Flashback The Saltwater Lake. [Pavi Lake] (S'Essy)

[Markus Andres]

The arms of the Konti wrapped around him in return and he had to fight the urge to indulge himself in the carnal pleasures then and there. A wonderful, pretty, sweet and all around great woman, was hugging him naked. Plus the more emotional attraction he was beginning to feel to the woman was also working on tearing down his willpower and ability to resist her natural charm. Though her words, with a tinge of sadness in them as she spoke. It immediately brought out the side that lingered under the surface. Bolstered his ability to resist her. She did not need a man to kiss her now, she needed a friend to console and help her. Though he did wonder what it was that had her so scared. Put her into this state of mind. It was frightening to see the usual happy girl broken down like this.

His breath came easier now, less laboured by the worry that racked his mind. She appeared okay, her hands moved from the embrace to his chest. Gently pushing him back. His eyes found hers. Gazing into those indigo eyes and that small smile on her lips seemed fake to Markus. Especially since he had seen the genuine smiles for so long, those natural simple smiles that had his heart beat tick away like there was no tomorrow. This one just had his brow rise a little with annoyance. Why did she try and fake a smile for him?

It annoyed him a little that she would not be honest and tell him what was wrong rather than hide it away. He hated secrets, especially when they were being covered up behind fake smiles and lies. Her laughter cut a little into him when she was done speaking. The soft grown on his lips as she asked him a question. A hand reached out to hold hers. Inadvertently stopping her from getting dressed. He didn't notice.

"S'Essy..." The annoyed undertone was sharp. But when he noticed what he had done. Stopped her from getting dressed. He felt the warmth well up in his cheeks. "Nothing. Yes. Get dressed. I will... do the same. Meet you outside." Words. Rapidly spoken. Barely thought through before he left the tent. He dove into his own tent, found the pieces of clothing in there. Quickly put on his cotton blouse and socks. Stepped outside, found his cloak thrown over the top of the tent. With half a mind he began to put it on again as he searched for his boots.

... Where are those petching boots? He found one on the other side of the tent. The other under a bush. He had certainly been in a hurry to follow S'Essy to the waterside. He slowly fumed as he looked to the forest. Waiting for S'Essy to come out of the tent. How he loathed secrets. But he did not want to push. Not now. He would let her have her secrets if she so desired them and she could share if she wanted to. He would rather have raw emotions - at least those were not a lie. Markus knelt and strapped the bastard to his waist and once more waited for S'Essy to appear. Annoyed or not, he would still offer her his right hand to hold as they walked. At least until they found great firewood and he had to become a pack mule again.

[S'Essy]

Her smile and joking didn't work this time. It actually backfired pretty badly. His voice was a bit annoyed. She was worried worried that perhaps he was irritated because of her. The only thing that suprised her though that how he grabbed her hands. But as he noticed too he let them, and hurried out. "Yeah.. yeah outside, yeah..." She said after him and was sitting there now alone.

She couldn't tell how she hated herself at that moment. Ruining such a fine little camping that way. She put on her clothes and grabbed the cloak to wrap it around herself outside the tent. She was trying to keep smiling. Just smile, just smile. Like when she was healing somebody, comforting them... But this time she needed the comforting, she was the crazy here. She was annoyed by herself.

She came out and put the cloak around herself. She was so mad and was keep blaming herself, she didn't even notice that she was muttering in Kontinese and everybody could hear that. "Good job, S'Essy! How come you were single for 29 years? I'm pretty sure Markus has no idea why." She saw Markus was waiting for him. Her smile turned a bit more honest and true as she saw how Markus was offering his right hand. She gladly placed her hand on his.

She tried a little joking again, to ease the atmosphere around them as they start to search for some woods. "After this little journey, you can demand to be a knight right away. Dealing with this menace."

[Markus Andres]

Markus looked at the tent a little surprised by the sounds he heard. Too low to be heard accurately, but certainly it wasn't common. The tones and fluidity of the language too foreign for it to be the common he knew and loved. Probably Kontinese or whatever tongue that they spoke. He let out a long exhale in the cold autumn weather as he rather impatiently waited for the beautiful lady to join him for their duties. Eyes sought something interesting, anything. Forest. Ground. The mesmerizing pavi lakes.

The smaller hand found his and he did feel a small measure of comfort knowing she was there with him and that she was trying to make things better. His hand closed around hers and gave it a small squeeze. Before they would be on their way. Away from the camp. Would have been smart to leave someone to guard the camp, but he was not going to let S'Essy alone, not in the camp nor outside it. Had been a mistake to leave her in the water by herself. Something had been out there and he had not been there to protect her. How he would have blamed himself had the slightest have happened to her. The anger, he realized, that had been aimed at her was also borne from the fact that he had let her down. His own guilt. He looked to her when she spoke. The careful tone in her voice, attempting to rebuild a bridge that the little fake smile had burned. He chuckled at the joke, their shared little innocent joke. A warmer smile appeared where the thin frown had been. He hated fake smiles, but he could not remain angry at a woman so lovely.

"Tch, after dealing with such a menace, they ought to make me at least Captain knight." Coincidentally one of the ranks he would be satisfied with achieving before his course on the world had run its course. Honesty was easy to Markus, he never spoke anything but the honesty, but there was a considerable stretch from conveying his thoughts and worries. Anything he said previously had been used again him as ammunition in a never ending struggle of dominance and battle to frustrate and annoy the other.

I don't want that... Not ever again. Just simple open honesty.

How does one go from one extreme to the other? Markus did not know, not yet. But he was determined that he would not push S'Essy away just because of a simple fake smile. Meant to shelter him or not, she was a healer. Fake smiles to comfort patients ought not be that... uncommon? Had he not felt the same when bones had been broken and reset by healers. White lies to comfort him as they did their magic or reset his bones? The sigh on his lips made his expression a little more serious. He had an apology to make.

"S'Essy." He said softly as he stepped in front of her and looked into her eyes. Words ensnared in his mouth. "I like you and I shouldn't snap at you like that. I just have a hard time with fake smiles and expressions. They annoy me. Make me frustrated. But I can't expect you to know that, nor change your habits as a healer. I mean, I would rather die with the hope that my wounds would be healed than the grim realization that these were my last moments. Makes it easier to swallow." What was he even on about now? Rambling non-sensically. "I... Assume perhaps too much. But... Uhm... Ah petch it." He said and instead just gave in to the desire that had been slowly building and kissed her on the forehead. Right on the mark of Rak'keli. A small satisfaction. But enough for now. His hands slipped inside her cloak and rested against her sides.

"Forgive me?" Had he gone too big and bombastic in his little speech, or had he rambled for too long? Probably both. At least he hoped he had conveyed something to her.

[S'Essy]

As he took her hand, he squeezed it a bit. She was holding it tight as well then she looked back to the camp but mostly to the lake. Nothing was there, she saw nothing eversince she came out. Was she really imagining creatures which weren't even there? Was she that tired? She felt more awful now, she made a big deal out of nothing once more. She could have hit herself a bit or slap herself. Idiot... Idiot..Idiot... But at least they both laughed at their little joke.

But now she knew that he was aiming to be a Captain knight. She didn't know a lot about the knight's ranks but she was sure it was something high and honorable. How proud he was that he was part of the Syliran knights. S'Essy couldn't share the thought or even understand it but she didn't have to. She was a healer and not everyone was like her. And at least he had a dream, a goal.

And she was ready to go, she turned to the forest and stepped but she also had to step back. He didn't move. She turned her head to Markus, her smile disappeared and looked curiously what was going on. What was he struggling about? And she got the answer quickly, Markus went in front of her, she looked up at him as he spoke to him.

Again he was as serious when he was telling her about the knights. Fake smiles... First she didn't understand, but then she realized that she was forcing herself to smile to cheer both of them up. Now she knew that it also backfired. And he was struggling with words just like her with her speech. And before she could answer, again he caught her. He kissed her forehead where Rak'keli's mark were shining.

Forgive me... Those words suprised her. Weren't she the one who should say sorry? Her mouth was trembling a bit. She was trying to hold something back. But she failed, she chuckled a bit which turned out to a cheerful laughter. "Sorry, sorry... I'm not laughing at you but.." She couldn't speak for a few moments. She let out all of her worries with this laugh and her big smile returned ot her face.

She wrapped her arms around his torso and pulled herself closer to him."SER Markus Andres, as long as I'm here, death won't touch you. Don't even think about last moments. And thank you for sharing this. I will try me..memorize this. But I guess that's in me. I don't want my injured ones to see that even I can be afraid or worried, because there is no place for that. I must act and know what to do." She started a little speech which she did want to finish quickly. They had to collect those woods. "And I like you too darling. But.. the night will be here soon, we should get those woods and we can still have fun next to the fire."

[Markus Andres]

The squire had not expected her to laugh at him when he confessed what had been bothering him. It was quite surprising, but the simple laughter, the joyful moment as her lips curled caused the same reaction for him. The lips turned upwards. Her excuse that it was not aimed at him caused a small chuckle, contemplating teasing her about that remark, to challenge it with a soft smile on his lips. But the thought was quickly ditched as that would not help either of them deal with this situation and he would rather let her speak than distract her with a little playful banter.

The promise she gave him then, that Dira would not find him when she was there. A challenge to Dira, Markus did not like such words, but he did find them comforting coming from a healer and the warmth her sensed in her voice, the obvious care for him did bring forth a warmth from inside of him. He was a lucky man that he found S'Essy. The woman was, by far and large, one of the best things that could happen to any man. That he had managed to kiss her and the speed with which they had connected.

Was it fate?

Markus nodded slowly when she paused in her speech. It made sense. A healer must act, not wait about, much like Markus as a warrior. He rarely had the time to contemplate his actions during combat. They had to come instinctively or from years of hard practised experience. The curious smile on his lips as she paused. The desire to kiss her had never been greater, but she dismissed that notion. Though she did promise something enticing in the future. That innocent way she promised fun by the fire. The innocent way. His lips parted in a wide smile that showed his teeth.

"I will be looking forward to it." His right hand trailed through her long wet hair and he winked to her before turning away again. She was right. It was time to return to duty. The moment had passed, but it would soon return full force. He turned away and began to walk. Intentionally releasing her hand for the next little tease. "And if we can't find any firewood - well... I suppose we will just have to keep each other warm." The small nonchalant shrug of his shoulders as he walked away. An off hand remark that she shouldn't take all that serious. But the wolfish grin on his lips outside of her view put a lot deeper meaning into the words. The desire for the woman was quite great, but if he had been her first kiss and she had indirectly told him she was still a virgin. He did not want to insult Yahal by rushing into it and ruin her purity just because he could not keep it in his pants. Especially after the quagmire that had been Raven.

I wouldn't mind not finding any wood. The temptation to call the hunt off was big, very big. But once more his willpower resisted the temptation and instead focused on getting the wood for their fire. He had the basic tools necessary to get the fire going, but finding dry wood was going to be a bit tougher. Markus saw a large stick, half a branch lying on the ground. Nice and heavy. Looking a bit withered. So old as well. He knelt and picked it up with a small huff. Was heavier than he anticipated. Large muscles bulged and he turned to S'Essy. "So, what are your dreams and goals?" Markus was not fond of silence. At least not this soon until he found comfort in their shared silence. Something he hoped would come one day.

[S'Essy]

And the awkwardness has gone finally from the air. She felt comfortable once more, she felt good that she was with him. His smile, his laughing and his good mode seemed to come back just like hers. It was wonderful how a simple smile could make everything better, everyone more pretty. And again a strange emotion was bothering her. Something warm she felt, something unusual inside her body, a disturbing yet pleasurable feeling. She was fond of this man.

She forgot these for a moment, as his hand brushed through her hair. "And so will I." she answered back. She followed Markus as he led her to the forest to collect woods... or at least it was the plan. The teasing continued once more and S'Essy just shook her head but was smiling. "Oh because if we will have fire, we won't keep each other warm surely. How naive of you." she said back and was also looking for woods. Even though she didn't mind the thought as well, they really needed some fire.

She saw how hard he worked again, bringing the large, probably heavy sticks. She didn't let him to carry everything now, she also started to pick up sticks, not as large as his though. She put them under her armpit and was pushing her arm against them so they won't fall down. She was distracted by his question and made her think. She turned to him. "Well... I would seperate my dreams and goals a bit, I can't explain why but somehow I feel they are a bit different." She started and was pondering a bit.

What were her dreams and goals? "For goals... I don't know yet. I serve Rak'keli, and use my power to make everyone's life better. Probably that's it." Then her smile was wilder and softer as she was thinking about her dreams. She felt it was like a child's dream. "My dreams. For that you have to know, I have a special ability... a sixth sense. By touching somebody I can feel their very special, strong bond. Like the Cheva mark, made by a vow or like a Kelvic bond." She started to dream now. She was just staring in front of herself, she wasn't with Markus in the forest. "For a moment I feel them like they would be mine. But it's theirs, not mine. I want to have such a bond. I want to have that awesome feeling, that special someone."

[Markus Andres]

It took willpower to not kiss S'Essy when she replied to his teasing with her own. There had to be limits to how long a man could resist a woman like S'Essy without her being offended by it. The grin that was almost smeared on his lips when her next reply was very pleased with what she had just said. Made the hunt for firewood a little less like a chore, knowing that once everything was going, the two would be keeping each other warm. When that time came, he was sure his willpower would suffice. A problem he could tackle at that time. He squire bent over and picked up another stick and placed it with the other. He supposed they needed a lot of smaller ones to keep a fire going and then a big centre piece that if they got that burning it would fuel the fire for longer. That he seemed to have been told once, at least and he figured it to be true.

The first could be used for that, those he - seeing S'Essy also carrying some - they carried could be the first spark. Need some dry leaves or whatever else. Twigs. Small stuff. To burn quickly and create a good deal of heat and then slowly build the fire. Perhaps S'Essy would be better at it, after all, she had travelled to Syliras. Maybe she had seen her companions built a fire. Markus shrugged at the idea and picked up another stick when she began to speak again. At first not looking at her because he didn't think it would turn as interesting as it did. He found another large dry looking stick and tore it from the ground. When she surprised him with her dreams. Explaining the gift she had, a wonderful gift to be sure. It made him curious of the gift. Though the follow up remark brought another feeling to the forefront of his mind. She was so open about her dreams and compared to hers, the desire to feel like she had a special bond with someone. His own dreams and goals, no difference, of becoming a captain knight seemed a little more materialistic and self serving in comparison. Though he was a bit afraid to begin talking of such relations with her, his last relationship had been... odd. He did not one of those again. Feared it might turn into one of those should he give into temptation.

Dark emerald eyes stared at her for a few very long ticks. Before a rustle in the trees and the sound of birds flying caused his concentration to waver. Would be a terrible moment should something large jump them. But Markus felt confident that unless a larger horde of monsters appeared from nowhere, he could handle it. This close to Syliras and nestled between the mines, Evantide and Syliras. The lakes were one of the safest places that wasn't any of the three mentioned and Mithryn outpost.

"Don't we all?" Came the simple honest reply. He looked to the pile of sticks under her arms, the larger and heavier in his arms. It had to be enough for the two of them to get a starting fire going. They could always go and get more when the embers had been made. For after her little story, there was something else he wanted to keep him warm. "Let us head back. We ought to have enough for now." He went over to her, keeping his eyes to her face. Not letting them stray south lest he drop the gathered sticks and embracing her then and there. The desire always lingering a hairs breadth under the surface.

"I suppose you felt nothing when you touched me?" Markus let a wolfish grin cross his lips. "Besides the tingling weakness in your knees." He gave her a wink and started returning to the camp. After the brief walk he would drop the sticks and wood in a pile between their tents. A suitable place to build a fire would be next. After he had selfishly found a way to lure S'Essy to give him a kiss. Markus realized his thoughts. Old habit. Dangerous line of thoughts. He pushed them aside. "And what of marks between a god and a marked person?" Curiosity, much better. Simpler. Easier to handle.

[S'Essy]

She wasn't sure if all wanted it. But she dreamed of it and wanted that, more than anything else. She woke up when she realized she was doing nothing just standing and holding the sticks. She returned to the work in silence. She picked up a few more dry, thin sticks. Then she looked at Markus. Could he be? She liked him, her emotions were still raw but there was something special about the squire. She didn't admit it first but she hoped. She didn't want to be just a quick affair to him.

She turned away from him quickly. Was she staring at him for too long? It didn't seem so, at least he didn't mention it. They were ready to head back. S'Essy was wrapping her arm around the sticks and with her other hand she was making sure to not lose any. But she let them as Markus was embracing her. She smirked on his teasing.

"Once more, how insolent!" she answered back and broke the hug so they could head back to the camp. "And I did feel something. But it was mine and don't want to share it with anyone." she winked back and when they arrived back with the woods they collected she took down her pile next to his. Then she kneeled down and she started to place the little thin sticks together. Easier to burn them first. "Divine connections? No, I don't. I feel only Rak'keli's marked ones, but that's not something unique. They do as well."

And she stepped bck from the fireplace she built. "You can fire them, I'm not good with it." She rather let him to fire it up. And she was staring at him again. The feelings she had... it was disturbing her. She should be honest with him, she had to tell him. She felt she had to tell something. Her mouth opened, sounds hardly came out. "Markus..I..." she was struggling but took a deep breath and blow the question out with the air. "What do you think of me? About me? Would yo.." The last question didn't have enough air. She didn't try to ask it again, she was already nervous. Just waiting for that one answer.

[Markus Andres]

The squire chuckled at her cry that he was insolent once more. The squire raised a brow to the woman. He was curious, very curious about what she had felt. Was it only another tease? Or had she felt something? The wink had him forget about it, it would all be revealed in due time. Maybe he could poke her for information later. The curiosity buried for the moment as he would rather partake in a light teasing of S'Essy than worry about such things. Markus silently observed as she began to work on the fireplace. Or on organizing the firewood it seemed. She had a far more organized than he did, such things would not have occurred to him until far into the trip that such ideas would be good. He supposed a little preparation when you had the time was better than letting things lie in a chaotic, he scoffed at the notion, pile of wood. He listened as she spoke. Only felt Rak'keli's mark. He had heard something about that from his master. That he could sense other marked ones by Wysar by looking at them. It appeared it was the same with all gods and goddesses then.

Perhaps a bit too soon to make that conclusion.

"I see. That is still useful. Very useful." He said again, confirming it to himself. If knights had a universal god who bestowed them all, it would make it easier, much easier, to recognize fellow knights from spies. He shrugged the thought aside as it seemed S'Essy had given up on the fireplace. Markus looked at her handiwork and chuckled a little at her broken common. The woman, however turned to him and his gaze fell on hers again. There was a look in her eyes. Her mouth slightly agape and he raised a brow. Curious as to what would come next. She breathed his name. The young squire was unsure of what to do then, had it been the raven haired woman he would have known what would come next. His reaction would have been instinctive.

With S'Essy it was different. He wanted it to be different. The questions she posed him. Wanting him to validate her? Or rather, wanted him to reveal how he felt about her. They had met each other only recently and he was decidedly feeling attraction to the Konti lady. Her question trailed off, the last one.

"Would you~ kiss me?" Markus finished her sentence, or the sentence he wished she would have spoken, he opened his mouth in a small shocked expression as he closed the distance between them and the smile turned into a cocky smile. "Yes. Yes I would." He pressed his lips against hers. A pleasant tingling. But brief as he cut it short. There was questions to be answered. But his lips lingered close enough to tempt the lady for more kisses did she like what he had to say.

"You are a wonderful woman. Beautiful in more ways than one." He brushed a hand through her long and still wet hair. "I can only admire a woman who would take a vow as yours. To heal everyone~ Your dream is a noble one." Eyes looked from one indigo to the other. "And I like you. Like you a lot. And forgive the insolence that comes now." His left hand, previously hanging limp by his side found her lower back and reeled her in like a fish. Pressing their bodies together. Right hand still lingering by her neck. Wet still from their bath. He didn't mind, made sense in a strange way. "And your ass is quite breathtaking." To illustrate the point the hand slid down on one of the cheeks - but he would try and muffle any gasps by kissing her again.

[S'Essy]

Would you kiss me... he finished a sentence she couldn't ask although she didn't think about that. She didn't want to ask that, she knew the answer for the question. But she didn't correct him, she didn't have the chance to correct him as he came to her and answered the question with one action he thought she would ask. She didn't mind, it was better this way and she tasted his lips once more. Again short, but now it was him who broke it. And she had temptation to continue.

She listened to him and her heart was racing. She was stunned and still couldn't say anything, not even teasing him, it was hard for her that moment. She was waiting for the insolence he was talking about. Their bodies touched, his hand went down. Then those words... she couldn't respond. It played out differently in her head again. She looked at him and finally she got the guts to start to speak. "I.. A.. And here I thought I have more control of myself. Probably I was right. I am a lustful Konti, just in a different way." She said and let her desires to control, she once more wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him down for another kiss.

She couldn't stop herself, she didn't want to stop herself. She wanted this man more than anyone. Her arms wandered down around his torso, trying to embrace him more and more. Then she realized what she was doing. She got a bit scared of it. She slowly broke the kiss and looked at his eyes. It was easier to let out everything now to him. "SER Markus Andres... I don't wanna be your quick affair only, somebody who you had some fun time with once or twice. Would you try to.. be with me? And only with me?" She finally finished her sentence. She hoped that her question was understandable to him, her Common was still not the best. Her heart was still racing. "I know this is quick and sudden. At least for me, but do you think that we can try to build up slowly... a bond?"