[The Great Harbor] Always A Bigger Fish (Edreina)

[Razkar]

Razkar winced in sympathy as he heard a familiar fwap of string on flesh, red strip nearly gouged out of Edreina's forearm. A living mark appeared on her pale skin, the portent of the blood bruise it would form later.

"Now what the petch did I do this time?"

"Nothing." The Myrian said with a shrug. "Is what bow did. When hold bow like that, arm out, string will hit arm. So, best to wear something with sleeves, or... ah... I think the word is 'bracers'. They are leather things for you forearms."

Razkar saw the question begin to form on her face, starting with her frown as she looked at his arms. Before her lips parted, the Myrian turned his left arm over and let her see the tanned and toughened skin there, mostly covered by tattoos.

"I not need to wear one. Skin cut and bruise so many time, not feel it much. When in battle, not think about it, either. All happen so quick, just move. React."

But they weren't in battle, they were practicing, and it was throwing her off. Razkar looked about himself and saw... oh, yes...

Edreina's eyes widened as his loincloth was nonchalantly tossed towards her. She caught it out of instinct and looked up to see his face serious... but his eyes alight with mirth.

"What? Is clean. Tie around arm." Razkar crossed his own and smirked. "Tell you what. Put arrow in target - not in middle, just in target - and we call it day. Deal?"

[Edreina]

At his explanation, Edreina wondered how he had not reacted similarly - Well, not too similarly... He obviously had a higher pain tolerance - after firing the bow. Her curious gaze and translucent expression gave her away once more as he exposed his toughened arm to the woman. "I not need to wear one. Skin cut and bruise so many time, not feel it much. When in battle, not think about it, either. All happen so quick, just move. React." The first part of his explanation caught Edreina as odd. Was it true that after being injured so many times, he had lost feeling? Her blue eyes roamed his scarred form as she wondered if he had any sense of touch left at all. Abruptly, her mind was brought back to the fishermen who no longer felt their fingertips because of the sheer number of times they had pricked and torn their fingers on sharp hooks. Her reverie was shattered as a flapping mass of fabric was tossed to her. A hand reached up to catch it so that it would not collide with her unaware face, and then held it up for inspection. Is this... Her narrowed blue eyes were yanked open in shock as she found the former home of the fabric. Blue eyes found blue skies as she forced herself to look away. "What? Is clean. Tie around arm... Tell you what. Put arrow in target - not in middle, just in target - and we call it day. Deal?" Edreina swallowed hard as curiosity continued to prod her to glance at the Myrian. Just once. Please? C'mon! He's the one that removed it... Surely there is no shame in taking just one little peek... Her stomach tightened deliciously at the all the possibilities. No. For once, she would show that she can control herself. Eyes still focused on the sky, she tucked the bow under her arm, and wrapped the nefarious cloth around her arm. Her dexterous fingers made a quick knot on the back of her arm. But then, she hesitated. It would surely unravel in a few minutes if she did not tighten it. But to properly tighten it without the use of her other hand usually meant the use of her teeth. Teeth on his loincloth. Too bad this isn't happening how I had envisioned. The thought came unbidden and was punted from her mind with ardor. With a sigh, she shook her head and glared at nothing as she caught the second part of the knot between her teeth and pulled against the side held by her fingers until it was tight. Face set, she strode over to the mast and took out the two arrows from the mast. Upon returning to Razkar, she met his eyes only briefly, then turned on her heel and faced the target once more. In that instant, Edreina's blue eyes flashed with mirth, curiosity, intensity as she focused on her newest challenge, and a glinting challenge, presented in the alluring and playful way that only Edreina could. And only when she seemed to be utterly unaware of what she was doing. She dropped one arrow onto the deck where it clattered in annoyance at its less-than-noble treatment, notching the other in the same instant. Red hair whirled as she cleared it of her vision once more, ignoring the protests of her muscles as they fought against the bow. She took her stance and sighted down the arrow, breathing even, and released. It impacted off center and a bit higher up on the mast than intended. Edreina bent over for an instant and had the second arrow notched before she finished standing. This time, she took a bit longer to adjust herself, aiming lower than she had, more towards her right. Her arms were trembling now from exertion, back and shoulders screaming at her. Gritting her teeth, she forced her limbs to still for an instant. An instant was all it took for her to release the arrow and send it whistling through the air. It found its home in the target, as far down and to the right as the target would allow. She had over corrected, but she had accomplished her tasked. The breath she held was released as she turned to the Myrian. Not looking at him, she began to untie the cloth about her arm, fighting a small smile. "Satisfied?" The double meaning was obvious in her voice, and she knew that if she looked at him, a playful grin would claim her face. Teeth capturing her lower lip as the knot came undone, she tossed him first the bow and then the loincloth, knowing he would catch both.

[Razkar]

The breeze certainly was refreshing now that he was unencumbered south of the border, as it were. The Myrian's smirk did not falter, nor his arms unfold and lower to cover himself. Humans were such curious and contrary creatures: they had such a passion for golden metal and fine stories of bloodshed, but a naked form was somehow off-putting to them.

They're a primitive people, in many ways. Judge them not over-harshly.

And they certainly adapted quickly, as his Edri was quick to prove. She strode over and reclaimed the arrows buried in the mast, returned to where he stood and fired her first But her movements were a little hurried-

-and while it did hit the mast, which was an improvement, the arrow missed the target.

"Not be in too much hurry." Razkar said calmly as she lined up her second shot. "If one or two moment more means target is hit, time is worth it."

The second time she was slower... more focused... calmer... and while it was far from a bullseye, her arrow thunked into the target. The Myrian almost applauded, smirk becoming a proud smile-

-as bow and loincloth were thrown back towards him.

"Good!" He said sharply, hands snapping out to catch each and tying the latter back around his loins. "Not great shot, but you should be proud. First time you ever shoot... ever hold bow! Very good..."

Razkar went up and collected his arrows, the two from the mast and the third that Navis was still growing at like it was just biding its time before striking at him again. Then he ripped his kukri free from the mast and tossed the "target" to one side.

"Satisfied?"

Razkar couldn't keep the sensual purr from his voice, nor the dung-chewing grin, knowing he'd been toying with her attraction for him in the most blatant way.

"Very. Did say you were good student."

[Accolade]

Razkar

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Teaching	+ 3 XP
Brawling	+ 2 XP
Bow	+ 1 XP
Acrobatics	+ 2 XP
Rhetoric	+ 1 XP

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	Edreina learns fast
•	Teaching a Svefra to fight like a savage
•	A note to learn common better

Edreina

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Brawling	+ 3 XP
Observation	+ 3 XP
Rhetoric	+ 2 XP
Acrobatics	+ 1 XP
Swimming	+ 1 XP
Bow	+ 3 XP

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	Hit them low (family jewels)
•	Teasing Razkar
•	Learning the Myrian way of fighting
•	Basic bow techniques

Notes :

Very good thread you too. Good details and full of wit. I find it very interesting that a Myrian who only lived for war is suddenly now picking up a bunch of women. You guys write well together and keep it up!

The Sylir has spoken

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