Wind Drinkers [Closed]

[Marrick Corvis]

Wind Drinkers 46th of Fall 514AV There was nothing quite like it; the smell of manure, and sawdust. The sound of animals as they called out in excitement to be fed or to get attention filled his ears as he walked along the long hall of the Menagerie. To his destination, his mission, his therapy, the Kelvic told himself. It was a strange fact, and Marrick was certain that other Kelvic’s would ask him why he liked to ride his horse and not simply take on his animal shape. The answer of course was complicated, and understandable. Yet, the dark haired blue eyed squire liked the simple answer. He enjoyed it. There was a vicarious freedom that came from riding Kiter. The massive Tiaden War Mare wasn’t the fastest horse in the stables. Nor did she have the smoothest of gates. However, Marrick felt in the depth of his heart that when his four legged friend ran, she felt freedom plain as Syna’s light on a clear day. He appreciated that. As usual the Great Tiaden smelled him before he was even ten paces from her gated stall, and she stuck her long muscular neck out and snuffed at his open hand to get a good smell of him in her great nostrils. That or she was testing his open palm to see if it had his typical treat. The horse ran on water, ruffage and oats… Especially oats. With a delicate hand, Marrick produced his companion’s favorite treat from a small hip pouch and lovingly presented it to her for inspection. With a short nicker, the great beast wasted no time lipping it from his hand with a dainty politeness. After all, the bulwark of a horse could easily bite off his fingers, and she’d still have the treat. The Kelvic often wondered if Kiter’s personality was more than just training or breeding. He liked to believe that somewhere inside the dark pools of that horses eyes, a contemplative intelligence lurked. Careful not to startle her he opened her stall, and lifted her bitless bridle over her head as he had done many times before. He lead the great beast to where his saddle rested on its rack with great loud clops as her shod hooves made contact with the stone and dirt of the stables. When he tied her off, he made sure to check her hooves for rot and other maladies. She would lean her great weight against the squires shoulders as he lifted her legs. The weight had gotten easier to bear with time, and Marrick found he no longer felt as if he carried the weight of Mizahar on his shoulders each time she rested against him. With the daily inspection out of the way Marrick got to work brushing her down. He drew long strokes with the grain of her beautiful coat, oily and remarkable as it was. Until at last the mare knew that he was drawing to a finish as they had done this routine many times. She would nudge his back when she grew eager for him to strap on the saddle. To which he would usually remind her that he knew what came next. He stroked the great muscular neck, and scratched at her withers, which as usual made the mighty war horse blink her eyes just a little slower. Marrick positioned her saddle blanket, and lifted the saddle over it with mild exertion. Leather straps, steel buckles, and belts all fitted tightly to the mare’s great bulk. Saddle bags with minor supplies draped lightly over her flexed haunches. So much power bound up in corded muscles that the Kelvic couldn’t help but press his hand against it. Ready at last, the pair stepped out of the Stables into the Syna’s light filled yard near the front gates of Mithryns Garrison. One of the Knights on duty at the gate gave Marrick and his steed the slightest of nods before returning his attentions to his duties, which Marrick took as his pass to head out. The Kelvic stepped into the stirrup and lifted himself into the saddle like he’d done it every day for a season. He had gotten used to it, as had Kiter. Yet the Squire wondered if the great mare ever resented her saddle, and her bridle. Marrick knew he had hated his shackle. Yet this felt different, perhaps because the Kelvic wanted it to. With a satisfied sigh, and a smile of anticipation Marrick leaned forward and gave the mighty war horse a gentle pat of her neck and shoulder. The Raven Kelvic truly loved his horse. She was one in thousands; a pearl in the sea. And they would start their days like this one as he hoped they always would. “Let’s go Koiter.” He purred in his lilted soft voice.

[Katelyn Marks]

It was a beautiful day. Crisp and cool. The dry fall leaves rattled in the trees overhead as the wind disturbed them. A few fell to the ground, joining those already littering the road. They blew across the ground, swirling and dancing in all shades of red, orange, yellow, and hints of purple. Sebastian tossed his head in silent complaint. He never liked the sound. The aging pony was set in his ways after 19 years, and Kat patted his neck gently in a quiet reassurance. She thought he was silly, but endearingly so.

The ride today was a leisurely one, which was what the two of them enjoyed the most. Neither of them would be exhausted by the end of it, but they could stretch their legs and enjoy the fall scenery and weather. The fire of the trees clashed beautifully with the open blue sky. Fat white clouds scudded overhead like ships, and she could see the peaks of mountains over the far treeline in the distance, spanning to the north and south like the back of some great slumbering beast.

Her pony's hooves clopped lightly on the hard packed earth of the Kabrin, beaten smooth over the years by thousands of other hooves, feet, and the wheels of wagons. Kat rode bareback for no further than they were going and at such a pace. It was no great journey to the Avitar and back, even predominately walking with some light trotting. She was nestled comfortably behind the swell of his withers on a round, muscular back. He was short for her, but had been for several years now, being over a foot taller than his 14hh shoulders. It made no difference that he was considered one of taller stock.

With a firm squeeze to his sides, she urged him into a slow trot. He lurched forward at her touch, lengthening his short-legged stride. With their size difference it was an easy gait to sit. A drastic difference from her childhood, where she would bounce uncomfortably and cling to the saddle. Kat gathered his reins in her hands along with two fistfuls of his black mane, gripped a little tighter with his thighs, and loosened her hips. Each bounce was light with a side to side sway, rocking and following the motion of his trot. He tossed his head again, but this time in pleasure. It was their favorite gait. Easy on the both of them, yet ideal for covering ground.

They rode on like this for about a mile until Katelyn slowed him back to a steady walk with a tug of the reigns. Another mile or so and they reached a thin branch of the river. Someone long ago had built bridges to span the gaps these fingers cut through the road, but she didn't cross. Instead Kat dismounted, swinging one leg over and sliding on her belly down Sebastian's side. It was only a few inches for her feet to hit dirt. He turned his head to look at her with one big brown eye and she gave his shoulder an affectionate rub before throwing the reins over his head and leading him down to the water. He dipped his head down and began to drink when they reached the water's edge.

Katelyn rubbed his back as he quenched his thirst, examining the farmland around them while patiently waiting for him to finish.

OOCHope you don't mind!

[Marrick Corvis]

Ba’da’thum- Ba’da’thum- Ba’da’thum- Marrick felt every jarring strike of Kiter’s massive hooves as they met the cool fall earth of The Fields. The War Mare ran as fleet as her massive heart desired. He could feel every surge of her muscle beneath him as she ran, and the power of his companion both impressive and frightening, filled him with excitement. The wind blew through his hair, and tore at the wetted corners of his eyes. He held his weight lightly in the stirrups and flexed loosely in the saddle closing his eyes to the cool wind that ripped at his stubbly face. He felt the sunlight as it danced across his brow in between the clouds that rolled through the cerulean blue skies. The whole experience was thrilling, and the folk he passed as they worked would raise a hand in hello. A greeting he returned with a wave and a genuinely broad smile. It was a good day for a ride. Not too cold, or overly hot. The wind was a calm and refreshing breeze out of the west, bringing smells of the Suvan with each tender caress. The Mountains and hills rose and fell as they rode. Like waves in an ocean of browns and greens, as the sun played against the wind swept corn, and wheat. Patches of pumpkins, purple rape, acorn and butternut squash, all the food that would feed the world for the next season filled his vision against the blue sky like the painting of an artist, and the Kelvic felt the influence of Bala’s brush. In the distance the bronze wood was quickly beginning to change to vivid colours of oranges, browns, and gold. Save for the pine trees that stood as raiment about the Cobalt Mountains. His mind pondered where Sera Mora was with her Squire. Out in the wilderness, searching for food, hunting and wandering the wild places, and Marrick seriously contemplated the concept of bonding with the Benshira. A fulfilment of his nature and an admittance of his servitude to it, was always a thought that would harass his nights, and toy with his dreams. Eventually Marrick passed the last fieldstone fence that marked the edge of the fields, and like a bird uncaged for the first time he felt the excitement of being somewhere outside of his day to day world. In the short stretch of hardy grass between the fields and the Avitar Marrick felt the pull of the wilds. Almost as if Zulrav whispered to him on the winds to take flight. As marvellous as that experience may have been the Kelvic knew joy in simplicity and comfort in tethering himself to something solid. The mighty War Mare slowed of her own volition to a canter as they neared the Avitar, almost as if she could smell the water. Marrick had to admit that even he could smell the subtle scent of moisture. Yet, the Kelvic also knew that somewhere inside himself lurked the instinct of an animal. The open ground began to give way to a larger flood plain that held large rocks and muddy pools of water. Kiter cantered past them like they were the most boring thing in the world. With the excitement of a child at play, Kiter veered away from the path that they took drawing ever closer to the thing she craved most. Cold, clear, water. The Mighty Tiadens hooves crushed the river stone as they drew close to the water’s edge, each crunching fall of her tree trunk legs sent chits of stone to flight. Until at last, the horse carried them both with reckless abandon into a cool and calm eddy in the river at last quenching her thirst. Marrick drank of the same water by bringing it to his parched lips and indeed the horse was not wrong. It was exquisitely cold. The Cobalt Mountains were a warren of roots and underwater caves as well as snow melt, all feeding into the Avitar their cool and clean water. Now that fall was upon them and winter not far ahead, the river was lower as the snow packs on the peaks began to build instead of thaw. perhaps not even until winter had truly gripped Syliras in its chilling clutch. The feeling of the cool water slid through his system like a soothing balm on hot flesh. Marrick felt so grateful and carefree he splashed water into his face and laughed loudly from the pit of his belly. In the spirit of letting all things in he cast his arms wide and let Syna’s light touch his skin. His childlike laughter died to a chuckle in his throat. He gasped for air, until at last a contented sigh escaped his lips. Just as someone who laughed too loudly at parties might, Marricks attention at last turned outwards and he began to take in his surroundings. Kiter had taken them to one of the bridges on the Avitar. An old and weathered stone structure, yet remarkable in its maintenance. All details great and small in its stone surface were a story of a masons labored hours, yet all the childlike wonderment in the Kelvics face ran dry when he realized that a person was watering an old pony across this small shallow fork of the river. The Kelvic raised a hand to his brow to shield his eyes from the sunlight to try and get a better look at his observer. She seemed familiar, like a face in the crowd you see often, but never have a conversation with. Someone he’d met in passing perhaps. When he caught sight of her coppery red hair though the Squire began to try and match her face to a family trait so rare as coppery hair. The Kelvic caught himself staring a little too long before he raised his hand in hello. “Oy There!” He shouted steering Kiter out of the water and back onto the opposing bank. The horse happily sped up the bank eager for a guided task. Like a marching tune, she loudly clopped across the stone bridge her feet echoing a merry tattoo. When at last the pair had reached the opposing shores pylons did he try to bring the womans face into some order of memory. “Forgive moy exuberance Lass.” The squire said as he bowed in the saddle to his irritatingly acquainted guest. She looked like one the Marks', though he had only dealt in passing with them. Water delivered for the harvest, broken oxcarts, and the like. Normally Marrick would have been more reserved with a new person, yet an empirical joy had spiced his mood into boldness. “Moight yeh be kin teh the Marks family?” He said with a pleasant smile.

[Katelyn Marks]

She would have to be a deaf old maid not to hear the Tiaden and her rider approaching. Luckily, she was not. As her head turned, Sebastian's came up. Water cascaded from his mouth as he smacked his drooping lips loudly. It was a mountain of a mare, and when she charged into the water her massive legs made waves on the calm rushing surface of the river. The man atop her broad back looked no older than Kat, and the size difference between horse and rider seemed the same as she and her pony only flipped. It made her smile.

She realized he must be someone in the Knighthood if he were riding a war horse, and when the massive mare stopped for a drink, she got a good look at his face. He looked familiar, though she had no name to go with his features. Surely Kat had seen him in passing. The men and women of the Order who worked at the Outpost were at least recognizable. Really, everyone at the Outpost was recognizable. One could spot a traveler in the crowd sticking out like a sore thumb.

Kat watched him wet his lips with the cold water, savoring it alongside his mare. Absently, she stroked Sebastian's thick neck. His hair was growing longer as the nights grew colder. It was no more slick the touch, but fluffy. Darker as it thickened with the impending winter, his coat was almost chocolaty instead of the sorrel is usually shown.

When the young man's head lifted to survey the area and his eyes finally found her, she froze in embarrassment. She'd been caught spying so obviously, and quickly she turned her face away, cheeks flushed. He didn't seem deterred though. He shouted a greeting and reluctantly she turned back to look. Out of habit her hand raised to acknowledge his. Kat watched as he led his mare out of the river and across the bridge toward them. She stood in the river with water to her knees, reins in hand and staring stupidly not knowing what to do.

His politeness brought some sort of function back to her mind though, and she kicked herself into reaction. As he began to place her face, she trudged up the bank and out of the river, leading her pony behind her. They sloshed cold water in their wake, and once out of the current he began instantly searching for grass, nose the ground and tail swishing droplets.

"I--um, well yes. I am. Name's Katelyn. Do you know my brothers?" He wasn't too far from their age after all. At least he didn't look it. Kat scrutinized his face now that he was closer, but still no name came to her.

"Do I know you?" she asked, bluntly but not rudely.

[Marrick Corvis]

“Katelyn!” Marrick exclaimed as his smile grew to a broad grin that showed no sign of reticence. “An unmatched pleasure Lass.” The Kelvic’s voice was filled with flattery as he bowed his head to the young lady, from his saddle. As he lifted his head again his smile had relaxed back to a simple pleasant upturn of the mouth as he answered her question. “We’ve never met, but Oi have met yer brothers n’ father in passin. Hard at wark as always. Few tend their fields with the love o’ the Marks’.” Kiter grew restless beneath him, and the Kelvic gave her a reassuring pat of the shoulder. As Marrick realized he was being rude not introducing himself he tried to save a little face. “Now here Oi am comin off a roight secret admirer aren’t Oi.” The Dark haired squire said with a quirking eyebrow and a chuckle. “Moy name’s Marrick Corvis, squire teh Ser David Whoitevoine. We patrol the fields out o’ the garrison at Mythrin.” The Kelvic said, the subtleness of pride seeping into his tone. A look of worry then began to build on his face as Marrick looked about. Up the road and down, his brow furrowed with concern. There were no other riders and no escort. The young lady would be a fine candidate for kidnapping or other misdeeds, and Marrick felt a strange responsibility taking root in his heart for the fiery haired young lady. “Why do yeh roide alone, Lady Marks?” Marrick fixed the young lady with his cool gaze as he asked his question before he maneuvered Kiter into a more defensive position of where her and her horse now rested. The foolishness of his question struck him rather hard as he pondered is own words. “Oi apologize, a foolish question on such a foine day.” He took a deep breath and huffed it out in a great gust. His watchful gaze fell on the wood beyond the Avitar and he took a short moment to say a prayer for Oriah. “Yahal watch over her.” He whispered softly before turning the great mare about. “Well, no matter.” The Kelvic said as he rested the palm of his hand on the pommel of his long sword. “Oi insist Oi escart yeh home. The Road teh Zeltiva isn’t as safe as it used teh be.” An image of brigands, thieves and maniacal mages sprang into his mind’s eye. “The road is guarded, but that doesn’t always deter the starved animals. Both the four legged, and the more self entoitled ‘refoined’ two legged varoiety can cause harm.” Marrick smiled genuinely toward her again. “Would yeh do me the honor?”

[Katelyn Marks]

She felt almost guilty for not knowing his name. When he heard hers, it seemed to instantly strike a chord in his memory. He knew her brothers though, and her father it seemed, if only a little. It didn't surprise her. Kat's family had never been the shy sort, and treated their neighbors as friends.

Katelyn smiled at the squire; a lopsided pleasant quirk of the mouth. His grin was infectious, and now that her initial surprise had worn off, she relaxed against her gelding's shoulder, one arm slung over his withers. He was a very pleasant young fellow. Easy with his words and casually charming, but with an accent she couldn't place. She found herself falling easily into the conversation.

"Pleasure's all mine. Always nice to make a new friend. I know I've seen you about, and it's good to have a name for the face. I don't often get a chance to chat with anyone from the Order. To be honest, your lot usually intimidate me a little," she jested gently.

When his features shifted into concern and his eyes scouted the road to the north and south, her head swiveled about, scanning the fields and trees. She didn't see anything, but when her lips opened to ask, his question stopped her. He moved his mare closer, the mountain of horse flesh like the walls of Syliras, vigilant and protective. Instinctively, years of contending with her worrisome and overprotective brothers took over. Kat's lips puckered and her brows furrowed, wrinkling above the bridge of her nose. Before she could muster anything to say in her defense, the squire backpedaled.

Feeling a little foolish herself for letting his concern bother her, she silently chastised herself and smiled. It wouldn't do to bring out the 'strong independent woman' speech. She'd likely scare the poor young man off.

"No, it's alright. You have my thanks for being concerned. You're right, really. Sometimes I'm too confident and think a dagger alone could fend off anything the Gods can throw at me." She laughed at the silliness of it. Saying it aloud made her feel more than a little foolish. "I'd be happy for an escort, and even more so for the good company."

Walking around to her pony's left side, she grabbed a fistful of thick, course mane, and hopped up onto the gelding's back. On her belly she lay across his withers, wiggled, and swing her leg over. Sebastian's head popped up and he stepped quickly to the side, catching his balance and adjusting to her weight as she shimmied into place. Kat smiled a toothy grin up at Marrick, raising an eyebrow.

"Much easier on such a short little guy. Your mare there would pose a vastly harder task I imagine."

[Marrick Corvis]

Marrick smiled genuinely and nodded at the dagger hanging from Katelyn’s leather belt. “Oi certainly would’n underestimate a dagger. They’re quoite deadly, even in the hands of a novice.” Images of the men he'd killed with the short little stabby bits of steel flitted through his mind and the Kelvic knew that this was not the time to share such things. Instead he focussed on his companion. The young ladies manner of riding without a saddle intrigued the Kelvic greatly, and he enjoyed watching the way the old Gelding and his rider shared an almost perfect symbiosis. Marrick hoped he was at least half as atoned with his own mount. Her toothy grin was almost mischievous, and Marrick felt the familiar tickle of being flattered by the attention. Yet his thoughts returned frequently to Oriah. The young lass was right though. Doing such a thing on his own mount would require a running start at the very least. Especially for someone who could not transform into a bird. The idea of landing on the great mare’s bare back and transforming gave the Kelvic immense pleasure. It felt, natural. He would have to try this another time perhaps, when clothes were a little more optional. “Aye, indeed lass. She’s a moight on the tall soide. But that’s what stirrups are fer.” Marrick smiled at his riding companion again and gave the road another furtive weighing glance. “n’ don’t’ya worry a tic about the dangers. Oi’ll scare off any scoundrels we meet on the way back, with moy intimidatin squireness!” The Kelvic struck a comical pose and flexed his biceps. The act only made him laugh heartily enough that he held his belly and wiped a tear away. “But, lets ‘ope it doesn’t come teh anythin loike that. We in the order loike a day o’ rest as much as the next poor lad.” Marrick smiled a friendly grin that touched his eyes with its crow’s feet and gave his Great Warmare a gentle tug of her bitless bridle. He angled the bulwark of horseflesh toward the road and gave his new friend a look over his shoulder. “Roight then? Are yeh ready?” Marrick called over the padding of his Gambison as he gathered Kiters reins into his hands. When the young lady looked ready he clucked his tongue at his Mare coaxing her into a slow walk through the grass toward the eastern road from Zeltiva. It was a short distance, to the road, and the Kelvic made sure to slow enough so that his riding companion and he could carry on a conversation. It didn’t make the terrain of horseflesh any less awkward though. Katelyns Gelding was no pony, but the old fellow was a good two to three hands shorter than the squires Massive Equine Mountain. Though the Kelvic wagered the shorter gelding could outrun Kiter even at his age. The silence felt strangely lonely for the Kelvic, so he tried his best to fill it with genuine conversation.“So what brought yeh out s’far Kat?” Marrick asked inquisitively after a short silence. “Oi know the views are amazin, but.” The Kelvic considered her explanation while he half mindedly searched his saddle bag for something to munch on.

[Katelyn Marks]

Kat threw her head back and laughed at squire, shaking her head in humorous disbelief. He seemed so normal. Not really any different than her brothers. But why had she expected otherwise? It wasn't like men and women in the Order were incapable of joking.

"Intimidating, you say? I think Sebastian here has a better chance of scaring off the brigands," she joked, motioning to the pony underneath her. Another bubble of laughter escaped her, but she nodded along in agreement to his words. "Everyone needs a break every now and again. I think we'll be fine though." And really, he did look like he could fend off an attack. Better than she, that was for sure. He looked the part despite her teasing.

When Marrick took the lead and spun his mare toward home, Katelyn turned her pony in a slow circle, readying him for the ride back.

"Ready," she stated, giving him a nod. Thankfully he didn't take off at the speed he'd arrived. She wouldn't be able to keep up bareback otherwise. The massive mare clopped ahead at a steady, lumbering walk. Her massive hooves struck the bridge with a loud scrape of metal on stone, and Sebastian's small hooves clacked in the background. They both had lapsed into silence that Katelyn used to exam the farmland around them. The sound of the river was disappearing behind them, leaving the sigh of wind over fields of barley, wheat, corn, beans, and all kinds of variations in between.

Trees grew along the side of the road and beyond the fields, tall and imposing. Their leaves were every shade of red, orange, yellow, and gold with a mix of green pines who'd seeds had blown down from the mountains and taken root. Birds chatted in the tall grasses and out in the fields. A small flock of starlings took flight for a moment, only to land a ways away and disappear back into the dry stalks of a bean field, talking amongst each other in their high pitched voices. When Marrick spoke again, he startled her back into the now.

"What?" she asked before realizing what he'd said. "Oh! Sorry, I got lost there for a chime." She smiled apologetically, a little embarrassed. "I like to get away sometimes, but mostly it's to exercise Sebastian here. He's getting older so I don't use him when I work anymore. I think it'll be too much for him, taking trips back and forth to the city. This gets his blood pumping and we both get fresh air."

Kat gave her gelding a firm bump with her calves and he broke into a short-legged trot, moving up alongside Marrick and Kiter. She eased him back into a walk with a twist of the reins once when were side by side, and he bobbed along at a brisk clip to keep up with the mare's vastly longer stride. Kat smiled up at Marrick, who sat considerably higher atop his horse. She was glad for the company, she decided.

"What about you? Surely you're not out patrolling on your own?" He was lightly armored, but that wouldn't stop a crushing mace or a piercing blade.

[Marrick Corvis]

“Roight yeh are Lass.” Marrick said with a smile. “Oi had a day to me’self, so Oi thought Oi’d take a roide out to the wood. Oi packed loight in case Oi needed a swift retreat back before dark.” The squire’s attentions turned back to a chance meeting with the bright and azure eyed Benshira. His gaze wandered to the large swathe of hilled forests north of them as they rode west down the road. A sigh of longing escaped his lips and he returned his focus back to the task at hand. “Ahhh! There yeh are.” The Kelvic half mumbled to his saddle bag as he withdrew a dried hunk of beef from a previously opened ration pack. It smelled salty, along with the unmistakable smoky scent of the curing process. It had also been desiccated for long term storage. The stuff was almost jerky, but still retained a scant amount of its fatty greases. Marrick admitted silently to himself that he enjoyed food to an almost obscene amount. Yet, he understood that food was something to be shared. There was nothing quite more bonding than a hot meal and some story. He tore the bit of dried up beef like unleavened bread and leaned over to offer a piece the size of a fist to his riding companion. “Hungry?” He said with a quizzical look. The Icy eyed Kelvic didn’t want to pause the conversation, but food was always worth a tic or two. “Sebastian eh?” Marrick said at last with a chuckle. “Only the foinest horses live teh sech a venerable age. Oi’m certain the old lag was a roight brave n’ noble steed when he was a young geldin.” The Kelvic said with a wink. The old horse seemed a hearty old fellow and the Kelvic had to give the old Gelding credit. The old horse would likely ride himself to death to keep his rider safe. “A foine steed.” The Kelvic repeated almost dreamily, a little smile coaxing the corners of his mouth. The Squires focus travelled away from the old horse and his fiery haired rider to take in the world around them again. He continually found himself struck dumb by the beauty he found here in Syliras. “The warld is full’ o untamed beauty n’ adventure.” The Kelvic said with a far off look in his eye. “Oi remember the day of moy postin at Mithryn. Oi very nearly kept roidin south. The road called teh me, as it does to so many others.” The Kelvic tore off a tiny chunk of his dried beef and chewed thoughtfully. The little bit of beef in his mouth was salty and still tasted savory the way good beef should. He chewed quietly listening to his companion or the waves of wheat and grain as they rustled in the wind. “Oi made up my moind, a whoile before that. Oi wanted teh pay back the Knoights n’ Syliras, yah see? Oi owe the knoights a great debt. One that can’t be paid in Mizas.” The Kelvic took another nibble of the dried beef and chewed, his mind wandering pleasantly through its own machinations. “Tis sad teh say, all of this year’s crops will be laid low in the next month or two.” Marricks smile grew into a grin as a funny thought took place of the melancholy. “Beauty is edible it seems, Oi shall have teh wroite that down later.” As the pair of them passed a long stretch of the road flanked by trees the Kelvic strung his bow and notched an arrow just to be on the safe side. Stopping only to wave at a passing patrol of Knights and their squires. The truth of the matter, was that Marrick had been through this section of road before and it had not been a pleasant visit. Banditry was on the rise as winter approached. Folk that lived outside the safety of the walls of Mithryn, Syliras, or Evantide were starting to scramble for food and other needs to keep them through the winter. Not that the pair of them would have much to offer apart from their horses, and perhaps Marricks weapons. “So tell me of yer kin.” The curious Kelvic said as his eyes furtively scanned the tree line for danger. “Oi’ve met yer father, and brothers in passin. Tell me a bit about them. Who is the oldest? Who’s the funny one? Stop me if Oi start teh annoy yeh.” The Kelvic was genuinely interested, yet his curiosity hid an underlying nervousness.

[/quote]

[Katelyn Marks]

Katelyn noticed his distraction, but it was an absent observation. She wasn't the type to pry deeply, and whatever was on his mind was very much his own business. He kept the conversation coming despite a few wistful lapses, and that was more than she needed to stay interested. When the search inside his saddlebag seemed successful and he offered her a bit of food to go along with their talk, which she gladly accepted. Like him her love of food was a little extreme, but she made herself enjoy the bit of dried meat. Her bites were deliberate and she made it last to the end. Chewing filled the silence easily when there was ever some to be filled, and the taste was pleasant. She'd never minded tough rations.

"Thank you," Kat stated sincerely, giving Marrick a toothy smile. "I don’t think there’s a limit to what or how much I can eat," she added with a laugh. Her stomach could never be completely stuffed it seemed.

When conversation then turned to her gelding, she was delighted. She could never talk too much about him or compliment him enough. He was her four-legged sweetheart, and her best friend. Her brothers teased her relentlessly for it.

"He's never done me wrong," she said proudly. "My father gave him to me when I was five. He was already four at the time and as level-headed as a pony can be. Bought him from the stables in the city, and when I woke up that morning he was tied right outside. I had already ridden some by that age but I learned a lot of what I know now on his back. I've outgrown him I admit, but I can't bring myself to buy another horse. Not yet at least."

Kat rubbed his soft neck affectionately and patted his shoulder. She ran her fingers through his mane, letting the reins lay on his withers unattended. He could follow the big mare without any guidance.

She looked up at Marrick again, curious. "What about your mare here?" she asked. "How long have you had her? She's a fine animal if I ever saw one. Carved from stone," she said, a little admiration leaking into her voice as she watched the Tiaden's muscles flex and move with each step. Her legs were like the trunks of trees, her hooves like cooking pots, and her head seemed as big as Kat's torso.

"My kin?" she asked, a little surprised when he mentioned them. Kat didn't have a habit of talking about family. She was often a pretty private person, although she wasn't against opening up. After all, she liked this squire. He was pleasant and something about him just seemed more comforting than other people.

"I promise to stop you if you annoy me," she humored with a smile, but shook her head. "But you won't." After a short pause she continued.

“Daniel is my oldest brother. He was always serious, and he's become quite the farmer. It rivals our father's knowledge of horses. There's a bit of an age gap between myself and the three of them. The twins were born two years after Daniel, then me five years later. Of course Harris and Garreth are the twins. If you've seen them--well, they look exactly alike. They're the tricksters. Always after me and Daniel, being the pests that they are. The two of them can't be serious except for under two circumstances. When our parents are cross, or when they're hunting. Now that all of us are living on our own though, that pretty leaves just hunting."

Kat's laughter was heartfelt and hearty as she thought of the three of them fondly. They drove her insane, but she loved each of them.

"And you?" she asked once her laughter eased away. "Do you have any siblings?"

When their conversation shifted onward, the redhead found herself being pulled in. She looked at the blaze of trees along the road and the mountains in the east, feeling that familiar wanderlust rear its tantalizing head. She turned back to something he had said earlier.

"I don't think I would have had your self-control," she said, then admitted wistfully, "I think I would have kept riding south." Kat sighed to herself and frowned. "I've always wanted to travel--to see other cities, even other lands altogether. I would love to visit the big school in Zeltiva. Educate myself a little, you know? Then someday I want to see Cyphrus. I know that the Drykas were causing a lot of problems for everyone with their raids last year, but it's never stopped me from wanting to see their home. Mostly their horses--their Striders. I've never seen one myself, but people say they can run faster than the wind, and that the Drykas ride with little more than a blanket on their backs."

Her gaze turned again to the squire. "Are you originally from Syliras? Or did you move here to join the Order?"

Her eyes were bright with curiosity, but she forced herself not to interrogate him. He said he owed his life to the knights and she'd be lying if she said that didn't pique her interest, but his business was still his business. She reminded herself that firmly and kept riding, but her stare didn't stray from his face.