Completed Heal or Harm? (Pulren)

[Kechaiya]

Kechaiya said the word trident several times so that she might remember it better. A fork spear means trident. She listened to him speak proudly of this unnamed city he was from. If he enjoyed it so much, what brought him to Sunberth of all places? Most people were born her, or like her, running from their past. Then she learned he was guard for the docks. It all made sense to her now. His words before were simply hiding the truth that he was just doing his job. Kechaiya knew how Sunberth worked, everyone benefited themselves in everything. He gets paid to protect, so to keep getting paid, he saved her. She could respect that, work was important, everyone had to eat.

When he asked about her eyes, she felt a grin grow upon her face. She always loved when people asked about them, it had become a game for her over the years. She never told the very mundane truth, that her people were simply born this way, and it made life in the desert a bit easier for them. Instead, she often told harmless lies, just to make it more interesting of a story for her. "You hear of Hai, in Eyktol? Is city full of bad people, no can escape. My... my brother went there. He make Eypharian mad, get sent Hai. I try for years to get him, but no happen. One day, man in black cloak approach me, tell me he save Chorrol, for price. I say yes, and he free Chorrol. But price high. My soul belong to black cloak man now. When no have soul, but no die, eyes turn black."

She watched as her guard put himself between her and the men, not understanding the comments they threw at her. He was good at his job at least, knowing what would bring her comfort without her having to say anything. Arriving at the end of the road, the sea out in front of them, she turned northward, and decided to continue the conversation. "What city is belong Laviku? He not a God my family know well. No live in sea of water, live in sea of sand. You know dock at north? We go there."

[Pulren Marsh]

He liked how she worked hard to remember the word trident. It brought a glimmer to a tired eye to see anyone interested in learning something that wasn't directly related to death. Kechaiya was an interesting person and she gave Pulren hope that maybe there were other interesting people to meet, those who might not be out to get something over on him. Soon, her tales began of her people and her eyes and he listened raptly, absorbing the story with the same respect and attention as she had given him.

Hai. Eyktol. Pulren shook his head when asked of these places, though he kept them in mind should he ever find a decent map to consult. It sometimes sucked not to live near a renowned University. Then her tale went from a high peak of curiosity to the low pit of the man's stomach. "You..don't have a soul? What does that feel like? How are you alive? Pardon my questions, but I just can't imagine.." He really couldn't, the hairs standing up on the back of his neck as a shiver of vague fright coursed through him. Was she then some kind of ghostly creature? No, there wouldn't be much cause to rape her then. Maybe she was a rape victim's ghost, able to come in a solid form? His own weak command of Res made this more possible. He did his best to keep these superstitious thoughts to himself as they approached the docks.

As they approached the open water, her speech of Laviku brought his mind back to bear on the real world they were walking and living in. She came from a sea of sand. This was an important clue should he ever find that map. It certainly wasn't anywhere in Sylira. "Laviku is the God of the Sea. He is the sea. Everywhere. Even this water that we are coming up on, that is Him too. My city of Zeltiva is a great port of ships and we have the greatest University in Mizahar. Laviku has watched over and protected Zeltiva for as long as I have been alive. Before that too, I imagine." They reached the end of the dock and he looked around. It was surprisingly quiet, short of a fisherman near the shore. "What now, Kechaiya?"

[Kechaiya]

She let his questions about her deceptive story linger for a while, letting him mull it over, for it seemed as if he was both interested and horrified at the thought. She listened intently as he spoke of Laviku, the God of the sea. Or he was the sea? Kechaiya sometimes found it difficult to remember that many of the gods were their realms, the only exception being Syna, for she'd been embraced by the goddess many a times in the deserts. Perhaps it would be easier when she felt embraced in other gods' domains. Kechaiya wasn't very comfortable in the sea, she'd had a few bad experiences earlier this season. And it reminded of the time she spent stowing away from ship to ship, port to port, having fled the slavers that captured her parents in Ahnatep.

Again, another word she didn't know, but they'd reached the intersection, so she pointed left, northward. "At far end. What mean 'University'?" She allowed him some time to answer, then waiting for a lull, continued upon his earlier requests. "No soul feel like nothing. I no know why I still live. Is... strange. No hurt. Only... no feel good. No feel happy." She wondered if perhaps she was laying it on a bit thick, but she doubted he'd ask more about it. "We go Dead Man's Swagger. No boat."

She found herself wondering if he was an actual decent guy. There were a few in this god forsaken town, the first and foremost on her mind was Noven. Pulren seemed a little bit like him, honest, concerned, protective. Which was now making Kechaiya feel a bit conflicted about having deceived him. But perhaps she could give him a truth. "Laviku scare me. No can swim, fall in two time."

[Pulren Marsh]

Once they stopped, he could see where they were headed and nodded, listening to her as she continued. The dock was quiet and long, barren ad foreboding, but then again, he was walking on it with a soulless woman covered in blood. At least Syna was still present. A night's walk in such conditions might be too much for weak hearts, though Pulren's remained strong. "University. It's a school, a big school. The largest in Mizahar that I know of. They teach just about any subject there, from magic to medicine to sailing to cooking."

Once they arrived at the end of the pier, Pulren watched absentmindedly as the waters lapped against the wood. He found it surprising that Laviku was scary to anyone, but no surprising that she couldn't swim. "Don't feel bad about not being able to swim. Not many people can, or so I am finding out. As a native Zeltivan, I can swim, so if you need assistance, I can help you. I won't let you drown." Since imminent dangers seemed improbable in their remote location, Pulren took the time to place his trident and shield on the pier, soon working to remove his armor. If he did have to go in after her, he didn't want to lose any valuables in the process.

[Kechaiya]

She'd heard of schools before. Buildings where people taught other people things for money. Nodding, saying the word university three times, struggling a bit on all the syllables, she allotted it to her memory. It was certainly good to know that there was an entire school dedicated to teaching medicine. She'd only learned from her father, who'd learned from his father, and so on and so forth for who knows how long. It was decided in the doctor's mind, right then and there. If she ever ended up in Zeltiva, she would check out this University and its medicine teachings. Maybe even learn how to cook a petching potato right. She'd boiled a potato almost every day this season as her morning meal, and they always ended up still hard or crumbled and dissolved in the water.

When they arrived at the dock, it was empty as usual, and Kechaiya gave a quick glance at the waters to make sure there were no bodies floating in there. It happened from time to time, hence the dock's name. Looking over at Palaren, she watched him remove his equipment, apparently feeling safe and comfortable. Deciding to give him a little benefit of the doubt, since he'd stuck with it thus far, and hadn't robbed her despite being better armed and trained, she set her pack near his belongings.

She moved from the dock to the rocky, silty shore, carefully trying to navigate the slick, mossy stones without breaking her neck. It was arduous, and right toward the end, she slipped on the very last rock, and ended up butt first into stony sand. She had elicited a shocked 'oh' followed by a string of Tawna curses. It didn't really hurt, was just surprising. She stood up, rubbing her rump. Pulling at the bottom of her blouse, she peeled the bloody thing from her body, before looking down and sighing. Even her breast wraps had gotten bloody. It looked like it was full on laundry day now.

Quickly she untied her breast wraps, and scooted her skirt and undergarments down, stepped out of her boots, and picked up all the clothes and held to her chest. She wasn't the least bit shy when it came to bathing around strangers, it was a common enough occurrence at the nearby hot springs. She waded into shallower waters up to her waist, and made her way over to a rocky outcropping. Setting her clothes atop it, she knelt down so that the water washed over her form up to her neck. Using her hands, she started scrubbing and wiping away the semicongealed blood from her form, glad to get the stickiness off.

When she felt her body was clean enough she grabbed her blouse and dunked it in the water to get as much of it off as possible. She knew it was going to stain, there was nothing she could do about that. So placing it against the rock, and using her knuckles she worked at it, trying to get as much blood out as she could. It was slow work, and she repeated the process for her breast wraps and skirt, chimes ticking by steadily.

Satisfied with the efforts, she moved over to the dock itself, and slung her clothes over it to dry in Syna's light. Standing in waist deep water, she called out to her companion, "How swim? Hard do?"

[Pulren Marsh]

Scooting up so that his feet could enter the water, Pulren watched as she placed her pack next to his own gear before heading to the water. It was odd, considering that when they left the alley, she seemed much more attached to it. Maybe since he knew what she was, she knew that he probably wouldn't steal her stuff. Not that he would anyway, but she didn't have to know that.

Looking down at his feet as they were submerged in the brackish water, Pulren tried to imagine that he was sitting on the docks in Mathews Bay and not the Baroque Bay. If he could just keep his vision focused on the water, he could think about the headquarters for the Guard behind him to his left, up on the great hill. Next to it, the great Temple of Laviku with its columns and blue tiles inside. He heard a thump and a small sound from Kechaiya, which snapped him from his little homesick fantasies. Seeing she was all right, he looked back at the water, oblivious of her nudity.

He had killed those men so easily. Too easily. Sure, they were rapists and they surely deserved to die, but Pulren could tell that Sunberth just had some kind of crazy killing aura that made people act differently. Or maybe it was the use of alternate personas that was the problem. How could he truly react as Pulren when he was Uncle or Palaren.? It made things sticky and difficult. Maybe he would just return home to Zeltiva where things made more sense, learn the world from the relative safety of the University. Who could say?

Kechaiya's words snapped him back out of his thought process. Looking up, his eyes settled on her breasts, as he had not realized she was naked until there she was. His head seemed to shake from side to side in answer to her question. It really wasn't that hard at all. "Not really. It's natural when you want to live. But why do you care? Can you drown when you don't have a soul?" Her body was still lively, if not alive. Was she somehow related to Nuit? He surely hoped not, as that had been the redeeming factor about the Evil City. He hadn't seen one damned Nuit since he had arrived and that was a breath of fresh air.

[Kechaiya]

Kechaiya was surprised at the way he'd answered her question. He'd seemed so helpful earlier but now he seemed more agitated. What had changed in such a short period of time? She considered revealing the truth behind the story to him, for it sounded as if he wasn't entirely happy about her supposed lack of soul, but not sad about it either. A hint of anger maybe?

If she told him the truth, would he get mad? Take her stuff? Leave? Attack her? Kechaiya was not used to changing lies to truth, but she found herself not wanting to disappoint this man. He had an honest demeanor about him, stoic in the face of new people and danger. He reminded her of her father in a way. And she would never lie to him.

She looked down and away, shifting nervously in the water. "I... I no not have soul. Is story tell strangers. They scare when see eyes, call me black eye demon, some try kill. I lie when ask. I have soul. I can feel good, can die. I Chaktawe, people of Eyktol. Eyes black because always been. All Chaktawe eyes black. I... sorry, Palaren. No want lie you, you good man."

This rare admission of truth and error on the doctor's part had her feeling vulnerable, and she slowly made her way back to her clothes. For if he was going to steal her belongings, she sure as shyke wasn't walking home naked. She didn't care if he would teach her how to swim or not now, it wasn't what was important to her. She just didn't want him disappointed in her. Pulling her clothes from the dock, she carried them back to shore and began getting dressed. The clothes were still very damp, but that wasn't important right now. Climbing the rocks once more, she just stood at the end of the pier now, looking at him distantly, hoping his reaction wasn't a harsh one.

[Pulren Marsh]

Irony. A great and powerful entity, laughing and clapping Pulren hard on the back in the light of the new information about Kechaiya. His emotions strained from surprise to being jaded to nothing in a single, long pull. Could he really be disgusted? It wanted to make him laugh since he was also a liar. The same time brought anger at being fooled as well, as his fear had been genuine, so shock and relief followed suit as well. Would it be like this if he lied to others and they found out? The dancer? Viper? Bitz and the Web?

On the outside, a slight and stern chuckle reported from his chest as he shook his head. He had been completely fooled while fooling another. It was exquisite. "Well, I'm glad to know you have a soul, then. Especially since my friend from school is not a demon either." He was no longer in Zeltiva. This could not have been more clear. His feet slid from the water of fantasy and were soon directed back into the supple leather of flexible reality. He couldn't hold a grudge against her because he was not going to share with his own truths.

Standing tall in the stiff wind of the day that blew in from the sea, he retrieved his shield and trident, their weight a little heavier than before. Taking a few steps away from her precious pack and whatever contents it held sacred, the Guard took a few steps down the dock, a short cadence ringing from the shaft of his weapon as it caught the timber. "Let's get you back to wherever you belong. I want to know you have made it home safely before I discharge myself. Deal?"

[Kechaiya]

Kechaiya frowned at his response. At least he wasn't upset, but he clearly wasn't thrilled either. Perhaps the way of Tyveth wasn't the best way after all. But lying had never her strongest of skills, especially in a language that wasn't her native one. She watched him stand, and begin gathering his forksp.. trident and shield. He walked toward her, like an ominous sentinel and she found she couldn't read the expression on his ever passive face. His weapon dragged, creating a strange ringing to accompany his confident gait.

Moving silently she retrieved her pack, and dug out her cloak. It was already getting a bit colder in the damp clothes, and she just wanted to get home in front of her hearth, maybe make some tea to warm her up. Pack on her shoulders, she listened as offered to escort her home. She assumed he was just wishing to wash his hands of this whole situation. Kechaiya could respect that, even if she didn't like it.

Nodding at his offer, she started walking westward, able to do so confidently being in the company of a protector. A hop in her step to put the pack upon her more comfortably, she was happy to at least not have to worry about gangsters for another day. The walk was silent for the most part, and it wasn't far to her humble apartment. Upon arriving, she pulled the key from the necklace and unlocked her door. Turning over her shoulder, "If help, Eyktol, Hai real. Is desert big, only see sand days in all direction. Eyktol is desert, Hai jail city. Have Ahnatep, Yahebah, and Eloab. Very west south by boat. Is real. All real."

She went to step inside, when she had one bit more, as the doctor, "If hurt, I doctor. I fix you, no mizas." With a curt nod and slim smile, she disappeared within, looking forward to her warm fire and hot tea.

[Pulren Marsh]

As the duo walked through the streets, all of their friendly conversation had ceased. This reminded Pulren of awkward moments after intimacies and the breaking of the spell that had made speech fluid and warm before the body became so. At least his conscience was clear in that regard with Kechaiya. He had learned some things and more importantly, learned what a lie really felt like when revealed.

They made it to Sunset and he made a mental note of the location of her apartment, as her offer of healing for free could very well be useful when Winter came. He also did his best to keep the names and words and directions in his head as she explained them. Perhaps in her lies, she had felt that an overabundance of truthtelling would clean the slate.

Eyktol, a great sea of sand
Hai, a jail city
Ahnatep, Yahebah and Eloab
Very west and south by boat.

He nodded and smiled, the information something that made Pulren hunger for a library. Surely there had to be something like that in Sunberth. He had met others with education. Moving on, he returned to the smelly throngs of the city, his mind primed for truth and his heart primed for lies.