Flashback [The Icewall Gates] The longest days

[Tatiam]

For a moment, Tatiam wondered if where she was even mattered so much. As long as it's not Wind Reach... Anywhere was safer than home, which was quite a weird concept to get used to. The young woman scratched her head with a bit of confusion and apprehension, before she caught a glimpse of mischievousness in Fallon's eyes. And then the girl's avowal. Lightly and heartily, Tatiam started laughing. She laughed for a little while, a hand holding the pouding wound on the top of her forehead, slowly letting go of all the fears, all the uncertainties that had been consuming her, the worries that had spread in every corner of her mind. Lhex's will, let it be Taloba, who cares! "I'm fine!" she chuckled, probably starting to look weird or loony by then. "The head is throbbing a bit, I think I fell, or..." Tatiam suddenly remembered. "...ah, uh, yeah, please. I'm thirsty..." Calming down a little, she began to recall the events. "You know if other travelers came here by foot? I think our caravan broke on the way, they left me behind, took me for dead, huh..." A dryer chuckle left her lips then, a tad bitter and thoughtful. Left to die, how appropriate, how... coinciding. Tatiam wondered if she shouldn't have said anything. The less people knew of where she'd been, the less she could be traced back. In case any Inarta wanted to exact the consequences of her actions, it was ideal to hope that she could escape the laws, escape her identity, her fate,... Tatiam held her hands together, getting slightly uneasy at the thought. She glanced over at Fallon curiously, stating the inevitable: "Well, I for sure am not going to stay here forever! Damned place is well too cold for the likes of me. Perhaps Taloba isn't such a bad idea after all..." Clearing her throat, seeing as Fallon felt possibly as awkward as she did, if not more, the exiled resolved to keep talking, if only to fill the silence. "So uh..." Where are you from...? What if here's where she's from? I'll make it sound like she doesn't seem to belong. Tatiam pondered on how she could appear friendly, interested, without saying things too easily misinterpreted. What... do you do? Shyke! She looks so young, it's not like everywhere has to be as strict as where I'm from... Petch!... "Whose place is this?" That was a trickier task than she would have imagined, but hopefully the girl wasn't a young orphan living by herself without any kind of adult around... Couldn't be, and if it was the case, then Tatiam might just have to butt in.

[Fallon]

“Indeed, the heat would be better to this cold,” there was a quick laugh as she carefully lifted the tea pot and filled a cup with the steaming liquid “But supposedly this is when Avantal is at its warmest.”
Quietly she stepped round, listening to the bittersweet laugh escaping the lips of Tatiam. Life was something that was precariously balanced on a knife edge. Influenced by the smallest of acts of those around and the determination of the ego to survive. Where those had abandoned the woman to die, it was her own strength that pulled her through and to live. And whilst the woman spoke, Fallon listened for that was what she was best at doing. But whilst she listened she felt her own thoughts mulling over on faded and distant memories. In a sense she could understand Tatiam’s views, but she was not going to pry and make demands. Privacy and secrets were thoughts that should only be released around those trusted.

“Those others, I would not know about,” she shook her head as she returned once more to Tatiam’s side, holding a solid clay cup in her hands “You would be best asking the guards for that answer.”
Carefully she passed the cup down to the woman, the small frown that had formed on her face having now started to lift “Be careful, it’s very hot.”
From there she withdrew, her eyes darting about the cabin as further questions came her way that fortunately she had no issue in answering.

“The cabin belongs to Geninsi Coolwater, I think,” she paused and pursed her lips as returned once more to the fire side “Either way, she is in charge of the Warrens. However,” she gave a quick smile “My Mentor is currently renting out this cabin for us during our stay in Avanthal as we conduct some… studies and research.”
It was deliberately kept unspecific, for the thought of letting a stranger know that both her and her mentor was a pair of Projectionists was ever so slightly unnerving to the mind of the young woman. For the people each reacted differently to those who could use magic. Fallon took up her own cup and took several long sips from it, savouring the taste before turning her eyes once more to the woman. Although they lay upon her full of questions, there was a sense of distance existing between the pair of them as if Fallon herself was not truly focusing.
“So why Avanthal?” she asked before taking another sip “A land of ice and snow that, as you know firsthand, carries the potential to turn deadly.”

[Tatiam]

With surprise, Tatiam scoffed. "That can't be right," she replied incredulously. Truth was that she came from the mountains, she knew extreme temperatures and freezing winds, but she expected a weather much warmer and nicer than that on the ground. At least when it was supposed to be warm...! Nodding at Fallon's warning, the foreigner took the cup, its warmth spreading in her hands like a pleasant shiver, and up to her lips in a discreet smile. "Nah, nevermind," she said in a lower voice, the other travelers having no business with her anymore. If anything, she didn't want to meet them again after what happened; Seeing her come back from the dead would have just been awkward anyway. Tatiam's amber eyes followed Fallon, her attention keen as the younger girl spoke. Research...? On Avanthal? The exiled didn't understand what kind of work her savior was undertaking, but it sounded intriguing. What was she doing exactly? Maybe I'll find out when... if I see her mentor. The cup was brought slowly to her lips, sipping the hot beverage carefully not to get burned. Tatiam chuckled a little at her companion's comment, drinking for a few moments longer before she answered. "...I expected it to be warmer than that at this time of year," the tan woman admitted. "As for why, I..." Pale eyes strayed for a moment, thinking over her words. "There wasn't much left for me to do in Denval." Surprised, Tatiam realized what she just gave out, regretting it instantly. Can't back down now... "Let's say I wasn't really welcomed home anymore... so I just took the first caravan outside the city..." It was a wonder how she could manage to imply so much while saying so little. Tatiam was almost proud that she could leave out all the life-threatening details of her recent departure and still manage not to resort to lies. Might need to, though, eventually...

[Fallon]

“Hmm… home,” her eyes turned away, a look of thoughtfulness covering her face “I heard home was a place where people could go no matter what.”
Fallon of course did not detect the worry that was growing within Tatiam, she was momentarily lost in her own thoughts on what ‘home’ specifically was. And whilst she did think she paced out the room, taking the occasional sip. She knew home and the definitions to the word, it was a place where one lived permanently or where something flourishes and originates from. But most importantly, it was supposedly where the emotional heart resided. So what was it that brought the woman to leave? What made her so unwelcome?

Fallon turned on her heel, the sound of the liquid splashing at the side filling the silence but not escaping. Her eyes lay upon Tatiam, the brief look of vagueness and distance being snuffed out by a thorough and calculating gaze.
How bizarre, she thought as her head seemed to incline to one side.
But Fallon was yet to make a direct comment, her thoughts were busy narrowing down and trying to work their way around the situation. Understanding the word was one thing, but knowing what it meant to the individual was completely different.
“I heard home was a place you could go back to no matter what,” she crouched and picked up her writing book with her free hand “And that it was a place that you will always be accepted in.”
She blinked and frowned for a moment, “But you make it sound that I’m wrong to believe that and it’s naivety, seeing as you were not welcome.”

Her attention turned away as she began carefully piling up her writing equipment, having the ink vial balanced on the cover of the book before she put it away upon a shelf by the window. It was also there that she rested the glass ball that she had been so tentatively turning between her fingers. Once there she simply drained the last of her cup and placed it down on the side.
“Either way,” she gave a smile “Welcome to Avanthal, I hope you enjoy your stay and you find what you want.”

[Tatiam]

Before saying anything, the young woman observed her companion's reaction. It seemed they had more in common than she thought... Fallon was mulling over thoughts most likely pertaining to the concept of home. Was it a lost one for her as well? Or something she knew and longed for? Straying from the small silhouette, Tatiam's eyes wandered as she was destined to do, glancing at the objects in the room. Every one of them so foreign, and soon forgotten before she would even get used to the room's layout. That's what it's going to be like, right? With every step further away, Wind Reach began to feel like a distant, foggy memory. It was a dangerous feeling. She was still only a few weeks away, and who knew how close by eagle's flight. The traveler met the girl's gaze when her cup spilled as she turned around quickly, first startled by the sound and quick movement, then feeling Fallon's heavy gaze upon her. Tatiam looked away softly, trying to gather her courage. Couldn't feel intimidated by a girl's inquisitive stare... Else that 'new life' was going to be really hard. Finally, the younger woman spoke, and... Tatiam didn't know exactly if she was supposed to feel relieved that it was just a matter of words, or worried that Fallon was spending much interest in the way she phrased things. Would her choice of words betray her again? That was going to be a challenge... Trying to look as calm as she could wasn't one then, it did feel so, but being drained of energy meant her expressions weren't as lively as usual. They wouldn't expose her, not yet. "I... ah... No, you're right." Breathe, think, relax... She chuckled slightly, though it sounded a little nervous. "It's not 'home' anymore, I don't know why I chose that word..." Maybe because I might not find another one. "You're not being naive, Fallon, it's not what I meant. All of this is so new that I.. I haven't really processed all that yet..." Meaning to place her hands on her mouth, Tatiam stiffened instead. Wait... So now I'm a young woman from Denval that has been kicked out of her.. former home recently. I can't let her know more than that. The foreigner might have to resort to lies. But making a story with parts of truth was going to be a delicate task, especially if she had to improvise. And especially with Fallon's attention to details. Fortunately, the girl turned to put away her equipment, giving Tatiam some time to try and gain back her composure. She glanced at her cup of tea, still full, and sipped from it slowly. "Thank you, I hope you find what you want too," implying on the research Fallon was working on. "And soon, before it gets colder again." She smiled. With that, Tatiam began to wonder what she was going to do once out of this bed. Find work... Pay them back, gather money to travel again, get as far away as possible. She sighed, knowing she was going to need more rest before all that. "So what's your story?" she dared, wishing that wasn't too forward for Fallon. "Do your mentor and you plan to make some research elsewhere, or are you going back where you're from once this is over?"

[Fallon]

Fallon gave a shrug. Cold or not, she would have to deal with it when she conducted her training either locked away or outside and out of sight of prying eyes regardless. She took careful steps around the room once more, her expression turning neutral to the words of Tatiam. When things were new, they had to be handled with care. It was something Fallon knew already, for when one was lost and confused, their minds screaming for an answer, the slightest miscalculation could send one spiralling down.

She watched the woman, sip her tea and then ask a question. A rather direct one at that. Fallon straightened, her eyes growing sharp and focused, before easing. It was a question she generally treated with silence matched with a hard look. For there was some memories and tales that should remain locked away and silenced.
Calm, she means no harm.
“My story? Nothing special,” She turned her eyes to the fire as they became glazed over with memories.
But it was special, wasn’t itWitch? The child who wandered the forests bathed in-
She inhaled sharply and turned her head to Tatiam, forcing a smile upon her face “Seriously though, it is nothing special. Unless you enjoy hearing of long journeys in the rain and staying in four walls. So yeah, nothing special.”

Vague and unspecific, and deliberately so. Her history was her own. And sharing it was something she found hard to do. People were judgemental in this day and age, from back ground to abilities. The slightest mumble of the word mage or magic set many a person off and worrying. It could not be trusted after all. But then she remembered the other question.

Fallon rubbed her chin for a moment “Home? Not yet. Too soon for that. I think we’re heading to the Spires again in the Spring. Get to go and look at the weather patterns there. After that I’m not sure. I’ll have to wait and see.”
In honesty, there was a brief element of truth there. They were going to go to the spires to look at the weather and climate, though the reasons were not exactly beneficial for the greater public. As Fallon got older, she began to understand what her Mentor was trying to find, the perfect conditions in which to use Djed and have it perform at its best. Of course, there was always the chance that it varied from person to person, but research would bring out that truth.

[Tatiam]

Bad... bad idea... That reflection in Fallon's eyes... Tatiam didn't need to notice every hint to deduce what was going on; The young girl and her shared something in common. Tatiam was just a little better at pretending. Her stare strayed, she wasn't cruel after all, she wouldn't force or impose more of this onto her own savior. When the fair head spoke again, Tatiam simply returned a softer glance and smiled politely, trying not to intrude into the girl's world of memories. It clearly wasn't a subject that she wanted to talk about. How could I have known? deplored the Southern stranger. Was there an easier way to guess every single person's limits? Tatiam was socially awkward to start with... there was no miracle to expect from her. Nodding in silence, the wounded listened not without interest and curiosity. Home, she pondered on, so it was a concept that Fallon knew and possessed. And what was it about weather patterns? Were they studying the cycle of the seasons, how the ground happened to be more fertile one year compared to the next, or did it have to do with fauna, flora, or... what else could it be? It did sound like a boring task to do nonetheless, but the subject itself... Well, Tatiam would ask if she wasn't afraid that the girl would refuse to talk to her again afterwards. Whatever she needs to hide and protect, it's just the same as me... Or so she fancied the thought of not being completely alone or different. So what would bring together two strangers with nothing to reveal about themselves? What kind of casual conversation was Tatiam supposed to introduce? Perhaps shared silence and a bit of time would eventually have an effect on the younger woman. Or perhaps Tatiam was just a passerby, and she was trying to put too much meaning into their random encounter. Still, even as a temporary place to stay, it had been more welcoming and soothing than the places she had visited so far. Even... even 'home' hadn't been that warm and inviting... With a slight sigh of pain, Tatiam tried to lie back down again on the soft mattress and under the heavy blankets. It had nothing to do with the rather flat and cold rock that had served as a bed for her during many years in Wind Reach. "More long journeys in the rain then?" Shyke... just shut up before you make it worse. "Ah well, I guess it's going to be the same for me..." Lying on the cot, her pale golden eyes stared at the ceiling thoughtfully, wondering how to make awkwardness eventually dissipate. Gotta rest, I still owe her... I should find a way to repay them before I make myself look like I'm too weird and shady for their hospitality.

[Fallon]

Fallon turned her back to Tatiam, her gaze averted and her eyes staring intently into the fire hearth. It was a moment of reflection, of remembering her words should she be asked again or questioned deeper. Not that any other questions prying into her past came. Which was for the better, for there was no way that Fallon could keep dancing around answers forever. But with the answer of one set of questions did a silence consume them. It was unnerving to say the least, but there was little else that could be said. A single misstep in words could reveal all.

But it was not that Fallon did not want to talk. It was just subjects that she found herself unable to discuss. Yes her master was conducting research, yes she knew what it was about, but could she talk about it? No. She wanted to communicate, to be able to talk freely without worry. But secrets were the way she lived, a lace of words and covers that cut her off from the world in an attempt to protect. In time Fallon would learn, that hiding herself behind walls would make her alone. And by taking that step forward to go against her fears and displaying a single act of courage would free her. But that time was years away, and for now Fallon would hide behind words and a reluctance to give answers. Yet then Tatiam spoke once more, and Fallon could not help but bring herself to answer.

“Indeed,” Fallon gave out a laugh “Lots of rain in the Spring. And if you are travelling then you no doubt would experience it too. So where do you plan to go after Avanthal? Anywhere special?” She still faced the fire, her shadow being cast across the room “Or is it just an adventure in which to see the world?”
She turned on her heel at this point and faced Tatiam, a smile having once more formed there, full of the curiosity and inquisitiveness only found in a youth. Beating about in the silence would help neither of them, and it had been a while since Fallon had spoken properly to anyone. She paced round once more to the side of the bed, and perched on the chair she had previously left there “And feel free to take it easy, there’s no rush after all.”
There was little else she could say, or at least not without the feeling she was prying too deep. But there always had to be a point where that boundary was crossed. If it was not crossed then nothing would ever develop, the again perhaps that was also for the better. Time however would reveal that one.

[Tatiam]

It took a moment for Tatiam to realize and admit a truth to herself: What words and secrets Fallon had kept were at least more honest than the foreigner had dared to be. She could believe that part of the story about journeys in the rain and being stuck between four walls, whereas her own were just blurred lies. I'm not worthy of trust... A light laugh brightened the air around, Tatiam's head turned in agreeable surprise. She nodded slowly to herself. Rain wasn't something she hated, it was freeing, washing out and clearing her thoughts, bringing her to the present time. At such impressive heights, Wind Reach's precipitations had usually been of the snow or icy rain variety, nothing like the spring rains Tatiam had felt and seen in Kalea. Her musing stopped, considering the younger woman's question before she boldly uttered: "Both. I mean... It's not like anything is holding me back anymore, I can go wherever I want..." Why did that feel sad and stinging, then? "I don't really know, truly... I've never traveled, don't know the world, and I barely know how to defend myself,... Lots to do and learn," she sighed, courage escaping her living shell. "I guess we'll find out," answered the mixed-blood with a careless smile, "Now that I'm out of Denval, I think I'll just keep working and traveling until I find a place where I want to stay... or just keep moving around,... I'd like to see the world, but I'm not sure I'm ready yet for all the dangers lurking out there." Her pale eyes kept following Fallon as she spoke, until the fair haired miss sat by the bed. Tatiam chuckled, a trace of dryness echoing unwillingly. "You're right..." But I still need to earn money if I want to eat and leave Avanthal eventually, and that is without mentioning how much I owe you... Strayed thoughts and stare returned to the companion, and Tatiam pondered on how to properly formulate her next question. "You... um,... You know, or heard of interesting cities?" No past implied, no attempt to force any word out of the younger woman, just the plain wonder and excitement Tatiam felt as her ambers shone with hopes that new and different would mean better, or at least fascinating for a while.

[Fallon]

“A place to belong? Fair enough,” she leaned back for a moment as if she was deeply thinking about the words that had been spoken, before her attention snapped back “Interesting cities?”
It was at that moment that Fallon’s eyes grew bright, and a broad grin broke out upon her face. A subject that she was free to talk about without any real consequences. And so she began, her voice ringing out with enthusiasm as she delved into her memory and the places she had visited so many times before.

“I’ve heard of a few, and been to enough of them,” she spoke as a smile broke out on her face “Mura, Sahova, Zeltiva… Mura was by far the most interesting for me. The land of the Konti, a pearl of an island. Been there twice, for nearly half a year on both occasions. It’s beautiful, in both the winter and the spring. Cool sand, the crashing of the ocean waves, art and knowledge. A dream of a place,” she paused for a moment as she leaned in “And then there was Zeltiva, home of the scholars and its great university, where the best ships in all of Mizahar are made. And then there is Nyka, with its monks and bridges, keepers of the peace kept within their battles with their four corners, the Celestial Seat of the world.”

She took in a deep breath clearing the air in her lungs. She could share so much, but whether or not Tatiam would appreciate her talks on far of lands and strange peoples was beyond her. So with a smile she continued a little while longer with what she knew, “Syliras is the biggest place I’ve ever been too, also one of the first places I remember as well. Thousands of people exist there, all crammed into this fortress, all living together, and all working together upon the shores of the Suvan Sea. Stinks though.”
She gave a small laugh at this point, her mind becoming flooded with memories of her youth. Of happy times and those few precious people that once existed there or perhaps still did. She was not sure, it had been the best part of two years since she had last been there.
“Could talk to you forever about cities. Visited far too many already. And you? What was Denval like? If you don't mind me asking that is.”