Shade nodded to Razeni, reined Wish over as the street narrowed, and then passed an intersection and turned so they rode out the gates.
"Do you keep in touch with your father? I would worry letting a daughter out in the world, especially this one, without being with her." He said, glancing at the eastern sky. It hadn't yet begun to lighten, which somehow seemed important to Shade. Now that they were out of the city, it was pitch dark though the darkness had an odd quality to it that indicated dawn wasn't far off. He nudged Wish into a trot, trusting both horses to see better than he could in the dark. and turned them north to ride up the coast on a thin road that was more of a goat track than anything else.
"Yes. My father was an Uphiss monk and my mother a candlemaker here. They were both killed when I was five in an attack of greenwing flyers. I moved to the quarry and became a messenger boy there for most of my childhood until I passed my Selection Test and joined the Monkhood. It's a good life. I joined to pursue my passion in jewelry making and metal arts. It's a fine honor to serve Xannos this way. It means I'm doing something for someone else rather than just myself." Shadekas replied, knowing the terrain was easier going, so he urged Nightwish into a canter. The track was wide enough they could ride side by side now.
When they'd gone about two miles, Shadekas slowed Wish and brought him to a walk not wanting to miss the turnoff in the dark. "Tell me about Lhavit? I've heard of it, of course, but nothing substantial. It's known as the city of the stars, but I do not know why." He said, then paused, pointing in the slowly lightening sky. There wasn't a cloud in sight but the stars were slowly winking out above them. She could see his gesture then, but just barely as he turned Wish off the main road. They followed an almost invisible deer trail to what looked like a rocky bluff. She could hear the sea beyond but could not see it.
Shade dismounted and pulled hobbles from Wish' saddlebags. Quickly he hobbled the stallion, pulling his tack off and letting him graze.
"We need to be quick or we are going to miss it..." Shadekas said, urging Razeni to do the same. Then, when she was ready he took her hand and lead her up the bluff on a narrow rocky trail that seemed to wrap around the stone bluff towards some destination facing the sea. It was still dark enough that Shade kept a good grip on her hand and she'd realize why after a few steps up the trail. It was treacherous even for a surefooted human in the darkness. After only a few feet, it dropped off sharply on one side and hugged the bluff on another - a narrow trail carved out of stone against a stone ridge - and spiraled upwards. They walked for a few chimes, fifteen in all, and were suddenly out on a narrow shelf that faced the sea.
The sky was lightening fast now, most of the stars gone, and the sea had taken on a purple hue. Wind whipped at them and Shade gently and calmly wrapped his arms around Razeni and pulled her tight against him - her back to his chest both of them facing the sea - and stepped back so his back was against the cliff. He was very gentle, his hands only encircling her waist and holding her securely against the length of his warmth as he pressed against the rock wall behind them. There was no room to move and the wind was blowing strongly from the north.
"Hold still. It's not an easy perch nor is there a lot of room for two people up here. But you are safe if you hold still." His lips had materialized by her right ear as his big form sheltered her. Any closer and he'd be nuzzling her neck. The wind wasn't so cold standing against his body and suddenly there seemed to be more room on the little shelf they stood on. He was hard against her back, his whole body solid muscle. She could hear the sea crashing below and could tell there was no room to struggle without the danger of falling on the tiny shelf they stood on.
"I wanted you to see this. Hear it too... if the wind dies down. It should, just at the moment the sun rises." His breath was warm and smelled slightly of cider. His warmth radiated through her as he released her with one arm and locked the other one even more tightly around her, though not tight enough to hinder her breath. His free arm materialized at her left cheek and beyond, pointing to the horizon.
The wind died abruptly then and she was infused with his scent, a male spice that enfolded her, as the dim light brightened slightly and she could see that he was pointing out to sea.
"Look. Listen. Open all your senses, Razeni. This is the best spot around to greet Syna." He said. And then the world went still, as if catching its breath and waiting in anticipation. Then slowly, the sun rose over the sea as if rising like a great leviathan from its depths. It was so silent, so still, as the world welcomed the Goddess of the Sun from her slumber. Shade was a statue at her back as he shared the moment with her, holding her safe. As Syna kissed the sky and slowly rose, the narrow place they were both standing a good hundred feet above the crashing surf became evident. It was incredibly intimate, watching the sunrise with the stranger. He seemed so focused, so intent on the sight before them and on sharing it with her.
He held his breath and it wasn't until Syna was completely visible and in the sky that Shade drew a breath again. She felt him nudge her hair with his lips, as if brushing her with a kiss. It might have been accidental, but him slowly lowering his left arm and drawing it across her body was not. He took no liberties but she could still hear him whisper softly.
"I thought it was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen, Razeni. I was wrong though." He said, and then nuzzled her hair again, this time it was no accident. She could feel his smile then, against her cheek where he ended up resting his head.
