Fond farewells (Malkaren)

[Min]

Summer 13, 512 AV Min’s eyes blinked open, but the room where she had slept was still quite dark, in the pre-dawn of a fine summer morning. For a split second, she wondered where she was. But the events of the evening and night before quickly flooded her mind. She and the four caravan guards had arrived with Malkaren, still transported via his makeshift stretcher slung between two horses, at the house that he had directed them to – only to be greeted by two very alarmed parents. Explantations and reassurances and greetings and introductions had been made in a noisy flurry, before the son of the house was settled in his own bed and another healer summoned. Min hadn’t been resentful of his parents’ concerns – a marked healer could do so much more than she could with only her brain and hands. But his parents had been gracious and kind, and so very thankful to her and the guards, and they had invited all of them to stay over in their small house – his father finding stabling for the horses of the party. Min had stepped aside to allow the other healer to do their work, though she had looked on with interest, and approval. Finally, a meal had been shared and then space was allocated to each traveler. Min had landed the parents’ own bed and bedroom, and despite her vigorous protests, she had finally seen that there was no way they could be persuaded to let her have a spot on the floor with the others. Accepting their selfless offer with graciousness, then, she had fallen into the bed, quite tired, but more than happy that their son was returned to them in good shape – at least, as good as could have been wished for, given his encounter with the grass bear. Lying in the bed in the small dark, room, hearing the movements and low murmurs of those in the other part of the house as they readied for sleep, Min felt the tiniest bit disappointed. The last three nights, she had lain beside Malkaren, under the night skies, keeping vigil that her patient should not take a turn for the worse. Now, it was apparent that would not happen again – at least, not for a long while, perhaps not ever. Come the morning the guards were planning to leave as early as possible, the quicker to catch up with their party and their employer, out on the sea of grass. Min would accompany them, and she wasn’t looking forward to the hard riding they would be doing – not at all – and not just because she did not like riding and was very unskilled at it. No, it was more that Malkaren would remain behind, or she must journey on, however one wanted to look at it. They had been constant companions by dint of his injuries and her role and skills. But beyond that, she had really enjoyed his company and she would miss him, truly. Whether they would ever come together again, well… Rolling over onto her side, Min thought of the lakan, and the promise Malkaren – well, his inner brother, Rorin, really – had made to her. It was tucked safely in her pack, but she could easily imagine the weight and feel of it in her hand. His most precious possession – a part of himself – and he had gifted it to her, in payment of this life debt he felt he owed her. At first she had refused his wish to give it to her. Now, she was very glad that he had done so – if only for the selfish reason that it might, one day, bring him back to her. But for now, on this day, she must leave him, to carry on with the task she had vowed to her family that she would complete. Min pricked her ears but heard no sound of any stirring beyond her door. It was so early, she knew the rest of those in the house must surely be in that last stage of deep sleep where the mind snatches at those incredibly intense dreams. She hesitated, but then made up her mind, sitting upright and planting her bare feet silently on the floor. Pulling on her long shirt over her undergarments, she rose and made her way to the closed door, pulling it open quietly. It gave onto a tiny hallway with the main living area beyond and the only other bedroom right next to it. This was where Malkaren had been laid ever so carefully the evening before, and where the marked healer had done her work so efficiently and effectively. Min was glad that Malkaren’s parents had gone to the trouble and expense to do this for their only son, for it meant he would really heal without complications, almost certainly. Padding silently to his door, she turned the knob and pushed it open just a crack, peeking in. Even if he was asleep, she meant to wake him, gently and quietly. For she had a good bye to make and one that she didn’t care to share with six others looking on.

[Malkaren]

Malkaren lay in his warm bed, his stomach filled with good cooking and his old friend Coon laying at his feet while his side didn't even ache as it had for so many days before. To most anyone else, this mix would have left anyone drifting off to sleep in moments. Not Malkaren apparently as he had been wide awake since heading to bed, just staring at the ceiling with his arms folded over his chest, thinking as he listened to the creaking of the house. There were far too many things to think of after his experiences in the Sea of Grass, some good, some bad and others simply confusing. And yet despite everything going through his head there was something that kept coming up more than anything else: Min. The two had spent a brief period of time together in what should have been a simple healer/patient relationship but for one reason or another the two had resonated well with one another. He had found her company to be enjoyable and in turn she seemed to feel the same way about him. Even though he was more than safe and stable in the confines of his own home after the marked healer had shown up and done quite a good job on the injuries, he missed Min's presence watching over him as he drifted off into dreaming. He realized all of this, analyzed it and put the pieces together and yet he wasn't entirely sure what it meant, leaving him confused and frustrated as he lay awake thinking about it. The akalak's strange stupor was broken by the metallic sound of a doorknob turning in his room. With his brow furrowed he turned his head over on his pillow, eyes drooping as he looked towards the door to try and find a culprit. The noise also managed to wake Coon who's head and ears shot up while his neck took a 180 to let him stare at the door with his beady little eyes. Both watched it open just a crack as they heard someone shuffling on the other side. Malkaren swore he spotted something until a lucky moonbeam sweeping in from his window caught something: a single warm brown eye peeking in. With it being one of the many things that had been running through his head for hours, it was easy to guess who was at his door. Malkaren sat up in his bed, blinking his heavy eyelids a few times to shake off some of his drowsiness as he acknowledged the Myrian at his door, his mind trying to piece together what she was doing at such a late hour. "Min?" he asked in a subdued voice, directing it more to himself than her before continuing. "Did you need something? Are you lost?"

[Min]

Her eyes caught the irregular outline of the blanket draped over the resident of the bed, and she paused. Maybe this was too presumptuous of her – sidling into Malkaren’s bedroom in the wee small hours. But as she looked she felt the hesitation pass, for she was sure – as much as any woman could be – that he would not mind. Even if she had to wake him. That wasn’t necessary, though, for in almost the same instant, Malkaren sat up, blinking, and directly acknowledging her in a low voice. She didn’t know for sure if he had been wakeful, as she had been, or if he was just, as hunters are, very sensitive to his surroundings. Yet she felt a warm flush, inside, that he had not needed to ask who was at his door at this ungodly hour. Min slipped inside the door, shutting it quietly behind her. The Kevat at the foot of Malkaren’s bed eyed her warily, but they had made one another's acquaintance the evening before and Min didn’t feel any threat from the little animal. So she approached, replying in almost a whisper, “No, I am not in need of a thing. I am not lost too.” She smiled wryly at his guesses as to why in the world she was creeping into his room so early in the morning. She had reached the bed and had no compunction about sitting easily on its edge. Perhaps it was her near lifetime spent at the side of sick beds that made this a natural seeming place for her to be. And certainly, Malkaren was her patient – well, he had been her patient. With her hands folded placidly in her lap, she looked at him in the near darkness, recalling that he had told her he, like all Akalaks, had very nearly perfect night vision. But at least they were close enough now that she could make out his handsome features, and she could even detect a more rested look there – or at least one that bespoke that the healer’s work had made great improvements both to his body and his spirits. He seemed more relaxed, and at ease. The improvements were all welcome and she was glad that she could leave him knowing he was really on the mend. Well, not glad exactly, but satisfied. “I have come to say good bye to you, Malkaren, here, where there are no other people, to see. I will miss you very much.” Her words were candid and her tone sincere, though in many ways she was hiding a great secret within. “I have a favor to ask you, Malkaren.” Now she did really hesitate, wondering if what she was going to ask was at all polite or acceptable in his culture. But she very much wanted it, so she went on. “I wish to speak my good bye to Rorin too. Is that…allowed?”

[Malkaren]

Though he tried not to show it on the surface, Malkaren found himself deeply worried over his friend's appearance. She was coming so late into the night, even pointing out they were alone, and speaking as if she was leaving that very moment. Of course her and her companions had said they were going to leave the next morning but he was expecting for them to wait until first light at the very least. Then there was the way she spoke with just an edge of urgency, as if she wanted to say something important though what she had to so far was sincere and kind but very simple. Malkaren stayed silent as he gave her a curious look over just before she broke the silence again with a very unusual request. He didn't answer it immediately as he thought over the oddity of the situation. Even if he wasn't on the surface, Rorin would hear everything their body heard just as he had all the times that they were on the road. Of course now her hesitation made far more sense as she must have realized how sensitive the subject of souls was from her own personal experience and she didn't want to offend him by asking something foolish. Just more proof that she had a good head on her shoulders. "If that is what you want," he responded quietly with a simple nod. The calmness of their little exchange gave Coon some peace of mind as he lay his head back down and drifted back to sleep as Malkaren began to clear his mind. Unlike before when it was a very simple exchange as their body lay resting, switching while fully conscious was a bit more difficult for the two. He closed his eyes, trying to wipe his thoughts clean and invite the other soul to take his place. He sat there for a few seconds, staying totally still as he felt the shift begin to occur. For a moment there was the slightest of tugs and the next he was gone, back in the land of their subconscious as the other brother took his place. When the akalak's pale grey eyes opened again, they were filled with a look of curiosity as Rorin tried to read Min's face. "I'm here," he whispered with a meek smile on his lips.

[Min]

Min waited for his answer, already wishing she had not made the request. Was this rude? Was she being a complete boor and hurtful, asking to speak with Rorin? She knew so little, really, of his race. And though Malkaren had explained it as best he could to her, she still had a hard time conceptualizing two that were one, and one that was actually two. She had caught a glimpse of the more silent brother, and she had had many long conversations already with the dominant one, during their journey back to his city. Was it wrong that she wished to see Rorin one more time before she departed? After all, it was the more…affable, and light hearted brother that had gifted her with the lakan – not that Malkaren might not have done so as well. But, despite her initial protests over the right or wrong of taking such a gift from him, it had meant a great deal to her, and she wanted to once more thank him – Rorin – for the trust he had in her ability to safeguard it, and the honor he showed her by doing so. And then there were the promises he had made – they had made, she supposed, for Rorin had said that Malkaren joined him in all of it. She found it all a bit confusing – and far beyond anything she had ever known, in knowing a man – and…fascinating, really. She kept her expression neutral, though, as she watched Malkaren mulling over her request, and she knew he found it odd, and unexpected. So – it was something one probably should not ask of an Akalak. Of course – she gave herself a mental smack to the forehead – she should have left it up to him – to them – to decide who should speak to her. How stupid her request had been! But before she could retract it, Malkaren was nodding and giving his consent, and Min didn’t know if she was happy for that or only chagrined, for she did not want to make Malkaren uncomfortable. As his eyes closed, Min thought to say something, to call off her impolite and ignorant appeal, but she hesitated…for some part of her truly did wish for the less seen brother to come forward. A second passed, and then another, and Min held her breath without realizing that she did so, leaning forward a fraction of an inch as she watched, transfixed, seeing nothing – no change or movement – and wondering – what was going on inside this amazingly exotic being. Then the eyes opened and those same, pale eyes looked into hers, and she heard the same voice, but – somehow – she knew him for himself – Rorin, and no longer Malkaren. She smiled warmly, and without thinking she reached out and placed a hand gently on his forearm. “Rorin,” her voice was still very subdued, but there was a noticeable tone of pleasure in it as well. “I – thank you,” she breathed, unsure now of what to say – and who to say it to. “Thank – thank both of you, for this. For talking to me. I am sorry – I did not want to insult you, by my asking this favor.” She paused and looked at him intently, seeing Rorin looking back at her, and she turned her head away, with a very rare feeling of being flustered. “But, I am glad you are here, Rorin. I did not know if you would come forward, to say good bye. I wanted to thank you, one last time, for the lakan.” That was the truth, but only part of the truth, thought Min barely knew this herself.

[Malkaren]

Rorin was very curious to hear what Min wanted to speak to him so badly about yet he found himself distracted by what she did rather than what she said. He felt almost embarrassed when she recognized it was him sitting there and smiled, placing a hand on his arm as if to greet his arrival. It was odd but in no way unpleasant to see that someone missed him as he let his eyes drop to the sheets for a moment as his meek smile grew a little wider. He looked up quickly as she began to talk and again he found himself noticing how she moved and spoke such as the edge of joy in her voice that he picked up. She'd been much more subdued a minute ago but now it was obvious that she was very happy to speak to the dark soul again. While he took gesture as simple kindness towards the more emotional soul, some part of Rorin found himself deeply touched by the feeling of recognition that few had ever shown him before. And then there were all the other things in the way she spoke and acted. For the first time since the Akalak and Myrian had met and talked for hour upon hour on the road, she began to stutter with her words. Rorin tried to hide the genuine surprise written on his face as she began to recover and speak more evenly again. Perhaps it wouldn't have been such a big deal if she hadn't paused, looking him dead in the eye before she suddenly turned to face away. Rorin recognized this as an act of shyness or nerves but neither made much sense. This was blunt, bold Min, his watchful protector for the last few days. She had shown herself to be happy, sad, even good humored at times but vulnerable? This was unheard of. As she began to explain the reasons for coming which, even for the sometimes naive Rorin, were very unconvincing. She was trying to start slow, build up to saying some more important and being ever patient, he nodded slowly to her words as he rested his right hand on the one she held on his arm. "I should be the one thanking you. It's not very often I get a request to be spoken to like this. But you really shouldn't be just thanking me. Mal's the one who forged it for the Rite and it was because of his thoughts that I even brought it out. I'm just the one who gave it and even he thought that up some." While he was trying to not leave his soul brother left out, it was still all true. Malkaren had always been the straight thinker, the person you went for if you needed a simple idea. Rorin lacked that kind of wit but made up for it in charisma, the kind of person you'd want to listen to. Still, it had never had this kind of affect before. He allowed a light chuckle to escape his lips, not much louder than their whispers but shaky enough to dislodge a few strands of his unbraided hair from behind his ear, making them dangle in front of his face. "But I do appreciate the thought. It is very nice to know you care. I - we are both very happy to have you accept our gift." There was a short pause as Rorin gathered his thoughts, trying to think of the best way to say what he wanted to say. Deciding it to be foolhardy to think too long, he cleared his throat and went on. "It will be good to know you are safe before we meet again. I do not want anything bad happening to you." He said the last sentence differently, speaking passionately with an edge of sorrow in his voice. At that very moment, no statement in the world was truer than this.