A Lesson on the Road [Alric Wilmot]

by **Ainyi** on June 15th, 2012, 9:23 pm

"Ainsley, I... have an ability, other than my illusions. It allows me to influence how a person feels. It isn't really control mind you. It's more like..."

"It's like when you're angry, and someone gives you a compliment. It softens the anger. But it doesn't drive it away. I can do similar things, without actually saying anything. There are other things too, but they all go back to that same comparison."

Ainyi...thought she understood. He could change how people felt? Just like that? And he had used that just now on Halik. She wasn't sure what to feel about it, honestly. The times that he has used it, he had used it for good. Such as helping free her horse, and saving her from the Yukmen. But would he ever use it on her...for his own benefit? Would he abuse the power he has, or are they better friends than that? She honestly didn't know at this time. Strangely, she didn't feel scared of him. Very few things did, really. And after all, he had just shared something with her he was obviously reluctant to talk about. He had to value the friendship they've built over time.

"I won't lie to you Ainsley, but I ask that you ask no more on this. I don't feel comfortable sharing this yet. Once, I would have been happy to tell you all about it. But, now...things are different."

Yes. She shouldn't push back too hard now. He just shared with her a secret.

"I...trust you," she said. Her voice tone was quieter right now. She didn't like the idea that everyone could overhear her, everyone could look at her. While she didn't mind, talking over secrets and obviously precarious moments were not something she handled well when other could hear. "You have been a good friend so far, yes? Helping one another, is how we have come this far. My only request is that it does not become an "easy way out" to fix things, hm? You should know how to command Halik without upsetting him into a fast run. He does not need to be upset to do it, and so he should not have to unless he needs to be, yes? Or if you have conflict with me, do not fear talking with me. That is all I ask."

She paused a bit, still wondering what to say in some regards. When the meat wagon passed, she chucked her rabbit in, checking that her hand didn't have any of it's blood on it. It didn't; she had gripped it in a good place. The riding was so casual now she just kept hands loosely near his hips in case they were to start speeding up again.

"You told me a secret just now, yes?" She said, slightly louder than earlier. "It is good one. Thank you for that. would you like a secret in return? Or no? You may ask me anything you wish of similar...similar.."she stopped to figure out how the sentence should be phrased. "Anything as important as I asked you. Fair?"

by **Alric Wilmot** on June 16th, 2012, 12:55 am

"I...trust you,"

Alric smiled, glad that she didn't ask more. One day, she would, and she would know that there was more that he had neglected to mention. Despite that, she was able to trust him now, and that would be enough. In fact, all she did was trust him. From their first meeting, she trusted that he would truly help her. In the following weeks, she trusted that he would not take advantage of her.

He wasn't sure what it meant. Did that mean he should trust her too? He did, in a way, but the exchange was obviously unequal.

As he mused over their dubious friendship, Ainsley continued.

"You have been a good friend so far, yes? Helping one another, is how we have come this far. My only request is that it does not become an "easy way out" to fix things, hm? You should know how to command Halik without upsetting him into a fast run. He does not need to be upset to do it, and so he should not have to unless he needs to be, yes? Or if you have conflict with me, do not fear talking with me. That is all I ask."

He nodded, and moved to say something. But he did not. In truth, his hypnotism had grown to be like an extra limb. He doubted he'd be able to stop using it completely. And when things got tough, he'd undoubtedly rely on it. It was his greatest strength, why ignore it? Yet he knew there was truth to her words. His hypnotism didn't always work, and it was becoming addictive. It would probably be best to limit it even more than he was currently. He spoke to relay his agreement. Though he said little else.

"You told me a secret just now, yes?" She said, slightly louder than earlier. "It is good one. Thank you for that. would you like a secret in return? Or no? You may ask me anything you wish of similar...similar.."she stopped to figure out how the sentence should be phrased. "Anything as important as I asked you. Fair?"

Anything as important.

Alric cocked his head to the side, thinking of a question. What should he ask? Suddenly, an idea popped into his head. Though as it came, he found he had to steer Halik to the left, as he was drifting too far to the right. It was surprisingly easy to think while riding a horse. He had thought he would have to pay more attention. But with Halik being a living creature, he took care of little things himself.

Alric forced his mind to stop wandering. He had a question to ask.

"What deity do you worship, Ainsley? I am curious to know which deity has caught your interest."

It wasn't actually much of a secret, He was sure. After all, most people were rather open about their worship. But he wanted to see if he might sew the seed of devotion, in case Ainsley might be interested in Ionu. Or, who knows, even Eyris.

by **Ainyi** on June 17th, 2012, 8:33 am

"What deity do you worship, Ainsley? I am curious to know which deity has caught your interest."

That question made her laugh. "You call that a secret? You think funny, rich man." But now she had to think a bit, on how to answer. "I do not worship. I believe in them, in the idea that the gods exist, but I do not swear to one over the other. Where I grew up, there was no god that was more popular than others. No gods have shown me anything to make me think they favor me. Some have maybe mocked me - I swear, Ionu took me down the same road six times! I thought he was just taking me around to make fun of the newcomer." She paused, thinking a moment. "Though, he couldn't have hated me too much. I guess it was important to him that we met, yes?"

The sun had fully set. Stars began to come out, and moonlight shone on their path. The caravan had stopped it's jeers, it noise, and tried to blend with the silence of night. It was peaceful. She had been leaning on Alric casually the whole time as they rode, but it wasn't to be misconstrued. She never intended anything by it; it was just how she was. Because of how she was raised, it's easy for her to phsyically interact with people that she considered friends, comrades, brothers, sisters. The way her mother would know if she had other feelings is when she couldn't do the above; when she pushed them away, but still insisted on talking with them.

But as the night got darker, and as the caravan just moved, and there was wind in her hair, and her legs on her saddle, everything just felt...familiar. It felt like home. For the first time this whole trip, she felt as though she belonged.

Absolutely weary from the day's hunt, her head rested on his upper back, and her eyes closed. She was trying to be careful not to fall asleep on the horse, for hear of falling off, but it was getting mighty tempting. So she started talking again. Asking another question.

"Rich man," She said, similar to how a sleepy child would speak as they rub at their eyes, "Why did you need to go to Zelvita? You never really told me what happened. Maybe, whatever it is, I can help? I need to earn my keep somehow, yes?"

by **Alric Wilmot** on June 17th, 2012, 8:06 pm

"You call that a secret? You think funny, rich man."

Alric smiled, knowing that would be the likely response. It was nice to be right sometimes.
Though, he was glad when she paused, she was thinking. She luckily took his question seriously, even if it was a bit unorthodox.

"I do not worship. I believe in them, in the idea that the gods exist, but I do not swear to one over the other. Where I grew up, there was no god that was more popular than others. No gods have shown me anything to make me think they favor me. Some have maybe mocked me - I swear, Ionu took me down the same road six times! I thought he was just taking me around to make fun of the newcomer. Though, he couldn't have hated me too much. I guess it was important to him that we met, yes?"

"Well, perhaps Ionu does hate you, that may be why she stuck you with me," Alric joked.

"Though I too have gone down roads six or more times, but each time I realized that Ionu wanted me to see something that I had missed before. And sure enough, I would have missed a pattern in the stone, a particular flower, or a curious bird. It is a common doctrine of Ionu's that joy comes from variety. To be honest, I was surprised that so many of my fellow citizens took a disliking to you. If anything, I think Ionu enjoys foreigners. They spice up his city from time to time.

Of course, the Lord of Illusion is a fickle thing, I do not claim to know his mind. But, thank you for sharing that with me. It may not seem a terribly important piece of information, but I enjoy knowing it all the same."

Ainsley spoke up once more, this time in a dreary voice.

"Rich man," She said, "Why did you need to go to Zelvita? You never really told me what happened. Maybe, whatever it is, I can help? I need to earn my keep somehow, yes?"

Alric remained quite for a moment, thinking to himself. Should he reveal the strange circumstances? The odd coincidences that he was sure were providence? He supposed there was no harm. She had come blind, ignorant, unknowing. She trusted him, far more than she truly should. But, then again, Alric sometimes did have that affect on others.

He would tell her. Tomorrow. For now, she was tired, and it would be best for them to get on the wagons and sleep.

by **Paragon** on June 26th, 2012, 1:12 pm

Adventurer's Loot

Ainyi's Loot :

Alric's Loot :

Lovely thread, these two characters seem to work really well together - if you have ANY questions or concerns about this grading, don't hesitate to PM me.