The Maiden Voyage of The Dreamcatcher

by **Kavala** on January 12th, 2014, 6:26 pm

In that moment, Kavala felt comforted in a way she hadn’t been in a long time. The way Riaris talked made it seem as if the world would conform to his thinking and that just through his will alone they would be fine. It was a good feeling, albeit a foreign one, to have someone offer such comfort in a way that made her feel protected, cherished, and like she didn’t need to worry about the future like she did.

Kavala almost never relaxed. She never sat still. She as doing and planning, and looking ahead always, trying to change time, change circumstance, and mold the world into someplace safer for herself and her family. Part of it was that deep within her she was afraid, always, of not being in control and afraid of what could happen if she let her guard down or got sideswiped by something she didn’t see coming.

Riaris hadn’t been something she saw coming. She had never wanted to give her heart to anyone again, no one save perhaps her child. And in many ways he’d blindsided her. In his arms she felt comfort, love, security, and like finally she could relax. Like here and now there wasn’t a tense bone in her body or a single worry on her mind. But Recoomas was an unknown to her. And that Riaris knew him best of all gave her comfort because she honestly believed the deep violent Akalak when he spoke of what his brothers wishes and needs were too. Someone knowing Kavala’s background might think between being enslaved on the Sea of Grass and having a tough time with a Talvis in Riverfall that she’d be ruined for such things in the future. But she wasn’t. She was just cautious and watchful and tended in some parts to look for the negative so she could find it, identify it, and not let it hurt her so much. But Riaris kept insisting that there was no negative. He insisted that his brother wasn’t a bad guy. She believed him. Staring in his eyes, hearing his words, she believed him absolutely.

And even about the promise. He would never leave her. And even as he was making it, she knew if he did, if despite everything that happened, he did part ways, then it would be her downfall… the last blow in a series of blows in a life that had been less than ideal.

“I love you Raris. Thank you… for all of this. For coming with me. For being yourself. I still don’t know everything there is to know about you, but I do know you are incredible. I hope that you and I can make a life together. It would be one of my greatest accomplishments I think, looking back. And I’m sorry… because I think you aren’t getting such a great deal with me. I am not the ideal person I think your people think of when they pick mates. I will never stay at home. I will never forego weapons or magic and danger and being on the front lines of conflict. My thinking isn’t always what others might feel it should be. And I am by and large damaged goods. You know some of it. There’ a lot more as well. But I will try to do right by you and be whom you need if I can be. And I will be the best mother to this child of yours I possibly can be. If I have any say in it, they will want for nothing.” Kavala added, bushing her hand across her flat muscled midsection.

Then she changed the subject, wanting to move forward, not wanting to sit there and make promises to each other they might not be able to keep if Dira got involved.

So she paused, smiled at him, and ran her eyes across the rigging again. “We’ll be there tomorrow or the next day. Are you getting excited? I have no idea what to expect… but I’m eager to do some trading. Maybe even get some things I can’t get in Riverfall. For example… I’ve heard stories of these repeating crossbows. You can’t hold them in your hands… they are far far too big. But you mount them on ships and on the tops of buildings and load them with bolts that can take out things like Wind Eagles. I want to get my hands on one for The Sanctuary. What do you think? Would it be overkill? After that Zith attack where we had half the place torn up, I think it would have been invaluable to have one.” Kavala said, already planning on how she’d store the thing on the ship to get it home.

by **Riaris Dovukalis** on January 16th, 2014, 8:35 am

Syna's light shined from above and covered the vessel in a faint glow. It illuminated Kavals's skin making her glow in a golden light. Riairs' purple skin also had a glow to it, causing his skin to appear brighter. He was pleased that she hadn't pulled away from him, his rough, inexperienced hands on her feet couldn't have been the most joyful. Still he tried his best, using more fingers than palms to try and work out the kinks in her feet.

He felt better now and the earlier incident was as far from his mind as it could be, and he hoped it was the same for her. One thing he knew about women was that they didn't forget. His mother didn't his sister's didn't. However, he wouldn't let it ruin their trip, and so he smiled and rubbed her feet as if nothing happened and hoped that she wouldn't bring it back up.

If he had thought back to his past at any time. From his days as a youth training with his father, or to his duel with the glass beak, or even to the fight with Zith. If someone had told him that he would be on the oceans, sailing on a boat with a woman like Kavala, he might not would have believed them. But he believed in Kavala, believed in what he told her and what their future would hold. She was worried, he understood and for two people who didn't know everything about the other it seemed like they might be pushing it. But they were both stubborn, and wouldn't allow anything to ruin their fun. Kavala was vibrant and passionate, and she praised Riaris to the point where he would almost blush.

Her words always moved him, and he could tell that she believed him, even to his promise. They were odd things, promises, and many didn't like them or chose to use them because they were fragile creatures. Riaris was serious and the promise wasn't only to her, but also to himself. "You don't have to thank me. I should be thanking you for being here with me. I do love you Kavala. I know I do." He lowered her legs, in order to reach for her and hug her body against his once more. He stared into those eyes of hers, eyes that held such passion and knowledge. "I couldn't have gotten a better deal. I don't normally talk of luck, but sure. If you want to believe that was what happened I'll take it." He kissed her head again, never getting tired of doing that and the look she had when he did.

Kavala wanted to change the subject and he smiled and nodded. He could talk with her all day, and while he might not have as much to add, he never tired of her company. Riaris could hear the excitement in her voice and it made him smile. He knew less of the Isur than she did, but he had heard things himself and even met one or two that came to the city. "A repeating crossbow? That does sound dangerous and useful. Might be too much for snarlwings, but Zith I can see." Kavala had a way of making him liven up and when he did, tiny jokes tended to slip out. "You have your very own fortress, your friends are there, family. It's impressive. Well I'm looking forward to seeing their weapons, I hear they have the best in the lands. Makes me wonder what else they had hidden away there."

by **Kavala** on January 24th, 2014, 7:09 pm

Kavala smiled, nodded, and was altogether too comfortable. “We’ll find out... tomorrow or the next day. I think with the winds being so good, we’re closer than we think. “ Kavala stifled a yawn, curled up against Riaris, she was too comfortable, especially after their meal and with him working on her feet. Things seemed calm and the weather was good. Truth be told, there wasn’t much more she could ask for in life at that very moment.

Being perched on the edge of discovery, like they were, was something utterly exciting. Kavala had no idea what the Kingdom had in store for them or if they’d even have a pleasant visit. There was a very real possibilities they wouldn’t have a good experience in the Southern Boarder Post, but Kavala hoped that wouldn’t be the case. She was traveling with an open mind and a wide open heart, one willing to learn about a new culture and a new way of embracing life.

Kavala had heard stories of the Isur too, knew of their trials and tribulations, and after walking Leo Varniak’s Chavi and seeing what King Sultros did for the whole of Mizahar by sacrificing himself all over again, Kavala wanted to pass that information on to the Isur. If no one else would do so, she wanted to tell someone that could tell someone and pass the information on and know that at least somewhere in the world one Konti – a single individual – knew about his sacrifice at Wind Reach and how much that had meant to the world.

Riaris didn’t know all this, of course, but that was because he’d expressed a dislike of Leo and hadn’t even liked the fact that the Champion of Ivak had stayed at The Sanctuary for a time. So Kavala had avoided the topic with him. But it would come out on her trip, especially if she got to meet the person she hoped she would... a priest of Izurdian. That’s really who she wanted to talk too, wanted to meet, along with the people of The Kingdom and do some trading. That was why the Catamaran was loaded heavy and sailing slow. But Kavala didn’t mind. She wasn’t experienced enough, nor was Riaris, to handle the Catamaran at her finest. This had been an experience building trip as would be the one on the way home when they were lighter, faster, and The Dreamcatcher would ride sleeker in the water.

“Hopefully we can discover what they have hidden within the Kingdom together.” Kavala said to Riaris with a smile. She stifled a yawn and smiled. “Do you want first watch or should I? I think catching some sleep in shifts and finishing off this trip is prudent. We should see port tomorrow, I think, unless I messed up my calculations. I want to be well rested for it.” They talked for a while about how they should set up the watch, and in the end Kavala agreed to sleep first. Riaris would wake her later so he could catch some sleep deep in the night and well into the morning. That way the ship would not be without a captain and they could make port just as fast.

They talked a bit longer, laughing lightly over a few things they speculated they would find, and without much fanfare Kavala curled up on a bench beneath the canopy – choosing to sleep outside in the warmth instead of in her birth – and Riaris guided the ship well into the night.. He woke her well after midnight and she got up, took the helm and he caught some sleep. Then, when the sun was just putting in an appearance, Kavala woke him because she sighted land in the distance and together they sailed into the small port of the Southern Trading Post.

by **Magpie** on February 21st, 2014, 12:18 am

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Kavala :

Riaris :

Notes :

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