Timestamp: 59th day of Winter, 513 AV
As Van and Kavala returned to the Riverfall Stables and readied their Striders, the light of day was already fading. Clouds still blanketed the sky, concealing the always beautiful sight of the sun as it sank behind the Suvan Sea. The day was not particularly fruitful by way of productivity, although Vanator had placed a special order at Loads of Leather for a battle harness to carry his weapons when on foot. Van did count the day a success though. He had invited his sister to ride with him to the city, intentionally excluding everyone else. Van wanted time alone with Kavala, a precious commodity those days in the organized chaos of Sanctuary business and demanding family matters. It seemed both of them needed a breather, time away, if only for a short ride and a walk through the Zhongjie Warren and window shopping the streets. Commerce in the city had been lively that winter, what with merchants offering sales and the Inartan Eagle Riders arriving with finely crafted stone and glass products, encouraging citizens to brave the cold to shop.
The conversations between the siblings had been mundane and refreshingly innocuous. They found occasions to laugh and recall fond memories without sinking into melancholy. Van knew that Kavala had worried over him for some time, worried for his happiness, especially now that he and Sybel had postponed their wedding. Van was worried for Kavala, who had even more upon her slight but sturdy shoulders than ever, nurturing her newborns as well as supporting the businesses being birthed at Sanctuary. Her brother knew as well that there were personal goals Kavala strove to accomplish. It seemed a few bells away from it all had done them both a world of good.
Sirocco was anxious to leave, tossing his head and shifting back and forth on his hooves, though Nell always spoiled the Denusk's Striders when left at the stables. Vanator had to gear up, slipping his short chain mail tunic over his head before donning again his cloak. His yvas was adorned with arms, axes and daggers as well as his bow and quiver. Some may have seen it as overkill since they only had a two mile ride back to the Sanctuary. But danger seemed to creep closer to Riverall that winter. The discovery of a makeshift Zith fortification nearby had lead to a skirmish between the Zith and a force from Riverfall sent to remove the threat. The Zith had become bolder in the past year, and Vanator would not venture beyond walls unless fully armed. Since the Zith attacked the Sanctuary in 512, he was never far from a weapon even within the safety of his home.
Once mounted up, They rode around the corner to the gates, passing between the massive portals and two Kuvay'Nas guards anxious to close the entrance against the approaching dusk. "Race you home!" Van challenged, "we start once we reach the far edge of the Vineyard." He flashed the Konti a broad smile as they cleared the gatehouse with a casual gait. Once the Denusks turned their gaze to the snow-covered expanse of grasslands before them, both discerned the dark shapes approaching, skimming over the blanketed plains like shadows themselves.
As Van and Kavala returned to the Riverfall Stables and readied their Striders, the light of day was already fading. Clouds still blanketed the sky, concealing the always beautiful sight of the sun as it sank behind the Suvan Sea. The day was not particularly fruitful by way of productivity, although Vanator had placed a special order at Loads of Leather for a battle harness to carry his weapons when on foot. Van did count the day a success though. He had invited his sister to ride with him to the city, intentionally excluding everyone else. Van wanted time alone with Kavala, a precious commodity those days in the organized chaos of Sanctuary business and demanding family matters. It seemed both of them needed a breather, time away, if only for a short ride and a walk through the Zhongjie Warren and window shopping the streets. Commerce in the city had been lively that winter, what with merchants offering sales and the Inartan Eagle Riders arriving with finely crafted stone and glass products, encouraging citizens to brave the cold to shop.
The conversations between the siblings had been mundane and refreshingly innocuous. They found occasions to laugh and recall fond memories without sinking into melancholy. Van knew that Kavala had worried over him for some time, worried for his happiness, especially now that he and Sybel had postponed their wedding. Van was worried for Kavala, who had even more upon her slight but sturdy shoulders than ever, nurturing her newborns as well as supporting the businesses being birthed at Sanctuary. Her brother knew as well that there were personal goals Kavala strove to accomplish. It seemed a few bells away from it all had done them both a world of good.
Sirocco was anxious to leave, tossing his head and shifting back and forth on his hooves, though Nell always spoiled the Denusk's Striders when left at the stables. Vanator had to gear up, slipping his short chain mail tunic over his head before donning again his cloak. His yvas was adorned with arms, axes and daggers as well as his bow and quiver. Some may have seen it as overkill since they only had a two mile ride back to the Sanctuary. But danger seemed to creep closer to Riverall that winter. The discovery of a makeshift Zith fortification nearby had lead to a skirmish between the Zith and a force from Riverfall sent to remove the threat. The Zith had become bolder in the past year, and Vanator would not venture beyond walls unless fully armed. Since the Zith attacked the Sanctuary in 512, he was never far from a weapon even within the safety of his home.
Once mounted up, They rode around the corner to the gates, passing between the massive portals and two Kuvay'Nas guards anxious to close the entrance against the approaching dusk. "Race you home!" Van challenged, "we start once we reach the far edge of the Vineyard." He flashed the Konti a broad smile as they cleared the gatehouse with a casual gait. Once the Denusks turned their gaze to the snow-covered expanse of grasslands before them, both discerned the dark shapes approaching, skimming over the blanketed plains like shadows themselves.
