[ tighnari looks at him. there had been a cold stone there, sinking somewhere where tighnari couldn't reach. it had not solely been cyno's fault. someone had put it there all those years ago. they used to chain valuka shuna to the floor, you see. he had been there for years, three inches from chin to floor, until he had learned to be trained. that had been tighnari's world, then. there were certain things he could trust - the order of the lessons, the punishments that would follow, the carefully outlined rules whose order of magnitude he documented in the back recesses of his mind. that had been, in fact, his world. he had not trusted anything else in a very long time.
he should have, tighnari thinks, at least attempted to trust cyno. ]
I will correct you if you say it again. [ he says, at last, facing cyno. ] Just as you will correct me if I were to stray from my word. Can we not be flawed partners?
[ cyno exhales, and with his breath goes some of his stress. he still feels foolish, embarrassed, but it will pass, and he will learn from this. learn to better restrain himself, to never give tighnari a reason to think that cyno would ever want to step on what little freedoms he has, however accidental. ]
I can accept that. Flawed partners. [ a muted, weary smile. ] Be patient with me, I'm still learning what it is like to have a friend.
[ the touch warms him. tighnari allows it, and follows its guiding lead. their walk is a brisk one. ]
Is that so? [ there's almost something wistful in the way he says it. ] I haven't read much about in the way of how to prepare. I'll be in your care, then, Cyno.
[ hanan's soft, white nose pushes into tighnari's palm in greeting. he brushes back the dark coil of her mane, and then greets dalir the same. it doesn't take long for them to saddle their horses; tighnari has learned well.
tighnari considers this as he swings onto dalir's back. ]
Will you have other trusted associates beyond the wall?
[ cyno considers this, as he pulls his cloak on again and springs onto hanan's back, patting her proud neck. his flesh itches beneath his skin; azar will have noticed that they slipped away, cyno's mind is whirring. ]
Yes. I have a few contacts there.
[ hanan dances gently beneath him, reading her master's unease, and cyno exhales slowly, aligning his thoughts, and leads her onto the road. ]
[ horses are sensitive creatures, tighnari thinks, as he nudges dalir into a following cadence. the two of them sway side by side onto the darkened night road. the night sky yawns above them. ]
Is there anyone on this side of the wall that can take care of Hanan and Dalir? I'm assuming we can't bring them to the desert. I can't fathom there being enough water to drink.
Horses do surprisingly well in the desert. Sumerian horses, at least.
[ horses like hanan and dalir, whose breeds are tolerant of heat and bred for endurance. ]
We can take them as far as Aaru, at least, and keep them there. There are fewer oases in the vast Hypostyle, so taking them that far would not be ideal, but they should be comfortable enough in the village.
[ tighnari's gaze falls upon the two horses with renewed appreciation. ]
Fascinating. I should understand their biology more, to discern why it is. But that will be a topic for a different time. So long as they are able to survive in the desert, I have no complaints.
Well, I'd offer to snag you some books on equine biology, but we'll need to travel as light as possible, so your studies may have to wait.
[ they'll be leaving behind all of their little luxuries, but it's a fair trade to make, for safety, and justice. with skill, hard work, and no small amount of luck, they will get to the bottom of this tangled knot of a mystery. ]
Is that supposed to be a deterrent? Please, the best learning is done hands-on. I have always known this.
[ tighnari's next words die in his throat. the scent of padisarahs waft alogn the night air. sumeru city is behind them, the bright moon rising before them. and around them, he hears, the shifting of woven cloth amidst the trees.
he swears under his breath, but there will be time later to be disappointed in his own recklessness; what's done is done. he can't help but be surprised by azar's boldness, and how swiftly the hammer is cracking down, for it can be no other. these roads are heavily patrolled by the matra, to keep caravans safe on the road to the city, bandits know well to keep away, and try their luck on less traveled avenues.
to fight, or to flee?
several things happen in quick succession. cyno pulls hanan to a halt, lifting one hand from the reins to snag his polearm from his back. the scent of ozone is the only precursor to the bolt of electro energy that dashes through his spear, arcing, striking the earth some twenty feet ahead, lighting up the area. cyno's eyes move quickly, counting the bodies he sees in the trees. ]
[ lightning arcs. the scent of ozone sears. in the refracted flash of heliotrope, brilliant in the night, the lit-shapes of four individuals shifting into motion amongst the trees illuminates in the clearing before the light sputters out.
tighnari hears before he sees the whistling arc of an arrow. instinct yanks dalir back. his ears pull back as he hisses in outraged affront: ]
They are aiming for the horses.
[ dalir balks under his hands, taking a precious few step backwards, and tighnari pulls his bow from where he had clipped it to dalir's saddlebag. arrows come to his fingertips.
the next arrow that goes for hanan shatters in midair. tighnari redraws. ]
[ cyno does not respond, only leaps from hanan's back and charges forward.
even in the darkness, cyno moves swiftly, his body an elegant blur as he dances through the trees, leaping and diving, electro crackling like ribbons from his hands and down his polearm, sparking and leaping like dancers in the night. four assailants, their positions memorized; cyno strikes the first archer without hesitation, a hard blow to the head that downs him. he sees the flash of red fabric as the archer falls. eremites. azar had not mobilized his own matra against him, he does not want them to know. perhaps also realizes that they would have difficulties, fighting their own general.
the second nearest drops their bow in favor of a dagger, rushing cyno through the trees, but cyno is fast, deadly, and he counters with ease, landing a crushing blow to the ribs that sends his opponent reeling, crashing back into the grass. cyno's eyes flit briefly to the road again, to tighnari. ]
[ cyno arcs like lightning. he pulls his spear back, the long lean set of his shoulders like that of a young god. tighnari draws his bow. the first shot goes wide as one of the assailant jumps from the trees. the second shot hands, the arrow striking off the side of a rock with expert precision, guiding the assailant to jump back just in time to catch the ricochet in his leg. he goes down with a grunt.
the last approaches from dalir's blindspot. the distance is suboptimal. tighnari jumps down from horseback and puts himself between dalir and the assailant. the flash of his jewels is a lure - the assailant darts forward to grab his arm (a grab, he notes, a grab and not a stab -) and tighnari lowers his centre of gravity the way cyno taught him. he knife goes in between the third and fourth ribs with astounding ease. the man stumbles, and tighnari withdraws, jumping back with a hissed breath. his own hand bleeds; an amateur's mistake. but he doesn't drop the knife until the man stumbles back into the underbrush from where he had come.
silence, resounding. tighnari wipes his hand on the sordid silks of his tunic, and grimaces at the still-bleeding cut where his thumb meets hand. ]
Cyno. [ he calls out with urgency. ] I don't hear anyone else coming. But we should go.
[ it's all over in a matter of brief minutes, and when the battlefield quiets and tighnari calls for him, cyno sprints back quickly, leaping deftly onto hanan's back. she dances beneath him, spooked by the scent of blood, but cyno quiets her with a few gentle pats and some soft words spoken in her preferred aaru. she's seen battle before, but she is not a warhorse.
he sees the flash of red on tighnari's palm, on his tunic; other's, or his own? right now it doesn't matter, he's whole enough to speak and ride, and they should not linger. ]
We cannot chance returning to the estate. To Caravan Ribat.
[ it's not ideal, they're still dressed in their finery and it would make their journey easier if they were able to pack a few things from home, but.. they cannot risk it. azar wants to keep this quiet, it's unlikely that he would send more men to the palace - housekeepers talk - but if the sage is desperate to quiet him..
well, they'll simply have to resupply at caravan ribat, and go from there. ]
[ dalir is less cooperative, but tighnari manages. a few solid clicks and a gentle hand gets tighnari back onto dalir's back. he shuffles both reins to his good hand, and carefully maneuvers his horse around to meet cyno and hanan. something thumps in his chest - he recognises it as excitement. they are going to caravan ribat. the circumstances may not be ideal, but the world spreads before tighnari - and he thinks, how marvelous it is, to be able to choose to go somewhere simply because you want to.
tighnari kicks dalir into a trot to keep pace, his eyes holding cyno's in the night. ]
A full day's ride, if we move quickly. It's across the span of the forests, to the southwest.
[ two days, if they're slowed down, and need to stop into villages along the way. riding that hard might be difficult for tighnari, who's not quite used to travel just yet. perhaps they ought to stop somewhere, if only to acquire some proper clothing.. water and food will be easy enough to find along the way. ]
[ tighnari considers this. he puts his pride aside. it's not as difficult as he's been led to believe. ]
I have a cut on my hand; I can't handle the reins properly for anything faster than a trot. I should ride with you on Hanan so we can pick up speed, and we can switch to Dalir when Hanan needs rest.
[ tighnari takes cyno's hand. mounting once more isn't a terrible experience. he seats himself, and immediately moves to tie dalir's reins to the back of hanan's saddle. then, he motions for cyno to join him. ]
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he should have, tighnari thinks, at least attempted to trust cyno. ]
I will correct you if you say it again. [ he says, at last, facing cyno. ] Just as you will correct me if I were to stray from my word. Can we not be flawed partners?
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I can accept that. Flawed partners. [ a muted, weary smile. ] Be patient with me, I'm still learning what it is like to have a friend.
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I am too. I think patience is owed to us, for what we've had to put up with.
[ he breathes out.
the night air seems warmer for it. ] I want to head back. We have decided on a course of action; the next logical step is to act on it.
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To the stables, then. You'd wanted to know what the desert is like.. I think you'll have your wish granted, soon.
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Is that so? [ there's almost something wistful in the way he says it. ] I haven't read much about in the way of how to prepare. I'll be in your care, then, Cyno.
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New and novel as the experience might be, the desert is not to be underestimated, but you are a survivor. We'll be safer there, beyond the wall.
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tighnari considers this as he swings onto dalir's back. ]
Will you have other trusted associates beyond the wall?
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Yes. I have a few contacts there.
[ hanan dances gently beneath him, reading her master's unease, and cyno exhales slowly, aligning his thoughts, and leads her onto the road. ]
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Is there anyone on this side of the wall that can take care of Hanan and Dalir? I'm assuming we can't bring them to the desert. I can't fathom there being enough water to drink.
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[ horses like hanan and dalir, whose breeds are tolerant of heat and bred for endurance. ]
We can take them as far as Aaru, at least, and keep them there. There are fewer oases in the vast Hypostyle, so taking them that far would not be ideal, but they should be comfortable enough in the village.
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Fascinating. I should understand their biology more, to discern why it is. But that will be a topic for a different time. So long as they are able to survive in the desert, I have no complaints.
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[ they'll be leaving behind all of their little luxuries, but it's a fair trade to make, for safety, and justice. with skill, hard work, and no small amount of luck, they will get to the bottom of this tangled knot of a mystery. ]
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[ tighnari's next words die in his throat. the scent of padisarahs waft alogn the night air. sumeru city is behind them, the bright moon rising before them. and around them, he hears, the shifting of woven cloth amidst the trees.
his eyes harden. ]
Cyno. Ambush.
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he swears under his breath, but there will be time later to be disappointed in his own recklessness; what's done is done. he can't help but be surprised by azar's boldness, and how swiftly the hammer is cracking down, for it can be no other. these roads are heavily patrolled by the matra, to keep caravans safe on the road to the city, bandits know well to keep away, and try their luck on less traveled avenues.
to fight, or to flee?
several things happen in quick succession. cyno pulls hanan to a halt, lifting one hand from the reins to snag his polearm from his back. the scent of ozone is the only precursor to the bolt of electro energy that dashes through his spear, arcing, striking the earth some twenty feet ahead, lighting up the area. cyno's eyes move quickly, counting the bodies he sees in the trees. ]
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tighnari hears before he sees the whistling arc of an arrow. instinct yanks dalir back. his ears pull back as he hisses in outraged affront: ]
They are aiming for the horses.
[ dalir balks under his hands, taking a precious few step backwards, and tighnari pulls his bow from where he had clipped it to dalir's saddlebag. arrows come to his fingertips.
the next arrow that goes for hanan shatters in midair. tighnari redraws. ]
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even in the darkness, cyno moves swiftly, his body an elegant blur as he dances through the trees, leaping and diving, electro crackling like ribbons from his hands and down his polearm, sparking and leaping like dancers in the night. four assailants, their positions memorized; cyno strikes the first archer without hesitation, a hard blow to the head that downs him. he sees the flash of red fabric as the archer falls. eremites. azar had not mobilized his own matra against him, he does not want them to know. perhaps also realizes that they would have difficulties, fighting their own general.
the second nearest drops their bow in favor of a dagger, rushing cyno through the trees, but cyno is fast, deadly, and he counters with ease, landing a crushing blow to the ribs that sends his opponent reeling, crashing back into the grass. cyno's eyes flit briefly to the road again, to tighnari. ]
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the last approaches from dalir's blindspot. the distance is suboptimal. tighnari jumps down from horseback and puts himself between dalir and the assailant. the flash of his jewels is a lure - the assailant darts forward to grab his arm (a grab, he notes, a grab and not a stab -) and tighnari lowers his centre of gravity the way cyno taught him. he knife goes in between the third and fourth ribs with astounding ease. the man stumbles, and tighnari withdraws, jumping back with a hissed breath. his own hand bleeds; an amateur's mistake. but he doesn't drop the knife until the man stumbles back into the underbrush from where he had come.
silence, resounding. tighnari wipes his hand on the sordid silks of his tunic, and grimaces at the still-bleeding cut where his thumb meets hand. ]
Cyno. [ he calls out with urgency. ] I don't hear anyone else coming. But we should go.
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he sees the flash of red on tighnari's palm, on his tunic; other's, or his own? right now it doesn't matter, he's whole enough to speak and ride, and they should not linger. ]
We cannot chance returning to the estate. To Caravan Ribat.
[ it's not ideal, they're still dressed in their finery and it would make their journey easier if they were able to pack a few things from home, but.. they cannot risk it. azar wants to keep this quiet, it's unlikely that he would send more men to the palace - housekeepers talk - but if the sage is desperate to quiet him..
well, they'll simply have to resupply at caravan ribat, and go from there. ]
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tighnari kicks dalir into a trot to keep pace, his eyes holding cyno's in the night. ]
How far away is Caravan Ribat?
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[ two days, if they're slowed down, and need to stop into villages along the way. riding that hard might be difficult for tighnari, who's not quite used to travel just yet. perhaps they ought to stop somewhere, if only to acquire some proper clothing.. water and food will be easy enough to find along the way. ]
Were you injured?
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[ it's not worth stopping for, not when tighnari has one other good hand to keep dalir steady. he won't be able to use his bow, but a knife will do. ]
You?
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No injuries.
[ he's the general mahamatra for a reason. a few mercenaries couldn't put a scratch on him. ]
Are you comfortable enough with Dalir to move more quickly?
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I have a cut on my hand; I can't handle the reins properly for anything faster than a trot. I should ride with you on Hanan so we can pick up speed, and we can switch to Dalir when Hanan needs rest.
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[ he'll stand by, to help tighnari up into the saddle, should his injured hand prove to make it too difficult to mount without assistance. ]
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[ tighnari takes cyno's hand. mounting once more isn't a terrible experience. he seats himself, and immediately moves to tie dalir's reins to the back of hanan's saddle. then, he motions for cyno to join him. ]
Dalir's secure. We'll be alright.
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imagining the aranari singing kiss the girl
LMAO
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it only took 500 comments... wheezes blood
IT WAS A GOOD 500 COMMENTS... YELLS INTO MY HANDS
YELLS WITH U
i love them..... sm....
idiots... but also babies...
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