An unexpected reunion (Navrin)

[Laeli]

Spring 21, 512 AV Laeli sighed wistfully, glad to finally have the chance to wash the dust and dirt of the sea of grass from her skin and hair. It even seemed to find its way inside her nose, her mouth – her ears. The storm had changed the great plain so drastically, and great dust clouds seemed to blow up with annoying frequency. The trip to Riverfall had been a very unhappy, very disquieting one, as the Drykas had seen how altered things were in this part of Cyphrus. It didn’t seem likely that things were much better in the other parts, at least from what fragments the webbers could pick up as they traveled to their usual spring destination. This year they had arrived a bit later than usual, despite the haste they had made, to pair up with the citizens of Riverfall and try to patch together the shreds of their shared existence. Those who had weathered the storm in the city by the great waterfall had, for the most part, come through it well. The Drykas had survived, though it had been a very uncomfortable two and a half weeks underground – both physically and emotionally taking its toll. And there were still so many left unaccounted for. So, as the girl left the bath house, her still wet hair left down and loose so it would dry faster, she felt rather guilty. It seemed wrong, somehow, to care about her cleanliness when so many had suffered what could only have been a horrible death. But – life went on, and it would bring none of them back for her to remain dirty. With her thoughts distracted, she made her way down to the next terrace, but then somehow took a wrong turning. She realized it a few minutes later, when she came up against an overlook of sorts. Standing there, she contemplated the cascading torrents of the Bluevein as it plunged to the sea below, still tinged slightly darker than usual because of the filth that went into it during the storm. It was sad to see the beauty of the falls so sullied. In her reverie, she didn’t realize that there was a pair of eyes staring at her intently. Riverfall was generally a safe place, or so it had been in the past. But right at the moment, there were any number of refugees in the city, and not all were good people. She wasn’t wearing anything fancy, but anyone seeing her walking along might have guessed that she’d have a coin purse somewhere about her person. All Laeli knew was that she was standing there, debating how to go about finding the right way back to the little inn she was staying at, and the next, a hand clamped over her mouth and a harsh voice growled in her ear. “Keep still and you won’t get hurt, little pony girl. Now, I’ll just have a feel round for your coins – or you can save me some time and just hand them over.” In truth, she did not have so much money on her – that would have been foolish. So she would gladly give it up to forego being groped by the man who reeked of stale beer and sweat. Her hand dropped to her belt and shakily she wrestled it into the pouch inside, struggling to pull out the few silvers she had. Clumsily, her hand jerked and the coins came out with force – and flew over the stone wall and down into the rushing falls. “Damn you!” the mugger swore in some language the Drykas girl did not know. “Think you’ll be clever with me, do you?” Deprived of the coins and his brain addled by the liquor he’d been consuming, the man grabbed her by the throat with both hands and used his weight to shove her to the ground. Half on top of her, his knee painfully lodged in her stomach, he began to squeeze as Laeli’s arms and hands flailed about and then reached for his face.

[Navrin Stormwalker]

He'd been walking most of the day, stretching his sore muscles and trying to get acquainted with Riverfall. He'd been before but he'd never stayed longer than a few nights. Now he was here for the foreseeable, at least until he found something regarding his family. He'd decided that if he hadn't heard rumor by the end of the season he'd move on. Maybe he'd go back to Endrykas to see if his brother's widow had turned up. Maybe he'd leave Cyphrus behind and go searching in the far reaches. He wasn't sure. He took a blind turn and found himself wondering down an alleyway that he hadn't seen before. Refugees pressed up against the wall gave him furtive glances. He let his hand settle on the hilt of his khopesh and they retreated into the shadows. Times of trouble never failed to bring out the worst in people.

He could feel the eyes of the refugees on him the entire time he was in the alley, boring into his back. He was sure that all most of them wanted was a crust of bread or coin enough to rent a room for the night. Others though had other ideas. He was positive that there were a few in the alleyway who would love nothing more than leaving him with a knife between his ribs. He sped up slightly, not wanting to give them the opportunity. He was confident that he could easily best any of them in single combat but the prospect of battling a mob didn't appeal to him. He finally made his way out of the alleyway and onto another broad street. This one was closer to the falls. He walked on, not pausing to take in the scenic beauty. He'd seen it before, and as far as he could tell nothing had changed.

The sun was going down. He didn't have time to stop and stare at the water. He wanted to be back in the stables with Natiarian before the moon rose. He'd considered taking up a room at one of the inns but he hadn't felt like spending the mizas. Maybe if he found a steady source of income he'd shell out for room and board but for now he preferred sleeping in the hay next to his horse. It was easier that way. He never had to worry about being robbed while he slept. Natiarian was a silent sleeper, but the slightest disturbance would get him to whinnying; a trait that had saved Navrin's skin several times during his travels. He sighed and stopped walking. He'd gotten lost reminiscing. Now he'd never make it back to the stables before the sun went down. He cursed under his breath and took a turn down another alleyway. This one was empty.

Down at the end of the alley he could see an overlook and a glimpse of the water. He sighed again. It was a dead end. He turned to make his way out of the alley when he heard the clatter of coins on the pavement, followed by a gruff utterance in an unfamiliar language. The hairs on his arms stood up. He took a step toward the sound and then another when he heard someone hit the ground. His feet started moving on their own accord, speeding up without any conscious input from his brain. He had a sick feeling in his gut, one that was replaced quickly with an eerie calm. He could smell violence on the wind. He darted out of the alley and saw the man on top of the girl - or perhaps a woman; he could see the windmarks on her leg. Her dress had ridden up to her knees, giving him a view of the intricate designs. The man was doing his best to throttle her and she was swinging her arms uselessly.

Navrin stormed toward the pair, the smell of liquor hitting him in mid-stride. The man must've been deep in his cups. Navrin was on him in a flash, yanking him off of the girl and slamming his boot into the man's unprotected face. He could feel the rage in him. A twisted smile sprang to his face as he picked the man up off of the ground; his ears were filled with a horrible buzzing. The man stayed silent. He was dazed from the drink and the kiss of Navrin's boot. It only made Navrin's plan easier. Without a second thought he tossed the drunk from the overlook, watching with grim satisfaction as he disappeared under the falls. If his body were ever found an explanation would be easy enough to produce. He was drunk. He'd fallen. It was a terrible tragedy.

Navrin turned to face the girl. There was something familiar about her, something that nagged at his memory. He couldn't quite place her face but he felt as if he'd seen her before. He took a step toward her and dropped to a crouch. Without speaking he ran his hand over her neck making sure nothing was damaged. He didn't know much about medicine but he had the sense enough to tell when someone needed help. The girl seemed fine. Nothing seemed out of place. She would probably just be shaken up for a while. Navrin stood and held out his hand.

[Laeli]

When the filthy hand had first clamped over her mouth, Laeli’s mind had refused to react for a moment, such was the shock of the totally unanticipated sensation. The low voice too, had prompted no more than an inner scream of Wha . . . . ? No!. But finally what was happening had truly registered with her and she felt a numbing sense of fear. Never in her life had she been accosted in such a way. Life as a Drykas was full of peril. But the girl had lead a rather sedate life for one of the horse people, and the threat of harm had never come at her like this – so unexpected, at a time when her thoughts were totally elsewhere. And she was no fighter, so as the realization of what the man wanted sank in, she could only comply, with no thought whatsoever of denying him what he demanded. And then in the blink of an eye, he was well and truly assaulting her, and the shock of that moment too washed over her like a cold ice forming in her blood, making her limbs heavy and clumsy. The crushing sensation of his hands about her throat, choking off her air, making it impossible to cry out for help, was terrifying. Instinctively, she writhed and thrashed under him, but her befuddled senses, her lack of breath, and her lack of skills to combat him left her movements chaotic and ineffectual. If anything, they only incensed her assailant and made him grip her the harder. Her eyes were open and his face was mere inches from hers and she looked into deep pools of watery blue malice. What his ultimate intent was, her beleaguered mind could not even begin to guess at. All she knew was that she could not breathe – he was choking her – and if he didn’t stop, she would die. Then suddenly, he was gone. His hands left her throat with a force that brought her head up, and then she fell back, hitting it once again on the pavement. Her body too, was free of his weight, and she heard an unusual sound of one body striking another, though she could not place it for what it was. At that moment, all she could do was gasp for air, her hand going to her throat as if she could somehow coax it into drawing the life sustaining substance in the quicker. There were more sounds, and finally, it occurred to Laeli that whatever or whoever had caused her attacker to leave off, might not necessarily have good intentions towards her. Her mind, almost shut down from shock, told her one thing. Flee! Struggling, her long skirts wrapped about her knees and legs in a cumbersome tangle, she rolled onto her side, and by this point, she could see what was going on around her. Just as she looked, one large man was lifting another, scrawnier figure up from the ground and, unbelievably, the larger man tossed the other over the wall and down into the roaring water. Laeli, her eyes as big as saucers already from her ordeal, could only gasp, her mouth forming a perfectly round “O.” The sharp intake of breath caused her to then cough and gasp for air. As her mind tried to process this new assault on its sense of normalcy, she kept her huge eyes glued on the man who was now turning to look – at her! Even if she had been able to form a coherent analysis of whether this other man meant her harm too, the poor girl would not have been able to jump up and run. All she could do was to look back at him as he approached and crouched down. With each passing moment, her heart hammering in her chest, she noted things about him. His hair and clothing were those of the Drykas. His face did not seem hostile or aggressive. His hands when he touched her neck were gentle and it took only a split second for her to realize that he was checking for the extent of her injuries. Moment by moment, her mind was piecing together that this man meant her no harm, and swiftly on the heels of that conclusion came the astonishing realization that he had in fact just saved her from whatever evil intent the other man had held in his heart. His touch on her throat set off another spate of coughing, and her head dropped for a moment, her hand going to cover her mouth, so that she would not cough in his face. But her eyes lifted to gaze at that face for another long moment, and as the man rose and extended a hand to her, she had yet another epiphany. She knew this man! Pushing herself up into a sitting position, she took the proffered hand, and with her other hand she disentangled her skirt from her legs. Rising unsteadily, she felt the wobbliness of her legs under her, as they tried to reform into something more solid than the jelly the attack had turned them into. Her whole body felt so odd, all prickly with the adrenaline that had nowhere to go, and cold with the rush of blood to her brain. A shiver passed through her slight frame. Letting go of his hand, she wrapped her arms about herself, as she shivered again. Her eyes still on him, she said in a shaky voice, “N-Navrin. What – what are you doing here? I . . . “ Her eyes turned to the ledge over which he had just tossed her assailant, as easily as he might have tossed a child’s rag doll. Then they turned back to fix on his face. “Thank you.” Her voice was incredibly soft with the terror of the assault making it hard to feel bold about anything. “I . . . I . . . “ She had no idea what she should say, what she wanted to say. No words came to her distracted mind. She drew in a deep ragged breath, trying to calm her whirling thoughts, which now included spastic images of Navrin’s family – his family that had been . . . “Thank you,” she repeated, and then her eyes dropped to the ground. “I’m – I’m sorry, about . . . your family.” She shut her eyes and squeezed them tightly closed, the attacker, Navrin, his family, all a confusing swirl in her mind.

[Navrin Stormwalker]

The cough worried him a little. He was sure that it would wear off in a day or so but he thought he should probably get the girl to someone who was trained in the art of healing. She'd have bruises for sure and that would raise questions. No doubt whoever she was with would demand an explanation and Navrin would tell them exactly what happened. He didn't think that a girl as young as this would be alone in Riverfall, especially being a Drykas. He imagined that she'd come with her family after the djed storm. He knew how stifling it was underground and he knew that Riverfall had borne the brunt of the storm and done well for itself. He could see the worry and surprise in her face and he wondered briefly whether she'd ever seen someone die; whether or not she thought she was next. The next flash in her eyes was recognition. He hadn't been imagining it then; they'd met before.

She wobbled slightly as she stood and Navrin put his hands on her shoulders. He'd seen people fall unconscious after an ordeal like this, and he didn't want her falling backwards and knocking her head. He hand had been smooth and her shoulders felt tiny under his hands - another reminder of his size. He loomed over her and for a moment he worried that anyone who saw them may have inappropriate thoughts. He didn't care. He let his hands linger. He had enough blood on them for the day. He didn't want to add more worrying about the glances of the Akalak. She let go of his hand and Navrin felt a fleeting moment of regret. He hadn't felt the touch of another in months. He'd forgotten how nice it was. He stifled the thought ruthlessly. He didn't have time for such thoughts. She opened his mouth to speak and called him by name. The voice jarred his memory.

Her name was Laeli. She'd been younger the last time they'd met. She'd filled out slightly and her face was a little more worn. He chalked that up to the djed storm. It had been a trying time for the entire world; no one had escaped entirely unscathed. He even remembered who'd introduced them. An interesting coincidence if there ever was one. Here he was, searching for his brother's widow and who would he save but a girl she'd brought by the pavilion for a meal on occasion?

"Laeli. You should be more careful," he said, avoiding her question. He knew he'd have to answer it eventually but for now he was more interested in getting her somewhere safer than the rapidly darkening streets of Riverfall. She apologized about his family and squeezed her eyes shut. She was hurt -unsurprisingly so he imagined, she'd known them too- and he didn't know if there was anything he could say to take her mind off of it. He decided to answer her question before taking her anywhere. Maybe that would clear her mind and bring her the slightest bit of hope. Vengeance was a bitter medicine but it was the only thing for this particular sickness.

"Yours was not the hand that wielded the blade. My family is part of the Web now. I'm here searching for their killers," he said simply, leaving out his brother's widow. He would ask her later maybe, but now was not the time for such an interrogation. Instead he offered her an awkward arm. Chivalry was not his natural mode, but he wasn't so far gone from it that he didn't understand the basics. Whether or not she took his arm when her eyes opened was her choice. His unspoken insistence that he walk her to her lodgings was not. That he would do no matter what she said.

[Laeli]

Those steadying hands on her shoulders were most welcome, though in another circumstance they might have brought a blush to Laeli’s now pale cheeks. For the moment, she let Navrin be a support, as her knees still threatened to buckle under her. He spoke, and his voice, familiar and deep, was a comfort too, and she used it, as well as his hands, to ground herself. I’m OK – it’s alright – I’m only a little bit hurt – that awful, evil creature is gone. That last thought brought a swell of nausea as she saw again the man as he left Navrin’s hands – the same that were now on her shoulders – and flew down into the darkened falls. Her eyes squeezed shut even tighter, and she willed her stomach to settle, her nerves to quiet. Death was all around them, all the time. That was just how life was, and the man had been stupid, and bad, and she had been very lucky. Her eyes opened and she saw he was looking down at her from his great height, concern etched in the rugged lines of his face. The tension and alarm was easing out of her own features, as she regained her composure and some bit of calm. She even managed a very small smile, though it was tinged with sadness, as he spoke of his family. As the mind will do, hers turned to the subject he offered, in order to provide a buffer between herself the harm that had just been averted. Without really thinking, she wrapped her hands about the arm he offered as well, her fingers feeling the hardness, the strength and she allowed herself to lean against that brace. “I know. I – I didn’t expect that something like that would happen – here.” She pushed a wet strand of dark hair off her cheek. It was all a muss now but she wasn’t even aware of what she looked like. Her only thought was that here was a friend, of sorts, that she knew and could trust and who would protect her for now until she could reach her family – or so she hoped. Even if it was an imposition, she hoped he would not leave her until she could throw herself into her father’s arms. “Riverfall has always been so …safe,” she added, her features twisting into a little frown. “But I guess the storm has changed so much.” She looked up into his face again. “Do you think you will find something here – about the ones that …did that?” She could barely bring herself to say those words. Murder. Assasination. Killings. Yes, death was common enough amongst the Drykas, an everyday occurrence for one unfortunate soul or another. But that was by accident or misadventure – hunting, traveling, occasionally fighting with slavers or other who were counted enemies of their people. And of course there was illness, privation from time to time, old age. But for an entire family to be simply … wiped out, no, that was very uncommon, and shocking. Even the little babies … Laeli unconsciously gripped Navrin’s arm a little tighter. “Navrin, could you – would you take me back to my family, please?” In her wildest, worst nightmares, Laeli could not imagine how anyone could survive such a loss as the one Navrin had been through. She felt bad that, at the moment, he was the one that had to give her support. It should be the other way around. Perhaps later, in a bit, when she was feeling more herself, she would better be able to offer her sympathy. There was really nothing she could do, but sometimes even just knowing a person cared was helpful in some small way.

[Navrin Stormwalker]

"The world has changed. Safety is a luxury now," Navrin said, as Laeli wrapped her hands around his arm. Her smile was brave but he could see the sadness behind it. She leaned against him and brushed a strand of hair out of her face, an action that drew Navrin's attention. She was very lucky that he'd come along. He doubted the dead man would have been satisfied with a simple murder. More than likely he would've wanted Laeli's petite figure to himself before smothering her. Navrin scowled. The very thought made him burn with anger. He calmed himself with a quick breath and began a response to her question. He thought while he spoke, occasionally pausing to consider his next word.

"I'm...not sure. It seems likely. Riverfall is the only 'true' city in Cyphrus. My brother traded occasionally with the Akalak, though assassination doesn't fit in with their code of honor," Navrin said, barely giving a second thought to the word that Laeli had so much trouble forcing out. "If Shaari escaped, this would be a likely spot for her to set out for. She always hated riding," Navrin continued, using his brother's widow's name for the first time in years. He'd been working hard to dehumanize her - in case he eventually had to run her down - but Laeli knew nothing of that. He kept his feelings about the widow under wraps. Suspicions were dangerous, especially in trying times such as these. Navrin looked down at Laeli as she squeezed his arm. She didn't seem to realize she was doing it, but he understood what was going on inside of her. She needed some comfort after all she'd been through in the last few weeks, and tonight had been the icing on a particularly horrible cake.

"You should've known better than to ask. I wasn't going to let you take another step without me," Navrin said. He made sure she had a tight grip on his arm and made his way away from the overlook. They walked in silence for a moment before Navrin realized he had no idea where Laeli was currently staying. He led them to one of the main streets and stopped on the corner. He felt better now that they were out of the warren of alleyways that made up Riverfall's back streets. Before he asked her for a name, he realized that he owed her an apology of sorts. He had let his temper get the better of him on the outlook. He could've simply left her attacker unconscious, but in his anger he had taken yet another life. The blood on his hands was quickly becoming too thick to ever wipe off.

"Laeli. I'm sorry for...what you had to see. I'm not sorry for what I did, but I'm sorry you had to bear witness," he said; the words sounded awkward but he trusted that they would do the job. He'd lost some of his conversational prowess after the death of his family; after he'd gone wondering in exile and before he'd decided that his ultimate goal would be to hunt the killers to the ends of the earth. "Can you forgive me?"

[Laeli]

Laeli only bit her lower lip as Navrin spoke so coolly of the possible prospects of finding some lead in Riverfall, some clue that might lead him to unravel the tangled threads of his family’s tragic end. Shaari had been a friend, at one time. Or so Laeli had thought, though time had proven her wrong. But she would say nothing of that to Shaari’s brother-in-law. Her own disappointment in the young Drykas woman had no place here, in the face of Navrin’s loss. Besides, it was something she had resolved to simply forget, so she remained quiet. Then Navrin was reassuring her that he would not leave her until he had accompanied her back to her lodgings, and she smiled more warmly this time. “Thank you. Thank you for everything, Navrin,” she said, her voice still subdued. “My parents will be eternally grateful for this - me too, of course. If you hadn’t come along just at that moment …” her voice caught and dropped off. She didn’t want to think about what might have happened, if Navrin hadn’t shown up. Another slight shudder ran through her body. But then his large hand covered hers for a moment, and she held onto him tightly as they began to walk out of the dead end alley. They walked along, her legs having to stretch out further than she was used to, due to his long stride. He was so tall – much more so than her father and brothers, who had all topped out at around six feet. She wasn’t complaining though. A man like Navrin looked imposing, at least in the Drykas society. Here in Riverfall he wasn’t as much a giant as he would have been in Endrykas. But still, she felt safe in his company, having already witnessed how easily he could handle “situations.” Almost on the heels of this thought, she felt Navrin stop and she tilted her face up to his, with a questioning look. Hearing his words, she shook her head, her eyes round with a stubborn refusal to allow him to think that he had anything to apologize or ask forgiveness for. “Oh, no - no, Navrin!” She exclaimed adamantly. “You have nothing to be sorry for. Please, I owe you my life. I – I’m sure that if you had not done that, well … if you had not shown up and …” Her eyes dropped, her sentence left unfinished, though both of them knew what she was thinking. “There’s nothing to forgive, truly.” Her eyes came back up and she hoped with all her heart that he saw the sincerity of her words reflected in them. “You did the right thing Navrin. To let a loathsome rat like that go, to perhaps strike at another girl …no. It was not pleasant to see, but life is full of unpleasantness, isn’t it?” She didn’t smile but her face was full of reassurance. “I’ve had a shock, but not because of you. Really. Think no more of it.” She squeezed his arm once again, as she repeated, “You saved my life, Navrin. Thank you.” Impulsively, she raised up as high as she could on her toes and just managed to plant a light kiss on his jaw. It was quick and chaste and done so innocently that she did not even think to blush or feel awkward over it. “And I know where we are now,” she added, looking across the street. “The inn we’re staying in is right down there.” She pointed, a great feeling of relief washing over her to think that soon she would be back with her family.

[Navrin Stormwalker]

Navrin watched Laeli bite her lip and wondered what was going on in her head. Was she curious about his detachment? He hadn't been attached to anything in years, except his blade and his horse. Those were the only things he considered truly tangible any more. He'd never been betrayed by either and they'd never failed him in his time of need, unlike others he could name. He let his thoughts drift to Shaari and Laeli, curious as to what had come between them. As far as he knew they had been close, and then out of nowhere Laeli had disappeared. Navrin hadn't realized that he'd missed her until earlier in the day. He shook his head - he couldn't afford these thoughts, and besides, she was much too young. He forced the thoughts out of his head and let her words fill the void they'd left behind.

She spoke softly and let the words trail off at the end, but he knew what she was thinking. He had thought the same thing. She shuddered and gripped his arm tighter and they walked.

"You don't have to thank me. I did what needed to be done. Don't dwell on what may have been. Just concentrate on what is. You'll go mad if you focus on the what-ifs in life," Navrin said. He knew from experience. His dreams were haunted by what may have been. Sometimes he woke up thinking that his family was still alive; that he had been there to stop the murders. He'd had plenty of time to dwell on it in his travels, plenty of time to feel his hold on reality slip away. He'd thought that he'd lost his mind on more than one occasion, and some days he wasn't sure that it was entirely his. He found himself split between the hatred he felt for his family's killers, and the desire to return to the way he used to be.

He tried to shorten his stride for Laeli, who had to take two steps for each of his one. It was humorous, and had it been anyone else he probably would have continued on uncaring. He felt better beside her than he would have sending her home alone. The few refugees that they'd passed had given the pair a wide berth. A lot of it had to do with Navrin's size, and he imagined more of it had to do with the scowl he returned their glances with. When he stopped, Laeli stared up at him and shook her head after hearing his apology. Her refusal was stubborn and typically Dryfas, and a brief smile flashed across Navrin's face. He watched her face as she spoke, telling him he had nothing to apologize for. He could see the truth in her hazel eyes and the reassurance on her face.

She squeezed his arm, and before he was really aware of what was happening, she was standing on her tiptoes. She planted a quick kiss on his jaw before dropping back down to her normal height. The spot tingled, and for the first time in years Navrin felt the spark of happiness in his chest. He smiled down at her and continued walking her toward the inn.

[Laeli]

In a matter of minutes, they were in front of a modest looking inn. Without really pausing, for she was literally dying to be in her parents’ company, and shelter, again, Laeli hauled Navrin in with her. Up the stairs to the two rooms the family was sharing, she didn’t knock but barged right in. By this time of the early evening, she assumed most of them would be assembled, getting ready to go down into the common room to have some supper. She had retained her hold on Navrin, letting it slip to his hand in the narrow of the stairwell where they could not walk side by side. But upon sight of her mother and father, seated on stools and apparently in the middle of some discussion, she dropped Navrin’s hand and flung herself at Eben, almost knocking him over, despite her slight size. Her thin arms gripped her father tightly and she buried her face against his neck. Finally finding herself where she truly felt safe, her mind allowed the full realization of her own fears to spill forth. Even surprising herself, Laeli broke done completely and wept, tears streaming down her face, which she pressed into Eben’s tunic. Pella rose in alarm, her kind face a mask of concern, and suddenly hard eyes went to the man standing near the door. Eben too stood up, cradling his daughter to his chest, looking from Laeli to her unexpected companion. Between hiccupping sobs, Laeli tried to explain what had happened. But her shaky words came out in a broken and incoherent rush. Eben shushed her with a gentle hand stroking her dark hair and a kiss to the top of her head. With his wife now embracing their daughter from behind, he passed Laeli off to Pella, and with a rather severe look, he addressed the Drykas man who had accompanied his near hysterical daughter back to the inn, where a calm and relatively happy girl had left not too long before. “What’s going on here?” His voice was as sharp as his look. “Who are you, and what has happened to my daughter?”

[Navrin Stormwalker]

Navrin allowed Laeli to drag him into the inn and up the stairs. It was a strange turn of events. She was so much smaller than he was, yet in her desire to return to her family she was pulling him along as if he was weightless. He'd followed her up the stairs, feeling her fingers between his when they'd had to go single file, and stopped at the doorway to her room. She barged on ahead, throwing the door open with abandon, pounding upon a man that Navrin assumed was her father. He leaned on the door frame, watching as Laeli sobbed into her father's tunic. He would've liked to speak, but now was not the time. Now was simply the time to let Laeli enjoy true safety again.

Her mother rose, panic on her face. Navrin felt eyes upon him -seemingly angry from what he could tell- and continued to lean. Her father stood as well, shushing his daughter as she tried to choke out an explanation. Navrin thought it was endearing. Her father kissed her on the head and handed her off to his wife. He took a step forward and gave Navrin the most hateful look he'd ever seen. The big Drykas didn't respond, he just stayed on the door frame with his arms crossed. Laeli's father spoke, voice full of barely contained anger.

"I've returned your daughter," Navrin said simply. "My name is Navrin Stormwalker. Your daughter was attacked by one of the refugees and I escorted the man away. I am no healer, but I imagine she will be fine after some rest. Her throat may bruise and she will be sore. She should recover splendidly," Navrin said, shooting a quick smile to the crying Laeli.