Closed Sand, Sea, and Steed

Sybel // Eleret is introduced to a horse.

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Home of the Konti people, this ivory city is built of native konti stone half in and half out of the sea. Its borders touch the Silverwood, and stretch upwards towards Silver Lake, home of the infamous konti vision water. [Lore]

Sand, Sea, and Steed

Postby Eleret on February 17th, 2013, 12:12 pm

Eleret giggled as Sybel threw out qualifiers to go with her explanation. Despite being preoccupied with staying on the horse, she couldn't help it; but hers certainly wasn't mean laughter. The amusement did help to relax the Konti further. She would have looked back towards the Benshira, but -- more relaxed or no, that just didn't seem advisable. "It is the horse's left," she said, nodding once as she rephrased the definition into a final form.

Growing comfortable with the horse was one thing; with the horse walking was another story. Galloping definitely lay a long ways off in her future. Eleret nodded at Sybel's instruction, momentarily glad that their plans aligned -- 'keep walking', she thought she could do. Almost positively. As she gradually absorbed the rhythm of Eplah's gait, the motion began to feel a little less alien -- and her companion's verbal musings provided just enough distraction to keep it so. Eleret glanced down at her own left side, very briefly, as Bel described the issues with swords and mounting. "That makes sense," she said, reflecting briefly on her own armament -- one not carried with her at the moment, a habit the Konti probably needed to remedy.

Eleret smiled as Sybel went on to describe the horse's attitude. "That is good of Eplah. I will not panic," she affirmed -- though of course that was easier said than done. But at a sedate walk, the horse seeming at most mildly perturbed but willing to deal with the unfamiliar rider on its back, she felt like panic was an unlikely outcome. Provided that all else remained equal.

She looked on ahead of the horse, noting that the clearing would eventually come to an end, as all things are eventually wont to do. It didn't seem like a good idea to keep the horse walking into shrubbery; even the rawest novice could reason that through. "It is reins to turn, yes?" Eleret prompted. Not quite consciously, she tugged lightly on the left rein, action echoing thought.
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Sand, Sea, and Steed

Postby Sybel on February 25th, 2013, 2:29 pm

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The tactic seemed to work. Eleret’s body began to fall into step with Eplah’s, though it was clear they had more lessons just over the horizon. She noticed the Konti’s eyes shift subtly to where her weapon might rest. This subtle gesture prompted Bel to inquire about the Konti’s armament. She’d been curious before but never found the opportunity to ask. ”So, speaking of weapons…” Her supple mouth pulled up into a lopsided grin. The Benshira could look remarkably wolfish at times. ”Suvai. What are they, exactly? On its own, it looks like a simple enough weapon to me, but I’ve heard they can be very dangerous.” The two of them had (remarkably enough) stayed out of danger thus far, which had rendered the seer’s weapon unnecessary. With normal humans, this was not cause for disappointment.

But she was not what the average man would call “normal.” Sybel recognized the approaching problem before Ellie even asked. ”Yes, with the reins. Be gentle – you don’t want to pull too hard. When you pull the reins, apply pressure with the outside leg to make sure she doesn’t turn too far. Otherwise you’ll have her walking in circles.” The image of a very dizzy Eleret sprang to mind and she stifled a chuckle. Laughing at a friend’s expense was considered impolite in certain circles.

Assuming her cohort turned without a terrible amount of trouble, Sybel pressed on. ”Now, horses are trainable. The easiest way to ride one is to utilize verbal commands. Most know them by heart – they’re bought to ride. Others need to be broken and trained. You won’t need to worry about that.” She grinned again. It seemed no matter what the circumstance, Eleret and horses made for comedy. This time she had a vision of her chasing the beasts around a stable yard. It had to be the girl’s propriety, of which Sybel had none.

”Now, I want you to think about jogging a bit. It’s certainly not galloping – more of a trot, if you will. It’s a little faster than walking though. Eplah here will pick up the pace when I click my tongue at her twice. That’s how she knows to jog. When you’re feeling confident, give it a try.” This would be a challenge but she had a great deal of faith in her genteel companion. There was something about Eleret that made Sybel think she’d be good under pressure. Some people fell apart under scrutiny while others rose to meet it. That set the traveler apart from the adventurer. The two of them had one hell of an adventure set before them, too.

”Now, when we get to Zeltiva…” She ran her hand along the horses’ flank, breaking her tuneless humming. ”What are your plans? Do you long to see the University again?” That was a secret dream of Sybel’s. The last visit she’d paid the sprawling city, she never found enough hours in a day to read in the Library. Her secret fascination with academia was one she held dear.
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Sand, Sea, and Steed

Postby Eleret on March 2nd, 2013, 12:59 pm

First, Eleret dealt with the issue of getting the horse turned. She erred on the side of gentle -- maybe a bit too gentle, as she had to increase the pressure before Eplah responded. She didn't mind it, however; better to go slowly and carefully than too fast. The horse turned readily once her novice rider had given a clear enough signal, and Eleret released pressure once they were again facing empty space. "Simple enough," the Konti murmured, perhaps to herself; she refrained from any unnecessary repeat directives, and glanced over to Sybel as the woman continued speaking.

Jogging was surely a good next step, but Eleret was dubious about the prospect of doing so and talking to Sybel at the same time. And Sybel had been asking questions; it didn't seem right to let them go unanswered. So she simply nodded, tucking the directive away for later use.

"The suvai is..." She glanced down again, despite knowing full well it wasn't here. And that producing it for Bel to look at while dealing with her own present endeavor would have been ill-advised even if the suvai were to hand. "It is from the sea. I do not know the word in Common. It is... there is a poison in it. Konti are safe from it, but others are not."

And then discussion of plans, a broad and open-ended subject that could go on all the rest of the day. Eleret smiled down at the Benshiran woman, a small and slightly rueful smile. "There is much to study, this is true. But I do not go to University this time." She paused for a moment, considering how best to continue, reflecting upon what Sybel already knew. "We spoke before of my older sister, who is healer. I have a younger sister also. She is Tanell." Eleret glanced at her companion... then shook her head slightly, thinking better about remarking upon relative ages.

"She left, three years ago. Called. I have letters, for places she went between, but not where she stopped." Eleret looked out into the distance beyond the horse's ears for a moment, then back to Sybel. "We have nothing since Spring. I think, I will follow the letters and maybe find where she is."
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Sand, Sea, and Steed

Postby Sybel on April 26th, 2013, 7:21 pm

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Sybel imagined a polearm with a spike at the end, coated with some vague, amorphous substance. Eleret’s description left things to be desired, but her imagination could fill in the blanks. It was that damned language barrier, an obstacle only overcome by time. ”I see,” she mused, turning the idea over in her mind. ”Perhaps you could show me on our journey.” Eleret surely intended to take it with her. Traveling without a weapon, even in company, was not advisable among the treacherous wilds of Mizahar.

The next phase of their discussion however, gave Sybel much to consider. Eleret hadn’t revealed much beyond her hobbies. Their reasons for traveling such a great distance were disturbingly similar. ”Did I ever tell you the reason I came to Mura?” This was more rhetorical. Of course she hadn’t. ”I’ve been there before. When I was a younger woman, I found myself living amongst the mysterious horse clans of the Drykas. Their whole lifestyle pertains to riding creatures like Eplah and they have some of the fastest mounts in the land.” How to continue? ”I befriended a Konti there, born of a second wife. Her name was Kavala.” She smiled faintly at the image.

”She too, disappeared on her way to the city of her people. I have traveled there in search many times, but all to no avail.” She sighed. ”If I can help you find your sister, I will. I don’t have many resources but I can offer my skills as need be. I’ve been to Zeltiva before and I have some contacts there.” The nostalgia was painful. From her speech, it was easily inferred that Sybel and Kavala had a close relationship, at one time.

”Tanroa and Dira are an unforgiving pair,” she said, suddenly abstracted. ”With one, you still never have certainty of the other. Time passes and she is still gone, but I can never find peace in my heart.” With sympathetic eyes, she turned up to face her mounted companion. ”I won’t let it happen to another.” Their lesson was temporarily forgotten.
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