[The Patchwork Port]Shielding at Noon(Shai)

[Antar]

The shingle fell and staggered him a little on the horseback as it hit him in the armor between the shoulders. If he hadn't been wearing his armor it would have been much worse, slate shingles weighed a good three to five pounds, he could attest to that from working on the old bathhouse's roof.

Darn spider, she must not realize the game behind this game yet.

He raised his hand upwards towards the roof and stuck out his tongue before speaking aloud. "My dear, how ever are we going to catch an illusionist if you can't handle a simple blind? Or did you forget what we came to Alvadas in the first place to do? Of course I'd use this thief as training for that, even to my own detriment. Note to self, watch for attacks from above and remember to spank the spider when she's in reach... though I should make an addendum. She might like that."

Work before pleasure as they say though that doesn't mean the work can't be fun as well. "Besides, I now know what I should demand if I do catch that runty thief." he finished clicking his heels to the side of Dawnstride's barrel. The horse was a docile and gentle creature, and not once had she slowed or stopped at his falling out of the saddle. Even staying by his side until he could get back up.

he mare was just like that, gentle and caring in many a ways he sometimes wished his lovely symenestran was at times. But then again, in no small part, Shai's fierceness was what attracted him to her..."Moving along now... just wait for the reprisal woman. Mark my words, I'll have you singing tonight!"

For a while he let the horse silently move on before coming to a stop at a faint whisper from behind which told him, despite many a reasons he had misjudged things a bit. "Close your mouth, rogue. The game has ended." she replied almost too quiet to carry amidst his jests.

Slowing down, he let the horse come to a stop, and turned back in the saddle, "Too much , eh? Aww shyke love, I didn't go and hurt your feelings did I?" He motioned her to come down her and sit on the saddle behind him. "I know I'm a bit of rogue sometimes, but still, I don't want you to lose some confidence in yarself. C'mere and talk a bit while I carry us towards where I think the boy's going."

"Your trick was not confounding. You do not even understand do you? As expected of a human."

Antar sighed and held up one hand towards her position, reaching out in more ways then one, "I understand more then you know, but as a male's perspective here, not a woman's. Human or not has nothing to do with it Shai. So I'll ask you to put up with my boneheadedness and at least promise to listen and respect yar' feelings. So come here and talk love' don't hold it inside clawing away at your innards like a scalded cat."

[Shai]

Blandly the Symenestra watched her rogue. Her temper still boiled but it had shown itself on her features in fierce stillness. His words had reached her, but now the spider fought an internal war. Did she go down there? Wouldn’t that just reinforce his treatment of her? But it seemed he couldn’t understand what he had done to wrong her. How would he know if she didn’t tell him? The rogue was many things but to her knowledge not a mind reader.

The spider slid down, to sit upon the roof’s edge and let her legs dangle, still staring at the rogue but with unseeing eyes. Her mind was working beyond her sight because she had come to an overwhelming question; Does any of this matter? At least three chimes ticked of Shai staring and at him and thinking, in which she failed to notice the movement literally right beneath her chin.

Daft woman. Your emotions are out of hand. was the stark mental filament that shattered her train of thought. Chell had detached itself from her necklace and the blue orb of ice, no bigger than her palm hung in the air beside her. The Irylid slowly drifted down the wall to hang above Antar. It gave a vibrating shudder before speaking, “Annoyance. Shai’s judgment is ruined by emotions. Shai understands it as you have wronged her by failing to complete this insipid task when you had the chance which she finds demeaning.” The orb shuddered once more in clear agitation.

Antar blinked a moment, and then arched an eyebrow, "A familiar? I wonder, how long have you been in Mizahar?"

“Fifty-seven days.” The familiar replied without a beat.

Shai was shocked for a moment; Chell had never revealed its natural form in the presence of others let alone speak to them. Was I really being so ridiculous, Chell?

Affirmative.

“Anyways, she might be upset about that but it wasn't my intention to do anything but prolong the game a little. Frankly I like watching her when her strong side's in the fore, it's quite... attractive."

Exhaling defeatedly the spider turned over onto to her stomach and made her way down the wall. As her feet touched ground the shields keeping her silent broke, not intentionally for the caster had forgotten them, but from repeated use. Bending down she quietly replaced her boots without comment. On some level, the spider had come to an understanding that all of her earlier self-inquiries only came to mind because it did matter, Antar did matter. Puling herself up along the horse’s hide and tack she took a seat in the saddle just in front of the man. Tilting her chin towards Chell she held out a hand and mentally beckoned him back to land, which the familiar acquiesced to. Holding him in her palms she finally spoke to Antar, “You are not forgiven, but I will not argue on the topic further.” Contrary to her words, it was implicit that she would forgive him when she deigned to.

[Antar]

"Well it's good to know I'm not forgiven right now. Though if this was one of your jobs I must say, taking orders from one gorgeous woman who would not only look nice rags but also in armor, and might even look more so in dresses, and whom as far as I have seen and guessed can kick my ass? I can live with that easily enough, I happen to like women who are tough, can kick ass and look good doing it too, and you fit the bill, Shai. As long as we're clear that despite the secrets, we're still on the same side, But mind you, I draw the line if you ask me to wear a suitcoat and do the…what was that again, oh yeah the waltz. If you were in a dress however, I might consider it. Though I reserve the right to think for myself thank you very much milady. Now, as we're not talking do you still want to catch that thief or should I take you for a lovely meal from that bar and a picnic in the woods. Your choice dear." "Let the boy go then, we do not even know what he did." "Ah well, more the pity. I could have used a good excuse to admire the view again. Lunch it is." the rogue bemoaned with a false sense of mourning before turning the horse slowly around to mend his way back through the alleys. he couldn't lie to himself that he liked the feeling of Shai's closeness to him or his hands around her waist as he guided his horse through the alleys back towards where they had started. The seabreeze was a pleasant enough reminder to him that sometimes, some moments were just perfect, and to make it even more perfect he would quietly reach up to pull down the symenestran's hood to let her hair fly in the wind. It was a little bit of paradise like this she was tucked backed into him, his chin resting upon the top of her silken hair... Whispering for her ears, and her ears alone he asked, "Have I ever told you something of a job I once had that this situation reminds me of my dear?" The spider leaned back into him and shook her head gently in reply. It seemed she was still loathe to talk and forgive him right now... but no matter. He began slowly, "The target that time was an old man of some stature, a serial rapist actually, would go for anything, young boys, girls, and then kill them after having his fun. Shameful thing is when there were thieves in his city he enjoyed tormenting them in the cells. It was frankly one of the few ways to get close to him actually but he'd take his prizes anyway he could. The client was one of the few young boys of some wealth that had escaped you see, and the parents were furious enough to take out a contract. There were three of us involved in that job, one inside man, and two 'convicts.' We had to give the guard a merry chase through hell as we began to steal things, one after another. I even decided that since the boy's parents were paying for the job I'd lift some of their things from their warehouse. Quite a bit of fun there... kinda makes me think back to those warehouses we saw round here. Guards were foolish, though we couldn't kill them. To make a long story shorter, we eventually got called like we were planned to and got well... prettied up to the old fart's liking. I might make jokes about dresses and waltz's but this guy really liked that on boys most of all. Anyways, the fool's servants would beat the master's boys and girls until they were docile, and it took over a month to completely manuever to get to him. There were stories in that prison that sometimes he'd take all imprisoned families and have his way with them and made them choose who to die first. A real bastard of a man. Can you guess what happened next , Shai?" "You killed him I assume?" She murmured to assure him she was was listening. "No, that didn't happen for at least a month later, first we had to let him think he'd won Shai. We had to let him see the entire house break us like we were animals and waited for our chance. Even his wife and daughters sometimes got into the act, and each night the old man would call another to their rooms and they were carted out as bodies in the morning. All because he had power, you see, all because he wanted to be in control. Sometimes there were stories of him, well, acting like a myrian with the corpses and drinking their blood mixed with wine.” His sigh carried a bit as he fought off the memories of that time, “He was a man deserving of death, don't you see? And the survivor who had made a contract wanted him to die just as he killed all those people. Degraded, and destroyed like he had destroyed all the rest. Would you agree that was fitting punishment for him?" "No. To poison yourself to punish another is a second crime. It is only harming yourself when this man would be killed either way." Antar smiled, content with her answer, it made things easier for talking about such things as morals, though he knew his own code was skewed to the norms of society he did at least have one. "Indeed, as soon as I had my chance, I snapped his neck, cleanly, quickly. All to not let that poisonous cancer infect me as well. Killing things might be evil, but there's been so much grey over the years it sometimes seems like you have to make yourself a monster just to survive. Sometimes, you might just let that monster win. For all those years, in order to survive I've had to let that monster out a few times. That cold calculating face that I put to the entire world that says others are a hindrance to that very survival. Youve seen that once before when I wondered if you were strong enough to survive and not leave me on my own again. You see, you've already proven yourself to me in that regards Shai, there's no need to think I'd need for you to prove yourself again. There's no need to think I'd let you win something either solely for the sake of letting you win. Granted, in the future I might consider what I think is best for you, but I would not force such things upon you either. Such would be another type of poison, don't you think?" "Yes and it is a poison I am intimately familiar with." "Then I pray someday you might consider me or something else an antidote for you, my dear. Now, I think we are nearing the place we should have lunch. But I will say one thing, do you know what I did after that man was dead?" he spoke leaning down until the scent of her hair teased his neostrils as he pondered whether she would even deign to reply. His attention was split two ways now as they came back towards the bar where her horse was tied and soon they’d be lost in the crowds. He knew the ambient noise would mask his words, and they were for her ears and her ears alone. Though for the sake of not attracting more attention he silently dispelled the shields around Dawnstride's hooves. "No?" "I escaped, and the next day, against orders I returned and I waited, and I hunted. I hunted down every guard, I hunted down the wife, and the daughter, and then I took the rest of those boys and girls left alive home. I took them home, back to their parents or their families, and I was punished severely for it." At such words, Antar would open his palms on the reins to let Shai see the scars on his palms. "These were part of it, a very small part after the isolation, and the torture, they invested me with a curse of reimancy dearheart. A curse that was supposed to make me more vengeful towards violence, and to some extent, it worked. But you know one thing they couldn't change? I brought them...home in the way I never could my sister... and I think that's all I have to say about that. All I know is, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Nobody deserves something like that to happen to them. Nobody. Even if some kids thief and never learn." Without much else to say he merely enjoyed the rest of the ride as he felt a subtle ease in the tension between them as Shai leaned back into him. Passing through the throngs of people slowly he would maneuver his horse around a pothole with his knees before slowly letting Dawnstride veer towards Shai’s own horse.

[Shai]

As Antar stopped beside Chivalis, Shai took his hands and turned them palm up. Grazing each ridged scar with her lips, even as the natural rouge rose upon her cheeks at such an overt action in public her warm breath blew against his hands accented by each word. “You did a good thing Antar. You changed so many lives in that action, at least twice as many as you counted.” Pushing off Dawnstride she switched over to Chivalis’s back, leaning low across the horse’s neck she retrieved the reins and prepared to follow the rogue. The woman hoped he understood, she hadn’t meant to be condescending. She knew that when everyone around made clear you were in the wrong it could be hard to believe the truth.

Turning towards him, she refrained from mention to the reference to his sister. He had never spoken of his family before and Shai wouldn’t risk him reverting back by further inquiry. Instead she spoke of a topic they had discussed before thieves. “Thieves do not blame shadows for their work. Thievery is rarely a choice made in luxury, it is a means of survival for those less able to earn pay for violence. Life not always allows us to choose our paths.” Curling her lips into a smirk, “I am different. I chose larceny…over prostitution. Would have you had me choose differently?” It was a simple trick question on the surface; surely he would not prefer she would be a common street whore. But there was more behind it; due to their first real acquaintance she might never have met him if not for her stealthy proclivities.

Letting her joke hang a moment before she let the atmosphere clear so she could continue to be serious. “Most thieves do not choose to be thieves any more than a boy chooses to be taught to kill.” It was a guess, a stab in the dark. Assassins were not made over night, not men like Antar, not in the way his story suggested. The spider knew she was his senior and even Shai had not so many years that childhood was long behind her. Without giving time for the rogue to reply she slipped of Chi’s back and ordered them a meal wrapped in paper for them to take with him. Antar had mentioned a picnic and she doubted he had brought food from Alvadas.

Quickly returning to her horse she remounted and waited. Wondering how, if at all, the man would rise to her comment, it was really a bait for just a smidge more information. Information she was always hungry for about the man she’d paired herself with.

[Antar]

"I never said I had anything against thieves, only that I had anything against those that stole from me." Antar whispered loudly enough to be heard as he brought Dawnstride up next to Shai's Chivalis with a brief knee touch as they set off again. The horses didn't mind being together, not after a long journey and indeed it seemed like they enjoyed the herd mentality that came along with their association. Shame that of his two animals, the only horses he had bought were mares because they tended to be more docile and easier to manage. Well, unless they were in heat. Frankly though he hadn't had that problem yet, but with Chivalis added to the roster of animals around him, well... who knew what would happen later. Maybe they could get a few good warmounts out of the deal. Though it probably would take awhile and a bit more selective breeding. Shameful thing how one's thoughts wandered when trying to not think too deeply into another's voiced thoughts. Would Antar have wanted Shai to have been a prostitute? Hellll no. There'd be no way he'd want to share her with another male anywhere, anytime. Though, he did have to think back on his realization of the fact she had been married before. Honestly, he wanted to kill a certain male symenestra for taking something that was beautiful and corrupting it, though if Shai's life hadn't been what it was up to the point he had met her then he wouldn't feel as if his life had gotten slightly more enriched from knowing her. Though he still was concerned about her development in defending herself, he knew in all other things she could be quite resilient in taking care of herself. It was one of her strengths that he liked, and if he was honest within himself, admired a little. He knew what it was like suffering under the yoke of another, and forced to learn things at a break neck pace. But if Shai's prying had elucidated one thing from him it would be that she was perhaps wrong. The choice initially to learn to kill had been driven by a desire for revenge, and he had paid the price gladly for the training. Like a blind penguin unsure of what he was getting himself into, but still, that initial choice had been his. Though he chose it prudent to keep his mouth shut on such things. Instead he decided to play a rather awkward bit of commentary , in which several compliments were hidden within. "So tell me, how did you become a thief? Surely you could have chosen other professions then, well, prostitution. I've seen you do pretty much anything you've put your mind to after all and you're certainly becoming quite... interesting to simply be around. I could get used to that." Coughing slightly he turned a bit to the side in an effort to change the subject or cover his slip, "So what's for the picnic dear?" Of course, this set the stage of another game they played as they warred with their inner desires to be closer to one another, yet keep themselves distant enough to not be too hurt if one decided to leave. A pattern they had danced in for quite awhile. He wondered what new steps they soon would have to show each other though...

[Shai]

The spider smirked but held her peace, she wanted so very much to say ‘This thief will someday steal everything from you rogue.’ But she refrained, partly because se wasn’t sure it was true. Sometimes she wondered if maybe he wouldn’t someday give it to her willingly. Shai directed Chi to follow Dawnstride after she had taken the package from the tavern worker. The Syemenestra hadn’t bother to actually order anything specific because likely as not she wouldn’t be able to eat it anyways.

“What else would a woman in Sunberth do Antar? There are not so many female merchants or thugs. How many female Dragoons did you see? Daggerhands? No, there are few options for women there.” There were two ways to explain why she had turned to larceny the succinct half-truth or the real motivations. After the rogue’s story she felt it would be appropriate to expound upon the subject. “To understand the reasons, you have understand what it means to be Symenestra.” She smiled, letting the stallion follow of his own volition, while her eyes saw a metaphorically greener pasture. “In Kalinor we have no roads. Not as you humans do. I have never seen the ground that lays fathoms beneath our city. The moniker the woven city is true indeed. We live much like the slur your people name us; Widows. Our homes are suspended above cavernous depths beneath a mountain in Kalea. To connect our homes we have long silken cords, colored to make directions easy.” She paused for a moment unsure of how to compare it for a human, though her mind did instantly wander to the clothing lines she had used as paths not a bell ago. “I believe your people consider it a great feat to be able to walk upon a taut rope. For mine it is a trip to the market or the neighbors nest. Understandably, this makes us rather acrobatic in comparison to surfacers. ” She snickered momentarily, “One skill which I am certain you have noticed.”

Shai took a beat searching for the next thread in her explanation, and held the silence until they were well out of town. “Contrary to our encounters I am often quiet. I am quiet, acrobatic and can climb sheer surfaces… and see in the dark. What profession might I be better suited for than a thief?”

Enjoying the peace for a while Shai hummed, using Chi’s slow clops as a base beat. “There is more to the answer I suppose. You asked if I could do something else and yes, I was not allowed to grow without gaining a skill. My web is made up of tailors and weavers. Symenestra are the very best weavers in Mizahar, at least as far as I have ever seen or heard.” She shrugged, “But I had no desire to work under the thumb of a human, certainly not to exploit our ancestral skill for their greedy palms.”

“I do not honestly know what it is. I assume they gave us whatever they are serving today. Taverns are usually like, correct?” Shai was certain it would be sufficient whatever it was. “Where are we headed?”

[Antar]

Antar kindly listened to Shai's explanation and nodded a moment before a small smirk came to his lips. "Well I for one would welcome a seamstress sometimes, I haven't used a needle unless on flesh and am still not very good at that though. As for your skill in acrobatics and well... hmmm shall we say the 'flexibility aspects of it." he said with 'air quotes' attached to his words, "I'm of the mind I'm rather glad you didn't go into such other professions myself. I'm sure not many people , males or otherwise in such a line of work, would find comfort in the idea that you would..." he cleared his throat a little as a nice social gesture. "share yourself with those other then them so freely." Kicking the sides of his horse he would spur Dawnstride onwards a bit as he lead the way. Over time, they would head upwards of the caldera to the bluffs overlooking the docks by the sea. There was a bit of trees and a grove but by the bluffs there was a rather pleasant warmth from the sun shining offsetting even in sharpest winter breeze. Dismounting, he would tie Dawntride up to a nearby tree and took off the saddle and the saddle bags , leaving her room to graze before taking out a blanket and a bit of fruit as well as a bit of rope as if a thought had occurred to him. Slowly he would unwind it on the ground, letting it lead away from the horses towards a small grassy spot about ten feet from the cliffface where the warmth of the sun was a blessing to them as Shai seemed to watch, puzzled by his actions as he continued humming before spreading the blanket, and waving her over. "Well I'm sorry it's not a colored rope to guide you but at very list you should have no trouble using it to find your way to a nice meal, I'm not completely boneheaded enough to not remember your, ah, nutritional needs. We don't have to eat right away if you wish to 'prepare' something for yourself from what you got at the tavern. Hot food is always better then cold as they say." With a slight smirk he collapsed himself down upon the blanket he'd set up and sat back on the ground to close his eyes a bit. All in order to bask himself in the sun's warmth and enjoy the smell of the salt air."I must say that's a rather interesting place to live, this Kalinor. You'd have to fly or climb to get around. What else is there, my dear?" While he asked his questions, his thoughts turned towards other venues. Such as calculating the fact that the familiar was acquired after he and Shai had known each other. Making him wonder just how many secrets were left between them. She was such a fascinating creature. He never wanted a familiar himself though, Andresciel had told him of the risks... It was strange, for all their time together each of them still held barriers up towards one another. Like they were shielding parts of themselves... which in essence they were.

[Shai]

Shai smiled and slipped off Chi’s back with the wrapped food. Settling down beside the rogue on his blanket after tethering the stud’s reins to a tree. “The colors are for foreigners, dear. And it has been a great many seasons since I have sewed a stitch; it would take time to get used to it again. Perhaps if I had the tools I could manage still.” Vividly the spider could recall the list stitch she threaded; it was through a child’s blanket.

Placing the package between them began to unwrap it. It was general tavern fair bread, cheese and a small select of dried fruits. Dried was the best to be had of course this late in winter. Shai, though, had a soft spot for cheese. “I suppose you never had cause to know, I only eat twice a day unlike humans, but thank you it is considerate. I can eat the cheese without waiting though. It is only very tough foods that are difficult. Meats in particular and breads. I do not eat bread; it becomes a soggy soupy mess that has no taste. At least to me.” Shai knew her tastes were odd, she also found ale unpleasant.

Realizing she had ignored one of his statements she amended her etiquette by adding, “you have no cause for concern. I do not share myself often; here or anywhere.” She tugged off a small corner of the cheese and popped it in her mouth, though it took her considerably longer to chew than humans, because she had to be certain it was nearly liquid, she finally swallowed. Considering momentarily his question she couldn’t help but grin, “Kalinor has many wonders. Perhaps the very most amazing after the temple of Viratas is the Cobweb. It is where we dance. The Symenestra do not dance like humans do, we dance in the air. I am not gifted in the art but I have seen some of the most magnificent displays. It is called aerial dance, they hang two vibrant silk sheaths, perhaps thirty feet in length from the ceiling. The dancers hang between the two, performing feats of aerial acrobatics all in time to music and rhythm. It is spectacular to see.” Shai refrained from mentioning that the rogue might never be allowed to see it if he visited Kalinor. It would be nearly impossible for him to even reach the Cobweb let alone be allowed admittance. The Symenestra liked outsides about as much as surfacers liked them, at least that was Shai’s observation.

[Antar]

"Hmm... the temple of Viratas eh? Didn't you explain to me once about that god whose worshippers value blood? Oh, when was that explanation again? I seem to think it involved someone trying to scratch my back. Do you remember?" the rogue said with a furrowed brow. The details of her religion were ascribed during a night filled with certain exertions that had taken their toll on them both mentally and physically. Coupled with a rather unpleasant end of an assassin's attack interupting them both. It was strange though, while the memory was a good one, the memory of the end at that night would send Antar into a rather brooding state of quiet that would stretch out for awhile. He still hadn't dealt with his past, not completely, and for all he knew there could be others of that... history... in Alvadas plying their trade. Besides the Silencers of Alvadas. Though he pictured a few of them might be more then acquainted with things in his past then he might think at a glance. It just went to show that even in this relatively peaceful city the rogue shouldn't let his guard down as much as he had. Especially not with the symenestran woman around. She was still learning to hold her own defensively, and the presence of a familiar, well. It merited a bit of thinking. "Hey Shai, do you and Chell know the risks of what you now have? It would be remiss of me to not consider that we should... practice a bit to improve your chances now that I know he's around. Fifty four days isn't much time to consider the stark realities of the dangers. At least I know I'd never want a familiar myself. How did you come to have one?"

[Shai]

Fifty Seven days. Affirmative. The familiar paused briefly to imply an answer to two questions, not just one.

“Fifty Seven days.” She correctly quickly to mimic the same voice resounding in her thoughts. Chell hated being misquoted she had learned that quickly, if he wished to speak at all he meant it to be word-for-word. “He and I came into acquaintance in a strange situation that brooked no other outcome but to accept one another. Chell says that he does know the risks but such were never explained to me. Let me assure you though that any risks are less than was present at the time.”

"Interesting, so it's you who doesn't know that if one of you dies the other will as well? Or that you're both combined in your djed making magic somewhat dangerous later or at least easier to overgive? I would be remiss now if not seeing to his defense as well as yours when we are well, on a job sometime. This will involve quite a bit more work, and practice to ensure better control on your part as well. "

“I cannot say that I was aware, but I do know that Chell is magical in nature due to his transformations and way of communicating. But otherwise it has not been relevant to know, I do not use djed often Antar and never have I overgiven though I have seen you do so. If you recall, you attacked me the morning after.” Shai raised an eyebrow at the final statement; she knew he remembered he’d referenced it when they were in the city. “Gods forbid that I might react the same way.”

"Yes, but as you gain more skill in shielding, and more familiar with it, at least from what Andresciel explained, Chell will begin to mirror your abilities as well. I'm still unsure of where they come from though, or much more on familiary besides that. Perhaps Chell might explain further?"

Able; Affirmative. Compliance; Negative.

“Chell has never spoken to anyone aside from myself and the Nuit before today. He does not wish to speak. Though I cannot say for sure if it is the topic or the action that he finds disagreeable.” Shai shrugged, “If you wish to talk of shielding I am willing but Chell is best left to his peace for now.”