Completed [The Rearing Stallion] Hey, It's My Birthday (Razkar)

[Edreina]

Edreina carefully watched the way that Razkar's hand tightened around his stein, perhaps to use it as a weapon? How would he do that... Bash it into the man's head? But it seems like it would just break on the man's bare skull, would it be heavy enough to do damage was the question... Break it against the table and use a jagged edge? Perhaps a bit more likely. Apparently the man was only an emissary. The man's employed wanted to meet Razkar which was... odd. Had the Myrian managed to make a name for himself already? Edreina's gaze twitched downward as her friend began to stroke the handle, a slow, thoughtful motion that Edreina wondered if he was aware of even committing. When the man reached into his pocket, Edreina was proud that her self control. Instead of flinching, her cheek twitched only slightly. Edreina did not see what was on the paper but Razkar's curious expression turned to one of deep thought. Edreina could tell that her friend was contemplating something. Nothing bad was going to happen, not that she could tell, so Edreina went back to her meal. When she was addressed, she simply waver her glinting knife at the man and popped another piece of beef into her mouth. Dammit... The man's appearance had let the meat go chilly. It tasted very different cold. Not nearly as good. Taking another bite, Edreina looked up to see Razkar smiling, but it was not a smile of joy. More one meant to assure her of her safety. When did I become a damsel? she wondered bitterly, taking another sip of ale. "Business. People I work with... for... not always nice. Not usual, anyway." Edreina shrugged and nodded to herself. "Men who deal in death do not tend to be." She paused and looked up briefly. "You're one of the unusual." She smiled and began to pick at the vegetables that were left. "Why did you smile? When you ask about day?" "Oh!" The woman wiped the lifted corner of her mouth and settled against he back of her chair, crossing her arms across her stomach. "Today I am 23 Springs old." She smiled to herself. "It's odd to consider how far I have come since the last time I noticed it was my birthday." Edreina snorted and shook her head. "Surai and Zindr surprised me with a trip out to a really beautiful reef." She grinned at the memory of Zindr and a young Edreina teaming up to push Surai into the water. "How do Myrians celebrate their birthdays?" Edreina's question was sudden as she felt a pang of loneliness threaten to make itself known. There were times where she hated her flighty nature, her tendency to dart of and leave anything that could have possibly become permanent. You still have Suri and Zin... She reminded herself. And suddenly found herself wondering if Razkar had siblings to return to. Had she already asked that? Damn. Only one way to find out. "Do you have older siblings? You seem like you would be the bratty kid-brother." She grinned and winked at her jest, picking up another vegetable between her fingers and eating it after she spoke, chewing as she listed to Razkar's answer.

[Razkar]

"Today I am 23 Springs old."

Razkar felt the smile abruptly leave his face. Her birthing day? And he had no gift for her?! Then he calmed himself; he had no idea that it was today, so why worry? He had time to get her something, so instead he raised his glass in toast instead,

"It's odd to consider how far I have come since the last time I noticed it was my birthday."

The Myrian cocked his head to one side and smiled, thinking the same thing. Goddess... a year ago... things had been so much different. Better and far worse, in several confusing ways. He nodded.

"Know what you mean. One year ago, was still in Taloba army, was with Aya, was in middle of jungle and only knew barbarians from books. Now am eating steak in Syliras tavern with Svefra wench." He smiled in what he hoped was a disarming fashion, saluting her again with his stein. "And you? You have own ship, you are... in-dar-pendant? That is word, yes? You have drive and now you are year wiser. Imagine what you have next year..."

"How do Myrians celebrate their birthdays?"

"Same way many others do, I think," he said with a shrug, polishing off his meat with relish, washing it down and attacking his vegetables with somewhat less enthusiasm. "We have feast and family give gift. But person who is born on day? They must get food for feast. But during feast, they do nothing. Male or female, they are honored."

"Do you have older siblings? You seem like you would be the bratty kid-brother."

The Myrian mock-sniggered around a mouthful of carrots but smiled afterwards, eyes narrowed. "Since ask, Edri, I have bratty brother. Two. And sisters. And three older sisters." She cocked her head to one side and he gave her a lopsided grin. "Six, Edri. I have six brother and sister. Three old, three young. I am middle."

His smile faded again, mainly in his eyes but she could see it easily. Some bad memory that clouded his good mood and marred it. Razkar did not want to think of Querix tonight. That memory was long-buried and he did not suffer the dead, even if they were his blood. No amount of sorrow could bring them back.

"But, before talk them..."

He raised his glass again with more solemnity, sighing shortly and looking at her with eyes shorn of that careful mask he showed the world and shining with affection he knew many in this churning city would not credit a Myrian with being capable of.

"I toast on your birthing day. Twenty and three summers. I wish many more, with sun and..." his smile widened a touch "... and fair wind for sails, and storms to test but not break. To my friend..."

And with that Razkar drained his stein, long and frothy mouthful of ale moistening his tongue and fizzing into his mind before he slammed it down onto the table, shaking cutlery with a buzzing smile on his face.

"I think I have another for birthing day friend. You? Or wine? They hve beer, I think..."

The scarred man had been forgotten, apparently, or so he hoped. That was for the morrow, and tonight was for his friend.

[Edreina]

"I toast on your birthing day. Twenty and three summers. I wish many more, with sun and fair wind for sails, and storms to test but not break. To my friend..." It was a good toast. Edreina smiled and raised her glass as well, tipping it back to finish the pungent liquid. Immediately it went to her head, causing it to buzz and whir not all to unpleasantly. Distracted by the feeling, Razkar's slam caused Edreina to jump and hiccup in fear. When she realized what had happened, she snorted and giggled. "I think I have another for birthing day friend. You? Or wine? They have beer, I think..." Edreina grinned and leaned back in her seat. "No, thank you. I don't want to end up drunk." All of a sudden, a burp rushed up and burst from between her lips, causing her to blush as a few heads turned. "Lightweight," she explained, indicating her self with a single finger on the nose. Edreina watched as he walked off towards the bar, likely not wanting to bother the already busy Carol. Inhibitions lessened, Edreina could not help but admire the way her friend moved. It was more a stalk than a walk with a gentle sway that caused the woman's mind to drift about. He was quite obviously more coordinated on land than he was on the Flotilla. Actually, he walked quite unlike anyone Edreina had ever seen. It was the walk of someone who knew their body down to the smallest muscle. "Pardon, Miss?" Edreina turned to see a trio of men leaning, standing, and sitting against the table beside her. They were all rather varied as far as looks go, but they all had the dress of a commoner. It was the one in the middle, obviously the natural leader with his bright smile and the way that he radiated friendliness. "I hope ya don't mind us asking, but who's tha Murian?" Edreina smiled back at the men. "He's a good friend of mine. His name is Razkar." The three exchanged an odd look that Edreina did not quite recognize. "Pardon, but I ain't ever seen a woman befriend a savage such as 'im," the first said, eyes narrowing slightly as he glanced off to Razkar. "Ain't you worried he'll kill ya and wear yer pretty scalp?" Edreina laughed, causing one's blond eyebrows to shoot skyward before burrowing back downwards to his nose in surprise. "No no! He isn't as bad as they say." Edreina blushed brightly at the automatic use of as. She could not in good conscious say that he was not bad at all. "He's a man like any of you just with a different opinion of fun." Again they looked at each other, as if wondering just how drunk the poor, misguided girl was. "Well... Alright. We just wanted ta make sure that yer okay. If ya need... help... just call out an' someone will help ya. We may be a big town, but we know how ta take care of each otha'." He winked at her, only brightening Edreina's blush. It was odd to her, strange men coming up to warn for her safety. "Thank you." The red-head smiled a bit unsurely. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind." At her nod, the two began to shuffle back into the fray of forms. At the same time, Razkar returned and Edreina had to force a smile. Did people really see him as dangerous? She eyed her friend and was unable to see any sort of immediate threat crouched there. Remember. Only awhile back, he was a strange savage to you too... A small voice reminded her, stilling her eyes away from Razkar's for an instant. I at least gave him a chance.

[Razkar]

Naturally, Razkar was aware that he territory had been invaded, as it were. When he got to the bar and ordered another ale with a good-natured wink, Carol bustled off to fill his stein, and he looked back to Edri...

The smile fell. An infallible law of the multiverse, he supposed. Leave a pretty girl at a table alone for more than half a chime, and the vultures will start circling.

A little harsh, aren't you? Since when was she a piece of turf you staked out and decided was yours to defend?

Razkar's jaw tightened, answering his own question with a flash of memory to those pleading words he'd heard her all but sob a handful of nights before. Desperate and overpowered by a drunken animal. Since then he'd been feeling more protective of her than usual, knowing well that for all her fire and fury, Edri was not a Myrian female. She was a human one, and that made her weaker.

Such is the world. The strong prey on the weak... or protect them.

"Making friend?"

He gave her a knowing smirk as he sat back don, enjoying her surprise and flicker of discomfort before waving it away, taking a good "healthy" gulp of his fresh ale.

"Not worry, I just make sure no bother you. Had enough miza for ale. Sure not want? Fine, fine..."

They drank in pleasurable silence for a few chimes before Razkar noticed the night shroud over the city, bringing to life countless torches like those strange flowers that only bloomed in darkness. He looked into his glass and found only dregs. His plate, and only empty porcelain and a single gnawed bone.

"Let us walk." He said pleasantly and definitely, sliding out from the booth. "And see city at night..."

[Edreina]

"Making friend?" Edreina's eyebrows scrunched for a fraction of a chime as she thought about Razkar's question. Had she been making a friend? Not to her knowledge. But then again her knowledge of human interactions was vastly limited. "Not that I know of." She watched as he took a drink that would have made her head spin and hit the table before she regained her senses. As he consumed his ale, Edreina turned her attention back to the water that she had originally ordered. If being tossed into the Suvan helps get rid of being drunk, maybe watering down the ale will help too, she imagined, drinking slowly but constantly to keep up with the ale-breathing Myrian. Wonder how much it takes to get him drunk... "Let us walk. And see city at night..." Edreina nodded with a bright smile, having just been considering the same thing. She stood and brushed crumbs from the front of her skirt and sitting wrinkles from the back. Standing made her aware of just how uncomfortable sitting with a full stomach crammed beneath a corset had been as she gave the food more room to distribute. On their way out, Edreina turned and waved at the trio of men who were standing on the outskirts of the fray, against the wall. When she had their attention, she winked grandly and disappeared through the portal. Sometimes, being a slightly pretty female had its benefits. "How does courting work, in Taloba? Do you just get grabbed one day by the topknot by some female and told that you will give her many daughters?" Edreina snorted and shook her head at the image, grinning up at her friend, dodging out of the way of his playful jab. Laughing gently - for fear of waking the city - she thought back to three years ago, how time seemed to all blend together now save for a few spectacular moments. Frowning slightly, Edreina realized that she did not want her days to blend together as they had been while she was on the Anchorage. She wanted to be able to remember more spectacular moments, be they as simple as walking through Syliras with a friend, choosing a path hauntingly familiar to the one she had taken with another friend not too long ago. Though now, she felt like an entirely different woman. She turned to her friend and grinned. "Oh come now, I'm sure that your lessened inhibitions have brought about several burning questions. Why not take the chance to ask them?"

[Razkar]

The air was thankfully cool despite Summer looming on the calendar. Night had fallen and the streets were lit so bright with torches it might not have even bothered; the traffic of pedestrians, carts and horses had thinned, too, but not as much as Razkar would have thought.

"This is like city that does not sleep," he said with a wondering shake of his head, finishing his second ale and placing the stein on the windowsill outside the door, "Or even get tired, by looks..."

"How does courting work, in Taloba? Do you just get grabbed one day by the topknot by some female and told that you will give her many daughters?"

His chuckle was a slurred parody of amusement, but he was aware of it, at least. Razkar always found that his inebriation always gave him some kind of warning: it let him know when he was on the threshold between drinking and drunk, if you follow my meaning. Right now, he was the former, and that... looseness that permeated him was quite welcome.

"Oh, was that joke? Did not know barbarians had invent humor. Very good. Few more century, will actually be funny..." She fumed silently and he winked at her, a little slower than he needed to. "No, courting is... well, we do not really have it. If you want female or want male for wife, you talk to her, not family, but family must approve." He snorted softly, and the breed of smile on his face almost made Edreina blush. "Rest of the time... what we want, we try and have. Not always get, but is... loose. Not so much with bowing and scraping and long walk like here, in barbarian lands. Especially when young. Want to have fun with body and female's body? Go. Have it. Just be ready to have her break you nose..."

Had he been fully sober, Razkar would probably have realized that a man talking with a grin about "having fun" with a female probably would not have been what an almost-rape victim would find money. He would also have realized Edreina was quite capable of moving on, but... tact, such as it was to a savage among the barbarous, was a rare thing.

Besides, the sight of the Citadel itself, rising like a squat white obelisk above them, dwarfing the walls and all he buildings around them like an elephant around children, was much more interesting.

"Oh come now, I'm sure that your lessened inhibitions have brought about several burning questions. Why not take the chance to ask them?"

Razkar's eyes slid to her hotly, self-restraint keeping his libido in check but if she wanted to push, well, be prepared to get pushed back. Black, lidded eyes roved over her and his smile widened.

"Assume I have inhibitions, hmm?" He chuckled as she rolled her eyes, not buying it. Ah, well, who could blame her? If he really meant those words, Aya wouldn't have been an issue and the Svefra would have been bedded by him by now. She was not, and so... "Not have many, Edri. We share much, you and me. You are friend. Not have many barbarian friend." He snorted, remembering again. "Except one or two in Riverfall, and Kelvic back in jungle. She was feisty girl... like you. Red hair. Did not know when to give up..."

His gaze went over her head and back to the Citadel. He spoke as she looked up and up, only the Watchtower of Taloba comparable to it that his own eyes had seen.

"They worship tree, I hear. Or... not worship. Tree speaks to them. Tells them who to fight." Razkar snorted yet again and grimaced. "Orders from tree. And they call my people savage..."

He turned back to her, stance relaxed and easy, arms laid back wide and grin pleasant and amiable. Alcohol agreed with his, she thought perversely, and he doesn't get all handsy like many other males. Then again, Razkar came from a place where the females would happily rip off your balls if you took liberties.

"What about you?" He said breathlessly, head lolled back and eyes closed, enjoying the soft, cool breeze from the Docks. "You always have questions..."

[Edreina]

The way that Razkar's eyes raked her body, burning through her clothes to the maiden form beneath was enough that, had she been sitting back at the tavern, she would have had the sudden urge to cross her legs and tie her fingers firmly together. It made her want to look at him the same way, blame it on the alcohol. But she would not torture herself. "Assume I have inhibitions, hmm?" If you didn't, I would have fucked that silly smile off your face by now... THAT thought was definitely the alcohol. Edreina blushed brightly, rolling her eyes at herself. Normally, she did not consider herself to be a vulgar girl. But tonight, it seemed as if her entire mind was coated in a layer of filth and grime that suited her. "Not have many, Edri. We share much, you and me. You are friend. Not have many barbarian friend... Except one or two in Riverfall, and Kelvic back in jungle. She was feisty girl... like you. Red hair. Did not know when to give up..." "Must be a characteristic of redheads," she muttered to herself, shaking her head. Glancing up at him, she noticed that he was staring up at something over her head and she look to the side and then up. And up. And up into the firmament itself. With the flickering golden haze of torches lighting it, Edreina could imagine the pantheon living in something similar. "What about you? You always have questions..." He was standing with his arms spread, luxuriating in the fresh, salted air that drifted up from the sea. Perhaps he missed it as much as she... "I always have questions," she agreed quietly, taking a deep breath that relaxed her dancing nerves. "But with every question I find that we are more alike than I thought. That and I feel like a child, tugging on a mother's skirt asking "Why? How? Where? What?" to the most obvious things." As they walked, approaching the docks, Edreina began to unlace her corset, sighing and hunching with a groan as it came free. Smirking slowly up at Razkar, Edreina purred. "Might want to avert your eyes, Myrian. Clothes are going to continue to disappear." She bit her lip and winked for an added effect, deciding that a little flirting would not hurt. Hell. I won't be getting it. The next thing to disappear as they stepped onto the thick stone that connected the piers, Edreina pulled her shirt up and over her head, rolling her shoulders with a luxurious grin as her torso was left in its traditional linen bindings. Cloth and leather bundled in one hand, Edreina shuddered all over at the sudden liberty of her skin. It was a wonderful feeling. Now about the skirt... She could not take it off and continue walking as she had been. Unless she pulled it up and over her head. But the flurry of fabric would disorient her. "Hm." The sound was short and nearly sighed as she thought over alternatives to the restrictive clothing for the last of their walk. But, at the same time, she did not want the night to end yet. This might be one of the last times she sees her friend before they head their separate ways. She stopped abruptly and turned, facing the city. Keeping her eyes on the marvel city before them, she bent over and caught the hem of her skirt. Blue eyes still attempting to take in the sheer size of Mizahar's greatest city, she took the hem and tucked it into the waistband over her right leg, giving her much more room to move about. This, she decided, could be manageable. But it was not likely accepted by the people of the city any more than without the skirt. "It's not too horrible a place," she mused, "not as far as cities go." The sultry wind that whipped over them lightened Edreina's heart and her mood. Grinning up at Razkar, her fingers seemed to move of their own volition to undo the bandanna and then her braid so that a mane of fire could whip about her freely. "I'm sure it is no comparison to Taloba, though. Hm?"

[Razkar]

"I always have questions. But with every question I find that we are more alike than I thought. That and I feel like a child, tugging on a mother's skirt asking "Why? How? Where? What?" to the most obvious things."

Razkar swung his head to hers, eyes narrow and brow crushing them in tipsy exagerration. He didn't care for the negative tone in her voice, the self-despairing way she framed her words, and squeezed her shoulder with a crooked smile.

"Nothing wrong with questions. Only way to get answers. Father told me, no such thing as stupid question... only stupid if ask same question over and over. Question and learn. Things that are simple to other, totally different to you. How you learn? Questions..."

She met his eyes and that warmth passed between them again. Friendship was something Razkar did not think he would find outside of the jungle. Those he had met in Riverfall and the Sea of Grass... mercenaries, sellswords, cutthroats. Only idiots would consider such men friends. But Edreina was different, and if he couldn't be there for her, what kind of male was he?

"Might want to avert your eyes, Myrian. Clothes are going to continue to disappear."

Of course, moments don't last, and with a roll of his eyes, Razkar did not, in fact, avert his eyes. She had been right that night on the Flotilla; treating her like some bashful child would help neither of them, and, yes, had he not been raised and trained in a place where women walked around bearing (almost) all? How was this different?

You know damn well how.

"It's not too horrible a place... not as far as cities go."

He followed her eyes and took in the same glowing, flickering landscape. He was reminded of Taloba, in many ways, only more... complicated. And much taller. With many a jerk and rustle much of the Svefra's linen was shed and she sighed in satisfaction, her people's traditional bindings more more comfortable to her than the flowing designs these barbarians seemed to wear in Syliras.

Wind blew gently and raced each gust down the thoroughfares and streets. Razkar smelled dirt and waste and salt and night and hope and despair, all the smells of thousands upon thousands of folk crammed into one place.

"I'm sure it is no comparison to Taloba, though. Hm?"

Razkar chuckled, impressed that the Svefra was starting to follow his moods. He shook his head, words as much a surprise to him as to her.

"In sight? No, it is not comparison, because it is bigger. By much. Fifty thousand people, you know that? Taloba has... maybe ten. And not nearly as much land is built. Walls and towers and castle and more building than man can count. No... it is bigger."

The Myrian smiled in smug satisfaction.

"But not greater. Not home. Sacred Taloba is home for all. For army and for Council and great clans. For the Goddess-Queen herself. Her palace? Not half as tall as big castle... but far more power. And at night, city... city glows, Edri. Thousands of torches under stars, make every street dance in red. Skulls on walls laugh at you. And in day, in market, and training yards and plaza... hundreds of Children of Myri there. Such thing to see..."

The Myrian blinked and became aware of the kack he was speaking. Nothing like alcohol to get the old racial pride rolling, eh? He sighed, casting her a half-apologetic glance.

"Sorry. Not need to hear me talk like preacher. All race say their city is best, no? I am not different. But Taloba... Taloba endure. This city? Two hundred years, I think. Taloba? Far more than five hundred. Weather many things. Great Disaster. Dhani. Yukmen. And... and Storm from last year..."

She turned as his tone rapidly became bleak, remembering things he wished he could not, perhaps. His eyes became downcast, alcohol intensifying those feelings.

"So... So many dead. Hundreds. There and... other place. But we rebuild. We endure. I not see much damage here... but walls are thick." He sighed, shaking off the mood and turning to her anew. This was a time for happiness, for contentment... her birthing day! "So, what are you plans, Edri? What will you do in big city?"

[Edreina]

Edreina had listened carefully to his opinion of Syliras, suddenly longing even more to see his great Taloba. If only her skin were darker, her hair not so vibrant. Maybe then she could explore without causing too much of a fuss. You wouldn't make it through the jungle. True enough... "So, what are you plans, Edri? What will you do in big city?" "I will learn," she said simply, with a sigh. Suddenly her thoughts became melancholy. "Humans have such short lives, and there are so many wonders in this world. Is it wrong that I want to see them all?" Memories of her conversation with Uleru before leaving the Anchorage came flooding back with nearly staggering strength. Part of her felt like she had abandoned the Otani and the sea. But the more selfish part sniffed that it was her life and she could very well do what she pleased with it. She was horribly jealous of Razkar, deep down. Jealous of the Myrian who knew what he wanted in life and how he was going to get it. She on the other hand knew nothing of what she wanted other than she wanted it all. With a sigh, she walked out to the end of the pier and sat down, yanking off her boots and stockings so that she could let her feet dip down into the Suvan. The feeling of salty water rushing up and over her bare feet was centering if only for a moment. No sooner than she had let her feet breach the surface than her mind was muddled all over again. "I have a... personal question..." The lack of sureness in her voice would have been startling to anyone who knew her. Sitting on the pier, fingers in a knot in her lap and toes kicking gently at the roiling water below, she looked violently out of place. Her pale skin contrasted the dark stone around her, and her flaming hair made it seem as if she belonged to the daylight. She looked up from her hands to the horizon. Something about realizing that she was another year older had brought to light parts of her life usually kept in a locked chest at the bottom of the Suvan. "How do you know," her blue eyes raked the horizon, searching for clarity in the pristine line where Suvan met heaven, "when you truly love someone? When you want to spend your life with that one person? How do you know when you're done seeing the world and only want to see your home for the rest of your life?" She laughed without humor, shaking her head. The young woman realized that she was raving. Perhaps it was the alcohol, perhaps the hour. Either way, her life, her future, that was what was on her mind. "I'm sorry. I understand if you want to leave. This is really something I should be thinking about on my own." Her eyes went back to the fumble of fingers in her lap. "I just can't." She sighed and grabbed a rock beside her, a small pebble really, and chunked it out as far as she could - a measly distance to say the least. "I just can't seem to wrap my head around the future. I can't get it out of the present." Frustration sent her searching for another pebble but exasperation caused her to lay back on the stone, to stare up at the stars above, to silently beg the gods for clarity that would not come.

[Razkar]

"I will learn. Humans have such short lives, and there are so many wonders in this world. Is it wrong that I want to see them all?"

More melancholy, and Razkar felt a wince crease his face out of sympathy. He reached an arm around her shoulders, then jogged her a little bit, words trying to coax some smile onto her face.

"Are you old maid, now? You are young girl! Life just begun! World is hard, and big, but so much wonderful thing to see. I never think I would see Riverfall, or Sea of Grass, or the Suvan, or Syliras. Now I see all these thing, and has only been a year!"

He relaxed against the wall, contented smile on his face.

"I do not know where fates will carry. But I know much is to be seen. All in one year... think what I will see in two..."

It didn't seem to work and Razkar frowned after her as she started meandering down the pier. He followed, mind racking as to how he could break her out of this slump. Then she sat down and ripples spread out from where her feet teased the surface of the water, and he chuckled.

"Not be too long from sea, can you, mistress?"

"I have a... personal question..."

Boy... be very careful with this one...

Her questions came forth and it seemed that cynical little voice did not fail Razkar. He stiffened for a moment as she mentioned love, and then her uncertainty, her listless but restless feelings... such a tangle. Questions without answers, yet again. The Myrian sighed and sat next to her, sandals kicked off and cool Suvan soaking his feet.

"In jungle, we call it bite," he said slowly, smiling when she turned to him in confusion, "When you feel love like you say. It hits you. Hard. Like... Like thunderbolt. You mind may not know, but does not need to. Heart knows. Know that person you see, you would not but kill for, but live for. Live for person is hard. Kill, pah... easy to kill."

He relaxed back on his arms, staring out across the gently rocking ships, now dark and looming as the moon began to clear some clouds, Leth peeking out from her hiding place at the tiny speck below that was, in fact, the largest city in the world...

"When Aya came to my clan... I was... drawn," he said, voice becoming hazy as he channeled those old memories, "She is half and Myrian. Half Epyharian. She was strange but... curious. She had good brain. We talked and... I don't know. Something click. Something say to me, 'Razkar, this is something special. Something different and rare. Precious...'"

He chuckled and watched the fat, happy moon reveal herself entirely, glorious pale globe spreading white light on all below.

"As for world, you do not need to worry. You have time. Not need to have all answer. Heh... I do not. I learn. Best thing I know is I do not know. Take time to learn, and find place." His voice became hard for a moment. "But I know real place is in Taloba. I walk world for Myri, and... for my own... ah... cur-a-owsity? But when is done, Falyndar, Taloba, Goddess-Queen, people, clan... they all need me. So will go back."

"I'm sorry. I understand if you want to leave. This is really something I should be thinking about on my own. I just can't. I just can't seem to wrap my head around the future. I can't get it out of the present."

Something seemed to groan in Razkar, whether it was in frustration or irritation he did not know. But it broke through his drink-induced mind and came out of his mouth, his eyes rolling as it came and words slurring out.

"Stop talk fucking shit, female."

Her hair whirled as he r head snapped to him in shock, only to find his insouciant features looking steadily back at her.

"You worry too much. You have all questions in head, and make doubt. It is birthing day! Think on future, and how it is like dawn, show new day. Past? Past is night. Past is over. Present... can't get out?" He snorted and knocked her shoulder easily with his fist, grinning. "You get out of present every all time. See? That punch was past. Not trapped, are you? Stop worry, female."

Razkar sighed as the Suvan lit up with Leth's laughing touch, rippling from the horizon beyond the walls to their very feet.

"Future comes. Present goes to it. Keep eyes open and not rush into thing you come across. Always think, but listen to heart. Beware hard world, and bad men, because... there are many of them." Razkar's voice slowed briefly, as if aware that for many past souls, he had been than man. "... but beautiful things in world are waiting for you eyes. So is you place. You find it. Just have to... hope."

The Myrian settled his head back on the cool pier, eyes closed and resting his hands behind his head.

"Hope is thing all have. Every race. Reason we get out of bed. We hope things get better. And we make sure they do..."

Chimes passed in contemplative silence. Eventually, Razkar had to break it was a practicality that suddenly struck him.

"Ah... not mean to ask for favor on birthing day, but now Cuttlefish is gone, need place to stay. If you still here, could I stay on Goldengrotto? I can pay."