Wind Drinkers [Closed]

[Marrick Corvis]

The Kelvic listened thoughtfully as they rode on, though his eyes scanned the tree line for movement. When she mentioned her appetite the Kelvic was momentarily distracted from his concerns and he fixed her with a beaming grin. He was filled to the brim with amusement. If only she knew exactly what he had eaten in the past she might very well have been sick. “Oi know exactly what yeh mean.” He over emphasized the word ‘exactly’ a little too much when he spoke, yet If somewhere in the Ukala was kept a tally for truthful words spoken, the Kelvic may well have won a prize that afternoon. Marrick felt a concern that he may well have come off as a little too strange for comfort and he tried quickly to compensate. “When it comes teh food OI could eat anything.-” He paused for an awkward tic before he added. “When the situation calls fer it.” Their horses kicked up a little dust as they walked. The Eastern road from Zeltiva to Syliras was not devoid of Folk. Though they all appeared to be travelers, in truth Marrick had no clue if their intentions were fair or foul. Especially not after the little present Syliras received early in the season. His mind began to wander into places he didn’t like, and was glad when his companion spoke about her horse. She liked her old Gilding. Kaetlyn it seemed was a sentimental sort. Something the Kelvic admired about the red headed farm girl. When she asked about his Tiaden, a smile blossomed on his face and his heart filled with pride. “Koiter n’ Oi have been together since Oi joined the Order. Oi got her last winter. She’s a real youngin.” The great War Mare tossed her head and nickered almost as if she knew he was talking about her. Or perhaps she just wanted some attention, which the Kelvic gladly provided as he leaned forward and rubbed her neck and shoulder. “That’s roight love, thick as thieves we are.” The dark haired squire said as he rose straight in the saddle with a chuckle. “She’s a bulwark o’ horse flesh teh be certain, but gentle as mother.” Marrick smiled down on his steed and remembered an incident with one of the men from the Windmount. “Well,-” he dragged the word out a little too long when he continued. “At least she takes teh certain people though, n’ is sensitive. More sensitive than any animal Oi’ve had the pleasure o’ knowin.” He said softly giving the mare another gentle stroke of her shoulder. When Kaetlyn answered his question about her brothers the Kelvic harbored a sapling of envy in his heart for her. Marrick couldn’t remember a time when he didn’t feel alone. Even with Gypsy, his foster mother, he never really felt he truly had a family. Her brothers sounded mischievous and productive. Always an interesting mix those two. Daniel sounded like a good man to take Kiter to, to be bred if he ever had the inclination to help the mare foal. Harris and Garreth sounded like the sort he would want to play tricks on. Marrick always liked a game of wits. And a pair of hunters to boot. Ahh, hunting. There was an activity the Kelvic wished he had time for. Winter would soon be coming and the Kelvic wished badly for a chance to line his bunk with fresh furs. The young woman’s laughter was refreshing. It seemed ages since he had heard someone laugh so genuinely full of joy. He sighed softly, no more than an over emphasized exhale, and smiled at her. Marrick’s smile, however, vanished quicker than a hare in the brambles when she asked him if he had siblings of his own. His eyes returned to their search of the tree line and he contemplated his answer. In truth he didn’t know if he had any siblings by birth, and he didn’t know Gypsy long enough to really get the chance to ask her if she had any children of her own. All the other slave children didn’t treat him as family. The Dark haired squired took a deep breath and heaved it out in a long sigh, before using the last of its breath to say simply, “No.” After a pause of only a few tics he explained. “At least none Oi know of.” He said. His lips pouted slightly and his brow furrowed in thought. “Oi never had what yeh moight call a family.” He said softly, almost to himself. Like saying the words made it true in his mind. His words carried little pain, and no warning not to push further. In fact if she asked him about it, it might feel good talking about it with someone other than Ser Whitevine. The man was a good teacher, and an alright therapist, but talking about things tended to make them… lighter. He listened quietly as she spoke of the far off places she wanted to visit, his eyes wandering to the mountains to their back, and the sea ahead down the road. The young lady certainly had a wanderer’s spirit. It was a shame that things were so dangerous on the road. Marrick had had little time to spend with musty maps and tomes. But he understood the call of the horizon, and the promise of what lay on the far side of each hill and mountain. When she asked where he was from, he tore his eyes from the enticing call of the wild lands. He fixed her with a little smirk and quirked an eyebrow. “Oi don’t wanna depress yeh with stories o’ moy loife.” The Kelvic said with an air of humor, yet he was dead serious. The fiery haired farmer girl’s eyes shone with a curiosity, and her head held a lilt the Kelvic knew too well. It was like looking in a mirror when he saw something shiny, different or new. She really wanted to know. Marrick saw no way out of it apart from being rude, and Kaetlyn didn’t deserve that sort of treatment. “As yeh wish.” He said with a quiet sigh and turned his attention back to the road and his hold on the reins. “Oi was born in Ravok. The City o’ Loies they call it. Naught a truer nick names been given teh the place.” The Kelvic tore off a nibble of is jerky that he’d ignored till now. “Oi was a slave. Oi’ve served three masters. One fateful day Oi was sold, and the moron that transported me thought that a shortcut near the city’a Syliras would save toime.” Marrick shook his head absent mindedly as he remembered the events that led up to his liberation. “The Order gave me moy freedom. Oi wanted teh do the same fer any others that Oi could. That meant joinin the Order.” The steady hoof beats of their horses made a soft rhythm in his head. It reminded the Kelvic of a heartbeat. The pair crested a tall hill, and the towers of Stormhold rose, with the Suvan beyond. “Whoa Koiter.” The Kelvic said in a warm low tone. Syna was beginning her long and graceful walk to the horizon. Her brilliance was more than he could manage without raising his hand to his brow. “Oh aye.” Marrick whispered with a sigh as he took in the skyline. “The city built boy man. The city of peace.” The dark haired squire lowered his hand and searched the road ahead for the marker at the turn near Syliras. “Oy can’t see the marker, but Oy’d say another hour or two of hard roidin afore we make it the Syliras Road Marker.” With a searching gaze he searched over his left shoulder, his eyes saught for the low hill that Mithryn rested upon. Though the roll of the fields hid it well. “It’d loikly be dark boy the toime we make it back teh Mythrin.” He said as he adjusted how he sat in the saddle. A mischievous smirk appeared on his face a moment as he locked his cool gaze on her. An idea sprang up in his mind, growing into the sort that teased out a broad smile. His grin touched the crows feet of his eyes. “Race yeh teh the Syliras Marker.” Marrick gave her a wink, and tapped Kiter in the sides as he shouted loudly. “Lets go Koiter!” The Kelvics massive war mare lifted up only slightly as she bolted forward. The Kelvic rode high in the saddle and goaded the mass of muscle onward as fast as she could go. “Go Koiter! Go Koiter!” The Kelvic shouted between bouts of laughter. The wind whipped through his hair, and licked at his cheek. The air tugged at the corners of his eyes drawing out a trail of tears that ran to the hair before his ears.

[Katelyn Marks]

Katelyn smiled at the squire and his Tiaden. The two of them were a good match, in her opinion. He seemed to adore the giant mare, and Kat couldn't blame him. She was steady, smart, and gorgeous. She found herself a little jealous to be honest, and thought of how convenient it might be to have a horse that actually fit her stature. She loved her pony more than anything in the world, but he was old and not all that fast. His short legs couldn't carry her across the horizon, and that was exactly where she wanted to go.

A little too late she realized just how unpleasant the idea was. This was her horse, and she loved him. Feeling a little guilty, she stroked his neck and crooned a few quiet words of praise. His ears twitched in recognition, but other than that kept clopping alongside Kiter.

When Kat looked back at Marrick, she was surprised to see him frown and look away. She'd said something wrong. Her stomach twisted with guilt and confusion, and with pursed lips she watched the squire's reaction and listened when he finally spoke again. His explanation went quickly from sad to heart-wrenching, but still her gaze was level, and she jerked his head quickly side to side when he hinted at being a bore. Was she pushing him? Maybe. She didn't want to, but his past was drawing her in like a morbidly curious moth to a flame, and Kat was about to be burned.

The look in her eyes wasn't pity--she wouldn't think to unman him like that--but it was clearly sadness for him. Katelyn had lived a comfortable life, safe behind walls, well-fed, warm in the winter. She really knew nothing of true hardship. Her respect for him in that moment grew, and she found herself glad that she'd met him. His life was a lesson for others to be learned in selflessness and strength. Kat knew she wasn't much of anything in comparison. Just a regular farm girl riding alongside a spectacular human being who'd been dealt a shyke hand when he was born.

The two of them reined up at the crest of a hill that overlooked their route toward the Outpost. She saw the road winding downward into the trees and disappearing in the distance. Katelyn peeked at Marrick mounted above her on his tall mare. He was shielding his eyes, appreciating the view. She looked back out at the rolling land beyond, feeling that familiar, painful swell of longing.

Katelyn was lost in thought again--for how long she didn't know, but Marrick's excited urging pulled her from her daydreaming. It took more than few ticks to realize what he was saying, and then a few more to react in surprise. He left her in the dust, mouth open but unable to say anything. Startled by all of the excitement, Sebastian tossed his head and danced to the side, hopping and stomping and readying to charge after the mare. Some remnants of years of riding instincts kept the slack of her reins tight and her grip firm. She clung to her pony's mane, gripping his sides as he danced in excited.

"Whoa, whoa," she crooned firmly, easing him with her voice and the confidence of her posture.

This she could handle, but how the petch was she supposed to catch a fully tacked Tiaden and its rider, when she was bareback on a pony? Well, she was too proud not to try. When Sebastian's hooves were firmly planted and he was fairly calm once more, Katelyn gave the gelding his head, gripping up high toward the middle of his mane. She hung on for dear life, knowing this was a stupid idea. With her knees and thighs she gripped his shoulders and flanks tightly, and hunched down over his withers, trying to center her gravity low. He could feel the change in her posture, and he pawed the road excited, chomping at his bit and shaking his head.

"Get!" she ordered, and gave him a firm kick with her heels.

Sebastian darted off, almost running in place at first until his shod hooves found traction. Kiter and Marrick were already far ahead, her long legs and fast stride eating the distance to their goal. Her pony's short legs galloped hard to catch up, and Kat bounced erratically despite her clinging desperately to his back. He took every inch of his head that she gave him, lengthening his stride as far as he could, but still the squire and his mount stayed far ahead. She could tell that they were still pulling away. The people that they passed gave them sour looks, but she couldn't see them. She was too focused on staying on, and it was a losing battle.

Katelyn could feel herself slipping to the side. Sebastian wobbled as her weight shifted, throwing off his delicate balance. She tried to scramble back upright, but she was falling sideways, and the world was tilted. All she could do now was try not to break anything. Kat let go of her pony's mane and reins, tried to curl into a ball, and fell to the ground. His hooves thundered past her and away, down the road after Kiter, until he finally realized what had happened and began to slow. Behind them all Katelyn rolled hard across the road, and kept rolling several painful meters until she popped out of her defensive ball and flopped onto her stomach in the middle of the road, streaked with dirt and covered in scrapes.

Her eyes were screwed tightly shut, but when she opened them the world spun out of control. She gasped for breath and floundered, choking on her empty lungs and coughing loudly, rolling back and forth as they painfully filled again. Kat gasped for a few moments, eyes watering, and clumsily got on all fours. Nothing was broken, that much she could tell. She'd been knocked silly and her hip hurt, but other than having the wind knocked out of her she didn't seem too bad off. She wiggled her toes and fingers to start, then slowly worked her larger limbs and joints. Everything moved the way it should, and there were no sharp pains. Katelyn plopped down on her sore butt on the road and sighed with relief. She could see Sebastian trotting back. He'd spotted her and was coming to investigate.

Why are you down there? his big dark eyes seemed to ask. He stopped in front of her, covered in dust but looking a heck of a lot better than she did. Curiously, his soft nose poked her cheek, and his warm breath caressed her face as he sniffed and snorted quietly.

[Marrick Corvis]

Bada-thuum, Bada-thuum, Badathuum. The Kelvic felt as if his very heart, beat with the hoof falls of his mount. He gave the massive Tiaden a reckless amount of leeway with his only goal to go as fast as possible. In that moment Marrick felt as if he were invincible. As if the heavens had parted, and Syna pointed the way toward Syliras, and then home. He could see the route ahead of him and it was only a short way to go. It was almost as if her were in flight, but as a man, and not a Raven. She was absolutely beautiful as her long neck stretched out with every long gallop, and the dark haired squire admired her stamina. To the Raven Kelvic, there was no animal alive that could run as fast or as long as his pretty Kiter. He was about half way to the marker when he looked over his shoulder to see just how quickly Katelyn and her wizened pony were catching up to him. Sebastian had a shorter gate than Kiter. He should have easily over taken them if he had gone flat out. Though the old Pony and his rider were nowhere to be seen. Marrick shouted loudly over Kiter’s head to slow down. “Whoa Koiter, Slow down yeh great lass!” Kiter did slow down a little, but not enough for the Kelvic to maneuver her comfortably. The dark haired squire pulled back on the Tiadens reins slowly, until she skidded to a halt in the loamy dirt of the road stood on her hind legs and whinnied loudly in complaint. Marrick held to her hard, both at the withers of her mane, and the reins. “OY KOITER!” was all he managed to cheer loudly just as the mass of horse flesh landed hard on her front hooves. The War Mare’s exuberance was both terrifying and exciting all at the same time, and the Kelvic found himself catching his breath as he stroked the Mares neck. He cooed softly to her as she side stepped her massive bulk back and forth, nervous and frustrated that her rider had cut her short of what would likely have been an incredible ride. “Easy now young lass.” The Kelvic cooed. “Easy then lass, steady after.” He said softly before nudging her ribs gently. The massive War Mare slowed into a gentle loping gate. “Oy swear, lass, yeh can read meh moind!” The Kelvic said as he shook his head incredulously. The massive beast lifted her head and snorted loudly before shaking out her mane, forcing the dark haired squire to smirk. The blasted horse always seemed to have a way of understanding just what he was saying, and he liked her quirky attitude. “Alroight, alroight, a wee bit faster eh.” Marrick gave her a little more lead to her massive neck and she opened up her gate a little more into a controlled trot. “Alroight that’ll do then.” Marrick said as he stood up in the saddle to get a better view of the outside of the road. He mentally kicked himself as he remembered that Sebastian had not been wearing a saddle. There literally was nothing keeping Katelyn on her horse, apart from a strong grip. When he saw Sebastian rubbing noses with a very still body in the middle of the road, the Kelvic assumed the worst. “Khollus!” The Kevic whispered in Shiber as fear gripped his heart. “Hup hup Koiter!!” his voice rang out in a firm tinning that felt sharp as steel, as he tugged the Tiaden’s reins in the direction of his riding partner. The massive horse slowed of her own volition as they approached, until Marrick gave her lead a tug and she halted with a perturbed drag of one of her massive hooves. Once the massive horse was calmed enough Marrick swung from the saddle and let go of her lead to race to Katelyn’s side. He swept up swift as a summer breeze. His sudden movement spooked Sebastian a little but he didn’t go far. Sebastian lifted his head to look at him, and the Kelvic almost could have sworn the horse’s innocent eyes held accusations in their deep dark pools. The Raven Kelvic grit his teeth against the imagined slight, his eyes squinting as if he’d been stabbed. Though, he couldn’t dwell on the stone of a feeling in his stomach as he knelt. A look of terror clear on his face. “Katelyn are yah alroight!” When the feisty red head stirred a look of relief made the tenseness in his shoulders ebb and he exhaled in relief. “Yah gave me a roight froight Farm Girl! Are yeh alroight!” He exclaimed. He listened quietly as he took in her injuries, including a nice gash to her leg. He made a hissing sound with his lips, and squinted. “O’im sorry lass.” He said his eyes dancing over her damaged clothes, and the wounds she’d sustained. His eyes narrowed a moment in contemplation as he weighed the situation, his ears open. She didn’t seem damaged beyond mending. The question was, did she need gnosis. No she wasn’t that bad, but I would look really bad if he returned her home looking like this... Marrick made a soft piffing sound through his nose as he exhaled in time with his minds conclusion, and stripped off his gambeson. “Lift yer head fer me lass, if yah please.” He said in as sweet a hushed tone as he could, and slipped his padded gambeson under her head. “This moight hurt a bit, Oi jest want teh have a look at yer wounds.” The dark haired squire was no doctor, but he had helped out in a situation or two. He wished badly that he had some salve, or poultice of some kind. Though all he had for gauss was the linen of his shirt. Thoughtfully he tugged the hem of its fabric, and nibbled the inside of his lip just before ripping a long strip of it away to bandage her wounds. The gash in her leg was dirty, and a bit bloody, but that wasn’t anything a little clean water wouldn’t fix. “This moight sting. It’ll be alroight. Oi swear Oi’m packin hard liquor in moy kit from now on.” The Kelvic said, followed with an exasperated sigh. With a firm grasp, the Dark haired squire uncorked his water skin, and poured a soothing wash of cool water over the wound. He swore to himself he would be more careful next time. ‘Think ahead bird brain!’ he thought to himself angrily. When the wound looked flushed he tore an additional strip of his shirt away and folded it into a pad, before he tied it into place with the bandage he’d made. Slow as molasses on a cold day he slid the knot into place. It wasn’t the most pretty thing he’d ever made with his hands, but it was functional. “That’s a bit better now eh?”

[Katelyn Marks]

She heard Kiter's massive hooves approach, and then boots drumming up fast to her side. Sebastian fled a few yards upon Marrick's quick arrival, startled by the quick movements coming up behind him. He pranced angrily and shook his head, snorting in fear and displeasure before contenting himself to watch from a safe distance. Katelyn looked up at the Squire's face when he loomed over head, worry etched on his pale features. She squinted hard, trying to focus through the spinning. Her head was starting to settle, but she was still dizzy. His features were drawn and tense, but he was wasting no time jumping into action.

"I'm fine," she mumbled, shifting sorely in the dirt and sighing. "I fell off," Kat complained, stating the obvious, then grew a little more serious when her head started to clear more. "I don't think anything is broken. I can move fine, but my hip hurts." Her eyes softened at his apology and she offered him a little smile. "It's okay," she assured. "It's not your fault I fell off. I'm the one that went after you."

She didn't fight his nursing when he tried to make her more comfortable. Katelyn allowed him to prop her head up, and she appreciated it. When he began to tend to her few bad scrapes and cuts, Kat grimaced in discomfort but carefully stayed silent. Even when he washed the worst one, she tensed but kept quiet. She knew he felt bad enough, and really she'd had worse than this. When it came to falling off of horses at a gallop, she'd come out lucky. When she was little she'd broken quite a few bones riding recklessly, but after a few good tumbles taught herself the best way to fall off.

"I can't say I don't wish you don't have anything strong. I could use a nice drink right about now," she joked lightly, trying to ease the mood.

Katelyn winced a little when the final knot was tied into place, then relaxed and smiled at him.

"It'll be just fine now," she assured him confidently, but then frowned. "I can't say I'll be riding back home on my own though. It might be best if I ride behind you on that mare," Kat admitted, a little embarrassed. "I'm sorry," she apologized miserably, suddenly feeling silly. She was going to be a burden now.

[Marrick Corvis]

As Marrick finished tending the farm girls wounds he listened quietly and found himself being struck by how humble she was. The Kelvic watched her with an appraising eye, and concluded that her life as a farmer must have given her some of that sentiment. As she mentioned drink he raised his head and looked at Kiter’s saddle bags in thought. Had he packed something? As he turned back, her warm smile made him feel grateful that she hadn’t died. She was a bright light, not unlike Oriah, and it was a shame when a bright light was snuffed out before its guttering. He nodded sagely when she told him that she wouldn’t be able to ride back on her horse. A smirk formed and blossomed into a smile as he shook his head when she apologized. “Oi’d have insisted.” Marrick said as he crouched over the fiery haired lass. He offered her his hands for just a moment and realized that she was probably bumped and bruised all over. Lifting her up by her limbs would be painful. “Right then,” He said as he withdrew his hands. Instead he shuffled closer, and knelt over her so that he could loop his arm under back. He slipped his other beneath her knees and lifted her so that her weight balanced over his knees. With a low growl of excursion he lifted her up and made a kissing noise at Kiter to get the war mares attention. The large horse walked up to him with a slow purposeful gate and nuzzled the woman in his arms. “Whoa Koiter.” He said to his horse. The massive horse responded with a low nicker. Almost as if she was laughing at him. Or perhaps the folly of humans. The massive horse didn’t stamp her hoof or even crane her neck about to look at them, simply being happy enough to stand still for him while Marrick hoisted Katelyn most of the way up onto the Tiaden’s rump. “Go ahead and swing yerself up, Oi’ll make sure yeh don’t fall.” He said encouraging her to use him as a means of balancing herself until she was comfortable. Katelyn truly must have ridden horses most of her life, as she seemed to easily take her place on Kiter’s back. Though, grit teeth gave away a few well hidden pains. The Kelvic felt simple compassion for his friend. “Are yeh comfortable enough?” he asked with a smile before he gathered his things and swung into the saddle himself. He slid on his Gambeson, and buttoned a couple of its toggles before gathering Kiter’s reins into his hands. “Grab onta me eh? No use yeh fallin off twoice in one day. Once is enough.” He chuckled softly before he turned Kiter toward where Sebastian watched them. Marrick kissed at Kiter again, and whispered soothing coaxes to move. It seemed enough to make her walk slowly to the other horse. As they drew near Sebastian leaned away, as Marrick cooed at him softly. “eh now, ol’ lag. O’m naught goin teh hurt yeh. Jest need teh lead yeh home.” Sebastian seemed uncertain of him even after the dark haired squire leaned out carefully and grasped his lead. He gave the old gelding enough space on his lead, and tied a knot in the end. It was a simple knot, but enough to hold the two lengths of leather together at its end. Marrick looked over his shoulder at his friend and smiled. “Ready teh get home farmgirl?” The Kelvic chuckled at his new nickname for her. The new name seemed to ring in his ears, but it was too convenient. He’d have to pull it out now and again for special occasions.

[Katelyn Marks]

His smile eased her worries, melting them away and leaving little trace that they'd been. She was more than a little relieved that he didn't mind, though Kat wasn't exactly surprised. What kind of an ass would do anything but in this situation? And Marrick definitely wasn't an ass. That much she'd learned during their conversation.

When he came to help her up she offered a hand, but he surprised her by scooping her up into his arms. Her face flushed and burned with embarrassment. It wasn't the sort of thing she was used to. Not that it was unpleasant. She was silent as a grave as Marrick positioned her to where she could get up onto Kiter, and she climbed gratefully behind the mare's saddle despite the protesting of her back and hips.

When she was settled, Kat nodded to assure the dark haired Squire all was well. He joined her easily atop the Tiaden's back, and she wrapped her arms around his narrow waist to secure her balance on the mare's wide rump. Poor Sebastian didn't seem to like this situation very well, but he didn't put up a fight bless his heart.

Katelyn offered the tips of her fingers to him once Marrick had the reins and her pony craned his neck to sniff her hand. He seemed pleased to know exactly where she was, and he wiggled his lips against her boot curiously as if to ask why she was up there. Kat smiled at the old gelding before turning back to Marrick.

"I don't think I've ever been more ready in my life to get back there. My bed is calling my name," she joked, then went quiet a moment as they headed out.

"Thank you Marrick," she said again, feeling the need to express her gratitude one more time.

[Nivel]

Marrick : XP Award: Animal Husbandry 2 Horsemanship 2 Observation 5 Riding 3 Socialization 5 Medicine 1 Lore: Nothing quite like the smell of manure and sawdust I ride my horse because I like it Katelyn: the Ginger of the Marks family Sebastian: Katelyn's pony friend Katelyn can eat a lot The Marks Family dynamics Katelyn: Wants to travel Tending a wound Shield Points: 5 Points for Training 4 points for escorting a citizen and tending to their wounds Notes: Good job Katelyn : XP Award: Observation 3 Riding 4 Horsemanship 2 Socialization 5 Endurance 1 Lore: Marrick Corvis, squire of Ser David Whitevine Kiter: Marrick's massive Tiaden War Mare Marrick: Born in Ravok Marrick: Never had much of a family Marrick: used to be a slave Injuries: Katelyn's hip will be sore for a few days and she'll have a nasty bruise, her cut will heal with out incident. Notes: Good job Additional Comments: If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to message me.