A Horse Amongst Eagles (Kiyono)

[Rothyr Windbourne]

"Sorry to hear all that, miss," Rothyr said, not leaving his spot in the wall. In reality, he was beginning to become worried. The young girl seemed to be raving like a lunatic. Normally, those are the ones who kill people. Rothyr, come to find out, was people, and he didn't feel like becoming some insane-person's first or however-so-many victim. He began to stoop, reaching for his knife to put his hand on the handle lest he need it in self-defense.

He wasn't trying to be mean, but the situation played out like a murder by a serial killer might. Some kind of initial contact to mark a target, check. Trail target till isolated, check. Approach target and begin slaughterfest, in progress.

He had to think quickly. He wasn't from around there, if this resulted in bloodshed he might die, but being a gifted fighter as he was he might win, considering the size advantage and being in close quarters. If he won, her blood would be on his hands, and she was at least from around there and recognizable. Rothyr would be convicted of murder, and likely tossed off the side of the mountain to feed the birds.

"Sounds like quite a plight," Rothyr said, tracing the handle of his knife with his fingers, "Have you considered a life on the road?" He tried his best to make the idea sound like a good one. It was wrought with danger, and oftentimes boring since he hadn't taught Windlass to speak common yet. He was miles away from achieving that goal.

"I myself, am a traveler, and I've had no troubles finding friends the places I go. This place has struck me as superficial, truth be told. There's places that don't care much for lineage."

He stroked his chin, preparing to make a point, "Syliras, I seen people from all over Mizahar there. All sorts of folks, all kinds of races. I bet you'd like it there... What was your name?"

[Kiyono]

Unaware of his thoughts, she listened, considering his words. Kiyono paused, wondering how such a place could exist. "...Th..There really is such a place..? I-I've thought about going... traveling to my mother's people... the Vantha... but I.. I just don't think I have the skills..." "My name is Kiyono", she replied, "... and yours..?", she asked, curious. She thought about what it would be like to leave Wind Reach, to see places she never knew existed. Was this man speaking the truth? She was not sure, but she hoped he was sincere. However, in either case, if she were to ever leave Wind Reach, whatever plans she made, she would have to wait for the next season, for one did not want to be caught in these mountains in winter. Then she thought about all the places she loved here, that she would also be leaving behind. With this, she became pensive. Through this entire time, she stayed in her position, paying little attention to the atmosphere and the movements of the stranger.

[Rothyr Windbourne]

He seems to have made headway, if her plans were murder he'd moved the conversation on to other topics. He recalled giving his name earlier, but he saw no harm in giving it again.

"Rothyr, of the Emerald Clan Drykas. I came to Wind Reach by road from Sultros and Alvadas, I was just in Syliras this summer, and such a place does exist. It's quite nice, but walls are no place for me. I'm from the Seas of Grass in Cyphrus, that's where my people are from." He thought a moment, "So yes, I guess that would make me a flat-lander."

"Vantha? Like the north-folk? That sounds interesting," he said, looking around to see if he could spot her, hoping his eyes had become more accustomed to the dark corridor.

[Kiyono]

Kiyono had forgotten that he had mentioned his name earlier, but he only confirmed that he was, indeed, a flat-lander. She finally lifted her head in the direction of his voice, her eyes flickering with different colors. "Sea of Grass? What is it like...?", she asked, interested. She barely knew of the outside world, so she always absorbed what she learned. "It must be... wet...? Or does it just look like a sea because of all the grass...?" Kiyono was not usually a person of many words, but when something interested her, she was not one to let it go. It was how she had learned glasswork, hunting, and fletching, among other things. Mostly, she hid and observed others as they worked, but sometimes, she would find someone who would grudgingly teach her, as she had needed for glasswork. Then again, glasswork had come to her somewhat naturally, most likely because of her Inarta side. "Have.. have you gone to many other places? Have you gone to.. Avanthal...?" If he had, she hoped that he would be able to tell her more. Perhaps he had even met some of her family, not that she would know if they had been, since she didn't know any of her mother's family herself.

[Rothyr Windbourne]

"It's called the sea of grass, because for miles and miles all around is nothing but tall grass. Maybe a foothill, here and there, but for the most part flat and grassy. You can see a storm coming miles away, but it's usually sunny. Not wet unless it rains." Rothyr said, finding the fond thoughts of home made him a bit homesick. He was used to it, though, no sense getting all worked up over it.

"Avanthal, no, but I may head that way come spring or summer. I'm not sure what way I'll be heading, really. So it's a possibility."

[Kiyono]

Kiyono tried to picture the image he described, a flat landscape filled with never ending grass. However, she could not, for there was rarely any grass to be seen, let alone a patch of it, on the ground. Through the tone in his voice, she knew that he missed his homeland. "It must mean a lot to him..", she thought to herself. At the mention of visiting Avanthal, she had a sudden idea. "If you do go...", she began hesitantly, ".. would it be alright if... I went with you...? I-I mean... you don't have to answer now, since I'm complete stranger but... would you... please consider it..?" she finished hurriedly. Then she considered this again. "However... I guess I would need to learn ways to survive.... other than hunting...", she added, a bit embarrassed at her lack of skill.

[Rothyr Windbourne]

"Hunting's enough, really." He said, being a hunter himself, "But the real trick is being hidden. There's a lot of nasty folk on the roads."

He considered her proposition, "I'll consider it, but don't get your hopes up."

[Kiyono]

Kiyono's filled with a bit of doubt at his words of only needing hunting and stealth, but she did not voice it. Who was she to say what was, or was not needed to travel? She had never been outside of the vicinity of Wind Reach. The next time he spoke, she nodded quickly, standing up with a jolt, finally turning around the corner to face him, eyes shinning a brilliant gold in excitement. She gave a bow in thanks, not knowing quite what else to do. "Thank you, thank you!", she exclaimed, a smile lighting up her face. "I know that you are only considering it, but that is the most that I've ever received from anyone, other than a few of the more.. begrudging of my father's people." She looked up at him, her eyes slightly duller than before, an almost sandy color. "Anyways," she continued, almost unnoticeably forcing a brighter tone into her voice. "I guess you would like some time to yourself... Sorry for bothering you.", her voice becoming apologetic. "Umm... if you ever need to find me, you can usually find me at a cliff over looking a lake... The path is a bit hidden, so not many people venture there.", she sighed, then began to back away, beginning to take her leave. "Well... umm.. bye!", she said, giving a small wave before hurrying away, slightly flushed.

[Rothyr Windbourne]

'Thank goodness that was over,' Rothyr thought to himself as he let out a deep breath. It was going to be a long winter season if he kept running into people like that. Hopefully she would forget about the blond traveler when the roads cleared up, and he could make his escape. He wondered if she was insane, but thought better to dismiss any such thought of the incident, and pretend it had never happened.

"What a day, what a day," He said aloud to himself, starting to walk in the opposite direction the young girl had gone.

[Kiyono]

OOCSo I guess we're finished? Don't forget to change the status of the thread to "Completed"! ^^~