Songs From the Water (Milya)

[Dimitri]

Spring 22, 511 AV

Dimitri was peering around the barn at Windoak stables, looking for an available horse. He needed one that could haul his gear over a decent distance. He was going to go on a trip to Pavi Lake. He wanted a new scene to train with maybe develop a new Martial Ritual. He was carrying around his full armor bound together by leather straps, while he himself wore a simple white shirt and leather breeches. He settled on a white Tiaden Warhorse. It was no longer used in battle due to an injury, but could still carry a knight and his armor. He began by strapping the saddle, ensuring it was secure after his friend Jaelyn had hers slip. He then started packing on the armor. He had his sword on his right hip, quiver on his left, and his bow on his back. He climbed atop the horse and another squire handed him his shield that he would carry.

He drove the horse out into the yard to get it warmed up. The yard was really busy for this early time of the day. He saw other squires learning to ride, some learning go fight atop them. He sometimes felt odd, most squires had zero desire to leave the protection of the walls. But Syliras' walls weren't the stone ones that wrapped around the city. The walls were each and every shield and the knight that held it. So wherever he was, Syliras was. He enjoyed the outdoors, loved the fresh air and the new views. He continued trotting around inspecting everyone around before he would leave.

[Milya]

Milya was staring out at the horses and their riders. She always had felt uneasy about knights for some reason. But her encounter the last time with the squire Dimitri she had changed her mind a bit. She had come out here again just to see if she could find another adventure that she could go on. She guessed not but it wasn't like she was doing anything important or better in her room. She had made the promise she was going to get out and talk to people more so she was going to do it. She watched them with little interest, until she saw a familiar face.

She grinned and called out, "Dimitri! Hey!" She hadn't really expected to see him again, especially so soon. She grinned and went over to him, she felt some what odd for some reason. Then she realized she was shy, there were a bunch of people around. She wasn't use to that.. She sighed and looked at the ground. "So, what's going on?" she asked rather quietly. She remembered her time in the forest where she'd been just fine. Now she was shy all of a sudden? Blah, she disliked that about herself now.

[Dimitri]

Dimitri continued to trot around the field. He began doing practice swings and blocks with his sword and shield. He pictured an enemy riding alongside him, matching his pace, wielding a halfspear. The enemy jabbed at his leg, and Dimitri blocked it up and away to not injure his horse. The man stabbed at his head, and Dimitri parried with sword. The man then swung the butt of his spear toward Dimitri's ribs. Dimitri blocked and Dimitri countered with an overhead slash. The man raised his spear to block the sword and Dimitri swung the bottom of his shield up, striking the man in his ribs. E then followed through with a stab to the man's chest.

As he finished his mental duel, he heard his name called by a familiar voice. "Oh warming up the horse for my trip to Pavi Lake. Ever been? If not," he held his had down to her, "then come on. You can sit up front." He was surprised the girl remembered him and his name, but was happy she did. A trip was always better with a lady in tow.

[Milya]

Milya smiled and shook her head. "I haven't really been anywhere," she said while taking his hand. She hopped on and smiled, this was going to be fun. She was excited that she was going to get to go on a fun adventure again. Although the last time they almost died several times. She stared out into the land and at the knights learning how to fight and ride on horses. She hadn't really been around them. Four years of just staying inside. Ten years of being sheltered by her family. Even when she was younger she didn't meet a lot of people or go out.

She decided to make conversation with Dimitri considering they didn't talk much on their last journey. "So, why are you going to Pavi Lake?" she asked with a smile. Then added a bunch of other questions people usually asked, "So how are you? Anything new?" She wanted to actually know more about him but she didn't feel like asking yet. She knew that would bring up questions about her and her own personal story.

[Dimitri]

Dimitri smiled as he pulled her atop the horse. He scooted back a bit to make room for her. As she settled in, he could feel the insides of his thighs against her hips and grew a bit warm in the face. He raised the reins and began trotting the horse out of the yard. The horse being a retired warhorse moved with ease holding the heavy weight of his armor and two passengers. He lead the horse through the people strewn streets to the main gates.

"Ah, I've heard many stories of Pavi Lake and decided to go visit to see for myself. Stories of lake monsters, singing fish people, similar to the Konti, and other things. I'm glad you're coming, always nice to have the company of a beautiful woman." He said this as if it were saying his own name, rolling off the tongue naturally. While he sat above her, the scent of her hair drifted into his nostrils. He was intoxicated by this and nearly ran over a younger squire. He apologized to the young boy when they finally arrived at the main gates. He nodded at the guards, who nodded back smiling. A knight to be on a horse, had worked for all of the to get women. He looked out the gate at the treeline. "So should we take the safer road or take fun risk and go cross country?"

[Milya]

Milya laughed and nodded, she understood why he wanted to go. She herself was now intrigued about going to Pavi Lake. She could feel the excitement bubbling up in her. She was right to come here after all for another adventure. She jumped as he almost hit a younger squire, she had been lost in thought again. She laughed and murmured, "What happened, Dimitri?" Then she stared at the guards at the gate with a mild curiosity. She wondered what it would be like to be there all day watching people, probably boring. She almost missed his question.

"Oh! Hmm the fun risk sounds. . . Fun!" she said smiling. She grinned and turned her head to smile at Dimitri. "Thanks for letting me come!" she said smiling. Milya watched the scenery and tried to keep her thoughts at bay. But she decided to ask, "So tell me about yourself?" She said it as a question because she wondered if that would be okay to ask. When she was younger and met somebody she usually didn't tell anything about herself.

[Dimitri]

"Oh, a squire stumbled into the way." Upon leaving the gates she said the cross country path. He lead the horse into the woods at a slight trot, trying to ignore the fact that her youthful hips were bouncing against his thighs as the horse moved along. He rode without attempting to follow any paths. "Well what would you like to know? My parents were Knights, I was inducted as a page when I turned ten, a squire for Ser Adamaal Brinkas as I turned thirteen, and I'm working diligently to become worthy of Knighthood."

He rode for about ten chimes, arriving at Sacred Arch Hotsprings. He lead the horse around the spring and up the hill. He then crossed over the famous stone bridge, watching as children played in the hotsprings with their parents and even a couple of Knights watching. He nodded at the knights as water from the small falls sprayed the pair and horse, slightly dampening them. The children giggled and pointed at them and waved. Dimitri flashed a bright smile and waved back at them. He then lead his horse away from the area and deeper into the woods, seeing that the trees grew larger the further they went from Syliras proper.

[Milya]

Milya laughed and watched the country blur past her. She nodded as she listened to him and added onto her question afterward, "Do you like being a squire?" She watched as they trotted up to the springs and smiled at the children and knights. She waved at them until they passed and slightly turned her head to look at Dimitri. "So I take it you know where you're going and we aren't going to die by rabid beasts or from getting lost and falling into the pit of doom, right?" she said it all with a grin. She enjoyed the fresh air and scenery while she could.

Milya frowned as she listened to the sounds of nature. She heard a growling not to far off, so she decided to tell Dimitri. "Dimitri, do you hear that growling?" She remembered all the times that she had a competition with her brother. They would sneak around trying to scare each other, it was quite childish. He always had won though, because she could only care him half the time he scared her. It also didn't help that he had implanted the fear of some creature in her. She had forgotten the mystical monster he had made up just to win their petty little competition.

[Dimitri]

Dimitri held the reins taut and began mulling over her question. He led the horse over the sloping terrain heading northwest of the springs. Do I actually like being a squire? He felt the horse's hooves adjust to the terrain, causing them to lean this way and that. He felt her hips press against his thighs as she slid slightly against him. Of course I do, but what specifically do I like about it? He adjusted to keep himself straight in the saddle, the horse continuing through the massive trees. He looked around the trees constantly on the look out for anything dangerous. Well I absolutely love all of the combat training. I really feel alive when crossing blades. They continued forward, the horse powering over small fallen trees and rocks, Dimitri making sure there were no holes ahead. I also like the constant camaraderie, a big family working toward the same goal. But still I'm a bit lonely sometimes, what's missing? "Yes I love being a squire, a sense of duty, training, friendship. I will be able to protect Syliras one day."

He then chuckled at her question of where he was going. He knew the general direction, all though he'd never been there before. She mentioned hearing growling, but he hadn't heard anything and the horse was not spooked. "I don't think it was anything." He continued, making the horse move slowly over a creek. He pressed his chest close to Milya's back, his arms enclosing around her protectively, as he held the reins. He hoped to comfort her, as the horse continued onward for a few bells.
The horse began down a slope, Dimitri could see something tall poking out of the distant trees. A foreign structure poking through. He immediately knew what it was despite having never seen it in person. The Bronze Watchtower.

[Leviathan]

Thread Award! Dimitri   Skills Skill Gain Info. Riding 1 Riding with Company Flirtation 1 -- Storytelling 1 --   Lore N/A Milya   Skills Skill Gain Info. Interrogation 2 --   Lore N/A