink”. He felt as if he ingested poison each and every single time that she placed anything in front of him. The Lion was so tempted not to drink any of that damned ale, but he did not want to appear strange in front of her sister.

Skyard grasped hold of the glass briefly, and raised it into the air slightly before he downed all of the ale in what seemed like a single gulp. He tried to hold in the fact that the disgusting taste of the ale sent a chill down his spine. The Lion tried his best to disguise that he was not quite the seasoned drinker, but he would do it all in her name. If Kaie did not want her sister to find out that they were more than just bond mates he would try his hardest. Although his acting was particularly horrible in comparison to the majority of other individuals he knew.

“That is quite interesting, Kaie. I feel very honored by the fact that you've allowed me to meet with your Sister. This must be quite important to you, but even if it is not I want you to know that it is very important to me. Thank you both. “

He spoke as he locked eyes with his beloved for a moment; the thing that he did not want to happen happened. An overwhelming sense of calm took him by storm, and his once tense body began to relax. A long lived, soft, and deep exhalation exited his lungs followed by an inhalation. He felt his heart skip beats, but those moments were short lived; Skyard felt his heart beat return triumphantly almost as if to leap from his sternum. He could only hope that his urge to lock fingers with his beloved would go unnoticed.

[Kaie]

Doubt. Skepticism. These were the things Kaie could sense plaguing her sister, whose dark gaze rested on Skyard with a thick veil of neutrality. Jeida had never been a callous, cruel, or necessarily pessimistic sister. At least, that was not the memory Kaie held from their childhood. Her caution was nonetheless merited.

The Kelvic lion was an outsider, a stranger, a barbarian. He did not share their love for Myri nor bask in her accomplishments. Legends of Myrian conquests did not inspire in him an awe that would drive him to fervidly brandish sword, eager to please the deity. He did not belong to a clan in their coalition nor could he even speak their language. The only niche he occupied in her eyes could be that of the enemy. Kaie suspected it was only their bond that kept her sister from writing him off as little else than a potential threat.

"So formal. Is this a special occasion or does he always kiss this much ass?" Jeida quipped in Myrian to her sibling, though the smile on her face directed to Sky might've appeared genuine in light of his words. Apparently, despite so much Common, her sister had gotten the gist. "You should be grateful for his tact. You won't find this respect among barbarian men again," The elder sister defended her bondmate quickly with a meaningful stare. Jeida rolled her eyes before turning her undivided attention back to Skyard and taking a sip of wine. "Your ferocious beast can't hold drink." If Kaie wasn't already a disgrace in Jeida's eyes, the meeting might've turned sour right then with a sisterly brawl for her lover's honor.

"Sky, my sister will be staying with me while she's in Riverfall. I had someone to guide me when I first came over here. Someone to level with the Akalak and the Drykas through their own language, to teach me what is and isn't accepted across the Suvan, among other invaluable lessons that gave me an advantage," Kaie began to explain to Skyard carefully, her tone suggesting she knew he might not enjoy what she was saying or the implications of the beginnings of explanation. Jeida's brow furrowed and she turned her face away, ensuring Kaie would not see whatever emotions appeared briefly in her eyes as she understood some of the words.

"I've been gone a long time. I need to be here for her now. I owe her that." Jeida tossed the rest of the wine back as Skyard had moments ago. Without so much as a face, she set the cup down and promptly refilled it. Kaie ran her fingers through her hair, gaze meeting Skyard's without wavering. "I'll be going with her as she travels east. Soon. I know Riverfall is your home now, but I want you to come with us."

[Skyard Underwood]

Skyard listened closely and began to notice several small-patterns regarding the language they spoke to one another. They both possessed foreign accents; one sister moreso than the other. Perhaps that was because of the fact that Kaie remained in Riverfall slightly longer than Jeida. Skyard continued to ask questions as a curious cat should, but in the back of his mind he felt as if she brought him here to deliver news to him. Maybe, just maybe the meeting that Kaie requested was for that sole purpose; perhaps Kaie brought Jeida along to comfort him when she delivered the “news.” Skyard did not want to be too theoretical however because he knew he could be very wrong. He continued to observe them both, and his eyes darted back and forth ever so slightly between the pair.

Suddenly he saw Kaies head turn, and she began to speak common again. She had finally spoken words that brought him a bit more comfort. Had his beloved continued to speak in that other language he would have began to make assumptions. He listened to each and every one of her words, and his eyes remained fixed on her own. When she gave him news that her sister would be living with her for the duration of her stay in Riverfall, Skyards eyes widened. Did that mean that he could no longer make love to her? Her sister had practically taken him by storm, and in an instant he realized that this situation could quickly become problematic.

Skyard took a deep breath, and held it for a moment before he released the air from his lungs slowly. She knew absolutely nothing about the area when she first arrived, and Skyard attempted to pick up on her subliminal messages. Perhaps his suspicions were confirmed, and this was indeed a meeting to tell him something that he would not want to hear. He began to feel his stomach become queasy, and he wanted to cringe with each and every word that followed. However, she finally spit out what he wanted to hear the entire time that she delivered the speech.

The entire point of the speech was to inform him that she would be leaving. His emotions began to create an uproar in his body, his breathing became slightly heavier and he felt as if his eyes would soon roll out of his skull. ” She's leaving... without me, and I'll be here alone... Again..” Skyard thought to himself, and his jaw muscles clenched involuntarily. He fought with all of his strength to keep his composure, but suddenly she said that she wanted him to travel with them.

Skyard could have released an ocean of tears in that very moment. She practically broke him down and rebuilt him all at once in the matter of a split-tick. A sigh of relief exited his lips, and he knew that she had to have felt his temporary sadness. The Lion smiled at his beloved, and began to give her a few short words in response to her statement. He thought that it was incredibly bold of her to state that she wanted him to come as well.

“My love... --..... “ Skyard did not mean to say that aloud, and knew immediately that he made a mistake. The goal was to prevent her sister from knowing that they were “together”, but he failed in an instant and cracked. Emotions were something he typically allowed to surface without hesitation, and the force of habit caused him to lose his composure for a moment. “I mean... Kaie, my duty to you is to live and die by your command. I would go with you, and ride with you into the heart of an inferno if I was told to. I do not ever plan to leave your side, your journey, and your mission are mine as well.” He spoke in a soft tone.

[Kaie]

Kaie could feel her bondmate's progression through different emotions. Confusion. Dread. Bliss. It was a gradual cycle of evolving feelings that shifted with nearly every sentence she had spoken. His caution and initial fear was certainly merited. Aaron had left him behind and to say Skyard had suffered for it was an understatement. Something told her she'd never truly understand the gravity of that part of his life, the part where his entire world was agonizingly ripped away from him and replaced with darkness. At least she hoped the day never came in which she would.

Kaie mirrored Skyard's smile with one of her own, flashing her teeth at the man suddenly filled with joy in light of her offer. Terms of endearment slipped from his lips. The subtle widening of his eyes as he broke them off signaled a recognition of some sort of mistake, and his rush to make a smooth recovery was not lost on Jeida. The younger Myrian arched a brow at Kaie. Whipped already? her dark eyes seemed to tease. As Skyard continued with his reply, the intensity of his devotion to her was far more than obvious. There was no need for fluency in the language to grasp that much.

"Good. I would have it no other way," Kaie soothed her love, satisfied with his agreement to follow her into the dangerous world beyond. She reached out her hand to rest it upon his arm for a moment. A simple gesture so that they might touch even briefly. Jeida and Kaie sipped at their wine, and when both sisters were finished, it was Jeida that spoke first. Surprisingly, she suffered through Common rather than to chatter exclusively in Myrian. "So. What city next?"

Kaie pursed her lips at the question. Jeida had mentioned she wanted to see the ends of the barbarian world, to see its farthest coast where the land plunged back into the sea if such a place existed. The older Myrian woman knew the spot, and it was not a kind one. Sunberth had been her home for a time. It was littered with death, violence, and deprivation. Crime was nothing short of staple. The road there would be long. The Great Grass Sea laid between Riverfall and the Armpit of Sylira. After what befell Kaie and her father when they navigated the wilds of Cyphrus so many years ago, she had no intentions of traveling through there with kin again.

"We can take a ship to Syliras. Stock up on supplies, I'll show you around for a couple days. Then we'll find some sturdy mounts and ride for Zeltiva. From there we can board another ship crazy enough to sail to the far east coast where Sunberth lays," Kaie mused aloud for both bondmate and sibling. It was a slightly altered route from her original pilgrimage route, before she had enough from the world outside the jungles of Falyndar. She sat back and shrugged. "Maybe take our time coming back? I've never been to the city they call Alvadas. Been a while since I've seen the traveling Drykas city of Endrykas." Amber eyes flickered between Jeida and Skyard, awaiting their take on her tentative plans.

[Skyard Underwood]

Skyard no longer had a reason to speak further on the subject. He was to leave alongside his bond-mate and her sibling whenever they so chose to go. The Kelvic could not ask for any happiness beyond what he currently felt. For the first time in his life he would actually get the chance to explore multiple areas that he knew nothing about. Not to mention that he would travel with his beloved Kaie, and enjoy her company through their journey together. Skyard finally felt like he found the woman that would never leave his side for as long as she lived.

Jeida seemed to be quite the savage when compared to Kaie. They called the “outsiders” by some strange name, but Skyard had not yet picked up on exactly what that was. He was interested in learning their native tongue, but he did not want to ask for fear of rejection. People, especially those from lands far beyond the one that he hailed from were often reluctant to share parts of their culture. However, he figured that asking the question on its own could not possibly hurt him. After all he was genuinely interested in everything about the myrian culture. He wanted to know more about Myri, and learn their languages as well if he were to share his lovers jungle.

He listened closely to their plans of travel, and Kaie made sure that she projected her voice so that they could both hear her. First they would travel to Syliras by ship after they stocked up on supplies; Skyard was interested in helping her do so. The Kelvic would follow her each and every step of the way, and help her when help was required. For now the most that he could do was mock Jeida about her incompetence in common. Yet, he had already guessed that if he thought to mock her in his mind then she had already done the same thing aloud without his knowledge.

“Syliras..” Skyard spoke after Kaie mentioned the travel to that particular location by ship. He despised Syliras, and all of the Syliran Knights who still lived and breathed. “I hate that god forsaken place, and I hate all of the people who choose to protect it. The people who live by their supposed code of honor are nothing but a bunch of hypocrites who deserve to be crushed beneath the feet of true justice.” Skyard spoke aloud, and his eyes widened a bit with anger his visage became a bit red. He took a moment to pause and take deep breaths.

“I'll be okay with that though, so long as I am at your side Kaie.” He concluded his brief speech and continued to listen to her She spoke of yet another city named Zeltiva. He had never heard of that one in particular, but from what he heard her say it was obviously a port city. Cities that could be traveled by boat more often than not would be. Skyard wondered why that was, and began to theorize that perhaps oversea travel was faster than by land. Land travel was rumored to be the most dangerous form of travel due to what one could encounter along the way. Their final destination was Sunberth, a city that Kaie seemed to enjoy more than the others.

She wanted to take her time getting back to Riverfall; if She ever chose to return again. Skyard was compeltely and totally fine with her decisions and method of travel without a single question in mind. He simply nodded his head at Kaie, and offered her yet another display of teeth. Each and every time he looked upon her his mood could change in an instant. Skyard did not want to interrupt her any further; he hated being rude toward her and would not dare do it again in the face of her sister. The best thing to do at this point would be to apologize Skyard thought.

“I'm sorry for my little outburst there, but you know my history with that place, Darling.” He spoke directly to Kaie.

[Kaie]

The Myrian woman was no fool. Before the word left her lips, she knew it would be a trigger for her beloved. To spare him the mention of Syliras, however, would've been an insult to the Kelvic Lion. His past was traumatic but the man was strong. Skyard had proven to be a resilient being, another trait for the Myrian to admire. Besides, there would be no avoiding it if he chose to come along. A true pilgrimage couldn't omit a city with the notoriety Syliras held. The knights just happened to be an unfortunate part of the package. Nonetheless, its mention was still the perfect storm to elicit an outburst from Skyard and she couldn't blame him.

Jeida's brow bounced up at with the sudden force of Skyard's voice. Unlike her sibling, she had no sort of early warning system based on the ability to share his emotions. His quick transition back to tranquility when he rested eyes on Kaie was certainly enough to offer whiplash. Slowly she was beginning to piece together the seriousness of the bond between feline and savage. Their devotion to one another seemed to be far stronger than personal opinions and fears. It seemed to defy all reason from any outsider's perspective. Then again, did the manifestation of the bond itself not defy reason in the first place?

"Lhex and Dira come for all, My Love," Kaie attempted to soothe the man with gentle tones once more. A momentary darkening of her gaze was the only glimpse he needed to see she might've been imagining how her own sword could serve such justice he craved. Then, as quickly as it came, it was gone again. "Anyways, they're not worth the energy. Zeltiva will offer a nice relief, and then it'll be onto the fiends in Sunberth. They are far more treacherous. I can promise you that." The very notion of danger seemed to breathe life back into Jeida, who eagerly sipped at her wine before trying to add her own suggestion in Common again.

"Good. Place to bring Myri glory. Sacrifices," Kaie's younger sibling began with a half-grin. Her hand fell casually to rest upon the hilt of her sword. "Sooner we leave, better. Tomorrow." Her older sister's amber eyes fell questioningly upon her bondmate. He had agreed to follow her to the ends of the earth, but would he be ready to so quickly uproot himself with such little notice? The last time such a thing had happened to her, she was quite literally running for her life from a Sunberth mob incited by the Brotherhood of Chains. Kaie could only hope Skyard instead saw the adventure as an opportunity rather than a chore.

[Skyard Underwood]

They were to be off on their journey tomorrow, and although he knew nothing about who Dira and Lhex were he nodded his head in agreement. Skyard was excited to travel alongside Kaie and her less favorable sibling. The Lion took a moment to look at both of the individuals, and when they finally came to an agreement he stood up immediately. His instincts took over in a moments notice. With a lack for restraint; Skyard approached his lover whilst she still sat in the chair and placed his right palm upon her cheek. He locked eyes with his beloved shortly before he locked lips with her. The Predator gently sank his teeth into the flesh of Kaies bottom lip, and released after he gave it a brief tug. Following the short motion he leaned forward again and kissed her. However, something was far different about this particular kiss when compared to the multitude he'd given her before.

When his lips collided with hers; a tidal wave of emotion had been unleashed all at once. Her tender, warm and delicate touch in combination with her pleasant scent only drew him in closer. He continued to deliver a barrage of kisses, and with each and every touch of his lips against hers his bodily temperature increased slightly. Skyard felt a sense of peace when he touched her again; going without touching her even for a few bells felt like it would be the death of him. He could only imagine what the result of them not being together for a day would be if his urges were already this strong.

His eyes quickly found themselves closed, and all of the world ceased to exist momentarily. All of the side-conversation that was once audible was silenced, and his left hand explored her lovely hair involuntarily. Skyard could no longer tell one tick apart from the next, and he finally inhaled through his nostrils as he ran short of air in his lungs. However, that did not distract him the least bit. His right hand left her visage, and his palm trailed along her flesh until it rested upon her hip as did his left.

Skyard coiled his arms about her waistline in the most loving-embrace he had ever given her before. For the moment he was incredibly sensitive to touch, and could practically feel the thin hair along the back of his neck stand up. No one other than his bond mate had the ability to change his mood in an instant. Skyard felt so closely connected to her; that so much as touching her gave him strange sensations through the entirety of his body. In the back of his mind he knew that he should not have showered her with affection in such a public place. Yet, he quickly noticed that he did not care about who watched. Skyard would confess his love for Kaie to all of the world at once if he could. He had very easily lost touch of reality, and found an entirely new reality alongside her.