Completed Take My Hand (Marxander)

[Tallis Ishtari]

A silence passed between both men, only the sound of the water being pushed by the paddle handled by Revis. Finally Revis broke the stalemate. “De Ebonstryfe, dey be ones you be wanting to be staying away from sweet one.” Tallis jumped in the conversation. “The Ebonstryfe is the military arm of The Black Sun, religious zealots really. In most cases they leave you alone unless they think that you’re valuable to their cause. Uncle Revis is right though… it would best if you keep your distance from them.”

Tallis knew of the rumors that swirled around the Ebonstryfe. There were those in Ravok that had disappeared because they disregarded the benefits that Rhysol brought into their lives. He also knew that his last job for the mob was under the directive of the Ebonstryfe. They could have performed the ‘hit’ themselves but decided to use organized crime to cover the dead.

“But having Rhysol as your diety brings you power if your strong enough to take it. It’s through the guidance of The Voice, who is the voice of Rhysol here in the world. She heads The Black Sun. When I had my first run in with the Ebonstryfe they thought that I might be worthy of joining their ranks. Uncle Revis saved me from that fate. Although I am an ardent follower of The Voice being a member of Ebonstryfe is too much for me.”

Wanting to change the atmosphere Revis pointed out something new. “And ova there buy dat bridge be where young Tallis had his first kiss.” Tallis rolled his eyes as Revis continued. “What be her name again?”

“Her name was Tatiana, and I was fifteen.” Tallis said evenly. Revis grinned. “Ah, no. You be thirteen when dat happen. Don’t you remember?” Tallis did remember. He had not known at that time that Revis was paddling a canal boat beneath the bridge at the time, but having the story retold again and again he knew Revis was right.

Tallis leaned closer to Marx to speak in her ear playfully. “Aren’t you tired yet about hearing my life story?”

[Marxander]

Black Sun. She had heard that from somewhere. She even remember who told her, her father. He had said something about the Black Sun before. Perhaps he and her uncle had been in Ravok before and told her a story about it. As hard as she tried though, she couldn't remember. But when Revis changed the subject, she decided to drop it. No use in trying to remember an old tale. She would just stay away Ebonstryfe. They didn't sound like her kind of people, especially if they had tried to take Tallis.

She giggled at his speaking tickling her ear "Nope! So, Tatiana, huh? And at thirteen. You've must have had the ladies swooning for you since puberty, haven't you?" She laughed, not prone to jealous of her bondmate at all. Although it wasn't common, humans could and have taken more than one bondmate. Kelvic just couldn't have more than one. So, and in a pack especially, you learned to share. Not that she would be very willing to share him at the moment "Did you enjoy your first kiss Tallis? Was she pretty?"

[Tallis Ishtari]

“She was alright.” Tallis said, but Revis snorted a laugh. Tallis sighed and continued. “I was thirteen! And yes she was the prettiest girl in school. Long black hair, an angel face with long eyelashes, blue eyes, and a perfect smile.” Tallis shrugged. “I was thirteen, and girls were interesting.”

Again Uncle Revis snorted. “Da boy was totally in love with Tatiana dat he was known to crazy tings to impress her.”

Tallis knew that his Uncle Revis loved to embarrass him but this was the first time that he told the story of his first love. “Yes…” Tallis said as he cast a stern look at Revis over his shoulder. Uncle Revis just laughed out loud. “One day after school I wanted to catch up to her and thought I could jump one of the smaller canals. I almost made it if it wasn’t for the fact that she pushed me in as I was trying maintain my balance on the edge.”

Again Tallis looked over his shoulder in hopes of deflecting some of the spotlight off of himself. “You know Uncle… I could tell a few stories about you that are just as good!”

The elder man just laughed again. “It be for another day because we near your parents home.”

[Marxander]

She couldn't help but laugh. Who wouldn't? He had fallen in love with a girl that might have, sort of, hated him. Or a least, she liked making fools out of the boys that did happen to like her "I just hope I'm as interesting as you thought she was." Her shoulders shook with her laugh. She kissed his cheek "You can tell me all your good stories later. And I can tell you mine.

Just noticing her surroundings, having been quite entertained during the boat ride, she looked out over the water, trying to get her barrings "Where is your family's home Tallis? It must be very nice."

[Tallis Ishtari]

He had been so busy talking that he hadn’t noticed that the buildings had changed from bland to exotic. The hint should have been the bridge where he had first kissed Tatiana, it was close to his home. The buildings themselves were of better architecture. The door ways were arched and most of the apartments would be two leveled suites, the windows where clean and where the buildings were as well. Even the air smelled nicer than down on the docks. It was an amazing site.

“It’s the second building on the left. The one with the stone Ravokian wolf head over it.” He said as he pointed toward it. It had been nine weeks since he had last been inside the home that he grew up in. He was anxious to see it again. His parents would not be home, but it didn’t matter, the home did.

The last time he had set eyes on his sisters was with a frightened look in their eyes as their father ordered them back into their rooms. It had been a serious moment, a moment that meant life or death for the oldest family son. His father knew that his son had to leave Ravok, and in a hurry.

[Marxander]

"Wow!" Everything here looked wonderful, just like the libraries of her home town. They weren't too happy that she ran in there, so they promptly kicked her out, but it was a nice scene while it lasted. This place was gorgeous as well. True, it could be said, she couldn't appreciate the architecture, the way it was constructed, or how much time and money it must have taken, but she did know that it was pretty. Her nose flickered, catching the scents in the air. Revis docked the boat next to Tallis' family home. She stood, again shaking Tallis' uncle's hand "It was so nice to met you Mr. Revis sir."

She looked down to her bondmate "Come on! You're so slow. I want to meet your sisters already!" She jumped off the boat, going to the large, arching doorway, where the wold head sat above. She knocked on the wooden door, hips swaying as she waited for both Tallis and for someone to answer the door.

[Tallis Ishtari]

Tallis gently slapped Revis on the shoulder and shook his hand. “You take care of dat young girl… You hear!” Revis said as he looked Tallis in the eye and pointed a finger into his chest. Tallis nodded and stepped off the boat and was a step to late. He wanted to be at the door before one of his sisters answered.

A young lady that was obviously a few years younger than Tallis answered the door. She was a few inches shorter than Tallis with long straight dark hair that reached the lower part of her back. She had the same hazel eyes as him as well. “Hello, can I help you?” Her eyes suddenly got wide at the sight of her brother who was just a few steps behind Marx. “Tallis?! Oh thank The Voice you’re alive!” She turn to yell over her shoulder. “Talia! Come quick, Tallis is home!”

Tallis smiled at the sight of his sister. “Taja… this is Marxander. Marx… this is my sister Taja.”

Taja’s eyes finally rested on Marx, she smiled warmly but also amused as she held out her hand. “Hi… I’m Taja, and your... Kelvic. Oh… mom’s going to love this.” She said as she stressed the word love.

[Marxander]

She shook her hand "It's nice to meet you Taja. Your brother has told me so much about you, and your sister." She returned the warm smile. At hearing that she knew that she was a Kelvic, she grinned "And why would Tallis' mother love that I'm a Kelvic? Does she do special work with them? Or does she have a bondmate of her own?" If so, she was excited to see this other Kelvic. Besides her father, she hadn't really had a chance to talk to any for an extended period of time.

Yeah, Marxander did not understand sarcasm despite her uncle's frequent use of it. Kelvics had a a remarkably hard time understanding certain human things such as that.

[Tallis Ishtari]

Taja’s eyes sparkled as she spoke. “No… no bondmate. It’s just that mom hadn’t wanted her children to be in a serious bonded relationship with one. Please come in.” She said as she herself had wondered what it would be like. Then she peeked around at Tallis. “And you… give your sister a hug.”

Tallis followed Marx in and threw his arms around Taja just as Talia came bounding down the stairs. “Tallis!” The younger girl squealed. Talia was a smaller version of her older sister except her eyes were a darker brown and her hair only came to the middle of her back. She too threw her arms around her older brother.

After they are release him from their affectionate hugs Tallis had a moment to look around the home. It was still the same. The floors were adorned with push elaborate rugs, and on the walls hung tapestries that depicted various scenes from the history of Ravok. The furniture was highly polished wood and the cushions on the chairs and couchs were of the finest silk. His parents made a fine living as jewelers.

“So what brings you here Tallis? I know you have some other reason for being here besides seeing us.” Taja then punched him in the shoulder. “And it’s about time too! Dad said that you’ve been in Ravok for over a week!”

Tallis rubbed his shoulder. His sister had an awesome punch. “I was hoping that we could get some clothes for Marx.”

Taja’s eyes lit up again. “Clothes?” She smiled at Marx. “Come with me upstairs. Talia… make sure your brother doesn’t disappear out the front door.”

[Marxander]

It made her frown slightly, hearing that his mother might not like her because she was Kelvic. She was just about to ask why when she was swept up by Taja pulling her to what she assumed was her room. She could tell this girl liked clothes just by the way she reacted at the mention of it. She giggled at the just slightly smaller girl's avid pursuit of sorting through clothes in her closet the second she let go of Marx's wrist. She didn't mind though. She just looked around the room, admiring the bed, and the vibrant pink of the walls. It was nice to see. She could never decorate her own room when she was younger so extravagantly. She often took what paint she could get and draw all over the walls. Her mother didn't exactly enjoy her little habit.