Closed A Bond Unbroken

[Xira Hezmek]

Unspecified timestamp

The curious nature of the past is that it seems to repeat itself over and over. Take the courier and the healer. To Xira, they might have only known each other for a year. That it was their first time meeting that last spring. But he learned early on that a chance encounter is never so simple.

Deep in Semele's embrace, under the stone of the cliffs of Riverfall was a library. In that library a several dozens of titles lay, gathered and painstakingly copied by a diligent student of knowledge and wisdom. It also housed a young courier with a voracious appetite for the gifts of said student. Although he did not live there, the fact that Kavala owned enough books to make a "library" was surely indicative of her wealth, and this made him want to spend as much time as he could there. Xira felt safe there, the clean, crisp bound books housing untapped knowledge made him want to cozy into the chair and read for hours. Even if the titles were instructions and references on how to work with bees or how to cook.

Of course, it would have been nice if he could actually concentrate on what it was he was reading. Instead he found himself scratching a bit of charcoal into paper over and over as he thought of Kavala. His hands seemed to consistently move into the shape of an eye and a key, or of a triangular shape that tricked the eye. There was something about her. He cared for her so, trusted her so, like no other. There was no foundation for it at first. Sure, he would admit that he found Konti an extremely attractive race. However, it was more than carnal attraction that drove his affections for Kavala. He shared things with her. His first experiences of lovemaking, a bond into magic and spending evenings in her company.

Then of course was their shared past life. Apparently Xira was her son long ago. Not that he didn't believe her, of course. It made sense on some level. It was simply hard to take in on its own. Perhaps that is what bothered him that past year. It was as if fate kept pushing them together, destined to meet over in over. Perhaps even to love each other in all its permutations. Friends, family, lovers. Each life giving a subtle twist and touch. Is it fate for him to become enamored in such a way?

Xira shaded in another impossible figure with his fingers, the crude drawing bearing little resemblance to the symbols in his mind. Tricky subject, that beautiful, entrancing woman. He glanced at the text before him. It was written in her own hand, as were most of the books. "The Gods - Who and what they are". Interesting in any other setting, but dull with his mind clouded on the enigma his dearest of friends posed.

Xira stretched in his seat and his sheet of scrap parchment flew off, carrying it's symbols to the entrance of the library. Comically avoiding Xira's lunge with a merry whirl in the cool still air.

Naturally they landed at the feet of someone who likely just arrived.

"Oh, hello. You are up late I see. Something the matter?" He asked, inquisitively.

[Kavala]

The Konti who had been about to pause at the doorway bent in one swift fluid motion and retrieved the parchment without looking at what was written on it. Kavala was like that. She respected people's privacy without conscious thought. She crossed the stone floor cat-like on bare feet and returned the paper to the table where it belonged.

Then she casually leaned a hip up against the table and smiled at the newcomer. "You come and go like a moon on a cloudy night, here one day gone again the next. How are you doing Xira?" The Konti asked, her blue eyes dark in the dim light, but the concern barely concealed. He spent long hours in the saddle and longer time still running missives across the wilds of Mizahar. She always looked for more scars, signs of injury, or simply exhaustion. He seemed to have none, which was a relief.

The Konti wore an over-sized men's silk shirt that had long billowy sleeves and fit her like a dress, coming just above her knees. It was half halfheartedly buttoned and the sleeves were still rolled up as if she hadn't gone to bed yet. It was what she tended to wear to bed, purchased for that very reason, and not castoffs from clothing old lovers had left. In a way, the clothing made her seem child-like, especially since her hair was loose and staticy, clinging to her shoulders and back and crackling slightly as she moved.

"Where are you fresh returned from now?" She said, sometimes longing to have a sort of life like Xira lived, feeling the wind on her face and always on the move. Kavala couldn't help it. She was a Drykas born Konti and even though her skin was pale and scaled, her father's blood ran heavy in her veins giving her all kinds of gifts from that side of her family - wanderlust included.

Kavala seemed to make a decision and pulled out a hair, taking a seat on the edge of it as if to say she wasn't moving until they'd caught up a bit.

"No, nothing's wrong. It was just a long day and I've yet to unwind from it yet. I would have liked to have been to sleep bells before this, but sometimes its a challenge to get the mind to follow suit with what the body wants." She said, having had been on her way to get a glass of wine from the icebox and to see if there were any cheeses or those fresh baked hard crackers available in the kitchen. She was munchy and looking for a snack since dinner had been many many bells ago.

[Xira Hezmek]

Xira's face lit up when the konti beauty emerged from the shadowy confines. Amazing what a year could do to a person. Before she was so thin, so deathly thin. The Akalak were hard on their lovers, however much they wish they weren't. Now she was radiant. "Ah Kavala..." He marked her concern and nodded, his eyes giving her a similar examination. In the Sanctuary she was safe, but he was all too aware the dangers of the wilds, of both man and beast.

Instead she was dressed in what was presumably nightwear, comfortable over-sized clothing that conjured the idea of a doll. Her and her sisters certainly tended towards the delicate and refined; perhaps if she was scaled down she might make a knight's daughter a perfect gift. She was no one's plaything. No, she was a strong woman who built the things around them. She created from nothing a thriving business and a safe place for her children. It took willpower.

"Truthfully, I fear it is closer to two ships passing each other on a misty night. Missing the other despite being so close." He smiled an almost sad smile before he nodded. "I was reminded of home today." The courier started as an answer to her question. "No. Syliras was never my home. My... childhood. I delivered to the Knight's outpost. Funny how something so normal can feel so alien if you simply leave it for awhile." He paused for a moment and opened his mouth to say something more but stopped himself.

"I understand the feeling, m'lady." There was a hint of playful teasing in the word. "Sometimes thoughts get caught, as if our minds are webs, greedy for some while other thoughts slip through the cracks. I imagine it's those trapped thoughts that buzz and buzz until they exhaust themselves or shake something loose..." The introspective courier trailed off before he turned back to Kavala. "Yeah, nonsense I suppose" He chuckled, " I'm up for more or less the same reason. I've also been having nightmares lately, so that is less of a reason to get to sleep. Thus, why I was reading about the gods. Particularly Nysel... your god." He nodded to the book and his paper of Nysel's symbols.

"In Riverfall there is a tower dedicated to him. But you probably know that, you've been here longer than me." He picked up a damp cloth and wiped the charcoal from his fingertips before he reached forward to lightly touch Kavala's hand. He switched directions, "I am happy to see you. It has been too long. How have you been? Little Ralac and Ia'del been well? Tasival must be what? Four now?" Hopefully not too many questions all at once.

Kavala relaxed him in a way that no other could. Always was that sense of knowing, of resonance. Even before they knew each other as they did now. Though there was always more to learn about that enigmatic woman. It made one wonder about things like fate.

[Kavala]

Kavala smiled at Xira's words, nodding thoughtfully. He'd been to The Outpost and back. But the Konti knew he'd been elsewhere as well, for they rarely crossed paths and Xira looked saddle worn from his travels. She shifted, crossing one knee over another and leaning back, making herself comfortable in the chair. A slight smile was offered the courier as a stray finger traced the grain of wood across the table.

"Yes, thoughts are a great deal like bees, aren't they?" Kavala said, chuckling at the thought of Xira's thoughts buzzing around inside his head. Hers were doing the same thing, painfully so, and she had no idea why. But then something he said caught her attention and held it enough to make her ask a question.

"Nightmares? What kind of nightmares?" The Konti Healer asked, her eyes finally dragging down to what Xira was actually reading. She noted the title and looked slightly surprised.

"Yes.. there is a tower. Most Gods and Goddesses have towers in Riverfall. I thought it was a bit unusual of the Akalak, but the more of them I know the more I see how broad thinking they can be." Kavala commented, then began to smile as Xira unleashed a multitude of questions all at once. She rode out the small maelstrom of wanting to know and answered as best she could.

"We are all doing well. Ia'del is thriving, though i think she wouldn't have made it if it weren't for Caelum's unique gifts. Ralac is walking already, though his sister is just sitting up and crawling a bit. Tasival is doing fine. He's got himself a new pony and wants to join the Kuvay'Nas. We keep finding him near town, riding with patrols. It's astonishing how much trouble a six year old can get into." Kavala admitted, shaking her head softly. That would indeed explain why the medicine and horse gates were usually closed these days Even astride his pony, Tasival couldn't quite manage the gates. When he could, there would be trouble.

"Everything else goes along as normal...." Kavala said, quietly reciting some of the events of the last season or two.... how her twin niece and nephew were doing.... how the other staff were and even some exploits the animals had enjoyed. She talked very little about herself. It was obvious she'd been training again, building up her strength and that had taken a great deal of her time. "I've been busy... breeding and foaling this season. Summer will bring more of a respite." Kavala said, something shadowy crossing her eyes. The woman looked tired suddenly, more reserved than usual, but said nothing more. She looked up and met Xira's eyes.

"What about you? Here for just a few days... some down time... then gone again?" She asked curiously, knowing Xira didn't stay put in any one place for very long. The Konti brushed a loose strand of translucent hair out of her eyes and tucked it behind one ear. She leaned back, wondering if she shouldn't perhaps go get some tea for both of them.

[Xira Hezmek]

It was a pleasure, always a pleasure to be in Kavala's company. Her easy way with words and her intelligent answers. It was hard not to think of her as an intellectual superior, a teacher, in addition to a friend. Her strength of will and her knowledgeable aspects only lend towards this fact. So much for a former peasant like himself to learn, even if he was now, as he considered it, on the path to enlightenment.

He nodded, "Probably nothing. I once heard that sometimes dreams could predict the future, so I suppose it has been niggling. Just a bit anyways." He put a marker in his place and closed the book carefully. He did not wish to hurt the binding of the book. "I keep waking up remembering a face." He paused, grimacing as well as considering how to phrase it. "It wasn't a malicious face exactly, more like... he had a statue's face. Solid, emotionless, like he could kill a man the same way anyone else might toss a stone into a lake. Sure some effort is involved, but in the end it might mean nothing." He looked up at Kavala, "It looked so familiar, but I know I've never seen the face before... but.. I don't know." He forced a smile and instead focused on her contribution to the conversation.

"Six..." Xira chuckled at his own mistake. "Goodness. That sounds great, Kavala. Really." His heart warmed at how well Kavala's little family was faring. Strange that one can get such pleasure out of the success and prosper of someone else. Stranger still that such pleasure was not accompanied by desire of possession and envy. Though... if Kavala wished it, he doubt he could say no to her joining in such riches. He was not a good candidate though, always on the move. Especially for a family that strongly needed a father figure, something he never had himself.

"The same goes for me. Though I am here to stay for some time, here for Spring and Summer too." Xira watched the guarded expression that the konti made, and noted, much after the fact that she spoke little of herself. The courier noted this but did not press. In a business about the privacy of information, it would be hypocritical to not trust and value the privacy of those he cared for. "I... admit that I have been craving your company." The courier blushed, "I would like to see more of you and help around the Sanctuary more."

He shifted a bit awkwardly, unsure about what to do but earnest nonetheless. As if he was reading her mind, he spoke up to change the subject, "Would you care to join me in getting some tea? This book, " He pointed to one of the books on herbalism on the desk, "says that there is an herb for soothing sleep and fighting bad dreams. I think we have it in the garden and I am more than sure you have it stocked somewhere." He smiled brightly, knowing full well how Kavala tended to prepare for everything.

The courier stood and offered his hand to help the konti up. "Shall we?"