[The Road] All's Quiet on the Southern Front [Talen]

[Tabarnac]

25th Summer, 511 A.V. The light of day was dimming on the Road, but the vigilance of the Denvali never ceased. It had taken too much blood spilled, too many tears shed, and too much sweat over the centuries to carve out this niche for themselves in the ruins of Kalea to not guard against the monsters that sometimes came out of the Unforgiving, or the odd Zith or Symenestra who thought themselves above human laws. There were even the occasional humans gone rogue or feral. Mizhar was, everyone was fond of saying, a dangerous place. But the Denvali, for all their welcoming of outsiders, were a dangerous people. Zagary looked up and up the steep, rocky wall of the Road to the turret-like watch post built at the top. He wasn't sure he trusted the engineering that kept it there, but so far so good, and it was easier to construct those things out of the rock pulled from the Road's construction than other means, and precious timbers and long rods of iron had gone into making them impervious to the odd earthquake. He waved at the woman who got to watch from that perch while they strolled the length of the nascent Road, then his green eyes fell on the younger guardsman who would be his companion for the hours to come. "I wonder how far we'll have to walk when they make some serious progress on this thing," he mused as they began to walk from the edge of the settlement proper down the heavy flagstones that were still roughly set along the way. Eventually mortar would even things out and it would be a relatively easy walk, but they still had to be careful where they put their feet for the time being. "I mean, it's not too bad now, but when it stretches halfway to Sultros, I hope I'm dead and gone and won't have to do any more walking, you know?" He grinned and clapped Talen on the shoulder. Being the senior guardsman, he was nominally in charge, but Zagary was known for being relaxed in his command until a crisis arose, and then he capably took matters into his own hands and delegated like the professional soldier he was. "So what have you been up to, kid?" he asked. Still relatively young himself, all the same he had taken Talen under his wing like a little brother. "It's been a while since we've talked."

[Talen Stirling]

Talen smiled as he walked to the right of Zay - The name Zagary seemed way too long to say on everyday duty. Even though guard duty on "The Road" was one of the most repetitive, boring and at the same time toughest duties in Denval, he enjoyed the long walks with Zagary. He was his friend, and in many ways Talen looked up to him. He was a good warrior, well-liked amongst the guard and Talen couldn't remember ever being let down by him. He pulled up on the strap that held his shield onto his back, and took an extra step to catch up to Zay. ""Too long.." He murmured as a response to his wonder, and merely flashed a smile and a laughter when Zay asked his rethorical question. It'd be hell to walk the full length of the coming road, freezing to death in the winter and collapsing with heat in summer. There was hardly any shelter from the elements up here in the heights, and already with the current state of the road several patrols had received injuries on account of the wild weather. Talen slid a hand through his hair and looked up at the tips of the surrounding cliffs and the sky contemplatively. This season had been strange, meeting new people that were so different. Somehow he felt envigorated, as if it was all a new beginning. "Hmm... Well, apart from training myself way past your level of swordsmanship..." he started with a grin and an unspoken challenge."I've met some new people around Denval.. I've been looking for a secondary job as well, though I've no idea what I might do." It was true. Being a guard in Denval was nice, but it was a close community and - alot - of people were more than capable of handling themselves. Most of the guardsmen had secondary jobs or duties, though everyone took great pride in being one. "Oh, yeah... A Symenestra has moved into the house next door." He said in a strange, almost surprised voice. It was strange how much and how quickly things could change; a few weeks ago the only way he could have imagined talking to one of those would be with blades. Talen smiled faintly and looked back at the outpost they had passed, slowly disappearing in the gray horizon.

[Tabarnac]

"Too long," he agreed with a grin. When Talen boasted, he just laughed. "Shut your shit. Please don't make me mop the Road with your face and spank you with the flat of your own sword. Who taught you that the pointy end goes into the other person? That's right. Me. Zagary." He brushed imaginary dust off his shoulder and made sure the sprig of cornflower was properly pinned to his leather breastplate. "You could always take up a second job shining my boots and taking out my night soil," he offered with a smirk. "But seriously, is there something you'd like to study? The Captain will have them waive your fees at the Lyceum if you want to study something that you'll put to good use for the community." As they walked and he spoke so informally, he still kept a keen eye about him. His nonchalance was carefully feigned so that he seemed quite the rake, but there was a reason he was selected for special duties when they arose: Zagary was a man upon which to rely. It didn't look bad for Talen either that he had been taken under his wing. "Symenestra, eh?" he asked. "Careful about dipping your wick in one. As much as a Denvali loves babies, they apparently explode out of Symenestra women, gnawing on their mothers with poisonous teeth and..." He shuddered. "Now, I'm not saying they're evil, mind you, but don't let them impregnate your sister is all I'm saying. That's one to give to Viratas and be done with it. But if you've got some moon tea from Jarret or something," he said, giving a knowing grin for the abortive qualities of said tea, "you're golden."

[Talen Stirling]

A balled up fist hit Zagary on his shoulder alongside a short curse and a mock offended grin. "You gone into overgiving and went crazy? And when did I tell you she was female?" Talen half-yelled, and returned his gaze to the right side cliffs around the road. It wasn't like he hadn't thought about her that way, but given the way he acted and felt about her kind, it seemed unlikely that it could work out. Damn Zay for seeing through him so. Talen took out a waterskin that hung by his side and drank a few gulps, clearing out the drought in his throat. The mountain air was fresh but still quite dry this evening; though there was usually plenty of rain this far north walking far with equipment in the summer still made you plenty thirsty. These walks felt pointless; posting guards at the workers made sense but patrolling the entire road felt like an empty gesture. How would anyone attack removed rubble? At least it was easy - Look for anything that wasn't brown dirt, black rock or moved and you got yourself a potential threat. Talen pulled up on the strap that held his shield and backpack, picking up his pace a little bit. "Let's keep up our damn pace before darkness falls and we end up trapped on The Road with some freak who won't shut up about Symenestra private parts." Smiling, he continued in a less humorous tone;"In all honesty, I've no idea what I could study or work at. Can't exactly picture myself sitting in the Lyceum writing numbers and calculating how much the income of Denval will fall if the market of fish suddenly drops." He sighed yet grinned wistfully; Any suggestions, Zay?" Looking up, a single raven flew far overhead in the same direction as them. Having wings would've made these patrols so much easier, Talen mused as they trodded along the dirt path.

[Tabarnac]

Zagary took the punch without being fazed. He had practically changed this kid's diapers, so to speak. But he grinned and shoved a bit at Tal, good-natured rough-housing. "It's not Symenestra I'm worried about," he said, a trace of seriousness shooting through his good humor. He glanced at the skyline, high above them where the ragged rock cut into the darkening heavens. Discipline was high in Denval, but nobody could stop news from spreading and Captain Astrid seemed to believe that keeping her people appraised of situations was better than letting rumors cloud the truth. Everyone knew that Theo, their premier farmer, had lost livestock to Zith raiders in the night. He might have lost more were it not for the accuracy of his arrows, even in the dark of night. His apprentice, Seo, had helped too, or so it was said. "The worst thing we can do is let our guard down," he said, more somber than Tal was used to seeing him. But it wasn't for long. "Perhaps you should go the Temple of Nikali and offer your services there. Some ladies might pay for your services and your seed." He laughed and it echoed against the walls of the Road.

[Talen Stirling]

Talen raised an eyebrow and looked at Zay with a surprised look, then resumed watching the skies with increased concentration - at least until his last comment. It wasn't that Zay was never serious, he was excellent in the field when trouble was afoot, but him talking like this usually meant that there was an actual potential for danger. If the Zith were brave enough to attack the farm itself, they might pose a serious threat to outlying farms and places... Such as The Road, couldn't get much further than that. If Zay was serious he would definetely remain on guard despite the patrol appearing quite peaceful and leisurely. He wasn't going to let him down. Talen couldn't help but laugh along. "Oh yeah? Sounds like a job that might be endurable, though who knows just what age and kind of clients I'd end up servicing..." He answered with a cheeky grin, looking for anything moving across the sky or the ridge of the cliffs. The idea was entertaining for a moment; payment for that kind of workout was surdenly alluring. Yet with his disease it was doubtful his 'seed' would be the most popular amongst Denvali women. Besides, he couldn't picture selling himself out for that kind of services, even if it had its temptations. He was his own man, and although he would work, fight and toil for gold, there were things that he didn't think should be done for Mizas alone. It was dull work though, looking at the cliffs for a potential threat. Even the prospect of vicious beasts and danger was close to seeming more tempting than this neverending march. "Say... How long 'n' how far Zay? I'll be optimistical and assume that even we cannot get lost on "The Road". There's only really one way afterall... He stretched and sighed, that one way was quite long, dusty and hard though.

[Tabarnac]

Zagary wasn't going to explain the subtle mysteries of Nikali in the middle of a patrol, how more than gold passed between people in the Temple, but it was something one really had to discover on one's own. And Zagary already had a bit of a reputation for visiting the Temple, as well as the beds of the masses, so he kept quiet rather than endure more teasing about it all. Except... "There's a new Kelvic lass at the Temple now, did you know? Feline something. She's gorgeous. Just sayin'." They continued to walk, and though Zagary seemed to have relaxed, he was still paying attention to their surroundings. There was strength in numbers, but the concentration of numbers was back within the settlement, not out here on the Road that would one day, Aquiras willing, lead all the way to Sultros. "It's a ways," he said, "but not too far. We need more geomancers, or that's what I hear from above. Miners can only work so fast."

[Talen Stirling]

Talen raised an eyebrow curiously at Zagary, abit in doubts whether to ask a question or make a joke. He'd never interacted with Kelvics before at all, at most seen one in one shape or another. In the end, both could prevail. "So... How did that work out for you? What's she like?" He smiled, the question having an obvious two-fold meaning. It must be strange, being both man and beast. All the more strange to sleep with one. The image of someone waking up with an animal in bed came to mind, and he stifled a laughter. Zay seemed abit.. Weird about the temple though, so it was probably time to let it go. "Yeah well... There's only so many mages in Denval. Perhaps they can hire some from Zeltiva or the like..?" The settlement had never been famous for it's many mages, and the old military tradition was centered around flux and that kind of personal magic. The Lyceum offered some teachings, yet hardly of the amount or focus that others, in particular Syliras and Zeltiva, held.

[Tabarnac]

"Sort of exotic looking," he said. "Beautiful. But that's about all I know. I was on duty when I saw her walking with that Jey guy, so I haven't had a chance to meet her. She seems a bit nervous. Fragile. But Justus, he takes in strays like that, turns them around. It's a wonder he works for Nikali and not Rak'keli, but maybe that's part of the mystery..." He shrugged. It wasn't unheard of for Zagary to wax philosophical, though it surprised people who didn't know him as well as Talen did. "Oh, and I heard tell that Astrid wrote to the University in Zeltiva and received word that a few of their professors were going to come and teach at the Lyceum for a while. Hopefully some of them will stay permanently, because... well, education is important. Makes us all more productive, you know? Helps us improve our home. So perhaps wait and see what sort of professors arrive...?" He opened his mouth as if he weren't done, then stopped and did a double take. "What's that?" he asked, pointing to the rocky wall. His night vision was sharp, and upon closer inspection, something was written upon a flat section of stone. Hand prints dragged downward, but it was difficult to say what it was. There was writing beneath it, too. It said: "There is a devil inside of me."

[Talen Stirling]

Talen felt at ease as Zay talked, if he enjoyed the company of anyone it would probably be him. So many people he talked to seemed shallow, or with hidden agendas of one kind or another. When he had been alone Zay was his social link to the rest of the world. Perhaps it was an idea to visit The Lyceum, although scholarly pursuits had never been his main interest, Talen did have a fairly sharp mind. Although he had a tendency to view things in black-and-white, and had a very direct approach to problems rather than research and study. Not that he didn't think about things, but he didn't like overthinking and found sitting still in focused study for long periods of time to be challenging. As Zagary suddenly halted, Talen's hand went to his sword and his eyes sweeped their surroundings for a brief second, the conversation about Zith attacks still vivid in his memory. Letting go of the hilt, he turned around to face the rock wall with a curious frown draped across his brow. "Is that written in... Blood?" Talen approached the rock wall tentatively, his eyes stealing away to peer into the growing shadows of the evening sun every other second. Shortly after crouching down to read the writing on the wall, he shifted his eyes to Zagary with a focused expression. "This isn't good. People don't walk the road unless they're a guard or have business at the dig site. What do you think this means?" He couldn't figure it out. His thoughts strayed to pranksters but the average joker wouldn't walk so far out on the road. Perhaps it was a madman, or even worse, some magical ... Situation. "It could be something dangerous, either human or... Magical. Should we go back and find reinforcements or hurry up to the dig site?" He looked at Zagary with calm, confidence and trust. He was ready to follow him, regardless of what might lie ahead. The hint of a smile crossed his lips in the twilight; young and arrogant part of him looked forward to a chance to prove himself.