by Nuavi on January 6th, 2011, 7:57 pm
36th Day of Winter, 510 AV
The flight southward had lead to an island the seeming mirror of her home, in every aspect its opposite. Cliffs rose high over the horizon of the grassland as she neared, majestic faces waterworn and glistening between cascades of white. She had followed the coastline closely, horse fleet and enduring, as obedient to her commands as she was to The Call. It had lead her here, she knew, chest swollen with the raw fact of it; here, to Riverfall, home of the warriors.
"Whoa there, steady," Nuavi soothed, easing back on the reins to slow the desertbred. The horse loved to gallop, eyes alit with the fire of it, body radiating heat. He seemed unaware of the winter winds as they blustered over the ocean to rage at the tall stone walls, howling. Nuavi drew her thick cloak more tightly about her, white-blonde hair whipping in the gusts. The gate was in sight, five minute's trot away.
A guard's eye caught hers as she arrived, smile splitting over the dark, black-framed face. "Welcome to Riverfall," he grinned, looking over the travelworn pair. It felt as though he wanted to add something else, something less savory which would make his partner hide raucous laughter. Nuavi looked down at him expectantly, ready to still her horse and wait. Silence split the smile wider. She felt a flutter of adrenaline trip her heart.
"Thank you," she answered finally, then urged her horse onward, perturbed. It was strange The Call had lead to her to the place women often went for children, a place she expected to have no business being. Charcoal burned in her pocket, fragile vines folded in protective layers of cloth. They ached to be pressed to parchment, to illuminate mysteries, to make clear the next step of the journey. Nuavi patted them absently, overtaken by awe of the city as she made her ascent into Riverfall.